faustium:
———As sober as he’d like to pretend he was, the man felt it within him. The thrill of having just left the stage managed to crawl back with the newest singer. He laughed as Lin began to bop to the beat, getting another round for the table just so he wouldn’t be alone in it. Downing a shot, the man slid over to let in some room. Lin got quite a bit of cheers on his end.
❝ Lin, you’re quite the singer, I must say. What do you call that little… move. ❞ He laughed quite deliberately, imitating the movement with a turn of his head. It managed to feel so genuine, laughing with a bunch of coworkers, that Kaufman nearly forgot he was putting it on. His mask felt so flesh-like in that moment.
❝ Whose idea was it? Definitely not my first choice, but I’m not complaining. ❞ He smiled, letting the other take a seat and get his shot. It was a Friday night, late but not ridiculously, and the man could say for a fact he wasn’t nearly drunk enough to call it hammered. This was different. While he didn’t act it, the man had quite a second life outside of school. Staying in and grading work may have been the usual agenda, but he certainly had his fair share of clubbing under his wing.
As the line of eager singers lined up to take their turn, Elliot found himself pacing at a somewhat irresponsible rate. Coworkers pushed drinks his way, despite the promise to pay. Soon, he found himself too polite to refuse. By the time certain members of their party began to file out, it became quite clear to the man he would not get home on his own.
❝ Not to sound like I’m drunk off my ass, but… I’m drunk off my ass. ❞ Too drunk to take the train and make it back in one piece. He had yet to identify who it was he was talking to, mostly speaking in general to those who were still around.
❝ If I could get a ride with someone… they’d be my hero. ❞
He put a hand to his face. It was warm. Was it red? He had downed quite a few shots, maybe a beer as well. Klaus wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was probably flush. But all in all, Elliot’s words made him smile. “Oh it’s nothing,” he bumbled out as he giggled a little. God. That made him sound like a schoolgirl. Was he getting redder?
Face colouring aside, Klaus was actually beginning to feel glad he came along. That moment in the office seemed like a world away. He wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol pumping through his veins but he couldn’t stop smiling. Then another round came and another round went down. The strobing lights, then another round, the cheering and toasting with another round, more songs then more drinks. And as the night marched on the singing hazed into yelling with instrumental accompaniment or perhaps the others were just that bad.
Just as the so-called singing was reaching some levels of unbearable, people had began to wrap things up and a few co-workers had already left.
Klaus laughed at Elliot’s comment. He stared down at the icy glass of some liquor or spirit before taking a sip. At this point, he wasn’t entirely sure what it was, tastebuds had numbed a while ago.
He turned to look at Elliot as he spoke to him. “I’ll ride with you.”
He took Elliot’s hand, trying to pull up the other man as he stood.
