ohmyarceus | January - February Test drive

( It's good to hear herself as well. She isn't sure what it is about this place that healed her, how being compacted, destroyed, twisted beyond all belief didn't leave any lasting scars on her new body. Maybe this is a second chance at life? Thoughts like that are a little deep for her, but she can't help considering. )

That boy, Gregory, did he hurt you, too?

( Piplup is just as friendly as its trainer is, meaning its bright eyed at the prospect of a new friend. It eagerly begins chattering away at Mimikyu and even attempts to replicate its owner's bear hug by hugging Mimikyu in the same way. )

Oh! What is yours named?

[He holds her closer for another moment before giving space for her to have room, if she wants it.]

Gregory? No, he never hurt me. What do you mean by 'too'? He told me there was an accident... I don't think he could be capable of hurting people. He's just a scared boy.

[Piplup's easy acceptance is all that Mimikyu needs, manipulating it's costume to return the hug, and even slipping one ghostly arm out from underneath to complete it, when the costume arms don't extend far. Yes, it likes Piplup, Piplup is friend.]

I heard it was called a Mimickyou, or something like that, but I feel like it would do well with a name like... Mike, or Michael. I don't know why though, it just sounds like a good name.

( Is that what Freddy thinks of Gregory? The boy who took her voice, took Roxy's eyes? Took Monty's claws right off of his hands? Chica can still see the foot coming towards her, the final nail in the coffin that sent her flying into the trash compactor. Thinking about it now makes her wince with the phantom pain, draw away from Freddy and further into herself. )

I only wanted to help Gregory. I... I would have taken him to his parents, Freddy.

( Well, that's what Chica would have liked to do. But, at night, she knows she's not herself. She knows that something else is at work, something that makes her hurt. Like all of the others. )

He stole my voice. ( A hand reaches to touch her throat, all intact, all human. These are vocal chords, not a voice box. How strange. )

Why would he do that?

[He doesn't keep her close, when Chica pulls away he gives her the space to do so, only keeping one hand on her shoulder, so she would not feel alone.

Freddy takes a moment to ponder the long nails on his hands, colored a dark purple, and the way a scar circles his wrist, just above the spiked wristband he wore.]

I trust you Chica, I know you wanted to help him, that you would not hurt him. But he was convinced... that even if you would not hurt him, you would take him to Vanessa, or the strange rabbit that he saw, and they would hurt him.

[It is unfair, why must his friends all suffer. From the other animatronics to Gregory, all of them had suffered... he should have found a way to protect them better.]

I am sorry, I am so sorry. I... I think I knew... before... that it wasn't exactly an accident, but I wanted to get Gregory out, so we could fix everyone, and it would all be okay again.

But it wouldn't have ever been okay, not like that. There was... something bad happening there, disapearances, dark places... it was bad. It doesn't make taking your voice right, and if we ever get our endoskeletons and shells back, I'll ask someone to give your upgrade back, I promise.

I'm sorry you were hurt, my friend.

Vanessa?

( She couldn't remain ignorant to the truths of their position. She loved her job, she loved working long days to see the smiles on children's faces. But Freddy is right. Things at the Pizzaplex weren't right, and they all had some part in it. The disappearances, the missing children... How did Freddy manage to stay above it all? He's never hurt anyone, not that Chica has seen.

Maybe he really is just that good. )

...We're here now. And we're okay.

( Not that it would ever be so easy to place the horrors of their past behind them. Acknowledging that they're in a different place in a good start. They're not performers anymore; they're humans. Regular humans. Chica isn't even sure if she can still play guitar; she'd have to find one to find out.

In this moment, rather than choosing to relive the pain [something that can come later] Chica looks up to her friend. It's magical that they both made it here, together, and now they both have funny little creatures to look after. In this moment, the Pizzaplex can't hurt them. )

You're okay, Freddy?

[He could never quite figure out why he was able to avoid what had happened to the others, maybe the error he'd experienced in the show had to do with it... but there was no way to know now.]

We are here. And we will make the best of our lives here.

[It was a promise, eve without the words attached. He'd find a way to make sure Chica was happy, any of them that came here. Not just Gregory but other animatronics.]

I am uninjured, but my... heart... hurts a little, knowing there are friends who aren't here. But if we are here, we may see them again some time.

Roxy, Monty... maybe... Bo... never mind.

Freddy, look at us. Before we came here, I looked... ( Broken, mangled, destroyed, with eyes popping out and wires where her throat should be. But those details aren't necessary. ) messy. So damaged, I don't think even Parts and Service could have fixed me. But look at me now! Look what I can do!

( Chica jumps! That's it, that's all, but anyone who ever spent time as an animatronic knows that jumping wasn't something their coding was meant to handle outside of shows. For whatever reason.

She picks up her Piplup and holds it close to her chest. )

If this place can save me... maybe we shouldn't give up on seeing Bonnie again either.

[Chica's positivity is contagious, and he smiles softly.] You look much happier here, now. [Nothing like the shambling form that he'd seen for bare moments as he'd slipped by with Gregory hidden inside.]

I am sorry, I just... miss him, very much. I like Monty, but having him in Bonnie's place sometimes feels... wrong. [There were things, like expecting the other to be leaning back against you when you tip back in a show only to find your new band mate curled away from you. Things that seem so small when you aren't in the moment.

He reaches down and scoops up his Mimikyu, and the small thing gives him a hug, making him smile.] You are right, we have to keep hope.

I miss Bonnie, too. I still don’t understand… ( How something like that could have happened, how their beloved friend could disappear without a trace. They’ve all heard the rumors, if not from security staff and Vanessa, than from chattering children themselves — Monty had something to do with Bonnie’s disappearance.

But Chica can’t believe that.

She refuses to. )

Monty is our friend, Freddy. He wouldn’t. ( Maybe this is more for herself than for Freddy. Of course she’s thought it. They all have. )

Hope… Hey, Freddy, would’ya like to go into town? We could get something to eat? ( Food is easy. Much easier than thoughts like these. )

[Freddy hadn't understood from the start. Bonnie had been so popular, Something about him being a part of the original crew, the only way they seemed like they wouldn't have worked hard to fix him would have been if there was nothing left. He shivered, not from the cold but rather from the dark thoughts.

Chica was right, right? Monty was their friend, they could trust him... Right?

But what if it hadn't been Monty? What if it had been him controlling Monty. Maybe Freddy wasn't the only one who hadn't been controlled? He would have gotten rid of any animatronic that got in his way, wouldn't he?]

Food? Food sounds good.

[He had just barely heard Chica's suggestion over his own racing thoughts, but it had been enough to pull his focus back out.]

Should we see if this place has pizza, and how it tastes?

You know I'll never say no to pizza.

( She smiles, but somehow it feels a little more distant than usual. As much as she loves Freddy, there are many unanswered questions weighing heavy in her heart, and she knows that there's no way to answer any of them in this moment.

With Piplup cheerfully in her arms, she sets about to return to the town, staying mostly quiet on the walk as she takes in her surroundings. Being created inside of the Pizzaplex, Chica had never seen the outside world before, let alone experienced it like this. Every fluttering Butterfree, or curious, squirming Caterpie brought a new light to her eyes. Even the smell of the air, something that she's so used to associating with pizza sauce and motor oil, is novel. Fresh. She loves it.

...Until they reach the diner and are presented with a new problem. )

They don't accept pizza passes here, Freddy. They want... money?

( Which is more his problem than hers. She's got her own solutions and scurries over to the nearest trash can. There's always food in there! )

[The walk to the town was a good thing, just watching Chica brighten with every new thing helped to lift his hear, and the push back the dark lingering thoughts. Being in companionable quiet with a band mate again was just as important.

It was when they arrived and Chica announced the trouble that he had to shake his head at his friend.]

Be careful Chica, I do not believe humans can eat from such places. I, at least, do not wish to learn just how human we are in that way.

[He had been caring for Gregory before awaking here, so much of the information on health and caring for humans was still close in his mind, and digestive illness seemed... horribly messy.]

Maybe I can do something to earn some money... somehow...

( Chica hears him. She does. But she's already three scoops deep, mouth full of whatever this diner has decided to toss away. Some of it is edible, but there's also things like expired PokéPellets, the unusable ends of lettuce and tomatoes, and paper receipts, all of which hang from her mouth. )

Whuh—?

( What's she supposed to do? Spit this out? No, she chews and swallows before wiping her mouth with the back of her arm. )

Freddy! Freddy, you can sing! People love to hear your voice!

[It is probably a sign of just how used to Chica and her eating habits he was that Freddy didn't bother to even shake his head at her still swallowing the garbage.]

People love the band, but maybe they will like my singing enough. We should see if we can get you a guitar, or something.

I would love to play my guitar again!

...

( But that means having money! Why is this world so cruel? )

Maybe we can ask someone to give us their guitar. Is music popular here?

Maybe.

[How does regular money work? That might be something that he should find someone to teach him...]

If they don't like my singing enough for pizza, maybe I can carry heavy things around for them... if I'm still strong enough. It's hard to tell what my load limit is like this.

[He was pretty sure he'd downgraded from when he was an animatronic. There was a reason animatronics had helped with a lot of the heavy moving after all.]

And I could help you!

( Chica might look small, but she's as strong as a tiger. She's strong enough to attach a ten-year-old boy, which means she has to be pretty strong. )

Let's test how strong you are now. Can you pick up me, and Piplup, and Michael? All at once?

I would welcome your help, always.

[Freddy has no doubt that she is strong, which is helped by the fact that as animatronics they both were supported by heavy duty endoskeletons, and 'gender' didn't apply much to their abilities.]

It would be good to know how strong I am like this. Michael, stay with Chica.

[He deposited Michael into Chica's hold before adjusting to wrap his hands around her waist, careful of his claw-like nails, before starting to lift her up.]

( With a close hold of Piplup in one arm and Michael in the other, Chica feels herself being lifted off the ground and squeals with delight. Or, makes a sound that would be a squeal if not for her missing voice situation. Talking hasn't given her much trouble so far, but she hasn't tested the limits just yet. )

I knew you could do it! With strength like yours, anyone would be glad to hire you!

Piplup-lup!

[Lifting Chica felt good, normal, like something he should always be able to do, which was comforting in the face of how many things had changed for him. Hearing her sound of excitement distorted drew his attention to what had been taken from her as something she should be always be able to do. It wasn't real pain, but his throat felt tight with discomfort and he shifted to holding her in a tight hug, still lifted up from the ground.

She had seemed so determined to avoid more unhappy thoughts, so rather than apologize for what had been taken for him to use, he said the next thing that would give a good reason for his sudden hug.]

I'm- [Of course the tightness in his throat would choke his words for a moment, after swallowing a few times he tried again.] I'm glad you're here Chica. I'm glad I have my friend here with me.

Freddy?

( Like Freddy, far be it from Chica to turn down a hug, especially one from a good friend. Even in their strange new human forms, Freddy feels like Freddy. He's softer now, not as rigid with plastic. He doesn't smell like WD-40 and cheese pizza anymore, which might be a downside only because Chica had grown used to the Pizzaplex's smells. It's the only home she's ever known, really. )

...I'm happy, too!

( Again, speaking too loudly too suddenly cause a pop in her vocals, like hr voice has a limit before it fizzles out, but Chica is doing her best not to mind it. She has Freddy and now she has Piplup and Mike as well. Who knows how many more friends they'll make along the way? )

Now, what will we do about Gregory?

Gregory... Yes...

[He slowly set her back down before considering the question. What would they do about Gregory? He'd made a promise and he did not intend to go back on that, but things were more complicated now... Or... Were they?]

Chica, do you... know anything about the children who disappeared.

Missing children..?

( This question should be pretty easy for her. It's a yes or no question, really, but... but she really isn't sure. It sounds familiar, she has memories, but they're all so foggy. It's like they were thought up by someone else. )

I... don't know. I don't want anyone to go missing. I just want kids to have a good time at the Pizzaplex. That's all. No one gets hurt. All kids should be safe. That's what our friendly security staff is for.

That's how I feel too. [He nods softly in agreement, the memories of the reality Gregory's presence made him face conflicting with his wants for the company that was their home still fresh.] But.. there are moments, memories that... aren't right. People and things where they shouldn't be, then gone.

Gregory is scared of the security guard, not just like a kid that wants to stay late, but... truly scared. And the way Vanessa talked about him... how angry she was... it made me worried too, what would happen if she found him.

[There were so many questions, so many things he wondered if Chica remembered, if she even knew about them, or if his control erased those memories when it wasn't active, or possible.]

Did you... ever get taken down under the Pizzaplex? Below where Parts and Service is... deep down.

January - February Test drive

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he's so wholesome i'm crying

He just wants people to be happy

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