Work Text:
After finding the G-BATHROOM, ENA gets transported back to the Hub. She dusts herself off and makes her way towards Froggy, who stopped arguing with the stinky pengvin when he noticed her.
“Oi, ENA! How did it go?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Well, the smoke is cleared now, making the Boss our next priority. However, our shift is almost over, so we’ll deal with him next week.”
Before he heads off, ENA decides to offer him a proposal. ”How about we go to the pub? We can have refreshments and become acquainted with one another.”
Froggy was going to decline the offer but thought more about it. They rarely hang out outside of work hours and the only time they did resulted in ENA becoming more of a disaster after having a few drinks. A minute later, he said,” Sure, sure. Just don’t become more of a wreck. I’ll get us a ride.”
“Job accepted,” responding in her usual charismatic voice.
While waiting for the Taxi Driver, ENA decided to approach Coral and asked her if she wanted to come along. When the businesswoman saw her and started to fiddle her thumbs. She asked, “Do you need something?”
“Would you mind if me and your new employer buy you a palliative?"
“W-well, I’m new here and haven't got the chance to get to know you properly, so I accept.”
“Then let's get moving then!” Meanie yelled through her microphone, causing Coral to start walking faster than she normally would. After making their way to Froggy, the Taxi Driver arrived.
“Hiya! Where do you want me to take y’all? I don’t got all day, so you better be quick with your answer.”
“Would you mind taking us to the Orca Pub?” Froggy requested.
“Sure thing! Hop in and prepare yourself for the ride of your life!” The polygonal figure, frogman, and the aquatic fax machine proceed to get in the taxi and begin their excursion after the convertible gets grabbed by the tentacle arm.
After about 20 minutes, the Taxi Driver drops them off and yells at them as he is driving away, “Hope you have an awful evening!”
“Whatever you say, jackass.”
“Come on, ENA. Don’t give that guy any more attention,” Froggy said.
They made their way into the pub and sat at the bar table and waited until the bartender was ready to take their order.
“What can I get y’all?”
“Three beers. Make sure it’s nothing strong.”
The bartender then proceeded to get three clean glasses, pour the liquid, and give it to them. They each took a sip, feeling the cold solution going down their throats.
“Have you managed to find your candidate for the Horse Door yet, Ms. Glasses?” ENA asked to break the silence.
“No… none of them were what I was looking for, especially that crazy unemployed one.” She took another sip and laid her head down with ENA taking notice of it.
“Rough day?” She shook her head while still laying down.
“Well, at least you tried. However, I probably would’ve done it less sloppy than you,” ENA said as she started softly patting her coworker’s head, who was surprised by her sudden display of affection.
“Thanks… I guess.”
After they finished drinking, Froggy went to the bathroom, leaving the salesperson and businesswoman alone with each other. While waiting for him, Coral hears ENA quietly talking to herself in a dismayed voice.
“I want to be free…”
“What?” Coral lifted her head up to see her and noticed that her vermilion side was starting to crack.
“Being here… makes me sick sometimes.”
Before Coral could say anything else, Froggy came back after finishing his business and saw ENA in her drunken state.
“Welp, she’s had enough. I’ll call the taxi again.”
While he contacts the Taxi Driver, Coral begins to help guide ENA outside without hurting herself.
“Now, what was it that you wanted?”
Coral softly chuckled. “Helping me out by not falling.”
When they both sat down on the pavement, the businesswoman took a deep breath to blow a lock of hair out of her face.
“I’m fine, you know? I didn’t need your assistance.”
“Then I'll let you fall next time.” ENA scoffed at her.
After a few minutes, the Taxi Driver came by and let Froggy, Coral, and ENA in and started driving when the door closed. As the drive went by, ENA laid her head down on Coral’s shoulder, who was surprised but didn’t mind.
“You know, she isn’t as bad as I thought she would be. Though, she can be a bit harsh at times,” Coral stated.
“What do you mean by that?” Froggy asked.
“I kind of thought that… she would act like the stereotypes I heard about the species.”
Froggy reflected on Coral’s statement for a moment before saying, “I could say the same thing when I first meant her myself.”
Not long after they finish their conversation, the Taxi Driver pulls up at Coral’s apartment complex. Before leaving, Coral asked Froggy a question.
“What about-”
“Don’t worry about her. Since we don’t live that far from one another, I’ll drop her off.”
“Okay.” She tells them goodbye before seeing the taxi start driving again.
While lying in bed, she reminisces about her and ENA’s conversations. It made her questioned more about her and what she was originally taught about the species.
‘Could we possibly be friends? Wait a minute… that would be stupid.’
She faced palms with her hand in embarrassment, even though no one was around.
‘Aughhh! Coral Glasses, you idiot!’
She then turns off the lights and goes to bed to try to forget about her inner monologue (even though it wouldn’t be that easy to do).