Summary:Matt and Betty catch up after a long time. Log Info:Storyteller: {$storyteller} |
Related LogsTheme Song{$themesong} |
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"Morning Matt," the secretary says with a nod as he shuts the door slowly behind him. The room smells like sludge coffee, to which he'll help himself in just a moment.
"Morning," Matt replies as he makes his way over to the pot. "What are we looking at?"
"Rent, electric, and the Sorensen Briefs have something in common," she replies.
"And what's that?"
"They're all due."
Matt gives a face. He doesn't need to see to know she's holding the forms out for him and he grabs them far too easily making his way back to his office.
"Oh, and one more thing. Betty's here to see you."
"Betty?" Matt replies, straightening in surprise.
"She's in your office."
It was annoying, honestly. Why she was here. The dirty-blonde wasn't so much annoyed at the where as she why. Annoyance twists her emotions into something more somber and subuded. Her head lifts at the sound of the door opening, the muffled voices; Matt's voice. Straightening up in her seat, she uncrosses her legs and moves to stand in a fluid motion. Brushing down the skirt of her dress, she stands and waits, a brilliant smile pressing at the corners of her ruby lips.
"Hey," Matt says low as he returns her smile and comes in for one of those half hug things. His hands are quite full with coffee, his cane, and the folder that his secretary gave him, so it's the best he can do under the circumstances. He pulls away lightly and moves over towards his desk and sets down his glass and the green file. "Been a while, hasn't it?" He takes a seat, and doesn't seem to be too upset.
Leaning in for that 'hug', she's careful of both his work, cane and beverage. Once it's over, she moves back to reclaiming her seat. "Mmm, someone isn't good with making phone calls." She playfully jabs toward Matt. "You been busy?" Small talk - it was part of the job honestly, her job. But sometimes even Brant of the Bugle failed at making it sound genuine.
"Wish I were busier," Matt says as he leans back in his chair and tilts his head. "You?" he asks, his eyebrow flickering just a bit. "Funny thing about the phone, Betty. It works both ways," he says with his grin getting bigger. "It's good to have you here. I've been wondering how you were."
"Matt," Betty begins. There's a quicker pace to her heartbeat for a brief moment and nothing more. There was anger there, a sliver of it, that dies down just as soon as it was born. Going silent, the woman sits back and reverts to the conversation at hand - work. "I wish I was busier. Wouldn't mind a few files to hide in for awhile. I don't want to be in the way, especially since you have cases and bills to attend to. Just wanted to see if you wanted to grab lunch or something sometime." Beat. "For old time's sake."
"Would love to," Matt replies, not even wasting a moment to reply. To say that he's used to women being perturbed with him is probably an understatement. He's been down that road many, many times. "Everything okay?" he adds as her reply was a bit mysterious.
"No." She answers evenly. "But hey, we can talk about that later, right?" Later being the key word. "Anyway, just a coffee or something? Do you know what day or time or should I just let you call me?" A beat, a smirk. "If you remember how to use a phone after all."
"Lunch, dinner, whatever you're hungry for. You want to meet up today yet? What's your schedule look like?" Matt stops and exhales, "Whatever it is, it'll be okay." He tilts his head, "Right?"
"I'm not working today. I had the day off so…" Nibbling at her lower lip, she moves to stand. Smiling gently, she shakes her head, the beats woven through some of her braided hair giving off melodic clinks. "Maybe. Honestly, just feels like something that I should consider normal to me by now. You and me?" The woman begins, crossing around the desk and gently setting her hand on Matt's shoulder. "We are absolute shit in relationships. So, sure…it'll be ok."
"I wouldn't mind something nice and warm. Comforting. Pasta or mountains of pastries?"
"Pasta," Matt says with a grin up towards her as she places her hand on his shoulder. "I know a place. I like a good pastry, but all that sugar," he says with a chuckle. "Whatever it is, we'll get to the bottom of it," Matt says turning up to her with almost a twinge of regret. "Besides, I'm not /that bad/ at relationships."
"Couldn't tell you that, Matt." Frowning gently, she gives a squeeze and exhales. "Sorry, I didn't mean…" Clearing her throat, she forces a smile again. "No, Matt, I'm sure you're not. Me, though, I'm a fucking tragedy." Leaning down, she presses her lips atop of his head. Eventually, she slips into actively hugging the man properly. "I'm not trying to be an ass. I'm all over the place lately."
Matt chuckles as she embraces him and he returns it. "You don't need to apologize, Betty," he says quietly. "We're all, all over the place." His eyebrows pin each other as he tries to figure out what's got Betty down in the dumps. "Is it a bad time to ask you how your faith is?"
"Um…no I guess? Part of me thinks it'd be weird if you didn't ask how I'm doing in that arena." Smirkin, she moves back to her seat and pulls it around closer to to Matt's side. "It's…hallow? I mean, part of me knew it would be from the start but I was stupid. I can still feel it. I still can't deny it or what its done for me. To me. I just, um…I think part of me is doing that stupid human thing of having something but questioning it at the same time." Blinking, she looks his way and watching her own reflection mirrored back off crimson-black. "How about you? You still having a battle with Mary and her babe?"
"Any catholic who isn't is lying to you," Matt replies with a shrug. "I suppose we're going to have to talk about that, too." His head tilts at her, "Better make it a dinner—this could take a while."