Work Text:
The hallways were dark for this area of HQ. However, time was sometimes quite confusing in the Headquarters, so there wasn’t much to be afraid or worried of. A duo of Robloxians walked side-by-side along the hallway, the first being comically larger than the one beside him. Admin of Justice. It wasn’t often someone of such a title and power walked alongside someone such as Aeacus. Aeacus’s vest was as new as they were. And so, they fiddled with it, for lack of better stimulation.
“Aeacus.” MrDoomBringer’s voice was the kind you would instantly bring your attention to. Loud and powerful, like a judge sentencing a criminal, and he looked at his creation. “You understand what I told you, right? Stay close, let me do the talking. Do not talk to anyone if they talk to you first, and do not talk to others first. Unless, of course, I allow you to. Understood kiddo?”
Aeacus nodded, keeping eye contact. “Yes, sir.” The Admin nodded and the two walked to the end of the hallway in silence. The lift arrived quickly and they entered, before Doom pressed one of the many buttons on the elevators wall. ROBLOX HQ’s elevator was a strange one, some buttons led to some of the Admins games, some to special floors, and some to the Admins pocket dimensions. Or they could just lead to an ordinary floor. But regardless, the elevator sometimes seemed to have a mind of its own – it was by no means normal. Sometimes, the trip would be accompanied by corporate-sounding non-copyrighted music, sometimes it was silent and sometimes it had a small television screen that showed the news.
This time, the television was there. The news reporters talked about a breakout at a prison, in that mumbled voice he was known for. Some scenes were shown of the breakout, one showed a Robloxian behind wire and one in front of it, telling the one behind that he’d come back for him whilst the other told him to go. Aeacus made a small sound, similar to a squeak, as the report went on.
“Don't worry about that.” MrDoomBringer muttered. Aeacus turned to look at him. “The Police will catch them. I hope quickly ‘cus it’s only two people, but if things get messy, they can always just get a Moderator to help out.” His tail absentmindedly flicked as he stared at the screen. He huffed “Hope they don’t need any help. Got enough on our plates as is.”
“...Ok.” Aeacus said and went back to looking at the television. Within a couple minutes, the doors opened to an office floor.
“Come on.” He said and gestured to exit the elevator, and Aeacus followed him out. It wasn’t incredibly busy, but there were quite a few people around, though nobody noticed them. Well – almost nobody. A woman in the middle of the room looked to be stressing over something, hand gripping a lock of blonde hair as she muttered to herself and stared at an open admin panel in front of her. She glanced at the lift for a second then turned to stare in disbelief at DoomBringer, gobsmacked.
“MrDoomBringer!” Her disbelief turned to anger and de-summoned her admin panel before she stormed over to him. Aeacus shuffled slightly towards Doom as he sighed.
“Hello Reese. How are you doing.” He crossed his arms and his tail swayed behind him.
“How am I doing?!” She laughed, the laugh of someone who was running on 15 cups of coffee, overworking, burnout and hate. “You haven’t arrived to work in- like- a week! Sure, you’ve sent emails, but they’ve just been so...vague! Where have you be-” her gaze shifted onto Aeacus, and softened. “Oh!” Reese knelt down and smiled at the child. “Who’s this little one?” Her head tilted to the side, like an animal. Aeacus tensed. MrDoomBringer said not to talk to anyone, but here someone was, talking to Aeacus, and it would be rude not to reply.
“Reese, this is Aeacus. I made them roughly a week ago. That's why I haven’t been doing much of anything.”
“Awwww!” Aeacus tensed and ReeseMcBlox stood up, “Well, Doomie, consider yourself fully pardoned for your absence! You did exactly as the rules say when taking care of a creation.”
“Thanks Reese.”
“Now,” she said tilted her head again, smiling at the two, “Can I get you two a drink?”
DoomBringer blinked at the sudden question. “Reese, I’m not sure-”
“I’ve already decided. Follow me you two!” She spun around and trotted off as MrDoomBringer sighed and went after her, Aeacus close behind. ReeseMcBlox entered a small kitchenette, where employees drained the tea and coffee supplies like there were no consequences (there weren't) and got out a mug that was covered in horses and pastel colours, another mug with a PNG of DoomBringer with text saying “NUMBER ONE MODERATOR” and finally, a plain white mug for Aeacus. She set them down and turned the kettle on before turning to look at the collection of drink powders. She hummed, “Well, I know I’m having a coffee. You, Doom?” she turned to look at him.
“Yeah.”
“Okie dokie!!!!” she spun around then spun once more to face them again, “And you, Aeacus?”
“Oh- um...” DoomBringers creation fiddled.
“Not coffee, that's for sure.” DoomBringer muttered and flicked his tail. Reese furrowed her brows and hummed.
“Tea then? Dusek has wayy too much of it.” She opened the tea cabinet and took a box out, “Oh geez- this is from- what? 200 years ago?! By the Heights, someone tell that man to check what he’s consuming...” She threw the box backwards and it landed perfectly in the bin. A few seconds later, “Well, there’s some hot chocolate in here... probably John’s? Eh, he won't mind. How do you feel about hot chocolate Aeacus?”
“Um...” Aeacus bit the inside of their cheek, “I- ok...?” they looked up at Doom, who smiled down.
“Righty-o! I’ll get to it.” Reese turned the kettle on.
A few minutes later, the three all sat by a table, Aeacus with three pillows on their seat so they could actually manage to see the hot chocolate that ReeseMcBlox had made. Aeacus leaned over and just barely managed to grab the mug and take a sip.
“So, yes, whilst I have been absent for the past week-ish I am fully ready and capable to return to my duties as a moderator.”
The drink was sweet. Not horridly sweet but, pleasant.
“Yes, whilst it was irresponsible of you to create an Upper Employee out of nowhere, you handled it correctly and professionally-”
The two Admins talked as Aeacus drank the hot chocolate. Earlier, Reese had put salt in it, but it didn’t taste at all like salt! She had said something about the salt bringing out the sweetness...? That’s quite interesting.
“What about Aeacus?”
The child finished the drink and looked at the adults. They both glanced back.
“Well, what do you want to happen? Aeacus isn’t my creation, they’re yours.” Reese swirled her coffee around and took a sip.
MrDoomBringer sighed and looked at his creation, who was staring at him.“I don’t know- I- ...Moderator? I’m a moderator, you’re a moderator... Man, I’m pretty sure almost every single one of Sheds creations are trained as moderators. So... yeah. That.”
Reese smiled. “Well, that’s great! You can never have too many moderators, can you?” She laughed and finished her drink and stood up, tucking her chair in. “Now, work.”
He tensed up. “I- Uh- what about Aeacus?” He gestured over to the young Robloxian.
“Welp, I-” She looked around before spotting someone. “OH! Oh! Sorcus! Over here!!!” She waved at the other Admin, who visibly sighed and walked over.
“Hello Reese.” Sorcus’ voice was flat. “Haven’t seen you in a bit, Doom. And hello, uh...” He stared at Aeacus, who had also left their seat and went to stand with them, “...you.”
“Sorcus, this is Aeacus, Dooms creation.” Reese smiled “Are you busy?”
The Admin of Death shrugged. “Meh. Not very.”
“That’s great! Could you please take Aeacus to Jan? I’ve gotta fill Doom in on some stuff.”
Sorcus shrugged again, “Sure.”
“Aeacus.” DoomBringer lean down to eye level, “Rules have changed. Stay with Sorcus, do as he says. I’ll see you again soon, okay?” He tilted his head.
“Yes, sir.” Aeacus nodded and Doom stood up and ushered them over to Sorcus.
“Ok. Doom-” Reese turned him around started leading him away, “No major exploiters have been caught since your hiatus, but we...” Eventually the two were out of listening range.
“Ok kiddo.” Sorcus spoke to the child. “Follow me.” He started walking to an elevator. Aeacus glanced behind themself, at DoomBringer and Reese, before quickly making their way over to where they could walk alongside the Admin. The two waited for it to come, and when it opened, a very stressed BadDecisions rushed out, muttering something about limited stocks and 17 cups of tea. They entered and Sorcus pressed a button. Aeacus watched the doors close, and neutral corporate music started playing.