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It wasn't much of a Choice- Dr. Arenski seemed to have nothing to talk about at all besides ideology, and though you, like all proper citizens, were a communist, you weren't so in love with it as to make it your entire personality.
Mr. Grunwald was around your age, with a bit of a flabbier, always-worried look. He was checking his watch when you sat down.
"How is it going, Grunwald?"
"Mm? Oh, just fine, Captain Lubchin. Factory's all good."
"Good to hear. We can never have enough surplus of munitions."
"Indeed we can't. Mines from the mountains are back up and running after the war, and I'm finally feeling relaxed. I think this week will be a good one."
"Me too," you reply, "We haven't been doing much at the Officer Corps recently- mostly just being shadowed by new recruits. Their hands are so long and skinny, your guns are gonna need redesigned grips. Kids," you scoff.
"Hah. Always useful to hear the perspective of those who actually use what we manufacture."
"Happy to help, Comrade. You certainly make better guns than those poor fools in the West do."
The bus pulls up around then. You and Grunwald are the first on, and, sitting in the front, continue your conversation.
"Well thank you. After all, we may not be able to have these little talks anymore," Grunwald says, patting his thinning hair.
"Why's that?"
"Haven't you heard?" Grunwald looks back at Arenski, "The Party has been discussing a new initiative. Instead of housing based on a mixture of commute efficiency and former residence,"
"A perfectly good system these past years,"
"Yes, well, they're considering changing it to housing based on occupation. Making- er, allowing workers to live together fosters community among them, and further prevents exploitation by- well- any capital elements," he hushed, saying those dirty words, "that may still be working to take advantage of our society. That's the theory of it anyways."
"Unbelievable," you nod after a bit. "Those Party men- always with the novel ideas."
"Novel indeed," Grunwald nods.
You think to yourself
>What a load! Those Party busybodies need someone to keep them in line- you might just wanna get your foot in politics yourself.
>Such is the price of revolution. For you, at least, it may just be like good times back in the barracks!
