Title: Owen's Trip Down Under

Rating: PG

Characters/Pairings: Owen, Jack/Ianto

Summary: Mardi Gras in Sydney

Disclaimer: Torchwood belongs to the bbc, not me.

Warnings: none

Notes: There is a little rant at the end, sorry for that.

Challenge 11: Costumes

tissue paper, flying, silvery

"Argh, somebody, get this thing off me!"

Written for - Red Is Our Colour, on LJ

Owen's Trip Down Under

"Okay, explain it to me again"

Owen was not happy, and it possibly had something to do with the fact he was dressed in a silvery ball gown, with tissue paper wings.

"Well." explained Jack, "There is a Mardi Gras being held in Sydney this weekend and a group of Polisitisi have said they were going to join in."

"They want to be the contingent following the 'Dancing Boys'", added Ianto.

"And this years theme is Love and Marriage, you know you can't get married if you are a same sex couple in Australia?" added Jack.

"Yeah terrible, but what has it got to do with me dressed like a fairy?" sneered Owen.

"It is terrible" supplied Ianto, "Everyone is entitled to commit to the person they love, no matter who they are." Ianto looked at Jack, who looked at Ianto and smiled a small secret smile.

"Some one has to go with them, and make sure they don't get over excited by the after - party." continued Ianto, "This is your costume so you will fit in with the parade."

"Torchwood is flying you all out first class, you are staying in a 5 star hotel, overlooking Sydney Harbour, why are you complaining?" queried Jack.

"I know one of has to go to make sure they don't misbehave, but why me, either you or tea-boy would have been better, surely the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is more your thing." snarked Owen.

"We", said Jack, "Have plans."

Owen enjoyed the flight, the suite at the hotel was palatial, and the Polisitisi were great to party with. When he was totally pied eyed and kissed his third dancing boy, Owen's phone rang.

"Yeah Jack, your missing the best party mate, what was more important? Say that again, it's noisy here, the music is really pumping, you what, made an honest man out of the tea-boy, good on you, but why call me in the middle of the night? WHAT! say that again ! They do WHAT?

"Argh, somebody, get this thing off me!"

Jack giggled and disconnected. "How did he take it Jack?"

"I was a fraction late, one just jelliefied and started to try and cover him in goo just as I warned him." giggled Jack.

"Did you tell him just to let it do it's thing, that if he struggles they put out a smelly, bright pink dye.?"

"Nah, he called you tea boy, Mr Harkness-Jones."

Sorry a bit of political back ground

In Australia we have a Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras every year. First started as a equal rights protest, now the Police even try to do recruitment drives using the Mardi Gras as a theme, (one year it was the police leather jackets in different colours) and they and the armed forces, surf life savers etc usually have participants in the parade, so it's inclusive that way, but there is still no same sex marriage or civil partnerships. We had a change of government in 2007 and it was believed going from liberal to labor it would happen, but it hasn't - yet - over 62% of Australian's - believe marriage should be between people who want to commit to each other, gender of the people involved is not important, but the government is scared of the moral minority, who have loud voices. This years theme was equal marriage rights for all.