sorry for the long wait, it has been quite the weeks for me. not to mention my ideas to this story is quite lacking. but here is a chapter you can enjoy.
GuenZhenXuan2020 suggestion did help me write parts of this chapter.
enjoy!
With most of their guests gone home, only their biological child and the one they have come to consider one of their own remained. Neither of the Legrands minded though, in fact it was nice to speak with them without the noise of their other guests. That and getting to know the children Mike adopted out from the goodness of his heart. In some manner, Jeanne is pleased to get herself some grandchildren and sure will spoil them as such. Perhaps proved that when she told this bunch they could eat as much as they liked and now, young Hope especially, have passed out from having overeaten, cuddling up against the insanely adorable Leo on the couch.
The other children had more self-control than her, but only when it came to the food. The moment they learned about their little game room, the other and older children all ran into it like it was a treasure trove. Jeanne hasn't seen any of them since, but she sure heard them and it pleased her greatly to hear children laugher again. "Do you have enough room for them all?" She asks Mike, he seems bemused by how all of the children, some of them had been quite clingy in the start, have entirely left his side for the playroom, and allowed him a breather. Jeanne glances at the room where what she presumes is the Asian child, is yelling at Soren, but fortunately not in a malice manner, more just caught up in whatever game they are doing. But if the room survives this bunch is another question. "You got yourself quite the bunch there."
Mike chuckles at that remark, mostly due to it being the truth, "You can say that again." and after have taken another bite of the leftover cake from this Silver wedding anniversary. "I wouldn't on my own, but everyone at Freddy's helps out taking care of these orphans. I am only housing Soren and Hope. My coworkers are handling the others." One of them is their son, but that he cannot tell. If Sean wanted them to know, he would tell them, but it seems by their last talk, he wouldn't show his return to Mrs. and Mr. Legrand. Pity, but that's his choice.
"You're not going to turn the restaurant into an orphanage?" Charles asks teasingly, he's been listening to his wife and Mike's conversation. And although he is taken aback of knowing all of these children more or less help out at Freddy's, it pleases him most to know they are all happy, both to be taken in by the management and help out at the restaurant. Mike smiles embarrassingly and says: "I sure hope not. We're at least not planning taking in more children." The young man glances to when the boy named Peter runs out from the game room, 'fleeing' from Sally after, by the looks of it, has stolen a bear plushie that once belonged to Sean. Assury suddenly appears from the room, and quite recklessly, tackles into the plump boy and does topple them both over, allowing the blond girl to get the plushie back. Seeing this, Mike calls over to the trio. "All right, you three, I need you to turn the game down a notch." They all look at him for a moment before disappearing back into the game room. Charles wonders if the room will survive. Well, at least it got used for a change.
Turning away from the three, and hopefully they did as he told him, but Mike doubts it, they are all hyped up being a new place and having a whole room filled with stuff any child would consider a treasure. Mike does remember he considered the room as such back when Sean invited him over to play. Suddenly, the doorbell rings, catching him and the other by surprise. "Got any mail you're waiting for?" He asks the parents of Sean and Rena.
Charles nods but he wasn't expecting it to come this late. "Bit late for mail." He muses and walks over, opening the door, Charles expected to see either a mailman or some random person who wanted to sell them something. Instead, the last thing he ever expected and yet deep down always hoped for stood behind the door. Charles cannot speak a word, only stare wide-eyed at the person, too shocked to see him again. The spell is broken, when his adult son speaks in their father language. "Salut père…" Charles does not respond by words, still too much in shock to get his vocal cord working. Instead, he steps over and puts a hand on his son's face, feeling this is indeed real. Then, without any embarrassment, he breaks into tears as he engulfs Sean into a hug, which his son carefully returns.
It did not take long for Jeanne to notice him and like her husband, tears are falling from her eyes, but, she does have control over her voice. "Sean, you're alive…" and hugs her son, the sign he is not a figment of her imagination that, against all the odds, Sean survived and has grown into a fine-looking man. "Thank you god for have brought my child back." She whispers, all the time holding her son close.
Sean does not speak while hugging his crying parents, he wants to but is not sure what he should say. Should he say sorry and give the excuse he did not remember them before recently? Or should he tell them the harsh truth that this boy is not made out of flesh? He does not know.
Sean glances up and notices that both Mike and Rena are watching the scene with a smile, and turning his attention back to his sobbing parents from the sheer joy of seeing him again, Sean knows he made the right choice.
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"I feel a whole lot better now those fucking nightmares Twisted One gave me have stopped." Jeremy speaks to Mrs. Grey during the session. Playing a bit with the amulet Mike and Rena made him. They told him they tested it, so it will keep him protected and that does help a lot in making him feel safer. Thus improving on his recovery. "Though I will never say it out loud — too embarrassing and I am not the mushy guy like my brother, but" Jeremy smiles at the mere thought, "I am lucky to have so many people caring for me. Hell, even Marion wanted the best for me." Which is still quite the surprise, and for once, he won't insult the puppet. Without Marion… he wouldn't have been sitting here.
Mrs. Grey writes down a few notes of what her patient has been saying during this session and is pleased to both hear and see that Jeremy is steadily recovering from that whole ordeal with this black spirit. "You might consider it embarrassing, but people do like to hear how much their support is appreciated."
"I know, and I know it's just my fucking pride talking." Jeremy admits, he glances at the door where the others are, probably cleaning up from today's work. Hopefully, soon he can return to his job as the security guard, sitting back home and recovering is getting boring as hell. "But I'm more the guy who lets actions speak."
"And that is a good trait to have Mr. Fitzgerald."
She won't say it, but Jeremy knows there is a 'but' to that sentence. Maybe he should tell them at some point, not sure when, but he will consider it.
"Is there more you wish to speak about? Perhaps some of your struggles with the younger animatronics?"
At least not at the moment, Jeremy does not think that is necessary. Maybe if he relapses into his fear towards the kid animatronics, then he should have a session, but now; "I think I got that under control. But if I start to go back to my asshole ways towards them, I'll call." Mrs. Grey nods and she begins to pack her stuff, sign that the session is over. Jeremy gets up from the chair and opens the door for her. She smiles and Jeremy watched her walk over to Chica, the animatronic housing this nice old lady's grandchild spirit. He smiles faintly at how normal Mrs. Grey takes all of this, proving she indeed belongs with this crazy bunch.
"So," a furry, somewhat heavy, purple arm is thrown over his shoulders and Jeremy eyes the cheeky grinning Bonnie. "Did she fix you up?" Jeremy stares, annoyed at this adoptive brother of his, one who just loves to grind his gear. "I'm not a robot, Bonnie."
Not missing the beat. "You're too squishy otherwise." Bonnie grin turns into a small yelp when Jeremy flicks his hand right onto his nose, he jerks away but quickly recovers and pats Jeremy's head as if he is a dog. "Oh yeah, she fixed you up good. Only a matter of time before you're back and yelling at our rowdy customers."
"Fuck off Bonnie!" Jeremy hits the hand away, now more than annoyed at how this overgrown rodent is treating him. "If you keep pissing me off, I'm going to quit this madhouse." Grumpily he turns his gaze back to the others. Chica is still chatting with her grandmother, Freddy discussing something with Mike, who looks quite sheepishly— presumably, the young man forgot something. Scott is trying to keep up with whatever Foxy is talking about and the rest of the animatronics are doing whatever the hell they want at the moment. Jeremy crosses his arms, ever since he learned about the animatronics sentience: "There's only so much insanity a man can take."
Oh, he just served that on a silver platter! "Then it's a good thing you're already insane." Bonnie throws back and laughing leaves the cursing his name man. He trots over to his girlfriend with: "He's back to his old self." Chica giggles and the grandmother gives him an amused look by his next words aimed at her. "You fixed him up nicely."
All the memories of the times she watched that young boy that now houses this rabbit animatronic come rushing back. Mrs. Grey is glad that Tim has gotten over his anger issues, but if his snark and cheek is an improvement, well, that's up to debate. "I do not think you understand what a psychologist does." She says, it is certainly not her job to fix a person. Merely listen and help that person to realize and work on their problems.
"Sure I do, you let someone pour out all of their problems, you tells them how to fix it and wham, person healed." Bonnie summons up, not seeing Chica facepalm beside him. He only saw the raised brow from the old woman, and Mrs. Grey says calm yet in an eerie deadpan tone: "Then perhaps I should try and fix your behavior to a more subdued manner. Would fit you quite nicely, Timothy." And Bonnie, fully believing that this lady can do such a thing. Backs away slowly, "I'm fine," and runs off before she starts doing her magic.
"At least he got more tact now." Mrs. Grey comments, Chica laughs and her grandmother turns up to her smiling. "But that shouldn't stop you from keeping him in check. Boy sure needs a firm hand."
That Chica can agree on, but that's why she loves that jackass so much. "Or a wing, but at least he's not as thick-skulled as Mike." Her grandmother chuckles but does neither agree or disagree on that statement.
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The moment he got the time, Nathan went to the restaurant and asked one of the workers to talk with one of the management. That turns to be Mike and after have gotten some privacy inside the office, Nathan hands the young man the paper on what trace got from the dust Mike brought him and has to ask. "Are you sure this will repel a spirit? For what trace has revealed, those ingredients are something one can get from a botanic shop."
Mike takes the paper and is also a bit surprised by what it was made of, but he has seen the work of this stuff. "Yeah, a spirit cannot get past a wall made by this dust. But I am unsure if this is all or some magical words has to be spoken." He admits as he's still new to this side of the spiritual spectrum.
"Don't look at me. All this spirit talk is still new territory to me." Nathan tells Mike, he is still trying to wrap his head around the fact that all animatronics of Freddy's are possessed by a ghost, one of them being his own son. Mike smiles embarrassingly and the detective brushes this topic off. "Anyway, keep the paper. Maybe it will help you and the others against this Twisted one."
Speaking of which, "Before you leave," Mike walks to the desk and from one of the drawers, picks up an amulet that keeps the wearer from being possessed. He and the others have made several, in which all the people are wearing one, just to be sure no dark spirit will try and turn them against the others like Twisted One tried with Jeremy. Mike hands the one he made for Nathan. "Take this, it will ensure you cannot be possessed." The detective takes it but does not look ready to accept such things as malicious spirits and possessions. "Please, just wear it."
Might as well humor Mike, Nathan puts it on and hides this simple amulet under the police uniform. With that set, "How's things going here at Freddy's?"
"Busy like always, more now we're nearing Christmas. Many families want Christmas parties but I'm not complaining." Mike smiles, for with this many parties: "It means the workers will get a nice bonus at the start of the vacation." Including him which means he might finally get that apartment he got his eyes on. Nathan nods, having a gleam in his eyes that he knows that he is talking about even though their work is very different. Speaking of which, "What happened with Soren's mother?"
Well… "She's dead." Nathan replies and Mike's eyes wide in shock, yeah, he was too when they got the news. "She was sent to a secure mental hospital for treatment, and about a week later, the nurses found her dead. I can't tell you how she died, the case is still open." Mike nods and Nathan is not sure if he wants to explain how that woman died. According to the autopsy, she was strangled to death, but there were no physical signs of her been strangled. Which made them think of an allergic reaction but they found nothing in her system to prove that. Not to mention the nurses said that people inside that hospital utterly freaked out the days before her death. Makes him dread of what possibly could have invaded that place.
"So in a dark twist of fate, you no longer have to worry about her anymore."
"Y-Yeah..." Still scary to think that woman is dead, Mike has a feeling that Twisted One no longer needed her after she failed her mission. So good they got Jeremy out from that. On a happier note. "Are you going to say hi to Daniel?"
Nathan nods, "Yeah, if he has time that is." he has accepted this is what his son wants, and he's happy for him, but that does not change that they both have a busy schedule.
"He should be on a break now." Mike replies and Nathan walks out from the office alongside him, he stops when spotting the same young man he thought looked familiar and now knows why, for that is how Daniel should look like if he ever grew up. It's startling really.
Not seeing the shocked face on the detective, Mike walks over to Daniel, asking; "On a break?"
"Something like that," Daniel replies, smiling. He nods to the line of people. "it looks like we're dealing with a pickpocket again, so I'm keeping an eye out on the line." About there, he notices the detec— his biological father. "Oh, hello um… Nathan." He greets the man, awkwardly, it feels a bit weird calling him by first name but by the looks of it. The detective prefer that over the title.
"Having trouble with thieves again?"
Daniel nods at Nathan's question. "Yeah, they want to get a hand on the money we're earning." And grins at his next remark as he eyes the line. "They should've known Freddy's is not a goldmine for such behavior."
That made Nathan chuckle and can see that his son has inherited some of his traits. It pleases him and does encourage him to ask. "I can stick around and keep an eye out as well."
"Eh, sure." Daniel replies a bit unsure about this, but does quickly return back to work. His biological father joins him.
Mike leaves those two at the thief hunting, instead he heads over to the game room and keeps an eye out in case some of the children are getting too rowdy. So far the children are behaving and although the Toys are not yet ready to entertain like the others, Mike is glad to see them join in games with the customer children. Chiara is especially doing a good job, has a feeling her awaken memories as human has returned a big sister instinct she got around her little brother. She is carefully playing with one of the smaller children, and Mike does not need to worry about leaving her be as Goldie is close by and making sure neither will accidentally hurt the other.
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The day's work ended on a high note. Daniel found the pickpocket and Nathan left with the caught thief. "See you soon." He told his son and Daniel replied: "Yeah." Both leaving on good terms.
After cleaning up and all, every animatronic changed into human form and left the restaurant where they went to the local park, which was decorated to look like some sort of magical land of lights.
All of the children awed at the sight and even the adults were impressed as well. Rena took the chance in snatching as many pictures as she could, also made Mike and Thomas take some as well. After the park, Rena brought them to a mall that sold—in her words, "The best hot chocolate you have ever tasted!" and didn't really give the other a choice than to follow. She, Thomas, Scott, Mike, Soren and Hope got a cup. Jeremy didn't feel like it and while those six enjoyed their hot chocolate. Jenna interrogated those selling this hot chocolate how's it made, so she can make it for the Toys, who all wanted a taste as well.
And the moment she got it from that poor chef. "You will get some when we get back." Which cheered up all the other kids immensely, but it meant they have to buy some stuff so she could make it. None really minded and thus headed to a grocery store for that.
They passed the center of the mall, here Hope stopped when she spotted a familiar animatronic her stepfather made and got all giddy seeing one of them again. She runs over to the white animatronic and waves up to it, which made this bear react with a cheery: "Well, hello there! Ready to do some partying?"
Soren notices it too and joins Hope that replies this other version of Freddy, "Yeah! I can't wait for Christmas."
"That's wonderful. What about you join my friends and me at Circus Baby's Pizza! It will be fun!" The animatronic replies her.
"Maybe one other day." Hope replies, but it's not like this animatronic understands, unlike the others. This guy is just a robot. And it continually spews out: "Isn't that right, Bon-Bon?" in which the smaller robot attached to the right hand replies. "That's right! And it will be so much fun."
This made said usual bunny with the same name turn and has to blink several times at what this white and pink Freddy version has on its right hand. "Why does that hand puppet have my name?" He asks, for that puppet looks more like Bonnie, though the colors are blue like him so… is that supposed to be him? Leo is not sure.
Now all the others of Freddy's have stopped and turned at this robot. A certain fox just can't help himself. "Looks like you and Freddy got stuck with one another." Daniel grins, only widens at the glare Tim shoots him.
Rena recognizes that animatronic from the other pizzeria she has been stalkin—uh, observing. "That's one of the animatronics from our rival company. His name is Funtime Freddy." Eyeing her brother, about to point out that they have stolen his name for their brand, but forgets all about it at the 'I am not amused' look on Sean's face. "What is it?" She asks.
"…. That is the worst Freddy version I have ever seen." Sean speaks and that is saying a lot considering his many forms throughout the company's life. For starters, the colors are all wrong, white, sure, but pink? And what is the deal with that hand puppet? But worst of all; "What is up with that voice? He sounds like a chain smoker whose whole diet are cakes." And turning to his friends, "I don't sound like that, do I?" His sister is not helping as she breaks down in laugher, even Mike is laughing, and that greatly irritates this proud man. "Would you two stop laughing? I am serious here!"
Of all things that could be bothering him, the voice is the problem. "Sean, never change." Rena tells him through her laugher. Her brother rolls his eyes and casting the very cheerful Funtime Freddy a firm stare, again, more focused on that raspy cheery voice than the fact the rival company got their own Freddy. "You're not worried they stole, well, you."
"I would be more worried if people said I should be more like that drag queen." Sean points out in a deadpan tone and after have called for the kids, adds to his sister, "Though I am a bit surprised they decided to call it Freddy."
"There are a lot of Freddy's now." Calam remarks chuckling and Scott says thoughtfully to said golden bear: "Now that you mention it. Maybe we made the right choice in renaming you and Theo." That Calem can wholeheartedly agree on and by the looks of it, Theo thinks the same. This sight of Funtime Freddy, doing commercial for this other company, it did make Calam think. "Hey, Sean, do you think we should do the same at some point?" Sean eyes him and he gestures to where Funtime Freddy is inviting people to Circus Baby's Pizza. "It will make for a good commercial and perhaps even attract new customers."
Now that his brother mentioned it, "I would," Sean agrees but as it stands now "but we have full house almost daily. So let us wait with this idea of yours until we have expanded." Calem nods in agreement and apparently couldn't help himself: "Maybe there, we should paint you all white and give you a tutu." Sean shoots him a glare and it did not make it any better that practically every one of the group is laughing at that mental image. "Some respect you show your boss." He tells to the others.
Not like they care and continually teases him but mostly the appearance of this new version of him. Sean sure is glad that Freddy is not sentient, otherwise he would've be driven mad if someone with Funtime Freddy's has been in the same room as him.
Okay, a whole lot happened in this chapter. First, the future event. Unlike Facing the Past, now I have to constantly think about where I am heading with this story. And that part is someone a lot of you people have been asking about. so now you know it will happen, when, that is another question.
Second, maybe bit cheap of me, but I honestly didn't see reason in keeping Soren's mother around. She lost and no one at Freddy's will let her near. So yeah, she would no longer be of use for Twisted One.
and third, introducing one of the Funtime animatronics. so was that how you expected my version of Freddy to react on his newest vision? I definitely had fun writing about it.
No idea when the next chapter will be out, so I ask for your patience and if you have ideas, feel free to suggest them.