A Soviet's Struggle

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"Class dismissed! I'll see you all Friday." That was the cue that class was over. Mariya packed her things into her backpack, zipping the bag up, getting up from her seat and slinging it over her shoulder. She's been going to classes for about a month and a half at this point. These introductory classes were easy A's, nothing Mariya hadn't learned from her Uncles. Her culinary classes were more difficult, as she was nowhere near a master chef, but when it came to business classes, it was a simple piece of cake.

After class, she was to meet up with Silsina. Apparently, she met some animalloids that Mariya would like to meet; said they were her "coworkers". Lucky her. Mariya had yet to get hired. She applied to a dozen places on campus, not hearing responses from any. She tried Subs and Shakes, where Xiao worked, Daniel's Smoke Shop, Hyena's Den, The BloodBank, Baldhardt Gym, where Roberto worked, and Christinene's pets and accessories, a pet shop on campus where Chahsa, Alexandra and Burhardt worked, to no success. Next on her attempt list was Erik's Bar and Grill, a restaurant that sold alcohol, had lady dancers, and served pub food.

When it came to animalloid society, they never shied away from sexuality. While prostitution was prohibited in Wolfism and sexual acts against children was punishable by death, adult worship over the nude wasn't uncommon. There was nothing inherently wrong in wolfist religion with performance, or carving the nude. Of course, courtesy laws differed by nation, most nations requiring clothes, either way, but it wasn't a sin to admire the beauty of the naked woman, or the naked man. Thus, a borderline strip club could legally be on campus, as well as the Hyena's Den, a superb sex shop.

This was the last place Mariya wanted to get hired to. She would be fine being a bartender or hostess, but if they needed dancers, she would actively want to cry. Either way, she needed cash, as the cash Silsina had lent her through whoring was running low, and she had bills to pay.

Mariya walked through crowded walkways, inching her way slowly across campus to Silsina's residence. Silsina didn't have classes on Wednesdays, so she usually opted to stay home and sleep in, like any other college student during the week. Luckily for Mariya, these streets weren't anything she wasn't used to, pacing them at least 3 times a week to Silsina's, to catch up and to hang out. The sidewalks were always crowded during this time, as Mariya opted for Morning and Noon classes, rather than late-nights. She pushed and shoved, some students swearing as Mariya's rather larger-than-average bone structure pushed their shoulders or body, as she went against the flow of traffic. Structure after structure, hall after hall, Mariya made her way to Silsina's place of residence, in the F district of West Baldhardt. A small studio dorm with one bed, one bath, one kitchen and dining room duo, and one half living room - a standard cosy dorm on the Baldhardt campus.

This district - The F District, was for the arts and crafts. Any student with an art related degree; performance, painting, drawing, musical, fashion, or design, were allocated in this spot. There were a few spots for hangouts - small diners and merch stores - but most of the streets here were filled with the studio dorms.

Mariya continued down the road, scanning the F District for Silsina's dorm: building code 8763. The heavy breathing in her gasmask, the chattering of passersby, coupled with her steps, were the only sounds filling her ears, which flicked precariously at each new sound. Her breaths were deep, heavy, and pained; her lungs overworking themselves with her restricted airflow. Her head, always lightheaded from the lack of flowing air, spun as she weaved through the crowds ahead of her.

Through crossing streets, dodging cyclists, and dashing through pedestrians; Mariya made it to her destination. Silsina's dorm - much like almost any student dorm on Baldhardt's campus, was made of sturdy oak wood, dating as far back as the 1930's. The outside of her particular dorm, which was like a small studio home, shared a beautiful grass garden out front, with a neatly maintained patio. The stone steps leading to the door swept frequently, not a single spec of dirt, law clipping, or leaves dwindled on any of the steps. If it was one thing that Silsina got from their mother, it was her green thumb and need for tidiness. With a sharp inhale, Mariya confidently walked up the steps, her eyes glued to each stone - as to make sure she didn't fall over, due to their spacing. Walking up the single stair that led to her porch, Mariya closed her eyes and gave Silsina's bulky wooden door a burly knock.