Untitled #6
Just a quick bit of a ‘what-if’ scenario between some characters.
Daymian Fei (c) @nerkaderp
Ayanami Montaire-Bishop (c) @hipsterdoria
Dominic Harkness, Bianca Harkness-Brandt, Mordecai Everdeen, Madison Everdeen (mentioned) (c) myself
-----
He looked down at the slip of paper in his hand before looking back up at the colossal building before him. The address matched, but he still found himself in disbelief.
How did he find himself in front of the Harkness Industries tower?
Shoving the piece of paper back into his jeans pocket, he made his way to the front doors. For an enterprise that was technology-based, it didn't bear the aura of something modern and stark. Sure the outside was how one would imagine- made of shiny steel and tinted glass windows- but there were other touches that made it seem more... natural. The lawns were a little unkempt with grass a little taller than normal and the flowering shrubs were a different array of colors.
"Strange..." he murmured as he pushed the doors open to the lobby.
Soft piano music could be heard through the speakers, occasionally being clipped short by a call on the intercom for someone to reach somewhere. The lights were shut off, only allowing the sunlight to stream through from the windows. At a desk in the right-hand corner of the room sat a woman with long, honey-blonde hair swept up in a messy knot, working at a computer. He approached the desk.
"Excuse me." he said.
The woman looked up at him, bright silver eyes framed in deep red-rimmed glasses.
"Yes? May I help you?" she asked.
"I was called by the CEO a couple days ago," he explained, "About a freelance job?"
"Ah," she replied as she ran a finger down a notebook, "Yes, I remember. Dom had mentioned that at dinner yesterday. You're Mr. Fei, correct?"
He nodded as she got up, running her hands down her skirt to straighten it out. She walked out from behind her desk.
"If you will follow me, I'll take you to his office." she said.
"But what about-?" he began, turning his head slightly to the now-empty reception desk.
"You don't need to worry about that. It'll only be a moment." she replied, walking down the hall.
His eyebrows creased together slightly as he followed a few paces behind her. She stopped at an elevator and pressed a button, causing the doors to open. The receptionist stepped inside with him following suit a moment later. With another push of the button, the two started their ascent to the top floor.
He glanced over at the woman at the corner of his eye. She seemed normal. Well, as normal as anyone could get in the city he lived in. But her mannerisms puzzled her. No regular secretary would take time out of their schedule to escort someone to their CEO. Most of the time, he remembered, they would merely wave someone in the direction they needed to go. But she...
The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened. Now this was what he expected of a CEO's office to look like. Large, open, and almost overwhelming. The walls were nothing but windows. A few bookcases could be seen scattered about alongside some tables with chairs. There were a few odds and ends he found peculiar: photography equipment leaning against a bookcase, an easel closed and on its side with canvases behind it, paintings half-finished. At the very back was a large black desk, a leather chair turned away from the elevator door, its occupant facing the skyline.
"Dom," the receptionist said, "Mr. Fei is here to see you."
"Thanks, Bianca," a voice said from the chair, a pale hand appearing from it, "I can take things over from here."
She turned on her heel and made her way to the elevator. He looked over his shoulder in enough time to see the doors close on her. Her expression was that of a small smile. He took that as a good sign.
"You know," the CEO said, causing him to face the chair again, "It's rather creepy to have someone simply stare at their potential employer."
"Uh... sorry." he said, taking a seat in the chair across from the desk.
There was a soft laugh before the chair turned around. His eyes widened. The man that was seeing... He couldn't have been any older than he was! His hair was a deep navy blue that sat in slight waves at his shoulders and dressed in a pressed white suit. Part of him was wondering if this was some kind of elaborate prank...
"You seem rather surprised." Dom said, raising an eyebrow.
"Um... mildly." he said, "I was expecting someone..."
"Older?" he replied, smirking a little, "I get that a lot from new hires. They come into my office expecting someone that looks like someone they've seen in a magazine: old and looks powerful."
He wasn't quite sure, but something about his attitude was rather off-putting. He seemed too easy-going, too carefree. Why was someone like him running a corporation?
"But," Dom replied, "we're not here to talk about appearances."
"You had said you had a job for me?" he said.
"A job, yes," Dom said, "But I feel that there is... more to it than that."
"More to it." he replied, feeling alarm bells going off, "What do you mean?"
"Exactly that." Dom stated, "Let's just say I know a lot there is to know about you, Daymian Fei. A lot that most probably don't."
Daymian's eyes narrowed at his statement, his hands clenching.
"Sounds like you've been doing some digging into my background." Daymian said.
"Well, I had to," Dom replied, "Don't all employers have to look into potential employee's backgrounds?"
"From the way you put it," he stated, "You did more than just a cursory look-through of it."
The CEO gave a slight laugh.
"What's so funny?" Daymian said.
"You are defensive," Dom replied, "I wonder if that's paranoia or something else talking."
"I have every right to be defensive," Daymian hissed, "No one looking for employees would go through someone's background so much that just want to hire them for basic work."
He leaned in to look Dom in the face. He noticed that he too had the same silver eyes as the receptionist.
"Especially if they say that there is more to the job than what is to be believed." he said in a low voice.
Dom leaned back slightly in his seat. His face was as calm as it was before, but the easy-going air he felt before from him was gone. Instead it was replaced with one that exuded seriousness.
"So," Daymian said, "What do you want from me?"
"To the point," Dom said, "I like that."
Dom got up out from his seat and walked around the desk to face him, hands in his pockets.
"I am aware of your skills in dealing with computers- hacking and otherwise." Dom said, "The job for you is simple. I need you to do some heavy upgrading to my company's mainframe as well as a few other places."
"That can't be it." Daymian said, shaking his head.
"It isn't." Dom replied, "I am in need of some information as well."
"Information. On what?" Daymian asked.
"I need the current location of my twin brother." Dom said, causing Daymian's eyes to widen, "His location and his potential plans against me."
"You have a twin?" Daymian replied.
"Yes, and he is just as ruthless and as cutthroat as your own brother, Darius." Dom stated as Daymian gave a start. Dom smiled knowingly, but that same smile didn't reach his eyes, "I did a lot more digging than you probably thought, didn't I?"
"But... how?" Daymian said, hoarsely.
"I have my own skills in investigation," Dom said, "It comes with the package of being in a position of power, especially one you don't necessarily want."
Daymian slouched in his seat, trying to take in what Dom had said. This was not what he had expected when he came into this building. He was only expecting a simple job, one that would get him to his next job when it came up. Not this... Not some young entrepreneur knowing more about himself than most of his friends did.
"I don't understand..." Daymian said, "You tell me you need me for a specific job and then go on to say you know about... about my brother. Why? For what purpose?"
Dom looked to the side, out the window. His expression was replaced with one of tired frustration and worry.
"I said I know a lot about you," Dom explained, "And, in a strange way, I know a lot of what you're going through. Not the exact same experiences, mind you, but the general summary of it all.
"Perhaps it's a strange kinship I feel with you, to know that there is someone that has the same sort of problems I have, yet also different," he continued, "That's why I feel that you can be of benefit to me, as I could be a benefit to you."
Daymian looked at him in confusion. How could he help him?
"You don't know what you're talking about," Daymian said, "We may share some similarities, but other than that... there's no way you could possibly be of help to me. What could you possibly do?"
"A lot more than you could imagine." Dom said, "I may not be an angel or a demon like some are here, but I am certainly not human."
"Not human?" Daymian repeated, "Then what..."
He noticed as Dom grinned slightly that his canines had elongated. A shiver ran down his spine.
"My father passed down more than just his company to me." Dom replied, "Vampirism can have some perks."
"That won't help much," Daymian explained, "If you plan on helping me out, it'll take more than just you sucking someone dry."
"True, it would. But being persuasive when parties are unwilling to divulge information is also a plus." Dom said.
"It sounds like your offer is to gain information on Darius' whereabouts using your abilities." Daymian said.
"That is if he makes himself too scarce." Dom said, "I can also find out what he could possibly be planning and give you the edge you need to be on the defensive."
"That sounds oddly familiar." Daymian replied.
"Sounds almost like the job I'm offering you, isn't it?" Dom stated with a smirk, "In that case, it almost balances itself out."
He wasn't too sure on that, but Dom seemed confident. He knew Darius. He knew that he wasn't going to fall victim to whatever Dom had planned.
"... I don't think you know how dangerous that could be." Daymian said.
"If it weren't for the fact that I have been in dangerous situations before that didn't concern business, I'd agree with you." Dom replied, "But trust me when I say, I think I know what I'm doing."
"Hmn..." Daymian replied, looking away uneasily.
"... I understand your concern, Daymian." Dom said, "Really. I'd rather not put anyone in the line of fire when it comes to dealing with Cecil. But if there's one thing I do know, it's that I'd rather have someone who is capable of dealing with a dangerous person and know what they're doing than someone who is cocky and headed for annihilation."
Daymian looked at him. Their gazes held for a moment.
"Besides, we both have something- someone- to protect, don't we?" Dom said, "Someone that we don't want to be hurt by those that want us dead."
Daymian's thoughts drifted slightly on a girl with shoulder length copper hair. In his vision, he saw her tending to a sick child in a hospital. A small smile came across his face.
"... Think about it." Dom said, "If you want to take the offer, let me know when you have the answer."
Daymian got up from the seat and turned uneasily away from Dom. He glanced over his shoulder to see him almost sagging against the desk.
"... You said you had something- or more of, someone to protect, right?" Daymian asked, "Who?"
"... I think you know the answer to that." Dom said, "If she's as important to me as yours is to you, then you know why I wouldn't want my brother anywhere near her."
"... Yeah. I know." Daymian said, "When do you need me to start?"
"... Whenever you can." Dom replied, "And I will have information for you when I have it ready."
"Alright." Daymian stated as the doors to the elevator opened.
"Thank you." Dom said when he stepped inside and the doors shut behind him.
---***---
"Does he really think he can help?" Mordecai asked, crossing his arms as he sat at the table in the kitchen.
"He says he can," Daymian said, turning the cup of coffee in his hands, "To be honest, I'm not sure he has that kind of power."
"Good to be skeptical," Mordecai said with a nod, "Harkness... I've heard that name before."
"He said that his father was the one to pass down his vampirism to him." Daymian explained, "Whether or not that means he was born one or turned..."
"Oh I know he's born one," Mordecai replied, "The only person he ever turned was his wife, but they split. She's in France and no one's heard from him in years."
"But he is still around?" Daymian asked.
"Somewhere," Mordecai said, "A lot of other hunters have been tracking him down, but haven't caught him."
"Did you ever come across him?" Daymian said.
"Not a chance in Hell," Mordecai replied with a laugh, "Adrian Harkness is too high-profile. Only those while more than a few years under their belt go after that sonofabitch."
Daymian felt that same shudder go up his spine again. Something didn't seem right.
"Is... Is he that bad?" he asked.
"If this Dom says that Cecil is as bad as Darius is," Mordecai explained, "Then multiply him by five. Adrian Harkness is not a vampire to fuck with."
Daymian's grip tightened on his mug before relaxing.
"Well... at least it's just Cecil I have to worry about if Adrian is out of the picture." he murmured.
"That's still Hell to deal with, Daymian," Mordecai explained, "One murderous psychopath is one thing, but two is a different story."
"That's why I was so uncertain of taking the job in the first place." Daymian said.
"Then why did you?" Mordecai asked.
He looked up at Mordecai.
"... For Madison."
---***---
"You have lost your fucking mind, Dom!" Ayanami screeched through the earpiece of the phone, causing him to hold it at arm's length.
"Not the first time I've heard that in the past couple of days, Aya." Dom said with a sigh as he tentatively put the phone back to his ear.
"I just... I can't believe this... I can't believe you!" she hissed as he heard her pacing her room, "Cecil's after your head and you're throwing this poor sap to the wolves!"
"You make it sound as if I don't know what I'm doing." Dom replied as he rubbed his eyes.
She snorted on the other end before he heard her hurriedly cover the mouthpiece on her side and say something to another person. When she removed her hand, he caught a snatch of "-ly, Dad! It's nothing to worry about! Jeez!" He gave a slight chuckle.
"Don't start laughing, you jerk." she growled.
"Sorry." he said, causing her to huff, "But I am being honest with you, Aya. I know that what I am doing sounds completely off-base, but I have full confidence that this is a fair deal. For all parties concerned."
"Yeah? How do you figure that out?" Ayanami asked.
"I know where he comes from in concerns to his situation. It's no different from mine." Dom explained, "And if what I have heard from others is to be believed, he is quite capable of his job and with other... things."
"That sounds so wrong." Ayanami replied.
"That wasn't my intention, Aya." Dom sighed.
He stared out his window, watching the sky slowly change to twilight.
"Just one thing, Dom," she asked, "Are you completely sure that this entire thing won't fuck up? You're not going into this blind?"
Dom stayed silent for a moment.
"... I'm sure."
