The walk had taken on a different atmosphere with the descending snow, the usual dull thud of Dan's counterweighted tail replaced with the wet crunch of fresh powder. Snowfall had increased significantly as of late, contributing a harsh beauty to the night. Although tiring for the Ankylosaur, the monthly trek to Freddy Fazbear's had taken on an oddly ritualistic, almost sacred nature. The idea of knowing there were other beings out there who knew of the fantastic circumstance he and his partners were bound to spurred Dan beyond his usual conservatism. He was joined by Randy, the diminutive raptor acting as navigator and spotter for the journey. The two carried a rather strained relationship; Dan wearing a resentment of the rebellious youth on his sleeve while Randy found him too stuck in his ways to move forward but they were willing to put things aside, at least for one night a month. Two thirds of the way through the walk, Dan stopped for a moment to rest on a bench, wiping away the snow coating it before seating himself.
"Just give me a moment," Dan sighed, relieving his strained hydraulics.
"Come on, Pops!" Randy whined. "We're almost there!"
"Can't you just wait a minute?" the exhausted Ankylosaur groaned.
"I've been slowing down to keep up with you all night! At this rate, Beamz and I will barely have time for one round of Street Fighter before we have to go!"
Dan closed his eyes and let out yet another sigh, waiting a moment before propping himself back up.
"So damned impatient..." Dan mumbled wearily before resuming the journey. "You'd do well to follow the new night guard's example."
"Who, Michelle? Dude, even SHE has her limits. I heard her blast Tracy about something the other night and our bodacious drummer hasn't been the same since. She's been kinda jittery about the whole thing." Randy paused to ruminate. "Actually, it kinda makes her hotter."
"Hrm... I was wondering about that. Still, just the slightest bit of patience goes a long way, Randy. I'm not built as streamlined as the rest of you; this is a lot harder on me than you'd think."
"Ooh, I'll have use that one on you the next time I get kitchen duty. I'm not 'built' to reach high shelves, after all."
"Smart-aleck," Dan grumbled as he continued on.
After the hour's trek, the two found themselves in the back lot of Fazbear's, the top of Freddy's hat on the marquee just peaking over the building. Per their custom, the back door was slightly wedged open by a pizza slice prop. The pair made their way into the hall, removing the wedge as they entered, hinges aching for lubrication moaning as the door closed behind them. Though Dan disagreed with some of Fazbear's design choices, he couldn't help but find certain things charming in their own way: nearly every square inch of the walls were covered in the drawings of children, the checkered tile hearkening back to older, simpler times, banners of golden stars hung with care on the ceiling, and that one quirky shade of purple used for the party room that one could remember but never really name. Waiting for them within were Freddy, Chica, and Bonnie, the current showrunners. Foxy, once a major attraction, tended to keep to himself after his damages. After being softly decommissioned for the disrepair brought on by his running and crashes, the once proud captain kept to Pirate's Cove. Freddy was waiting at a table set up next to the western window, a rather mild, almost contemplative look upon his face, while the girls were making their exit, chatting with one another. Seeing them, Randy couldn't help but try to utilize his trademark "charm."
"Evening ladies," he began, oozing cheap charisma. "Been a while. Missed us? Missed me?" He wiggled his eyebrows in an attempt at seduction.
"...Randy," Bonnie muttered under her breath as she passed, her disdainful tone clashing with her soft voice.
"Go get hit by a meteor, you little creep!" Chica's discontent was much more visible as she brushed past him quite strongly to get through.
"They'll come around eventually, just wait and see." Randy said, smiling to himself.
"I'm bound to disagree with the sentiment," Dan added dryly.
"Eh, that's just your ancient attitude talking. Well Pops, you and Business Bear have fun talking shop. I'm sure it'll be rad."
The sound of light footsteps against tile made itself know from the side hallway as Beamz made his appearance, a bit sheepish after a quick glance from Freddy as he came in.
"Oh hey Randy! And uhm, good evening Mr. Dan! You guys are a little late tonight."
"Blame the fossil, not me, man. Besides, we've still got plenty of time for me to school you."
"Well, you do teach me a lot of interesting words when you lose."
The look of shock upon Randy's face at the statement was almost pained before being replaced by one of sheer intent. "Oh, that's it, Bat Boy. We're doing Daytona USA tonight! I KNOW I can beat you at that."
"I LET you win that race!"
"Liar!"
With a fervency only the youthful posses and the old lament, the two animatronics made their way into the arcade, barely serious insults petering off in the distance. Dan, scoffing at their sophomoric behavior, took his own path towards the small table Freddy was situated at.
"Evening," Dan greeted as he neared the table.
Freddy simply grunted in response, momentarily looking at Dan before shifting his line of sight out the nearby window.
Dan seated himself across from Freddy. "Sorry we're late," he apologized, which yielded no response from the bear. Dan joined him in gazing at the dark, snowy streets. "Some weather we're having."
"Winter is a terrible time for business," Freddy spoke up. His voice was deep and devoid of emotional expression, a far cry from the jolly, friendly image he put forth when he was entertaining. "Parents don't want to warm up the car, get their kids dressed up in their coats and boots, and drive on icy roads unless they absolutely have to. They're not going to do that so their kid can go have fun while they sit around and wait." Freddy furrowed his brow as he continued to watch the snowfall in the light of the streetlamps.
"Well, maybe things will pick up when the children get off school for winter break," Dan suggested, traces of optimism in his voice. "They'll have a lot more free time. And their parents can't put up with them forever." Dan chuckled at his own joking attempt to match Freddy's cynicism.
"I doubt it," Freddy grumbled. "Things have been going downhill ever since those stories got spread about this place. Neighborhood hasn't gotten any better either. And I don't see that changing anytime soon."
"So, uh, things have been exciting for us this past week," Dan said, eager to discuss something more upbeat.
Freddy turned his head toward his guest. "Lot of customers?"
"Well, n- we, um- management hired a new security guard for the night shift," Dan stammered. "Yes, her name is Michelle. I was unsure about her at first, but she has proven to be quite devoted to the company." A prideful smile found its way on Dan's face. "Why, just earlier this week, some hooligans defaced our property with libelous vandalism, and she went right outside in the freezing cold, without any prompting, and cleaned it all up herself. Even got sick from it, but she still kept working. That is a true mark of dedication right there."
Dan was beaming, but Freddy's expression remained blank. He was simply staring at his hands resting on the table, lost in thought.
Dan's smile faded. "Erm, so, how have the others been? The boy, Beamz, how has it been having him around?" he asked.
"Hmm?" Freddy's attention returned to Dan. "Ah, well, the others have been fine. Bonnie and Chica have been going about their own things as usual. Don't see Foxy too much. Beamz yammers on about things to me sometimes but I honestly cannot say I pay much attention." Freddy's eyes moved to the entrance to the arcade across the room, where he could hear the laughter of the two youthful animatronics within. "He's excitable, I suppose. I don't pay him much mind."
"Well, you should use that energy!" Dan suggested. "Put him to work, get this place in top shape. It'll be good for him to learn what labor is like."
"Why bother?" Freddy asked. "Look at this town. Look at this business. You know things aren't getting better."
"You're too pessimistic," Dan said dismissively. "It's just a bit of a lull. Flowers don't bloom until the harsh winter is over."
Freddy could not help but roll his eyes at Dan's attempt at poetry. He looked out the window once more, taking a few moments of quiet to think of something to say.
"Tell me, Dan," he said, drawing the Ankylosaur's attention. "Would you need a security guard if things weren't so bad?"
Dan searched his mind for a retort, but nothing came to him. He sat in silence. Eventually, he too returned to watching the snow outside.
"You have to come to terms with this eventually, Kylo." Freddy's words carried a hollow tinge to them, an echo within him rather than his own voice. "Our glory days are over. Best to just accept that rather than struggle against a foregone conclusion."
The slightest of twitches found it's way into Dan's hand at the thought, his index and middle finger softly clenching. "I have to try, at least. I owe the children that much. I owe the business that much."
"Well then," the bear answered, his usual distant flatness returning. "I wish you the best of luck in that."
On that note, Freddy returned his gaze outward to the streetlight-illuminated lot, his grim sarcasm chained about them. There the two remained, staring at the cold white powder falling from the sky for minutes on end, contemplating their plight.
After quite some time spent with no exchange of words, Freddy rose from his seat. "It's getting late," he said. "You should get going."
"Yes..." Dan mumbled, needing a few seconds to pry his eyes from the snow and return to reality before getting up himself. "Well, I suppose we will be seeing each other in a couple weeks." Dan stretched out his arm for a handshake, which Freddy reciprocated. "You have a good night."
"You too," Freddy said, though his tone lacked earnestness.
The two parted and went their separate ways, Freddy leaving the room and Dan approaching the arcade entrance.
"Randy!" the Ankylosaur called. "Time to go!"
"Aww, man!" the raptor's voice resonated within the room.
Dan waited impatiently for a few moments as Randy made his way out of the arcade, a look of thinly veiled frustration on his face, as Beamz waved goodbye.
"I take it that your match with him ended as usual."
"D-don't you start giving me that too, old man! He just knows the machines better than I do."
"Don't we have the same ones back home?" Dan teased, a low chuckle in his voice.
"Well, maybe if I didn't have to spend so much time doing chores, I would get more practice." A distinct pout came to the raptor as he delivered the statement, his eyebrows pitching down dramatically.
"Well, you could always win next time, as unlikely as it may be. Now come on; we must be going."
With that, the two of them made their way out of the building and into the white landscape once more, snowflakes coming to rest upon their shells. Despite Freddy's warning echoing within his mind, Dan found himself slightly emboldened by his rival, his gait a bit more swift.
"Huh, you're in a good mood tonight," The raptor observed from his forward position, a pang of curiosity in his tone. "Usually by this point, you'd be whining about your ankles. Something happen between you two tonight?"
"Oh not much. We just had... a talk about the future, is all."
"You two are as boring as ever, I see," the delinquent raptor sighed, his footsteps crunching in the snow.
"Eh, you know how it is. We old men can be stuck in our ways." He chuckled lightly to himself, trying to ignore the bleak reminder of what may come. It just meant he had to try a bit harder.