Case 1: They're Not Waving : First entry
Don't look back,
'Cause They're Not Waving
-Vyvienne Long
In Shibuya Psychic Research's stark kitchenette, Mai stood with her sleeves rolled past her elbows and her converse-clad feet shoulder width apart, staring down her emotionless opponent. He stood strong, all in black, refusing to acknowledge the fuming brown eyed girl before him. His name was Hephaestus, and he was a porcelain teakettle. On another day, Mai might have referred to him affectionately as Stu, her faithful kitchen companion. January 6th, however was the exception to her usual good humor. Her previously steadfast kitchen crusader was now a crippled kettle, and in Mai's kitchen, appliances did not collect social security. That day was the end of their time together, and It might have also been the end of her own career unless she could find another way fix her boss his daily 5:17 tea.
She scampered out of the kitchen, swung on the doorway to gain momentum, and propelled herself as quickly and as silently as possible across SPR's main room, finally arriving at Lin's office door, shifty eyed and on a mission. Ever so cautiously, she opened the door and scanned the lobby once more before slipping into her stoic co-workers technological domain. Temporarily blinded by the many computer screens glaring in front of Lin, she took a moment to allow her eyes to adjust, and then whispered frantically at the now quizzical raven haired man, "Lin! Do you have… Anything! Um…"
"You will have to be a little more specific, Mai…" He answered, trying in vain to prepare himself for whatever was about to come out of the girl's mouth. He'd known Mai for quite a long time, but still sometimes failed to properly brace himself for her frantic, and generally nonsensical antics. She commonly referred to these as "Dangerous Maneuvers." He removed himself from these "Maneuvers" as often as he could, but sometimes they were just… Unavoidable. The wide eyed girl standing before him took a deep breath, and made another attempt at explaining her plight.
"Hephaestus is dead! Well… Crippled, really! And I need… Something!" She said, still whispering, but flailing her arms about herself, as if that would aid in Lin's understanding of the situation.
"Are we having a discussion about Greek mythology, Mai? Just…" Lin let out a sigh, and holding the bridge of his nose, said, "What do you need, exactly?" He had clearly already given up on deciphering the girl's energetic explanation, and hoped only that this conversation, and whatever "crisis" had occurred, would soon come to an end.
"I need to heat something!" Mai said, as if this were obvious to her exasperated co-worker. "This is a tea emergency!… Emergency!" Lin looked at her blankly and blinked a few times before letting out a sigh of defeat as he pulled a plain cardboard box out from under a bookshelf next to his desk while Mai flapped about impatiently. He rummaged around in the nondescript package, and Mai grew even more curious as she listened to the clinking and clacking of the mysterious box's contents. When Lin pulled out a Bunsen Burner, It was Mai's turn to stare in confusion.
"I don't need to heat a beaker, Lin! This is not a science experiment!" She said, breaking out of her stupor.
"Honestly, Mai, it doesn't seem like you have a lot of options at the moment," he replied. As much as he respected Naru, Lin knew full well that he became an absolute monster without Mai's tea.
With a heavy sigh and a sullen nod, she took the aged burner from her deadpan co-worker and turned to leave the office, only to be stopped by another, far more threatening, black-clad opponent.
"Well…. Hey, Naru… Um… How long have you been standing there?" she inquired, hiding the burner behind her back and hoping he had missed the majority of their conversation.
"Long enough to know that you apparently plan to have me drink a science experiment,: Naru said to her, glaring down at his now pallid employee.
"But-but-but… The teapot is - and It's already five thirty and we don't have any… What else do you want me to do!?" Mai yelled, interrupting herself and stuttering through several emotions before settling on slightly offended indignation.
Naru allowed himself a silent pause before opening his mouth. He believed he recalled someone once telling to count to ten at times such as these. "Are you done?" he rudely inquired. In all fairness, he had only made it to six.
She only glared up at him in response, but her sullen gaze suddenly turned to complete confusion as Naru stalked across the office towards the coat rack. She was surprised; honestly, she didn't think she had rattled him that much. Just before Mai said something about his apparent overreaction, he turned back to her, coat in hand looking slightly bemused. "Aren't you coming?"
Although the image of the two of them shopping for teapots was one Mai found simultaneously terrifying and hilarious, it would not come to fruition just then. Mai was just shrugging into her coat as her boss opened the front door, and instead of a clear pathway to their kitchenware destination, found two women with their fists raised and frozen, clearly caught in mid-knock.
Thank you and Welcome to my personal first fic! Although I usually don't write fanfiction, writing for the Ghost Hunt crew really helps me loosen up and get creative as a writer. (It's short, but shorter chapters make faster chapters…)
I'm trying extra hard to keep everything from getting OOC, overly corny, etc. so absolutely feel free to call me out on any of that! I would actually love it if you did.
Don't be shy and please point out any mistakes or issues you find, seriously tear me to shreds! -Jude