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]

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.

[did_good]

"I- No, it's fine. I can just grab you one." It isn't a no, precisely, as she was asking him to come with her. Cheeks burning, she clips the leash around Mitsuki's collar. "You're busy."

[beat_death]

"Christ, Tosh, just... just give me a second to finish up. I'll tag along," Owen says, because he thinks this might be her way of bringing it up, as round about as it may be. Truthfully, he doesn't really want coffee just then.

He just hopes she'll at least tie the dog up outside.

[did_good]

"Okay," she brightens in that moment, her embarrassment turning to relief. It's only a coffee, but at least they're not arguing or giving each other the silent treatment. Tosh slings her bag over a shoulder, Mitsuki already pulling on her arm in her eagerness to be outside. "I'll meet you upstairs."

[beat_death]

He only barely catches it, the way Tosh brightens before she turns to head up the stairs, but he does notice. Somehow, he's been talked into another half-date, even after he and Tosh have spent the better part of two weeks not really on speaking terms.

It doesn't really make much sense, but somehow, he thinks he might be alright with it. At least for right now. It's probably not a date at all, come to think of it, since she's got that dog with her.

Owen finishes up, logs out and locks everything down. He's still pulling his jacket on when he reaches the top of the stairs.

"Okay where's this coffee place?" he asks.

[did_good]

A date, no, but things had been so strained between them that she was grateful for just a coffee. It didn't mean more than they were talking.

"Just down the street. A bit closer to the park," she leads the way out of the shop, pausing when Mitsuki chooses to scent the nearest lamppost in a very canine way. "I ah- She does that."

[beat_death]

"Are you sure it's not a male?" Owen asks, frowning at the animal's display of territorial dominance. Owen's a bit more familiar with non-terrestrial life forms than house pets, but he's fairly sure he's correct.

[did_good]

"Very sure." Mitsuki could sniff at the spots on the sidewalk as long as the day went on. Tosh tugs at her, making a soft sound to encourage her movement. "She doesn't have the certain integral bits that a boy needs."

[beat_death]

"Why a dog, anyway? Planning on a lot of free time in the near future?" he asks, slowing his stride just a bit so Tosh and the animal aren't left behind while she tries to tug it along.

Even if Owen had wanted one, he wouldn't have hazarded an animal back in Cardiff. He was hardly ever home, so there was no point in it.

[did_good]

"I didn't plan it," she says it more defensively than she means to, Mitsuki now embracing the idea of walking, trotting between them and only pausing to sniff every third post. Tosh can't explain that she wants someone who'll love her unconditionally, it sounds too needy even in her mind. "There were some people from a shelter set up in the park. I was playing with her and I couldn't leave her there, alone."

[beat_death]

"Careful you don't wander into any orphanages then," Owen says, though he doubts she'd suddenly decide to bring a child home on a whim, as funny as he finds his own joke. Torchwood Daycare. That's a recipe for disaster if he's ever heard one.

[did_good]

"I'm not that nee- silly," she corrects herself, almost having said needy. "I think this is about the level of responsibility I can handle."

Mitsuki is, if nothing else, very cute and she knows it too, stopping for no reason to look up at the two of them with wide eyes. "Come on girl."

[beat_death]

"No biological urges? Clock not ticking away?" Owen asks, and he's really just taking the piss. He doesn't believe in any of that bollocks, and knows people in their line of work aren't suited for it anyway.

[did_good]

"Even if I did, when would I have the time?" Even here in Darrow there's enough to keep her busy. Mitsuki gives in and allows herself to be tugged the last few feet to the cafe, Tosh crouching to tie her up outside. "No, no motherly urges. Nothing to worry about there."

[beat_death]

Owen nearly makes an audibly relieved sound as Tosh ties up the dog, glad that she's not one of those people who'll insist on trying to take their animal into these sorts of places.

He walks ahead to hold the door open for her.

"I think Gwen would've quit eventually because of it," he muses, "No room for Torchwood once you've been dragged into a cozy marriage."

[did_good]

"I was never sure how she managed it. Kept that going, that is." The entire Gwen and Owen thing aside, that was. Not for the first time she cursed that stupid pendant, pushing that thought away as quickly as it rose. "Especially after Jack vanished."

[beat_death]

"Sheer stubbornness, I suppose," Owen surmises, but truth be told, the whole lot of them were stubborn about one thing or another.

And probably even moreso after Jack vanished.

[did_good]

"I suppose that's what we all have in common, isn't it?" She orders a soy latte from the girl at the counter, handing over enough money to cover Owen's as well. "in the end we were all stubborn. Stupidly so sometimes."

[beat_death]

"Speak for yourself," Owen responds, and orders a regular coffee, even if he expects it to be disappointing. Tosh paying for his as well, isn't exactly expected, though.

"Cheers."

[did_good]

Tosh shrugs it away, more amused by his denial than anything else. Her mouth twitches, "Really? You aren't stubborn?"

[beat_death]

"More like I've never done anything stupid," he says, mostly to see what kind of response the statement will get. Owen's well-aware that he's done his fair share of things he wishes he could take back, however well-intentioned he may have been at the time.

Stepping in front of Copley's gun certainly ranks high up on the list.

[did_good]

Tosh snorts, a hand covering her mouth to stop herself from laughing. "Of course not. I couldn't think of one instance of it. Thank you."

The last she says to the barista, grateful to head for a table rather than answer with specifics.

[beat_death]

She's kind of cute when she laughs, Owen can't help but think, but he pushes the thought out of his mind almost as quickly as it'd ended up there in the first place.

"Glad to see we're on the same page." He grabs his own coffee from the bar, and walks over to join Tosh at one of the tables.