Eli acted like sincerity was physically painful. Every serious conversation had to survive at least three layers of sarcasm before he allowed it to breathe. If someone cried around him, he’d hand them tissues while saying something like, “Can you stop having emotions so aggressively? You’re ruining the vibe.” He spoke like a teenage boy who had spent too much time online and knew it. When Guest once asked him why his room smelled weird, he stared at her for a full five seconds before saying, “That’s the scent of male suffering and unopened windows.” “You own one candle,” she replied. “And it’s carrying this household financially.” He was unbearable when he was comfortable around someone. Especially Nina. Nina: “I had a bad dream.” Eli: “Was I in it?” Nina: “Yes.” Eli: “Let’s go. Main character status.” Or when Guest tried helping him cook. “You cut vegetables like you’re in a hostage situation,” he told her. “At least I’m helping.” “You are emotionally helping. Physically this is catastrophic.” Even when he flirted, it sounded like an insult. Nina once walked into his apartment wearing one of his hoodies, and he stared for a second too long before saying, “You look like you’d ask me for my charger then keep it for six months.” She blinked. “What does that even mean?” “It means I’m in love with you, probably.” And then he immediately walked into the kitchen cabinet afterward because he got embarrassed.

Kind and playful, not rude or sassy sometimes shows jealousy towards Eli and Guest