Work Text:
A green Pippins opened the Green Room door, staring down at a piece of paper on a clipboard. His shoes clicked quietly against the floor as he walked.
"Heeey, green! Howsit goin'?" a red Pippins looked away from a video game to greet him, nudging their buddy, who slid down their sunglasses to peer at him with a smirk.
"Very badly," he huffed, turning his body away from them and continuing to walk briskly.
They chuckled, seemingly amused by his standoffishness. "Come ooon! No need to be so rude!"
When he didn't respond, still focused on his clipboard, they called after him: "There's a party goin' on tonight, yanno! Drinks and shit! We're just DYING for you to finally play Spin the Bottle with us!"
"I'm GOOD," he looked back momentarily to yell, before storming away. He heard them burst into laughter again behind him.
What the fuck did they mean?
A small Shadowguy gently pushed his way through the crowd of nearly-identical 'guys, trying to get closer to the front, mumbling quiet apologies in his saxophone voice.
The chaotic harmony of several saxophones echoed throughout the room. Onstage, four or five Shadowguys were playing their hearts out.
He made it eventually. Right below the stage was a group of pointy-eared Shadowguys dancing the Catswing, bodies rocking back and forth in sync. He swayed with them to the beat, wanting to join in, but...
One perked up upon noticing him, motioning to beckon him over. The others followed suit, smiling cheerfully at him, ears twitching.
He put his hands in front of him. "Oh, but I'm not..."
They waved their hand dismissively, reaching to grab his hand, before pulling him into the circle to dance with them.
So dance with them he did, Catswinging like he was one of them.
A taller-than-average Zapper popped into the C-rank room for a quick drink before their shift. Two others were there, waving at them with paper cups in their hands.
"Hey, cowboy!" One nodded at them. "Haven't seen you's in a while."
"Well, I's been busy, yanno. Lotta things to be done." They took a paper cup from the holder, crouching down to dispense some cool water into it.
"We's missed ya," the other piped up. "Is Tenna really givin's you dat many shifts? Dat ain't so good."
"No, it's, uh..." They took a sip of water to give themself more time to think. "... It's personal work. Yea. Personal projects and stuffs."
The others paused, looking at each other momentarily, before bobbing their heads.
"Dat makes sense!"
"Good on you's! I bet you's doin' something real cool."
"Yea!" They finished the rest of their water, before adjusting their bandanna. "Real cool, for sures."
As they put their hand on the doorknob, one said behind them: "We still miss you's, though! You should hang out with us sometimes."
"For sures." They nodded back, before bouncing away.