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Subject: Intervention For The Storyboardist/Odd Job Animator 
Venue: Animation Director's Office 
Time: 8:06 AM 

 

[ ]: Uh hey what's going on? 

Shivonne: Please, have a seat. 

[ ]: O... kay... this is a bit strange. If this is a surprise party just so you know my birthday won't be for another 7 months. 

Shivonne: Oh it's not a surprise party, I can assure you. 

[ ]: Eh heheh heheh... whatever it is, it's a little overdramatic, don't you think? 

Shivonne: You're right. Lights on please. 

[lights turned on, exposing Azka and Ingvald standing by Shivonne's right] 

 

[ ]: [gasp, low growl] YOU! 

Azka: Morning. Surprised to see us here? 

Ingvald: This is an intervention, bruh. See, we've been watching. Observing. Analyzing. 

[ ]: By ignoring me completely whenever I ask to hang out with you two? 

Azka: Oh we don't, we never completely ignored you, we still respond. Look, we've been worried and suspicious about your change these past few weeks cuz you were getting reclusive and down and you had this negative vibe that isn't usually there. 

Ingvald: I mean seriously, a blanket over your cubicle? What is this, kindergarten? 

[ ]: Don't you ever think that I changed these past few weeks because you've been pushing me away and act like you don't wanna hang out with me anymore? 

Azka: Don't you ever think that we always backed out on your plan cuz of the way you've been acting lately and making us do? Honestly we're uncomfortable with that and I've repeatedly told you but you never listened 

[ ]: What? What are you talking about? 

Azka: Uh, ahem, you've been using us to copy everything Shivonne and Gioven do outside the office. EVERYTIME we hang out. All just for your social media curation! 

Ingvald: Honestly I wasn't aware of this in the beginning, but since Azka told me I started to notice, and we decided to tell none other than Miss Shivonne herself about it. I kinda saw it since that Grand Battleonian outing last month. 

[ ]: You wh- 

Azka: And we've got the proof. Right [clicks remote] here. 
 
[projector turns on, showing scrolling slides of Shivonne's & Zephyra's Instagram feed & [ ]'s Tuding feed] 

 

Shivonne: Interesting... 

Azka: Also we circled the comparisons too. Here's the most recent one from Steamboat Burger Rolls, and here's the one from the food court downstairs when I wore the same top as Shivonne's, and a few down here are at the Grand Battleonian... 

 

[Azka moves on to the next slide with noticeable comparisons, pairing two or three photos together and circling the similarities] 

 

Azka: And all these others are from different places and yet you managed to stage us into posing similar poses. Warts and all. You even had Ingvald hold a plastic spoon up his nose like Gioven did in these photos cuz you told him it was funny. 

[  ]: TRAITORS! 

Ingvald: We had to do what we did. You kinda went overboard with trying to get the poses right and taking chances whenever one of us is wearing the same outfit as either Shivonne or Gioven. And photoshopping Azka's hair bright green to match Shivonne's turquoise hair. Of course I won't mind but you gotta respect others' decisions here. 

Azka: We also noticed if we deliberately won't cooperate, you speedpaint faux-photos on Photoshop, recreating Miss Director's photos here but with us! This "photo" with us kissing right here, everyone knows we don't kiss in public. 

Ingvald: What if we don't wanna be labeled a similar label as theirs? 

[ ]: Gonna stop you right there. It kinda sounds like you're demeaning people like her and Gioven who are unafraid to show public display of affection. 

Shivonne: No it's alright, at least he's delivering the point here 

[ ]: You're not helping. Ugh. 

Azka: This was at Steamboat Burger Rolls last time, right? We also noticed that you were sliiiiightly starting to do the same with Daphne and Taufan using Ilona and Berwald. I mean jeez, those two aren't even a couple, they were just... really really close. 

[ ]: Berwald's in my division, he keeps telling me he wants to get closer to Ilona for some reason, though that was a few months back, I still agree, and Travia and I both ship them together. Also he already told me a few weeks ago that both Daphne and Taufan noticed. Why should I hear it again from you? 

Shivonne: Oh, hold up, you paired Ilona and Berwald and get them to be your own Daphne and Taufan just because I once shipped them and they got together? Is that what you're doing right now? 

[ ]: Don't get me wrong, I wasn't FORCING them to be together or anything. 

Azka: But you were showing signs of it, and it's still honestly pretty creepy if you ask me. And just look at these comics... all these personal Facebook-only ones that you never post on your webcomic page. Is that supposed to be me? And the other girl she's targeting pretty much resembles Shivonne, and this fairy godmother-like character has your hair! 

Ingvald: Tell me, if Berwald already told you, why won't you try to change it if he states that he doesn't like the way you act? 
 
[footsteps, another spotlight shone, showing Berwald standing below it] 

 

Berwald: Heard I was called, and hot fish balls, do I have something to say about your case, buddy. 

[ ]: You're siding with them too all this time? 

Berwald: There were no sides to begin with, plus I was pretty neutral with this situation. I'm rather interested at your mindset to be honest, and how you seem to have an "us vs them" motive 

[ ]: But aren't we all a team in this company? We just have a lot of divisions, the animation team under Shivonne, the audio/sound team under Dietrich, the game team under-

 

Berwald: Oh but I'd like to focus on one particular director. Our director, Shivonne, and her connections. Gioven's not working for this company, neither is Zephyra. But just because Gioven is Shivonne's boyfriend and Zephyra is a friend of both, you put them in the "them" category while us, your teammates, we're in the "us" category, heh, obviously. Since Daphne and Taufan appear as a friend of Shivonne's to you, and Azka and Ingvald already took the place as your default Shivonne and Gioven, you look for other couples you know that are close to you and since you pair me with Ilona so much, there you go, we're your emergency pawns to fit the position. 

[ ]: [gasp] pawns? How dare you! 

Ingvald: He's right about you treating us like pawns, so in this case it's actually how dare YOU. 

[ ]: [grumbles] 

Berwald: My guess is you see the "them" category as the cool kids, the ones you hold a grudge against cuz of their open lifestyle or fashion choice or career or general status, i dunno, whichever. The "us" category is seen as lesser or more normal, and you wanted to elevate our so-called statuses to be just like theirs, be cooler like them. These levels are honestly invisible and make-believe. 

Shivonne: Oh, Berwald, one more thing. In the car last time I do remember her mouthing "i wish Azka and Ingvald are more like you two" when Gioven and I drove her home from the Grand Battleonian. 

Azka: You went to the GB again? 

[  ]: Leisure walking. I was bored and I need inspiration. 

Berwald: With Zephyra, being a musician and all, your pawn in this case is Travia cuz she's our previous audio composer, obviously. And she has a team which you're not close with, but they make ideal pawns for you to copy Zephyra's touring band, as you can see in this photo. Azka? 

 
[Azka clicks the remote, showing a photo from Zephyra's Instagram & a photo [ ] took of Travia in Tuding] 

 

[ ]: That was just for fun. That was only once. 

Berwald: Oh is it? Next slide please. 

Azka: Ah here's another scrolling slide. It's your Tumblr blog, and I've only collected your story entries. Here's one of the earliest ones about both you and Trav performing in a music festival, supposedly the same music festival Shivonne went to to see Zephyra perform. 

[ ]: So? You're gonna attack me on my creative writing now? 

Azka: It's just harmless creative writing, is it? Yes. And the song you guys posted on Chirbit and her Soundcloud, the parody of Zephyra's song. That's also harmless creative content to a certain extent. A lot of people in Youtube are doing it too. 

Shivonne: Wait, you two parodied Zephyra's song? I wanna hear. 

Azka: We'll link you later, meanwhile enjoy this sample. [clicks remote & audio plays] 

Shivonne: Gotta admit that sounds pretty funny, and you placed 'diaper' in place of 'reliable'. So much bathroom jokes and puns. 
[ ]: Thank you. Clearly someone here has a sense of humor. 

Azka: BUT. This strengthens your mindset on how every small goal Zephyra achieves, either you or Travia had to replicate. 

[ ]: Oh what?! COME ON! 

Berwald: In this case, both Travia and yourself share the pawn position, cuz you both envy her at the same level. ANOTHER BUT. As soon as Travia luckily got signed by Quartzircone, I don't know how that happened, YOU start begrudging against her bit by bit eventhough she's been nothing but nice and cheerful to you. You no longer see her in the "us" team. Eventually, you see her in the "them" team eventhough she's not associated with Shivonne or whosoever. More evidence? 

Azka: [clicks remote] here are some of your recent blog entries on Tumblr, some ambiguously ranting about how unfair life is, and some faux-storytelling about your life after you get signed by some music label named... Somélabellenom? 

[ ]: I'll work on the name, that was supposed to be a draft. 

Azka: Yeah but you published it, whether accidentally or not, and I get that this is just creative writing but it's motivated by envy and hate. As a fellow creative writer I have to say it's really not good for your system.

Shivonne: Plus, as a director I would advise you to not let these personal works get in the way of your work for this company. I mean we are supposed to be professional, you know that. 

Ingvald: You gotta talk to Travia after this, dude, she's not mad at all, she's been worried about you since you changed. 

Shivonne: Too bad both Travia and Zephyra couldn't make it to this intervention, they're both working on music videos, coincidentally. And touring schedules 

[ ]: [grumbling] ...and you just had to say that. Hrrnnh. 

Berwald: Ah, see? There you go, the thought of Travia finally doing what you've always wanted to do bugs you this much. Chin up, at least you still have time to make songs amidst your storyboarding and animating routine. P.s. I've listened to all seven of them you made from two weeks back. They're alright. But your state of mind right now, that's definitely not alright. 

[ ]: I guess so... wait a minute. All this time while I was away, all of you had been raiding my social networks and searching for my profiles, screenshotting and comparing just so you can give a long lecture to me about it and DEMEAN me for the things I post there? This isn't an intervention, this is an invasion of privacy and semi-public humiliation, in some countries this isn't legal! 

Azka: An invasion of privacy huh? Now why does that sound familiar? 

[ ]: Wait a minute, you're not talking about- 

Ingvald: Dang straight we are. We've managed to unlock your laptop somehow and through the photo speedpaints and photoshopped pics to be uploaded to Tuding, I saw a hidden folder. And there it was, the two videos you recorded when we swam in the swimming pool in the hotel next to the Grand Battleonian! 

Azka: I told you not to tape it, but since Shivonne is here and she's not part of the video whatsoever, hey, why don't we show her this? 

[ ]: THIS IS THE KIND OF TREACHERY I WAS UNEXPECTING 

Shivonne: Show me what? 

 

[Azka clicks the remote and the next slide appears to be containing a video. Before she played it, they heard banging on the door. Shivonne opened it and Strov was there, panting] 
 

Strov: Listen, whatever you're doing to Remi right now, you can't fire her, or move her to another branch or whatever. All I know is that- 

Shivonne: Our company has no other branch, Strov, this is the only building we work in. All the equipments are here. We occupy two floors, that's about it. 

[Remi?]: Strov what are you doing here? And why did you call me by the nickname used by you and the gamers? They won't know who Remi is. 

Strov: I know, I know they call you by... uhh... your initials. Anyway [faces Shivonne's table] I heard what you all said to her about 10 minutes ago. I was eavesdropping. You think she's the most controlling person and uses people for her own pleasure. Well that does NOT sound like her at all. 

Azka: Not on a daily basis, Strov, and not THAT kind of cliche manipulation you see in TV dramas. But yeah, she did it with me and Ingvald, and she probably hasn't used you and your three friends yet unless she found another group in which the four of you fit perfectly to be used as copying pawns. 

Ingvald: Just... look at these slides, hun, gimmie the remote. 

 

[Ingvald restarted the slides from the beginning, explaining everything to Strov] 
 
Strov: Well if she's just copying because she's envious, why make it a big deal? Look, my team and I design and program games based on the animated TV shows we make. To attract the market we gotta see what's new and trending in stores. App stores, game stores, yada yada... and use the same concept but with our TV show characters. That's technically legal. It's just marketing, copying isn't a big deal, the market likes stocking up on similar things cuz then people will buy it until they get tired of it and that's when we gotta think of a new concept- 

Ingvald: Dude, we're not talking about games and marketing! It's about personal stuff, and social media, and how creepy RN is copying Shivonne and Gioven's photos with me and Azka, and Zephyra's photos with Travia, and you get what I said about the slides. 

Strov: So? She's impulsive. It's just what she does, I mean you can't fire her just because she- 

Shivonne: We're not going to fire her. 

Strov: I'm just saying if you're attacking her for something completely normal, like I said, it's not worth making it all a big deal. I get envious... sometimes... and when I do [clears throat] when people do, they have their own ways of coping with it. Remi here replicates other people's things, you probably trash-talk on the people you're jealous of 

Azka: Hey! 

Strov: I dunno, she just seems like the trash-talking kind. When I get jealous I'm the ignoring type and I just play games whenever the thought comes up. 

[Remi/RN?]: Please don't make this about you 

Strov: [weary tone] I wasn't making this about me, It's all about you, it's your intervention, they threw this for you and they haven't realized how much of a good listener you are, how think your advices suck but the actually don't, and I keep telling you to be honest with your feelings cuz eventually this would happen, [sniffle] you didn't ask for this, nobody did, I didn't and the never told me about this but who was that person you're walking with, Heloise? 

Ingvald & Berwald: [in unison] um what- 

Strov: WHO WAS THAT GUY SHARING AN UMBRELLA WITH YOU AT THE FOOD COURT? WHAT DOES HE HAVE THAT I DON'T? [sobbing] I can buy an umbrella... or lunch... It's time isn't it? I can't buy you time, right? It's impossible to buy time, right? 

[Strov crouches into a fetal position, burying his face in his arms] 

Azka: oooooooo...kay... awkwarrrrrrd.... 

[Remi/RN?]: Strov please you're embarrassing yourself, get up! 

 

[More rushed footsteps barging in. Heloise, Hajar and Asmad (still in a hazmat suit) entered Shivonne's office.] 

 

Heloise: We came here as soon as you texted me, what's going on? Why is he on the floor sobbing? 

[Remi/RN?]: Admiral Blankface here just loses it. 

Heloise: WHAT? 

[Remi/RN?]: Yeah, first he was defending me and then seconds later he's blubbering and saying something about you... having a new boyfriend or something? 

Shivonne: Oh boy, this is unexpected [takes a bowl of popcorn from under her desk] anyone? 

Berwald: Don't mind if I do. 

[Azka, Ingvald and Berwald ate popcorn with Shivonne] 

Heloise: [lifts Strov by the shoulder] Strov, you need to listen to me but first, stop this. Stop all of this, Miss Director is watching, aren't you embarrassed? 

Strov: [still sobbing] the only person I'm embarrassed at is myself [sniffle] I keep telling people to be honest with their feelings, but I haven't been doing that myself [sniff] Gahh I should've asked you out earlier when I was sure about these feelings but I was never sure eventuall [sniff] 

Heloise: Strov- 

Strov: And now you belong to some other guy... 

Hajar: [giggles] Correction, girl. 

Heloise: Strov listen. I'm gay. 

Strov: Uh what- ....ohhhhhhh 

Heloise: You must've spotted me down at the food court. That "dude" I shared an umbrella with, her name's Elaine, she's my date a few Sundays ago which Hajar & Remi helped me pick some clothes for. Since then we kept seeing each other. She does look like a boy from behind, huh? 

[Remi/RN?]: Oh. You mean she's the cheeseball you met at that vegan coffee shop and had some cheeseball talk with? 

Heloise: Um. Yeah. Anyway, she works as a journalist and a social media manager, and writes a personal feminist blog in which some sections she interviews people and their hobbies along the lines of breaking stereotypes. I hope she interviews me sometime in the future. 

Strov: Hum. That took an interesting turn. [wipes tears] 

Asmad: Okay, since Heloise came out to y'all maybe it's the right time for me to come out too. I'M PANSEXUAL, EVERYONE! 

Everyone, in unison: WE KNOW, HAZMAT ASMAD. 

Asmad: Dang, is it really that noticeable? 

Hajar: L-let's just... get outta here, gang. We've wasted Shivonne's time she's probably in the middle of something important until Strov barged in. 

Strov: Hey, I saw them lecturing Remi, I thought they were up to something! 

Hajar: Alright mister first we need to get your face cleaned up! 

 

[The game designers left Shivonne's office] 

 

Shivonne: Okay, ooh, popcorn's all gone, now where were we? 

Azka: Was gonna play this [clicks remote] You might not wanna refill that bowl of popcorn. 
 
[Slideshow shows the two continuous videos of Zephyra and Gioven having some sort of weird sex in the apartment] 

 

Shivonne: When was this? Why are you showing me this? 

[Remi/RN]: Yeah Azka, exactly. WHY are you showing all of us this, this is supposed to be private! 

Azka: Exactly. This is supposed to be private. Just now you were complaining that we're violating your privacy by showing your stuff to everyone in here? Well look who's violating someone's privacy just last month! You should've just left them alone and if we happen to spot them in their private moment, turn away or just watch. But NEVER record it all with your phone. Or with anything at all. Someone might steal it from you and upload it online, and you won't be the person with their reputation tainted. Zephyra will. Or Gioven. 

[Remi/RN]: Ugh. I wasn't gonna upload it anywhere, sheesh, basic eitquette. 

Strov: Oh, wait I remember this video. 

Everyone, in unison: YOU'RE STILL HERE?! 

Berwald: I thought you left a minute ago! 

Asmad: Hey, we're still Remi's close friends, if anything we can just watch in that corner and not make a noise. No judging no defending 

Shivonne: Just- close the door.  

[The game designers closed the door & stood in the corner] 

Azka: You showed. The videos. To STROV?! 

[Remi/RN]: Hey I was caught up in the moment that time. He told me a secret, I told him a secret- 

Azka: Yeah, except it's not YOUR secret. It's Zephyra and Gioven's. If Travia knew she would've beaten you up by now. 

[Remi/RN]: I was gonna show it to Shivonne when the time is right! But both her and Gioven look so happy together all the time, I just couldn't. 

Berwald: So, you kept it like, for blackmail purposes, huh? To ruin someone's reputation in case one of them went overboard? 

[Remi/RN]: That can apply too if you interpret it that way 

Berwald: Or, going with the "us vs them" theory and how you felt like Team "Us" isn't as cool as Team "Them", does these two videos serve as a reminder that they're regular people too just like us, or the way they're naked and frolicking here and the fact that they're being spied on by you makes them in a more vulnerable position and that steps down their power and "coolness" in your mind somehow? 

Ingvald: Pretty dark. 

Azka: Pretty twisted. 

[Remi/RN]:  [sigh] Pretty accurate. I hate you right now, I always do when you go all psychological on me. 

Shivonne: I'm... honestly shocked. I never thought you're the kind of person who would do something like this. 

Azka: Trust me boss, after a few episodes you'll clearly see the colors of each character. 

[Remi/RN]: Truth is, I've been feeling guilty ever since I recorded those videos, everytime I see Shivonne I felt this doubt, this fear that somehow maybe I should just delete the video cuz somehow I felt that she will know about it and their relationship would end, and I don't want that. 
Azka: Because then you'll make me and Ingvald break up for the sake of parallelism? 

[Remi/RN]:  NO! Not that! Y'know what let's just cut to the chase, Shivonne I'm sorry you have to see this and now I'm probably gonna have to delete the video and all. 

Shivonne: That's alright, I'm not offended by their actions at all. 

Everyone, in unison: ...WHAT. 

Shivonne: Since the game designers started a coming-out scene just now, and since everyone in this room has seen the video, it would be best for me to explain this and sort of come out, too. Not many people know about this, but Gioven and I are sort of in an open relationship. He's polyamorous, and so am I. We do it with other willing people, but our hearts still belong to each other.

[Everyone gasped] 

[Remi/RN]:  ...what? Guys it's completely normal! 

Shivonne: And Zephyra's a closeted exhibitionist. Sometimes she'd let me and Gioven watch her and stuff but this country doesn't allow such things. 

Hajar: Whoa, I did NOT need to know that, I'm actually a fan of her songs. 

Strov, Heloise & Asmad: SHHHHH! 

Shivonne: Thank you, Hajar, I'll tell her, but you're not gonna stop listening to her after I said that, will you? 

Hajar: No ma'am, still a fan of her songs. 

[Remi/RN]: Exhibitionism, polyamory, these are normal things why can't some people just let it set in their minds? 

Ingvald: Uh, cuz some still think it's weird? Maybe it'll take years for the norm to shift but this current time just isn't there yet. 

[Remi/RN]: Shouldnt've asked you. You both are too conservative for this. 

Berwald: Ahah. More evidence on the Us-vs-Them theory cuz like Shivonne and the others, you believe in their progressive ideologies and you think Azka and Ingvald should "catch up" to be just as progressive, is it? 

[Remi/RN]: Again, I'm not forcing them to adapt their lifestyle, much like I'm not forcing you to ask Ilona out. 

Azka: But you sounded like you're forcing the ideology on us. Alternatives forcing conservatives to get with the alternative is just like a conservative society pushing alternatives to their conventional lifestyle. 
Ingvald: Two sides of the same coin. 

Shivonne: Well put. Anyway I'm flattered and all that you implied my lifestyle as "progressive" but really, it's just as normal as Azka and Ingvald's, and yours, and theirs. 
Berwald: I guess we can say is that you do you, I do me, she does her, he does him and everyone does everyone. 

[Remi/RN]: It's really basic. Everyone knows that. 

Berwald: But your actions don't. Guess sometimes you gotta limit yourself and re-check if you've gone overboard. 

[Remi/RN]: I was too distracted lately with... things... Barely had any time to reflect on myself 

Ingvald: But you've got time for this [clicks remote] 

 

[next slide shows, autoplays a blank video with what sounded like pleasured moans from Shivonne and an unknown man] 

 

[Remi/RN]: This is... This was last month when Travia and I fell asleep in the office... 

Shivonne: Is that... 

[Remi/RN]: NO NO NO NO WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT THERE? 

Azka: We found this in the same folder as the other two videos in your laptop. 

Ingvald: But wait, there's more. 

[slideshow shows several videos from the same view of the hotel, in Gioven's room window, during their movie evening] 

Ingvald: Was this your second time at the Grand Battleonian? This looks like the same view from a different standpoint. Taken with a pair of binoculars. Were you purposely peeping? 
[Remi/RN]: Fine, I get it, I'm the bad guy here cuz I videotaped private moments of people I believe have higher statuses than me which I wanna bring down so much, like Berwald said. We established that, can we PLEASE not take this any further?! 

Shivonne: Pause the video. Anything you want to say to them? 

[Remi/RN]: Alright, I gotta come clean, when I recorded the videos I was just bored, or maybe something sparked that I found something unusual about the people I see everyday in this office. I kept them for a lot of purposes, which one of them is as a reminder that you guys, the people I envy, are just normal people like me, and have embarrassing moments and not "cool" all the time. The other being for blackmail purposes but I guess that didn't really work out well, did it?  

Berwald: Spoken like a true someone who finally realizes her inner psychology issues. 

[Remi/RN]: But when you played it in front of not just Shivonne but everyone in this room, all I felt was embarrassment and frustration, like that shouldn't happen at all. Not only I'm ashamed of their shame, I'm ashamed of the fact that I have to record that to make myself feel better. That's sick. Are we done here? 

Shivonne: I guess you're right. Ingvald, please close the slides, this intervention is over. Now RN, I want you to bring your laptop, plug it in the projector and think of this an announcement to all of us that you're deleting these videos from your hard drive. Of course, since the videos are of me and my friends outside the company, I'm in posession of the copies in the slideshow, the slideshow's in my laptop. 

[Remi/RN]: Fair enough  

[[RN] plugs her laptop in the projector and shows everyone in the room of the vids' deletion on her laptop] 

Strov: [whispering] Isn't this public shaming? 
Hajar, Heloise & Asmad: shhhh 

Shivonne: Anything else you wanna say to her? 
Ingvald: We're finally glad you understand that we all have the right to live and act the different lifestyles we're comfortable with, so you can't force people to act like somebody else. And please, talk to Travia, maybe, she's been worried about you like I said. But she's pretty busy so just wait for things to ease for her. 
Azka: And maybe delete the drawing of us kissing, or make your Tuding profile private. Or if you don't wanna delete that, upload them to your private online storage. All email providers have that. 

[Remi/RN]: They do? 

Azka: Oh the irony, the seemingly online social network enthusiast doesn't know about cloud storages. 

[Remi/RN]: Egh. There she goes again demeaning people. 

Azka: Hey I guess Strov's right, I'm the trash-talker type but not when I'm envious, and at least I trash-talk in people's faces, not behind their backs, right? 

Strov: Hey-oh! [does a fistpumping gesture] 

Shivonne: Alright everyone, out of the room, we've spent two and a half hours here, it's now 10:40 and that's the time I see Gioven upstairs. [clap clap] 

 

[everyone, including Shivonne, left the room as the lights go off] 

 

Session End. 
Time: 10:41 AM 
________________________________________________________________________

10:53 im a mess right now. literally. figuratively. im sitting on this bathroom floor i mean who does that. my tie is pulled back. my tie is a noose. theres grape stains everywhere much like stains all over my rep as an employee. this bottle of sparkling grape is a lie, it doesn’t drown my shame away. fine. im not gonna bother with azka and ingvald anymore, they’ve broken my trust just for setting up that intervention with shivonne. and berwald is becoming one of them. i cant trust them anymore. maybe the same way shivonne cant trust me anymore because i recorded those videos. ive tainted the name of this company. 

 

11:01 people walking in and out. people looking at me weird. people noticing the sparkling grape juice bottle in my hand and brushing off the fact that im here wallowing in sadness and anger and whatever mix of emotions this is. i dont wanna be here anymore. starting tomorrow I might as well look for a new job and I should quit this company on monday. pretty sure they don’t need me anymore, im just one of the odd job animators and doing storyboards is a task for kindergartners, they can replace me. maybe this time their new lab monkey wont be much of a begrudging envious replicator who records peoples embarrassment. 

 

12:00 its been an hour. nobodys going here, its probably lunchtime. my vision is blurry. 
 
12:14 focus is back on. dwy. is that dwy? it is. she thought i was drugged cuz i was disheveled and ugly-crying while holding an empty bottle. she told me to get up and make myself look decent. i told her why bother, my behavior is indecent enough for this company and theyve alredy exposed me as an envious controlling copycat maniac that uses people to copy other people for my own benefit. im like that guy from that malaysian short movie who uses his wife to copy the celebrity blogger he loves, photo by photo. she said i was being pessimistic. how could i not. 

 

12:58 sigh. she wins. im at her office right now wearing a spare oversized jacket and no pants, eating instant ramen. no more grape stains and tears. that doesnt mean the shame and anger left. 

 

13:02 i told her about my plan to move out of the company cuz if i stay here longer i would just hurt more people, or hurt the people ive already wronged even more. besides work doesnt feel the same without travia making silly songs with me. now the people whom i thought are my squad are against me, except for the game designers maybe, but theyre not in my division. every work day will suck due to the shame and hostility im subtly receiving. i told her what happened during the so-called intervention that happened just because azka and ingvald are ticked off finding out I used them to copy shivonne and gioven, which was pretty much the tip of the iceberg of my mistakes. 

 

13:06 dwy asked why would i caterwaul over those simple forgivable mistakes this much and said that they shouldve forgiven me if i made a promise not to do those things again. somehow i knew it was my cue to fess up about what I did with her webcomic and instagram doodles and sketches. i showed her my copied webcomic strips and sketches i uploaded on tuding, copying hers, said that these were the things that kept me alive for the past few months in this company. shivonne knows about it too, lucky us we never covered that topic in the intervention cuz I think azka and ingvald are still unaware of my webcomic. i asked dwy would she forgive me if i did these to her. probably not. 

 

13:08 she seems shocked. uh oh. 
 
13:09 why is she reopening the tabs with my profile in it on her desktop? hooboy this is gonna be embarrassing let me bury my face in this jacket forever 

 

13:28 'look up', dwy said. i peered over and she showed me a blog post, possibly newly-written though the timing is unimaginable. she mustve swiftly linked and embedded the photos of the doodles, hers and mine, and below it are paragraphs and paragraphs of comparison and analysis. she also embedded images of some of both our webcomic strips too, noting the similarities. furthermore she wrote about how i 'mailed' all these to her with a 'letter of apology', hm, probably just to protect my identity and location. she also wrote that unbeknownst to me i don’t just typically copy like every annoying internet wannabe does in most reported cases, but instead i improvised from it. there are even further examples of others' past attempts at copying dwys art, and she compared theirs to mine and clearly stating the difference I did that they dont. hmmmm... should I feel good about this? 
 
13:31 she also said these past couple of weeks ive began to act more productive and less of a slacker. i managed to juggle office work and personal work well, she says. i told her im no hardworking black-and-yellow badger like her, all I ever will be is a slacking, cunning green-and-silver snake who always wants an easy way out. she caught the geeky references and retorted saying that we are all of them, and sometimes these different roles take over different situations, like besides a badger shes also a brave golden red lion who bravely takes risks and a blue-and-bronze eagle who improvises while still going by the book and knowing what words to say at the right time. she has a point, but I felt as if most of the time, the badger takes over her the most like the snake does to me. she added badgers and snakes are enemies in nature but in this series they ironically make the best of friends. 

 

13:37 found a rectangular pink bottle sticking out behind the monitor. 'envy me' by gucci. i jokingly asked her if the reason shes enviable and copiable so much is because of this perfume. she responded with a long 'prooooooooobably?' and grabbed the bottle and sprayed my neck with it twice. 'now youre equally as enviable' she joked. it was a gift from her distant aunt and shes been trying to finish it for 4 years. man perfumes are a big waste, i prefer body mists that are cheaper with scents just as long lasting. she says i finally cheered up. really? in the words of strov, 'hum, that took an interesting turn'. 

 

13:40 the important thing is, she says, mistakes are for learning and brave people are unafraid to make them, because trial and error. provided we wont make the same mistakes again. if we apologize and people wont forgive us, its their problem and not ours anymore. pessimists take that as a life burden, a scar, but optimists see it as just another milestone to character development and signs that we oughtta find new people who will actually get us. 

 

14:05 she said its not necessary for me to leave the office cuz believe it or not, they need someone who comes up with ideas like i do. i don’t buy it. she said she at least needs me as an assistant and we could share this cubicle like last time. hearing that was... kinda touching? but still unbelievable. her motives spark a lot of questions. she then told me to pack up my things and at 5pm later we go to shivonnes office for a supposed last meeting. she says this is how shes gonna prove me wrong about whether I should leave or not. 

17:15 she gave me a balinese cloth and went 'here wear this' since my pants, shirt and tie are still soaking in her bucket in the hopes of getting the grape stains away 

 

________________________________________________________________________

Subject: Redemption(?) 
Venue: Animation Director's Office 
Time: 5:17 PM 

 

Shivonne: Come in. 

Dwy: It's me, director. I'm here to make a request. 

Shivonne: Go right ahead 
 
[Dwy and RN (carrying two boxes of her stuff) entered] 
 
Shivonne: What's all this, are you quitting? 

[RN]: After all that? I think it's best for me to erase myself from this company, especially seeing my friends clearly not wanting me anymore. And you, I've tainted your reputation by exposing your personal life. Clearly that's violation despite only a few of us saw the videos. 

Shivonne: You made a point about it, but honestly what you did has nothing to do with your overall performance as an animator. I might be horrified of the tapes you recorded and it's best if you don't repeat it again, but as an animator for three years, you're actually pretty competent for a self-dubbed slacker. Leaving or not, it's completely your choice. We might still need you here, we might look for a replacement so you're free to go, who knows. 

[RN]: This company has a wide human resource section, pretty sure you guys can find my replacement just as easy. 

Dwy: Objection, Shivonne. My request is she remains here but under a few conditions. 

Shivonne: And that would be? 

Dwy: She works as my assistant and we share my cubicle. Two, if not, she can have Travia's old room and work with the music equipment there whenever she feels like making animation soundtracks, while still doing odd jobs and storyboarding. She gets the room and works as a temporary audio composer until we find at least one replacement for audio section. 

[RN]: at least that way I won't be able to see those three again. 

Shivonne: Okay first off, let's not make any rash decisions. If you wish to leave I respect that, but only if you have proof that you've been called to work for another company. Transition from one workplace to another takes time, like when Travia and her team moved out. They were called to work with Quartzircone but it took them almost three weeks to finalize the resignation process before they finally resigned, because there are still some unfinished tasks for them to do. Plus with all the letters, and stamping and signing for abstract approval, well, you get the idea. The thing is I don't want you to suddenly quit this company and spend your days doing nothing while looking for a new job which you're not sure you'll get. 

[RN]: So, it would be better for me if I work as Dwy's assistant for now, then. 

Shivonne: If that's an option you don't mind with, then by all means. We still need you here, y'know. Provided that you don't sneak into her personal work and copy them as much as you usually did, hahaha... 

Dwy: About that, director, I actually made a blog post which I haven't published yet. Was about to, but she had to see it first cuz I found her having a breakdown in the bathroom today. She told me about some intervention you held up busting the things she did secretly and she might as well confessed about the stuff she copied from me. But then I observed something, and I remember my history of dealing with art theft and blatant copying from years of being a famous comic artist. Scroll down further. 

Shivonne: Okay 

Dwy: Compare her copies to other people's attempts at copying my artworks. Unlike them, she doesn’t go all out. Either she copies just the concept, or just the theme. She never picks the same color palette or shapes, or stories. Nobody can replicate other people's stories. If anything, she incorporates either the skeleton, the veins or the muscles only into her own story but never the whole specimen. 

Shivonne: But isn't that still technically stealing your ideas? 

Dwy: Technically. It’s still a pet peeve but I'm intrigued by the way she appropriates the materials into her own thing. From what I've learnt similarity is what engages people in conversations, people talk about something in common and doing things completely out of familiarity all of a sudden might confuse people too much, although it's innovative and plausible. 

Shivonne: And your point is? 

Dwy: Her webcomics and mine apparently have different genres and themes, mine's about space rovers fighting hexagonal aliens in random planets, hers more slice-of-life-ish about coffee shop baristas who want to be rockstars. In these two strips here their situation is completely different, the income and outcome. Different. But the basic idea and the joke is similar, which means she carefully picked something outta my rovers-and-aliens situation and found a common ground to interpret the joke in her rockstar baristas' story. In a way that's translation. That's what we need to probably catch up, or beat, cartoons from competing companies. 

Shivonne & [RN], in unison: am I hearing this right? 

Dwy: I eavesdropped on our social media management section once, they've heard critics saying that our animations are too abstract, ambiguous and uh... unrelatable. 

Shivonne: But isn't that what this company is known for? Besides overused plotlines and themes are best to avoid because the audience hates repetition. 

Dwy: My point is we maintain the aesthetic of our storytelling, starting of as ambiguous and then slowly revealing what the core messages are, and once it hits the viewers that the moral of the story, or the situation or whatever is similar to a previous cartoon they've watched before, they're gonna be talking about it, and journalists and bloggers will make an article comparing our series with others', probably. Probably something like my blog post. Ooh I forgot to click 'publish'. Aaand publish.

Shivonne: Go on... 

Dwy: Of course the copying doesn't have to be everytime. Just once in a while, when relatability is needed. Heck we can "copy" from any of our life experiences too, just "steal" the essence of the situation and inject it inside any of our animated series, and who does a better job of "translating" an experience from one story to another than Princess One-Up of the Land of GetEvenia here.

[RN]: Hey, you used a nickname for the first time!

Dwy: Thanks. Honestly I don't know why I chose you to assist me last month, maybe cuz I remember Shivonne telling me once that I should motivate the workers who slack off to act more productive and spontaneous. You're the first one that came across my mind. After a few collabs with you I realized that while you're a slack-off, you've got a keen eye at finding similarities of two seemingly different things, and when you're envious of someone, you turn into this work machine fueled with your own brand of get-even spontaneity and one-up productivity.

Shivonne: [turns to RN] That explains all the extra work you did outside company work. The photos, fics and comics, even the songs. That was all because you wanted a mish-mash of what Travia, Zephyra, Gioven and I had, right?

[RN]: Um... uhuh

Dwy: She had several outlets of venting her frustration of not having what you all had. These were it. Now if she had put her "translation" skills to company work, it would be useful for us.

Shivonne: True. Well, there's one reason for you to stay with us. BUT WAIT, there's more reasons! [talks to intercom] send them in.

[the door opens and Azka, Ingvald, Berwald and Ilona with some other animators entered]

[RN]: [groan] not you guys again...

Azka: [sigh] we understand, after this morning you probably don't wanna see us again.

[Ingvald nudges Azka's elbow]

Azka: and uh... I was kinda rough on my words and tone, but that was because I was angry finding out about what you've done with me and well, everyone you've wronged

[RN]: ok, noted that hours ago.

Berwald: Okay, look. We held an intervention for you, not an interrogation. Well, in a way we're busting your stuff but this doesn't mean you're the bad guy. That doesn't mean we don't want you here anymore.

[RN]: huh. I thought I honestly blew it

Ingvald: You did with the videos and using us as copying pawns. But it doesn't mean we're not open to the possibility of you not doing those anymore, this company is all about second chances. Even third chances. We're glad you're willing to delete the vids and copied faux-photos.

Azka: And y'know, us, and you, we probably need some time apart after this whole thing. That's understandable. Just so you know we don't have any hard feelings between each other, this is just a temporary strain and it will heal. Like arm muscles. The bone is still unbroken, 'kay?

[RN]: Kay

Ilona: One more thing. If you leave, we're gonna miss your prawn crackers assortments. You seem to know any brand with kicking flavors like you do with alternative social networks. People with that knowledge is rare. Everyone?

Ingvald: You come up with the weirdest names and puns. Both you and Travia, but she's not here anymore so I guess that's another reason for you to stay? I can just text her but what if the animation we're working on is confidential?

Berwald: Of everyone in here that I know, you're the most... uh... psychologically interesting subject that I've studied. While observing you these past three weeks I've been making guesses about what makes you tick, or do stuff in general. Most are right but some are unusually wrong. I kept being upfront about it and it seemed that you realized it as well n got tired of me talking about your mental state. Enough about that, that was 5 hours ago. You really are an interesting case.

Dwy: You should read my blog, Berwald. I posted a new one, about how she translates the situations in my comics into her own comics.

Berwald: Definitely gonna check it out, more notes for me.

Azka: I guess Ilona's right about you knowing your stash of alternative apps and sites list like your prawn cracker stash. You are an enthusiast. Emphasize on the 'enthusiast'. You can be super-enthusiastic if you find things you love, though this can be unpredictable depending on your mood. I admit I'm the reserved type, and I'm not familiar with these emotion outbursts of yours sometimes, that's why I look like I'm always still trying to figure you out. If anything, I could use at least a slice of your enthusiasm.

[This continued on as other animators stepped forward and told RN her good qualities which they observed in her previously. Things along the lines of generosity, childlike-ness, book-lovingness and maintaining her fields in art and music were mentioned]

[RN]: Is this how you guys see me? Like, the real me? Me everyday, and not just me for the past three weeks?

Shivonne: And there you go. Everyone in this room gave you a second chance in a way. Will you give this company a second chance back? You can still seek new jobs though.

[RN]: ...fine.

Dwy: YES NEW ASSISTANT!

[RN]: But I wanna start fresh with all of you again. I haven't been myself lately, I need a relapse.

Shivonne: We understand. You can take a week off if you need, or just come back here whenever you're ready. Now put back all your things on your desk and I want everybody out! It's almost closing time unless some of us wanna have a work sleepover!

Session End. 
Time: 6:02 PM 

________________________________________________________________________

18:07 so my stuff are back on my desk. but then i remembered i have to move to dwys room. sigh. here i go again

18:23 set up my stuff on her unused desk. shes pretty organized n neat, its pretty easy to claim a spot in her room. someone can take my old spot, i dont care. lets just leave it empty for aesthetics.

18:44 im hanging my clothes outside at the kitchenette balcony. the grape stains have faded.

18:45 probably gonna help dwy now with some stuff. todays been reeeeeally exhausting. id probably sleep.

--

20:01 helped with storyboarding n some brainstorming. slept for half an hour. gonna check all my sosh-meds now.

20:02 oh yeah. the online cloud storage azka talked about. lets see... heemail has giggleupload, snotmail has slimeshare and slimestore... ah here it is. achoo.com has choostorage. lucky I still have all my tuding photos in a folder. im juz gonna back everything up on choostorage 

20:05 oh yeah. everyone still hasnt found out about my super secret reddit. im probably gonna redownload the videos I upload on vidme and chuck it up choostorage too. put it in a password-locked folder. 

20:21 uploaded. secretly. I know im gonna end up too lazy to open this folder frequently.

20:22 dwy said shes gonna have another sleepover in the office but its best if i go home and have a rest, she says. k then. maybe later.

-- 

21:31 took a cab home. who cares all I had for lunch this week are prawn crackers, ive saved a lot of money already 
 
21:35 screw turning on the lights im gonna sleep straight after. voicemails. most of them from travia. ingvald was right, she was asking me how ive been since she left the company. 
 

21:36 the last time she saw me i looked sick and overworked, severely depressed, she said. was it because of the sudden luck that she was signed last month, she asked. entertainment life is hectic, she said, though shes only got just a taste of it. she misses goofing off with me and making silly songs, she said. she really hopes that i could come along in a few weeks because i am featured in some of her songs so maybe id get to goof off with her in a video shoot. she understands i wanted this chance so bad and she feels bad for getting it first, she said. please reply. please reply, she repeatedly demanded. please reply. please. 
 
21:41 call attempt #1. improvised lines in my head. hello. oh god she picked up what do i say. quick. in a really shaky voice i informed her i just received her voicemails, work was extra tough today, i lied. It wasnt a full lie cuz it has been tough handling the truth today. i straight up told her i havent been a good friend due to distractions, mostly envy towards some people in the office, no, mostly towards herself. told her i was sorry i avoided her all this time though everything wasnt her fault. told her how azka and ingvald turned against me and part of it was because they were defending her. 

 

21:51 she told me shes been interviewed on national tv and reporters asked her how travestalk happened and how she and her team became a band. either im unaware of this or i mustve purposely missed the broadcast. as she told her story to them she indirectly mentioned me, the unnamed girl backing up the vocals, harmonizing with her in some songs. she jokingly credited me as a drunken angel the fruit soda gods sent from fizzy drink heaven, the angel that drunkenly sent the emails and signal boosted the publicity she needs before quartzircone entertainment discovered her. later on she told them I was the one who designed her album cover as well, saying that without my small help she probably wouldnt be sitting on that talkshow couch. 

 

21:55 hm. an angel. that, her voicemails and hearing her retelling me about my contributions to her success made me painfully realize that she isnt the type to change after fame and that she still felt the need to repay me back after what i did. i felt... appreciated. all this time the actions i resented so much are treasured by her, and thinking back when i wished i didnt do all those in the first place... would i really want to take away her happiness? 
 
22:02 words were finally gushing out and slowly how i felt about her unloaded. i choked. im sobbing. it was all mixed feelings but mostly about acceptance and thankfulness. slow down, she said, we will meet each other again within a few weeks, she said, 'i cant quite hear what you said, you sound choked up, are you choked up?' she said, i could hear her getting equally choked up on the other end. reconciliation tears, they burn deeper inside the skin than remorse and dissatisfaction, but in that moment, i swore we were all masochists. 
 
"I miss you, trav. i do, so much it hurts."