Teddy Bear Tea Time
"You're certain that the best way to approach this is on a solo basis?" Freddy asked Billy.
"With Theodore? Yep. The way he'll see it, you're both leaders and he'll respect that. He'll still be grumpy, but it'll be a respectful grumpy," he said.
"I would be inclined to agree on that front." Freddy looked over the small spread that had been prepared. "You know, I've never actually had tea. Not real tea. Perhaps that's somethin' to rectify when I have the opportunity."
Billy had a sniff of the teapot and made a face. "It smells funny to me."
"To each their own, my boy. Now, send our guest in whenever you're ready. If I need anythin', you'll be the first to know," he said.
"Yes sir, Freddy sir!" he saluted and scurried off. Freddy chuckled to himself while he watched him leave.
He mulled over what he intended to do while he poured the tea. Billy had given him a general overview of what to expect and how to approach him. It hadn't surprised him to learn the man was something of an egotist. He'd witnessed enough to verify that much. He'd also told him that Theodore had been forced to choose between punishing Vevina or everybody after she had rebelled. He didn't envy him for that. It couldn't have been easy.
He knew this would require delicacy and patience, but it had to be balanced evenly. After all, the clock was ticking and he had to get to the heart of the matter. But he felt ready. He'd stood by and watched long enough. Now it was time to take matters into his own hands. Hopefully, this would fare better than the previous effort.
The door opened and Theodore strode in, already looking rather put out.
He looked imperiously at him. "Well, this is a fine thing, Frederick. After that utter debacle we had to endure, I'm surprised that you believe I would be willing to sit in discussion with you again."
"I will admit that things certainly got out of hand previously. However, as the two leaders of our group, I believe that there is a greater opportunity for us to make strides if we take a more personal approach." He indicated the chair opposite. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
"Hmph." Theodore glanced warily at the chair, like it might bite him, before settling into it. "I must commend you then, for your evident insight in recognising this as a course of action. Meetings between men such as ourselves have the potential to achieve great things."
"I'm happy to hear that you have confidence in it," replied Freddy.
"And… I am willing to admit that I may have been, well, somewhat unreasonable previously," he mumbled with evident discomfort. "You must understand the burdens of leadership can weigh heavily on someone. Certain expectations must be upheld."
"Of course," said Freddy evenly. "A leader does have a certain conduct that they must maintain, I understand completely."
"Ah, capital then! I'm pleased you can-" The colour drained from his body and he clutched his head. "Tell me what you want and I'll do it! Let me go, please-!" In an instant, it was over. "Blast, this whole thing has me taxed. Perhaps this will help."
"Yes, perhaps it will," murmured Freddy, watching while Theodore sipped his tea. "I must offer my commendations to you as well, Theodore. It cannot have been easy, leadin' under the circumstances you found yourself in."
"That is very much an understatement. Honestly, at times it was like trying to herd sheep in the middle of an earthquake." He paused to put more sugar in the cup. "You've seen how those two behave, it's enough to drive anyone insane."
"I can imagine. Though I'm certain that they were tryin' their best to deal with the same difficult circumstances in their own way," he suggested.
"Yes and what form does it take? Utter disrespect," Theodore said. "They make my tasks much more difficult than they have any right to be."
Freddy hummed in response. "Forgive my sayin' so, but I cannot help but notice you have a very particular approach to leadership. Uncompromisin', as I believe you would put it."
"That is precisely how I would put it! You know our circumstances. The Puppet would never let us toe the line with anything, so I felt it necessary to reflect myself in a similar way. Order has to be maintained, regardless of our feelings on the matter," he said.
"I can see the method, yes," replied Freddy. "Did you never think to try a less firm hand?"
"I certainly did!" he said at once. "You can ask young Jeremy, for it was at his behest. The twit Hermana had hurt herself during one of her asinine skating endeavours. I made certain she was alright and show gratitude for the assistance that Clyde, quite uncharacteristically, provided. Yet what has changed? Nothing. Still, he is a lazy sod and she is as reckless and idiotic as ever, as much a danger to those around her as herself."
"Did you not attempt to try a similar approach after that point?" asked Freddy. "Perhaps sit and talk with them about why they do as they do?"
"And be seen as soft? I don't think so!" he scoffed. "As for the why, I don't see that it matters. They know the line, yet they refuse to follow it. It fell to me to remind them of it. How can I be faulted for that? It's simply- please God, if you're there, help me! I'll be nicer to my little sister, I'll never- blast, my head!"
"I see," said Freddy, keeping his tone neutral as best he could.
"I mean no offence when I say this, Frederick," he went on, "but you could do with applying more strict terms to your own cohort. That Bonnie especially, I didn't care for her attitude much. Reminded me too much of Clyde."
Freddy nodded slowly. He started to rearrange some of the tableware in front of him, to distract himself from his growing annoyance.
"She can be difficult, I won't deny," Freddy said. "However, she has surprised me with her humility and compassion on more than one occasion. I'm not perfect by any means, but I like to think I have guided my little family well over the years."
"If you say so," Theodore sniffed.
"I do," said Freddy, in a final sort of way. "So you don't believe Jeremy's previous advice holds any merit?"
"Frankly, no. I realise the boy meant well, but he simply cannot hope to understand the perspective that my position brings. You must see my side of things, Frederick. Though perhaps not completely," he added.
Freddy felt an eyebrow twitch at the inference behind his words. He caught a glimpse of a rather condescending expression on Theodore's face. He allowed himself a moment to quell his mounting frustration before speaking again.
"Yes, I'm seein' that. Now, since you are evidently a man who prefers to be direct in his thoughts, allow me to return the favour." Freddy set down his tea and regarded his counterpart evenly. "I believe I have made this clear previously, but I'll state it again: the contempt that you hold both myself and my family is nothin' short of insultin'."
"Come now, Frederick, you mustn't take it as such," he said, trying to smile. "I'm merely offering my thoughts on the matter."
"How generous of you. Let me return the favour and offer my thoughts on the matter." Freddy lightly placed his hands on the table and leaned in. "You, sir, are a jackass."
Theodore spluttered, sending tea spraying over the table. "Well I… you see here, sir-!"
"I have not finished, sir," said Freddy in a quiet, but dangerous tone. "In addition, you are an utter disgrace of anythin' resemblin' leadership. You are self-entitled, incompetent and intolerant of the views any you consider beneath you, which appears to be everybody. Even Jeremy, the young man who is the only reason we are havin' this conversation. You insist on others showin' you respect, yet you do next to nothin' to earn it. You appear to revel in your position as leader for no other reason other than to bloat your severely inflated ego."
It gave Freddy more satisfaction than he cared to admit to see that his counterpart was utterly speechless. He opened his mouth a few times to start arguing, but each time it failed him. After a few minutes, he slumped back in his chair.
"If that is how you feel, why are we still talking?" asked Theodore quietly.
"Because underneath all of that bluster, there is one thing I detect as consistent: in your own way, you want what you feel is best for everyone else, however misguided it might be. Not to mention that there was a time I let leadership go to my head as well. I am many things, but I like to think a hypocrite isn't one of them," he said with a slight smile. "I want to help you, Theodore."
"And why would you think I would accept it?" he asked bitterly.
"Well, why don't we ask somebody who walked a similar path? Sister?" he called to the ceiling. "I'm aware you're busy, but could I trouble you to join us for a moment?"
"Yes, brother?" Theodore yelped when Goldie suddenly appeared next to Freddy, cup already in hand.
"I trust you've been followin' the conversation until this point. Would you be so kind as to enlighten Theodore as to what happened when you attempted to wrest back control from us?" asked Freddy.
Goldie took a drink of tea. "Would this be when, fuelled by my sense of entitlement, I let my bitterness and anger get the better of me, tried to steal your bodies and ended up in trapped inside my own head, unable to act or do anything for close to thirty years?"
"Th-Thirty years?" stammered Theodore.
"Oh yes. I counted all the seconds. Every. Single. One." She held him in her gaze. "I could easily simulate what it was like for me, if you'd want? Fair warning, it was very dark. The kind of dark where you could scream until you're hoarse and nobody would ever hear you."
"No!" Theodore cried, then cleared his throat. "N-No, that's quite unnecessary, thank you."
"Really? Well, have it your way. Will that be all, brother dear?"
"Indeed, sister dear. Thank you."
"My pleasure." She tipped her hat, stared at Theodore for a bit longer, then vanished again.
"Quite a character, isn't she?" said Freddy conversationally.
"R-Rather," muttered Theodore. "Very well, Frederick. I concede your point. What are we to do?"
Freddy nodded in satisfaction. "Well first, I'd like for you to confirm somethin' for me. You don't wish harm upon your fellows, correct?"
"Of course not! I'm not a bloody sadist," he said at once.
"I shouldn't have thought so, given the decision that you had to make regarding Vevina," replied Freddy.
He glanced away. "You know about that?"
"Yes. I know how difficult it must have been, to act against someone you care for in the name of the greater good. I had to do the same with Golden," said Freddy. "Even when you know there was no other choice, that it was either her or everybody else, it's never easy to reconcile it."
Theodore wasn't looking at Freddy. His eyes were locked on his teacup and he didn't say anything. When he did, his voice was halting and hesitant, like it was difficult for him to discuss.
"Frederick, may I… speak frankly with you about something in regards to Vevina? It has weighed on my mind for some time," he said. "Only because as a leader, I know you will understand."
"Feel free," invited Freddy.
"What was she thinking?!" Theodore suddenly stood from his chair and started walking angrily about the room. "What exactly was her plan, had she succeeded? Run for the hills, never to be seen again? And that's not even considering the Puppet! I have no doubt she could resist his influence, but never completely. None of us could! It was all well and fine for her, but the rest of us would have been forced to hunt her down in much the same manner as you. We literally had no choice! He would never-complain about doing chores again! I promise, I'll be good, just- agh, my bloody head!"
"It's alright, calm down." Freddy approached and placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him back to the table. "But even so, I can sense the decision still doesn't sit well with you. Even though Golden placed me in a similar position, I can tell you I felt much the same."
Theodore looked at him in surprise. "Well, yes. You see, I… it's rather difficult to explain."
"Please, try."
"Very well." He was quiet for a moment. "I have… made my peace with the decision. What I mean to say is that it was by no means easy and I took no pleasure in it, but it was either her or all of us. Not an ideal scenario, I think you'll agree. The others, well, they must know how difficult my position was. I understand she was much beloved, far more than I, but what did they think would happen? She'd get let off with a slap on the wrist? I thought they would… but no, it was foolish to think as such."
"You thought they would understand better than they did," said Freddy. "To see how difficult it was for you."
"Well, we are all in the same boat. I had thought…" Theodore huffed and turned away. "Utter foolishness, as I said. But I already had an inkling that's how it would be and if they choose to hate me, so be it. A leader isn't always liked for their decisions."
"True, but neither should they deserve to be disliked. You're not wrong for desirin' their approval, Theodore," said Freddy. "Just as my fellow synthetics are practically family, yours hold much the same description."
"Family," he scoffed. "As far as they're concerned, I took Vevina from them. I fail to see why I would hold such a distinction. She was always the favourite, not me."
"Did you never try to talk with them about what you had to do?" he asked.
He laughed bitterly. "Pointless to even consider. They won't listen to me, they never have."
"Perhaps they will if you speak with them as a friend, not as their leader." Freddy's eyes met Theodore's. "I understand your fears. There was a time when I too felt that I wasn't deservin' of my family because of my mistakes. But if you give them a chance, they may yet surprise you. Would you be willin' to try?"
Theodore considered the question. Never once did his eyes maintain contact with Freddy's for longer than a few seconds. His only response in the end was a short, sharp nod. It happened so quickly that Freddy wasn't certain if he had witnessed it.
"Billy?" He waited until the boy arrived. "Would you be so kind as to bring in our previous guests again?"
"Sure thing, sir," he said and hurried away.
Theodore stared in disbelief. "How on earth do you have him trained so well?"
"He's a boy, Theodore, not a dog. Just one of the ways people can surprise you, if you get to know them," he said.
Theodore hummed, but didn't say anything else. A few minutes later, the doors opened again and Billy was leading Hermana and Clyde with him. Their looks of curiosity turned apprehensive and annoyed respectively when they laid eyes on Theodore.
"This is what you brought us here for?" asked Clyde. "I didn't realise it was time to get chewed out again."
"Yeah, I gotta say I was expectin' somethin' a little more… well, not this," admitted Hermana.
"Don't fret, you two," said Freddy. "Theodore does have somethin' he'd like to say that I hope is more pleasant than what you're expectin'. Would you like me to leave you alone?"
"No, that's fine, Frederick. I'd rather have you witness this." He glanced at Billy. "I would like you to stay as well."
"Really?" Billy looked genuinely surprised. "Okay."
Freddy noted the chairs that weren't there before and offered them. Hermana plopped in the middle, Billy climbed up next to her and Clyde chose to sit on the arm. Theodore placed himself opposite and cleared his throat a few times, all the while tapping his fingers on the lapel of his suit.
"Hermana. Clyde. Billy. I realise I am not well liked by any of you. To some extent I've never sought that. However, as I'm sure you're aware, I had to make a... difficult decision in regards to the absent member of our entourage," he said.
"Yeah, we know you let the Puppet turn her into a screaming metal mess, thanks for the reminder," remarked Clyde.
"Do not interrupt me, you...!" He stopped when he glanced at Freddy and calmed down. "Yes, I had to play a part in Vevina's suffering. Choose between all of us being punished or only her. I... never wanted any harm to come to her, or any of you. But he made me choose. You all know what it was like, even considering disobedience. What I did, everything I did, was to keep you from suffering his wrath. I thought that, if I made myself as immovable as possible, I could prevent history from repeating itself. However, I'm willing to admit that... I was wrong."
Both Hermana and Clyde looked at each other in surprise. Even Billy was taken aback.
"In trying to make sure," he continued, "that what happened to Vevina never happened to any of you, I was perhaps... overly harsh. The way I reasoned it, anything I might do would be pittance compared to what the Puppet would do if he acted against you for your transgressions. Even so, my conduct was rather, well, overzealous. For that, I…I… I'm sorry." He was blue in the face and cleared his throat again. "You… may speak whatever is on your minds."
The three synthetics stared, dumbstruck. Theodore was shifting uncomfortably and looking at anything but the three of them.
Billy broke the silence. "Are you going to stop being so grumpy?"
"I… will try," he said. "Don't expect an overnight change, mind you and don't think you can try to pull one over me either!"
"Yeah, that sounds more like the Teddy I know," said Clyde. "I was wondering for a bit there who this guy was."
"No change from you then," said Theodore.
"You expected there to be? You're still a pompous jerk, but…" Clyde glanced away. "About Vevina. I'm… not exactly guiltless there myself. So if you try to do better… maybe I can too."
Now it was Theodore's turn to look surprised. "Ah. Yes, well. Thank you, Clyde."
"It's fine. Like you said, don't expect an overnight change," he said.
"I wouldn't give you anywhere near that much credit. Hermana? You've been unusually quiet," he noted. "Spit it out, if you have something to say."
Hermana was still staring at him. Her lip was starting to wobble and her eyes shimmering.
"Oh come now," Theodore complained. "Is there any need for th-?"
"YOU DO CAAAAAAAARE!" With a loud wail, she dived across the table and tackled him in a hug, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I-I say! This is completely absurd!" cried Theodore shrilly. "Frederick! Clyde! Somebody get her off me!"
Freddy looked over at Clyde, who merely shrugged and chuckled at the sight. Freddy joined in, allowing a bit of time to pass before prying Hermana away from Theodore. He dusted himself off, but under his grumbling, Freddy could just make out a very small smile.
Golden beams appeared, concentrated around Theodore's head. Hermana and Clyde jumped back in alarm, even Freddy was taken in by the sight. He watched as his entire body became muted from its colour, then drained away and something formed out of his head. The fragment, safely contained, appeared to be staring warily at them before it vanished, along with the light.
"Well, that felt most peculiar. What on earth are you two staring at me like that for?" he asked.
"I… don't even know," admitted Clyde.
"Yeah, but it sure was a pretty sight," said Hermana. "Fred?"
"The answer is somewhat complicated, Hermy, but suffice it to say that I don't believe your headaches will be much of an issue anymore," he said.
"Oh. Neat!" she said.
"What, that's it? Come on, even you need more than that," insisted Clyde.
"Would somebody be so kind as to explain what you're all babbling about?" asked Theodore irritably.
Freddy held his hands up. "A full explanation will have to wait, I'm afraid. As I'm sure you've noticed, there is still one individual conspicuously absent."
"Ah. I see." Theodore glanced about uncomfortably.
"Don't worry, my friend. We have the best man for the job already lined up," he assured him.
Arc of Carona: This lot have been deprived of wholesome for a while. They needed some of it. Hope you enjoyed this one too.
Fate-Be Changed: She probably wouldn't say it exactly like that, but you raise a really good point. I didn't even think of that.
Teller-Story: In a manner of speaking. The Toys are their reflections in more ways than one.
Guest: Hey, another bunny XD
Lavender Hope: Yeah it's not the most subtle of references, but I couldn't resist XD
Well, there was a time where Bonnie and Foxy's was bad too. It's kind of meant to draw those parallels and similarly, the circumstances are also swapped. Foxy messed up and compromised his friendship with Bonnie, vice versa with Clyde and Vevina.
Yeah it's weird how the site doesn't like some symbols XD good to hear from you again and I'm glad you're enjoying it.