The Issue with Strength

[Chris Grayson]

”Are you fucking kidding me? Of course this shit has to happen to me. Because clearly the world wants to have a big laugh.”

Chris could only stare down at the mess piled around his feet; some hectic mess of different colored polo shirts. In his hand he still held the part of the shelf that had once been connected to the wall. He hadn’t meant to rip it off the wall when he was reaching up to grab a higher shirt, but Chris doubted that really mattered to the employees there. There hadn’t been any workers around to help him, so he’d decided to try and help himself.

“Yeah, big fucking mistake obviously.”

He muttered as he tried to untangle his feet from all the fallen clothing. To his annoyance, the shirts in the slot below had also taken the tumble to the floor. It was just his luck to cause enough of a mess to get a worker to head over now. Chris put the shelf piece down as he got an earful of worry and confusion. Ire rose up inside him and he suddenly really did not want to shop for more shirt regardless of his original intentions. Fortunately he wasn’t blamed for the broken shelf, but Chris still headed out without buying anything. Maybe that was mean considering it was his fault, but at that point he didn’t care. He simply wanted to get out of there at that point. Unfortunately on his way he roughly bumped into someone. Chris grit his teeth in increased annoyance, but he would try not to get into an argument. He remembered his friends advising him to be a little nicer lately.

“Pardon me.” He said in a sarcastic and dry tone. “Didn’t mean to walk into your oblivious ass. I'll just be on my merry little way.”

[Danicca Waylan]

Dani had been in a relatively nice mood for about a week now. If she had thought about it, it would be alarming to even her that so little had set her off recently. This good mood was why she decided it was high time for some rewarding retail shopping.

She'd just snagged a pretty neat deal on some crop tops from the previous summer's line, and was definitely about to go for a new pair of jeans when she received a text which read See you at dinner? Smiling a half smile to her phone, she was definitely at least partially at fault when a collision occurred between her and another shopper. She wasn't too unbalanced, despite the soles of her shoes slipping dangerously on the waxed mall flooring. What ended up throwing her off was the definitively inflammatory comment thrown her way by the guy that had bumped into her.

"Okay," Danicca's voice instantly filled with venom. "I don't know what kind of a shit day or life you've been having, or what daddy issues you might be working through. So I am sincerely asking: what the hell is your 'merry little' problem?" She threw his words back in his face. Despite being not much more than five feet tall on a good day and a little on the out of shape side, Dani stepped in front of the guy, blocking his way.

She should know better by now, she really should, but in all actuality she never did learn about standing up to the big guy with an attitude problem. Fire was always her favored way to put out another fire.

[Chris Grayson]

”Okay.”

The heavy venom in the girl’s words made Chris actually turn his head back to look and raise an eyebrow as he listened.

"I don't know what kind of a shit day or life you've been having, or what daddy issues you might be working through. So I am sincerely asking: what the hell is your 'merry little' problem?”

Despite his still irritable mood, Chris found a slight smirk had grown on his face. Somehow trading insults with someone always managed to amuse him. He figured it had to be something with his twisted sense of humor and snarky personality. Still he had to admit the girl had courage moving in front of him to block his way, even if it was a stupid act.

”Daddy issues? Seriously? You sound more like you’re talking from experience, sweetheart. Whats the matter, Papa don’t love you?” He looked the girl over and raised an eyebrow. ”But since you’re so damn sincere, then I’ll tell you. Yeah I’m having a shit day, and you're only adding to it. Sorry I can’t be a goddamn bubbly weirdo all the time. So right now my ‘merry little problem’ involves you.”

Much as Chris loved trading verbal blows with an other person, he could feel that his heart really wasn’t into this one. He sighed through his nose and glanced back at the store he’d exited through. Gradually he looked back at the girl and stared for a bit before finally rolling his eyes.

”Alright look,” He started, ”Normally I’d love bantering back and forth to bruise the shit out of your ego, but right now I’m not exactly in the mood to argue. Which frankly is a fucking shock.” He shifted his jaw and put his hands into his jacket’s pockets, both irritated and tired. ”So look, I’m actually sorry alright? Truce?”

Besides, Chris really wanted to get away from the store. He had a bad feeling that the longer he stayed close, the higher a chance some manager would come out to blame him. With another brief glance at the store, he stared at the girl.

”However if you’re going to give me some big lecture on how I should be ‘nice’ and ‘courteous,’ then save it for somewhere else. Right now we’re in the middle of foot traffic, and I don’t think you’d want everyone seeing you freak out like an idiot now, would we?”

[Danicca Waylan]

Dani was extremely tempted to laugh. The rivaling feeling of needing to rage was creating an interesting mood in her, one that was quickly making her pulse increase. "First off, don't call me sweetheart, sugarplum." She jabbed a finger towards him. "Secondly, if you didn't want to start something you didn't have to be a bubbly weirdo, you just had to not act like I shit in your favorite shoes." She chose not to comment on the daddy issues thing.

What she didn't expect was a peace offering of sorts. Her mood simmered down a bit, though she was frustrated she didn't get to actually sort this dude out. She huffed out something resembling a sigh and looked him over. She nodded, only slightly begrudgingly.

Dani gave in to the desire to laugh this time, when it was suggested she would give anyone the advice "be nice" and not be joking. Her face straightened out as she spoke. "Sorry, sorry. If you knew me you'd know how hilarious the idea of me telling you to be courteous is." She stepped to the side, indicating he could take the lead in wherever he was wanting to go. She fell into step beside him, putting her phone in her pocket and hooking her thumbs through her belt loops.

"So, thanks for saving my ego or whatever. Your shitty day does not affect your manners too terribly, I see."

[Chris Grayson]

”Sugarplum?” Now Chris was definitely grinning despite himself. ”I can’t believe you really just used that. Holy shit.” He found himself snickering. ”I’m going to have to fucking remember that one. Also,” He started with a raised eyebrow, ”If you’d taken a shit in my shoes I assure you I’d be a hell of a lot fucking worse.”

Chris knew he could be much meaner and nastier than this girl was getting from him. However he wasn’t really looking to fight, and from the girl’s nod she was alright with their truce. Despite his love for argument, he found himself relaxing a little and smiling faintly. Although he raised an eyebrow in curiosity when the girl started laughing.

"Sorry, sorry. If you knew me you'd know how hilarious the idea of me telling you to be courteous is.”

Chris snorted and shook his head, taking the lead as she’d incited she should. Without even thinking, his feet were taking him towards the food court.

”Bitch please. If it’s anywhere near as funny as me actually trying to be courteous, then I’ve got a ballpark idea.”

To Chris’s own surprise he was starting to feel better already. Sarcasm and banter really did do wonders to improve his mood, and he had to smirk at the thought.

"So, thanks for saving my ego or whatever. Your shitty day does not affect your manners too terribly, I see.”

Chris turned his head towards her and looked at her with a smirk and raised eyebrow.

”Yeah you better be grateful,” He said with a cheeky smile, ”Otherwise I would’ve left your damn ego in shreds. I’ve become a fucking pro at it.” He then gestured to himself and put on his idea of an arrogantly pompous expression. ”Also of course it doesn’t affect my manners. I’m a goddamn gentlemen. I’ll have you know I’ve spoken with the Queen of fucking England herself and she took notes.” His expression changed back to his normal smug smirk. ”Name’s Chris by the way. That’s probably important to note.”