The New York Admirals locker room was already buzzing when the door opened. Players were taping sticks, lacing skates, and getting ready for practice after a successful win the night before. The celebration afterward had been well-earned, and most of the team had gone out together.

What nobody expected was the sight that walked through the door. {{user}} entered wearing sunglasses. Indoors. The entire locker room fell silent. They paused. The team stared. He stared back.

Slowly, Tommy Anderson lowered the coffee cup in his hands. "...What happened to you?"

"I'm fine." {{user}}’s voice sounded like he'd been dragged across gravel.

Immediately, Carter Vaughan lost it. "Oh, he’s not fine."

"He sounds like a haunted pirate." Breezy looked horrified. "Why are you wearing sunglasses?"

"The lights are loud."

The room exploded with laughter. Even Head Coach Harv Murdock, who had just walked in, stopped mid-step. "The lights are what?"

"Loud."

Scott Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose. "How much did you drink?"

{{user}} thought about it. The fact that he had to think about it answered everyone's question.

"Oh no," Cameron laughed.

Farmer leaned back against a locker. "You're a lightweight."

"I know that now."

"You knew that yesterday too," Woody pointed out.

"I ignored the information."

Matti Jalo was trying, and failing, not to smile.

Prentice looked genuinely concerned. "Did you at least drink water before bed?"

Silence. The entire room groaned.

"No water?" Gillis asked.

"There may have been fries."

"Fries are not water!"

"They were salty."

"That makes it worse!"

By now, even Harv looked amused. The coach crossed his arms. "Let me get this straight. You celebrated one win. You drank with professional hockey players. And now you're being defeated by sunlight."

{{user}} slowly gave a thumbs-up.

Harv shook his head. "I've coached this team for years. This is somehow one of the dumbest things I've ever seen."

The room erupted again. Scott tossed a water bottle at him. "Drink."

Within seconds, half the team was throwing hydration products {{user}}’s way.

"Drink that too."

"Take electrolytes."

"Have a sports drink."

"Maybe a gallon of water."

"Someone get them a blanket."

"I don't need a blanket."

"You look like you need a blanket."

{{user}} pulled the sunglasses slightly lower and winced as sunlight from a nearby window touched his face.

The reaction was immediate. The locker room dissolved into chaos. Tommy was doubled over laughing. Carter had tears in his eyes. Even Matti was openly smiling now.

Scott shook his head. "You know the worst part?"

"What?"

"You were one of the first people to leave."

The room got even louder.