Union Worker A Fish Out Of Water And Into The Fire: Maria Romero-Torres

[venusianPunk]

Maria Romero-Torres offers her Classic Handshake™

15 September '08, around 23:00 local time (it's hard to tell, not all the clocks are synchronized, and I lost my own watch somewhere in a connecting terminal halfway across the world):

Fucking shit, I decided to relocate at seemingly the worst time ever; no one has ever relocated as poorly as I have. Growing up pre-occupation in Central Texas meant that, afterwards, my "family" and I had to be initially moved to what was New Orleans, Louisiana. They started calling it Outpost No. 302 - prior to leaving the US for good, I never really had a sense of scale for that number. It's hard to imagine the world as it was, and now it's even harder given every God damn place has a number attached to it.

302 was a shit-fest for everyone involved, an Ouroborosian nightmare of Katrina-level disasters and the ass responses towards them - this includes the infamous hurricane herself, even though that occurred pre-re-installment of local Combine authorities. Frequent floods, shoddy infrastructure, and unreliable logistics made living here entirely an unstable venture. Fortunately for me, I grew up in a household that had very much similar issues. I'm no criminal or thug, but I managed myself enough to where I didn't starve or succumb to exposure. Beyond this, I kept my nose above the waters enough - so to say - that I was able to procure a relocation. They never did specify exactly where I was going beyond "somewhere in Europe," nor did they disclose any details as to the current situation of my new home.

Come to find out that everything here is crumbling, seemingly people's spirits faster than our actual physical surroundings, although those don't seem long for this world either. I've been able to secure a position at the local clinic for myself, and through my employment and scant-exploration, have met and made acquaintances with several locals - all interesting in their own unique ways.

I do my best to remain forward-thinking with a positive spin, but I've also a deep dread that all of this won't last beyond a few weeks, at best. At the very least, work may keep me busy - don't want to disclose much for fear of this journal being found and patient information being leaked, but suffice it to say, trauma cases probably won't be in short supply, unlike our own inventories.

 

[venusianPunk]

16 September '08, it's about 00:00 now:


Maria Romero-Torres tries the door; its locking mechanism only jingling in a taunting manner.
Maria Romero-Torres attempts to open the door; the knob's internal notch clicking against the bolt.
Maria Romero-Torres turns her hand; the structure does not comply.

***' The moment is abruptly intruded upon by a rapid series of clicks and clacks - the door's lock holds and a muffled "fuck" can be heard uttered in a disappointed manner from behind it.

***' A rapid excuse, a faking-it-till-you-make-it retort, something along the lines of "OCCUPIED, BYE." You will have to try again later, it seems - it's rude to barge in, announced or otherwise.

 

[Atom]

Really creative, very well done