Apartment Above Luke's, Tuesday

[spin_kick_snap]

It was Tuesday. Kathy knew she was supposed to be getting to work sometime this afternoon, doing stock or cleaning or trying to find people to come work for her or any number of countless, pointless projects. She had a routine and routines were important, at least according to what little poking around she'd done on the computer for Helpful tips when you're a basket case. But she couldn't summon the energy to get up off the couch today. Hell, getting out of bed had been a titanic struggle and the only reason she'd managed a shower at all was because she'd sat on the floor of the tub and just let the water run over her for most of it.

It sucked. She'd really thought she was doing better. She'd been okay for a few days there, genuinely happy and smiling and laughing. The kids had been great distractions while they'd been there, but they were gone now, leaving a hole in Kathy's heart and the promise of a future that seemed further away than ever, today. From 'okay' to 'utter distaster' in just twelve hours, only this time she didn't even have the outlet of fighting in Baltimore to try to channel some of this bullshit into. All she had was Hulu and about a million seasons of Hades' Kitchen to get through while she tried very hard not to think about what Saturday had been or her alternate reality daughter with her dead sister's name.

"You're never going to impress him with that mess," she informed the TV from inside her comfy cocoon of blanket. "It looks like you threw up on a plate. Way to just hand the victory to the blue team, ladies, jeez."

[Open, though I'll be off to bed soon.]

Comments

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo blinked.

For a couple of seconds.

"The adult store?" she repeated. Not because she didn't know what that meant, but because the words still hadn't totally processed through her brain.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Dite's Decadent Delights," Kathy said, feeling really awkward about that. "I picked up the keys when the last manager stormed out and..." She spread her hands. "Now I have a store?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Right. Um. That's."

"Congratulations?"

Was that the right sentiment?

[spin_kick_snap]

Honestly? Kathy wasn't even sure and it was her damn store!

"Thanks?" she said, shrugging to show she was just as confused. "It's something to do, anyway? And I like the whole 'running a store' thing, so...who knows? Maybe I'll live out my life as the owner of the sex toy shop on a multi-dimensional island. There are worse fates."

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo considered that. "But it doesn't, I don't know, doesn't sound like a project? Something to, um, be focused on?" And it sounded like that was something Kathy needed.

"Unless, um, you've got big plans or something?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well, I've got some," Kathy said, perking up a little. "I've got a few ideas to meld sex education and access, you know? So that everyone always has what they need and understand how to use it!"

[soniaroadsqueen]

That little spark in Kathy's eye had Ringo sitting up a bit straighter herself. "Yeah? Like, um, what are you thinking?"

She was trying not to blush too hard at the subject matter. It was more important to see if she could keep Kathy engaged than worry about being embarrassed after all, right?

[spin_kick_snap]

"Monthly subscription boxes, like LootCrate and that kind of thing," Kathy said. "With different kinds of safer sex options that people could ask for and little toys and things that all come with bits of advice or educational fliers, so it'd be a little bit of education along with something fun and new to encourage people to experiment to find out what they like!"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"That sounds. Um. Cool?"

She meant awkward. Very, very awkward.

Which her blush was almost certainly giving away.

[spin_kick_snap]

"You are a terrible liar," Kathy said, before cracking up.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo just blushed even more. "Am not!" she objected. Unconvincingly. "It-it does sound cool." The little stutter and the way her voice trailed off at the end probably didn't make her sound any more convincing, either.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Really?" Kathy asked. "Okay, I'll bite. What about it sounds cool to you, Ringo?"

That was right, Ringo. Go for details.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Um." Dang it, Kathy!

"The, um, helping people part?"

Kathy had said something about helping people, right? Ringo had kind of only half paid attention once she realized what they were talking about.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Do go on," Kathy said, her expression saying she one hundred percent was not buying your bullshit, Ringo.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo ducked her head, blushing even more furiously.

"Shut up," she muttered sullenly.

[spin_kick_snap]

"That's what I thought," Kathy said, settling back on the couch and looking pleased with herself.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo wrinkled her nose at Kathy, still flushed red. "You're a big meanie-head."

Nice insult there, Ringo.

[spin_kick_snap]

"That's what someone says to someone who's right," Kathy declared.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo shook her head, managing a little smile.

"I, um, do think it's a cool idea, though. For real." Just. Maybe not a cool idea for, you know, Ringo to take part in.

The fact that her reaction might mean she'd really benefit from something like that didn't even occur to her.

[spin_kick_snap]

And given their history, Kathy wasn't exactly going to point it out.

"So, you know," Kathy said. "Project! Or something."

[soniaroadsqueen]

That was because Kathy was wise.

"Well, it's a start." Ringo grinned. "Though, um, is it really complicated?" She looked thoughtful. "I've never tried anything like that, but it kind of seems like it wouldn't demand all of your attention or whatever?" Like, Ringo figured Kathy could do with a Big Project of some sort. Something to really dive into.

[spin_kick_snap]

She should perhaps reexamine Kathy's life choices before flinging around the w-word like that.

"Yeah, I'll give you that much," Kathy said. "I don't really have anything like that."

Which made it easy for the dark thoughts to linger and crowd out the others.

[soniaroadsqueen]

That would require a lot more reflection than Ringo was typically capable of, so Kathy was just going to be stuck with the label for now.

"Maybe. Maybe we can come up with something?" Something for Kathy to be excited about? To sink her time into? Ringo knew the need to have projects, even if it wasn't exactly the same kind of need that Kathy seemed to have right now.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy waved at her in a 'you're welcome to try' though her expression was set firmly on 'dubious.'

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Um." Ringo thought really hard, trying to come up with something.

"Um."

This was hard, Kathy!