A/N 19.07.24: edited chapter 5 since I hated it lmao
His eyes ached from the overwhelming glare of the sun, veiling his vision with dark sun splotches. However, Jean only had himself to blame - it was his fault for staring directly into the sun. Jean's boredom had finally reached its peak. The long day of travel caught up to him, draining him, weighed on him, and left him exhausted. A train to the airport. Then, a bus ride to a tinier airport Jean had no idea existed until yesterday. Then, another long bus ride to the ferry port.
He had to travel through the night to make the ferry on a direct path to his destination - Paradis Island, his temporary home while completing a work project. The destination from the ferry port to Paradis Island occurred once at dawn and once at dusk. Other routes were possible, but the detours Jean would've been forced to endure on different ferries while killing time - time he did not have the luxury to spare - on the surrounding islands. Jean still had scheduled meetings and the rest of his work day to attend to, after all.
While tiring, there was no other way around it. He was glad this was the last leg of his trip before arriving at Paradis. Only halfway through the work week, then, nothing would be able to drag him from bed during the weekend!
The looming exhaustion he also experienced was not helped by the gentle swaying of the boat, attempting to lull him to sleep like a mother rocking her baby. Jean had no time to rest; he still had a whole itinerary of regular work his manager gave him to look forward to. Plus, a lifetime surrounded by questionable individuals on busses and trains in the city kept him alert. Aside from his two bags and backpack tucked under the seats, the things Jean kept closest were his camera bag (obviously, enclosing said camera), his laptop (for work), and his phone (for a connection to the 'outside world').
His phone had 10% of battery to spare. Despite the few blank sketchbooks he'd crammed into his bag, inspiration for sketching gradually ran dry. So, fixing his gaze on the rising golden sun on the horizon and its bright rays reflecting off the ocean was the best entertainment he could provide for himself.
After all, there was nothing but an endless ocean to keep him company.
No other person travelled this early to Paradis. Living in the city shaped his extroverted nature, growing to love and crave the endless life and noise. As Jean neared Paradis, the thinner the crowds became, and this depressed him! A twinge of regret and concern for his social life over the next six months weighed heavily in his stomach. He was at the stage where he'd happily and begrudgingly put up with a tantrum-ing toddler running around just to have some semblance of human life surrounding him!
Blinking away the temporary sun blindness, Jean noticed Paradis not far off in the distance. Relieved his journey would be ending soon, Jean glanced down at his phone, disheartened to find a lack of signal yet again. At least he had a new sight to gaze at in the meantime...
He'd travelled a lot - solo and with friends - after graduating high school, during the longer holiday breaks at college, and before starting his first 'official adult' job. Anxiety was a stranger to Jean, feeling somewhat let down by his own resilience. A full day's travel to a boring little island shouldn't be filling him with grief!
Jean decided to offset the blame for impacting his emotions on his work, which was the reason he was here in the first place.
His department was assigned a tourism project enlisted by the mayor of Paradis. Apparently, little Paradis Island used to be a massive tourist attraction, which has been rapidly declining over the past five to seven years. Multiple islands, Jean recalled about five, served as a circular route vacationers enjoyed taking. Paradis slotted right in the middle of the five. It was completely unavoidable on a traveller's route, beloved by most and the highlight of the trip. Over time, the once lively island began to be avoided. The cause, the reasons, and the factors that led to the reduced tourist flow remained unknown to Jean.
His task as the lead journalist was to see, document, and write about the wonders of Paradis Island. From there, the team back in the city would handle the bulk of the work. Jean merely acted as the bridge.
The project had been a few months in the works. Sending someone to Paradis for a short time had only been decided a month prior.
Jean's interest peaked immediately after receiving the email for the position to apply for the temporary relocation. It seemed like an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The Paradis project was one of the biggest to date, so it was unlikely something this exciting would come again. Jean couldn't complain about his current position. Though, a persistent need to do something else plagued his mind since college...but Jean didn't know what else he could do to suppress that need!
The thought of travelling to Paradis and doing something new momentarily calmed that nagging voice, despite the large responsibility the position boasted.
The downside? The email promised random selection so everyone in the department had an equal opportunity of selection. Jean was still somewhat low in the ranks; he'd been employed for two years after interning in his final year at college. On a whim, he volunteered but kept his expectations at bay. Such an opportunity was expected to be highly sought after, lessening his chances even more. His managers would most likely favour someone who ranked above him in seniority.
So, actually being selected left Jean dumbfounded! His first instinct was to assume there was a mistake in the system. Turns out, literally nobody aside from Jean volunteered, so there was no choice but to send him.
Though Jean felt ill-prepared for the trip, having previously suppressed any and all anticipation, his managers seemed content with their decision to choose Jean. Slowly but surely, the self-assured Jean knew he would form a rhythm of juggling tasks for the Paradis project on top of his usual duties. He held no doubt about his capabilities. So, Jean felt okay to go through with the relocation. Not yet excited; simply okay. Jean, of course, did not and would not take the opportunity for granted! Excitement would likely flood in once he stepped foot on stable ground...and had reception, of course. That was the real priority here.
The ferry took another fifteen minutes to reach land and Jean couldn't be more glad to be done with his travels!
The first thing Jean noticed while walking along the pier was the smell of the air, carrying the pure, fresh scent of salt. It was a stark contrast to the choking pollution he usually endured. But, it was the coldest sensation he'd ever experienced! His jacket protected most of him from the cutting current, its only victims being the red raw skin of his face and hands.
To get to the main dock, Jean passed a decrepit sign displaying, 'Welcome to Paradise!' - though a rebellious 'e' had been spraypainted on. Clearly, some smartass teenager decided to play spelling police to correct the spelling of 'Paradis'. The 'correction' was probably added long after the sun damage, considering how much the letter stood out compared to the other words.
Compared to the welcome sign, the rest of the dock looked incredibly well-maintained. There were three other piers to the right of the one Jean had arrived at. The ticket office had a large blackboard filled adorned with the times of departure and arrival of each ferry and their respective routes. A souvenir shop and an information stall sat unattended. Jean wasn't alone, however. As he stepped through the gate, a small group of people loitered by an adjacent peer for another boat. He assumed they would commute by ferry to a neighbouring island for work. That was mind-blowing to consider! Would their view of someone who had to travel by bus, train, or both for work reflect Jean's amazement?
The sole path to the town - Paradis Town, very appropriately and creatively named - was up a short ramp...which led to a tall flight of stairs. They loomed over him, tormenting him as if completely aware of his exhaustion from travelling. "Are you fucking kidding me..." He breathed, completely and utterly done.
He just couldn't be bothered to waste time to look for a more convenient route. Before embarking on his climb, Jean consulted the directions to the accommodation;
'Follow signs through town that point to the library. Once you find the library, there will be a small building with four units. You will stay in number 2 on the top right-hand side. The keys are hidden under the mat.'
Though 'climbing an absurd amount of stairs every single day for six months' did not appear in the job description, Jean swallowed his despair, lifted his bags, and ascended.
Internally, he was glad he didn't listen to his mother and opted to pack lightly. Spitefully imagining his more high-maintenance colleagues, who would probably bring an excessive amount of luggage for a six-month stay, struggling with the stairs kept him lightly amused.
Jean reached the peak of the stairs where he found the entrance to the town and the endless boardwalk that seemed to continue for miles. Paradis Town, from a glance, seemed to be still fast asleep and would remain sleeping later in the morning. The convenience store opened at eight. The adjacent bakery opened at nine, though he could see a couple of bakers working inside. Jean was put at ease seeing other signs of life. Hell, even the few cafes he passed, typically known for their early opening times to accommodate the caffeine fix for early commuters, opened at nine!
Considering the island was struggling, he anticipated that everything would be in disarray. But...it was pretty nice! And somewhat normal! It was a silver lining in the aftermath of the exhausting trip. No wonder it used to be a popular destination.
What happened?
This town was unlike any other place he had travelled before from its buildings, its size, right down to its charm. He anticipated exploring everything Paradis had to offer, but for today, he simply followed the signs to where he needed and wanted to be. Someone seemed to prioritise the maintainance these sign, especially in comparison to the worn-out sign by the pier. Initially, he followed the road coursing through town until the signs led him through diverging paths and up and down unexpected stairs and hills.
The footpath transformed from a neatly paved walkway to a rugged gravel path, eventually fading away as he neared the outskirts of town. It took no more than fifteen minutes - equalling a simple walk to the train station back home. The signs seemed trustworthy enough, so Jean continued until a much older building caught his eye.
The large white-bricked building seemed out of place next to the more modern architecture of the town. The font on the sign had long faded from the relentless sunshine and other natural elements, leaving only the letters 'I' and 'B' visible. With strained eyes, Jean made out that the rest of the sign had signalled his arrival to the library. Much like the sign, the paint on the window and door frames had begun to deteriorate and peel from the structure. Even the wind vane on top of the roof appeared close to abandoning the building. One monstrous gust or hurricane would propel it and send it flying! Still, it held on for dear life - how loyal.
On the right side of the library, a smaller building was connected, featuring many windows, a smaller, domestic-looking door with a stained 'welcome' mat, and well-cared for plants. A residential space maybe? Was this where the librarian lived? Or somebody else? This building definitely held a lot of old memories. With the curtains drawn from the inside, Jean could not catch a glimpse inside...not that he was desperate to!
His lingering scrutiny from afar wouldn't bode well if he was discovered! Jean continued down the path where his accommodation would predictably be. Paradis had a small population, after all. Earning a reputation as a creep on his first day is something Jean vehemently wanted to avoid! Jean knew if he perturbed the owner, his unfavourable actions would spread through the townspeople as fast as a flood.
Up ahead, the path seemed to continue onwards, dipping down hills and behind bends, and stretching for miles when it reappeared in the distance. Small paddocks with hay rolls and black, brown, and white splotches in the shape of cows, sheep, and horses, confirmed the agricultural resources the island had to offer. Just how big was Paradis and just how much was he expected to cover? For now, a large wooden gate blocking his path indicated that his main concern was the heart of the island, where a majority of the population resided.
To his left stood a two-storey building with four identical units, each adorned with glass sliding doors and a modest window on the lateral side of the building. Rickety stairs was positioned in the middle of the building to reach the top two units, which included his temporary living quarters, much to Jean's exhausted dismay.
Whose idea was it to have so many fucking stairs?!
Once inside, the first thing Jean wanted to do was text his mom that he arrived, well aware that she would be panicking if she hadn't heard from him all day. Predictably, his phone was inundated with messages once he regained service - a bulk of them, predictably, from his mother. With an unsurprised chuckle, he wrote a reassuring message and promised to call her at night. A more formal message went to his manager. A quick 'I'm here' went to his roommate. He then fell into the flow of answering messages from other friends and idly scrolling through social media.
The couch looked so damned appealing. With some time to spare before he met with the mayor, Jean decided to flop down on the couch for a well-deserved breather.
Jean could feel the handful of people on the boardwalk staring at him - some covertly but most fairly openly - with curiosity. Considering the Paradis' small population, and the obvious lack of tourism, Jean stood out as a stranger. Residents, and those who frequented the island by boat, clearly planned for the warm sun. The harsh wind didn't appear to have any effect. Bundled up, Jean stuck out like a sore thumb compared to everyone else in shorts and sundresses.
Plus, the hefty camera bag slung around him and the notepad under his arm didn't help him blend in. They acted as his armour and shield, as though he were going into battle. Jean felt like he was, with the uncharacteristic anxiety he was experiencing! His role wasn't a 'people-facing' role, so he needed to do his best to represent himself and his team.
Jean retraced his steps back to the heart of Paradis to find the mayor's building. It would've been hard to miss with its ceremonious aura. It was astonishing for Jean to realise he could open the door and walk inside without being stopped. The interior was more modest than he expected. Only two doors were on the wall opposite him. Surely, the building housed other rooms. But, he wasn't here to explore. In fear of accidentally breaking something expensive, he didn't want to hang around for longer than necessary. To his right, a receptionist at her desk would be his first stop.
"Hi. Uhm, I have an appointment with Mr. Smith today?" He severely lacked the confident tone he preferred, but his words got the job done.
"His office is the last door on your left down the hallway," the receptionist pointed down the inconspicuous short hallway behind Jean. The sign with the mayor's name clued him to his destination. No name? No occupation? No annoyingly long wait time where he had to sit at reception awkwardly? Unsure, Jean lingered by the desk, prompting the receptionist to kindly inform, "you can go right in. He's expecting you."
This process was a lot more lax than Jean was used to. It left him shaken, forced to abandon the mental script he usually clung to. Was everyone on this island cursed with an overly trusting nature? "Ah...thank you," he turned and walked down the hallway.
Standing taller, pushing his shoulders back, Jean attempted to thread together the confidence that had been momentarily shredded and knocked on the door. The 'come in' from inside prompted him to open the door. Jean was overcome with a sense of intimidation by the older blonde man who stood from the desk when he entered. His smile was personable, thankfully. "I don't believe we've met before today, right? Your name is...?"
"Jean," he said, accepting the strong handshake. "Thank you for your time this morning, Mr Smith. I wanted to introduce myself on the team's behalf, though I'm sure you've spoken to Hange and Levi, right?"
"Erwin, please." He motioned for Jean to sit in the seat facing the desk. "And, yes, we've been in frequent communication. Did you get in today?"
The brunette man nodded. "A couple of hours ago, actually."
"I hope the walk from the dock to the accommodation wasn't too bad."
"Definitely not. Unexpected, but not horrible," Jean's lie rolled off his tongue as naturally as air. He was committed to not kicking the island while it was down. His job was to document and report the island's best qualities. Nothing more, nothing less. And he'd do a damn good job, too! Some stairs wouldn't squash his drive. He (and the team back at home) could spin the walk and infrequent shuttles as 'a backpacker's dream'. No issues! "I'm surprised there's not more temporary accommodations available, though. I understand that tourism has slowed down over the past few years, but four blocks seems too little."
"There's more all over town, but they're temporarily closed due to lack of demand. We put you at the place near the library as the library has computers you can use and better Wi-Fi access," Erwin listed. His eyes cast a glance towards the camera around his neck. "The librarian is pretty handy. I'm sure he can even fix equipment if you're having technological issues."
This camera of his had been pretty reliable for years, but it was good to have a repair place close by in the worst-case scenario. It saves him the trip to the mainland, too. "Ah, great. That's good to know."
"It also used to act as an information hub of sorts, so the librarian has lots of maps and activity information at your disposal."
"I'll definitely check it out."
"Was there anything else you wanted?"
"I'd also like some recommendations from you, as well. From your perspective, was there an area or areas you would like me to focus on? I'm here for six months, after all, so I have plenty of time." Notepad perched on his leg, pen prepared to scribe, Jean awaited his input.
"Everywhere." Erwin's response caught him off guard. Jean hoped his face remained composed to mask his disbelief."There's plenty to cover over six months, so whatever you believe is most appealing to document and write about, you may."
Jean readjusted his pen grip and tried once more. "Could you provide a list or guidance towards the best places or the places you would like us to highlight in the reports and articles?"
"Nope!" Erwin leaned back against his seat gleefully, appearing like a small child for a short moment. "I'm giving you full creative freedom. If you were a tourist, what would draw you to an island like this?"
"…I…guess that's something I'll have to find out!" His response made them both laugh, but Jean laughed to conceal the fact he was slowly dying on the inside. Surely someone who continuously emphasised the need for increased tourism in his town had some clue about he wanted the Paradis project to promote? He felt anxious...and this came out of nowhere! He'd never been anxious over work, and for him to be stuck on a random island for six months with the sole focus on driving more activity on said island with no guidance had him panicked! What did I just get myself into!?
"There's a lot of kids about your age who have grown up here, so be sure to talk to them. They're a friendly bunch," he recommended.
Jean wasn't sure what a bunch of 20-somethings could tell him that Erwin couldn't, but nonetheless, he let it go. Knowing there were people his own age put the idea of mourning his social life or dealing with the fear of missing out on important events back home. "I definitely will. Thank you very much for your time." He leaned forward to shake the man's hand yet again, but left the building feeling just as lost as he had when he arrived!
Based on Erwin's advice, the best thing to do would be to explore 'as a tourist', talk to anybody who would be willing to talk to him, get a lot of recommendations, and use those as a starting point. Jean always pushed himself to do too much too soon, as he was accustomed to a fast turnaround time. A six-month timeframe might sound like an eternity, but it would fly by before he knew it. Jean could do nothing to soothe his nerves.
He ended up bottling up his concerns throughout the rest of the day until he could unload them onto his manager. His two managers requested weekly meetings. Hange offered their input and guidance verbally. Levi much preferred email. Jean was easily adaptable to whatever form of communication someone else preferred, thus, it was a system that worked for everybody.
Hange called him right before the workday was over. After making sure his camera was set up properly, Jean answered. "Hey, Hange."
"Good to see you! Levi's in the background, too. Would you like to say hi?" They tried to pivot the monitor around to face his other manager, who instantly reached out to resist this movement. Silently, Jean watched in amusement as a tussle occurred between the two. Their long history together allowed Hange to be the only person to get away with such an immature act in front of Levi. Some of Jean's coworkers had received warnings for much less egregious acts. He had, too, and Jean would never make the same mistake again.
"The work day is almost over. Continue with the meeting. Don't create unnecessary overtime for both of you!" Levi finally demanded, the scolding making Hange acquiesce.
They repositioned the monitor to face them once again. "He says, 'hi'."
"I could tell," he drawled sarcastically.
"I assume you got to Paradis okay considering we're talking now?"
"Yup, totally fine. I got here in the morning, had the meeting with Erwin, and did some work before our meeting,"
Hange nodded with each event Jean listed. "Excellent! And how did that go?"
"Fine. He was personable, but he wasn't…the most helpful." Jean selected his words very carefully. Erwin was their client, after all.
"How so?"
"I asked for certain areas or sights that he'd prefer me to focus on, and he just said that's 'something I'd have to see for myself'. I mean, isn't he the one who employed us? It wouldn't hurt to hear the perspective of someone who makes the decision of this place, you know." He stopped himself from blurting out the source of his worries with Levi still in the room (considering his very first write-up was for 'bitching'). It all stemmed from not wanting to take the blame if tourism remained stagnant after the project concluded.
Hange no doubt noticed his frustration. "He knows it isn't just you and that a whole team is working on this project. At the end of the day, we can't force people to go to Paradis if they don't want to."
"Sounds about right," he sighed and rolled his eyes. Deep down, he knew he shouldn't behave like a petulant child in front of his manager. But he was tired from the travel, frustrated from the ambiguity, and wished there was someone close by he could talk with that didn't involve a whole introduction and explanation of himself - someone that knew him. Though Erwin mentioned people 'around his age', he wasn't sure how well they would be able to relate to him.
"It's not just you who found him frustrating to deal with. Levi mentioned he was fairly vague when consulting with him, too." Hange leaned forward on the desk. "Are you still up for the task, though?"
The vast agriculture, farmlands, and uninhabitable parts of the island worried Jean. What if he missed out on something important because he focused on the town? However, six months was a fairly long time to cover the basis of the island…provided he didn't get lost. At the end of the day, he was given an amazing opportunity, and he wasn't about to blow it. If things weren't fun, he'd make them fun! "Of course. I can ask around. I'm sure the locals will be happy to talk. They seemed to notice me."
"Remember to be respectful. And smile a little! Your grumpy resting bitch face does you absolutely no favours in building rapport. Just relax and stop being so rigid. A lack of structure might do you some good." Hange seemed to love bringing up his lack of inviting presence.
They weren't the only one to give that reproval. 'A man with a permanent frown really has no business being a journalist and interacting with others', was a consistently echoed statement from many people in his life. During his short time working in the journalism field, it was something he internalised and it would stick with him for life. He never found himself self-conscious about his face, but considering it was reoccurring feedback he could never seem to overcome, Jean couldn't tell if his attitude stemmed from the feedback, or if the feedback soured his attitude, turning him into the person he was today.
"Thanks for the repeated criticisms. I'll remember them," he remarked through gritted teeth.
Hange laughed at his obvious displeasure. "Well, if you want compliments, then I think - and Levi does, too - that you're a very perceptive person who can pick up on body language and you have a knack for phrasing awkward questions. You'll do fine," they assured.
He'd never admit it, but Hange's words comforted him. Hange only sought the effort he always put into his work. They, Levi, and everyone else on the team wouldn't have entrusted him with a large role in the Paradis project if they didn't think he had the potential to be a little bit personable.
"Oh, before I let you go, did you end up bringing your camera along?"
Jean instantly perked up; that sounded promising! "Yes?"
"Great. If you'd like, and you have the time, take some photos to send through. I know we said there was no need for photos, but we realised the ones we have are at least 15 years old. Probably even older. So, some updated ones would be great. If any are published, you will get the photographer's credit, of course," they added.
Photography was a personal hobby of his, so any photos taken would've got into his professional portfolio. But having them actively sought out after filled him with a new kind of excitement Jean would probably try and chase for the rest of his career. Now, Jean was absolutely not going to miss out on this chance! "I'll definitely do that! Thank you!"
"No problem! I look forward to seeing them." Down the bottom of the screen, the clock signalled the end of the work day. Jean could hear shuffling behind the scenes and the sound of the office door opening and closing. It was clear that Levi had left - he was always eager to leave especially the days he had to spend too much time with Hange. "Anyway, you look like shit, so make sure you go to bed early. I'll speak to you again sometime next week."
Jean rolled his eyes. "Thanks, again, Hange. Have a good night."