12.19.2012
>16:38pm
It was a testament to how wrung out Sollux was that he helped himself off the roof-top to the streets using his powers, rather than scaling the helpful pipe as he normally would have done. Sometimes he didn't know which was worse; school days, work days, or both. Today was one of his class-free days, which only meant a full eight hours of daylight tech support; helping the idiots of the world find the power button on pcs everywhere.
While he complained long and often about how banal, irritating, frustrating, and boring his job was on a daily basis, Sollux was in some ways lucky he had the job he did. He knew he could do better, but that wasn't the point here. The job he had allowed enough flexibility that he could work on the relatively easy but time consuming homework he had. That was important especially now that he was in his final upper classes, bar the few general ed courses that he was loathed to complete. Sollux didn't have a particular direction in life, but that didn't mean he'd fail to do what was necessary.
Still, when his father had suggested he go out and get a job ("It would help you connect with people more. I think if you talked with more people, you would find they are not ath irritating ath you make them out to be."), Sollux had been sure to find one that had been to the literal definition of his father's words, as well as enough in his field of expertise that he wouldn't have to put much effort into mastering it. The customer support line he was a part of dealt in both human and troll customer, which Sollux felt was another compromise to his father's ideals of equality and fairness.
Neither he nor his father had really expected Sollux to stick with the job. He'd gotten it when he was still in highschool (he'd attended one of the few troll-friendly human schools, and hadn't that been the most fun in his life), and six years later he was still at it. Part of the reason was the flexible schedule, of course. The other part of it was...well, Sollux didn't really know what else to do with his life.
The only problem with it was that Sollux had to deal with assholes multiple times a day, and he was already aware of his short patience when it came to annoying things. Over the years he'd managed to stop reacting to every verbal bait thrown his way, yet when customers became personally abusive, especially when Sollux hadn't been part of whatever was irritating them, that was when Sollux got creative in his revenge. Their work computers were off limits, as he didn't want to make more work for himself, so it was merely a matter of finding something else in their lives they held precious, then messing with it until Sollux was satisfied. Or less irritated.
Sollux's fingers pushed his glasses up a bit as he rubbed at his eyes, feeling the last of the hot sensation of his psionics die as his feet hit the pavement. With a put-upon sigh, he slipped out of the little side ally that bordered the little coffee shop. The streets were already growing dark as dusk approached, the long shadows of the afternoon light helping keep attention off him and his unusual arrival. He was in the mood for something more flavorful than the bland teabags that were the only thing available in his dorm, and there was no way he was going to pop in at his fathers so soon.
That left his favorite little retreat, one he didn't indulge in often. Twice in as many weeks was practically an indulgence. At this rate, maybe he should just greet the cashiers by name and bring his own cup. Snorting at his admittedly ridiculous thoughts, Sollux pushed inside the shop, breathing in the aroma of freshly brewing coffee. While he didn't drink the stuff himself, he could admit it did smell good. If too strong sometimes.
The line had only two other people in it, and they were quickly taken care of. Sollux stepped forward, already reaching for his wallet as he eyed the troll behind the counter. He was new enough that Sollux hadn't seen him before, and it was rare for trolls, especially a sea dweller, to be working in a human-heavy shop like this.
"Do you guyth thill have the maharaja chai tea in thtock?" He knew they wouldn't (they'd run out of that earlier in the week and the shop didn't restock until the weekend), but the troll's reaction to both the question and Sollux's way of speaking would clue him in to how much of a douche he could be. Maybe today he'd get lucky.
