She Already Has
Title: You Must Not Fail This Time
Author: Girawolf
Fandom: TF2
I'm sure you'll find what I consider the biggest issue with this with ease.
The sun was setting against the light pink sky, pulling the day to a close. The moon rose into view, glinting in the sun's fiery reflection. Strike that, reverse it. Beneath the heavens, a train lazily chugged along, exuding smoke from the chimney atop the engine. Several passenger cars trailed the engine, and various box cars full of different materials followed after. In the window of the first passenger car, a girl gazed curiously at the land spread out around her. The stars peeked out from behind the daylight, one at a time blinking into view. She sighed, fiddling with the pendant on her shirt.
Being only twenty-three, the girl had figured that she'd have a decent life by now. Now, I'm not sure if this line is really this pretentious or if it's actually trying to show the girl as being someone who's naturally naive for such a young age. College came and went in a flash, consuming only six years of her life, and she was ready for any job she could take. Honestly, College does not automatically mean you're ready to take down the world. That requires actual experience. With overflowing confidence, she had companies begging for her to work for them. Somehow, I seriously doubt that. However, none of them managed to appeal to her liking. Well, shit. So much for that ready for any job deal then. So, six years and she has no idea what she wants to do with her life? Nice. It's also good to know she's making an active effort to seek out work herself. Like someone who was ready for any job. All of them provided good pay and benefits, but they were all basic, run of the mill careers that would repeat the same tasks each day. ...Okay. So I'm guessing she was majoring in Business. ...why exactly if she doesn't like it? The thought of it made the girl want to scream, but when she interviewed with another company, something about it fit in her mind. You know, that overflowing confidence is starting to come off as snobby and contrived. The Builders League United, or BLU, was an elite chain of business highly regarded in the economical standpoint. With control of at least fifty percent of the country's financial system, it would be any employee's dream to work for such a prestigious company. Well, at least for the people who want to actually work. At first glance, it would seem as if the job they would offer the girl would keep her in the same bored state as all of the others, You know, that awful work thing she most likely majored in college for. but someone saw an opportunity for such a go-getting young woman. Oh, she's a go-getter alright! Turns down everyone that pursues her and doesn't make an effort back. I just love how hard this writer is trying to make this OC sound *ambitious* of all things. She was called into the main headquarters for BLU, and that was where it all lost control.
A woman cloaked in purple from head to toe sat at her desk, being the highest of power at the company. A cigarette came into contact with her thin lips, leaving a ring of purple lipstick. I actually really like this line, leaves a vivid image in my mind. She blew the smoke from her lungs, tapping the loose ash and looking up at the girl.
"Roxanne Holt, I presume?" she hissed, her voice dry and raspy. The girl nodded. Why is it 'girl' anyway. 'Young woman' would sound so much better, especially for the forced image we're seeing here.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied clearly, "It's nice to meet you, Miss…?"
"I prefer to be called 'The Administrator', Roxanne," the woman sneered, taking another breath of her cigarette, "Now, to get down to business. I have called upon you for your assistance in a very serious line of work. ...a College Student. You've called upon a College Student to get killed over and over again. You will be required to be shipped to a random location upon my command, and you may not return for as long as six months. It is a very important position, and you are the perfect person to handle such a job." No, she's most certainly not. Something like this - people just killing each other over and over again, in new and more gruesome ways - is not the place for some random college 'girl'. This is something you get desperate men to do. Roxanne knew that the Administrator was being vague, It's not exactly like she's fucking HIDING IT. Points for noticing the blatantly obvious. This girl's a pro. probably only to keep out the vital information that would bring Roxanne to her doom.
"What's the catch? If you don't mind me asking…" she inquired. WHAT. The Administrator grinned.
"Smart girl," she cackled, "Well, the catch…The catch, I believe, would be what happens after this job is completed. No, dumbass, that's the incentive. Not the catch. Don't compliment the girl for getting such a common phrase wrong. (It's actually kinda funny that she pretty much said that getting all but kidnapped was the 'good' part of this deal.) And it isn't clever at all to ask *why* you should be shipped to some random place for some job they won't tell you about. That's common sense, it borders on the very basis of Darwinism. You will be given grant from the BLU corporation of $500,000,000 dollars, paid in unmarked bills. I find this so ridiculous on so many levels. I mean, 500 thousand dollars is practically the President's yearly salary. And yet, these people have 500 Million to burn for *1* fresh out of College student? Just one? What about the other 15 players? This money is to be used for whatever your heart desires, Well, I'd be pretty disappointed if it wasn't. Going to a practical war over and over again and being told that you cash is only good for this or that store would piss anyone off. and if you use it properly, you will not need to work for the rest of your time on this Earth." She looked away. "However, if you still believe you'd like to seek out work elsewhere, then I'm sorry to see you go." Wow, that must actually hurt to say coming from this one of all people. Who put her up to hiring some college chick with business credentials anyway? Roxanne thought for a moment. Being from a small town meant that she was always stuck admiring the rich and famous, without so much as a dollar to her name. Now, she had the opportunity to change all of that. All those companies with good pay and benefits just begging her to work for them couldn't possibly have done the same! No, this is where it's at. Going someplace, to do something, all the while likely not being allowed to tell anyone about it is the Golden Ticket alright. And not, you know, a surefire way to get shipped off to some other country and have one's body sold for spare parts. With the money from the company, lifelong luxury was just a snap. She smiled in anticipation, but she shook herself out of her greed. Now if only you could do that for your sloth. The woman had her wrapped around her finger with so much as the offering of money. Not like those other jobs that offered money. God only knew what she could do if the circumstances of the job weren't specified. So long as it doesn't involve...*shudders* work.
"Well, would you at least explain what the job pertains?" she queried. The woman gave a devilish smile.
"For security reasons, I cannot allow you to know too much, but…" she leaned in closer, "This job is one that comes once in a lifetime. Come on, Roxanne. It's 500 million dollars, and awesome, something someone as awesome as you are - as well as pretty and smart for seeing how sneaky I was being - would be perfect for. It involves stealth, speed, and an iron will. Every day, this job will entail different obstacles to be overcome, and I think you're just the person capable, Miss Holt." and we have candy as well, right around that corner. Roxanne felt her heart skip a beat. She'd just been thrown the opportunity of exhilaration in the sea of tedium known to her as life. The money will make you able to withstand this awful mortal coil you willingly submit yourself to. Honestly, just kill yourself if you're that bored with living. She smiled.
"…I'll do it," she concluded. The Administrator grinned. She's a moron go-getter, alright.
"Excellent," she commended happily, turning to call her assistant, "Miss Pauling! Please, bring the contract, if you would." A small, quiet woman quickly came into the room.
"Y-Yes ma'am!" she responded in a nervous voice. She returned almost seconds later with the contract prepared in her hand. The Administrator snatched the papers from the girl's hands, collecting them neatly and handing it to Roxanne. I still stand by how wrong for TF this OC is. Fucks sake, this kind of thing is something you get very down on their luck guys to do, or war vets that are fiending for battle, or psychotics. And not for 500 Million either. Nope, I'd say a good...500k is more than ample enough for mere grunts. Which they pretty much are. And it's not like they stay dead, no, they just endure dying over and over again, and again.
"Just sign your name at the bottom and the job is yours," Don't read the fine print, CANDY. she smirked, her slight British accent setting in. Roxanne nodded, taking the paper and reading it over. Fuck, she read it. Well at least she doesn't care about where she's going or what she's doing. It was exactly what the Administrator had specified, nothing more, nothing less. I love how the contract is apparently short enough to read in one go. Excitedly, she scribbled her name onto the bottom of the pact, and without another thought, it was seized away, returned to the trusted hands of Miss Pauling for proper documenting. The Administrator smiled in a sinister way, placing her elbows on her desk and clasping her hands together. She willingly provided the girl with her instructions. as opposed to simply walking away and expecting the 'girl' to know exactly what she was going to do now.
"Tonight, I need you to pack three precious items from your home for transport," a pc mouse, a cap from a toothpaste tube, and a stuffed monkey. she directed firmly, "Tomorrow evening, at precisely five o'clock, a car will pick you up and take you to a train. It could be subway or the old traditional, the cab driver is whimsical like that. On said train, you will be carried to the job site in an uncultivated location. we couldn't afford to build any lodges, don't worry, we have porta-potties. There, you will be given further instruction." Roxanne nodded giddily, shaking the woman's hand. all while thinking of the money and candy, she hoped it'd be twix bars. The Administrator smiled and called Miss Pauling back to escort the girl out, to which she complied meekly. Waving goodbye, the woman sneered.
"Adieu, mademoiselle," she mocked crudely, taking another puff from her cigarette, "Adieu…" Meh, all everyone here needs is a lazy college chick. That'll be sure to make everything so much more interesting.