You're not welcome here.

“Customer service really is a job meant to test your patience,” Blossom ran a hand through her hair, internally groaning over the thought of the shift she would have to work tonight. The weekend was upon them, so that meant the Lux would be swarmed with people wanting to have an excitable weekend. “And your sanity.”

“You got a job literally that deals with angry ass people devoted to ruining the lives of people who are paid to deal with their bitching and moaning. Of course it’s a test and that is why I don’t work for it.” He stated very clearly looking at the girl. “I’d fail the second I would start when some old lady tried to demand a refund for something the place doesn’t even sell.” 

Boo: A childhood hero.

Tiana: A time you tried the hardest for something.

“We inhale a spring breeze to be reborn but exhale a summer’s breath to move on.”

“What the actual hell are you talking about?”

“Hm, and yet I still don’t care.” 

Adam scowled. “Yeah, whatever, Calligraphy. Since you really are just as annoying and boring as always theres no point in wasting my time. I have more important people to see.” 

“Sure you are.” Calcifer comment, knowing it would annoy the other man. “I don’t either. Could’ve saved us both some time and kept walking.” 

Adam grunted at the comment and shrugged. “Maybe I have hope that even some of the worst people here can change and become interesting. I was wrong. You still annoy me.”

“Just trying to show your age, old man?” 

“Old man? I’m not old at all! I’m barely older than you anyway.” He said rolling his eyes. “Whatever. I don’t know why I talk to you anyway.” 

“There’s something calming about turning in your last paper of the semester.” 

Uncertainty sat vile in her thoughts, the girl unsure of what she wanted when asked. Chihiro understood Adam well enough, knew she could believe it when he had shut down her worry of hatred, as he never seemed to be one to lie when it came to how he felt about others — but still, she was sad. Chihiro was thinking too much and as she lowered her gaze to her feet and balled a weak fist by her side, not a word seemed capable of speech. “I—.” Sorrowful apologies waned slowly out of mind and tears soaked shapeless against scorched cheeks. A stuttered breath drew inwards through cold nose, and uncurled fingertips refused to mirror the scrunched sister hand, reaching out to hold the hem of the mans jacket as if to cling to his company; to savor it, before it too eventually would vanish. “Can we stay here?” She whispered in question, though her wishes mousy and able to bend if denied.

Mariah was getting just about fed up with his attitude. She gathered up her laundry detergent and fabric softener, placed them on her bed and made her way over to her tea infuser. “ Alright, look, “ Mariah said with a start. “ I’m trying to be nice but the least you could do is lose the pout. “ Mariah blew a loose strand from her face in huff. “ And stop slouching, “ she added, maternally.

Adam had been ignoring the girl for the most part. The stubbornness of him made it so he had no consideration for when others were getting fed up with him. He was a toddler before his flames and beastly side finally cracked but it wasn’t about to when the girl snapped at him. His attention quickly turned to her and he scowled further just as a final test. “Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it?” He said taking off the shirt and tossing it her way f she was ready for it or not. Besides the fact he did find himself straightening his posture. “ Think you can boss me around. “He mumbled under his breath as he turned away to take in the colors of her prim and decorated room. 

━━━  Mariah was going to mention that she was majoring in culinary, but kept quiet, knowing anything she would say would either be overlooked or criticized. Appearing in front of her building she pulled out her card and swiped the door, unlocking it. “ My roommate may have a shirt that will fit you while I wash that one. “ Walking up the hallway and around a corner, the duo stopped outside a door. Mariah’s room appeared to still be covered in open books atop her perfectly made bed and small herbs growing in her windowsill along with a ton of lavender. Mariah stilled, ready for the judging on her room. She tried very hard not to roll her eyes.

“I don’t need it. I can live without a shirt for a short time.” Adam said only because he really didn’t want to be wearing someone else’s things. Adam followed the girl, keeping a sneer-like appearance to him; at ths point no one or thing could please the intolerable male. Even the way she decorated with her sweet girlish charm seemed to send him into more of a childish pout. “Look, just give me a drink, clean my clothes, and get me on my way.” He said harshly. “I don’t want this to be something I have to stick around forever for.”

━━━ Mariah’s face showed confusion. How could he not care about people when his sole duty was to protect? “ Perhaps I can leave you with some tea that won’t find a home on your shirt. “ The young girl’s face contorted to something reminiscent of guilt. “ The least I could do is wash your shirt for you, if you want. “ 

“Is that all you have to offer or something? You have tea constantly. That’s fucking weird.” As one would know Adam had no struggle saying what he thought and no filter to what it might do. “You’re damn right it’s the least you can do. You made the mess you should clean it.” 

Tears swelled in her eyes, as he told her off. Chihiro and Adam had always seemed to get along, and while she’d grabbed the item blindly, out of shock when he’d flung the office door open, nothing but guilt and fear buried in her stomach. With her eyes still looking anywhere but him, her wrist growing uncomfortable in his hold, a choked apology threatened to slip her tongue. It had been so long — too long. Adam hadn’t stopped by her dorm, and she’d not dropped by early in the morning to greet him, and Chihiro regretted breaking contact with one of the few friends that remained; but after losing both of her former roommates and a neighbor she looked at fondly — and gaining a dozen flowers and a card with her other name written on it, made having friends was the least desirable thing. “I’m so sorry.” She mumbled through a quivering lip, using what little courage she had left to turn her soft brown eyes to the face of the one person who’d yet to leave her behind — but she couldn’t just tell him that she was there because she missed him, could she? “Please don’t hate me, please.”

━━━  Weird. That was a word that stung her. Mariah had always tried to be the most put-together, perfect girl. “ Would you care to see for yourself if you don’t believe me? You are a security guard. after all. Isn’t it in your job description to care about the people on campus? “ Mariah smiled sweetly. The man’s hostility did bother her, but she had always learned to kill with kindness. Usually it worked.

 It’s not that Adam didn’t belive her but he was like dealing with a bratty child; you can’t make them think or do anything right. And if denying where her dorm was for his own gratitude then he’d do it. “Maybe I would. I don’t have anything better to do.” He mumbled before rolling his eyes at her. “Tecnically I just have to make sure no one is dying or causing trouble. I don’t have to actually care about them.” He said with little emotion as he truley felt no sympathy for not having a care for anyone on campus. It’s not like anyone cared for Adam. 

“ I told you, my dorm room is this way. “ Mariah’s mood had shifted. She was less open, less sweet. Her lips were still pressed into a straight line. She took a deep breath, thinking she should have walked away when she had the chance. “ I clearly made you upset, and I wanted to make it right. I see now that’s impossible. “

“Yeah, yeah. Sure.” Adam grumbled through his teeth and rolled his eyes. The girl was right, when Adam had a mindset or his attitude was stirred he was one of the hardest men to fight and make happy, mostly because he was never happy. “Hm, well if no one has been able to do it in 25 years there is nothing you are going to change. I can’t imagine why you’d waste your time trying anyway. The most you know about me is that I don’t like tea spilled on me or weird girls following me. Even if you claim that you live this way.”

━━━  Mariah’s lips pressed together in a straight line. “ I know I’m not perfect, but at least I can control my temper! “ Mariah was starting to become peeved by the beastly man, but she did feel bad for spilling her tea onto him, so she reached into her purse and pulled out a couple bills. “ Here’s for spilling my drink on you. You can buy yourself some non-scented napkins or something. “ Mariah tried her hardest to make her voice not shake. She wasn’t really a confrontational person, and never liked raising her voice unless she was working or training new hires at the restaurant she had worked at.

 Adam never turned to the girl as she spoke. He found her too... nice. Not quiet enough that s for sure. If this was Chichi she wouldn’t have spoken unless he addressed her. Their friendship just worked that way. “Look put you damn money away. I don’t need and unscented tissues. I just need to go back and get a new shirt.” He didn’t necessarily bark this time but his tone was forever aggressive; beastly. “Look why do you care so damn much? Just move on. You don’t need to trail behind me.”