Bureau of Collections || ONC2021

The Pub

She was one of a few old enough to remember times when she was around to take care of matters personally. The network was so vast now with the burst in human population over the last few centuries that there was no way for their managing director to see to things personally anymore.

The fact that 221 had a Death artefact in his possession was curious, and a sign that he too had some sort of interaction with the great lady himself. She was always keen to gain more information about their leader and creator. A strange and secret hobby, that even she acknowledged was not entirely normal, but she could not help herself, she felt compelled to document and watch those around her

She knew of his last posting, but what of the ones before that. If the rumours were true, then he never stayed in one bureau for long, not that that was not uncommon with the realm flunkers like him. They went ever downwards but none quite as often as he did.

"Fine. Let's go then." she sighed, raising her hands in defeat.

He smiled as he joined her side and they both walked out together, not noticing the sudden silence that had fallen over the office, all eyes of the night shift operators on the pair as they left, the soft hiss of the door closing behind them suddenly jolting the workers from the distraction as activity once again began to resume as normal.

Travel in the Bureau was not like the earthly realms. More a system of doorways. For most, you think your intent before you turn the handle and the entryway will give way to where you need to go. The Pub, as it was known, was a social place for the workers at all the Bureaus. A mix of the different types who came together to unwind in their downtime.

As 221 opened the door she tensed, she had never actually been to this place before, only heard stories. She herself never felt like she would fit in in such a place so she never went, content with just reading in her home and resting between shifts. She hesitated before she followed him in.

"Come on, kid. You'll like this place." 221 urged, gently pressing a hand to her back and pushing her forward.

They stepped into a stark yet vast minimalistic space of white hard edges. The music loud and booming, vibrating through her core as explosions of lights and images danced across all surfaces. She didn't like it at all. Others were scattered around the place, most clustered in groups of various shapes and sizes, while others just sat at a long bar that ran the length of the opposing wall.

"Is there somewhere quieter?" she shouted to 221 over the noise. He leaned down so he could hear her, "Is there somewhere quieter?" she repeated.

He visibly laughed, pointing to a set of open doors across the room with vines creeping over the arched doorway and began to lead her towards it. She kept her head down, a little anxious to be so mixed in with the others of the organisation. As much as she resented it when 221 called her a lifer, it was accurate. Operators like her rarely left a post in their lifetime.

Relief from the overstimulation was immediate as they passed the archway, sound from inside contained in a sound proof bubble as they found themselves in what looked like a large fenced backyard. The vines visible on the archway climbed, thick and green across the entire perimeter, scattered and patchworked armchairs clustered amongst floating glowing orbs on the lawn.

This was more like it. She looked up, her hand flying to her mouth as she gasped, realising she was gazing up at what the stars must look like from earth.

They glittered, soft wisps of the milky way weaving like a watercolour streak across the sky. She had seen it over the monitors a million times, but nothing compared to it in person.

"I get the impression you don't get out much." 221 observed.

"Lifer, remember." she jabbed at him, unable to take her eyes away from the sky as he led her down to a set of vibrant green chairs off to the side and shrouded by a fairy lighted gazebo, her eyes still pointed to the sky.