12
OK, so it was worse than first thought. Archie had a very wide array of 'non' traditional kilts and the bight orange and green number had really tickled Jack for some reason and he was currently swishing about as he explained in a silly voice what a sporran was for.
Owen chose a black one, severe and slimming… so he said. He was also excited to find it was a little short for him and although Archie had tried to get him into a longer one, he was having too much fun letting his 'wee laddies' fly. Archie was rubbing off.
Nellan had decided against one once he saw what they were, little hands out as he shook them in a solid denial of the Kilt, even as Denny and Kenneth became Kilt lovers in no time. Ianto felt like he was going a bit insane, especially as Denny happily told EVERYONE he was a commando in his kilt, everyone getting the message.
It was day three of Kilts Gone Wild when finally Tish leaned over and said softly "Jack, are you wearing undies?"
"Wanna lay on the floor for me to walk over you to find out?" Jack winked "That's a traditional way ya know. The men walk about swishing and on the floor you can see right up their... Well."
Tish blushed as she shook her head and Ianto resisted the eye roll that was threatening, instead changing the subject "John, did you check that camera?"
"Yes, looks like something rubbed against it. I found deer fur stick in the strap so I think most likely a young bull that is rubbing his horns on the bark, the camera was an accident. Its reset" John replied.
"Today I want to go to the edge of the clearing, the far edge. I want to plant a few things so they have time to get established before we start to think about building and stuff" Owen said.
"Speaking of building, we can start that now" Jack leaned forward to address him "We have the lumber, the room on the flight deck. If we can build a house, the away vessels are strong enough to lift them, we can simply fly the competed houses into position when they are completed."
"Can we?"
"Yes" Ianto agreed "Great idea. But not on the other side of the clearing please. I want the settlement to be just outside the trees, close to the Valiant so if we do get Bots or unfriendlies we still have an escape plan in place"
"You and your doom and gloom" Owen sighed.
"Owen, I know you like the soil that side, I am sorry. I don't like that distance for us, not if something might go wrong. I am too leery. Besides, we can' be greedy. We have to share this space with the wildlife, we take both sides and traipse about all over the place owning it all we are being rude and selfish."
Owen had not thought of that "And we might chase away some of the animals here first. Right. Yeah, they need a home too."
"Besides, that would be a great spot for camping now and then. Make a thing of it with the kids, an expedition into the unknown. Then it's like somewhere new" Jack tried for a compromise.
That's Jack. Trying to make them all happy while not trampling on Ianto's decision. Ianto knew and nodded, the thought of a tent there now and then not as bad as permanently claiming the place. And it would teach the kids how to respect nature. What is left of it.
"Well, this is all future shit" Owen said as he sat back and looked around the table, Frank nodding as he suggested looking into building their first house to get a 'feel' for it would be a good idea.
"If you make the first one a small one, maybe even like a cubby house for the kids but bigger… a shack. Then when we start moving them to the site one of the small shacks can be the utility shed for all the tools needed for once the houses are relocated, save moving shit back and forth all the time" Owen suggested.
"And the kids can decorate it, feel part of it" SJ agreed as she took notes "Also, if we are going to have a house for the kids it can be more like a school room? Then when it's on the ground they still have a place that's theirs?"
"Sarah Jane is right" Jack nodded "after building a shack for a feeling, we need the next building to be a school house. The kids need to feel safe, get used to proper walls and things again, and for some it will be a first. Denny and Nellan will not know what windows are for a start"
"Crazy, an entire world they will see for the first time, and we can only dream of what it used to be" Toshiko said softly, shaking her head.
"But this one will be better, because it's ours. We will be better caretakers of it" Ianto assured her with a pat to her arm, "But I do like the idea of a school house too. How about we get Patty and Cindy involved with ideas? They might feel more a part of the team. I know they still feel like outsiders."
And so, they began to plan their future village that would one day sit in the shadow of the Valliant.
Hopefully not with kilt wearing maniacs inside.
