Office Mates

Assemble the Squad

Robin is sitting at a table in a restaurant. He is looking around waiting for Marian and Graham to arrive. He is checking his phone to see if Aurora has texted him yet. Nothing there. Just as he puts his phone back down he looks up to see Marian. She is wearing overalls and a bright yellow shirt. She has her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She is normally not this casual at work. Robin thinks about how this is the first time he has met up with her on a non-work day. Marian had created a group chat for him and Graham. She insisted that the three of them go out for lunch on a Sunday. Robin is feeling slightly annoyed that he had to give up a weekend day for Marian. "I can't believe you are forcing me to meet up with you today."

Marian smiles and sits down. She was going to let things go, but Robin is absolutely terrible at communicating through text. "You did insist that I pay for your food if I wanted to hear about how things went with you and Aurora." Robin continues to look annoyed, "Didn't my text tell you everything you need to know?" Marian puts her hands up. What is Robin talking about? She complains, "Fine. That's really all I need to know? You know that I am more invested than that." Robin looks down a little embarrassed. He is not used to talking about this type of thing with other people. Even with his best friend, Graham, he doesn't normally talk about relationships. He is not used to the level of communication that Marian likes. Robin shrugs, "at least you know it wasn't a complete failure." Marian is annoyed with Robin now, "I want to hear more. I told Graham to meet up with us too. Where is he? I figured the whole squad could assemble." Robin quickly tries to shut this down, "I don't have a squad." Marian smirks at him. She loves making Robin uncomfortable. Something about his reaction always makes her want to push his buttons even harder. Marian shakes her head in disagreement, "You do! It's Graham and myself."

Almost on cue, Graham walks up to the table. Robin looks at Graham whom he hasn't seen in a few days. Graham currently has a shaggy beard and his hair on his head is growing out. Robin points at his face, "Graham you need a haircut. And a shave." Graham rubs his hand over his stubbly beard. He looks at Robin, "This is the first thing you saying to me today. It's no shave November. I decided to grow my hair out while I was at it too." Graham sits down next to Robin. Robin looks at his friend and wonders, "This sounds like an excuse for you to be lazy. Are you allowed to have long hair?" Graham looks puzzled, "allowed? It's not like I live with my parents." Robin shakes his head, "No, I mean about the dress code at work." Graham looks confused, "We have a dress code at work?" Marian is in awe of Graham. He does things without a care in the world. She looks at his beard. Marian points out, "I know that the women have a strict dress code at work. I assume it is the same for you guys. Graham, you just do things without worrying about losing your job?" Graham smiles, "I don't think work will ever fire me. I have done some pretty questionable stuff at work and I never got in trouble."

Marian shakes her head in agreement. By far, Graham is the least professional person in her office. On top of that, the pranks that he has played on Robin have been super inappropriate. Graham has a reputation at work. Robin watches Marian react this way and feels like she is just as bad as Graham. "Don't shake your head at him, Marian. You talk for the vast majority of your day at work." Marian looks at him with surprise. How could he compare her to Graham? She tries to defend herself, "Are you serious?! People come into our office to talk to me, it's not like I am seeking them out." Robin crosses his arms, "Yeah, but you always veer off-topic." Marian cannot believe that Robin has fired these shots about her character. "If you mean that I take an interest in their personal lives, then I guess you are correct." Marian looks at Robin with these big questioning eyes. She thinks her behavior at work is very appropriate. Robin looks at her with all seriousness. "I think that you could be a supervisor, a good one, if only you focused more on your work and less on the conversations you have at work." Marian knows that she can't deny that she is chatty. She has been told this her whole life. Graham looks at Robin and Marian and exclaims, "That was intense." Robin smirks back, "Hey, she is the one who called herself part of my squad. Your squad is always honest with you." Graham looks confused, "No, a squad goes out with you." Marian decides she needs to focus the conversation back on Robin. She decides to take the hit and move on.