TRIAL RUN

[mr_ianto_jones]

*is in the back garden with Caeth and Dafydd, looking at a pile of blue tent fabric and the world's largest selection of poles*
Daf, put that down, it's not a sword.
*holds up two poles and shows them to Caetherine*
How does pole A differ from pole C? There must be something in there about how to tell which one is which, it doesn't say anything on them.

*helpfully*
This one's an inch longer? Is that good or bad?

Comments

[off_c]

*peers at them, then flips through the manual*
There should be a diagram somewhere. Aren't you the type of guy who reads all the directions first?

[mr_ianto_jones]

I've read them. I thought you might have a better eye. A Japanese man drew a picture on page three, but A and C look the same length in the picture.
*joins you and flips the page*
But B looks shorter, but it's clearly not B because B has the tapered end and A and C have the nodule thing.
*looks at the pole again*
I'm going with A. It's the first one you put in, so logically it should be the first letter, yeah? Back me up, pet.

[off_c]

*looks carefully at the poles, then back at the diagram*

*hunts through the pile of poles*
*hands you one*
A.
*points at the longer one*
C.
*points at the shorter one*
Other tent.

[mr_ianto_jones]

How did that get in here?
*realises*
Dafydd!
*turns to find he's run off*

Good thing we're not taking the kids.
*gets to work on the tent*

[off_c]

He's quite the little dynamo lately.
*lays out the rest of the poles in order*

[mr_ianto_jones]

*from inside the still rather flaccid looking tent*
Just a bit.
*pokes his head out*
E and F.
*takes them*
If he starts really running rings around you, let me know and I'll have a chat, yeah?

[off_c]

He's a little boy; that's what little boys do.

*eyes the tent*
With those dome ones you just put in two sticks and four stakes and you're done. I don't see why it has to be any more complicated than that in this day and age.

[mr_ianto_jones]

I just don't want him taking advantage of your condition, sweetheart.

*pulls on something and suddenly tightens the whole thing into shape*
I like this kind. It's more fun. Look... rooms. Sort of.

[off_c]

*gasps, impressed*
MUCH better than a dome. There are definite possibilities here.

Maybe we should... try it out?

[mr_ianto_jones]

*holds open the door flap and lets you in*
Try it out? Try it out how?

[off_c]

*crawls in on her knees*
See how hard the floor is, that sort of thing.
*looks at you and licks her lips*
Is there room to stand?

[mr_ianto_jones]

Of course there is. Well... not in the two room bit, but this main bit here's fine.
*holds out his hand*
Jack and I will take care of the floor. You won't recognise the place.

[off_c]

*kisses your hand*
*stands*
I'm so excited. I can't wait.

[mr_ianto_jones]

Yes, you can. And you will.
*hauls out his labelmaker and stickers up the poles in situ*
This should be a breeze tomorrow.
*pokes his head out*
We'll have to improvise the little one, it's going to rain soon, I need to get them rolled back up.

[off_c]

Let me help.
*starts disassembling the tent*

[mr_ianto_jones]

Thanks, pet.
*has it down in no time, and puts the whole thing back in its bag*
We'd better get inside.

[off_c]

*gets everything inside with you*
Brr.

Hot chocolate?

[mr_ianto_jones]

Yeah... that sounds good.

*sits*
It's supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow.

[off_c]

*fixes a hot chocolate for us*
What would we do if it rained?

[mr_ianto_jones]

*drinks*
Mmmm.

We'd be stuck in a tent. I'm sure we'd make our own fun, but it might be a bit wetter.

[off_c]

*sighs*
I'd rather be stuck in a wet tent with you than be anywhere else by myself.

[mr_ianto_jones]

Good. I hope it doesn't come to that, though.
*puts his arm around you*

[off_c]

*kisses you*
So do I. I hate being wet. Remember how you used not to let me dry off after a shower?

[mr_ianto_jones]

*smirks*
Yeah. If it rains, I might just put you outside naked for ten minutes and watch you pout.

[off_c]

...Oh.

*sips her chocolate quietly*