With all the preparations going underway, the time left before Elizabeth's party has gone surprisingly quickly. Even while taking a break from projects, William had a lot on his mind to deal with, most of which had to do with the birthday party. Of course, Elizabeth had done a good job inviting all of her friends to this wondrous occasion, yet arrangements with other parents and the restaurant still had to be made. Thankfully, Clara took the task of talking to families upon herself while William contacted the restaurant. Representatives at Fazbear Inc were more than happy to host a birthday with as many guests as they could host. Of course, the two animatronics would have to be present and give out their best performances. They promised them that much.

Soon, William found himself amidst a restaurant full of life and excitement, places that he usually avoided due to constant distraction and nuisance, but this time he wouldn't stay away. Everything was set; Fredbear and Spring Bonnie rose up on the stage, overshadowing the entire hall with mechanical smiles engraved on their faces. They were ready to sing at the first command, the stars of the show. William took his time examining them closely. After all, this was the purest form of inspiration for his future work. The time will come when he gets back to Ballora, and she must be just as much of a marvel…Even more so than those two at the moment of her creation. Nevertheless, William couldn't enjoy the silence for too long.

Clara brought the children to the place. Needless to say, they were excited to see the place in its full glory; the animatronics were a given, but seeing the paintings on the walls, depicting various moments from the show with countless colorful animals, the merchandise prepared by the employees, such as plush toys, masks, balloons…Even Mike was intrigued. Elizabeth couldn't contain her excitement at all. The sparkles in her eyes were a perfect reminder that William did his job wonderfully.

Everything was in order for this to be a perfect day. It only got better once the others arrived. Parents came and brought children from Elizabeth's school, her close friends of whom she had many. The more children there were, the more simple it got to get them excited, especially in a setting like this. Liza was quick to take the reigns of the party, trying her best to keep her friends entertained. She would soon have some help, however.

Gron arrived shortly after the most recent guest, and William was glad to see his friend so excited. He came in, dressed up in a green jester costume with a multi-colored cap on his head and a wide smile on his face. Not all children knew him, many assumed he was just an animator who worked in the pizzeria, but they were more than happy to allow him some expression. He played games with them, proposed challenges and competitions, and told them anecdotes, all he could come up with. It was clear that the energy that rested within him was waiting to finally roam free, and this was a perfect opportunity; even Mike was drawn in, though, of course, he maintained his watch from a distance. William and Clara watched from the nearby table while drinking some freshly prepared black tea, adding to the warmth they felt in their hearts.

"You were right." Clara smiled as she watched Elizabeth smile and laugh along with the other children. "It was a good idea to invite him."

"Told you," William responded confidently before taking another look at Gron. "He's doing a good job, far better than even I expected, and he wasn't too sure about coming here, even…"

"You think he's too hard on himself?"

"Hm…I'd say so." William sighed. "What happened in the past still haunts him, and I can only imagine what it feels like."

"Maybe he needs to be around others more often?" Clara wondered with a warm, empathetic voice. "Those who can understand him and help with the problems that he goes through."

"Perhaps, though I still remain his preferred company," William responded. "I wish I could do more, but…"

Before he could finish, Will noticed a slight change. Gron suddenly stopped and froze as if getting caught in something. It happened so surprisingly and seemingly out of nowhere that it left the kids puzzled and some of them even worried. Gron's movements became swifter and overtaken by what William could discern was panic. He moved away from them in silence while still focusing his eyes on the children.

"Are…Are you alright, Mr. Takaliken?" Chris's shy voice echoed from the group.

"I…Let's all take a little break, won't we?" Gron spoke up after a slight stutter. "I'm sure that there is much for you to do, especially now that the animatronics are going to be turned on soon."

"Hm…" Elizabeth sighed before turning around. "I know! Let's go check the plushies; I'm sure we can take a few." She beckoned for others to follow her, leaving Gron in solitude. When the swarm of children moved aside, the jester made his way toward Clara and William while clutching his head and looking at the floor.

"Are you alright?" Clara asked with worry. "Do you need some water, maybe?"

"I'm alright…Just need a little break." Gron sighed before taking a seat next to William. The smile and joyous expression on his face were gone in an instant, replaced by one of annoyance and tiredness.

"Is it what I think it is?" William asked cautiously, only to have Gron nod.

"Yeah…I hoped they would pick a better time to torment me and let go at least for a few hours, but that's not happening." Gron spoke up with anger in his voice. William saw how tiring this never-ending nightmare had been for him. He wished he could help with anything but meaningless words and advice they had gone over many times already.

"You deserve a break, anyway," William reassured him before pouring some tea into another cup. "Relax for a moment; maybe it will get better."

"I know it won't, but…Thank you anyway."

"You're great with children, I must say!" Clara spoke up with pride and excitement. "It's a true talent, and I'm impressed."

"Thanks, although I could be better in a few things…Glad to hear I'm keeping up still."

"Forgive me if it's a bit intrusive, but I couldn't help but worry after hearing all the news…How are you doing?" Clara asked.

"Well…It's complicated, to say the least."

He was about to continue, but this wasn't destined to happen. Moments later, the main show finally began. It all began with Spring Bonnie moving his arms and suddenly raising his head, making all the children look at the animatronic. Some recoiled, like Chris, but most of them looked in pure awe.

"Welcome!" A soothing robotic voice echoed from the rabbit. "I see we have a lot of guests today, kids and grown-ups alike! Thank you for waiting, and now allow me to introduce you to my best friend and the most talented singer in all of the Fazbearland, Fredbear himself!" After those words, Spring Bonnie turned towards Fredbear and waved, causing his stage partner to activate. The bear opened his eyes and looked up at the kids. An echoing sound spread from his dynamics, the one that imitated yawning.

"Why do you have to…" The robot began speaking in his heavy yet playful before immediately turning towards the children. "Oh, guests! We have guests! What a wonderful day! Have you come to seek adventure? To find new friends? Ah, wait a moment…" He moved his head to the side while peering at one single child in the crowd. Moments later, Fredbear's mouth opened in what was an attempt at a smile, though it hardly looked realistic. William was trying to pick out any flaws in their design so that when the time came for him to work on Ballora, those would be obsolete. "I see we have someone very special with us today! Step forward, birthday girl, and allow me and my friend to congratulate you!"

Despite some hesitation, Elizabeth finally stepped forward while looking at the machine with both caution and unabashed intrigue.

"Are those things safe?" Clara spoke with worry. "I'm not sure if allowing children too close is the best idea…"

"They wouldn't be here if they weren't safe," William replied, although he, too, maintained some caution over it. Eventually, both Fredbear and Spring Bonnie began to sing.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Elizabeth, happy birthday to you!" Their song was followed by loud cheering from the kids, including Elizabeth. They were overjoyed to see their favorite characters on the stage singing a song for them, smiley robots here just to entertain them.

"Thank you!" Elizabeth shouted with joy as she threw a glance at her parents' table. "This is the best party ever. They're so cool!"

But this was far from the end of it. The animatronics continued to sing as one of the doors that led to the hall opened with another machine emerging. This one was different, much smaller, yet still incredibly impressive. A snake-like animatronic of a dark green color slithered into the hall. It had a hat on its head, similar to Fredbear, but this one was black instead of purple. It carefully maneuvered between the tables as children began to notice it, one after another. William could hear Chris gasp the moment he saw the snake. The boy immediately moved further towards the tables while all others looked at the new treat with delight. This wasn't just a simple animatronic, however, for it had a plate attached to its back. A plate that housed a large cake of purple and golden colors with the figurines of Fredbear and Spring Bonnie rising at the top.

"Wow, look, it's Vigo! That's so cool!" One of the boys shouted as he pointed at the snake and spoke the name of what was likely yet another character from the show. The slithering animatronic stopped near the table in the middle and took a resting position. Vigo was followed by some new guests, the first of which was a tall slim man in a blue coat and a hat that covered most of his dark brown hair. His eyes looked over the room with utmost curiosity. What William noticed immediately was the crutch this man held in his arms despite not being much older than any other adult present.

"Happy birthday indeed…" He said with a smile as two more people emerged from behind him. A tall woman with long black hair and a somewhat tired look on her face and a young boy of Chris's age standing beside her. William recognized them immediately. This was Lynda and Charles, the son of Gron and her. The jester couldn't contain his smile the moment he saw them come into the room; similar excitement emerged in Charlie's eyes.

"Words can't describe how delighted I am that our restaurant has become a place for such wonderful occurrences." The man with a crutch spoke up. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"

"Yes!" Most of the children spoke out in unison.

"I can't hear you!"

"YES!"

"Now, that's better…" He smiled and looked at the snake animatronic. "I hope you all enjoy a surprise guest I brought to you; Vigo is our newest one, he doesn't have a voice box yet, but I decided to present him anyway. As for me, I promise I won't be too much of a distraction. Just wished to have a look at how my creation fares…I'm Alison Bairren, director of Fazbear Inc, but you can just call me Al, and I am here to ensure you have the best experience possible!" Now that was quite a surprise; even William struggled to believe it. He knew that there were some workers from the company ensuring that the party went as planned, but to have the director himself come here was extraordinary. "I have also encountered some new guests outside. I'm sure they want to have some fun, as well."

After those words, Alison walked to the nearby empty table and took a spot there while continuing to watch all others from a distance.

"Isn't that the creator of the show…" Clara wondered. "Wow, to have someone like him come here for our party, how wonderful!"

"Hm…" William pondered. "Perhaps this is a good time to ask about a career."

"Father!" His thoughts were interrupted by a happy boy quickly walking towards Gron.

"Be careful, don't slip on anything!" Lynda warned him, but Charlie was already near his father. They offered each other a warm and loving embrace, just like William did with his own kids at times when they needed it.

"I'm glad you're here…" Gron spoke in a relieved voice as a lone tear of joy fell from his face. "So glad…"

"Me too, father. I've been waiting to see you since forever." Charlie sighed with relief.

"Sorry, we're late…" Lynda walked towards the table and took a seat. "That's the earliest they allowed me to take Charlie from school, but I hope we haven't missed too much."

"I'd say you came just in time," Clara reassured her, looking at other children who gathered around Vigo and the cake he held. "Especially for some nice dessert."

"Oh, I see. Charlie loves them." Lynda smiled with warmth before turning towards her former husband. "Hello, Gron." She didn't speak coldly; William sensed some genuine joy in her, though the woman still remained cautious.

"Hi, Lynda." The jester looked at her as he and the boy finally separated. "And here I was doubting that you would even come…"

"We agreed to do this, didn't we? Not like I would disappoint Charlie like that."

"It seems like a great party." The boy noted as he looked around. "And you, dad? Are you having fun?"

"Absolutely, this has been one of the best days in a while."

"And the others?" The boy spoke in a concerned tone; it was clear that he cared for his father and was worried for his well-being.

"Well…It's getting better." Gron let out a pained smile.

"Charlie!" Elizabeth's excited voice echoed from behind. The girl left the crowd for a moment and walked towards their new guest. "Come here; we're dividing up the cake!"

"Just a few more minutes. I want to talk to my father!"

"Don't spend too much time." Gron intervened. "We can talk later. Better have fun with the others now."

"Well...Alright, but I'm coming back soon."

"Just don't get too close to the animatronics," Lynda warned him. "I'd rather not risk it."

"It's alright, don't worry," Charlie promised as he rushed towards others, leaving Elizabeth looking at all the gathered adults.

"Do you want us to bring you some cake?"

"No need." William shook his head. "We have enough here."

"Are you sure? It's fine; I can do that."

"It's all yours."

"Alright…Have fun!" Elizabeth exclaimed before rushing towards others. The adults were left alone, finally free to talk between themselves.

"She's very generous," Lynda said with a smile as she watched Elizabeth leave. "I see her parents left a good influence."

"Oh, thank you!" Clara smiled. "It's far from easy, but I'm glad our children are growing as polite and considerate as they are." William wished he could agree with her entirely, but it hardly applied to Michael. Clara always believed that his natural rebellious teenage impulses would eventually wear off, yet William didn't want to leave him unsupervised, or else Mike would lead himself into a dreadful place from which it would be simply too late to escape.

"I know it can be a lot of work sometimes…" Lynda sighed. "Charlie is a wonderful son, but he is even more stubborn than me sometimes. It's like fighting a losing battle! I think Gron just knows something I don't; he listens to him so readily…" She said as she looked at the jester, only to have Gron shrug.

"I don't know, to be honest, it just…Happens."

"I guess I still have a lot to learn…So, how are you?" Lynda asked; William could notice Gron becoming quite surprised at the question, although it didn't take long for him to answer.

"Well, as I said, it's getting better." He responded plainly. "I've been to many sessions now, and it's going slowly, but still better than nothing…"

"And do you…Do you still see them often?" Lynda said suspiciously, putting Gron in an awkward situation.

"It's…Well, you know." Gron sighed. "We discussed this; I'm not dangerous anymore."

"I believe, I'm just…I worry you know."

"After all that happened?"

"No need for this now," Clara spoke up. "We are here to enjoy a party, not to discuss unfortunate matters."

"True, true. Sorry about that." Lynda admitted.

"So, how do you like it?" William wondered.

"It looks grand; I'm impressed." Lynda commended them. "Though I'm not so sure about the robots, what if one of them falls down or makes a sharp turn? I wouldn't let children near them?"

"I take it they aren't supposed to get too close to the stage," William explained. "It should be fairly safe from a distance."

"You know how kids are. They aren't going to follow those rules anyway."

Before they could continue talking, William caught his children walking beside them. Chris and Mike were looking at Vigo and the others while the older brother was talking to the younger one with a tone of annoyance. He also carried a souvenir in his hands, a red mask of a fox.

"Stop being a baby; they aren't dangerous." Mike sighed with disappointment.

"But look at its teeth…They're sharp."

"No, they're not, and it's not like you have to shove your hand in there or something."

"Can you just…Stay here for a while? I want to look closer." Chris said hopefully.

"Jesus…It's a robot. It won't harm you; how many times do I have to say it? Just stop whining and go look at it. I want to go talk to others." Mike spoke abrasively, though he didn't leave yet.

"Please…" Chris smiled and looked at his brother with pleading eyes, eventually causing him to sigh.

"Fine…But this is the last time." Mike took a deep breath before surrendering to Chris's pleas. William watched them walk towards Vigo with a smile. As much as Mike liked to pretend that he didn't care for others and was annoyed by them when it came to Chris or Elizabeth, it wasn't that hard to break his facade.

"Oh god!" Lynda let out a worried shout the moment she looked at the stage. A group of children, led by Elizabeth and Charlie, were approaching the stage, getting too close to the animatronics. "Charles Carson Takaliken, what did I tell you about coming close?!"

"Come on, mom, they're safe! And it's not like we're getting too close." Charlie responded, continuing to reach out for the animatronics along with others.

"Oh my god…Guess I'll have to watch over them. Clara, help me out here. I just don't want any accidents to happen."

"Of course, I'll look over them with you," Clara reassured her before throwing a warm glance at William and Gron. "Don't get too bored without us, boys."

"Depends on how long you'll linger…" William smiled before the two women finally left to look after the kids.

"Ah, she is far less angry than she could've been." Gron breathed with relief.

"See, I told you it was worth it. No need for long talks or reconciliation. Just allow yourself to have fun. And it's quite clear that they both still care."

"Huh…Guess you're right. Maybe I should seek out another opportunity someday."

"Certainly."

Soon they noticed a third silhouette by their side. Alison stood up from his table and decided to come closer to them, all the while continuing to look at the children playing with animatronics. Looking at him, William could notice fascination in the man's eyes, and he wasn't even sure if this was aimed at children or animatronics, his own creations.

"Marvelous, aren't they?" Alison looked at them with a smile. "I knew those machines would bring joy to all our customers, but to see everyone getting so excited over it while knowing that it is only the beginning…Ah, it is worth a lot."

"I am a technician myself, and I have to admit, those are impressive. Don't think I've seen any others on the same level. How did you make them?" William wondered, after which Alison took a seat beside them.

"Ah, it's nothing too complicated. Some well-crafted endoskeletons, some talented programming, and here you go, a masterpiece is born." Alison responded with pride. "We have some incredibly talented workers."

"Speaking of which…" William began. "My friend here and I are in search of a job, and we considered working in Fazbear Inc; it seems like a good prospect."

"And what are your specialties?" Alison asked, causing Gron to speak.

"William knows a lot about engineering and animatronics specifically, and I am always eager to perform for the children here."

"Interesting…We are always happy to have new faces in the family, especially those who would like to work here. There are quite a lot of spots still free." Alison noted. "And if you are talented, which I don't doubt you are, you'd be more than welcome to join. Perhaps you could tell me a bit more if you don't mind?"

"Well, it's going to be quite a story…" William sighed. He realized that they were incredibly lucky by managing to meet the company leader on such an occasion, and this wasn't an opportunity they could waste. After all, if they impress him, this might be the beginning of a new profitable, and exciting career for them.

That's all William could hope for.

…

Each party, no matter how exciting, would always leave the tedious part afterward. Many people were overjoyed at the thought of having the time of their lives in their favorite restaurant; none liked cleaning up. The children were tired after hours of playing and running around in excitement, so all of them were taken home as soon as the party was over. Gron had to say goodbye to Charles, who got taken by Lynda. He didn't know when he would see his son again. It might take weeks, if not months, before Lynda allows another opportunity. At least the fact that this one has gone so smoothly despite the hallucinations, despite seeing these kids bloodied and tormented for a few moments…It gave him hope that she would be more receptive to another proposition in due time. As for Gron himself, he decided to stay behind and clean up along with William. After all, if they were to prove themselves as valuable workers for the company, it would be wise to start right now. They knew Alison would watch them with great interest.

The owner of Fazbear Inc seemed to be a welcoming enough man, even if a little reclusive, and he looked at both Will and Gron without judgment, looking for potential. It was too early to say if this was simply done out of politeness, but Gron wished to believe he was earnest and that this might be an opportunity for him to find a stable job. There was something special about the atmosphere of this place. The tables, decorations, paintings of all the different characters from the cartoon, and of course, Fredbear and Spring Bonnie reigned over the stage. They were turned off after the party, and both now looked down, completely immobile, but Gron still thought back to hearing their songs. He wasn't quite sure what to make of them, they were otherworldly, and their voices did not sound like that of real singers. Their movements and eyes tried their best to imitate life, yet they were still very far from realistic. They felt like characters that came straight from the screens yet were still limited by the constraints of this world unfamiliar to them. Perhaps this was the effect Alison wanted to reach with such designs.

Either way, the animatronics needed time to recharge before their next day, just like Gron and William needed a reprieve after today, so it was in their interest to clean up all the mess as quickly and efficiently as possible. And soon, they were entirely overtaken by the process while still continuing to ponder on their future positions.

"So, how did you like him?" Gron wondered, looking at William, who was staying silent for far too long. Those words seemed to pull him out of his trance.

"Huh? You mean Bairren?"

"Yeah, him. I'm just relieved he seems to be open about hiring us, although he must've not looked at my track record yet…" Gron sighed with waning hope.

"He seems alright; it's a rare occurrence to see the owner of an entire company partake in a single birthday party. I suppose he has to keep up the image of a new restaurant."

"Maybe he wants to have fun, too." Gron shrugged. "Not like that's beyond any of us, even in this age."

"I'd wait until we have an interview and work with him directly for a few days," William spoke with caution in his voice. "But if he gives both of us jobs, who am I to complain?"

They continued to work, but not before another silhouette emerged in the doorway of the pizzeria.

"Hear hear…"

Gron heard the echoing sound in his mind, making him forcefully turn around, expecting another hallucination. The sound, however, quickly dissipated as Gron recognized Mike Afton. A tired and worn-out boy who only had a portion of joy restored the moment he saw Gron.

"Oh, you're staying too?" He spoke up.

"Uh-huh." Gron nodded with a smile. "And are you joining us?"

"Yeah, mom took Liza and Chris home, and dad said he needs help, so…"

"Good to see you," William said. "Come here; there are plates left all over the tables."

"Yes, yes…" Mike sighed and moved towards the table Gron was working on. He looked at him with intrigue. "We didn't really have time to talk much, have we…"

"Well, you saw how frantic this party was. Absolutely worth it, though." Gron reassured him.

"Frantic is putting it mildly…Too exciting for me. I guess that's one thing me and Chris can agree on." Mike said with disappointment.

"There are times for parties like this. I mean, just look at your sister; she had the time of her life."

"Still don't know how she does it all the time…" Mike shrugged. "I saw you were with Lynda and Charlie, and it wasn't that bad."

"Huh…" Gron chuckled. "Let's say it could've been much worse."

"Have you made peace?"

"Not quite, no."

"Even after your treatment?" Mike crossed his hands. "She's being too harsh on you."

"No, not really. She's right to be cautious." Gron sighed as he continued to put the plates together.

"But you aren't dangerous anymore; what's the point?"

"She saw it…Those things don't get forgotten. Ever." Gron spoke grimly.

"You are getting better, though, aren't you? How did those days go?"

"If we weren't counting that time when I got booted out of a job…Fine. I'm still seeing them from time to time, but it's alright. I think I can control myself for now." Gron explained, immediately noticing Michael's surprise.

"Wait, you got booted out of our job?"

"Yeah…Just when I thought I had found a somewhat stable place, the parents of some children had to complain. Rightfully, of course…But it doesn't make me feel much better." Gron clenched his fist. He would lie if he said he wasn't angry about this, even though he understood the reasoning. There was not a single incident that occurred, not a single reason for them to get worried, and the children he interacted with were more than happy. It wouldn't happen again. He knew it wouldn't; if only he could prove it to them somehow, Lynda and all others, show that he is not dangerous anymore and he can fight his illness.

"Can you…Can you…" The whisper echoed again, making Gron shiver for a moment before trying to compose himself and focus on Mike.

"This sucks." He shook his head. "They can't just bar you from entering any new jobs. That's fucked up!"

"Wouldn't be the first thing I'm barred from…" Gron sighed. "I guess it's not unlike my late university days, trying to find my way while having all this…Just everything going against you. Except even worse."

"Maybe father can finally do something useful and help you." Mike scoffed.

"Oh, he does, don't worry. But I'm not going to just rely on others and become a burden like that; I have to embrace the challenge. The only way, like it or not." Gron spoke with resolve. "But enough about me, I'll figure something out. How is your life going?"

"Hasn't father told you everything?"

"Not much, except for you getting suspended from school." Gron chuckled.

"Of course, he would focus on that…" Mike sighed with annoyance and rolled his eyes. "I've been defending my friend who brought some drugs and got caught by some little bitch who decided to rat him out to the principal. I gave him a warning or two, but he just wanted to feel good about himself, so…I gave it to him." Mike said with pride.

"Is he alright, at least?"

"Yeah, his bruises will heal, but I hope his pride doesn't."

He wasn't unlike Gron and William in their younger years, and both understood this perfectly, even though their opinions on that differed. Mike's father wanted to prevent him from making the same mistakes and treated him strictly as a result, while Gron believed it to be a natural process for a growing-up teen. They would make mistakes, but they would learn from them later.

"I think you should try to make peace with him when you come back…Well, assuming he learned his lesson." Gron winked at Michael, making the teen laugh.

"Nah, no point in even trying." Mike retorted. "Idiots like him never do."

"You'd be surprised by how much people can change…" Gron sighed. "If you want others to give me a chance after what I've done so badly, who don't you give it to him, as well?"

"Well…" Mike paused. "You're not an idiot, I suppose."

"I was before. It's a long road we have to take after mistakes like those. I never expected it to be easy." Gron threw a glance at nearby animatronics. "Well, perhaps this job may finally be some kind of respite…Oh, I hope so."

"Oh yeah, if you're out of a job, does this mean that you're going to apply here with father?"

"Yes, that's the plan…"

Before Gron could continue, he was interrupted by William's voice; he approached the two from behind.

"Alright, I'm done with my table. Do you need any help?"

"That would be for the best, Will." Gron welcomed him.

"We were just talking about your new job here," Michael added. "Who are you applying as? A technician and entertainer, I guess?"

"Yes." William nodded. "This company seems like it's growing exponentially, first the cartoons, now a restaurant that has already grown popular; perhaps Alison will have good salaries for us. That and I suppose Chris and Elizabeth would be glad to have their father take part in something they love." He explained in a hopeful voice, describing their prospects. Indeed, finally, the future seemed bright for them.

"And I will be there to keep him and all the children around as entertained as possible!" Gron exclaimed. "Should be easy enough…Well, at least with the children."

"You'd do a good job, I'm sure," Mike spoke with hope and reassurance. "You definitely kept me entertained when I was a little sucker myself."

"Well, I haven't seen a kid who is harder to entertain than you, so…" Gron shrugged, forcing some playful annoyance out of Michael.

"Oh, for fuck's sake…"

"Don't worry, I jest. With how many people will be coming here, I'm sure you'd find a competitor or a few." Gron spoke with warmth while still maintaining his joking tone.

"Alright, we'll all see how that idea goes soon enough," William spoke up. "I'm sure we'd all rather not stay here for too long, so let's finish the cleaning, so we can finally go home and take a deserved break."

"Yeah, fine…" Mike sighed before turning back towards his table while Gron maintained his smile, as faint as it was. It was worth it, keeping contact with the few people he knew. They were always the anchors that dragged him away from hallucinations and insanity, and hopefully, it will continue to be this way.

As for now…They had work to do.