ohmyarceus | January - February Test drive

[He hesitates; now that he knows Gregory is somewhere nearby, the question forces him to once again consider the strange situation he found himself in. ]

I...do not know. I had awoken and found myself in a building that was not the Pizzaplex.

Something has...happened.

I woke up in some lady's house. She said she was my mom, but I don't-

[Gregory stops short before continuing.]

The point is, I wasn't there anymore either. Did something kicked us out...?

I am not sure. [ It was a possibility, but getting kicked out would not explain... ]

Where are you located now? It may be easier for us to figure this out if we are together.

[ He is not sure he entirely believes that himself, but he will feel better once he knows Gregory is safe. ]

There's a road...right outside of that town where that building is. Those buildings are.

[Because maybe Freddy woke up in a different one? He has no reason to assume that they woke up in the same house, otherwise they would have run into each other sooner.]

I'm hiding behind a tree by that road. I actually have a...bear? Like a real bear with me. I'll get him to come out so you know where I am.

All right. I believe I am along that road as well. [ There had not been too many other places for him to travel to, after all. ]

I will keep an eye out for a bear. I seem to have one following me as well. I will come find you.

[ A pause. ]

…I will look different from how you last saw me. You may need to have your bear companion look for a human man.

I'll let him know. I'm not gonna come out until I know it's you, so...

[Hopefully Freddy will be prepared for that. Gregory is skittish and can't take any chances, especially when he's realized the population here seems to be mostly adults. Like what the heck, where are literally ANY other kids...?

But if/when Freddy makes his way further down said route, he'll come across Gregory's Teddiursa, who sort of hops in place to get his attention. He's not going to point Gregory out directly though, giving Gregory a chance to actually see what he's dealing with for himself first.]

I understand. [ Honestly, he would rather that Gregory be careful and stay safe than risk coming to find him, especially if the boy might not recognize him in his current state.

It does not take long before he and his own Teddiursa comes along Gregory’s, and Freddy looks around in case Gregory might not be able to see him at a certain angle. While he knows he looks different, is not actually sure of how looked. He was still tall, taller than the average human, but while he seemed well built he did not feel as heavy as usual.

He also had not been able to see his face in his rush to find Gregory, so he was unaware of the red and blue markings around his eyes that one might think was face paint or makeup, similar to his Glamrock design. He still wore his small top hat, which rested atop a head of longish red-brown hair, pulled back in a ponytail, and his bow tie, which somehow seemed at odds and yet still managed to fit the rest of his 80s-style outfit. ]

[Gregory waits with bated breath, keeping his eyes on the road as his Teddiursa waits for a "human man" of nondescript...description to appear. It isn't long before that happens, and Gregory is straining to get a good look at Freddy before he dares to come out. And it's...weird. It's so weird, but that man straight up does look like a guy trying really hard to do a Glamrock Freddy cosplay. Right down to the face-paint and makeup.

Yet...he's still too nervous to come out entirely. So instead he pokes his head a bit out from around the tree, calling out to see if Freddy recognizes his name (and Gregory's voice).]

Freddy?

[ He turns his head at the voice, and once his purple eyes catch sight of the familiar head of hair, his entire face lights up in relief. ]

There you are, Superstar.

[ He can understand Gregory’s apprehension, and does not take it personally. But he hopes the nickname is enough to put Gregory at ease. ]

[It sure does help, that's for sure. Nobody else would know of that nickname other than those present that night at the Pizzaplex, and Gregory is pretty sure he'd recognize the other animatronics in human form too...at the very least they wouldn't look this much like Freddy. Vanny and Vanessa he hasn't seen at all, and he very much hopes things stay that way.

Gregory picks his way carefully through snow-laden tall grass to get to where Freddy is waiting for him with the two Teddiursa, still having to crane his neck to look up at him even though he's definitely not an animatronic bear currently. Gregory still looks bewildered as he tentatively reaches out to take hold of the edge of Freddy's shirt (vest, jacket, whatever this world has chosen to dress him in), tugging on it a little just to confirm to himself that it's real.]

You really are Freddy...just...WAY different.

[Too human. Which he can't actually say if he likes that or not? Animatronics are better than people, etc.]

[ Once Gregory reaches him, he kneels down so they are more eye level, and he can get a better look at the boy. He's not able to do a scan, but he can at least check to make sure that Gregory is not suffering any kind of injuries. ]

Yes. When I awoke, I was...this way.

[ Is this what it feels like to be human?

(it's not right it's not right ~~this isn't the way he's supposed to be~~)

Once he was sure that Gregory is all right, he leans back a little, getting another look at their surroundings. ]

In my current state, I do not know if I can protect you as well as before.

[ Looking back at Gregory, he then removes his red leather jacket. He had realized that one of the sensations he now experienced was "cold", and while he is still trying to understand what happened to him, he knows enough to realize that this kind of weather is not good for a child without the proper outerwear.

So he drapes the jacket over Gregory's shoulders. It is much too big, but it will have to do. ]

But I will still do my best to keep you safe.

[The jacket is definitely huge, so much so that it more than swallows Gregory, but he doesn't mind. He knows that Freddy is probably going to realize very quickly that he's going to be cold now without his jacket, though...

Because of that, while Freddy is still kneeling down in front of him, Gregory moves closer so he can wrap his arms around the now-human's neck, unprompted.]

It's okay, Freddy. We're not in the pizzaplex anymore, which means...we got out, somehow! Anywhere's gotta be safer than there.

[ He stiffens as Gregory wraps his arms around his neck. He is used to children hugging him, in their excitement to see him or take pictures with him. But now, in this body, it feels…different.

Warm.

Hesitantly, carefully, he wraps his arms around Gregory in return, holding the boy to him as he rises back to his full height. ]

Perhaps. But until we know what this place is, we do not know what other dangers there may be.

[Getting lifted up wholesale by Freddy is certainly a new experience, but not an unwanted one. It's not at all like being carried around inside of him, where it's dark and uncomfortable. This is...well, marginally more comfortable for one, and warm absolutely.

It's not really something Gregory's ever...felt. This warmth. Actual, human contact. It's only hitting him just now how rare of an occurance that is to him, and because of that he winds up wrapping his arms around Freddy's neck just a little closer, a little tighter.]

Even if you hadn't shown up, I think my little bear woulda' been ready to fight anything that could have bothered me. Wouldn't you?

[He calls down to the second Teddiursa, only identifiable next to Freddy's due to the fact that the hair on top of its head is a bit fuzzier and more unkept. The Pokemon vocalizes its agreement, puffing out its chest in a way that makes Gregory snicker.]

[ Freddy takes a look at the two similar bears standing by his feet. Somehow, he is able to tell which one has been following him all this time, as it looks up at him with a curious tip of its head. When Gregory's responds in affirmation, he acknowledges it with a slight nod. ]

Thank you.

[ Then, with one last glance around, he carefully shifts Gregory in his arms, keeping his hold secure. ]

Let us look for a shelter. Perhaps there will be more answers to our questions elsewhere.

[Gregory nods, looking ahead at the route that's beyond Newbark. He's not sure how far it goes on for, and being on foot means they're going to have a pretty long trek ahead of them depending on how far that is...but with Freddy here, he finds that he doesn't mind that prospect as much. Anything is better than going back to that house he woke up in, or even worse, finding themselves back at the Pizzaplex.]

Oh, if we do run into somebody else...maybe let's not tell them you're not really a person? I'm kinda worried they might try to take you away from me...

[ Freddy frowns, and for a moment anger flashes through his eyes. ]

I will not let that happen.

[ If it comes down to it, he will fight if someone tries to take Gregory away from him. ]

Good. I guess we'd better start walking then.

[It's so cold...and so quiet out here. Too quiet.]

By the way, um...you haven't seen anybody else from the Pizzaplex...have you?

[ With a nod, he adjusts his hold on Gregory once more before starting off, with a quick glance to make sure that the bears were also following.

The question does have him pause a moment. ] No. I have not seen any of the others.

[ Although...would they encounter the same situation he did? And if so, would he even recognize them? ]

[Gregory exhales with relief at that, though he imagines it's more of a relief for him than it is for Freddy. These are his friends they're talking about, after all...even if they've been threatening Gregory for the better part of an entire night.]

That's good...I-I mean, it's probably better that they're back at the Pizzaplex anyway, right? They're where they need to be, and I'm not being hunted down anymore! Everyone wins!

[Except Freddy, perhaps. It's not like Gregory really asked Freddy his opinion on being stuck out here with him.]

...yes. That is for the best.

[ If he was being honest, Freddy felt... conflicted. While he had promised to keep Gregory safe no matter what, he still considered the others his friends

(that's not how they were something was wrong something had to be wrong)

and the Pizzaplex had been his home... it was all he knew.

(but was that true? was that really true? wasn't there something else something he'd forgotten?)

But in his current state, being human (was he really), he was no longer one of them. He no longer belonged at the Pizzaplex.

In the end, though, none of that mattered. He had promised to help Gregory, and they were both here. Together in a new, unfamiliar place, he would continue to choose his new objective.

(he chose this he chose this he had a choice and this is what he chose. this is his) ]

[Yeah...while Freddy is expected to give short responses sometimes, and Gregory expects no different with him being human now, Gregory is also sharp enough to note that he's being uncharacteristically pensive.

It prompts Gregory to lean over just a little, one of his hands resting on Freddy's shoulder to keep his balance while he seeks to look him in the face directly.]

Is something wrong?

[ He hesitates a moment as he looks at Gregory. He does not want to trouble the boy, especially since leaving the Pizzaplex had been what Gregory was trying to do the whole time they were together. Gregory being here was a good thing. ]

I am all right. This will... just take a lot of getting used to.

Yeah, I can imagine...you've got skin and bones now. You can't just get repaired or recharged anymore, or have your parts replaced whenever you want...it's gonna be harder.

[Gregory knows with intimate clarity just how hard it is to care for a human body. It's not easy, and it's not fun, especially when you don't have any money or anyone to help you.]

But- But I'm gonna help you, okay? You helped me, so...it's the least I can do.

[ What worries him most is that he would not be able to help Gregory as well as before. Not only was he unable to provide as much protection, but needing to maintain this human body could take away from resources that Gregory would need, and he would hate to cause any kind of inconvenience for him.

And yet, Gregory's words touch something deep inside him, and he can't help a smile. ]

Thank you, Gregory. I know I will be just fine with your help.

January - February Test drive

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