A soft breeze blew Bea's hair across his forehead, tickling the tip of his brow. He groaned, rolled over and tried to pull his blanket closer to his body, only to find nothing. He felt around the bed when his hand hit solid ground. He slowly opened his eyes and sat up.

"Oh fuck"

He knew this bus stop well; once upon a time, he had been chased away from smoking here by the town mayor every night. It was aged but cigarette-free. He pulled himself from the floor and sat down on the worn bench to take a minute and reflect on how the hell he ended up back here.

It had all started with a drink called A Blue Betty, well, no, if he truly thought about it, it all started with his manager Richard, and Richard was a dick.

The hum of electrical appliances kept the air static and dry; only the sound of slurping cheap coffee could be heard above the monotonous drone of standard customer interactions... and Richard.

The man's heavy feet stomped throughout the low-walled cubicles, checking in on each of his staff with a false smile and forced chuckle. Bea knew the man would be making his way to him. He had not picked up enough calls today and had only shaken the mouse to wake the computer screen occasionally. His rap sheet kept growing with crimes against the corporate ecosystem.

He had worked at Joja Online Customer Services for five years. Joining at the tender age of 20, he was once hopeful, full of youthful optimism and a need to please those in charge. The monotony of angry customers and managers with giant sticks up their arses had all chipped away at that work ethic rather quickly.

Now, five years later, he never picked up the phone quickly enough, he didn't answer with the cheerful attitude that Joja forced out of their minions, and he didn't smile enough during lunch break.

He sat on a worn plastic office chair and stared at the now sleeping screen, awaiting his supervisor's mouth breathing to invade his space. Without fail, day after day, Richard checked in on him and poked at his hair, his attitude, and everything that he considered not in line with his ideals.

"Uh oh, looks like we got a Debbie Downer! Hey Bea, how about we get that worksheet up and answer some calls, buddy! Then during your lunch break, we have a little chat, huh? I can still see some pink dye at the ends of your hair, and you know we have a strict uniform policy." Richards overly cheerful voice wafted around the small cubicle, the stench of stale coffee cascading down onto Bea, who frowned.

"I don't want to have to write you up. You know I hate doing that," He gripped his shoulders tight and scrunched his face in feigned concern.

"Don't do that", Bea swatted his hands away.

"I won't have to if we can get right back to work! Let's go, team Joja! Higher-ups say if we clear 500 cases by the end of the day, he's gonna organise a pizza party at the mid-month meeting" He perked up again, and Bea shrugged him off.

"No, don't grab my shoulders like that, it's creepy" Richards fingers lingered just above him for a second as he laughed awkwardly.

"Okay, well, I'm a little hurt by your attitude today, Bea. I've been more than lenient to you. I gave you one extra bereavement hour a few years back when your Grandfather died, and this is how you repay me? I think we might need that chat sooner rather than later. How about we go to my office?" Richard prattled on in a harsher tone.

With the cubicles packed in as tightly as sardines in a can, he knew everyone would be listening in, but the mention of his grandfather sparked an anger deep within. Grandpa Jack would be turning in his grave to know his only grandchild was wasting away in a job that practically sucked out his soul. Jack had been a fierce hunter, an independent farmer and a man who held nothing but peace in his heart. He was everything Bea was not.

His death three years ago still felt raw, like a wound that just wouldn't heal, and he started to realise why. He wanted more than this; he wanted to be free. He wanted Richard to fuck off.

"Okay, Richard."

He followed the man as they made their way down one of the many rows of workers, expecting that he would be going home that day without a job. They were all replaceable; the job shortage in Zuzu City ensured that. The minute one person stepped out of line, they were gone, and Richard had never liked him from the start.

They walked by the announcement phone when something wild took over Bea. An old, familiar feeling twisted with intrusive and rebellious thoughts. That damned phone announced birthdays, reported daily delays in office essentials and wage issues in a droning tone. It always added to the noise, reminding everyone here of each year they spent at their desks. And it was only ever used by Richard.

Bea let his supervisor walk ahead, still prattling away about work ethic, and made his way to the phone. He picked it up tentatively; the static in the speakers letting him know it was live.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would just like to announce Richard Garlin is a tiny dicked insecure, boring man who likes to ask the new hires for dates, promising them promotions. He hangs around the women's bathroom because he likes the smell. Every day that I have been forced to work with him, I have thought about stapling things to his lips. This is Bea Bumblington, leaving Joja Industries for the rest of my fucking life!"

Quiet laughter erupted from the rows of people. Richard stood stock still as Bea swung around to stare at him, a smug smile gracing his face. The man's mouth fell open a few times like a shocked carp until he turned purple, then red.

After a moment, he sucked in a breath and stomped over to Bea to stand mere centimetres from his face, spittle forming at the corners of his mouth.

"You'd best go queue at the Ferngill Republic Social office now, Bumble Bee, you're finished in Zuzu, and you're gonna need that unemployment cheque soon." He spoke each word as if he were struggling to move his lips, and the reality of Bea's lack of money wiped his smug smile from his face. His bank account was dust and moths.

With a tiny cardboard box that held all of his personal items from the office in hand, he slowly dragged himself from the one stability in his life with tight, rolling regret. Richard was a dick, but he was also right. He had no plan B. He waved to the concerned-looking tea lady who called him back with a hand to her chest.

"Oh, Bea, darling, I had heard someone had put Richard in his place, but I prayed it wasn't you", Betty cried, rubbing his shoulders roughly.

"I'll be alright, Betty, I can..do other things. Don't you worry about me!" He tried to assure her with all the fake confidence he could muster.

The woman, who was pushing 70, shook her head as if she had seen right through his terrible act. She gave him a once-over before beckoning him to follow her. They walked through the busy lower levels of the massive building, where the office maintenance staff, cooks for the higher-ups, and cleaners all dwelled. Deep within the confines of the many empty rooms, this far down, she led him into a comfortable-looking staff room filled with knitted blankets, biscuits and multiple heaters.

"None of them fancy shmancy reps and managers come down here, so we've made it quite homely. We even get together here on Thursday for a little pick-me-up. You look like you need one sweet love," she set him on a worn armchair before rummaging around in a cupboard under the sink.

"I wish I had known about this place earlier, the trip down here would have been worth having a break without Richard breathing down my neck", he mumbled.

"I'd have been too terrified that man would have sniffed you out and closed down our staff room. He had it in for you, it's that terrible box dye you used on your hair, dear." She chuckled as she brought over a bottle of blue liquid. Plopping two mugs down in front of them, she decanted and smiled.

"I call this A Blue Betty, a brew of my own. Hints of blackberry, blueberry and something special. Have a tipple!"

The drink burned his lips and throat as he swallowed. He grimaced and coughed, causing the older woman to cackle.

"It's a bit strong, Betty!" He cried.

"Aye, put some hair on your chest! So what's the plan now?"

"Uhm..."

He tapped his chin before taking another, long gulp, finding that it didn't hurt the same way it did the first time. He didn't really have an answer for her; his mother had got him this job with the promise that it was the last thing she would do for him until he could prove that he was a changed person. Bitter memories of their last phone call surfaced, and he swallowed them down along with another sip.

"Family?" she asked, and he promptly shook his head.

"Friends?"

"Roommate...I see them maybe once a week when we accidentally use the kitchen at the same time. I don't think he remembers my name, nor do I believe he will pay my half of the rent," he chewed on his bottom lip.

"Kinda stupid of me to fuck this up, really...I wonder if I threw myself down to Richard's mercy in front of the entire office, if he would take me back." The mere thought of the man's smug face above him made Bea irrationally angry, and thoughts of stapling things to his face rushed back.

"Well, let's take stock of what you do have?" Betty asked, refilling his cup.

"I have...about 40 Credits in my account, weirdly, I have around 250 Gold from my old town too," he let out a little hollow laugh.

"Your old town?"

"Yeah, I grew up in this tiny, tiny town in Stardew Valley. Pelican Town. You've probably never heard of it. No one has. It has one store, one tavern, and one doctor. That type of small."

He sighed as he often did when he thought of that place. Located deep within rolling hills and an idyllic landscape, it was a perfect town, and he had been an imperfect person. He was the piece of their jigsaw that didn't fit, and left on bad terms, kicking and screaming, with his mom eleven years ago.

"Do you not have anyone there you can call?" Betty asked, sipping her own drink, seemingly unaffected by its strength. Bea, on the other hand, had begun to feel warm all over and exceptionally relaxed.

"No, my grandpa died a few years back. He wrote to me before, asking me to come home and take over the family farm. I didn't respond, and wo,w don't I feel like an ass now...he was a good man"

"Oh, I am sorry, hun, I'm sure he loved you very much...did you have a falling out?" Betty pried further as his blue concoction was filled up once again, this time by his own hand.

"I was a terrible kid and an even worse teenager. The mayor called me a teenage nightmare. I would smoke, stay out all night, and be a little shit to the other kids. When I graffit'd the local Community centre at fourteen, I guess they had had enough and asked my mom to leave. So she did...the rest is history"

He took a long gulp as Betty nodded away. She asked him about the farm, explaining that her uncle had one when she was growing up. The Blue Betty flowed, and the day turned to night when, finally, exhausted, drunk and determined, Bea left the office. The seed of a plan had been planted, and in his inebriated state, he was ready to do it.

He walked out into the busy main road, popping his thumb out to passing drivers. He wobbled in and out of traffic until finally a man in a van stopped and called him over.

"What's up, little man, where are you going?" he asked, his sunglasses falling down his nose.

"Stardew Valley! I'm gonna...farm and shit! I'm gonna make turnips!" he hiccuped, and the world faded to black.

END OF 2K ONC GOAL