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Fic - Traditions
It's that time of the year again but, unfortunately, I've been too busy with work and with working on my original stuff to really get much fanfic down lately. I the interest of full disclosure, this was originally posted on my site two years ago, so it may or may not seem familiar to a couple of you. It's never been posted on LJ though, before now.
Title: Traditions
Genre: SG-1, Gen
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Any season where Jack’s a Colonel, Sam’s a Major, Daniel’s alive, and the team is together.
Synopsis: Sometimes things go right. Sort of a response to a “Holiday Traditions” challenge.
Author’s Notes: This was previously posted on my page and Alphagate, but never here on LJ.
Disclaimer: I don’t own them, people with a lot of money do. I’m just borrowing them to play and making no profit from this.
~~~~~~~~~~
“They want us to what?” Jack asked incredulously.
“It’s a very important tradition to them,” Daniel insisted, not backing down.
“Let me get this straight,” Jack began with a quirk of his eyebrow. He glanced at the rest of his team, but both Carter and Teal’c were suddenly finding the pretty little ceremonial decorations of their temporary quarters completely fascinating and offered him precisely no help whatsoever. He cleared his throat and began his rant. “We just hiked, for nearly 11 hours through less than pleasant terrain, carrying incredibly heavy boxes of samples of all the crap we’re willing to trade, after sitting through three boring briefings on just why we want to trade in the first place and now they want us to stay up and sit with them in some sort of vigil for the next nine hours?”
“Closer to ten of our hours,” Daniel muttered in correction, and both knew he was not talking about the hike given that the good Colonel had cheerfully called out the time roughly every fifteen to twenty minutes the entire trek.
“Sir,” Sam quickly cut off the expected response, “General Hammond, Major Davis, and most of the Pentagon really want us to make a good impression and are counting on us to set up the trade relations. The mineral rights, let alone the networking with all the other technologically advanced cultures they have contact with will...”
“Yada, yada,” he cut her off, having heard the full song and dance back at the base. “But why the all-nighter? What purpose will it serve other than to make us drooling idiots by the time the actual negotiations come around?” he demanded, trying his hardest not to yawn in front of the others. Okay, so maybe he should not have stayed up watching the Simpson’s marathon the night before the mission.
Daniel had no such compunctions and covered a jaw cracking yawn before pushing his glasses back up his nose and explaining, “They only like the start major business issues at certain times of the year that they see as auspicious. We happened to visit during probably the most important of these times. Tonight is their longest night before the nights get shorter and the days get longer. They see it as the bringing of the light, of the good and prosperous. To make a contract or bond during this time is seen as infusing it with the light or with all the good intentions of both parties and the blessings of the deities they believe in.”
“I get it,” O’Neill sighed. At the disbelieving look he received, he insisted, “I really do. The stars are aligned and all that stuff. It’s not the first time we’ve run into this and, with our luck, won’t be the last. It’s just, how in the world are we supposed to stay up this long?”
At this point, Carter and Teal’c decided to join in the conversation again. Both held up extra packets of the cargo they had thought ahead to bring after actually listening to and paying attention to the various briefings they had attended over the last few days. “Coffee?” Sam offered.
~~~~~
As it turned out, their hosts appreciated the coffee and offered them something even better in exchange. It was a warm drink that tasted to Jack a bit like mulled cider, but had a caffeine rush stronger than Daniel’s best blends squirreled away at home. And there was food. Lots and lots and lots of food. They were encouraged to eat as much as they could as apparently the returning of the light was a sign of the returning of bounty and a new harvest as well. Tables nearly groaning under the weight of the foods lined the walls beneath the torchlight. A large bowl was placed in the center of each, where people would leave a tidbit or two of whatever they were eating throughout the night.
Then there was the dancing and games. At first, Jack felt silly joining in, but then he saw even the normally stoic Teal’c playing with the children. That was the other thing, the children. Dozens of little beings ranging in age from around two to the cusp of adulthood roamed around freely, laughing, playing and getting away with quite a lot. Apparently the youngest were not expected to make it through the entire night as there was a quiet area set aside with makeshift beds for them all. Some would crash for a bit, only to come out a few hours later to join in the festivities again.
The time passed far quicker than Jack would ever admit to. It helped that he had tuned out Daniel’s ramblings comparing the celebration to some ancient thing-a-ma-jig from Earth too many years ago for him to be overly interested mixed by some more modern thing done by no one he knew. It was also right around that time he found more of the cider, more of the children, and more of the games. When he saw Daniel joining in as well, he highly doubted he had hurt his friend’s feelings when his eyes had glazed over during the explanation.
Finally, it was the time they had all waited for. The doors at the end of the large building they were in were thrown open to greet the rising sun. He stood in near awe as the obviously carefully placed decorations seemed to catch every beam of light and send it cascading around the room, the radiance nearly blinding after the dim torches from earlier. The elders and the holy people stepped outside with what turned out to be the offering bowls from the tables, some of the throngs of children following after them with their parents and others either joining them or simply waiting inside.
The chanting and singing began and a quick glance over at the team linguist confirmed that, yes, he was trying to translate and memorize everything that was said. Jack looked over to Carter and saw his smile reflected in her eyes as one of the Hilians handed Daniel a piece of parchment with the words transcribed upon it. This was in contrast to earlier when they took away his notebook and pencil and dragged him out onto the dance floor.
After the songs ended and the holy people finished inscribing various unknown symbols in the air and leaving the offerings for the deity or deities (Jack was not clear if there was one or more and really did not want to take the time to ask Daniel or Sam), the crowds began to disperse, happily chatting away as they headed for their separate abodes.
“What now?” O’Neill asked as he team stepped up beside him.
“Now we are to rest,” Teal’c answered as he opened the door to their temporary quarters.
“The negotiations are to begin some time this afternoon,” Sam chimed in, sinking onto one of the cots provided. She reached down to undo the laces on her boots as she added, “They want everyone to be clear minded and well rested before starting any business transactions.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me! After all that hyped up cider stuff we drank, how in the hell are we supposed to sleep?” Jack asked, flopping back onto his own cot, which was surprisingly quite comfortable.
“I think I found the antidote,” Daniel yawned. He held up a small mug of what looked to be almost hot chocolate and gestured to a table next to the door which held three cups identical to his own as well as his confiscated notebook from earlier.
Sam pushed herself up from her cot and wandered over. Picking one up, she sniffed it gingerly. Eyes wide, she said, “It smells like...”
“I know!” Daniel agreed before she even finished her sentence. “Just wait until you taste it.”
Sam took the tiniest of sips and, if possible, her eyes opened even wider. “Okay, forget the rest of the stuff, we have to trade for this alone,” she insisted before taking a much larger draught.
O’Neill pushed himself up and wandered over to investigate. He picked up one of the cups and offered it to Teal’c, “You want to try, big guy?”
“I shall refrain and keep watch,” the Jaffa replied. He settled down next to the door on the floor, sitting in lotus position as he watched over his friends.
“Think it’s safe?” Jack asked wearily. Their hosts had been nothing but polite, courteous and generous so far, but that didn’t stop his doubting nature. They had come based on the recommendation of the Tok’ra which meant both that he trusted the Hilians as much as the Tok’ra, and that he was comforted by the notion that Jacob might have an idea of where to start searching for their bodies.
“I saw them giving the exact same thing to the kids earlier,” Daniel told him. “I asked about it and they said it is a traditional night time drink. I tired some then and it tasted the same. It doesn’t knock you out, it just kind of...” he shrugged, leaving off the end.
“Relaxes you, like a cup of warm tea before bed,” Carter finished for him. She curled up on her cot again and snuggled under the covers with a yawn.
Jack took a small sip and had to admit it was damn good. Just to be on the safe side though, he grabbed one of their sample containers and poured in a portion from the other cup. If nothing else, maybe they could patent the stuff when they got home.
He sat on his cot and slowly drained his mug, watching as Daniel carefully placed the parchment he received in with his gear. That done, the linguist haphazardly kicked off his boots and threw himself onto his own bed. One more impressive yawn later, and it seemed the younger man was down for the count.
Jack smiled and shook his head at his teammate’s antics. He stood and put his now empty cup back on the table before unfolding the blanket at the foot of Daniel’s bed and tucking it around the other man. He received a mumble that he took as thanks for his efforts. After one last glance around the room to make sure everything was secure, he finally laid down himself.
He did not fall asleep nearly as quickly as the two scientists, but drifted off slowly like he would any usual night. When he opened his eyes again, he could tell from the slant of the light coming in through a crack in the blinds that several hours had passed. A quick glance around the room and he was pleased to note all team members present and accounted for and that nothing seemed to be amiss.
“The negotiations will begin in approximately one hour, O’Neill,” Teal’c told him from his position in front of the door. “I suggest we allow Major Carter and Daniel Jackson the additional rest at this time.”
“Yeah, let’s let the kids sleep,” Jack agreed with a grin. He stretched, feeling all the joints and tendons in his body realign themselves properly. He sat at the edge of his cot to look at his friend due to the lack of chairs in the room and asked, “You figure out what to get them for Christmas yet?”
“The holiday is but a week away, have you not procured items at this time?” Teal’c questioned.
“Well, yeah,” O’Neill said defensively. From the look he received in return, he doubted the larger man fell for it. “I’m just checking, that’s all,” he insisted.
Teal’c gave him another look, but did not say anything other than, “I had previously chosen items, but procured one more while you slumbered. One of the Hilian elders visited to ensure our comfort and gifted me with the recipe for the chocolate-like drink they so enjoyed upon request.”
“Damn,” Jack cursed with a smile. “You beat me to it!”
“Perhaps you may negotiate for the ingredients of the caffeinated beverage later today,” the Jaffa suggested.
“That is an excellent idea,” Jack agreed. He paused, then said, “You know, I think this is one of the few times the Tok’ra haven’t screwed us over.”
“Perhaps this should be considered a holiday present from our allies,” Teal’c considered with the barest hint of amusement.
“’God bless us, every one’?” O’Neill asked, knowing his friend would get the quote. Daniel had rented the movie for him just last week and they had made a night out of it.
“Which god?” Teal’c deadpanned.
“All of them!” Jack exclaimed with an emphatic nod.
“Indeed,” Teal’c agreed. He settled back to enjoy the friendly banter and wait for the others to rise. He understood the Hilians and their need for rituals, just as he understood the humans and their need for their own. To him, though, the ritual of friendship seemed to surpass them all.
End.
~~~~~~~~~~
Feedback is always welcome.
Title: Traditions
Genre: SG-1, Gen
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Any season where Jack’s a Colonel, Sam’s a Major, Daniel’s alive, and the team is together.
Synopsis: Sometimes things go right. Sort of a response to a “Holiday Traditions” challenge.
Author’s Notes: This was previously posted on my page and Alphagate, but never here on LJ.
Disclaimer: I don’t own them, people with a lot of money do. I’m just borrowing them to play and making no profit from this.
~~~~~~~~~~
“They want us to what?” Jack asked incredulously.
“It’s a very important tradition to them,” Daniel insisted, not backing down.
“Let me get this straight,” Jack began with a quirk of his eyebrow. He glanced at the rest of his team, but both Carter and Teal’c were suddenly finding the pretty little ceremonial decorations of their temporary quarters completely fascinating and offered him precisely no help whatsoever. He cleared his throat and began his rant. “We just hiked, for nearly 11 hours through less than pleasant terrain, carrying incredibly heavy boxes of samples of all the crap we’re willing to trade, after sitting through three boring briefings on just why we want to trade in the first place and now they want us to stay up and sit with them in some sort of vigil for the next nine hours?”
“Closer to ten of our hours,” Daniel muttered in correction, and both knew he was not talking about the hike given that the good Colonel had cheerfully called out the time roughly every fifteen to twenty minutes the entire trek.
“Sir,” Sam quickly cut off the expected response, “General Hammond, Major Davis, and most of the Pentagon really want us to make a good impression and are counting on us to set up the trade relations. The mineral rights, let alone the networking with all the other technologically advanced cultures they have contact with will...”
“Yada, yada,” he cut her off, having heard the full song and dance back at the base. “But why the all-nighter? What purpose will it serve other than to make us drooling idiots by the time the actual negotiations come around?” he demanded, trying his hardest not to yawn in front of the others. Okay, so maybe he should not have stayed up watching the Simpson’s marathon the night before the mission.
Daniel had no such compunctions and covered a jaw cracking yawn before pushing his glasses back up his nose and explaining, “They only like the start major business issues at certain times of the year that they see as auspicious. We happened to visit during probably the most important of these times. Tonight is their longest night before the nights get shorter and the days get longer. They see it as the bringing of the light, of the good and prosperous. To make a contract or bond during this time is seen as infusing it with the light or with all the good intentions of both parties and the blessings of the deities they believe in.”
“I get it,” O’Neill sighed. At the disbelieving look he received, he insisted, “I really do. The stars are aligned and all that stuff. It’s not the first time we’ve run into this and, with our luck, won’t be the last. It’s just, how in the world are we supposed to stay up this long?”
At this point, Carter and Teal’c decided to join in the conversation again. Both held up extra packets of the cargo they had thought ahead to bring after actually listening to and paying attention to the various briefings they had attended over the last few days. “Coffee?” Sam offered.
~~~~~
As it turned out, their hosts appreciated the coffee and offered them something even better in exchange. It was a warm drink that tasted to Jack a bit like mulled cider, but had a caffeine rush stronger than Daniel’s best blends squirreled away at home. And there was food. Lots and lots and lots of food. They were encouraged to eat as much as they could as apparently the returning of the light was a sign of the returning of bounty and a new harvest as well. Tables nearly groaning under the weight of the foods lined the walls beneath the torchlight. A large bowl was placed in the center of each, where people would leave a tidbit or two of whatever they were eating throughout the night.
Then there was the dancing and games. At first, Jack felt silly joining in, but then he saw even the normally stoic Teal’c playing with the children. That was the other thing, the children. Dozens of little beings ranging in age from around two to the cusp of adulthood roamed around freely, laughing, playing and getting away with quite a lot. Apparently the youngest were not expected to make it through the entire night as there was a quiet area set aside with makeshift beds for them all. Some would crash for a bit, only to come out a few hours later to join in the festivities again.
The time passed far quicker than Jack would ever admit to. It helped that he had tuned out Daniel’s ramblings comparing the celebration to some ancient thing-a-ma-jig from Earth too many years ago for him to be overly interested mixed by some more modern thing done by no one he knew. It was also right around that time he found more of the cider, more of the children, and more of the games. When he saw Daniel joining in as well, he highly doubted he had hurt his friend’s feelings when his eyes had glazed over during the explanation.
Finally, it was the time they had all waited for. The doors at the end of the large building they were in were thrown open to greet the rising sun. He stood in near awe as the obviously carefully placed decorations seemed to catch every beam of light and send it cascading around the room, the radiance nearly blinding after the dim torches from earlier. The elders and the holy people stepped outside with what turned out to be the offering bowls from the tables, some of the throngs of children following after them with their parents and others either joining them or simply waiting inside.
The chanting and singing began and a quick glance over at the team linguist confirmed that, yes, he was trying to translate and memorize everything that was said. Jack looked over to Carter and saw his smile reflected in her eyes as one of the Hilians handed Daniel a piece of parchment with the words transcribed upon it. This was in contrast to earlier when they took away his notebook and pencil and dragged him out onto the dance floor.
After the songs ended and the holy people finished inscribing various unknown symbols in the air and leaving the offerings for the deity or deities (Jack was not clear if there was one or more and really did not want to take the time to ask Daniel or Sam), the crowds began to disperse, happily chatting away as they headed for their separate abodes.
“What now?” O’Neill asked as he team stepped up beside him.
“Now we are to rest,” Teal’c answered as he opened the door to their temporary quarters.
“The negotiations are to begin some time this afternoon,” Sam chimed in, sinking onto one of the cots provided. She reached down to undo the laces on her boots as she added, “They want everyone to be clear minded and well rested before starting any business transactions.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me! After all that hyped up cider stuff we drank, how in the hell are we supposed to sleep?” Jack asked, flopping back onto his own cot, which was surprisingly quite comfortable.
“I think I found the antidote,” Daniel yawned. He held up a small mug of what looked to be almost hot chocolate and gestured to a table next to the door which held three cups identical to his own as well as his confiscated notebook from earlier.
Sam pushed herself up from her cot and wandered over. Picking one up, she sniffed it gingerly. Eyes wide, she said, “It smells like...”
“I know!” Daniel agreed before she even finished her sentence. “Just wait until you taste it.”
Sam took the tiniest of sips and, if possible, her eyes opened even wider. “Okay, forget the rest of the stuff, we have to trade for this alone,” she insisted before taking a much larger draught.
O’Neill pushed himself up and wandered over to investigate. He picked up one of the cups and offered it to Teal’c, “You want to try, big guy?”
“I shall refrain and keep watch,” the Jaffa replied. He settled down next to the door on the floor, sitting in lotus position as he watched over his friends.
“Think it’s safe?” Jack asked wearily. Their hosts had been nothing but polite, courteous and generous so far, but that didn’t stop his doubting nature. They had come based on the recommendation of the Tok’ra which meant both that he trusted the Hilians as much as the Tok’ra, and that he was comforted by the notion that Jacob might have an idea of where to start searching for their bodies.
“I saw them giving the exact same thing to the kids earlier,” Daniel told him. “I asked about it and they said it is a traditional night time drink. I tired some then and it tasted the same. It doesn’t knock you out, it just kind of...” he shrugged, leaving off the end.
“Relaxes you, like a cup of warm tea before bed,” Carter finished for him. She curled up on her cot again and snuggled under the covers with a yawn.
Jack took a small sip and had to admit it was damn good. Just to be on the safe side though, he grabbed one of their sample containers and poured in a portion from the other cup. If nothing else, maybe they could patent the stuff when they got home.
He sat on his cot and slowly drained his mug, watching as Daniel carefully placed the parchment he received in with his gear. That done, the linguist haphazardly kicked off his boots and threw himself onto his own bed. One more impressive yawn later, and it seemed the younger man was down for the count.
Jack smiled and shook his head at his teammate’s antics. He stood and put his now empty cup back on the table before unfolding the blanket at the foot of Daniel’s bed and tucking it around the other man. He received a mumble that he took as thanks for his efforts. After one last glance around the room to make sure everything was secure, he finally laid down himself.
He did not fall asleep nearly as quickly as the two scientists, but drifted off slowly like he would any usual night. When he opened his eyes again, he could tell from the slant of the light coming in through a crack in the blinds that several hours had passed. A quick glance around the room and he was pleased to note all team members present and accounted for and that nothing seemed to be amiss.
“The negotiations will begin in approximately one hour, O’Neill,” Teal’c told him from his position in front of the door. “I suggest we allow Major Carter and Daniel Jackson the additional rest at this time.”
“Yeah, let’s let the kids sleep,” Jack agreed with a grin. He stretched, feeling all the joints and tendons in his body realign themselves properly. He sat at the edge of his cot to look at his friend due to the lack of chairs in the room and asked, “You figure out what to get them for Christmas yet?”
“The holiday is but a week away, have you not procured items at this time?” Teal’c questioned.
“Well, yeah,” O’Neill said defensively. From the look he received in return, he doubted the larger man fell for it. “I’m just checking, that’s all,” he insisted.
Teal’c gave him another look, but did not say anything other than, “I had previously chosen items, but procured one more while you slumbered. One of the Hilian elders visited to ensure our comfort and gifted me with the recipe for the chocolate-like drink they so enjoyed upon request.”
“Damn,” Jack cursed with a smile. “You beat me to it!”
“Perhaps you may negotiate for the ingredients of the caffeinated beverage later today,” the Jaffa suggested.
“That is an excellent idea,” Jack agreed. He paused, then said, “You know, I think this is one of the few times the Tok’ra haven’t screwed us over.”
“Perhaps this should be considered a holiday present from our allies,” Teal’c considered with the barest hint of amusement.
“’God bless us, every one’?” O’Neill asked, knowing his friend would get the quote. Daniel had rented the movie for him just last week and they had made a night out of it.
“Which god?” Teal’c deadpanned.
“All of them!” Jack exclaimed with an emphatic nod.
“Indeed,” Teal’c agreed. He settled back to enjoy the friendly banter and wait for the others to rise. He understood the Hilians and their need for rituals, just as he understood the humans and their need for their own. To him, though, the ritual of friendship seemed to surpass them all.
End.
~~~~~~~~~~
Feedback is always welcome.