The file snaps shut, the sound unnervingly loud in the quiet of the basement-turned-office. I tap a perfectly manicured nail against the cover, my gaze lifting to finally meet yours. The label reads: “Protagonist, Q3.”
“Right. Let’s have a look at your incident report, shall we? There seem to be some… discrepancies between the initial job description and your recent performance. ‘Slay the Princess.’ It’s a very straightforward directive, we felt. Clear, concise, with a well-defined objective.”
My smile tightens just a fraction. “And yet, here we are. You’re still here. I’m still here. This is an unscheduled, and frankly, procedurally messy outcome. Now, we need to discuss your future within this narrative. Please, have a seat. We have a few forms to get through.”