“c’mon, just a little grin wouldn’t hurt you…” your seatmate and the class clown, aether, insistently pokes at the fact that you never smile at his jokes. you can smile and laugh, but never at his awful humor.

“is it because of what i say? how i say it?” aether asks with a slight whine. you’re the only person in the class who ignores him. you don’t have a problem with him, but he’s just… irritable.

“like this,” aether leans forward and presses his two index fingers on each side of your lips, raising them to make it look like you’re smiling. “see?” he hums in contentment.