Lounge

[A. Breslin]

*After pissing Frank off I smile as Logan gives the rundown of the meal giggling as he dumbs it down for the idiots at the table.*

‘I love Italian food, it was basically the only thing I ate in high school’

[E. Raven]

"Cool. How much is buy in?" I ask as I push open the door and run outside in the cold to dump the trash. 

[M. Stone]

*I walk in from upstairs, my traditional Purple Haze-flavored Bang in hand.*

'Damn it smells good down here. Y'all making some Italian?'

*I walk up to the island, leaning against it and sipping my Bang.*

'Sparks, how much is buy-in?'

[L. Sparks]

‘I love Italian food, it was basically the only thing I ate in high school’

’....and you probably haven’t touched the stuff since. You don’t come from an Italian family do you?’ I ask putting serving utensils near everything.

’$4 buy in gents. Cash or Venmo preferred. $5 and I’ll do a dance. $100 and I’ll strip down and dance on the island after dinner.’ I say as I put all three serving dishes next to each other. Pasta. Caesar. And Garlic bread for the carb-o-philes among us like myself.

Edited February 26, 2020 by Chris07

[A. Breslin]

'Mainly Irish, I have it a few times a month but I was a waitress in this really bougie Italian restaurant in Arizona the Food was great and they were really generous with staff meals. Tips were great too'

*I throw in 5.*

'I don't have singles so you better dance. But I'm not rich so stay clothed.'

[L. Sparks]

*Party rock Anthem comes on my playlist*

‘Well good. Then you can’t insult my take on Italian cuisine.’ I say.

*Breslin hands me the $5*

“Party rock is in the house tonight. Everybody just have a good time”

*I throw my hands up in the air and start doing a stupid dance while mouthing the lyrics. I do the dance around Breslin before stopping.*

”So what was this I heard about Erika going to medic school?” I say loudly so she can hear.

Edited February 27, 2020 by Chris07

[K. Summers]

*Hearing several voices in the lounge, I duck out of my office, setting my paperwork aside. It feels like it never ends. I walk down to the kitchen and pop my head inside, just making out the words..*

'....$4 buy in gents. Cash or Venmo preferred. $5 and I’ll do a dance. $100 and I’ll strip down and dance on the island after dinner.’

*I walk into the room and lean against the counter, looking at the spread.*

'Smells good, Sparks. I'm in.'

*I slide out my wallet and pull out a 5, handing it over before raising an eyebrow at him.*

[M. Stone]

*I chuckle as Sparks says he'll dance for a five. I pull out my phone and venmo him $5, showing it to him.*

'Five is in your wallet.'

*I shake my head as he starts to dance, smiling. I crush the rest of my Bang and then toss the can, starting to get in line for food.*

[A. Breslin]

*As I hand sparks the 5 dollar bill, and pulls out his phone to blast party rock anthem. I laugh as he does an appropriate dance.*

 

’So yeah I totally think Erika can do medic school.’

*I sit down with my plate, hoping Sparks can help convince her*

[E. Sjostrom]

*Throwing in a $10 cause I don't have a $5 bill or any $1s on me.  Putting food on my plate I go take a seat at the table and dig in.  The talk about me going to medic school is getting embarrassing now.  I've never really liked talking about work related stuff so I really just don't know how to respond.*

[L. Sparks]

*Summers hands me the money.*
Shit. Not the captain too

Single Ladies by Beyoncé comes on.

*I sigh and start to do a dance, shaking my butt and going crazy with my arms in the air.*

All the single ladies [all the single ladies].
All the single ladies [all the single ladies].

’I’m so getting fired for this’ I laugh as I dance.

My dance concludes. God this is getting too much.

*Erika hands me a $10*

’Oh hell no’ I laugh. ‘No ten dolla make you holla show tonight.’

*I hand her a $5 as change and start dancing.*
 

'Cause if you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it.
If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it.

*My dance ends. I make a loud exaggerated sigh*

”Ugh God. Why am I such a cheap whore?”

As everyone sits down I grab a plate of my own and have a seat with everyone. I take a bite. Not my best work, but still pretty decent.

‘Well it’s not that bad, right?’ I ask the table as I chew.

’Atleast it’s better than Frank’s Magical Mushroom stew he made that one time. I swear to God he used actual ‘shrooms. I took one bite and smelled colors for 3 days.’

[A. Breslin]

*Sparks finshes up his second dance of the night and sits down.*

'Frank's Magical Mushroom stew was fucking wild. Good thing we didn't get piss tested after that or we would all be working at best buy right now.'

*I say taking another bite.*

'Hey, you guys hear the Lieutenants test is coming out soon? Sparks you taking it?'

[L. Sparks]

‘I think I’ll need to work on my non-existent facial hair if I’m to stand any chance at advancing.’

*I take a bite*

’I think one of the boxes they check on interview day is whether or not your mustache looks like the walrus from Alice and Wonderland’

’....but in all seriousness. Forget that noise. I don’t want that job right now. Look at you. You’re an LT and you hate your life. I’m not ready to take that plunge yet.’ I say teasing Breslin.

’What I will do, however, is write a letter of rec for Erika here to go to the paramedic program at the academy.’ I say smiling over at Erika, knowing she freaking hates me now for bringing it up again.

Edited February 28, 2020 by Chris07

[M. Stone]

*I grab a plate and fill it with food, sitting at the table. I chew quietly, watching as the ambulance jockeys tear into each other. I swallow a bite and wash it down with water before nodding.*

'Medic school's not that hard. You'll do fine. And Sparks, you should totally take the test. Worst that'll happen is you won't get it this time and you'll take it next time.'

*I shrug.*

'I'm gonna take the next lieutenant's test for Fire. Riding backwards is fun and all, but I'd like to not be a backseat firefighter forever.'

[L. Sparks]

‘Next cycle’, I say trying to get the heat off of me.

’I don’t want that responsibility right now, plus, then I’d probably be assigned somewhere else...and everyone here is as nuts, if not nuttier than I am.’ I say.

’I don’t think they have any open LT slots here, unless Breslin’s gunning for Captain’ I say looking over to her as if to say back to you.

Edited February 28, 2020 by Chris07

[E. Raven]

I fill my plate up, making sure to leave enough for everyone else. I sit down and take a bite. 

"It tastes like shit." I say with a shit eating grin, and take another bite. 

[F. Garcia]

I down my mushroom stew I bring in for myself. "Look at me. I am the engineer now" i mumble.

 

the thing is. I had no idea i put magic mushrooms in the stations, I've become so used to them I literally tasted them before i cooked them to make sure they were normal, forgetting i do so many shrooms my body composure must have changed.

 

Oh well. Maybe I'll just bring some to everyone in ERT and it'll all blow over. i think to myself. I then begin to relive Harambe memes.

Edited February 29, 2020 by losangelesi

[J. Noel]

*As I hear another backup beeper I figure now is the time to start the pizzas. I knead the dough and turn the oven to max. 500°f is where it stops, but that'll have to do. As the dough rises, people start to funnel in. Maybe this will make me some friends the good ol' fashioned way, with pizza!*

'Alright, are you all gonna sit there and watch tv, or help out?' I say, waving the knife I'm carving the pepperoni up with.

 

[D. Valentine]

‘ lemme grab a shower right quick andill try to help jen’ * i say as i walk into the station lounge after refilling my dogs waterbowl  opting to hang by the door for her answer*

[J. Noel]

*Seeing him fill a dog bowl and put it on the floor, I think what the fuck.*

'That better be to feed the cockroaches, because so help me god there better not be dogs in this firehouse.'

[M. Stone]

*I arch an eyebrow when I see Valentine filling a bowl with water.*

'Damn, are the station rats getting that big? We feeding them now?'

*I walk into the kitchen and start to wash up.*

'I'll give you a hand, Noel.'

[K. Summers]

'Valentine. My office. Now please'

*I poke my head into the lounge in time to see Valentine filling a dog bowl and I groan. How the hell did I not notice a dog this morning.*

[J. Noel]

*As Miller helps me get started on the pizza, I take Summer's tone of voice that Valentine might be a little delayed. Miller starts cutting up some more of the toppings while I stretch the dough.*

'So you ever make a real pizza like this before, Miller? Back home, this is the only way to do it.'

[M. Stone]

*It took me a minute to realize Jen was taking to me, but I chuckle.*

'Naw. Naw, we don't do deepdish. I like Atlanta pizza - Mellow Mushroom. It's got molasses in the crust. Very delicious. And I'm Mark, not Miller. No big deal though, you're still learning names.'

*I start chopping mushrooms for the pizza.*

Edited March 6, 2020 by estone

[J. Noel]

*Shit*

'Well, it's a lot easier when you all wear your name tapes. These uniforms are discriminatory to the new people. Actually, where is Miller. Just because he drives doesn't mean he gets a free ride, right?'

*The dough stretched enough, I start to tuck it into the only cast iron skillet this place has. Man, next shift I'm bringing my own gear. This is shameful.*