Civil Union
Jul. 27th, 2011 07:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stringertheoryTitle: Civil Union
Rating: PG
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson
Word Count: 1408
Categories: friendship, humor
Spoilers/Warnings: None.
Summary: The team visits a peaceful planet, but runs into a bit of a hassle concerning Sam and local customs.
Note: This was meant to be a drabble, but it somehow turned into a ficlet. Written for the belly laughs.
“Well, Daniel? What's the verdict?” Jack shifted his stance, the only outward sign of his impatience.
The group of natives the team had encountered near the Gate maintained their distance, watching their interactions with interest. Jack almost tossed them a wave, but caught himself just in time. No one wanted a repeat of PR7-635; better safe than sorry.
Daniel frowned as he approached. “They appear to be a fragment of the Berbers—specifically the Tuareg—but there are also hints of Native American inheritance, the Tlingit of the Pacific Northwest, if I'm not mistaken.” He glanced back over his shoulder at the hunting party. “Their language sounds like a mixture of Berber and Middle Aramaic, though, which doesn't make any sense—”
“So there's a language barrier?” Jack cut in.
“No.” Daniel gave him a look.
“Then what's the hold up?”
“No hold up. We were just getting to know one another. I found out—”
“Daniel: negotiations, trade, shiny new toys for Carter to play with.”
“—that their 'power' is located in their village not far from here, you're welcome.”
“'Power'?” Jack repeated, eying the natives skeptically.
“Well, they mentioned a hut of 'stone trees'—”
“'Stone trees'?” Sam asked.
“Rough translation,” Daniel advised. “I'm sketchy on the Berber languages and my Aramaic has seen better days, but it sounds like they could be talking about ruins of some kind.”
“Might be Ancient, sir,” Sam told Jack. “This was one of the planets you added to the Gate database.”
“I am uncertain that these people will have much to offer.” Teal'c quirked one eyebrow in an expression of doubt. He watched the natives with narrowed eyes.
“We've encountered advanced technology in seemingly undeveloped societies before,” Sam pointed out. “I think it's worth a shot.”
Jack adjusted his cap and sighed. “So we go over the river and through the woods?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, Daniel,” Jack said with a wave of his hand. “Tell these nice folks that we'd love to see their stone trees.”
The locals were polite and accommodating, leading them through the forest at a sedate pace and taking care to point out interesting landmarks as they went. Whether the tour treatment was meant to show off their world or to subtly give the outsiders clues on how to find their way back to the gate, it was a nice gesture.
A crowd greeted them when they arrived in the village, smiling faces and hands that reached out to gently pat or touch them in welcome. The village itself consisted of about thirty domed huts of varying sizes. They were arranged in a rough circle around a large structure that was clearly of foreign design. The ruins were impressive and spoke of a building that would have been even more so. The exterior of the structure had sustained extensive damage over the years, but the interior appeared to be mostly intact. Even as they watched, a small contingent of older adults descended the short staircase that led into the ruins.
“Ancient?” Jack muttered to Daniel.
“Definitely not Goa'uld,” Daniel whispered back. “Or Asgard.” He squinted at the structure. “I'd need a closer look before I can be sure, but I think they just might be Ancient.”
The hunting party brought them to a stop halfway across the open space between the huts and the ruins. With a tug of his sleeve, they guided Daniel on to meet the elders approaching them. The team watched as Daniel spoke with the group. Much arm waving and sign language was employed, but eventually Daniel nodded and walked back over to the team. His expression was caught somewhere between embarrassment and concern.
“Daniel,” Jack said warily. “What's going on?”
“They've agreed to let us into the Center.”
“The—”
“The ruins. They call it their Center.”
“But?” Jack prompted.
“But there's a bit of a problem.”
“The duck-and-run-the-natives-are-restless kind of problem, or the I-think-I-might-have-just-sold-one-of-us-to-the-grand-poobah kind of problem?”
“No, the other kind,” Daniel said with a frown.
“There's another one?”
“They won't let Sam inside unless she's married.”
“Excuse me?” Sam cocked an eyebrow in an eerie imitation of Teal'c. Considering how pleased Teal'c looked upon seeing it, he might have taught her.
“We are not marrying Carter off to a local,” Jack said firmly. “No matter what they have in their Center.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don't mention it.”
Daniel shook his head. “Not that she 'gets' married, but that she 'is' married.”
“Why must Major Carter be married?” Teal'c asked.
“It has to do with their cultural interpretation of adulthood,” Daniel explained. “Only adults are allowed in the Center, which they view as sacred ground and use for all clan meetings and special events. Women aren't considered adults until they're married.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked pensive. “From what I understand, males become adults once they join a hunting party for the first time, thereby becoming a contributing member of society. Females don't reach adulthood until they marry and become heads of their own households.”
Sam, whose expression had grown thunderous as he talked, calmed slightly. “Head of the household?” she asked.
Daniel nodded. “They appear to be a matrilinear society—”
“Lineage traced through the mother,” Sam clarified for Jack and Teal'c.
“—who maintain an order of equal rights between the sexes and determine status by age, possessions, and sex.”
“Sex?”
“I think the women are the property owners,” Daniel said, glancing around at the huts, many of which contained a woman or two in its doorway. “That's typical of matrilinear groups.”
“Oh,” Sam said, somewhat mollified. “That's okay, then.”
“So, just tell 'em she's married,” Jack advised, waving a hand at the elders, who were waiting patiently. Other locals had gathered at respectful distances, watching covertly or blatantly, clearly curious about their visitors.
“I did,” said Daniel, “but they suspect it's one of us.”
“Oh,” Sam said. She glanced among her teammates, a smile threatening at the corner of her mouth even as her eyes grew wary.
“Spouses sit together in the Center and participate in all the clan meetings as a single unit.”
“So—”
“We have to marry Sam.”
The group went silent. No one looked at Sam. The amused smile on her face faded into a frown and quickly continued on to a scowl.
“Well don't everyone volunteer at once!”
Teal'c opened his mouth to speak, but Jack's response cut across him.
“I don't think I should...” he began.
“I did it last time—”
“No, I did.”
Sam leaned back on her heels, torn between being amused and taking offense.
“No,” Daniel countered, “last time was the Adoori, with the tattoo thing.”
“No, it was PY4-328, the nomads with the—”
“I don't think we'll have to do that again,” Daniel said quickly, flicking a worried glance between Sam and Jack.
“I will marry Major Carter,” Teal'c rumbled.
Jack and Daniel turned to him, both seeming to have forgotten for the moment that he was even there. He stared back at them serenely.
“Thank you, Teal'c.” Sam grinned widely and slipped her arm through his.
The spectators had apparently made bets as to which of the men was Sam's husband, as smug nods and disbelieving head shakes rippled through the crowd when Sam took Teal'c's arm. Together, they strode toward the welcome committee. Some of the local women gathered near Sam, smiling behind their hands and making appreciative noises about the hunk of Jaffahood hanging off her other arm. On the opposite side, some of the men greeted Teal'c with grave nods, slaps on the back, and the ubiquitous arm grasp. However, from the glances they threw Sam's way, it was clear they were just as impressed by Sam as the women were by Teal'c.
Daniel and Jack, left behind, shared a look.
“We're in trouble, aren't we?” Daniel asked.
“Yup.”
With identical sighs, they trotted over to join the others.
Rating: PG
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson
Word Count: 1408
Categories: friendship, humor
Spoilers/Warnings: None.
Summary: The team visits a peaceful planet, but runs into a bit of a hassle concerning Sam and local customs.
Note: This was meant to be a drabble, but it somehow turned into a ficlet. Written for the belly laughs.
“Well, Daniel? What's the verdict?” Jack shifted his stance, the only outward sign of his impatience.
The group of natives the team had encountered near the Gate maintained their distance, watching their interactions with interest. Jack almost tossed them a wave, but caught himself just in time. No one wanted a repeat of PR7-635; better safe than sorry.
Daniel frowned as he approached. “They appear to be a fragment of the Berbers—specifically the Tuareg—but there are also hints of Native American inheritance, the Tlingit of the Pacific Northwest, if I'm not mistaken.” He glanced back over his shoulder at the hunting party. “Their language sounds like a mixture of Berber and Middle Aramaic, though, which doesn't make any sense—”
“So there's a language barrier?” Jack cut in.
“No.” Daniel gave him a look.
“Then what's the hold up?”
“No hold up. We were just getting to know one another. I found out—”
“Daniel: negotiations, trade, shiny new toys for Carter to play with.”
“—that their 'power' is located in their village not far from here, you're welcome.”
“'Power'?” Jack repeated, eying the natives skeptically.
“Well, they mentioned a hut of 'stone trees'—”
“'Stone trees'?” Sam asked.
“Rough translation,” Daniel advised. “I'm sketchy on the Berber languages and my Aramaic has seen better days, but it sounds like they could be talking about ruins of some kind.”
“Might be Ancient, sir,” Sam told Jack. “This was one of the planets you added to the Gate database.”
“I am uncertain that these people will have much to offer.” Teal'c quirked one eyebrow in an expression of doubt. He watched the natives with narrowed eyes.
“We've encountered advanced technology in seemingly undeveloped societies before,” Sam pointed out. “I think it's worth a shot.”
Jack adjusted his cap and sighed. “So we go over the river and through the woods?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, Daniel,” Jack said with a wave of his hand. “Tell these nice folks that we'd love to see their stone trees.”
The locals were polite and accommodating, leading them through the forest at a sedate pace and taking care to point out interesting landmarks as they went. Whether the tour treatment was meant to show off their world or to subtly give the outsiders clues on how to find their way back to the gate, it was a nice gesture.
A crowd greeted them when they arrived in the village, smiling faces and hands that reached out to gently pat or touch them in welcome. The village itself consisted of about thirty domed huts of varying sizes. They were arranged in a rough circle around a large structure that was clearly of foreign design. The ruins were impressive and spoke of a building that would have been even more so. The exterior of the structure had sustained extensive damage over the years, but the interior appeared to be mostly intact. Even as they watched, a small contingent of older adults descended the short staircase that led into the ruins.
“Ancient?” Jack muttered to Daniel.
“Definitely not Goa'uld,” Daniel whispered back. “Or Asgard.” He squinted at the structure. “I'd need a closer look before I can be sure, but I think they just might be Ancient.”
The hunting party brought them to a stop halfway across the open space between the huts and the ruins. With a tug of his sleeve, they guided Daniel on to meet the elders approaching them. The team watched as Daniel spoke with the group. Much arm waving and sign language was employed, but eventually Daniel nodded and walked back over to the team. His expression was caught somewhere between embarrassment and concern.
“Daniel,” Jack said warily. “What's going on?”
“They've agreed to let us into the Center.”
“The—”
“The ruins. They call it their Center.”
“But?” Jack prompted.
“But there's a bit of a problem.”
“The duck-and-run-the-natives-are-restless kind of problem, or the I-think-I-might-have-just-sold-one-of-us-to-the-grand-poobah kind of problem?”
“No, the other kind,” Daniel said with a frown.
“There's another one?”
“They won't let Sam inside unless she's married.”
“Excuse me?” Sam cocked an eyebrow in an eerie imitation of Teal'c. Considering how pleased Teal'c looked upon seeing it, he might have taught her.
“We are not marrying Carter off to a local,” Jack said firmly. “No matter what they have in their Center.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don't mention it.”
Daniel shook his head. “Not that she 'gets' married, but that she 'is' married.”
“Why must Major Carter be married?” Teal'c asked.
“It has to do with their cultural interpretation of adulthood,” Daniel explained. “Only adults are allowed in the Center, which they view as sacred ground and use for all clan meetings and special events. Women aren't considered adults until they're married.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked pensive. “From what I understand, males become adults once they join a hunting party for the first time, thereby becoming a contributing member of society. Females don't reach adulthood until they marry and become heads of their own households.”
Sam, whose expression had grown thunderous as he talked, calmed slightly. “Head of the household?” she asked.
Daniel nodded. “They appear to be a matrilinear society—”
“Lineage traced through the mother,” Sam clarified for Jack and Teal'c.
“—who maintain an order of equal rights between the sexes and determine status by age, possessions, and sex.”
“Sex?”
“I think the women are the property owners,” Daniel said, glancing around at the huts, many of which contained a woman or two in its doorway. “That's typical of matrilinear groups.”
“Oh,” Sam said, somewhat mollified. “That's okay, then.”
“So, just tell 'em she's married,” Jack advised, waving a hand at the elders, who were waiting patiently. Other locals had gathered at respectful distances, watching covertly or blatantly, clearly curious about their visitors.
“I did,” said Daniel, “but they suspect it's one of us.”
“Oh,” Sam said. She glanced among her teammates, a smile threatening at the corner of her mouth even as her eyes grew wary.
“Spouses sit together in the Center and participate in all the clan meetings as a single unit.”
“So—”
“We have to marry Sam.”
The group went silent. No one looked at Sam. The amused smile on her face faded into a frown and quickly continued on to a scowl.
“Well don't everyone volunteer at once!”
Teal'c opened his mouth to speak, but Jack's response cut across him.
“I don't think I should...” he began.
“I did it last time—”
“No, I did.”
Sam leaned back on her heels, torn between being amused and taking offense.
“No,” Daniel countered, “last time was the Adoori, with the tattoo thing.”
“No, it was PY4-328, the nomads with the—”
“I don't think we'll have to do that again,” Daniel said quickly, flicking a worried glance between Sam and Jack.
“I will marry Major Carter,” Teal'c rumbled.
Jack and Daniel turned to him, both seeming to have forgotten for the moment that he was even there. He stared back at them serenely.
“Thank you, Teal'c.” Sam grinned widely and slipped her arm through his.
The spectators had apparently made bets as to which of the men was Sam's husband, as smug nods and disbelieving head shakes rippled through the crowd when Sam took Teal'c's arm. Together, they strode toward the welcome committee. Some of the local women gathered near Sam, smiling behind their hands and making appreciative noises about the hunk of Jaffahood hanging off her other arm. On the opposite side, some of the men greeted Teal'c with grave nods, slaps on the back, and the ubiquitous arm grasp. However, from the glances they threw Sam's way, it was clear they were just as impressed by Sam as the women were by Teal'c.
Daniel and Jack, left behind, shared a look.
“We're in trouble, aren't we?” Daniel asked.
“Yup.”
With identical sighs, they trotted over to join the others.
no subject
on 2011-11-18 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-11-18 02:12 am (UTC)Thanks!