For creative_muses December Prompt 5

What is a talent you wish you had?

I know this is going to sound extremely self centred, but I wish I was as good at interacting with people as the others are.

I'm aware how I come across to people, reserved, maybe aloof, possibly even shy. I can't help it - it's who I am. It might be because of the way I was brought up. I was always on the move because of papa's job, and it took a while to fit in wherever we were.

I look at Gwen, with her easy smile as she tells you that everything is going to be alright, that no, what you saw couldn't possibly be an alien, the way she interacts with everyone on the team easily. And it makes me wish I had that ability.

Then there's Ianto with his dry sense of humour that everyone loves, his amazing coffee making abilities and his ready smile, making you feel totally at ease. He manages to fit in wherever her goes.

Owen, even with his womanising, pain in the arse ways. manages to have a good bedside manner when he chooses, even if he says he got out of medicine and into Torchwood to avoid dealing with people. He's got an uncanny ability to make people feel at ease.

And then there's Jack. The lazy, flirtacious smile. The way everyone automatically turns to him. The way he can charm his way out of any situation. I wish I could do that.

Instead, I feel socially awkward, scared to let myself go in front of people. I know it takes ages for people to feel even vaguely comfortable around me. That's the talent I would give anything to have, instead of having to work so hard at it.

Toshiko Sato
Torchwood
Word Count: 284

For oncoming_storms Prompt 68.3

Your character comes across something non-human.

"What is it?"

"I don't know."

"Organic? Alien?"

"Both. Could be a new kind of lifeform."

"You're supposed to be the expert, you know."

"Owen, you are as much as expert as I am."

"No need to get snippy. Where did you find it?"

"Down on the docks. Was tracing a strange signal, came across it. Kids were hanging round it. I chased them off, brought it here."

"You chased kids off? Big brave..."

"Shut up, Owen. Now, are you going to help me or not?"

"God, what's got into you today. Well, I guess so, since the others have buggered off and it's quiet as hell round here. What do you want? And polite answers only."

"*sighs* Put it on that table. I want to run a full spectral analysis on it."

"I get to do the donkey work while you sit back and press buttons? That's a bit unfair isn't it?"

"Do you want to figure out the energies of it, because I'm willing to let you."

"Haha. Give me that. There, in place."

"Stand back."

"Stand back?"

"Well unless you want x-rays going near your genitals, I suggest you stand back."

"Okay, okay, moving. And hurry up Tosh, I'm dying for a piss."

"You could have said before. Three, two, one..."

*pause*

"Well, I didn't expect that to happen."

"No kidding."

"You okay?"

"You couldn't have warned me?"

"I did, I told you to stand back. I didn't know it was going to..."

"Explode in quite so messy a way?

"Yeah."

"You owe me a bloody drink."

Toshiko Sato
Torchwood
Word Count: 260
Owen used with permission of like_jesus