My Co-Worker is an Elf Girl?! (#thewattys2024)

Chapter 16 - Don't Worry, History Will Remember Us

UNKNOWN LOCATION - AFTERNOON
Samara lays inside what seems like the interior of a futuristic coffin. She is still sampling the game demo on her rented tablet.
Suddenly, someone knocks. Samara keeps her eyes glued to the game in front of her.

SAMARA: "Come in!"

UNKNOWN PERSON: "Very funny... I have this pod booked for 4:00!"

Samara groans. She turns off her device and crawls out of the chamber.

HOKIEN MEDIA NAP PODS - AFTERNOON
Samara crawls out of what looks like a space-age beehive. They are rows of nap pods designed to provide reprieve to overworked salary workers.

The COMPLAINING EMPLOYEE points at the touch screen kiosk hanging from the side of the structure.

COMPLAINING EMPLOYEE: "You have to book these in advance, you know!"

SAMARA: "Oh, my bad..."

Sam's stomach growls. Standing up straight has settled the contents of her stomach. She follows signs pointing to the bathrooms.

HOKIEN MEDIA BATHROOM WING - AFTERNOON
Samara immediately bumps into a very long line of WAITING EMPLOYEES. They are all different shades of frustrated with how long they are waiting. She strikes up a conversation with the employee in front of her.

SAMARA: "I think I've seen shorter lines at Festivals."

WAITING EMPLOYEE #1: "There are two single-occupant bathrooms. One person is taking forever, and the other is sobbing behind locked doors."

An EMPLOYEE pokes their head out from inside one of the bathrooms.

EMERGING EMPLOYEE #1: "Can someone get a plunger?"

A second one pops out from directly under the first. It's like something out of a Three Stooges sketch.

EMERGING EMPLOYEE #2: "Nah, someone please call facilities. We're going to need them to snake these pipes."

WAITING EMPLOYEE #1: "What the hell are you two doing in there that's holding everybody up?!"

Emerging Employee #1 waves their smartphone. Emerging Employee #2 produces a large cardboard box from inside the bathroom.

EMERGING EMPLOYEE #1: "We're in the middle of doing the viral Tampon Flushing challenge, and we can't let our hot streak die!"

The entire bathroom line lets out a magnitude 7 groan.

EMERGING EMPLOYEE #2: "Hey! We're up to 56! We're about to hit a record!"

The line disperses.

WAITING EMPLOYEE #2: "I can't believe this shit."

WAITING EMPLOYEE #3: "What a bunch of selfish pricks."

WAITING EMPLOYEE #4: "56? That's pretty good...."

The Emerging Employee duo look at each other.

EMERGING EMPLOYEE #2: "It's getting late; facilities probably left for the day."

EMERGING EMPLOYEE #1: "Let's grab the toilet snake ourselves."

The two walk off, carrying their box of unflushed sanitary products with them.

Samara doesn't budge. The toilet water pooling on the floor begins to reach her. She recoils with disgust.

SAMARA: "Yuck."

Samara steps over the spillage. She approaches the other locked room and hears the soft sobbing on the other side. Sam knocks on the door twice.

SAMARA: "Hey! Can you have your emotional breakdown somewhere else? I really need to go."

UNKNOWN VOICE: "Leave me alone."

Samara recognizes the voice on the other side. It belongs to Remy.

SAMARA: "You okay, buddy?"

REMY: "No. I had thought the Realm of Mortals would be different!"

SAMARA: "How.... so?"

REMY: "I-I... I'm...'

Samara could hear Remy choking on her own tears.

REMY: "I am a disappointment in this world too!"

To be continued...