The McLinden Misadventures

First Day On The Job pt 1

The key was stuck.

"...shit..." Reigen muttered.

This was going to take two hands. If only he could have telekinetic abilities like his employees...

He gently rested the coffee holder on the ground and, with the assistance of his second hand, managed to wrench the key around in the lock. He pushed the door open with a sigh of relief and picked up the coffee as he straightened up, and cut his cursing off at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Did the key get stuck again?" asked Serizawa.

"It's to be expected," Reigen replied as he reached his desk. "This building isn't what I'd call new. If it comes to it, I'll talk to the landlord, but in the meantime..."

He slumped gratefully into his chair.

"...you'd be happy to use those powers of yours to let me in if it comes to it, right?" he asked.

Serizawa hesitated halfway to hanging up his coat.

"...are you asking me if I can use my powers to pick a lock?" he asked.

"I... guess so," said Reigen. "Just in case something happens, like if the key really gets stuck or breaks in the lock. But I want you to remember that if I find out you're using your powers for breaking and entering, I won't be able to keep you on staff."

"But it's okay when you want me to do it?!" Serizawa demanded.

"Let's not get into specifics right now," said Reigen, and he popped the lid off his coffee. "It's too early in the morning for you to be worrying about whether or not I want you to commit larceny."

He blew the steam that curled out of the cup away from the foam and slurped himself a sip.

"Our new employee starts today, doesn't she?" asked Serizawa. "The young woman you hired yesterday."

"Ms McLinden?" Reigen rubbed his burnt tongue on the roof of his mouth. "Yes, that's right. Here's hoping she can tone down the attitude a little while she's at work."

"Since when did that matter to you?" Serizawa said. "You hired Kurata-chan, after all. And what about Mob's friends? His little brother in particular seems like he could be a bit of a brat."

"They're kids, Serizawa," said Reigen. "Of course they'll be a bit abrasive."

"...isn't Ms McLinden a kid too?" Serizawa took his coffee from its holder. "It's obvious that she's older than Kurata-chan at the very least, but if I didn't know any better, I'd say she's barely out of high school."

"From what she told me, she's a legal adult who lives alone with two pet cats," Reigen pointed out as Serizawa slurped his coffee. "Yes, she's been through multiple jobs since moving to this country, but I'm sure if we remember to keep our customer's hands off her, everything should be fine."

*tap-tap-tap*

Reigen frowned.

"...we don't have any appointments booked this early, do we?" asked Serizawa.

"...no," said Reigen, and he leaned to his side to look at the door. "Come in!" he called.

The door clicked open.

"Good morning, Mr Reigen!" Perry said cheerfully as she entered. "Good morning, Mr Serizawa!"

Reigen cast his eyes over her as she pressed the door closed behind her. Her leather jacket and scuffed jeans had been switched out for a suit jacket and knee-length pencil skirt, with a purple tie knotted neatly under the collar of a white blouse. She stepped tentatively towards the desk, and Reigen quickly checked: yep, she was wearing heels. Three inches, at least.