DEMOCRACY

"Forte's!"

"Jenny's!"

Clark sat at his too-small desk, watching the verbal combat with genuine amusement. Lois and Carl, a copyeditor from the floor below the floor he and Lois worked on, were arguing about where to eat out for the annual office social. Lois was not budging; she'd been craving a good Italian panini for weeks, but it was Friday, and so Carl had taken that as an invitation to get wasted at Jenny's the liveliest bar downtown.

Jenny, the intern, made eye contact with Clark over Lois's shoulder and shook her head, covering her mouth to hide her smile as she carefully stifled her laughter.

Clark, who had tuned them out some time ago, stepped between the arguing par easily, using his bulk to cut off Carl's angry words and his smile to deter Lois's. In the split second she was thoroughly distracted, he spoke:

"Let's take a vote? Whoever wins by popular demand; that's where we'll go."

Lois stared at him with narrow eyes before nodding. When he glanced back, he saw Carl agreed as well.

"All in favor of Forte's?"

Four hands rose quickly as Lois met each of their eyes and did that amazing thing she did where she spoke without words.

"All in favor of Jenny's?"

Carl and Steve alone, though Perry looked considering before deciding to abstain from voting.

"Looks like we're going to Forte's," Clark said with a smile, and Carl groaned as the girls cheered.

"Come on, man," Carl muttered as everyone got their coats. "Why didn't you vote? It's not like we woulda gotten shitfaced or something. And you're a big guy, tell me you wouldn't want a beer after this clustefuck of a week?"

"You were outvoted, Carl!" Lois called cheerfully, "Don't be a sore loser, now!"

Carl pursed his lips petulantly, and Clark helplessly shrugged. God forbid he be the one to stand up against the force of nature that was Lois Lane.

If you're thinking I almost wrote a long depressing story about a dictatorship, you're almost right, but my depressed ass wanted fluff instead. Next one-shot will be up soon because it's prewritten.

Thanks for reading!

YellowWomanontheBrink

May 18, 2018

8:38 AM