Stay: A Russie Features Short

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

September 2009

8:24PM

“You have to admit that you were expecting it to happen already.” Three pairs of eyes glanced Tadashi’s way; Tadashi merely gave a dead shrug and took yet another shot of a drink Ross had ordered minutes back. The alcohol stung and burned. “You two were already like this drink.” Ross raised his cocktail, “On the rocks.”

The pun was met with groans from the rest of them. Eri shot Ross a hard look, to which the other merely smirked and sipped from his glass. “That was horrible, O’Neill. And not the time or place for it.”

“What?” Ross shrugged, “It helped, at least. Sato can’t spend the rest of his time sulking. Let the man laugh.” They looked at him again and Tadashi felt uncomfortable. Letting loose a nervous laugh, he drank yet another shot, to which Sol gave him an apprehensive look.

“That’s not going to help,” she told him quietly. “Drinking isn’t going to help you, Tad. You know that.”

“It seems like the best option for now,” he muttered. Clutching the glass tightly, he glanced towards the bottle to which Sol pushed it away. Ross caught sight of it and cocked a brow, leaning in a little closer and inspecting Tadashi closely.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “You don’t look too good, man. Sol might be right in taking the bottle away from you.” In response, Tadashi could only groan and rest his head on the table, mumbling for them to fuck off.

Conversations: A Russie Features Short

Headquarters

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

May 2014

After touring around the building, Eri had asked for herself and Aether to have a small ‘talk’ in her own office. Tadashi was apprehensive about letting Aether go, but the other woman rolled her eyes and told him that he had to check on some of the other agents first. This eventually led to Tadashi leaving, and Eri kindly showing her the way to her office.

Eri’s office was a breath of fresh air. Gone were the intense white walls and clean floor, the sight of everyone walking around in business suits and carrying different folders, containers, and whatnot. Instead, it was a personal space; wooden furniture around, and a warm plum color coating the walls.

“Coffee or tea?” the woman had asked. Aether turned and saw that Eri had already discarded her coat on the coat-hanger by the door, and was this time going through a small container which was placed on one of the room’s small, glass tables. “Tadashi tells me you’re a coffee person, which is great, but your record also says you’re English, so. Coffee or tea?”

“Coffee – coffee would be great.” Eri nodded and Aether took a tentative seat on the couch, looking around in wonder. Framed on the left wall were different photographs as well as official-looking certificates; on another was a framed picture of what looked like her family.

“How are you finding it so far?”

The First Step: A Coalesce Short

Headquarters
Tokyo, JPN
November 2009

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Look, I know it’s something too soon–”

“Damn right that shit’s too soon,” Tadashi snapped. He chose to ignore the fact that almost everyone on the floor was staring. “I lost three of my squad mates barely six months ago and now you want me to take in two new ones in the next three months? Do you honestly think I’m in the right condition to do that?”

“I know it’s something you’re not comfortable with,” Eri Nagakawa interrupted calmly. She gave Tadashi a firm look, “To be perfectly honest, Tadashi, I was against this as well. The board, however, thinks that you need to start taking in people again. They’ve noticed that your quality has dipped a bit ever since the accident.”

“I’m grieving.”

“I know you are,” she repeated. “Just – will you come to my office and talk to me about this?” He was nearly about to argue again when she gave him a look. “Don’t do this to yourself,” she added in a much softer voice. “Just hear me out. And try not to make a scene in front of the younger agents.”

Without another word, Tadashi went straight to Eri’s office. The other hung back to watch him with worried eyes and then realized that she too was being watched. Masking a cold look on her face, she barked at the rest of them to get back to work and they all scattered while talking nervously. She rubbed her temples, exhaling loudly.

It was never a good idea to begin with.