4th Mantra | video;

[stagnantair]

Well, it has been an eventful few weeks.

[Like before, Gavin looks a little tired. He's also wearing a pair of glasses, that's new.]

Things are starting to get harder at work for me, there's been a lot of awkward questions. I may have to quit.

[He sighs.]

Maybe I shouldn't do this here but.. Anyone know someone who'll hire a guy with a Master's in Biomedical Engineering?

I assume that if I were to get a job through someone on the Network I wouldn't be asked about anymore strange physical changes... At least, until they're really bad.

[There's a pause, and he looks away.]

I hope not.

Comments

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[reapsthewind]

at this point, i'm really starting to think that maybe some of us freaks should band together and start our own damn business, though idk what the hell we'd be trying to make

i have a masters in aeronautical engineering and am getting a phd in that focusing on drone avionics and programming

we could

idk

build... drones... that... deliver medical supplies??? for science??? help me out here

[stagnantair]

Or make a plane big enough to house all the Echo sufferers and live in the sky!

[Bio Engineering is like, 90% Big Ideas, ok.]

I should probably try to go back for my PhD but my loans won't pay themselves.

[reapsthewind]

HELL YEAH LET'S DO IT

And no don't go get your PhD. I am eyeball-deep in loans, and I'm almost glad that it's apparently the end of the world, because maybe I won't have to pay the damn things...

[stagnantair]

That's true... if I become some weird monster thing, I won't have to pay back anything....

[counterclock]

idk how good your chances are of getting a job in this economy with or without physical changes dude
that's kind of like sticking your hand into a bowl of knives and trying to find a spoon
thanks obama etc
whatever
i'm sure there's a mcdonald's that might help you out

so what horrifying mutation have you been saddled with then

[stagnantair]

I know that much. Don't bother with college, you won't get a job with it anyway.

[SOMEONE'S BITTER.]

I'm not working at McDonald's again, sorry.

[And then he pauses.]

Well so far, my eyes and hair have changed, I suddenly need glasses, my nails changed color... All minor, but I don't want to have to answer anymore questions about them. Especially if they get worse.

[counterclock]

contacts dye and nail polish
bam
you're just having a metrosexual phase

[stagnantair]

It turns back blond if I dye it though, when I wash the dye out.

Same for the nailpolish, it doesn't stick.

[He holds up his hands, showing his neon green nails, eyes flashing the same color briefly.]

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[mood2wiingiing]

let me guess, weird eye2.

[stagnantair]

Actually, yeah. My eyesight's gotten really weak all of a sudden, and I've never needed glasses before in my life... not to mention they've changed colors. And it's really drastic too, everyone notices.

[mood2wiingiing]

what do they look liike?
ii bet mine are 2till the weirdest.

[stagnantair]

Well, they turned blue from brown.... And now they kind of. Hm, flicker?

[video]

[neonnerd]

[Glasses aside, that's a familiar face, and it makes Benjamin elect to use video instead of his usual audio. A potential job opportunity shouldn't come from a faceless voice, after all.]

Would you be interested in a teacher's assistant position? The department head's been after me to get one for a while, but I hadn't thought it necessary until - well, until I became involved in Network stuff.

[stagnantair]

Really?

[He's been shooting in the dark, really. The surprise on his face is genuine.]

I'd love that sort of thing... Are you sure?

[neonnerd]

[He smiles slightly at the surprise.]

Yes, I am. I must admit that I do need one, and hiring on one who isn't involved with the network would be... somewhat problematic.

[stagnantair]

That sounds great! Honestly, I'd been hoping for a job like that out of college but no one took me on.

( audio )

[argents]

As if finding a job wasn't hard enough, right?

[stagnantair]

That's how I feel about it too. It's not like we asked for any of this.

Hopefully I have enough saved up for rent until I find something else.

[argents]

No, and everything is getting harder to hide, too. It's tough enough just dealing with what's happening now without the effects getting stronger.

Do you live alone?

[stagnantair]

Right, that's how I see it.

Yeah, I have an apartment downtown.

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[honestopinion]

you're okay, right?
[+1 worried for senpai..]

[stagnantair]

[Aww, kohei. How cute.]

Yeah, I'm okay. It's just a weird eye thing, and my nails... and some other stuff, but I'm only worried about it getting worse.

[honestopinion]

Y-your nails? [He can sort of see them in the video..] Me too, I mean.. I'm worried for you too, so be careful. Ah- are you sure it's not nail polish?

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[comparative_insanity]

Well, I would say my job is always open to just about anyone and any weird appearance wouldn't be noticed, but... [He laughs.] Somehow I think you might be a bit overqualified to be a stripper.

[stagnantair]

[After a moment, he laughed.]

Under qualified, actually. I'm not fit at all.