For Charity's Sake

[amanika]

Tugger's glare, which had started to dissipate, returned at Macavity's reaction, obviously there was nothing serious his brother believed him capeable of.

"Didn't just talk about you with him y'know." The response was sulky though. Any delight at sharing the story had gone with Macavity's reaction.

[victoriousscarf]

Mac noticed Tugger's souring look, and if he had been slightly less close to panic at the idea, he might have tried to smooth things over. "You're runnin' a minor rum-gang, I'm your brother, and you think bein' a cop is goin' ta be a good idea? Are you out of your mind?" Mac demanded. "His flattery aside, you really think you could do somethin' like that? Not just because of the family, but do you have any idea what somethin' like that really takes?"

[amanika]

Tugger growled, "Just coz he offered it don't mean I would've considered doin' it. Just nice t'have someone who think's I'm worth somethin'" Macavity's last comment had stung, "Obviously you don't. an' neither does Munk."

[victoriousscarf]

In reply, Mac growled right back at him. "Jesus Christ, are you ever gettin' over that inferiority complex you have? You keep goin' over about how we don't think you can do anythin', but you know the best way to change that? Do somethin'."

[amanika]

Well that stung. Tugger was silent, he honestly had no comeback to that. Knowing there was truth in Macavity's words he especially didn't like, it was a big dent to his pride. Finally he just turned away from his brother and stared down the length of the bar. The only indication that he didn't want to end the contact with Macavity just yet was that he didn't actually get up and leave.

[victoriousscarf]

Mac sighed and picked up his cup of coffee again, finishing it. He was not good at comfort and he knew it, so there was really nothing he could say to his youngest brother.

He rose finally, setting coins down on the bar to pay for the cup. Suddenly all he really wanted to go was go back to his penthouse and sleep. It would probably mean he would wake up at three in the morning, but his interest in cavorting around town had dissipated. "You'll do fine," he said gruffly, looking down at his brother. "Just find somethin' ta do."

[amanika]

Tugger turned back, though he felt like it was costing him a lot to do this, "You stickin' around this time?" his tone suggested that, despite everything, he hoped the answer would be yes; if things hadn't happened like they had, it would have been nice to have the opportunity to actually spend some enjoyable time with his eldest brother, "Or is it gonna be another year or more before I see you again?" there was a tiny bit of bitterness in the tone there, but Tugger felt he could justify it, this at least was not about any inferiority complex he might have, though abandonment it might be, which at least, Tugger didn't see as his own fault.

[victoriousscarf]

Mac paused, considering, trying to weight the pros and the cons of the situation. "It won't be a year," he said, finally. "It was a stupid idea the first time, I'm not gonna make the same mistake again. No promises of when the next time will be, but it'll be soon. Will..." he paused, glancing around the crowded, smoke filled bar. "Will that be better?"

[amanika]

Tugger raised an eyebrow, surprised Macavity was actually asking, "Sounds like the best I'm gonna get, unless you're about to reconsider if I protest, an' I can't imagine y'would."

[victoriousscarf]

Mac's eyes narrowed briefly and he nodded. "I have some business to still see to tonight," he said and realized after the events of last night that probably sounded more sinister then he had wanted it to. "Just some paperwork that needs doin'," he added a little quickly. He was starting to sound like Coricopat. Wonderful. But he could feel his skin twitching and that mean he needed to get out of that bar.

"But you know where to find me," he added. The hotel was pretty hard to miss. "Stop by sometime." He turned at that, nodding at the queen who had brought him the coffee, and left into the night.

((Exit Macavity))

[Meadowlark]

Griddlebome returned the nod, making her way back to Tugger. "Hey, rough day?"

[amanika]

Tugger didn't say goodbye to his brother, the smallest inclination of his head aknowledging Macavity leaving. He turned back to the bar, scowling, though attempted to smooth out his features when Griddlebone spoke to him.

"Well it was better than yesterday, thanks to you, an' then went downhill tonight, thanks to Mac."

[Meadowlark]

"I'm sorry to hear that. You sure I can't get you anything?"

[amanika]

"Not unless you got some miracle formula tucked away somewhere that'll actually make my brothers think I'm worth somethin'." Tugger was back on that track again, if only because it was easier to blame Munkustrap and Macavity's perception of him than it was to think about his own shortcomings.

[Meadowlark]

"It's called a job, which you have. Show up tomorow, I'll put you to work. It's also called self-confidence. It doesn't matter what they think about you it matters what you think about you." She assured him.