ohmyarceus | January - February Test drive

[Heh. So it's his turn to take care of Freddy now, huh? Funny how things have changed.

Gregory reaches over to take Freddy's hand so he can walk without a child just clinging to his front. It's not as fast or efficient as Gregory riding inside of his chest cavity, but Gregory has proved ten times over that if there's one thing he's good at, it's getting around quickly on his own.]

As long as we don't go, like...more than a day without eating something, we'll be okay. It just might be harder to get food here than it was at the Pizzaplex...

[Because uh, well. The Pizzaplex was huge and had a lot of leftover food almost all the time...it was almost too easy for one lost child to pilfer what he needed to get by.]

I unfortunately don't have any Pizza Passes, or know where any are. We may need to search for some.

[He didn't particularly want to put Gregory through the kind of things that Chica ate when she got away with it. He would do what was needed to keep him from that.

Freddy looked down at the small hand held in his own, memories of seeing families in the crowds during shows coming back to him. Adults holding the hands of children... it made him think...]

Gregory... are we... family? [It was hard not to try and keep a hold on Gregory's hand, suddenly worried that it would be pulled away now that he'd asked that.]

[That...sure is not a question that Gregory was prepared to be asked. And while he doesn't pull away (he wouldn't dream of doing so, especially not now), Freddy now has the capacity of the sense of touch and pressure, able to feel the way his grip tightens on his much larger hand.

He doesn't stop walking, but he does answer as they make their way.]

...yeah. We've only got each other now.

[...]

Having a family...would be cool, for once.

[Acting on impulse he gently rubs the backs of the fingers holding onto his hand with his thumb. It felt so right to have the youngster holding onto him.]

I have never had an actual family before. I am glad I can be your family, and that you are my family.

[Humans were supposed to have family, he knew that much, so Gregory's words worry him, but he's seen the boy get defensive and even angry before, and doesn't want to risk that with questions he might not want to be asked. Besides, they were family now, Gregory was no longer without a family.]

[Gregory doesn't miss the soft gesture, able to feel Freddy's hand moving against his own. Those words- I'm glad that you are my family- are all that Gregory has ever wanted to hear from...hell, ANYONE, but there wasn't really any possibility of him ever getting that. The only small comfort in his life that he'd had was the Pizzaplex, as dangerous as it had turned out in the end. It provided him with shelter, food...and a brief respite from the world. He could enjoy himself there, and pretend just for a few hours that he was the same as all of the other kids with their families there.

He falls silent again, this time for an amount of time that might start to seem worrying.]

I'm not...a good kid, though. [He states, suddenly.] I break rules. I steal things. I go places I'm not supposed to.

[It's hard for Freddy to wait, and give Gregory time, part of him worried by the silence from his now family member. He didn't think that Gregory was going to suddenly have a change of heart about being family, or at least he really hoped not. Still, he wants Gregory to be honest and open with him, and he thinks giving the other time is the best way to do that.

What he gets for his patience is worrying, not because of what Gregory said, but rather that he feels it's so important, and a mark against him.]

Gregory... listen to me. [This felt important enough to stop for a moment, Freddy kneeling down to be more level with Gregory.] You are a kid, if you haven't had someone to do important things for you... you had to figure out how to do them for yourself. I know you don't do things just because you can, I trust that anything you have done, it's to take care of yourself.

All I ask is... you work on trusting me to take care of you too... okay?

[Gregory goes quiet, standing still and at attention as Freddy moves to crouch in front of him so they can talk more directly. Freddy has the right of it, even if things feel much more complicated to Gregory. He's spent his life having to figure things out on his own, which isn't something most children are expected to have to do. He's not been afforded a real childhood, not when he's responsible for keeping himself alive much less entertained. Having Freddy to help...is outside of the norm.

His eyes dart across Freddy's now-human face- too human, too soft, too lifelike- before he closes the gap between them to put his arms around Freddy's neck. This time, he doesn't let go.]

You're the only one I do trust, Freddy.

[He didn't want Gregory to let go, in fact, he shifted to hold the boy to his torso, so that when he stood back up, he could carry him. It wasn't as effortless to carry the child as it had been as an animatronic, but he was plenty strong enough to carry Gregory for a long while if needed. Right now he stayed where he was though, just holding him close, pressing his cheek into the boy's slightly messy brown hair.]

You are so important to me Gregory, you saved me... I would have stayed there, stayed trapped in myself, without you. I... needed someone to need my help, and want my help, to break free.

Thank you Gregory, my Superstar.

[If Gregory had any doubts about Freddy before, even the slightest inkling...they're all banished now as Freddy lifts him up into his arms as he stands, and while he's not traveling IN him anymore, it...feels right. For the first time, it feels right.

Gregory knows without a doubt that he'd do anything to keep Freddy safe, just like how Freddy would do the same for Gregory in return.]

I dunno about all of that, but...I'm glad I could help you, anyways. I always felt like there was something weird going on with that place, and whatever's going on there isn't your fault.

[It's not really the fault of the other animatronics either, but...they don't seem to be capable of seeing the same reason that Freddy can.]

[After a few moments of standing there Freddy started walking again, not heavily burdened by the child in his arms. This would likely keep Gregory warmer than walking on his own too.]

Thank you. I hope... anyone else who shows up here will listen that I am your family now. I... I think if you could know my friends like I do... without him or her getting in the way.

[He was sure that Gregory would like Chica, and most people thought Roxy was super cool, Monty would probably become protective of Gregory too. He was certain that Bonnie... he was scared to hope to see him again, but Bonnie and Gregory would probably become very good friends.]

Anyone else...I guess they'd be like you now if they come here too, wouldn't they?

[All human. Less capable of hurting him without their teeth and claws, but probably no less upset for how he hurt them. Even beyond Gregory defending himself, they all have very good reasons for not being too happy with the child right about now.]

...but I bet that means they could show up too. You know.

I can only guess that, since I became human, they would as well.

[He took a slightly hissing breath, a deep growl that was not unfitting for the bear he had been modeled after.]

I will not let them hurt you. I will keep you safe from them.

[There was something dark and rough about his voice, the growl joining the words to intensify them.]

[Oh, wow. Hearing Freddy growl like that...it's actually a little scary. Gregory can feel his heart leap briefly in his chest before it settles into frantic pounding, his grip tightening a bit on Freddy's jacket.]

I...I trust you. I don't think they'd last long here anyway...it's too open. Too bright. Nowhere for them to hide and be all creepy...

[He got the growl under control after a moment, feeling bad for having scared him.]

I am sorry Gregory, I do not know where that came from... I just felt quite upset at the idea of one of them bothering you still.

You are right, they don't have the same shadows to hide in, or a Pizzaplex full of S.T.A.F.F. bots to use. Anything they do will be seen by others, and there must be others who don't like those things, or they wouldn't find a need to hide.

[It might take Freddy a while to get used to having human emotions. Though, Gregory would argue that these animatronics have reached a level of sentience where they do have emotions, at least of a sort...it's hard to explain, but he's just a kid so he's not going to think about it too hard.]

It's okay. We're just gonna have to be careful. Since you're a grown-up here, who knows what they could look like.

[Vanny was someone in a suit, right? So that's already difficult enough...and who even knows what Afton would appear as in a place like this. Vanessa, at least, has no way to disguise herself. She's about as "normal" as it gets in terms of humans.]

Why do you think this is happening, though? I mean...a lotta weird stuff was going on in the Pizzaplex, but I didn't think this kinda stuff was...yaknow. Real.

[Like sentient robots, sure, he'll buy it. Robots turning into PEOPLE though...]

We will be careful, and watchful. Fortunately here... he shouldn't be able to do anything, since I don't have programming anymore.

[At least he hoped that the man could not try to control him without any circuits and programming to control him through. In a subconscious effort to comfort himself he held Gregory just a little tighter for a moment.

Gregory had a good question though, because it was very strange.]

I... do not know. All I can think is... whatever had the ability to move us here so suddenly also did not want me to run out of power quickly. How I became a human is... uncertain, but I can tell this is not just a very human shell on my endoskeleton.

[Freddy makes a good point. If they had the power to change him into a human at all, then couldn't they just have him remain an animatronic? It would have been much easier to ensure that things be difficult for him...]

Well...that's good to know, at least. I dunno what we'd do if you were just some kind of...crazy human meat suit walking around on an endo.

[That idea makes something inside him feel... uncomfortable and a shiver runs up his spine.]

Yes, I do not know what we would do either. I am glad that is not something that we have to consider what to do about it.

I do not like the thought of being an endo inside a human meat suit.

[Gregory snickers, which is probably a little concerning since a child shouldn't find that kind of grim imagery funny. Maybe it's more Freddy's dry commentary on it.]

Don't worry, you probably aren't. You'd probably make all sorts of weird creaking sounds if you were. But who knows...maybe you're not the only non-human here? Just...hopefully the only animatronic.

[Freddy should be worried, but after the night they had been through... he was just too glad that the other was here, and could find something to snicker at.]

If the others show up... Chica or Roxy or Monty, you should try to get to know them, without other things happening. I really think you might get along, without his influence.

Mmhh...

[It's clear just by his response that Gregory is still feeling a bit unsure about that, but...]

Well...you'd vouch for me if they are here, right? Tell them that I'm not...that they don't need to "get" me.

[It might be...a little harder to do that if any one of them shows up from after Gregory decommissioned them, but surely something could be worked out.

Maybe.]

Of course I will, Superstar.

[He takes a moment to cuddle the boy closer for a long moment.]

Besides... even if they still think they need to get you in order to return you to your family... We are family now. If you are with me, you don't need to be 'returned' anywhere.

[The contact, the closeness...it makes Gregory feel warm in spite of how cold it is outside. He hugs Freddy back, wrapping his arms around the now-human's neck.]

Thank you. I mean...I'm not in any of your databases or anything. It's cause I don't have anywhere to even be returned to.

They'd try to take me to my family, but they'd never find one.

I... know.

[He sighed softly, hating the memory of Vanessa telling him how there was no record... there was an odd triumphant tone to her voice in that. Like she had won. That had cemented that she hadn't been the better person he believed she was.]

She told me... that she looked into you and found nothing.

[He pushed off those thoughts before they got darker.]

But that is different now. You have me, and I will never leave you, I will stay with you, no matter what it takes.

[Gregory leans his head against Freddy's as he says that, looking ahead at the path in front of them as he walks them towards the next town.]

Even if I do bad things again? Cause...I can't promise I won't have to.

[Like stealing, or breaking into places...if it's to keep them both alive, he's not afraid to do whatever he has to.]

January - February Test drive

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