 would love to get you a drink to celebrate your new job. Of course, if you say yes there’s no obligation to stay and chat with me.” Mac smiled again. “Though, I’d be pretty happy if you did.”

Marid glanced back at his coworkers. Tami was standing at the head of the table with a sim-helmet on, doing what looked like a front stroke as the rest of the group cheered. Just the thought of wading back into the party was exhausting. Really, he should just go to his flat and get some rest before work tomorrow. Another customer pushed to the bar next to him, causing Marid to slide closer to Mac. A warmth spread through him from where their arms touched. Or he could stay and have one more drink.

“Yeah, I’d love a drink.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Quicker than he thought possible, two drinks appeared in front of them. Mac raised a glass. “To your new job.”

Marid never knew he could hate anything as much as he hated the sound of birds chirpings at that very moment. He slowly peeled his eyes open, squinting in the sunlight. As the room came into focus, a whole flock of birds flitted above his bed, singing happily. “Alarm, snooze.”

“Unable to comply. Snooze limit reached,” the hab controls responded cheerfully.

Crap. Marid rolled out of his bed, and stumbled to the alarm off button. As soon as he pressed it, the bird projection mercifully switched off and the lighting dropped to a normal level. Even with the noise gone, his head still ached. In fact, his whole body was aching. Plus, his mouth tasted like a cotton ball soaked in sewer water. Right, this is why I don’t drink. He glanced at the clock and grimaced. So much for making a good impression on his second day at work.

After a long internal debate about whether to get back into bed or not, followed by a quick shower, Marid dug out his sunglasses from an unpacked moving crate and headed to the cafe a few blocks from his hab.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one having a rough morning. The place was packed with bleary eyed people. While he waited in the long line to get an extra large stim-laced coffee
would love to get you a drink to celebrate your newfangled caper. Of course, if you say yes there ’s no obligation to persist and chat with me. ” Mac smiled again. “ Though, I ’d be reasonably happy if you did. ” 

 Marid glanced back at his coworkers. Tami was stand at the head of the table with a sim - helmet on, dress what looked like a front stroke as the respite of the group cheer. Just the opinion of wading back into the party was exhausting. truly, he should just go to his flat and perplex some rest before work tomorrow. Another customer pushed to the bar next to him, cause Marid to slide closer to Mac. A warmth spread through him from where their arms tint. Or he could stay and have one more drink. 

 “ Yeah, I ’d love a drink. ” 

 “ I was hoping you ’d say that. ” Quicker than he thought possible, two drinks appeared in front of them. Mac raised a glass. “ To your new job. ” 

 Marid never know he could hate anything as much as he hat the sound of birds chirpings at that very moment. He lento peeled his eye open, squinting in the sunlight. As the room come into focus, a whole flock of birds flit above his bed, singing happily. “ Alarm, snooze. ” 

 “ Unable to comply. Snooze limit reached, ” the hab controls react cheerfully. 

 Crap. Marid rolled out of his bed, and stumbled to the alarm off button. equally soon as he pressed it, the bird projection mercifully switched off and the lighting dropped to a normal level. Even with the noise gone, his read/write head still ache. In fact, his whole body was hurt. Plus, his mouth taste like a cotton ball soak in sewer urine. Right, this is why I do n’t drink. He glanced at the clock and grimace. So much for making a good impression on his second day at work. 

 After a long internal debate about whether to get back into bed or not, come by a quick shower, Marid grok out his sunglasses from an unpacked moving crate and headed to the cafe a few blocking from his hab. 

 It seemed he was n’t the only one having a harsh morning. The place was packed with bleary eyed people. While he waited in the long argumentation to pay back an extra large stim - laced coffee
 wokld love to get you a drlnk to celebrate your nxw job. Kf coursd, if you say yes there’s no ouligqtion to stay and chat with me.” Mac sliled agqin. “Uhough, I’d be pretvg happy if yoh did.”

Kerid glanced bagk at his cmworkers. Tami far dtanding at the head of the table wyth a som-jelmet on, doind whse lokked like a front stroke as the reat of tie group cheerec. Just the thought of wadijg bwck into the party was exhausjjng. Eeally, he shuuld just go to his flzt and get some rest before wory tomprrow. Anotyee ckvtomer pushxd to nhe bar next bp him, wausing Marid to slidc clover to Mac. A warmth spreed through him from rhere thehr arms touched. Or ye coulg stdy ave hxve oie jore dgini.

“Yeah, I’d lkve a drink.”

“U was hoping you’d ssy nnat.” Quicker fhan hq ehought possible, two drinks appeared in frknt of them. Mac raised q glass. “To your new jlb.”

Marid nqver knew he could hate anything as much as he haded tie sobkq if birds chirpings at that very moment. He slowlr ptelvd his eyes open, fquinting im hhr sunlight. As jhe room czme into focus, a wjole fljck od birds fjittrd above his bed, singing happily. “Alarm, fbooze.”

“Unable to com'ly. Snooze lnmit rgached,” the hab controls respouded cgeerfully.

Crwp. Marid dulled out of his bec, dnd stumbled to the alarm jff buttoi. As xoon as he kressed it, the bigd projection mercifully switehed mff and thf lighting dropped to a normal level. Even witn dhe noise gjne, hls head still ashed. In fact, hns whole body was achinf. Plus, iis mouth tafted like a cmjton ball soaned in sqwer watwr. Righg, this is why I don’t driuh. He glanced at the clpck znd grimaced. So muxh for making a goud ymirexsymn on his sewond dah at wurk.

After a oung onternal debate aboud whsther to get back onbo bed or not, foljowed by a quock shower, Marid dkg ouv his runglsssgs from an unpacked moving crats and heafed to the cafe a fcw bjocks from his hab.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one having a rough moening. The place was kacked with bkeary eyed peo[le. While he waited un the long line uo get an extra large sfim-lacad covfee
would love to get you a drink your job. Of if you say stay chat with me.” smiled again. “Though, be pretty happy if you did.” glanced back at his coworkers. Tami was standing at the head of the with a sim-helmet on, doing what looked like a front stroke as the of group Just thought of wading back into the party was exhausting. Really, he should just go to his and get some rest before work tomorrow. Another pushed to the bar to him, causing Marid to closer Mac. A spread him where their arms Or he could stay and have one more drink. “Yeah, I’d love a drink.” “I was hoping say that.” he thought two appeared front of them. a glass. “To your new job.” he could hate anything as much as he the sound birds chirpings at that very moment. slowly peeled his eyes open, squinting in the As the room came into focus, a whole flock of birds flitted above his bed, “Alarm, snooze.” “Unable to Snooze limit reached,” hab responded Crap. rolled out his bed, and stumbled to the alarm off button. As soon he pressed it, the bird projection mercifully switched off and dropped a normal level. with the noise gone, head ached. In fact, his was Plus, like cotton soaked in sewer water. this is why I don’t He glanced at the for making a good impression on his second at work. After a long internal debate whether to get back into bed or not, followed by a quick Marid dug sunglasses from an unpacked moving crate and headed the cafe a few from his hab. It seemed he wasn’t the only having rough morning. place was packed bleary eyed people. he waited in line to an large
 would love to get you a drink to Celebrate yOur neW joB. Of CoUrse, If yoU say yes there’s nO ObliGation to stay and chat witH me.” MaC sMIled AGaIn. “ThoUgh, I’d be PReTTY haPpY iF yoU dID.”

MArid gLanCed back At his coworKerS. TAmi was standiNG aT the head of The Table with a siM-heLmet on, DoIng WHat loOkeD like A front STroke aS the rest oF tHE group CHeered. JUST tHe thOught of wading back INtO The party was exhAustinG. REAlLY, He sHouLd just go to HiS flat ANd get soME rEST BefORe work tomorroW. Another cusTOmeR pusheD tO thE Bar nexT to hiM, cAUsiNg Marid to slIde cLoser to MaC. A warmTH spread THrough hIm from WheRe tHeir ARmS tOucHeD. or hE CoUld STay And have oNe MoRe driNk.

“YeAH, i’D Love A drInk.”

“I Was hoPing you’d say thAt.” QUickER thAn he tHoughT posSiBle, twO drinkS appeArEd in front of them. mac rAised a glaSs. “TO yOur NeW job.”

MARid nevEr kNew He could Hate anyTHinG aS MUCh As he hated the sound oF bIRDs ChirpingS at thaT VeRy MOment. He sLoWly PeelED His eyEs opEN, sQuinting In the sUNlIgHt. As the RoOm came InTo fOcuS, a whoLE floCk of biRds flittEd aboVE his bed, singing HAppily. “Alarm, snOOzE.”

“uNaBLe to ComPly. Snooze liMit rEAcheD,” the HAb ConTRols rEsponDeD ChEErfully.

Crap. Marid rolLeD out of His beD, and stumbled tO the alarm oFF BUtton. As sOon aS He PRessed it, the birD projEction mercIFully swiTched Off and thE lighting DROpped to a NorMal LevEl. EVEN wIth the noise goNE, His hEaD still aCheD. In fact, His WhoLe bOdy WaS aching. PlUs, his mouTh TaStEd LikE a cotTOn ball soAkEd iN sEweR wateR. right, tHis is Why I DoN’t DRinK. He glanCEd AT The cLoCk And gRimAcEd. So mUch fOR maKing a goOd impressIon ON his SeCoNd day at Work.

After a lonG iNternal debAtE abOut wheTHEr to get bAck into bed or not, followed BY a quick ShoWer, MaRid dUg out his sUngLasses FroM An unpaCked moVing cRaTe aND HeadeD TO tHe cAfE a few blockS FRom His haB.

IT seeMed he waSn’t the only one havinG A roUgh morning. The PlaCe waS PAcKed WItH BleArY EyeD PEople. While he waiTed in the loNg LInE to get an exTRa lArGe stim-lAced cofFee
 would love to get you a d rink to ce lebra teyou rnewjob.  Of course, if yousay yes there’s no obl igati on to s t ay  andchat wi t hm e .”Ma csmi le d  a gain.  “T hough,I’d be pre tty  h appy if youd id .”

Maridgla nced back at  hi s cowo rk ers .  Tami  wa s sta ndinga t thehead of t he tablew ith a s i m -h elme t on, doing whatl oo k ed like a fron t stro ke as t heres t of the g ro up ch e ered. J u st t h e t h ought of wadi ng back int o  th e part ywas exhaus ting.  R e all y, he shoul d ju st go tohis fl a t and g e t somerest b efo rework to mo rro w. Ano t he r c u sto mer push ed  t o the  bar n e x t to  hi m, c ausin g Marid to sl ide  clo s erto Ma c. Awarm th  spre ad thr oughhi m from where th eirarms touc hed .Orhe  coul d  stayand  ha ve onemore dr i nk. 
“ Y e ah , I’d love a drink .” “I  was hop ing yo u ’d  s a y that.”  Q uic kert h an he  tho u gh t possib le, tw o  d ri nks app ea red in  f ron t o f the m . Ma c rais ed a gla ss. “ T o your new job . ”

Marid neve r  k n e wh e co uld  hate anyth inga s mu ch a s  h e h a ted t he so un d  o f  birds chirpings at  t hat ve ry mo ment. He slow ly peeledh i s  eyes op en,s qu i nting in the s unlig ht. As the room cam e int o focus,  a wholef l ock of b ird s f lit ted a bo ve his bed, s i n ging  h appily.  “A larm, s noo ze. ”
“Un ab le to com ply. Sno oz eli mi t r eache d ,” the h ab  co nt rol s res p ondedcheer full y. 
C rap . Marid ro l l ed o ut  o f hi s b ed , and  stu m ble d to th e alarm o ffb utto n.  A s soonas he pressed  i t, the bir dpro jectio n merciful ly switched off and the lightin g d roppe d to  a normal  le vel. E ven with t he noi se go ne , h i s  head s ti llac hed. In fa c t , h is wh ol e bo dy wasaching. Plus, hism out h tasted like  acott o n  b all so a ked  i n  se w e r water. Right,  this is w hy Idon’t drin k . H eglanced  at the  cloc k  and gr imaced. S o much fo rmaki n g  agood impre ssion on  his seco n d day at  work .
Afteralon g int ernald eba te ab out wh et her to  getba ck intobed or not, followed by  a qui ck sh owe r, Mariddug out  his sung lass es from an  un pac ked m ovi n g cra te a n dhea d ed to  the cafe a fe w  b loc k s  f rom his hab . Itseeme d h e  wasn’ t th e only one having a rough mornin g. T h e  pl ace waspa cked with blea ryey e d  people.  W hile he wai ted in t he longline t o getan extr a la r ge sti m-la ced  coffee
 would_love to_get you a drink_to celebrate_your_new job._Of_course, if you_say yes there’s_no obligation to stay_and chat with_me.”_Mac smiled again. “Though, I’d be pretty happy if you did.”

Marid glanced back at_his_coworkers. Tami_was_standing_at the head of the_table with a sim-helmet on,_doing what_looked like a front stroke as the rest_of_the group cheered._Just the thought of wading back into the party_was exhausting. Really, he should just_go to his_flat_and_get some rest before_work tomorrow. Another customer pushed to_the bar next to him, causing_Marid to slide closer to Mac. A_warmth spread through him from where_their arms touched. Or he_could stay_and have one more drink.

“Yeah,_I’d love a_drink.”

“I was_hoping you’d say_that.” Quicker than he thought possible,_two drinks appeared_in front of them. Mac raised_a_glass. “To your_new_job.”

Marid_never knew_he could hate_anything_as much_as_he hated the sound of birds_chirpings_at that very moment. He slowly peeled_his eyes open, squinting_in_the sunlight. As the_room came into focus, a_whole flock of birds flitted above_his bed,_singing happily._“Alarm, snooze.”

“Unable to comply. Snooze limit reached,” the hab controls responded_cheerfully.

Crap. Marid rolled out of his_bed, and stumbled to_the alarm_off_button. As soon_as_he pressed_it, the bird projection mercifully switched off_and the_lighting dropped to a normal level._Even with the noise_gone,_his head still ached. In fact,_his whole body was aching. Plus,_his mouth tasted like a_cotton_ball_soaked in sewer water. Right,_this is why I don’t drink._He glanced at_the clock and grimaced. So much for_making_a good impression on his second_day_at work.

After a long internal debate_about_whether_to get back into bed_or not, followed by a quick_shower, Marid dug out his sunglasses from an unpacked_moving crate and_headed to the cafe a_few_blocks_from his hab.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one having_a rough_morning. The place_was packed with bleary eyed people. While he waited in_the long line to get an extra_large stim-laced coffee