Vanessa stares blankly at her monitor.
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0,1,0.5))[*Do work.*]
[[You're already on your phone so... ->Phone]]
[[Go home. ->Leave]] Vanessa looks at her monitor. The mostly blank white page burned into her eyes.
She looks back at her phone.
[[*click* ->Phone1]] (align:"=><=")[''afterhours''
(temp title maybe)]
a story about a lady working overtime
[[start ->Intro]]
[[credits ->credits]] A distant ringing blares out over the loud whir of the AC.
It grows closer
[[and closer... ->Intro2]]Vanessa's head shoots up.
The shrill ringtone still baring from her *personal cell phone*, next to the office phone her stuffy cublicle is equipped with.
[[*click* ->Intro3]]A loud, familiar voice errupts from her phone.
(align:"==>")[*Heeeeyyyyy Vanessa! I'm sure you know what to do already --that's what I've always liked about you-- so I'm just calling to check in! Since you're ***oh so hard at work***, I'll keep it brief.
Remember that the keys are next to the door, remember to lock up once you're done, and remember exactly how much trust I've put into you. Convincing everyone else to put you into your position wasn't exactly easy, y'know! I may be the boss but we are a ***team*** here. See ya tomorrow Nessa!! Byeeeee*]
*click*
[[There's no chance for Vanessa to respond. ->Choices]] (align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[*Yeah no fuck that.*
*No matter how badly I need this job, it's never bad enough to be here at 10. *]
Vanessa saves her progress, then shuts down the whirring desktop.
The monitor shuts off, reflecting back Vanessa's tired face amongst the darkened office space.
She feels a pang of guilt.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[*I shouldn't be fumbling this job like this... *]
Then she just feels hungry.
[[Vanessa makes her way past the slew of uninhabited cubicles. ->Leave1]]
The lobby is just as dark as the rest of the building, save for the emergency lights and the glow from the city just beyond its' glass doors.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[*I hope no one is still in the building. Too bad for them then.*]
Vanessa steps out, locking the doors behind her, and putting the key into her bag.
(align:"==>")[*I'm entrusting you with this key, since you'll be here for quite a bit huh!*]
her boss' voice echos in her memory.
The cool city air hits her face, it's refreshing compared to the stale air in the office.
[[She walks towards her apartment. ->Leave3]] The streets are largely empty, only the ocassional car passing by compared to the usual bustle.
The streetlights illuminate her path, most storefronts are darkened.
If Vanessa got off of work earlier, she probably could've caught the bus. Calling anyone to drive her home is another choice, but her apartment is close enough to just walk to comfortably.
[[She approaches a familiar building. ->Leave4]] The old buiilding stands tall. She enters.
The lock clicks, the light flips, and Vanessa is greeted by her scarcely decorated living room.
Goddamn it's late.
[[She gets under the covers. ->Leave5]] (align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[Boss ]]
*Today*
(bg:#5d6292)[Hi Nessa!!! I hope you don't mind the nickname hehe. ]
(bg:#5d6292)[I hope you're enjoying your time with us. I know it's only been a little over a month, but you're doing amazing work! ]
(bg:#5d6292)[All the managers are pleased with your abilities and timeliness. ]
(bg:#5d6292)[Sorry that today's one of those days! ]
(bg:#5d6292)[That's what I mostly wanted to talk about. Since you have the availability, that's why you were assigned the additional work. ]
(bg:#5d6292)[But! Let's look on the bright side of things: long breaks and plenty of quiet (or even noise, if that's what helps,) to get it all done! ]
(bg:#5d6292)[I might swing by to check up on you. I don't usually do that (don't tell the others!). Take as long as you need, but please get it done. ]
(bg:#5d6292)[Have a nice night :)]
[[...................... ->Phone2]] Her phone is mostly empty, aisde from a few texts.
[[(8) Boss ->Boss]]
[[(2) Val (precious baby sister ✨) ->Valentina]]
[[(3) Serena (train) ->Serena]]
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[Serena (train)]
*Today*
(bg:#5d6292)[Hi Vanessa, this is Serena from the overnight train :) I hope you're well]
(bg:#5d6292)[Let me know how you're adjusting to the city! I'd love to know more about your job. Send Valentina my regards as well.]
(bg:#5d6292)[Lets get coffee this weekend ☕]
*She's so nice*
Vanessa really should text back. Besides her boss, she doesn't know anyone else in town besides Serena... ....
...
[[She quickly backs out to the other texts she got. ->Phone1]] (align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[Val (precious baby sister ✨)]
*Tues.*
(bg:#5d6292)[hey can u pick me up im here at the station]
(bg:#525ac7)[(align:"==>")[On my way!]]
*Fri.*
(bg:#5d6292)[call mom back
call mom back!!! omfg]
*Today*
(bg:#5d6292)[ ***insert link*** that u
btw when can i come over. u started ur job right??]
*Oh Val*
*Someone* clearly changed her contact name in Vanessa's phone. No matter, She'd totally forgotten about her promise to Val, between the weird mishap with the train and now working at a... *very credible* establishment. She really should text her back
[[She quickly backs out to the other texts she got. ->Phone1]] Wow that was fun, looking at texts and responding to literally none of them. Thank god she has read receipts turned off.
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0,1,0.4))[*ok time to do work*]
[[ok time to go home ->Leave]] Earlier a few of them had actual people in them, doing their own work, but she largely doesn't see more than 13 people at a time.
Though it's not like she'd really know, she tries to just clock in, keep her head down, and do her work.
Manuevering through the span of cubicles is a bit difficult, The room is large, filled corner to corner with the same generic grey cubicles.
She finally approaches the double wooden doors which are the key to her freedom.
She notices the keys on the little hook next to the doors
Vanessa locks the door and heads down to the lobby of the bulding, getting on the elevator down.
She fiddles with the little lime green tab on the keys-- "MASTER"-- as well as with the little keychain someone added for decoration seemingly ages ago. It was a tiny toy figureine, probably pulled from a coin slot machine, based on some old cartoon Vanessa vaguely remembers from when she was a kid.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[*Maybe I should look it up later... *]
[[*ding!* ->Leave2]]
A voice in the back of her head speaks
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[*Maybe I should've stayed.*
*Shit, what if she fires me?? What then????*
*Why did she call me on my cellphone?????? ?????? ???*]
[[Vanessa turns and goes to sleep. It's just going to have to be a problem for her in the morning. ->End1]] (align:"=><=")+(box:"X")[end 1: just leave.]
<img src="https://easelings.neocities.org/drafts/job/end1.png" width="1200" height="800">
dont worry about itcredits
art / editing / writing by meeeeee
Photos from Unsplash
<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/glass-paneled-long-wooden-floored-hallway-c3tNiAb098I">"glass paneled long wooden floored hallway"</a>
<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-hallway-with-glass-doors-jLisH_4jM-8">"a hallway with glass doors"</a>
<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/street-scene-at-night-with-illuminated-kiosk-and-cars-am7uxoC4Hcs">"Street scene at night with illuminated kiosk and cars."</a>
<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/pendant-lamps-4EcupR74nVo">"pendant lamps"</a>
<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/black-ip-desk-phone-on-black-wooden-table-Dkn8-zPIbwo">"black ip desk phone on black wooden table"</a>
<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/black-smartphone-on-white-table-52H5Nfi5WiE">"black smartphone on white table"</a>