Does the concept of work still exist?
This isn't self-serving navel-gazing but the confusion...
This isn't self-serving navel-gazing but the confusion...
The City (Another World Might Mean A Job In My Field)
- Thread starter Exhack
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Created
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- Ongoing
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Statistics (8 threadmarks, 14k words)
User Total BiopunkOtrera 1 Exhack 7 -
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I: Before The City, Rejection
Exhack
We Won't Build The Plane!
- Location
- Montreal, Canada
Does the concept of work still exist?
This isn't self-serving navel-gazing but the confusion of a soul watching the news every odd day: economists say the economy is holding steady in spite of the day's strange politics, sociologists say the world is more educated and tolerant, statisticians say it's more peaceful. This world at the precipice of climate collapse, nuclear war and a second bubble economy is the best it's ever been. So why are you struggling? If qualifications were kills, you'd be at the top of the INTERPOL wanted list. So here you are, a natural-born killer. Lethally qualified to work for a major net publication, a think tank, in government or god-forbid, at least being a reasonably well-liked prof adjunct in some mid-level regional college.
Brutally unemployed. Your fingers sink through the corners of the unjustifiably Sepia letterhead, creasing through the Remallian Bold typeface with silver emboss that makes this stupid scrap of ego-inflated paper more certificate of failure than soothe. You fling it at the bin, but didn't crumple it tightly enough. It dances through the air and lands on your fan, sucks in the back and twists, spiraling towards your bookshelves of fantasy and select anime merch (not that kind).
Your lips purse. You suck air. You can't scream until the glow of catharsis comes, having just moved back in with your parents. They'll come see you, ask what's wrong. Act supportive in the way that you feel in treacherous moments has left a knot of learned helplessness that ultimately doomed their bright and academically canny child to a life of green aprons and flavored lattes. Not that there's anything wrong with that. You're not classist.
You just wanted something else.
A number in the corner plots your next move. You grip your phone, run your fingers around the intermittent jags of broken screen and failed screen protector and dial the number of the company.
Dialtones. Not the good kind. You wait to see if there will be clarification.
"The number you are calling is no longer in service."
Your disgusting, introspective, overthinking self wonders if it was a scam. It was obviously a scam. The only other option is that an HR consultant thought your interview was so bad that they should change all the numbers. You're one of the crazy ones, calling for an explanation. A normal person would accept it and move on. Maybe they just changed providers while switching buildings.
Don't kid yourself. You'll tell yourself the rational, sensible thing and as soon as your head hits the pillow, you'll drift off to the worst of all worlds.
You've been waiting for this letter for two weeks, bought a whole new outfit for the interview (your assembly of plaids and tweeds in quirky academic chic more curse than gift at this point). The false sense of security that lead you here, the warm bask of a good interview and the usual smile-and-nod pasty-faced gammons give when they're trying very hard to seem Not Racist, followed by the subskin pins and needles of your own shame. Before that, a loop of long-distance traveling and awkward Skype calls with increasingly dodgy startups that wanted to pay you in stock, semi-legal drugs, cryptocurrency and antiques (from you assume, a murdered grandmother). The secretary gave you a "the interview went really well!" that encouraged you to blow off a chance to write a few articles about weed legalization for Vice. Vice! Well you're out of luck because that girl you got into a Twitter fight with about how Adorno was definitely Not A Racist (he is though) wrote the articles already. Worse yet, they're really good.
Nausea kicks. You stagger to the bathroom and run cold water over your head. Dark locks twist over your forehead until you press them away. Now you're wet and nauseous. Cashew is drawn to the sound of running water and mewls at you. You ignore her and walk back to your room, and fall forward so your pillow lands on the bed, no time for any of this. The cat has followed you and takes that as an invite to knead and sit on your back.
You groan, reach for your phone. No events. No distractions. Except for an area bar you drank at that one time with your two gay aunts on a DINK-powered bender is apparently reopening. Why are you Facebook friends with a bar? Must have been some night.
[ ] "Well that's alright then, it's just one Tube stop from here." Mariya Sutton is from London, England, and gains the benefit of cheaper tuition and more time as a student. She is guaranteed a Master's degree and potentially more.
[ ] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
[ ] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
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[X] "Well that's alright then, it's just one Tube stop from here." Mariya Sutton is from London, England, and gains the benefit of cheaper tuition and more time as a student. She is guaranteed a Master's degree and potentially more.
This is an unjustifiable nationalist vote. The actual best choice is Vancouver, because Isekai is a dialect of Japanese so we'll want to know the latter.
This is an unjustifiable nationalist vote. The actual best choice is Vancouver, because Isekai is a dialect of Japanese so we'll want to know the latter.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
To be clear you automatically speak English and Japanese, because the protagonist is half Japanese. Vancouver adds French.
Character Sheet
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Exterminatus
Tsukumogami User
- Location
- Southern California
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
MedievalParadox
Echeladder rank: Bravesprout
- Location
- Nowhere Important
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
The land of freedom, Democracy and Flame thrower owning laws. this truly this is the best choice.
The land of freedom, Democracy and Flame thrower owning laws. this truly this is the best choice.
- Location
- Nebraska
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
God bless America
God bless America
- Location
- The Middle of the Howling Wilderness
[X] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
- Location
- PA
[X] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
Triple language, the gift of tounges! Also because it's slightly funny our protag hasn't even landed a job as a translator (Though I also don't know the level of proper linguistic knowledge required for such a position that well...)
Triple language, the gift of tounges! Also because it's slightly funny our protag hasn't even landed a job as a translator (Though I also don't know the level of proper linguistic knowledge required for such a position that well...)
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
Yay, healthcare!
(Also we get a nice 3 vote tie on 3 options)
Yay, healthcare!
(Also we get a nice 3 vote tie on 3 options)
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- Location
- Southampton, Great Britain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
We have healthcare in the UK as well.
Mechanical
Initiate Action: Buzz
- Location
- Somewhere Strange
[X] "Well that's alright then, it's just one Tube stop from here." Mariya Sutton is from London, England, and gains the benefit of cheaper tuition and more time as a student. She is guaranteed a Master's degree and potentially more.
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's more of a meme in Canada though, and I'm not too sure about how easy it'll be to apply the lessons from a Master's outside academia.
- Location
- Who Knows
[X] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
[x] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
Because my collection of weapons would get me arrested in any other first world country.
Because my collection of weapons would get me arrested in any other first world country.
Vindictus
XENO
- Location
- Texas
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
If being familiar with weapons is important enough to merit being an actual skill with opportunity costs, it's probably important enough to choose that.
Or maybe I'm just being paranoid! Who knows lol
If being familiar with weapons is important enough to merit being an actual skill with opportunity costs, it's probably important enough to choose that.
Or maybe I'm just being paranoid! Who knows lol
[X] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
- Location
- The Hague
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] "Just one SkyTrain stop and the weather's nice. Fiiine. I'll go out." Mariya Sutton is from Vancouver, BC, and gains the benefit of bilingual education and access to the large Japanese expat community. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French and Japanese, and a smattering of others.
Snacks in Britain suck so I'll try my luck in Canada
Snacks in Britain suck so I'll try my luck in Canada
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
fellow country girl protagonist GO
fellow country girl protagonist GO
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] "I guess I could drive. Nobody's going to pull me over if I swerve a little anyway..." Mariya Sutton is from the small town Wapakoneta, Ohio, and is familiar with firearms and drives most places she goes. Additionally, it will be relatively straightforward to purchase a variety of weapons.
I figure optimal strategy here is to maximize the level of late capitalist malaise in order to catapult us into superland. Essentially, very small-scale accelerationism.
I figure optimal strategy here is to maximize the level of late capitalist malaise in order to catapult us into superland. Essentially, very small-scale accelerationism.