@adoranoia sent from waterboy / the team getting drinks after work, was a fairly common occurrence, and while bars were never really waterboy's 'scene' exactly… he always went, anyway, kind of as an excuse to hang out with his friends. he didn't usually actually drink much either, other then just enough to be polite. he'd gotten used to sort of being the one to watch out for the others, but. this time, he guesses he lost track of just how much he'd drank.
so, he sits, swaying a little, as mostly everyone else (tries) to play pool, somewhere nearby, chattering among themselves. when coop decides to join him, he almost doesn't notice her, out of the corner of his eye. almost.
herman perks up, finned ears flare in surprise, slit pupils immediately dilating a little, too. reaction unfiltered by his usual nerves.
" o, oh! hi, miss cou--janelle! " he says, starting to smile, " www, why are you over here? i thought you were, um. you and the o, others were talking, weren't you? " he stammers out, as he absentmindedly pulls his goggles down off his eyes. there's a quick pause, before…
" i mean--! i'm happy to see you, though! o, obviously! " he admits, freely. if you thought he was bad about just saying things before…" u, um! sorry, i'm-- " tipsy? there's a quiet giggle, then, and suddenly he's leaning forward a little, his forehead hitting her shoulder, gently.
he mumbles something almost completely inaudible, before lifting his head just a little, to peek up at her again, blinking once, twice." hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…~ " he repeats, a little quieter, and softer, this time. // woe. puppy eyed guy upon ye. sorry coop, ur so getting bullied later if literally any of the others just saw him do that, lmaoooooo
the scene is teeming with people coop does well to avoid and is on the sober side of things for once. last time they went for drinks she FULLY blacked out and takes that for the sign that it is, lest her spotty memory resurfaces something she'd rather forget. once or twice she catches their team members conspiratorially murmuring at each other when they think she's not looking or listening, which pretty much confirms her suspicions that she'd done something very much worth making fun of, and rolls her eyes when it happens for the nth time that night.
she abandons the pool table for something more interesting and notices waterboy sitting on his own with ease⸺ he's a BEACON amongst the crowd of swimming bodies in his cyan and yellow suit, something noticeably unsteady in his gait despite the fact that he wasn't even on his feet.
she slides into the seat next to him and props her chin in her hand. WAITS FOR HIM TO NOTICE. she's rewarded for her brief stint of patience with his expression blooming into excitement. at least someone was happy to see her⸺ she thinks if she sees sonar snickering behind his hand one more time, he'll be in danger of LOSING it.
the usage of her first name does catch her off guard, but she decides to take it in stride, affording him an ounce of pity in his evidently inebriated state, " hey herm, " she says, " i ditched them. they were starting to piss me off. " she speaks candidly, eyes tracking the sway and inevitable DROOP of his posture. she doesn't move out of the way although moisture starts to seep down her collar, even when she can feel the vibration of his slurred speech. he peaks up at her with glassy eyes and the corner of her mouth twitches.
" seems like you drank a little too much, " she says, saccharine, and thumbs at a bead of water that collects at his temple, " someone should probably take you home. should that someone be me? "
