Let's Keep this Civilized ((13))

[victoriousscarf]

Mac nodded and after a paused fished around for another cigarette. "How you likin' holdin' a steady job then?"

[amanika]

Another shrug, though Tugger's tail twitched a little, "Rub it in why don't you." though his tone suggested he was mostly joking, "I like it fine, nothin' fancy or well payin' but anythin's better than nothin'."

[victoriousscarf]

"I was hardly rubbin' it in," Mac said, and his voice almost, almost held a hint of sulking. "Just askin'." He paused. "Sometimes pay isn't everythin'," he said softly.

[amanika]

Yet another shrug, dismissive this time, "I never said it was, but it would be nice t'be able to help Munk out a bit more. Guess it would make me feel better about squarin' things anyway."

[victoriousscarf]

Mac nodded. "How is the money lookin' in that house now anyway?"

[amanika]

"Better than it was I guess, Munk's said what I've bin' bringin' in is helpin' at least. I know he thinks I don't notice stuff like that coz' I let him deal with the money, but the stove's threatenin' t'give out. Dunno how things'll be if we hafta' replace it." Tugger sighed, remembering how little his brother had eaten the night before, his tone was matter-of-fact though, he wasn't looking for pity from Macavity.

"We'll manage I guess, even if we hafta' live on cold food. So long as Munk don't decide he's gotta make a personal sacrifice food wise, he don't eat enough as it is." Neither did Tugger really, but he did better than Munkustrap, if nothing else then because he refused to be quite so careful.

[victoriousscarf]

Mac's tail swished behind him, and he was glad Tugger probably couldn't see it, hidden as it was by the table. "'Straps always ate too little," Mac said finally. He wasn't sure how to address anything else Tugger said, since he didn't want to start another yelling match, and anytime he tried to help, at least in Tugger's hearing that was how it ended. He could pass extra money along to 'Straps just fine, but Tugger always seemed to think it was just charity. Which in some ways it was but not really. Mac certainly never meant it that way.

[amanika]

"Mmm," Tugger agreed, "I get why he does it, but if he makes himself ill that ain't helpin' no one."

[victoriousscarf]

Mac nodded again. "Well, at least he hasn't done that since he was a kid. Should've learned his lesson by now."

[amanika]

Tugger arched an eyebrow in question at his brother, clearly this referral was something he had been too young to realy recall or have noticed. "What d'you mean?"

[victoriousscarf]

"Hm? Oh just somethin' he did as a kit. Got sick and tried to push himself again, only made him sicker."

[amanika]

Tugger was a little taken aback, this was definitly news to him. "You sure he ain't about t'do it again? Coz I'll be damned if I know what t'do if he does."

[victoriousscarf]

"Well, if he does, you know my number. Can yell some sense into him if nothin' else," Mac said, leaning back in the chair, bringing the front legs of it off the ground. "Preferably before he 'ets himself sick, but I can do it at any time."

[amanika]

Tugger nodded, though he didn't look convinced, "Y'sure he'd listen? Things ain't exactly good between you an' him."

[victoriousscarf]

Mac shrugged, something like a half smile on his face. "Far as I know things are about the same between us as always. We only listen to each other when we're angry and yellin' is always a good indication of that." Not entirely true of course, but fairly close.