Author's Note: A return to my old favourite, the epistolic style. Hugs, love and fudge to Lizzy, Harrie (one more for your count my dear), Hotflower901, Lucy, Orion Lyonesse, Ysaedda, Candybree, CJH4ever, .way, TooBeauty, Mel, MinimumStitch, JantoLover, Figaro2, SakuraKissy and Forever Bossy. I love every single one of you.
And Nem, who got offended at not getting a mention.
To: J. Harkness; M. Adooya; T. Wilkins.
CC: G. Albion; A. Craig
From: I. Jones
Re. Torchwood London Proposals.
Attached: Proposals .doc; Minutes 28.09.09 .doc
Please find attached the proposals for the redevelopment of Torchwood London.
I am aware that this is a contentious issue since the downfall of Canary Wharf and Torchwood One, however I believe that events of the recent years have shown us that the capital needs a permanent defence team located in the centre to deal with the increased number of alien threats which we are facing.
To this end, I have drafted a set of proposals which would see the development of a small team, who would be responsible for maintaining the central Torchwood Archive, liaising with other bodies such as UNIT and Liberty Towers, and providing a personal defence team for the Prime Minister and the Monarch, as well as a general defence team for the city.
I would welcome any and all input on this matter, so if you have any concerns or suggestions you feel you need to raise, I can, of course, be contacted either by email or by phone, and I would be willing to meet in person if you feel that is neccessary.
Yours sincerely,
I. Jones.
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office.
From: M. Adooya
To: I. Jones
CC: J. Harkness; T. Wilkins; G. Albion
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
Mr Jones,
I wish to raise a most strong objection to the proposals for the re-establishment of Torchwood London, especially if the leader is to be someone from the old regime; I feel this is most unwise.
Colonel Adooya
UNIT liaison office
From: I. Jones
To: M. Adooya
CC: J. Harkness; T. Wilkins; G. Albion
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
Sir,
If you reread my proposals, you will see that I intend to return to Cardiff, not run the London branch.
I. Jones
From: J. Harkness
To: I. Jones
Re: Return to Cardiff
Good.
Jack
From: I. Jones
To: J. Harkness
Re: Return to Cardiff
I'm glad we agree, sir.
Ianto.
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
Please expect my call at 14.00 today.
General Wilkins, UNIT recruitment office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
Attached: Transcript Wilkins-Jones 28.09.
Ma'am,
Thank you for your call this afternoon. I have attached the transcript of the call, should you wish to have a record of the matters we discussed or share it with others. I am happy for you to circulate it to Captain Harkness, Colonel Adooya and the Prime Minister if you wish them to know.
Also, thank you once again for your offer, it is most gratefully received.
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: T. Wikins
To: I. Jones
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
Mr Jones,
I shall forward the transcript immediately, but may I just say that your signature on emails from your office sounds a trifle absurd.
General Wilkins.
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Signature
I am aware of this, but objections were raised when I changed it to 'Man In Black'
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
Re: Signature
You're too good for the Men in Black, boy.
General Wilkins
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
CC: J. Harkness; M. Adooya; G. Albion
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
Attached: Transcript Wilkins-Jones 28.09.
Please find attached the transcript of a call between myself and Mr Jones which took place between 14.00 and 14.43 this afternoon.
If you wish to raise any issues regarding what we discussed, please contact us both by email.
General Wilkins
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: J. Harkness
To: I. Jones
Re: Transcript
We could share the transcript of our phone call from last night...
Jack
From: I. Jones
To: J. Harkness
Re: Transcript
I don't think they'd be ery interested in our opinions of the Bill and Tedd movies, Jack.
Ianto
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: J. Harkness
To: I. Jones
Re: Transcript
I wasn't suggesting sending them that section.
Also, remind me to get you a pell checker for Christmas.
Yours,
Jack
From: M. Adooya
To: T. Wilkins; I. Jones
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
I think that UNIT's help in the recruitment procedure would be invaluable to Torchwood London, an excellent idea. I would also like to offer UNIT's help in training, if you wish it.
General Adooya
UNIT Liaison Office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
I thought he might.
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: I. Jones
To: J. Harkness
Re: Spell Checker
Shall I get you one too?
I have much more... interesting ideas for what to get you for Christmas.
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
UNIT have an excellent training scheme, it's true, but I don't think anyone would be offended if you declined his offer.
General Wilkins
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Torchwood London Proposals
I have experienced the training schemes at UNIT, Torchwood One and Torchwood Three, and I would trust Jack with training the team over anyone else without hesitation.
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: J. Harkness
To: I. Jones
Re: Christmas
Will you be coming home for Christmas?
Yours,
Jack
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
Re: Jack?
There's an air of familiarity in your tone that I wouldn't expect between a subordinate and a superior. He has always had a certain reputation...
General Wilkins
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: I. Jones
To: J. Harkness
Re: Christmas
I'm hoping to spend it with my family, unless you have other plans?
Love Ianto
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Jack?
Theresa,
As you are aware, the Torchwood team in Cardiff is extremely small and close, first name terms is to be expected.
As you may not be aware, he's my fiancé.
Ianto
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: J. Harkness
To: I. Jones
Re: Christmas
Oh, well I was hoping to spend it with you, but no worries if you're otherwise engaged.
Yours,
Jack
Ianto read the email and rolled his eyes, pulling out his mobile and pressing the speed dial. Jack picked up almost instantly. "Hello?"
"Jack."
"Ianto."
"You plonker, that was me inviting you to spend Christmas with me and my family."
"Really?"
"Yes really, I said I wanted you to meet them."
"Oh, well in that case, I'd love to."
"Good. Oh, and do you think we should put an announcement in the UNIT newsletter? The copy date is today, and Theresa just asked me if I wasn't slightly familiar with you."
Jack laughed. "If you want to, I'd be more than happy to see it stated in public."
"Okay, I'll send them an email. Love you."
"Love you too."
From: I. Jones
To: UNITy office
Re: October Issue: Social Announcements
Captain Jack Harkness of Torchwood Cardiff and Ianto Jones, formerly of Torchwood and currently in the Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness office wish to share the good news of their engagement, and their thanks for the good will they have received to the news so far.
A date for the ceremony is yet to be set.
(Greg: Because I know you were wondering last time we spoke.)
Thanks,
Ianto
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: G. Hunt
To: I. Jones
Re: Congratulations
Brilliant news! Best wishes to the pair of you.
Greg and Sally.
From: UNITy Office
To: I. Jones
Re: October Issue: Social Announcements
Thank you for your submission, it will be published in the October Issue in the Social Announcements.
May we, as a team, offer you both our congratulations.
UNITy – The UNIT mouthpiece.
From: I. Jones
To: G. Hunt
Re: Congratulations
Thank you, you will both be invited, of course, once we have a date. How are you both?
Ianto
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
From: G. Hunt
To: I. Jones
Re: Congratulations
But of course, wouldn't expect anything less.
We're both alright, thanks. Having 'the talk'; we may be asking you to be godfather soon.
Greg and Sally
From: I. Jones
To: G. Hunt
Re: Congratulations
Wow, that's fantastic news. I'm so happy for the pair of you, and I would be honoured to be asked, for future reference.
Ianto
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office
Gordon poked his head around the door and beamed at them. "How's the organisation getting along, Ianto?"
Ianto stood up and gestured for him to take a seat. "It's going smootly. I had some initial issues with Adooya,"
"Of course."
"Of course," he agreed. "But those have been smoothed over for the moment. Coffee?"
"Yes please," he watched Ianto busy himself with the coffee machine and smiled. "He's good for you."
"Who, Jack?" Ianto asked without turning around.
"Yes, you smile so much more now."
"I know," he finished preparing the coffees and gave one to Ally and one go Gordon, placing his own on his desk and sitting down again. "He makes me happy."
"And I dare say you make him happy," Gordon watched him closely. "Too many people never realise what they have."
"I nearly didn't," Ianto told him. "I only realised what I had in Jack because I took the leap and walked away from him. If I hadn't got the courage to do that, I would still be with him, still feeling second best and wanting more, not realising that I already had it."
Ally shook her head and hid a smile. "Men are such absurd creatures."
They glared at her, then shared a glance and shrugged. "I'm not going to argue," Gordon sighed, stretching his legs out. "And how are you Miss Craig?"
"I am very well, thank you sir," she smiled and stood up to collect the work she'd just done from the printer and file it. "And yourself?"
"Keeping busy," he beamed. "Are you ready for the trip tomorrow, Ianto?"
"I am," he confirmed. "I even packed this morning, so I don't have to do it tonight. I assume you just want me to stand behind you and look mildly threatening, unless the world should decide to end?"
"I think that's a fair summary," he agreed. "And remember that we're staying overnight in Edinburgh..."
"Not Glasgow?"
"No, Edinburgh, to come home via Grimsby, then..."
"Then up at six to go to France on Thursday, I remember," he blew on his coffee to cool it again and took a sip. "Ally, you're in charge whilst I'm gone."
"Yes, sir. Are there any instructions I need to remember?"
"I'll send them to you in an email before I leave. Go on, you can get off. I'll see you on Saturday morning."
She beamed her thanks and gathered her things together, letting Ianto help her with her coat. "Good night, gentlemen."
"Good night, Ally. Lovely to see you again," Gordon told her, getting up to open the door for her. Once she was gone he sat back opposite Ianto and finished his coffee. "I feel an irrational desire to avoid my paperwork for as long as possible, Ianto," he told him.
Ianto chuckled. "I don't think that's irrational, sir... Sorry, Gordon," he corrected at Gordon's look. "I think it's considered perfectly normal. Only people like me get pleasure out of paperwork, and only then out of other people's."
Gordon laughed. "I have often said that administrators are the greatest sadists ever invented, and as we invented them ourselves..."
"Masochism?"
"Indeed, an impulse which I usually prefer to keep a secret," he mused.
Ianto choked on his coffee and bellowed a laugh. "Yes, well, I think everyone has a masochistic streak within them, even if it only stretches as far as three chilli curries."
"Well deflected."
"I thank you," he leaned back in his seat and wrapped long fingers around his nearly empty mug. "What paperwork besets you this evening, then?"
"Proposals, draft proposals, daft proposals and agendas, I suspect."
"Can you have a pluralisation of 'agenda', as it is itself a pluralisation of 'agendum'?" Ianto asked with a smirk. "Anyway, I don't think either of us will be escaping the torture of paperwork for some time."
"You have a lot to do then?" he asked.
"Preparation for going away again, more communication with UNIT and Jack, finish catching up on last week's work," he shrugged. "Not that much, really, just busy work."
"Would you rather I left you to it?"
"Hmm, I wonder?" Ianto mused, "paperwork, or coffee and conversation with a friend? You do the maths."
"Forty two."
"An excellent answer."
From: Ianto Jones
To: J. Harkness
Re: Switching email
Heading home, will talk to you later. Love you.
Iantoxxx
Sent from my Blackberry(TM) Device
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
Re: Recruitment
I have a couple of names that you might be interested in for your team. I can send you their files or it can wait until I see you at the meetings?
General Wilkins
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Recruitment (Automessage)
Thank you for your email.
I'm sorry, but I'm not in the office at the moment. I will respond as soon as I can.
Of course, I can be contacted at home if the world is ending.
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office.
From: T. Wilkins
To: I. Jones
Re: Out of office message
But the world is always ending.
General Wilking
UNIT Recruitment Office
From: I. Jones
To: T. Wilkins
Re: Recruitment (Automessage)
Thank you for your email.
I'm sorry, but I'm not in the office at the moment. I will respond as soon as I can.
Of course, I can be contacted at home if the world is ending.
I. Jones
Downing Street Extraterrestrial Awareness Office.