"I don't hate it, but I don't like it either. I can handle it once in a while." He nodded, smiling simply. "I think we're set to order when it's time, then, aren't we?"

Erika nodded, smiling and flipping her menu closed. 'So, any ideas on what you'd like to do to avoid work after this?'

"I might just go to do some window-shopping. To be honest, I just realized this morning while trying to find something not work-based that I have almost nothing... And I've been hearing about some good books too, including one my sister wrote recently, so... I plan to stop by that shop too- when I figure out where it is, anyway. And what are your plans for today, hm?"

'I didn't have anything planned, actually,' Erika said, shrugging a little. 'I don't have much to do any more when I'm not on work.'

"You're welcome to join me if you'd like, though I doubt it'd be much fun for you."

'Are you kidding?' Erika said, grinning. 'If it includes books, I'm in.'

He laughed. "Heh, well then it seems neither of us has to worry about what to do afterwards, doesn't it?"

'That's a relief,' Erika said, and meant it.

He nodded in agreement. "I may need to ask you the way actually... I don't know the area well myself, but you seem to know it well."

Erika nodded, slightly curious. 'Do you live out of area?'

"I live at the work-site, basically..."

Erika raised her eyebrows. 'You need to get out more.'

"Eh, probably. What can I say? I'm a workaholic. Everyone at work even knows it." He laughed a bit, smiling to her. "And yourself?"

'I'm afraid I don't get out much any more,' Erika said, sighing a little. 'I used to be able to get out with my boyfriend, but we broke up a couple of months ago.'

"Can't you go out on your own? Then again I probably shouldn't be talking..."

Erika chuckled. 'It's more like my ex gave me an excuse to go out to places,' she said. 'Usually my boss helps me out by giving me extra jobs to do.'

"That's nice of 'im if he's trying to help, I suppose. For me that's what my sister did- she dragged me virtually everywhere."

'He wasn't really trying to help,' Erika said, a small sigh in her voice. ''Course, I only realised that after I ditched him. He was the traditional "I want you to do the cooking and washing for me" type of boyfriend - we had a lot of arguments over that. He'd take me about to a lot of places, but mostly to show me off, I think. He kept bringing his friends with us. Kept calling me his "prize."'

"I hate people like that. You meet a lot of 'em, these days. Guys and girls, though... It's a pretty dumb way of thinking if you ask me. We're all people, aren't we? Not prizes to be won or anything like that."

'I know,' Erika said, sighing. 'We managed to last a couple of months before I broke it off with him.'

"I can see why you would though."

Erika nodded. 'Anyway, now my schedule's basically back to work, work overtime, do a bit of reading, and price shop.'

"Well, mine's basically work, read and work some more... Let's try to fix our schedules a bit so we won't be thought of as insane workaholics?"

Erika gave a slightly sad smile. 'That would be great. I'd do that more often if I didn't have so much debt...' She trailed off, wondering if she was saying too much.

"Debt is never good... If I didn't live at my workplace anyway, I'd have way too much..." He sighed, shaking it off. "It's okay to work hard, but I guess people think we should try not to focus solely on our work or something."