tampered | Log; ongoing

Log; ongoing

When; Monday morning
Rating; G? PG? It couldn't possibly be worse than the latter.
Characters; Toshiko Sato (

warped_inside) and Martha Jones (

miss_jones)
Summary; Started with a phone message from Tosh that said, "Have I got a story for you." Ended up with plans for coffee and conversation for two.

The morning was bright already, regardless of the early hour, and having arrived a bit earlier than she meant to, Martha sat at a corner table of the cafe patio, watching the increase of activity around her with an interested eye. This City functioned in ways that, in so many other places, would not be possible. Even for Martha, who had seen her fair share of strangeness, it was a bit much to get one's head around. Maybe it was the combination of so many unbelievable things. Then again, in ways, she wasn't complaining. Privileged to have met quite a number of people she both found interesting and admirable, Martha had, for some time now, taken herself with the perspective that while she was here she would make the most of it and try not to dwell on when next she might go home.

In a way, this was much like home, with a fair few of the people she held dear: the Doctor, Jack Harkness, all of Torchwood really. Then there were the new additions in her City life, but that was another matter altogether.

Stirring her coffee, adding more sugar, Martha checked her phone to make sure she hadn't gotten any messages from the clinic, or Tosh for that matter. Message field clear, she tucked her phone away and took a sip of the coffee, waiting with a mild calmness.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tosh had thrown together a quick breakfast for Tavi and anyone else at the mini-Hub who wanted some, and then grabbed up her coat and bag and headed for the cafe. She was running just slightly late, mostly because of getting distracted with messages, but Martha wasn't kept waiting too long.

"Is this what normal people mean by having a life?" she laughed, dropping into the seat opposite the other woman. "I never needed to think about a schedule before. How are you, Martha?"

"I'm good," she said, and it was the truth. In a way the words 'tired', 'worried' and 'restless' sort of fell into the niches between what it was for most of them to be good or okay, and often, it wasn't necessary to say them for people to know. "And yes, I think this is sort of what it's like," she commented a bit wryly.

Smiling over her coffee, cupped in both hands, she continued, "How are you? I seem to remember this get-together being inspired by a story you have?" If she leaned forward a bit, it was because Martha was always one for a good story, and especially in good company.

"You're not letting work overwhelm you, right?" Tosh asked, taking a moment to have a good look at Martha and make sure she didn't look too tired or worn. "You've got a handful right now, I know."

Taking a sip of her coffee, Tosh grinned, a little sheepishly but in definite amusement. "I'm all right. Setting aside being worried of Ianto and especially Luke, and not knowing what to be thinking about Owen, I'm pretty good. And yeah, I did promise you a story. Might be a little bit risque in parts, if you're all right with that."

"No, not really, like you said, it's nice to keep busy, though I wouldn't mind being kept busy with slightly less serious cases," she admitted, setting the cup down, hands folding at the edge of the table.

"Ianto and Luke will be fine, but I understand the worry." She didn't bother to say she was worried as well; it was obvious really and Tosh already knew. "As for Owen...well, what can we say about Owen," Martha stopped, swallowing any slightly mean words about his elusive behavior and lifted her coffee again instead. "He'll come around."

Tilting her head slightly, still smiling at Tosh, she said, "As for the story, I'm entirely all right with risque. I don't get many stories with that warning attached. Consider me doubly interested."

"Sometimes? I miss the hazardous stuff, and the rush of doing something really important. But it's nice to know that the fate of the world doesn't depend on how quickly and thoroughly I can get my assignments finished. I hope things relax a bit for you, so you can actually enjoy the job a little more."

Tosh didn't continue the discussion about Owen either. There were too many conflicting thoughts in her head for her to be able to make any sense on that topic right now. But she did smile back at Martha, and nod when given the go-ahead for her story.

"Well, suppose I should preface this by saying that I think things are...about to change between me and Tony. I think he's found someone to be serious about. And I'm all right that."

Mostly she was all right with that. This would be another subject Tosh hadn't quite figured out how to feel about.

Martha's initial reaction to what Tosh said was suspicious displeasure with Tony Stark, but she waylaid it in light of Tosh's follow-up of resolve. Still, she had her reasons for being a bit uncertain of the whole thing, not the least of which was that she was never entirely sure what it was to Tony on his end.

"I don't mean to second-guess you, Tosh. I think it's great that you're all right with it, but...I mean," she paused and then with a sigh, "Are you sure?"

Sometimes it was nice to ask twice, just to make sure someone knew you cared enough to make sure it was the truth, and not quietly hiding some sort of sadness or unnameable dissatisfaction with whatever was going on. As far as Martha knew, Tony and Tosh had been on dates, camping was one she thought she recalled, dancing, all kinds of things that sounded fun, things Tosh deserved. Martha basically wanted to know if this was all right in the way that Tony deserved a left hook and maybe a right, or all right in the way that it was just that: all right.

"Tony made it very clear, straight off, that it wasn't ever going to be anything really serious or exclusive with us." Tosh shrugged, pursing her lips wryly. "I suppose maybe I could have pushed the issue, but I didn't, and he's found someone he feels is really special. I think she's nice, I think they'd probably be good for each other, and I still care enough about Tony to want to remain his friend. He's fun and interesting and makes me feel good about myself. That's...not always easy to find."

Another sip of her coffee, and then she added, "I fall too easily. Maybe what I need is to just learn how to enjoy myself, you know? And it's not as if anything's been ever misrepresented. He's never been anything but up-front and honest with me. In this place? There's not going to be any kind of happily ever after anyway. So I think I'd rather have a great friend and a really nice experience, than nothing at all."

Very logical, very candid, Martha nodded as if to give her own approval, not that the situation needed anyone's approval but Tosh's and Tony's, but as an onlooking friend, she felt somewhat justified.

"Then I can't have any complaints, can I?" she teased as if to tell Tosh if anything ever did happen between her and a partner, Martha would be there to complain on her behalf if necessary. This time, it wasn't, and that was good. "Well then, I'm glad for you, but, that being the preface, I'm wondering where it leads to," she pointed out, catching one of the waiters on the side to ask for a refill. They still had the day ahead of them, though it felt like she had been awake for many hours.

Tosh smiled, grateful for Martha's support and understanding. "I think he's already had one or two people give him a sterner than necessary warning about treating me right, but he really doesn't deserve to be thought ill of. Any relationship takes more than one person contributing to it."

A soft laugh, maybe a bit of a blush, and she added, "Just didn't want to get into my story and have you asking 'but what about Tony?'. There's some misconception in some places that there's a...boyfriend-girlfriend thing going on with us." Not that Tosh would have objected, but things simply hadn't worked out that way. "See, there are these two chefs in town..."

Martha arched a brow, threading her fingers together and raising them to perch her chin upon them.

"Chefs?" she prompted, curiouser by the moment. "New arrivals?"

"Mm-hm. Pretty recent, can't be more than a couple weeks. They're opening a restaurant, and it's...sort of named after me. Or rather, after a ridiculous nickname that Jack -- he's the head chef -- decided to saddle me with. Which, I am loathe to admit, is starting to grow on me a little. If only because I've never really been the sort people give nicknames to, you know?"

There's another grin, and she pauses to indulge in some more coffee, making a mental reminder to herself to take some with her back to Ianto. "Steven, he's the sous, cooked me dinner at the restaurant kitchen Friday night."

"Nicknames can be true signs of affection," Martha noted with a thoughtful look before adding, "What was the nickname, if you don't mind me asking?"

When Tosh mentioned Steven, Martha's expression went from attentive listener to amused audience, a good-natured sort of 'Oh really?' as she added the same amount of sugar to her new cup of coffee as the last, which begged the question: did she want any coffee with her sugar. "Cooked for you, did he? Was it a date?" she queried.

Tosh rolled her eyes a little, expecting this one was going to get her some good-natured teasing. "Artichoke. Because they're prickly on the outside and sweet on the inside. And that's to be the name of the restaurant."

She spooned just a little bit of sugar into her own coffee, which at least helped to offset the coffee-to-sugar ratio being consumed at their table. "Yeah, it was a date. I think we were both trying to insist that it wasn't, but I bought a new dress and the most expensive pair of shoes I've ever owned, and he dressed up casual but nice, so I'm pretty sure it was a date. Made the most fantastic sea bass I've ever tasted."

"Insisting it's not is a pretty fair way to tell it is, yeah," Martha laughed at that, smiling brightly at Tosh now. It was one of the best things, no matter where they were, no matter what they were doing, to know things of good interest and point were happening for friends.

"Seafood, that is, well prepared and presented seafood, I figure it was, is also a good tip off," she added as a point. "Artichoke isn't a typical nickname," she mused and shrugged a bit. "But it can be argued that that's just another reason it suits you." It was meant as a compliment, which was apparent by her tone.

"It was thoughtful," Tosh mused. "He asked what I wanted, and I said I wasn't awfully choosy but I didn't really care for very heavy foods, and he remembered that. They both have this intensity about cooking that's really intriguing." That level of passion for something scared her a little, sometimes, but she had to admit it was part the appeal too.

"Started off with Flower, which I didn't care much for. Just...silly, you know? I don't think I'm a flowery type. I was pretty indignant about the whole thing at first, which only egged Jack on, but it's surprising how fast you get used to a nickname when it's used repeatedly and in good humor. And how do you argue with them when they've gone and used the name for their new business? I think I could put up with being called just about anything if a place were named after me."

She shook her head in amusement, leaning forward a bit, not quite in a conspirator's way, but a similar feel. It was fun to just talk about what people were up to on a social level, without the other issues weighing them down for the moment.

"So," she paused for effect and then, "Is this more likely to become a...boyfriend-type?" It wasn't an unwarranted question, though perhaps she was jumping the gun a bit in excitement for Tosh and general excitement for girl-talk which was something that walked right off the face of the planet for her for some time now.

It was a nice break from discussing work, or curses, or what mischief the city's criminal minds were up to lately. Tosh shook her head adamantly at Martha's question, laughing softly.

"No no, nothing like that. He's not the boyfriend type, and there's already a sort of...thing, between him and Jack. Chef Jack, not our Jack. They do this...sharing thing. Both of them are also completely off their heads."

There was a moment of perplexed silence until Tosh clarified the 'Chef Jack' bit, to which Martha gave an 'Oh, I get it' look, and then took another drink of the coffee.

"Sharing thing?" she repeated, not quite sure she understood.

Maybe the bright red flush creeping into Tosh's face was a clue?

"I get the idea that, unless you're talking about semi-anonymous one night stands, they might be something of a package deal. I get this idea because I might have spent Thursday evening at their flat."

Oh my, what a fascinating reflection in the coffee.

"Package dea---" she broke off laughing, but not to be mean at all. It was just something Martha didn't quite have the words for at the moment. Amusing? Sure, but that wasn't the word she was looking for. Sweet? In its own way, yes. Weird? Well, not nearly as weird as some of the other things and situations she'd been privy to.

"Oh Tosh," she calmed down a bit, trying to regain a sort of calm by sipping coffee a few times. "Really? That sounds...interesting," she paused. "And, really, nice, if they're sweet enough to give you the reason that they did for the nickname. So..." and she trailed off, leaving it up to Tosh to expound upon this new relationship or not. She didn't want to seem too nosy. Of course, she was, but that was a bit beside the point.

Tosh would have been very quick to point out that there was no 'relationship' here, just...well she wasn't sure what to call it, but it was definitely not a relationship, because Jack and Steven didn't do those she was quite sure, and Tosh didn't do them anymore.

"Interesting is a good way to put it," she replied, looking up with a little grin. "They're bold and rude and incorrigible, and fun. And I think they're sweet, in their own odd way. Steven especially, he's kind of a doll."

"It's interesting, meeting all of these people we never would have gotten the chance otherwise, probably, to even run across at all, if we had never been brought here," she said, settling back in her chair a bit. The second cup of coffee now gone, she was refraining from another as she folded her arms across her chest, still looking directly at Tosh.

"It might be strange to some people, but sometimes, I catch myself actually liking the opportunity here, not all of it, but some of it." With that she glanced down for a moment. Strange, and stranger.

"Yes, exactly," Tosh agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "Before coming here, I didn't know anyone outside of the team. It was too difficult to try and maintain a friendship, let alone any kind of romance. Not when you've got all these secrets to keep, and the strange hours. But here, everyone has some kind of odd angle to their story, and no one cares. And you haven't got to hide, or worry, and if you try something and it doesn't work out...what does it matter? You get another chance at something else, and for most people it all fades away when they go home anyway."

It was pretty plain Tosh was embracing that aspect of City life, the opportunities it afforded a person, and the variety. "Which reminds me that I'm a bit curious as to how things are going with a certain Doctor Suresh?"

"Well, that," she picked up her yet untouched glass of water and took a sip to buy herself thinking time. "That is," another pause, "In no rush," and pause again. Truth be told, Martha wasn't exactly sure what it was, between herself and 'a certain Doctor Suresh'. He had said he didn't want to rush into anything, but still seemed earnest in the advance. She too felt no desire to rush into anything, bad enough that she was interested at all.

"I like him," she decided on. "Of course, in our world, I have a fiancé," and she lifted her hand in meaning, ring apparent. She wasn't sure if it was worse or better or neither that she wore it still. "So maybe it might very well be I've no business liking him, as such," she gave a sort of half-smile, apologetic and unsure, brushing some hair behind her ear, fidgety suddenly.

"No reason for there to be any rush," Tosh agreed, watching Martha carefully, and then dropping her eyes to the ring on the other woman's hand. That was a situation she couldn't help be grateful not to be in herself.

"I'd think..." she said thoughtfully, "that you could still enjoy spending time in his company, no matter what. Part of me wants to say that engagements can be postponed, or that what happens here won't ever make a difference to the rest of your life at home anyway. But part of me is ashamed for even thinking such a thing. So I guess I'll just say that he seems he'd make a good friend, if nothing else."

"I really do like the people I've met, and it's wonderful getting to know them more," Martha stated, hoping she hadn't given the wrong idea at all, that she would take it back or that she regretted anything. "And yeah, he is, and also, I think he needs a good friend or a few, even if I get the feeling sometimes he has no idea what to do with them, or himself even." She was well-meaning when she said that and her smile softened a bit.

"I guess we'll see," she said, a stray glance down to her ring finger again before she folded it nondescriptly under her other hand, bare of any jewelry. "...but it's kind of a relief it's not completely crazy sounding to you," she continued. "I can't really explain why. I love Thomas, really, that hasn't changed. And Mohinder isn't just a convenience, at all, which might be part of the problem," and at this she laughed a bit, quietly.

Tosh smiled, nodding her understanding. "Well, I know where he's coming from there. I still marvel once in a while at how not alone I am here."

Another nod, this one more thoughtful. "Maybe I'm just selfish, but I think it's entirely possible to love more than one person at a time. And I'm not trying to suggest that you and Mohinder have got anywhere near that stage, but I just..."

She takes a deep breath and looks up at Martha. "When I fell in love with Tommy, I didn't stop loving Owen. I haven't stopped loving either of them. And I don't think that's strange, or wrong."

Her gaze sharpened at the mention of being alone from Tosh. It was a feeling that seemed like all the people they knew well had experienced in full at one point or another. In the City, she had many people she knew and cared about, which was more than she could say for a majority probably of this place. Somehow, regardless of that, that feeling of being alone staved, the feeling of being lonely invaded in its stead. The oddness of it wasn't lost on her, and she tried not to think about it too often, or as much as she was at this very moment. Sitting back up, she rested her arms on the table edge.

"I don't think that's selfish of you, Tosh. I think it's very kind," she said at last, when the silence verged on strange, proving she had been thinking on it a bit too much. "And it's a little weird, I mean, he did say that if we were ever separated, not to wait, but you know, even with our lives, and how they run, I never really thought that offer would mean anything. But now," she paused. "Well, I mean not love, but care, and, want to be around, qualify," she said, pursing her lips and lifting one hand to put under her chin again.

"Thank you though again for that," she nodded. "It's something I needed to hear from something other than the voices in my head."

Edited 2008-08-25 20:41 (UTC)

There was an oddness to the way a person could be surrounded by friends and yet still sometimes feel lonely, wasn't there? Tosh would have understood, had Martha mentioned it.

"Sometimes I think it's not very smart," Tosh remarked wryly. "But I don't think it's something that can be controlled, either. And if controlling it meant giving up ever having the experience of being in love, then I don't want to be able to. Your fiance sounds like a good man. I think I'd agree with him, given the kind of lives we all lead. You have to take your experiences when you can get them, while you have the chance. That's what people keep telling me, anyway, and it sounds like good advice."

She smiled at Martha, because yeah, she knew how it was to need validation from someplace besides inside your own mind. "If they're anything like the voices in my head, they probably have terrible judgment and turn out to be usually right in the end anyway."

"They do tend to be that way," she affirmed at the detailing of the voices and then went on, "Confusing things. I'll rely on friends opinions over theirs when I can though." It was an indirect compliment, though she wasn't sure it carried across in that way. One could hope.

"Thanks for the offer for help with Luke and I know you and the others have probably been helping to keep Ianto less antsy. I haven't been in there more than necessary, I'm afraid to say. Once two of the others are released, it won't be so crazy," she said, referring to Lucy Saxon and Touya Kinomoto, but she wasn't sure Tosh really knew the latter. "I'm sure they're both grateful, going bored and all that, better to have company," she said.

"Yeah, mostly my friends have far better opinions and make more sense," Tosh agreed.

She waved the thanks away with a gesture of her hand, simply grateful that Martha was allowing her to visit. "I'm worried sick about Luke, and grateful that you put your foot down and insisted he get some rest. And Ianto's probably going to be a handful soon, but we really are trying. I know what it's like to feel cooped up and bored when you wish you could be doing something."

"Speaking of him though, I do think I should get back," she said, standing politely. "We should do this again," she smiled. "You're a pleasure to be around, Tosiko Sato."

For some reason, calling people by their full names was a rather telltale sign of affection from Martha to whoever she chose to speak to that way.

"I'm going to come by in a bit and have a visit with Luke, and then maybe later on today with Ianto," Tosh said, standing as well. "You have my word that I won't help either of them in any kind of prison-break plotting."

She smiled at Martha's comment, recognizing the compliment in the use of her full name, and held out her hand. "So are you, Martha Jones. I really enjoyed this, and I definitely agree we need to do it again."

Martha gave the hand a brief look before coming around the table in full and pulling Tosh gently into an embrace.

"Don't work too hard, Tosh. I don't want to have to come after anyone like I did Luke for a while now," she grinned, stepping back. "I'll tell him and Ianto to expect you though."

Tosh returned the hug, giving Martha a not-too-tight squeeze. "I have too many people distracting me with fun things to do, and obviously a lot less willpower than Luke has, for that happen. But I promise to be diligent about giving myself a break now and then. You do the same, all right?"

"I'll try not to be too much of a hypocrite, yes," she laughed, setting down enough currency to cover her coffee, and pushing her chair in. Branching out toward the clinic, as far as direction, she paused in walking away to turn and wave.

"Keep me posted on Artichoke," she called back toward Tosh.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Log; ongoing

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject