A Lab Buddies Christmas Carol: Chapter 1
Xephos wasn’t fond of Christmas. The whole season got on his nerves and the way his employees acted as if the stupid holiday was more important than their actual jobs. Instead of filing reports and conducting their research, their govused on decorating and spending time with family and traveling amd gift wrapping and blah blah blah.
The idea of Christmas was outlandish to him even back when it was only him and Simon. It might have been amusing at first, but now Xephos could truly see the uselessness of Christmas. Workers slacked and the whole world seemed to be in a state of childlike dependency. It sickened and annoyed him to an extent like no other.
There was a knock at his office door. He let out a long and tired sigh, looking up above the piles of paperwork only he seemed to be doing. “Come in.” He called.
A familiar face peered through the door. It was Turps, holding a white box with a blue bow tied on it. Xephos held back a sigh. Of course Turps believed in all this crap.
“Merry Christmas, Xeph!” Turps grinned. “I see your looking cheerful as ever.”
“Turps, make it fast, I’m busy.” He sighed, flicking his pen dismissively.
Turps tried not to show the disappointment at his friend’s attitude. “I came to bring you your Christmas present before I leave.”
Xephos’ head peaked up. “Leave? It’s not even one o'clock, Turps!” He said sternly.
It was Turps’ turns to be shocked. “Did you not see the new work order? It was in the email.”
Xephos blinked before leaning over to his computer. A few clicls and the mentioned email was pulled up. Just as Turps said, it was a work order issued by Honeydew that said Yoglabs workers were given a half day on Christmas Eve.
Xephos groaned. Oh, why was his friend’s heart bigger than his brain? It was to late to repeal the order, so all of the staff was leaving in about ten minutes.
“Turps, if you want to keep your job, you won’t finish that damn sentance.” Xephos snarled.
Turps heard the venom in his voice and the red in his eyes and quickly shit his mouth. “Well, I got a family to get to.” He said, laying the present on his desk. “I hope you have a-”
“If you say Merry Christmas, I’m docking your pay.”
“-A wonderful day, then.” Turps said, quickly deciding to leave the office.
Xephos watched the door close and growled. Stopping work for a silly holiday? Fuck that. They had work to do, why could no one understand that?!
Not much time passed before his phone began to ring. It was Simon, probably calling him to ask him about another damn Christmas party. They had the office one, what more did he have to go to?!
He begrudgingly picked up the phone. “What is it, Simon?”
“Well, a holly-jolly Christmas to you too, spaceman.” Simon replied.
“What is it, Simon?” He repeated, rubbing the bridge of his nose in irritation. “Thanks to your little work order, I have no workers and we’re two weeks behind on reports.”
Simon sighed. “That’s all you seem to care about now-a-days.” He sighed. “Reports and work. I gave them the day off because they aren’t robots, Xephos- they have families and children. Christmas is the one day they can be close and finally enjoy eachother’s company.”
Xephos didn’t respond. He didn’t care, Christ he didn’t care. “Yes, well, while they’re spending time with family, I’m going to be here finishing their work.”
“But you don’t have to be! We could maybe spend Christmas together, you know, like we used to! Grab a pint, sing some carols and-”
“No, we can’t! Christmas is just a petty excuse to slack off, and I can’t afford to slack off! We have to finish these reports so I can move forward and-!”
“Move forward to what?” Simon interrupted bitterly. “Move forward to being even more of a cra-!” He stopped and sighed. “More of an asshole?”
“So now I’m an asshole for trying to figure out diseases and a way to stop death itself?” Xehos snarled. “For trying to preserve the furture instead of wadting it away on silly ideas like Christmas?”
“No, you’re an asshole because your help isn’t helpful anymore! It’s just crazy!” Simon snapped. There argument fell into a tense and angry silence.
“…I’ll be at the pub if you change your mind. You know the one.” Simon sighed. “Merry Christmas, friend.”
The phone clicked off. “And a bah humbug to you too.” He growled distastefully, ignoring the cold and empty feeling that settled in his stomach.
((Lab buddies AU belongs to @fighteramy. And the Yogscast belong to, well, the yogscast.))
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