Nov 1 - We have to deal with this sometime

[did_good]

"What do you mean you can't pick her up?" Tosh sighs as the woman from Take a Paws explains that one of their handlers is sick that day, and there's no one available to do puppy care. "Of course. No, of course I understand. It happens. But if someone comes in later?"

She says it hopefully, knowing that Mitsuki might be happy and asleep at her feet right now, but that it won't last for long. Once Owen comes in and sees the six month old Akita there, she's sure he'll object. But there's nothing to be done, she agrees as she hangs up the phone. It's her dog and she has to deal with it.

"Please don't come in today," she says to herself, under her breath as she starts matching up all the names of those who've returned from this other Darrow. "Let something go my way."

Comments

[beat_death]

He's been avoiding her.

Avoiding most people, really. Sure, he's still been visiting the hospital, working out the details of the disappearances and reappearances. Every single one is someone who doesn't claim to have always lived in the city. It's information he's shared with Tosh— if she hasn't come to the conclusion on her own already— but through files he's tossed onto her workstation. Notes. Memos.

They're strictly coworkers again, and perhaps a bit less than that some days.

When Owen comes in today, it's because it seems as if the last of the missing people have turned up at the hospital. He has a few files to update, and then he'll be headed out again. Only, Tosh is in just now.

Brilliant.

He hops into his chair and starts to log into his terminal, intent on getting this done as quickly as possible, except when he accidentally glances in Tosh's direction, he notices something at her feet.

"No," he says, breaking the silence, "No way in hell."

[did_good]

Her hope that Owen won't notice is gone, reaching down to touch the pup as she starts to stir. "It's fine Owen, I'm only in for an hour and she's mostly asleep."

Mostly asleep, at least, Mitsuki opening her eyes to see who the new voice was. "Her puppy-sitter is sick. We'll be gone before you know."

[beat_death]

"Oh, sorry. I forgot we brought animals into the work area just so long as it's only for an hour," Owen replies, and he rolls his eyes as he turns back to his terminal.

Just what it is with displaced Torchwood workers and dogs, he has no idea. He's never had the urge to go out for a walk and end up bringing home a four-legged creature instead.

[did_good]

"Of course I didn't expect you to have any flexibility." Her hand tightens in Mitsuki's fur, the dog letting out a low whine at the tension in the room. "It's better than a pterodactyl, isn't it?"

"It's alright girl," she whispers to the dog, trying to soothe her. "Ignore the mean man for a bit and we'll go to the park."

[beat_death]

"That's because pterodactyls are cool," is Owen's response, and this time he doesn't bother looking away from the files he's updating. He gets chewed out for playing a bit of football back in Cardiff, but dogs are okay.

That makes complete sense.

[did_good]

"Well what would I know about cool?" it isn't something Tosh meant to say but she's frustrated and tired and sick of the tension. Mitsuki decides it's not okay, getting up to bark at Owen from a few feet away. "She was fine until you came in."

[beat_death]

"Christ. Will you shut it up?" Owen groans, because while it was only an annoyance before, now it's actually a distraction. Usually, he's more than fine with a bit of distraction, but this is bloody ridiculous. And he doesn't see how it's his fault when Tosh is the one who brought the thing in the first place.

[did_good]

"Her. And her name is Mitsuki," Tosh answers as she moves to wrap fingers around the pup's collar. A few sharp commands in Japanese and Mitsuki sits, quiet ly staring at Owen. Tosh feeds her a treat then leaves ber to go back to her computer, pleased that worked.

[beat_death]

"Well, it's loud, whatever it's called," he insists, turning to glare briefly at Tosh and the animal in turn before he goes back to typing.

"And if it shits in here, I'm not cleaning it up."

[did_good]

"I wouldn't ask you to," Tosh sighs audibly, and Mitsuki stays where she is, staring at Owen even still. "Fine. I'll go. I'll work from home later. You know how to get a hold of me if you need me."

Not that he would. Tosh snapped the lid of her laptop shut, clicking at her pup, "Try not to miss us too much."

[beat_death]

"And I thought it was my turn to storm out," Owen replies, "You know, seeing as you did it last night."

Maybe she thought he didn't see her at the bar the night before, but he had. At least, before she'd apparently caught sight of him and decided to go elsewhere.

[did_good]

Any hope she’s held onto that he might not have seen her the night before vanishes with his words. Tosh closes her eyes for a moment, collecting herself. Now isn’t the time to get upset, she reminds herself, it’s made things complicated enough already. Insisting that she didn’t flee won’t get them anywhere, she knows. “I thought things were strained enough. There were plenty of other places to go.”

[beat_death]

"I suppose we should just split up the entire city, then. Or paint a line down the middle of the room," he says, "That's pretty much on par with how fucking ridiculous this is, don't you think?"

[did_good]

It is ridiculous, and Tosh knows that. His suggestion makes her laugh, Mitsuki looking at them both strangely. It reminds her too much of a movie she saw over and over as a child. “Down the centre of the room,” she can’t stop laughing now, imagining it and how silly it would look. “Who’d get what side of the stairs?”

[beat_death]

"I'd get the side closer, obviously," Owen replies, without hesitation, " You can take the back half of the room. You've already started settling down with some sort of weird, unconventional family anyway."

He gestures idly toward the dog with one hand.

[did_good]

"That means you're making the coffee," she eyes the little kitchen that's on his side of the imaginary line, still smiling and trying not to laugh. "And that I have the loo."

Mitsuki has given up, rolling onto her back and looking up at Owen with big brown eyes. "A lot of people have dogs Owen. Besides, she likes you."

[beat_death]

"I'm not making the coffee," Owen replies, because even if it's on his side of the room, he's not going anywhere near the coffee maker. But at least, even if their conversation has taken a turn for the ridiculous, the tension in the room has dissipated a bit.

"And I'm not petting you," he decides, looking down at the dog.

[did_good]

Mitsuki answers with a lolling tongue and a wriggle closer to him. Tosh tries to not laugh again, wondering why they're talking about this but honestly grateful they're talking no matter how ludicrous the topic. "Then you'll have to create a demilitarised zone. Because one of us has to make coffee."

[beat_death]

"You know, they have this service now where you can call a shop, order something and they'll bring it to you," Owen responds, and at this point, he's decided to try his best to ignore the dog. The more he addresses it, the more it seems to be goaded on.

And it looks like it might be the type that sheds.

[did_good]

"So you're going to buy me a coffee every time I want one?" Tosh raises a brow, crouching so she can scratch Mitsuki behind the ears. "Kind of you."

[beat_death]

"Nnnnno. Sorry to disappoint," hey says, turning to momentarily finish typing something. Honestly, he's surprised she hasn't taken the piss out of him for how punctual he's been with his reports.

"Besides, isn't buying you coffees a bit over the line? Since we're keeping this just to work?"

[did_good]

"Except your half of the room involves the coffee maker. Mine has the loo, but I'm willing to allow travel passes. Some sort of points system." She has noticed he's keeping up with things, but it's something that she's happy about and not for teasing. "One visit per day, no carry over."

[beat_death]

Owen's brought it up, and he knows that Tosh heard it, and that she's decided to ignore the matter instead. If that's the way that she wants it, then maybe it'll just be best if he doesn't mention it again.

But he's not really sure what the point of flirting is, if that's the case.

"Or, I'll just use the one in the shop," he replies.

[did_good]

Flirting, to Tosh, is a more overt thing. She's still mostly convinced it was all a mistake for him, no matter what he's told her. "Suit yourself."

Standing, she goes to grab MItsuki's leash, slipping papers and her laptop into the bag. There's a moment where she considers just saying goodbye, but she rushes out with other words before she can stop herself. "I'm taking her to the park. Going to get coffee on the way if you want one."

[beat_death]

"Yeah, alright, if you're already going. Dry cappuccino, no sugar," he says, his attention turning back to his computer. It's not until a few seconds later that he realizes that's not what Tosh was saying.

"You-- you were asking me if I want to go, weren't you?" Owen asks.