Okay this may not work. This may go by the wayside in ten minutes, this may just be an reminder of how bored I am today let's see .eh eh .
"You don't choose Torchwood; Torchwood chooses you."
"you can turn them down though.. . . . .right? I mean you haven't agreed to anything yet" Lisa asks tentatively, causing Ianto to stop his fingers from tracing inconsequential shapes on her palm.
"Well I assume so. .and no I haven't actually said yes. But I assume if all goes well tomorrow they'll ask me if I want the job. But why would I say no? Have you seen what they're offering me?" Ianto ask slightly shocked by Lisa's question, handing her the welcome pack for the second time.
why the hell would he turn this down?
He had worried for months about the mammoth debt he had wracked up doing his degree, and masters. It had taken him five years of hard toil, and beans on toast to achieve a first in classic civilisations with a minor in archaeology, and all he got was a certificate that was not worth the paper it was written on. It had been six months since graduation, and the only other job Ianto had secured was a sales man in a top British tailors. Yes the 75% discount and work-wear allowance had been great, but he was hardly on the fast track to his dreams. He had always thought that by now he would be an junior archivist for the Natural history Museum, or possibly an assistant on a expedition in Cairo or Athens, but working in Paul Smith, however enjoyable the work may be was not his dream.
Then out of the blue one morning while Ianto was re-folding a stack of crisp oxford shirts, a man in an equally well presented suit had walked into the store, and placed his card in Ianto's top pocket and without a word had left the store as inconsequentially as he had entered it. The card had simply stated, Torchwood Admissions 07848392743 in smart silver text on a black background. It took a day of the card burning a whole in his pocket before curiosity took the better of him and he had phoned the number.
"Look Ianto, I should have told you sooner. . I. . work at Torchwood. . And-"
"-What? You work at Torchwood, Since when? You led me to believe that you were a commissioned scientist for the civil service" Ianto gasps, staring at Lisa.
"Well the civil service is quite a broad provision for what I do. . .I mean you've seen the brochure. We are here to serve both Queen and country" Lisa quotes, derision thick in her voice.
"So if you work there. . Why would you be against me joining?"
Lisa is either unable or unwilling to answer, so Ianto presses on.
"They're offering me a lot of money Lee. I can pay off my debts in three months. . Three months. We could go on holiday. . Get a better apartment. . ."
"We could do all that now Ianto" she whispers, placing a warm hand on his knee, a comforting gesture which he brushes off.
"No. . we can't Lisa. I can't at the moment, I can't afford-"
"-But I can. . .and I want to help. . I want to help make us a Life together Ianto!" Lisa pleads.
"Lee. . Just let me do this. . Please I mean how can it be that bad, if you're working there eh? And to be paid to archive old artefacts and reports, it's going to be great!" he enthuses, trying to raise Lisa's own spirits.
"But it's not your dream. . Is it? Ianto you don't know what Torchwood is like. You won't be able to leave. If in six months. . .or even six years. . If that dream offer comes in. . Cairo, Athens, or the natural history museum, you won't be able to take them up. Torchwood, may seem like a dream now. . But it could so easily turn into a nightmare. Torchwood. . .it's like a cancer Ianto. . One day it will infiltrate every aspect of your life. . ." Ianto wants to brush off Lisa's statement, but her eyes are beginning to swim with unshed tears and now he is not so sure.
"what's wrong Lisa? Has something happened has someone at Torchwood done something to you?"
Lisa shakes her head, but the tears now begin to fall.
"No. . Not yet anyway. Ianto, they asked me six months ago if I thought you would be good Torchwood material.. . I said no."
Ianto cannot quite believe what he is hearing
"You said what? You know the difficulty I went through in trying to secure a job after graduation, are you saying that you could have prevented it all?"
Lisa's tears do not stop but she nods her head.
"Why?" Ianto asks, all anger seeming to dissipate at Lisa's broken stance.
"Ianto you're degree is in classic civilisations and Foreign languages, why do you think that Torchwood would be interested in you?"
"They. . .they want me to be an archivist-"
"An archivist of what Ianto? What does Torchwood exactly do?"
"I. . I don't know exactly but I'm sure whatever it is I will. . ."
"Ianto listen to yourself you're preparing to get involved with something you know nothing about. . ."
"Well tell me then!!" Ianto shouts for the first time; his annoyance overtaking everything else.
"I. . can't. . It would be dangerous for me to disclose anything. . And I can tell that you are going to take up the job offer anyway. So you will know soon enough."
"Lisa. . I'm sorry but I have to. . ." Lisa nods her head in defeat.
"I can't blame you. I was in the same place three years ago. But Ianto please, just try not to get in too deep" She ends the words in a whisper.
All thoughts of the romantic evening he had planned have now gone out the window, and he knows that there is no chance that Lisa will be in the mood.
"I've got the interview tomorrow, so you never know. . They may not want me."
"No chance" she replies with a sad smile. "they've already made their decision Yan. After all You don't choose Torchwood. . Torchwood chooses you"
And without another word, Lisa takes her plate, and places it in the sink before, leaving for bed.
It is another four hours before Ianto is any mood to join her.