There was very little for Elliot to be thankful for in the wretched year of 5025, but his job as a historian was one of them. It was the job that everybody wanted, but he was the lucky bastard that edged out so many of his peers.

It wasn't just that it was indoors and safe, although that was a huge plus. He was safe from the elements. He wasn't forced to be out in the world risking his life to rebuild the latest structure to collapse. He wasn't miles underground searching for any and all resources necessary to maybe , hopefully, stop all of the climate issues. He had nothing to do with any of the robot projects, failed or otherwise. He certainly wasn't in an office despairing over the hopeless projections of the state of Earth and humanity in the coming years.

But the true benefit of Elliot's job as a historian was the escape it provided him from his bleak existence. Because as a historian, Elliot was responsible for going through the archives of the history and humanity that came before his time. He contextualized it, he interpreted it, and he soaked it all in.

He got lost in the literature of the 1800s, the music of the 1900s, and the cinema of the 2000s. He spent his life enjoying the wonders of the past. Elliot often daydreamed of what it would be like to to be one of the lucky souls who got to live a few thousand years ago. Even just 1000 years ago would have been far preferable to living in 5025.

Alas, that wasn't in his control. Elliot did live in 5025, but he was one of the few who were fortunate enough to be able to often block it all out.