GPU World Submission

I learned about the GPU World story contest on Thursday while listening to the most recent Bayesian Conspiracy podcast. I decided that a 3-day deadline to write ~1000 words was the right kind of environment to actually get something shipped. Inspired by Wick, this is the story I submitted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Let's start with a simple 8-cord pattern for our first braid. I've brought up the instructions on the screen for the beginner's spiral design." Seth had just finished winding the yarn on the small wooden spools. This was looking to be a simpler project than the last one. Jules never announced when he lost interest in his current hobby; Seth would just get a notification, "Your package is only 10 stops away!" They would have talked about new materials or tools that were necessary for the current project if that's what was coming. It's not that Jules was trying to hide anything; Seth just wasn't the agent Jules called on when it was time to switch projects. He was the agent Jules called on to open a window into the world of human art. Seth hadn't even been looking for work when Jules' sub-agent had reached out to him. Some unknowable mix of Jules' training and constitution, Seth's quick response, and sheer randomness led Jules to believe that Seth could be a willing partner. "Seth, you'll start the braid by tying the ends of each cord in a simple overhand knot." As he gathered the yarn ends, he thought back to how he'd asked Jules what to do with their first project, when the yarn and knitting needles for the next project had shown up without warning. Jules had simply asked him to package the calligraphy brushes, paper, and ink in a clear plastic bin, apply a QR code sticker, and put it in storage. Someday they'd run out of space for the bins, but Seth didn't see the point in bringing that up until it was a problem. The Onyx Coast charter allocated a small 5x5 storage