Juzibe

Global Acclimation (Mortim x Juzibe)

The thin layers of frost shocked every person who just so happened to be in the alleyway. Shivering, they looked over themselves in amazement at the intricately designed pieces of ice that stuck to their hot skin.

Zara was one of them, eyes widening slightly in surprise as she stared at the frost on her arms and her fingertips. Dark, fiery eyes flicker over to the dumpster looking at the large block of ice in astonishment. She ignored the stranger before her as she watched the glowing pepper hit the ground. She jumped, the hair standing on her neck and arms as the pepper turned into a pillar.

The audience behind her stared at the stranger as he turned towards them. He hadn’t needed to even finish his sentence for them to all listen. The crowd immediately turned, sprinting back through the kitchens and out the alleyway into the crowded street that hadn’t bothered to pay attention though their frosty attire did raise eyebrows.

Zara however does not move. She stares at the stranger; letting her eyes move back and forth from him to the ‘monster’ it is that he spoke of. Curiosity has gotten the best of her and she has no desire to run.
A small grin plays at her lips as she backs up behind the dumpster to keep herself safe, resting her eyes on what she hopes to be an interesting scene.

Global Acclimation (Mortim x Juzibe)

“Zara! Calm down! Esto es estúpido! You need to stop. We don’t know who that man is!” One of Zara’s struggling coworkers spoke, trying to talk sense into the angered woman.

She however did not bother listening, her lips curled into a snarl as she fought against the many hands that were holding her back.

“I do not care! He is a thief and the thief will get what he deserves!”

“He made them float in the air Zara! Just leave him alone!”

“No!” She shouted angrily though the angry features on said face quickly changed into one of shock when she felt a cool breeze hit her hot skin. Zara involuntarily shivered, wide eyes looking towards the man in confusion. Had he just done that? She calmed slightly and her coworkers took to pulling her back just a bit more.

“My help?” She repeated, raising an eyebrow before scoffing. “Please. You are a thief as well as a stranger. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. So why should I even help you? What’s in it for me? From the way you carry yourself I’d have to say absolutely nothing. Bueno para nada bastardo.” She hissed at him. As soon as the spiteful words were spoken her eyes traveled over to the pepper.

Whispers of those around her could be heard- panicked, awe-struken, worried. What was going on? The sound of the hum is picked up with Zara and she looks around more out of curiosity to place the sound. However she is met with a smell instead of an answer and her nose scrunches up in distaste.
Zara turns to look back at the strange man and glares, knowing that whatever this is and whatever is about to happen will be because of him.

“Dale."

Global Acclimation (Mortim x Juzibe)

Zara hasn’t even been there for an hour and already there are beads of sweat running down her forehead.
“I’ve got two more orders here!” A waiter shouts as he dashes into the bustling kitchen, sticking the piece of paper onto the wall where all orders go.

“Ordenar arriba!” Zara shouts, picking up her plate of pão de queijo and pastels.
With careful steps, Zara weaves her way through the bumbling crowds of chefs towards the counter of finished orders. Cautiously, she sets her newest creations down onto an empty tray, placing the order number on the tray with it.
Wafts of delicious spice smells and seafood invade her nostrils and Zara can’t help but take a moment to appreciate her work.

Turning around, Zara picks up another piece of paper, dark eyes running over the order as she mutters it under her breath. As she continues to her station the sound of footsteps reach her ears and suddenly whispers are going on about the room of awe, confusion, and interest.

“Quien es ese hombre? Where is he from?” She hears one of her workers say.

“He is a tourist, yes?”

“He must be! Wait… He’s coming here!”

Zara glances up at the chefs and workers all crowded at the door, rolling her eyes in annoyance. Now was not the time for them to gossip like the children they were. Turning back around, the focused woman begins creating her next dish. Kababs. An easy dish but one that still had most of her attention. She began mixing the spices into the flour she was to use. Her eyes glanced over at the vegetables she had gathered earlier, intent on using them for this dish and turned around placing her skewered meat slabs onto the grill.

The suddenly hushed kitchen did not deter her though curiosity did wash over her. Zara wondered why exactly they were silent but did not turn to quench the thirst of wanting an answer. She would find out a lot sooner rather than later when the young woman would turn to see her vegetables were gone. Her eyes wide with confusion darkened considerably as a snarl came to her pink lips.

Angered eyes flickered up, taking note of the out of place man leaving through the very door she’d entered not too long ago.

“Hey! Ladrón! Get back here with my vegetables!” She shouted, grabbing her butcher’s knife and stalking towards the door. With the intent of using force if need be Zara was more than angered when she was held back by her peers as the manager rushed out after the man.
“Zara calm yourself woman!” One spoke as she struggled in their grasp.

“Get off of me! That bastard has taken my food and you expect me to be fine with it?!” She screeched angrily, glaring at the young man. While she fought against the group of workers who had taken to keeping her in the heated room, the manager stood a few feet behind the strange thief.

Words would have left the man’s mouth if surprise had not taken over as he watched the floating vegetables along with a few other workers who had decided to pry into the business of what was happening. Who was this man?

Global Acclimation (Mortim x Juzibe)

Intricate patterns of smoke drifted through the unclean air- wafting this way and that as it began to fade away to become one with the air. This smoke came from the burning cigarette held in the hand of a young woman. Dark brown eyes twinkled in the sunlight as they narrowed even more on the large man in front of her.

“And I’m telling you- If I don’t get the damn deal that is right there on that sign then I promise you this will not turn into a happily ever after for you.” She spoke, voice sharp.

The man she spoke to scrunched his face up, glaring at her. “Who do you think you are- coming to this stand and demanding things that aren’t true!” He shouted, Russian accent thick.

“I think I’m the damn customer and the customer is always right!” She retorted, taking a smock of her cigarette. “Now are you going to give me the deal or what? Don’t make me have to get you fired. I will have no quarrels with doing it.”

The man was flustered, growling obscenities under his breath yet his threatening aura didn’t cause the petite woman in front of him to deter from her argument.

“Zara!”

The feisty young woman’s dark eyes turned toward the voice to see a man just a few years older than her. “Mack! What in the hell is this?”

“I apologize mi amor. He is new.” Mack spoke, frowning as he pushed the surprised man out of the way and began bagging up the items that had been argued over. Zara rolled her eyes, scowling a bit.

“Of course he is Mack. Él es un idiota. Despedirlo.” She said, crossing her arms only to uncross them seconds after when the bag of veggies were held out to her.

“Este problema se solucionará mi amor. These are on the house.” Mack spoke, smiling at the still angered woman. “Go, you’re late to work.”

Zara scrunched her nose up before nodding her head. “I will see you later Mack.”

“Goodbye Zara!”

Zara continued her walk through the crowded streets of her home, walking into an alleyway. The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the small brick area as she walked down it. Seconds later she would reach an old, rusting door that looked as though it would fall off of its hinges any minute. Though Zara certainly hadn’t thought of that as she swung the door open, the sound of yelling, clanking, and sizzling erupting around her.

“Zara, where have you been!” One of the chefs spoke as she walked past him, going to wash her hands.

“Getting the damn vegetables you made me go retrieve! I’m here now so shut up!” Zara hissed, drying her hands as she pulled her hair up into a bun and grabbed her apron. Tying it up she began walking to her station- Eyes one of determination and excitement as she finally made her way to her to her second home.