It's Tradition

[donutsweeper]

Title: It's Tradition
Pairing/Warning/Rating: None, set pre-series, rated G
Word Count: 100
Summary: Gwen learns a lesson about the things we do in the name of tradition
Author's Note: Unfortunately, this is based on real life, as I spent several hours doing exactly the same thing today.  Written for the  tw100 challenge:  Life Before Torchwood

“Gwen Cooper?  Thanks for agreeing to be the Police Liaison Officer for tonight.  Here’s your ticket box.  You’ll man that table right there, okay?”

“I’m sorry, but it was my understanding that this was billed as a free concert?”

“Oh yes, absolutely free, isn’t that wonderful?”

“Then what tickets will I be taking?”

“Since it’s free, we didn’t print up any tickets.”

“Then... what am I doing?”

“You're the Police Liaison Officer.  The Police Liaison Officer always takes tickets.  It’s tradition.”

“So, I’m to sit at that table with this box and take nonexistent tickets?”

“Yes.”

“I can do that.”

Comments

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

*Laughing. Out. Loud*

Brilliant. Good on both you and Gwen for fantastic non-existent ticket collecting!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

It was not easy, but I'm sure we both managed to excel at our tasks!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - this sounds sadly too likely a thing to happen!

Lucky thing Gwen can cope.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it's more common a thing to happen than it should be. *sighs- see previous post on my LJ for story* But I'm sure Gwen's a trooper and could handle it just fine.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

Bwahaha! Oh, that's perfect. I can see the look on her face. Sorry this is so close to your life today, but it's very amusing fic!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion on turning it into a fic! *vgb* If you can't laugh at situations like that you'll go mad!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Hee. Before I even read your notes I was thinking, "Now this one's going to be a bit autobiographical." I can just see the look on Gwen's face as she complies with Tradition.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

_medley_ suggested I turn the experience into a fic, I'm glad it worked!

[phoenix64.livejournal.com]

Excellent usage of the irony life hands us occasionally!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

we need to laugh at it right?

Thanks!

[oursoliloquies.livejournal.com]

Hahaha. Nice fic!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

thank you! :)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha. I'm glad you turned it into a *pre* Torchwood fic though. Scarily, I can see the police (like the NHS) still possibly having some of those... um... 'policies' still in place.

Best way to turn around a thing that would make you grumpy though. Maybe you should ask for a policy review early - when's the 10 years up?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

The job assignments will be reviewed in 2010, although I don't know if it's done before or after the annual meeting of that year. But either way, there's at least one more year of nonexistent ticket taking

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Hee.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

you gotta laugh at those sort of situations, right?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Definitely. Otherwise, I think you might be compelled to hurt someone.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

although muttering under one's breath and thinking evil thoughts is allowed, right? (please say right)

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I hope so.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*phew*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I don't think most of us would survive, otherwise.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Wait? You actually had to sit and take non existent tickets...??

Er edited to add *actual* comment "Poor Gwen..."

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Yep. See the post previous to it. An hour an a half of manning the ticket box to collect the nonexistent tickets. 'twas quite fun. (sarcasm font applied there)

Gwen's a trooper though- she'd mumble under her breath, but she'd do it!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

*nods* and being British she'd do it with a mug of tea in one hand a chocolate digestive in the other :D

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

She'd need hobnobs, digestives just wouldn't cut the mustard in a situation like this!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

what are hobnobs?

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Nice crumbly biscuits that are so much more satisfying than plain old digestives, even of the chocolate variety. Plain chocolate hob nobs are an experience... hob nobs are reviewed here (http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/biscuits/previous.php3?item=12) if you want a piccie...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oooh, looks yummy.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

mmmm chocolate Hobnobs...