The Grim Barbarity Of Optics And Designseveranc... -

"We are severed not just from our outside lives," Burt said, his voice barely audible over the HVAC system. "We are severed from the truth of what we do. They use these paintings to keep us from walking across the hall to say hello. Fear is the most efficient floor plan."

Irving looked back at the marauders in the painting. He realized then that the glowing ID cards weren't just lights; they were the only things the workers could see. They weren't attacking out of hate. They were attacking because the "Optics" of the room had been designed so they couldn't see anything else. "Let's change the design," Irving whispered. The Grim Barbarity of Optics and DesignSeveranc...

Irving jumped, turning to find a man from O&D—Burt—standing just out of the light. Burt didn't look like a marauder. He looked tired. "We are severed not just from our outside

In the windowless labyrinth of Lumon Industries, where the sun is a myth and fluorescent lights hum like a low-grade migraine, there exists a painting titled . It depicts a scene of savage corporate warfare: the "Optics and Design" (O&D) department allegedly butchering the "Macrodata Refinement" (MDR) staff with the same precision they use to frame portraits of the company's founder, Kier Eagan. Fear is the most efficient floor plan

This is a short story inspired by that chilling piece of art.

"They tell us you butchered us," Irving said, gesturing to the carnage on the canvas. "And they tell you we butchered you ."

He stopped before the painting. The canvas was dark, its edges bleeding into the shadows of the hallway. It showed O&D workers, their faces obscured by the glare of glowing ID cards that looked like handheld miniature suns. They were tearing through MDR, not with swords, but with drafting compasses and T-squares. "It’s just a mediation," a voice whispered behind him.