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CHARACTERS: Ianto Jones, OPEN
LOCATION: The Gardens
WARNINGS: Minor depictions of PTSD and Stockholm Syndrome, mentions of physical and mental abuse, cannibalism and body horror
SUMMARY: Ianto is back on the TQ, only a little worse for wear physically after the rescue team stormed Melkor's base. Now he has to work through the mental and emotional aftermath.
NOTES: Responses may be from both Ianto and Jack. Former captives are especially welcome!

They've temporarily relocated to the gardens, he and Jack. On finally returning to the Tranquility, Ianto had surprised even himself by nearly panicking at the enclosed dimness of their quarters. He'd insisted on checking on Myfanwy in a way that had fooled absolutely no one, especially not Jack, and they'd headed to the gardens immediately. Ianto had needed the light, the open brightness.

His wrists and neck are still chafed and sore, bite marks having broken open the skin around his wrists where he'd tried to chew through his bonds. He'd refused to go to the medbay and have it all bandaged; he didn't need medical attention, not like the others did. Jack had ultimately insisted on bandaging it all himself and Ianto had acquiesced.

He keeps close to Jack at all times, partially out of an unspoken fear that they'll be forcefully parted again, partially because he knows Jack can't be as alright as he's pretending to be, not after what Melkor did to him.

And that, he thinks, is his fault too. A lot of things are his fault. The worst of it is that there's some small part of him that feels bad for betraying Melkor. And that's crazy, it's some kind of bizarre misplaced sympathy, but knowing that doesn't help get rid of it.

As he recalls the almost crazed need he'd had to get back to the Tranquility, he wonders what else has been done to his mind.

CHARACTERS: Godric, Eric, Thranduil, Seraphim, generally OPEN to garden inhabitants
LOCATION: The Gardens
WARNINGS: Depictions and mentions of mental and emotional trauma
SUMMARY: Godric set out to rescue his progeny and his bonded from Melkor, and now they're back safely if not entirely alright. Torn between keeping an eye on both, he's brought Seraphim to the gardens to stay with them.
NOTES:

[A] Being torn between two bonds is something that can fray the nerves of even the strongest vampire. Eric would be his priority in most cases, but Eric is with Thranduil for now, something that gives him leave enough to focus on Seraphim.

Only after being assured that she's none the worse for wear does he go with her to collect some of her things, insisting that she remain close to him for now. She gives no protest, still shaken from her experience. Godric can feel it, the tremors along their bond less than they had been, but still not entirely settled. She likely won't be fully settled for some time yet.

[B] Once Godric is assured that Seraphim is settled nearby, he seeks out his child. Eric's emotional state has been battering him through their bond for so long that he itches to be near him, to take the pain and torment from him. Thranduil's presence is a boon, and a great comfort. He expects to find them together.

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They haven't actually been snogging all this time. That is important.

They are, however, snogging now. That is more important, where Godric is concerned. Because at the moment when he walks in, Thranduil is not sure whose tongue is down whose throat anymore. The Elvenking has his arms tightly around Eric as if an atom's width of air is too much space between them, lounging back on the pillows stacked on his bed. Since. Snogging while sitting up becomes a little dull after a time.

Godric suspects, before he arrives, what's happening inside. He can feel the waves of contentment, of lust and love coming from his child. His curiosity gets the better of him, and he stops inside the doorway, smiling broadly. This has been a long time coming, and after the terrors of Arima, it's truly a sight for sore eyes.

Eric is rather enjoying the taste of Thranduil's mouth, the smell of his skin and hair from this close. Maybe Thranduil relearning how to kiss, but he's an eager student and a quick study and Eric has no problems helping him along. He's a bit of a natural anyway, all things considered. Eric certainly didn't tell him to wrap his arms around him like that, but it's certainly not a bad way to go about all of this.

Eric becomes aware of Godric watching them in the doorway somewhere in the middle of their kiss, and cannot for the life of him figure out how long his maker might have been standing there, smiling like that. Godric is a vampire, after all, and can be very light on his feet when he wants to be, and Eric was rather otherwise preoccupied, as far as noticing his arrival was concerned. He does not want to break the kiss but he knows this is something that they should speak on, so he pulls back with a reluctant lass press of his lips to Thranduil's before he leans his head forward to rest on Thranduil's shoulder.

"Godric, I know you are there..." he says, without much of an introduction into the conversation otherwise.

Thranduil is not so accustomed to being caught making out, especially not in this state of...excitement. All the blood that was headed downstairs is going to his face now. He turns his face away from Godric in clear embarrassment, head still spinning a little from oxygen deprivation and a sudden awakening of libido. It's like he's an adolescent again. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Both hands are rubbing Eric's back without even thinking about it.

Godric would laugh in delight, save that it would only worsen the red flushing Thranduil's face.

"No need for embarrassment, my friend," he assures with affection. "You have my utmost apologies for interrupting."

More like his utmost regret for getting caught watching, something that is fairly apparent by his tone of voice. He could have watched them all day. The tease though, is directed mostly at Eric, not at poor Thranduil.

Eric at least can feel Godric's affection and amusement. Plus he has spent hundreds of years with Godric, he knows him and he knows how he is, he has little reason to be embarrassed being caught in such a state. He even has half a mind to ask whether Godric would have liked to join them but somehow he is sure, given how embarrassed Thranduil is at just this much, that might not go over so well with him. It pleases him greatly to feel how much of an effect even just this much has on his bondsmate. There are exciting things in their future, he is certain.

But first thing is first, there is the matter at hand, and the fact that Godric is only the first to find out. He's certain there will be more in time, Godric is at least a good start. He picks up his head to regard Godric for a moment. "You can go away if you're going to keep hovering on the threshold like that." Aka come inside or go away, if you don't want to talk there are better things he can be doing with his time right now than sitting here, embarrassing Thranduil as they are. Still, despite the fact that he is preparing himself for a conversation with Godric, he is doing nothing to untangle himself from his bondsmate.

Okay, so he might sound a little put out. You don't sound very sorry for interrupting, Godric, and he knows for a fact that you're not, at all.

This is awkward. Eric is a lot less perturbed by this than Thranduil, who would have preferred someone else be the first to know about this. Someone like Legolas, who Thranduil is increasingly dreading having to tell. Can't they just secretly make out like normal people? This is not awesome.

"May we help you, Godric?" He even sounds aroused. At least to his own pointy ears. He clears his throat.

Godric only smiles more broadly, stepping inside. He gives no sign of being embarrassed by the two of them, entangled as they are.

"I came to see how you were, but I see I have nothing to be concerned about. I am pleased for both of you," he says warmly. He doesn't say it took you long enough, but the mischievous sparkle in his eyes might say it for him.

He may not say as much, but Eric can certainly hear it in his tone and see it in his expression. He is pleased for them both and something tells Eric that Godric could see this coming, perhaps before either of them could.

Perhaps Thranduil would understand that Eric is less perturbed by this because he and Godric share as deep of a relationship as they do. That Godric has been his father, brother, son, lover, maker, his everything, for over a thousand years. Of course he's not bothered by Godric walking in on them. Not in concept, at least. Although he's bothered by the fact that that meant that it had to stop.

"You can be just as pleased for us from outside, you know," he points out, grumpily, a little put out that Thranduil really is that turned on and they have wasted the moment. Although he is grateful to see Godric. It feels good to have both of them nearby these days. He sighs slightly and sits back, moving to make room for Godric to join them on the bed if he is so inclined.

Thranduil has to keep some grump in check. Godric's presence is good for Eric, evidenced by the quip coming out now. As good as the kissing was, they can always get back to that when Godric is no longer there to make things better for him. The more support Eric has, the better.

"He's here now, and it's his home as much as ours. At this rate there will be more human and near-human inhabitants of these flets than Elven, and Nuada will come back only to snarl at us all and then vanish again."

Godric lets out the chuckle he's been keeping in check, his mind freely conjuring the image Thranduil suggests. He sits on the edge of the bed — not making himself too comfortable —and kisses Eric lightly on the forehead.

"I won't linger long. Seraphim is settling in well, and I plan to go get provisions for her. I came to see if you were hungry still. For that matter, if you need anything, Thranduil, I would be happy to procure it while I'm out." In other words, while you two are busy making out.

It is the kiss on the forehead that undoes him, slightly. Makes Eric feel like a child again, and with the support of his maker in front of him and his bondsmate at his side, he feels safe. He welcomes this feeling. He does not want it to end. He fears the darkness that still envelopes him when he is left to his own thoughts, when Godric is out with Seraphim, when Thranduil is seeing to Legolas, when he is left to his own devices and he should be able to handle himself except he cannot.

Without thinking about what he is doing, he reaches out and closes his hand around Godric's wrist, his other fastened around Thranduil's lest the other think of pulling back further than he has, or offer to leave instead. The action says it all, and what is not expressed in his action is shown in his eyes. Don't leave me. Please.

There's a flash of jealousy at the kiss Godric steals, followed by guilt. Thranduil has no room to be jealous when he's the one cheating on his alleged wife.

So he shakes his head. "Stay here, Godric. I must bring Legolas back from the medbay soon. I will bring food for your guest."

Godric misses the jealousy in Thranduil, startled by the hand around his wrist, the sudden burst of panic that cuts through Eric's welcome calm. He hears Thranduil's words with half an ear as he turns his wrist in Eric's grasp, taking his hand in a comforting gesture.

"Eric...?"

Eric misses the jealousy as well, and the guilt, for his own flash of panic at the thought of Godric leaving. And again, at the thought of Thranduil leaving himself. It is irrational, to fear either of their departures. He is a grown man. Logically, he knows that they will be back, whenever Godric or Thranduil must leave for some reason or another. Logic is not communicating well with his emotional reactions to stimuli these days. It is embarrassing, to need someone as much as he needs both of them, in their own ways, to keep him steady.

But Thranduil needs to leave. He has things he must do for his son. Hell, Godric must have things he should doing now as well. His hands tighten on Godric's hand, Thranduil's wrist, before he shakes his head, releasing them. Moving away from them both to stand. This is ridiculous. He is ridiculous. He is over a thousand years old, and suddenly he is made a child again.

"Go," he says, softly, before repeating it louder, addressing both of them, trying not to let the bitterness and self-loathing creep into his tone although it is difficult. "Go. I do not need a babysitter, let alone two. You have tasks that need attended, I will do well enough on my own." Now, if only he could believe that...

"Stop." Thranduil's voice is flat and he looks entirely dissatisfied with this turn of events. He doesn't want to reinforce the feeling of self-loathing by rewarding it with coddling. Comfort, yes, but not coddling. He can only bear to carry Eric so much when his own healing is barely begun.

"Look at me and kiss me and tell me you will see me when I return, and Godric will stay with you while I am gone. I will return with Legolas and we will carry on with our lives."

Without waiting for Eric to initiate it, he leans in for a kiss.

Edited 2014-05-01 22:48 (UTC)

Godric's lips thin at Eric's words, but Thranduil speaks before he can respond. He does not begrudge Eric his trauma or his doubt, but Godric has always met such things with firm disapproval, not a soft touch. Cooing in sympathy only encourages the continuation of self-pity, but a stern word stops it in its tracks.

Fitting, that Thranduil has as little tolerance for such behavior as Godric does.

"As you say, Thranduil." He stands, coming to stand beside Eric, but looking at the elvenking with silent approval. "And you have my thanks for the offer. Seraphim tells me she's happy with anything, so whatever you can conveniently carry will do. I can fetch anything else after you return."

Eric stands still as Thranduil steps close and presses a kiss to his lips. As Godric stands and comes to stand beside him, beside them. He appreciates their support as much as he curses their tough love, in this moment. His good reason is fighting with the thoughts of self-doubt, of self-loathing, planted there by Morgoth. It is taking all he has not to flee, to run away from this moment, and the pair of them. But he does not.

He meets Thranduil's eyes, glances at Godric's, and then turns away from both of them. He can't meet their gazes, not when even he is judging himself for this. Let Godric smooth things over. Let Thranduil leave. As long as he doesn't further embarrass himself, it should be considered a victory.

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