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[bigtuna]

leave your prompts, starters, and everything else here

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[draco_rattus]

I don't need to kiss ass, Yankee Boy. I'm the boss' son.

[That's possibly only the second time he's reminded Jim about that this week. The man's jibes are grating on him even more than usual, though.]

I've got some reports to write.

[He hasn't, because Jim has already done them.]

[bigtuna]

Did I ever tell you [ Jim eats another spoonful of jell-o ] that I'm not actually from New York?

And I'm not a yankii either, if that's what you're concerned about.

[ The spoon is on Jim's bottom lip. He taps it lightly. ] What reports do you have?

[draco_rattus]

What does being from New York have to do with anything?

[Because as far as Sho is concerned, 'Yankee' is pretty much the same thing as saying 'American'.]

As for the reports, well, there's that... thing... I need to write about the, er, you know. The paper thingy. With the printers. And that quarterly forecast for those clients who wanted the big paper.

[Very concise, Sakurai.]

[bigtuna]

That doesn't sound like anything we need done, Sakurai.

[draco_rattus]

Well, okay, fine, maybe the reports can wait.

[He scowls, arms folded across his chest.]

I still need to get back online though. There might be emails waiting for me.

[bigtuna]

Huh. [ Jim rests the spoon on his lip, tapping lightly. ] Have you tried following the wire?

It could've been damaged somewhere, y'know.

[draco_rattus]

That's what the IT helpdesk said.

[Sho briefly casts a suspicious look at Jim, as if considering whether he's a part of some big IT helpdesk conspiracy.]

But I was only gone for an hour, and nobody else has even been in here. Have they? How could it have been damaged?

[bigtuna]

Well, a wire gets pretty long. Maybe someone bumped into it on the way?

[ Jim gives the bowl of jell-o a little shake, as if reminding Sakurai he can get some. In the event that's still rejected, he pulls it close to where he sits so he can eat it all. ]

This is why we should go wireless, really.

[draco_rattus]

You know I'm not in charge of the IT budget.

[It's not the first time the issue has been raised, and although Jim is probably right that they should go wireless, Sho isn't going to give the man the satisfaction of admitting it.]

I suppose we'll have to get someone to follow the wire, then.

[Because Heaven forbid Sakurai Sho would actually stoop to doing so himself. He glances over at the bowl of jelly.]

...why are you eating that?

[bigtuna]

Because it's tasty. [ Jim's tone suggests he's not sure why Sakurai would think there's any other reason. ] Why aren't you?

It's lychee-flavoured. Delicious.

[ None of this matters, but still. ]

[draco_rattus]

Because I'm not sharing an indirect kiss with you over a bowl of jelly.

[...although, actually, lychee-flavoured jelly does sound kind of good.]

Jim. Check the wire for me.

[If he says it as an order rather than a request, maybe it makes him sound less pathetic.]

[bigtuna]

Mm, [ around another mouthful of jell-o, Jim shrugs his shoulders ] afraid I can't do that.

You can ask me to check on clients, if you want.

[draco_rattus]

I want you to check the wire!

[But 'I want' doesn't get, as Sho should know full well by now. His irritation is clearly growing.]

I don't even know where it goes! How am I supposed to know that? I'm not an IT engineer!

[He doesn't lose his cool very often - not in public, at least - but he's starting to lose it now.]

[bigtuna]

You could always follow it.

[ There're maybe four spoonfuls of jell-o left. Jim offers them in some last chance, though is well aware Sakurai probably won't take it. ]

I'll walk with you.

[draco_rattus]

I thought you said you were busy?

[Sho huffs, but he doesn't say no to Jim's offer. He's already leaning over the back of his computer, tracing the path of one of the wires, only to discover that it leads to his mouse.

He sighs and takes a spoonful of jell-o.]

[bigtuna]

I said you could only order me to check on clients, actually. [ Jim lets Sakurai have the rest of the jell-o, leaning back in the seat across the other man's desk and crossing his legs at the ankle. ] Not that I was busy.

Besides, [ and here comes the lie ] I'm curious how it'll turn out.

[draco_rattus]

[Dammit, the jell-o tastes better than he thought it would, and he quickly finishes it off before Jim can change his mind and take it back. Indirect kiss and all. Ugh. Whatever.]

You're curious.

[Sho pulls out a tissue and wipes his mouth, then fixes Jim with a withering glare.]

I'm your colleague, not your entertainment.

[bigtuna]

I want to make sure my colleague's okay. [ Jim's totally unaffected, in other words. Maybe Sakurai's glare works on the other employees, but Jim's at a point in his life where he really couldn't care less about his status at work any more. ] If I wanted entertainment, I'd have set firecrackers in your office.

[ It's actually something he'd never do. Too dangerous, and even Jim has his limits. ]

[draco_rattus]

Don't give me that bullshit. What, are you out new office counsellor or something?

[Sho laughs, but it borders a little too close to the hysterical.]

And if you set off firecrackers within an inch of my office, my father would have you fired in an instant.

[Jell-o finished, he continues his search for the correct wire. Nope, that one's the keyboard.]

[bigtuna]

That's not so bad. [ Being fired, that is. Jim could care less. ] Maybe I can talk to HR about becoming a licenced counsellor, too. Would that make you feel better?

[draco_rattus]

You going away would make me feel better.

[He glances over his shoulder, already checking the next wire. It looks like he's finally found the right one this time.]

[bigtuna]

All right then.

[ Jim takes the now-empty bowl up. At least Sakurai's spirits seem to be living somewhat, at least in direct contrast to earlier. He takes Sakurai's spoon, too, and heads off towards the kitchen to clean everything up.

Jim did his good deed for the day. Totally justifies his semi-mean thing for the day, he likes to think.

Besides, it's not like Sakurai does any work, anyway. ]

[draco_rattus]

No, wait---

[Sho realises as soon as he's spoken that he's made a mistake. Even as Jim is opening the door Sho is already getting to his feet and following after him.]

Don't go.

[Shit, he sounds like a needy girlfriend. But it's not like that.]

I... I need you to help me.

[bigtuna]

[ Jim turns to look back in some mild surprise, just for the shock effect of it all. But he manages a small smile all the same. ] Sure. Let me just finish washing this or I'll forget.

[ So he does go to the break room, washing and setting the used utensils aside. When he comes back to Sakurai he's patting his slacks in some absent motion of drying, both brows lifting in curiosity. ]

What do I do?

[draco_rattus]

[Sho hates himself for having to stoop so low as to ask for help - it's a weakness, an admission of failure - but he supposes if he should end up having to ask anyone, it may as well be Jim. After all, the man already knows about his disastrous performance at the sales meeting the other day, and since his father hasn't mentioned anything to him about it yet, maybe Jim has kept it quiet. Maybe. He jams his hands into his trouser pockets and looks out of the window, turning around when Jim comes back in.]

Help me find where the wire goes.

[No 'please', no 'thank you', just a basic instruction; it's hard enough for him to even say the words in the first place.]

They're all tangled up at the back. I can't tell which is which.