After being formally hired by The Organization, MC was provided a room to live in at a clubhouse with his team. The clubhouse was a large one-story space similar to a college dormitory. There were several rooms, a shared kitchen, laundry, and a living room area. GM explained that he’d lived here with his roommate, Sora, for the past few years. During that time, there were other residents, but none lasted very long. They either died or quit before too long. After all, only extremely talented individuals survived in The Organization.
It was evening and MC followed GM up to the door of the clubhouse. His hands were filled with bags containing all of his belongings. GM fished the keys out of his coat pocket and put them into the lock of the clubhouse door. “Here we are,” he said as he turned the knob and pushed open the door. MC shuffled in behind him with his arms full. The area by the door was littered with coats and shoes on hard tile. A step-up led them into a living room. It was one big circle with a center that dipped down into the floor lined with an in-place couch complete with carpeted floor and a TV in the middle. The place was messy beyond belief. There were clothes and blankets scattered about. To the right of the door was a small kitchen that had dirty dishes stacked high enough in the sink to rival a busy restaurant. The floors were stained and littered with garbage.
Hesitant thoughts crept into MC’s mind with unfamiliarity of the living situation. It was far from traditional. He felt overwhelmed by being out of sorts with everything that he carried on his shoulders on a daily basis. An even heavier weight pressed onto him as he stepped into the doorway and shut the door behind him.
“Sorry it’s a bit messy. We don't get around to cleaning very often,” said GM. MC’s face said it all. The place was disgusting.
“Your room will be the one over there,” GM said, pointing across the common area to a light brown door. He led them over and opened it up. Inside was a barren room with a light carpeted floor. The lack of windows made it seem darker than it actually was, but at least it was drastically cleaner than the rest of the house. “Looks like it needs light bulbs and such. We can order you a bed and some essentials through The Organization’s funds so don't worry about buying that stuff yourself. For tonight you can throw down some blankets on the floor or fight Sora over some space on the couch.
“Sora? That’s the other member of the team right?” asked MC.
“Correct. It will be us three living here together. Where is she?” GM turned back to the living area. “Sora! Where are you?” He waited a moment, but there was no response.
“Maybe she’s not here right now,” said MC.
“Oh she’s definitely here somewhere. It’d be a miracle if she ever left the house. I’m sure she’ll pop up eventually. She’s kinda moody. Anyway, make yourself at home. I’ve got a roast going in the slow cooker. Should be about ready. I’ll serve you up a plate soon as it’s done.”
“Thanks,” said MC as he set his bags down in his new room. He took a moment to grasp the state of his new living situation. The house was a mess. There was a slight smell to the entire place that he couldn’t quite pin. It could have been the mound of dishes or the overflowing garbage can. Perhaps a combination of both. Despite the immediate drawbacks, it was a free roof over his head and GM seemed nice enough. Having The Organization pay for necessities was another plus.
Despite all of the perks, he felt that he was going sideways instead of forward with his life. He only wanted to eliminate Jin and clear out that dark cloud looming over his head. He didn't care about the free housing and paychecks. He just wanted to be alright in the head. He didn’t want his late night thoughts to throw him into a panic. He wanted his mother and father. He wanted everything to just be ok.
Deciding that this was at least not a step in the wrong direction, he went out to the living room and stepped down into the area with the couch. He tossed some clothes aside to clear a spot and plopped down.
Movement stirred under a pile of blankets right next to him. “Huh what’s that? GM do you have a dog or something?” Out from the heaping pile of blankets emerged a girl with long brown hair going every which way. Long bangs hung down over her eyes. She pushed her hair aside and rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her sweatshirt that had some sort of blue hair haired anime girl on it. Then she looked up and finally noticed MC.
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“Gyah! Who the hell are you?” she shrieked, pulling the blanket over her head and scooting back a few feet.
“Oh there she is,” said GM from the kitchen area. “MC, this is Sora.”
“Oh. So you’re the other team member that lives here?” MC asked. There was no response from under the blankets.
“Sora, don't be rude to our new housemate. Speak up.”
“You woke me up!” she yelled, bursting out from her cave of quilts.
MC scooted back. “I’m sorry! I didn't mean to.”
“Oh boy, here we go,” said GM, rolling his eyes. “Isn’t it about time you got up for the day anyway? It’s almost seven.”
“That’s it? I’ve only slept ten hours then. I need another two or three.”
“You’re way too lazy. Get up and come have dinner with us. I’m dishing you guys up right now.”
A surprisingly pleasant scent had begun to fill the house as GM spooned meat and vegetables onto three plates.
“Alright fine,” said Sora. “Only because there’s food. I’m starving.” She stood up and made her way to the refrigerator shooting MC a glare. She opened the refrigerator door and grabbed an energy drink out. Her fingers cracked open the can and she started chugging it, then went and sat at the dinner table. She yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and waited for food.
MC got up from the couch and sat across from her at the table. It was dirty and cluttered with papers and trash, but there was still plenty of room to eat. MC and Sora sat in an awkward silence both avoiding eye contact with each other until GM brought three steaming plates of food over to the table. He took his seat and cracked a tall beer can open.
“Gotta make sure we treat our new recruit to a proper meal his first night at the clubhouse, right?” said GM.
The food looked delicious. It was a nice balance of meat and assorted vegetable chunks. “Thanks, GM,” he said, before taking a bite and then another. It tasted even better than it smelled. He looked over and noticed GM seemed to have hardly touched his plate yet. He had a preoccupied look in his eyes.
“I can't believe the changes they’re making around The Organization. I’m glad for the pay increase, but it’s impossible to keep up with the missions Gil wants us to do while checking in on our regular duties. For starters, the restaurants pay us good money to provide protection from hooligans and such and we’re hardly ever there except to collect pay from em,” said GM.
“You worry too much,” said Sora. “Who cares if the restaurants get mad? I think Gil should start sending some of those freelance guys on more missions instead of us. The Vampire and some of those weirdos just get to do whatever they want to do.”
“It’s only fair. They’ve always been there when we needed them and they continue to support The Organization. It’s not like Gil can exactly tell those guys what to do anyway, they don't work like that.”
Sora stuffed bites into her mouth, dodging the vegetables. “Yeah, you’re right about that. Stupid Gil making everyone work more. Hmph.”
MC didn't understand much about what they were talking about, but he was interested in the passion of the discussion.
“On the other hand, I heard a few of our newer members barely got away from the detectives the other day,” said GM. “They probably got put on a mission that was more than they could handle. Some of those detectives are actually pretty powerful.”
“I’m surprised you haven't caught their attention by now, GM. You’re way too sloppy.”
“I do better than most!”
“If you say so,” she said, rolling her eyes. She got up leaving a plate of vegetables behind and went over to the TV. She turned on a game console and started playing away.
“Twenty-six years old and still not eating her vegetables,” said GM with a sigh before looking up at MC. “She’s a bit standoffish, but she’ll come around eventually… I hope. Anyway, tomorrow we’re going to get started on training for you. Let’s get up bright and early and head for the training grounds. Should be in for some nice weather like we’ve been having.”
“Ok, I can't wait to get started.”
“Well, I’m sure you’re tired. Let’s get you set up for bed.” GM grabbed a fresh pile of blankets out of a closet and handed them to MC. He decided that he wanted to keep a distance from Sora so he chose to sleep on the soft carpeted floor of his new room for the night. With one blanket underneath him for a little extra padding and one blanket above him, he drifted off to an early sleep.