Chapter Text
Thomas Saggs was what one might call an 'average' kind of suit. He was mild mannered, agreeable in temperament, and was known by all those who worked under him as being stupendously diligent, always on hand to sign a sheathe of contracts or organize a filing cabinet to perfection. Yes, overall nobody would disagree in that the ever-dutiful COO was a model worker in every regard.
...However, ever since "The Incident" that occurred back on April 1st of that year, many couldn't help but notice a...dip, in the Ottoman's usual level of rampant productivity.
He'd become a lot more skittish, always trying to be aware of everyone that might be in a room, and, more importantly, every available exit in a room too! In fact whenever he was put in charge of a stock-count in the HQ warehouse or storage area since that fateful day, he'd made it a mandatory requirement that at least two of his fellow suits be stationed by the entrance to the room, keeping a watch so that nobody came in, or went out.
And, he seemed a lot more distant during moments when he wasn't alone...if he was in a meeting or even attending a formal event while close colleagues or even his brother was nearby, he'd often wind up staring off into space, lost in deep thought until someone called his name or tapped him on the shoulder, pulling him back down to earth again with a start.
He'd often use the excuse that he was merely going over his 'mental checklist' or files that required updating and books that needed balancing back at his office.
Nobody bought it however. Everyone would silently look amongst themselves and nod and hand-wave it off, but they all knew what was really going on.
That blasted Toon that attacked him on April Toons had rattled him. And they'd rattled him BAD.
Initially, after several weeks of mulling it over, a suggestion was made by the CLO no less, having been keeping a close eye on Thomas' behaviours, that she could hand-pick from amongst her employees one of her best Spin-Doctors, to give Thomas a bit of a re-tooling, see if the damage done in the fight had perhaps knocked anything awry.
As much as Robert had liked the idea of a quick-fix to the problem however, he knew that Thomas would not see a doctor unless he was the one making the appointment, and he didn't want to force his elder brother into something he didn't consent to, so the idea was shot down, though praised.
Then, some time later when all four bossbots and Robert were having one of their 'bi-weekly group talks', usually to go over how each of their sectors were doing productivity-wise, that was when the VP happened to chime in with an idea, one that was a lot less conventional...unheard of even, by Cog standards.
'Perhaps it might be worth giving Thomas away time?' he'd said, causing all heads in that meeting room to turn and lock on him, as though he'd spoken a language none of them understood.
There was a short, subtle silence that drifted about the room. The CEO furrowed his brow pensively and bit down hard on the large cigar balanced between his fingers, while the CFO cleared his throat loudly, causing the stacked bullion contained within his head to rattle softly, his way of wordlessly saying that what the VP just said seemed utterly ridiculous.
'...Care to elaborate on what you mean by that, Allan?' Robert asked at last, sitting forward as he clasped both hands in front of him on the table-top, eyeing his old friend warily. He was willing to hear him out, even if it sounded unorthodox.
Allan had immediately brightened once Robert gave him the floor, having seemingly not even noticed the doubtful glances the others were giving him.
'Well! As it so happens, it's an idea my son brought up!' He began, Craig and Chris almost immediately exchanging a secret, knowing look from either end of the table, and if they could of audibly groaned without offending Allan? They would have. It's not that they didn't like Cathal, however...they could see what Allan was seemingly blinded to in regards to his heir, though they weren't about to bring it up, save that for a future intervention years down the line.
All the while Allan almost seemed to puff out his chest with nothing but pride for his one and only child, as he began into the idea with gusto.
'You see - - Cathal has noticed how morose Thomas has been whenever he's been in attendance to a meeting with me, and he brought up just recently how there are odd occasions where similar moods strike him! He explained that usually what helps him back on track is to 'take some time to clear his mind'...sometimes he uses that time to rationalise how he's feeling, and he feels less unsettled afterwards!' the VP explained, his hands instinctively gesturing and moving around in the air as he went on, a habit he'd never quite been able to shake.
And through it all, the others politely listened. The CEO took long, deliberate drags on his cigar, the CFO's fingers drummed a monotonous, steady rhythm against the table-top, and all the while the CLO wrote down occasional notes in a jotter she typically kept in her breast pocket.
In the moment Craig wanted to roll his eyes. He and the others were all too aware that when Bravecog junior "took time to clear his mind" that was the time he typically earned a sizeable pay-cheque. He had wanted for quite some time to point out to his old friend that one does not simply earn the title of '''Multislacker''' without good reason...but he never could quite bring himself to. Allan's whole world, other than the company, was his son. Had been since the day he'd commissioned them to be built! So when Cathal spoke? Allan couldn't help but be supportive... the kid was vexing to understand at times, but if anyone was close enough to the three bosses to be considered a 'nephew' of sorts? Cathal was it.
Letting the information stew all the while however, Robert, leather arm-rests creased from thinking like a human might look when furrowing their brow, got up from his seat at the head of the table, and began a methodical pace back and forth, a hand cupped under his square chin.
'Hmmm...the illusive 'sick leave' or 'vacation time' I've heard about...I think our old man used to offer that back in the day...' he muttered, pausing a moment in place as his gaze lingered on the ever-beaming VP.
'It's not an idea I'd normally even consider, and honestly if it was brought up to Thomas he'd flat out deny it as well, he's more intent on making sure paperwork gets done on time than I am, so you'd have to likely claw him away from that desk kicking and screaming for any longer than a day,'
To that lukewarm acknowledgement, Allan could only grin as he shook his head lightly, picking up his coffee mug that sat before him on the desk with one hand, while wagging a finger dismissively with the other.
'aaaah but that's the beauty of it Robert, it doesn't have to be a LONG break! Cathal said that even an hour's worth of time would be more than enough for him to clear his head! Thomas wouldn't even need to leave Town proper,'
Before Robert could respond to the VP's words, the CEO cut in, breaking his own ongoing silence as he leaned forward to nudge the ash tray at the centre of the table closer to him, so he could flick some of the building-up ash from his cigar into it, as he raised a brow with an all-too-casual air.
'OR, if you think about it, maybe it would have a BETTER result if Thomas did go away long-term for some...distraction. He's shook up because of the April Toons fiasco, right? So ... why not simply convince him to go somewhere which ISN'T populated by Toons? Heck - - if he was so amped up about paperwork being done he could even TAKE IT WITH HIM and fax it all back direct to your office, problem solved!' Craig grinned, looking across to the VP as he watched his friend take a long sip of his coffee.
'Not to say that Cathal's idea doesn't hold any merit, of course,' he added, his tone brisk.
Then, as though bolstered by the CEO's idea, Chris too gave a dismissive hand wave and a light shrug, as he too decided to weigh in on things.
'We could always put out a call to John, you know,'
All heads in the room snapped to look in the CFO's direction as soon as that dreaded name was brought up, the air in the room suddenly growing notably...tense.
Allan and Craig both almost gave imploring looks, silently BEGGING for him to drop the topic, all the while Diane was wordlessly sending a very icy sort of look his way from behind her glasses.
The CFO didn't seem to notice however...either that or he was deliberately choosing to flat out ignore them, his eyes locked firmly on Robert in those moments.
'Despite the unfortunate note he left on, he is still an old friend, I doubt he'd mind opening up that summer home of his that his grandchildren keep posting about on his behalf, that and as far as I recall he was quite fond of - - '
Before the CFO could complete his musing, everyone visibly twitched and shrank back as the Chairman slammed his fist abruptly against the table, a small ripple effect occurring the equivalent to a Mover-and-Shaker's stomp attack that rattled the glass ash tray in front of Craig, and causing Allan such a fright that he almost dropped his mug, his head swivelling the full 360 degrees so sharply that it made him dizzy.
'ABSOLUTELY NOT!' Robert bellowed, creating quite the stir despite his much smaller stature, to the point where the secretary down the hall from their meeting room heard him clear as day...subsequently falling out of their office chair with a clatter due to the sudden shock.
'Mr. Robolts may be a friend of YOURS still, but he is not considered a friend of mine! Do you GENUINELY think it would make my social standing look good if I went grovelling and snivelling to HIS doorstep, to deign ask him a FAVOUR? The press would have a field day with that! My reputation would be ruined!'
Robert paused then, having stopped his pacing in order to stand directly before Chris to chew him out specifically, before finally trying to get a hold of himself, and deciding to sit back down in his own chair as he rubbed at his temples, his tone cold.
'The only reason I would send Thomas to John's summer home to begin with would be as a mission to RETRIEVE THAT RUG that John stole out of my office,' he grumbled, his tone clipped, practically hissing with contempt.
A silence fell over the meeting room then. And it lingered for what had, at the time, felt like a while. Nobody present enjoyed dealing with Robert's outbursts, even he didn't really LIKE taking that tone, especially with people he considered actual friends. However, it was an unhealthy logic of his that he'd talked himself into believing made him more intimidating, and therefore? More respected by proxy.
As the silence dragged on, the four department bosses opting to give the Chairman time to cool down, Allan went through the process of regaining his sense of balance and set his head back in place, the pupils of his four eyes still lazily spinning as Craig meanwhile glared daggers at the CFO and shook his head slowly at him, almost trying to psychically convey the message 'YOU SHOULD OF KNOWN BETTER,' which...Chris gave no reaction to, instead crossing his arms haughtily, head held high. He had always been of the belief that times would have to come when Robert needed to be told things he'd not like, and even now? He stuck firmly to that belief.
But, in the end, it was the CLO who finally decided to speak up, always being the kind of person to listen on all sides of a situation before weighing in herself.
'...Perhaps, rather than picking one idea or the other, you can instead test Thomas with both suggestions, Mr.Cyger,' she mused, her fellow bosses eyeing her carefully as Robert looked up at her with a raised brow, his expression giving off the clear message that he was exhausted, but intrigued.
'Alright...explain?' He returned, making a limp, half-hearted motion with one hand for her to continue, as she quite casually slipped the jotter she had been taking notes in back into her breast pocket, the fluorescent lights overhead illuminating the lenses of her glasses to striking effect.
'Mr Saggs is having productivity issues due to his mind being occupied by Toons, though admittedly it is an unorthodox method, Allan's suggestion for Thomas to have some outside distraction does hold water...start by having Thomas take mandatory breaks away from the office, for however long you feel works best...if he's able to find something to do during that time that clears his mind? The plan will of been a success,' She explained, motioning to the VP as he was brought into the conversation.
'However, if the plan doesn't work and he still can't take his mind off those Toons? THEN you try the other suggestion, and formally request he leave Town for a time in order to regain his standing...Not however, involving a one Mr.Robolts,' She continued, cocking her head a moment as she then added 'Since the incident occurred, I have had my employees working towards identifying and tracking down the Toon that attempted his life, by the time Thomas has regained himself? We should have the culprit under our jurisdiction,' She said, giving a confident, professional nod to further seal her conviction, as the others could only look on, admittedly rather impressed by how cool and laid back she was acting even after witnessing one of those infamous outbursts.
Seeming to let the idea roll around in his head in those moments, Robert sighed as his shoulders slackened, and he rubbed at an eye idly before taking a long, purposeful sip from the coffee cup that sat in front of him, long since gone cold as he'd completely forgotten it was there until now, he'd need to call in his secretary after this meeting to make him a fresh one.
Finally, having let the conversation sink in, the Chairman sat up straighter in his seat and kept his gaze locked on Ms.Morsecode, as he replied '...I knew I made the right decision by hiring you Diane, alright...I'll figure out a schedule for a 'test run' and inform Thomas later on tonight,'