Mable: I'm proud to announce that I finished chapter three of my second novel! ^-^ It's a small milestone, but I consider the third chapter its own sort of hurdle. It's when you pass the point of no return. But anyway, let us start. Enjoy!
Almost Feels Like Home
Chapter Twenty-Six
Charlie's renewed interest in animatronics was a positive thing considering the circumstances. Between reading the books and trying to feel the real thing- testing her bells, looking over her mask, and flexing her joints- she was starting to get a better grasp of what it was to be an animatronic. While it felt deceptively like being human, all the workings on the inside were different. She didn't have to breathe, she didn't have a pulse, but things subtly ticked and shifting deep inside of her chest. She was alive in a completely different way and it was all a matter of learning these new processes.
It was through this that she stumbled on a section about air hoses in her book, and then remembered something she had read on one of her father's blueprints: one of the earliest incarnations of Fredbear had a port for an air hose. This either meant there was a version of it before the springlock suits or it meant that the springlock suits had some sort of function that involved pressurized air. It was such a simple finding, but it opened a new train of thought. Springlocks were one of the few things that fascinated her even before her accident. Something about how these alleged suits functioned piqued her curiosity, and this new finding only made her more eager for answers.
Thus, when she heard a car pulling up outside, she perked and eagerly headed to the window, still carrying her robotics book. It was Mike's car which meant that he and Marionette were back. She brightened considerably; both of them were a wealth of knowledge on animatronics. She waited at the door, nearly pacing, and excitedly tapping her fingers on the book as she waited for one of them to appear. Any minute now Marionette would appear inside, and she knew he would be happy to answer any questions. He always was.
It was then that Charlie realized what she was doing. Here she was giddily waiting at the door for them to come inside, more eager than even Moppet, more excited than their pet. That realization hit her harder than she expected it to. She had lived alone fine for years and even before that had never been this clingy with her aunt. She hadn't even been living with them that long. She wondered if she was becoming too co-dependent. Perhaps that happened to animatronics and maybe that was why they took to human companions, or 'playthings' as Baby had so eloquently put it. She wasn't sure if that was a question worth asking.
Before she could continue dwelling on it, Marionette appeared alongside her. He spotted her and gave a warm smile. "Oh, hello! I almost ran right into you."
"Good thing I have to move around to keep myself balanced," Charlie said almost awkwardly. She tried to push down the thoughts from before he came in, elsewise she would clam up into herself and get nothing done. "How did the commercial go?" she asked.
"Better than expected! I'm sure we got at least thirty seconds of usable footage," Marionette chirped. He clasped his hands together and looked to the human who was letting himself in. Something seemed almost anxious about his movements.
"And it only took us two hours to film it," Mike chimed in. He then got distracted looking down at Moppet, who rushed over and rubbed against his leg. He leaned down to pet over her back, receiving an attentive mewl from the feline. Then, before the Puppet could continue, he added in, "A couple of your friends swung by."
"My friends?" Charlie looked between them in surprise. Marionette suppressed the desire to wince at the comment. "Which friends?"
"A few of them. Jason, Carlton, Jessica…" Marionette listed out. He noticed Charlie's piqued interest at the last name, perhaps out of surprise. He tented his fingers together to look casual. "They were talking about you. They miss you very much."
"I didn't think they'd ever come by Foxy's again," Charlie admitted before trailing off. They assumed she would react more, or really say anything more, but she fell into full silence. The other two exchanged a look before Marionette went into damage control and tried to change the conversation as quickly as possible.
"But your day! How was your day? Did you miss us? No doubt you were miserable with all the peace and quiet and sanity you had with us out of the picture," he playfully encouraged. Charlie knew he was giving her an out and took it.
"Actually, I was reading on animatronics and I remembered a blueprint of a Freddy a long time ago. I think it was the original Freddy, but it had an air hose connected to the back of it," she explained, returning to a more neutral tone. Just thinking about machines and pieces made her nearly forget all about any other issues. "But I don't remember any other animatronics hooking to air hoses, so it must have been the earliest one. But wouldn't that make it a springlock suit? I don't remember them using pressurized air. If anything, the things seemed too dangerous to be near any slight movement without the risk of clamping in."
"An air hose?" Marionette tilted his head and tried to think. "That is peculiar. Especially for a Freddy or Fredbear model. Not even Balloon Boy had an air hose, and you would think he would blow up his own balloons. Which he didn't."
"You have blueprints around here, right?" Charlie inquired curiously. "Do you think you would have ones for some of the older Freddy models?"
"Of course!" Marionette alit with a delighted chime. He laid a hand on her back affectionately and started to guide her towards the hallway. "We'll see what we can find in the file cabinet. I certainly have a few on springlock suits. Might even have a few springlocks sitting around the house if we look carefully," he said with a chime of amusement. Then he turned back towards the human. "Mike, are you coming with us?"
"After I call Glenn. Fritz was on me again about it so it's worth getting it over with. I'll be in afterward." The Puppets continued down the hall as he headed to the phone and quickly dialed Glenn's number. After a few moments Glenn answered on the other side of the line. "Glenn, it's me," Mike introduced as he shuffled a bit uncomfortably. "How's it going?"
"Heh, I didn't expect to hear from you. Going great! Much better than Magictime. I heard about what happened there, you know" Glenn said with slight amusement. Though it changed into a half-exhausted tone. "That Dave was always a handful on the hob… So, did you kill him, or was it one of the bots?"
"I think he OD'd or something. It's all a little vague, but you better believe that there's a detective sniffing around about Freddy's. This isn't about that though, this is business. We're planning on expanding the restaurant and were hoping you could hook us up with whoever did your job," Mike said. He heard what almost sounded like static on the line and tapped on the speaker. "Are we getting some interference or something?"
"I think it's on your end. Mine's fine," Glenn pointed out. There was a squeaking noise, as though he was leaning back in a chair. "Yeah, sure. They work out of here, so I don't know how much it'll cost to get them to drive down there, but they're the cheapest in the area. I was even looking up north-." He cut off with a cough and cleared his throat roughly.
"Are you okay?" Mike asked in slight concern.
"Just heartburn. Don't worry about it," Glenn dismissed as he made a noise like he was drinking something.
"It's the Mexican food. You know you're not supposed to eat the wares, right?" the security guard asked with a playful smirk.
"It's cheaper than going out. Anyway, these guys work by the hour, but they're got this deal where they can't go over a certain number of hours or you get a discount-." At that point, Glenn's voice was cut off by static. Mike frowned pointedly as he shifted around in place. Further towards the kitchen and more static. Further towards the living room and more static. Back towards the table didn't do anything. At some point he couldn't hear anything at all.
"Hold on a second. My phone's committing suicide and I pretty much can't hear anything." Mike managed to stretch the cord enough to just make it into the edge of the hallway and by then the static was only minimal. "Alright, I think I've got it. Can you repeat all of that?" There was no answer and a strange silence settled over the line. For a moment he thought that the older man hung up. "Glenn?"
"…Sorry. Sorry, just taking an antacid," Glenn excused with a cough to clear his throat. His voice now sounded raspy, but he was at least audible. "Now, I can send you the information, but since you're on the line anyway… Why don't you and Fritz come down tomorrow after closing and check out the place? A lot changed since you were here last. The programs changed, the animatronics are fixed, and you'll be able to see the work done. What do you say?"
"That was sudden," Mike mentally remarked. His voice was a bit more unsure. "I don't know. I guess I could ask Fritz about it."
"Great. Maybe you could come on Saturday? Talk to Fritz and get back to me," Glenn pushed in a rather bold way. "Let me get together the numbers and receipts from the expansion and I'll get back to you. Talk to you later, Sport."
"Talk to you then. Lay off the enchiladas," Mike suggested before the phone call ended. He wasn't sure how willing he was to return to Chipper's, but he decided to keep it in mind and tell Fritz later. Hopefully he would have some input. Hopefully he could fix the phone too. For now, Mike headed down the hall into the bedroom.
"I'm not telling you not to tell them. I'm just telling you to be careful." Mike stopped short outside the bedroom door as he heard Marionette's voice inside. "Not everyone can handle this information as well as you did."
"I know, and that's why I can't tell them. They can't know," Charlie answered somberly but firmly. He could hear the shifting of fabric and peered through the crack in the door. He was just able to spot the two beside the closet door, facing away from him. Marionette was currently hugging Charlie who, while not hugging back, rested her head against him as though accepting the embrace. Almost as Mike and Marionette had done earlier. "As much as I miss them, I can't risk… All of us to see them again… Besides, it'll be easier for them just to accept me being gone." Marionette squeezed her tighter. "Wait, I think I found something here."
As the Puppet drew back, Mike took this as the time for him to step in. "Hey, I'm back," he announced as he stepped in and wandered over. Charlie turned to face him while Marionette was still looking at a blueprint she was holding. Though, to be fair, he probably knew the human was watching the second that his gaze fell on him. "So, where's this old Freddy and where do we stick the hose?"
"It's nothing like the others. It's just a series of valves and air pumps to control movements," Marionette pointed out. "…Which would make it like a classic animatronic. The non-haunted, non-robot-like ones that existed before ARI got involved."
"Oh, so the boring ones," Mike quipped. He looked down at the Freddy- or Fredbear- blueprint. It wasn't named but the internal structure was practically non-existent. The skeleton inside was basic and flimsy, unlike the animatronics he knew that were built on specially made parts set to move and function like real limbs. "I'm guessing this one didn't last too long on the showroom floor." Marionette shook his head.
"This might seem like a weird question, but since you knew about Afton Robotics- That's what you're calling ARI, right?" Charlie asked. Mike nodded in agreement. "You've been there, you know about everything, about the murders… Did you…?" She seemed hesitant to ask. "Did you know William Afton?" Charlie asked, looking over at Mike. "The 'Purple Man'?"
That seemed like an odd question. Apparently, Marionette told her about William's crimes and yet was asking Mike if he knew William. It seemed like if she was going to ask anyone that she should've been asking Marionette, and it was telling when she didn't. He looked to the Puppet questioningly and he sent a desperately guilty look back at him. Mike only then realized that Marionette hadn't told her about his relation to William.
Mike was shocked by it- especially considering questions that should arise from the blueprints and the secret basement- but he understood it. Things could've been more uncomfortable if she knew his relation and telling her now, while the obviously right choice, was no doubt uncomfortable. Mike decided just to go with it for now, for both Marionette and Charlie's sake.
"…Yeah, I knew him. Under a false name and a ton of lies, but I knew Will for a couple of years," Mike admitted as he let more of his frustration through. "He was a compulsive liar and a generally garbage human being, but he was an amazing actor. He could make you honestly think that he was just some normal guy who got mixed up into something terrible, but it was all a scam." He gave a shrug. "He was smart… But he made some of the most idiotic decisions of all time. You'd be mistaken to think he was a genius, but he was just extremely convincing and always knew how to cover his ass."
"He was also terrible to his friends and family. Even outside his crimes, nobody was safe from his torment," Marionette voiced in. Charlie looked to him, as did Mike who raised his brows, thinking that the Puppet was about to tell the truth. "Someday soon you will meet Scott. He was rather close with William… And you'll see how he repaid that closeness."
"Is he…?" Charlie quietly began. Mike interrupted the discomfort, hoping to ease the mood he unintentionally made tense.
"No, but he developed an unhealthy obsession with clowns. That's bad enough," Mike quipped with slight smugness. "Speaking of unhealthy fixations with the past, Glenn invited Fritz and I to go down and see Chipper's. I don't know why he wants me to see the place that badly, but we need his contacts for the renovation on the pizzeria."
"You poor, brave soul… How I don't envy you!" Marionette chimed in amusement. "Just the thought of it: the Chipper show we all know and loathe, but now accompanied with cheap tacos and uncomfortable Spanish puns. I knew you had a death wish when you kept returning to the night shift, but I never realized you were this self-destructive." Charlie looked totally confused while Marionette reached out to pat his shoulder. "Good luck out there. Try to see if you can spot an air hose."
"Huh, I assumed you could along like last time," Mike pointed out. "I mean, yeah, Glenn wanted just me and Fritz, but when've you ever turned down a chance to look at inferior animatronics?"
"Shortly after seeing Chipper's show the first time," the Puppet bluntly responded.
"You two mean El Chip's, right?" Charlie asked curiously.
"The one in the same. Though when we were there the last time it was still Chipper's, and it was pretty much as bad as one would expect. That's why they gutted the place," Mike explained. He then looked back to Marionette and crossed his arms as though challenging him. "So, what do you say?" Marionette looked slightly like he was considering it.
"I don't know if you're offering it to me, but sure." Mike and Marionette both looked over in shock at Charlie's comment. "You can't build it up anymore than you two have," she playfully added. "Besides, might be worth seeing the animatronics. I haven't had much of a chance to see any animatronics that aren't alive. Almost like a controlled variable."
"These things in Chipper's weren't animatronics, they were walking disasters, and they still tried to attack us," Mike pointed out. "But if you're sure. It's a long drive and he wants us there after hours, so we'll probably need to get a hotel room." He assumed this would turn her off. Instead, there was the exact opposite result. The same excitement she had gotten from her night with Baby returned with a vengeance. She needed to get out of the house and close to the world outside.
"It can't be any longer than driving with Baby, and at least I won't have to drive with my head down and my legs sliding all over the place," Charlie pointed out. She looked between the two. "So, I can come?"
"Sure! The more the merrier!" Marionette chirped. Mike knew this meant the Puppet would be coming as well and got the slightest bit of a smirk. It wouldn't be the first time they both got stuck going somewhere they didn't want to go.
"Let me just call Fritz and make sure he's up for this." The security guard started out of the room. Hopefully Fritz would be willing, because that would take some of the driving off him. He would call and offer to Jeremy too, but knew it was unlikely considering how many animatronics he had to keep an eye on at night.
Halfway down the hall, Marionette caught up with Mike and grabbed him by the shoulder. "Mike, wait…" He lowered his hand as the human turned towards him. "I… About that back there… About Afton…"
"You didn't tell Charlie about who you are," Mike pointed out. The animatronic nodded sheepishly. "I supposed as much. You do plan on telling her, right? Because this is one of those things that could really come out at the worst possible time."
"I know, and I intend to… Just not yet. I know as soon as I tell her that things are going to be… Different." That was an understatement. Even if he wasn't guilty of his father's crimes, that stigma was still there. Especially since he waited this long already. He was doomed if he did and doomed if he didn't. "Would you mind not telling her until I figure out a good way to do it?" Mike agreed; it wasn't surprising, as he had silently done so in the bedroom earlier. "And when the time comes… Maybe you could be there with me?"
"Where else would I be? I can't walk that far in this house," Mike remarked with a playful smile. The Puppet forced one too as Mike rubbed his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. I think Charlie can handle it as long as you're the one telling her." The animatronic nodded in agreement, warbling when he received a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be right back," Mike assured and headed back into the dining room, deciding to use his cellphone instead of the landline.
This left Marionette to hover in the hallway with his thoughts. Mike was right, as he tended to be, but that didn't make it any easier. He didn't want to tell her, but he had no intention of hiding the truth from her like Goldie had done with him. Not to mention that eventually she would notice that William's stuff was in the house. It was already a miracle that she hadn't pieced the basement workshop to him, but that was only because she had so much trouble with the stairs and had been respectful enough to not sneak down on her own.
He would be honest and upfront, and he wouldn't fall into the same trap that Goldie had. But that could wait. For now, keeping her interested in animatronics was much more important.
After closing Foxy's the next day, Mike, Fritz, and the two Puppets immediately loaded into the van and began the drive up north through the state. Fritz took over most of the drive and was kept awake and alert by Charlie, who asked plenty of questions about technician work. Mike was moderately surprised at how much joy Fritz was getting out of answering all the questions and talking about his line of work. He knew that the technician enjoyed what he did, but he didn't know that he enjoyed it this much. It was as though both were totally enraptured in it.
It did give Mike ideas- that and that he had hours of driving with little stimulation. The main thing that Fritz and Charlie shared was their schooling, even if Charlie's was cut short, and here Mike was working with animatronics without any sort of credentials. It made him feel oddly restless. Seeing as though they were almost there, and he wouldn't get much of a chance for it later, Mike unbuckled his seatbelt and went to move between the seats.
"I'm going into the back for a bit, so you can have my seat if you want it," he volunteered as he slipped past Charlie. She gave an amused dismissal and returned between the seats to continue her chat. He decided not to point out that she was just as visible in the middle as in the passenger side, as it was liable to send her huddling behind the seat instead of climbing into the passenger's. He instead moved to sit opposite of Marionette, who was leaning back against a couple of stacked tarps, listening to the Walkman and skimming an old newspaper.
Mike couldn't help but be a little amused. It wasn't like this was the first time he saw Marionette doing human activities, but it clearly looked out of place. He couldn't imagine what Glenn would think if he saw this. Then again, he had been moderately disturbed when he saw Marionette being led around the carnival some time ago. Glenn would understandably panic, especially if he thought his own animatronics remembered past treatment. Marionette lowered the newspaper as he noticed Mike and then fully set it out of the way as he turned off the Walkman.
"Hello, hello! Decided to test your chances in the back? Don't worry, it's safe as long as you put your head between your knees before any impending impact," Marionette joked. "And I do mean impending. I had a terrible dream last night that we got in a car accident and I don't like our odds."
"Well, thank you for telling me that after we drove pretty much the entire way," Mike sarcastically remarked. Though his tone quickly shifted as he glanced back towards Fritz and Charlie, who were now talking about Baby's many quirks. "Hey… What would you think about me going back to college?"
Marionette's head snapped upright with interest. "Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't live on campus or anything. I'd probably have to take classes on the weekend if they let you do that. Maybe at night. Couldn't really afford anything, so maybe do a community college until I can figure something else out. Just… Something." He gave a playful smile, a slightly forced one, and nodded towards Fritz and Charlie. "It's hard not feeling intimidated by the two of them, you know?"
"Mike, I think that's wonderful!" Marionette quickly began to gush. He scooted over beside him. "You'd go into robotics too, yes? I could help you study. We could even research together! I could stay up with you for late night sessions before big tests and then we could frame your diploma right in the living room!" His excitement almost surprised Mike. He had a feeling Marionette would be happy but didn't expect this amount of elation.
"That all sounds great, but let's save the plans and parties until I actually get in. Let's not forget that I'm about four years too late, have no college fund whatsoever, and am going to work around a full-time job… And you, because I don't want us becoming ships passing in the night because I'm working during the day and taking classes at night."
"Because we work so far apart," Marionette quipped. He chimed in amusement before continuing, "But I think that would be wonderful. I'd be willing to lose a little of our time if it means you can go. If I had the option I would certainly go back to school." Mike looked back at him questioningly. "I've done well enough in teaching myself over the years, but as formal education goes, I only finished elementary school."
It wasn't too hard to read Marionette's hidden motives, even if he didn't know they were there. Mike suspected that sometimes when he was encouraging it was because it was something he himself secretly wanted. Such as with the friend situation in Zion- even if Mike was forced to admit that he too hadn't minded the brief taste of normality. Perhaps Marionette's idolization of the idea was largely inspired by his own desire.
"We could make up for the time. I could bring home anything from the college and we'll figure it out together." Mike sent a playful smile. "It's robotics. One of us is bound to figure it out."
"We just passed the city limits," Fritz called back, interrupting any of a response. Mike responded by patting Marionette's leg and then moving back into the passenger seat. College talk could wait until they were on their way home.
It was later than Mike had wanted to arrive, but that didn't mean that Chipper's- or El Chip's Fiesta Buffet as it was now known- was any less crowded. Unlike Foxy's peak hours which were in the afternoon- especially between three and six- it looked like they had come at El's Chip's own peak. There were many more cars than Chipper's had ever been seen with and through the front windows they could see part of a warmly lit dining room.
"I'm shocked. When Glenn said business was good, I didn't think it was this good," Mike muttered as Fritz parked to the right of the building, as though parking where the employees would have. "We need that renovation."
"We're getting that renovation. If I must sell a kidney to get it, we're expanding the business," Fritz firmly assured as he turned the van off. He then looked between Mike and the back. "So… I was thinking this place would be empty."
"You two go ahead," Marionette assured, reaching over to lay a hand on Mike's shoulder. "Just keep an eye on how things are going in there and don't worry about us." Considering everything at Foxy's recently, Marionette knew it was probably best that they didn't risk anything crazy. Even if he wanted to. Even if he was concocting ideas on how to slip inside even as he dismissed them. Apparently, Mike wasn't as convinced.
"Alright, just don't go too far. I don't care if you do donuts in the parking lot, but if you joyride off then we'll have to pay for a ride, and at this point Fritz's kidney is already paid for," Mike nonchalantly jested as he started out of the van. He then hesitated in the doorway. "And please, God, if you see any children in the basement, then don't put them in the van." He didn't miss the mockingly unenthused look as he shut the door.
Stepping into El Chip's Fiesta Buffet was nothing like stepping into Chipper and Son's. Chipper's had always had a somber feel of it. Almost like the feeling one would get when walking into the remains of an old Freddy's; that sensation of failure and despair. The feeling like the restaurant was barely hanging on by the strings of its past. That mixed with the emptiness and the broken animatronics left the whole restaurant in a depressed state.
El Chip's was nothing like this. The whole place, both dining room and small foyer, were illuminated in warm light and lively with music and voices. The smell of cooking meat, beans, and various seasoning was powerful and mariachi music was playing over the speakers in the roof. Faux-Mexican decorations were everywhere; sombreros mounted on the walls, flags and streamers from the roof, and large posters depicting 'El Chip' and a new, but smaller cast of semi-familiar characters. Mike and Fritz approached the front desk where a familiar woman was standing. She looked up from the desk with a smile.
"Buenos noches and welcome to El Chip's- Oh, hi there! Mike!" she greeted. Mike recognized her as Amber, the girl who was working for Glenn the last time he had come for a visit. He was glad to see that she still had her job now that the prospects were better. "And you must be Fritz. Nice to meet you. Glenn will be out in a few minutes, so in the meantime I'm going to get you two seated. Okay?"
"Seated. Right," Mike vaguely agreed. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but sitting in a loaded dining room wasn't exactly what he had in mind. Especially not if they were going to be talking business. It didn't help matters when Amber grabbed two menus on the way and roped them into eating. She then guided them into the reasonably full dining room. Most of the patrons were families gathered in booths, so they were stuck uncomfortably at a table in the middle, still wearing Foxy's uniforms, and looking like they didn't belong there at all.
The theater had been completely changed with the seats yanked out, the floors leveled, and the once viewing room now filled with enough tables to be a proper dining hall. Against the back wall was a salad bar and what looked like a buffet table alongside it. The stage was mostly unchanged, with only the curtains being switched out for bright orange ones with a yellow sun on it. As of now the curtains were closed and none of the animatronics were visible.
Amber handed over the menus. "The next show is in about five minutes. Can I get you two anything to drink?"
"You're driving, right?" Fritz asked lowly as he peered past the menu. Mike raised a brow at him. "…Right, don't drink. Yeah, I'll have a margarita." This got the slightest snort of amusement out of Mike before he ordered a soda and Amber hurried off. "We'll be at the hotel anyways, so we won't need to switch drivers."
"Fritz, how much alcohol do you think is in a margarita? Because if you're completely out of it after one then I'm moderately concerned," Mike prodded teasingly.
"We're about to meet up with Glenn, Mike. I don't intend to have only one." He then looked back towards the buffet. "And see? They've got a salad bar. I told you we needed to do salads."
"I don't trust lettuce that sits out for hours on end. Something about it just doesn't seem sanitary, buffet style be damned." Mike then squinted as he looked down the rest of the table. "I think there's a make your own taco bar."
"You're questioning the salad when there's beef and chicken sitting out for hours on end. Mike, priorities." Fritz glanced past the security guard and his eyes widened. "Here comes Glenn… And he looks half-dead."
Mike was about to question this but was cut off when Glenn appeared beside them. It was only then that he saw what the technician had reacted to. Glenn looked terrible in comparison. He was pasty and yet still had an uncomfortable pinkness settled on parts of his face. His forehead was glossy in a sheen of sweat and his hands were puffy and hot when he shook hands with the two men. Mike couldn't hold back as he watched Glenn sit down.
"Christ, Glenn, you look terrible," Mike insisted. Fritz glanced at him as though to add in, but then decided not to. "Is this still from the other night?"
"Yeah, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. I think I picked up something," Glenn excused. His voice was raspy and gargled deep in his chest as he spoke. He gave a low cough into his fist. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
"…You didn't eat any salad recently, right?" Fritz asked lowly. Suddenly what seemed like a good idea was the suspect for what looked like literal poisoning, but the older man waved it off.
"It's fine. If it gets any worse, I'll go see someone. Don't worry about it." He then turned his focus onto Mike. His pupils looked uncomfortably swollen, almost as much as his hands had been. "How's business been since everything went down at Magictime? I'm guessing better than you could've expected."
"What does that mean?" Mike asked in genuine confusion. "I mean, yeah, I assumed that the whole place would clear out, but it didn't." Glenn waited as Amber set down their drinks, took their menus and orders, and left before clarifying what he meant.
"I don't know if you know this. I know Fritz does, but you weren't working at Freddy's in its heyday. Every time something happened- something big got on the news or someone went missing- business boomed. People actually wanted to take their kids in after other kids went missing. It's so…" Glenn paused to try and find a word. Then he graveled out, "It's plain stupid, that's what it is." He pulled a small bottle of antacids out of his pocket and popped one. "I got all the paperwork together for the company that did the renovation and they said they did work all over the state."
"And what's the bottom line? Because we've been saving up a bit…" Fritz trailed off as Glenn took a piece of paper out of his shirt pocket and handed it over. He took one glance and gave a suppressed groan, "We've got maybe half of this… And this is just an estimate? Geez…"
"We'll figure it out. We'll just start renting out Foxy again," Mike suggested. "We'll find a couple of events to work, we'll get the commercial going, and we'll get whatever that number is-." Fritz flashed him the number. There was at least one more zero than he wanted to see. "…I stand by what I said. We'll just have to skimp, fight, and cut corners. We can do that."
"Just take a couple of cheap jobs. That's what we did to get though the rough patch," Glenn suggested as he popped another antacid and took a swig of the soda. "The show's about to start, so I'm going to get out of your hair. You two eat, watch, and tell me what you think afterwards." He slapped Mike on the shoulder. "Talk to you later, Sport." He then seemed to leave as fast as he could, still chugging down the glass of soda as he wandered off towards the kitchen in the back.
"…Alright, I'm going to come out and say it: Glenn looks terrible and I'm regretting ordering the buffet," Fritz said. He said it partially in joking and assumed that Mike would react with the usual sarcasm, but instead the security guard was silent. He wasn't usually worried about people he wasn't close to, especially not someone as distant as Glenn, but he couldn't ignore that the man looked disturbingly out of sorts. "Mike, everything okay?" Fritz asked with more concern.
Mike recovered quickly. "Yeah, I just realized Glenn took my drink and am wondering if it's worth going after it," he said nonchalantly as he turned his eyes towards the stage where the curtains started to open. "Looks like something's starting to happen," he remarked, turning his companion's attention off him.
Up on the stage the curtains drew back to reveal a El Chip and his group. The once faulty and clumsy Chipper had been repurposed into the cleaner, refurbished El Chip. Set with a sombrero and a mandolin, and a semi-dazed look, El Chip looked much more akin to a toy animatronic now than he ever had before. His band was comprised of three other animatronics; what looked to be a short dog, a pink bird that looked like a recolored Chica, and what looked to be a potted cactus.
"Buenos noches, ninos and ninas!" El Chip greeted the audience with a blink and a dazed stare. "It is time for El Chip and his band- the three Gran Chicos- to play!"
"…It's already ten times worse than I expected, and nothing's even fallen apart yet," Mike quipped with a slight smirk. This got the slightest bit of a snicker out of Fritz at least, but Mike himself felt less than amused. Even as he stared at the band on the stage, he was fighting not to think about how sick Glenn looked.
The look in his eyes was a dead giveaway. Something was terribly wrong.
Mable: Because I know the question on everyone's mind has been, "But how is Chipper doing?" XD Well, he's had major plastic surgery and now has a themed buffet. That's pretty good considering what happened to some of the other restaurants. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! The next chapter is due next week, right on schedule!