The inn would be closing soon. The villagers were slowly scattering out. Chase eyed the empty cocktail glasses lining the bar next to plates dotted with crumbs and ashtrays full of cigarette butts. He rubbed his temples, the noise of the evening still loitering in his eardrums and causing his head to throb with irritation. He was so tired of people. Of their shallow mindedness, their idle chatter and their backstabbing ways. He was so tired of looking at their faces everyday, cleaning up their messes, cooking for them. He wanted to cook so that he could put a smile on the faces of those who ate his food, but they never smiled. They ate like they expected it, not like they appreciated it. They never said thank you. Chase didn't take it that they were rude, he took it that they were human. And he'd come to learn that most humans just weren't worth his time. So he didn't give it to them.
He washed off the glasses and plates in silence, wishing he could slink up to his room and block the world out. Erase it all. He had gotten relatively good at blocking out all sound that didn't particularly interest him, but tonight he must have let his guard down. A slight knocking at the door could be heard in the back of his mind. It was quiet, but it was enough to set his teeth on edge. The cook's headache worsened, and his mood did the same. They were closed. That's why the door was locked. Whoever it was, they could wait until morning. The knocking grew more persistent until Chase gave up and flung his soapy hands in the air, huffing to the door and flinging it open violently.
"WHAT IN GODDESSES NAME COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT?"
His violet eyes burned and his voice sounded strained and tired. The farmer in front of him stood her ground, and handed him a basket of oranges.
"I'm...sorry I couldn't make it before closing. I had a big harvest today. I know you must be tired, you seem busy but...well...happy birthday, Chase."
He had forgotten his own birthday. But she had remembered. A girl he barely knew, a girl who hadn't even lived here an entire season. She remembered. Was she truly a human? Human's never noticed anything, they never cared. Who was she? And how could she...act like she cared about him? No one was supposed to care about him. This was challenging everything he knew. And making his headache worse.