opposites. stuck in infinity.

our deal

How would you feel if you were trapped in a torture chamber with someone who was the complete opposite of you. Maybe you'd say "that would be so much fun" or "i don't think we'd get along, but the person couldn't possibly be any worse than the torture". that is... until that person annoys every fiber of your being. This is the story of a sad man named stanley, and an even sadder man who is unnamed, though we call him "the narrator" or "narr".

Narr is a very talkative man, not going a second without ranting or spewing out a random thought or idea, talking stanley's ears off. a very serious man at times, always a cold expression on his face, very impatient at times and always looking for the "reasonable answer" and dresses as if he's always got a meeting to attend. he's also got the blankest expression on his face 90% of the time. The other 10 is anger due to stanley pushing his buttons.

Now Stanley is the exact opposite; extremely quiet, even when he laughs there's hardly any audible sound coming out. It makes the narrator believe that stanley is just mute. he's also very childish, enjoys rumaging through his coworker's things and taking whatever he thinks is cool. always having something to look at or find any excuse he needs to move around and explore, which sometimes does get on the narrator's nerves. and he's probably the most expressive individual narr has ever met in his life, almost as if a cartoon company gave birth to him. "talking" to the narrator through body language and facial expressions.

"why not sign language?" you might ask? well, all stanley's job was to do was press buttons quietly so he never seemed to think about sign language. He doesn't mind tho he thinks it's funny that narr's only way of communication is trying desperately to understand his body language. And even funnier when he gets it wrong.

"Stanley," the narrator called, as stanley looked up from his desk and to his door. "would you mind bringing those files up to my office? i'm far too focused on these papers. i certainly can't lose my train of thought right now" he said, staring intently at a spread of papers full or words and numbers.

stanley got up and just stood next to him, staring down at the papers before picking up the files, sighing as he walked away.

"helping me wouldn't kill you now would it?" narr said as he glanced at him, still facing his papers.

stanley just looked back, a sassy look on his face as he just gave him a glare. they've tolerated each other for so long that narr has just begun to learn, what he calls, "stanley language" that he already knew just from that look.

"oh don't give me that. just because we've recieved no outside communication, that doesn't mean there's not still work to be done. all your coworkers are gone, it's not like you were ever going to step up and do their work" narr said as he looked back down at the papers again, giving stanley no satisfaction by looking away from him.

stanley just waved his hand, as if he were saying "i don't get paid enough".

the narrator just rolled his eyes, focusing on the documents again.

stanley then took the trip up to narr's office, going through the employee lounge route to grab a soda on his way over. meanwhile the narrator looked carefully through the papers, before letting out an "aha!" once he figured out the problem. "of course those numbers didn't add up! those lazy, dense workers didn't bother counting products the right way" he said, annoyed but proud that he finally figured it out. "... no wonder our money lowered that month." he then mumbled, a bit disappointed.