And Then, It Is ((45))

[victoriousscarf]

Macavity slipped out of the Fishbone quite a bit later than he had been planning on. He'd forgotten the night before that he had walked there, and thus had to head back toward the Red Ribbon in hopes of finding his car still there. Feeling much more off than usual, he set off for where he'd left the car, hoping it was still there because he honestly didn't feel well enough to have to catch a bus or walk all the way home. Partly he blamed how much he'd slept the night before, having not slept that much in one night since kittenhood.

[amanika]

Tugger was crossing the dockyard, on his way to start work at the fishbone. It was a damp, blustery day, last night's rain still lingering as drizzle that clung to his headfur and mane. His spirits rather matched the weather though, he felt kind of flat today, shoulders slumped and paws thrust deep in his pockets. He was still feeling somewhat bitter about the disaterous visit to the hospital last night, and typically, rather sorry for himself.

Tugger was exaggerating it in his mind of course, but he felt very much like he hadn't been wanted there, and even Jerrie's reaction had been far from encouraging. He'd not hit up the other tom for a lift to the docks today, and after a restless night, rising earlier than usual, he'd shunned the bus too and decided to walk there. He wasn't much in the mood for company.

Head down, he strode with more purpose than he felt, not noticing a figure coming in the opposite direction.

[victoriousscarf]

Macavtiy's ears flattened when he saw his brother coming toward him, actually considering ducking through an alley rather than talk to him, but he planted himself in the middle of the street anyway, waiting for Tugger to notice him rather than starting this particular confrontation.

[amanika]

Tugger didn't notice his brother until he was nearly upon him almost walking into the other tomcat. When he did, he looked up sharply with a half growl, "Watch where you're... Mac?"

[victoriousscarf]

Macavity arched a brow at that, the derivative of his name setting his fur a little on edge at that moment. "Baby brother," he replied.

[amanika]

Tugger scowled slightly at the nickname, knowing it was only a partly affectionate term. Also, he was still feeling somewhat annoyed at his brother, partly for the way they has parted last time and also because, despite the way things had gone at the hospital, seeing his brother reminded him that Mac had told him Mistoffelees would be safe working for him.

"I ain't gonna run into no bodies round the corner am I?" for once he was barely joking, the memory of the last time he'd run into Macavity around the docks still fresher than he'd like in his mind.

[victoriousscarf]

Macavity's look was far from impressed. "No, I think you should be safe from that," he drawled, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

[amanika]

Tugger's ears flicked a little, but he folded his arms across his chest. "Well that's good t'know. What are y'doin' down here then?" His tone was a little less hostile at least.

[victoriousscarf]

Macavity's face twisted slightly. "Seein' our mother," he replied, voice even more hostile.

[amanika]

Well that blew everything out of the water that had even crossed Tugger's mind. He just looked at his brother, "What?"

[victoriousscarf]

"I'm sure you heard me," Macavity replied.

[amanika]

"I heard you alright," Tugger replied, "an' you sayin' that jus' got rid of any notion that y'might've been jokin'. Now I'm just tryin' to decide between serious and completely cracked. And how the hell, if you are serious, that's even possible."

[victoriousscarf]

"I'm hardly cracked," Macavity replied, a bit too sharply. "And it's more than entirely possible, since she's been here the last twenty-four years."

[amanika]

Again, Tugger blinked at Macavity. "You knew this?" he asked slowly."

[victoriousscarf]

"No," Macavity replied, tone even more clipped.