9

Jack was watching the community around him. Some people in bright clothing, some in stark black contrasting robes as they all seemed to do their own thing. No set prayer or semblance of ritual as people stood and looked at the full moon.

She was full and beautiful, more than one person reaching their hands up to softly pray to her even as some little kids held hands and danced in a circle singing a song about her. It was a celebration of sorts.

Animals were there, no sign of a sacrifice like he sort of expected and the entire thing seemed… like a community meeting as hands were shook, soft murmurings of conversation and someone bursting into song.

Then it all fell quiet and Jack took Ianto's hand.

"Ianto…"

"Hush" Ianto softly sighed to him "Listen to the world."

Jack listened.

It was the last of the birdsong.

Dusk was closing and the night was sliding home overhead, the birds all growing silent as the world did a shift changeover.

It was quite eerie and at the same time with the soft crackling of the bonfire over to their left and a little one giggling softly as she petted a dog… it was comforting too.

Then everyone started talking again and Jack turned to Ianto "that was…"

"I know. You felt your breathing change? Cool right? A reset. Most of this hour is about networking, encouraging the kids to form bonds so in adult life they are close to others. A Coven is a real thing, necessary. You need those likeminded people around you so you don't start to feel a little inadequate of weird in the world out there. And don't' worry. I know what you are thinking, yeah. Some are dicks. Posers and theatrical nonce heads" Into laughed as he hooded Jack's arm "Come over here and meet a cousin."

Jack found the people to be energetically welcome and he did like a hug. It was like stepping back in time as the smell of hot meat filled the air. A pig on a spit. Yum. Jack noted two camps being set up. Two separate eating areas and Ianto noticed "Vegans."

"Really?"

"Yes. Some revere all those around us with a pulse" Ianto replied.

"And you?"

"Don't give me that crap… meat all the way" Ianto huffed "I am not a … well. Committed member of their click. They are not wrong, they live a clean life and are purse in thought and body. More power to them. I however, living in the land of men, do not have time or space for such pure thoughts. Too much 'For Fucksake' in my life to be entirely at one with the world. Only the through positivity can you hope to achieve Zen … or whatever and darling… I will never be pure. Too much murderous intent sometimes."

Jack found himself laughing at this answer as he reached out to kiss him and he saw it. Fleeting a moment… Ianto panicked. Jack took this to mean he did not want a public display and dropped his hand only to have Ianto seize it and yank him around behind him like something was about to attack. Now Jack saw the reason for Ianto's weird action. A woman was walking towards them and she was handsome in that timeless way. Her long limbs moving gracefully and he was reminded of a gazelle.

"Hello Ianto, who do you have here?" her voice was soft and melodic.

"My Jack.. Jack. His is Jack." Ianto was flustered, babbling as he tightened his grip on Jack's wrist and Jack saw the woman smirk as she looked at him. suddenly Jack knew who this was. An ex. Someone who hurt him once. Someone he did not want to taint this fresh and tentative bonding.

Ah. He stepped around Ianto and extended his hand "Hi there. Jack Harkness. You must be her, Ianto's ex. He did tell me you were like a model. Not your name though, we didn't talk about you much."

She blinked and then made a noise in her throat before accepting the hand, then drawing hers back as if scalded. She felt it. Jack was intrigued.

"I see" she said flatly, "You found a match."

"More than a match for me, Lisa. As did you!" Ianto said as he glanced at the man waiting off to one side with obvious annoyance.

"Well. I am happy for you. May we both live happily with our soul mates" she smiled in a fake way and turned to leave.

"Blessings Be to you" Jack blurted out "and you man there. Hope you both enjoy the evening."

She swung back to say something, clearly astonished that he would speak like that and the man spoke instead "blessed Be Brother. May your evening be a calm one too."

"With Ianto? Not a chance" Jack laughed loudly "We don't do anything calmly do we Tiger. Oh no. Lots of snarling, biting and sometimes teeth too."

Ianto felt the blush in his cheeks as Lisa's head jerked back like a slap had been delivered her mouth open and then she closed it as she stared at the man with the megawatt grin that almost put the Goddess to shame.

The man with her laughed, grabbing her hand and nodding politely as he dragged her away. Ianto tined to Jack "Well now… way to make an impression with my arranged wife. We were both still bonded when she took him to her bed. Quite the scandal"

"I hope you are compatible in every way" Lisa yelled around her mate, his grip apparently still propelling her away as she added "Mine is fulfilling!"

"I hope so, I like him fulfilling me on a daily basis… sometimes several times a day!" Jack said loudly so others could hear

"Jack!"

"We don't have matching T0-Shirts made up yet. Yours will say 'I'm with Him.' With an arrow at me and mine will say 'I'm with Him' with an arrow to you. Matching colours of course and we will hold hands, wear daisy dukes and mince with flappy wrists while saying Darlink a lot."

Ianto sighed as he slapped at him "stop that. I don't mean the gay thing. I mean… the … energy thing. You almost knocked her on her butt when you projected your animosity there. I am impressed. Not many can make their aura flex."

"Well…. You are my first Wizard. Who knows what things you can fill my aura with" Jack winked and Ianto sighed as he resisted slapping him.

Arse.

Nice Arse.