Chapter Text
Chapter 1
meeting missing
In my office, I have my degrees and insect taxidermy hung in frames. My desk is littered with my research papers, books, some clothes, and some small bugs I use to feed my other insects, as well as a few cute little complementary crickets that accompany me. I see myself a lot in crickets. I mentally assign my coworkers' bugs based on their behavior and personality; they would be better off being those bugs too.
My office itself is full of different bug species and research which includes notes on their anatomy and physiology. The notes also include the silly team selective sessions I’ve had with other departments and members of my team, which is a disappointing development with these disastrous dunces in my department who believe better than me. I study bugs for my boss Dominica, who has a plan with the genetic engineering of the bugs to use in medicine; it's a revolutionary concept that i am deeply passionate about, the risk is a few subjects and some poor bugs but it's in the name of science and would get my work widely recognized and finally seen for what it is, see me for what i am.
My job is to mainly study bugs and dissect their cells and such; human and physiology research is from different sources as well as how we test the medicine. Recently my boss wanted me to conduct genetic and behavioral testing on a praying mantis; for a new experiment she hopes will be a success as last time the test subject had to be subdued. I was so sure they would welcome wonderful serenity of life back.
I study the bug scaling my hand, as I remember, 8 sections on the abdomen means this here is a male. My boss doesn't care about the specific species because that's my job to care and study, so naturally this specific study is on the spectacle of European praying mantis. This buggy here is characteristically green with carefully curated orange accents on the tip of his raptorial forearm; his arms up like he’s praying, or like his hands are limped. The stance of a praying mantis reminds me of someone remarkable with chronically loose joints. His body's long and straight, his wings are shorter than his abdomen. The bug sways at my cricket enclosure by my distinctly distracting desk; the abdomen is small in shape signifying he's hungry. I carefully cover the cricket enclosure; the mantis turns and wiggles its antennas at me as it travels my arm to the warmth of my skin to foreseeably ask for food. Its raptorial forelegs stick and poke my hand gently.
While I was writing about him, suddenly, the mantis flies behind me, I swiftly turn to assist my mantis just to see him hop on Dr. Joshua, the head of human and physiology research, and cuddle up on his collar, Dr. Joshua, startled, swiftly lifts his arms and stumbling back, he knocked onto my filing drawer with a grunt, I quickly grab his arm, hurriedly asking
“Oh my are you ok? I'm not sure why he did that.” Dr. Joshua stood with his arms up and sort of resembled a praying mantis. I genially sway the mantis to my hand, put him away and gave him a cricket. Joshua sighed
“Phew you saved me there! I’m sorry about that I didn’t mean to scare them!! I just came by to uh, talk about some things?” he almost sounded confused like he couldn’t conclude why he was there, that must mean he’s here to see me, I can’t help but smile at him because who wouldn’t be happy to see a sweet guy speak to them?
“Oh, don't worry about him, he is just jumpy. "After I said that Joshua visibly relaxed and smiled at me, a sweet smile that can make me swoon.
“Have you taken your lunch break yet? Maybe we can chat then? After you get your food first of course! If you want to” Joshua asked sweetly, very telling he chose to see me on his break. I smoothly reply
“I was just about to, I don't mind chatting with you though, come here to my desk”
I direct to my desk and another chair with it. I take my desk seat and slowly ease myself onto in. Joshua leans forward as he falls to the chair, and he crosses his legs, his posture is tall and straight but his shoulders rest low giving him a calm stature. His hair is tied up in a short ponytail the is wavy until the tips which curls elegantly, his coat is off, showing a simple blue short sleeve button-up that suits his stature, his eyes look away from me and closely observe the springtails crawling in a small glass enclosure.
“Those are for mold control for my enclosures, so I don't have to clean them, they clean the enclosures I mean” I try to inform but my voice trails off a whisper as he faces me and shifts his body to listen,
Joshua smiles and starts, “I was wondering about your role in the medicine projects; I'm interested in the work” I blankly stare at him bewildered and he continues “You work directly with insects, right? Is there a reason for that? And why your office looks like this.”
He gestures to me with a sweet smile and full eye contact, but what do I say? Tell him about my work? Like he could read the confusion on my face, his eyes dart down and his hand lifts to fidget with his top shirt button, he clears his throat,
“Sorry I was just wondering, you don't have to answer, but uh do you think I could hold a bug?” His hopeful eyes make any negative response impossible for me. I smile and nod, I slowly stand up using my arms to support myself, I walk over to an enclosure and grab out a calm, sweet green mantis who is just as eager as me to get near him. He stares at the docile insect so gently, his gaze lingering on the bug, grinning.
“I'm not sure why my office is underground, like I'm in a basement but maybe it's for the vivarium.” I say while turning to the glass wall that's full of plants and bugs that all thrive because of each other... I turn back to Joshua but he's smiling like he cant hold in a laugh, I furrow while looking at him, he looks down to my legs and gestures. Though giggles he says
“I have an idea on what could be the reason you're down here”
I continue to stare at him with no clue of his reason
“Is my imprisonment funny? What do you think the reason is” I ask playfully
Joshua then looks at my eyes with a familiar stare; he calms and points to my pants and informs
“Dr. You have no pants on; you've been in your undergarments the whole time”
I look down and jolt up in realization; I have no pants on. I don't remember taking them off but apparently, they were the clothes on my office floor I saw earlier. I rush to put them back on while Joshua is laughing at me. The one I admire and look up to as a researcher and colleague!
“Where is your new assistant? Isn't she supposed to help with this?” Joshua asks
Now that he mentions it, I havent seen her all morning, I saw her last week though. Looking at the time it's nearly the afternoon but I havent gotten a single call.
“I am actually unsure, uhm I'll go ask around” I declare while darting my eyes around the room daring for a declaration of presence.
“Hey, how about I come and help look too” Joshua suggested, fidgeting with his top button of his shirt while standing stiff and straight.
I brighten “Oh my well I cant refuse!” I exclaim, swiftly grabbing my cane and nearly dragging Joshua by the arm out the sterile, stuffy office and up the stairs. While we walk Joshua comments
“wow these are a lot of stares for the main face of the accommodations program”
I suddenly slow my stride, thinking of my secondary occupation “well, that's for show, just for the promotional showcase” considering the company does help with people who have learning and processing disorders you wouldn't believe there is an awful lack of physical disability accommodations. “It is tiring and the elevators are broken every day, for a million dollar company heh” I begrudgingly tell Joshua who listens and expresses through his expressively worried eyes.
“well, I'm sure you're accommodated some way, right? At least the elevator to the boss’ office has a working elevator” Joshua jokes, a gentle giggle escapes me, the irony of it is evident, as the boss is able bodied.
At the top of the twirling stairs, we walked a while to the security guard at the entrance of the building.
“hey, we are looking for the new hire, in the entomology department” Joshua informs the guard, the guard checks on a computer and I quickly say “her names Kuukomi?”, then the guard nods and tells us
“She did check in today” Joshua and I glance at each other, as more questions are raised on her absence. Joshua give a quick thanks to the guard and we walked off to wonder and ask around.
“Maybe she's lost” Joshua hopefully says, I glance over and he understands how unrealistic that is but I am charmed and crack a smile.
We walk into the break room, and I immediately want to waltz out