A Visit to the Human Resources Administration

A Visit to the Human Resources Administration by Jesse [[Start your mission.|A roll of toilet paper]]

The Human Resources Administration, aka HRA, is part of the New York City Department of Social Services and manages essential benefits for humans. Today your mission is to sign up for SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. You're here to study, to see how human systems of governance and society interact. Human consumption of food is incredibly complex and SNAP provides food to about 12% of the population of this "nation" (a territorial concept you're familiar with from your own history). In short, SNAP provides currency to people in order to get food and you're about to sign up for it. You think about all this and your minds race with anticipation. You walk up to a human in a dark blue uniform and say: > [["Hello, I would like to sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition-"]] > [["Hi, where do I sign up for SNAP?"]]

A dangling roll of toilet paper hangs from a frayed piece of twine. The twine loops through the roll tying it to a metal arm support connected to a wall by a single nail in broken plaster. A purple and yellow mist dissipates as a large, indescribable being steps into the reality of this bathroom. It looks around, its many eyes flicking over the rest of the room. The room is bare, the walls are off white, the floor tile is the ugliest neutral color imaginable, and there's puddles of various liquids on the floor, sink, and, somehow, on top of a hand dryer. The being wears some kind of undulating bodysuit, it reachs into a fluidic pocket and pulls out three thin metallic wires connected at a pyramidal base. Holding the base, the being waves it in complex patterns. A slight whistle-hum resonates from it and soon the being is gone. [[In its place is a human.]]

general ideas: do a conditional value for taking notes as you progress? if too many notes are taken a security guard will approach you? freeze time to take notes? maybe not the security guard but someone is not frozen? - narration 3rd person human - thoughts of alien should be highlighted plot - - alien studying HRA to learn about humans, has an intro - asks security guard for directions - takes note - asks intro person for help - takes note - tries to use kiosk, asks for help, gets yelled directions - takes note - gets into waiting room with number - takes note, when time freezes someone is still moving - they interact - explanation - person gets annoyed - debate ensues - questions why is alien here, why is it not helping, etc. - player gets a choice at the end to reveal itself or not - other endings? alien - - from a peaceful evolved advanced etc. society - no concept of gender or race - specifics notes: - do i want the dash name to come up later? GRAMMAR ETC. - check that various symbols/structure (ie: the dash) for choice options make sense and match

"Go talk to her," the human in uniform says pointing at an older human sitting at a desk on the other side of the room. "To sign up-" "Talk to her." You [[hum a quick succession of tones and the room freezes around you.|freeze 1]]

The human in uniform doesn't look up from his mobile phone, a small electronic device used by humans for various forms of communication and information, and gestures towards an older human at a desk across the room. "Over there" the human says. You [[hum a quick succession of tones and the room freezes around you.|freeze 1]]

The room and the people in it stop as a light green wave pulses over them. You walk around the room, studying the humans and their environment, as a shadow appears over your mouth and you begin to take notes. "Notes on first interaction with HRA: * Spoke with a human at the entrance, seems to be some kind of uniformed worker, maybe a [firefighter?]<namedhook1| (click: ?namedhook1)[ Note to self: have to brush up on human worker categories. ] * Firefighter, judging by human social customs, was rude. * Room is brightly lit, gray, tan and white, very bare. My human body has an uncomfortable reaction to it. [Curious.]<namedhook2| (click: ?namedhook2)[ Note to self: why would humans create a building they are uncomfortable in? Points to Skrzyyyyt's theories on human suffering - do they enjoy discomfort? ] * There are some columns with screens in them beside the older human at the table, will interact with this individual next." The light green disappears from the room and [[you go to speak to the next human.|old woman at table]]

The older human looks up and asks, "Yes?" "Hi, I'd like to sign up for SNAP, do I do that with you?" "Go to the kiosk." The human points towards the columns to the right. "I can sign up there?" "Use the kiosk." "...to sign up?" "The kiosk." A little confused but confident this kiosk will help you walk over to it. The kiosk is a tall gray column reaching nearly to the off-white ceiling. It has a glass display in its center stating //Touch the Screen to Begin//. You [[touch the screen]].

Several options are now listed on the screen: * Sign Up for SNAP * Sign Up for Medicaid * Sign Up for Cash Assistance * Request a New Card * Change Your Contact Information * Sign Up for HEAP * Request an Appointment You touch the screen where it says [[Sign Up for SNAP]].

(set: $dash to false)"Go back," the older human says behind you. The human must be speaking with someone. The next screen displays several questions asking about your name, address, and birth date and other demographic information. "Go back." You begin to enter a human name: [[Angel Rosado]] [[Melissa Chen]] [[Sarah Traballano-Williams]] [[Flynn Worth]]

You press the touch screen letters attempting to spell out Angel and end up with Angl. There seems to be something wrong with the touch screen. "Excuse me, this touch screen isn't working?" "Go back." The older human repeats this again and you realize that the human may have been speaking to you the entire time. "What?" "Go back." You... > [[take a step backwards.]] > [[hit the back button on the screen.]]

(set: $dash to true)You press the touch screen letters attempting to spell out Sarah Traballano-Williams. You finish typing Traballano and realize there's no dash mark available. "Excuse me, where is the dash?" "Go back." The older human repeats this again and you realize that the human may have been speaking to you the entire time. "What?" "Go back." You... > [[take a step backwards.|take a step backwards1.]] > [[hit the back button on the screen.|backbutton2]]

You press the touch screen letters and type out Flynn Worth in the appropriate first and last name boxes. "You have to go back." The older human repeats this again and you realize that the human may have been speaking to you the entire time. "What?" "Go back." You... > [[take a step backwards.|backwards2]] > [[hit the back button on the screen.|back button 3]]

Confused, you take one large step backwards away from the screen. //Perhaps these tools are motion sensitive?// After standing there for a few seconds nothing happens. "Hi, excuse me, what do I do?" you ask the older human nearby who asked you to step backwards. She looks at you in a way that reminds you of your [flursky]<namedhook1|(click: ?namedhook1)[ - super intelligent and 50 feet tall, you often wonder if your pet flursky is the pet or the owner]. "You have to hit the back button on the screen." The human says, with that same look. "Oh ok, thank you." You step forward and press "back" on the screen. "Now what?" "Select Sign Up for Cash Assistance." "But I don't want Cash Assistance, I want SNA-" "The system isn't working right, just select Cash Assistance and follow the rest, you'll be fine." "Ok, thank you for your help." You select Cash Assistance and begin entering information only to realize the screen is still [[not working properly]].

"Now select Sign Up for Cash Assistance." "But I don't want Cash Assistance, I want SNA-" "The system isn't working right, just select Cash Assistance and follow the rest, you'll be fine," the older human returns to reviewing papers at their desk. "Ok, thank you for your help." You select Cash Assistance and begin entering information only to realize the screen is still [[not working properly]].

"Hi, hello, the letters aren't working?" The human sighs and slowly stands up. They are a lot shorter than you now that they are standing. They slowly walk over to the screen and press the letters a few times. "I think it's the 'e'" They press the 'e' and it doesn't work. They press it a few times and it doesn't work. "Should I just use this other one?" Ignoring you, the human walks back to their desk and takes out a plastic sign that says 'Out of Order' and some tape. Shuffling back to the screen they tape the sign to it. "Use that one." The human points to the same kiosk you gestured towards and walks back to their desk sitting down with a tired release of breath. "Thank you!" you move over to the next screen, select Cash Assistance, and begin to [[fill out the application|filling out the application]].

Confused, you take one large step backwards away from the screen. //Perhaps these tools are motion sensitive?// After standing there for a few seconds nothing happens. "Hi, what do I do?" you ask the older human nearby who asked you to step backwards. She looks at you in a way that reminds you of your [flursky]<namedhook1| (click: ?namedhook1)[ - super intelligent and 50 feet tall, you often wonder if your pet flursky is the pet or the owner. ] "You have to hit the back button on the screen." The human says, with that same look. "Oh ok, thank you." You step forward and press "back" on the screen. "Now what?" "Select Sign Up for Cash Assistance." "But I don't want Cash Assistance, I want SNA-" "The system isn't working right, just select Cash Assistance and follow the rest, you'll be fine." "Ok, thank you for your help." You select Cash Assistance and begin entering information only to realize there is [[still no dash]].

"Hi again, sorry, there's still no dash?" You look at the older human expectantly. "No dashes allowed, just write your name." The human does not look at you and flips through some papers with writing on them. "But I have a dash in my name." "Sorry." "Sorry for....what?" "No dashes, I don't make the machines. Just write it in, you'll be fine. Happens all the time." The human continues to look through the papers and seems to compare them to something on the computer screen in front of them. "Ok thank you, [[I'll try|filling out the application]]."

The application for Cash Assistance is relatively straight forward. You fill out basic information based on your human profile: your date of birth, age, current address, etc. When you press complete at the end of the application it prints out a little piece of paper. You turn again to the older human at the desk and ask, "do I take this piece of paper?" "...yes. Take the paper and go to the next room. It's down the hall. They'll call your number." "Thanks!" Taking the paper you head in the direction she pointed. You [[hum again]] as you walk and the room freezes in green.

A shadow appears over your mouth as you pause to reflect on your mission so far. "Continuing notes on HRA: * So far the employees seem to either be confused themselves or confused about me. I am attempting to be polite and unobtrusive. Perhaps my behavior training needs improvement? * I have successfully started the process to attain SNAP although the process itself seems to have many errors. If food is central to human existence, why are the machines to get SNAP lacking basic functions such as a working text interface? * Note that I had to apply for Cash Assistance, not SNAP. Unclear why at this time." You unfreeze the area around you, the green glow returning to the bland tans and grays of the hallway, and you experience a distinct feeling of being drained. You freeze time again quickly: "Additional note: human body continues to have some kind of negative reaction to the lighting and colors of the building. Should look more into architectural effects on the human body as well." //Lots of data points towards Skrzyyyyt's theory//, you think as your lungs spin with jealousy. Unfreezing again you continue into another room, [[very similar to the previous room.]]

This room has the same mundane style of prior rooms but is much busier. A few dozen chairs sit in rows, several humans sitting in them, some together in pairs or groups and some alone. There are screens hanging from the walls with numbers in a similar format to the one on your ticket. At the opposite end of the room is a long row of transparent windows with small counters. Some humans stand at the counters talking into the windows, behind which sit more humans. //I believe the ones behind the windows must work for HRA and the ones on my side are applying for programs here. This will be a great opportunity to listen in on human interaction!// You watch as a human leaves the window and sits down. Each window has a number above it. Occasionally an abbrasive and static voice says two numbers over the speaker system and a human gets up and goes to the corresponding window. Looking around the room you notice a few different potential areas of interest to study. > [[A pair of older humans.]] > [[An average aged human with three small younger humans of various size.]] > [[A single younger but full sized human.]]

The two older humans stand at the counter talking to each other and the human behind the window. You scratch your human ear and activate your sound monitor in their direction. Older human 1: I did send that! I did! Older human 2: Relax it's okay. Older human 1: But he's saying I didn't send it? HRA worker: Sir, we didn't receive it so your benefits were stopped. As I said, this happens, you'll just have to fill out the application forms again. When that's done skip the line and come back to this window and I'll process it for you. Older human 1: But I ''sent it in!'' You hear the human raise his voice. Older human 2: Pat stop, just stop, it's done, we have to fill it out. Older human 1: I sent it in though...I don't understand. Older human 2: He forgets things sometimes or mixes up the time - is there any way to get extra time or reminders? HRA worker: Sorry ma'am, you just have to remember to do it on time. Older human 2: Right. But he can't remember, that's why he gets his benefits. HRA worker: Nothing I can do about that, try to check the mail with him. Go get the forms and fill them out and bring them back to me. The pair of older humans walk slowly away, the first one looking frustrated and the second one resigned. Green floods the room and a shadow appears over your mouth [[as you continue watching the older couple.]]

The small humans play and whisper around the larger human as the interaction with the human behind the window proceeds. You scratch your human ear and activate your sound monitor in their direction. Adult human: Can you all just send it to the right address? HRA worker: The notification was sent to the address on file. Adult human: No, no it was not, because the address on file that you just read is not the right address, and I updated it three months ago. HRA worker: The system has the address I just read, I don't know who you spoke to but it wasn't updated, you'll have to update it. Small human 1: Mommmmm I want chips Small human 2: Stop just leave her alone, you're always eating chips, you're gonna get chip face Small human 3: hahahaha CHIP FACE CHIP FACE Small human 1: Mommmmmm they're making fun of me AGAIN! Adult human: Can you please stop talking for five minutes just hold on! And don't make fun of your brother. Okay so can you please update the address to the one I just gave you? HRA worker: No, we're having some computer issues, you can update it online though and that should work. Adult human: Should work like it should have worked three months ago? Because I need that money, I got kids, this is ridiculous. Will I get the pay that was owed me this month? HRA worker: It should work, just make sure you do it. You should get the backpay as well. Adult human: Yeah should, alright alright. Small human 3: SHOULD SHOULD SHOULD Adult human: Be QUIET. Green floods the room and a shadow appears over your mouth [[as you continue watching the group of humans.]]

A young but fully grown human looks confused at a window talking to the HRA worker. You scratch your human ear and activate your sound monitor in their direction. HRA worker: You need an ID WITH a photo, that's the only way. Young adult: But I'm telling you I need this ID to get a photo ID. I can't get any photo ID without this ID, I don't have nothing else. HRA worker: You have to look at the points list and figure out what paperwork you can get and bring in and start there. Young adult: Bro I'm telling you, I don't have any points or whatever, all my shit got stolen, I just need my SNAP card so I can get my food this month. HRA worker: Young man, I understand that but you have no ID so I can't just give you a card. Can you order it online? Young adult: oh my GOD bro I told you - I don't have an address to order it to. HRA worker: Yes but there is an address associated with the name you gave me. Young adult: oh my god I'm not going back there, no way, no. You gotta give me this ID for real come on, look, this is my ATM card it has my name. HRA worker: I'm sorry but it's not enough points. Young adult: what the hell am I supposed to do then? This points shit... Green floods the room and a shadow appears over your mouth [[as you continue watching the young human.]]

Walking over, you study the pair. "Two older humans, one seemingly with cognitive issues, unclear why a human with deteriorating cognition would be required to regularly fill out time sensitive forms." You walk back to your seat. As the dull colors return to your surroundings and human voices fill the quiet you hear some shouting and look over to the younger human at a window arguing with one of the firefighters and an HRA employee. You watch as eventually the young human calms down and leaves with the firefighter. You glance at the screen nearest you and see that your number is almost [[up to be called.]]

You walk over and study the group of humans, bending down to examine the young ones. "Continues to seem like many basic functions of this system don't work. Definitely deserves further research. Unclear why any young humans would be allowed here, seems clearly inappropriate. Points to Uyxmlrst's theory of functional chaos and the divine fragmentation of need, though I'm not a fan of that theory either." You go back to your seat. As the dull colors return to your surroundings and human voices fill the quiet you hear some shouting and look over to the younger human arguing with one of the firefighters and an HRA employee, eventually the human calms down and leaves with the firefighter. You glance at the screen nearest you and see that your number is almost [[up to be called.]]

"C47 window 9. C47 window 9." You stop taking notes and double check that's your number. It is! You feel excited.// Studying is one thing, but this is why I sign up for these missions. To experience alien cultures directly.// (if: $dash is true)[ [[You walk to the counter.]] ](else:)[ [[You walk over to the counter.]] ]

You walk over to examine the young adult human, their face frozen in agitation. "Higher intensity interactions than I was expecting and much of the system in place seems to not work well. A lot of what is happening is confusing. Just witnessed a younger human asking for SNAP but there seemed to be some issue with how the human can actually get their benefit card. Unclear why that would be or why they would need SNAP in the first place since they're so young. Overall the experience so far is very confusing, but I am collecting a lot of data." You walk back over to your seat and sit down. Bland colors and sound return to the room. The young adult continues to get louder over the next few minutes. A firefighter in the corner notices this and walks over. The younger human gets increasingly agitated at this but eventually the firefighter says something that calms them. The firefighter escorts the young human out of the room and reclaims their position in the corner. You glance at the screen nearest you and see that your number is almost [[up to be called.]]

"Hi, I'm applying for SNAP. I was told I had to apply for Cash Assistance, I'm not sure -" "ID." "My identification?" "Yes." "Oh sure here you go." You slide your ID through the little slot under the window. "Paperwork." "For SNAP?" "Yes. Your paperwork please." "Here you go!" You slide your paperwork under the window, though it's a bit too big for the slot, and gets a little stuck. "Fold it." "Fold...it?" "Yes. Fold it. The papers." "Oh sure yes sorry, what was I thinking." You fold the papers in half and slide them under the slot and the HRA worker takes them. The HRA worker begins to review them and stops. "Excuse me...your names don't match." "Oh? Sorry what?" "Your name in the paperwork says Sarah TraballanoWilliams, one word, and your ID says Sarah Traballano DASH Williams. Your name needs to match." "Oh but they said in front the dash isn't a problem..." "Your names don't match." "Right but, they said in front it happens a lot and something about the computers not working with a dash or....?" "I'll process it but don't blame me if nothing works." "Okay...thank you?" You stand there for a few more minutes while the human looks at their computer and occasionally taps keys on the keyboard. [[You wait.]]

You continue waiting. Without much else to do you decide to take some more notes. You hum again to freeze the room. Light green washes over the space and everyone and everything stops. A shadow appears over your mouth. [["What the FUCK?"]]

You turn around and an adult human stands at the entrance to the room. The human glows green but is decidedly not frozen. The human is moving. "What the fuck is going on?" You quickly place the shadow in your bag. The human immediately notices your movement, movement which under normal circumstances would be slight but now might as well be a crashing stampede of flurskies during third equinox. "Are you seeing this? What the hell is going on???" The human approaches you. [[Something is very wrong.]]

"Hi..." You scramble to think of something. "Strange weather we're having eh?" That was not a good response. "Weather? What the fuck are you talking about everything is glowing green and they're all frozen except for us. Did you see anything? HELLO HELLOOOOO!!!" The human waves their arms frantically in front of another human sitting in a chair in one of the rows. You think back to your training. You've done a dozen missions, some here on Earth, some other places, and there's a contingency plan for this. By now the rest of your team should have heard something is wrong, you've just got to waste some time before they show up and handle everything. Of course, experiencing a catastrophic error like this is very different from studying it. "Why the hell are you just standing there? We gotta call the police or something." The human starts to run out the door of the room pulling a phone out of their pocket. "WAIT! No, stop, we should stay here." "....why?" "Um, well, what if it's contagious? What if this is a disease?" The human stops and looks at you. A look comes over them. "You know, you don't seem too bothered by all this..." The human continues to back through the door. "I'm gonna leave...you stay here if you want..." "NO, wait wait um listen okay, so, I shouldn't be saying this but..." You attempt to portray the physical presence of an unthreatening human. [["I'm an alien."]]

The human stares at you. "What... did you just say?" "I'm here to study humanity, I just froze time a bit to catch up on my notes and -" "You 'froze time a bit'? To 'catch up on notes'?" The human looks...well, you're not sure you've seen this emotion listed in the human studies manual. "Well, you see, your SNAP program is a huge administrative endeavor and I'm here to see how human society handles administering food." The human stares at you. "What. The. Fuck. Are you talking about?" "SNAP...the supplemental nu-" "I know what SNAP is." "Right. You see, we are trying to understand how humans handle basic needs." "We don't." "What?" "We don't handle basic human needs. That's not what this place does." "Allow me to correct you, HRA provides many benefits for people who need them in this city and the SNAP program -" "Yea yea yea, I know what you're saying. This is a mindfuck man. What the hell is going on." The human starts walking around again. [["Wait wait don't leave."]]

The human stops walking, for a second you think they've finally frozen along with everything else. "Why do you keep trying to stop me from leaving?" You try to think quickly, "well, everything is frozen, or rather we are in a tiny pocket within the timeline, so changing locations will accomplish nothing." "Hold up hold up." The human rubs their face with their hands and presses their palms into their eyes. "So how long do you freeze things like this? Is this gonna hurt me? Am I stuck here?" "No, you should be fine. I've already done it a few times, I'm not sure why you're not frozen but usually I just freeze quickly, take some notes, and unfreeze." "Take notes. Right. I'm sorry, I don't understand, why the hell are you taking notes on fucking HRA? This place is dog shit." "Dog shit?" you ask. "Oh, uh, yeah, it's a phrase. This place is awful. Everyone hates it. It's fucking hell on Earth." "I did notice some inconsistencies in workflow. I am planning on researching that more. Say more about HRA being dog shit?" "Well, I mean, like you said, it doesn't work. They pretend to help us and they make us run through ridiculous hoops because THEIR system is always broken just so we can get scraps we can't even survive off of." "That's really interesting, expand further please." "Interesting? What do you mean 'interesting'?" "It's an insight into how you humans treat each other. It's interesting, we've noticed you like to hurt each other a lot, you know, human nature." [["Are you for fucking real right now?"]]

"Human nature?" The human takes a couple steps closer towards you. //That's good//, you think, //better than running and making things more difficult//. "This shit is anything but natural. This place tortures people. They treat us like we're fucking animals. It's all a big sick joke." "Keep going." "Are you...are you taking notes right now?" "Yes, of course, I'm recording everything, that's the point of the freeze." You take the shadow out of your bag, "see?" The human looks at the shadow, "what is that?" "It's a multi-purpose device used to record, save, and transmit data." The human takes a step back and [[shakes their head.|something else.]]

"Couldn't you have waited longer? I was getting so much good data." "We just got here, you know the protocol. We'll handle this thing." Your teammate gestures at the human. Another of your team pulls out a recalibrator, turns the human on their back, and places the recalibrator on their face. Thick cables extend out from it and into every orifice in the human's head. Squelch. "What a fantastic day! I can't wait to write all this up." You smile to your teammates. They smile back. [[The End.]]

Hi - my name is Jesse. I made this short piece. Thanks for reading! As a social worker in New York City all of the technical errors and the general vibe of HRA in this piece are things I directly experienced many times with clients. It's shameful and disgusting the hoops that the world's wealthiest nation puts people through in order to get scraps of benefits we need to survive. The waste, indifference, and poor quality of service at HRA exemplefies inept beauracracy and systemic oppression. I'm also disturbed by the desire to study people when we are vulnerable. The inhumane distance created by needing to justify or understand the basic truths that people need food, safety, housing, health, etc. is deeply troubling. As long as politicians demand researched evidence that humans need food, we are fucked. That being said, I want to thank my fellow social workers, and related professions, for putting up with so much bullshit just to get people what we are legally, and more important morally, entitled to. Thanks to my playtesters: Michelle, Nikki, Sam, and Gordon.

You carry a shoulder bag designed for human clavicles. From it you pull out a reference manual disguised as a human book and check something. You think, //Ah of course, a bathroom! Oh I have to try using the hand dryer...// You walk to the sink to wash your hands. A small nearly empty handsoap bottle sits next to the sink. You've seen this, you can do this. You press the nozzle head, once, twice, a few small drips squelch out, you press it rapidly a dozen more times and the tiny remainder of soap enters your palm. Scrubbing your hands together in circular motions you then turn the sink handle starting the water and rinse the soap off. You turn to the hand dryer. //Here we go....!// You hold your hands under the dryer, for several seconds nothing happens, just as you begin to pull them away a mild temperate breeze emanates from the dryer. Standing there for what seems like a cryton, your hands finally dry. //So interesting!// Finishing up, you check the orderliness of your human shell in the mirror and then open the bathroom door into the waiting area of the [[Human Resources Administration]].

You press the touch screen letters attempting to spell out Melissa Chen and end up with Mlissa Chn. There seems to be something wrong with the "e" on the touch screen. "Excuse me, this touch screen isn't working?" "Go back." The older human repeats this again and you realize that the human may have been speaking to you the entire time. "What?" "Go back." You... > [[take a step backwards.]] > [[hit the back button on the screen.]]

"Let me get this straight - you're here to understand humanity, you don't talk to us, you don't ask us, you just sneak around and observe people being miserable at HRA and then say 'A-ha! Of course! Humans are naturally cruel!' What the hell kinda fucked up science is that? The human takes a couple more steps towards you as they get increasingly angry. "You think you know human nature, you think we're violent, you don't know shit about us, this isn't some experiment, THESE ARE PEOPLE'S FUCKING LIVES-" The human freezes, their body contorted, their hands in the air gesturing, and they keel over and slam into the floor, frozen in rage, an unbreakable statue. [[You look over, annoyed, at your teammate.]]