frostfist | wish psl collective

[ they're not in japan (probably) (maybe) (who knows) but it doesn't mean that there isn't the custom of post-work drinks with the department homies every so often, especially after the wrap-up of a long and grueling project. the fact that it's the newbie's first completed project means double the celebration and by the time dinner and too many pitchers of beer have been ordered and downed, everyone's stumbling out of the restaurant in high spirits.

most of the old-timers have filtered away to their families or other engagements, leaving wriothesley and ishmael behind. he glances at her, cheeks slightly flushed, a smile on his face. ]

One more round? On me, as thanks for all your guidance.

[ it's friday. they can sleep in a little more tomorrow. what's the harm? ]

[ as one of the more seasoned upperclassmen in the entire office, ishmael desperately needed this post-work drinking sesh after working with one of the newcomers of her department. not to say that wriothesley is anything bad -- in fact, he's rather cooperative -- it's just that teaching him the ropes on top of chipping away at their recently finished project takes a lot out of the gal.

still, she can handle her liquor quite well despite being three glasses in. maybe a little too well. not enough to hide the flush in her cheeks though as she turns to look at the newbie. ]

You sure? Not that I'm turning you down or anything. Just thought you might have better stuff to do than hang out with me.

Wouldn't offer if I wasn't serious.

[ is that all the extra booze talking or actual sincerity? both, definitely both. and maybe there's a little bit of curiosity and admiration sprinkled in there too, a genuine desire to get to know his efficient senior outside of stapling documents and correcting presentations. ]

Besides, if I went home now, all I'd be doing is catching a rerun of one of the late night shows.

Well... same. But you could also catch up on your sleep debt like I'm planning to once I get home.

[ yet she pushes her empty glass towards him anyway. he's the newcomer, so he should pour her a glass as tradition. just ignore the fact that it's going to be her fourth drink of the night. ]

I may as well ask how you're doing since getting assigned to our department. I wasn't being that much of a hardass on you, was I? Trying to juggle you and our project at the same time wasn't that easy, you know.

[ she doesn't really care what he thinks of her (probably), but a good first impression would be nice to hear for once... ]

There's always Sunday for that.

[ he's not worried and neither should she be. besides, it's just one more round (maybe). it won't take that long (probably). taking his cue, he grabs the pitcher and starts pouring, watching her glass fill up and pulling back before that layer of foam threatens to spill and overflow. once she takes her glass, he works on refilling his own glass. ]

But it's been going well. [ in his humble opinion. ] You havven't been too much of a hardass at all. I think everyone in the department would prefer you overtrain me now instead of letting things slip through the cracks later.

[ he's a hard worker, a quick learner, but he can only work with the knowledge he's given. ]

In fact, I'm glad to have been paired with you. [ lifting his glass, he holds it up towards her. ] So why don't we dedicate this round to you?

Huh?

[ she blinks at him, surprised. she's halfway drunk, so she could easily mishear wriothesley like that, but... ]

No, it's fine. You're the new guy on the block. This entire night is supposed to be dedicated to you, in case you'd already forgotten.

[ he's sucking up to her, is he. usually she could easily tell, but maybe the buzz is starting to kick in. ]

And besides. [ she shrugs with one shoulder. ] I don't think I did anything special while I was training you. You're just that good at following through, honestly. It's kind of refreshing.

[ is it working. is the sucking up working—no just kidding, it's genuine, but it never hurts to lay on the flattery a little extra as long as the core of it's real. ]

You explained things clearly and always set reasonable deadlines. I'd say that's worth some recognition.

[ his turn to drink and down some of his glass. ]

Besides, everyone's toasted me enough. Maybe if I'm lucky, we'll get another new hire soon and I'll go forgotten.

Don't say that. I'm not about to forget someone like you anytime soon.

[ that... sounded more intimate than intended, whoops. but it is kind of true? he's a decent coworker, if nothing else.

to save face, she raises her glass towards wriothesley with a wry smile. ]

Let's toast on it anyway. For out-drinking those bastards who just left.

[ sorry she's just out of ideas at this point ]

[ help!! but he does clink and drink, even if he's laughing a little by the end of it. ]

That's it? You sure you don't need another glass to come up with something better?

[ they both do not need more booze and yet ]

[ and yet here she is, laughing beside him before downing one-half of her drink one go. ]

Is that a challenge? Let me hear your thoughts then. I'm all ears.

[ it's like they're back at work again, hearing out his ideas during a meeting. or something. ishmael stop thinking about work during a drinking sesh challenge ]

[ all ears....more like all hair. she says he's hard to forget but shouldn't he be saying that about her? even if she weren't his senior he'd still be glancing her way more often than not. ]

Mm, I don't know.

[ a tip of his head this way and then that before he's leaning towards her, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. ]

Maybe I want to hear more about why you won't forget me any time soon.

[ the booze is definitely getting to him. ]

[ he's teasing her, clearly. normally she would've berated him for that, but the alcohol has made her a little more amicable than usual. the blush on her cheeks is proof of that. ]

I mean... you're cooperative. You get the job efficiently compared to the others, among other things. But I might just be biased.

[ why, though? she doesn't answer that. he's just a guy who works hard like the others.

she's silent for a while till she brings her glass to her lips and drains the rest of her drink, her voice solemn when she speaks again. ]

I think... it's because you're still here with me when everyone else has gone home. [ she turns to look at him, her smile a tad sheepish. ] That's what set you apart from the rest, selfish as it sounds.

[ it'd been meant half as a joke, words said mostly to get a rise out of her. so when she responds earnestly, he's taken aback, momentarily rendered sober despite all the booze they've knocked back so far.

and then it's his turn to look sheepish. good thing his cheeks are pink already. ]

That can't be that much of a big deal, can it? [ but, well. he bumps her shoulder lightly with his. ] I'll happily stick around whenever you want me to though.

[ she shakes her head. ] You... really don't have to.

[ yet she leans sideways, resting her head on his shoulder as though she doesn't want him to leave. usually she can handle one more mug, but tonight's not that night it seems.

it didn't help that her fellow subordinate feels nice and warm beside her. she's aware that it's too indulgent, especially coming from a coworker who she only recently worked with, but: ]

I'm not... usually like this, though. Just give me a minute to rest.

[ oh. he goes still as her weight leans against him, careful not to jostle her. she's warm but it's not an unpleasant feeling; rather, he has to fight the urge to rest his head against hers.

that wouldn't exactly be very proper, given their working relationship. ]

Sure you don't need me to take you home?

[ can't coworkers lean on each other like this platonically, damn ]

My home's pretty far away from here... If I miss the last train, I'll just book a small hotel room for the night. 's no big deal.

[ it's the weekend anyway. ]

[ he can't just leave her in a shitty hotel by herself?? damn. though he will stare out into the crowd a bit before letting his head drop down onto hers. ]

Then I'll stick with you then. Like you said, it's the weekend.

[ he will shell out for a different room though. ]

[ she blinks momentarily at the weight of his head on hers, but otherwise doesn't make a move to push him away or anything of the sort. she even smiles to herself secretly, comforted by his warm presence alone. ]

Mm. [ she raises a hand to weakly grab her mug. ] Do you... still wanna drink? I've got one more in me.

[ no she fucking doesn't ]

[ GIRL,,,,,,

unfortunately she is doing such a good job at masking that he (stupidly) believes her for the time being and even sits back up to refill both their glasses. ]

One more for both of us then.

[ they are going to leave this place in shambles ]

[ they'll be fine...... surely the hotel they'll venture into has plenty of rooms for them,

either way she instantly perks up upon seeing her glass being refilled, and she extends it towards wriothesley's one more time. ]

All right - cheers!

[ bottoms up, and the devil laughs (it's us we're the devils) ]

Cheers!

[ there's the clink of their glasses and then the satisfied silence of two people downing their drinks in contentment. will they regret this later, maybe, but right now everything's enveloped in a nice warm glow. ]

Maybe we should do this more often.

Mm... Maybe we should.

[ her glass is almost empty by the time she slams her glass down on the tabletop, and immediately she rests her head on his shoulder like she's done this all before. ]

But that depends. Don't you have anyone else to drink with...?

[ this time, he's less fussed about her leaning on him and immediately lets his own head drop down like it's the most natural thing in the world. the power of alcohol. ]

A few, but I'd rather hang out with you. [ meanwhile this is just normal. ] But I could say the same for you. Surely you've got plenty of people you could drink with too?

[ she snorts. ] Please. Didn't you see the rest of 'em already fleeing for their lives once I cracked open a cold one?

[ she's exaggerating, of course. but the alcohol has muddled her perceptions of her relationships with other people; why else would she be leaning against her junior like this? ]

I'm used to drinking alone anyway. That's how it's always been. [ a shrug. ] So if you're just sucking up to me 'cause I'm your senior... well, that's to be expected, I guess.

[ wow. wow!!

he pulls away, juuuust enough that he can look down and poke her on the side of her head with an index finger. ]

I'm sucking up to you because I like you, not because you're my senior. [ though her being the latter certainly doesn't hurt. ] But if that's how it is, then I guess I'll just have to keep you company each time you go out.

office au (drinks)

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