Who: Spoby When: Early August Where: Toby’s place What: Catching up and hanging out Rating/Warnings: Low/Innuendo stuff Status: Complete when posted
Spencer knocked on the door to Toby’s place. She’d had a bad night last night--more Dreams that made her not ever want to sleep again--but she’d received a box in the mail that brightened her day. She’d ordered some interesting books from Amazon, and was looking forward to digging in. Maybe she and Toby could cuddle and read together? Sounded like the best afternoon in the world to her.
Toby had been having a few dreams, but he was using work to distract him. He was also working on a few pieces of furniture. Basically anything to keep himself busy, he considered to be a positive sort of thing. Especially with everything that was going on.
The sound of the knock at the door had come in the middle of him making food. So he put things down before stepping out of the kitchen and opening the door. Seeing Spencer made him smile, however, and he stepped back. “Come in. I was just making myself a sandwich. Do you want anything?”
“Nah, I’m okay,” Spencer stepped through the doorway and closed it behind herself. She clicked the lock on the handle, then followed him into the kitchen. “Thanks, though. Am I interrupting dinner? I didn’t realize.” Then she pulled her wrist up and glanced at her watch.
Toby shook his head. “Late lunch, maybe. I’m kind of hungry, though. Mostly because I skipped lunch earlier when it would have made sense.” He shrugged slightly. “Not a big deal, though.” Because really, he could eat while they hung out. “How have you been doing? I know we’re all experiencing dream-related stuff and I probably don’t really ask about it a lot because it’s a shitty subject, but…” He gestured vaguely. “Obviously we don’t have to talk about it, but if you wanted to, we could.”
Spencer nodded. She moved around in his kitchen, dug through a cupboard, grabbed a glass, and poured herself some tap water to drink. “Dreams, hmm?” She said, turning to lean back against the counter while they talked. “It sounds like you want to talk about it.”
Toby shrugged a little. “It’s not an important discussion to have.” He just wanted to make sure that Spencer was doing okay with everything. He felt like her and Emily got most of the shit. He had to deal with people treating him terribly and having to worry about not getting himself into bad situations. Spencer and the others had so much more to deal with. “I was just asking.” He studied her for a moment. “I’ve been making more furniture pieces recently. I’m thinking about maybe selling them on the side. I’m not sure I want to make it a full-time thing, but it might be nice to have a little extra.” He figured he’d offer her another talking point in case she wasn’t in the mood.
“Starting your own business? That’s a noble pursuit, Toby. I really do think you should go for it.” Spencer was very proud of this man--the man she loved--and wanted him to succeed. “I mean, even if it’s a side business, it’s something to keep you happy. Explore every option you have because you never know which one is going to be the key to your future.” She set the glass down on the counter, and gave him her full attention.
He wasn’t sure how much of a business it would be. He mostly did his work in an old workspace a friend of his had. “I just...it helps with everything to have something to work on. The physical practice of making things is just…” He gestured vaguely. “It just helps. Maybe I’ll bring you around sometime to the place I do stuff. You can help with the lacquer if you like. Or sanding. Maybe something to take with you to your apartment whenever you get it.” He’d ask her to stay with him, but he figured she might like to get her own place or live with a friend. They were still figuring themselves out and this place was...well, it wasn’t really a nice place, but it was home and he didn’t mind it so much.
Spencer nodded. “That may be why I play tennis. It gets the frustrations out.” In her Dreams she played tennis and she played field hockey, but in this world it was just tennis. And she played hard. She enjoyed it, too. “I’d love to come and help you… get your frustrations out.” She may have put a flirtatious slant on the words, giving him a coy grin.
“It makes sense. You must play it for fun a little, too, don’t you? Because you like it?” Toby hadn’t really be a sporty type of person. He’d preferred building things to running around doing sports. But he respected people who liked to play sports. If that was their thing, then that was it. There was a slight raise in the eyebrow. “Oh good. I was kind of hoping you’d say that because I currently have a lot and might need some help with them.” He reached over to pull her closer.
“I do.” Spencer said, lowering the glass of water and setting it carefully down on the counter once more. Then she broke into a flush and a grin. His words made something stir inside her. She let him pull her closer, smiling coyly up at him. “Oh yeah? You think I can help you… release some tension?” Her arms lifted to wrap around his shoulders.
It was good to know that she at least enjoyed tennis. It was important to have things that were enjoyable and not just things you did. “Mmm. I think it’s a definite possibility.” Really, he’d just be happy having her around. Buuuut that did not stop him from pulling her closer and kissing her. The kissing part was definitely one of his favorite parts. Especially now that it wasn’t because they were being affected by some weird OC nonsense.
Kissing Toby had become one of Spencer’s favorite things in the whole world. She relaxed into him, letting the moment wash over her like a warm shower after a cold, morning run. It soothed her. She pulled in even closer, letting her lips explore his. “...maybe we should try this release of frustrations in a… horizontal position?”
Toby studied her for a moment before saying, “Are you sure?” Because he wanted to make sure that she was actually okay with it. Even if he didn’t need to ask in the end. He wanted to know that he’d made sure.
Spencer felt warmth spread through her. It was something she’d been thinking about for a while now, actually. It wasn’t like she was a virgin in this world, and she suspected he’d been with others, too. But the fact that he was stopping to look into her eyes and ask meant a lot to her. She nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Okay.” He smiled then, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. Taking her hand, he led her back to his room. “If you want to stop or I’m doing something you don’t like, just...say something because I don’t want you to be uncomfortable at all.” He pulled her in for another kiss, letting it linger for longer. He was a little nervous himself, but this was Spencer. If he could be comfortable around anyone, it was Spencer. Even if he had a feeling that he’d always be a little nervous.