m_findlow

Title: Presentation is everything
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Gwen, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 325 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, curly straws" at fic_promptly
Summary: Where there's a will, there's a way.

Gwen could hardly believe what she was seeing as she watched Jack working away in his office. It was less the fact that he was working - although that in its itself was commendable when all he had in front of him was paperwork - but more the fact of what he was drinking. Even from here she could make out the hideous green concoction in the tall glass. It definitely wasn't coffee and that was no chocolate milkshake. Either there was something very wrong with Jack or she'd missed a memo. When she next spotted Ianto walking past, she pulled him up.

'Ianto, what on earth is that Jack's drinking in there?'

Ianto cast a look into Jack's direction, beaming with delight. 'All part of our new year's resolutions to be more healthy. I've managed to replace two coffees per day with smoothies.'

'No offense, but it looks disgusting. What's in it?'

'Apple, spinach, kale, banana and pineapple. We bought ourselves a portable blender for Christmas and I've been trying out different combinations. This one seems to work well.'

Gwen gave him another astonished look. 'And Jack's drinking that willingly?'

'The pineapple disguises the worst of it, but even then you'd never get Jack to drink it. That is, until yours truly came up with a brilliant idea.'

'Mind control?' she asked.

He laughed. 'Hadn't thought of that. Nope, the trick to getting him to drink it is simply to serve it with a curly straw. He's too busy being fascinated by watching it go up and down the straw to stop and think about the fact that it doesn't taste as good as a chocolate milkshake, and that it might actually be good for him. I could make you one, if you like.'

'You can keep your kale and spinach, thanks,' she said, cringing. 'No amount of novelty straws is going to convince me.'

'How about berries, banana and yoghurt?' he said.

'Now you're talking.'