18th moon [voice]

[vibrafinal]

Rosa Farrell has left Luceti.

[It comes abruptly, harshly, flatly. Cecil does not sound in terrible pain as he did the last time he had to make such an announcement. In fact, he sounds very much as though he's forgotten how to inflect.]

...She's left roses and notes for everyone she's met here. Please come pick them up when you have the time.

[That's all he has the energy to say.]

Comments

Computers need a mix of luck, patience, and percussive maintenance.

[anxiousgrace]

That's how it works. Though farming is easier than ever in my time, so there's even less of a demand.

Along with regular blood sacrifices.

[paladinlost]

...Which would send the surplus of potential farmers to the city.

[anxiousgrace]

Of course, there aren't enough jobs, even there, so some people are unemployed. But the government helps out; Where I live, even medical care is covered.

[paladinlost]

Is there no army that could take in a portion of the unemployed population?

[anxiousgrace]

There is, but most people don't want to be in the army. Many don't qualify, either.

[paladinlost]

I can understand that, but it'd still be better than starving.

[anxiousgrace]

Starving is not a problem for most people. The government helps people, and many can find work again. The problem is that many of the people who can't find a job aren't qualified for one, even n the military.

[paladinlost]

Is there no way for them to take up apprenticeships, at least?

[anxiousgrace]

Not that I know of? For some jobs, maybe, but not many, and there's not much demand.

[paladinlost]

That's a shame. It's how most of my people find work, unless they take up family trades.

[anxiousgrace]

Family businesses exist in my world, as well. But there are so many people that some just... fall through the cracks.

[paladinlost]

...There must be a lot of people in your world, for so many to be forgotten.

[anxiousgrace]

It does. Almost 7 billion people. My country alone has over 30 million.

[paladinlost]

...My whole world's population could fit a few times in your country.

[anxiousgrace]

Especially considering the low population density. 3.3 people per square kilometer, or 9.27 per square mile. [Being a teacher has its benefits.]

[paladinlost]

...How can a single country have so much space in it?

[anxiousgrace]

I don't know. It's just big. And huge sections are just... empty. Frozen tundras and the like. [CANADA.]

[paladinlost]

...As in permanently frozen? How can that be possible?

[Good ol' melting Canada.]

[anxiousgrace]

The earth gets frozen deep enough that the sun can't melt it. It's called permafrost. But that's really far north, and I'm from the south, so I don't know much.

[paladinlost]

That would make any sort of agriculture impossible. No wonder so many must live in cities.

[anxiousgrace]

So much of the land is fertile, though... There are huge farms in places. The west is well known for them.

[paladinlost]

They must be lovely to behold, if their size fits such a large country.

[anxiousgrace]

They can be, especially the wheat fields. The lines of golden plants, waving in the wind before the harvest, is something to behold.

[paladinlost]

...That sounds a lot like home, once you leave the town.

[anxiousgrace]

So, your homeland has a lot of farms? [Sounds like an agrarian society, but no way to be sure yet.]