AdventChallenge Bingo - Secret Scrooge (Prompt 21 - Scrooge)

[m_findlow]

Title: Secret Scrooge
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Tosh, Owen
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Prompt 21 - Scrooge at adventchallenge

Jack grinned as he stared around the boardroom, unable to contain his excitement over the news any longer. 'Now I know you're all wondering what to buy me this year for Christmas,' at which point Owen scoffed loudly, 'but never fear, I have the solution. This year were all doing Torchwood Secret Santa! That means you'll only have to buy for one person this year. Unless of course you choose to buy more. I won't discourage the gift of giving.'

'Oh, that's a great idea,' Gwen said, already excited at the prospect. 'What's our limit, just so I know?'

'Fifty pounds,' Jack replied. 'How's that sound?'

'Perfect.'

'Fifty quid?' Owen cried. 'Why the hell would I want to spend fifty quid on any of you lot?'

'Perhaps because 'tis better to give than to receive?' Ianto suggested.

'It's only a limit, Owen, so that everyone gets a fair deal,' Jack said. 'There's no point in having a ten pound limit and everyone ending up with rubbishy gifts that no one really wants.  Better to spend a bit more and get something nice.'

'Says the man who bought the most extravagant gifts last year,' Ianto replied.

'Oh, yes, because I'm sure we were all just queuing up to spend more,' Owen said.

'You never know,' Jack said. 'Some people are more generous than others.'

'So, I can spend whatever I want, so long as it's not more than fifty?'

Jack knew exactly where Owen was headed with his question. 'New rule number two. Anything under fifty and the balance goes directly to charity.'

Owen nearly choked in his coffee. 'That's robbery!'

'Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Yes I can see how that might be considered unfair,' Ianto quipped.

'I like it,' Tosh said.

'Me too,' Gwen added.

'All that remains is to draw your secret giftee,' Jack said, emptying his mug and scratching down the five names on scraps of paper, scrunching them up and dropping them inside.

'You could've used a clean mug,' Ianto said, frowning in disgust.

Jack handed the mug to Owen to select the first name. He unfolded the slightly damp ball of paper. Ianto. Typical. He'd have to get through most finicky person in the room.

'Alright, I've got mine,' he declared. 'Merry Christmas, Teaboy. I've just bought you this scrap of paper and fifty quid to charity.' That sorted that problem.

'Don't you know the first thing about Secret Santa?' Jack said. 'You're not supposed to reveal yourself until Christmas Eve!'

'Too late now,' Owen replied, knowing the rules full well.

'I think I'm meant to be grateful,' Ianto said. 'Do I at least get to pick the charity?'

'Knock yourself out,' Owen replied. 'I'll even let you draw the money and pay it yourself.'

'You have absolutely no Christmas spirit, you know that?' Jack said.

'That either makes you the laziest person I've ever met, or the biggest scrooge,' Gwen said.

'Hey, I just spent fifty quid, Stop your moping.'

Comments

[jo02]

Wow, you nailed Owen perfectly here - even I was taken aback in the end.

[bk_forever]

Mind if I throttle Owen?