Content Warnings: alcohol
Al had been frosty towards Tazina for a couple days after she’d quoted one of the System’s favorite phrases. She’d apologized the same day she’d said it, but I guess Al had needed a little extra time before he was comfortable with her again. It wasn’t long before we were back to normal, though I did occasionally catch Tazina glancing my way. Doubt, concern, disapproval. I never caught her long enough to guess how she was looking at me. Other than that, it was the same blur of note-taking as Al and I went through hundreds of images on the System device.
“Dax,” Leslie called suddenly from the foot of the steps that lead into our department’s basement. “Come with me,” they said when I turned to them.
“Um, alright,” I replied, pushing all my notes to Al. The curious glances from my coworkers as I followed Leslie up the stairs didn’t escape my attention.
In silence, Leslie led me up to the second floor. The longer we walked, the more nervous I got. Especially since Leslie hadn’t offered any explanations about where we were going or why.
Halfway down one hall, Leslie finally opened a door, ushering me in. Inside was Simone, sitting at a simple wooden table where a pitcher of red wine and two glasses had been set up. I turned back to Leslie in confusion as they shut the door behind us.
“Simone’s one of the best spies ofwtejiodfskds,” Leslie stated. “Which is why I picked her to train you. We’re gonna make sure you can handle any situation.”
“Oh,” I replied, glancing back at the wine. Really? This was how my training would go? It seemed… odd.
“Don’t worry,” Simone said, an amused smile appearing as she watched me. “I know what I’m doing. And I’m awejtlakmewtjhwdjr.”
Leslie clapped their hands together. “Well, good luck on your first day training, both of you. And don’t steal her while I’m away, Simone.”
“Please don’t joke like that,” I said with a grimace. I didn’t find it funny when Simone first made that joke and I didn’t like it now.
“Fine,” Simone replied, “we’ll make that joke when you’re not around.”
I glared at her. From the corner of my eye, I could see Leslie giving her a disapproving look as well.
“I’m kidding!” she said, throwing up her hands.
“I have other work to do,” Leslie said. “Have fun!” Then they exited the room, leaving me and Simone alone.
I remained standing, eyeing the pitcher of wine, still confused why that was part of my training. “Don’t you have better things to do?” I asked Simone.
“Not really,” she replied, pouring the wine into the two glasses. “Iewtlkmeawtnjhdsuijkcse my leg isn’t back to full strength. And this is better than paperwork.”
I settled into the seat across from her. The wine looked fine. It didn’t seem like anything extra had been put in it, but it wasn’t always easy to tell. Was I even supposed to drink it in this training session?
Simone raised the glass she held. “Let’s get started.”
To be continued…