case #001 ☕ [written]

[themuse]

[Scrawled across the page in all caps, neatly, is the one word that sums up Kate Beckett's last few hours.]

SERIOUSLY?

Comments

[themuse]

You're kidding, right?

[dog_eat_dog]

I'll refresh your memory: Hi, I'm Tess. Before Paradisa, I lived in a glorified refugee camp for the last fifteen years of my life, where I ate tinned food that was five years expired and it was a good year if I could get my hands on a relatively new pair of jeans, let alone underwear. I now sleep in a luxury bed every night and eat whatever I please, and I could throw away clothes after wearing them once if I really wanted to, but I wasn't raised that way.

Not all of us come from New York apartments, Katie.

[themuse]

[Kate was silent for a long moment. She couldn't even bristle at the use of 'Katie,' even though it did piss her off, the woman had a pretty strong point. She felt embarrassed and silly, so she cleared her throat and nodded, even though Tess couldn't see it.]

Fine. I get it. I'm not gonna judge you for wanting to stick around here but, personally, I'm gonna try to get home.

[dog_eat_dog]

Try a few things before you get into a rush, but hey, if you want to book it, I'm not gonna stop you.

[themuse]

What exactly do you suggest I should try?

[dog_eat_dog]

To get out of here? Change your shoes, pack up a survival kit and start walking North. To find a reason to stay? Try the food, or realize that everyone else –– including your boyfriend –– stays here by choice, not because we're all waiting around for someone to tell us otherwise.

[themuse]

My fiancé. You might stay here by choice, but he never would.

[dog_eat_dog]

Well, that's news for you, then: he's been here for longer than my six months. He's even got a job as a bartender.

[themuse]

[Kate presses her lips together.]

That just means he's getting by. It doesn't mean he's not trying to get home. [She knows he'd never give up on getting back to her and Alexis.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess sounds a little more smug. She's hearing excuses.]

I'm looking forward to hearing how mixing drinks for me is helping him get home.

[themuse]

You don't know him at all. I do. And he would never abandon his daughter if he had any other options.

[Or her, Kate would like to think.]

[dog_eat_dog]

I don't know him all that well, no, but I have heard you two have a "complicated" relationship, so I'll take that with a grain of salt. As for me, I'm sure it has less to do with his kid and more to do with great writing inspiration, but hey, value judgment on everyone else duly noted.

[themuse]

[Whether Tess knows it or not, that was a low blow. Kate knows her relationship with Castle isn't always easy, but knowing that he's gone around tell people - telling people like Tess - how 'complicated' it is gives her a sick feeling in her stomach. She doesn't want to admit it, but what if Tess is right? What if he's not settling and this place really is more important to him, better that what they had back home?]

I think I'm done with this conversation. Thanks for your help. [She can't help the fact that it doesn't sound particularly genuine.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[Hey, she said that Kate had been here, hadn't she? No need to mention all the fond words Castle uses to describe her, either.

So Tess just gives some sort of laugh under her breath, a single amused exhale that could almost be a stab.]

You're welcome.

[themuse]

[Kate doesn't even answer. She just slams the journal shut and takes in a breath, trying to calm her anger.

Way to go, Tess.]