Chapter Text
A cold, rainy night greeted me as I stepped outside my house. It was just after the Night in the Backstreets, the world around eerily quiet, as if hesitating to step out and into danger. But for me? I was made for danger. I am proficient in all manners of death, swords, spears, clubs, even guns, all for this one job: to-
“Um, Mr. Rogun? You're a little early for work sir.” A man in formal attire said. “Oh! I was uh, zoning out there. What did you say again?” The man absentmindedly rolled his eyes before reiterating what I already heard. “Work begins around roughly,” he paused, pulling out a tablet to presumably check the time. It was like 5:30 in the morning, but hey, can't hurt to be punctual right?
“5:37,” close enough “you have roughly an hour and thirty-three before your shift starts. If you would like to clock in early, Lobotomy Corporation is not liable to compensate you for your time spent here. Capiche?” He ended with a clap of his hands and a condescending look.
“Wouldn't hurt to get to know my colleagues, no? Here let's try this: how about we start with you?” I said. He clearly looked bored out of his mind, and, I'm sure as long as we're not talking about work (we're in a semi-public after all!) L-Corp probably won't mind.
The front desk worker raised his eyebrows in response, before quickly recovering whatever composure he had lost. “Sure, not like there's anyone else at this time of day. I go by Daniel, if you're wondering.”
“Alright Daniel, let's start out simple.” I said. “What made you want to join up with Lobotomy Corporation?”
“Geez, now you're making me feel like this is my first day here. But if you're wondering…” He briefly paused to grab something beneath his desk. Appearing with a White mug with the Lobotomy Corporation Logo and a pouch of Lobotomy Corporation's lesser known brand of delicious instant coffee. (I prefer tea as my hot beverage of choice.) He tore off the packaging and dumped the bean powder into the mug before placing it in the nearby coffee machine. (Which also had a L-Corp Logo on it.)
The machine let out a loud whir as the mug was quickly filled with hot water and mixed until all the residue dissolved, leaving him with a hot cup of coffee. “It's this.” he said, pointing to the bean juice in the mug. “While I do find it strange that L-corp has its own brand of mugs and coffee, let alone coffee makers. The first time I tried this stuff I was practically addicted. Then, I heard that clerks who worked here got access to this stuff 24/7 and well, the rest is history.” Daniel raised a cheer to the presumed creator of said coffee before promptly sipping his ambrosia.
“Whew~ now then, let's talk a little bit about you. Why'd you come to L-Corp?” A few flashes of mom and pop come and go, fleeting and beautiful. “I joined because my parents always wanted the best for me, yet one day, they were gone like that. And, I felt it my responsibility to join up with L-Corp. They were employees at a different branch of L-Corp, but they migrated into the main nest because of their exemplary performances. I still had plenty of inherited cash from them to support me until I became an adult. I got some training, and now we're here.”
I could tell Daniel had a plethora of questions for me, based on his wide cat eyes and the fact there was a little coffee on his desk.
And a large amount on his suit. A quite comical amount, even.
“If you're wondering, my dear nanny did most of the hard work. Doesn't mean I didn't pitch in here and there though. Also you've got a little-”
“Yeah, I know, coffee and what not.” He shrugged, not caring much for his stained suit. “But that's uh, well, I,” Daniel paused. “Apologies, I didn't know you went through all of that, but I do believe it's about time for your shift to start.”
The sound of a dissonant chime played throughout the lobby, alongside the rumblings of a good dozen elevators. Soon enough there was a flood of people exiting through the front doors, or making their way to the cafeteria. And when I mean a lot I mean a lot, like how do they fit that many people in there?
Shrugging my shoulders, I walked straight in, with Daniel sending me off with a “See ya.” before drinking the remainder of his coffee. As the doors closed I discovered that the elevator was especially long width wise. Like, you could fit a whole bus in here! Maybe two…
Right before I started trying to fit as many imaginary vehicles into the elevator, the contraption suddenly came to a stop once again.
The door on the other side of the hallway-elevator hybrid opened, revealing a man with blue hair that seemed to envelop his head like a helmet, with a stray tuft of hair in the middle of his face only selling the look even further.
“Man, this suit is so cool.” the blunet muttered to himself. And rightly so! Who wouldn't want to drape themselves in such fine cloth? My brain spontaneously generated a scene of two dashingly dressed rogues, waiting to deliver aid upon the weak and old.
“Hey.” My fellow agent walked over to me with relaxed steps, but they seemed stiff, almost reluctant to approach. Regardless, I would love to engage in conversation.
“Greetings, I am Rogun! And you are, good sir?”
“Just call me Cooper.”
