Work Text:
At the end of a long, dusty hallway, a Shadowguy sat pondering the cards in front of him. He wasn't big on solitaire, but none of his coworkers were around to play games with him. He made a mental note to get around to teaching the Zapper Dou Dizhu. Too bad they didn't have a fourth for Tycoon... sure, you could technically play with just three people, but it just wasn't as fun!
Okay. Red 10 can go here, and then I can move this stack... Oh, 4 of spades!
The quiet sounds of cards shuffling filled the room, now so empty you'd hardly believe that it was lively just about an hour ago.
"You's gonna be fine here?" The Zapper had asked, the Shadowguy responding with a thumbs-up. "Well, see ya tomorrow, den," they'd continued, picking the Pippins up by the back of his poncho—"HEY! I can WALK, bozo!" "Yea, but you like dis."—and waving goodbye as they made their exit.
The floors had been mopped, the surfaces wiped down, the costumes haphazardly shoved in the closet... it would make perfect sense for him to leave work for his comfy bed, instead of staying in the dark, empty office.
In all fairness, being in Mike's room alone after hours wasn't all too bad. It felt kind of... depressing to tread back to his apartment all by his lonesome. He wasn't sure why Mike's office was so different, especially with how unfurnished it was. (What'd a bed frame ever do to you, Boss?)
There's that 6...
God, this was boring. Wasn't solitaire a game for, like, old people, and playing on your phone while ignoring your boss? If only someone else were here. Then they'd at least get to play Old Maid or something. Or break out the dice and do Yahtzee...
Like the fountain had heard his plea, he suddenly felt uneasy, like somebody was staring at him over his shoulder. He stopped, staring at the card in his hand, before turning around slowly.
Looming in the shadowed corner—not as shadowed as himself, of course, but unsettling nonetheless—was... was that a microphone? It had to be, but it was huge, its presence imposing. If it were stood up, it'd probably have been as tall as Tenna.
The Shadowguy waited one beat. Then another. Then, he extended his hands.
"You like cards?"