Chapter Text
There was a knock on Thorson's office door.
"Uh, Gerry wants to see you in his office. Just FYI."
Oh no.
Thorson stammered out an affirmative response and stood up from his chair, having to awkwardly bend his knees due to being unable to push it out far.
This is definitely about the game.
He left his office (really a broom closet fitted with a desk, chair, and work computer) and headed towards Gerry's office.
I'm so getting fired.
He knocked on Gerry's office door.
"Come in!"
Gerry Smolski had never been that much of a... friendly guy, you could put it. He could be abrasive, he never backed down, was very bold, there was a whole laundry list of traits like this you could list off. He also almost never forgave and almost never forgot. (That poor sap from his elementary school definitely knows that.) And all of these facts were fresh in Thorson Petter's mind as he sat down in the chair across from his boss.
"So. You've been working on something not work-related. On company time," Gerry said, making eye contact.
"Yes, I ha-"
"Without my knowledge."
"...Yes,"
"So, what have you been making?"
"A game."
"What kind of game? A board game? A card game?"
"N- no, a video game."
"A... video game?"
"Y'know, like at an arcade."
"Hm. Okay. Why have you been doing this at work?"
"I don't own a computer at home, this is the only place I can access one."
"May I play it?" This catches Thorson slightly off guard. He didn't expect his boss to actually be interested in his own personal work.
"You want to?" Thorson asks, tentatively.
"I want to see what's so important that it's worth taking up company resources."
Thorson internally sighed.
"Sure. It's in my office."
"The left and right arrow keys are used to move left and right. Jump is W, attack is Q," Thorson said as Gerry fiddled with the controls.
Gerry then proceeded to press the right arrow key.
Oh god, why did I add that?
Gerry glared at Thorson. "...Y'know what? Go have lunch. I'll let you know when I'm done with this." Thorson took this opportunity and left, wanting to avoid the inevitable outcome for as long as possible.
Thorson sat in the lunchroom, staring at his lunch, a PB&J and 7 saltine crackers.
"Not hungry?" Benedikt asked, placing his fork into his salad bowl.
"I mean, I'm getting fired. So not really."
"Gerry's not gonna fire you. You've known him for a full year and I've known him for, like, 23. He wouldn't do that to you."
"He may not have said it directly but he very heavily implied it. Hell, he said tha-" Thorson was then interrupted by Gerry bursting into the room.
"I did it. I liberated the castle."
"Did you like it?" Thorson asked, hesitantly. Gerry paused.
"Yes."
"Am I still getting fired?"
Another pause.
"Maybe."