Chapter Text
Ianto sat there taking a deep breath as Jack sat looking at the proposal with undisguised glee. He was looking at it, then Ianto, then it …like a child who did finger-painting on his Dad's BMW and wanted praise. Or the dog who brought in the remains of a dead rabbit to put on the rag pile carpet.
"Jack … ah… well. This is….ah….."
"It's 12 weeks. Fourteen at the most!" Jack leaned forward, his hands clasped together, "Look at the money they are offering. Not like I am actually in the competition. I am hosting. So… I go over during the day by boat, do some filming and then back to the resort on the other island. We can have some fun!"
"We"
"Well … I will need my PA!" Jack said with glee "Douglas is producing and says Damien and Gwen no longer even work for him. Come on. A Tropical Island … booze, good food … I only film for a max of six hours during the day, the evenings and such are ours apart from the occasional thing … when that happens they give us the morning off to compensate … come on. We didn't really get a honeymoon, not with your sister needing us to help her shift into her new place."
Dirty pool, using that. He knew it, Ianto knew it and as Ianto sighed Jack felt bad for reverting to arsehole mode.
"Hey. Nothing's signed. I just thought …" he started to pick up the papers, deciding to tell his agent to keep looking for something closer to home. Toshiko agreeing to be their surrogate and Rhiannon providing eggs so they could have a child with both their DNA … of course Ianto was nervous about leaving her while they were still waiting for the latest IVF results.
"No" Ianto said softly "I saw the excitement level. No. I know you really want to …well… how about a compromise?"
Jack was all for those. "Yeah?"
"I will not go as your PA but will go as your support. We will hire a PA someone that is separate so the past issues do not happen and no one can mistake me for less than yours."
"Or me yours?" Jack grinned "I like it. You know … you are right. They saw you as a bloody slave. You're right. My Tiger. Yes. So … is that a yes?"
"No Damien. No Gwen. Just us, tropical madness and some shopping sprees?" Ianto raised an eyebrow as Jack started to laugh, knowing Ianto would scour the markets for those cheap little trinkets he loves with tacky things in them for Rhiannon as well.
"I want it made clear from the get-go. I am no one's bloody servant and I have a seat at the table" Ianto warned, Jack nodding as he got out his phone to call Douglas. The noise in the phone told Ianto he was delighted Ianto had agreed and was clearly willing to do whatever needed to make this work. His first time producing the iconic show and to get one of the newest and most loved movie stars to host would ensure its success. Jack was now two movies in, both box office successes and both the original 'Time Loop' and its sequel 'Back in Time' had netted all concerned a healthy profit, especially with Ianto demanding a cut of merchandising and DVD sales. Clever clogs.
The third movie was yet to happen, Douglas chewing on it as it seemed to be stalled out. He knew it had to be different, the first one a scary sci-fi, the second one a revenge film with angst. He just didn't know where to take the character next. He was hopeful a certain Welshman might have an idea or two, those quietly passed to him on set had created some of the most award worthy moments in the films. Douglas was just relived he had the brains to keep his idiot son and fluff away.
"See if Tosh and Owen want to come" Jack said as an afterthought as he hung up. "We are allowed a personal crew of four people. My new PA, whoever that is and them, still room for Mama."
Ianto's face changed as Jack struggled then laughed, unable to hold back the mirth as he needled his love, the infinite dislike of Jack's mother still there like a huge pink elephant in the room.
"What about Gray?" Ianto finally said as he rose "He was saying the other day that he is at a loose end now the university course is over. Maybe it's a good way to let him see if he likes travel or not before that around the world idea he has can be acted on. He might hate flying or miss his mama."
"Yeah. Good idea, he wanted a year off from studies to travel. This would be a good spring board for him and Mama can't complain, he's with me!" Jack rushed off to ring him … and no doubt her.
Ianto sighed and rubbed his face wondering why family has to be so bloody hard.