Modern Monsters

Jian the Rakshasa

Female Rader x Male Monster

Delivering pizzas was never something I thought I would have to do. I really, honestly believed that after I graduated college, things would be hard, but not the struggle they have been. I thought I would at least get some sort of job related to my degree in teaching. Hell, even a substitute teacher job would suffice, but no. I'm delivering pizzas and living at home again. Thanks world, I guess. You're really doing me a solid here.

My uncle owns the pizzeria where I got the job, so I get pity on top of demeaning groveling to make a paycheck. No offense to other food delivery people, but it's a weird, gross, and very taxing job. I have to deal with people in their personal space most of the time, and more often than not, it's a strange experience. My least favorite part of the job is delivering to offices or to parties where I actually have to go into the building. Once you see an orgy with a pizza buffet, you're kind of numb for life.

Anyway, the job isn't all bad. Most of the time, I'm driving and can have some time to myself. Other times, I get great tips from some really nice people on my route. The bunch of stoners who order at least four times a week are my favorites; they tip like kings. I don't know if they're rich somehow, or if they don't know what they're doing, but I would die for those stoners. The other thing I truly enjoy about my days making deliveries is the construction site across from the parking lot, where we keep the delivery car and bikes.

They're building a new strip mall where a row of foreclosed houses used to be. For the most part, the crew is always working, but around the time I make the most deliveries, they're either on break or heading home. What I like about them is how they complain. For some reason, hearing these hard working people bitch and moan just brings joy into my heart. Hearing their vulgar cuss words and how they string them together is like some form of modern poetry.

Because the pizzeria is so close to the construction site, the workers have been eating there a lot. Unfortunately, I'm almost never been around when they come in to eat. There's one in particular I've always wanted to meet; I call him the Silent Tiger. He is one of the biggest guys on the crew aside from the Minotaur twins and the big dragon. He is this hulking tiger with thick arms, broad shoulders, and a bit of a gut. I call him the Silent Tiger because of how he never speaks when the others do their poetic cussing. He has a sort of understanding, yet grouchy look on his face. I think he is absolutely stunning, but during the many opportunities I've had the option to speak to him, I always, without fail, chicken out.

Anyways, work, debt, and my own failures aside, I have gotten used to this life now. I'm used to the strange, the odd, the creepy that comes with peering into people's homes. I've gotten used to the realization that my degree might very well be useless. I've gotten used to living at home again. I've dated a bit, but it's kind of hard when you live at home. I am an adult, and I am allowed much more freedom than I ever had as a kid. It's still hard bringing someone over when you live with your parents. The one time I brought a guy over with the intent to fool around, it was so awkward that he ended up leaving. So, for the time being, I've stopped dating until I can figure out a better way to date without having to go home.

One afternoon, as I am helping clean up tables, my uncle calls me to the back. "Rika, come back here, I've got one last delivery for you today before you leave."

I wipe off my hands and go to the back, where he has a stack of pizza boxes ready. "Sure, who's it for?" I ask.

"Just take these to the construction crew across the way," he says.

"Don't they usually come in to eat?" I take the boxes into my arms.

"Usually," he says with a shrug. "But now they've made an order. So go get it to them before they starve," he laughs.