At Two Cuils

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[Log 1: RS-4, Mary encounters a door]

Resident Subject 4 has arrived at testing site 2 and is already experiencing difficulty with the change in environment. Subject has concept of manual doors, but attempted to pull rather than turn the brass doorknob for several minutes before authorization for remote-operated door controls were submitted and approved. Resident belongings include: One Briefcase, one EvrPhresh™ self-cleaning two-piece suit, one pair of Peepers™ Brand Utility Glasses, [REDACTED] wristwatch, Two capsules of Insomniak™ Brand sleep substitute pills, six servings of Day-Lee rations, and one soft-tipped pen. Resident appears to be physically exerted, but not unhappy.

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This new house was full of oddities to Mary who, up until a week ago, would never have thought it possible to set foot in such a place. So used to the background hum of automation and artificially muted smells and colors, this new residence was like a whole new world. The ride out was at least an hour from any form of civilization, and Mary wasn't left with any version of transport which made the distance feel much farther. The house was large and, in spite of a considerable disconnect from the time period it was modelled from, remarkably well built. Mary stepped inside, satisfied with having outmatched the door and surveyed her surroundings. Marbled stone rolled up the sides of the room into high-vaulted ceilings that created a sort of dome over the entryway to the home. Blank canvases hung from the walls on display, a vase of roses rested on a coffee table in the center of the room surrounded by leather-wrapped furniture, beautifully detailed floral rugs, and a crystal-laden chandelier hung above it all at the center of the dome. Mary eyed that one most suspiciously and decided to set up a mental perimeter of at least 15 feet from the center of the room. She had attended all of the JustEnuff™ housing CO. in-home PSA's highlighting the dangers of hanging heavy objects from ceilings, and was aware that simply standing under one increased your chances of being hurt by said item by up to one hundred percent. She was not planning on being taken out of the race so soon. Mary had figured they would send her somewhere strange, and so far her hunch was right. Not even two steps into the building and it was already very much unlike her own place of residence. For one thing, it had a living room.

Mary was proud to have accomplished the level of success and luxury she'd brought herself into. Like many, she'd taken up residence within an ever-affordable JustEnuff Housing CO. FunPlot. However, unlike most grey-tier citizens, Mary had worked hard enough to purchase a FunPlot that outshined most common models by an additional five feet in not one, but two whole dimensions. Her spacious 20 x 20 abode guaranteed just enough space to accommodate at least fifteen percent more room for personal items or even a guest in the unlikely event of a visitor while still maintaining the safety, efficiency, and level of comfort only a single-occupant housing plot can achieve.

At the very least, Mary took comfort in the fact that she would be spending the next six days in this place alone. Her company had not stated specifically if she would be on her own here, but Mary was certain that even if anyone else did arrive they would be hard-pressed to show the same steely resolve required in order to gain entrance. As far as she was concerned, the promotion was already hers.

Mary moved forward into the room and took a moment to examine the watch they had provided her with on the ride over. It was simple; made up of a glassy, rectangular screen and a stretchy cloth band which secured it to her wrist. Her watch did not tell time. This annoyed Mary. Instead, a large, analog-styled zero took up the majority of the screen. Below it in tiny letters was the word CUILS. Mary had never heard of that word before, she wasn't even entirely sure of how to pronounce it which only annoyed her further. She shook it, rotated it, flicked her finger across the glass, tapped aggressively, and still it refused to reveal its secrets. After a couple minutes of fussing she narrowed her eyes, letting it know she was not done with it just yet, and began to survey the house for a suitable living compartment.