Did I do something wrong? Now that I think about it, I forgot to file day seven's log. Could that be it? No, no, though I did, management didn't think it was a punishment to stay here. If anything, that would be a big reason to let me go. Were they so happy with my reports of nothingness that they just had to keep me on? Maybe Ter Borcht left me some kind of recommendation. Could she have disliked me so much? I don't think I did anything to deserve that, we hardly talked at all. She didn't exactly invite me out for coffee or talk to me much either, so it's not like I snubbed her.
What did I do to deserve a place here? The place where people thought it made sense to capture the ancient, soulless enemy of all Remnant's sentient life? Subjecting them, and children to horrible experiments in attempts to merge the two, all in the hopes of engineering a hybrid creature. one with abilities that neither Grimm nor Humans already have. So what if we succeeded? Even if it was possible, the best-case scenario is that we make something vastly inferior to our Hunters, or even some of the androids on the market. Why, why, why?
I spent nearly an hour facedown in the sink that morning. I think I went in there to shave, but then reality set in. I was already two hours late for work, and hadn't even left yet. I didn't care about the money, or leaving on terms equitable enough to get a good recommendation anymore. I ate breakfast on to the lab, spilling plenty of milk and cereal all over myself. I suppose I must have gotten some weird looks from people on the train, but I didn't notice. I just threw the bowl on my desk when I got there.
At least I wasn't the only one in such a terrible and apathetic mood. Those of us who remained were all shuffling around like zombies, looking more like we belonged beneath an underpass than a world-leading laboratory. Everyone else still had the strength and resolve to move around, but not me. I sat staring blankly into the blackness of my computer screen, watching them glide around behind me in the reflection.
Hunger finally drove me half-out of my stupor, and as I pushed my chair out, I noticed a note on the corner of my desk. Who knows how long it had been there, and I can't say I particularly cared. It was from that new General Manager they mentioned, saying he was interested in my work and wanted to talk to me personally. With that, I headed off to the cafeteria to get some food. I ordered the soup this time, but I really can't tell you if it was any good, I guess I just wasn't paying attention. It was some type that started with a P, I think. I sat for twenty minutes looking into the empty bowl trying to remember.
I must have gotten up at some point, because I found myself heading back to my desk. For some strange reason, I caught notice of one of the doors on the way back. It was the GM's. Ter Borcht's name had been replaced with another in what looked like blue crayon. It was difficult to make out, "Crimson Sail" or something like that. I guess I'd kept him waiting long enough. If I failed to show up entirely, they'd probably just assume I didn't get the memo and forgive me. Better never than late here, and I was going for the shittier option.
He looked about like what I'd expect the project directors would hire. Stupid blue hair, stupid eyepatch, stupid sunglasses over the stupid eyepatch in which I could see the stupid reflection of Pac-Man on his stupid computer's stupid screen. He jumped up when he saw me walk in, and ran over to me. He looked over me very carefully, seemingly for my nametag at first, but then ran his fingers through my hair and felt up my Hindquarters. I can't say it didn't have the immediate effect of bringing me to my senses.
"Are you a Faunus?" he asked
"I… Uhhh… What?"
"No ears or tail. It's usually one of those but I want to be sure"
"No"
He examined me for a few moments more and then gave up. "Oh well, what's up?"
"You… Wanted to see me, sir?"
"I did?"
"... Batchelder?"
"Oh yeah, I'm having some trouble here, and it seems like you're the perfect man for the job", He grabbed my arm and dragged me around his desk. He closed Pac-man and pulled up what looked like…. A blog?
"You see, I looked over your reports, and I'm very impressed. I'd love it if you could help me with my fanfiction"