Chapter Text
Taph once again walked through the dim halls of the formerly bustling Roblox HQ, following the laid out map inside his head. It’s specifically tailored to lead to one room inside the massive company building. Usually it’d never be this dark inside here, but it’s as if the weather outside is well aware of the grim atmosphere over the company. The cause of said atmosphere is also the very reason why Taph was acting this way.
Builderman and Shedletsky had gone missing months ago, leaving behind no traces. Usually Shedletsky disappearing for longer periods of time without any notes was expected of that jokester admin, but Builderman? The CEO of Roblox would
never
up and vanish like that, never!
That’s why Taph is so restless. It’s hard to continue working like normal, if the man who had inspired
him
wasn’t
there
. Of course the corporation was trying to keep up appearances, despite the glaring issue of the missing people, leaving it to be quietly addressed by the admins. Just work quietly and steadily, it all will be fine… Yet it was getting harder to do so after Dusekkar vanished next. The powerful mage was seen doing fine just the day before, so how it was possible to abduct someone like him was… Terrifying to think about. As if the panic from before wasn’t bad enough, it turned into a frenzy of employees attempting to locate them even harder.
Taph only ever had the chance to listen in on the conversations and updates between other employees. He was just a mere demolitionist, constantly outside near the Robloxian suburbia just for his job. Usually he wouldn’t even have the opportunity to be this high up in the building. The upper floors are where the top admins did their work and reported to Builderman. Access wasn’t permitted for Robloxians like him.
Currently, nobody will kick him out. Afterall everyone went home already after having spent the last night searching for possible clues on
any
of their whereabouts. Even if there was someone else here, nobody could care less about them being here.
They just want to go and check inside his office again. Just one more time, because what if he ’s there..? Maybe. Maybe not. Actually, very likely not. Taph stared out the broad glass windows at the sides of the walls as they approached their destination. Lush fields of grass surrounded the building, but the cloudy weather made it all look so much grayer. A deep sense of unease filled Taph. He quickly averted his gaze off the outside world, finding it already too hard to keep themselves steady on their feet. They finally stop and look forwards.
There was the office of Builderman, a large room visible through the glass wall and door separating the CEO from the noise of the rest of the building. Taph found it a very fitting office for his boss.
It lacked much clutter of other offices, the admittedly a size shorter desk having only a few files deposited on it. A few plush chairs are inside with a coffee table inbetween. There’s still an unwashed mug sitting on said table. None of the employees had cleaned it up. Taph notes that it’s been there since Builderman’s disappearance.
The demolitionist took a few steps closer to the office door, before stopping short. He’d never dare enter his boss’s office, especially without permission. This proximity has to do for now. Afterall Taph prides themselves in being patient and… It’s best to look from a distance, to not go and mess anything up.
Afterall Taph is pretty sure Builder doesn’t even remember them.
“Hey it’s that guy again!” A robloxian said to his friend, pointing towards them. Taph didn’t bother to look at them, instead waiting for the cooldown on his bomb to wear off. A booming explosion sounded from behind him.
“Oh so that’s him? The one who only comes here to Cross Roads to explode stuff?” The robloxian’s friend asked. The timebomb cooldown clung off and he went to place another, watching it roll closer towards the walls of Blackrock Castle. Tick, tick, tick…
“Everyone has their own way of having fun, I guess…” There’s an attempt to not sound judgemental, Taph doesn’t care anymore whether anyone else is comfortable with his activities. He doesn’t enjoy brickbattling like other people here. A familiar thunderous explosion sounds off once again. Studs started to clatter down, a satisfying sound and movement to take in.
“Still just a bit weird, dude. He’s just silently bombing stuff.” Despite not even being near them anymore, Taph can still hear those words crystal clearly. It’s not weird… Not any weirder than pwning and KO’ing other Robloxians for ‘fun’. Just cause’ people can respawn…
Taph stopped in the middle of Crossroads, glancing down at the bomb they held in their blocky hands. An explosive, round and dark. Chaotic, but timed. It’s his favourite and the only reason he’s even in here. It makes him happy.
"Well, they sure are fun to use, ain’t they?" A voice, oddly not filled with antipathy towards Taph. He looks up, to face a smiling robloxian, with an orange torso and wrench depicted on it. A yellow hardhat rests on his head. Who..? Taph remembers that the robloxian had asked them a question first.
He nods his head. The bombs are very fun, they would’ve said, if he could. The man with the hardhat only smiles more, curiously enjoying Taphs sentiment.
"I’m sure glad to hear that. I did help make 'em, after all." The stranger chuckled, tapping at the bomb that Taph is still very much holding. That’s… Very cool, actually. Taph couldn’t help but watch, observing the creator of his favourite bomb. A tinge of happiness courses through his heart. The admittedly short man was brimming with the charisma fit of a leader. That’s at least the thought process of Taph, possibly self imposing his newfound need to follow and hear more of what this man has to say. Hopefully his name.
They stand in silence there, with the hardhat guy still smiling, but now looking around Crossroads as people throw rubber balls and shoot paint guns at each other. Oh god, it’s going to get awkward if Taph doesn’t say anything.
He needs to ask him the question themselves. Setting the bomb back aside into his inventory, Taph steadies themselves before tapping the zoning out man on the shoulder. Only being a short amount of time startled, the stranger turns his head back to Taph, slightly tilting his head. “Yep?” A slightly lopsided smile playing at his lips. He seems to like smiling a lot.
Taph doesn’t waste his time. They move their hands, briefly both forwards and one back again… And then briefly pointing at the wrench guy. ‘What’s your name?’
The stranger’s quietly observing, but silent after Taph finishes. He’s not grinning anymore. Oh ####! He forgot that this guy might not know sign language! They almost instinctively start to sign an apology, which would’ve been even more stupid and embarrassing. Great digging a bigger grave for yourself Taph, way to look even weirder! But most surprisingly they feel themselves calm down when they notice his smile come back. It manages to bring him this much comfort already?
“Ah… My name’s Builderman.” He finally answers Taph’s question. The crushing weight is lifted off Taph’s shoulders. Builderman… “Sorry, I ain't much for readin' that fast or that well just yet. Still learnin’ ARSL,” Builderman continued, managing to look slightly bashful as he scratched the back of his neck.
‘No, it’s OK,’ Taph signs back, keeping his wording simple and slow. Even just understanding a single word Taph said is more than enough. It’s more than not understanding him, more than ignoring him. More than just scrutinising him.
They’re starting to feel more excited, even feeling a smile hidden from sight. It’s odd, it’s fun. He wants to smile more, just like Builderman. “Gonna tell me yer name too, or nah?” Builderman’s question snaps Taph out of their convoluted thoughts.
Quickly Taph nods, moving their hand back up to sign his name letter by letter.
‘T-A-P-H’. After a short moment, Builder nods. “Taph? I wonder if I’m sayin’ that right.” If it isn’t the right way to say it, then Taph doesn’t know either, because nobody else has ever said his name out loud before. Somehow it makes them feel even happier to have met Builderman.
Said man, who has probably just altered Taph’s path in life for forever, simply grins that stupid smile and opens his mouth again. “Well, I’ll see ya 'round, partner. Gotta get some work done." Taph simply waves as this man went to walk away. Builder waved back before turning and disappearing.
Taph really wants to explode this whole map now, smiling to themselves.
Taph palms at the glass of Builderman’s office. He’s gotten close enough to touch the door of the too empty office. They quickly back off, deciding to best go before he does something he would regret. Often they found themselves overthinking that memory a lot.
That interaction was the primary reason for him even joining the Roblox Corporation. The second he had found out Builderman worked, no, that he was the CEO of the company, they had wanted to work there. Luckily for him, back then they were looking for and hiring people for a new demolition division. Really it felt like perfect timing. Sure it meant having to be often away from the main company building, but it was for exploding stuff and he after all loved doing that! Just… They wished to see him more often.
As long as he works hard, surely he’ll be rewarded. He will make Builderman proud.
Not daring to look back to the office he once again wandered down the stairs, in order to probably get back home. He’ll wait some more until he has work again and then he’ll wait some more until Builderman is back.