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Title: "Customary Strangeness"
Disclaimer: Being a bloke who likes to slash pretty men doesn't make me RTD, I don't work for the BBC, and as much as I might like to, I don't own Jack or Ianto or any part of Torchwood. I do, however, order pizza under that name on principle.
Pairings: None
Rating: PG
Notes/Summary: This was my entry for the the Gift Giving/Candle prompt over at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
writerinadrawer. FYI: There are links at the end of the piece that should clarify any unfamiliar terms. Who says fanfic can't be educational?
Shameless Plug: As always, I encourage folks to check outwriterinadrawer. Please consider popping over to read and vote. Only half of the original competitors remain, so things are starting to get exciting. I'm told that stories for this week's round will go up sometime around 4 PM Central Time (-6 GMT) and voting typically runs until 4 PM Central Time on Sunday.
Jack scowled at the thing waiting on the tourist office counter. It nearly defied description. The only words that came to him were “fruit tripod,” but that left out the three knobby stick legs and the sprig of holly that poked jauntily skyward from the top of the thing. He was considering calling down to the Hub for back-up when Ianto stepped out from behind the beaded curtain. Their archivist’s expression was placid, though his eyes betrayed a hint of mischief.
“Problem, sir?”
“Is this yours?” Jack asked, careful not to take his eyes off the whatever-it-was. “And if so, what is it? Why is it?”
Ianto set his coffee down on the desk top. “It’s for Calennig; a symbol of prosperity for the new year. Children traditionally carry these around door to door while asking for gifts. I even know a little verse to go along with it if you’re interested. I assure you, it’s perfectly safe. I’m surprised you’ve never seen one before.”
“So it’s not alien?”
“No more so than Gwen and myself. Then again, I suppose Owen might say that alien tech can’t hold a candle to Welsh culture in terms of sheer weirdness.”
Jack cocked his head to one side in thought. “Yeah, well, I guess it’s not any crazier than chopping down a tree, putting it in your house, and then wrapping it up in fairy lights and tinsel.”
“Yes, well, wait until you’ve seen the Mari Lwyd.”
===
- Info on Calennig @ Wikipedia and one with pictures at St. Fagans.
- Info on and pictures of the Mari Lwyd @ Folkwales.org.uk and St. Fagans.
Disclaimer: Being a bloke who likes to slash pretty men doesn't make me RTD, I don't work for the BBC, and as much as I might like to, I don't own Jack or Ianto or any part of Torchwood. I do, however, order pizza under that name on principle.
Pairings: None
Rating: PG
Notes/Summary: This was my entry for the the Gift Giving/Candle prompt over at
writerinadrawer. FYI: There are links at the end of the piece that should clarify any unfamiliar terms. Who says fanfic can't be educational?Shameless Plug: As always, I encourage folks to check out
writerinadrawer. Please consider popping over to read and vote. Only half of the original competitors remain, so things are starting to get exciting. I'm told that stories for this week's round will go up sometime around 4 PM Central Time (-6 GMT) and voting typically runs until 4 PM Central Time on Sunday.Jack scowled at the thing waiting on the tourist office counter. It nearly defied description. The only words that came to him were “fruit tripod,” but that left out the three knobby stick legs and the sprig of holly that poked jauntily skyward from the top of the thing. He was considering calling down to the Hub for back-up when Ianto stepped out from behind the beaded curtain. Their archivist’s expression was placid, though his eyes betrayed a hint of mischief.
“Problem, sir?”
“Is this yours?” Jack asked, careful not to take his eyes off the whatever-it-was. “And if so, what is it? Why is it?”
Ianto set his coffee down on the desk top. “It’s for Calennig; a symbol of prosperity for the new year. Children traditionally carry these around door to door while asking for gifts. I even know a little verse to go along with it if you’re interested. I assure you, it’s perfectly safe. I’m surprised you’ve never seen one before.”
“So it’s not alien?”
“No more so than Gwen and myself. Then again, I suppose Owen might say that alien tech can’t hold a candle to Welsh culture in terms of sheer weirdness.”
Jack cocked his head to one side in thought. “Yeah, well, I guess it’s not any crazier than chopping down a tree, putting it in your house, and then wrapping it up in fairy lights and tinsel.”
“Yes, well, wait until you’ve seen the Mari Lwyd.”
===
- Info on Calennig @ Wikipedia and one with pictures at St. Fagans.
- Info on and pictures of the Mari Lwyd @ Folkwales.org.uk and St. Fagans.
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