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Chapter 224 : And another one gets a job
🕑 Added 2025-07-08 19:38:01 +0000 UTCHardCored - Chatroom MagicIsTragic: Man, I'm worried. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it. KillLaKrill: Why are you worried, exactly?
HardCored - Chatroom
MagicIsTragic: Man, I'm worried. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it.
KillLaKrill: Why are you worried, exactly?
MagicIsTragic: Today is supposed to be the day that Silence passes his interview with the big boss, and he's gone through everyone today. So, I'm waiting for Silence to pop up and say if he got the job or not.
(Mod)Seagullag: Didn't it take a few days for you to get an answer?
MagicIsTragic: Yeah, but I'm an inventor. They had to compare projects, personalities, and all the stuff. Silence wants to be a pencil pusher, they don't need to do all that. I mean, pretty sure Silhouette could have just hired them based on their résumés, but he just likes meeting and talking with people.
Saray: Oh, I didn't think Silhouette would be the talkative sort. Is he nice?
MagicIsTragic: I mean, yes and no? On the talkative bit, I mean. He's very much an introvert who unlocks extrovert tendencies when he needs to be in charge, if you know what I mean. He's not the kinda guy to go check on you while you're working, but if you ask if he has two seconds to spare to check something, he'll try and take the time. And yeah, he's very nice. A little out of touch, but nice. He gives free pastries.
Saray: I don't think free pastries are a good indication of character.
KillLaKrill: I disagree. Donuts for the win!
(Mod)Seagullag: Don't you leave underwater? What kind of donuts do you eat?
KillLaKrill: The regular kind, thank you very much. Trust me, no pastry survives the watery depths, so I just pop up on the surface.
MagicIsTragic: Come on, I'm sure some merfolk pastries taste good.
KillLaKrill: I appreciate your attempt to respect my culture, but no, there really aren't. We have some good cuisine, don't get me wrong, but anything with sugar is an abomination against nature and my palate. My mom bought me an éclair made by one of our local chefs, and that thing was a soppy, wet mess of misery and disappointment.
Saray: Can't they just use substitutes? I don't know, kelp flour or something?
JamesIsInTheDark: I don't think kelp flour is very good, is the thing. Unless Krill can correct me, in which case feel free to do so.
KillLaKrill: Yeah, no, that mess is nasty. Besides, there's a difference between cooking, something we merfolks are great at, and baking, which is an art that the sea just refuses to let us practice.
MagicIsTragic: Hey James. Your work day is over?
JamesIsInTheDark: Officially, yes. I have some extra stuff to do, though. Stuff I'm happy to do, mind you, especially since I have a lot of leftover tasks I put aside to handle personal stuff today, and it's not like I don't have the time to chat, but yeah, I won't be going home yet.
KillLaKrill: Uh. You two seem closer than before. Did you have any secret chat, perhaps?
JamesIsInTheDark: I suppose you could say that. I'm guessing that since Techno isn't as active lately, I'm Magic's second choice.
MagicIsTragic: Hey!
KillLaKrill: Ah, makes sense. Have fun with that.
The Silence: I have returned.
MagicIsTragic: Silence! My man! How did it go? Are we colleagues yet?
Saray: Calm down, Magic, you're going to overwhelm him. So, Silence, if you want to talk about it, I'd like to hear how your interview went.
The Silence: Well, for one, as a person with an affinity for darkness myself, I wasn't subjected to the confusing blackness Magic was struck with.
KillLaKrill: What did he say?
MagicIsTragic: That his fancy shadow eyes can see different shades of black, so he saw Silhouette's office the same way the boss does, not the usual void of emptiness the rest of us mortals do. I got that right, Silence?
The Silence: Yes.
MagicIsTragic: Great! Say, what does it look like, actually? Like, I can't see a thing in there.
The Silence: It's... Quaint.
KillLaKrill: Aw, no evil overlord vibes?
Saray: Krill, we talked about this.
KillLaKrill: Sorry, sorry. But yeah, I was hoping for something a little more out there.
The Silence: Well, it is mundane. Office plants, good furniture, a few paintings... I think his favorite is of a group of salmon climbing a waterfall? It's the easiest to spot from his desk, I'd say.
KillLaKrill: Uh, fish. You know, I didn't freshwater fish from a guy who looks straight out of the darkest depths.
Saray: Aren't salmon sea fish?
KillLaKrill: There's a difference between a normal salmon and a salmon in the middle of the breeding season. Trust me, those things are nothing alike. I'd rather deal with a barracuda than a salmon high on hormones, at least the thing would be easier to predict. Salmon are freaks.
(Mod)Seagullag: The proper term is anadromous. This covers all species of fish with a lifecycle that brings them to both fresh and seawater. Salmon aren't the only ones to go through this, though they're the most famous. Many eel species have a similar development.
Saray: Thanks, Seag.
(Mod)Seagullag: No problem. As a man with piscivorous instincts, that sort of thing is interesting to learn about.
MagicIsTragic: Alright, nice to learn fish facts and to know that the boss likes the outdoors and nature and has a surprisingly normal taste for regular forest over weird alien environments. Now, Silence, stop milking this and tell us if you got the job or not! I wanted to surprise you when you got out, but you didn't.
KillLaKrill: Wait, you knew what Silence looked like?
MagicIsTragic: Trust me, it wasn't subtle.
(Mod)Seagullag: Personal information, yaddi yadda, you know the drill.
MagicIsTragic: Seag, at this point, does it even matter?
(Mod)Seagullag: It's the principle of the thing.
The Silence: I got the job, yes. Silhouette told me he would have hired me based on my résumé and Magic's recommendation alone if it hadn't been for his worries about unsavory elements trying to infiltrate Shades Of Penumbra. He also put a lot of emphasis on the fact that there was a genuine risk working under him, what with the Empress taking an interest in his business.
MagicIsTragic: Yippee! We're gonna be colleagues!
KillLaKrill: Did you seriously just type "yippee"?
MagicIsTragic: I do whatever I want, shut it, fish boy.
Saray: Right, there... There was that incident with the Empress. And you're sure you want to work under Silhouette, even knowing there's a good chance she'll try something when she isn't busy taking over Wicked Witchcraft's and the Hivines' territories?
JamesIsInTheDark: It is something worth considering, Silence. I hope you had the time to think about it.
The Silence: I made my choice, fully aware of the risks. This is worth it. Both because I know Silhouette will grow into a proper super power in this city, and... Well, after scrolling back, I can agree with Magic that our mutual employer is a good man. A man who enjoys his theatrics and somewhat plays into the common negative stereotypes of the shadow element, but a good man nonetheless.
KillLaKrill: Wait, that sounds like you know something.
Saray: No, it doesn't.
KillLaKrill: Come on! This? This screams, "I got let in on a little secret, and now I'm fully loyal to the boss". Come on, Silence, me boy. Tell Daddy Krill everything.
MagicIsTragic: Krill, what the ****?
(Mod)Seagullag: Language.
MagicIsTragic: And Krill doesn't get a reprimand?
(Mod)Seagullag: It doesn't break the rules. Sadly.
KillLaKrill: Anyway, Silence, speak.
JamesIsInTheDark: Uh, that's a neat oxymoron.
MagicIsTragic: Don't call our moron neat, he might start getting ideas.
The Silence: I have signed a magical contract. I am incapable of discussing what was said or done between me and Silhouette during our meeting. What I can say is that I'm glad I chose to take this job, and that I successfully did. As soon as I'm allowed to share what happened, I will consider doing so.
KillLaKrill: Consider? So it's not even guaranteed? Man, you really want to milk this.
Saray: That, or it was personal stuff we have no reason to know about. Drop it, Krill. Please. Besides, if Silence signed one of those contracts, you know he can't say a thing. Depending on the wording, just saying he signed something and that there is a secret worth discussing could have consequences.
KillLaKrill: Come on, it's not like Silhouette would see it here.
JamesIsInTheDark: It's magic, Krill. Silhouette doesn't need to know, the magic does it on its own. Just ask our resident wizard.
MagicIsTragic: Resident magic practitioner here, and yeah, like James said, those deals can handle punishments on their own. Though if Silence didn't get into trouble from sharing what he did here, then it's probably on the lighter side when it comes to restrictions. Which makes sense, Silhouette's a fairly fair boss. I'd be surprised if his contracts were very punishing unless it was about a big secret project, and I doubt he'd show that kinda stuff to a newbie. My guess? Mister Silence over here is probably overqualified, and Silhouette plans to promote him to a big post as soon as he proves he's good at his job.
KillLaKrill: A promotion promised before he even really got the job? Man, you must be really good at what you do, Silence. I just hope the emo thing won't scare your boss off.
(Mod)Seagullag: I don't think Silhouette has a negative view of the goth community, Krill.
KillLaKrill: Right, he does look like he'd fit right in. And he loves caring people off with all the eldritch shadow stuff. Hey, just like you said, Silence!
The Silence: One, I am neither emo nor goth. Two, yes, I myself stated that Silhouette has a flair for the dramatic. Besides, if anything, he seemed to be happy to have someone familiar with dark powers join his team. He was very pleased I could enjoy the décor of his office to its fullest.
KillLaKrill: Whoa, good for you. Hey, maybe he'll teach you a few tricks? I mean, the guy supposedly made a giant pillar of darkness, and he keeps making those tentacles and stuff, maybe you could learn a thing or two from him, if he's ever in the mood to share his secrets.
The Silence: Our powers aren't quite as similar as you think, Krill. Though that won't stop me from trying. This is admittedly a big opportunity. I may not have plans to become a Super myself, but his emphasis on safety and self-defense is justified. I won't say no to free samples from his products, but being able to defend myself sounds... Safer. More independent. More reliable. All that being said, there's a good chance I won't have time to make use of this for the moment.
Saray: Oh? Do you have a lot of work already?
The Silence: Not exactly. It is a family matter. It isn't bad news, have no worry, but it will eat into my free time. Thankfully, Silhouette is generous enough to give me a lighter workload until it is remedied. Which is part of why I will likely be less active around here. He is very kind to give me less mandatory work, so I'd like to do the best I can on the few tasks I have to take care of.
KillLaKrill: Family stuff, uh? That can get nasty. Happy to hear it's nothing bad. But man, it will be sad to have you less active. First Daisy, then Saray coming less and less, after that it's Techno who started going silent longer, and now you're going to join the real silent crew. Soon it will just be me and the old bird.
(Mod)Seagullag: I know you chat in other chatrooms on this website, you know?
KillLaKrill: Yeah, but this one feels like home.
Saray: I'm not dead, Krill. Just busier. And besides, James and Magic are still around, too.
JamesIsInTheDark: Yeah. I know I'm not as talkative as you, Krill, but I'm still here often, I'd say. Even if I say nothing.
KillLaKrill: James, no offense, but you're a lurker who speaks less than the guy named Silence. And for Magic, I don't think she'll be free to be as chatty as she wants at work. Something tells me her boss wouldn't like to know she's on her phone spouting nonsense when she's supposed to build stuff.
MagicIsTragic: Hey, Silhouette's a cool boss. So long as the job gets done, he won't mind.
KillLaKrill: And is the job done?
MagicIsTragic: It's an ongoing project, and I need the feedback of someone who isn't at the facility. He told me I could take it easy for a few days and mess around with new stuff until she gives her report.
KillLaKrill: Uh uh. Sure. I'll believe you.
JamesIsInTheDark: Well, as interesting as all this was, sorry everyone, but I gotta go. I have things to do as well.
MagicIsTragic: See you soon, James. But yeah, hopefully Techno will be back more often. Does anyone know why she doesn't show up as often?
Comments
Thomas Beyens
Thanks! They're fun to write, aside from having to format it to look like a proper chat.
Pyro Reaper
Happy birthday wordsmith! I always loved the chat room sections of this story
Thomas Beyens
Hey everyone! Just wanted to say, my birthday is this weekend, so there's a decent next chapter will be even later than usual. Sorry for the bother! In other news, I'm currently learning Blender. It's slow and the ADHD doesn't help, especially since most tutorials are bloated mess of yapping, but I'm having fun messing with polygons at the moment. Who knows, maybe I'll have low-poly Silhouette models posted here soon.
