16
"Thanks Jack, I appreciate this" Gorge said as Jack helped him re-hang the drapes Ianto had corrected, the pleats now making them seem gathered and as Mildred pushed the button to open them, they sighed ever so sweetly with a soft brush against the floor.
"Wow" Jack grinned "That is cool."
"I … really… you and Ianto were so kind to help us. A competition after all" George gushed.
"Don't be silly. This is just a game… we are real people and in the end… we are all doing this for a good reason right? Besides, Ianto did the work, I am just plonking things about. Speaking of which, the glue on the brass will be dry and I need to go back to give it one last polish now it's set on the walls."
"Brass?"
"Yeah… brass paneling on the walls about… this far up with little patterns. In keeping with our jungle themed house, there are palm leaves and fern fronds along the floor level so in the semi dark when watching TV or just having the big fire going in the corner of the room the light will play on the brass indents. Looks super cool but had to be glued in today once the painting was done and the new carpet in." Jack explained.
"We are doing two completely different things. We are going a family room.. yours sounds more like a men's club" Mildred giggled.
"I know… god. I need a box of cigars for the sideboard… good call sweetie" Jack said, then leaned over to kiss her cheek before taking off to ask Ianto where you get cigars these days.
"You know… they are such nice boys" Mildred said to her husband as she watched him open and close the curtains again. "Ianto said there is a popcorn machine in that second hand shop down town… a cart one like… you know… a vendor's stall style you see in the summer in the park."
"Shit... did he give you the address?"
.
.
Books. Lots and lots of books, their leather bound goodness filling the shelves and Ianto hummed happily as he slide them home then started to unwrap the things from the second hand shop to place in front of them here and there.
A toy plane. A little glass apple, so cute. A little teddy bear. An old sextant. A pipe… oh... right … then the little jungle animals that fitted in the spaces between some books "Cariad. Want a pipe?"
"Wahoo" Jack rushed over to accept the old Sherlock Holmes style pipe with the big bowl that resembled a musical instrument "This is cool. Ah… I know just the spot."
Jack walked over to his chair and placed it on its side on top of the opened book. He stood back to consider like he has seen Ianto do, canting his head and poking it a bit to change the angle. Huh. You know... that actually worked doing that.
Ianto then added the frames photograph of him and Jack, the other of the twins and finally one of Mica and David with the twins. Instantly the room became a home.
"I really like that one" Jack said as he studied the picture.
"Toshi took that one" Ianto agreed.
"Done lover?"
"Me? Never" Ianto scoffed, then laughed as he stepped back and looked around "Cariad… the fireplace. Best set it right? Some wood in there… maybe some of those pinecones and stuff along the front? Hmmm?"
Jack rushed to comply, wanting to do that already but unsure if he should.
Ianto smiled and made out he hadn't noticed the wood and pinecones in the basket Jack had carried in and then out again.
This was his room this week… apart from Ianto's corner.
Let him have it.
.
.
The judges were enthralled with Mildred's drapes, George holding her hand as the judges called it inspired. The score was the highest they had received all show. Everyone applauded for them.
Then came Carl's house with the high tech and all the gadgets you could swish for. One judge said "Wow, my teenager would rather this to a bedroom. But… I do wonder… how would a family be in here when it seems just for one person's private space. It is an expensive and high tech room."
Carl puffed his chest to and made a show of looking along the line at Jack and Ianto with pride, then at Mildred and George. Then a judge said "is it just me or… it that TV too close to the gas fire?"
"Gas? OH dear… it is. Awww… not real. Nothing like a fire on a cold winter's night. But I guess it is like everything else in here… modern. Well done. No doubt he has the measurements right and that fire signed off with council to be that close to the floor."
Carl puffed so much he might float way soon. Ianto glare red and then a soft smile ticked at the image of the fucker turning into a hot air balloon that floated up and way to get popped by a blackbird at great height. In the arse. Yeah.
Then came the last house… as always.
"Oh my. This is different. So… adult. Not a child zone" one of the judges said as they looked around with interest "Look at this. Oh man…. I see my granddad happy in here… OK… look at the decanter… I would be happy in there too.. oh my god… are these first editions?"
"You know… with the fire going like that… look at the brass on the walls. Like we are surrounded by fire, the walls are alive with movement"
"I love it" another judge said with a nod of his head then they both turned to the female one.
"I jut wonder… what about the kids? Clearly this is a family home… oh. This is a man's retreat. Dad's room. Oh, I get it. Get home after a stressful day, come on here to sit and unwind before the call for the meal. Then after the kids are abed… oh… lovely. Like a den." She nodded.
Ianto nodded happily as their idea was recognized. This week was not about winning, it was about making a part of the home that made sense given the large child areas. An area that was NOT a child zone. It was needed.
.
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"I just don't understand" Carl was saying to anyone who would listen "George won.. like… curtains over the TV? Sounds so stupid. How did I know the fire was not bloody certified."
"Oh Ianto… that popcorn stand was so sweet… it just made the room" Mildred said as she hugged him "Thank you so much for that."
"Well… it is a happy thing… sometimes a happy thing makes all the difference. Your room was dark... now that and the gorgeous red bowl you found to put the wax fruit in… it looked so cute." Ianto replied, glad that Douglas was playing the game again, letting someone else win.
Ianto and Jack were satisfied this week.
Oh yeah… and fuck you Carl.
