Chapter Text
Samm sits in his new office, hands curled in his lap. It's quiet, absolutely filled with paperwork, and Samm already adores it.
He wasn't particularly expecting the promotion. Didn't really make sense, considering he's hardly worked in the library for a year. But dad seemed pretty determined that this is where he's meant to be, this is where he's best suited. He isn't quite sure if that's true yet, given his lack of experience, but it did feel rather good to hear.
He.. he does sometimes hear whispers of nepotism, but he always tried to ignore it and the pointed glares sent his way. It worked. Usually.
There's a knock at the door, and it startles Samm so badly that he actually jumps. He catches himself, ofcourse, and leans casually against his desk. "C-Come in," he says cheerily, trying to push down the stutter from his words.
Standing at the door, akwardly clutching a pile of paperwork is someone he doesn't quite recognize. They are short, rather scrawny actually, with dark skin and long curly brown hair that has streaks of purple running through it. Their outfit is professional, but still strikingly alternative with a long black coat and deep red button up.
Samm straightens, "Who are you? I'm pretty sure the rules state only archivists and their assistants are permitted and the archives."
"Oh! Well, I ah.." their friendly smile is a bit lopsided, "I'm your new assistant, according to Mr. Halo. He said I'd be working here, starting today actually."
Samm blinks.
Oh.
God, he's so foolish- of course his dad would hire some assistants for him! He's always been rather.. judgy. About his choice in friends. Especially when it comes to Violet, infact, he had a hard time even getting him to sign off on that particular assistant.
Sighing, Samm walks around his desk so he can face his new assistant more head on. He reaches out a hand, and gives the most polite smile that he could possinly muster given the situation.
"Well then, I'm Mr Halo, but you could always just call me Samm to avoid any slip ups with my father. It's a pleasure to meet you, I hope you'll find this job.. rewarding. Or what have you."
"Your.. his... son?" The persons eyes narrow a bit, looking Samm up and down quickly, as though trying to get a good gage of him. They accept the hand regardless, however, and with a firm shake they finish with, "... Its nice to meet you too. I'm Indigo Thorn but- but I prefer just being called Indigo."
"Right." Samm let's go, then tilts his head, "And what exactly did you need me for?"
"Hm? Oh! Oh shit-" their eyes widen, and they whip their head back to the doorway, looking around, "God. This is embarrassing but- but you haven't seen a cat, have you?"
"Im sorry, what?"
-
Samm has been... adjusting? to this new job. Rather well, actually, all things considered. He gets along with his assistants, even Indigo who's practically a nervous wreck half of the time, and the work is actually kinda fun, once he gets use to it.
But.
There's something.. wrong, with some of the statements he's been reading.
Most of them are fine, short blurbs of obviously faked stories straight out of a poorly written creepy pasta. You get the occasional good one, writers who are using the institute as a self promotion for their future endeavors. But you can't run an institute revolving around accounts of the supernatural, without getting a few stragglers who are just here for a good laugh.
He himself doesn't believe in the supernatural, atleast not to the extent that people would assume of him working at a place like this. Hes not totally disagreeable to the concept of something beyond this world, or whatever, but he would consider himself a skeptic. There's just so much nonsense out there that he doesn't even want to try guessing which of its real, and which isn't. It's easier to just judge it though an analytical lense, not letting personal biases slip through.
But.
Some of the statements don't record on the normal computers.
He remembers the first time it happened, how confused and utterly affronted he felt reading through an entire statement only for it to come back as garbled static. He took it to Silver first, asked her to help him record it on her computer. Same results. Indigo offered to use their phone, and again- static.
He got so frustrated and desperate he even brought it to Violet, fully expected him to tease him and brush it off but.. he seemed just as lost as him.
So they started using the tape recorders, and what do you know? It worked! He went through the entire statement no problem, the audio came out perfectly. Should mean everything okay, right?
But the statement was so bizarre. So weird, so raw- he swore he could see and feel the fear that Nathan Watts felt, being approached by that stranger in the dark. He even, rather embarrassingly had to curl under his desk after finishing it, comepletely chilled to the bone as though he was the one it happened to.
So yes, Samm does, by all means consider himself a skeptic. But he doesn't like to consider himself a fool, and what better way to figure out whats going on with these weird statements then throwing himself into his work.
So he's been working. Alot.
Dad's noticed, ofcourse, but doesn't comment on it. Infact, he seems to be pleased at his "development as an Archivist", whatever that means. His assistants have also noticed, but they don't comment. Well, Silver doesn't comment, just gives him small pitiful glances. Violet teases, but it's always been hard for Samm to tell when he in particular is bothered by something.
And Indigo...
"A little late for you to be working, isn't it boss?"
Samm groans, and lifts his head from the desk to glare at his assistant, "Don't think that's any of your business Indigo. Shouldn't you be getting home too? It's nearly-" he glances towards the clock, "Jesus! Is it really 1 am already?"
"Yup, and you haven't left your office in over 3 hours. Was waiting for you to leave so I can close up."
"Oh.." Samm blinks, "I.. you don't have to do that."
"I do, actually. You don't have your keys, remember?"
Samms face reddens a bit at that. He really, really hoped nobody noticed that. It was already embarrassing enough to have to ask Gwen to let him in last week, who else noticed...?
"Anyway," Indigo huffs, and smiles fondly at him, "You really outta be getting home now. Need any help cleaning up?"
"Hm? Oh, no I'm fine. Thanks for offering but.. I'm fine. It's not that bad, really."
Indigo looks at the piles of boxes and paperwork all around him, eyebrow raises questioningly. Samm just sighs.
"I know what I'm doing," he says with a bit of a challenge. Indigo just shrugs, and pulls their keys from their jacket pockets. Samm follows behind them, trailing along quietly.
They can still feel the buzz under their skin, the energy boost from constant in depth research that seems to lead nowhere begging them to keep looking, keep searching. So, after a few moments of silence they ask,
"Any update on the Vittery case?"
"Hm?"
"Carlos Vittery. The ghost spider guy?"
"Oh! Yeah, actually." Indigo opens the basement door, "I was meaning to tell you. I found the guys address, was planning on asking around town to see if anyone heard from him leading up to his death."
Samm bites at his lip, "Thats.. thats it? You know your not going to get much out of that, right?"
"Well, yeah?" Indigo mutters, sounding a bit hurt, "But what else can you do? Not like I can talk to the guy himself."
"I mean obviously but.." Samm pauses, then hesitates before asking, "Maybe the house itself has something..?"
"Thats.." Indigo looks over to him, and just. Stares. Like Samm said something truly absurd, "Boss. I'm not- I'm not breaking into someone's house just for some follow up."
"... Why not?"
"Why- Why not!? Samm that's a literal crime! Breaking and entering is like. A federal offense! You can't do that!"
"Silver and Violet do it all the time, it's apart of our job!"
Indigo does not dignify this with a response.
"What?" Samm scoffs, "it is!"
"We're archivists. We are suppose to be archiving things not.. whatever this is."
"Well, Your not wrong but-" he pointedly ignores the look Indigo gives him, "But! This.. somethings weird with this job. And, if we plan on getting anywhere with this- whatever it is we need to be ready to take risks. If your not ready for that then.. then you should just leave."
Hes practically in hysterics by now, talking himself into a fit pulled along by the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Indigo is startled comepletely silent, unsurprisingly, but Samm can't find it in himself to care.
"... Right. You uh.. you should really get some sleep, I think."
"Mm, and what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing! Nothing. Just, it's getting late." He opens the door, motioning for Samm to exit before him, "And you've stayed up enough already."
"... Right," are they even taking him seriously? "But you'll- you'll keep what I said in mind, right?"
"Mm, sure.. maybe. I dunno, doesn't matter right now. Way too late to think about any breaking and entering anyway."
"Actually, right now would probably be the best time to-"
"Go home Samm."
"Right. Ah, goodnight Indigo."
The corner of their mouth lilts into a little smile, "You too Boss."
He gives a small nod, and makes his way to his bike parked out front. Atleast he thought last minute to bring along his tape recorder and some extra statements, working a bit at home never hurt anyone.