The diary of an imagenae, chronicling a lifetime of hard work and living frugally to save up a million Wishbae.
Diary of an Opportunist
Just got into Duomension City last week. For a young guy like me, with no college education, it's not easy finding work. But I've got the brawns. So the supervisor pointed me to the harbor to work as a porter. Good thing manual labor's cheaper than the automated carriers, or I wouldn't even have this much. Still, landing a steady job at eighteen? I'd say I'm pretty lucky. — Year 1965
Used the perks of working at the port to deliver a batch of art supplies for the Synwish Syndicate, made a bit of money. A wholesome kid doing business with the Synwish Syndicate, doesn't sound great, haha. But what can I say? Wishbae is Wishbae. With that money, I can finally rent a store in Yum Yum Alley. — Year 1969
"Old Town Stew" shut down yesterday. These past few years, chain restaurants have been spreading all over Duomension City while the familiar ones disappear. The old school, community-based way of business never stood a chance against the huge machine of capitalism. I should've sublet the store sooner. Now, I'm buried under a mountain of debt. But it's fine, I'm only thirty. Worst comes to worst, there's always the port. — Year 1977
I've been driving a cab for ten years now. I thought this would be how I live the rest of my life. But guess what, out of nowhere, the value of all that currency I panic-bought last year shot through the roof. "Crazy Cat Coin" went up 5x, "Ultimate Babe Coin" went up 40x, "Asdana Comes Alive Coin" went up 754x, and "Just Made This Name Up Coin" went up 30,000 times! All currencies are nothing but a bubble, filled with a cycle that passes on risks and valuable investments. I'm not waiting around for them to "go to the moon." I'm cashing out right now. Only one question left: I struck it rich. Now what? — Year 1987
First and foremost, I'd like to thank Mr. Famke, the director of A Man Named Trey Quattro Who Decided to Die, for placing his trust in me. As a newcomer who only entered the film industry at the age of forty, I received so much help and guidance from Mr. Famke. To be honest, winning Best Actor came as a complete shock. But just like the message this film wants to share: never put limits on your own life. Twenty-three years ago, I arrived in Duomension City with nothing. I hauled cargo, worked in restaurants, drove a cab. And now, at this ripe old age, I'm standing on a winner's podium for the very first time. I want everyone to know: it is never too late to start over! (P.S.: When going up to accept the award tomorrow, read from the director's script.) — Year 1988
Funny how it all shakes out. I did business with the Synwish Syndicate without a hitch. I rode the currency market without getting burned. But the moment I try my luck in showbiz, the Security Bureau comes knocking over a little creative tax planning. Oh well, what's done is done. Time to make myself scarce. — Year 1992
Mixed up in tax evasion scandals, my days as a celebrity in the film industry were over. Not that it mattered, I was never really an actor to begin with. Just a rich man's whim after hitting the jackpot. These past few years, I funneled my film fees and endorsement deals into sixteen luxury hotels, seven casinos, and nine production studios. I'm done with showbiz! But the film industry of Planarcadia? That will always belong to me. — Year 1996
It's over. All of it. The Lord Ravager is here! Planarcadia is done for! My hotels, my companies, the Wishbae I spent a whole lifetime scraping together! Ahh... every time my life starts to look up, I get knocked right back down to the bottom. Again and again and again. It's like The Laughter called in the Lord Ravager just to stop me from ever having one smooth day. And now I'm fifty years old, the twilight of my life creeping in, with nothing but empty pockets. It's like the whole wild ride, the ups and downs of my life, was just a boring joke. — Year 1999
Started selling stew at "Perdido Station." Haven't cooked in decades, the conditions were rough, and the results were an absolute disaster. But these survivors were starving so badly they've lost their minds, and every last one of them told me it was divine. Hmph, tasteless lot. Anyway, I managed to scrape together a little money again. At least I'm not flat broke anymore. So... The Laughter, how are you going to knock me down this time? I can hardly wait. — Year 1999