Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Language •|| EVERYONE ||•

Prompt: Shibhon swears and Reece tells her off.

The living room at Reece and Marjorie's house was alive with laughter, playful jabs, and the occasional groan of frustration as everyone crowded around the coffee table. Game night was in full swing, and the group was deep into a particularly competitive round of cards. Plates of half-eaten snacks were scattered around, and wine glasses clinked softly as Autumn topped up hers for the third—or maybe fourth—time.

Shibhon was the picture of concentration, her brow furrowed as she studied her hand. Across the table, Sorcha leaned back smugly, her confident grin suggesting she already had the win in the bag.

"I'm calling it now—Shibhon's about to crash and burn," Sorcha teased, earning a chorus of "oohs" from the group.

Shibhon narrowed her eyes. "Not a chance. You're all underestimating me."

Moments later, however, the round ended, and Sorcha slammed her winning hand onto the table with a triumphant laugh. "Read it and weep, losers!"

A loud groan escaped Shibhon as she flung her cards onto the table. "Oh, shit!"

The room fell silent for a beat before Reece, sitting beside her, turned with a mock-stern expression. "Shibhon! Watch your fucking language! There's a child present."

Carly, lounging cross-legged on the floor, raised her hand. "Uh, hello? I'm the so-called child, and I'm eighteen! Pretty sure that makes me an adult."

The room erupted into laughter. Even Sorcha, still reveling in her victory, doubled over at the ridiculousness of it all. Mia leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she let out an exaggerated sigh.

"This," she said, gesturing vaguely at everyone, "is so stupid, it's painful."

Charlotte, sitting beside her, gave her a playful nudge. "Admit it, you love it."

"Not in this lifetime," Mia deadpanned, rolling her eyes.

Across the table, Autumn, who had been sipping her wine quietly, finally set her glass down with a loud clink. "I'm way too sober for this," she muttered before downing the rest of the glass in one go. She poured another, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth as she surveyed the chaos. 

Winter, sitting beside her, chuckled as he leaned closer. "Admitting is the first step, my love."

"Nope," she replied, though the fondness in her tone didn't go unnoticed.

Meanwhile, Reece leaned toward Shibhon, his grin breaking through his feigned seriousness. "Seriously, though. Language. I don't want Carly picking up bad habits."

Carly gave him a withering look. "You do realize I've heard you swear a thousand times, right?"

Reece shrugged. "Yeah, but when I do it, it's charming."

"More like annoying," Marjorie quipped from the couch, earning a laugh from the group.

As the next round began, the laughter and banter filled the room again, the momentary absurdity only adding to the warmth of the night. Game night, as always, was a perfect mix of competition, camaraderie, and absolute chaos.