Day 12 Fic: Toil and Trouble
Halloween Day 12
Prompt: Witches
Rating: G unless you're really scared of witches
Spoilers for: Series Two
Summary: Jack gets dressed up. Gwen finds out some things her mother never wanted her to know. Not everyone trusts Ianto to pour their drinks. Rhys gets a rude (or maybe not so rude) awakening. Jack is out-flirted. No one explains Wicca to anyone. Hey, it's almost Halloween.
Disclaimer: If I have to keep explaining that I don't own these people and these concepts, something is seriously wrong with someone else because none of us should have to explain it any more. But in case I do...well, I don't. I'm just having some fun.
Not beta'd because three hours ago I erased the entire story I'd been working on and came up with this instead. Thus, it goes without saying, it's not at all Brit-picked. Mea culpa. Forgive me. Feel free to make fun or correct me. I can take it.
Toil and Trouble
by Gypsy
Late in the day on the Friday before Halloween, the Rift surprisingly ceased all activity. Gwen was immediately concerned, as she had never known the Rift to be this silent. She took her worry to Jack, who was in his office, dressed much more formally than usual, in a dark suit and, did her eyes deceive her? He was wearing an OPERA CLOAK!
"The Rift has gone dead silent. And what's with the outfit? Are you going trick or treating early or something?"
Jack ignored her second question entirely. "The Rift goes silent on rare occasions, usually around this time of year. If it springs to life with a vengeance in the next couple of hours, give me a call, okay?"
"Oh, are you going out?" She asked, then batted her eyes in a semblance of innocence. "Are you going Weevil hunting in that get-up?"
He smiled, his whiter than white teeth almost glittering. "Something like that."
On her way back down to her desk, she passed Ianto on his way up the stairs. He was freshly showered, in an elegant new suit with a mauve shirt with gold cuff links and studs. She stopped, turned and stared. Noticing her stare, he turned back to her. "Not weevil hunting, no matter what Jack says." And he continued along his way.
Gwen grinned and whistled softly. In recent months, once Jack and Ianto had realized that hiding their outside of work relationship was futile, they'd started being more and more comfortable about things and sometimes they were even cute. This evening was a cute evening. She checked online for what they might be doing that called for formal wear, especially that opera cloak. There were several plays and a few musical shows. She eliminated all amateur performances based on the outfits, eliminated most of the musical shows because Ianto would never dress that formally for a rock performance (and all the jazz based on the opera cape, and the orchestral based on her own gut instinct), and then stared at what was left. It was between a touring company performing "Hello Dolly," which made Gwen cringe even to consider, and the national theatre company's current offering. She was willing to bet on the latter.
She wasn't sure why she hadn't gone home when the other two had gone out. A month ago she would have jumped at the chance to get out of the Hub, go home and cuddle with her warm and willing husband. But now, so soon after two of their meager five member team had died, she found herself reluctant to leave. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the rift readings.
She didn't remember falling asleep but when she awoke with a start it was close to midnight and her neck and back ached. "Shit!" she exclaimed, scrambling for her jacket and purse, hoping her beloved Rhys wasn't going to be terribly put out with her. She'd spent the night at work before, but she always called to tell him about it first.
She glanced briefly at the CCTV feed, and stopped everything she was doing. The view from Roald Dahl Plass showed her a clear, moonlit sky, and a nearly deserted plaza. Nearly deserted, save for the circle of robed, hooded figures in the middle of it. They were moving slowly around something bright in the center. A few quick seconds watching showed Gwen that they were circling a large three-legged fire bowl. There were four figures standing just inside the circle, each holding a candle. No matter how high she boosted the sound, she couldn't make out their words.
She hurriedly checked the Rift readings and saw that it had remained quiet. So whatever this was, it didn't originate in the Rift. Which meant this was a matter for the police. She thought of calling them, and was reaching for her mobile phone when something moved across the CCTV view that stopped her.
It was a tall person in an opera cape. She relaxed. Jack was on his way back and he would alert her if anything was amiss. After all, this was essentially Jack's backyard, and he protected his home and those who were inside it.
But as she continued to watch the robed figures move, she saw no more of Jack and she found herself being drawn in, unwillingly fascinated by the sight. She shook herself when she realized what was happening to her and, grabbing her jacket and purse, she headed up to the plaza above to find out what was going on that didn't disturb Jack Harkness.
By the time she had exited through the Tourist Information Office and rounded the corner, the circle had broken up and the four figures holding candles were no longer visible. The fire bowl was still there, still burning, and a few of the figures had thrown back their hoods to reveal completely human faces. Jack and, to Gwen's surprise, Ianto, were talking quietly to a few of them, and Ianto accepted a cup of something from a tray carried by another. Gwen watched for a few moments, then marched decisively towards the two men from Torchwood.
"Jack?" she called when she determined she was close enough. "What is going on? What is all this?"
He swept around (of course, she thought, opera cape or greatcoat, the man sweeps everywhere) and smiled brilliantly at her. "Gwen! Why are you still here? Come on and join the party!"
She was about to ask him to explain further but he had turned away and addressed the others. "Hey, this is the other one we were telling you about. Gwen Cooper-Williams, our gorgeous and VERY VERY MARRIED arse-kicking police liaison."
"JACK!" Gwen was amused to hear Ianto echo her shock and she wondered what he was alarmed by.
Jack turned back to her. "Gwen, meet the Coven of Briddo A Awyr. Or is it Ac? How'd I do, Ianto?"
"Close enough," that man replied. "Not quite right yet but you're getting better."
"Wait, Jack, you mean we have witches on Roald Dahl Plass and that's NOT a problem?" Gwen asked.
One of the hooded figures turned and walked towards her. The hood flew off and Gwen found herself facing an elderly woman she knew all too well.
"Gwenevere Elizabeth Cooper-Williams, you will watch your tone when you address us!"
Gwen gulped. "Gran? You're a witch?"
"And I expect some respect from you, young lady."
"But..."
"But nothing. Your mum might be ashamed or embarrassed about her mum but I won't have it from you! Not with what you lot face every day."
Before Gwen could ask what that was about, another figure came over, clapping a hand on Jack's shoulder and, pushing between him and Ianto, one on the other man's shoulder. The hood flew back and Gwen stared.
"Uncle Rhodrhi? Jack, that's my great-uncle Rhodrhi!"
Jack stared at Rhodrhi and nodded. "Yeah, I thought he looked familiar. We met you at the wedding, didn't we?"
Rhodrhi nodded. "And did you really think Dilwen and I were foolish enough to drink champagne that you lot poured? Gwen here is my favorite of Dilwen and Arnallt's grandchildren. I'm an old bachelor, me, so I live through their families. And we thank you for protecting her virtue. But you two look friendly enough..."
Gwen and her grandmother both shouted at the man in mock horror as Ianto rolled his eyes and, to everyone's surprise, Jack seemed to be embarrassed.
"All right, enough of this silliness," Dilwen said after a moment. "I think it's time we had our final words with the Gods and headed somewhere for a warm drink indoors. Is your lovely Rhys likely to be awake at this hour? Because I seem to recall his brandied coffee was..."
Ianto cleared his throat and glared at Gwen.
"We can let Ianto make the coffee, Gran," she suggested. "But I think you'll be wanting Rhys to doctor it for you. I'll give him a call; I'm sure he's awake..." She started to reach for her mobile phone, but her grandmother put a hand on her wrist to stop her.
"Not now, dear. We need to finish our ritual and it's rude to the Gods to be on the telephone, if you don't mind."
Gwen nodded, unsure what her grandmother was saying but willing to let it be. Someone put a cup of warm but rapidly cooling cider into Gwen's hand and at her great-uncle's signal she drank it as he said something to her about "never thirst." Then someone else handed her a lovely little crescent shaped cookie, which she ate as her grandmother said something about "never hunger." Then she allowed herself to be shooed off to the edge of the plaza while the circle, hoods raised once again, reformed.
The words spoken in the circle were muffled somewhat by distance, but Rhodri's voice was clear when he intoned, "The dead go before us and we go behind them. For them the Gods dance and for us the Gods sing. Ancestors and lost friends, go where you will, but join us when you may. Our love for you remains and yours for us will live forever in our hearts."
The three from Torchwood exchanged glances. The words seemed to strike close to their own hearts. When Gwen looked back at the circle, she could swear she saw her grandmother smiling right at her.
A strange woman's voice took up the pronouncement. "We have feasted and made merry, we have welcomed new friends and old, we have widened the circle and celebrated the harvest of our work. The circle now is opened, never broken. Until we meet again."
The woman walked to a point in the circle between two of the candle-holders, and Rhodrhi went to a point exactly opposite her. They were carrying staffs. In unison, they raised their staffs, brought them down and dragged them briefly on the pavement. They turned back to face into the circle. "Until we meet again, dear friends," they said in unison.
It took less than five minutes for the entire scene to dissolve. Gwen couldn't be sure what had become of the fire bowl but when her police training made her ask, she was assured it was taken care of. Apparently, the fire tender was a local firefighter and knew well what needed to be done.
Gwen started to dial home, to warn Rhys that she, her family, and her co-workers were about to descend upon him. Before she dialed the final number, she asked, "By the way, you didn't dress like this for watching a coven in Plass at midnight. Where did you go?"
"Macbeth," Jack said. "This was better."
"I'll give thee a wind,"1 Ianto muttered.
"Please don't," Gwen said.
"As breath into the wind?"2 This time Ianto phrased it like a question.
"You had to study that in school, didn't you?" Jack was chuckling. "You know, we go on and evolve and learn and society changes and the damn human body changes and we're still reading Shakespeare. Not that that's a bad thing but we STILL don't know for sure who wrote what."
"I have no words."3 Ianto again, and while Gwen looked puzzled, Jack recognized the line and smiled. "Good. I'll hold you to that. Let's go."
1 Second Witch: Act I, Scene III
2 Macbeth: same
3 Macduff: Act V, Scene VII
About the name Gwenevere. I realize she's probably Gwendolyn but in MY reality, she was named Gwenevere at birth and as soon as it was legal she changed it. I know I would.
Cookies for anyone who can figure out which baby name dictionary I used to find the names. LOL!
Prompt: Witches
Rating: G unless you're really scared of witches
Spoilers for: Series Two
Summary: Jack gets dressed up. Gwen finds out some things her mother never wanted her to know. Not everyone trusts Ianto to pour their drinks. Rhys gets a rude (or maybe not so rude) awakening. Jack is out-flirted. No one explains Wicca to anyone. Hey, it's almost Halloween.
Disclaimer: If I have to keep explaining that I don't own these people and these concepts, something is seriously wrong with someone else because none of us should have to explain it any more. But in case I do...well, I don't. I'm just having some fun.
Not beta'd because three hours ago I erased the entire story I'd been working on and came up with this instead. Thus, it goes without saying, it's not at all Brit-picked. Mea culpa. Forgive me. Feel free to make fun or correct me. I can take it.
Toil and Trouble
by Gypsy
Late in the day on the Friday before Halloween, the Rift surprisingly ceased all activity. Gwen was immediately concerned, as she had never known the Rift to be this silent. She took her worry to Jack, who was in his office, dressed much more formally than usual, in a dark suit and, did her eyes deceive her? He was wearing an OPERA CLOAK!
"The Rift has gone dead silent. And what's with the outfit? Are you going trick or treating early or something?"
Jack ignored her second question entirely. "The Rift goes silent on rare occasions, usually around this time of year. If it springs to life with a vengeance in the next couple of hours, give me a call, okay?"
"Oh, are you going out?" She asked, then batted her eyes in a semblance of innocence. "Are you going Weevil hunting in that get-up?"
He smiled, his whiter than white teeth almost glittering. "Something like that."
On her way back down to her desk, she passed Ianto on his way up the stairs. He was freshly showered, in an elegant new suit with a mauve shirt with gold cuff links and studs. She stopped, turned and stared. Noticing her stare, he turned back to her. "Not weevil hunting, no matter what Jack says." And he continued along his way.
Gwen grinned and whistled softly. In recent months, once Jack and Ianto had realized that hiding their outside of work relationship was futile, they'd started being more and more comfortable about things and sometimes they were even cute. This evening was a cute evening. She checked online for what they might be doing that called for formal wear, especially that opera cloak. There were several plays and a few musical shows. She eliminated all amateur performances based on the outfits, eliminated most of the musical shows because Ianto would never dress that formally for a rock performance (and all the jazz based on the opera cape, and the orchestral based on her own gut instinct), and then stared at what was left. It was between a touring company performing "Hello Dolly," which made Gwen cringe even to consider, and the national theatre company's current offering. She was willing to bet on the latter.
She wasn't sure why she hadn't gone home when the other two had gone out. A month ago she would have jumped at the chance to get out of the Hub, go home and cuddle with her warm and willing husband. But now, so soon after two of their meager five member team had died, she found herself reluctant to leave. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the rift readings.
She didn't remember falling asleep but when she awoke with a start it was close to midnight and her neck and back ached. "Shit!" she exclaimed, scrambling for her jacket and purse, hoping her beloved Rhys wasn't going to be terribly put out with her. She'd spent the night at work before, but she always called to tell him about it first.
She glanced briefly at the CCTV feed, and stopped everything she was doing. The view from Roald Dahl Plass showed her a clear, moonlit sky, and a nearly deserted plaza. Nearly deserted, save for the circle of robed, hooded figures in the middle of it. They were moving slowly around something bright in the center. A few quick seconds watching showed Gwen that they were circling a large three-legged fire bowl. There were four figures standing just inside the circle, each holding a candle. No matter how high she boosted the sound, she couldn't make out their words.
She hurriedly checked the Rift readings and saw that it had remained quiet. So whatever this was, it didn't originate in the Rift. Which meant this was a matter for the police. She thought of calling them, and was reaching for her mobile phone when something moved across the CCTV view that stopped her.
It was a tall person in an opera cape. She relaxed. Jack was on his way back and he would alert her if anything was amiss. After all, this was essentially Jack's backyard, and he protected his home and those who were inside it.
But as she continued to watch the robed figures move, she saw no more of Jack and she found herself being drawn in, unwillingly fascinated by the sight. She shook herself when she realized what was happening to her and, grabbing her jacket and purse, she headed up to the plaza above to find out what was going on that didn't disturb Jack Harkness.
By the time she had exited through the Tourist Information Office and rounded the corner, the circle had broken up and the four figures holding candles were no longer visible. The fire bowl was still there, still burning, and a few of the figures had thrown back their hoods to reveal completely human faces. Jack and, to Gwen's surprise, Ianto, were talking quietly to a few of them, and Ianto accepted a cup of something from a tray carried by another. Gwen watched for a few moments, then marched decisively towards the two men from Torchwood.
"Jack?" she called when she determined she was close enough. "What is going on? What is all this?"
He swept around (of course, she thought, opera cape or greatcoat, the man sweeps everywhere) and smiled brilliantly at her. "Gwen! Why are you still here? Come on and join the party!"
She was about to ask him to explain further but he had turned away and addressed the others. "Hey, this is the other one we were telling you about. Gwen Cooper-Williams, our gorgeous and VERY VERY MARRIED arse-kicking police liaison."
"JACK!" Gwen was amused to hear Ianto echo her shock and she wondered what he was alarmed by.
Jack turned back to her. "Gwen, meet the Coven of Briddo A Awyr. Or is it Ac? How'd I do, Ianto?"
"Close enough," that man replied. "Not quite right yet but you're getting better."
"Wait, Jack, you mean we have witches on Roald Dahl Plass and that's NOT a problem?" Gwen asked.
One of the hooded figures turned and walked towards her. The hood flew off and Gwen found herself facing an elderly woman she knew all too well.
"Gwenevere Elizabeth Cooper-Williams, you will watch your tone when you address us!"
Gwen gulped. "Gran? You're a witch?"
"And I expect some respect from you, young lady."
"But..."
"But nothing. Your mum might be ashamed or embarrassed about her mum but I won't have it from you! Not with what you lot face every day."
Before Gwen could ask what that was about, another figure came over, clapping a hand on Jack's shoulder and, pushing between him and Ianto, one on the other man's shoulder. The hood flew back and Gwen stared.
"Uncle Rhodrhi? Jack, that's my great-uncle Rhodrhi!"
Jack stared at Rhodrhi and nodded. "Yeah, I thought he looked familiar. We met you at the wedding, didn't we?"
Rhodrhi nodded. "And did you really think Dilwen and I were foolish enough to drink champagne that you lot poured? Gwen here is my favorite of Dilwen and Arnallt's grandchildren. I'm an old bachelor, me, so I live through their families. And we thank you for protecting her virtue. But you two look friendly enough..."
Gwen and her grandmother both shouted at the man in mock horror as Ianto rolled his eyes and, to everyone's surprise, Jack seemed to be embarrassed.
"All right, enough of this silliness," Dilwen said after a moment. "I think it's time we had our final words with the Gods and headed somewhere for a warm drink indoors. Is your lovely Rhys likely to be awake at this hour? Because I seem to recall his brandied coffee was..."
Ianto cleared his throat and glared at Gwen.
"We can let Ianto make the coffee, Gran," she suggested. "But I think you'll be wanting Rhys to doctor it for you. I'll give him a call; I'm sure he's awake..." She started to reach for her mobile phone, but her grandmother put a hand on her wrist to stop her.
"Not now, dear. We need to finish our ritual and it's rude to the Gods to be on the telephone, if you don't mind."
Gwen nodded, unsure what her grandmother was saying but willing to let it be. Someone put a cup of warm but rapidly cooling cider into Gwen's hand and at her great-uncle's signal she drank it as he said something to her about "never thirst." Then someone else handed her a lovely little crescent shaped cookie, which she ate as her grandmother said something about "never hunger." Then she allowed herself to be shooed off to the edge of the plaza while the circle, hoods raised once again, reformed.
The words spoken in the circle were muffled somewhat by distance, but Rhodri's voice was clear when he intoned, "The dead go before us and we go behind them. For them the Gods dance and for us the Gods sing. Ancestors and lost friends, go where you will, but join us when you may. Our love for you remains and yours for us will live forever in our hearts."
The three from Torchwood exchanged glances. The words seemed to strike close to their own hearts. When Gwen looked back at the circle, she could swear she saw her grandmother smiling right at her.
A strange woman's voice took up the pronouncement. "We have feasted and made merry, we have welcomed new friends and old, we have widened the circle and celebrated the harvest of our work. The circle now is opened, never broken. Until we meet again."
The woman walked to a point in the circle between two of the candle-holders, and Rhodrhi went to a point exactly opposite her. They were carrying staffs. In unison, they raised their staffs, brought them down and dragged them briefly on the pavement. They turned back to face into the circle. "Until we meet again, dear friends," they said in unison.
It took less than five minutes for the entire scene to dissolve. Gwen couldn't be sure what had become of the fire bowl but when her police training made her ask, she was assured it was taken care of. Apparently, the fire tender was a local firefighter and knew well what needed to be done.
Gwen started to dial home, to warn Rhys that she, her family, and her co-workers were about to descend upon him. Before she dialed the final number, she asked, "By the way, you didn't dress like this for watching a coven in Plass at midnight. Where did you go?"
"Macbeth," Jack said. "This was better."
"I'll give thee a wind,"1 Ianto muttered.
"Please don't," Gwen said.
"As breath into the wind?"2 This time Ianto phrased it like a question.
"You had to study that in school, didn't you?" Jack was chuckling. "You know, we go on and evolve and learn and society changes and the damn human body changes and we're still reading Shakespeare. Not that that's a bad thing but we STILL don't know for sure who wrote what."
"I have no words."3 Ianto again, and while Gwen looked puzzled, Jack recognized the line and smiled. "Good. I'll hold you to that. Let's go."
1 Second Witch: Act I, Scene III
2 Macbeth: same
3 Macduff: Act V, Scene VII
About the name Gwenevere. I realize she's probably Gwendolyn but in MY reality, she was named Gwenevere at birth and as soon as it was legal she changed it. I know I would.
Cookies for anyone who can figure out which baby name dictionary I used to find the names. LOL!