The next day, Percy punctually arrived ten minutes before nine at Leon's office, knocking. From inside, he could hear the man's voice. Obviously he was already here, it was Leon. Percy actually wondered when he usually started. Maybe eight? Seven?
"Come in."

Percy was surprised yet pleased to see a second desk right next to the door, enabling him not only perfect surveillance of the door but also Leon himself. He had obviously expected Percy to feel more comfortable with a good view over his surroundings and especially his boss.
"So it came to my ears there has been a little... incident tonight? With Electrica?"Percy found himself standing straight, all attention back to Leon himself. Well, shit. Electrica tattletaled on him, didn't she? He tried to look calm but the the dark rings below his eyes made it obvious; he had barely slept all night. Was denying it even worth the attempt?
"It was nothing major."
"Nothing major? She hasn't bitten you?" Percy could feel his piercing eyes wandering to his neck, of course unharmed. Now that was interesting. Didn't she tell on him? Perhaps he could save his own ass. The white-haired man spoke up once again, finally elaborating the situation.
"Electrica has approached me this morning and admitted to breaking into your room, and has been asking for forgiveness. She is facing proper punishment right now, and will not join us with her presence for the rest of the week. She did ensure me she hasn't been preying on you at any point of her break-in but I would like to hear it from yourself."
Eyes widening, Percy could feel himself smiling just the tiniest bit. So... she didn't tell him. For sure. He should defend her at least a it, shouldn't he? He was definitely grateful for that one.

"No. A-actually, not at all. I'm fine....she didn't trust me. Naturally. We didn't have a good start, she hadn't fed for some days and it was a bit tense. She broke in to check my belongings for anything suspicious. I believe she would have told you if she had found anything... I was awake and confronted her. We talked for a few minutes, she decided I was trustworthy, apologized and left."
Hands folding, Leon eyed him up one last time. He was telling the truth, he couldn't detect a lie so far. That was that. Leon's gaze fell back down onto his laptop, and glasses found their way onto his nose once again.
"I see. I am glad to see you unharmed, Mr Parker. If any such incidence may occur again, please do not hesitate to approach me. I will not stand for any of these shenanigans.
"Percy figured that was the end of their conversation and proceeded to take a seat at his new desk. Oh, look at that. He flashed a glance at Leon, then back onto the stack of papers in front of himself. His... tasks for today. All of them?

"Get everything done today. That is all I request. Where you start or how you start, I do not care. Deliver results, and you will be fine." Leon's voice rang inside his ears and Percy found himself smiling. The freedom to do his tasks his way? Splendid. Just how he wanted it. And Leon didn't seem keen on any further conversation. Silence and freedom? Just perfect. Percy immediately organized his work and made himself a small mental note on where to start.

However, what he wasn't keen about, was the collection of monthly orders from the heads of all the different departments inside this base. Five people, he reminded himself. And Leon above them all. Why couldn't they just send everything to Leon? For what did they have a company mail?Ah, he didn't care.Percy stood up from his desk, clipboard in hand, and threw a nod towards the still silent Leon before exiting the office. Where would he go first? He had the housing wing with one head, the laboratory with two, and the training wing also with two. Good thing he had a map.He figured the head of the housing wing was the kindest of them all, so off he went.

Far from it.

The head of the housing department was an elderly woman named Bronya... A Russian, as far as he could tell. She didn't smile when he greeted her, she only stared at him with a sour expression and stretched out her wrinkled hands with a list inside to him. Percy shuddered. Another one of those with a stare that could freeze one's soul. He kind of expected not everyone to talk to him, but that was childish in his eyes. He had work to do, and while she obviously knew what he wanted from her, it wasn't the fine British way of acting towards colleagues. Well... still better than getting shot, he guessed. Next up was the laboratory. He dreaded the entry, and yet he had to. At the front was the large door that led into Stefan's domain... He preferred him over the laboratory, and after a loud knock he opened the door and went in.And paused as nobody was in.

"Where is that vampire...?" Percy mumbled, then proceeded to check the gigantic office. Clothes over clothes, neatly organized on racks, yet Stefan's designs far overloaded his pin wall and flew around everywhere. On his desk... was exactly what he needed. Percy couldn't suppress that relieved smile. At least no interaction for today.
He left the office as he had found it, list of orders in hand, and marched off towards the laboratory. People still threw him glances left and right but Percy found it better to ignore them. No reason to start trouble, and Leon expected results before the end of his shift.Large and especially heavy doors blocked his way further, yet there was a small reception desk right next to them. Percy sighed. That much about no human interaction today. At least the woman behind wasn't a vampire.

"Excuse me, Miss? Sir Leon sent me to get the supply order from Electrica."He did not want to see Electrica at all, so he hoped she would instead fetch it from him. Of course, just his luck- the woman eyed him up, then nodded her head."You're Percy Parker, aren't you? Sir Leon already announced you beforehand." "Yes, and he will not be pleased if I'm late."

Percy just wanted back into his quiet office without the criminals around him- he almost wanted to slap himself for that one but if he was honest, he felt so much safer next to his boss than any of those guys around him. The receptionist breathed out an annoyed sigh. Young people and their need to be hectic.
"You're misunderstanding. As sir Leon's assistant, you get a personal access card to every part of the base. I have it here but had to confirm you first."

Percy froze, then gave a small overwhelmed nod and took the access card from the woman's hands. That... was his? And he was able to enter the classified wing, just like that. What was Hanson thinking, allowing him into such a restricted area?!
Percy felt almost paranoid.
She was mocking him, daring him to make a mistake, to snoop. He wouldn't, that was for sure.

"Grab a lab coat, then you may enter."
Percy took one of the white coats from a hook next to the doors, slipped into it and marched right into the laboratory. Well... he was impressed and mildly intimidated by what he saw. People running around in lab coats, from young geniuses experimenting with machine parts to an old professor moving a robotic hand with a remote.
It made sense, Hanson Technologies researched machines. Somehow he managed it past all those people without being questioned or stopped, just in time before arriving in front of an office with blue letters engraved into the black door parting him from this woman.

Electrica
Head of the Laboratory

"Come in, Parker boy~" An all too familiar voice purred from the inside, and Percy felt himself shuddering. He hadn't even knocked! How did she know it was him?!
"S-sure..." He muttered, slowly creeping into the dimly lit office. Electrica sat behind a black desk littered with machine parts and an unidentifiable cyan liquid.

"You're here for the supply orders, aren't you?"She was smiling at him. Why was she smiling? Utterly weirded out, Percy just gave a nod. No need for further interaction.
"Here you go."
She handed him a paper, eyes wandering down towards his neck. Percy immediately stepped out of reach the moment he had what he wanted. If she was going to jump him in her office-No. No, she was just trying to scare him. Percy stiffed and stood straight.

"I'll be going now."
"I hope you did settle in and sir Leon isn't too hard on you."
Percy froze at the door, hand already gripping the door knob. She was acting weird, again. He might have had to get used to her being like this... how unsettling.
"...I did. No, he isn't. He is actually... pleasant to work for. I'll-"
"Yes yes, you'll go now, I get it," Electrica dismissed him with a wave of her hand, already focusing back onto her work again... whatever the hell she was doing, smearing around that liquid.

No mention of last night? Nothing at all?

Percy didn't know what to make of that but he did not want to wake sleeping lions. In fact, she did not look punished either. What was her punishment? He made a point of asking Leon later. Entering the training wing, he was met with the most unfortunate situation he could have run into:
A man and a woman yelling at each other, and a beast woman in between barking back at them. Percy sighed. The last thing he needed right now. A fight. And considering the description Leon had left for him, this beast woman was exactly the person he needed to speak to. Fuck.

"Naomi!"
Percy screamed over the two yelling individuals, and the inu proceeded the cover the mouths of the two shouting aggressors to be able to understand Percy. The immediate silence afterwards was immediately used up by Percy sputtering out what exactly he needed.
"Miss Naomi, I-I came for the supply orders."
Two long furry ears popped up and the woman gave a small nod. Finally, the two idiots caught themselves and backed away, continuing their screaming match:

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP US NOW."
The woman let out a scoff and glared at Percy. "That miniature-Leon can wait, we were first!"
"You can call me Percy," said one retorted with a grim smile, making an inviting gesture with his hand, "Please, continue where you left off, scream at each other."
The second aggressor, a male, was red in the face by now and took a step towards Percy.
"You shut your mouth, Parker boy, that is between us right now."
"I am neither a 'Parker boy' nor a 'miniature Leon'." Percy was slowly becoming angry, especially with the thought of a displeased Leon at the back of his mind who would discipline him harder the longer he took with this small errand, "I am Percy. And other than you, I've got work to do. Deal with it."

For a moment, everyone silenced. The tension was almost slice-able. Percy was glaring at these two, patiently waiting for Naomi to find her orders for him.
Then, it happened. The woman set up a smile, smacked the head of her company, and held her hand out towards Percy.
"Well, Percy. The name's Rin. That moron here is Jeff. Nice to meet you."
Percy almost failed to prevent his jaw from dropping, wind knocked out of his sails. Slowly, he held out his hand to shake Rin's- why was she nice, all of a sudden? Her seemingly friend rubbed the back of his head with a grumble, then held out his hand as well.

"Jeffrey, but call me Jeff. Sorry. Not the best way to introduce ourselves, I guess. Heat of the moment and all."
"It's... f-fine?"Percy was too dumbfounded to react like he wanted to. Well, he evaded that fight. How? He had no idea. He was just glad to make it out without the need to punch anybody.

"Got orders," Naomi spoke in broken English, holding out a list of her own. Percy took it, raising his eyebrows. He did not know this accent. Where did she come from? Brown hair, brown skin, brown eyes... everything about her was kind of brown. Maybe the Southern America regions? No, her accent sounded too different.
"Go now. Busy."
Naomi gestured to the door, and for Percy to leave, before she turned back to Rin and Jeff to finally solve their quarrel. Percy nodded, shooting a quick smile at her and the two troublemakers, before he walked off, heart racing.

Now only Jonathan was left, head of the kitchen... the easiest part. He had already seen him before.The moment Percy stepped back into Leon's office, the man was in the process of shutting down his laptop. Percy made a surprised face and checked his watch.

"We will start an early break, there is no need to start anything new before lunch," the man announced, slowly marching from his desk past Percy and into the hallway. The boy gasped, quickly put the lists down into Leon's desk, then followed him like a puppy. He was going to the dining hall, as far as he could tell.

"Uhm..." Percy began quietly behind him, and while Leon didn't show any reaction, he knew he was listening to him. "Sir, if I may ask... what exactly was Electrica's punishment?""As far as I am concerned, that is none of your business, Mr Parker."
Percy stood straight almost immediately, shuffling a bit awkward behind him. Well, shit."R-right. Forget that I asked.""...perhaps ask her yourself. She might tell you. But I can ensure you I punished her accordingly- Lady Hanson and I take these kinds of violations very serious."

Percy gave a small nod yet didn't answer further. Entering the dining hall, he jerked a little as a loud voice called out to him from a table far to the left.
"Yo, Percy! Come join us!"
It was Jeff, much to his surprise. A lot of room wasn't at the table, but enough for him. Percy let out a chuckle and moved over towards them, quietly taking his seat next to Rin.
"How do I deserve this honor?" He asked amused and received a genuine sounding laugh from the hotheaded woman.
"We weren't the nicest today. Sorry. Least we could do was have you sit with us." She patted his back, smiling at him."Welcome to the family, Percy."
He raised his eyebrows, then flashed a glance around the table. Perhaps he would actually eat in the hall- not in his room or Leon's office. To mention, where was that man? Another look around confirmed it. He was at his usual seat from yesterday. Even though there was no arranged seating, Leon was always sitting in the same place... so he was a man of his routine. Interesting to note.

Right after lunch, Percy found he actually enjoyed it this time. A lot of people chatting about the stupidest and mundane things rarely felt so refreshing for him. Socializing with a bunch of criminals? Better than he expected. Especially because some of them actually talked to him during lunch. Walking next to Leon, the man soon let out a questioning noise.
"Your posture is different, Mr Parker. Relaxed, almost. Did you find pleasant company?"
Flinching, the boy looked up at his boss, then nodded with a smile.

"In fact, I did. The start was difficult today but some of themgenuinely talk to me. I... did not expect that."

"What did you expect, young sir?"

"Well... I expected them to hate me.All of them. I... was a cop, after all. Even though I wasn't long inthe job."

Leon cocked his head to the side, whitehair falling into his face. Hate. Strongly disliking something orsomeone. An emotion he could not quite relate to... he did not hate.

"Oh, they do. Butthey also know you belong here, now, with us and all the discardedsouls Lady Hanson decided to gather."

"I know... But not everyone seems to be bothered. Kathrine seems to be happy I am here, some people don't mind at all. All I get are glances. Nobody has actually picked a fight yet and I'm... how do I say... surprised? They haven't exactly bullied me yet either, as far as I know."Leon paused for moment. In his eyes, Percy's logic does not make sense to him."Why should they?""Because if it was the other way around, a criminal wanting to join police, we all know what would have happened. I'm still new to this mentality."
The white-haired man let out an amused chuckle and shook his head, before looking down at the boy.

"You are here onher wish, Mr Parker, same as we all are. Please do not forget this.After you..."

Leonopened the door to his office, ushering Percy in, and the lad gladlytook his seat back at his desk, relaxing. There wasn't much more todo. Perhaps he could even go earlier today and spend some time withKathrine. He was already looking forward to this.

"It kind of puts me into a situation, I have to admit." Percy slowly begins again after a while of silent work, leaning back again into his chair. "I always thought I was doing the right thing and being tolerant... God was I wrong. I don't like to be wrong."
Percy voiced his thoughts quietly, then let out a small chuckle. Leon perked up once more from his desk, tilting his head.
"We are very much accepting of any person, of any kind. Beast-folk, vampire, human. As long as you do not betray lady Hanson, we accept you as equal and one of us. Lady Hanson decided to bring you here, and we trust her choice. They may need some time to get used to you... but they all will have your back, even right now."

A pause.
"You are bothered by this, young sir. Why?"Percy looked up once again, at the man. What does he actually think of him so far, Percy wondered? He couldn't read him in the slightest.
"It bothers me because I know enough people in my own station that wouldn't be as tolerant. It wouldn't stay at frowns and glances."

His mouth shut, but Percy knew exactly what he was talking about. His walking troublemaker of a friend, Sam, was the best example for that. Already a few brushes with the law himself before joining the police. He was still getting some shit for his past actions from coworkers. Percy was honest, if they hadn't been in such dire need for new recruits, especially with the dropping interest for this job, they wouldn't have considered Sam any good fit for the station nor the work he was doing.
"Do not be bothered about it. This is the kind of treatment Master Hanson has drilled into Lady Hanson and myself, and we give it further."
"I do think it will haunt me for some time still. But..."
He took a deep breath, leaning forward again. Work. He had to get this done sooner or later. "...I'm going to figure it out."