Chapter Text
I came into work at 7:34 this morning, and I’m usually the first one there so I turned on the lights. No one in their right mind is up at even 8 in the morning!! Clover had yelled to me one day. I only turned on the lights in the main room, so I could get the things ready for the day.
Ever since MePhone, MePad and that obnoxious other guy I already forgot the name of ditched town, it’s been O.J, Suitcase and I running this wonky little town. O.J’s been overworked trying to figure out living situations, and Suitcase is doing relatively okay, she goes around every morning doing status checks, making sure nobody’s dead or about to kill themselves or someone else, yada yada. I just kind of hang around town and monitor. See if people are doing crack (just kidding).
After meaninglessly tidying up the HOOT building a bit, I went over to my desk, making a quick doodle of a flower- a bad attempt at a Rhododendron- on the side of an obsolete document. The door opened, and I looked up.
The clock said 8:01, and in the doorway was Suitcase, in her usual work outfit- beige button down shirt, a skirt that comes down to her knees, and Mary Janes- the kind of shoes that when you wore them, everyone knew you were coming. I think she was the only person still happy to come into the building at 8:00 in the goddamned morning.
”Morning, Cabby!” She waved, sitting next to me. She looked over at O.J’s desk. “I’m guessing O.J’s running late.”
I laughed shortly, eyes widening a little. “Late? Suitcase, we’re around twenty minutes early!”
Her eyes dropped to her watch- “8:05.” Suitcase confirmed cheerfully. I rolled over to check outside of the building (I always do around this time). Lights were turning on, if they hadn’t already been on all night. The sun cast an elegant golden shine over the not-so elegant town. I went back inside after a minute or two. “Did you check around yet?” I asked her, turning towards her. “Yep. Around 10 people were awake, but pretty much everyone was asleep.” She chirped, nodding.
Around 10 minutes later, O.J showed up, a little less tired than usual, but still pretty tired looking. “Well, look what the tangerines dragged in!” Suitcase joked. I covered a laugh, putting my hand over my mouth and looking away from O.J’s unimpressed face. “..Good morning to you too, Suitcase.” He deadpanned, sitting down in his chair.
The day went on mostly normal, except for one thing.
Fan kept.. lingering around Suitcase, and I don’t mean friendly conversation (well, Suitcase wasn’t really catching the hint). Throughout almost all the times he came up to her, he complimented her looks, was super touchy, and/or would NOT leave her the hell alone. She didn’t seem too uncomfortable, so I would consider all of this fine..
Until I remembered the fact that Test Tube and Fan have been dating. For seven years. I remembered the last time I saw them together, just sitting together casually on a bench, his head on her shoulder. They looked relatively happy with each other.. Maybe I’m overthinking it. I shot Fan a glare anyways.
He looked over at me mid-conversation with Suitcase. “What?” Oh, I hate when people do that. You know exactly what! I was about to say that, until he rolled his eyes and passed her a sheet of paper with his phone number on it, quickly turning on his heels and leaving for good.
Suitcase smiled and waved after him, but he didn’t turn. She looked down at the small index card, and put it in the small pocket in her shirt. “Suitcase, what was that about?” I side eyed her, shaking my head. She turned her head to me, still smiling. “Just a conversation. Why do you ask?” I stared at her in slight astonishment at her blindness. “That was not just a conversation, Suitcase. And the intentions were NOT platonic at all.” She snickered a little, dismissing my claim completely. “You’re just being paranoid, Cabs!”
That evening, her phone rang constantly. And she picked up. Hey, at least she went outside to take the calls, whatever they were about.