Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Package delivery!” A shout came from the door as Sci Red was doing their work nearby, so they went to open the door. “Who’s this for?” Red asks in confusion since they’re the ones who usually get orders from Sci Pink, Grey, or Rose to pick up their orders for them, but this isn't theirs.

“For Mx.Maroon it seems, sir.” The delivery bean respond as they hand the package to Red. “O-oh, alright, I’ll hand it to them, thank you.” Red said as they signed the paper and closed the door again, Red was a bit shocked that a person who’s almost never interacted with anyone or anything including the internet bought a package out of nowhere, but hey someone has to start their hobby or habits somewhere, right?

The package is in a postal bag with the name and addresses on top, it seems that Maroon ordered something from Earth, no wonder they might have forgotten about it completely to pick it up themselves. Sci Red looked at the bag for any damage and then took it with them to the room they supposed Maroon would be in all the time, the engine room.

“Maroon?” Red shouted as they opened the door to the dimmest place in the lab. A clash of sounds and objects getting thrown around and tripped over was in an instant after Red’s word, making them kinda feel bad for startling them yet again. “Y-yeah? Wass up?” Maroon shouted back at the lit door frame as they stumbled forward into the light of the hallway, covered in oil and meachic dust.

“You got a package delivered in your name, it’s from Earth it seem—” Red haven’t even finished their sentence yet as Maroon snatched the package out of their hands almost in an instant when they handed it out to them.

“Uh- um— thank you, for, picking it up for me—- you haven’t opened it right? Kay, that's good, t-thank you again- now excuse me—” Maroon said in somewhat a panic and color to their face, but Red didn’t really think of it much at that moment so they just nodded and waved goodbye as Maroon ran back into the darkened place of their office yet again. Maybe Red can ask about this to Rose, they both are pretty good friends aren’t they?

A banged came from Maroon’s room as they closed their door and made sure that they locked it properly this time. They took a deep breath as they looked at the package in their hands. “Ok, ok what in the right mind did I order this time?” They say under their breath to themselves as they look at the bag as they open the seam, revealing a dress or a type of clothes. They almost tossed the whole thing away just so the dress didn't get all the dirt on them. They quickly place it on their table as they go running to the bathroom to wash their hands and basically just take a bath at that point as they get back. They don't even wait for their skin to dry to clean up the package and open it carefully.

“Oh hey Maro–” Banana haven’t finished their greeting as Maroon booked across the bathroom door to the shower in almost an instant if they didn’t trip a stool along the way. Banana just look after the rushing man as they steaming themselves with warm water and come out still fully clothes of the ones they got in, with towels over them as they run past Banana again.

“God damn what’s the hurry?” Banana asked out as they looked at the trail of water that Maroon left in the hallway, well Teal wouldn’t like that that’s for sure.

Maroon slowly pulled out the neatly folded dress in the package as they ironed it with their personal iron, making the skirt puffed up after a waft or two. It’s a maid dress with long sleeves and a long skirt with a separate apron and headband in the set they ordered 3 months ago when they were semi drunk.

“...Not my best purchase but still pretty good,” They mumble as they dried themselves, looking at the dress on their bed with red to their face, they have dreamt of wearing a dress since forever and the collection they had accidently seen from Dr. White was the one who pulled the string for them to buy these pieces of fabric.

“Now how do I,,” They said as they tried to get the dress on, luckily they ordered the largest size just in case , but it’s too big for Maroon’s body, the dress slops down as Maroon tries to keep them in place.

“No no no- I don’t wanna get Rose into this-!” They quietly said as they put together their fit, adding on an apron and lastly the headband.

“....Ughh,, I really need their help now aren’t I?” Maroon looked at themselves in the mirror as they sigh with embarrassment on their face. Looking at the loosely put together dress.

Chapter Text

“Dinner’s ready,” Grey shouted in their soft monotone voice, as they rang the lunch bell for everyone nearby to come pick up their food. Many people come in an instant as they come and pick out their favorite food and snacks so they get what they want and are able to sit where they all usually do.

“Now where’s Maroon,,?” Grey looks around the dinning room full of acquaintances and friends, but Maroon is nowhere to be found still. They decided to make a plate for Maroon on the side as they also made one for themselves and went to sit with their usual group. “Something’s up?” Coral opens with a question when Grey sits down across from them as they put their and Maroon’s tray aside.

“Nah, not really. Ordinary as always,” Grey answered as they started to eat their own cooking on their plate. “Not sure what’s up with Maroon though. Haven’t seen them all day,” They added, making Coral look up at Grey with a curious face. “Interesting,” Coral add as they look back and continue their meal, seeming to not worry much about their colleague. But they don’t need to wonder for long as Maroon slowly walks up into the room with clean clothes, which is an unusual sight for many since it would be all oiled and dirty because of the nature of their job.

Everyone looked at them for a second longer than they used to because of that. Maroon then quickly goes to their usual table as they walk past Grey’s to fetch their food tray and thank them. “WoAH ho! What brings the muddy pond to be fresh blood today?” Rose said jokingly as they scooted aside to make place for Maroon to sit down.

“I could probably guess why,,,” Banana said slowly as they slowly looked at Maroon and squinted their visor in a jokingly tone, making Maroon chuckle dryly. “Psst- did I miss something?” Olive asked Banana quietly as they moved closer to hear the story that Banana is about to share. Maroon didn't look at them further as they started eating what Grey had prepared for them.

“Not very chatty today it seems? It's chill dude,” Rose said as they bit down on their salad. “Well..” Maroon started, looking around their colleagues again before whispering to Rose. “Could you help me with- something I bought? I think I bought it too big and- you know the rest,” They spoke quickly as they looked around anxious at the thought of someone hearing what they talked about.

Rose looked kinda surprised at the fact that a shut-in friend of theirs finally treated themselves but quickly snapped out of it to respond. “Sure! I can help what I can, what do you want me to help with?” They answered with a relieved face from Maroon. “I’ll tell you when we get to your room later,” Maroon said as they slid away from Rose to continue eating their meal, “Thank you beforehand- by the way.” They added, making Rose smile after the words. “Anything for my little soil!”

After some hours and some tasks later, Rose is now back in their room full of sewing machines and mini desks for figurines and tech of pc and tv everywhere, their room seems to light up with rgb lights and looks really cozy for a game or knitting section, crocheting another plush on their bed.

They hummed as they picked up their vibrated phone, seeing a notification from Maroon. [Be there in a jiffy] The message contains, and then there’s a knock on Rose’s door. “Oh? Is it Maroon?” “Yeah- it’s me,” They respond as Rose walks up to their door and opens it with a smile. “Well what’s the problem you want me to help with?” Rose asked as they picked up their crochet kit again. “Uh,,, this,” They responded as they held up the dress for Rose to catch their eyes on. Honestly they didn’t think of what Maroon would likely be into, but it’s not far fetched from their expectation.

“Wow. Just. Wow,” Rose said, looking at the maid dress in both bewildering and fascination. “I never thought you'd have eyes for a good dress dude, this is a high quality one!” They continue, smiling much brighter now as they come closer to look at the dress’s sleeves and how the ruffles are aligned. “Y-yeah haha thank you,” Maroon said coyingly as they handed the dress to Rose. “Could you- fix the size to be a little bit smaller?” They add, as Rose looks into the dress and sees the size compared to Maroon’s body, this is like, 2 sizes different, it’s gonna be a hard task but it’s nothing they can’t do.

“Yeah I bet I could fix it up! I’ll text you when I’m done,” Rose responded as they put the dress on one of their sewing tables. Maroon sighs in relief as they look at Rose and smile, “Thanks again.” They replied.

“Wanna game for a bit then? I racken you finished with your tasks by now,” Rose added as they settled down two controllers and handed one for Maroon.

“Yeah sure, I can get my mind off things,” They replied.

Sci Red <[Hey Rose, do you know what Maroon ordered from Earth?]

Sci Red <[I’m not trying to be noisy or anything, but I picked it up for em and saw that they’re rather shy over it? Just making sure it’s not something that Dr. White don’t want us to ordered]

[Oh yeah it’s nothing it’s just a dress]> Rose

Sci Red <[A dress?]

[Yeah! A maid dress, you could ask em more bout it if ya want I don’t think they mind!]> Rose

“ Where have you heard of that?” Maroon said on top of what Sci Red was saying as they bolted themselves upwards from the gear in the dark and looked dead at Red in the eyes. “Well- Rose texted me that you won’t mind so I thought why not–” Red again hadn't finished their sentence as Maroon came up to them and covered their mouth with the dirty hand of mechanic and metal. “Do not tell anyone, especially Dr. White- um– please?” They quickly said as they released their hand from Red, leaving behind an oil print on Red’s helmet, luckily they didn't mind much. “Uh,, sure? I’m just here to give you tasks in the meanwhile, but I’ll keep that in mind,” Red promised as they handed Maroon their tasks for today as they wiped off the mess on their face. Maroon seems guilted by their action but still receives the tasks lists from them, bow one time as a sign of apology and close the engine room’s door.

[WHY DID YOU TELL THEM THAT I’VE MAID DRESS??]> Maroon

Rose <[WHAT????? WAIT I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO??]

Maroon slammed their head on their pillow hard after they saw the replies, some red caught on their face as they looked at the texts. “I should have told them to keep it quiet in the meanwhile damn it..” They mumbled to themselves, thought of something again and opened another chat on their phone.

[Ok Ik that you were here today to give me tasks instead of Pink is to ask if you can see the dress, I’m not that stupid to not know y’know]> Maroon

Sci Red <[Yeah- yeah. Rose rambled on how it’s high quality and stuff and I just wanna be noisy alright]

Sci Red <[There's not enough drama between Dr. White and Indigo these days]

[You should really mind your own business]> Maroon

Sci Red <[And you should mind other business more]

[Yep yap yap whatever]> Maroon

[I just wanna say that I don’t mind you coming over for the reveal]> Maroon

[Just]> Maroon

[Do NOT tell everyone alright]> Maroon

Sci Red <[Yep! When’s the reveal?]

[Whenever Rose’s finished fixing it up for me]> Maroon

“Is this a good idea?” Maroon said quietly to themselves as they lowered their phone and placed it at the bed table, moving themselves to look at the ceiling and ready for bed. “Red is noisy in everything possible, ehhh… maybe it’s fine..” They said as they drifted to sleep that night.

In the scientist group chat (+a janitor)

Sci Red <[Yo dude guess what our engineer has been up to?]

Chapter Text

“Actually that you're here I wanted to ask something,” Maroon started when Banana came to give them the extra tasks of the day. “Yeah what's up?” “..Everyone has been looking at me weird lately, do you know why?” Maroon asked while fixing the engine, they know who they would go to for all the rumors as everybody else after all.

“Honestly no clue my guy,” “Are you actually lying to my face like this?” Maroon responds in an annoying manner, looking at Banana as their hands are on a big engine piece. “Me? Lying? Dude I wouldn’t if it'll make a better story, which it doesn't right now, looking at you,” They said in pity of Maroon’s appearance, normally their clothes are all oil up as usual but not like their extra tiring face with a forming black eyes.

“UUUUUGGGGhhhhHhh,, what are they up to if the gossiper don't know shit..” Maroon mumbled as they faced first into the engine, making a loud clang, showing their tiredness and stress. Banana seeing that kinda doesn't want to give them more tasks then now, but they aren't the manager to decide. “Tough life man, also I'll put this here at least,” They said as they placed down the extra task that Maroon needed to do then thought of something.

“Actually it might be the scientist's rumors then, oh my god-” Banana said to themselves as they realized the possibility. “...Wh what? How's that possible?” Maroon asks but more to themselves out of confusion as they spring their head up from the boiling engine. Yeah there are said to be another rumor group of just the scientists cause they're more judgmental of who to be with their ‘intellect’ of things, but what do they want or need to know about Maroon..

Oh

Oh shit

“Banana, c-can you um ask them- I mean Teal if I-they can come to me here? I want to talk about something,” Maroon asks Banana in a somewhat fearful tone but trying to suppress it as much as they could, but it still slips out to make Banana notice. “Yeahhh, I'll grab them in a jiffy.” Banana said slowly as they headed out thinking of what trouble Maroon will get into now?

“Ah about the maid thing?” Teal said in a light tone, seemed to be in the good mood at least, lucky Maroon. “OH I knew it!” They said aloud in reply, hands over their head as they bumped machinery around them, giving the building a jerk. “What do they say?” “Well it was Red who started it,” I knew it was that bastard! Maroon shouted in their mind as they tried to keep their panic down and finally let Teal go do their job at last. “Everyone seems to want to be there when the dress is finished, Dr. White also seems to take interest.” Teal added before Maroon could say anything else, making Maroon give Teal a shocking embarrassing look. Dr. White wanted to see? So the collection rumors might be true?? Their thoughts can be seen out loud by Teal and they respond by putting their index finger in front of their mouth, shushing the question in Maroon’s mind and going their way.

Later that day Maroon has been hiding in their room for days, seeming to only come out of their room for work and go straight right back, almost like they’re trying to avoid everyone including their own close friends, including Rose who’ve been done with their maid dress for a while now but still haven’t had the time to say to Maroon, so they come to deliver it themselves today. Rose knocked on Maroon’s room’s door, “Heeyyy Maroon, it’s, Rose,” They said as they’re waiting for their now much close up friend to open the door, but to no sign at all.

“Sigh, look, I know I’m wrong on telling Red you have that dress ok? But you’ve to know how I am with this type of information. We've been friends for decades,” Rose excused themselves before exhaling their worries. “I’m sorry for being such a big mouth. I’ll just, leave the dress her—-” before Rose can finish their apologies the door swings open as Maroon grabs Rose inside in a quick swoop, closing and locking the door. “Woah therE cranberry slow down-” “Give me the dress,” Maroon quietly asks as they look Rose in the eyes, seeming to be excited but their sleepless eyes tell the other story. “Ok ok geez but before that what happened to you?” Rose placed the maid dress down at Maroon’s bed and asked concerningly as they cup Maroon’s face into their hands to see the eye bags along the visor.

“It’s, it’s nothing,” they said as they put Rose’s hands away and held them in their hands, “I just, trying to accept people’s perspective of me now? I guess, I I don’t know how to react with all of these, feedbacks,” Maroon answered in an unsure and stressed tone from what they’re admitting, even though this is one of the stupidest reasons to be stressed plus Rose’s their best friend around this hell of a place. “I heard all the things going around and all the things they posted online it’s, I-” “Oh the ones where the scientists posted about your maid dressing day where Dr. White would be there?” Rose bluntly said before Maroon can continue for hours on their overthinking thoughts as Maroon clangs their head backwards into the wall behind them in a humorous manner for a second or two. “Aaauggh every time you with your mental fixing,” Maroon rant before nodding their head up to look at Rose with a annoyed but grateful eyes. “I know I know, you can always not show up to the meeting though, it’s all fine,” Rose said light heartedly as they patted Maroon’s shoulder, assuring them of their choice that can be made. “Look I know you’re still excited about the dress and you don’t want it to spread everywhere I get it, I can easily scrape everything off and tell them off,” Rose continued as they backed away from Maroon for a normal conversation distance, “but do you really want it that way?” Rose asked, seeming to know the answer from one of their closest friends with how they interact with their interest and their decision making.

“..You’re right.” Maroon replied.

“Why are we all at the cafeteria again?” Olive asks as they turn to look around the crowd of acquaintances and more scientists in one place than they’ve seen in ever that they’ve worked here before turning to Banana waiting for the answer. “Ohhh you’ll see,” Banana answered as they flicked their cool glasses up to look at Olive, turning to the directions others did, making Olive do the same. As soon as a similar colored bean head popped out from the door Olive knew instantly what this event was thanks to the announcement in their floor’s joint account.

Maroon steps out and into the cafeteria in maid dress that Rose edited with an embarrassing face but with a smile that confirm they like what they’re doing, on with the carefully customized roses from cloth to decorates the skirt, add in pearl white ribbons to make the sleeves pops out, and lastly the turtle neck with ruffles of the same color as the model with white rose bow at the side for the final touched, the dress was worth the wait for some others that’s for sure with some taken pictures and some whispered their opinions into the others ears. After the walk Maroon spins for the crowd and seems to step aside a little for the next person? All of the rumors and announcements only mentioned Maroon and their maid dress and no one else, but it seems the scientists know what’s coming next.

A clicking noise of heels is what the crowd heard before they went into a full scream as they saw Dr. White rocking the outfit he’s wearing, maid dress with the gothic vibe to the whole fit, with skull carved belt and cross decoration on their hat, along with shining fishnets and their thick heels boots, dark crimson bow in the back and golden chained from his plague mask to his hat. A whole different style from Maroon’s but still fit the definition of a maid dress. He walks up in a model walk (wonder where he learned that) and pose next to Maroon, turning to them as he gave them an approval look, seeming to be more confident about this undeniable allegation than Maroon was, making them smile as the crowd clap their hands for the mini fashion show Rose help organized.