Friends in High Places

@"Poptart"

"O. Ano na naman ginawa mo ngayon? (What did you do this time?)"

Though his voice might have sounded serious, the wide, mischievous grin on Emman's face as he popped open a pint of stout, silently appreciating the ease with which he could acquire decent liquor here on this island. People always knew him as in a state of perpetual functional alcoholism, as being that instructor who somehow managed to both be friendly and intimidating. But Catherine knew him better - and he also knew better than to think her untouchable. Instead, he poured out a glass of stout for himself, and brought out a bottle of brandy with another glass. "School regulation says I should tell you you can't drink here. Sinabihan kita. (I told you.)"

The beer went down easy, and he poured out another glass for himself. "O, eto, report, yung parehas na kagaguhan ulit, sitahin kita, alam mo naman na. Bilisan mo na lang para pede pa tayo tumambay dito. Alam ng mga prof mo andito ko, tapos medyo kalma ka muna pagkatapos nito, kasi baka masisante ako pag di ka daw maremedyuhan. Lakas kasi masyado trip mo eh, putangina... (Here, a report, the same shit, I'll reprimand you, you know this already. Make it fast so we can lounge around. Your profs know you're here, and try to lay low a bit after this, because I might get fired if I can't remedy your situation. Your antics are too much, goddammit...)"

He sighed, and then cracked another grin. If Catherine appreciated having someone she didn't need to put up airs with, he did the same, no matter how unlikely it was that either of them would mention something so trite. "Kaw naman. Tanong ka pa eh, putangina pabebe ka pa dyan... pero sige. Okay lang. O yan, pede nang sagot yan. ("Asking questions and acting cute... but fine. I'm okay. Okay, that's good enough an answer.")

@"Zeronos"

"I'll have you know that I can speak straight English if I want to," Emman said, his words slow and sure. It took conscious effort to keep his natural stiff voice as neutral as possible, which was why he didn't do it often. "Katamad lang talaga." ("I'm just too lazy for it.")

Emman took a swig of brandy for himself and gesticulated exaggeratedly. Unlike his not-really-sister-but-still-sister, Emman didn't need company to drink, which explained the three already-empty bottles under his desk. With his mostly sanitized blood, it was a wonder he still could talk straight, much less as fluidly as he did when he didn't shift back to vernacular and vulgar. "I worked at a call center, I'll have you know. Tangina oh, 'I'll have you know' pa talaga eh. Lakas!" (Holy shit, 'I'll have you know'. What a statement!)

The bottle ran out quick as Emman consumed alcohol almost as quickly as he breathed air. He deemed it better to not drink another glass yet. "O. Kwento mo ano nangyari. Bat mo pinalaka." (Okay, tell me what happened. Why you frogged the guy.)

"I know - I know I'm not outstanding - puta, nakaupo nga tayo dito diba, pano magiging outstanding - (fuck, we're sitting right here, how can I be outstanding) - but I do my job," Emman slurred, even if he didn't really have to. No alcohol could find purchase in his bloodstream enough to dent his actual behavior. Or maybe his blood was too alcoholic by default to make any drinking change his behavior.

Emman poured his entire drink into his throat with a bit of raucous laughter, laughing at his own bad joke. There was just something about bad humor that made him laugh. "If that was me, sinapak ko na lang yun. Mas deretso pa. (I'd have just punched him. It's more direct.)"

The glass was empty now, completely dry. As if it was a parallel of some sort to his amusement, the sight of the glass made him drop his smile entirely. Of all the people he knew, Catherine was probably the least likely to be affected by him dropping his feigned drunken idiocy, but every now and then, he still had to make an effort to be a teacher at least.

With a sharp glare, he warned while pouring himself another drink, "Mag-ingat ka ha. Tandaan mo pag sumobra ka, ako pinakaunang gagalaw. (You be careful. Remember that if you go too far, I'll be the first to act.)"

His hand reached down and opened a desk drawer, pulling out a little packet of powdered coffee. "Kape? (Coffee?)"