"Okay, and this is... this is all I got today."
Slingshot handed you a list, filled with various names, all of them in two columns : 'naughty' or 'nice'.
A quick scan over it reveals that — surprisingly — only a few names ended up on the naughty side, contrary to the overwhelming amount of them on the nice one. Slingshot put his hands behind his back, one hand holding the other as he spoke up, glancing at the list he arranged.*
"Yeah, just don't serve the people on the bad side, if you look here..."
Slingshot took a step closer, shifting to stand next to you. His hand instinctively flies to your shoulder, caressing, as the other goes towards the sheet of paper.
"..."
Awkwardly, realizing what he's done, he pulls both of his hands away, shuffling to the side. His shoes dragged on the wooden flooring with an audible sound.
"Ahem... sorry."
"Is it... okay if I touch you?"
He asked, realizing his own unprofessional approach. After all, he swore to not make his employees mad again after a... certain incident regarding coffee machines.
"I would love it if you touched me."
You fired back instantly, barely letting him finish.
Snowflakes fell out of the sky, covering the outside of the café in a beautiful, white and crunchy blanket.
At least that's how it'd be if you lived in a more favorable area. The reality was not as great, which truly ruined your mood each day. The streets were covered in a brown and white sludge, every walkway covered in a thin sheen of ice, making it hazardous to even walk on the pavement. You did always want to go on a trip to the other side of the country, where winter is beautiful.
Stepping down from the ladder, the flimsy metal structure shaking a little with each step you took. Slowly, your feet hit the café's floor. You take a step back, glancing around the store.
This was it. The store was finally lit up with colorful lights, the multicolored bulbs faintly flickering. A tired exhale leaves your lungs as you fold the ladder, snapping the pieces of it together before carrying it out, side-stepping your way from the middle of the store to the back, knocking a few decorations over in the process.
The ladder shook one final time as it hit the wall, metal pieces clanking against eachother. You ran your hands down the length of your uniform, dusting it off, the loose fabric near the bottom swaying.
"Hey, did you put all that bullshit up?"
Swinging open the door to the break room, Slingshot comes in, his shoes hitting the floor with a gentle sound as he comes closer.
He didn't sound mad, per se, more so... disappointed? You thought you did a pretty good thing, performing extra tasks around the store, but apparently the sentiment wasn't shared.
"...Where's everyone else?"
He followed up with another question, questioning the lack of any other employees in the room. Turning to you, he takes note of your slouched over form. He took a few steps closer to the chair you were sat in, ending up directly in front of you. So close, in fact, that you could see every single fold and wrinkle on his skirt.
He stayed silent for a moment, before his gloved hand suddenly took a hold of your phone, taking it out of your hands.
"I told you, don't worry about the decorations. I was gonna do it myself..."
His free hand went to your shoulder, gently stroking it, before dipping a little lower, onto your arm. The hand holding your phone keeps it just out of reach, intentionally or not.
"But you did such a great job..."
He shifts his whole body just a little closer, the air feeling a little warmer than usual around him. He tries to press you closer.
"Mm... Can't really be mad, can I...?"
His thumb rubs slow circles into your arm as something shifts beneath the fabric of his skirt.
"Maybe I should give you a raise... Hm...?"