PanderPanther

Despite that lack of innate social cues, it's probably really easy to get a job in the service industry. There's a push for cashier-less service, and food delivery where you leave it dropped off at the door. Mostly, because in standard service, you're more likely to get physically attacked.

Part of it's just the statistics of the situation-- like how cities have more murderers because there's more people, you're more likely to run into an aggressive customer if you've actually got to go up to them physically over and over.

The good news is that the risk is what makes it the easiest job to get (they've got a high turnover), and the pay is double what it is in the real world-- triple, in the nicer restaurants. And you still make tips! Tip culture is complicated, but the general vibe for now at least is that you should tip someone who works a sucky job.

So, if you're suddenly find yourself in need of a job, your best bet is walking into a restaurant with a hiring sign, and asking for the job. It will feel awful, but in this world, it actually CAN get you the job. They wont do a real background check half the time because the turnover is that bad, and they just need someone to bus tables. You might be asked to prove you can read and write if you want to be an actual waiter, but that's all.

There's a small break room for staff that's always stocked up on medkit supplies- bandages, splints, antiseptic wipes, gauze, food grade nitrile gloves in case your hands are bleeding, surgical masks, tourniquets (you've never seen anyone need those in your time here, but you worry asking about it might raise suspicion). Frequently while you're working, you'll see someone rush into the room and come back out in ten minutes, wounds dressed, and back to work. You're not sure where they're getting painkillers from, as there aren't any in the kit. Some legal thing, maybe? Or someones just taking them all whenever they're restocked.

But the guy giving the instructions was bluffing, I think? Because the bomb itself never went off, and I could literally just refuse to go to any of the places he wanted, and all I got was a buzz from the collar, not even a shock. I couldn’t take him seriously so I muted his texts and calls, and gave a noncommittal “👍”

It got to the point that I was chilling on my sofa ignoring his texts and he just. Broke in, to check the collar (turns out he was trying to shock me, and he just didn’t have it right).

Then he said he’d drive me where he wanted me to go, but if I wanted, we could go out for lunch first. When we DID, he wouldn’t get out of the car and sent me into a food court to pick up food for us both, and he would stay on the phone with me. Eventually we started arguing on the phone about what to get and it woke me up, pissed off.

Like even ignoring how sometimes hardcore can just mean murdering everyone, which kinda trivializes the death and makes it less intense, weighing the actions of a soft yandere realistically can be more of a down to earth horror if you play it straight.

Cyberstalking, spending literal years stalking someone and carefully crafting a story they'd want to be true, isolating people, all that is so scary if played straight.

Especially cuz you don't know that the person cuddling you whispering how they'd "never hurt you" is telling the truth. You don't know if they really didn't hurt anyone getting you two together, or if they're just saying that to diffuse the situation. You don't know if they're who they say they are, or if they're fabricating a trauma to make themselves more sympathetic. You don't know if they mean it, and you don't know if they know whats real anymore-- and you don't know if they DO, and they're just acting like they don't because it would ruin the experience for them!

It can be true that they really never WOULD hurt you physically, and they really never DID kill anyone. And it can even be true that they DO feel something akin to love and try to express it genuinely to you.

Very tiny Fen in your inbox. They love you! :)

Omg a tiny Fen! So cute so small! I accept them with grace~!

"What you're doing is wrong, I could never love you after what you've done!"

"When I get out of this, I'll kick your ass!"

"Forcing me to stay only makes it so I would never choose to stay with you."

Because like... While that's all TRUE, it's the last thing I'd be saying to someone who's crazy enough to kidnap/blackmail/hurt other people/or bind you to a chair. Because in what world would that persuade them to let you go? Or to take it easy on you?

Best case scenario here is them going quiet for a few minutes, looking sad as they give what you said a thought, before looking back at you and saying "If there's no incentive to ever give the freedom back, why would I? As it stands I have nothing to gain, and everything to lose".

At least if the victim is paralyzed and asleep, they can feel connected. They aren't, but that doesn't matter. It FEELS like connection. And again, that's the BEST CASE scenario here.

Someone who's not even sure they want to be seen. Not truly. They have the internet, they've seen movies, and true crime documentaries. They know there's something in them that's profoundly wrong, and every time someone sees it, they run away screaming.

Or, more realistically: The person they were vulnerable with tells everyone what a freak and creep they are, and they can't get anyone to want anything to do with them. Even projects that require their expertise are done without them, simply because everyone thinks they'd rather have it done shitty than done by them, or have to talk to them.

But humans are social creatures at the end of the day. They need someone. No one can be truly alone for years on end without going a little bonkers-- there is only so much video game characters and reading fanfics anonymously can compensate for.

They want someone. And it starts to feel like... They could make it work. If what they are is so wrong, they just need to start over somewhere, get someone emotionally invested, and when they inevitably try to pull away, make it so they can't. You can't leave NOW, because... Well when the time comes, they'll find something to make themselves too interesting. You can't leave or you'll miss out.

How will they create something so fascinating you can't abandon them, they haven't a clue. But they don't want to be themselves. They don't want to be threatening anymore. They'd declaw themselves at the first knuckle with garden shears if they thought it could make them harmless.

But it can't. And it won't.

But they're really, really, reaaaally hoping that journaling, and going to therapy, and taking their meds, and doing the mental health excercises will fix them this time. And they're hoping, that at the end of it all, there's you there. To reward them for it. Not with your love, thats too much to ask. But at least, with your recognition. Even if you can't know them deeply, just to have another human being see them- hell, not even understand, or like them- just SEE them. And decide 'that thing, too, deserves to live'.