Inbox [cerealia]

[cardboard_journalism]

"Sss, sss, sss.

You've reached the desk of Myriam Scuttlebutt.

If you're calling to submit a story to the Cerealia Times, please press 1.

If you're calling to inquire about employment with the Cerealia Times, please press 2.

If you're calling to make a complaint about a story in the Cerealia Times, you are free to hang up. Complaints will only be accepted as submitted letters to the editor, delivered in physical form.

If you're calling for any other reason, please leave a message after the beep."

[boop]

[if 1 is pressed]

"You've reached the extension for submitting a story to the Cerealia Times. Please describe your story after the beep. For reference, please include your name and contact information. You may also make your tip anonymously, or ask for anonymity. As a source, your anonymity is protected by law, and will not be revealed without your express permission.

Kahk-kahk... Keep in mind, you cannot be financially compensated for information you provide, for reason of journalistic ethics. ...no, really, journalists aren't supposed to do that."

[boop]

[if 2 is pressed]

"The Cerealia Times is in need of correspondents, reporters, photojournalists, and delivery personnel.

Correspondent: you are expected to respond to stories that break out in an assigned section of Cerealia, report the information at the scene, interview witnesses, and supply written stories. Mild literacy is required.

Reporters: you are expected to actively pursue assigned stories and conduct related interviews in a timely manner. Mild interpersonal skills a plus, but not essential. With approval, you will be free to investigate your own stories.

Photojournalists: you are expected to record newsworthy events on film. This may require taking shots under suboptimal conditions.

Delivery personnel: you are expected to transport, unload, and fold bundles of newspaper around Cerealia.

All of these jobs take long hours and are very demanding... but they're worth it. --Except for the delivery job, that's just busywork. Sss, sss!

Leave your contact information, desired post, and brief description of your experience, if any!"

[boop]

[action thread continuations can go here too!]

Comments

[cardboard_journalism]

Nope. You're it for now. But who knows? Maybe next issue. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Any other questions?

[dereban]

I see. That's fine, thanks.

I don't have any further questions for the time being, but if anything comes up, I'll ask you.

[cardboard_journalism]

All right. Same.

--Oh, one last thing...

You want to be credited as just 'Inaba'? It's your byline. Sss, sss, sss.

[dereban]

[ While she doubts that there are other Inabas out there... ]

"Inaba Himeko". That's my full name, and I don't want to be mistaken by some other person. [ Just in case. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

Sss, sss, sss! Spoken like a true journalist. Yes, I think you'll fit in juuuuust fine.

Let's get something to drink and share a toast to our collaboration. Might as well justify our seat here to the staff, right? Sss, sss, sss!

[dereban]

Just as long as it's not alcoholic. I know I'm in drinking age here, but I refuse to get myself drunk when I have better things to be doing.

[cardboard_journalism]

R-right. I just meant, juice or something. You mean it's different from normal? How old is it?

[dereban]

Yeah, juice is fine. ... And it's fifteen. Fifteen.

[cardboard_journalism]

[Scuttlebutt flags down a waiter and orders a water for herself]

Seems a bit low. Kahk-kahk-kahk...

[dereban]

Well, it's not like I know why the legal age in this world is fifteen. Probably because there are non-humans here as well.

[cardboard_journalism]

Hm... or maybe it's proof of some more... insidious plot. Sss, sss, sss.

[dereban]

A plot for what, exactly?

[cardboard_journalism]

Well, think about it! If people are drinking then their thinking is impaired and they're not questioning anything that happens around them.

A "pacification technique" if you will.

[dereban]

But that's only if they decide to drink. Besides, they can already impair a person's thinking without the age limit.

[cardboard_journalism]

Yeah, that's true... I'm not suggesting we revive prohibition or anything, just that it seems a bit strange. Sss, sss, sss.

We'll just table that as something to ask CERES in the future.

[dereban]

Well, I don't really care either way what other people do. They do whatever the hell they want.

But that's fine.

[cardboard_journalism]

Sss, sss, sss. I hope you care enough to recognize when "what other people do" becomes a scoop.

Anyway, a toast to us! And the ever expanding Cerealia Times!

[raises her glass? Did Inaba get one of her own to clink against?]

[dereban]

I'm perceptive enough to know what makes or breaks a good article. Anyway, cheers.

[ Well, she has hers in a can. But it's good enough for her. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

[Scuttlebutt raised her drink...

Of course, her box had no mouth hole, so she had to tip her box back, angle a straw through the slot she had been using to see through, and somehow use that to drink]

[SSssiiippp...]