Black, White and Shades of Gray

[donutsweeper]

Title: Black, White and Shades of Gray
Pairing/Rating/Warning: NCIS fandom, no pairings or warnings, rated G
Word Count: 200
Summary:  Gibbs has his rules for a reason.
Author's Note: Written for the ncisdrabble100challenge: White

Gibbs tried to see things as black or white even though he knew he lived in a world that was shades of gray.

Some things were black, like his hatred for that double crossing bastard Ari, and that idiot who turned his favorite coffee shop into a bubble tea boutique. Did he look like the type of man who would willingly drink something called bubble tea?  And then there was paperwork.  Paperwork definitely qualified as black.

Some things were white, like when wood smoothed perfectly under his hand as his boat took shape, or having the time to enjoy a good bottle of Jack.  And there was that satisfying feeling when a case came together and they stopped the bad guy before he could hurt anyone.  Protecting people, protecting the United States, that was certainly white.

But there way so much gray.  Thus the reason for the rules, his rules.  They took the gray and turned it into black or white.  Never mess with a Marine's coffee.  Black.  It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.  White. And, perhaps most importantly, there was rule twelve.  Never date a coworker.   Black.  He couldn’t do it.  It wasn’t allowed.  Simple as that.

Comments

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I still. Realy love that. And it works so well for Gibbs. And the Tony in my head is cringing at the end and alternatively angsting and pondering ways to seduce Gibbs.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

The funny thing though, is it's not specified that it's Tony. It could be Kate or Abby or Ducky or anyone.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do realise that, but. In my head, it'll always be Tony. I'm predictable like that :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*vbg* yep! I completely understand!

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I can obviously accept other pairings on a theoretical level, but I shall always be a Gibbs/DiNozzo shipper in my head. Yay ♥

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

It is a very good ship! (And oh, the pretty!)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

It is! And they're both gorgeous and Tony's insecurities make me happy. Ah, angst ♥

Plus, the hotness.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

slightly broken/damaged characters are much more interesting to me

[chatona.livejournal.com]

They most definitely are. I adore it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

without it (or without mystery of some kind) they are just boring, no matter how pretty they are

[chatona.livejournal.com]

that's so very, very true. though, really. I'm shallow enough to be satisfied with a pretty face for a while (say, ten minutes *grins*)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

true, true. But to delve into the fandom and fanfic?

[chatona.livejournal.com]

well, for fiction to be interesting there needs to be some sort of conflict, either internal or external or both. otherwise, it's just plain boring.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

and then there's no point

[chatona.livejournal.com]

yeah, there really wouldn't be any point. it'd be way too boring and there'd be no story there to tell at all.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

This is really excellent.

In 200 words you had me smiling, laughing (the bubble tea *g*), nodding, going awww, and feeling so sad for him.

And I love the way you've left the last bit open, as to which co-worker, because as chatona could see DiNozzo, I (of course) had Ducky in mind ;-)

Very nice indeed. I really liked this.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's exactly how I was hoping people would read it. :)

[kaylashay81]

I read Tony... but I'm predictable like that. Of course maybe it was Tony AND Abby... yeah... that works. :-)

Nice!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

ooh, I could see it as both Tony and Abby. They make an excellent OT3!

Glad you liked it! :)

[rainne]

LOL I'm just like everyone else, only I thought of Kate since you mentioned Ari. ^_^ Awesome drabble.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it! :)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Am I weird? I want to see Gibbs/DiNozzo - heck I've written it, kind of (you know the one...) - but actually I don't know that I totally subscribe to them having an actual relationship complete with carnal knowledge... So you *not* specifying made this very readable. And is also btw the reason I think I adored your H/C with the pair of them so much - it was so very Gibbs centric - everything happening beneath the surface.
/ will shut up now

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Never shut up!! Never ever! That's a great insight and point. :)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I love that you can translate me so readily :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I can't think of a better person to share brain waves with!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Oh and buuble tea does that even exist?? Please tell me NO?
I was most upset yesterday to open my mother's 'little old ladies' magazine and find a recipe for - wait for it - white chocolate and cranberry SCONES!!!!!
The sacriledge :S

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

yes it does (http://www.teamuse.com/article_021001.html), unfortunately. It looks mighty scary, but I've never tried it .

Yipes, those scones sound unappetizing.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

That sounds disgusting! The picture on that page makes them look like screwball ice creams (The one with bubblegum in the bottom).

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I just look at the drink and... tapioca in sweetened tea? *yuck*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

::flees::

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I've just never had it. Considering how popular it is it does make sense that a lot of people like it!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It's kind of hard to get over the whole tapioca in your drink thing, but they're fun to chew and the tea is usually good. My favorite is lavender, so I don't get the tapioca a whole lot, because that is the absolute worst combination ever. It's like taking a drink of straight Sweet 'N Low. Yuck.

Whatever you do, though, don't get any of the jellies in your drink. Those are nasty and slimy, to boot.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

It's not an issue for me, I don't know of any bubble tea places around here

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Whereas, here, there are almost as many bubble tea places as there are Starbucks.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Yipes! *hides*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I know. They're everywhere.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*sits in corner rocking* coffee... just think about coffee... delicious coffee....

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

A delicious grande Americano from the independent coffee bar down the hill...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Yes! I am *so* there!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

They also have beer on tap AND Guinness, there, which makes it about my favorite place in the whole wide world. Happy thoughts.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

they don't happen to sell donuts too, do they? Is so they'd be heaven on earth!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I don't know about donuts. I probably get there too late for those. They do sell other pastries, however.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

are they good though? Cookies, brownies, what sort of pastries are we talking here?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I had this cookie today that the employees secretly call a crack cookie. It was an oatmeal raisin chocolate chip pecan coconut cookie, and totally lived up to the name crack cookie. Delicious. They have muffins, brownies, fruit bars, and some other stuff, too.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oooh yum! That does sound like a blissful place then!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It really is. Their coffee is pretty much the best on the Ave.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Is it a local place or a chain?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It's local. They're called Cafe Solstice. Although, I have the urge to ask what kind of coffee they use, now.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that's a great name for a cafe!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It really is. They have this really cool fence around the outdoor seating area, too, that's shaped like a bunch of intertwined vines.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

damn... I want a good place like that near me!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It's yet another reason for me to stick around the U-District.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

do you think you will when you graduate?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

For the summer, at least. My lease isn't up until September. Beyond that, I'm not really sure.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

You have some time then to make decisions.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

A bit, yeah. Luckily, I think I already have my graveyard shift job back for the summer.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

somewhere off campus?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Nope. The same place I'm working now, just at the front desk.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

ah- I wasn't sure if you could keep working there after graduating

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

You're allowed to keep working for one quarter after graduation or a break in classes.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that makes sense. So are you done with school this May then?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I think the first week of June is the last week of the quarter...and the sociology department's graduation ceremony.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Is that your major? Will you have a BA?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Yes and yes.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

any minor? Do you plan on continuing with school or stopping?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I'm finishing off my minor in Political Science right now. I'm looking into the School Of Social Work, but I'm not sure just yet if I want to continue.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

taking a semester or year off to be certain makes a lot of sense. Especially if you can get a job or internship or something in the field to get a taste of what it might be like

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I did that after high school, too, to figure out my major for when I did get into college. I've been looking at a lot of paid internships in the past year, but a lot of the ones I really want to take are in Washington, D.C.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

there is supposedly a lot of good coffee out there...

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

LOL...I'll keep that in mind.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

and lots of donuts too!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

That would make sense, considering how hard most of the people there work.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

although, you could look locally and see if there was anything that could also fit the bill and wouldn't involve a 3000 mile move

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm thinking of looking at more local organizations, rather than national organizations.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

If you can manage with a unpaid (or poorly paid) internship you could probably find something. You'd have to also have a real job probably, but it might be worth it if it meant you could stay there

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Most of the ones I've looked at are paid, but none of them pay for moving costs, so I think a local one would definitely be better...and I totally wouldn't mind having another job. I bet BORDERS would still have me.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

and then you would have a discount too, right? (I would be in such trouble then!)

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would. It really is a dangerous thing.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

save 25% yet still manage to spend 3x what I earn....

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

LOL...pretty much.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Although, some stores let you read without buying, I could be quite happy doing that

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

At BORDERS, if you're an employee, you can basically check out the books for, I think, a two week period. It's awesome.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*dies* that is a wonderful policy!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It really is.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'd still be in trouble if I worked there. No matter how many books they let me skim at home

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It's easy to get a bit out of hand, working there.