Thread 6322613

Rain filters in through the ceiling, sliding along the support beams in just such a way it misses the numerous pots, pans, and cups scattered around the delipidated apartment and is readily sucked into the mouldy carpet. Which is then again immediately transferred to a new object: your sock. Your very next steps now all dotted with a wet squelch.

"Argh!" You cry, as you balance on one foot to pull the sock of the other, only for said wet sock to cozy up to the business end of the cigarette you had tucked between two fingers, providing a new, enticing after-taste to the familiar menthol as you unknowingly take a drag. "Huurhg!"

It might've been a week or so since you had washed that sock.

How had it come to this?

Well, the demon king lost against The Seven Braves. A poor title for a bunch of delinquents that jumped a guy seven to one. They murdered their way deep into the demon capital, defeated all the bureaucrats present, and killed the ministers while shouting inane things like "Die Heavenly Generals!"

They hadn't been generals and they certainly hadn't been heavenly.

They were butchered all the same and all branches of government were eradicated over the span of a few days. After performing what amounts to genocide, the "Saintes" had the gall to clasp her still-bloody hands together, bat her eyelashes, and say things like "No, we can't kill them all, that would make us just like them!"

And so the remaining demons, conveniently all of middle-rank and lower, were accepted as refugees into human society. What's that? You want to stay here in the demon lands? I see. Hmm? That demon from earlier? Oh, they fell into the river. Yes, lost all their limbs along the way. Wild, isn't it? Anyway, safety and a bright future awaits you in the human nation of Lightsong!

A few decades have passed since then, demons were by and large limited to awful jobs that made little to no money. The timing of the demons' arrival had been amazingly convenient, just as human society was entering an industrial golden age that required a massive labour force. Truly, the stars aligned for humanity.

The era of sword, shield, and spell has long since passed into history. Few still practice the ancient, magical arts, but demand has somewhat diminished now that you can barely chant out the first seven incantations of a spell before a newly arrived bullet in the brain informs you that you shouldn't bother with final three.

>>6322613 (OP)

You are one of the many downtrodden demons in the nation of Lightsong.

A lesser-rank demon or devil like any other. Although the ability to grow in power and evolve into upper ranks still resides within you, very few demons indeed have managed to garner enough magical energy to support these advancements or procure the necessary reagents to make the rituals happen. The few that have, seemingly all encounter unfortunate accidents. Very strange.

Although technically still possible to cultivate magical power like in the olden days, the human lands have abysmal mana density. These days most demons courageous enough to reach for power do so by exploiting other races in some fashion, though it requires some creativity to make the old vices and sins churn out demonic energy in these modern times.

1 - Path of Avarice - Grow in power by accumulating wealth
Your magical prowess scales proportional to your wealth.
This'll make it possible to gain power quickly, but you can lose it just as easily.
You've got weekly bills to pay and those reagents for the advancement ritual won't pay for themselves.

Start a business, do odd jobs, or maybe settle for a life of crime.

2 - Path of Vanity - Grow in power by becoming popular or famous
You're a nobody right now, but that's easy to change into this modern era.
Though you demonic heritage may initially work against you when it comes to broad appeal, it does provide you with something unique in the human-dominated entertainment industry.

Acting, song, or dance. Or maybe do it all to become a modern day idol.

3 - Path of Pitiful Bastard - Grow in power through your own misery
There's no hope. The path of a pitiful bastard is one filled with despair, but this'll allow you to uniquely fail upwards. This path leans heavily on social connections with people that'll feel unnaturally compelled to help you. Paradoxically, you are source of boundless optimism.

Misunderstandings in your favour, handouts galore, and people tearing up on your shoulder, though you're not sure why.

4 - Path of the Write In - Grow in power through....?
Insert path here.

>>6322615
>2 - Path of Vanity - Grow in power by becoming popular or famous
Becoming an idol sounds pretty cool. Actually, the setting itself is an interesting take on the demon king trope. Excited to see where you'll take it, OP.

>>6322615
>2 - Path of Vanity - Grow in power by becoming popular or famous

>>6322619
>Actually, the setting itself is an interesting take on the demon king trope. Excited to see where you'll take it, OP.
Thanks, I'm excited to work on it. I'll wait till we have like 5 votes before I call the vote and kick things off.

>>6322636
May take a while to get 5, if you even will. /qst/ is slow. I'll post in the /qtg/ to maybe get more people to check out the quest.

>>6322640
I'll leave it open for another half or hour so and if no other votes come in then we'll just go with what we have so far

>>6322615
>2 - Path of Vanity - Grow in power by becoming popular or famous
Demondol

>>6322615
>Path of Vanity

>>6322619
>>6322632
>>6322664
>>6322674
Winner: Path of Vanity - Grow in power by becoming popular or famous

Note: In an effort keep the quest simple, we'll work with Xd6 rolls.
Advantage and disadvantage means adding or subtracting from that roll.

The dice we'll use is a d6
6 = Success
4 - 5 = Partial success
1 - 3 = Failure

Let's say a check requires a 3d6, but you have advantage.
Then you'll roll 4d6. Multiple 6s means critical success, stacking.
Dunno if I'll stick with it for the long term, but we'll see.

Stats:
- Stress (Mental Fatigue)
- Energy (Physical Fatigue)
- Fame (Reward modifier)

Skills:
- Charm (Appearance)
- Dance (Choreography)
- Song (Vocal ability)
- Social (Communication)

Stats can be trained and have no upper limit, you get an extra dice in the respective skill rolls for each 5.
If the base roll is 3d6, having a 10 would give you a 5d6 roll in that skill.

>>6322710
Demonic Ascension:
Lesser demons look young until they ascend to a greater form and they can influence what form they ascend into based on the ritual and the reagents used.

>>6322719

An odd fusion of pride, lust, and envy. The Path of Vanity is all about being your best self, screwing over those who happen to be better (they don't deserve it), and having people worship the ground you've walked on possibly because they're a little too into feet.

Your journey to stardom is right around the corner, but it might take a while considering you're a filthy degenerate addicted to every vice under the sun.
But that's okay, because you're a demon. You're supposed to be the embodiment of sin.

The soggy carpet of your waterlogged apartment is littered with half-empty beer-cans.
Some of them have remnants of beer in them, others you repurposed as ashtrays.
Guessing which is which is a fun game that you often lose.

Despite its horrible state, rent is way up there. Your landlord is a human, of course.
The right to own property is reserved for humans. They're called *human* rights for a reason, silly!

But before we get into your finances (or lack thereof), we need to know who you are:

1 - Lemure

Even back in demonic society, your family wasn't much to write home about.
It would've been a wasted effort anyway, since none could read.
Downtrodden then, down trodden now.

You are a grime-riddled, nervous, little wreck that's quick to apologize and easily taken advantage off.
Your sole redeeming feature is your grit. You may yelp, stammer, and maybe even cry as you go about your tasks, but you do them.
Fuelled by stress and anxiety, you are the grind personified.

Perk: Till You Drop - You maximum stress is 150 instead of 100.
>Charm: 0
>Dance: 0
>Song: 0
>Social: 0

2 - Former Demonic Nobility

Supposedly, your family were nobles before the humans took over everything. Your grandfather was a particularly powerful demon.
Which is why he was one of the first on the chopping block.
Your parents never adjusted to their new financial situation and kept their lavish lifestyle going with loans.

Your fond memories of cuddling with your parents behind the couch was actually you all hiding from the loan sharks.

While you were initially running from your financial burdens as a family, you lost track of your parents one day when the loan sharks pounced.
Split up, you've been living on your own ever since.

Though now dirt poor, your upbringing remains.
You try to keep clean and are polite as a noble should, but have sadly fallen victim to the vices of humanity to cope with your reality.

>Charm: 10
>Dance: 0
>Song: 0
>Social: 5

>>6322722

3 - Lesser Imp

A lot has changed in demonic society over the past few decades, a lot hasn't.
Imps are still total brats. Completely self-serving without a shred of conscience, an imp will lie, cheat, manipulate, and tease to get what they want.
This'll usually work out until it doesn't, but when it does you can just blame somebody else and move on.

Sure, you've got a bit of a history. Maybe scammed some people here and there, but they had it coming.
Perhaps sobbed and lamented your way into an easy meal. Again, not your fault!
These people are all just way too gullible.

>Charm: 5
>Dance: 0
>Song: 0
>Social: 10

>>6322722
>>1 - Lemure
The girlfailures are in demand this decade.

>>6322722
>1 - Lemure
We just need to get on Lightsong's Got Talent and then we'll be set for life!
That, and the perk is more valuable than stat bonii in the long run.

>>6322722
>1 - Lemure

>>6322722
>Lemure
Matches our squalor, explains our tolerance.

>>6322722
The Lemure perk sounds cool, and zero to hero story is appealing as well, but in the end I'll go with
>2 - Former Demonic Nobility
t. >>6322619 my id changes with almost every post, so yeah, hope you don't exclude 1pbtid from voting later down the line

>>6322722
>Lemure
The Bocchi coded option

>>6322722
>2 - Former Demonic Nobility

5 x Lemure
2 x Former Demonic Nobility

Winner: Lemure

I'd normally (you) each reply for counting, but apparently that's spam
>Error: Our system thinks your post is spam. Please reformat and try again.

>>6322793
It does that sometimes, yeah. It's very inconsistent.

>>6322793
It tags the post as spam if you reply to more than 6 people at once iirc. A measure for other boards' mass repliers that slightly damaged /qst/ as a collateral.

It also sometimes triggers on other bullshit reasons, I heard Heretic Cultivator had trouble posting because it thought Chinese characters were spam.

Care to make a trip or name btw? QMs usually take up one to make it apparent it's them posting.

>>6322793

When a child is born, they are fostered and loved. Educated and guided.
Told that they, as long as they work hard, can do anything. Accomplish any goal, aspire to any dream.
Lemures are told the opposite. Well, not so much told as reminded.
Being born as a Lemure means a life of eternal servitude.

In demonic society, which adheres to a strict hierarchy, this means always working hard to ensure that your betters remain your betters.
In return, you were fed and housed.

A pretty good deal according to Lemures who received no education whatsoever, but were told by their superior that the deal they had was, in fact, a pretty good one.

When humans took over it destroyed demonic society from top to bottom, but not the very bottom.
People say that there's nowhere to go but up when you're at rock-bottom, but it turns out that isn't true.
You can move laterally to a different area of rock-bottom.

And that's what the Lemures did as they forcibly immigrated into human society.

In a strange way, the destruction of demonic society was a boon for the Lemures.
Not because they suddenly received things like education, gods no, but rather because now no other demons did either.
They hadn't so much risen up in the world as everybody else had come down.

However, turns out that demons, like humans, can make do as long as they have somebody beneath them to kick down on.
Capable of bearing any suffering as long as they're warmed by the knowledge that somebody else has it worse.
Even if all were equal under humanity's torment, the Lemures were still, somehow, less equal than others.

One such Lemure is currently tucked away in the corner of her apartment. Her jacket, three sizes too large, covers her from neck to toe.
Her hair is messy, her clothes are caked with dirt. Though the apartment has no heating nor electricity, the Lemure warrants no pity.
As such luxuries are foreign to Lemures anyway.

There she sits, her back pressed against the glass of the sole, tall window of her room as the few, lingering rays of the setting sun warm her back.

>1 - Dirty blonde hair, blue eyes
>2 - Purple hair, purple eyes
>3 - Grey hair, red eyes
>4 - Write-in (Feel free to mention other characteristics, too)

>>6322825
>2 - Purple hair, purple eyes
>Asymmetrical bangs
>Flattish chest
>Bags under eyes

>>6322825
This vote is a bit open ended as it'll be my last udpate for today as it's getting late where I am.
Will update again tomorrow.

>>6322825
>dirty blonde hair, red eyes
>scars on knees/elbows/hands/feet, anywhere that could reasonably touch the ground. Gained from scrounging and begging, doing odd-jobs in confined spaces, etc. Probably elsewhere too from some untreated beating or another, but those are the hotspots.
>Bags under eyes
>Tip of one horn broken off

>>6322825
>2 - Purple hair, purple eyes

>>6322825
+1 >>6322882

>>6322825
>2 - Purple hair, purple eyes
>Glasses with a thick black frame, taped together on the bridge and with a small crack on the right lense
>Tip of one horn broken off
>Bandaid on the same horn hiding a crack

>>6322825
To sorta combine it all:
>Bags under eyes
>Tip of one horn broken off
>Some scars
>Purple hair, purple eyes

Glasses > bags

>opted to draw in black tape on the cracked horn rather than a bandage because medical supplies are expensive

As mentioned above, lesser demons are similar in appearance to teenagers.
Previously, they would more or less ascend into a full demon (young adult) at one point or another as ambient mana was abundant in the demon lands.
The tradtional ascension ritual for Lemures was typically completed without expensive reagants, which meant they didn't gain any benefit from ascension outside of an adult form.

Child labour is, of course, a terrible, horrific human rights violation, but luckily Lemures are demons and such protections don't apply to them.
And since Lemures don't need to spend time on wasteful things like education, they can work from a young age.

Since we've opted for the "Path of Vanity" aka the idol route, it wouldn't be uncommon for one to start their idol career as a teenager, so that's where we'll be starting.
At the start of this quest the Lemure would still be a lesser demon and around her late teens.

The final thing we need to decide upon is a first name.
Surname are reserved for nobility in demonic society.

>1 - Mirae
>2 - Ryn
>3 - Amiko
>4 - Lilith
>5 - Haruki
>6 - Write-in

>>6323213
Excellent work on the art QM, she looks like she deserves headpats
>4 - Lilith
>BUT
>Humanized to Lily, because humans are marginally less cruel if you have a human name

>>6323214
+1

>>6323214
+1

>>6323214
>>6323213
Supporting to get the ball rolling.

>>6323213
+1 >>6323214

>>6323214
+1

>>6323214
Winner: 4 - Lilith (Lily)

>>6323214
+1

Small update: I've been working on the job system and will starting posting tomorrow

>>6324023

You are a Lemure, a type of demon, living in the human nation of Lightsong. Things aren't that great right now.
Rent is high, groceries are expensive, and demons like yourself haven't exactly prospered in the handful of decades since humanity conquered the demon realm and subjected all demons to what is essentially thinly veiled slavery.

To make matters worse, your parents named you Lilith, which is the quintessential demon name.
A name like that is a sure-fire way of having any potential employers slide your resume from their desk into in the trash so fast the friction causes a small fire.

But, no fear. As a demon, you are wicked and crafty. Scheming and manipulative.
What a human considers reality is whatever you make them believe it is.
This is to say you've been putting "Lily" on most documents and playing it off as a nickname when asked.

This ruse lasts up until the moment you show up and your curly horns and sharp, slender tail give you away as the monster you really are: a skinny collection of addictions wrapped in bad habits.
They hire you anyway. As, well, since demons have no humans rights most jobs are short-term.
Most jobs, particularly those for Lemures, last until the moment the job is done.
Your most recent stretch of employment lasted two afternoons. A perpetual gig economy.

Now freshly unemployed, you carefully sip at your last can of beer as you try to make it last.
Your eyes are glued to the screen of your aging phone.
You may not have electricity or running water in your rank apartment, but you've learned to make do.

Though there's no hard segregation between humans and demons, the differences in cost of living keeps both races firmly locked to their sides of the city you live: Aria, the capital of Lightsong.

It's name derived from the music that carries on the winds when said winds press through the nearby mountain range.
A stretch, really. The sound can barely be called music.

Two powerful wizards decided to duke it out one day and turned the mountain range into swiss cheese and now you have to wake up every other morning to a sound similar to a lifelong smoker abusing a malformed flute.
But people like to get romantic about things, can you blame them? Yes.

>>6324298

The sole benefit about your horrible apartment is that it's quite close to a human neighbourhood.
The demon side of the city is heavily zoned with predetermined areas for living, shopping, and industry (lots of industry).
Meanwhile, the human neighbourhoods are more free-flowing with houses and picturesque little shops alternating each other.

Every now and again, you pop over to a small café in the human neighbourhood, order the cheapest item on the menu so they don't chase you out, and charge your phone.
Incredibly, the internet is freely available for any and all demons with large towers broadcasting high-speed 3G internet to all phones using a specific provider that all demons are forced into using.

You can't help but smile at this little digital ray of sunshine that humans have bequeathed upon you.
Some of them must've felt bad after the decades of exploitation. How nice of them.

You absent-mindedly scroll through your timeline filled with things like: “5 Ways Humans Make Great Business Partners” , "What the Data Says: Demons Are Happier in Human Cities", and "Are Traditional Infernal Values Hurting Your Career?".
Then, something new. A small bit of dopamine enters the brain (and feels very alone), reinforcing your doom scrolling habit.
A new music video from an all-female group called: Radiant Order.

A small smile slithers onto your gaunt face as the video is reflected in your empty eyes.
Not only do the girls in the video seem to be having a lot of fun, but there's nobody telling them to stop and get back to work.
In fact, there's a massive crowd cheering them on.

Remarkably, the special effects used in their stage performance are actually spells cast by the group's lead idol.
The lead idol, Celeste Ardent, is apparently a descendant from the saintess that "saved" demon kind decades ago.

New obsession firm in hand, you spend the next two hours absorbing their videos.
Members of the group seem to come and go, only the centre, the lead idol, is a fixture.
They even hold auditions every now and again.

A small, feeble thought enters your mind.
An idea so fragile you don't even dare utter it in fear it'll be instantly crushed under the cruel weight of reality.

Could that be you? An idol? Revered and cherished by all?

>>6324299

You briefly imagine yourself on stage in one of those frilly outfits and fall victim to red-hot, ear-burning embarrassment.
But your wobbly smile never leaves your face.
A life where you're not just begrudgingly tolerated, but welcomed.

Then, your phone beeps to break you out of the dream.
There's only 20% battery left. You charged it this afternoon, too.
Only 20% to find a new job to stave off homelessness for another week.

You sigh, eyes vacant as your mind tries to grasp the fleeing remnants of the waning dream.
The phone goes to sleep mode after a short moment of inactivity.
Reflected back at you in the dark screen is the visage of a skinny demon with no talent or charm.

A Lemure. Born to serve. And only serve.
Reminded from childhood onward to never aspire to anything lest you trouble your superiors.

The idea that something like you could stand on stage and delight the world with song and dance is downright ridiculous.

But, in here is okay.
Nobody can you see you in your apartment.
Thin walls that shield you from the world's scorn.

With your phone propped up against the wall, you use some precious battery to play one of Radiant Order's music videos.
The playful tunes emitted from the device are in sharp contrast to the dilapidated, chilly room.

Unsteadily rising to your feet, you gulp down the dregs of your stale beer to bring some warmth to your body and copy the dance performed in the video.

You're off-beat. You're drunk.
The sun has hidden behind horizon to flee from the sight of your performance.

Unlike other demonic subspecies, Lemures don't have talent.
You weren't born to be beautiful or charming. To be strong or intelligent.
The frustration barrier of skill acquisition is a close friend, nothing comes easy to a Lemure.

Lost in the moment and with the alcohol burning through your veins, you sing loudly.
Your best efforts mistaken by your direct neighbours to be the demonic chanting for an ascension ritual, they don't protest much for the same reason one wouldn't pluck a butterfly cocoon from a branch.

And in a way it is a form of ascension, but in a much more real way it totally isn't.
The neighbours are bound to end up disappointed if they were expecting you to look more mature or in any way different the following morning.

Phone on autoplay, one song blends into the next and you keep going until you utterly exhaust your limited stamina.
Finally, you fall to your knees with sweat dripping off your brow.
Slumping forward onto your stomach, the damp carpet takes you into wet, welcoming embrace.

Panting, you make up your mind.

The world may want to see you fail, but to conform to the expectations of those that don't have your best interests in mind is a sure path to misery.
Unknown to even yourself, the first step to change is an identity shift.

"...I'm g-gonna be an idol..I'll do it..." you stammer faintly, tearing up.

>>6324301

You reach for your phone. Only 11% battery left.
You need money.

For new clothes, for dance classes, for a vocal coach.
For make-up, for networking, and, of course, for rent.
Maybe for smokes and beers, too. Yeah.

Funds: $12
Weekly rent: $100
Weekly addictions: $25

Stats

Stress (Mental Fatigue): 0/150
Energy (Physical Fatigue): 100
Fame (Reward modifier): 0

Perk: Till You Drop - You maximum stress is 150 instead of 100.

>Charm: 0
>Dance: 0
>Song: 0
>Social: 0

===

Day 1: Idol Road

The optional Radiant Order auditions take place on day 30. (Major event)

Some jobs provide a chance of a skill-up, while others don't, but can make you a bit more money.
Stress isn't reduced automatically, but your addictions help lower it.
Quest events can furthermore increase or lower stress.

Lilith recovers 50 energy a day. (Consumables can increase energy, too)

There's three parts to each day.
Morning, afternoon, and evening.
If you've got energy to spare you can use your spare time to try and improve your skills.

Important: Slight adjustments to the rolling system

>Previously

6 = Success
4 - 5 = Partial success
1 - 3 = Failure

>Now

6 = Crit Success
4 - 5 = Success
2 - 3 = Failure
1 - 1 = Crit Fail

Unless otherwise specified, failing means receiving half-pay.
Crit failing means getting no pay.

>Previously

Charm: 10 (Skill, 1x Extra dice for each 5)
Dance: 0
Song: 0
Social: 5

>Now

Charm: 2 (extra Dice)
Dance: 0
Song: 0
Social: 1

Since the stat points serve no other purpose than to provide extra dice for each threshold, we might as well make it explicit and avoid abstraction.
In return, skill-ups will be harder to come by and difficult checks may require multiple successes (instead of a DC and adding modifiers).

>>6324303

1 - Store Clerk

A convenience store in the demon district is looking for a temp hire to fill-in for a sick worker during the day shift.
A fairly basic job where you're supposed to work the register, stock shelves, and maybe talk to customers a bit.

Duration: 5 days, $50 a day.
Roll: Social (1d6)
Cost: 50 Energy (Morning, Afternoon)
Critical success reward: Skill-up (Social)

2 - Event Promoter

A local advertising agency is looking for girls to hand out flyers in the human district.

Duration: 2 days, $25 a day.
Roll: Charm (1d6)
Cost: 25 Energy (Afternoon)
Critical success reward: Event

3 - Victim of Graduating Hair Stylist

A local shop is asking for volunteers to come in and serve as the victim for a new hair stylist who has only practiced on dummies so far, but it's free. There's no telling if this fresh graduate of their "Salon Apprentice" course is any good. Maybe they're a hidden genius that'll make you the prettiest Lemure around. Or maybe they'll butcher your hair-cut and have you hide in your apartment for a day.

Duration: 1 days, $0.
Roll: Charm (1d6)
Cost: 25 Energy (Morning)
Critical success reward: 2 x Skill-up (Charm)
Success reward: 1 x Skill-up (Charm)
Fail penalty: +25 stress
Critical fail penalty: +50 stress, skip 1 day

>1 - Store Clerk
>2 - Event Promoter
>3 - Victim of Graduating Hair Stylist

>>6324304
>1 - Store Clerk
Money now, skills after we have enough cash to not starve.

>>6324304
>1 - Store Clerk
The dream is far away, before we can become the number 1 idol we need cash so we don't end up on the street.

>>6324304
>1 - Store Clerk

>>6324304
>Event Promoter
Really digging the vibe so far, QM, and the art is cute. Hope we can make Lilith the star she dreams to be.

>>6324304
>1
Gotta pay if you wanna play

>>6324304
>2 - Event Promoter
>3 - Victim of Graduating Hair Stylist

Loose out on cash, but gain free level ups. The job is only 2 days so we can quickly pivot to store clerk.

Noone picked multiple options thus far except me. We have 3 time slots and gain 50 energy per day, should use the most of it.

>>6324346
This is true, you can make use of any and all timeslots as long as you have enough energy for the activities.
In this particular case it won't matter much, since I was gonna introduce some independant / paid practice options for the open evening slot later.
Practice can be done during any timeslot, but I deliberately left the evening open to introduce it later.

Winner: 1 - Store Clerk

>>6324304
>2 - Event Promoter
Industry adjacent, potential for networking.

>>6324361
Ah dang, was too late.

idol qm?

>>6324361
>Winner: 1 - Store Clerk

It may not be the most exciting job out there, but the pay is good and work itself is safe.

"...I'll just work as a clerk for a week, that's good money. Covers both rent, booze, and I'll have a bit left at the end of the week. I can probably charge my phone there, too." you tell yourself, long since accepted talking to yourself as an ordinary thing. "...Maybe I can practice looking customers in the eyes, too. Can't be an idol that always stares at their feet..."

"It'll just be for a little while..." you say, knowing full well that there's danger in comfort.

You use the special app that demons use to apply for short-term jobs and receive a little notification.
"You've been imployed~" the app chimes. You wince, but at least you've got a job lined up tomorrow.

Booze still in your system, you crawl to the corner of the apartment the wet carpet hasn't conquered yet and cover yourself with a threadbare blanket.
"...Gotta get up early... at least wash my face in the river..." you murmur softly as sleep quickly takes you.

Next morning, you crawl out from under the blanket and reach for a half-empty can of beer to soothe your parched throat.
Sadly, you chose poorly and picked one you had repurposed as an ashtray and end up spitting out some cigarette butts.
However, it does wake you up.

The benefits of only having one set of clothes is that you never have to waste any time on wondering what to wear.
You simply put on your coat since your clothing does triple duty as pyjamas, comfort wear, and work attire.
Still, you're headed for a job so you do hazard a quick sniff test and conclude that it's best for everybody involved that they provide you with some kind of uniform.

Off to work. You're riddled with anxiety the entire way there.
Not just because of the work itself, but the directions to the store are provided by your "Imploy" app and your phone's on 1%.
Luckily, everyone knows the final percentage of a phone's battery counts for ten and it barely lasts you the way there.

"...Snackrifice..." You say, standing in front of the store.
It's your typical corner store where everything is marked up thirty percent for the sole reason that the larger supermarkets are over a mile away.

Once inside, you are ushered into the back, handed a set of employee clothes, and given some soap, a washcloth, and a firm look.
After using the sink in the bathroom to freshen up, you stand at attention at the counter with a shaky smile.

===

Need a "Social" skill roll: 1d6

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>6324427
Reporting for duty! Pyun~

>>6324428
Woof. Girlfailure continues to girlfail.

>>6324428
Splendid.

I'll write up the reply to this tomorrow, it's getting late here.

>>6324437
I have one more TTRPG session to host this evening, but should be able to properly run tomorrow onward.

>>6325281
Waiting warmly. Have fun at game night!

It is already over.

>>6326622
Don't kill me off just yet, I'm simply procrastinating on semi-relevant stuff by telling myself it's totally relevant

Awesome art and story OP. Patiently waiting for the next writeup