Chapter Text
The morning hum of the Roblox Workplace carried through the heavily windowed building, quiet conversation, the sound of keyboards, and the occasional sound of a coffee machine long overdue for replacement. Builderman had already made his rounds, checking on employees and helping where needed, his presence calm and reassuring.
He was halfway through reviewing a project proposal when a faint commotion stirred near the entrance of the building, the sound resembling a low whoosh of wings and the clank of talons landing on the ground.
“Telamon…” Builderman murmured under his breath.
As if right on cue, the front doors swung open to reveal the second-in-command himself, feathers glinting gold and brown under the fluorescent lights, robe trailing faintly behind him. His grin cocky and a bit menacing.
“An hour late.” Builderman said without looking up, sounding exasperated.
“An hour fashionably late.” Telamon corrected, perching (there really was no other word for it) on the edge of a nearby empty desk. “There was an issue with the roof access. Again. You’d think the CEO of the company would invest in a proper landing platform, hm?”
A few chuckles of fellow co-workers sounded through the office, there was no roof access, it was simply a bar attached to a large window that is used for flower holders in the spring when the company is feeling decorative. Builderman exhaled slowly, the kind of sigh that carried patience built over years of the same routine.
“I’ll look into it.” he said, voice bland, eyes still on the report.
“You always say that.”
“And yet, you always try to get up there to make a fancy entrance.” Builderman replied evenly.
Telamon’s wings twitched once, the golden edges catching the morning light shining through the windows. “Maybe I enjoy the challenge of attempting to land on it.”
“You enjoy the attention,” Builderman said. “Also, get off the desk like that.”
Telamon’s grin only widened. “Perhaps, perhaps not. You have to admit it’s exciting as hell though, busting through the doors.”
Builderman only rolls his eyes in response.
By the time Telamon made it to his desk, that is… if the corner near the executive offices could even be called a desk when half of it was covered in papers and feathers, by the time he got to actually working the office had settled back into its usual rhythm.
Builderman’s quiet authority was enough to restore order… mostly.
Telamon stretched his wings once before folding them neatly against his back, feathers brushing the chair’s edge. He tilted his head, eyes narrowing at a nearby intern hunched over a monitor.
“A new one…” he said under his breath, too softly for anyone but the unfortunate target to hear. “Still anxious I see~”
The intern froze, fingers stalling on the keyboard. Telamon smiled, completely full of mischief.
“Don’t stop typing…” he said smoothly, tone dropping into a low, mock-serious tone. “The computers can smell fear. And so can Mr. Builderman~”
The intern looked like they were considering resignation on the spot.
A small cough interrupted Telamon’s play. Builderman had appeared behind him, arms crossed lightly. He wasn’t angry, not even particularly surprised. Just… tired… in a fond sort of way…?
“Telamon. You promised you wouldn’t torment the new hires.” Builderman said calmly yet with a stern edge.
“I wasn’t tormenting. I was… motivating.” Telamon replied, wings twitching innocently.
Builderman raised an eyebrow. “You have a very unconventional definition of motivation.”
“I’m unconventional in many ways. Besides, they’ll thank me later. It builds character!” Telamon’s smirk returned, though his voice had softened just a touch.
“Builds complaints…” Builderman muttered.
Telamon laughed, that sharp yet menacing sound that always made the other employees shiver.
Still, when Builderman moved to check the intern’s screen to make sure they were coming along ok, Telamon lingered nearby, watching him work with curiosity. There was a moment… brief, nearly invisible, where Telamon’s expression shifted from playfulness to something more intent.
For all his arrogance, he was careful not to really cross a line.
After a few minutes, Builderman stopped watching the intern’s monitor and straightened up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He wanted to make sure they were still on the right track, though it had taken twice as long with Telamon sitting there, staring unblinking at the poor new hire.
“Telamon, you’re not helping.” Builderman said without turning.
“Of course I am!” came the immediate reply, light and smug.
Builderman glanced over his shoulder. Telamon was perched in his chair backwards, feathers fanned slightly, gaze fixed on the intern like a hawk sizing up a mouse.
“That’s not helping.” Builderman said.
Telamon tilted his head. “I’m boosting morale.”
The intern made a noise that was definitely not morale-boosted.
Builderman exhaled slowly, eyes closing for a beat. “You’re terrifying them.”
Telamon’s grin sharpened. “Exactly! Nothing motivates like fear.”
“For you, maybe.”
“See? You do understand.” Telamon chirped.
That earned him a long, silent look. One that would have wilted most employees. Telamon only blinked back, feathers settling with the faintest rustle.
Finally, Builderman turned away. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it.” Telamon said smoothly, voice dipping just enough to make it sound like a promise.
By late morning, the office had settled into a steady rhythm. Builderman had returned to his personal office to review reports, and the low hum of keyboards and quiet conversations filled the open space.
Telamon, however, had found a new target: a senior employee, tasked with organizing the day’s project schedules. Not new, not naive, someone with authority who could normally handle his antics. Perfect.
He leaned casually against the corner of their desk, head cocked, wings folding neatly behind him as he peered over their shoulder.
“Hmm,” Telamon murmured, tilting his head as he watched them scroll through a spreadsheet. “That’s… not right.”
They glance up, brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”
“You’re missing a decimal here… Or maybe it’s here.” He leaned closer, tapping a key with a talon, a subtle rustle of feathers brushed their notes.
“I… think it’s correct.” The employee replies, clearly annoyed but trying to stay professional.
Telamon smirked, stepping back just slightly. “Hmm, well. You’ve been here a while, so I suppose technically you know what you’re doing. But I can’t help pointing out… it could be better.” His grin widened.
They clench her jaw. “Telamon.”
He raised a brow innocently. “What? I’m just trying to… enhance your work.”
“By distracting me?” They snap at him slightly.
“Mmm… I like to consider it more as… helping.” Telamon replies smoothly.
“Tch… whatever I’m messaging Builderman about this.” The employee quickly switched to an email site, typing quickly, hands flying over the keyboard.
Telamon rolled his eyes, walking away.
Builderman, while working in his office, saw the email, he brushed it off for now. If the emails started racking up, he would intervene.
And they did… emails did rack up. Telamon usually isn’t like this. Maybe one email once in a while but not five in two hours, he decided to intervene, but before he could leave the office he was interrupted with an employee at his office door.
“It’s Telamon,” the employee began, hesitating just slightly at the weight of the title. “He’s… distracting staff. Interfering with workflow. He keeps hovering over me while I’m organizing schedules, commenting on other’s work…” They trailed off, exasperated.
Builderman’s eyes flicked toward the open office floor, catching the faint shimmer of gold and brown feathers in the sunlight, and he let out a quiet sigh. “I see.”
Telamon, of course, had already finished everything assigned to him for the day. His work was done. Flawlessly, hours ago, leaving him free to indulge in mischief, a fact only he knew. He remained perched casually in the distance, smirking faintly as if reading the office atmosphere like a book.
“Thank you for bringing it to me,” Builderman said evenly, voice calm, though his hand brushed at his forehead in a quiet exhale. “I’ll speak with him directly.”
The employee nodded, relieved. “I… appreciate it.”
Builderman leaned back, contemplative. He already knew Telamon’s reputation. Charming, egotistical, sometimes infuriating… but he also knew his competence was unmatched. Still, the way he pushed people’s buttons… perhaps today it had gone far enough. He stood in the doorframe of his office.
“Telamon.” he said with authority, standing. “We need to talk.”
Across the office, Telamon’s grin widened. A small spark of excitement flickered in his eyes, he had a feeling this conversation would be… interesting.
“Privately. In my office. Now.” Builderman said sternly.
Telamon’s smirk deepened, feathers settling into a soft rustle. “Privately, you say? How thrilling.”
Builderman stepped out a bit, gesturing toward the office. “This isn’t a joke, Telamon.”
“Of course not! Merely a professional discussion, yes?” Telamon replied smoothly, tilting his head as he stood.
“Professional, yes.” Builderman confirmed.
Telamon allowed himself to walk to the other man, walking with a graceful sway. Every feather seemed to glint under the overhead lights as if he were aware of the attention he commanded. His wings tucked neatly behind him.
As they entered the office, Builderman closed the door behind them. The soft click echoed, leaving only the quiet hum of the office beyond. Telamon’s grin remained, now sharper, aware that the atmosphere had shifted what started as a simple report would soon become… far more interesting…