Act 1: A grey symphony

...

There weren't many places for parking near Mekong Kitchen, and most of the time, they were near-full. However, he always managed to find one for himself. A car colored dark purple was on the road, making its way towards the restaurant, soon finding its way among the cramped cars that overtook the parking, taking place quite far from the exit. Despite this, the driver could take a sigh of relief as he realized that he had barely escaped the daunting task of finding a place to park outside and then walked all his way towards the entrance from afar as if he wasn't late already.

He couldn't be too annoyed, however, and the moment the man got out of his car, he was reminded of why exactly that was. The sun was exceedingly bright today, and not a single cloud was to be seen. Just warm enough to walk around without being concerned about the cold but sparing enough not to constantly feel the sweat pouring down from your body. A perfect weather to take one's family out for a picnic; hopefully, it would remain as flawless as it was now.

Soon the driver got out. A tall man in a black suit, almost matching his dark brown hair, he hastily made his way to the restaurant in front of him; he visited Mekong every few weeks, with or without the family. Partly because of his appreciation for well-cooked Thai meals and partly because of the atmosphere. The staff and designers worked well to make it feel like home, just as relaxing and fulfilling. William found it easy to concentrate here, the best parts of his recent outlines were created in this restaurant, and the workers hardly ever cared for him staying for a while longer. This time, however, William wouldn't spend too much time on his usual musings. There was someone that awaited him.

As William strolled to the door, his eyes slipped as he noticed a lone boy standing outside the building, occasionally peering into the window. The child was angry and didn't even try to hide it, his reddened face and continuous sudden movements as he stumbled around the window, not paying any attention to the man. For a moment, William slowed down, debating whether he should ask any questions. After noticing that there were tears forming in the child's eyes, he couldn't help but wonder f everything was alright.

"Are you alone here?" William asked as he threw a glance at the child, making the boy raise his head awkwardly and look toward the silhouette that overshadowed him.

"My mother tells me not to talk to strangers." The boy responded shyly, slowly recoiling from William. Well, at least it's 'tells'; he had a mother, even though William still wondered if he was lost.

"I am simply wondering if you're lost and need any help." William reiterated to ease the boy's nerves. "Isn't the first time I ran into a missing child."

"I'm just…I'm just waiting. I'm tired!" The boy stomped as a few more tears fell from his eyes. "Mom and dad have been inside for so long, and we all finished eating already. I told them that I wanna go, but they want me to wait while they are drinking their drink. It's unfair!"

"How so?"

"I'm bored! They told me to wait outside if I really want to, but they're still here. I wanna play, and they don't even care!" Now it was clear that William's concern was pointless; the child was throwing a tantrum, an occurrence William had witnessed far too many times in the recent decade and was used to it.

"I see…Well, you'd do good by calming yourself before your parents come. Wouldn't want to be in such a mood when they are ready to go play, will you?" William spoke sternly, making the child go quiet for a moment, looking down to the ground. "Have a good day and give your parents some time. I'm sure they would be grateful and all the more inclined to spoil you." William advised before turning away from the boy and finally moving towards the entrance. He hoped that Gron didn't get too bored there yet.

As he entered the building, William could already hear the echo of a familiar melody that echoed all around the room, a song to soothe. The restaurant was almost full today, with the waiters constantly walking around the tables and bringing new meals every few minutes. As he stood at the entrance, it did not take long for a waitress to approach him.

"Hello, sir!" The young woman expressed a welcoming smile toward their visitor. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Hello. Yes, I have one for 2:30 pm." William announced, knowing full well that it was almost 3 already. "I have a friend waiting."

"Ah, let me just check…Mr. Afton, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Your friend arrived shortly before you; come here. I'll show you."

"Many thanks." William smiled, though it likely did not come out as natural. It wasn't in his habit to smile often, but as Gron taught him, he'd have to make an effort at times to not come off as aloof.

As he approached the table, William took notice of the lone man that sat on a small table for two near one of the windows. He had blonde hair, slightly longer than William's own, and was dressed in a dark green coat. The moment he noticed William approaching, he raised his head with a smile emerging on his face, followed by a hand wave.

"Here you go, sir." The waitress pointed at the place and prepared it for William shortly before he sat down. "Would you like a menu?"

"No need; I know what to order."

"Wonderful! I'll come back in a minute, then."

As the waitress left, she left William and Gron alone. The former took his jacket off and put his small working bag to the side.

"Unlike you to come so late." Gron chuckled. "I was starting to worry something happened to you when I came here first…Well, almost."

"The traffic has been more annoying than I expected today." William sighed, though he knew that this was hardly a feasible excuse. Were he to leave earlier, this delay wouldn't have happened. "I was far too focused on planning, Liza's birthday is in a week, after all, and she'll need a fitting party."

"Eh, don't worry about that," Gron reassured him. "I had a good enough time here as is. Listen to the music, have some drinks, listen to whatever the others are going on about…They have some pretty girls here, gotta say." Gron smiled as he looked around. There was no annoyance or disappointment in his voice, much to William's relief.

"Have you ordered already?"

"Yeah, I looked over your recommendations and decided to try some Pad Thai. Looks delicious, I have to say."

"Good choice; I had it last time. Now, as to what to pick…" William pondered for a minute, but soon he noticed a familiar waitress walking towards their table with pen and paper in her hand. She passed by the TV that rested on the wall and showed the news, maneuvering past the nearby tables before approaching William.

"Are you ready to order, sir?"

"Quite so. I'll have spicy basil, some red curry, and a Pad Se-Ew."

"Very well…Any drinks?"

"Some water will do," Will said calmly, noticing Gron looking at him with intrigue.

"Not having any wine?" He wondered.

"I'm driving, after all."

"Ah, of course…Well, guess the only person I'll share this one with is myself." Gron shrugged and leaned back on his chair.

"Would that be all?" The waitress asked one last time, and after seeing the two men nod, she smiled again. "Have a wonderful stay! I'll bring everything when ready." She said in delight before moving away. Afterward, William sighed in relief, realizing that now they would finally be afforded a moment of privacy, and looked at Gron, who watched William with anticipation.

"Have to say, you've been busier than usual in the last few weeks," Gron noted before chuckling once again. "You look deader than at the end of our second year!"

"You know how many projects I have to work on while clearing the messes of…Pretty much everyone." Afton laughed quietly, thinking back to the endless demands of his clients and how annoying they were at times. "If not for the car, I might have already been blacked out from extensive drinking."

"If you're ever brave enough, don't forget to call me," Gron spoke light-heartedly before putting his hands on the table and looking into William's eyes. "Is it any better now, at least? Don't think Clara would like you collapsing in your home's footsteps."

"For the coming week…I have enough money from the projects I've done already, and organizing Elizabeth's party is the priority." William noted his thoughts were constantly veering into thinking of the coming days. His daughter was about to become eight, and he knew she wanted something special, something that she would remember well into her adulthood.

"How's that going, by the way?" Gron wondered. "I know you aren't big on planning such events, but when one forces you…You'd add the wildest shit just to keep your family entertained."

"I'm counting on that," William responded eagerly. Organizing such a party was yet another challenge for him to undertake. Not that different from designing another robot; after all, there are just as many details, each of them working in perfect tandem, or else be ruined. "She likes being surprised, there should be at least three of those in the schedule, each more impressive than the last, or she'll be underwhelmed. I can't imagine there being too many guests, but she might invite her friends from school. And the place…I am not sure yet. I thought about here, but Mike and Chris would prefer some kind of pizzeria over this. Elizabeth doesn't mind, but ideally, it should be something new…"

"Relax, Will, you still have a whole week to get it working," Gron reassured him, though William couldn't help but feel uneasy knowing that there was still so much work he was delaying. "Hell, call me. I still have that old jester suit, and I'm still in good shape, so I'll gladly make the day a little more fun for her…" Gron's voice grew quieter and more serious as flickering shame emerged in his eyes. "If you don't mind, that is."

"I don't, but…"

"Oh, that's fine, I understand. I wouldn't want it too, were I in your place…"

"No, it's not about that." William was quick to stop him. Seeing how quick Gron was to devolve in his own old wounds, he needed to be reassured. "I am not sure what to make of this idea. You should be there as a guest, not as just another part of the procession itself…" William spoke with warmth. Gron has been a family friend since before any of William and Clara's children were born. He deserved a better spot than that of a jester.

"Don't worry about it. I'm more than happy to do it." Gron smiled. "I have to use my talents somewhere, and it doesn't seem like I'll get another opportunity any time soon." He shrugged while trying to convince William but soon let out a sigh. "I'm serious, Will. Think about it."

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

"Splendid!" Gron responded with immediate joy. "And how's Mike? It's been a while since I've seen him. Just as incorrigible as ever?" The man was eager to hear about Mike, but William looked away for a moment; he wasn't quite sure how to answer that question.

"He's…Alright."

"That didn't sound certain."

"Got suspended from the other week, got into a violent fight with someone, and also is suspected of a drug possession…" William recounted the talk they had with Michael after the incident was far from pleasant.

"Suspected?"

"He denies it even before me, says he was set up."

"Do you believe him?"

"I…Don't know." William responded with shame. He did not want to accuse his oldest son of anything he hadn't done, yet with how distant he had grown in the last few years, how focused he was on his own, the rather shady company instead of his own family, William could expect everything.

"Believe him on this." Gron suddenly spoke up as he reached towards his pockets.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Mike can get abrasive at times, but he wouldn't do it. He knows his limits, I'm pretty sure." Gron explained as he took out a small package of white pills, taking one of them out. He poured himself some water from the nearby bottle and drank it with the pill right in front of William.

"At times, I just get tired. We've been through this with him many times, and still, he spits at any advice from me, even does the opposite of what he's told."

"Give him time and patience. He's looking for connections and genuine friendships outside of his own family; of course, he will make mistakes, but it's understanding he needs above all."

"I know, I know…"

"I mean, do you remember us in his years? As if we didn't get suspended for some idiotic crap."

"Seriously, are you going to talk about the second year again? It was an accident, and you didn't even have to admit to taking part!" William shook his head in annoyance.

"Hey, we were in this together from the start, and that's how I wanted it to be."

"Oh, Christ almighty, the stunts you pull sometimes…"

"Hey, at least it was somewhat fun." Gron nudged him with a playful smile.

"Somewhat."

"We could argue about this forever. Better tell me this, how is your work on that project going? You know, the one for Clara. I drew the initial paintings for you, after all." William expected this question, and he was glad to share his progress.

"Wanted to ask that for a while, did you?" He smiled as he reached for his bag.

"You knew I would," Gron responded. William hoped Clara would share his excitement once she eventually saw this creation herself. He put up a few colored sketches on the table, all of them depicting a single animatronic robot from different angles, a humanoid ballerina figure colored in white and dark purple. Her eyes were shut, and her posture was impeccable. Gron's eyes gleamed when he saw the images.

"My, my, you have done some fantastic work with them! I never dreamed that my paintings could become something as grandiose as this, but thanks to you…Why are her eyes closed, by the way? I'm sure I drew them open."

"A little design element I decided to incorporate. Her eyes would be closed most of the time, but she would open them when the visitors came too close. Her endoskeleton also will be able to perform some basic dance moves, nowhere near as elegant as Clara does them, of course, but impressive enough for a robot nonetheless." William spoke with pride as he described the newest project. This was something he did in his free time, devoting all of his remaining time and resources to it, all in an attempt to engineer something not for his persistent customers but for his wife. A reflection of her being, a monument to her grace and hard work both on the stage and with her family, a gift William knew she deserved. "I haven't decided on a name. I call her Ballora for now."

"You're not that creative with names, are you…Gonna put her on the stage as well? I'm sure that would bring some novelty for balletgoers."

"Oh, seriously…" William smiled before letting out a sigh. "I just hope she enjoys looking at it from time to time, seeing some of my work, some of her…Likeness, so to say."

"She'll like it, I know…" Gron spoke quietly, once again looking away for a moment. "She's a gem, Will. Keep her safe, you know? And just…Don't do anything stupid." The pain in Gron's chords echoed in William's ears. Gron's voice shook, still ripe with shame and disdain over the life his turn had taken.

"It…Still stings, I assume."

"When will it not?" Gron shrugged. "I fucked up…Hard. Wouldn't have been hard to come back and not do it, but of course, now it's too late. Should've thought when I had the chance, and I'd rather not come back to it too often."

"Have you talked to them since we last met?" William wasn't sure if this was the right time to ask, but they never lied to each other or avoided sharing news of their life. William knew that he was one of the last remaining friends Gron still had, and he wished to help him in any way he could.

"Heh…Does it matter?"

"It does, and you know that."

"No…" Gron hesitated before giving his answer. "No, I did not. She didn't call."

"Maybe you should call," William suggested. "Just check in and see how they're doing. Charlie would be excited to hear from you, at least." He knew that despite the falling out Gron had with his wife, their son still loved both of his parents dearly and couldn't stand to see them separated.

"I've been meaning to do it at some point, but I just…I don't know, man, I don't. Not sure if Lynda and I could talk for long without shouting at each other. It doesn't get much better between us. I'm not sure it ever will." Gron sighed and looked down at the table in shame; he had to show resolve and dedication to get through his problems, even if William was there to help.

"How about…" Suddenly, Afton was struck with an idea. "Maybe extend them an invitation to Elizabeth's birthday party?"

"You're not suggesting we use the occasion to make amends and get closure, are you?"

"I'm not as naive to think you'd do that so quickly, but it can be a step. Give Charlie an opportunity to play with Chris and Liza, and Michael will be happy to catch up with you." This could be an opportunity for a number of reunions to occur and allow a moment of respite for all of them.

"Maybe…" Gron seemed doubtful for a moment but eventually had to concede. "Fine, I'll try. I promise not to bring any of our drama to your table, though."

"Don't worry about that, as long as everyone behaves in a civil manner…"

"Might try and focus on getting a stable job beforehand to get that question out of the way." Gron chuckled.

"Wait, you're unemployed?" William responded in shock.

"Oh, haven't I told you?" Gron responded immediately

"First time I'm hearing about it…I'm fairly sure you had one a month ago." William crossed his arms.

"I did, but that one's no more." Gron shrugged. "My managers were fine with me taking on the job initially, and I tried my best to entertain those children…But a few parents complained, apparently." Gron clenched his fist in anger and looked to the floor before letting out a breath and looking up at William. "They didn't think a person with such a track record should work with children, and eventually, they had to let me go. Not exactly the first time, either." His voice grew tired and annoyed as Gron closed his eyes for a moment, trying to contain his emotions. "Fuck…It's getting harder and harder with every single attempt."

"Maybe I could look for a place for you…"

"Come on, Will, it's not like you're the one for a stable working graphic, either. I am a little jealous, to be honest, having you swing from one project to another like that…Must be liberating to an extent."

"It has its merits, but it's not perfect…It's not a stable income, I'm afraid. I have fancied a thought of moving away from it and finding a job for my specialty; having a family doesn't allow for much freelance." William knew that sooner or later, he would have to join a stable job that he could maintain. Even the thought of working in large teams if that's required was off-putting to him.

"Then we're in the same situation. Congratulations, Will. Looks like it's time for us to find something useful to do." Gron spoke in a joking manner before looking at the screen of a TV on the wall; something piqued his interest. "Look, that seems familiar…"

William turned around and peered into the screen, trying to examine it closely. The loud, cheery music echoed from the dynamics, its beat spreading all throughout the restaurant. It must have been some kind of ad. The video began soon after; it was a restaurant surrounded by cars. William immediately realized that this music sounded somewhat familiar, but only now did he begin to understand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us bring to your attention the grand opening of Fredbear's Family Diner! It's a magical place, both for kids and grown-ups alike, as they can take a break from the mundane flow of life and have an experience that will bring you joy! We have a most diverse selection of pizzas and foods, and we can satisfy every preference!" After a few flashing images of various pizzas, tales from a cartoon emerged, and this was when William finally realized. This was the show his children, especially Chris and Elizabeth, used to watch fanatically in the last two years, the one that told a story about talking animals in a world of endless fun and adventure. During the days of airing, this music would echo through their entire house.

"But more than that, for the first time in history, you will be able to see two titular characters from the 'Freddy and Friends' series, the one that conquered so many children's hearts, in real life! Fredbear and Spring Bonnie are coming to life as animatronics on stage, ready to sing day and night for the children of Hurricane!" The two animatronic robots emerged on the screen, both covered in gold. One was a bear with a microphone in his hand and a black hat on him, while the other was a rabbit imitating jumps by Fredbear's side. "They sing, they move, they entertain, they bring the warmth straight from their magical, careless world into our own! And they are eager to meet all of their new guests!" Their mouths did not stop opening; with each moment, a new tune would emerge from them, and even though the voices still sounded robotic, they were soothing and natural enough for children not to find them scary and off-putting. William watched in awe as one of the things he still struggled with for Ballora was the creation of a perfect voice. These seemed to achieve the necessary level just fine. Soon, the animatronics faded away, and a logo lit in bright yellow colors emerged.

"Fazbear Inc welcomes everyone at Fredbear's Family Diner. We would be happy to provide the best experience for you! If you would like to become a part of the family, we have many vacancies open for entertainers, guards, waiters, chefs, and technicians. Contact us via the phone number you can see on your screen. You can also write us a letter or visit us directly at the place. We hope to see you all, for the inhabitants of the magical fantasy land are always looking for newcomers to play with!" With those words, the ad finally ended.

"Isn't that right up your alley?" Gron inquired as he looked at his friend. "Robotics and entertainment, you're a perfect man for the job." He reassured him. "And it seems they have a place for entertainers as well… Haven't tried my luck here yet."

"Hm…" William was consumed by his thoughts; the animatronics intrigued him so much that he couldn't turn a blind eye to them. They were everything he aimed for Ballora to be, but they were already completed and ready to entertain. Perhaps working with them could perfect his skills and earn him keep at the same time. "It does seem interesting. That place would be incredibly popular with children."

"So…Ever considered us working at the same place?" Gron wondered.

"Want to try?"

"An opportunity as good as any, no point thinking too much about it. I could entertain the kids along with these things, and you can make sure they work properly. What do you think?"

"It could work…" William knew that Gron was right; this was a perfect opportunity for both of them to try. It would take some planning and thought,p of course, William still had to learn more about the company. But for now, another idea sprung into his mind. There was another, much more obvious opportunity.

"You know, I think we've just found a perfect place for the birthday party."