Mechanical Man

The name is Charlie Masud. 22 year old mechanic. Southport native. Living in Seaside Heights with mother, looking for a roommate.

[snowhcven-deactivated20190328]

Friendly Neighborhood Watch | Dylan & Charlie

[snowhcven-deactivated20190328]

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Dylan chuckled to herself. She caught on, “Just joking. Won’t do that from now on.” She would; the humor helped block away the other emotions she didn’t want to feel. As he went on about their compatibility as friends, Dylan was immediately offended. She bit her tongue hard, praying that whatever God there was gave her the strength not to go off on Charlie. It didn’t work out so well. “Look, I’m not a fucking pushover, so I don’t know if you meant it or you just can’t help yourself, but don’t ever assume anything about me as shitty as that again. How the hell do you know how intelligent I am? You don’t. Forget your observations, ‘cause they’re wrong. I may not parade around here spitting out facts, but that doesn’t mean crap. Being intelligent isn’t just knowing your academics. But don’t worry, I don’t have a lower than average social comfort because being intelligent’s taught me to treat everyone as equals.”

Her blood was boiling at that point. When he made another smart ass remark, she made up her mind. Whether or not Charlie meant it, he was hardly the type she wanted to be associated with. They might have had fun while they were drinking at the festival, but beyond that she hadn’t known him in his daily life - and it sucked. Besides, anyone that said what he had said wasn’t that intelligent after all. She watched him climb into the vehicle and shook her head, giving him a sickly sweet smile, “Yeah no, I’m good. But you have a damn good time. Best of luck to you and your roommate. More to the latter.” 

[charliemasud]

Charlie didn’t look taken aback at all. He’d become used to this type of response from people whom he conversed with. His blunt and blatant way of discussion often always resulted in this form of backlash. Being unfazed by her outburst, he stood there, waiting for her to finish so he could continue on with his own day. He had a coffee maker to replace before his roommate got home, he still had to fix the problem with his truck some more when he returned home, and he had to google more social cue tips. Giving her a nod, Charlie turned off his car so he could make this quick. Getting out, he leaned on the door to his truck as he calculated what sort of response he could dictate for her that would not be offensive. 

“From pure observation I am able to discern that you are overcompensating in some way with your anger. I am not sure what that is, someone more in tune with their emotions might be able to figure that one out. As far as how I know your intelligence, you are right. I would have to conduct a series of tests to truly understand. Though when I spoke of your lower than average intelligence, I was correlating it based on your intelligence and insight on mechanics, physics, engineering, and lately I have been quite taken with astronomy. Even given your emotional outburst just now, I fear that you would not understand from where I come from in a conversation, just as I do not understand why you are upset with me. I was being plain and simple, and quite frankly I have no desire to continue this conversation if you are feeling enraged. I have had plenty of problems with people who have behaved just like you are throughout my school days. I have no desire to return home with yet another altercation under my belt.” He spoke even toned. “Now if you do not mind, I have to buy a new coffee maker.” 

[ashmccrory-blog]

Ash felt her own cheeks heat up at the mention of the towel incident. It was one moment she’d rather not have experienced due to the resulting embarrassment, but the impossibility of time travel meant she’d have to live with it and move on. Like Charlie, her gaze shifted to her food once more. She tested a bite or two to battle the awkwardness, which she should have known was futile. “Well, that’s–” she set down her chopsticks, struggling to initially form a proper response. “It’s no more than her unsupported hypothesis based solely on observation, right? If it were to be proved true, it would require a series of… controlled experiments in order to come to a logical, final conclusion.”

[charliemasud]

“Wait- what sort of experiments would we participate in?” Charlie was always inquisitive. He doubted that Ash would believe in carrying out an experiment of such proportions. Though he felt himself a fool if he weren’t to at least inquire as to what Ash meant. He had a faint idea of some parameters that would have to be met in order to consider the experiment a success as far as a relationship was concerned. 

[ashmccrory-blog]

Charlie paused in-between his response to what she’d said, which made Ash wonder if perhaps her words had come out with the wrong connotation. The last thing she wanted was for him to assume she’d been implying that there was some sort of romantic interaction going on between her roommate and her co-worker, because from talking with Sara, that was clearly not the case. Luckily, he soon confirmed that beyond a doubt. “No– I mean… I apologize if I seemed to be insinuating that there was any other relationship between you two. Her tone made it clear that you were simply friends.” Yet, Ash was still anxious. Rather than eating her meal, she picked at the plate of pad thai with her chopsticks, one confusing observation continuing to plague her mind with unanswered questions. “Actually… she was much more keen to inquire about– our relationship…”    

[charliemasud]

“Our relationship?” Charlie had to think about what that statement could mean, but thought of his conversation with Sara he had had the other day. “Strange- she had a discussion with me as well concerning…the towel incident.” he felt the reddish tinge return to his cheeks as he looked down at his rice, not feeling hungry any longer. “Can you believe she actually suggested that the reason I was embarrassed from the encounter was because there was an underlying attraction?”

[ashmccrory-blog]

“Naturally,” Ash replied with a light chuckle. “It’s a more demanding job than most people realize. Serving and preparing food and beverages is one thing, but catering to a crowd that can be demanding and moody requires an higher level of tolerance.” Setting down her menu, she paused to sip from the water she’d ordered soon after their arrival. When she was done, she cleared her throat, a curious, lingering thought finally forming into an inquiry. “Speaking of my work – Sara and I spoke recently… She mentioned that you two were familiar, though I noted that she did seem oddly persistent when asking after you.”

[charliemasud]

“Ahh- right, well I’m sure you have. Seeing as how you two work together, it seems only fitting that you would have talked.” Charlie’s mind began to race though as he thought about what Ash might have been implicating. He himself had talked with Sara, he wondered if her insistence could have been due to her having a conversation like theirs had been. Having taken a bite of his sesame chicken, he let his wandering mind focus back in on an answer to her question. “I have known her for a duration of time in which we have established a rapport to allow us to speak candidly with the other. Simply put- we are friends.” 

[ashmccrory-blog]

        One of the fundamental parts of being roommates was developing a bond – a friendship, if you will, between the two parties. Ash was fortunate that she and Charlie shared a number of interests; however, spending almost every night in the house binging on Netflix wasn’t going to progressively increase their familiarity with one another. In an effort to remedy this issue, they’d decided to go out for dinner rather than continue their pattern of ordering takeout. The little Chinese restaurant was close and not too busy – the perfect spot for a casual weeknight meal. Nevertheless, Ash spent the first few minutes pointlessly studying her menu before she finally broke the ice. “So… busy day at work? You– seemed more tired than usual when you returned to the house.”

[charliemasud]

“Hm? Oh- yes, I suppose it was a bit tiresome at work today.” Charlie hadn’t been paying attention. He’d honestly been thinking about how much he honestly wanted to be in bed at the present moment. He had been tired most of that entire day, it just being a bad day in general for himself. The twenty-two year old also had a bit playing on his mind, his conversation with Sara having caused him to question what exactly it was he felt towards his roommate. “I assume work for you was the same? Serving coffee to the masses addicted to caffeine?” 

[vasquezangie]

Oh goodness, could Charlie have met Dylan already? “She is- um, staying with me. Oh, well- don’t mind it, I think what I did in Summer Week was way worse.” She shuddered, regretting what she said the minute it left her mouth. “Anyway, I don’t think I’m really allowed to tell her what to do, considering I’m not even her legal guardian or whatever. I won’t harbor you.” She gave him a half smile, wondering if really for a moment he thought she’d be angry. “Yes, you’re right. You’ve met her?” She asked. “Yeah, that sounds like her.” Confusing individual who appears internally emotional and externally tough is probably the most exact evaluation of her daughter. She just wasn’t aware that she doesn’t find math to her liking- usually she would feel a bit depressed over not sharing interests, but right now she was just glad to know anything about her.

[charliemasud]

“I have met her. Though I feel as if she was disappointed by my sobriety. I understand I am not one for conversation and being personable, but she did approach me the other day while I was working on my truck.” he shrugged. The encounter hadn’t been significant in his mind. “I could gather that she has not yet made friends, though she is looking for people her own age. She pointed it out to me that we were within two years of each other. Though with that being said, she is not someone I see a lasting friendship with. She appeared to be intrigued by mundane things like mechanics and math. But- I am sure she is a nice girl...I just do not see a friendship blossoming between the two of us easily. In truth I found some of her comments, to be annoying. Though that is my problem and not hers.” 

[vasquezangie]

As she watched Charlie take a couple of minutes to analyze the situation from afar, Angie wondered if this is really a good idea to share her problems with a former student who might be personally biased due to their history or have his opinion of her changed once he learned about her past. However, after a few moments of wondering she realized who she’s talking to: Charlie Masud, arguably the most unbiased, impersonal guy she knows. She decided to not over think and let him do the talking. “Um-” She wasn’t aware of the young man’s amount of knowledge in the area, but she wasn’t even surprised anymore; Charlie seemed to be a human encyclopedia. “I was 15, and luckily STD free.” The woman answered shyly and drew a deep breathe. It was embarrassing to her to admit her previous actions, since there was a part of her that still viewed Charlie as her student.

“I’ll try to talk sense, but I think emotions are getting in the way.” Angie sighed, and thought how lucky Charlie was for not being bothered with those kind of feelings. “I think you might be right, perhaps we need to wait a little longer before taking the next step.”

[charliemasud]

“If I may be so bold as to ask- drawing conclusions from this conversation, and conversations I have had with individuals here in Southport- your daughter is here in town currently. Meaning that she is living somewhere, possibly with you, meaning that- if that were the case, then I should apologize to you. During the ending days of Summer Week there was a persistent 20 year old female who I had, partaken in drinking with. Though I can assure you nothing else had happened, I feel that since I can safely discern that if that same girl is your daughter...I allowed her to drink underage.” Charlie began to put some pieces together in his mind, making his logic sound. “You may feel free to neither confirm nor deny, I don’t know how emotional you currently are, but is your daughter’s name Dylan? If so- then I would have to say she is a confusing individual and appears internally emotional and externally tough, and apparently finds math not to her liking.” 

[vasquezangie]

“I hope it wouldn’t be the last.” The world needed more logical people, and this quality should be more valued among society rather than banned because of the “lack of emotionalism”, a trait that Angie, as an overemotional person considered to be over appreciated. “Well, because she’s only mine biologically. I had to give her away for adoption.” The woman admitted, surprised that Charlie even came up with the possibility of her not even being her daughter by law. “Now 20 years later, she’s here and apparently had an awful life, and I can’t help but to feel this is all my fault. Hence- loathing and familial issues, sort of.”

[charliemasud]

Charlie realized that this must be a seriously deeply rooted issue for Miss Vasquez. It was moments like these that intimidated Charlie when talking to people who were more normal than he was. He couldn’t compare emotional problems with others, all he could do was look at a situation logically and reason with the outcome. Though he took comfort knowing that Miss Vasquez was looking for more logic and less emotion in the conversation they were having. Taking in a mental deep breath, Charlie began to analyze the situation in his mind before speaking for once. “At what age had you given this daughter up for adoption? Most unwanted or unplanned pregnancies happen within the age of around 14 to 25 years, which coincidentally is also the same age bracket that accounts for fifty percent of all new STD cases in our nation.” he began muttering before picking back up. “Logically- if you were to fall within that age bracket, I could see where adoption would be to your benefit. You would not have been emotionally ready or financially stable to handle a child on yourself. You should not feel at fault, the multiple variables involved once you legally signed the child over to the state are the state’s issues. While corruption within our legal system when it comes to foster children is a current issue of debate, I still claim that whatever resentment you harbor or this daughter harbors, is not logical or rational to retain. Logically explain to your daughter, she will process, and if she rejects the scenario from your past, then that is that. People have too many unexplained variables and unannounced problems, it’s almost impossible to communicate with them in a reasonable setting. Perhaps you need to wait for when the two of you are not so emotional.” 

[vasquezangie]

Angie’s face lit up. “Oh my goodness, Charlie, thank you so much for not caring at all.” She smiled honestly; frankly, she doesn’t need anyone’s sympathy, she needs an advice. And he was right, she was stupid to think the young man was even capable of gossiping. “I- no, I know you didn’t mean it like that.” She nodded her head with a chuckle, finding it funny to see Charlie trying to cover up his bluntness. “Well- urgh.” Now the words didn’t leave her mouth. “It’s my daughter, kind of.” She looked down, her face shut down again.

[charliemasud]

“I believe that is the first time anyone has ever thanked me for acting as such.” Charlie gave Miss Vasquez a cordial smile and small chuckle. He had to admit that it was still odd to be speaking to his old math teacher, but in retrospect he should have realized that people his age were pining after actors and actresses Miss Vasquez’s age, and dreaming they could converse with that age bracket. Though Charlie knew this situation was unlike that, he could concede in his mind that Miss Vasquez was no longer his teacher and now a town peer. “You- I was not aware that you had a daughter. Is she biological or legally obligated to be yours?” 

[snowhcven-deactivated20190328]

Friendly Neighborhood Watch | Dylan & Charlie

[snowhcven-deactivated20190328]

Dylan’s eyebrows knit together, “You’d think tourists would want to get in on the action of Summer Week.” She didn’t know for sure, having done little travel for pleasure, as well as the fact that she hardly knew Southport and its history. When he mentioned staying with a family member or a friend, and concluded with the former, Dylan laughed shortly, “Have you been watching me and who I hang out with?” She had made acquaintances with people of her own age, and mostly of other ages, but she was careful not to be seen with anyone explicitly yet. She was too busy as it was, finding a job and dealing with her birth mother. “Besides, you’re near my age.” 

“I’m not surprised,” she said blankly to his admission of not drinking with the girls. She figured either he was gay or the way he acted was answer enough. “Yeah, I’ve seen the shop in town but haven’t been. Don’t really have a reason to, since I don’t have a car.” When he mentioned his tinkering habit, she couldn’t help but picture Tinkerbell and comparing the fairy to him. They didn’t look alike, sure, but she could see some similarities. Dylan caught sight of his notepad and hummed, “That’s a lot of numbers. Never liked math in school, personally.” She didn’t like a lot of subjects in school though. Eyebrows now raised, Dylan shook her head with a side grin, “Yeah I guess, but-” an idea popped into her head. “you have to take me along with you into town, then I’ll show you. Plus, can’t remember the darn name until I see it.” She needed to get out, and figured this would be her ticket. 

[charliemasud]

“No, I haven’t been paying any special attention to you. I just happen to observe and make notes in my mind about most everyone in town. You are one in a few hundred observations in a day.” Charlie was quite blunt on the subject. He’d always been quite forward and to the point when it came to conversations. He honestly didn’t know how to converse with people on a normal scale. Especially with people he did not know well. “I am near your age but I am sorry to say we would not make compatible friends. You are far below me in intelligence, and I have a lower than average social comfort. The variables involved in maintaining a proper conversation would be far too many to calculate.” 

Charlie felt as if Dylan was a little too eager to accompany him to the store for a new coffee maker. Shrugging, he put away his notepad. “Yes, to you I am sure it would seem like a lot of numbers.” he sounded uninterested before sighing. “Alright, if we are going to the store together, you have to get in the truck. Be gentle with the side door. The window doesn’t roll down if you slam it shut. I have to fix the mechanism.” Charlie pulled the garage door down on the garage to his house and pulled some keys out of his pocket. His wallet was in his back pocket already, his cell phone was somewhere in his car. Starting the car, he could feel it rumble beneath his feet. It was a relaxing sound, hearing his own vehicle function the way it should. “Are you coming or not?” 

[vasquezangie]

Angie wondered how everything that leaves Charlie’s mouth makes so much damn sense. Every sentence that the boy uttered seemed like it was quoted from some kind of a book or something along those lines, and she could see why it must’ve been scary for him to approach others, and why it would be hard for others to approach him, or try to understand him. That’s why he was bullied harshly in high school. “Well, I guess.” She gave up. “But Charlie- can you please do me a favor and not tell anyone about this? I don’t really want to become a topic for the gossipers in town.” While she had no trouble telling the story to her closest friends, she preferred things would stay unknown. The last thing she needed right now was to be ridiculed or pitied by the folks in Southport. 

[charliemasud]

“Who would I discuss this subject with anyway?” Charlie said matter-of-factly. He wasn’t one to talk about private discussions. “It has already been mentioned that I lack the proper communication skills to ‘gossip’ effectively. And- not to be rude, but whatever problems you yourself are feeling are of little consequence to me. I would much rather discuss major changes in the world that affect multiple people instead of just one insignificant problem.” Charlie bit his lip after a moment though. He had hoped he hadn’t offended her. “I don’t mean that you are insignificant though, that was not my intention..” he sighed. 

[vasquezangie]

“Oh, that’s nice! I’m sure she’s lovely.” Angie smiled briefly. “You know, most people find it intimidating to talk to a person with a higher IQ, actually.” The older woman chuckled, amused by the thought of Charlie having to feel nervous because his potential conversationalist might be too dumb to understand him. She was never intimidated by people who’re smarter or dumber than her- Angie believed that everyone are equal and no one should feel like he’s better than her, or she shouldn’t act like she’s above everyone else. However, now there was a little part of her wondering if Charlie ever felt intimidated to talk to her because her presumably lower IQ. “I’m- I’m not sure.” Is she really having this conversation with him? “Well, whoever told you that is right.”

[charliemasud]

“I’m sure they do, but most people with a lower IQ than me tend to not have anything in common, or I wind up having to over explain myself when having a conversation. Not to be rude, but most of the time when talking to someone for the first time, I feel as if I am giving a lecture rather than having a conversation.” he shrugged it off though, since most of the time he tended not to talk with people anyway. He’d learned long ago that it was easier to let them approach him with a subject matter than the other way around. “I am no expert in the field of psychology, but I do know from a mechanical standpoint, if something is not working right, it’s best to analyze the problem, fix it, and make sure it functions properly again. And while you are not mechanical- maybe you are in need of some outside analyzation?” 

[vasquezangie]

Angie never turned to hatred. The woman didn’t have a single wicked bone in her and didn’t allow herself to hate anyone; disliking is tolerable, but hating? Unacceptable. “You could say that, with a mix of familial issues.” She grunted, taking the last bite out of the pastry and finishing it. “Other than that, I’m great. You?”

[charliemasud]

“I am fine. I find that I have adjusted quite easily to living with a female roommate. We have physics in common, and she has a reasonably high IQ which makes conversation less, intimidating.” Charlie has a small smile on his face before looking over at his old math teacher and seeing that there was something wrong with her. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew it was there. “Are- you sure that you are fine? Or are your familial issues and loathing affecting your daily life? If that happens, I have been told it is better to talk about it than to, ‘bottle it up’.” 

[saraxfoster-blog-blog]

That shouldn’t be a concern at all, because that’s definitely going to happen again. When it does, then just don’t focus on that part— just think of it as any other time you run into her, wearing clothes.

[charliemasud]

What you’re suggesting is that I ignore the towel, and carry on? Why hadn’t I thought of that earlier? You’re a genius. 

[vasquezangie]

Angie’s mind tried to process everything the young man had just said without success; she was too distracted to do so. However, from what she could grasp he was incredibly logical and knowledgeable in his way of speech and a mighty chatterbox, to her surprise. Though the thing that surprised her the most was the fact that he rightly guessed the reason behind her awful mood. “Loathing is a strong word, honey.” The older woman said with a little smile and sad eyes; loathing was a harsh word, but it described exactly how she felt.

[charliemasud]

“Loathing isn’t as bad as other terms I have heard in the past. Loathing isn’t as horrible as hatred. Hatred has always seemed like a point of no return. Once you say it, there is no possible way to take the words back without a lot of groveling and forgiveness.” Charlie really only had such experience receiving the words ‘i hate you’ from colleagues of his while at college. It took many people a lot of time to get back in Charlie’s good graces on projects once they’d stated they hated the intellectual advantage he had over most of them. “Is that what is altering your usually cheerful disposition today?” 

[vasquezangie]

“You’ve got a point.” Angie never focused on understanding the universe, she wanted to experience it. “Mhm, really? And could these reasons be?” She questioned the young man as she took another sip from her slightly melted iced coffee.

[charliemasud]

“Well, for starters you could be experiencing emotional discomfort due to a monthly cycle. I have noticed that combinations of uterine pain and hormone changes tend to make women more emotional than they usually are. Another reason could be you are stressed from your work environment, though with school being out I doubt that is currently applicable.” Charlie continued on to discuss different scenarios at lightning fast speed. He tended to ramble uncontrollably when he had no one to stop him. “Lastly you could be having familial problems, internal self loathing, external loathing towards another individual, I- you weren’t- interested in hearing all of that were you?” 

[saraxfoster-blog-blog]

Physicality and intimacy are no one’s strong suit, so no one would expect that from you anyway. Well, if she’s open to all aspects of contact— and even told you so herself, then maybe that means she’s curious about you as well, you know? I’m not telling you to rush into anything or something like that, but I don’t think you have to be intimidated or anxious about living with her either.

[charliemasud]

My main concern is what happens if I encounter her in our environment when she is in only a towel again?