Employee number:
Product name: [REDACTED]
Product number in the office database: none.
Other database where the product requested might be found: 234's office.
Reasons why the product should be added to the database: -
Quantity of product required: one pack.
Reason why this product is requested: personal use.
Is the product you are requesting alive: no.
Period of time during which the product will be present in the office (in seconds) : specifically seven hours and 35 minutes.
Days of the week during which the product will be used: Wednesday.
Is the product you are requesting printer ink: no.
Location where you need your product to be delivered: 3rd floor, main hallway, just between 305-306's office.
Thoughts on eternity: do you hear the bells toll?
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
Quantity of product required: 1
the signiture is crossed out just enough times to cover the number.
597 sits back at its computer. It's been a while since it has taken the time to actually check the product requests. A few have been pilling up lately, something about cane tips, another one that it isn't ready to consider yet and a more recent one. A tarot deck, it manages to decipher. In 234's office. This cannot be a coincidence. 234's office. Amadeo's office. It doesn't remember ever creating a tarot deck, but it cannot be sure. It doesn't remember creating any tarot deck, but it doesn't remember creating most of the things in the office so it's probably normal.
Still, it hesitates. The employee number cannot be read, and it usually would be enough to reject any request, but this one seems uncanny. Someone had to know about it going to Amadeo's office. It probably should ignore it, should stay in its office, but a request is a request an whoever knows might want to try to hurt them. It glances at the couch, where Amadeo has fallen asleep. It won't take long, and, if things go well, they won't even realise it is gone. It considers for a moment waking then up, asking them about the tarot game, but they need to rest, both them and the baby. It wouldn't be safe to wake them up. The precise time questions it as well. It is usually not one to complain about precise information, but here, it can't help but getting more suspiscious.
It goes to one of the other rooms, grab a few items, enough to freeze anyone in time long enough to escape. It can make them itself, it knows that, but it feels safer to not have to rely on it. It stops for a few seconds in front of Amadeo, making a blanket appear out of thin hair and laying it on the centipede, kissing their forhead gently. It won't take long. It leaves the offices, locking it behind it, and adding several extra layers of protection. No one will be able to get in. Or out for that matters. Not that it does, no one is inside its office except Amadeo but it can never be too careful.
234's office is as they left it a few hours ago, unlocked, with a few empty bottles of alcohol sitting everywhere. It doesn't take it long to find the tarot's deck, left on one of the drawers in the desk. It opens it, unsure of exactly why. Maybe the curiosity, it has been a while since the last time it learnt about it or even tried to interpret some of it. Another of its interests that it had lost before being able to spend enough time on it. It quickly glances at the first card on top of the pack. Death. Of course it had to be. Nothing in this office is ever a good sign. Rebirth and change. Despite itself it shivers. It's likely just a coincidence. One way or another, things rarely end up well.
It puts the deck in its pocket, and leaves the office, making sure that everything is exactly at the same place as it used to be. It goes up the stairs, trying not to be seen as much as possible and reaches the 3rd floor, unsure of whether someone is going to pick up the item or if it will have to leave it there.
Much to 597's suprise, there is indeed someone. Their face isn't as visible as it thought it would be; the lights in that section of the hallway is damaged. The employee just stands there, staring(?) at 597.
Before the supplies manager could do or ask anything, the person steps out from the shadows. Tan skin, short brownish hair. They look almost like— you know. Amadeo. Just not quite. Younger, more energetic. Curious.
With a bright smile, 234 approaches 597.
I'm guessing you're the supplies manager, yes? I'm rather suprised my order came this soon, truely, I am!
They stopped infront of 597, just a feet or two away.
So? Where is it?
597 freeze for a second. The person looks so similar to Amadeo it's uncanny. Well at least to one form of Amadeo. But this cannot be Amadeo, they are in its office at the moment, looking very different and currently asleep. The stranger in front of it also looks somewhat different. More energetic mostly, more aware maybe? And less sad. Still, it doesn't trust them.
Hello there. Yes, I am the supplies manager, and you are...?
It hesitates for a second. It isn't going to give a complete stranger something it took in Amadeo's office (well not technically Amadeo's one) without having a really good reason.
You know, the form you sent me was incomplete. It lacks some form of identification, I'm afraid I can't give you anything without having that information, that wouldn't be appropriate. Paperwork, you know? I came here so we could clarify that.
The person looks slightly hurt when 597 asked for their name. They shook their head, smiling still.
Ah, I guess you really forgot. My name is Rose, I'm employee 234. I deal with the pencils.
They listen to the supplies manager speak- more like complain- about how they "didn't complete the form properly." That annoyed them, truely. It was their property! 234 knew that the form was incomplete, remembering not writing their employee number, going over their signature... but all of that was for a reason! 597 thinks Amadeo is 234, so having their number there would cause confusions and questions left to answer.
234 was already preparing themselves for those questions. They had a guess on what it would ask. "Why are there two 234s?", "Which one id the real one?" And to those they had answers. Regardless,
Yes, I am aware. Well then, let's get to that, yes? Don't want the boss to get pissed because one request didn't have proper informations and was still given to that employee.
They spoke, almost sarcastically, mocking 597. But still, they hoped the manager wouldn't pick up on their sarcasm.
234 turned around, starting to walk over to one of the couches. Once sat down, they patted the seat beside them.
Let's chat then, shall we?
597 follows Rose - 234 ? - but doesn't sit next to them. Instead, it stands in front of them. It doesn't have time to fully sit down and chat there. It needs to go back to its office, to not leave Amadeo alone. But still, it can't leave without finding out what they want.
I suppose we can have a bit of a chat.
It probably shouldn't. But it doesn't have many other options. It can't give them the cards without an explanation, and despite it all, it is still curious about what is happening here. Curiosity will be its doom one day it knows it - after all it already has. The headaches haven't fully stopped in days, although they have gotten more manageable than they were at first.
What do you want exactly?
After all if they are 234, why couldn't they directly take the cards in the office? Something here doesn't make sense. It doesn't give them the time to reply before asking another question, a bit more precise, hoping the discussion isn't going to take too long.
You don't look exactly like employee 234 as I remember them, did you change something by the way? New haircut or something?
It doesn't want to mention Amadeo as long as it isn't sure what Rose knows. The less people know about them the better.
Nothing changed.
Rose seems very upset with 597 asking things but not being willing to let them reply to any of it. They wait until it finishes asking things, waiting for a few more seconds to make sure it won't be asking any more before answering.
Firstestly, I want the cards. It's what i requested in the form i sent you. Secondestly, I've always looked like this, didn't I? You don't remember?
They asked back, seemingly concered. With a sad sigh, they shook their head.
I guess you are confusing me with that antenna boy?
Rose asked casually. Too casually.
You know. Tall, tan skin, yknow, looks like me? Amadeo, right? Right.
597 freezes. So they know about Amadeo. That's probably not a good sign at all. It should be getting back to its office. Get that meeting done and go back to see Amadeo. Still, it doesn't make a move to give Rose the cards. It cannot do that until it doesn't get more answers about what is going on. It's too risky. And it has to figure out what they want first.
I haven't met you much though have I?
It doesn't remember meet them more than once, but it cannot fully trust its memory on that.
Not that it matters. You want those cards right? To who do they belong to? Amadeo or you?
There is no need to pretend it doesn't know about Amadeo, it would be an obvious lie.
And who are you to them exactly? Both of you look quite similar.
Staring into 597's eyes, for a while, Rose is unresponsive. They're starting to lose their patience.
The cards, they're mine. They belong to me, it was in my office, I couldn't reach it.
Pushing themselves up from the couch, they interlocked their hands and put an off-putting smile on their face.
And, you know, me and Amadeo... we're not quite fond of one another.
Rose let out a sigh and approached the supplies manager.
You see, they took some things from me. My status, my title. My lover. So don't blame a girl for trying to take back what is hers.
...
The cards. I won't ask again.
