Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 34: Are We Really at Work, Though?

A/N: I hadn't titled this chapter yet and I'm posting in the 30 seconds I have free before work so back to the 'quote from chapter' titling method... Also, the other ship I did not directly drop the name of but vaguely referenced a few chapters back gets actually named this time.

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"Hey guys! How was all the family?" Sarah greets them enthusiastically when they step into their office late on the Monday evening, the place already packed full of their co-workers from both the Smosh and broader Mythical teams, although with darker lighting, more music and a lot less paperwork lying around than usual. The desks have been pushed out of the way where possible, too, leaving ample space for more party-appropriate activities.

"Hey Sarah, it was good, good," Courtney answers, not giving much detail, knowing they'll catch up properly later. Shayne offers to go and grab drinks for them, and Courtney nods, letting herself fall into conversation with a couple of Mythical's writers. Kimmy joins them five minutes later, and they launch into conversations about their respective Christmases. The two Mythical writers excuse themselves a moment later, and Courtney glances around the room, meeting Damien's eyes as soon as she finds him. He evidently gets her message, and a minute later he casually wanders up beside them.

"Hey Courtney, hey Kimmy! It's been a while, how are you guys going?" He asks, and it launches them into a pleasant conversation. Courtney stays with them for a few minutes, until she's sure they're locked in a genuine conversation.

"I should go find Shayne, he was meant to be getting a drink for me like half an hour ago," Courtney laughs, excusing herself and walking off towards where she knows a few of the Smosh crew are standing. She glances back when she's a far enough distance away, happy to see the pair are still carrying their conversation without her.

"Hey baby, you got them talking?" Shayne finds her before she has a chance to find him, arm wrapping around her shoulders as he hands her a light beer.

"Yeah, it fell into place pretty easily – Kimmy came over to me, I nudged Damien to come join us when the Mythical team walked off. God knows if they'll hit it off, but – I mean, Damien's happy to just get to know her as a friend, yeah?" she comments, Shayne nodding.

"Yeah, he is, he's not the slightest bit pushy. I don't know a whole heap about Kimmy either, honestly," Shayne admits.

Their conversation ends when Ian and Matt Raub wander up to them, and it starts them into a train of conversations around the office spaces, punctuated by frequent trips to the kitchen to grab drinks. They separate, for a while, Shayne finding himself talking sports with a few of the Mythical writers as Courtney chats, across the room, to Monica and Stevie, plus or minus a few others that come and go. They're both decently tipsy, as are most of their coworkers, and it keeps the room loud, conversation flowing amicably.

"Hey hey Court, big meeting room?" Damien questions her, wandering past a bit later into the night. He doesn't stop, but she laughs and shrugs, excusing herself from the people around her to head via the kitchen on her way to follow his suggestion. She finds Shayne grabbing another drink, and he grabs a second as soon as he sees her, holding it up as a question.

"Yep, thanks baby," she replies, walking up beside him, "Damien just asked me to go to the big meeting room, you coming?"

"Sure," Shayne answers, hand settling on her lower back as they walk in. They find their squad-plus-extras taking up most of the bench seat in the back corner, walking over to meet them. Liv and Sam are sitting half on top of each other at one edge of the circle, Damien and Kimmy beside them, Noah and Keith sitting on the table opposite them to form a sort-of-circle.