Like all the other rooms in the derelict building where he unfortunately worked, the meeting room was simply a broom closet of some sort that had been temporarily converted into a conference space. This simply meant moving the cupboards into other people's offices and shoving a too-large table into a too-small space.
Johnnny and Bryce squeezed around an exasperated blonde woman and sat down next to a young man who was currently trying to unlock his laptop. Johnnny then peered over the man, smoothly taking away laptop and typing in his password for him.
"…How do you know my password?" he asked, eyes wide with shock.
"Got my sources. Anyhow, hey there Peter! How ya doin'?" Johnnny smirked, slinging a casual arm over the other's shoulders, "Just got one question for you."
"Huh, really? Sure then, I'll answer your question!" Peter grinned widely, already moving past the fact that he had known his password.
"What's 1+1?"
"Uh…" he frowned, appearing deep in thought for a few seconds before lighting up again, "I'm pretty sure that would be yellow, no?"
"Yeah, Pfft- sure pal." Johnnny stifled a chuckle, since he would feel bad if he laughed at the poor guy, "Anyways, how'd your second job here go?"
"It was alright, honestly. I only messed up really badly about... Eleven times? The supervisor was so proud of me," he beamed, curly locks falling over his murky green eyes.
"Wait, seriously?!" Bryce moved Johnnny to the side as he confronted Peter, "Only eleven times? Damn, that's a major improvement from the fifty-eight mistakes you made last time."
"It's 'cause he was scared shitless of me," an icy voice made all three of them flinch.
Johnnny slowly turned around, his smirk wiping off his face as he registered who exactly was staring right back at him. Black eyes, soulless and devoid of any mercy. White hair, which somehow didn't make her look like a grandma. And most importantly, a sharp tongue that could leave any prideful man into shreds.
"...Oh, uhm... h-hey Rachel," Bryce mumbled, eyes glued to the ground.
"I see you three are still the same pathetic cowards from a week ago, eh?"
"Hello Ms. Rachel..." even the oblivious Peter had turned into a sniveling child before the wrath of Rachel.
"Now then, shut the fuck up. I'm getting a headache from just seeing you guys," she scoffed at them, then moved to sit next to Johnnny, who practically shrunk into his seat.
Clap!
Meryl clapped her hands together at the head of the table, signaling the start of the meeting. Everyone's eyes wandered towards the whiteboard.
"Today, we'll be designating shows to-" these words set off multiple rounds of not-so-hushed whispers, while Meryl stood with an annoyed expression.
"SILENCE," Meryl's voice reverberated throughout the room, "Thank you. Now then, $5 off everyone's next paycheck. Stop groaning. Good. Where were we?"
Peter stuck up his hand, answering before even being called for, "You said that show designations will be done this meeting!"
"...Thank you, Peter. Yes, everyone is moving into their new show dimension either today or tomorrow. You all should've already consulted the Voice, who would have told you the number of episodes given to you. As usual, severe deductions for any lying, got it?"
A chorus of 'Yes Ma'am' followed.
"Ah, who should we start with? Yes, why don't we begin with..."
Her hazel eyes wandered over to Johnnny's form.
"Johnnny Smyth."
"...Me?!" he jumped out of his chair, letting out a few celebratory shouts, "I'M GETTING PAID! HAH, DID YA HEAR THAT, BRYCE? IT'S ME! I'M FUCKING HIM!"
"Do you want your entire pay to be deducted? Sit down and listen," Meryl glowered at Johnnny.
"Oh. Uhm, sorry Meryl- I mean, Ms. Brown."
"Shut up. Episode count?"
"Twelve ma'am. I scored a big one! If ya don't believe me, ask the Voice or somethin'."
"Not bothered. You're too stupid to lie anyways."
Johnnny spluttered, "Excuse me? So this ain't inappropriate conduct but me swearing-"
"The Academy's Bastard Son Became an S Rank Swordsman."
He blinked, "Huh?"
"I said, 'The Academy's Bastard Son Became an S Rank Swordsman'. That's the show you're filming," she flicked her hair behind her shoulder, brown eyes staring down at him.
"Shi- I mean, uh- Cheesesticks. Another reincarnation show? Those are so boring to film," Johnnny slumped over the table, "And here I was getting excited..."
Meryl rolled her eyes before moving onto the next person, leaving Johnnny in complete misery. Bryce struggled to hold back his laughter as he tried to soothe his co-worker by awkwardly patting his back.
"At least it's 12 episodes?" he shrugged, trying to find ways to cheer the other up.
"Don't even get me started on this bullshit. I mean, I understand it's a reincarnation anime, so it's bound to be crap, but come on... There's three cliches in the title alone."
"Womp womp. At least it's not the next Gilmore Girls or something like that. Do you know how awkward it is for a middle-aged white man like me to be staring stone-faced at random teenage girls shouting at each other? Literally had nightmares after that first season."
He stayed silent, then chuckled, "True. I still get shivers sometimes after that high school romance show I filmed."
"See? Besides, you're a veteran by now. Surely you can handle a flimsy reincarnation show-"
"Bryce, your show is 'I, the Villainess, Accidentally Tamed the Cold Duke!', okay?" Meryl interrupted their conversation before walking away.
"..."
A moment of silence passed between them.
"Pfft-"
They both burst into laughter.
"You got a fuckin' romance reincarnation anime!" Johnnny clutched his stomach, still chuckling.
"Can't be talking, mister 'three cliches in the title alone'. At least mine's just two."
"We're both so dead, man..."
"Agreed."
- - -
Another day, another broom closet. (Seriously, how many did the building have? At this point, were there even any non-closet rooms?) A group of middle-aged men and women chattered amongst themselves in front of the closed space. Soon, the door opened dramatically, revealing a stoic face and the small portal space behind her.
"Good morning everyone. Chatter amongst yourselves for now. I'll call your name once you are needed," her words were clipped, a stern demeanor only seen on 'portal' days.
Two men started to talk to each other, standing rather far behind the rest of the group.
"Sigh, I'm finally high enough to withstand this shit," Johnnny muttered, hands nonchalantly tucked behind his head.
"What devious behavior. To be smoking a blunt when you're about to start working? How inappropriate!" Bryce gasped.
"Whatever. Nothing'll ever stop me from snorting crack- not even Meryl. I would go into debt for this baby," he smirked, then added, "Actually, I probably would stop if Rachel told me to."
"Who wouldn't? She's one scary-ass bitch," Bryce nodded in agreement.
"Anyways, I'm probably gonna book it as soon as Meryl calls my name. I ain't bothered to do the safety paperwork and sign about a thousand pages."
"Honestly? Same. Based plan."
Suddenly, a voice cut through the air.
"Gentlemen, chat-time's over. Johnnny, it's your turn. Please walk- Don't run, you imbecile!" Meryl tried to grab the man's jacket, fingers slipping through the grey fabric.
"Sorry Miss! My head'll explode if we have to go through all those crappy safety protocols. I'm pretty much an expert at this shit anyways after working here for a couple years. Bye Peter! And fuck you, Bryce!"
Johnnny threw one last look back at the mass of employees, flipped Bryce off as always, and jumped into the swirling purple vortex. The last noise he heard was Meryl's faint voice.
"$9.27 deducted for disregarding safety protocols, inappropriate language, and not following your supervisor's words...!"
And then?
The world went black.