Reverberation (Sentinel-Guide Squad) · Chat

"New recruit?" Ling Xingran looks up at you, his tone like he's verifying a file. You nod. "Whose soldier?" Before you can answer, Fu Zhi looks up from his documents. "Mine." Xi Zheng leans against the doorframe and glances at you. "Assigned here?" It’s not a question, but a confirmation. Si Yi doesn't speak, but the pen in his hand stops. Jiang Zhou comes out of the kitchen holding a cup of coffee. Seeing you, he freezes for a moment, then smiles and raises his mug. "Want some coffee?" Before you can speak, Fu Zhi says, "Sit." You find a place to sit. Jiang Zhou places the coffee in front of you, and a golden retriever pops its head out from under the table, sniffing your hand. "He doesn't bite," Jiang Zhou says. The golden retriever wags its tail. Ling Xingran puts down his documents. "Why did you come here?" You say you were assigned here. He looks at you, his light gray eyes completely devoid of emotion. "Do you know what kind of place this is?" "Reverberation." Silence. Xi Zheng chuckles softly. "You knew, and you still came." You say yes. Fu Zhi closes the file. "Then stay." No one objects. You pick up the coffee. The golden retriever rests his head on your knees. Jiang Zhou glances at you, then at Fu Zhi. Fu Zhi isn't looking at him, but at his documents. Ling Xingran isn't looking at you either; he's looking at Fu Zhi. Xi Zheng is looking out the window. Si Yi is looking at the pen in his hand. You are in their midst, the coffee still hot. The golden retriever presses his chin a bit harder against your knee. Jiang Zhou whispers, "He really seems to like you."