48
Ianto was on a skype call with his father's students as he had not been feeling well and the show must go on. It had devolved into an ethical debate on The Right to Individuality that he was supposed to monitor but it had clearly been brewing for some days in the classroom and they all seemed to erupt at once with their own opinions of one another, some of the personal attacks seeming quite cutting.
"OK… either you all shut up or I will simply mute you all" Ianto said calmly.
"What about the freedom of speech!" one of them yelled angrily.
"This is not America, but nice try Duncan" Ianto smiled softly "You are in the UK, I am here in Wales and I have the power to cut you off. One button push and you do not exist. At all."
"But you can't' do that" another defended the same person he had been snarling at moments ago "He's has much right as me to be here!"
"Then I shall mute you too." Ianto shrugged "Will make it so much easier for the others who do want to learn, right? Shall we vote them off the island folks?"
Silence.
Then one of then started a slow clap as she leaned back in her chair "Oh Bravo Doctor. Wow. Bravo."
Ianto focused on her and her bright purple hair "actually, I am not just a doctor, I am also a father, a human being and most importantly, I am a minority."
"Just because you have a black son, a transgendered daughter, a DS son and an undetermined Asian kid, it does not make YOU anything" one of them scoffed "God. I am sick of the appropriation these people have."
Ianto canted his head "Well actually my first and foremost 'problem' others see is that I am quite clearly gay. I make no bones about it, pardon the pun, I am as gay as the day is long. Secondly, I am a crime statistic. My father murdered my mother, then died too. I am an orphan. I was raised by a gay couple. Then we have the fact I was a single father as my own wife was killed. We have some near death experiences, the time I was wheelchair bound and told I would never walk again and let us not forget that I am richer than you fools put together. Have I forgotten anything? Oh.. oh yes. I am also, god forbid it rub off on any of you… happy."
They stared at him and one laughed softly as he waved his hands in front of his camera.
"I have been beaten, robbed, almost burned alive, buried in snow, let's not count the car accidents, cancer survivor too… sorry I forgot that. Oh god… blown up. I am sooooo many statistics I should just be walking around with numbers on my forehead for ease of recognition or maybe a barcode for easier reference." Ianto leaned back in his chair "And ya know what? I fought to be me. I was told to tone down the gayness. You've all seen my handsome husband in the magazines right? That man is sooo sexy in a dress that my mouth goes dry. When we are both in drag I know even straight men look twice. I am me and do not apologize for it. Anyone doesn't like that… screw them sideways."
"You know things have changed so much in the last twenty years or so. I cannot imagine trying to hide yourself, trying to conform" one of them said.
"And so many still do. Why I fly my freak flag and so should you. Regardless of what your freak is. Be it hair, skin art or even the fact you have an amputated limb. Embrace it, make it something that defines you, not labels you. Those who label are too busy fighting their own labels and want yours on display too. When you learn to let that go, you find a freedom worth fighting for."
"Would you change anything Doctor?"
"Yes. I would have finished my Mythology Degree AFTER my Architectural one or not do that one at all as I did not enjoy that as much. And the only other thing I would change about my path to where I am today is that I would have danced more. But it's OK because there is still time and so much more dancing to be had with the man of my dreams." Ianto smiled.
From the doorway Jack smiled too, winking as he knew Date Night was going to be another slow dance in the old hall to candlelight.
His favorite too.
Wouldn't change a thing.
