Colin's posts

Hal was silent as he read the text, and sighed.

Depends on your brother's attitude towards me currently, I suppose. he sent in response.

---

She was waiting for about 10 minutes, when Hal stepped into the receptionist's area.

"Oh, Agent Hazel." he greeted her.

"Sorry, my receptionist is out at lunch right now, and I was getting some errands done." he explained.

"There something I can help you with?" he asked, making his way to the door to his office and opening it.

Hal watched her leave, and sighed quietly.

"Well... Hollie will love to hear this." he said.

He then did some quick math in his head, and realized it was close to 4:30am where Hollie was... assuming she was in Wales. For all he knew, she was visiting her brother.

He decided not to actually call her, but text her.

Whenever you get this, I have some news you'll want to hear, and I'd like it to be face-to-face. he sent to her.

Hal just sighed lightly, and smiled.

"Depends on what SHE has to say about it." he told her, in relation to her 'lovin' comment. He'd noticed that she had developed a bit of an attitude since being here... which was definitely a good thing. It showed that she was becoming who she was meant to be. Who she never had a chance to become.

"And one more thing." he then said.

"In private is one thing, but now that you're hired, 'Agent Sharp' is how you should address me in general public here." he informed her.

"Or 'boss'... 'chief'... as others have called me... whatever you fancy. I'm not too rigid about things like that." he admitted with a shrug.

Hal paused for a moment.

"Ah, yes." he said.

"I suppose my mana presence WOULD out me as a djinn to you." he reasoned with a small laugh.

"But yes. Yes, I am a djinn, as you already know." he commented.

"And yes, I AM overdue." he confirmed.

"May take a half-day tomorrow, depending on how I sleep." he admitted to her.

"Ah, indeed." Hal replied.

He then told her where her new dorm was, how to find it, and how to get there.

"It'll be a simple move." he told her.

"And it'll be unfurnished, in the sense of no sheets and such. So feel free to take those from your current dorm." he said further.

"And welcome to the Unit."

"It shouldn't take too long." Hal told her.

"The biggest difference is that employee dorms are a little bigger, and have more electrical outlets for personal devices." he shrugged.

"I can get you help if need be." he offered.

"Azazel can help if you need it right now." he said.

"He usually stays late when Aedan's out on a mission." he chuckled.

"Good." Hal replied.

"Oh, right, seeing as the direct deposit information will take some time to process, your first pay will be in the form of a paycheque." he told her.

"I hope that's all right." he said.

"Oh, yes, and as an employee, you have access to all areas of the Unit now." he then added.

"Also, you'll need to be moved into employee dorms."

"All right then." Hal replied.

"Now, if you don't have an account with the bank down the street, I suggest you get one post-haste." he advised her.

"We work closely with them, so you should have no issues making an account. And since you now have ID, there'll be no issues." he continued.

"That being said, maybe wait until they're open tomorrow." he suggested.

"And come back with direct deposit information, please." he then added.

"I see. Well, fair enough." Hal responded, as he filled out the papers... what he could of them.

"All right then." he said.

"I've filled out all that I need to." he told her, pushing the papers forward.

"All that's needed is your part." he went on.

"Sign where you need to, and you'll be hired."

Hal just chuckled.

"Ohhhh, it will definitely be appreciated." he told her.

"Believe me, they'll welcome you with open arms, and love you for wanting to help them in such a way." he continued, before pausing a moment.

"And you'll have someone to talk to about more personal life matters as well." he went on.

"Not sure if you've met yet, or even heard, but we have a Fyrane working in R&D." he informed her.

"Kiah Fyrane. She's Lindsay and Ash's first cousin once removed. But they're quite close." he said.

"Hm." Hal mumbled.

"Well, I cannot fault that line of logic, as potentially depressing as it may be." he said.

"But come on, then." he then said.

"Let's get to my office so we can sign the documentation." he told her, as they made their way back to his office, where he turned on the lights and started to prepare everything.

"R&D will love you." he said.

"Willing test subjects, especially full-time ones, mean progress on new development." he chuckled.

Hal raised an eyebrow when he heard that.

"We are." he said.

"And you wish to take that position?" he asked.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"If you honestly feel like you want the job, we can fill out the paperwork now." he offered.

"Will only take about 10 minutes or so."

Hal just smiled when Hazel approached him as she did.

They'd made amazing progress with her in a relatively short amount of time... she was like a whole new woman.

"Of course." he replied.

"Nothing going on right now. Too late for that." he chuckled.

"What is it?" he asked.

Hal made his way down the hallway, and sighed.

"We've got our work cut out for us." he mumbled.

"But by God, we have to try our best." he said.

-Several months later-

Hal sighed deeply as he stepped out of his office, noting his secretary had gone home for the night. He looked at the clock and saw it was 9:00pm, before shaking his head.

"Ugh, worked later than I thought." he mumbled.

"Maybe I should take a sick day tomorrow." he told himself with a small laugh.

"Or just collapse in bed when I get home."