Eat sleep work repeat , eat sleep work repeat , eat sleep work repeat .... this was Eli’s pattern, her current way of life. A mediocre job in retail, as a not too enthusiastic student wasting away in food isles greeting people with fake sincerity, a single bed flat not even fit for a rat but for the price...reasonable... and a future that she didn't pick for herself.
Saturday // 12 January 06:45
Eli couldn't stand it anymore why did the sun have to glare onto her so much, why couldn't it shine its little rays onto someone who’d appreciate the decent tan lines and golden skin , she was quite happy with her somewhat pale appearance and sullen skin from a lifetime of actively avoiding the outdoors. Just 20 minutes that was the time it took to walk from her..home.. to Doug’s, the emporium of miscellaneous goods and long lasting perishable delicacies for a small fee, it was a shit hole of a place to work.
Just one step at a time that’s all it took but always felt like forever to her. The fifthteen minute mark , she could hear it ; the clashing of trolley's , the slow shuffling of gawkers on there feet and the dreary music .... a consistent droll of noise not even fit to be described. Two minutes left and she could see Doug’s in all its glory , its faded whitewash walls on the shop front hoping to hide the neglect of years on the old warehouse turned smalltime super mall. She passed the herd of cars ,spewing fumes trying to find a parking space, and entered ready for a very droll day.
“You may enter now Miss Danvers,” Eli couldn't stand it when people called her by that surname of hers, it reminded her of her mother. The room she entered was the Managers office , an old room converted for someone to feel important in. The manager in question going by the name of “Eris Day,” an interesting name for an uninteresting lady.
Mrs day happened to be a rather strange person not because of her nature but her stature and age, a 32 yr old manager of a super mall who was 5ft and looked 21 , it made for some interesting stories after work events. Eli entered the surprisingly simple room, it featured a light brown desk surrounded by two rather worn but seemingly comfortable arm chairs, around the sides of the room were various sized cabinets and wall units with a paraphernalia of objects. These objects ranging from a letter opener that looked like a spoon , to the rather odd fish bowl sitting on a shelf that was the shape of a dog , truly some strange things. What stood out the most though was the Name plate on the desk simply reading ‘Manager Eris Day’.
Eli quickly seated herself in the closest armchair and gratefully sank into its soft cool embrace , god bless indoor shade she thought to herself, the only downside being that it was opposite the also seated manager.
“Mrs.Danvers, have you given anymore thought into my proposal?” it was odd hearing such a a serious tone from someone much shorter than you and sat on a chair which raises her to the same height. The proposal itself being full time work.... a scary thought indeed. Eli simply observed her manager with her short blonde hair and rather mediocre looks , big chest though very big for someone her stature. “I appreciate the offer but i am also a student and need to focus on my studies,” a well rehearsed response from Eli’s lips.
Mrs.Day simply let out a long sigh , she had known that would be the answer , after all this was a conversation they’d had before. She was always curious, in front of her sat a girl of the tender age of 17 who was simply wasting herself and her future chances. With her rather slender body, long black hair and less than ample chest she would never be a stunner , but there was an air of mysteriousness around her, that made people notice her. “I must reiterate Mrs. Danvers that we value you as a worker and are giving you a chance to progress up the ladder in this industry , you also know that a career in computer interfacing and management means very little these days.” The reason for this being the new age invention of virtual Headspace , a hardware tool designed for use when combined with computers to allow direct neural linking and management of a computer, in short...it had replaced all other input devices , why type when you could think something faster.
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“Thank you again for the offer but this is a course that i have no decision over,” another well rehearsed sentence from Eli’s lips. “Very well in that case please return to work Mrs. Danvers and know that the offer is always open.” Eris simply watched as Eli excused herself .... her only thought....youth is so unfair! why does the uniform look good on her and not me! Of course she never considered the height difference between them.
After that the day passed like any other work day for Eris , her pattern was simple. 7.20 till open at 9 restock , 9 till 11 on tills then a morning break after pilching breakfast from the food isle, who said student life was easy. From then on it was every hour rotate from shop floor to till and vice verse until close at 5 , aside from her designated break of a glorious 30 minutes stuck in a staff room crammed with other unachievers.
You had becks the bucksome black haired beauty who had put more things into her orifices than you had your own mouth. Then randy , a poorly named man obsessed with his arm muscles from an unhealthy gym obsession, he considered himself to be god’s gift to women they considered him to be the punishment. Cameron, the pale weasley man who would often appear and disappear unnoticed , causing a stir wherever he went with his shady character. And of course the rest of the mobs in her eyes , not forgetting Carmela. Carmela the social one of the goon squad , her ravishing looks and and peroxide hair.... she was the queen bee of a runt of very special characters.... unfortunately Eli knew she was one of them with her obsession of games.
Her obsession stemmed from younger days of watching cartoons as a child and wishing to be a hero , then in her life spawned the era known as RPG gaming.... she was a member of that era for life. She was well known, well by the few people that knew her well enough , to skip out on meals just simply to get one more quality item in a game and then continue to miss out on sleep to get used to said item.
Unfortunately with every gamer, new games become easy , repetitive and boring with the same generalised controls and plot , there is nothing to keep your mind attached. Unless of course you are playing Last Legacy the only Headspace RPG made , Fps games got there first sadly. This was Eli’s goal , she would live and breathe for it but couldn't afford it yet and going full time was out of the question. She had her irrelevant studies and unsocial life of games ,she simply couldn't give up on those and work in Doug’s 5 days a week and then spend 2 days lamenting why she did that to herself. Only 6 months then she could get it , the problem with subscription came after.
5 o clock , home time it would only take 20 minutes and yet felt like 10 to her. Then she would be back in the embrace of a comfy worn out bed with a controller and some random snack that was going for cheap.
Sunday // 13 January 07:15
Eli was back at already , was it just her or do the evenings always seem shorter when working the next day. “Good morning fellow staff! I hope you slept well as i have an important announcement to make.” Here it was one of Manager Day’s famous pep talks, Eli’s ridicule was shared by many staff present. “As of today we will now be stocking and selling copies of Last Legacy!” A bombshell had erupted , it didn't cause the loss of lives or the suffering of many it did however cause one 17 yr old girl to pause with shock , the game , her game was being sold in her workplace ... she had to get a copy , theft or otherwise for her game she would do anything and she knew exactly who to talk to.