<br>
=><=
(text-style:"fade-in-out")[<h2>HELLO INFORMANT</h2>]
<br>
(button:)[[Reply->loiter]]You inhale the scent of jasmine as you pour the steaming yellow liquid into your cup.
It seems luxurious, pouring something worth 15 food credits to do work that may just as easily earn 500 credits as five. But the warmth of it keeps you steady, calms the tremor in your mind.
You slip into your working pod and (t8n-depart:"fade-down")+(t8n-arrive:"fade-down")+(t8n-time:2s)[[tap the screen awake->login]].
(font: 'Garamond')[You commit the criminal act
of loitering
of occupying space
without carrying cash
the crime of waiting
for the rain to pass
cigarette hiss
[[end break->new]] ]#SESSION 87
''Hello informer''
What are your symptoms?
Please select all that apply.
(checkbox: bind $dandruff, " Dandruff on your desk")
(checkbox: bind $song, " The same song on repeat")
(checkbox: bind $rain, " Standing in the rain")
(checkbox: bind $Cgum, " Chewing gum (swallowed)")
(checkbox: bind $Bgum, " Bubble gum (popped)")
(t8n-depart:"fade-down")+(t8n-arrive:"fade-down")+(t8n-time:2s)[[Next->bleach]](font: 'Garamond')[a bucket filled with suds
and soap water on the kitchen
bench where you once sat
and my scrub begins
scrape layers from this
palimpsest of food
scraps of your words i ate
whole and only [[after you left->aftermath]]
vomited onto the lino
now peels
in defiance [[of my acid->bitter]]
tongue and the way i am glad
i left this kitchen](font: 'Garamond')[I scrape my fingers along the rim
of the washing machine
displacing the powder solidified
into sandstone. The man sits
holds a cloud of a cat asks me
why pursue the archaeology
of others’ leftovers.
A certain [[duty perhaps->earn1]]
[[collective stain removal->bitter]] &
I want my knickers to be clean
as much as the next man.
“We all have something,” he says.
I run my eyes down his jacket
the blotches of khaki green](font: 'Garamond')[Dandelions burst across your arms
petals pop through your pores.
I twist the stems
to wilt.
When was the last time I took nutrients?
Fried in the butter, glazed—
[[Hey, are you even listening?->earn1]]
When did we both start speaking underwater?
You've taken root already:
There is no dragging you to the ocean now.
The water is (cycling-link:"black glass","the iris of your eye", "the last shard of you", "man made murder").
If it shatters, does the sky shatter too?
The petals float past
[[Unaware.->earn1]]]Thank you for your submission of ''1 trauma entry''. (set: num-type $trauma to 1)
You have earned ''5 rent credits''.(set: num-type $rent to 5)
[[Check bank->bankA]](text-colour:#7F055F)[//''With TractEx Surveys you can earn credits for you and the whole family.''//]
===|===
''Survey Entries''
(print: $trauma) trauma
===|===
''Credits''
(print: $rent)/10 rent
(print: $food)/5 food
(print: $social)/2 social
|==|
For this month you have chosen: celibacy
No love credits required.
The next member of you family is due to pass in: 485 days
No grief credits required.
[[End break->symptoms]] (font: 'Garamond')[(if: $Cgum is true)[These are my mothballs
of memory, chewing]
(else:)[You and your tongue are not welcome here.
Slide it along the memory
]
edges – you thrust against
the walls to be hung as a
picture frame i never want
to look at and yet
(if: $dandruff is true)[run my hand through your hair
and found it]
wanting more. you are not
my responsibility so how
are you back again (!)
bleach bleach bleach
i can corrode you
[[i can corrode->cry]]
against the shoreline
a line of salt
(text-style:"mirror")[beach beach beach]
there are so many ways
to drown: this survey is one
way to buy a memory.
(if: $song is true)[i unburden this load
this [[white noise]].]](font: 'Garamond')[i swirl the sugar and you dissolve into sunspots
(the room is [[empty]] with you inside)
melanoma on the ceiling
plastering, veins, a tray table
the tv static spits like hot oil
your mind is somewhere between
underground dimensions
you chose your erosion softly
knots of hair hang between your
teeth strung out like sinew
your bones gnawed away
and left in [[someone else's attic->yourlanguage]]]
(set: $food to $food + 2)
(set: $grief to $grief + 1)(font: 'Garamond')[the tv names the days when
i will not dare
to suggest that your room is
a foreign home (empty)
a waiting station from the cold
before the next train [[departs->stillempty]].
don't look at me like that.]
(set: $trauma to $trauma + 1)
(set: $nostalgia to $nostalgia + 1)
(set: $rent to $rent + 3)(font: 'Garamond')[as sepia photographs
curl at the edges out of time
i step into the room (still empty)
the steam from the cup
the steam from my breath
you rise [[like this->teaforgets]]]
(set: $social to $social + 1)(font: 'Garamond')[i leave from where i never came
the tea forgets
[[Submit->bankB]]]
(set: $food to $food + 1)
(set: $grief to $grief + 1)(font: 'Garamond')[(if: (history:) is (a: "share"))[tea is a ritual of salt in a doorway
of tucking you in at night even if
i spoke your language
would you hear me?
[[your ghost will be the same->teaforgets]]
black with two sugars
(set: $food to $food + 6)
(set: $rent to $rent + 2)
(set: $social to $social + 2)
(set: $grief to $grief + 1)]
(else:)[tea is a ritual of salt in a doorway
of tucking you in at night even if
i spoke your language
would you hear me?
[[your ghost will be the same->teaforgets]]
black with two sugars]
(set: $food to $food + 3)
(set: $rent to $rent + 1)
(set: $social to $social + 1)
(set: $grief to $grief + 1)]You cry (cycling-link:"at night","silently", "when no one is around")
[[True->share]] or [[False->courtesy]]?(text-colour:#7F055F)[//''With TractEx Surveys you can earn credits for you and the whole family.''//]
===|===
''Survey Entries''
(print: $trauma) trauma
(print:$grief) grief
(print:$nostalgia) nostalgia
===|===
''Credits''
(print: $rent)/10 rent
(print: $food)/5 food
(print: $social)/2 social
|==|
For this month you have chosen: celibacy
No love credits required.
The next member of you family is due to pass in: 484 days
No grief credits required. (if: $grief > 0)[Please note your current grief credits will expire at the end of this month. These cannot be carried over.]
(t8n-depart:"fade-down")+(t8n-arrive:"fade-down")+(t8n-time:2s)[[End break->85]]//Share the memory and you will earn double the credits!//
(t8n-depart:"fade-down")+(t8n-arrive:"fade-down")+(t8n-time:2s)[[Share->yourlanguage]]
[[Pass->courtesy]]
(set: $trauma to $trauma + 1)
(set: $grief to $grief + 1)//This is a courtesy message from TractEx Surveys//
//We are glad you have chosen our service. However we have been notified of reluctance in your contributions.//
// Prosperity and advancement must entail citizens willing to share personal experiences. Credit compensation is an acknowledgement of the time required for this integral activity.//
//"Human nature is to care and share." This is our motto here at TractEx Surveys.//
//Thank you for your participation in the TractEx family.//
[[Check bank->bankB]] #Session 92
''Hello informer,''
We know you are far from retirement age.
However, we would like to understand public opinion towards what it means to leave the workforce.
It is a trying time for many as you depart the world of productivity and cross the threshold into Sweet Dream facilities.
''We see from your previous responses that you have been close to those who have passed through the Sweet Dream residences. ''
Your responses are crucial for our evaluation and policy making processes. Should you show strong performance, you may be offered a permanent position.
[[Progress->moths]]
[[Refuse->feedback]] (font: 'Garamond')+(t8n:"fade")[You place your hand against the giant glob.
Your recoil instantanously, your hands scrabbling as you propel yourself backwards.
You splash on the tunnel floor. Here words pool like murder. Ink drips from where it has congealed on the roof. Beings – presumably your new coworkers – loom in cesspits, shouting in echoes as they pull levers in rhythm.
These are the sewers of TractEx Surveys. Fortunately, the work-for-the-base program [[instructions]] are straightforward.]We have a promotion offer for you to accept.
You will adopt the role of a ''Rank EL2 Editor.''
It is now your job to tidy up our database so it is presentable for our reports.
You will receive in advance:
''200 rent credits
50 food credits
20 social credits''
In addition to celibacy, you now have the love option ''partnership''. Please tick the box below if you would like to change your love status to partnership.
(checkbox: bind $sex, " ''Partnership''")
[[Check bank->bankC]]
[[Commence editing->Edit1]]
(set: $rent to $rent + 200)
(set: $food to $food + 50)
(set: $social to $social + 20)(char-style: via (t8n-delay:pos*60)+(t8n:'instant'))[''TractEx Surveys seeks new informants.''
You can earn as many as ''100 rent credits per hour.''
We are looking to fill positions immediately.
//''Don't miss this unbeatable offer.''//
[[BEGIN->settle]]]We see you are a returning user.
Please enter your password
(input: bind _name, "X=", "dontforgetme")
[[Submit->83]]
(if: (visited: "white"))[''You have submitted all daily entries Please enter your feedback for TractEx Surveys. ''
(force-input-box: "XX=", "TractEx provided fulfilling survey work which strengthened my character and enhanced my wellbeing.")
[[Submit->promotion]]]
(else:)[''You have submitted all daily entries. Please enter your feedback for TractEx Surveys. ''
(force-input-box: "XX=", "TractEx provided fulfilling survey work which strengthened my character and enhanced my wellbeing.")
Unfortunately, we were not able to use your contributions at this time. This was due to either issues with standardisation or your contributions were too anomalaic.
We apologise for the inconvenience. Your contributions have been destroyed. As such, your credits have been defaulted.
However, in our work-for-the-base program, you have been granted an opportunity to retain the credits earned, conditional on the submission of the above feedback.
We pride ourselves on providing this offer to those who are not compatible with the usual TractEx Survey line of work.
[[Submit feedback->fatberg]]]
(font: 'Garamond')[The moths chew away at your mind; [[softly->astronaut]]]
(font: 'Garamond')[[[Hydrogen light->white]] burns your skin
into sandpaper crust.]
(font: 'Garamond')[only the umbilical cord
[[connects->hydrogen]]
the astronaut
you too (cycling-link:"unravel","spool", "float")
beside me](font: 'Garamond')[Dust particles, estranged worlds
rush past you
disˑinterˑgrating]
(transition-delay: 3s) +(t8n:"blur")+(font: 'Garamond')[The white noise of silence buries you alive.
[[Submit->feedback]]]#SESSION 83
''Hello informant''
This is a freeform session.
As long as all input data is personal, we will accept all entries.
Please remember: the more detail, the more credits you will earn.
[[Share data->memorytrip1]]
At TractEx Surveys we must clean the data we receive from our workers.
We must discard anomalies, data that defies categorisation and standardisation. Sometimes the data we receive is nonsensical and cannot be understood. We cannot afford to devote further resources in interpretive efforts.
The work-for-the-base program is where the cleaning occurs. You must flush out this void data to avoid databergs. These clot our data systems and produce bottlenecks.
We will inform you when you have fulfilled your program obligations.
[[CLEAN->clean1]]
{(live: 1s)[(font: 'Garamond')[
(either: "mum came home distraught", "a hand was raised...", "i bought the noose from Bunnings...", "they forgot again", "the rain fell in ropes", "i didn't know what to do", "it was the last time i saw that shoreline", "relentless","if i can ask?")]
]}
{(live: )[
(if: time > 6s)[
[[Flush->clean2]](stop: )
]
]}{(live: 0.8s)[(font: 'Garamond')[
(either: "he said i could never work there again", "it was the first time we had strawberries...", "these bullets are recyclable", "can we dance?", "the flames reached our doorstep", "we were born into drought", "it was his graduation...", "try it","i misheard...", "...only dementia")]
]}
{(live: )[
(if: time > 6s)[
[[Flush->clean3]](stop: )
]
]}
{(live: 0.5s)[(font: 'Garamond')[
(either: "that hand was on my thigh", "when was the last time you felt safe?", "i feel i can trust you", "text me back", "Happy New Year babe <3", "my grandma's first phone", "but it was complicated pregnancy...", "dry july","marathon running for...", "so they say", "he said, she said")]
]}
{(live: )[
(if: time > 6s)[
[[Flush->clean4]](stop: )
]
]}
{(live: 0.3s)[(font: 'Garamond')[
(either: "hey u neva call", "say it once more", "which sock comes first?", "you love me i think", "it was the first time they...", "it was that school", "you said so you said so", "the mid-Autumn festival","our code was tonguetwisters...", "i wish we could go back", "defamation")]
]}
{(live: )[
(if: time > 6s)[
[[Flush->emerge]](stop: )
]
]}
(font: 'Garamond')[(live: )[
(if: time > 1.5s)+(t8n:"blur")[
Three months later you emerge
dark and dripping
the tremor beneath your skull is heavier now (stop: )]
]
(live: )[(if: time > 5s)+(t8n:"blur")[you have fulfilled the program obligations
and are now free to engage in normal work once again.
[[Time to earn rent.->cleanend]](stop: )]]](text-colour:#7F055F)[//''With TractEx Surveys you can earn credits for you and the whole family.''//
''As you are now on a yearly salary, your credit figures are for the whole year rather than only the month.'']
===|===
''Survey Entries''
(print: $trauma) trauma
(print:$grief) grief
(print:$nostalgia) nostalgia
===|===
''Credits''
(print: $rent)/120 rent
(print: $food)/60 food
(print: $social)/24 social
(if: $sex is true)[0/30 love]
|==|
(if: $sex is true)[For this month you have chosen: partnership]
(else:)[For this month you have chosen: celibacy
No love credits required.]
The next member of your family is due to pass in: 484 days
No grief credits required. (if: $grief > 0)[Please note your current grief credits will expire at the end of this month. These cannot be carried over.]
(t8n-depart:"fade-down")+(t8n-arrive:"fade-down")+(t8n-time:2s)[[Commence editing->Edit1]]
=||||||=
(font:'Arial')[I am always hungry.
No. I always feel hungry. (link: "It is boredom; the semi-conscious floating between bedroom, pantry and fridge.",(action:'mouseover'))[]
(link:"These small culinary tours have increased since hunkering down at home to wait out the virus outside.",(action:'mouseover'))[]
(link:"The return trips to my bedroom are often empty-handed.",(action:'mouseover'))[] I can count myself away from food. I count dollars. I count calories. I count unnecessary trips to the supermarket.
I am a (link:"teenager",(action:'mouseover'))[masochist] again, playing cat-and-mouse with myself and the groceries, using food as reward and punishment.
Old habits have returned. I pinch my gut every now and then. Jiggle it. (link:"All the lies I used to tell myself begin worming inside my skin.",(action:'mouseover'))[]
I pinch until I bruise, bite my lip until I bleed. Old habits have cracked.]
==||=
''(text-colour:white)[Our reports must be concise.
Please remove unnecessary detail. ]
{(live: )[
(if: time > 4s)[
[[Next->edit2]](stop: )
]
]}''
|==|
=||||||=
(font:'Arial')[This is a constant -
(link:"A buzzing in the ears, neon in the veins. There is a glow beneath your skin.",(action:'mouseover'))[]
your mother asks on a windy night what you have been drinking and could she have some too.
The moths (char-style:(text-style:"fidget"))[flutter flutter flutter] around the fluorescent light on the porch. Your mother(link:", draped in a grey cardigan, exhales her puff of smoke,",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"coughing",(action:'mouseover'))[coughs] away her existence. ]
==||=
''Our reports must be concise.
Please remove unnecessary detail.
{(live: )[
(if: time > 4s)[
[[Next->edit3]](stop: )
]
]}''
|==|
=||||||=
(font:'Wingdings')+(char-style: via (text-style:(either:'none','blur','blurrier')))[(link:"srg",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"sdhft",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"234vdfg",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"gij;adfg",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"olqaitg",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"awef",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"op'ihn",(action:'mouseover'))[] (link:"thankyopu",(action:'mouseover'))[] ]
(font:'Arial')[(link:"EXPIRED",(action:'mouseover'))[]]
==||=
''Our reports must be concise.
Please remove unnecessary detail.
{(live: )[
(if: time > 4s)[
[[Next->speed]](stop: )
]
]}''
|==|
TractEx Surveys is very pleased with your progress.
For this month's bonus, we have awarded you ''30 love credits''.
As you are ahead of your quarterly schedule, we have assigned you to induct one of our new recruits into our system.
But first: [[a refresher->promoend]].
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
=><=
(text-style:"fade-in-out")[<h2>HELLO INFORMANT</h2>](button:)[[Initiate->thank]]<br>
<br>
<br>
(t8n:"blur")+(align:"=><=")+(font:'Garamond')[Thank you for playing :)
This game owes a lot to the book //The Seductions of Quantification// by the late Sally Engle Merry. Vale.
Til next time.
Jordan Roux]
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
=><=
(text-style:"fade-in-out")[<h2>HELLO INFORMANT</h2>](button:)[[Reply->thank]]