(Ooh double lore posts in one day? What a lucky day! Before we begin, I'd like to add a major trigger warning for manipulation and general creepiness, along with what is essentially drugging)
Once again, Quinn stayed behind after hours to clean the dining room and kitchen. The only employees left were the night guards, who were holed up in their office.
William acted like he was drowning in work that day, but he was really just biding his time until he could get his little experiment alone. It had been weeks now, so it was about time to collect results.
He slunk his way down the hall, taking his sweet time. When he got to her, she offered an innocent wave. He returned it with a smile, not wanting to raise any alarm.
"I've noticed you haven't been looking so good lately. Is everything alright?" William figured the 'nice, understanding, caring boss would work best for him to get what he needed.
Quinn stopped sweeping and hung her head in shame. Clearly, something had happened. Afton just needed to figure out what.
"What's going on?" William prompted.
"I don't know. I just... Haven't quite been feeling like myself. Or... What I think of as myself... I guess..." Quinn refused to meet his eyes and shifted in place, flashing more and more signs of shame.
"Would you like to talk about it?"
Quinn nodded, and when she met his eyes for a second, she looked like a deer in the headlights. "I just... I'm just worried you'll think of me... Differently."
William was particularly attentive towards her addressing him specifically. Quinn seemed to have other friends here. She was friendly with almost everyone. Yet she specifically focused on what he thought.
"Hey, don't worry about that. Nobody's perfect. We all have bad days, and I understand that. I strive to keep the employees of this company comfortable and safe." He gave her a half-truth. Yes, he did want them comfortable. Comfortable enough that he can do as he pleases with them. And yes, he did want them safe. Safe from anyone who would stop him and his work.
Quinn offered a mirthless smile, "I think I'm having more of a bad week..." It was a good sign that she was willing to joke at this moment. She swallowed hard for a second before relaxing slightly, and opening her body language up, which Afton mimicked to make her feel more comfortable.
"Do you," She started, uncertain. "Remember when that woman burst into the kitchen?"
William had to wrack his brain to remember it, since clearly he didn't bookmark the memory before shelving it. He must not have realized its importance at the time. "I think I remember security giving me a report. Why?
"Did she hurt you?" He feigned aggressive concern and a need for justice for her as a sign of good faith.
"No," She shook her head. "No, she didn't hurt me. But I think I hurt her." Quinn briefly met his eyes again to guage his reaction. "I'm... I'm not sure what came over me. She came in, and... And all I knew is that she was threatening... The thing I had to protect. And that made me... Angry, I guess."
William nodded, giving her the signal to continue.
"When I realized that, this sort of fog came over me. I had to stop her, and I had to protect the thing. And in order to do that, I had to," Quinn stopped herself. "I think I rushed her. I know she fell, but I don't know what happened after that. I know security got her, but I don't know how bad it was."
William took a step closer to her. This was an unexpected turn in his experiments, but it made him glad for it. "I understand. Sometimes we just get a little protective, especially when we're stressed out. I'm sure you didn't mean to hurt her, you just wanted to defend yourself and your job. She was in the wrong, and you stopped her. Thank you for that. If it makes you feel any better, I'll follow-up and ban her from the premises."
This made Quinn so much more relaxed. She was able to make and maintain eye contact with him.
It seemed like bit by bit, little by little, he was breaking her down and getting to her. She was beginning to trust him. He was glad she didn't question the doses of Gold Remnant he gave her, however, he needed her to trust him a little more. He needed more employees on his side... Or at least loyal enough to not cause any trouble.