Anythingdrabble Challenge 73 - Bad reception

[m_findlow]

Title: Bad reception
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 73 - Abrasive at anythingdrabble
Summary: Ianto is coming to dread the sound of the phone ringing.

Ianto hasn't been working for Torchwood Three very long, but already he's learned that answering the phone around here, especially the one that rings directly in Jack's office, is an unpleasant task. Even more so because Jack has decided that amongst Ianto's other administrative duties, answering the phone is one of them.

Of course, it doesn't ring very often. After all, what good is it being a top secret organisation if everybody has your phone number? It's bad enough that they go out and make a scene with that big black SUV, and the sharp yellow lettering on the roof that advertises who they are.

When the phone does ring however, Ianto is already braced for impact. The people on the other the end of the line are usually high ranking officials from various departments: the Mayor's office, Whitehall, the Home Office, UNIT, MI-5, or maybe it's MI-6, he's never quite sure on the distinction. Regardless, they are usually calling to complain about something.

In the time he's been here, he's compiled a shortlist of people who are to be advised that Jack is unavailable to speak with them, but whom he will call back. Ianto has an even shorter list of people who are okay to be re-directed to Jack, either in his office or whilst he's out in the field.

Those who are railroaded are generally furious, often because Jack never does call them back, and as such, find Ianto a suitable sounding board for their many grievances, most of which no longer have anything to do with the reason they called in the first place, but which stem directly from hearing the words "I'm terribly sorry, but Captain Harkness isn't available at the moment".

From what Ianto can gather, people in their affiliate organisations don't like Jack very much. Sometimes they even call up and proceed to describe their last phone call with the illustrious Captain. From what they say, Jack is abrasive, rude, narrow-minded, and arrogant. This doesn't quite sit with the Captain he knows who is jovial, charming and firm but fair. Clearly that ability to charm people wherever he goes is limited to being conducted face to face. The people who call him on the phone are definitely not charmed at all.

Lines like "I'm sure you just caught him at a bad time", "he's been under a lot of pressure lately", and "I'm sure you've misinterpreted his meaning" are all stock standard responses now. Who knew one man could upset so many people.

After one such caller, whose tirade must have lasted a good forty minutes, Ianto knew he couldn't take it anymore. The calls were becoming more and more frequent, and their list of allegations and insults more and more unpalatable.

'Perhaps I could assist you,' Ianto said without thinking. Anything to cut off the wearisome tirade.

Their demeanor changed instantly. 'Oh. Well, yes. Actually, that would be much appreciated, young man.'

Bloody hell, why hadn't he thought of doing that sooner?

Comments

[bk_forever]

Yes, Ianto, when it comes to phone conversations with other organisations you are much more charming than Jack will ever be. It's Jack's sneaky way of delegating even more of his workload.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was necessarily planned but Ianto is a much better fit to answer difficult phone calls.