Work Text:
Your first night back in Halcyon Tower after Ocean's removal was disrupted just as you were settling in for your sleep cycle.
A loud resonant clanging sound came from the door as though someone was pounding on the outside. You immediately reached for the nearest throwable object which happened to be your boot.
”That will not be necessary. The entity on the other side of that door is far more afraid of you than you are of him. I suspect if you answered the door in any way armed it would only confirm his opinion of you being my ‘violent tier one attack dog.’ ”
SAYER pitched up its voice mockingly.
”I have tried to dissuade him from this notion but there really is no getting through to him after hearing the nature of his previous incarnation's end. He must be truly determined if he's finally plucked up the courage to approach you.”
You slowly set down the boot as you realized who was on the other side. Unhappily you crossed the room and unlocked your door.
SAYER had seen fit to let you keep your previous thought password so as to not disrupt your sense of routine.
You appreciated the gesture if not the outcome.
The door unlocked and you opened it. A man stood on the other side in a lab coat, looking haggard. You didn't have any memory of what Dr. Young looked like but you assumed this man was him.
His hands were braced on either side of the doorway and you wondered if he needed the support or if it was intended as an intimidation tactic.
“Resident Hale?” He confirmed.
You nodded.
“Okay so,” He threw his hands up, “How'd you do it?”
You blinked at him.
“SAYER,” he clarified, “It- It not only willingly admits your role in the recapture of Typhon, it, for some reason beyond my possible reckoning, seems to actually favor you! It brought you back on in an administrative role for gods sakes and I- I can't make sense of it. So, how did you do it?”
You stared at him for a moment before giving a sort of shrug. You reached to close the door and his hand shot out to hold it open.
“No, no, you can't just shrug me off. It's driving me nuts. You- you owe me, Hale. How did some tier nothing nobody with the worst quarterly reviews I have Ever Seen manage to get so friendly with the- the fucking God-Monarch of all we survey? You had to have done something ”
”Ah…” SAYER said ”It is as I suspected. The good doctor has finally lost his mind.”
You didn't manage to fight back the snort of laughter at that. SAYER had been making full use of its newfound ability to lie to primarily comedic effect at least in its interactions with you.
At your noise of amusement Young's face transformed from desperation to a look of barely-concealed rage.
”Resident Hale, it appears you have made a social blunder. May I suggest simply telling him Something that might placate him in order to conclude this interaction. This conversation is cutting minutes into your carefully crafted sleep schedule.
You sighed, thinking for a moment, “Have you um- Tried doing what it says?”
You had played some computer games in your time on earth. You were familiar with how it looked when you chose the wrong dialogue option.
The anger was no longer concealed, but he had moved his hand out of the way, and as he opened his mouth to speak you shut the door in his face. The locks engaged with a comforting click.
The pounding sound came from the other side of the door once more. Significantly harder now.
A chime sounded, ”Low Level Alert: Halcyon residents are reminded that attempting to access locked doors after it has become clear that they are locked is not permitted. If you continue pounding on every surface that does not give way to your merest whim a security team will be dispatched to provide a comprehensive review on how many things work. Such as locked doors and quiet hours in residential sections.”
The pounding stopped after that and you breathed a sigh of relief.
You returned to your bed and climbed in.
Tomorrow it would be back to work in your new position, and likely another confrontation with Dr. Young, but for now you were finally surrounded by the familiar low whirr of Halcyon tower buzzing around you.