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[She gives Jay a little time to settle in before contacting him again. Just a little. She wants him comfortable, but not too comfortable, and while she's not sure how accurate Tim's appraisal of Jay is in terms of how much of a risk to himself and others he is, well, she does want to keep an eye on him. And see if she can't show him how the news should work while she's at it.]

Do you want a job?

[Jay has to take a few minutes to stare at the message before responding.

A job? He'd barely had a job for the couple years between graduation and when he'd started his investigation. He had written copy for a few websites, gotten a couple bucks editing local commercials, and spent way too many hours doing favors "for the exposure". He'd been dipping into his savings every month just to make rent. Jay was nearing thirty, and he still didn't really know how taxes worked.

From Georgia? The last time he'd talked to her--the only time he'd talked to her--had hardly been job interview material. Things had gone fuzzy near the end, and he'd had to reread his messages the next morning to remember what he said.

And now she's offering him work?]

What kind of job?

Edited 2017-06-17 06:44 (UTC)

The most important job there is. Reporting the news. Of course, I can't pay you. I would if I could, but Wonderland doesn't have an actual economy. But you'll get published in our weekly zine and you'll be telling the truth as you see it.

[Jay's still processing it, staring wide-eyed at his inbox.

This place doesn't have real internet. It doesn't have a site where Jay can post his findings without making it into a conversation. But this? Sure, it's a "zine", but it's real circulation, and it might give him access to information he would need to fight for otherwise.]

Do you have a video department? I've got more experience with that than writing. [No, you idiot, don't make it sound like you're turning her down!] But I can write, if that's what's needed.

[She grimaces a little at the question.] Back home, we would. We're usually bloggers. Our site, After the End Times, is multimedia and a lot of people prefer video, especially Irwins. But we don't have a real internet here, so we've had to venture into print media. You can certainly include pictures in reports, but video won't work.

I'll need a writing sample, and you'll have to meet my partners before we hire you on as full staff, though you'll be free to submit work either way. I should warn you, I'm not an easy person to work for. I demand the truth, and I demand nothing less than all the effort you have to give. And I demand critical thinking skills.

Edited 2017-06-19 04:31 (UTC)

[Oh god, what is he getting into? No video, just Georgia breathing down his neck and critiquing his critical thinking skills.

It's an opportunity, though, and after nearly five years of fighting tooth and nail for every scrap of evidence he can get, he can't turn this down.]

I'm interested. Where do I submit the writing sample?

[Good, that's what she'd hoped he'd say. She's talked to Tim enough that she's pretty sure he's going to need some heavy guidance to get to her standards, especially on the critical thinking front, but she still knows a Newsie when she sees one. Love of the truth is required. The rest can be taught.]

Either send it to me or bring it to the After the End Times office on the ninth floor. We'll want a digital copy either way, but that way you can meet Shaun.

[This is happening. It's happening, and it's completely foreign territory, and Jay's just going to have to wing it.]

I could get a thumb drive out of the closet and bring it to the office that way. [Wait. Right, she's from the future.] Do your computers take USBs?

[He's about to submit the message when he realizes he has no idea what he's actually supposed to do. He's screwed up one too many writing assignments back in his film student days by not asking.]

What's the topic? Is there a word count you're looking for?

[He's so nervous and obviously new at this that it's almost cute. If she were at home, she'd never hire him. They have enough people clamoring to be betas and she's got way too little free time herself to train up new talent. But this isn't home, this is Wonderland. They've got nothing but time, and their options are a hell of a lot more limited.]

USB's fine. Topic and word count is up to you, though I want it to be long enough that I get a sense for your style. If you need inspiration, you can look through old copies of the Shattered Mirror.

[Back issues. Right. Okay, he can do this.]

I'll grab some and read through them. Do they have any at the office?

Of course. Digital and printed.

Then I'll see you soon. Or [He has to scroll back up to find the name again.] Shaun.

Both, most likely. We're close.

[Understatement of the century.]

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