.017 // won't live to regret yesterday

[theredreaper]

God, I did not need that curse. Or the reminder of how I felt about Bones... It's... With Tony, it's...

Tony-- I don't appreciate being manipulated like that Thank you for keeping me out of trouble. Hell, I should have known you could be that cold.

So, I'm myself again. How's everyone else doing? Who's up for drinks later?

Comments

[warped_inside]

Cat? Are you all right?

[theredreaper]

Yeah. I'm fine. You?

[warped_inside]

Much better now that the curse is over.

I was wondering if you had time maybe one day this week for a cup of coffee. I'd like to talk to you about something?

[theredreaper]

Same here.

This is about Tony, isn't it? Sure. What is it? Any time that's good for you, as long as it's in the evening.

[warped_inside]

Evening works perfectly well for me, I mostly set my own hours.

Private;
It's about Tony, partly, but I hope you won't think it's going to be something bad. Because it's not.

[theredreaper]

I'm at the Lux right now, but if you want, we can go later today or tomorrow.

Private;
I knew it. Fuck. How can it not be bad? Right. I'll just wait and see what you've got to say.

[warped_inside]

I can stop by Lux, I need to check in on the computer systems anyway. If you're sure it's convenient.

Private;
Cat, I swear I've no intention of giving you a hard time. I'd just rather talk in person.

[theredreaper]

I don't mind, I'll just wait here for you, then. Better to just get it over with.

Private;
Yeah, okay. I'll see you in a bit.

[ ooc; Action? A-and I'm sorry, but she's hurt and bitchy >.> ]

Action

[warped_inside]

[Tosh heads straight over to Lux, mostly because she wants to get this done probably almost as badly as Cat does. If it hadn't been for her promise to Tony, she wouldn't be even getting involved -- this is so not her field of expertise.

Taking a deep breath when she enters, she goes to find Cat.]

Thank you for meeting with me. I know you're probably still trying to get settled from the last couple days.

[ooc: It's okay, Tosh completely understands. And I've got to run out on some errands but I'll be back in a bit to continue!]

Action

[theredreaper]

[Cat's sitting at the bar, a glass of Gin and Tonic - more Gin than Tonic - in front of her. She's got one hand around the glass, swirling the contents around in it.

Lost in thought? Yup.]

Tosh. Hey. [She looks up, pats the chair next to her.] Just trying to wrap my head around... stuff.

Action

[warped_inside]

[Tosh pulls up the seat and orders herself a glass of wine, giving Cat an understanding little smile.]

I'm actually trying to do the opposite. Not think about much of anything at all today, just...enjoy being me again.

[She falls silent after that, not quite sure how to just ease into the conversation she wants to have. People can be so complicated to talk to.]

Action

[theredreaper]

[A shrug. Cat doesn't know if she likes herself better like this or the way she was. She knows she did the right thing, but the other her still had Bones. And now she's feeling like that again, only it's not Bones, and Cat's not sure she can deal with it.]

So what did you want to talk about?

[No such qualms here. Right now, Cat doesn't really care what others think and she'd rather get this over with.]

Action

[warped_inside]

[Tosh silently thanked Cat's bluntness, took a sip of her wine, and nodded.]

Right. Well, as I said before, it's about Tony.

[Wow, this was harder than she'd expected. Another sip, and then Tosh addressed her words more to the surface of the bar than to Cat.]

He really cares about you. A lot. I think more than he even likes to admit. He's devastated by the idea that he might lose your friendship, but I think he's equally upset that he might lose the possibility of something more.

Action

[theredreaper]

[Okay, so not what Cat was expecting. She looks from Tosh to the ground. Breathe, right.

The idea of Tony caring for her as more than a friend or just someone he has sex with... It's ridiculous. Laughable. That's what she's got to keep telling herself.]

He's not losing my friendship. [Hesitantly said. She likes Tony too much to give that up.]

I... I thought you were going to tell me to keep my hands off him or something. [That would have been easier to deal with.]

And I can't [Stops, swallows drily. She's not up to this conversation and she can't deal with the implications of what Tosh is saying. She can't.] I don't believe Tony's interested in...

[No, that's not working out. Start again.] He likes me as a friend. And he likes sex. Nothing more than that.

Action

[warped_inside]

I'm glad to hear that, at least. And he'll be relieved.

[Tosh glances out of the corner of her eye at Cat, wondering what's going through the other woman's head. She knows there has to be something holding her back from what Tony's offering, but without knowing what it might be, all Tosh can do is make sure both parties are understanding each other.

She laughs in surprise at Cat's next comment, though.]

God, no! I haven't any right to say that. Tony's always been completely honest with me about the fact that we're not exclusive, and that he intended to see other women. I've never expected more than that.

[Wanted more, maybe, but never expected it.]

I won't disagree with either of those statements, Cat. But I think you're wrong that he wants nothing more. If there's one thing I've learned about Tony, it's that he doesn't hide his intentions. I think it's one of the things that drew me to him in the first place. He can be a rake, but he's got a good heart.

Action

[theredreaper]

Are you-- Are you going to talk to him about this?

[Takes a sip of her drink. She's got to calm down. Or stay calm, either. Her thoughts and emotions are a tangled mess and she doesn't even know where to start sorting them out.

Tosh's words make her shake her head.] I couldn't do that. Ever. Being with someone and knowing they're seeing someone else as well.

[A sigh.]

I know he's a good guy. But... Like you said. He's not exclusive. He intends to see other women.