An Oanie's Office

"Wow, is it really time for a desk change already? These six months have really flown by,"

The man said to me. His great body lumbered around my new office, leaving muddy footprints wherever his stumpy legs dragged him.

"Yep, sure is. I'm sure you're eager to get to your new office, right?

I stood at the door impatiently. I wanted to sit down at my new desk but this man would not stop wandering around. Seems he had a lot of little trinkets and artifacts to pack away. It's not like we were supposed to pack our things yesterday or anything...

"Nah nah, I don't have any place to be after this. Besides, I have all these cool things left to pack. Mind if I show you some of them?

He asked, with a giant grin on his face. I desperately wanted him to leave, but part of me felt bad for him. Clearly he doesn't have much else going on, bless him.

"Okay, sure,"

I replied with a coy smile.

"I didn't catch your name before, by the way,"
"Wiwita. You?"
"Gludug. Lovely to meet you!"

Mechallic Sword Replica

A large sword hangs up on the wall, just as you enter Gludug's office. It resembles a mechallic sword, most famously used Sown Ikkaris, a teenaged boy from Czeczais. He was the first to rebel against the Everae Empire who had fallen from the future into the present during the Storm That Shifted Time, around a hundred billion years ago.

These swords are made from a blend of mechallite and czeralite, two precious metals unique to this extinct planet. Gludug could only get a hold of a replica, unfortunately.

Prompt: Ancient

Hell Plant

Karkhala, the native planet of the oanie, own a large region of planet Hell. Countless establishments tear up the planet to retrieve its precious resources. Many oanie have a particular liking to the flora of Hell, many of which survive and thrive in large pockets of surface lava.

Gludug has a large plant pot containing species Caverigna atrocitas, a subterranean aquatic plant. Its lava-filled jar fills the office with light on dark, rainy days.

Prompt: Light
 
"Here we have my gorgeous sword. It's just a replica, unfortunately. Look how pretty it is! I bought it at an online auction. Wish there was a cooler story to it. I normally tell people it's real, and that I fought off an army to get it."

Gludug chuckled and looked around his room to find more items to show me.

"You've got quite a collection it seems!"

I tried to drum up some sort of conversation to keep me from day dreaming.

"I do indeed. I've been in this business, what, 50 years? Only in the last couple years did I switch to the office job. I've spent most of my life out in all the different galaxies, finding new places to call home, finding new materials to build our kingdoms with, and I've picked up a couple things along the way. I can't throw any away. I'd be saying goodbye to a part of me."

He stood there awkwardly for a few seconds, as I did.

"...Yeah, anyways, I have this cool plant. Worked on Hell for a couple of years, snagged this when I left. Pretty cool, huh?"

I silently nodded. I actually did think it was pretty cool.

Medal of Power

The Medal of Power was given to Planetary Investigators who had claimed over a hundred planets. Incredibly few oanie ever managed to achieve this, but after fifty oanie managed to acquire this medal, it was discontinued. Gludug's medal hangs up against his window, looking out on to the dusty city of Oson, on planet Srurshak.

Prompt: Proud

Family Portrait

Oanies rarely take photos of themselves, and they especially avoid putting them on display for anyone to see. Gludug is unique in that he likes to share photos of his wife.

Gludug never had any children which is unusual for an oanie. His line of work left him worried that his wife would end up raising his children alone.

Prompt: Memories
 

I glanced to my right and noticed a small photo of Gludug with a woman.

"Who's that, if I may ask?"
"Oh, that's my wife! I know it's unusual to have a photo of her, but I really love her. I don't have any children, I got too scared that I'd die in the field and she'd be left to look after them,"

He quietly stared at the ground, mumbling under his breath.

"I- I'm sorry to hear that"

I replied, hoping he would steer the conversation in another direction.

"But yeah, she's lovely. Oh! I won this Medal of Power. They don't make 'em anymore, so I'm lucky to have snagged one. You get it for claiming and filing for a hundred planets. Srurshak is all me, baby. Although kicking out the native lot was a challenge."

I grinned. I had only claimed six planets - how he managed to claim a hundred I'll never know.

Oanium Shard

On the abandoned planet Uara over seventy new minerals were discovered by the oanie. One was named oanium, discovered by none other than Gludug.

This flint-like mineral is used in making simple cutting utensils on their lesser-known subsidiary planets, who's workers are given lower-quality materials to work with. That too was Gludug's idea.

Prompt: Pointy
 

Lock of Kawen Atar's Fur

Kawen Atar is arguable the most famous planetary investigator. Throughout his life he claimed over a thousand planets, well beyond what any other has achieved. A month before his passing and on Gludug's 21st birthday, they bumped into each other in in a cafe, nestled down a quiet alley in Ffaea.

Kawen's fur got caught in Gludug's jacket, ripping a handful of hairs out. Gludug has clung onto this lock of hair ever since, proudly showing it to anybody and everybody.

Prompt: Proud
 

Box of Angry Souls

Box of Angry Souls

A Box of Angry Souls is a common item sold in gadget shops in oanie-owned territories. While not containing actual souls, they do contain high-powered strands of magic, flying around the box at speeds of up to a hundred miles per hour, bouncing off the walls in a bright chaotic scramble to escape.

It creates a background noise that is appealing to oanie - something about the sound of quiet screaming is soothing.

Prompt: Chaos

Coral Fragment

This coral species is native to Anbergia, a rogue planet not orbiting any form of star. The coral is a fast-growing species and has overrun both the oceans and landmasses.

On Gludug's expedition to this planet, he broke off a piece and brought it back to his office, where it proudly remains on his shelf. Although it is dead, he is convinced it has grown since he got it.

Prompt: Swift
 

Coastal Mosaic

A small frame hangs up on the wall of Gludug's office, right behind his desk. Almost two hundred glass shards form a complex mosaic no more than five inches in length and height. It resembles a coastline, with a small house atop a cliff overlooking a sunset.

This mural was created by Gludug's mother, who begged him to keep it close as a reminder of his childhood. Gludug spent the first fifteen years of his life in the house in the mosaic, before he was forcibly shipped off to an army base.

Prompt: Keep
 

Frog-Shaped Lozenge Packets

Oanies don't admit when they are ill. If they have a sore throat in particular, they will either battle their way through it or buy fun shaped lozenges. Gludug enjoys his frog shaped lozenges that he buys from a supermarket that always seems to operate right where any of his offices are. Curious.

If he has guests in his office, you bet he's not sharing his lozenges. Those are HIS lozenges. Get your own.

Prompt: Sweet

Comments

Author's Notes

Bit of backstory - Gludug and Wiwita are two oanies who work as office-bound planetary investigators. Normally they would be out in the Yonderverse, in fancy starships, discovering new planets to colonise. Due to more frequent attacks from opposing forces, more planetary investigators work from offices and operate drone ships, as these two do.

Out of fear from being attacked in these offices, oanie switch locations every six months - some will take over offices from other oanie, others will find brand new unregistered office buildings and use those. They're very paranoid people, even if they don't show it.

Hopefully this clears up any confusions you might have whilst reading, I didn't want to wiggle in tons of backstory during this and possibly break any immersion. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment!

  All art made by me :)


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Feb 4, 2024 00:38 by Polina "Line" Arteev

eeeeee this collection is going to be so cool!!


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Feb 4, 2024 00:44 by Mochi

thank youuuu!! <3

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
Feb 4, 2024 00:59 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Love the conceit of this article. Looking forward to seeing the other trinkets. :D

Emy x
Explore Etrea
Feb 4, 2024 10:19 by Mochi

Thank youuu! It's only going to get more mysterious and concerning :D

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
Feb 4, 2024 10:27 by Keon Croucher

Conceptually I love this. This is awesome, and this method for this challenge is super fun! It is also very well written, I love the style! Can't wait to see the collection grow!

Keon Croucher, Chronicler of the Age of Revitalization
Feb 4, 2024 12:44 by Mochi

Thank you so much!! <3

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
Feb 4, 2024 14:08 by Carolyn McBride

Love this concept and the format! Well done!

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Feb 4, 2024 20:52 by Mochi

Thank you! :D

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
Feb 4, 2024 21:06 by Ademal

HOW THE ACTUAL HECK DO YOU HAVE SO MANY WORDS IN YOU? ♥♥♥

CSS Whisperer • Community Admin • Author of Ethnis
Feb 4, 2024 21:11 by Mochi

FUNNY THING IS THE ART IS SLOWING ME DOWN, I'D BE DONE OTHERWISE <3

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
Feb 5, 2024 13:51 by Owen Davies

LOVING the prose here in just the little quotes!   Cannot wait to see all the little trinkets you add!

"The world is only as big as one makes it. So make it bigger by expanding your mind."   Nonvyrox A fantasy setting scarred by a divine war.   Checkout what I've written for Summer Camp 2024
Feb 5, 2024 13:54 by Mochi

Thank you so much! I will try and get the rest of the prompts completed for this article, but even if I don't I want to explore these two characters more :D

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
Feb 13, 2024 18:35

Oh yes, this is so lovely done and great. I loooooooooooooooooooooove it.

Stay imaginative and discover Blue´s Worlds, Elaqitan and Naharin.
Feb 13, 2024 19:50 by Mochi

Thank you so much!! <3

I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way.   Check out my Institutes of Learning Challenge entry!
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