{"id":22275,"date":"2021-06-19T14:36:53","date_gmt":"2021-06-19T19:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/?p=22275"},"modified":"2023-01-19T11:58:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T17:58:42","slug":"chapter-9-toby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/2021\/06\/19\/chapter-9-toby\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 9: Toby"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tabby approached Thomas\u2019 office, debating with herself whether to invite him to an outside-of-work event. The neighborly courtesies were more Strawberry\u2019s area, and she knew her friend had already extended some invitations to their boss, but Thomas had not taken her up on any offers to dinner parties and the like. Why did Tabby think he would answer any differently to her?<\/span><\/p>\n

The office door opened, and the stallion under consideration stepped into the hall. Tabby suddenly lost all her resolve, and whipped out her phone, focusing on it instead of her boss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d she said, looking up only briefly from her phone when their paths crossed. \u201cThe kennel\u2019s been cleaned and I\u2019m heading out now.\u201d She went back to swiping on the phone screen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, thanks,\u201d Thomas said with a smile. \u201cPlans for tonight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, that smile never failed to disarm her. \u201cUm, well, actually, we\u2026\u201d Tabby fumbled along. \u201cStrawberry and some friends\u2026 are going to the SSSS tonight. For ice cream. You should stop by,\u201d she said in a rush.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas looked surprised, and Tabby felt a sense of terror that she had over-stepped professional boundaries. \u201cYou don’t really want your boss crashing the party,\u201d he hedged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, don\u2019t think the populace will accept you if you don\u2019t make an appearance at the premiere social spot,\u201d Tabby admonished sharply, bringing things back to the realm of business. Though it seemed that the populace had already embraced him, if the number of mares casting lures in his direction was any indication.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I suppose you know best,\u201d Thomas conceded. \u201cWhat time?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, goodness, was he actually considering it? Tabby felt a little light-headed with nervous anticipation as they hashed out the details, and then she high-tailed it out of there. She <\/span>had<\/span><\/i> been clear that it was a casual gathering of friends, right? She hadn\u2019t come across as a filly with a schoolgirl crush, had she? Because that was absolutely <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> the case.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, maybe it was, a little. But it would be too embarrassing to have him find out. Thomas liked mares with a little more professional \u00e9clat, ones like Dusty Rose the paralegal, or Becca with the Chamber of Commerce, or Moonglow at the real estate office next door. Tabby might amuse him a little, but he would hardly consider her girlfriend material. Not when there were more socially eloquent mares readily at hoof, anxious to fall into that spot in his life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to regret this,\u201d Tabby remarked to Othello on the walk home. The hodag cast her a sympathetic look. \u201cIt will probably just be really awkward. What am I trying to accomplish?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby\u2019s phone buzzed, and she pulled it back out of her purse to review the new message. She frowned. Toby was planning on coming to tonight\u2019s gathering? She hadn\u2019t anticipated that. Toby\u2019s demanding schedule as a resident at the hospital didn\u2019t often offer the luxury of time for socializing.<\/span><\/p>\n

So make that two stallions she hadn\u2019t sorted out her feelings for\u2026 what could go wrong? Tabby sighed heavily.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas approached the brightly lit building that housed the local ice cream parlor. Its full name was the whimsical <\/span>Splendidly Sweet Sundae Spot<\/span><\/i>, but locals referred to it fondly as <\/span>the SSSS<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what Thomas had pledged to avoid, wasn\u2019t it? Fraternizing outside of work?<\/span><\/p>\n

But Tabby had been so endearingly anxious when issuing the invitation. She had been clear that it was a friends\u2019 event, but Thomas was curious as to her actual motivations. Was she angling for something more?<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe that was only flattering himself, though. Thomas was still looking at life through Wexford\u2019s lens. Not every mare wanted to be with him, he chided himself. Though it <\/span>did<\/span><\/i> seem that the mares in this town were unusually pushy and managing. Thomas thought about all the mares that had befriended him and the boundaries he had to enforce. That wasn\u2019t all in his imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas entered the buzzing establishment and took in his surroundings. The walls were decorated with photographs of area landmarks and local sports teams. It was full of activity– ponies and Fuzziwugs coming and going; chattering; laughing; and, in general, it seemed that everyone was having a good time. It was a place to see and be seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas ordered a turtle sundae and made his way over to a table in the middle of the room where he had spotted the object of his musings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strawberry, at the opposite end from Tabby, saw him first. \u201cThomas! Hi!\u201d she exclaimed, waving him over. \u201cGlad you could make it! Let me introduce you to everybody!\u201d She rattled off a list of introductions to their motley group, ranging from ponies to Fuzziwugs and one adolescent dragon. Thomas nodded and smiled politely, but all he could really focus on was the pink unicorn at the other end of the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby was deep in discussion with the dragon, but–Thomas noted with indignation–there was a stallion on her other side, hovering about possessively. Come to think of it, he looked familiar–but it couldn\u2019t be\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd with Tabby,\u201d Strawberry was finishing off (Thomas frowned at the use of the preposition), \u201cis–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToby?\u201d Thomas asked disbelievingly, meeting the other stallion\u2019s piercing gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThomas?\u201d the purple stallion said incredulously. \u201c<\/span>You\u2019re<\/span><\/i> Tabby\u2019s boss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Thomas said cautiously, walking to that end of the table. \u201cWhat are <\/span>you<\/span><\/i> doing here?\u201d Back in college, he and Toby had been what might be considered frenemies, always vying for top academic ranking. Toby was a bit high in the instep, coming from a family of medical royalty. Thomas admitted that the rivalry was mostly based on immature pettiness, but old habits were hard to break\u2026 especially with the stallion in question in attendance on Tabby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI <\/span>live<\/span><\/i> here,\u201d Toby said, quickly reclaiming his equanimity and inching closer to Tabby. \u201cI\u2019m in Family Medicine at the hospital.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. I see,\u201d said Thomas unenthusiastically, taking an open seat across from <\/span>the couple<\/span><\/i>. Clearly, his earlier speculations about her motivations were off-base. Well, that was fine, he told himself. She was entitled to her life. No need to feel like there was a knife twisting in his heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know each other?\u201d Tabby was asking as Thomas came out of his thoughts. Her brow was creased thoughtfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had some college classes together,\u201d Toby said briefly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d said Tabby. \u201cWell, it\u2019s a small world, and all that. Wait, so we were all there at UNP that semester? Spring \u201807?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cApparently,\u201d said Thomas, finding that he had very little appetite.<\/span><\/p>\n

An awkward silence fell over that end of the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you like Misty Hollow?\u201d Toby asked with a politeness that Thomas suspected was faked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very nice,\u201d Thomas said guardedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed,\u201d said Toby coolly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 would you look at that, I\u2019m all out of ice cream!\u201d Tabby suddenly exclaimed, pushing back her chair. Perhaps she had sensed some of the tenseness in the air. She flitted away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby waited until Tabby was out of earshot, then leaned toward Thomas and spoke quietly. \u201cWhat are you really doing here?\u201d he hissed. \u201cYou\u2019re too attached to the spotlight to bury yourself in the boondocks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re here, aren\u2019t you?\u201d Thomas was goaded into saying. \u201cWhat happened to the residency at King\u2019s?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were extraneous circumstances that got in the way,\u201d Toby said crisply.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to hear that,\u201d Thomas said enigmatically.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, it\u2019s in the past,\u201d Toby brushed it away. He was silent for a moment, then added, \u201cYou had better not have any designs on her.\u201d He looked pointedly in Tabby\u2019s direction at the counter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe! Tabby! Of course not!\u201d Thomas said indignantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe set you ran with\u2026\u201d Toby muttered, shaking his head. \u201cI didn’t hear good things.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not like that\u2026\u201d Thomas trailed off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnymore?\u201d Toby voiced the unspoken words.<\/span><\/p>\n

The attitude didn’t bother Thomas so much–it was the fact that it was well-deserved that stung.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Fairfax! I\u2019m glad I ran into you! How are you?\u201d A mare passing by the table claimed Thomas\u2019 attention. It was Dusty Rose from the law firm, one of the mares keeping herself particularly underhoof in his life. Thomas gritted his teeth, knowing that this wouldn\u2019t reflect well on his character in Toby\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is your schedule like this week?\u201d Dusty Rose purred, brushing her hoof against his. \u201cHow about lunch on Wednesday?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I never know what will come up,\u201d Thomas gave his go-to ambivalent answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no, of course not,\u201d the mare gushed. \u201cI understand.\u201d Thomas naively thought for an instant that he was off the hook, but then she added: \u201cWe\u2019ll just schedule it <\/span>tentatively<\/span><\/i>, all right? I\u2019ll see you then!\u201d And she was gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWexford\u2019s magnetic personality seems to have rubbed off on you,\u201d Toby observed as Tabby returned to the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did <\/span>she<\/span><\/i> want?\u201d Tabby asked, nodding in Dusty Rose\u2019s direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were making lunch plans,\u201d Thomas said quickly. At least this way it wouldn\u2019t look like he had had other expectations for the evening.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t trust her. She\u2019s too chipper,\u201d Tabby said, frowning as she dug her spoon into the sundae.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t trust anyone, so that doesn\u2019t mean anything,\u201d Thomas retorted. Tabby was the one that had invited him when she already had a date, he thought churlishly. That wasn\u2019t fair to hold against her, as he hadn\u2019t been asked in that capacity; but she had no reason to begrudge him a lunch date.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabby,\u201d Toby reclaimed her attention, \u201cI thought we might cut out of here early and take a walk down by the river.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby darted a look at Thomas, so quick he thought he might have imagined it. But she turned back to Toby. \u201cOkay,\u201d she said at length, between bites of ice cream.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby and Toby strolled down the riverside promenade. Toby stole a sideways glance at her. She appeared to be deep in thought. Perhaps this evening had brought up memories of another time and place.<\/span><\/p>\n

His suspicion was confirmed when she suddenly spoke: \u201cYou won’t tell Thomas about my\u2026\u201d She hesitated. \u201c…<\/span>extracurricular activities<\/span><\/i>, will you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour work with Dr. Gordon is your secret to do with as you wish,\u201d Toby said quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t. I was just\u2026 remembering,\u201d she said, staring off into space.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Me, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2026 so you knew Thomas back then,\u201d Tabby said tentatively. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t have been involved in the trypto scheme, would he? He\u2019s far too responsible and straight-laced,\u201d she added, as if reassuring herself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby kept his silence, carefully considering what she needed to know and what should be kept in confidence. But she was on the way to figuring it out herself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby\u2019s eyes widened, as she took his silence for confirmation. \u201cOh, no\u2026 no, no, no\u2026 I\u2019ve got him all wrong!\u201d she cried out. \u201cI thought he was one of <\/span>those<\/span><\/i> unicorns, you know, \u2018magic is too dangerous to use\u2019. But me\u2026 <\/span>I\u2019m<\/span><\/i> the one that took his magic with those stupid injections. He didn\u2019t choose this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby squeezed her hoof, not knowing what to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe would hate me if he found out,\u201d she stated, more to herself than to Toby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a world of opportunities waiting for you. He won\u2019t hear it from me, but even if he should find out\u2026 you can go anywhere, be anything,\u201d Toby said, smiling. \u201cYou don\u2019t depend on his approbation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I suppose not.\u201d Tabby sighed. \u201cBut I cost Thomas his magic, and you that residency you had your heart set on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Gordon took advantage of your youth and inexperience to make you his instrument,\u201d Toby argued. \u201cYou\u2019re not a bad pony.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told myself,\u201d Tabby continued, as if not hearing him, \u201conly the stupid ones would fall for the scheme–\u2019feel great, have more energy, it totally doesn\u2019t siphon your magic out.\u2019 That\u2019s how I\u2019ve lived with myself this far. But Thomas,\u201d she said with deep regret, \u201che could be doing brilliant things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew he was using. I tried to make him see reason, but not soon enough,\u201d Toby said with regret.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe damage had already been done,\u201d Tabby murmured.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou both made your decisions back then,\u201d Toby said quietly. \u201cIt\u2019s in the past. All we can do now is move forward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd yet here we all are. How can we move on if the past keeps catching up?\u201d Tabby\u2019s pitch was rising. \u201cI wonder\u2026 if Dr. Gordon could do anything\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t even think about it,\u201d Toby warned. \u201cYou\u2019re done with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, it just seems\u2026 no, you\u2019re right.\u201d Tabby closed her eyes and shook her head. \u201cSometimes it feels like I\u2019m on borrowed time,\u201d she confessed. \u201cI haven\u2019t had to answer for my crimes. And seeing the outcomes of my actions…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not a criminal.\u201d Toby stopped and turned to her, taking her hooves in his. \u201cDr. Gordon is the one at fault. I won\u2019t let anything happen to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t guarantee that,\u201d she said softly. \u201cWhy couldn\u2019t I have just settled down to university life, hit the books and put my nose to the grindstone, instead of looking for shortcuts by doing the dirty work for an evil warlock?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> what brought us together, and for that I can\u2019t be completely disappointed,\u201d Toby said, looking deeply into her eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby looked askance. \u201cI\u2019m sure you would be quite content if we had never met and you had gone to the hospital of your choice,\u201d she observed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cContent, maybe. But not happy,\u201d Toby argued. \u201cAt the time, I was disappointed that King\u2019s was no longer an option, but when I found out that Misty Hollow was still interested, and it\u2019s where you were from, it seemed like fate had orchestrated it all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think fate may have been having too much fun at our expense,\u201d Tabby said, grimacing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019re together here, now. That\u2019s what we can focus on,\u201d Toby insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d she said, shuffling uncomfortably, \u201chow\u2019d you manage a night off, anyway? You didn\u2019t say.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Dr. Aurora started a week ahead of schedule, so she\u2019s covering for me,\u201d Toby said. \u201cNow that she\u2019s here, some of the pressure will be taken off me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good. They\u2019ve been working you to the bone,\u201d Tabby remarked, continuing to walk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt should put an end to all those double shifts.\u201d Toby cast her a sidelong look. \u201cI hope I’ll be able to see more of you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She smiled a little hesitantly, glancing shyly downwards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby pressed on, \u201cCan I take you to dinner on Saturday?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby bit her lip.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabby\u2026\u201d Toby sighed. \u201cI know you\u2019re… <\/span>cautious<\/span><\/i> about taking our friendship further. But it\u2019s dinner, not a commitment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s still what you want, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Tabby said. \u201cA relationship? It\u2019s what you\u2019ll push for!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know that I hold you in high regard. I always have,\u201d Toby said quietly, reaching out to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve tried to be more than friends, and it never works!\u201d Tabby insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe just had too many things going on,\u201d Toby said, looking at her earnestly. \u201cBut now, we\u2019re more mature, our schedules have settled out, and we could make it work this time. I know it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not so sure,\u201d Tabby maintained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby closed his eyes and sighed. \u201cYou\u2019re not falling for your boss, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? No!\u201d Tabby gasped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe would break your heart, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, we\u2019re friends, and that\u2019s all,\u201d Tabby said with an exasperated sigh. \u201cI know he has no shortage of female companionship. I\u2019d be a fool to expect anything else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Toby noted that she hadn\u2019t denied being attracted to him\u2026 but he gave her a long, appraising look, and finally nodded. \u201cVery well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t promise anything,\u201d Tabby said in a rush, \u201cbut–I\u2019m free for dinner on Saturday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll look forward to it.\u201d he said with a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

# # #<\/span><\/p>\n

This is one of those chapters that has been re-done and cut-up and moved so many times that I literally can\u2019t even. It ties in closely with the next two chapters. We will be taking a closer look at the incidents alluded to, probably not until Season 2 though.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tabby approached Thomas\u2019 office, debating with herself whether to invite him to an outside-of-work event. The neighborly courtesies were more Strawberry\u2019s area, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1071],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22275"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31387,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22275\/revisions\/31387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}