>>3550818
>>Go to work.

>>3550818
>>Go to work.
It's time

>>3550818
>>Write In.
Psych your self up then
>>Go to work.

>>3550838

This.

>>3550818
This >>3550838

>>3550818
Supporting>>3550838

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Gosh darn it! You’re in this situation because you’re letting negativity set in again! You may not like what’s going on right now, but you’re going to get through this! Remember your time back at school? At the girls’ dorm? The relentless hate? You survived that! This is a piece of cake in comparison…!

…A slice of cake could do you a lot of good right now.

Also, you should totally buy a plant to make your lifeless cube feel alive, or at least add some color to the place! Pets are forbidden, so it’s the closest thing you can have.

Either way, you leave your dreary cube on the 9th floor to head to work. The pre-dawn air is still going strong outside, the light posts bright as ever. They might as well be your own rays of sunshine, since you’re not used to leaving the office while the sun is up. Not like it would matter, since the only thing you would be able to see are works under construction. And in this city if they’re not under construction, then they’re collapsing!

You arrive at the usual station after a short walk. You can’t believe it’s been 3 years since the accident, the little shrine for the victims is still bursting with flowers – even yours is still there and looks lovely! Someone must care enough to be watering them…

As a CotF you have two options at the station; you either get in the only wagon for your class on the subway train, or use one of the dilapidated buses that follows the same route. In other words, you either pretend you’re canned salmon with other canned salmon people, or pray the bus doesn’t break down in the middle of the road and cause a multi-vehicle disaster.

…It’s not time for negativity! You are doing your best!

You decided to take the bus today, because there is no way a seat is going to fly off this time! Because there are none of them left attached anymore, so everyone rides standing up! Good luck finding free pole space to hold onto! The dirty metal floor where the seats used to be is now covered with small holes, giving the impression of standing on vibrating gray swiss cheese. None of the holes are big enough for someone to shove their foot through yet, but you should still be careful with your wallet and where you step…

The good news about the bus is there aren’t that many people inside today! The bad news is that aside from being labeled immediately, these are mostly filled with students. But you’re 19! You’re still hip and trendy and cute! You totally don’t stand out or anything…!

For some odd reason, you decided to use the train instead next time…

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>>3551107

You get your favorite CotF breakfast, which is none, before heading inside the office building and past the old wooden lobby. One unsettling elevator ride later, you’re back at your small dimly-lit cubicle in the underground floor. Sometimes the sun creeps in through the rectangle windows spaced out near the ceiling… but since they put thick curtains on them no amount of moths could eat through, on top of the soundproofing they bothered to install a while back, it’s even more of a tomb in here!

…

Your work is to transcribe a bunch of documents. No, you can’t scan them. You have to type the whole things out from scratch inside the computer. If only there were some type of magical program that could do this instead! You wouldn’t have a job, but at this point it doesn’t matter to you.

Oh no, negativity is creeping in again! Just think about your job, only your job! You fingers hurt, your eyes are struggling… but you power through it! Good job, Ema! Go you!

Before you know it, it’s 8 PM. You’re finally free to leave! Well, time to get your stuff together for your part-time job! Those apartments aren’t going to clean themselves, and the people who live in them sure as hell won’t! Only three apartments today; maybe you could squeeze in an extra hour of sleep! Hooray! This positivity sure is paying off, huh?!

Sure, you could do the enhanced package for your clients and just work like twice or thrice a week in… those… but it’s kind of embarrassing, so every day it is! You work Mondays through Saturdays, so who cares?! You don’t feel overworked at all… Nope…

After a whole week of well done work flies by, you were too tired to do anything Sunday but sleep. A letdown in a sense, but your body feels better… That’s what counts, right?

Week 2

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other. It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

What do you do?

>Go to work.
>
>Write In.

>>3551108
>>Go to work.
We don't even get to play on our day off? Seems kind of gay

>>3551108
>Go to work.

>>3551156
Life's a bitch.

>>3551108
>>Write In.
Do we have enough to get some polarized lens covers to help our eyes as we stare at the computer for long hours?
....
GO TO WORK

>>3551158
That's why I was looking forward to doing anything on the weekend

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>>3551108

Another week begins and you need to keep doing your best! You cannot afford to get fired! Words to live by, really…

Every morning you see a large line in front of the showers. The hunched-over men and women waiting for their turn, their wrinkled faces full of emptiness and apathy – sometimes it’s hard to remind yourself they are your age. That’s what they get for waiting till morning to take a shower! They should do it the day before, just like you! Makes you feel smart… too bad they are still as mediocre as you are. But being the queen of middle is worth something, right?

You can’t blame them for looking this tired with all the construction noise going on at night. But again, you are the one who bought earplugs for this exact reason! You’re always one step ahead as the queen of the middle!

…

Oh bother, the main door is stuck! You ask one of the fine men waiting in the line to help you open this rusty door. CotF need to stick together!

Outside, the veil of night makes you wonder how bright these streets look during the day. You hear there are a lot of people selling stuff in the streets and iffy stuff happens, but who knows? When you have free time you are either somewhere else or in your cube. The only thing keeping your sanity inside your cube is your CRT and videogame console. You wasted a lot of money on those things (and plushies), but they are worth it! Errr… Probably? You don’t have much free time to use them though…

You’re weighing the option of doing the enhanced package in your part-time job…

No bus this time! Time for the genuinely best form of public transportation in Pokyo Lokyo: subway train! After inserting your ticket into the machine, the two policemen use that stupid scanner to determine that you are, in fact, a CotF. You showed them your CotF Credit Card but they didn’t care. Who would bother faking being one of you in the first place?

It always bothers you when they end up slapping your ass each time they check you while you’re leaving…

Now you’re slightly pissed…

Inside the wagon is plain awful; there’s barely any space and you mean it! It’s like you’re closer to these complete strangers than your face is to your glasses. It smells so bad, but how could it not when you’re all packed into this steel coffin on wheels, with the seats moldy and the windows stained dark with mysterious things you can’t even begin to imagine?! None of these people are as clever as you are when it comes to preemptive showering! They probably don’t shower at all! It’s disgusting! Makes the effort to stay clean pointless, honestly…

…

Probably something they used to think too, and now they are not putting in the effort anymore…

>>3551286

At work, your boss reprimanded you for your sloppy work ethic and inefficiency. You are not a great typewriter, you have never used computers before until this job! She should cut you some slack… But she doesn’t. Nobody does.

After a whole week of frustrating work flies by, you have some leftover energy to do something this Sunday! About time!

What do you do?

>Sleep.
>-
>Write In.

>>3551290
>>Write In.
Go out and try to get a plant. Maybe it'll make things less depressing

>>3551290
>Sleep.
What is that second option?

>>3551290
>>3551299
Supporting

>>3551290
Ignore >>3551300
backing >>3551299

>>3551290
>>3551299
This

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It feels like it’s been a while since you have done anything nice for yourself! It’s a you day! All Sundays are (You) days from now on! You are going to spend them however (You) want and nobody is going to stop you! You’re going to get wild and crazy, cut loose from this stress!

…

Let’s buy a plant! Yeah! Because you feel lonely in this empty cube you live in. You don’t have any friends anymore, and you don’t even want to think about what happened to her…

Even before you had her there with you in the girls’ dorm, every single day was a struggle because of your situation. Consider this: one level is being a CotF getting bullied by regulars for being a leech, and another level is being bullied by the other CotF! Yes, your own peers hold utter disdain for you, which they don’t bother hiding in the slightest. There being enough of you to fill another nation, of course the CotF would find a way to discriminate between each other. It’s only human nature, isn’t it…?

Most of your peers hold this strange sense of pride and entitlement about themselves because of their situation. They are war orphans, their parents died defending their country, and the dictatorship’s initiative didn’t ignore this fact – on the contrary, they boast about it. They sent the children letters with detailed reports about their fallen parents’ heroics. Yes, some were more interesting than others, but they made an effort to show them how valuable they are and how much their parents were willing to sacrifice for them and Prancijan. Most of the kids either rejected this whole patronization (which were few and far between) or felt entitled to everything the initiative was giving them.

But you? You were a ’special’ case. When the letters arrived to everyone, yours read:

“Both believed in the peace of Prancijan.”

Which only means your parents abandoned you. There were no records. No traces. They never cared about you. There is another thing far worse than that but… it reminds of her, so you don’t talk about it. You try to keep it out of your mind as much as possible, which is easy enough when your life is how it is.

…So compare those parents who sacrificed their lives for their children, to a loveless child with no parents or legacy. You were a pitiful leech draining funds from their helpful program, tainting their beloved parents’ legacy, ruining their views of how things are supposed to be! They made fun of you relentlessly, pouring all their delusions and beliefs into scorning you. It hurt worse than anything physical ever could, especially when they did get physical along with it. But you’re not going to make their words ring true! You’re going to do your best!

>>3551452

…

…

You were so submerged in your own thoughts, you didn’t realize you already left the shopping district flower shop with your new cactus: Cactington! You would hug it, but you’re not stupid. Standing out in the street, you spot the occasional passerby glancing at Cactington, jealous that they don’t have a prickly friend from some desert overseas. You feel better about your impulsive purchase already!

Wait, it’s your day! Might as well find some fun stuff to do! Like this place! It sells desserts! You’re going to buy a full cake just for yourself! Yes! Autonomy! Yes! Happiness! Go you!

…You don’t know what happened, but now it’s 12:00 AM midnight. You ate the whole cake, and then had an incredible burger from that one place on Number 155 Inomi Street. It opened this month and the burger had a cool name, so you felt the need to go in and buy it. After that, you came back home to your cube and played video games all day while Cactington watched. Spending about 8 hours straight only got you to the second dungeon. RPGs are definitely too long for you to play anymore.

This is what happens every time you have fun now. This is why you can’t have nice things. This is why you’re in this living hell instead of college.

You have no sense of self-control. You have no sense of self-respect. You are a dummy.

Ugh… Enough negativity, you said it yourself. Without wasting any more time, you shove yourself into your bedsheets and fall asleep…

Week 3

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other… Except you’re really tired. It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

What do you do?

>Go to work.
>L--
>Write In.

(Last Reply of the day, we continue tomorrow!)

>>3551454
>>Go to work.
What do you guys think that second option is gonna spell out to? "Leave" maybe?

>>3551454
>Go to work.
Lets go work overtime.

>>3551454
>Water Cactington
Then >Go to work.

>>3551485
Also this

>>3551454
This >>3551485

>>3551454
>>L--
Hesitation, ho!

>>3551454
>>L--
MYSTERY BOX!!!

Don't water the cactus too much or it'll die.

>>3552067
You're supposed to water it like once a week aren't you?

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>>3551454

Before you leave, you water Cactington! He needs his H2O once a week! Deserts don’t get much rain, huh? The little window in your cube should give him the light he needs. There, all set! You would kiss it before leaving, but you’re not stupid.

Oh shucks, you totally forgot to take a shower the night before! Guess you will have to use the sink to clean yourself very quickly! If you’re unlucky you could catch a cold… but it hadn’t happened the other times you had to do this, so why worry now? You can’t go to the showers after your mental speech from last week. It wouldn’t feel right. Besides, after some uncomfortable clean up, you think you smell rather lovely!

But some extra deodorant still wouldn’t hurt…

Not even the cold water managed to stop your drowsiness! You will power through this anyway, same as before! Keeping yourself cheerful does have its drawbacks, however; sometimes everything is so mundane and plain awful that you flat out ignore what’s going on in front of you. It’s not apathy when you’re trying to be happy inside, right? No bad thoughts went through your head all morning, and you just left the subway train! Any other day this would have been awful, but not today!

Outside the office you notice that awful CotF slogan: “Together we move as one.” It was part of the grand speech President Lazarus Don Gordon Sr. gave when he revealed the initiative 20 years ago. The full phrase doesn’t sound quite as good, however: “The future is a narrow path. Together we move as one – and those who falter will descend into despair’s iron clutches. It is our choice to continue, and it is yours to falter.”

The rebellion cut the president deep, driving him to regain the population’s trust. He had the backing of everyone with power, everyone that mattered, but he’s still quite narcissistic (just look at how many statues and pictures of him are inside governmental institutions.) He pushed multiple campaigns to make Prancijan one united country, and he was the most appropriate man to lead us forward. We don’t think as individuals, but as a collective. A collective led by one man. We’re all in this together. We all want the best for this country – our country. We will rebuild from our lowest point back to the highest one!

But… You didn’t understand what was so wrong about individuality. What’s so wrong about feeling valued or wanted? What’s so off-putting about craving validation, some semblance of belonging…?

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>>3552871

Oh, and while you didn’t think this because you were shunned and hated by those supposed to be your comrades, or anything… you can’t say it didn’t contribute. It just felt wrong, like you’re manipulated to think that’s acceptable. Sometimes those thoughts creep in when you’re not looking or thinking in their direction, but thankfully your peers helpfully remind you more often than not that you’re not like them and you never were.

Right, you need to work now. Time to give your little contribution to society…

It was Wednesday when you noticed you couldn’t keep going much longer. Your eyelids refusing to stay up wasn’t the only thing you noticed then; a coworker was not only worried about you but was eating lunch in the cafeteria with you for a couple of weeks – and she turned it into a routine without you noticing. She didn’t say a thing before today, how odd. Her name is Calin. She has short-cropped hair, a slim figure, and always looks concerned. You survived the rest of that day.

It wasn’t until Saturday that you blatantly took a nap while working… and of course your boss found out. After a righteous scolding, she let this one pass. You aren’t so sure she’s the forgiving type. You don’t think forgiving types survive in a position like hers.

After a whole week of excruciating work flies by, you are barely awake to enjoy your (You) day.

What do you do?

>Sleep.
>L--e
>Write In.

>>3552872
>Grab a water bottle (or buy one from the convenience store a few streets away) and go for a jog! Physical exercise is supposed to stimulate people, right? Wake your body up and get some fresh air!

>>3552872
>Invest in coffee to keep you awake. Learn about different brews and stuff.

>>3552881
This, also don't stay out too long or we'll forget to shower again.

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>>3552872

Finding ways to stay awake is your top priority for enjoying your (You) day. Supposedly physical exercise stimulates people, right? You will buy a water bottle from the closest convenience store and then go for a jog. You’re getting a little chunky since starting your office job, so it’s a 2 stones with 1 bird kind of deal!

…

Something about what you just thought felt wrong. Guess that’s what happens when you’re sleepy… but enough wasting time! You will do your best for a healthy lifestyle! Starting now!

You ended up using your CotF Credit Card at the Don Foodote a few streets away not only to buy your water bottle, but also new sportswear – and in case everything goes wrong, some coffee. You never liked the taste, but some harsh measures are past due. You don’t want to lose your job.

…Yeah, you bought some marshmallows with your real money too. It’s for morale, come on!

Speaking of morale, the cashier was one of your classmates that used to bully you! She looks more miserable than the other people at your apartment building. Her score must have been absolutely awful for her to still keep her mandated part-time job from high school. You didn’t bother to have a friendly chat with her, since she looked like she was zombified or something equally terrible. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you don’t remember her name, and trying to remember would remind you of you-know-who. Unlike anything the bully felt back in school, you feel pity for her and her situation. Hopefully her life gets better…

Back at your scenic 9th floor cube, you put on your new CotF sportswear! They feel a bit tight around your chest and your lower back, probably from the cheap material they’re made of. You decide to use them to jog anyway and head out into the streets! Seeing your neighborhood during the daytime is a surreal experience; this was supposed to be a new zone at the outskirts of the city, built for people like you after the war. Seeing so much rubble and waste lying around in abandoned lots, so old that trees and plants are growing through them… it doesn’t mesh well with that concept…

After a successful exercise session, you feel… absolutely terrible! You know if you go back to your cube immediately you wouldn’t muster the strength to go shower later, so you drag your stinky sweaty self there first!

>>3552969

…And it was for the best! Once you forced your throbbing legs up eight grueling flights of stairs and back into your cube, you collapsed onto your tiny bed without a drop of energy left. An hour later, you mustered the energy to keep your save going for a little while before responsibly going to sleep when you should. You are at the 4th dungeon now. Slowly, progress is being made…

…And yes, you ate the marshmallows too. There wasn’t enough you in your (You) day, so it felt like the right thing to do.

Week 4

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other… Except the disgusting brew known as coffee awakens you! You really need to learn which one of these tastes decent. It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

What do you do?

>Go to work as always. You refuse to let yourself do the enhanced package at your part-time job!
>Go to work, but do the enhanced package at your part-time job. You will have free time this way!
>L<-0e
>Write In.

>>3552972
>Go to work, but do the enhanced package at your part-time job. You will have free time this way!
The free time is for self-improvement. Doing our best requires the time for it, even though enhanced package fucking sucks.

>>3552972
>Go to work, but do the enhanced package at your part-time job. You will have free time this way!

>>3552969
>You’re getting a little chunky since starting your office job
>>3552972
>eight grueling flights of stairs
If those stairs won't keep off the weight, I doubt running will.
>>3552972
>>Go to work, but do the enhanced package at your part-time job. You will have free time this way!
But be prepared for some shit.

>>3552972
>>Go to work, but do the enhanced package at your part-time job. You will have free time this way!

>>3552972
Also water Cactington

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Oh sweet Cactington, he makes you so happy! He needs his weekly H2O before you go! Nurturing another living being fulfills you immensely, it’s a great sensation. You would pet him, but you’re not stupid.

This time you were a good obedient girl, and your tiredness is more about your body feeling funny than you struggling to stay awake. The good vibes are finally echoing their groove through the rest of your daily life! You’re doing your best, of course it was bound to get better!

Everything bad was so easy to ignore today. Maybe this is the magic of quality coffee? You wish it tasted better… It will be easier to just think about the interesting stuff happening. The anomalies and oddities, so to speak.

During lunch you’re with Calin again! It’s nice to finally have an acquaintance at work! Your interactions are usually limited to smiling and nodding after the other asks something. It’s not like you’re both extremely shy… just not very talkative, that’s all. Okay fiiiiiiiiine, you admit you’re very shy, fidget a lot, and usually forget how to construct sentences when people talk directly to you! But you can’t judge Calin the same way just yet!

Oh, right. It’s time for your part-time job. Since you’re doing your best and improving yourself, perhaps you will give doing the enhanced package a shot. Free time and extra pocket money are what you need to continue bettering your life.

You call the agency that sorts these things out from your office’s phone and discuss the details. Your manager was sad to hear you move on to the other package, and promptly redirected you to the other boss. He asked you if you’re a CotF. You said you were. He immediately tells you they refuse to hire CotF Rank 6 and below. Hiring so many of them supposedly gives them bad PR and makes them seem like a trashy organization to consumer clients. You informed them you’re Rank 4 (just one rank away from qualifying for college), and your new manager audibly relaxed and started talking about the details.

So yeah… You’re going to have to work with a maid costume from now on.

The agency will lend you a spare, along with a cheap cellphone to keep you updated. They asked you to come in today to take pictures of you in costume so they could update their website, and so clients would begin to request you directly. You did as they said anyway and went there immediately. With the process going underway on their end, that’s it for work today. They will inform you whenever a client requests you…

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>>3553193

It was embarrassing! You couldn’t stop blushing and the words didn’t come out right! It was worse when you wore the costume. It was tight; not as bad as your sportswear, but it clearly wasn’t made for your average girl. It shows too much skin, the skirt is way too short, and you swear parts of you stick out through the fabric in an indecent manner! It was too much for a poor girl like you! You could tell the poor cameraman was feeling bad for you, like he was tormenting a poor girl for doing his job. You pull through it though, for better or worse…

Most of the week went by quickly after that. The most relevant happening was Calin informing you about how to make good coffee. A lot of cream and sugar did it for you. You’re enjoying it now! Getting the extra energy you’ve needed is icing on the cake. You have most of your nights off for a while thanks to lack of clients, which in a way is worrying. With one or two clients a week you’re set anyway! To keep your new healthy lifestyle, you’ve been jogging more around the neighborhood. Your body might still be chunky, but you feel less and less of the aches and pains now…!

Thursday is finally the day they have a client for you. You didn’t know what to expect, but went prepared anyway…

At the apartment you were supposed to clean, a rather wide gentleman welcomed you. He seemed way too excited – you never seen someone be this happy to see you. It feels… kinda nice! The man asks you what your name is, as he notices you still have the default nametag on: “Linda.” You’re supposed to tell them a nickname of your choice. Any name will do.

As you welcome yourself inside this small apartment, you desperately need to come up with something. You can’t just leave the client hanging. Not only is that rude, he could complain to the agency…

What do you say?

>Amelia.
>Write In.

(Last reply of the day, we continue tomorrow.)

>>3553200
Aria

>>3553200
This >>3553203

>>3553200
>>Amelia.

>>3553200
>>Amelia.

>>3553200
>Amelia.

>>3553203
This

>>3553200
Becky

>>3553200
>>Amelia.

>>3553200
>Aria

>>3553200
>>Amelia.
It's too funny not to pick

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“A… Amelia.” The words barely come out of your mouth. You hesitate without thinking, like a little girl asking for permission. Your heart pounds 100 times faster than usual. This outfit is making things way worse. That name you whispered felt like the first words you’ve said aloud in a month or so. It’s a bit ridiculous, seeing as you have had several small conversations before, and even today too… but everything about what’s going on now is a bit ridiculous, isn’t it?

“Ooooh! How cute! The homely feeling of the name of a girl you want to protect! The one you want to spend the rest of your life with! It fits you perfectly! It’s beary good!” The large individual seems content with your response. Why the pun? “Name’s Uwikar! Welcome to my humble abode!” You got a hunch his real name is not Uwikar…

He gestures at his rather nice-looking but clearly unkempt apartment. A lot of things here definitely interest you; from posters of movies you’ve always wanted to watch, to games you would love to play and shelves full of novels and comics. There’s figurines and plushies placed on the shelves and wherever there’s room. It’s incredible! Despite all of it having the usual dust and grime, you’re frankly jealous…

“Hmm, you seem amazed by the magnitude of my collection! It took years to assemble after all!” Uwikar notices you losing yourself in this place. Something you haven’t noticed yourself until he pointed it out.
“Y-Yes…” You stumble over the only word coming out of your mouth, and it hasn’t even been five minutes since you walked in. Good job, Ema.

“My, my! It’s only natural to feel this way. Don’t worry about it!” Uwikar closes his eyes and scratches his round cheek. “…But you didn’t sound so convincing there. I know for people like you these are mere toys, but I assure you the items here are extremely valuable! The other maids didn’t understand that, and one of them very nearly damaged a limited copy worth five figures full price! Be careful when handling them, please!” Despite his boastful tone, he sounds very understanding.

“O.K…” You wanted to tell him you do understand, but your heart is racing too fast for you to muster the strength or breath.

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>>3554442

“Mmm…” He stares at you intensely, walking around you and paying attention to every detail of your body. You wish you could cover yourself even just a little, but this revealing outfit is part of the appeal of your service. It can’t be helped. “They never disappoint, do they? You’re a total cutie!” He might think you’re pretty, but that just makes you even more fidgety. As you look away you feel the blood heating up your cheeks. “Oooh! That flaming red! It’s just like your picture online! For a second there I thought you were one of those emotionless ones and I got deceived! I love it! You must also understand the agreement perfectly!” He seems really excited. You don’t quite get why.

You tilt your head in slight confusion. He seems puzzled for a second, but recovers quickly with a smile.

“I-It’s embarrassing to say it out loud, but in short: I can look as much as I want. But I can’t put my fingers on thee.” For some reason, he faked a foreign accent at the end there. Does that mean he can look under your skirt…? “You’re almost perfect. But there is one thing…”
“Huh?” You let a weird sound come out of your mouth again. Dummy.

“You haven’t called me master yet.” He has an unusual smile on his face. It doesn’t reach his eyes.

You have no option but to comply. It’s part of the policy you agreed with. “Y-Yes master.” The sheer embarrassment you feel is near overwhelming. You just want to leave the room already.

You’re pretty sure crawling into a hole and dying counts as leaving the room.

“Oooooh! I heard your voice clearly this time! How cuuuuuuuuute!” He’s enjoying this way too much for it to be considered normal.

Are all your new clients going to be like this…? Before it was as simple as coming and cleaning. But now you’re not so sure if you’re okay with this…

What do you do?

>Establish boundaries with him immediately. It could create friction with your clients though; this isn’t just simply coming and cleaning apartments anymore.
>He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work. He’s not breaking any rules. You will do your best. Nothing will change.
>Write In.

>>3554446
>>He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work. He’s not breaking any rules. You will do your best. Nothing will change.

>>3554446
>He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work. He’s not breaking any rules. You will do your best. Nothing will change.

>>3554446
>He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work. He’s not breaking any rules. You will do your best. Nothing will change.
As long as he does not touch, there will not be problems.

>>3554446
>He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work. He’s not breaking any rules. You will do your best. Nothing will change.
Stiff upper lip.

>>3554446
>He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work. He’s not breaking any rules. You will do your best. Nothing will change.
Do your best chapter 0

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>>3554446

Better quit your complaining! You knew what you were getting yourself into when you started this part-time job. There is no going back now. He can do as he pleases as long as he doesn’t interfere with your work, physically or otherwise. He’s not breaking any rules by staring at you.

Being watched by your client won’t stop you! This revealing outfit squeezing your chest won’t stop you! You will do your best like you swore to yourself!

“I…” You trail off, showing him your bag with the cleaning utensils. He needs to supply you with the rest to start your job.
“Ah, right! Your master will show you the way! Follow me!” Uwikar got the memo really fast. Perhaps things will go smoothly…

At first Uwikar personally showed you how to clean his figurines, posters, and some of his games. He mentioned how several maids have done it wrong so far – using the wrong cleaning chemical here, wiping with the wrong fabric there, not bothering to consider the items they’re working on. You start relaxing a lot more now, thankful for this sort of tutorial… After seeing you expertly clean them on the first try, he saw you knew what you were doing and let you be. This didn’t stop him from praising you heavily and complimenting you for your looks again though!

Things went smoothly from that point on. He was busy working on his computer and you were busy cleaning. On occasion he would stop what he was doing, drop to the floor, and watch you for a few minutes with a bubbly expression.

He unapologetic peeked under your skirt, stared directly at your cleavage, and complimented you several times on several personal qualities you doubted you even had! Since the initial awkwardness wore off earlier, a part of you has enjoyed feeling pretty… but just the mere thought made you feel naughtier! He’s 100% an undeniable pervert, yet you enjoyed the attention. Secretly, of course! You would die of embarrassment to admit it out loud.

…

You wonder if this is the true power of the maid outfit. Making a plain girl (at best) be desirable to boys? You have been called ugly for so long you are sure this has something to do with it. Do all boys succumb to the effects of its power, or is it just this man? These questions must remain unanswered, for your own sanity and more…

>>3554660

Since getting Cactington you’ve started chatting about your daily life events with him in an effort to cope with loneliness. But how will he react after knowing the naughty stuff you’re thinking? The things you are doing? Will he be disappointed in his mother? Will he be more prickly towards you?!

…You remind yourself he’s a cactus and you’re not his mother. How foolish of you!

Besides, you don’t think you care about what is morally wrong or right for a cactus to know about you. Not after today’s pay! Its triple the amount you earn for one apartment! Uwikar was so impressed with your work ethic he promised to request you again! And to think you were regretting accepting the enhanced package… Who knew doing your best was so great?!

The rest of the week went by without anything important happening. Before you know it, it’s (You) Day again! Despite the comparatively easy week, you’re slightly worried. You got triple the pay for one apartment done, but you usually did 5 places a week – it doesn’t cover it all.

…Eh, you will leave your worries to deal with later!

What do you do?

>Sleep.
>Have fun.
>L---e
>Write In.

>>3554662
>>L---e
MYSTERY BOX

>>3554662
>Read some poorly written romance novels.

>>3554662
Leave?

>>3554662
>Have fun.

>>3554662
>Have fun.
>Read some poorly written romance novels.
Why not both?

>>3554662
>>Write In.
Get some exercise.

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It is finally time to have some fun! You will enjoy your day doing whatever (You) please! You deserve it! It’s been a while since you bought a light romance novel! Yeah, even though you promised yourself to never read them again since after you finished them you got into an existential crisis and wondered why nobody ever loves you that way! Videogames filled that void, but you are slowing turning to dating sims instead of the difficult but fun games – and you don’t want to ruin your hobby!

…Besides, you can have fun whatever way you want now! Nobody is judging you but yourself! The best place for books is that cheap bookstore you remember visiting. Where was it again…?

W-Wait, it’s been a month since you last visited her! You should go just for a little while, even if it brings you bad memories. You cannot leave her alone, not after what you two have been through. That would be the ultimate betrayal. Doing something so utterly vile… it’s beyond unthinkable for you. So, swallowing your mixture of feelings back down, you head to the station near your apartment…

As your short visit comes to an end an hour later, you leave the Central Hospital of Pokyo Lokyo without looking back. Another short subway trip later, you arrive at the historic neighborhood in the western part of the city. You have no idea why, but you are a little irritated…

The old pumpkin lady is still at the counter! You can’t hold back your smile. It’s been almost two months since you were last here, and you have been expecting her to die for literally years. That’s a rude thing to think though, so you apologize to her mentally.

You remember coming here since you were little, her gifting you old books and pretending to make them CotF transactions. Now that you’re a productive member of this great society, you have been paying her back by buying her novels with your hard-earned money! Well, until you got a little too obsessed with them and quit on a high note.

When you saw each other it was like reconnecting with an old friend… in the worst way possible! It started great, but you cannot go without contacting with someone for such a long time and expect them to not ask personal questions. Yes you are a little pale, look restless, and your hair isn’t looking great. Yes you got a little out of shape. Yes you still don’t have a boyfriend. Life is not going great. It shouldn’t have bothered you since there wasn’t any malice behind it, but it did. You didn’t show it though; you know she meant well. Trying to dodge her barrage of questions, you bought two high-quality romance novels and left the store after saying goodbye to the old lady and her husband.

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>>3554782

Your mood right now has inexplicably devolved a step or two past irritated. Something sweet is what you need to ease this stewing tension! Chocollows, Reese’s Bars, Dudubes… everything that isn’t too expensive!

Returning to your cube, you enjoyed your poorly written romance novels! They’ve never been great, but they make you happy! You want to have fun! You will have fun! You have everything to help you have a perfect day!

…

You didn’t eat everything you bought. Hell, you barely touched them. You got bored halfway through the first book. You got to the fifth dungeon in your game, but it didn’t feel like an accomplishment. Having fun was a complete failure today. A waste of your goddamn time. You’re inside your sheets apologizing to a cactus because things haven’t gone great no matter how hard you tried…

Week 5

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other. Your delicious coffee gives you the strength you need! You love coffee! Coffee loves you too! Hopefully! It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

What do you do?

>Go to work.
>L<a0e.
>Write In.

>>3554785
>Go to work.
It hurts, but let's do it until the word fully forms.

>>3554785
>Go to work.

>>3554785
>>Go to work.

>>3554793

Second.

Work again

>>3554785
>Go to work.
Wage, wagie, get in cagie.

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>>3554785

Oh sweet Cactington, the bearer of your secrets, your most trusted companion, he makes you so happy! He needs his weekly H2O before you go! Maybe it’s your imagination but he’s grown larger than when you got him! Hooray! You would [insert physical manifestation of love here], but you’re not stupid.

Before heading inside your office today, you were called by the agency cellphone about your part-time job schedule. Uwikar requested you for Wednesday, and someone new requested you Thursday. Just thinking about what could happen with the new person made you sweat cold and shortened your breath. You don’t think he will be less of a pervert than Uwikar…

Monday at the office meeting, you and five other employees were scolded for your sloppy work by your boss. You apologized profusely, but you can tell the snooty woman thinks about moving you to another department. This would come with a mandatory pay cut. You don’t want that.

Tuesday, you decided to bring one of your novels to work after watching Calin read each time you finished lunch early. When your favorite coworker noticed your book, you two had a short chat about it since she appears to have read it as well. You’ve never seen Calin this talkative before. You’re sure you haven’t been this talkative yourself for a long time. She asked if you could lend her one of your favorite novels, but you had to say no. You usually donate the novels to the city library after you’re done with them, because you don’t have enough space at home. She looked disappointed to hear you explain that.

You felt awful… but you always feel that way. You just felt a bit more awful than usual. That’s all…

Wednesday, Master Uwikar (now it’s stuck like this in your mind) was acting as perverted as last time. By this point you’ve become used to his antics. At the end of the shift, he gifted you a container of chocolate pudding! On the agency’s website there is a profile section from the maids, and in yours it was listed that you liked those. You didn’t have the heart to tell him that that’s inaccurate because, despite getting used to him ogling you, you’re still too nervous to speak complete sentences in that outfit and to a man that’s interested in you.

You ate the pudding at home. It was delicious. Everything about it from texture to consistency told you it was homemade from scratch, which made it even more bittersweet.

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>>3554917

Which leads you to today: Thursday. You’re outside a little house in the historic neighborhood, which covers the whole west district of Pokyo Lokyo. The place is surprisingly not that far from your apartment in the outskirts, a little more than ten minutes away. It’s the first time you’re going to clean an actual house and not an apartment flat. By the time you arrive at his front door, you have noticed two things. One: the garden’s grass is long enough to reach your waist and thick enough to prevent seeing inside it. Two: the sides of the house have spaces between them and the buildings next to them, making two small ‘alleys’ of sorts.

A disheveled man with a dress shirt and goatee opens the door to you after you knock twice. He closes the door immediately once you enter and begins to talk from behind you. He says a sentence that makes your spine tingle…

“Yo… Is it true that if I paid extra I get some special service…?”

You don’t like where this is going.

You don’t like it at all.

…?

>Run. He didn’t lock the door. Open it, slip past him, and run.
>Explain to him you’re just a cleaning service, nothing more.
>Ten times usual pay! A ridiculous sum he couldn’t possibly have!
>Ask him to explain himself. Remind him the agency logs visits.
>Write In.

>>3554919
>>Explain to him you’re just a cleaning service, nothing more.

>>3554919
>Explain to him you’re just a cleaning service, nothing more.

>>3554919
>Explain to him you’re just a cleaning service, nothing more.

>>3554919
>Explain to him you’re just a cleaning service, nothing more.

>>3554919
"If you ask again, the only special service you'll get is the end of my broom."

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>>3554919

“…We are… just a cleaning service.” You can’t believe you actually said a complete sentence in this situation. The pure adrenaline from the terror you’re feeling is helping, you guess.
“Hey darling, speak up. I can barely hear ya.” He’s in a foul mood all of a sudden. He’s moved from behind you to in front of you now.
“W-We are just a cleaning service.” You say it louder but less clearly. “I-If you ask again, the only s-special service you'll get is the end of my broom!” You regret every word you just said. You don’t want to move your lips again.

“What? Even though you dress like that…?” You silently nod in response to his confusion. Do girls who offer those kinds of services dress up this way then? You would feel obscenely ashamed if you weren’t so terrified. “You sure we can’t sort out a deal outside your service…?” He’s getting kind of pushy now. You pantomime a ’no’ with your hands, using your body language and arm muscles to make that ‘no’ as firm as you can. “…Tch, fine. You’re not pretty enough to keep this going. Just head on in and clean this place up. I’m gonna help ya since it’s a fucking disaster, okay?” Hearing someone swear in general puts you on edge, as if you weren’t on a metaphorical cliff already…

You stare at him paralyzed. None of your muscles are doing their thing when they should. Your blood is flowing and your lungs are breathing, but your body is still frozen.

“C’mon! Don’t just stand there! Do your job! I paid for this shit, damnit!” He stomps away into the house without looking back. Something about how casual he was made you feel slightly more at ease…
“Y-Yes sir…” You comply against your better judgment. Looks like you’re committed now…

It was so much work you’re kind amazed you were able to do it in one sitting! A living room with polished wood floors, a fenced-in backyard eight of your cubes could cover, a quality kitchen, and a complete basement! This must go under the whole house and the backyard too! Who could have built all this? Maybe it’s something left over from wartime, or even older? You’re not sure you care enough to bother asking the surly man who lives here…

You never asked what the man’s name was, but after the rocky start and getting most of the work done, he opened up without warning.

His wife kicked him out of their house three weeks ago after he came home drunk. You get the impression that wasn’t the first time he did it. Listening to his tone, you infer his wife was not much better. He has been living here since then, drinking the whole time he wasn’t at work. This is one of his friends’ houses; they wanted to start a sort of business from here, but plans fell through so they left it as it is.

By this point he’s drinking again – and you for some reason haven’t left the residence despite having finished 15 minutes ago!

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>>3555095

His lonely state put his life into perspective, gave him the clarity he lacked for a long time. He blamed everything on himself and begged his wife to give him another shot… but he’s afraid it’s too late. His wife hates him, he hates himself, and there is no going back or escaping from consequences. He was so lonely and desperate for attention that he saw one of your agency’s flyers and called for someone, anyone at all, to come over.

He just wanted to feel a woman again. That’s all he wanted from today.

After hearing his sad tale through his choked sobs and hiccups, you feel you understand him in a way. You pat him on the back to give him some measure of comfort. He immediately hugged you and pressed his face in your chest. It was uncomfortable and more than a little unexpected… but he wasn’t trying to take advantage of you. It reminded you of a little child who only wanted to hug his mother. Someone broken with nobody to rely on emotionally. Somebody so forced to be alone that they embraced it and willingly isolated themselves. Not like you know what that’s like… but you embraced him back anyway.

When he finished bawling his eyes out and got a (slight) hold of himself, he was incredibly grateful to you and apologized for everything he made you go through. You advised him to quit drinking and to try to make things work with his wife (though you don’t think it’ll happen). Love doesn’t just fade away like that (if your novels are right).

You saw the resolution in his eyes when he promised to make his wife Stella happy. There’s no way you could see that and not start to feel hopeful for his efforts…

But before quitting he wanted one last beer (not a good sign). He passed you a can and made a little toast for himself before the two of you started drinking. You’ve never tasted beer before, or any alcohol for that matter. It’s bitter with a weird plant taste to it, but way better than your first impression of coffee! Without thinking twice, you gulped it down way too fast… Your head feels lighter than it did a minute ago… And something aches in your chest and your head…

Once you two were done, he gave you all the alcohol he had in his fridge as a sign of his newfound resolution! Two entire six-packs of whatever beer you just had!

…Hope your mini-fridge is big enough for all this! You got your pay, you got this beer, everything should be okay. You’re probably never going to see him again, but that’s fine by you…

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>>3555099

You’re still not sure how you returned to your cube that day, carrying all those beer cans and not walking very steadily, but you did it. After making all the cans fit in your mini-fridge, you sat on your bed and hugged your pillow. Then you cried yourself to sleep the same way the man cried into your chest. You were so afraid. You felt so defenseless. You didn’t know what was going to happen. It terrified you. It still makes your arms and legs go cold when you think about it.

But you did your best, and nothing bad happened in the end.

The rest of the week was uneventful. It’s (You) day again now… Hooray? You don’t feel like doing anything…

What do you do?

>Cry
>Sleep
>L3a<e
>Write In.

(Last Reply of the day, we continue tomorrow.)

>>3555100
>>Write In.
Do exercises until we don't feel anymore.

>>3555100
backing >>3555114
Pain is weakness leaving the body. Exercise and work out until our body's cries for mercy and rest drowns out the suffering inside.

>>3555100
Supporting>>3555114

>>3555100
>>3555114 sounds like a plan

>>3555114
Limber up.

>>3555100
Leave the city.

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What are you doing?! Are you going to stop trying just like that? Did you forget you’re doing your best? It’s time to show it! Time to be positive again! Pain is weakness leaving the body, or whatever they say in the army! You’re going to exercise and work out until your body cries for mercy and rest drowns out the suffering inside! Go you!

You put on the skimpy sportswear you bought weeks ago! They are even tighter than before! Must have shrunk in the wash. Stupid cheap CotF products…

Jogging around the neighborhood once again, you start noticing trash collectors finally clearing some of the rubble off the abandoned lots! Are they planning to build something? Or has the town hall finally succumbed to the neighbors’ complaints? That’s really good though! Maybe things are finally changing for the better in this stupid city! You can feel the positivity flowing again! Hooray!

Oddly enough, you feel like you’re being watched by someone… Not to mention it got a little colder, even though the autumn mornings are still warm…

Continuing your usual sidewalk route, you notice a curious spot in midair further down the path. A tiny black pinprick is moving in the air about a few streets in front of you. There doesn’t seem to be anybody else paying attention to it. It might just be a fly or something stupid…

Wait, this thing doesn’t have wings…

Wait, this thing must be the size of your head…

Wait, this thing is flying right at you without stopping…!

Without thinking, you take a few steps close to the building next to you. Whatever that thing was, it was flickering black all over and made a crackling swoosh noise as it rapidly passed through where you were standing. You watch it zoom further down the street the way you came, staying over the sidewalk and ignoring cars and other people. Ignoring the chill on your neck, you continue to jog until you encounter another odd thing: a tall man and a woman both wearing doctor outfits! The man has some type of machine in his hand and his eyes are locked on it.

“This way, assistant! Haha!” The excited man you assume is a scientist yells with a thick accent. He keeps looking at the machine, too focused to see what’s going on around him. Whoever he is, he almost bumps into you!
“B-Be careful where you’re going!” Unlike the scientist, the woman had an irritated tone and didn’t look or sound foreign. She was barely keeping pace with large man, and something about her gave the impression of extreme tiredness.
“My mistake!” The scientist apologizes with a smile from ear to ear. Not to you, of course. Never to you.

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>>3556488

They kept going the same way the strange object went, and you thought that was that and kept progressing. Until a minute later, you see the same scientist trying to get someone attention in your direction. You turn to see what is going on because you’re curious by nature.

“Girl!” He waves with the machine in his hands, finally not paying attention to it. He’s jogging at half speed, but thanks to his size he’s moving fast. Looking around you, there doesn’t seem to be anybody else to have their attention grabbed. If you didn’t know any better, you would think he was talking to you. Oh yeah, you’re not supposed to pry into other people’s business. Better ignore him and focus on jogging… “Girl of shiny buttocks!” He grabbed your shoulder, having reached you in mere seconds. Who is this man and what did he just say?
“Huh…?” Why is he talking to you? Just his mere size puts you on edge…
“Here.” He hands you his lab coat for some reason. He then points to his back.

“I-I…” Why did he give you this?! What does he want with you?
“Professor! We’re going to lose it again!” The same girl from before yells at the man, standing on the corner where he was earlier.
“Oh yes! Be careful! Good luck!” He smiles at you and starts running away. The girl is scolding the tower of a man for giving you his coat and making them lose time. You were too preoccupied trying to understand what is going on to listen to what else they were talking about…

Then it dawns on you: the back of your leggings ripped apart and your underwear was on full display. Your mind suddenly bombarded itself with hundreds of questions you didn’t want the answers to… Might as well assume the worst.

Congratulations; you’ve reached a new level of embarrassment you didn’t think possible! Go you…?

You tied the lab coat around your waist to cover what’s left of your honor and marched back to your cube in shame. On the way, you stopped by a street vendor and bought a sports magazine to see what kind of exercises you could do at home instead – you know, now that plan A just died a painful death you wish you also had.

You worked out as much as your body and dignity were able to endure. Shame is a type of pain, right? The emotional kind? The weakness is leaving! The weakness is leaving…

>>3556493

Week 6

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other. Your delicious coffee gives you the strength you need! You love coffee! Coffee loves you too! Hopefully! It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

What do you do?

>Go to work.
>L3a<e
>Write In.

(Next post will take longer. Sorry.)

>>3556501
>Go to work.

>>3556501
>>Go to work.
See if we can get some type of periodical that has help wanted ads in it, we can find a better job then this.

>>3556522
Cause this work sucks.

>>3556493
>Go to work.
>But consider that strange feeling in the back of your head. That desire for something... better.

>>3556522
Children of the Future probably can't switch their government-enforced job that easily, anon

>>3556501
>L3a<e

>>3556629
We can at least try.

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Oh brilliant Cactington, your silent confidant, your most trusted companion… he makes you so happy! He needs his weekly H2O before you go! Now you’re certain he’s getting bigger! Hooray! You would [insert physical manifestation of love here], but you’re not stupid.

Before heading inside your office today, you were called by the agency cellphone about your part-time job schedule. You interrupted your manager to (rightfully) complain about what happened last time, and requested to have only trusted clients from now on. He apologized and shuffled you around on their end. Now you will have a reliable client Tuesday, and Master Uwikar will receive you Thursday. They asked you to be especially kind to this client; you’re going to be his first maid and he’s important for some reason. Also, they gave you a little bonus and said you can keep the phone and the dress for yourself. Yay, you guess…

Monday at lunch, Calin invited you to the Karaoke tomorrow (Tuesday). Because of your part-time job, you had no choice but to decline. You felt bad again, but a more understanding Calin didn’t mind and asked you when you’re free. Any day but Tuesdays and Thursdays. She just smiled and said she’d arrange something fun. Hooray for friendship blooming!

During the night you searched for other job opportunities for CotF like yourself. Quitting outright would make your ranking take a hit, and ranking is what gives you status and opportunities in the CotF system. There’s a lot of good reasons to avoid lowering it as much as possible. If by some chance your ranking is the lowest and you haven’t worked or done anything for a period of time, you automatically eat the accumulated debt of all your years inside the initiative.

If you can’t pay it… well, you don’t want to think about that. The government doing government things to you would be the least of your concerns then!

The best option you’ve pieced out is to move to another department and endure the pay cut, in exchange for working less hours and doing another type of job. To ensure you keep gaining the same salary and keep your life stable, you would need to work 5 days a week as a maid to compensate. You don’t know what’s best for your sanity. Maybe get another part-time job…? Unsure of committing to any drastic change, you decide to leave this sadistic choice to later…

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>>3556819

Either way, Tuesday night arrives and you find yourself outside a nice-looking 6th floor apartment flat. You wouldn’t call this extremely wealthy, but this is really fancy for your standards. You’re in the Northern District of the city after all! All the rich people buy places up here! You knock on the door…

“Finally! Welcome!” The boisterous person who opens the door is none other than the massive man from yesterday! That scientist! Oh gosh, no! He’s so excited he immediately grabs your hands and pulls them up and down! You hope you don’t drop your stuff! “Oh my, it’s shiny buttocks! Haha! Yes! Great!” He’s even happier now…! Oh shucks, why did he have to recognize you? “Oh, why so red?” Isn’t it obvious? Your heart is going out of control! You just want to leave! But you’re doing your best and you have a job to do!

What do you say to this very enthusiastic giant?!

>“It’s against our policy to touch the maids, sir.” Unless you consent, which isn’t the case here!
>“Because we’re holding hands…” You have never held hands with a man for this long before…
>“Because of what happened yesterday…” He called you shiny buttocks for crying out loud!
>“I’m Amelia. I’ll be your maid today.” Do your job. Be strong for your spiny son Cactington!
>Just run away in shame! You practiced it more or less yesterday! Put your legs to use again!
>Write In.

>>3556823
>>“It’s against our policy to touch the maids, sir.” Unless you consent, which isn’t the case here!
Prim and proper

>>3556823
>“It’s against our policy to touch the maids, sir.” Unless you consent, which isn’t the case here!
>“I’m Amelia. I’ll be your maid today.” Do your job. Be strong for your spiny son Cactington!
DOING OUR BEST SINCE 198X, OR SOMETHING

>>3556823
>>“I’m Amelia. I’ll be your maid today.” Do your job. Be strong for your spiny son Cactington!
May his spines never be loosed.

>>3556501
>Leave the city

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“I-It’s against our policy to touch the maids, sir…” Unless you consent, which isn’t the case here.
“Pardon me! My mistake!” He stops holding your hands and doesn’t look one bit bothered. His accent makes it difficult for you to understand him. “Got a little excited. Not going to happen.” His white teeth keep on shining in your direction, visible even with the apartment floor’s lighting. His carefree attitude is helping you ease into this a little…

“I’m A-Amelia. I’ll be your maid t-today.” Despite all your efforts, you feel uneasy with a man who saw your… posterior. Covered or not, it doesn’t change what happened…

“Relax! Don’t bite!” He invites you inside, pointing to himself with that last part. The place is half research lab, half apartment, one full disaster! Already from the foyer, you can see research papers and documents and folders lying all over the place… no surface is safe from them, even the walls! Yes, he has corkboards nailed to the walls and papers pinned to them! From where you are at the door, you can make out a small slice of the living room… and the disaster clearly doesn’t stop here. “Pardon for this.” He points to the disaster laying in front of you.
“…I need the supplies for me to clean.” You start fidgeting involuntarily. You just want to be done with this as quickly as you can. This is going to take forever as it is…
“Oh no. Not here. This is fine.” He’s asking you to ignore his disaster?! How does this make any sense? Isn’t that what he hired you for? “The kitchen. This way, Amelia!” He leads the way and you follow.

So you described this place in your mind as half research lab, half apartment, right? Well, you forgot to add half bakery! And make no mistake: ‘half-baked’ is the best way to describe this culinary chaos, alongside something like ‘gunked!’ Flour coating the cabinets, spilled milk dripping off the counters… intact eggs laying precariously near the counter edges… broken eggs splattered all over the place and on so many unlikely surfaces, there’s no way they’re not intentionally thrown… There’s so much more here, but your brain begins to rebel against your will the more you try to make sense of it all…

Among the mass clutter of ingredients and cooking supplies in various states, you see what are clearly two unfinished cakes on the counter… and three boxes that you assume contain more of these…

“This what I need you.” He wants you to clean this kitchen. “I forgot! I’m Professor Bombastus. Sorry for this late introduction.” He bounces randomly between speaking decently to using basic gestures and words. It’s not getting any easier to understand. If you have to guess, it’s that he knows a set number of phrases perfectly, but becomes unintelligible once he needs to articulate one of his own.

>>3557078

“Uhm… I…” You want to say ‘nice to meet you!’, but your anxiety is rising thanks to the effort of understanding what he’s saying. Attempting to figure out where to even start cleaning this mess doesn’t help your aching head either…

“I want you pretty girl, but you don’t seem good. How can I help?” He tilts his head waiting for an answer… “Oh, I understand. You find confusing my hobby? I make great cake in my off time. Ladies love it. Here, for a better relationship.” Master Bombastus cuts a slice of his cake and gives it to you.

…How do you respond?

>Thank him and eat the cake. The agency is desperate to keep this client. You will do your best.
>“It’s against our policy to feed the maids, master.” There is absolutely no policy regarding this.
>“I’m not hungry… Sorry about that.” Reject the offer as plainly and politely as you possibly can.
>”Can I take it home later? Work first, sir.” Taking a slice doesn’t mean you’re forced to eat it, right?
>Write In.

>>3557082
>Thank him and eat the cake. The agency is desperate to keep this client. You will do your best

>>3557082
>>”Can I take it home later? Work first, sir.” Taking a slice doesn’t mean you’re forced to eat it, right?

>>3557082
>”Can I take it home later? Work first, sir.” Taking a slice doesn’t mean you’re forced to eat it, right?

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>>3557082

“C-Can I take it home later? Work first, M-Master.” Taking a slice doesn’t mean you’re forced to eat it, right? Aw shucks, you didn’t notice at first but you just called him Master! And it felt natural! What has this job done to you?!
“Yes, of course! Please tell me what you think later. I lack testers. Pretty girls’ opinions are the best.” He pats you on the back like there is no problem with the world. You wanted to remind him about the policy for a second, but he’s being rather nice and you don’t want to ruin the dynamic.
“Thank you…” You whisper without realizing it. He’s kind of a lovable goof, huh? You might get used to this…

That was until you looked away from him and your eyes fell on this horrific kitchen again. This is going to make you work for that money, isn’t it?

“I’m working next room. I trust you. Anything you want, I can provide.” Master Bombastus gives you a thumbs up as he leaves you to your work. Guess it’s time to grit your teeth and start wiping those stains…!

…You’re slightly proud of yourself as you finished cleaning in record time! With the way you’re getting good so hard, maybe you can be someone’s housewife one day! Sounds lovely, and you mean it!

“Amelia, nice job!” Master Bombastus arrives and gives you a standing ovation. You feel warmer than embarrassed right now. “You seem really capable. That was test.”
“Test?” What does he mean? He called you to clean his kitchen, that’s it.
“Yes. Pretty girls are best. But job must be good. You’re an expert, bravo.” He continues clapping and ignoring your confusion. “I’ll call you forever! I saw flyer the other day. I thought it was weird, so I had to do it! Want to immerse in culture! Assistant wanted to call room service, but I know this country’s customs never disappoint! Viva you weirdos!”
“Hooray…?” You take the compliment. At least, you want to think it’s a compliment…

Your job is done here, but you finished with astonishing speed. There is still some lingering questions in your mind regarding the flame bug from the other day. Now would be a good chance to ask with Bombastus’ mood going strong. Or you could also save it for next time, seeing as he’ll be sure to call you back again?

What do you do?

>Ask! You’re curious by nature! What was that the other day? That black fireball and that chase?
>Don’t ask! You’re just starting, you don’t want to make things awkward and risk not being called again!
>Write In.

(This is the last reply of the week. We continue Saturday most likely in this thread, if not, I’ll say something.)

>>3557221
>>Don’t ask! You’re just starting, you don’t want to make things awkward and risk not being called again!
Go home and shower before bed

>>3557221
>Don’t ask! You’re just starting, you don’t want to make things awkward and risk not being called again!

>>3557221
>Don’t ask! You’re just starting, you don’t want to make things awkward and risk not being called again!

>>3557221
>Don’t ask! You’re just starting, you don’t want to make things awkward and risk not being called again!

DYB Quest. Where the players ruin QM's plans by being a compliant worker and community member.

>>3557221
>Ask! You’re curious by nature! What was that the other day? That black fireball and that chase?

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While curiosity is getting the best of you, you’re just starting out with this client. You don’t want to make things awkward from the get-go and risk not being called again! Having clients request you repeatedly means more money after all! Time to go back to your cube!

“Yes. Your job is done here. Do I take you home? Bus stop? Subway?” While you appreciate him genuinely wanting to help you, you aren’t that comfortable accepting transportation help from your clients.
“Don’t worry about m-me.” You manage to mumble out as you pack up your things. Couldn’t even stop yourself stuttering at the end there, could you?

As you open the apartment door to leave, you get surprised by the other scientist from yesterday! Prof. Bombastus called her “his assistant.” The white-coated woman’s critical gaze scans you from top to bottom for a full ten seconds. Once she finishes staring you down behind her glasses, she quietly facepalms much harder than normal. Holding your embarrassment in, you excuse yourself and apologize if you did something wrong.

Rubbing her forehead, the disgruntled assistant waves you off with her other hand. “Ugh. Look, it’s all right. Don’t mind me. Thanks for the help.” She responds as kindly as her bad mood lets her.
“Haha! Assistant! What’s up?” Prof. Bombastus booms from behind you. Because curiosity is getting the best of you, and you’re kind of shocked by how loud the professor was, you’re going to watch this scene unfold…

“Professor! I thought I told you to call room service!” The sweatered girl has no problem being rude to her professor. She walks past you without sparing you a glance. “I didn’t say ‘maid’ service! And don’t give me that ‘you misheard’ excuse again.”
“Room service? Are you going to tell her she won’t have no job no more?” Prof. Bombastus gives you a concerned look before looking back at his assistant. “Pretty girl did splendid job in kitchen. Why take that away from her?”
“D-Don’t put me on the spot like that!” The assistant rapidly closes the gap between them and elbows him in the stomach! Your well-meaning Master collapses to the ground in pain while the culprit stands over him. “Great, now she thinks I’m a psycho. Way to ruin everything.”
“Ugh…” The Professor groans in pain before attempting to pull himself to a kneeling position. “You… aren’t doing yourself any favors… young lady…” He puffs out between gasps. Did he just drop the accent?!
“Shut it!” The assistant stomps him on the back vicious enough to splay his limbs flat! Ouch!

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>>3563384

“…Pardon her manners. My assistant Dolores’ behavior is true to her name’s origin: very very painful!” The Professor manages to lift a trembling finger, pointing up at his tormentor.
The remorseless Dorothy lets out a chilling animal growl! “For the last time… My. Name. Is. DOROTHY! D-O-R-O-T-H-Y!” Sparing no second, she kicks the professor’s body in the side with each letter she spells! “Someone needs to keep you in check, you senile old man! If I gotta be that person, I will.”

“…I regret nothing!” Prof Bombastus groans out. He also gives you two a very shaky thumbs up! This eccentric man is much more immature than you expected… and masochistic too!
Shaking her head at the not-quite-broken man at her feet, Dorothy turns to you. Any hostility or intensity her face had is replaced by a tired understanding. “Look, I apologize for all this. You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? You’re free to go.” Dorothy is being very respectful with you, but you get the feeling she isn’t quite done with your Master…

Nodding a few times, you silently make your leave from the apartment building. Perhaps you aren’t going to be so lucky to get called here again as you thought…

Either way, that was the end of that day. And the week raged on…

Thursday, a pushy Uwikar wanted to invite you somewhere to hang out outside of work hours. You politely declined, but it didn’t seem to deter his efforts…

Saturday, after work, you bought new CotF sportswear… Hopefully these will last for longer… or tear somewhere less liable to cause indecent exposure!

And now it’s the best day of the week: (You) Day! And sadly, there is a good chance it will not be a solitary journey. Two people’s invites wait for your response! Who would have thought having this phone would work against you?! You’re not a rude enough person to leave them unanswered!

What will you do?!

>Calin invited you to go somewhere undisclosed she says you would like. You should go!
>Uwikar invited you to go to one seemingly important geek convention. You should go!
>Reject all offers and take a break today. It’s not a (You) day if you share it with others…
>Write In.

>>3563387
>>Write In.
We need a stungun in case Uwikar gets even more pushy, and sure why not lets try this socializing you've heard so much about.
>Calin invited you to go somewhere undisclosed she says you would like. You should go!

>>3563387
This >>3563400 if stunguns are even legal to own in this dictatorship

>>3563387
>Uwikar invited you to go to one seemingly important geek convention. You should go!

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Well Calin invited you to go… somewhere? Maybe it’s time to try this adult socializing thing you’ve heard so much about! You give Calin a quick call and confirm this meeting! You’re going to get together at 12:30 PM! Hooray for this blooming friendship! You need to get to the city-renowned Shopping District of Pokyo Lokyo, which is also the Northern District! The station should be the best place to wait for her…

Out of your tiny closet, you pull one of the few cute dresses you’ve been saving for special occasions! Fixing your hair just right, taking extra care so your makeup shines just right… Perfect! Time to be the best possible version of yourself! It’s morning! A great day is ahead of you!

…

…


…It’s afternoon. You have been waiting for hours for Calin to show up, but it’s obvious she’s not going to appear. Even the security guards have asked you what’s wrong from watching you waiting for so long here. Your legs are giving up, you’re hungry, and you feel a twisting ache in your chest…

You called her a bunch of times and she never picked up. It went straight to voicemail. Maybe she had an accident? Yes, that must be it! Oh no, that means something bad happened to her! Oh geez, how are you supposed to communicate with her if she doesn’t answer your phone?! Now you’re worried too! Aw shucks, aw shucks…

…

…Why are you lying to yourself? You know exactly why she hasn’t shown up here. She hates you too. It’s school all over again. It’s the girls’ dorm all over again. Nothing’s changed. Nothing ever changes.

…

It hurts.

…?

>Go back to your cube where you belong.
>Write In.

>>3563525
>Wait just a bit longer

>>3563538
This, but grab a bite to eat at a vendor stall or something.

>>3563525
This >>3563538 >>3563541

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Something must have happened to her. If it did, then she might call you back if her phone still works and she’s able. Might as well get something to eat here in the station while you wait more… There was a stall with nice well-rounded food, veggies, and healthy juice. It was delicious but it doesn’t exactly make you feel any better…

You came back to the spot you were. You decided to wait, so you will.

…

Why are you doing this to yourself?

…

It’s nighttime. She wasn’t going to come. You knew it. Why did you decide to stay here? What are you even doing?

…

To make matters worse, one of your ex-classmates from school appeared out of nowhere. Lexi Wallace. One of the worst of the bullies you had to endure in that hell. She, of course, immediately recognized you and started with the usual.

She asked if you’re waiting for a date or something. You couldn’t muster the courage to respond.

She asked if someone ghosted your ugly nerd self instead. You couldn’t muster the courage to respond.

She started to mock you and rubbed in how successful her life is now that she’s in college. You couldn’t 02#5r the c?12age to respond.

She called you a failure, a piece of living scum too bland and too weak to wipe herself off the face of the earth already. 123 902013’4 02#59 390 20 0294&58.

The same security guard from before came to the scene to stop her harassing you. She just laughed her way inside the station without one ounce of remorse. The guard gritted his teeth but couldn’t do much else for some reason. You would think a security guard would be able to do his job around here. You would think literally anybody could stop Lexi Wallace – but that’s an idea you gave up on long ago.

Lexi is a bitch. Yes, you said bitch. You can think mean things in your mind and mean every word and nobody can stop you. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch. She’s a bitch.

…

It sounds coming from far away, but you hear the security guard asking you if you’re okay. You’ve never said a word to either her or him since this little encounter started.

Calin is nowhere to be found and your phone has received no new messages. As expected.

…?

>“I’m fine.”
>Write In.

>>3563630
>“I’m fine. Thanks.”

>>3563630
>Write In.
Hey, you know one of those baseball galleries that stay open late.
You should go.
Hit some baseballs for a while.
Nothing like hitting things with a bat to release stress.

>>3563630
This >>3563635 then this >>3563654

>>3563654
Hitting things is fun, maybe we should learn how to hit fight things better?

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“I’m fine. Thanks.” You respond to the security guard. He shakes his head probably thinking you’re not. “I didn’t even know who that girl was.”
“If you say so. Have a good day and… hang in there. There is always a next time, madam.” He tips his hat to you. Probably thinks he said something wise you didn’t already hear a hundred times before. Heading out of the station, you think hitting things might be the stress relief you need. Instead of considering other people for that, you know there is a batting center about eight blocks away. You have more than enough spare cash on-hand for that, because you were hoping to have adult socializing today…

Boxing, Baseball and Soccer are the holy trinity of sports in Prancijan. You could argue it would have been better if the country liked Basketball instead of Soccer to have the Holy Brinity or a better pun related to that. But screw people who like Basketball, they are the worst! Nobody likes them, not even you!

Anyway, you spend some money in the battling center! With a metal bat in your hands you’re ready to make some home runs!

You hit the first ball! It ended up going backwards…

You hit the second ball! It ended up going backwards as well…

You’re pissed. You’re tired. You’re done. And these balls are going to get hit whether they strike the mark or not!

You hit them. You hit them all! You don’t know where they are falling, but you are hitting them, and which each smack you let your fury out. Your frustrations! Your misery! Your hate! You’re breaking free! You tell everyone (mentally) to screw themselves!

…

…

Ignoring the aches in your arms, you feel slightly better. Crying inside your bed has nothing on this. You should totally make this part of your routine from now on…

Now you have to go back to your soulless cube. Cactington is sure going to love this story…

At your cube, you started drinking the beer you had and talked to Cactington until you fell asleep.

Week 7

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other. Your delicious coffee gives you the strength you need! You love coffee! Coffee loves you too! And you know who also loves you? Beer! You drank some too! It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

>Go to work.
>Lea<e
>Write In.

>>3563798
>Go to work.

>>3563798
>>Go to work.
Take our pair of exercise clothes with us so we can jog on the way back.

>>3563798
what >>3563802 said

>>3563798
>>3563802
this

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Oh magnificent Cactington, your green son, your heat-loving companion… he makes you so happy! He needs his weekly H2O before you go! You wonder if that bud on his head will blossom into a beautiful flower someday! Just imagining it makes you so excited! You would [insert physical manifestation of love here], but you’re not stupid.

For some reason, you got a call from the agency telling you your shifts were swapped. Uwikar is now on Tuesday and the Professor Thursday. That’s it. Before leaving to work, you also took your new sportswear with you – coming back home jogging would be a good way to get more exercise in outside of (You) day!

Monday, you confronted Calin about what happened! She told you her mom suddenly got sick and she needed to take her to the hospital. Later, she found out her phone was discharged and her anxiety didn’t let her call you to apologize. Now she’s apologizing profusely for what happened. You pardoned her without much trouble, but next time she will have to go to your cube if she wants to hang out. You will forgive, but you will never forget. You swore that years ago…

So she’s not a CotF after all… Figures, what with her clothes being ordinary ordinary and not CotF ordinary…

Tuesday, Master Uwikar showed you a bunch of pics of the convention you didn’t go to! The place looks amazing! So many colors! So many art stands! So many games! He did take a lot of pics of those risque looking cosplays… He says you could go together next time. You politely refused again.

Wednesday, your boss had a little ‘chat’ with you. The formerly-obstinate lady is content with your efforts and is not thinking about changing you to another department. What a relief! Also your jogging efforts are being mildly successful, if the burning aches lessening is a sign of adapting. At this rate you might just be making actual gains!

Thursday arrived and it’s time for you to clean Master Bombastus’s apartment. This time the place looks much neater than last time, minus the same papers and documents pinned and laying about everywhere. As for the man himself, Bombastus seems glad to see you! Trying not to think about it too much, you hand him the labcoat he gave you that one time. He seems slightly surprised and very glad about this. How much do these cost anyway?

“Professor? What’s this? You brought her here again?! You promised to call room service this time!” Dorothy appears out of nowhere to berate your master after you finished cleaning his kitchen again. Oh that reminds you, you need to do his bedroom as well…
“I did not promise! But don’t worry! I’m paying it out of my own pocket!” Professor Bombastus doesn’t care one bit, thankfully.
“Professor, you’re funding this whole research! Don’t waste our resources!” Dorothy is not one bit happy again.

“S-Sorry.” You shouldn’t be apologizing, but the woman is so intimidating you might as well!

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>>3563954

“Don’t sorry! Amelia is not waste of money! Amelia is GREAT! You’re a GREAT!”
“What's your obsession with her?” Dorothy is slightly disgusted at the Prof. “She’s just a plain nobody in a foreign fetish outfit.” Now you would be disgusted too, but she’s got a point… even though you don’t like admitting it…
“…What? I like pretty girls in pretty outfits. Clean service is boring. You boring too since you don’t want to either. But Amelia is shining beacon of hope, like her buttocks.” Prof. Bombastus stands his ground! His size makes him even more of an unshakable giant mountain!

Meanwhile, you hide your face in shame off to the side. You’ve been doing that a lot the past several weeks… Maybe it’s becoming a bad habit?

“O-One more word like that and I’m reporting you for sexual harassment!” Dorothy blushes as well. An angry red or an embarrassed red? You can’t quite tell… “Just be content I’m eating your stupid cake, you oaf…”
Professor Bombastus bristles in place. “WHAT? Stupid?! My cake is AMAZING and highly intelligent! Right?” The bombastic man turns to you, eyes full of expectation…

You… kind forgot to taste the cake he gave you in-between working, jogging, and suffering. Whoops!

“No! D-Don’t tell me you forgot?!” Master is hurt! “…Well, no problem! Have plenty! Here! Eat it at once! Enjoy your trip to Sweet Valhalla!” He smiles and hands you a slice of cake on a plate. Yup, that’s definitely orange cake! Not your favorite, but not the type you hate either.
“Forget the stupid cake, she needs to sign a waiver! We can’t simply leak our own secrets to anybody you decide to fancy for no reason! The research is in danger with her here!”
“Forget the cake?! You out of your mind?!” Master Bombastus grits his teeth. “The cake generates revenue too! I say this many times! Why you insist on being anti-cake?!”

The two researchers continue their heated argument with each other… You would worry the neighboring flats would start complaining about the noise, but they’re all probably used to it by now…

On the other hand… You are still curious about last time. That flickering black thing you narrowly avoided was not a fly…

What do you do?

>“What research, if you don’t mind me asking? That thing almost hit me that day.” Finally some answers!
>Ask to sign this waiver so they have no option but to always request you! Time to secure that money!
>Eat the cake and give him your opinion. Worst case, you can just get a glass of water and drink up.
>Disappear into the apartment and keep doing your job. This is not worth concerning yourself over…
>Write In.

(Last reply of the day, we continue tomorrow.)

>>3563955
>Eat the cake and give him your opinion. Worst case, you can just get a glass of water and drink up.
>“What research, if you don’t mind me asking? That thing almost hit me that day.” Finally some answers!
PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT

>>3563955
>“What research, if you don’t mind me asking? That thing almost hit me that day.” Finally some answers!
Time for plot

>>3563955
>“What research, if you don’t mind me asking? That thing almost hit me that day.” Finally some answers!

It's plot time baybeeeeee

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>>3563955

Since you’re too shy to interrupt their shouting, you decided to eat a little piece of the cake you were given.

…

…

?!!

A weird sensation spreads itself through your body… Your knees are shaking and you have to sit in an empty chair before your legs give out. This is too delicious! A miracle inside your mouth! And this isn’t even your favorite flavor cake! To think your Master could make something this perfect after ruining his kitchen that much… Just imagine the possibilities…!

“What’s wrong?” Dorothy walks up to you, her cheeks full on red for some reason. She stopped yelling midway just to check on you, huh? “You made a really strange face just now.”
“S-Strange…?” Now that you think about it, you feel a lot more tired than a minute ago and you haven’t even started working. “I just ate some cake…” You look down at your plate, now completely empty except for a few crumbs. When did you finish the rest?

“Ooooh! What did you think?” Master Bombastus asks you from the kitchen’s doorway.
“Don’t say anything to him.” Dorothy tells you in a worn-out deadpan voice. “He’s not entitled to your opinion, no matter what he does. Got that?”
“Uhm… A-All right?” You can’t even describe the sensation you just felt anyway. But now that they’re both paying attention to you again, this gives you the chance to ask some questions you’ve had in the back of your mind. Setting the plate aside, you begin to open with an easy one. “I-I’ve been wondering since we met… W-What research are you doing, if you don’t mind me asking? That thing almost hit me that day.”

“Hey, hey, hey! I told you we can’t disclose any information unless you sign a waiver. Here, let me…” Dorothy pulls out a napkin and a pen from her pocket and quickly starts writing something on it. “Here. Sign there.” She tries to hand you both things. The napkin’s text is illegible and half of the thing is smudged with ink. Is she really serious?
“B-But…” Signing a napkin shouldn’t be legally binding, right? It speaks volumes of you that you’re an adult and you still don’t understand these things…

Suddenly, Prof Bombastus moves Dorothy away rough enough that it might be a shove. His irate assistant opens her mouth then quickly shuts it, taking a step back in the process. Master locks eyes with you, his serious expression lacking any and all humor. Your arms begin to feel like a freezer opened next to them …

“Amelia. What did you just say?” Master Bombastus’s new attitude is making you nervous again. His accent is also not as pronounced as before. This is a side of him you’ve never expected…
“I’m sorry for p-prying.!” You still need this job!
“Repeat what you said, please. You said something about a thing. What thing exactly?”

>>3565577


How do you respond?

>“I thought you were chasing a black fire mosquito thing?”
>“Sorry. I’m a bit lost here. What are you trying to ask me?”
>“The machine you were holding that day. What was that?”
>Write In.

>>3565585
>>“I thought you were chasing a black fire mosquito thing?”
Oh noes, our ability to see the flames is genetic?

>>3565585
This >>3565595

>“I thought you were chasing a black fire mosquito thing?”

>>3565585
>“I thought you were chasing a black fire mosquito thing?”

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“I t-thought you were chasing a black fire mosquito thing…?” This is almost too much to handle, but you answer him anyway. Your Master wants you to, and you don’t want to be never called back again!
“Black what? Could you describe it in more detail please?” Dorothy is now as interested in you as Master is, to the point of disregarding her napkin contract. You’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown with both of them being so close, but you have to stay strong…!
“…One second. I need to bring in something. Please wait.” Prof Bombastus leaves the room for something. Dorothy in the meantime reassures you nothing bad is going to happen. You don’t know that for sure though…

Eventually, Bombastus walks back into the kitchen and places a lantern-esque cylinder onto the table. Sure enough, there is a black flame floating in the center about the size of both your hands together as fists. If you lit a torch, removed the flame completely from the stick, and made it pitch black like tar, then it would be similar to what you are seeing right now. Watching it writhe and flicker inside, you notice the flame constantly moving towards the glass outside it as if to escape, but something always seems to pull it back to the center and closer to the cylinder’s base…

“Now, Amelia… What do you see inside this container? Calm down and speak as clearly as possible.”

Taking a deep breath and swallowing the tension back, you poorly describe what you’re seeing. The way it moves, the color it has, everything you can think of to convey to Professor Bombastus and his assistant. When you finish, you blink hard and manage to pry your gaze away from the object inside the container.

“My god, this is incredible…” Bombastus looks back and forth from you and the jar. “Just for you to understand, to us at best looks blurred for a fraction of a second at random. But you dear, you have the ability to see them!”
“Professor, is that the reason you were so pushy to have her here?! You knew about this?!” Dorothy is even more shocked, but in a good way.
“Huh…?” Master Bombastus looks even more blindsided by Dorothy’s comment! “Oh y-yeah, of course! I always knew about Amelia’s potential! I noticed she moved away when our little friend got closer to her! Haha! Yes!”
“Wow! You’re incredible Professor Bombastus! I’m sorry for ever doubting you!” Dorothy’s eyes are shining with respect!

…What a big fat lie! He was staring at his machine the whole time! You want to call him out on it, but Dorothy’s new found respect for his employer will ease the bad relationship between those two. You don’t want to ruin that because it might ruin your chances of being called back here again!

>>3565821

“I told you we need to be sharp. In our profession, our observational skills are paramount. Scientists are merely observers of what was once believed impossible!” Master is a fraud! Fraud! And what he says makes no sense! Though, in his defense, he saw your buttocks that time too. Maybe he’s onto something…?
“W-What’s going on?” It’s such a simple question, but you hope it doesn’t fall on deaf ears.
“Ahem. Yes, let me explain…”

Prof Bombastus goes into a large tirade about their incredible research, and you mean that. All scientific details are lost on you in the wake of all the words. From what you could gather, they are investigating something about ‘the soul energy’ or something equally stupid. Like, the electric energy that pulses through nerve cells would be considered a soul? What?! You don’t get it, but the thing you’re seeing right now is supposed to be a soul without a body. Maybe. You don’t know. Neither do they for that matter; this is all speculation on their part…

“S-So you guys killed a person and this is his soul…?!” Oh god! You’re next!!!
“It’s not an actual soul. We are not dealing with actual souls as something from a cheap fantasy novel. Don’t be idiotic.” Dorothy interrupts you before your stupid mind could race any faster. “Point is, we think this is raw soul energy or the ridiculous name Bombastus gave it. It’s impossible for the human eye to locate them… at least, that’s what we thought until we met you.”

“Amelia, we need your help.” Bombastus goes directly to the point they were waiting to make. “I want you to join our research. I beg you!” He holds both of your hands at the same time! This is against the agency’s policy! “Your input and senses could make all the difference! We can make sense of the rest of our data if we have you with us! Please!”

What do you do?!

>This sounds so out of your league you don’t want any part of it! You’re just a regular maid!
>Remind him about the policy. No touching! This isn’t answering him, but rules are rules!
>Say you would accept, but you’re not even sure what you’re supposed to do to help them.
>Accept immediately! For once, there is something useful you can do! No way you’ll refuse!
>Write In.

>>3565823
>Say you would accept, but you’re not even sure what you’re supposed to do to help them.
This feels more in-character. If they pay Ema to do this participation, then that's even better!

>>3565823
>Say you would accept, but you’re not even sure what you’re supposed to do to help them.

>>3565831
This, but let them know that you have work to do, so you can pay bills and stuff.

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>>3565823
I'm having trouble here!

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“I w-would accept, but I’m not even s-sure what I’m supposed to d-do…” Or even if you’re going to get paid… Leaving your chair, you take a few steps back close to one of the counters. “I have my j-job to do. I have bills to pay…” You hold up your sponge. You’re not sure when you picked it up or if you were holding it the whole time, but you have it now.
“Naturally, you will officially join the research team here. You will become our handywoman in full capacity. Your main job will be to watch our specimen while we run tests on him, and report to us any changes you see. With your help we can run a number of tests we weren’t capable of before.” Dorothy starts explaining, thankfully without the confusing jargon from before. “Despite this being a side project we’re really passionate about, I’m sure Professor Bombastus will offer you a decent wage for your services. Another benefit is that you won’t need to use that disgustingly tacky dress here anymore. Sounds good? Just… don’t accept cakes as part of the payment, okay? I don’t know how they taste, but they can’t possibly be any good.”

Professor Bombastus regains his composure after enduring that remorseless betrayal!

“Hold on, assistant! You’re jumping the gun here!” Master Bombastus strikes a cowboy stance, destroying the serious atmosphere. “It’s better if I hire Amelia every day with the maid service. It’s GREAT for everyone. The university will cover the cost, I can allocate all my spare cash to the project, and our pretty lady Amelia will keep looking cute!”
“W-Why is that last part important…?” This maid business just keeps confusing Dorothy every time…
“Morale.” Master Bombastus smiles warmly.

Dorothy promptly elbows him in the stomach just like last week. This woman is terrifying.

“Professor! We cannot afford to lose her! We need to ensure the most comfortable environment for her sake! You think she loves wearing that cheap costume? Even if we hire her through those sketchy services, there is no need to make her do her usual charade! Please think of the project, not of your own personal desires!” Dorothy fumes at your Master. “Now I know it’s not even your money! What’s the matter with you? Why do you always have to make everyone around you so uncomfortable?!”
“I understand… My apologies.” You will never forget this day: the day you saw a great man lose his will to live. The maid costume seems to be great for male morale… to the detriment of everybody else…

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>>3566184

“…How does that sound to you? Pretty easy, right? If there is anything we can do or promise to convince you, please inform us. I will do anything to help. This ability of yours will help us greatly enough that you warrant such treatment.” So desperate for your help that even this cruel Dorothy woman is willing to work with you?! You’re not too sure how to feel about all this, but you can’t deny it feels nice to be wanted.

You can’t accept a full-time job unless it is CotF approved, so this is the best next thing – this will surely give you much-needed money to spare in your daily life and on (You) days…

How do you respond to this once-in-a-lifetime work offer?!

>Accept their offer. You will do your best no matter what comes your way! You promised!
>Accept their offer. You will wear the maid costume just to make Master Bombastus happy!
>Accept their offer – with the condition Dorothy will wear the maid costume from now on!
>Accept their offer – with the condition you all go have fun activities together every Saturday!
>Ask them to give you a week to think about it. There’s a lot to unpack and think through…
>Decline. You have a bad feeling about all this. Weird supernatural things? No thank you!
>Write In.

(Last reply of the day. We continue tomorrow. Sorry for the short session.)

>>3566188
>Accept their offer. You will do your best no matter what comes your way! You promised!

>>3566188
>>Accept their offer. You will do your best no matter what comes your way! You promised!
Ask them if they can get it certified through CotF, cause your current jobs suck ass.

>>3566216
supporting this we should try to get this certified.

>>3566188
This >>3566216

>>3566188
>>3566216
Yeah, this.

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You will do your best no matter what comes your way! You promised yourself that day so long ago…!

“O. K.! I’ll do it!” You pump your fists and try to look as determined as possible! Bombastus raises his arms to the ceiling in victory, while Dorothy looks relieved. “…B-But is there any possibility to get this job certified through CotF? I don’t really like my job…”

“You’re a CotF?” Dorothy says a bit too loud, then regains her composure. “I shouldn’t be surprised, knowing what line of work you’re employed in. It is entirely possible, though I will leave it to the Professor to sort this out.” She turns to the eccentric large man. Your Master still faces the ceiling with his arms out, basking in the glory of his kitchen light. “Ask the university if you can hire her as your secretary. I’ll sort the rest of the papers on my end.”

After a silent moment passes, Bombastus returns to his usual bombastic self. “Brilliant idea, assistant! The process will take a while and I can’t assure you it’s going to work. In the meantime, I hope you’re fine with what I proposed before. And yes, as much as I regret to admit it, there will be no need for the maid outfit.” Everybody is on board with the plan! Nothing is really going to change short term, except maybe your hopes for the future…
“Getting CotF approved could prove troublesome. We’ll do what we can.” Dorothy nods to herself a few times. “…Now that that’s settled, sign the waiver.” She holds out the napkin from before up to you…

“Bah! We will sort out paperwork later!” Bombastus’s accent is back. Where did it go and why? “Welcome aboard, Amelia!” He grabs your hands and moves them up and down vigorously, not content with simply shaking your hand. You want to ask what’s the deal with your Master’s speech patterns, but…

“If you’re wondering what’s the deal with Bombastus’ stupid accent, it’s quite simple. He cannot be bothered to speak clearly most of the time. He’s lazy. That’s literally the only reason for it.” Dorothy outs your Master’s secret. From the corner of your eye, you spot him spasm for a second. The betrayal must be cutting deep… “Don’t indulge him. Don’t try to make out what’s he’s saying. Don’t encourage him to continue his dumb charade. Force him to speak like a decent scientist, or else he’s not going to be the only one punished. Capiscé?”
“Y-Yes.” You fidget in place, shuffling your feet and generally not sure what to think about this.

“Sheesh, relax. You’re making me feel like the bad guy here.” Dorothy starts to mimic you without realizing it. It only makes you feel even more awkward…
“Assistant, two seconds ago you were threatening her. What do you expect?” Prof Bombastus says in his serious tone.

>>3568194

“…Ugh, I’ll work on that.” Dorothy checks her watch. “Sheesh, I was getting excited to experiment today, but look at the time. We have to go already.” Wait, what does she mean? The kitchen still has about a quarter of it left dirty!

“We? Amelia hasn’t finished clea—”
“It’s not her job anymore, remember?” Dorothy grabs your arm and draws closer to you. Moving her face next to yours, you hear her whisper in your ear. “I repeat, do not even consider indulging him.”
“A-All right.” She’s too intimidating to say no!

“I packed a slice of cake for you two.” Prof Bombastus hands you and Dorothy two small boxes. “At least try them out for me! The cakes are important! All input is valuable!”
“Ugh… Fine. Whatever.” Dorothy takes one of the boxes. She’s not interested in sweets? That’s a first.

“T-Thank you.” You grab the other one for yourself. If it’s anything like the slice you sampled, this might help you during the hard times. “B-Both of you, thank you…” You are finally free from working this awful part time job! You will begin anew! You won’t have to deal with Uwikar or other weird clients anymore!

“Don’t thank us. You work here now, act appropriately.” Dorothy is too mean! You hope she’ll defrost the more time you spend with her. It’s a slim hope, but you never know.
“Assistant! Amelia knows a good environment is imperative for science! You could learn something from her.” Prof Bombastus chimes in.
“…No.” Dorothy glares back.

After another exchange of words and contact information, you and Dorothy left the apartment building. She offered to give you a ride to the station on her motor scooter, which you gladly accepted. Closing your eyes and feeling the cool night air blow over you, you begin to have thoughts you never expected to have in the past two months…

You couldn’t muster the courage to tell them your name is not Amelia. They will probably find out when they fill the CotF papers they promised you.

And so a new chapter in your life started…

When you were back to your cube, you did a little victory dance. You didn’t care if the neighbor under your cube complains or not.

It’s (You) Day. Professor Bombastus told you he was busy Friday with a meeting with Pokyo Lokyo University staff. You will work on the project Monday (he takes weekends off). You can only imagine how frustrated Dorothy must feel. Oh well.

What do you do?

>Sleep.
>Write In.

>>3568197
>>Write In.
Go to the baseball rink again.

>>3568197
This >>3568199 but attempt to focus your moves and hit things better. Then go get a nice sandwich from a cafe or deli nearby.

>>3568197
Time to practice our swinging arm >>3568199

>>3568199
>>3568202
These

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You know what worked wonders last time? Smashing fastballs as hard as you could over and over! You will really focus this time around instead of just venting your frustrations! Developing your swinging arm can go a long way to helping you do other things. From what you remember, they don’t have rules against clothing so you can go with your sportswear. Jogging and swinging will make this flabby body into something good again!

It wasn’t as long a trip as the first time now that you know your way around this place. As you enter the batting cage with the machine set to the usual speed, you could feel it all over. That’s right: you were in The Zone again! Nothing will stand in your way! Nothing will stop you from forcing this stress out! Nothing will go unsmashed! NOTHING!

The ball machine winding down with the end of your session, you start walking out of the cage sweaty and better than ever… until somebody calls out to you. “NICE WORK!” A random man with sunglasses and a shining smile that blinds you from a distance. He has a cool announcer voice and looks your age, maybe younger.
“T-Thanks?” You scratch the back of your wet head and try not to feel too awkward. Without wasting a second to deal with this guy, you run past him out of the building.
“See you next time!” Oh, he just works here. Guess that makes things less awkward (no, not really.)

After a triumphant swinging session, you went to a café nearby and ate a delicious and balanced sandwich for the delicious and balanced breakfast you never eat. You deserve it. Then you bought a cute little bear plushie, because why not? It’s been a while since you’ve bought a new plushie, and something about this bear calls out to your wallet…

Today was uneventful in the grand scheme of things, but in the smaller scheme of things you succeeded! And that brings you joy! A lot of joy!

Back at your cube you took things lightly and relaxed until it was time to go to sleep!

Week 8

It’s a Monday morning, same as any other. Your delicious coffee gives you the strength you need! You love coffee! Coffee loves you too! It’s 4:30 AM right now, same as every work day you wake up, because your work is on the other side of the city and it takes forever to get there on time. You need to arrive at work by 6:00 AM on the dot, or else you are going to get fired. You don’t want to be fired.

What do you do?

>Go to work.
>Lea<e
>Write In.

>>3568331
>Go to work.

>>3568331
>>Go to work.

>>3568331
>Go to work.

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Oh quirky Cactington, your ironic little friend, your vibrant companion… he makes you so happy! He needs his weekly H2O before you go! He’s as beautiful as ever! You would [insert physical manifestation of love here], but you’re not stupid.

The agency called you early to tell you your week’s schedule. You have to go to Bombastus’ apartment from Monday to Friday. You knew that, but you acted surprised anyway. Sorry Uwikar, your time together was weird, but no hard feelings.

Monday, Calin noticed you’re in a great mood. You pretended it wasn’t a big deal, but you were happy all around. That alone is something incredible you would have never thought possible.

But the rest of the week was more intense than you expected it to be! The first couple of days working with Master Bombastus and Dorothy were grueling. Sitting next to them and writing notes about the flame’s behavior after extremely weird tests wasn’t the most exciting of jobs, but the amount of attention you needed to pay and knowing any errors would cost them possibly weeks of work and resources… It took its toll on you, somewhat. Feeling part of something revolutionary and being with people who actually wanted you around made it all worth it though! Eventually you started getting good at this, almost too good… making the sessions almost relaxing after the mind-numbing frustration of your usual day job.

Dorothy didn’t have the kindest of schedules, so some days she would come late and the crew had to run the experiments in a narrow timeframe. She has work to do in another department at the university; this is a side project for her after all.

During this downtime, Professor Bombastus did his best to make you feel more confident in yourself! He wants every member of his team to feel valued and happy! He called you his 3rd project for this reason. You’re not sure if you’re exactly gaining confidence talking with him about mundane stuff in your life, or if you’re simply opening up to both of them little by little – either way, that should count for something… It wouldn’t be fair if it didn’t.

It was only a week and you were flying high, but all good things come to an end. Your situation is no different. It was halfway through the shift on Friday when both Master Bombastus and Dorothy let you in on their concerns…

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>>3568631

“We’ve hit another roadblock…” An enervated Dorothy collapses in her chair and chomps on another piece of cake Professor Bombastus made. Eventually her distrust of cake wore away and she began to enjoy them a bit too frequently.
“What’s wrong?” You no longer stutter when talking (at least to these two.) The thing is bouncing around inside its container, and every single test you’ve run on it has resulted in some kind of effect. How come they feel you’re not getting anywhere with this?!

“Ame, we can’t determine why it reacts the way it does. Its erratic behavior makes no sense.” Both of them know your real name is Ema by now, but Amelia stuck in them hard and that eventually turned into Ame. The eerie coincidence that Ame is Ema backwards is not lost on you. “Any test we do reveals different results, even if we perform the exact same procedure twice. There’s no consistency in reactions. It’s puzzling…”

“The answer is in front of us, assistant. Do not lose hope.” Bombastus is as heartbroken as Dorothy is, but pretends he isn’t. You know this because the Professor is easier to read than your trashy romance novels. “The fact we managed to contain raw soul energy in a container is a great discovery in and of itself.”
“A discovery that has no practical use. What’s the point of discovering a new energy source if we can’t fuel anything with it?” A hopeless Dorothy barks back. Meanwhile, you walk to the kitchen for the tea you made for everyone. “Having Ame here made us realize we know nothing.”
“Yes, but eliminating wrong answers is good for the investigation. The more we rule out, the further we reach what’s true.”
“We’re running out of questions, Professor! If there is nothing groundbreaking soon, we might as well put the project on the backburner for a while…” Dorothy is already throwing in the towel, huh? What a disappointment coming from her…

You arrive with some fresh cups of tea for both scientists and hand them out. Of course you have one for yourself too.

“Thank you, Ame!” Bombastus grabs his cup with a smile on his face. Dorothy grabs her cup as well but doesn’t say a word. Over the past few days you’ve learned when she’s frustrated she doesn’t acknowledge anyone around her.
“I thought you were researching an actual soul.” You chime in to the Professor.
“For the last time, its raw soul energy.” Dorothy didn’t even let Bombastus respond! She called it a ridiculous name at first, but ended up adopting the terminology imposed harder than the Professor himself. “At this point you should know it. Are you even taking your notes properly?”

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>>3568633

“My, my. Don’t be disrespectful to our greatest contributor.” Oh no, he called her out. This only leads to a bigger fight each time… “Maybe I need to assert my authority better! I’ll shave a part of my eyebrows off like a good Prancijanian would do!” His laughter bounces off the living room walls and sounds four times as loud.

“That’s only a thing thugs do, Professor…” Dorothy pouts.
“Haha! I could put that off! Believe me!”
“Don’t think so…”

“Ame, you have been observing this little guy for a few days. Any hypothesis as to why our little friend is so quirky?” Prof Bombastus drops you a heavy question. You’re not fit to answer this question, but you like humoring the big guy. After giving it some thought, you decide on an answer…
“Maybe he doesn’t like it?” You shrug. “If you zapped me like that, I would be very mad. Souls are still people, you know? Just in another shape and form.” You know it’s not an actual soul, but you say the magic words anyway. At first you thought an angrier Dorothy was intimidating, but later you found her amusing.

“For the last time, it’s not a—!” Dorothy was in the middle of yelling at you, but her eyes grow wider as she realizes something. “Wait. What if it’s alive?”
“Mmm?” Bombastus seems interested in what Dorothy has to say.

“…” Dorothy shakes her head and scoffs. “…No, forget it. It’s preposterous. It’s akin to thinking a radio wave has intelligence.”

“Well, why don’t we test that out? We have nothing to lose.” Bombastus moves in front of the flame container. “Ame, please open the container and try to interact with our little fellow. Tell us what you experience.”
“H-Hold on, Professor! If we open the container, we might lose our specimen! Again!” Dorothy is heavily against this. “And I don’t want to run through the streets for another two hours chasing it down!”
“With our pretty lady’s help capturing it won’t be a hassle.” Bombastus locks eyes with you. “C’mon, Amelia. Try to elicit a response. Direct human contact is the one thing we haven’t tried yet.”

They previously explained they didn’t want you to interact with the black flame mosquito, because they didn’t know what could happen – it is probably not dangerous, but who knows?

What do you do?

>Let’s play with it! For science! Do Your Best!™
>Put on heavier clothing first. It might help you?
>Refuse! This environment is not safe enough!
>Write In.

(Last Reply of the day. We continue tomorrow. Sorry again for the short session.)

>>3568640
>Let’s play with it! For science! Do Your Best!™
THE PLOT
IT CALLS

>>3568640
>Let’s play with it! For science! Do Your Best!™

>>3568640
>Let’s play with it! For science! Do Your Best!™

>>3568640
>>Let’s play with it! For science! Do Your Best!™

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“Yes, professor.” You nod quickly. You’re not going to let them down! You’re going to play with it! For science!
“I already input the password. All that’s left is for you to open the lid.” Bombastus gives you some space for you to work.
“Be careful…” Dorothy isn’t sold on the idea just yet.

You open the lid with one hand. The flame is still being dragged down to the center of the jar thing despite being freed. It doesn’t seem to react any differently to what just happened. Well, guess there’s no turning back now…

…

Oh god! It’s not hot! Feels kinda funny.

…

All you’re doing is petting the flame! You wonder if you should call him a good boy out loud. Can it even hear your voice? Does it matter? You do it anyway! “Who’s a good boy?”
“A-Are you petting the soul energy?” Dorothy looks almost disgusted.
You turn to her. “Yes…?” There’s no shame in your heart for doing this!
“Pay attention to what you’re doing!” Dorothy shouts.

You spin back to the flame and it leaps into your face without warning! You’re falling down, but you keep falling. Something grabs you and arrests your fall, then everything becomes pitch black…

…

You are surrounded by darkness. It almost feels like a dream, or a nightmare… Taking a breath (how can you even breathe here?) you assess the situation. Okay, you can still see your body, you’re standing on a flat surface, you can move your arms unimpeded, and you’re terrified. Great.

What are you supposed to do…?

From the endless dark around you, you hear someone talking to you! It’s a deep raspy voice!

“Aye, aye, welcome! Welcome! Apologies, didn’t have time to decorate! Make yerself at home, child!” The voice talks like a pirate; that’s the closest thing you can think of. Despite being jolly and brash, it lacks all warmth. It’s almost mocking…
“W-What’s going on?”
“A fateful encounter, that’s what!” A humanoid monster emerges from the void! It’s clearly a cat-man, but it’s wearing a strange high-collared outfit with a peaked hat and shoulderpads. “I kid, I kid.” The mystery figure shrugs. “Been a while since I’ve had someone to chat with! And one of my captors at that! Still not interested. Sorry darling, but I’m taking over yer body.”

H-Hold on! What?!

What do you do?!

>“Who are you? How does that even work?”
>“No. I don’t want to. Stop! Don’t do this to me!”
>“Can we figure something out together? Make a deal?”
>Write In.

>>3569655
>“Can we figure something out together? Make a deal?”
So Johnny's mom was participating in a previous war? Is this fucking Fate Stay Night all over again with multiple Grail Wars or some shit?

>>3569655
>“Who are you? How does that even work?”

>>3569655
>“Who are you? How does that even work?”

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“Who are you?” You ask the mystery entity. Normally in a situation like this you’d be too scared to respond, but you feel a sense of great calm instead…
“H-Hey, act the part! Ya should be quakin’ in yet boots, girl… I’m taking over yer body! ‘Member?” The cat-man frowns at you.

“…How does that even work?”

“It just works, damn it! And the best part is there’s absolutely nothin’ ya can do. It’s already too late! Kehehehe.” He starts smirking. It looks exactly like how a cat would smile if they were smug.
“…Doesn’t feel like it.” You touch your body to make sure. Yep! Everything’s still there! Even those excesses around your waist… Working out more often is what you really need… “Are you sure it’s working?”
“100%. It is happenin’. Right now.”
“…I don’t want to be mean, but maybe you should double-check? It shouldn’t hurt.”

“Stop acting so nonchalant about this! I’m taking yer body whether ya like or not! Ya will be my puppet, and I’ll make ya suffer for my own amusement! Ya should be tremblin’ in fear or some shit!” The demon stomps at the invisible floor. Dorothy was more intimidating than him, despite the otherworldly appearance. Maybe you being in a sort of dream explains how relaxed you are in the face of… this well-dressed cat-pirate man.

“S-Sorry, Mr. Cat Monster.” He doesn’t exactly deserve it, holding you captive here… wherever this is. You apologize anyway because that’s just who you are.
“Silence! I don’t want yer pity! And I’m not a cat! I’m your captor fer crying out loud! Show some goddamn respect!” He steps closer to you. Wait, is he walking or floating? You can’t tell anything in here. “Let’s be clear: I’m goin’ to do whatever I please with yer corporeal bein’! Just imagine the consequences! I’m going to mess up yer life!”

You blink at the black spaces where his eyes are supposed to be, and shrug. “I don’t do a good job running it, so you can’t do much worse Mr. Cat Monster.”

“Huh…?” The fancy cat being takes a step back from you, cringing in shock. Then he regains his evil stance as if nothing happened. “D-Don’t ya get it?! I’ll humiliate ya in front of everyone! I know humans love to keep their pride! Surely ya have that much in ya?”
“That happens to me quite frequently anyway. After what I’ve been through, I don’t really have much sense of pride anymore.”
“Agh… Then… Then I’m goin’ to hurt yer friends, yer family, everyone ya love!”
“I don’t have any.” Except for her, but now is not the time to think about that…

>>3569965

“Gah?! Ya don’t?! Well… what about those doc types in white? Ya don’t care about them?” He points up into the black space. Is there even an ‘up’ direction in here? “They’re out there right now, panickin’ about ya! Shame if somethin’ bad happened to them, huh…?” Wow, those are a lot of sharp teeth in that smile. You don’t feel intimidated though; you’ve seen worse cats out at night.
“That would be bad, but I barely know them enough to care…” You kind of like them though, but you’ve known them for only 2 weeks.

If you focus hard enough, you might just hear his bravado deflating… “…What’s wrong with ya? That can’t be normal. Aren’t ya human? Aren’t ya all about bein’ social and shit?”
“I’m not great at it. But I’m doing my best, and that’s what counts.” And lately things have gone slightly better. Not good, not great, but better.
“...So you’re a complete failure at life, huh? No family, no friends, and no dignity. And that’s while doing your best too. Quite pathetic if I say so myself…” He starts smirking again.

…He has a point. This whole interrogation is starting to get boring, but he still has a point.

…?

>“Yeah. I am… Nothing I’m doing can change that…”
>“Seriously, you should check if this is even working.”
>“Why are you doing this to me? What’s going on here?”
>If this is YOUR dream, maybe you can do something?
>Write In.

"Everyone starts somewhere, right?"

>>3569967
>>3570005
This
It's only upward from here boys

>>3569967
This >>3570030

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>>3569967

“Everyone starts somewhere, right?” You were on the verge of imploding multiple times, but you mustered the strength somehow. Inexplicably, this situation hasn’t been dire enough to trigger another response from you.
“Ngh… Yer a stubborn piece of meat, I’ll give you that. What’s worse than a loser who keeps on tryin’?” He looks… conflicted? “I’ll tell ya, another loser who is defeated by her. Fine. It’s yer victory. Congratulations.” He snaps his fingers. You continue to stare blankly at him until he motions for you to turn around. There’s a strange door in the emptiness a few feet away from you. That definitely wasn’t there when you fell in here…

Wait, he’s letting you go? Just like that? “W-What’s wrong?” You’re deeply confused about all this.
“I’ll be honest with ya for a sec: I can’t take yer body if yer distressed or somethin’. Depressed maybe? Whatever. It was workin’, but I need yer shit emotions to run wild for it go through all the way. I’m powerful, but not that powerful currently.”

You just continue staring at him. The human-like cat thing groans and shakes his head.

“It’s yer victory, darlin’. Things could’ve went much worse. Aren’t ya happy something nice happened to ya for once in yer life?” He scoffs at you. “…Just move on. Don’t stay to rub it in my face.”

That’s a bit of a letdown. There are so many questions you still have about whatever this is… but wouldn’t be better if you don’t test fate?

So what now?

>“Bye, Mr. Kitty.” Leave through this magical door. You’re done here!
>Do a victory dance before leaving. It’s your space, you can do that!
>“Just who are you? What’s going on? What do you want? Can I help?”
>Write In.

>>3570089
>“Bye, Mr. Kitty.” Leave through this magical door. You’re done here!
Give a wave before leaving

>>3570089
>>“Just who are you? What’s going on? What do you want? Can I help?”
We must get info for the lab jackets

>>3570089
Is there a reason we can't have both? First >>3570102 then >>3570099?

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“Just who are you? What’s going on? What do you want? Can I help?” You need to get the information for the lab team! For science!
“Hold yer horses, darlin’. One question at a time…”

“Who are you?”
“I’m a powerful bein’.”
“…Does this supposedly powerful being have a name?”
“Err… Uhm… Sure… Of course I do. It’s… Ehm… Okiel?”
“Is it or not?”
“Yeah, that’s my name. Kehehe…” If there is a man that could sound more suspicious than him, he needs to beg to the world he doesn’t die.

“Sure. What’s going on?”
“You dumbasses have me trapped and I can’t do my job.”

“What do you want?”
“I was given an important task by an even more powerful bein’… Somethin’ biiiiiiiiig is goin’ to happen in this world soon. I needed to make sure the scene is ready for the play, but before I could report to my superior, I hit a roadblock…” Okiel grits his teeth, making a hard sound. Reminds you of two knives clashing together. “Everythin’ didn’t go as planned. Who would have thought I wasn’t prepared to finish this task? Maybe I wasn’t supposed to return in the first place, and everythin’ went smoothly for them…”

“…Can I help?”
“Well, that body of yers can be pretty useful, kehehe… Jokes aside, don’t escape the hook just to bite it again, dear. Just get the hell outta dodge while you can.”
“I really want to help.” Since he’s being too vague, perhaps befriending him will net you better results?

“Oh sunshine… I can tell by yer face ya aren’t one bit satisfied with my answers! But my mission needs to stay secret, and the only thin’ to make me spill the beans is if ya sign this here contract!” Okiel holds his arm out to his side and a paper materializes in his hand. It doesn’t look like a regular sheet of paper; more like some ancient scroll. “If ya do, we’ll become partners! And I won’t mind tellin’ ya the whole story this way! I’ll be honest with ya again, I’m probably not leavin’ this world otherwise. Those other bastards might have set me up, but I’m more loyal to my superiors than I care about livin’. You feel me? Your decision, darlin’!”

The more you think about it, the more you know this has nothing to do with the raw spirit energy stuff. He’s technically alive, isn’t he? He’s no raw force or anything. You might be risking your sanity to do something completely unnecessary if you sign this contract. You really just want to wave him goodbye…

You don’t know enough about legal things, but you can tell this is serious…

>Reject the offer and leave.
>Sign the contract.
>Write In.

>>3570220
>Reject the offer and leave.
>"I'm sorry, but I already have enough in my life to worry about. I appreciate the offer though."
Some things in life you don't involve yourself in...

>>3570220
>>Write In.
Read the contract first, there might be some interesting things in it.
Then if we want, we can reject the offer.

>>3570220
You know what, changing to >>3570248

>>3570220
>Reject the offer and leave.

>>3570248
Support reading the contract

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“…Can I read it?”
Okiel grins and makes the contract and pen float towards you. Taking it from the air, you skim over it and try to retain as much information as possible.

The contract is pretty vague. It says something about you two bonding forever of mind and spirit. If you die he dies and vice-versa – a common goal will be agreed upon and achieved by both parties, but self-preservation overrules everything else.

It’s really creepy, and the wording doesn’t do it any favors. Once you finish examining it and take a few minutes to think it through, you decide to reject it completely!

“I’m going to have to say no.” You pushed the contract towards Okiel expecting them to float back to him, but they just fall to the floor. “…I didn’t want to be rude.”
“Kehehehe… The offer still stands, girl. Just put me over yer eyes if ya wanna talk about it. Otherwise don’t even bother; I won’t answer shit. Ya hear me?!”
“O.K.” This almost felt like a complete waste of time. It is not really your place to decide anyway. The Professor and Dorothy will see if this new information is useful or not. You think any info is better than no info, but that’s just your opinion…

You part walk part float away towards the magical door. When you open it, there’s… an endless white space, the opposite of this black one. Before you forget, you turn and wave at Okiel.

“Bye, Mr. Kitty!” You will tease him one last time because it’s funny and he can’t stop you.
“I-I’m not a cat!” He hisses back. Yup, definitely a cat. “And ya better not forget it!”

There’s nothing more for you to do here, so you step through the gate into the bright zone past it. One sensation of rushing through air later, you’ve returned to the real world! You’re in a bed, the lights are off, and there is an ink-black flame trying to be sneaky and escape! You grab it before it can do anything else! Out of the blue, its color slowly pales from black into gray, progressing into a pure snowy white and stopping there. Maybe it’s because you interacted with it? Who knows?

Looking around you, you spot the jar lantern thing on a little table next to what you recognize as your cell phone. Placing Okiel’s flame on top of the mechanical base, you close the lid over it. Sorry Okiel, but you can’t let him go just yet!

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>>3570395

Now that that’s settled, it dawns on you that you’re in a hospital room. White curtains, plain chairs, a table for food… this is definitely inside a hospital. Judging by your clothes, you’re the patient of this room. Aw shucks, your anxiety is rising! What time is it?! You still need to go to work tomorrow! Wait, when was tomorrow? How long have you been out? How are you going to get home from here? Where exactly are you anyway?! The only good thing is that you don’t have to worry about insurance; god bless Prancijan and their healthcare plans!

…

What are you going to do now?!

The door opens and blinds you with sudden light. Blinking to adjust, you notice your visitor is a creepy tall man that feels vaguely familiar. He hasn’t noticed you’re awake! You must say something! Is this a routine check up? Why is not a nurse doing it? Oh no… Oh no…!

Sadly this is all we have for this thread! We will finish this side story another time! Thanks for playing and look forward to next thread!

>>3570397
Oh shit it's younger Doc Calamity.

>>3570397
God it's the boy.
Why is young Doc C ALSO a wrinkly old shit?