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]

"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!

[spin_kick_snap]

"Now you know why I don't have anything," Kathy said. "It's hard. Harder than it seems. It's even worse when you're fighting everything else off and trying to think at the same time."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"I. I guess that's true." Ringo scowled. "But, I should be able to help."

Somehow.

You know. Because she wanted to so bad.

[spin_kick_snap]

"You're not a trained psychologist," Kathy reminded. "And support isn't always about coming up with the perfect solution. Sometimes it's just being there to listen, to make someone eat or sleep or shower. To give them a rough kick in the ass when they need it."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, I've been told that I'm pretty good at getting underfoot," Ringo allowed, venturing a grin.

"Oh!"

Her eyes widened.

"Eating! I brought cheesecake!"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Worst kohai," Kathy pretended to grumble. "Spending all this time talking when we could have been eating cheesecake."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"If that's how you feel, I can eat your share for you. You know, to save you from all the delicious cake."

That would make up for it, right?

[spin_kick_snap]

Not in the least, Ringo!

"If anything, you should be offering up your slice to me in tribute," Kathy sniffed.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo gave Kathy an "are you crazy?" look. "And just what did you do to deserve a whole cake?"