Double Drabble: Far From Normal

[bk_forever]

Title: Far From Normal
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Gwen, Rhys.
Rating: G
Written For: Challenge 571: Simple at tw100.
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Life before Torchwood is a distant dream for Gwen.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble. 200 words first try.




Gwen sighed; life had been so simple before Torchwood. Back when she’d been an ordinary police constable she’d had to work shifts, but she’d always been able to give Rhys some idea of what time she’d be home. She’d had dinner with him most days, even done her share of the cooking although her efforts were never as good as his.


They’d been able to plan ahead, book a table at their favourite restaurant for special occasions, have date nights at the movies, go on holiday, plan outings for her days off… Life had been normal.


Now, she worked all hours of the day and night, hardly ever made it home in time for dinner, her free time happened when she could be spared and she was lucky to get one day off out of every fourteen. As for holidays, she was starting to think Torchwood agents didn’t get them.


Rhys was being so patient, even though he ended up doing most of the housework and shopping. He was resigned to her getting dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. Her normal life was gone, and yet she couldn’t regret it. Torchwood was so much more exciting.



The End

Comments

[bk_forever]

A truly devoted guy. Too bad he devoted himself to someone who didn't appreciate him.

Thank you!

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I wish Rhys knew about the affair.:(

[bk_forever]

He would have dumped Gwen in a heartbeat if she hadn't retconned him in order to 'confess'.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I loathe the fact that Rhys will never know. Although it does beg the question of how people in real life could possibly cheat on their significant other without being caught. How sad is that? :(

[bk_forever]

I know. I mean, if you fall for someone else have the decency to break up with your partner before sleeping with the other person. Too many want to have their cake and eat it, going behind their partner's back for the thrill. =(

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It's really selfish on Gwen's part. She is only fully committed to Rhys after they are married and there is no hope of Jack ever reciprocating back.

I didn't even like how Amy came onto the Doctor for sex. They tried to downplay it because kids watch "Doctor Who". She should have waited until she saw Rory again.

[bk_forever]

Even on her wedding day she obviously would have dumped Rhys for Jack, judging by the way she acted when the Nostrovite was disguised as Jack. To be honest, even after she's married she's still probably dump Rhys for a better prospect, but as she told Jack, no one else would have her. Gee, I wonder why? Maybe because she's a self-righteous, compulsive liar and a hypocrite...

Yes, that was a miss-step in the storytelling. Makes me wonder whose idea it was.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I guess that was more for the Jack/Gwen shippers, as Gwen ended up headbutting that thing. She did look like the wandering eye type.*frowns*

Jack wanted her to appreciate "the simple life" with Rhys.

I saw the bloopers so I can't rewatch without giggling.:)

It was so abrupt. I couldn't imagine Amy doing that to Ten. I wouldn't want to. Rose didn't even do that!

[bk_forever]

RTD was trying to push Jack/Gwen, but people weren't biting. Jack was right to push Gwen back towards Rhys. He hired her because she had a life outside Torchwood. He thought it would give her a different perspective. If she'd broken up with Rhys she would have lost what made Jack hire her in the first place.

well, I wouldn't with Ten, but Amy was hitting on Eleven and he's my favourite so...

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Gwen was Rose 2.0 series one. Then Amy 2.0 season two. Or maybe I'm generalising here?

Gwen's role was that she had "empathy" compared to the others.*scoffs*

More like she had a clearer head from the environment because she was still brand new to the Torchwood group. Don't get me started on how she acted later in the series. I just remember her holding guns and handling weapons more.*shrugs*

Awww okay. I want to treat Eleven like my little baby brother. That's probably something he would hate. :D

Ten could be pompous and that's why he needed Donna to knock some sense into him. While also being there for moral support.

[bk_forever]

I actually liked Amy, so I wouldn't compare Gwen to her. Gwen loses badly.

She was supposed to have empathy but mostly she came across as patronising and condescending. Look at me, see how caring I am, taking down to this poor unfortunate person when I'm so much better than they are. And she did love playing with weapons, while the rest of the team used them when necessary and treated them as tools.

Eleven is just so adorable I want to squish him!

The pomposity and arrogance were the sides of Ten I didn't like. Donna soon knocked him off the pedestal he put himself on. Of course, after he lost her he went out of control.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It was more of a contrast. Amy at least had redeeming qualities that Gwen lacks.

Although I still haven't grasp how Eleven rectifying Amy's life in series 5 effected her in the long run. Some things would have changed her outlook on life.*goes psychological*

There's a reason that I can write fics about Amy instead of Gwen.

"Eleven is just so adorable I want to squish him!"

Dory: I will call him Squishy!*Finding Nemo*

Sorry, got sidetracked. Marilyn Monroe took a shine to Eleven. She left kisses all over his face that one time they met.;)

Ten couldn't manage without Donna. It was sad.:(

[bk_forever]

Yes, Gwen lacked redeeming qualities altogether.

Doctor Who doesn't tend to dwell on the psychological effects though, being primarily a kids' show.

I can write Gwen, but it's not easy to make her tolerable.

LOL! There was a Torchwood ficlet based on that, where Jack calls Ianto his squishy, hugs him and goes 'Squish squish*

Marilyn had good taste.

It was tragic, he went to the dark side =(

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

*Shakes head at RTD*

If only we could have seen Eleven visit little Amy. After grown up Amy gave him the idea to do so in a letter. It is one of those paradox moments within the show.

I wrote Gwen within a Jack fic. It's the best I can do.:D

Marilyn Monroe: If you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.

Yes. It was strange seeing Ten on his own and slowly going down a dangerous path. To see that on a children's show is quite shocking. Although not as graphic as in Torchwood.

[bk_forever]

RTD has no redeeming qualities either.

Paradoxes make my head hurt.

I've occasionally written Gwen/Rhys fics, and even managed to make Gwen less dislikeable, but then I feel I'm writing her out of character.

Marilyn was a classy lady. That statement is for every woman.

I think RTD lost the plot and turned Doctor Who far too dark in those last few specials. Moffatt restored the balance, creepy yet funny and dramatic.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

He wrote a book about his struggles with writing certain storylines.*shrugs*

It's the whole chicken and the egg analogy. You just go round in circles.*feels dazed*

I think you are just left with a mediocre storyline without all the secrets, lies and cheating. It would have to take some interesting storyline where an outside element is causing problems to make Gwen redeemable.

Yes. Some of her quotes I can relate too. She was best known for her looks but should have got better recognition than that.:(

There is someone I wish I could say that too. But then why bother? I don't really need to be validated by someone else. That's something I've only come to terms with.

So sad to see Ten go but I was relieved for that dark period to be over! I know it was a bit different but that's normal when there's a new showrunner and we still had the River Song story arc to deal with.

[bk_forever]

All writers struggle with storylines. Writing a book about it doesn't make him special or more important.

Timey-wimey... Anyone who isn't a time lord can't cope with paradoxes.

Well, I always use alien tech and something to make the Gwen/Rhys pieces interesting. Gwen just isn't interesting on her own in anything longer than a drabble where some of her flaws are highlighted.

There have been a lot of great women whose beauty has been prized more than their intellect. That has to change.

I actually enjoyed Moffatt's reign more than RTD's. I liked Ten most of the time, but side from thev latest incarnation, he was my least favourite. For me it's 11 ad the War Doctor, 9 & 12, 10, 13.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't want to get in your bad books! :D

I can barley deal with thinking forward.*slight exaggeration*

Yeah, it's good to put in those intricate details so that you can figure out how the character will react to it. Plus it gives us readers a better understanding of what is going on. I'm trying new strategies to be more specific in my transcript style fics.

Yes. Women are still being objectified but there is also the matter of women who use their sexuality as a means of power against men. There has to be an effective way where both men and women respect each other and themselves.

Moffat contributed to storylines unofficially during RTD's run and not just the one off episodes. The farting aliens which was something Christopher Eccleston didn't exactly favour, was definitely all Rusty's idea.

[bk_forever]

I'm not that bad, but I have no patience with RTD because of how dismissive he's been with fans and their feelings, like a spoiled child wanting his own way and lashing out at anyone who doesn't agree with him.

I do love details, and if something happens I want to figure out the how and the why so it makes sense to my readers.

Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be complete equality between men and women.

You can bet all the worst ideas were Rusty's and the brilliant ones were Moffatt's. Rusty had a very childish sense of humour.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

We can only hope for a better future.

There's that saying: "Behind every great man, there has to be a great woman".*tries not to sing*

However, it should go both ways. Why not a great man, supporting a great woman as well?

There are those that do, and those that don't.

I don't think twice about RTD's views. Probably because I haven't been exposed to it as much. I read an article where he was complained about a zipline that was going to be built near his house. I'm not sure what's going on there now.

I doubt it's as distracting as a rollercoaster. What with the excited screams from patrons*refers to Luna Park in Sydney*

[bk_forever]

We can.

I think that's true, behind every great person there is someone supporting and encouraging them, whether that's a partner, parent, friend, teacher, or whatever.

I saw way too much of RTDs views online in the aftermath of CoE. He did not endear himself to fans.

I can see how living near an amusement park might get a bit loud...

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It's all about balance really. There are times where it's best to handle things yourself as well.

I didn't really care for CoE. He really likes to crank up the angst. A little bit of hope couldn't hurt the storyline. Could it? Then "Miracle Day" happen...

Yeah. I don't understand how certain infrastructure either. I studied "Project Management" at TAFE. They sometimes bulldoze peoples properties and businesses for the sake of better public transport. While a train line will become absolute.

Australia's Wonderland theme park was built in a rural area, near a highway but it closed down for business reasons. I went there three times as a teenager. One of my TAFE teachers use to work there as a controller for one of the rides.

[bk_forever]

I hated CoE and didn't bother watching MD, they just overdosed on angst and that's not what I want from my TV shows. I want there to be hope at least some of the time, not endless death and destruction, doom and gloom, where everyone is helpless and nothing can be done =(

It happens way too much. a lot of businesses closed down and homes were demolished here to make way for a tram system people around ere didn't want and which will never make a profit. when I'm in my local town, I see trams go past, three carriages, and hardy anyone on them.

The trouble with building such places in rural areas is that people have to get to them. If there aren't enough visitors they go out of business.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I forgot that you didn't see "Miracle Day". I can't unsee it.:(

Sometimes people are forced out. Which is a shame because it obviously disrupts their personal/professional lives. The reason I moved house last time was because the owners wanted to make it private. At least they gave my family options on where to live.

In Australia's Wonderland's case it was management problems with how they spent the money. I know a lot of the general public were disappointed that it closed down. Not to mention all the staff who worked there had to be let go. I can only go with what I've heard.*shrugs*

[bk_forever]

It really isn't fair when people get forced out of their homes. They lose a lot of memories. I'm glad you were given options and time to find somewhere else.

Bad management cripples a lot of businesses. Sad for everyone who liked the place, and all the employees.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I wasn't in a good place emotionally at that point but eventually the new place became a new home. Now I'm starting a new era again.

Yeah. There are no guarantees in life but someone who is trained to run a business should be competent enough to avoid financial risk or a major turnover. Hopefully the employees were able to find work elsewhere without too much hassle along the way.

[bk_forever]

I can only imagine. I don't know what I'd do if I was forced out of my home *hugs*

Yeah, people who run big business are supposed to know what they're doing.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It's all about trying to find a better way out of a bad situation. I feel bad for homeless people. It's a strange world...

[bk_forever]

So do I, they get treated as criminals so often, it's unfair. =(

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It's always the ones that have it hardest, that get judge the most. Homelessness should not exist. Amongst other difficult challenges in life.

There was a cat called Mason who was feral because he had to live on the streets. He got to live his last years in comfort amongst orphan kittens. I'm not sure if you've heard of it in the media. It was really touching.

These are the real survivors. Not the pretend reality show.

[bk_forever]

You're right. Most, if they were given the right help, would be able to rebuild their lives.

No, I hadn't hear that. What a lovely story!

So true. People who can survive on the streets have amazing courage to keep going against such dreadful odds.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

In somes cases, its the ones who aren't that well off who will try and give more. Its not necessary to show off how much you give unless it's to raise awareness.

Money can't buy you happiness as they say. But it sure makes life easier. So long we are wise with it. Some people can be rich and miserable. Unfortunately.:(

[bk_forever]

I think rich people would be happier if they used their money to help those less fortunate. They could do so much to help the homeless, but instead they hoard their money.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I suppose most take it for granted. If everyone gave something, the world wouldn't be so imbalanced as it is. It's such a shame.:(

[bk_forever]

Yes, rich people should spread their money around more. Spread the wealth instead of hiding it away in banks.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

The injustice of it all.*annoyed*

[bk_forever]

*joins you being annoyed*

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Thanks.*hugs*