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

[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.

[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."