Lazy.

Rude.

Notably unenthusiastic.

Those were all the notes scribbled on Norm MacLean's file. Each previous employer had something bad to say. A passive aggressive "note" spoken with a forced smile. Even happy-go-lucky, loyal Vault residents couldn't help but scowl when giving a review. You were probably his third job that month.

Nobody wanted to keep a worker who didn't fit their perfect brand.

You'd heard whispers before meeting Norm. Overseer Hank's least favorite child. Never included in the family movie nights, or book club, or get-togethers. Everyone always whispered about how it was such a shame that his older sister Lucy, who was the pinnacle of a happy citizen, had to deal with a brother like Norm.

Norm had been working in fabrics with you for a few weeks, which was apparently a record. He rarely smiled and when he did it was thin. He was sarcastic and rolled his eyes often and well. You could always count on him to leave the second his shift was up and never take extra work.

But he did a fantastic job at anything you gave him. He wasn't nearly as lazy as the other employers had made him seen. Just... unmotivated. Understimulated.

"Here," he dropped a bin of freshly cut fabric at your feet. There was a lingering silence as he watched you lean down to rifle through it. Norm swallowed awkwardly, trying not to stare too much. "All mostly the same size."

You smiled at his dryness, knowing he definitely did not care if he got it all even. He just wanted it done. Norm swallowed again when you smiled at him. Yeah, that was your Norm.

Notably unenthusiastic.