I agree with this completely! As someone who loves, plays, and identifies with Jack more than Ianto, it always irks me to see janto fic written with Jack as this very closed-off, almost abusive aggressor. He's dark, yes, but unlike the Doctor (who tends to distance himself from humans a little) Jack loves to get close to people, even if it'll bring him hurt; he throws his whole being into loving his employees and any threat to them angers him greatly. There's been a time when he was almost married, for crying out loud.
He may be the most forthcoming of people when it comes to his past, but it has never been a doubt in my mind that Jack originally pursued Ianto to help him recover from Lisa — Ianto's words in the Adam episode underline this for me. Yes, he likes sex and yes he is open about it but I don't see him ever forcing a partner to do something against their will, degrading them or making them feel anything less than loved (unless it was part of a D/s or BDSM game, in which case it's understood that it's a case of sexual power and overall would have the partner's permission.)
The other characters might dismiss Ianto as a "part-time shag" and it's definitely an open relationship, at least in the sense that Jack still loves the Doctor and has no problem flirting with Martha, kissing John, etc etc; it's obvious he dousn't believe in monogamy. But Ianto seems to have wholehearted passion for Jack, and we know from Lisa what he'll do for those he loves. Jack, on the other hand, definitely enjoys Ianto's looks and has no shame in expressing his desire, but the idea that he would be WILLING to shag anything because he's open-minded does not translate through to the idea that he would use his power over Ianto to get sex. Especially not after the interim between S1 and S2, when he had an entire year to think about his team, and the conclusions he come to result in his asking Ianto on a date when he gets back; perhaps to dismiss the "part-time shag" idea from Ianto's teammates, and maybe Ianto himself's mind.
Sorry for the long comment. In short: YES YES YES this annoys me too, it upsets me when people interpret Jack as such a two-dimensional slut type.
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He may be the most forthcoming of people when it comes to his past, but it has never been a doubt in my mind that Jack originally pursued Ianto to help him recover from Lisa — Ianto's words in the Adam episode underline this for me. Yes, he likes sex and yes he is open about it but I don't see him ever forcing a partner to do something against their will, degrading them or making them feel anything less than loved (unless it was part of a D/s or BDSM game, in which case it's understood that it's a case of sexual power and overall would have the partner's permission.)
The other characters might dismiss Ianto as a "part-time shag" and it's definitely an open relationship, at least in the sense that Jack still loves the Doctor and has no problem flirting with Martha, kissing John, etc etc; it's obvious he dousn't believe in monogamy. But Ianto seems to have wholehearted passion for Jack, and we know from Lisa what he'll do for those he loves. Jack, on the other hand, definitely enjoys Ianto's looks and has no shame in expressing his desire, but the idea that he would be WILLING to shag anything because he's open-minded does not translate through to the idea that he would use his power over Ianto to get sex. Especially not after the interim between S1 and S2, when he had an entire year to think about his team, and the conclusions he come to result in his asking Ianto on a date when he gets back; perhaps to dismiss the "part-time shag" idea from Ianto's teammates, and maybe Ianto himself's mind.
Sorry for the long comment. In short: YES YES YES this annoys me too, it upsets me when people interpret Jack as such a two-dimensional slut type.
edited for typos and spacing weirdness