Anecdoche - A conversation in which everyone is talking but nobody is listening.
"It will be so much fun, come on. You've never been to one before..."
"Boss, you have to update this TV-"
"They had to release a fix for the patch because it did so much damage-"
"Do you think that she'll call me back?"
"In Serbia, there was this bookshop that-"
"They hardly ever come here, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity..."
"I've got this really cool cowboy film. An actual good one-"
"Thankfully, I was reading the documentation and didn't apply it-"
"I don't know, I don't mean to have these sorts of things happen they just-"
"The man was of course a member of that agency and-"
"Ok, maybe once in a five-year opportunity but still!"
"No fancy special effects, I promise!"
"Thousands of people got their personal details hacked!"
"-apologised! Almost immediately afterwards but then I spilt the wine over her coat-"
"-was a slight incident with Jethro and the-"
"It won't be as bad as the last one. They're a bit more subdued. Sort of."
"Imagine your movies on a non-grainy screen-"
"At least they released the fix quickly, though I noticed-"
"I said I'd dry clean it but she wasn't-"
"In remember that there was some quick thinking-"
Ziva couldn't help but smile as all the voices washed over her. She was curled up in one of the corner spots of Gibbs' sofa, the one closest to the door, twirling a wine glass in her hand. It was only mango juice, topped with ice and a paper umbrella, her stomach could quite handle alcohol yet. She scrunched up her nose. Recovering from malnutrition was definitely not fun. Abby had insisted that she not be left out while everyone was enjoying alcohol of their choice and thrust the bright pink, plastic wine glass at her. Ziva had accepted the drink but had drawn the line at one of those strange shaped plastic straws. Why would she want her drink to go around a longer path to her mouth? It was absurd.
"You don't even have to dress up!"
"Though with surround sound this would be amazing!"
"- that's why I had to make sure it actually addressed the original problem-"
"-night was pretty much over by then and-"
"I never realised that shelving could be used in that manner-"
"I won't put makeup on you this time-"
"Or, you could get Netflix. Get all the cowboy films you want-"
"See, this update closes the vulnerabilities-"
"-took care of the bill and was going to help her with her coat-"
"-quite a mess and we were all inexplicably covered in-"
"You did look good with the eyeliner."
"You just need a laptop. Just the basics. I'm sure McNerd could sort you with one."
"-now the game is actually playable again and-"
"-didn't like that, she snatched it away."
"-I don't recommend using nail varnish remover. It burns and -"
"Ok, minimal makeup. But you have to wear some or you'd stick out like a sore thumb."
"You'll never need your TV ever again!"
"-need to try it. It's so amazing and the graphics!"
"-fell over the chair and tripped up a waiter-"
"-took an allergic reaction and the whole side of her face swelled up-"
Shaking her head, Ziva wondered if everyone realised that no one was really listening to each other and that they were just talking at one another, all their voices blending into an incomprehensible buzzing. Though, she suspected that Gibbs heard Tony loud and clear but was pointedly ignoring him. She hid her smile behind a sip of juice. It was surprisingly refreshing though Ducky had warned her of drinking too much because of the acidity. She stretched her arms, still somewhat amazed that she was alone on the couch. Inexplicably, everyone was standing or was sitting on the floor. She supposed it gave them more space to gesticulate at each other. Jimmy and Abby in particular were moving their arms a lot.
"You liked their music, didn't you?"
"See, now this one sort of involves a cowboy but it's also in space and-"
"It really is an easy fix-"
"I don't understand how it happened-"
"-we ran into this onion seller who-"
"It's not even that long a concert!"
"-already twelve levels in but I'm stuck with this warlock who has to-"
"-weren't carrying anything except the card reader-"
"That's why you should never cross a drunk Spaniard. Speaking of the Spanish-"
The sofa dipped slightly under a second or son's weight. Ziva startled slightly, the movement bringing her back to earth.
"Are you even paying attention?" a low voice whispered close to her ear.
Ziva rolled her eyes.
"I take that as a no," the voice teased.
With a huff, she turned to face her partner.
"No one is speaking to me."
Tony snorted, "No one is talking to anyone."
Ziva gave him a confused look, mulling over the English in her head. Was that a trick sentence?
Noticing her confusion, Tony hastily explained, "I meant were all talking at each other with no one listening."
"Ah." That, she could understand. She cocked her head at him. "Why did you stop?"
"You can't watch a movie with all this racket," he replied airily
An eyebrow went up. He caved remarkably quickly.
"And I wanted to check up on you, " he admitted quietly, his voice trailing off as if he was hoping she wouldn't hear.
"Tony."
"You were kind of zoning out-"
"I'm fine and you don't-"
"-wanted to make sure-"
"-up on me. I can look after-"
They both stopped at the same time and laughed.
"Now we're doing it!" Tony got out between chuckles.
"Were not very good at this," Ziva stated.
Tony gave her an odd look before nodding. "Got that right."
She gave him a curious look but he just shook his head. Not wanting to give up, she filed that little interaction away to analyse later. She would deal with it now but she was just too comfy.
They stared at each other of a few seconds, neither of them saying anything.
Jimmy somehow manged to fall to the floor, making them break eye contact. The assistant appeared to be fine and he'd already launched back into his conversation, hand gestures tempered a bit. Ziva shook her head in amusement as Tony rolled his eyes.
He shuffled closer to her and raised his arm. "Want to watch the crazy?"
"I suppose it is good entertainment," she said with a mock sigh.
"Probably better than that damned cowboy movie," Tony muttered
She had to smother a laugh as she settled herself so she was leaning into her partner. He was rather comfortable. She could practically feel the smug glance he directed at her but she was too cosy to even poke him. Looking around her as much as her huddled position would let her, Ziva let a smile spread across her face.
Oh, how she had missed this.