A Monotonous Orbit

Chapter TWO!!!

Typing away furiously on their computer keyboard, a plan forming in their mind, Paintbrush feels their spine begin to slouch in that way they have only ever seen from people who work a nine to five job. Perhaps that's because they now do, but regardless, it's bothersome at best.

Their fingers continue to type, the spreadsheet that they really should have just copy-pasted from the data collection they had received that week slowly but surely being filled out, and as they finished one of the many monotonous gruelling sections of their work, they crack their knuckles and stretch their arms.

Perfect time for a break, they think to themselves, looking at the analog clock that they definitely knew how to read. If they were at home, where they almost constantly had a cup of coffee present, they'd drink that- however, they were not at home, and they did not have a cup of coffee present.

No figure. If they did, they'd be put in a caffeine-induced coma by now. Work was tiring, miles more than art despite the latter activity being miles more hands-on.

Getting up from their seat, feeling the feeling of their back popping as they did so, Paintbrush walks toward a particular hot-spot when it came to the office; the water dispenser.

The worst part was the fact that Paintbrush's office cubicle was right near the water dispenser, and therefore they heard all the people on their unofficial breaks chattering away, words and laughs rolling off their tongues.

Legs feeling stiff as they walked with pins and needles sucking on every muscle in their lower body like leeches, Paintbrush finally made it to the water dispenser. It felt like a much longer walk than it was, a few long strides at best. Miles shorter than their walk to work, not even including making it to the bus stop in the morning, and yet they were positively exhausted.

Reaching for the top of the pile of plastic cups- not red like you'd see in the movies but clear with a green strip at the bottom advertising how the plastic used was recyclable- and dropping the top one underneath the waterspout, Paintbrush watched with a mild fascination as the water chugged slowly from the big container tipped upside down with the almost empty contents, and into their cup.

There was nothing fascinating about it, really- Paintbrush just needed something to look at so they didn't look like an idiot waiting for their cup to fill up.

"You, new person," a smooth voice called out in a sharp tone, condescendence laced through the words like a sword through the heart. Paintbrush looked up, eyebrows furrowed and eyes narrowed in defiance and scrutiny, before laying their eyes on the person eyeing them with superiority in their eyes.

"What do you think you're doing, standing right there?" the person asks, looking down at Paintbrush's recently-polished leather shoes, uncomfortable soles and slight heel to them that gave Paintbrush more height than they could ever possibly dream of needing. They already had to duck through most doorways, especially the low ones at their apartment, and getting home was much more a chore now that they had to wear these.

Paintbrush clears their throat, a slight disbelieving smile easing onto their face. "I'm getting a drink," they say, gesturing to the now-filled cup underneath the water dispenser's tap. "Is there a problem with that?" the way they asked the question shocked even themselves- they weren't one to follow direction listlessly, of course they challenged it, but never with such a sassy and almost condescending tone.

Their higher up, now glaring, must have rubbed off on them a bit. Go figure- golden rule and all that. Treat others as you wanna be treated, blah blah blah.

"Not at all, dear," they said, tone venomously taunting- patronizing, that was the word. Paintbrush was being patronized. "It's just that... well, that's the exact spot where I stand. Silver Spoon, your higher up and colleague."