A Lumen Ripple | An Elemental Story

Chapter 8 - Wade Up!

That morning...

While Ember delved into her future unlike ever before over at Aquatecture, Wade sat on his own over at the Elementopia-City Building Inspection Division. He much preferred the more playful abbreviation of E.B.I.D, however. He claims that it 'rolls off the tongue' better.

Alas, nothing would be rolling off of his tongue at that moment. Instead, he laid on a couch in the staff quarters, mindlessly scrolling through his waterphone mere moments before his second ever shift there were to start. 

In this state of borderline laziness, he came across a rather unsettling video on his Elementstagram feed of an elderly water lady falling over. As she fell, she turned into a puddle, some onlookers chuckling inappropriately. 

Mildly disturbed by the inherent lack of care for the lady, Wade exhibited a cross face. He read through the comments, coming across a needlessly scathing one almost instantly.

"Ha! Old lady tumbling like a wave. Classic!" it read.

His bubbles flowed a bit faster as an air of standoffishness grew within him. He picked up his phone with both hands, angrily thwapping his fingers as he replied.

"Hey! That's not nice. She might've been having a bad day, for all you know." he replied.

Without much time passing, he received a reply from the top commentor.

"What are you, the water police? Go have a cry and flood the place, man! XD"

Instantly, a couple tears began to streak down Wade's face. He childishly threw his phone into his satchel.

"Ripple." a voice said in close proximity.

Little did he know that for the last half a minute, his big boss, Mr. Groucho, stood right beside him at the foot of the couch. Wade leaped up and straightened his posture in fright.

"AGH-- yes, sir?!" Wade panicked.

Mr. Groucho provided him the most stern stare he could possibly muster at the bumbling droplet.

"You're on shift now." Mr. Groucho advised.

Wade's eyes widened.

"Oh!" he sounded.

He pulled a fake smile at his superior, leaping up and dusting himself off.

"Sorry." Wade apologized.

Mr. Groucho persisted in staring at his poor subordinate.

"Go to the brief room. There's a job waiting for you." he told.

He walked off in a slow and brooding manner. Wade stood in his spot, wiping away a wad of sweat and any tears present. He took a breath, composing himself as he made his way toward the briefing room.

-----

He gradually opened the door in attempt to enter as subtly as he could. Unluckily for him, his briefer, Mr. Mutrick, and three of his coworkers - Earthmen named Dusty, Rocky and Boulder respectively - looked over with passive-aggression written all over their faces.

"Wadey! Took you long enough." Rocky quipped passive-agressively, yet with an air of playfulness.

Wade held his satchel to his side as he walked in.

"Sorry. Didn't realise I was on shift." he excused.

His three co-workers laughed at what to them was a blatant excuse.

"Doesn't cut it. You've been working in this industry for years." Mr. Mutrick advised.

Wade looked down as a result of the flurry of disapproval headed his way. Mr. Mutrick could only shake his head.