fools can be kings

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

There was something satisfying when your work had helped two people to finally get along. At least it was what Akeem tried to convince himself. Still, being an advisor when he wanted to be a lawyer was not the same. It was like having the most delicious cake in all the world in front of your eyes and discover it’s made of plastic. Really not as awesome. But at least he was working in the law business and, who knows, maybe one day he’ll be able to be more than that. Sure, he always expected his power to be an advantage for him but he did not count on that alone. He knew the law, he studied it with enough care and attention to be a good lawyer. Or, well, legal advisor.

“At least I don’t have to listen to them anymore,” he told himself and that appeased him at last. That was the worst part of the job, having to listen to people tell him all that was going wrong in their lives like he actually cared. Had any of them really thought that he did? He had to make an effort to skip through the crap yet still be able to catch what really mattered in all of this.

He paid the lady for the coffee and pastry he ordered and walked away to let someone else order. He found a seat by a counter. Nothing but a stool but that was more than enough. He was about to sit when he felt someone behind him. It might be crowded but that was not a reason to bump into him. What if he had not put the coffee on the counter first? He could have burned himself. He intended to look at the person with a frown of disapproval but he heard a thud, like something falling down. He looked and saw indeed that they had dropped something. He went down to pick it up for them. As he did, he could realise that the person had beautiful legs. Female legs, no need to specify. He took some time to straighten up, so he could enjoy the whole view. “Here you are,” he said, the frown all gone from his features. In fact, his piercing eyes were far too busy studying the creature before to care about being slightly pushed earlier.

[Anna Lawson]

When Anna was shoved aside by an old lady, consequently bumping into someone seated, she didn't know who she should address first. She didn't even realise her phone had dropped from her hand until a pervy young man started straightening up and giving her a leery once over and handing her the phone.

She plucked the phone from his hand and gave him a polite smile, thanking him before looking around for an empty seat. Just so happened the only empty one was right beside the leery man and she sighed softly.

Sitting down, she turned to the man. "I'm sorry I bumped into you. I should have been looking where I was going. I didn't know I was in someone's way." A little passive aggressive but the old lady had so much space to walk and yet decided Anna was in her way.

"Do you know the WiFi password here? The cashier was a little too busy and I didn't want to bother her for it."

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem felt no shame when he looked at the woman. She was beautiful, and he had t look down anyway if he wanted to grab her phone and give it to her before anyone kicked it away. That she may see more to it, or find it perverted... might not be entirely wrong but also not the real intent here. Akeem would love to get that in his bed if he could, but he stared at her for the pleasure of admiring pleasing female forms. The face was not bad either, although perhaps a tad upset as she sat next to him.

A guy, an old lady, an ugly girl, those were all people who’d likely get worse from Akeem even after apologizing for bumping into him. After all, she could hardly argue he was in the way, he had not moved from his seat. But it just so happened that she was beautiful and beauty could really help you get through anything. “It’s alright. Some people don’t know how to ask someone to move, they prefer to shove,” he replied. He had noticed from the corner of his eye someone passing by when he turned to look at who hit him but he could hardly tell whether this was this person’s fault or not. Either way, his comment might as well apply to the person she was in the way, if she chose to assume he believed her, or to herself.

“The password? Oh yeah, it’s, uh... Akeem was not exactly the type of person to work wherever he was but he happened to come here every now and then. Knowing there was WiFi offered to whoever ordered something, he was not going to pass it down, even if he might not always use it. Akeem would never say no to something free. “qwerty. I knew it was something easy. They don’t really want to forget it.”

In a way, he was not sure offering her the password was that good of an idea though. She’d spend her time on her phone as opposed to discussing with him. So he tried an opening. “I’m Akeem,” he said, extending his hand.

[Anna Lawson]

Anna gave a smile of polite acknowledgement when the man managed to actually say the words in her head. They were sarcastic words but they were in her head nonetheless. That he unknowingly felt the same way didn't make a big difference but it did amuse her some.

With the password to the free WiFi keyed in, Anna couldn't help but give a small breath of quiet laughter. She had heard easier passwords. One shop even had the shop name and the numbers one through four.

She had a few emails to send, a bother since she was on her lunch break. But she supposed she didn't really have a choice in having an off switch since she worked for someone who liaised with people with different timezones.

Halfway through the email, Anna heard the man introduce himself. Anna was raised to be polite so she didn't ignore him. Reaching her hand out to shake his, Anna introduced herself as well. "Anna. Thank you for the password. I actually need to get back to my work. I'm very sorry." She smiled before returning her attention to her email.

She always felt bad whenever she had to cut a conversation short but this was work and she had an hour to finish her lunch before she had to go back to the office where it was stifling and way too high for her to be close to the reverberations from the earth. It was busy here and she could feel the ground close to her feet. She felt comfortable and it showed in her body language and the smile on her face.