>>5416403“Parble, <span class="mu-s">WAIT!</span> Please!”
Hand hovering over the doorknob, you take a steadying breath before turning your head to face the holograms one more time. YeEeEsss?
“Just…” Stammers Hare as he waits for the others to chime in, “Just please sit down…”
“At least until you’ve heard our offer.” Adds Mr. Fox in a more diplomatic tone. “And we, in turn, will conduct ourselves accordingly, yes?”
“Within reason.” Replies Rat as Mantis grunts in assent.
Fine, you growl as you apprehensively retake your seat at the head of the table, but if you aren’t getting some kind of reward-
“Ms. Parble,” Crane interrupts, “We reached out to you because we’d like to offer you… a <span class="mu-s">job[/b.”
The word hits you like a train full of boxing gloves. A <span class="mu-i">JOB!?</span> A JOB?!
Rising from your seat again with renewed anger, you point an accusing finger at each hologram in turn! You gave them years of your life sweeping up bone dust, alright? And what did it get you?
“V-valuable vork experi-”
No, Wolf, you snarl, it got you FUCKED! Fucked by your boss and that <span class="mu-r">SHITHEEL BORIS!</span>
“Yes, upon reviewing the security evide-”
How many shifts, you growl, glass of milk shaking in your grasp, how many shifts did they tag along and make you dance around like a puppet, huh!? And when the shit hit the fan, who ended up cleaning it all up? Their little boy scouts!?
“Ms. Parble, ple-”
Your ‘<span class="mu-i">job</span>’ ended the day <span class="mu-r">TIM</span> tried to rip your skeleton out of your body in the factory, you snarl! And they’re lucky you aren’t suing their asses for, like, poor work conditions! PRICKS!
“MS. PARBLE-”
You’ve <span class="mu-i">got</span> a job, okay? You’ve got <span class="mu-i">JOBS!</span> Your brother’s offering a spot at his dojo, you’ve got friends making movies and shit… hell, your friend Talbot’s got a few leads too–you know, the guy they turned into a <span class="mu-i">fucking</span> KILLBOT!?
“PARBLE!” Roars Hare with surprising force in his voice, “We…” he pants as the room falls silent, “We want you…”
“We’d like you to take Ms. Bruckmann’s place...” Rat concludes in a clear voice. “As <span class="mu-g">GOOD BOY’S ACTING CEO.</span>”
Taking a moment to process their words, you feel your drink slip from your fingers and crash onto the carpet below.
E… Ex<span class="mu-i">SQUEEZE</span> m-me?
<span class="mu-r">END OF PART 19</span>
<span class="mu-g">ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: ToMARROW the World</span></span>
