Work Text:
Nathan walked into work that day. Expecting totally, normal meeting arrangement, briefcase with the latest work information in hand. Waiting in the elevator up to his office and all, until he opened the door..
His team. The one he hired, was playing Uno . Tables moved into an approximate circle-ish shape. The best they could do, really, the tables weren’t rounded. Square. And one table in the middle, with.. Tootsie rolls next to the growing pile of cards.
“Are you guys betting Tootsie Rolls?” Nathan said, and they all froze. Paused their game, and Shepherd looked towards their captain sheepishly.
“Yes.. Sorry for the mess, I just thought we could have some team bonding. We haven’t had any yet since we’ve met, and Tootsie Rolls seemed appropriate to bet on?” Shepherd explained. Nathan knew they really didn’t have that much work to do today, so a free day wouldn’t be so bad.
“So how does betting, gambling or whatever, with Uno, work?” Nathan said, leaning against where his desk was, that had remained untouched. He was curious about the topic.. Which meant they could keep playing.
“Shepherd explained to us that if we get a draw two card, we had to draw two cards and add two of our own tootsie rolls into the pile until we run out. The winner gets the amount of tootsie rolls in the pile.” Bell explained to Nathan, looking towards him as he did so.
“Oh- And same goes for the draw four cards.” Bell then added, with a small smile before nodding, and turning back around to his game.
“Well, who’s still got the most tootsie rolls?” Nathan asked, looking over at the team on the table. Oliveras, Mark, Bell, Finau, Shepherd.
“I do, sir.” Amber spoke up, Mark looked at her offendingly. Amber also had 3 cards left, so she was pretty close to winning.
“Now that’s just unfair- Come on, it has to be beginner's luck, I had to explain the rules to you before we even started.” Mark complained, playfully, much like a child would, mock-pouting towards Nathan.
“Well, that just means I’ve got luck.” Amber said, grinning. It was her turn. She put down another card that was a draw four- Mark’s turn was next. He let out a long reluctant, playfully angry sigh before putting four of the tootsie rolls on the table and drawing four cards.
“I think she’s got a point, Meachum.” Finau finally spoke up from behind his.. God what seemed like, over 15 cards. 18 of them at a best guess.
“Don’t speak, Finau, you’re the one with like, eighteen cards.” Shepherd said. Drawing four meant that Mark’s turn was skipped, so it went over to Bell's turn. He just put down a simple red eight. Finau set down a yellow eight, and he could swear he heard some collective sighs around the table. Because who had yellow?
Him.
Besides the point- Shepherd places down a draw two, Oliveras’ turn being next around the table. She finally had to draw cards. Mark silently celebrated the small victory. Before realizing it was his turn next. Every draw from the pile he had to take, was one tootsie roll he had to the pile. He did have a +4 card however..
Amber drew two cards, placed two tootsie rolls into the pile and waited for the next player, Mark, to do his turn. Mark places down that +4,
“Red.” He said, looking directly at Bell with a grin. Bell now had the most cards in the game, not Finau.
“You don’t get to ask any favours from me anymore, Meachum.” Bell said, playfully threatening, glaring at him as he drew four cards, and placed down the four tootsie rolls. Mark slowly looked away as if looking away from something that just exploded and saying “huh.”
Bell’s turn got skipped, due to the +4 card, and it was Finau's turn. Finau just placed down one of the many red cards he had in his stack, just a simple six. Shepherd had 3 cards left, much like Amber, so she placed down a green six. Oliveras placed down a green seven.
Game on. This was getting competitive now, and Amber was determined to win. Very determined. Mark placed down a reverse card, which made it Amber’s turn. One of the two cards Amber had was a green +2. She placed it down, and called out “Uno.” With a sly grin.
“Oh come on!- That has to be in the rules somewhere-” Shepherd complained, though drawing two cards anyways, putting two of the tootsie rolls into the still growing pile. Looks like no one had run out of tootsie rolls just yet.
“As far as I know, it isn’t Shepherd. You’re going down.” Amber said, whilst grinning, Shepherd just glared at her. Finau placed down a simple green seven. Moved onto Bell's turn, and he placed down a +2 that he had, Mark glared at him again, drawing two while maintaining eye contact with a death glare . Bell understood right around now, why he was scary.
He also dropped two of his tootsie rolls into the pile whilst maintaining eye contact. And to say the least, Bell was a little scared of Mark now for the time being.
And that led to Oliveras. Who had a green, six. Who placed it down slowly, with a slight dramatic pause.
“I win the game.” She declared, reaching over and dragging the pile of tootsie rolls towards her. It was those small ones, and there were about sixty-seven of them in that one pile.
“See, Finau! I was right about the damn beginner’s luck, if she hasn’t played a game before she always wins and it’s infuriating!” Mark exclaimed. It was all in good fun however, and they all knew that. Nathan was still watching at his desk, doing paperwork, with a small grin. He was expecting Oliveras to win anyways.
“Blythe- Come on, you can do something about this. She obviously cheated somehow!” Bell said, complaining.
“Nope. I call all fair play, guys. Clean up, get your tootsie rolls.. Cleaned up, and then we’ve got work to do, alright? And take your time, today is only something small. Call me back when you’re all cleaned up.” Blythe said, observing the room, before leaving with a small smile.
Team-bonding moments were always fun.