Episode 2: Bored

Episode 2 opens with Jasmine talking to herself about how she has to figure out how to get out of the building and specifically, find the emergency stairs for the floor. The power comes back on and Jasmine finds herself in a meeting room. A projector restarts with a new voice being heard from a recording. The person starts explaining about the department and what they have done there so far. Jasmine listens intently, but the projector goes down after a minute. The recording picks back up after a second at a different point. The person talking sounds more disappointed, sad almost, especially while mentioning someone named Green. They continue on to talk about a few discoveries. The person goes on to discuss with another person, who we can not hear. They refer to the person as “Prudence” assumably meaning they were talking to Blue Prudence. Afterwards the projector stops and Jasmine looks around a little more. The realization of what’s really going on at the department starts to sit in.

Scarlet radio’s again, asking about the projector’s video. Referring to the person on the recording as Sterling. Scarlet explains how she was able to get away from the Lark downstairs, and once the power came back on the Lark ran off. While Jasmine tries to find the emergency stairs on this floor, she asks Scarlet some ice breakers. Scarlet describes herself as 5’7 with reddish hair. Jasmine asks farther questions, to the annoyance of Scarlet, but Scarlet does answer. She’s not from the area but has been living there for around a decade. Jasmine explains she has always lived in Ohio and that she has an older brother. Scarlet says she’s an only child, saying she was always fine with it. After more questions from Jasmine Scarlet attempts to avoid the questions and direct the conversation elsewhere. Jasmine ignores the misdirection and asks about what Scarlet likes to do in her free time. Scarlet responds she likes hiking, horror movies, she does Muay Thai on the weekends, and she likes fixing up different old machines. Jasmine says that when she was younger she read a lot and made up stories. She’d sometimes make little movies with her brother. She says that she still reads a lot now as well as cooking shows, crosswords, red wine and that she’s a decent mixologist. Jasmine mentions she can “whip up a poem” and Scarlet teases her for it. They banter back and forth, with Scarlet ending up signing off.

Jasmine was still thinking of the video, intrigued and confused by it. She had been approached with the job offer as just an editing position in a government agency. The email hadn’t given any more information, and when she tried to search the sender, Yellow Access, or the agency no more information came up. Jasmine first thought it was a scam, but there was something odd about the email that seemed more targeted. She had considered the offer, feeling bored by her life.

Her thoughts were cut off by Scarlet radioing back, saying she was just joking about hanging up. After a moment Jasmine asks about what Sterling had been talking about on the recording. Scarlet says she’s not entirely sure. Jasmine then asks about what he meant by “fictobiology,” Scarlet explains that Sterling studies fictional things, really studies, and still has a few things around. Jasmine is confused on how it’s possible, Scarlet argues that Jasmine saw a Lark so why is it hard to imagine other odd things are possible to see. Jasmine reflects on how it may have been a bad choice to take a job at the department. Scarlet agrees and says that Jasmine will probably be set up for a while to not talk or just kind wiped. Scarlet says that if she doesn’t leave, she’ll get used to all of the weird stuff, because she’d have to. Scarlet farther says that Jasmine could go back if she gets out, but asks if she really could leave, wouldn’t the doubt push on her mind. Jasmine is unsure. Scarlet explains everything was just thrown on her and that she’s just making the best of a bad situation. Scarlet asks why Jasmine got the job, and Jasmine says she was bored. Feeling like she was wasting her life. Scarlet agrees, everyone is wasting their lives. Jasmine gets frustrated at how calm Scarlet is about everything and Scarlet offers to go, but Jasmine says she doesn’t want that. Jasmine admits she’s not brave, and asks if it’s okay if she cries. Scarlet says it’s fine, sounding genuine compared to her usual tone. Jasmine continues on about how she felt like she was really wasting her life even though she did everything “right.” Scarlet tries to comfort Jasmine in her own way, saying everyone’s empty and you just need to find some type of purpose to distract yourself. Jasmine tries to reason she was okay before, but Scarlet argues she wasn’t since she’s now working at the DOV. She says some people just need more, need the action, and that the rush of it all feels amazing. She tells Jasmine to check her pulse and that it’s probably racing. Scarlet says how everyone working there needed that rush, and that’s why they are all still there. She tells Jasmine to check her pulse again, and that it means she’s not bored anymore.