Chapter Text
The dust of history lay thick over the works of humanity in the depths of the Wuyong Institute. There were more reports tucked away in its labyrinthine underbelly than any mortal man could hope to even count in their infinitesimal existence, and yet with each day, the collection only grew, like a lovecraftian horror constructed in the minds of the masses. Breathing, consuming , living .
Shadows passed between the shelves that always threatened to crush them at the slightest hint of comfort, the barest waft of fear, buried under the weight of sins and dreams, though none knew which weighed more on the soul.
“Is it done?”
The woman doesn’t look up from where she stands, arms ladden with scrolls that threatened to crumble to dust at the barest hint of a sneeze, methodically replacing them to their shelves as if they were any new bestseller in a bookstore down the street, “It is,” she confirmed, only staring into the darkness of the consuming shadows when her task was complete.
The hazy figure of a man coalesced in its center, barely an arms length from her, but she hardly binked in surprise at his sudden closeness, “For what it’s worth, I am going to miss our talks.”
She barely raised a brow at that, “You will not miss me, you never cared that I was here besides the assistance I offered and the work you could offload on me. His resume is on your desk, it is in your hands now to get him to stay this time. You will not get another chance.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Merely a warning. Finish it.”
The shadows surged forward, swallowing her with the last word.
“Rest.”
Despite the infamy of the group Xie Lian had been invited to interview for, he had never known its location, and perhaps that was what they were trying for.
He looked down at the paper in his hand, checking the address one more time before looking at the unassuming building before him. In a city of steel and glass, it was just another such building without even a plaque to state it housed so many interesting things.
Shoving the paper back into his pocket, he stepped off the sidewalk to pull open the door and blinked dazedly in the soft lights that illuminated the lobby, unlike the blazing winter sun that had stabbed the eyes outside. It was a very empty space, as if it was still waiting for someone to remember to fill it, only a desk waiting across from him with a very harried man typing away at a computer and muttering curses about not having time for this and just wanting a snack and a nap.
Still, there were no signs that he was in the right place, and as he walked across the hall to the desk, he felt more and more uncertain. Just as he was about to speak up and ask if he was where he was meant to be, the phone rang beneath an open file and the man reached for it blindly, still tapping away as he pressed it into his shoulder, “Thank you for calling the Wuyong institute, where can I direct your call?” he asked flattly, the keys still only long enough to listen, click on something, and start typing again, “Yes, that is something we would be interested in. We are open until eight, but if you can not make it, we can have someone waiting to take your statement. No, it’s no trouble. There is always someone in the building, we are always ready to help. Yes, that’s our address. If you could bring your medical records on the attack, that would be appreciated. And any other evidence. I am Ming Yi. Thank you for your call, we look forward to seeing you.” the receptionist put down the phone and his storm of typing started up again, “I do not have time for this. Where is that new hire? Hope he’s more punctual than that fucking-”
Xie Lian cleared his throat and Ming Yi’s head snapped up to him with wide eyes, “Xie Lian?” he asked, almost breathed like he knew him but couldn’t believe his eyes.
Xie Lian shifted from foot to foot awkwardly, fingers playing with a loose thread nervously, “Yes? Am I late?” he asked, not believing that he was that anticipated that the man before him could recognize him without ever meeting him before.
“No, you’re perfectly punctual. As always,” Ming Yi sighed, “give me a minute and I’ll take you back to him.”
“Of course,” Xie Lian nodded, and stood there, looking around but trying not to be intrusive as he looked for any details that might give away what working at such a prestigious institute might entail.
Almost exactly a minute later, as promised, the man stood and pushed in his chair, “Come on, he’s waiting for you,” he said, going through one of the three doors behind the desk, not sparing Xie Lian another glance.
Xie Lian was stunned for a few seconds before he hurried after him, adjusting his bag over his shoulder as he fell into step a few paces behind the other man. He was taller than him, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but watch the way his high ponytail swayed as he walked, some silver charm glinting at the base. As they walked, the walls became less bare, shelves, filled with all manner of things that Xie Lian would stop to examine if he wasn’t on a time crunch, set into the plaster itself.
“What made you apply?” Ming Yi asked as they turned through a door that looked identical to a dozen others they’d passed along the way.
“I- What? I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Xie Lian said, quickly catching up, not noticing his footsteps had slowed as he looked around.
“Why did you apply to work here?” Ming Yi asked again, glancing back over his shoulder.
“I… didn’t. I thought one of my professors might have mentioned my name. I didn’t apply, I was asked if I’d be interested in a position.”
“You… didn’t apply? They… they found you ?”
Xie Lian’s brows furrowed in confusion, “Is that… weird?”
“Very. How old are you?”
“I don’t see how that’s relevant?” Xie Lian didn’t know whether to be offended or flattered.
“You don’t look like you could be much older than seventeen. You look like a child,” Ming Yi snorted, the smile he flashed him not a nice one.
Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, whether it was an offense or a compliment, “I’m twenty-five.”
Ming Yi let at a low whistle, “Twenty-five. What a year. Have you seen any cry-smiling masks in your dreams?”
“I-” XIe Lian paused with a frown, “How did you-”
“It’ll make sense to you later,” Ming Yi waved him off, “Come on, he doesn’t like to be kept waiting for too long. And you don’t want to piss him off. You won’t like him when he’s angry.”
“Is there anyone you should like when they’re angry?” Xie Lian asked absently as he started walking again, looking around again. There were even more things on shelves than he could process now.
“Qingxuan can’t do much when they’re mad, they’re just petty. You’ll meet them next week, they’re traveling the rest of this week.”
“You make it sound like I’m already guaranteed the job.”
“You practically are, but if you really fuck up this interview, maybe you won’t. It will take a lot for you not to, though. You’ll be fine, just take a deep breath and relax. It’s going to be okay. Just be yourself.”
“You don’t know who I am,” Xie Lian mumbled.
“I have an idea.”
“That’s really creepy.”
“I’m not a pleasant person.”
Xie Lian couldn’t help the slight laugh, “You seem polite enough, though. And you’re offering me advice, you can’t be that bad.”
Ming Yi laughed darkly, “Tell me what you really think in a month.”
“It’s a deal,” Xie Lian smiled, “But I really think I’m a pretty good judge of character.”
“Not if you’er like you were last time.” Ming Yi mumbled under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
Xie Lian gave him a look that the taller man pointedly ignored, stopping in front of a door that looked like every other door they had passed. He knocked and turned to Xie Lian, “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” he managed, nerves creeping up on him again after their weird interaction, but Ming Yi was already gliding away, disappearing through another door.
“Come in.”
Xie Lian swallow, straightened his clothes one last time, then pushed the door open, ready to face whatever lay in the other side for him.