Journal of Sociology [S!6] - [Round Two: Ryburg Ritz]

Originally posted on MSPA by ~ATH.

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Chaos. This was all Jean could comprehend. In all her imagined scenarios of her first meeting with people, she had never thought it would turn out this horribly. People ran away from her. Heads poked out from cubicles in curiosity. The women she so adored were looking at her like she was a common cockroach, and out of all the cacophony, this was what hurt her the most. She froze in disbelief, hastily retracted her scarf, and zoomed back around the corner, quietly sobbing.

She wanted to die. Her one last purpose, and it was wasted within the span of five seconds. What would she do? She was utterly useless...

A booming, distinctly male, voice echoed across the complex.

"Just what the fuck is all the commotion here?! Why are you not working?! We need that project done ASAP, before those assholes upstairs can get the jump on us!"

The crowd quieted down immediately, and air became so tense, it was palpable. Curious as to the cause of this incredible occurence, Jean peeked around the corner. There, standing on top of a desk, was a laughably short fat man with the face of a beet. Everybody was cowering at the sight of this underwhelming figure. It was quite an amusing sight, and, if Jean were not sunk in the throes of depression, she would have laughed. A small sob was all that escaped her at the moment.

The moment dragged on, nobody daring to speak up and defy this minuscule man. Finally, after what seemed like hours, one woman - the one she had foolishly assaulted - spoke up.

"U-Um, Sir. An apparition... out of nowhere. Attacked me..."

"Hm. An apparition, you say? Could it be the result of our project?"

"It does not appear to be related, Sir. It's... uh... you'll have to look at it, Sir."

"What are you waiting for? Bring it here!"

Poor confused Jean did not realize that they were talking about her, and was shocked to see everyone's heads turn towards her. The sight was enough to terrify her, and she cowered into her safe corner and collapsed, thinking happy thoughts. It would all be okay, this wasn't happening, this was just a dream. Suddenly, the very woman she so brutally frightened appeared right in front of her.

"Um. Excuse me? Our boss would like to see you."

She did nothing. She could do nothing, but gaze back at this beauty, regretting her transgression.

"Hello? There is someone in there, yes?"

"Oh god I'm so sorry don't hate me I was just trying to make you look pretty but I failed and now everybody's scared of me and it's all my fault I want to just die-"

"Shh. Shh. Now there, it's okay. I was just startled, was all. I think everybody's just overreacting. We've been having a bad day here... But enough of that. Our boss wants to see you. He might be a bit intimidating, but he means well, I just know it! Come on..."

Was it possible? Could her shining beauty also have the kind heart of an angel? Was this truly the perfect woman? Jean wanted so bad to be subservient to this angel, to do whatever she said. She hastily reformed into a humanoid form, and traipsed out, clumsily and yet confidently strolling towards the angry man she had formerly thought laughable, and made sure to reply in the most dignified way possible. Her angel was watching.

"Yes? You required me?"

"... You. You're ... uhh ... clothes. And nothing else. Just what the fuck are you, anyways?"

"I am Jean. I was taken here by uh a woman. For a battle or something I dunno. Um, Sir."

"A battle? You must be mistaken. Unless you're talking about the race between my company and that bloody git upstairs. Excellent, this means you're on our side now. Get to work, already! Vivian will show you the ropes."

The portly man gestured to ... who else but her angel? Vivian was her name, and it was a wonderful one, too!

Meanwhile, the crowd stared at their boss in disbelief. The sheer scale of the logical leap left them stunned. Did he really just dismiss the phantom as a mere employee? How were they expected to work with this ... thing? Some people started murmuring. Completely oblivious to this, the portly employer waddled over to an ostentatious glass door. Before slamming the door shut, he stopped, turned around and made one last retort.

"That means you, everybody! Get the fuck to work already! I will not lose to that nasty old bastard..."

Quickly, everybody scurried back, and the atmosphere once again became glum, although people kept sneaking glances at the newcomer. Jean however, was oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere, and turned to Vivian, taking her looks in once more. She had beautiful blue eyes, hidden behind plain black glasses. She also had the most luscious golden locks, wrapped up in a boring bun. She was clearly not confident in her own beauty. But... where to start?

"... Um. Vivian? Would you accept the scarf I gave you earlier? Um it's okay if you don't want it though but I honestly do think it would complement your eyes."

Vivian looked down on the dusty grey-blue scarf she was holding out. It was rather filthy, to be honest. She looked back on Jean, and felt sorry for her. She had mentioned earlier how devastated she had felt to have caused such a ruckus.

"Thank you so much, Jean. I love it, it looks really pretty. But... uniform protocols..."

"Just for a bit? Please? I want to take in the complete look..."

Grudgingly, she put it on, and was rewarded with a squeal of delight. She couldn't help but smile. Jean was so much like her daughter...

"Ah! I was supposed to be leading you to the mail room. This way, this way."

.oOo.

"Huh. So you are. But... there's more. Two people?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I'm seeing such a chaotic spiral of desires, it is exceedingly rare for this to appear in a single person. Do you actually have two minds?"

"Ah. Yes, I fear that an accident has imprisoned my mind within the body of Mr. John Doe. Who, as you can see, is deceased. We ... tend to disagree."

"Mm. I see."

The following silence rose and fell, with John's body still shambling around the complex, and Miss Blacklight serenely following, gazing anywhere that happened to catch her attention.

Naturally, it wasn't long until they ran in some other people. Well, a person and a laundry golem, really. The woman was rather pretty, but she appeared a bit frazzled. Not to mention the scarf. That dusty thing looked absolutely ridiculous on her. The woman coughed, then spoke.

"...What. You two aren't in uniform. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

The two strangers said nothing, neither of them having a convincing excuse for why one of them had a beautiful, yet undeniably otherworldly dress. It was at this moment that the golem finally spoke up, startling them with an impossibly girlish voice.

"Oh! I know her! I would recognize that gorgeous dress from anywhere! She's with us, that one woman I mentioned earlier brought us here. Um, there's a few others too, but I wasn't paying that much attention."

"Really? Seems suspicious. Whatever, it isn't my jurisdiction. Jean, we must be off at once."

"Um... see ya, then. I have to work for this noisy man, or something. Oh, do be careful, you two. It's a bit tense in here. And I wanted to say, I love that dress of yours! It looks so perfect on you! And of course, you look absolutely beautiful, that dress just completes the look wonderfully, and I-"

"Come, now. We haven't much time to waste, really. I don't want Sir yelling at us again."

"Okay then, dear. Anything you say."

As they departed, Dr. Alberich and Miss Blacklight exchanged glances at each other. With a noncommittal shrug, the latter followed the golem, and Alberich tried to coerce his body into turning around.