In the enormous warehouse, layers of dust covers shrouded all manner of large instruments, tables, chairs, and benches. The air carried the scent of maintenance oil, while the dehumidifiers continued to hum.
Beneath a solitary lamp, two chairs faced one another.
Huai Shi walked in happily, humming a tune. He sat across from the captive and stared expectantly at the horse-headed man for a long while before suddenly asking, "Name?"
"...You've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you?" The captive, Tony, saw straight through the source of Huai Shi's joy.
"Cut the crap. Behave yourself. I'm asking you a question."
Huai Shi rolled his eyes. "Name!"
"Forgot." Tony was utterly unapologetic.
Huai Shi did not care about the answer anyway and continued. "Age?"
"Can't remember." Tony remained stubborn.
Huai Shi asked again, "Gender?"
"Male!"
With the hair clippers drawing closer and closer, Tony's answer rang out loud and clear.
"You're awfully insistent on that point, Teacher Tony."
Huai Shi clicked his clippers open and shut, then gestured around Tony's waist. "Actually, it could be changed..."
Cold sweat trickled beneath Tony's mask. "I think it's fine as it is."
"Change it. Cooler, freer, more correct." Huai Shi urged him earnestly. "Trans people are very popular these days. Look at that person in the Decision Room—didn't they say they wanted to become transgender? They've been making quite a splash lately!"
"It won't help, it really won't! He's still a Black vegan!" Tony tried desperately to shrink back, warning him in a booming voice, "The Original Darkness Legion doesn't care about that stuff. Don't you dare mess around!"
"Whether I mess around or not depends on you, doesn't it?"
Huai Shi clicked the clippers twice more, smiling without quite smiling. "It's my first time doing this, so I don't