Breaking the Chains of Command (Takashi Agera)

From Radiant Heart MUSH

Breaking the Chains of Command (Takashi Agera)
Date of Cutscene: 18 September 2023
Location: Dark Laboratory
Synopsis: Takashi Agera answers some pointed questions from Mimete. And they talk about Open Door Policies.
Thanks to: Norie, Pyrite, Firefly, Fate, Hematite
Cast of Characters: Takashi Agera

Takashi Agera, lab coat and tie, walking down the hallway through Obsidian's lower levels. Where his lab had been, now stood a largely empty room, most of it taken up by what is simply a large dark-colored wooden reception desk. Leaning up against it, was a strange looking woman in a puffy skirt with wild orange hair. "Agera, what are you on about! What's all this in here? What have you been doing?" she asked, in a shrill tone. "What's the meaning of going to speak to Professor Tomoe and Kaolinite without going through me first! You insubordinate little geek!"

Takashi shrugged. "Well, Mimete... You've always ignored my comments and reports, so I figured you must have been extremely busy with whatever tasks Kaolinite gives you, and they must have been so much harder than mine, considering the only team you have that makes any energy profit is mine." Takashi replied. "I figured after a point, if something was very important - like this was - I should speak to them directly, and avoid bothering you."

"You're not just a geek... you're a little slithery snake, Agera." she said, clenching her hand around the star-tipped staff she was carrying. "You just wanted to horde the credit for the discovery for yourself."

"I didn't want to horde anything. I gave you exactly the credit you deserve." Takashi replied. Mimete stomped her feet angrily, like a child throwing a standing tantrum. A frustrated cry left her mouth before any actual words did.

"And who authorized you to expand your staff? Or do any of this?!" she asks, gesturing to the 'lab'. Which is now simply the reception desk and a set of metal doubledoors, offset from the wall, with strange arcane runes at the door. "What happened to all of the expensive lab equipment I gave you? What is up with these?!" she shrilled, pointing to the two robot-like youma guarding either side of that offset door. "What... what makes you think you have the rights to do ANY of this without MY permission?!"

"Well, I returned all of the equipment you gave me to the storage rooms. I don't need it anymore." Takashi begins. "I've turned this into a reception room for my actual lab which will be behind those doors - something I dragged up with some external help but none of your department's money or effort. I used my budget as I was empowered to, I haven't taken a yen more than you were providing me, and yet I've increased my staff. I feel like that should be a cause for reward, not anger. I've taken the paltry resources you gave me and turned an energy profit. And here you are lecturing me."

"You absolute... obnoxious... TWERP!" Mimete shouted. "I'll fire you! Insubordinate kid!" She leveled her star-tipped Witch's Staff at him.

"Oh, man. You're gonna tell Tomoe and Kaolinite you fired the guy who figured out their Crystalized Pure Hearts issue? Wow, that's brave. You must really think the time you spend ogling at hot guys on your computer is valuable to the company." Takashi added, unphased.

"That... that's what you went to see Professor Tomoe about?" She asked, her eyes wide. "You figured out the problem?!" she asked, shocked. "But we've been working on that for months now."

"Yeah, which is why I took it directly to him so it didn't get lost. The solution... and the working prototype." Takashi added casually.

"W... well just because you do some math and built a toy doesn't mean you can just... go around the chain of command!" she added, still glaring at him. '

"Except, that's pretty much exactly what it means. Professor Tomoe said he had an open door policy when it came to me, and I could come to him anytime if I felt like I wasn't being listened to. He's a good Director that way, you know?" Takashi said, a smirk on his face. "So look. Why don't you go back up to your office, turn on your computer, and drool over dudes until it's time to go home. I'll continue not interrupting that, and you can continue not interupting me."

"I hate you -so- much." Mimete said, her shoulders drooping. "So. -Very-. Much." And then under her breath she mumbled. "Too bad you don't drive a car yet." she said.

She stomped off, but she was already plotting her revenge, in a very Mimete style. If she couldn't fire him, she'd just do to him what she was doing to Eugeal. "We'll see if you can still be smug with thumbtacks in your shoes and snails in your bookbag, you little jerk." she hissed as she stomped up the stairs back to her office.