Moxxie Pov
I shuffled through the stack of papers in my hands, my eyes scanning over the various invoices, bills, and job reports. A deep sense of satisfaction settled in my chest as I noted the increased efficiency in cost management and our overall jobs quality. I wasn't one to gloat, but even I had to admit that IMP was operating smoother than ever.
As I walked through the office, my hooves clacked against the tiled floor, the sound unusually crisp in the cleaner-than-usual space. The scattered papers that had just been here a month ago, broken furniture, and questionable stains had been replaced by a relatively neat and organized environment. The faint scent of sulfur and cheap air freshener lingered, an oddly comforting improvement from the usual musk of gunpowder and blood. It wasn't spotless, but it was a significant upgrade. It almost felt… professional.
What had caused this sudden change? The answer was obvious—Blitz. I didn't completely recognize it before but, a subtle shift in his approach to management was undeniable now. He was still as eccentric as ever, but there was an undeniable sense of discipline in his actions lately. Whether it was intentional or not I couldn't fully tell even though he'd said so himself, but IMP was benefiting from it.
Passing by the reception desk, I glanced at Loona, who was sprawled out, fast asleep, on the desk. Her long tail lazily twitched, ears flicking occasionally as she snored softly. A rare moment of peace from her usually sharp-tongued demeanor. I sighed, shaking my head slightly but choosing not to wake her. She was more tolerable when she wasn't snapping at everyone.
I reached Blitz's office, pushing the door open to find him hunched over his desk, flipping through documents with focus. The sight was almost surreal. His white button-down shirt, slightly wrinkled, and black slacks suggested he had stayed the night. His red eyes, though filled with their usual spark, held a shadow of fatigue. His tail lazily flicked behind him, an occasional twitch showing his thoughts weren't entirely at rest.
"Sir," I greeted, stepping forward and placing the documents I carried onto his desk.
Blitz barely looked up before his gaze landed on the papers. His eyes scanned the words, and then he snorted. "Internships? You mean free labor?"
I adjusted my stance, my tail curling slightly. "It would be a good opportunity to have some extra hands around, sir. At no additional cost."
Blitz smirked, flipping through the pages briefly before adding them to a smaller pile of uncompleted papers. He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms with an audible crack before exhaling. His tail flicked against the side of his chair, a sure sign of mild amusement.
I hesitated for a moment, observing him. There was something oddly… admirable about seeing Blitz like this—super focused, working hard, keeping things together. For all his, traits, he had an undeniable knack for keeping IMP afloat.
He waved a hand dismissively. "You still standing there for a reason, Mox?"
I quickly shook my head. "No, sir." With a small nod, I turned and exited, prepared to work just as hard, closing the door behind me.
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Blitz's Perspective
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling as I rubbed my eyes. I wasn't one to complain, but damn, working this much took a toll. Still, I couldn't deny that the results were paying off. IMP was running better than ever, and I actually felt good about it. Sure, I was exhausted, but the satisfaction made it worth it.
As I mulled over the recent improvements, my legs curled lazily around the armrest of my chair. With the internship papers on my desk my mind drifted to the idea of expanding. With the way things were going, it wasn't impossible. Maybe new office space? Maybe a second location? The thought was exciting, but I knew better than to jump the gun. We weren't quite ready. Not yet.
Still, the idea in itself left me with a smirk on my face.
I grabbed the bigger stack of documents on my desk and stood up, placing them in my drawer to organize them later into my file cabinet, stretching cartoonishly until my spine popped. Changes were happening, but more needed to be done.
Grabbing my walkie-talkie from my belt, I clicked it on. "Millie, front entrance."
A crackle came through before her enthusiastic voice replied, "On my way, sir!"
I made my way downstairs, my tail swaying slightly behind me, passing Loona, who had curled up in a pillow and throw blanket.
Stepping outside, I found Millie waiting eagerly, bouncing on her heels. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. "Hey, Blitz! What are we shopping for?"
I paused, smirking at her growing curiosity. My tail flicked as I exaggerated my hesitation, making her cross her arms with a huff.
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "C'mon, you can't just call me out here and not tell me."
I chuckled. "Fine, I'll spill." I leaned slightly forward. "We're buying a robot."
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Millie's eyes widened, and her mouth was slightly agape before breaking into a grin. "A robot?! What's up with that?"
I nodded, the smirk still on my face. Things were changing, alright. And I planned to make the most of it.
"You'll know soon.", I said, beginning our journey.
As Millie and I made our way through the streets of Hell, the usual commotion buzzed around us. Demons bickered, imps scurried about, and the occasional explosion in the distance sent a brief gust of heat our way. A nearby vendor yelled about fresh organs on sale, and a group of sinners were running from a much larger, angrier demon.
I didn't think it was ideal taking our car since it was nearby and Millie didn't seem to mind the people to much.
"So, sir," Millie said, practically skipping beside me, rocking her arms every step, "what kinda robot we talkin' about here? Like, a helper round the office, or somethin with weapons? Or, is it, you know, for that use."
I rubbed my chin dramatically. "A little bit of both. Thought it might be fun to have some extra security, y'know?" I said, in a joking tone.
Millie could only shake her head. "No seriously tell me, is it gonna be like one of those high-tech assassins? Or somethin with lasers?"
"Maybe." I gave her a teasing look, enjoying how invested she was. Truth was, I wasn't entirely sure what kind of robot we'd be getting. I just knew it had to be something cool and useful.
Millie clapped her hands together, her tail curling in excitement. "Moxxie's gonna flip. You know how he gets with our finances."
I snorted. "Yeah, he'll probably complain first. Say something about how impractical it is or how we don't need it. But give it a day, and he'll be all over it."
We reached the tech district, neon signs flashing advertisements for all sorts of mechanical contraptions. Shops lined the streets, each boasting the latest and greatest in Hell's technological advancements. A giant billboard above us displayed a grinning demon in a lab coat, promising "Infernal Innovations: Make Your Enemies Obsolete!"
I pulled out a small card from my pocket. "There's a place up ahead that's supposed to have what we're lookin' for."
Millie leaned over, reading the name. "'Asmodian Demon-Tech Robotics'? Sounds fancy, and, familiar."
"Oh, it is," I said, leading the way toward the entrance. "Remember the robot in Loo Loo land, yeah where getting something better than that."
"And if we're lucky, we might just walk outta here with something real special."
Millie grinned as she followed. "Well, sir, I sure hope it's got lasers."
With that, we stepped inside, the doors sliding open with an ominous hiss, ready to see what the future of IMP's arsenal would look like.