Note: Trigger warning, though I hold no such opinion some people might be a little squeamish around the talk of periods so you should be aware that an older child goes through their first period in the daycare and needs aid due to this.
Note: Trigger warning, for sexism. Not how women work. Not how periods work. Vernon being absolutely terrible. This is all one warning. I feel like Vernon would be the type who despite being married wouldn't know how periods work. It's funny, except it's true and upsetting and annoying.
Note: Trigger warning, Suggestions that Moon has had to fight off some form of child abductor in the past.
Note: Trigger warning, Robotic existential horror.
Note: Trigger warning, I don't think there's anything wrong with naked human form but just in case. There is the suggestion of a naked kid. Sun has to bath Harriette.
Note: Trigger warning, the fear that a child may have been sexually abused. (The child was not)
Note: Trigger warning, child with burn scars. That's the part that gets the most detail in this regard.
Harriette was woken up by someone literally pulling her to her feet and then shoving something large and heavy into her arms, before nearly sending her sprawling onto a gray-green carpet. Someone else grabbed her before she could fall and nearly tossed her onto a couch.
"Get out of the way, Harri," Aunt Petunia grumbled. Harriette blearily, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, looked around to try and figure out what was going on. She was in a strange room, there were two beds, and an orange couch. She was holding her backpack, and still wore her shoes. Her mind slowly adding details to the situation, sluggish and unwilling.
"Sit there and don't cause any trouble boy," Her uncle's voice growled. Harriette settled there, waking up from her sleepy state. She didn't recognise the room she was in, a hotel? Ah right the Durley's were on vacation and she'd been brought along. She'd been asleep in the bathroom hence the rough wake up. She'd gone to the daycare yesterday. That seemed to slide into place pulling everything else along with it.
The daycare, her friends, being able to play, Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon, learning about spiders. Harriette's heart started buzzing with excitement. She was going back to the daycare. She was going to see her friends. She would hear Mr. Moon tell stories and play with Mr. Sun again. Mayla and Ginny and Emelia and Katrina and Katie and Matty and Daniella and Elison; they would all be there. She had friends, aside from Ms. Spider. She was going to see them today, and soon. She'd get to add more spiders to her booklet. She'd get to draw and play. She would be fed, not just once or twice or even three times, she'd get four or five whole meals. She was allowed to get as much water as she wanted. She was allowed to be Harriette, actually be Harriette. She didn't remember the last time that she'd been able to do that. She had to fight the urge to smile. The Dursley's bustled about getting ready. Soon she'd be in a way, way better place. The best place. The perfect place for Harriette.
"Alright get back into the bathroom, Freak," Vernon growled, shuffling out of the bathroom with his face freshly shaved around his mustache. Harriette's heart sank. Deep, deep, deep down into her gut it disappeared into inky was she being put in the bathroom? She was good, she'd stayed still and quiet and hadn't fidgetted or asked questions or smiled or been bad. She didn't understand. She stood, a little distantly.
"What restaurant are we going to again?" Dudley asked. Oh, oh right. They'd said they'd be eating first before going to the plex last night in the car. Harriette's heart soared. She hadn't been bad somehow without knowing it. She shuffled the rest of the way into the bathroom and while uncle Vernon answered. She waited listening to the sound of her relatives as they finished getting ready, waited and listened as they gathered their last bits of necessary, listened as they started out the door. She waited till she could no longer hear their foot falls outside the hall then began her own efforts to get ready.
She brushed her hair with her fingers as best she could. She thought about using the shower but she didn't want to get into trouble when the day was looking to be so good. She'd ask Mr. Sun if she could use the shower at the daycare, maybe. She investigated the cabinet under the sink and found what she'd hoped for. A toothbrush, she rinsed it and brushed her teeth. She washed herself with the sink and a rag, that would be easier to hide since it was so small. She drank some water, and then all she could do was wait. She didn't want to risk getting absorbed into one of her school books and not notice if her relative came back. Besides, she'd be able to do all kinds of stuff later. She put on her backpack and tucked her head into her arms and against her knee and took a short nap since she couldn't do anything else. Uncle Vernone once again pulled her to her feet and consciousness in one single motion. She stood, rubbing her eyes as he dragged her to the car.
"Unbelievable, how ungrateful and selfish can you be," he grumbled. "Seriously, boy, what makes you so special you get to sleep in while us decent fold go about doing proper things. Making me wake you up twice, unbelievable." Harriette felt bad. She'd thought that napping would be a good thing, but she guessed she'd been wrong. As usual.
"I-i'm sorry, I-i did-didn't m-me-," Harriette tried to defend herself.
"Shut up," Uncle Vernon growled. "Oh you're sorry are you? Hear that everybody, the boy says he's sorry," Uncle Vernon scoffed. "Sorry, whatever." he practically yanked Harriette off her feet. She hated when he did that. She hated when he made light of her regrets. She hated when he called her boy the most though. 'It' was better, 'it' wasn't the opposite of what Harriette was. Freak was just what Harriette was, it might be mean but it was true. She followed silently behind. She hadn't meant to be bad by napping. She'd just wanted to be quiet. Like he wanted her to be. Uncle Vernon dragged her until they were outside and by the car. He let her go only then. "Get in." He growled. Aunt Petunia and Dudley were already seated. Aunt Petunia deliberately looked anywhere but at Harriette. While Dudley stared worriedly. "Don't worry Dudley," Uncle Vernon said while getting into the car. Harriette scrambling into her place on the seat next to Dudley. She turned her backpack around so that it was in her lap, keeping her eyes focused downward. "What's that you got there, Freak?" Uncle Vernon growled.
"It's his backpack Vernon, dear, and some things from his cubby, I needed to vacuum before we left." Aunt Petunia said. Harriette curled in around her backpack protectively.
"Did you check for contraband," Uncle Vernon said.
"Yes, dear, I know what the boy's allowed," She looked to Harriette pointedly. "I didn't want to deal with his things while scrubbing." She finished with a sniff. Or not. "So, I just had Harri keep them on him. It seemed he didn't get the hint that he was supposed to put them back. Isn't that right Harry?" Harry, Harry, Harry; Harriette hated being called Harry. She wasn't a boy, she wasn't Harry. Only her parents were allowed to call her that, because they died before she was a girl. Harry died, died with his parents in that car crash, or maybe it was in that cupboard, or maybe it was even before that. Maybe she'd never been Harry at all, but she wasn't Harry now and that was what mattered. She wasn't Harry. She tried to ignore that; the icky, sad, wrong feeling that being called Harry lef her with. Harriette forced herself to nod.
"Answer the question, boy," Uncle Vernon growled. Harriette flinched. She was okay, she wouldn't be with them much longer, then she'd be able to be Harriette. Mr. Sun would do her hair the way he'd done Ginny's. She'd put on her friendship bracelets and hold hond with Emelia and she'd listen to Mayla and Emelia talk, and she'd be herself again soon.
"Yes, sir," Harriette said. "Sorry, sir." Harriette hated answering to 'boy'. 'Freak' was better, at least she was a freak.
Mayla and the Weasley twins, Fred and George were raising down the corridor to go down the slide again. Sun watching with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. This was the third time, and it wasn't like the daycare didn't have slides. He wasn't even sure how they kept sneaking out. He turned to look at the empty security desk. They were late, they were really working through the security guys weren't they. Moon checked the internal portal for him again.
Says; they clocked in ten minutes ago, Moon said. Annoyance clear in his tone and radiating off him in a wave. Is this guy seriously going to waste all day in the break room? Moon checked the cameras for their wayward security guard. Sun was forced to once again pry the three from the ball pit, only to have to deal with a problem between three non regulars and Emelia, and once again lose sight of them the second he looked away. Nothing on the cameras showing how they'd slipped away so fast. Sun sighed. The three seemed intent on driving Sun and Moon insane. Percy wasn't here to help limit the twins chaotic nature and Sun was almost certain it was going to be a busy day given that the number of kids there was already twenty six and the daycare hadn't been open for more than thirty minutes, aside from the regulars there were no repeating attendees. Sun two infants strapped to him, and had been forced to set up a whole area for the small hoard of toddlers, okay there were only four but it sure felt like a small hoard when he'd been chasing after them twenty minutes ago while new attendees arrived. The daycare was technically designed for kids that young but when you have nearly thirty kids running around it was a little unsafe, especially when none of them had any siblings to help look after them, not that Sun ever really asked for any attendee to look after any other, it just happened almost every time. No it was much better to have one of the play structures section off for them rather than risking the four almost teenagers running one of them over. Sun broke up the argument between the three newcomers. Which turned out to be about Emelia who'd been trying to give instructions on how to play one of the games.
"I was just trying to help," She mumbled, dejectedly.
"I know," Sun said. "Not everyone wants help though. Oh, for the love of -will you three stop!"
"Only when Harriette comes in!" Mayla shouted from the top of the slide. Sun didn't even think he had any hope of getting the three to stop, even thinking about it was enough to seemingly manifest a whole new issue. Agatha (Age: 12. Allergic to garlic) was yelling at Fenton (Age: 10. No Known Allergies) about something. Agatha and Fenton knew each other before coming to the daycare Fenton a shy, nervous boy had been clinging to Agatha since they arrived together Fenton and Agatha's parents being work friends themselves. Agatha had been growing more and more annoyed with the boy as the twenty six minutes wore on. Sun sighed.
Guess she finally snapped, Moon said.
I wish she hadn't, Sun said, heading over with a quick word to the three previous kids not to start another fight before he got back. She could have just told him.
Teenagers, Moon metaphorically shrugged, because honestly it was kind of true. Even though Agatha wasn't technically a teen yet she was going through all the changes a teen would. Being stuck around a bunch of toddlers and little kids couldn't be all that enjoyable for a girl her age. Especially since the closest kid to her age was still pre-puberty, uninterested in the trapping that hormones brought to Agatha's door. Not to mention it was a room full of strangers, the only one she knew being someone that she was growing increasingly frustrated with.
Sun arrived in the 'quiet section' it wasn't really quiet, but an attempt had been made to cater to those less socially inclined. Agatha had brought her own books, three to be exact, and had read through one since she'd gotten here. Sun had recommended a few on the shelves that might hold some interest to her when he's noticed this. She'd thanked him with a huff, that Sun understood to be aimed more toward her situation then him. Sun had hoped that Fenton might find some enjoyment in the books they had, given that he wasn't in need of a bit more spice to his reading material. Sun knew the books weren't anything too inappropriate as they hadn't been flagged by Fazbear Entertainment's rules algorithm. But he was sure they were at least a bit more 'grown-up', probably a bit higher in the romance department too.
Sun found the two in the reading nook, where the two had been since they'd been dropped off. Fenton was backing away from Agatha. She was red faced and teary eyes and livid. Glaring at the younger boy with so much venom Sun wondered what the kid could possibly have done to deserve such ire.
"I just don't-" Fenton started, still holding his hands up as a sign of surrender.
"Nobody's forcing you to stay here!" the older girl seethed.
"Hey, alright- let's not- not -Ah Fenton, how about I introduce you to some of the other kids!" Sun said. Normally he hated doing that, and it didn't always work well with younger kids. But with two more older children and Fenton himself being bored it might be for the best. The boy looked between them and then nodded. Agatha relaxed just the tiniest bit. Seeming to catch up with her own actions, as confusion took over for the anger.
"Agatha's going through a really big growth spurt right now and that's putting her in a bit of - well a bad mood," Sun explained, just loud enough that Agatha would hopefully catch the words herself and feel a little better. Being a teen was rough, and Agatha was going through it even if she wasn't yet officially a teenager. Sun ushered Fenton away from the girl and toward the other two older girls who were also still young enough to enjoy the daycares offering and the younger children's company.
"Hello Rosalind!" Sun called to the girl who was running past. Hoping that having the girl introduce Fenton would make the process go smoother. Rosalind (Age: 10. Nut Allergy.) looked over. She smiled, she was also the friendliest of the small group of non-regulars that had formed.
"Hello, Sundrop," the girl said, running over. "What's up?" She looked over tilting her head at the other ten year old, pointedly.
"Fenton was wondering if he could join your game, right?" Sun asked. Fenton nodded, nervous but also a bit excited. The girl grinned, offering her hand.
"Well then c'mon we were just about to start a new round anyways! Rosalind by the way," she sounded like it might be some sort of joke.
"Fenton," Fenton said, and he shyly followed her to join the game of older kids. Sun looked over to noticed they had been gathering, hopefully they were in fact starting a new round of whatever game they were playing. It seemed to be half made up since it didn't match any of the games that were in their daycare activity database. Rosalind introduced Fenton to Ione (Age: 11. Pollen allergy.), Leland (Age: 8. No known allergies.), and Abram/Sibyl (Name: Abram Sibyl Hunt. changes between first and middle name. Age: 8. Dogwood allergy.). Sun was relieved to note the three other kids were just as eager to add another player to their game as Rosalind. Sun sighed, turning his attention back to Agatha. He'd need to deal with that still, the girl might need certain things that Sun would find it hard to provide. At least Nova and Bram were clocked in and actually helping. Nova and Bram, Sun had initially tried calling them Mr. and Mrs. Raywood but the two had insisted on a first name basis. According to the two it presented a more united front to the newer kids. Sun glanced over to where Nova was keeping an eye on the play structure they'd section off for the younger toddlers, though the older toddlers had chosen to join it too. Nova waved to him as she noticed him checking on her. Bram was over near the drawing tables but was watching for any trouble on the other play structures. Sun was glad he'd be able to give a little undivided attention to a child, even if it was short lived. Sun walked back over to Agatha who was holding her stomach.
"I think I'm dying," The girl said, tears forming in her eyes. Sun ran a scan, she wasn't dying. She was just going through the very earliest start of a period. She wasn't bleeding, thank all the stars and deities for that. The girl really would think she was dying.
Oh, Sun thought. Sun hated it when he had to explain these kinds of things. Why don't parents actually tell their kids the things that will happen to them?
Don't know, hate it, Moon said, before diving deep into other parts of their processor to perform other duties. Sun hated when he did that.
Coward, Sun shot to his only companion. It didn't take long but the silence had apparently far too long for the girl. She was about to start a panic attack.
"Oh, no, no, you're fine," Sun said.
"My stomach feels like-like-" Agatha started.
"I know, shsh, I know," Sun said, getting down on the girls' level. "Your parents really didn't think to tell you about periods?" Sun asked. The girl raised her eyebrows. He hated adults, they were so selfish sometimes. Just because a topic made them uncomfortable they turned it into a taboo topic. Made it seem wrong and dirty and worse than it really was. "You are just growing up." Sun explained. "I- oh for the love of-" Sun groaned. Apparently Sun didn't need to know about periods, even though he could get kids as old as fifteen in his daycare. "Give me a moment, apparently they don't think I should be able to explain this to you. Even though what is happening is completely normal." turning annoyance inward toward the system that was preventing him from accessing the files he desperately needed. "Oh for fucksake! C'mon, I'll take over for Nova and she can explain it." Sun growled at the system. The girl's relief that she wasn't dying was mixed with humor at his frustrated internal argument. Sun was glad, he'd gotten distracted, but it seemed that she'd understood his annoyance was at her.
"I'm fine, really?" the girl asked. Sun nodded, offering a hand.
"You'll need somethings of course, wouldn't want to stain your cute jeans," Sun said. She looked worried. "Sorry, it's a normal part of what's happening. You'll, ugh, Nova will explain everything. And I'm having her lodge a formal complaint about this too. Maybe if she and Bram and Adriana complain together they'll actually give me access to the files I need to explain this properly." Sun grumbled as they crossed the short distance to the smallest play structure, where the toddlers were running around and playing. "This is just like the tooth fairy incident." Sun complained as he opened the fence to make his way to Nova who was spinning a toddler around for a dance. Sun was just grateful the two infants strapped to him had decided napping was a great way to spend the time, the last thing he needed while trying to solve a teens problem was for two crying infants to be added to the mix. The girl laughed, gaining more understanding that whatever happened was just as normal as losing a tooth for the first time, at least that was what Sun hoped she was getting from the comment. She certainly found it funny.
"Hello, Sunrise," Nova said, using his official internal name, few people bothered. Only Moon ever truly bothered and not that often. They'd simply gotten used to being Sun and Moon. It was nice hearing their actual names for once.
"Our little friend here is starting her- oh for the love of- of course the word for it would be locked behind a profanity filter. She'd growing up…" Sun forced himself to sound calm. When Nova didn't seem to understand. ^*word bleeding is not allowed. ^*word menstruation not allowed. "She's becoming an adult." Sun said with forced cheer. "For a girl y'know…I'm apparently not allowed to explain further- oh for the love of… How is-?"" Sun took a deep simulated breath and let it out, activating fans to cool the system that was currently going haywire trying to find a work around to a problem that shouldn't even exist. They had pads in the daycare bathroom. ^*the word pads is allowed ^* The word tampons is not allowed. Stupid system. "She'll need a pad soon." Sun said, finally relieved at finding a work around.
"Oh, oh…" Nova said, looking at the girl and then to Sun. "They don't allow you to explain that."
"Nope, so I'll take over here, and you can get her set up, see if you can get permission to give her some painkillers for the-," ^* Word cramps not allowed. "Of course that word is banned, that not even a word related to-"
"You're pretty good at sounding cheerful when angry," Nova noted.
"Part of the programming," Sun said. "Anyways, off you two go." Sun sent them off, relieved that that problem was resolved. "Send a message over the system to contact her parents!" Sun called Nova waved, than gave a thumbs up. It didn't take long for the message to appear. The bathrooms weren't that far away. Sun was glad he'd miraculously avoided this kind of situation until he had someone to help him. There were so many things that could go wrong with kids. Sun set up a baby play area in the toddler section so that if he needed to he could put the two infants down. He was going to have to keep an extra eye on them today.
He could already tell this was going to be a long week, and it wasn't even Monday yet.
Mayla spotted Harriette before Fred or George did. Which made sense they weren't as familiar with Harriette as Mayla was. Harrietter was still wearing the same clothes that she'd been wearing yesterday, an oversized stained shirt, ripped oversized pants that were also stained, and trash in her hair. The only difference was that she was wearing a backpack now, but Mayla remembered Emelia mentioning that she'd had one yesterday. She was with a large man, with a bristling mustache and beady angry eyes. He yanked Harriette nearly off her feet as he pulled to a stop next to the daycare check in.
Adriana, the worker at the desk, looked sadly at the two before noticing Mayla and Fred and George coming along and perking up, as the man let go of Harriette's arm. Mayla rushed forward grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her along after her into the slide. She'd remembered yesterday that Harriette hadn't gotten to go down the slide.
Harriette giggled from Mayla's lap, Mayla had picked her up and swung them down the slide in one swift motion. They landed in the daycare ball pit with a splash of colorful balls flying out around them and another giggle from the girl that clung to Mayla as the taller girl stood, putting her down on the side of the ballpit so that she could climb out and shake off. The twins landed just as Mayla and her were out of the way. Sun stepped over to check on them. The twins started throwing the plastic balls at each other. Still at the end of the slide. Sun scooped the two of them up, and deposited them a little ways away from the slide.
"That spot is a bit less deep, and it means I don't have to worry about you two getting hit with a newcomer coming down the slide," Sun chastised. "Don't go near it." Harriette had started shuffling into her backpack, pulling out her plushies, then zipping it back up and settling it on her back again. She was tucking the plushies into her shirt's loose collar when Sun turned back to her and Mayla. Mayla bounced on her heels excited to get to play with Harriette, Ginny and Emelia. Emelia had taken it upon herself to show some of the other new kids around, also she wasn't willing to go outside to go down the slide with Mayla and the twins. Sun crouched down, to Harriette's eye level. "Hello, Harriette, how are you today?"
"Better now," Harriette said, finishing her adjustments, and turning to Sun. Her stomach growled loudly, and she buried her face in her plushies. "Sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Mr. Sun said. "However, I'm not allowed to let any kids go hungry in the daycare. Which is honestly one of the rules I actually agree with." Sun said. Scooper Harriette and Mayla up. Harriette looked amazed at the gesture, before hugging Sun tighter. Sun didn't get to see how happy she looked at being held. Mayla made a note to hug Harriette more. She was probably big enough to carry her around, since Mayla was bigger than other seven year olds.
"My Granny and Gran-paw brought lots and lots, enough for everyone to have three snacks," Mayla assured when Harriette looked like she was going to protest. "I'll go get them." She wiggled from Sun's arms landing on her feet and running off. Leaving Sun sputtering behind her.
"Mayla, wha- how- I hope you made sure there were no other children below you before doing that!" Sun called after her. She was already almost to her Granny though.
"I did!" she said, spinning around to face Sun, then around to continue running toward her granny. She made it as her Granny came over to the fence of the baby area to ask her what she needed. "Harriette hasn't eaten breakfast," Mayla said. "Can I get the bag?" Mayla bounced excitedly. She'd noticed her Grandparents worried glances and hushed comments, she wasn't deaf after all. She knew they'd been worried about her new friend. Especially since her pack sucked so much. Mayla bounced by the fence grinning. Her Granny and Gran-paw were the best.
"Go ahead, Sweetie," Granny Nova said, and Mayla took off. She didn't want her granny to have to leave the little babies on their own. She was perfectly capable of getting the things they brought, she did tell her Gran-paw to get the snacks though, so Harriette could eat. She made it back just in time to see Harriette and Ginny finish their greeting.
"Sun, are you going to have time to do Harriette's hair today, we brought a bag of clothes for here!" Mayla said, thrusting the bag forward, excitedly.
"Oh, I can't- you shouldn't- I-I," Harriette struggled with her words. "I-I can't ba-barr-barrow you cl-clothes." Harriette finally managed. Her speech.
"It's fine, and they're not mine, they were my mom's, but nobody else fits them anyway," Mayla said, thrusting the bag toward her. "You're both were soooooooooo small that I'm sure these will fit you." Mayla said, Harriette stared at the bag like it was filled with live venomous snakes, venomous. Venomous meant it was bad for you if it bites you. "I'm wa~y too big for them," Mayla continues shaking the bag at her. The bag was still, so it clearly wasn't full of snakes. "It's better if they go to someone and nobody else we know would fit them." She said, shaking the bag again. Harriette continued to just stare like it was something that was going to bite her.
"I-I-I-I-I do-don't- don't think th-the-that my un-uncle- my re-re-rela-la-tives wou-would like it i-if I took ch-cha-charity." Harriette said. She was stuttering again. Like the words were sticking painfully into the back of her throat and she had to force them. Mayla wondered why it did that. Her hands would clench too, just a little bit tighter for a second. Did it hurt that bad. "Th-th-ey wouldn't li-ike it if I-I expected ch-ar- If I we-went mooching off-ff the good wi-wi-kindness-ss of others." Harriette said. Mayla really wasn't sure how to help her friend feel better.
"Nonsense," Sun said, settling down into a crouch next to Harriette, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You're the one being kind and helpful." Sun said. Mayla nodded, not sure if this would really help, but Sun was an adult and he was literally made to look after kids. "They're taking up all that space at their house. Mrs. Raywood was just talking about that." Mayla was about to ask what he was talking about when one of the twins hit her in the face with a ball pit ball. She launched herself after the twin, it was George, and captured him. Sun was still talking to Harriette when she got back, literally dragging George over with her. "Isn't that right Mayla?"
"Yeppers, Sun," Mayla managed between her efforts to blow raspberries on every inch of exposed skin George had. He had better learn to be more careful. He was giggling and shrieking as he tried to wiggle free.
"No fair, no fair," He chanted between giggles.
"See, you're helping them clean their house," Sun said. Tilting his head almost all the way to the side. "Be gentle with each other; Mayla, George." But he kept most of his focus on Harriette, as he patted her shoulder. "Let's get you something to eat. Kay?" Harriette nodded with a small, but growing smile, taking up the bag that Mayla had dropped.
Harriette had changed her clothes while she waited for Sun to get the breakfast she was going to eat today. She was going to eat three whole meals, and several snacks. Plus she was already being set up to bring food stuff back to Private Drive. The more she learned about the daycare the more she loved it.
Mayla's Grandma had brought her a new shirt, it had a happy pink ink stain on it that Harriette thought looked like a butterfly. It didn't have any holes and it smelled clean and fresh, like they'd washed it before bringing it to the daycare. The shorts they'd brought her were clean and crisp even with the stains that dotted its sides.
Now Harriette sat at one of the drawing tables and was eating a pancake with blueberries on it. While Sun gently combed and braided her hair. She felt like a whole new, actual girl.
Mayla and Emelia were talking about things they could do, Ginny piping in occasionally while coloring. Fred and George were talking about a prank they'd played on Ron the other day. Harriette was starting to figure out which of the two was which, or at least she thinks she was. Percy and Ron weren't there today because. Ron was in trouble for being mean to Harriette the other day, and Percy was studying for school. He was going to go to a very special school this year after summer was over so he wanted to be ready for it. Fred and George had pranked Ron for the same reason he was in trouble.
"That's not very nice," Sun said. "Your parents were punishing him and he'd already apologized."
"Well, we want to make it clear that we weren't happy with him about it too," George, Harriette was pretty sure, said. "Sometimes Ron doesn't learn his actual lessons."
"Still, it's better to talk about what makes you upset," Sun said.
"Awe but thats so boring," Fred said. "Besides, he'll never listen that way. He's stubborn."
"Almost as stubborn as Percy," George joked back. Sun just sighed.
"He made Harriette cry," Ginny said, taking Harriette free hand. Harriette turned it over so they were holding hands.
Harriette finished eating her breakfast and hummed in contentment. Happily letting Sun finish braiding her hair. It was almost done, since it was so short, barely past the nap of her neck, or hanging past her chin in the longest parts. Though it was super fine so it was super hard to manage, Harriette was sure he was doing a good job. Dudley managed to learn and Sun mentioned that he had data for hair types to help kids manage, and he wasn't making any complaints about it. So she was sure it would look great.
"I think he would make a god squeak toy," Mayla said, biting the air playfully. Harriette giggled, and Sun made a discouraging noise.
"We do not chew on other children," Sun said. "Even the ones who deserve a little chewing." That part got the kids into full blown laughter.
Sun recognized the warmth that bloomed in his chest when Harriette joined the other kids in giggling. He knew what it meant. He was getting attached. Sun did that sometimes. There wasn't an exact rhyme or reason for it.
Emelia was one of his kids for instance. He'd been a part of the girls life since she was a baby though so it made sense. He saw her as much, if not more than, her own parents. He'd held her, taught her how to read, comforted her through night terrors, watched her grow.
Other kids were different. Katrina who's parents refused to call her by her real name, and let her be a girl. She was here often too though. Daniella who'd started coming last year and had been in most days since. Katie who's autism meant she needed a little extra attention. But those were all regulars.
The ones that weren't were always so painful. Patryk who'd been abused, and spent one single twenty-four hour period after his parents abandoned him. Nanaly who'd spent three weeks coming in after school before her parents moved. A few others. Sun cared about all the kids who came into the daycare, but he had thoughts and opinions and often times; favorites.
She's going to leave in a week, Moonie, Sun tried, half to convince himself.
But she's so little, Moon said.
Harriette, Mayla, Emelia, Ginny and the twins were playing a game that Harriette wasn't quite sure of the rules on, but it was a lot of fun to play. She was fairly certain that Mayla just made the game up for them to play, or they were copying the plot of a cartoon Mayla had watched. Still Harriette was having a great time. Harriette was getting better at finding her way through the maze of the play structures, even with Mayla taking some wild turns and diving down slides when she'd seemed to be going around a corner in the almost opposite direction. Harriette was also pretty sure she'd learned how to tell Fred and George apart for absolute certainty, but it was secret and they'd asked her not to tell whatever method she'd learned. She wasn't sure there was a method so much as just a half instinct but she was still happy to be a member of whatever sort of secret club she'd joined by knowing. She was proud of herself, especially when she learned that not everyone could do it.
"Harriette! Mayla! Come look!" Emelia said, she was in a small alcove to the side of the main path, Mayla had already scurried through, Harriette was a few paces behind her with Ginny next to her making sure she didn't risk getting lost. Ginny wasn't as talkative and Emelia or Mayla who could hold seemingly four different conversations at the same time. Harriette thought it was so cool, and watched with fascination as she learned to figure out their weird way of talking. Neither seemed to need to stop talking to hear the other. It was so cool! Mayla peered through the tube she'd gone through.
"What is it?" she asked, crawling through a little more back toward Emelia.
"It's the second best view of the daycare!" Emelia said. Pointing out the window. The twins skuttled back into the tube they were in behind Mayla who'd settled next to Emelia. Emelia pointed out of the round window Harriette and Ginny were too far behind to see. The twins and Harriette and Ginny settled on either side of the other two to look through the decently sized round window.
"Is It?" Mayla asked as they truly too in the side around them. "Oh, you can see the whole daycare from here." She said. It was true, the window was rounded outward so that you could sit inside it too. Meaning it didn't limit the view at all. You really could look over the whole daycare, even some of the taller pits. It was almost tall enough to pear over the railing, you could make out the top of Adriana's hunched back as she filled out an intake for Daniella who stood a little awkwardly next to a man that was a little hard to make out but was probably her step-dad. Her parents divorced and married other people. So she had step siblings on both sides of her family and a half siblings too. Harriette wondered what that must feel like. Daniella didn't get to spend a lot of time with them either. Occasionally they were dropped off at the daycare with her, but otherwise she didn't get to see them. She'd learned when they were pretending to sleep and talked about their real lives, pretending they were dreams they had. The rest of the view was filled with colors and kids and light. Harriette thought it really was one of the best views, maybe even her first favorite. But maybe not since you couldn't look and see other parts of the daycare, still it was nice. "You really can see the whole daycare! Hey! They're doing coloring pages!" Mayla said. The group looking to the tables to see a group of unfamiliar kids doing coloring pages. "I didn't know the daycare had coloring pages. Do you guys wanna do coloring pages later? That sounds fun. Let's go down the slide, and go do coloring pages!" Mayla was saying, already scurrying off through the colorful tubes.
"Wait Mayla what if those kids brought those coloring pages!" Harriette called after her, she was the first to start following, but stepped out of the way of the twins and Mayla and then Ginny to let them pass since she was the slowest. "What do you think snack will be? Did you enjoy pancakes? They're yummy aren't they? Granny Nova bought something with her, but she wouldn't let me see what it was." Mayla said. Emelia started her own tirade of talking. Harriette had learned that the two would rarely stop talking so it was fine to talk while they talked, though Harriette still found it rude most of the time. She did answer that she liked pancakes, while Emelia and Mayla's talking turned into a a sort of white noise.
"So, that's the second best spot 'cause it's easy to draw from there and out of the way enough, but it's not the best, best, the best is actual on that other playstructure to the side, the one that the older kids commandeared for their game. It's got the perfect drawing spot, but it's too crowded today to actually get any drawing done." Emelia was forced to phisically pause even if she did keep talking. Letting several younger kids run by in front of them.
"Did you know that Bonni has a breakfast cereal, Bonnie barrycrunch," Mayla was saying while Emelia had been talking. Inevitably. "It's super yummy and it's purple." The two girls didn't seem like they were holding a conversation at all. The twins started a conversation of their own.
"So, what do you think of-"
"Oh, that's brilliant-" Harriette wasn't sure what those words were even supposed to mean. Ginny giggled. Adding her own voice to the growing cacophony of their little group as they found their way to the slide. They made their way to the table where the stranger kids were. Harriette grew more nervous as they approached.
"Hey!" Mayla said, slapping the table. "Where'd you get those?" the oldest of the kids, a five year old girl with her blond hair tied into two very pink ponytail holders. She looked up to them with her bright blue eyes and shrugged, before pointing to Mr. Sun, before Mayla could run off Harriette grabbed her sleeve and asked.
"So, those are from the daycare, is that a pile of them?" Harriette asked and the girl nodded. Mayla flopped down in one of the chairs remaining, the tables were in lots of different sizes. This one was one of the smaller ones, but it was still big enough for them to all sit down, maybe not all to color though. Mayla grabbed the pile and started sorting through them, and started talking.
"Oh! That's a whole shot of the glamrocks! Oh, is this one with all the characters they haven't brought in yet?" Mayla asked. "I'm Mayla by the way!"
Emelia grabbed one of the pictures Mayla had put down on the table and started coloring, Ginny did the same with a discarded Roxy picture. Mayla continued talking as she shuffled through the pile. The other kids were not getting a chance to speak at all as Emelia started her own stream of conversational babble. Harriette felt a little sorry for the group of younger kids, but only the older one seemed to even care. The other three focussing more intently on their own pages. Mayla finally found one of Bonnie, and put the stack down. The twins had relocated to a table near enough to join in the babbling, but still had space. They were making something with popsicle sticks, pipe cleaner, and some rubber bands and paperclips they'd brought with them.
Harriette flipped through much more quickly and found that they were missing her favoritest animatronics, not that she'd met any of the others, but it was hard to imagine anyone being able to match with Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon, less much beat them. Harriette shrugged and grabbed a blank piece of paper and started drawing the shapes with an erasable pencil to start with, she'd ink with a thicker marker afterward. Harriette let her friends babbling wash over her like white noise. Like the rest of the sounds of the daycare. She worked on her drawing until she was satisfied then started making the black outline lines so that it looked just like the coloring pages her friends were using.
"So Bonnie-" mixing with the sound of two kids running past them toward Mr. Sun.
"Then Freddy-" Emelia said, as a kid raced across the bridge overhead, causing it to rattle.
"Roxy did-" The call of the start of a kids game of Marco Pollo, and another group starting a new game of tag.
"No add the band here for-" A group of older kids took over another table and started playing a game of paper football.
"Did you know-" The younger three kids ran off to play with the toys. Harriette noticed from the corner of her eye. Another kid sat down at the twins' table and started chatting about their creation.
"Sky blue-" Katrina, and Matty came in to sit down with them to color. But Harriette thinks she might have been the only one to noticed 'cause she greeted them in sign and everyone else kept talking with their eyes glued to their drawings without mentioning the two newcomers.
"Green, for Roxy's hair-"
"Don't forget to make the balancing rod-"
"Monty is my favorite," the oldest of the new girls said. Harriette looked up from her work, the black ink had dried and now she was adding color in crayon like all her friends had been doing for a while now.
"Oh, he's the um, the-the ali-li-li-gator." Harriette said, with a bit of effort. The words weren't comfortable in her mouth.
"I think he's a crocodile," the girl said. Yeah, pretty sure.
"He's called Montgomery Gator," Emelia said. "He's an alligator." Emelia said gently. "'Cause the end of his name. It's a pun."
"But he's too brightly colored," the girl argued. "Alligators are darker colored than."
"He's painted," Harriette said. "His nose is wide and round so he's an ali-li-li-gator." Harriette said.
"Oh," The girl thought for a moment. "That makes sense."
"How did you not think about that before?" Apparently Emelia wasn't particularly happy. "and I don't think crocodiles are that color either,"
"I dunno, it just was closer to a crocodile color than an alligator. I didn't notice the nose thing."
"How is he your favorite and you don't even know what he is?" Emelia complained.
"What type of bear is Freddy?" Harriette asked as the younger girl started getting upset.
"What?"
"What type of bear is Freddy?" Harriette asked.
"Well, he's a brown bear," Emelia said, proudly.
"Are you sure," Harriette said.
"He's brown colored," Emelia said.
"He's painted," Harriette pointed out.
"Well, he's- that's-"
"Its not very nice to make fun of a younger kids for not knowing something," Harriette said.
"He is a brown bear though," Mayla said. "That's what the original Freddy was."
"Actually Freddy's design isn't based off of a teddy bear, which aren't actually based off any bears themselves." Mr. Sun said, leaning over the table. He was holding a baby and looking over their work. "Those look really nice." Sun said. The baby started crying clearly feeling like it wasn't getting enough attention, and also waving at the bottle Mr. Sun was holding. "Oh, shoot, sorry little man, didn't mean to starve ya." He made sure that he was focused on keeping the bottle in the baby's mouth. "You kiddos having fun," he asked. "I'm checking in on everyone. Deciding if I should start a group game or not."
"We're having fun," Emelia said. "Well, I'm having fun." She added. "I might have ruined her time though." She gestured to the older girl. "Sorry, by the way." She said.
"It's fine, you didn't." She said very seriously. "It was funny to watch you struggle for a second." Emelia playfully stuck her tongue out at the other girl, but there was no meanness behind it. The other girl stuck her tongue out too.
"Careful you two might catch flies," Sun said. Another baby started crying. "Oop gotta go. Just to be sure."
"We're all having a good time, Mr. Sun," Harriette said.
"Good, excellent," Mr. Sun headed off in the direction of the other baby. Making sure the one that he was holding was going to be sick while he walked, and dodging a pair of boys who ran almost under his feet. "Watch where you're going little ones!" Mr. Sun called after them. Harriette noted that he had a hook on his back and she was glad she hadn't drawn either from the back.
"Hey, that's a pretty good drawing," the girl said. "I didn't even know they had Sun and Moon drawings." she said. "They're not as popular as other characters."
"Well, they didn't, so I made this one," Harriette shrugged. She'd worked pretty hard on it and she was pretty proud of it, but she didn't think it was too much of a big deal. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had made it pretty clear that she wasn't that special for being able to draw. Harriette didn't think she really needed to be though. She liked drawing.
"Oh," The girl said, leaning over to see better. "Well, you almost made it look like one of the real coloring pages. She said. "How'd you do that?"
"Dunno," Harriette shrugged. "Is it really that special?" She didn't want to be rude. The other girl looked thoughtful before shrugging herself.
"Can you draw one for me?" She asked. Harriette thought about it for a long moment.
"Me too!" Ginny said. "They don't have a lot of Roxy in other positions."
"I've never seen Roxy before though," Harriette said. "I can draw Mr. Sun, and Mr. Moon cause I've seen them." Ginny held out the few coloring pages she had.
"See now?" Ginny asked. Harriette sighed.
"I guess I might be able to try," Harriette said. Katie waved to Harriette and signed if she could make her a coloring page too. She wanted one of Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon too. Harriette nodded pulling up the supplies she'd need and setting aside her own coloring page. She could finish it later. She didn't get to do nice things for friends very often.
"Oh, hi Katie, Katrina?" Emelia waved to them. "When did you get here?"
"Just a little while ago, maybe twenty or so minutes," Katrina said serenely. Her hair was smoothed back like a boys right now, and because of her clothes she was easy to mistake as one.
"I thought you were a boy," the girl said. "I'm Milicent." She said finally introducing herself.
"It's alright, my parents still do," Katrina joked. Harriette cackled. She couldn't help it as the comedy of that statement punched laughter all the way from her toes! Katrina's eyes twinkled at her with humor. Nobody else seemed to get the joke.
"I thought you guys weren't in on Sundays?" Emelia asked.
"Normally," Katrina said, Matty focused on her own work. "My father's company wanted him to participate in the drilling conference thing." Katrina said, picking up a green marker. She was coloring in the Aligator man.
"What about your Mom?" Millicent and Mayla asked together. Looking at each other and giggling.
"I only live with her during the school year," katrina explained.
"Oh, okay," Mayla said thoughtfully. "What about you?" She pointed to Matty who looked up confused for a second.
"Matty's parents are the same but the other way around, right?" Katrina said. Matty nodded pointing to Katrina, before going back to her coloring page. She too was doing the alligator.
"What about you Mayla," Matty asked, tilting her head just the slightest so that one ear was more toward Mayla. Harriette wondered why she did that.
"Oh, ooh," Mayla said. "I don't like that question. Was I being mean again? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry. Sometimes I ask without thinking about things. I didn't even think about it might being a mean question."
"It's fine," Matty said, shrugging. "My parents weren't ever together. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable I didn't even know it could be a mean question at all." Katrina nodded. When Matty was done talking she added her own commentary on the subject.
"Mine divorced when I was a baby," Katrina said. "They got married too young and then my dad started drinking and they both decided that they were bad for each other and that maybe god would forgive them for choosing to cut each other out instead of being bad people. Not that they're really good people." Katrina said, shrugging. "Did yours divorce."
"No," Mayla said slowly, pained, but determined. Like she'd started something that she didn't realize was going to hurt and now she had to see it to the end despite the pain. "My mummy died six months ago." Mayla said, and ah, that was it. Harriette felt her stomach turn. She'd lost her mummy just six months ago. Harriette hadn't even realized she reached over to her. Mayla accepting the comfort. The table was silent for a while before anyone spoke. Surprisingly it was Mayla who continued. "She was in an accident." She sniffled, focusing on her drawing, pulling her hand away to do so. "It's just… weird. Like sometimes I forget she's even gone. Like I'm just on a long trip to Granny and Gran-paw, but…" She sniffled again. "My daddy didnt' want to raise me 'cause it's be to much work." Mayla shrugged like it was no big deal, but her voice was tight, and she sniffled, and her eyes were all watery. "Anyway what about you?"
"I still have my parents," Millicent said, shifting, their was both pride and guilt in her voice. She turned to Emelia.
"Yeah, me too, but they're always busy so I spend my days with Mr. Sunny and Mr. Moondrop." Emelia said, she sounded pleased with herself on this. Harriette couldn't agree more. She'd rather spend all her time with Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon then with her relatives. That thought made her feel guilty. Her relatives were doing their best, it wasn't their fault she was bad, it wasn't their fault she was a freak, and a money sink. Eyes turned to Harriette but the twins spoke first, Ginny probably told them about Harriette's family already.
"We got our parents and seven siblings, including each other and Ginny," Fred said, then George continued.
"There's so many of us you never get lonely," George said.
"And you get away with way more," Fred added. Harriette was grateful to them for taking it but then Milicent, Katrina and Matty's eyes turned to her. Fortunately Mayla decided to answer for her.
"Harriette lives with her relatives cause her parents died when she was a baby," Mayla said. "Don't ask for more." It was so fierce that it made it clear that it wasn't a happy story to all the kids who didn't already know. They'd probably ask her or Emelia later, but Harriette didn't want to talk about her relatives. Just because she loved them and they were doing her best didn't mean she wasn't being hurt by them. They fell into a quiet session of working. Harriette finished the coloring pages that the other girls asked for, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment and pride and something else. Something soft and warm and comfortable. Harriette smiled to herself watching her friends color in the pages she'd made for them. Something very fulfilling about the experience. After a while Mayla ran off after one of the other non regulars. The twins joined the older kids in the play structure they'd half commandeered. And Emelia needed to move or she'd burst. Harriette and Emelia said good-bye to Milicent, Katie and Katrina, they were staying at the table. Then Emelia was showing her the way through the tallest play structure, the same one other bigger kids and twins had disappeared into.
Dudley followed his mother as they made their way toward one of the many arcades in the pizzaplex. They were passing one of the second floor arcades when Dudley saw the prize shelf. He slowed a little at first, looking over the prizes. Some of them could be really cool, and sometimes arcades had exclusive stuff that you couldn't buy easily.
"Want to go in?" His mother asked, her voice incredibly soft. Affection spilling from every letter. Dudley nodded, excited. Something about winning a prize was different than being given something. Maybe it was because he was always being given things. There was something special about winning a price that just made him feel proud and something else warm in his chest. He often displayed things he'd won more prominently on shelves in his actual room rather than the room they he kept all the things he only liked sometimes if at all. He was pretty excited as he tugged his mom toward the display where they had the prizes set up. He looked them over. There were several really cool things. Several nicer Glamrock figures. A handheld gaming case. Various sized stuffed toys of the glamrocks, and other Fazbear Franchise characters. There were the staples that tended to be at any of these prize counters; finger traps, fake mustaches, fake lips, various candies, and fidget toys of every size shape and color (Vernon Hated those so Dudley would ignore them even though he liked them), noise makers, dollar store toy packs, etc. Dudley looked over the prizes of various difficulties. He liked to work toward a specific prize when he could. He'd have the rest of the week to get the prize so he wanted to pick one that he'd really get something out of. He was checking the top shelf when he spotted one of the prizes. The highest difficulty, but that was it. The prize that he wanted.
"Oh, picked one?" His mom asked him. "Which one?"
"That one!" Dudley said, pointing to the prize with an excitement that was contagious.
"A sleepover pass?" Petunia asked.
"Yeah, for the daycare!" Dudley said, bouncing.
"Do you want to sleep over at the daycare?" Petunia asked. "We could-"
"No, it's for Harrie-eh, yeah, 'cause that way we don't have to have him around for the- ugh, rest of the trip." Dudley realized the situation.
"You don't have to pretend you don't like Harriette around me," Petunia said. "I don't- it's not." She shook her head then smiled. "Well, that's the hardest prize to win." She said thoughtfully. She ruffled her son's hair. "You want to learn a secret trick to earn the most amount of tickets, the fastest?" She asked, conspiratorially. Dudley nodded with a grin. He was going to win something for Harriette with his mother. She was going to share her secret mom wisdom. "Alright, let's go over there." She said, with a wink, leading them over toward a specific section of arcade machines. Her smile was brighter than her jewelry. It had been a long, long time since Dudley saw her smile like that.
They went over to one of the games, which was about rolling a ball into some holes. The difficulty varies and the amount of points you earn varies by that difficulty. The number of tickets and points were equal. Dudley looked skeptical. He wasn't sure he'd be able to get the marks right.
"I'll teach you a trick for the perfect throw," Petunia said, grinning. Dudley nodded, focusing on his mother as she began to share her wisdom.
After only a few hours of gaming they'd amassed enough tickets to get the daycare sleepover pass. Somehow Dudley was even more proud of himself than he usually was when he got a prize he'd been working towards. Maybe it was because he knew Harriette would like it, and it would protect her from Dudley's father. Dudley didn't fully understand why his father seemed to hate Harriette so much. Was being a freak really that bad? Did it cost as much money as he said it did to keep her? Did that really justify treating her so badly? especially given that she hadn't really chosen to be what she was. Would his father hate him when he found out?
Still this would keep the two apart for as long as possible meaning that his dad would be in a better mood and Harriette would be safe from that anger. And Harriette had made it very clear that she liked being in the daycare. So it was a win-win. Plus a few more wins. Harriette didn't have to sleep in the bathroom, Dudley had offered to let her sleep in the room with him, but his dad had gotten-. Dudley tried not to think about his father's face when he'd tried to suggest it. Instead focusing on the prize he and his mother won. About the fact that Harriette would be fed three meals a day, and have people looking after her. She was getting to play, and talk to others, and learn, and draw. And with the Daycare pass she'd get to rest without having to worry about how his parents would react to seeing her in the morning.
He wasn't entirely lying when he said it would keep Harriette out of the way. With this, his mother could relax and not think about her sister's kid. The one who seemed to hurt her just by looking at her.
Dudley felt like he was glowing with pride, he tried not to though. He didn't want to risk actually glowing. Still he took his mother's hand as they went out of the arcade to look for something else to do while Vernon finished up his meetings.
Harriette and Emelia had taken some drawing stuff up to the spot that Emelia swore had the best view of the daycare. Harriette wanted to burn the whole place into her mind forever. That was she could call upon it any time she felt alone, or felt lost.
She forgived Uncle Vernon now. He brought her here. To the best place in the world. He let her come back too. Even though she'd been bad that morning. He had to love her just a little bit if he spent extra money to put her in here.
Harriette and Emelia were settled side by side drawing the scene that laid out under them. They were actually over the railing now, far enough away that kids wouldn't be tempted and surrounded by clear walls just to make sure. No way further up top. Still they didn't have any obscuring plastic or tubes. Harriette wasn't even sure what purpose this place even held. Still she liked this spot. She wasn't sure it was her favorite, because she couldn't look straight down, or up, but it was pretty good. And she was with Emelia. Passing crayons as Emelia told her about her school, and parents and the little foresty park outside her house. Shoulder's brushing against each other, feet kicking up in the air.
Harriette burned this memory amongst her other favorites. It was so strange how many she was gaining. In the past Harriette could count the number of favorite memories on one hand. The various Ms. Spiders that she'd shared her cupboard, being gifted her hand light, she used to have one with Mr. Dressel but now it stopped making her happy. She'd messed that one up, and lost it forever. Then she and Dudley had become closer and there was the memory of them laying side by side to sneakily watch a video. That was just three, four if she was still counting the one with Mr. Dressel. Three whole memories in her whole life that she remembered happily. Now she had; winning the drawing game, and playing with stuffed animals while she hid, the boy who'd thanked her for tucking him in, the friendship bracelets, and making those drawings for everyone, and this one here. That was six in just two days. That was three new memories a day. If you divided them evenly.
Not to mention Harriette had to make a whole new category. Memories that weren't favorites but still made Harriette feel super happy. Playing house with Daniella and Elison and the others, climbing with her new friends, running through the maze of tubes with them. Sitting with Mr. Moon and just talking, that one was almost a favorite. Meeting Emelia, Mayla, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy, even Ron, Daniella, Elison and so many more. Holding hands, being held. This place was her favorite. She wanted to mark it into her memory with hot water and oil, lock it into place like all her scars. Why couldn't you do that with good things. Why could only painful, sad, lonely things become brands. Harriette touched her finger to her friendship bracelets. She'd have to protect them forever. Hide them away so that nothing bad could happen to them. They would be her daycare scars, a physical mark that proved she'd been here. Just like her flower.
Vernon sat with his back as straight as he could looking around the room judging. There were several people who'd come and gone, citing that they were allowed so much access to the Fazbear Entertainment facilities as part of the conference package from all their companies. 'It would be a waste not to use it'.
They were being ridiculous.
Vernon was here on the month of his son's birthday, the month he should be planning a party for him. Planning presents and treats and trips. His son was turning five, and he had friends now, friends that needed to know that Dudley was better then them. They needed to know they were lucky to be his friend so they could experience just even a taste of this.
Yet he was here, listening and taking notes, and all the other functions he needed to be doing. Showing more professionalism than even some of the very speakers. One of them, a young, blond woman; left to pick up her son out of the daycare to spend the rest of the day with him. Even though the baby was an infant and wouldn't even remember this. This is why women shouldn't be in the workforce. Though that one father was even worse. He'd been called by the daycare and rushed over to help his daughter with her first period. Really. Couldn't she hold it in for a few hours and let her father work.
It was true that their companies were paying for a special package. So that all of them could enjoy the time they could enjoy while here. But that wasn't what they were here for. Though if Vernon was being honest, even if only to himself, if his company wasn't currently paying for their daycare pass he'd have been more frustrated by the fact that he'd been forced to bring that hellspawn.
He'd be too worried to focus on work, sure that demon would burn the hotel down, or if Petunia decided to foolishly bring it out in public who even knew what havoc it would wreak. But with something that was literally designed to watch after just such problem children, well not just, he was able to get some work done. He just wished that they'd pay for the sleepover package so he could enjoy some time with his family without worrying the little beast would wreak untold havoc. This morning he hadn't even been able to enjoy his breakfast with the knowledge that Harry was sitting in that hotel room probably thinking wicked thoughts about ways to ruin this for them. He'd been tempted to cave and pay for the upgraded package himself. But he refused to spend even one scent on that abomination. He'd just have to beat it into sense if it so much as breathed the wrong way.
Sun looked over the gathered kids, they'd all gathered together to hear what game he was going to suggest. He loved it when he saw all his eager attendees waiting for a chance to play. The parents of the two infants had come to take them out to spend some time in the plex.
Agatha's fathers had come to take her out of the daycare and treat her to a chocolate ice cream, pizza and a lot of apologies. they'd seemed so embarrassed about forgetting, hadn't realized she was at that age yet. They hadn't realized how much she'd grown. Apologizing for taking so long to get out of their stupid meeting. They hugged, one continuing the hug as they led her away from the daycare, hand in hand. Sun couldn't help feeling a little envious. Wondering what it would be like to be able to hold hands with Moon. To walk their kid away from the daycare. That's why he'd called the kids together to start a game. He couldn't remember a single solitaire one they'd planned. A lot of the kids were too little to play some of them.
Tickle monster? Moon offered a little melancholy. He'd seen the two through their link. He knew what Sun had been thinking, he'd probably thought the same thing. Maybe that's why he offered a game that either of them could take over. A game that a lot of his regulars liked to play with Moon. But there were so many non regulars.
"So, we thought of two games we could play, we're partial to one, but…" Sun paused. "I'm not sure we can play. It requires us to turn off the lights." The regulars, few as they were bounced on their heals or toes. Excitement bubbling in them. They loved getting to play with Moon too. They always thought it was unfair that only Sun got to play with them and Moon had to sit alone and could only come out while they napped. Sun loved their regulars. It was the closest to having their own kids they'd ever get.
"Tickle monster, tickle monster, tickle monster!" cheered some of the kids. Damie (Age: 4. No known allergies. Younger step-sister of Daniella, likes to jump off high places to be caught, playing tickle monster. Doesn't like fish sticks or chicken nuggets.) was literally jumping up and down next to her older sister.
"Guys, guys, I know you want to play with Moon, and Moon wants to play with you, and I'd love to let you play, but we don't know if any of our new little friends are afraid of the dark. So, is anyone afraid of the dark?" Only one had went up. Bunny (Age: 4. No allergies. Shots up to date.) Sun added afraid of the dark. "Are you sure? There's no shame in being afraid of the dark."
"I'm not!" Flossie (Age: Four. Allergic to fish.) "I'm afraid of monsters in the dark." Flossie pouted. "But there aren't any monsters here. Ri-right?" She asked.
"No, no, no, of course not," Sun assured. "Moonie would get rid of them. He's a professional at monster hunting. I got his license for it right here." Sun opened up their chest compartment to shuffle around. It had taken a bit of work to perfect the appearance enough to assure more skeptical children. It looked just real enough that little kids would believe it, and older kids would accept it as part of the robotic quirk of Sun and Moon. Some well versed kids had even thought it was part of their programming.
"How come you have Moon's licenses," Daren (Age: 6. No Allergies. Hates bugs. Has issues with liars.) Sun wondered why his father had specified that.
"Hmm, well, Moon and I share a body, that's why," Sun said. Showing the license to the younger kids. Technically Moon really was designed with features to get rid of monsters, so to speak. They just tended to have a more human shape to them.
"You share a body with someone else?" Fenton asked.
"Yup!" Sun said. "Two people technically, but Eclipse is only allowed out during emergencies."
"Oh! Oh!" Rudy (Age: 7. No allergies.) Raised his hand. "What does that feel like? How does it work? Where do the other two go while they're not out."
"Moon and I are always together, but Eclipse is very how do you explain that, he has a very specific function and often can't operate beyond that." Sun thought for a moment. "As for what it feels like is harder to explain. This has basically always been how we were. We've been together since we were made, given the same body shortly after. We don't know what it's like to be any other way." Sun shrugged. He hoped none of the kids asked the question he was dreading.
"Doesn't it get lonely?" Harriette's voice came through soft, almost unheard over the chatter of the other kids. Sun looked at her.
That was a new one. Nobody ever asked if it got lonely, after all how could you get lonely when you were always together, of course that was ignoring the fact that they could never truly be together either. They were always together, but they were also always apart. Did it get lonely, it was hard to say. Because again, being alone wasn't something they ever experienced, but on the other hand, they could never truly hug each other when things got hard, they could never hold hands. Never being alone meant they lost out on something else too. They never got to rejoin, they knew everything about the day they had all the details, and so in the end they never had anyone to talk to, because what was there to say when you both experienced the same heartbreak day in and day out.
So, yes, Sun felt incredibly lonely sometimes, all the time, none of the time; all at once. A strange sense of loss. It was why they'd called together the kids to do something, anything, but here it was. Facing them. Sun wouldn't want to be split up from Moon for anything, and they couldn't be from Eclipse. Eclipse was never designed to be on his own, he'd die without them, but that meant that in the end they were all doomed to eternal loneliness. They'd be outgrown by all their little ones. One day Katrina and Emelia would no longer be young enough to come all their regulars would out grow them, some already were. The non regulars would come and go in and out and in and out. They'd adopt new favorites, but they would never replace their old favorites, and they too would outgrow them. Forever.
Sun and Moon tried not to think about forever. Human's viewed forever as romantic, but Sun and Moon knew better. Forever was a trap, forever was alone, forever was watching everyone you loved leave, even when they wanted to stay. Forever was leaving behind home, forever was internment, forever was being ignored, rejected, isolated. Forever was cruel. Forever was something that Sun and Moon didn't want to think about because when they did it hurt so, so much. Forever was a yawning aching chasm, that even those who could relate were prevented from crossing. Trapped on the other side of this long aching void.
"We can play the game you wanted," Flossie said, putting on a brave face. Bunny nodding.
"You said Moon wouldn't let any actual monsters come in," Ferdie (Age: 4. No known allergies said. "How do you play?"
"It's like hide and seek and tag, but Moon chases you and if he catches you he tickles you!" Damie said, bouncing over to the kids that were her age.
"Oh," the kids said together. Sun smiled affectionately.
It seemed he'd been the only one to hear Harriette's question, his processors whirring through his existential dread in seconds. Harriette was still looking at him, those impossibly green eyes sad and understanding. Like she'd seen through him as easily as he could see through her, through walls to find missing children. Through the pizza plez with all it's cameras. Sun was worried about why she looked so sad, because of course she couldn't actually see what he'd been thinking and feeling when she'd asked. She couldn't.
Therefore she wasn't having a good time in the daycare, and no kids were allowed to have a not good time in the daycare. Yep, yep, yep. Sun was spiraling a little. He was grateful when the lights went off and it was Moon's turn to pretend he wasn't on the verge of a panic attack, or whatever the robot equivalent was.
Moon took a deep simulated breath and crouched. Snickering.
"Oh, my look at all the naughty little ones, isn't it past your bedtime," he spun his head. Some of the non regulars were a little frightened, but when they saw that the regulars were giggling they joined in. Slowly at first. Realizing it was part of the game. Moon wiggled his fingers at them. Beginning a slow, lazy lope, using his rope to allow him to make his motions even sillier, more exaggerated and strange, like gravity didn't effect him. That seemed to get everyone giggling. Sun felt better watching Moon work. A total calm radiating off him as he got all the kids running and giggling through the play structures. Sun watched through the security cameras, pretending he was watching from the balcony railing that surrounded the daycare. Pretended that he'd call Moon over to remind him that he forgot his lunch again or something equally human. Pretended that forever wasn't yawning out in front of them like a cruel laugh. Pretending that he could lean over to press a kiss to Moon's cheek. Pretending that they would take their own kids home. Not doomed to watch other people raising kids they didn't even seem to want. Pretend that they had a cute little town house or something. Sun didn't know what those actually were, but he pretended he did. Pretending he and Moon made meals together at a kitchen that was theirs, pulled books off of shelves that were theirs, tucked kids that were theirs into bed, and then laid down in a bed that was theirs. It was nice to pretend.
Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon kept the kids busy the rest of the day, except during naptime. They kept setting up challenges, and games and art projects. Still Harriette had fun. After a while Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon didn't seem to have the energy to keep up pretending they weren't sad, so the decided to have quiet naptime early. Assuring each of the older kids that they didn't have to nap. But that was only extended to the kids who were in the double digits. He set them off in a corner to the side. Harriette was worried she'd made Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon mad. She hadn't meant to upset them with her question. She hadn't known it was such a sad topic. She'd appologize, she'd even made an apology present. It was something she'd seen other kids do, and heard some people talk about it. It was to show just how serious you were about an apology, and more personal the item the more serious the apology. What could be more serious then something Harriette had spent all of craft time making, while Mr. Sun had been rushing around trying to ignore the pain Harriette hadn't meant to cause. She needed them to know she hadn't meant to hurt them. She just couldn't live with herself if they were hurt because of her. She would never forgive herself for hurting them. They'd been nothing but nice to her. How could she hurt them? But she had to let them know that she hadn't meant to. So when all the other kids were tucked into sleeping mats and blankets Harriette tried to pretend to be asleep. She didn't want them to be hurt anymore then she'd already hurt them, they'd probably get into trouble, and they probably needed the space to feel better, but after naptime, she'd give them her gift. It was finished. She just needed to give it to them. She sniffled. Her eyes watering
"What's the matter?" Mr. Moon asked, and Harriette couldn't help but burst into tears. Harreitte had hurt him and Mr. Sun and yet he was asking what was the matter. Harriette sat up and offered the packet of pictures she'd made. Tied together with blue and red and orange and yellow strings. Harriette had asked Katrina how to braid them together. She sniffled again. "What's this?" Mr. Moon asked, now sounding upset. She'd made it worse! Her tears were now flowing relentlessly and Harriette was glad she'd spent so much time learning how to cry silently. She'd hate it if she woke the other kids, it would upset them and inconvenience Mr. Moon. "Oh, hey, hey, shsh," Mr. Moon said, trying to comfort her even as she made his life harder. She was the worst.
"I-I-i-I'm so-so-so-ah-ahrry-yee." Harriette tried so hard to keep her voice low, but she was wailing she was sure of it.
"Oh, hey, now that's not necessary," Mr. Moon said. How could he say that Harriette had hurt Mr. Sun.
"I-I-I-I di-di- he-eh n't mean to hur-hurt-ttt M-m-m," Harriette sobbed.
"Oh," Understanding, he would get angry at her for bringing it up. How could she when she'd already caused trouble? Mr. Moon scooped her up to hug her. Cradle her in his arms. She sobbed even harder into his chest. Why was he hugging her? She was bad? She'd done bad? "Shsh, you didn't do anything wrong," Mr. Moon said running a hand through long since messy hair. She couldn't even get her hair to behave. How could he think she didn't do anything wrong? Maybe Mr. Sun hadn't told him.
"I-I-I-" Harriette tried, through sobs.
"Shsh, I know, I was there remember, I know what you think you did," Mr. Moon said. Harriette looked up at him then. "You think you hurt Sun's feelings when you asked if we ever got lonely." Harriette nodded. "You didn't though," Mr. Moon's voice was low, soft, a little musical, but most importantly soothing. Harriette's sobbing gasps slowled little by little. "You didn't hurt Sun at all. If anyone has upset me here its Sun. He should have checked on you sooner." Harriette shook her head.
"He wasn't feeling good," She defended him.
"Yeah, but he's the adult," Mr Moon chastised. How could he be mean to Mr. Sun?!
"No!" Harriette said, not sure what else to do.
"No?" Mr. Moon asked.
"Nooh," Harriette said.
"What do you mean?" Mr. Moon asked.
"Mr. Sun is nice, he can't help it if he's not feeling good," Harriette said. "You have to be nice to him!" Harriette said. "Otherwise he'll be even lonelier." She said, voice low.
"Alright, alright," Mr. Moon said. "I won't be mad at him anymore."
"Promise," her tone desperate and hopeful. Mr. Moon made a strange sound then hugged her pretty tightly too, not tight enough to hurt or even squish her.
"Promis, promise, cross my heart," Mr. Moon said. "Now that that's settled, I really must insist that you sleep." Mr. Moon touched the tip of his finger to her the tip of her nose then, Harriette had no idea why he did that and stared at him. He made that sound and hugged her again. "Oh my gosh why are you so cute," Mr. Moon said.
"I didn't know I was cute," Harriette said.
"Well, that's a crime," Mr. Moon nodded. "No way can it possibly be legal not to tell a kid this cute that they are in fact cute." He sounded so very serious and auritive. Harreitte couldn't stop the little giggle. She shifted, pulling up her gift.
"I wanted to give these to you to tell you how sorry I was," Harriette said. "I made them for you so I still want you to have them." she said.
"Oh, right," Mr. Moon said. "What is it?" But he was already looking so Harriette waited.
"You said you liked doing art and drawing and stuff, I figured that you'd also like to color," Harriette shifted. "There weren't any of you and Mr. Sun, and you said you'd never got to go outside, so I thought it'd be nice to show you some of the nicest things." Harriette fiddled with her hands, before realizing what she was doing and pushing them against her lap. You aren't supposed to fidget or fiddle, especially when talking.
"These are…" Mr. Moon said slowly, pausing on one of the pages. "Is this the actual moon?" He asked.
"Uh-huh," Harriette said. "It made a few cause of different phases, since I've seen so many." Mr. Moon hummed it didn't sound happy she thought he'd like it. "Sorry. I thought- I guess the moon isn't as special if your named after it. I made some of the sun too, sun sets, and rises, and everything in between, but I guess those aren't-"
"No," Mr. Moon said. "It's not that- this is very thoughtful. Sun and I love it. He says so." Mr. Moon said. "It's just- do your relatives often drive places at night?" Harriette shook her head, she already knew she was making a sour face. She tried to smooth it over. Uncle Vernon hated when she made that face.
"I saw on nights when my uncle kicked me out," Harriette said shrugging. "Oh, this one is from the time I actually slept in the park. Isn't that cool. It was the first time I got to be in one ever. This is Ms. Spider, and this is a spider I saw in the park, I saw the moon through it's web and I thought it looked really cool so I drew it. This is a street lamp, the coolest one on our street, it's super old and doesn't always work. This is Ms. store clerk lady. I can't remember her name, I don't actually think we ever exchanged them, but she's really nice, she lets me sleep in the break room now." Harriette said. She riffled through the pages pointing to another scene. "That's my favorite spot on the school playground." Harriette said.
"I- your uncle kicks you out of the house at night?" Mr. Moon asked.
"Yeah, but only cause when I'm bad," Harriette said. "Which is usually, but I mean really, really, really bad. Not just a little bad." Harriette said.
"Harriette what- how?" Mr. Moon seemed to not be able to use words. Harriette wasn't sure why? She was sure Mr. Moon had had to kick a child out of the daycare. "Harriette, if a child is bad at a sleepover, that's at night I would never kick them out." Mr. Moon said, very slowly, like he wanted to make sure they were heard clearly. "I might put them on time out, but never ever kick them out. That's very dangerous. They're are bad, dangerous people out there who could hurt you. And they're are wild animals, and- and cars and-" Mr. Moon seemed very upset.
"I'm sorry," Harriette said.
"Harriette, you've done nothing wrong," Mr. Moon said, his voice was upset, but he was speaking slowly still, gently. "You've done nothing wrong." He cupped her face in his hands. He sounded so hurt, upset. How could she not have done something bad?
"But you're hurt," Harriette said.
"You are not the one who hurt me," Mr. Moon said. "The knowledge that that- that-" he was struggling for words again. "The fact that someone put a little kid like you, in so much danger. The fact that your uncle so-so-" another bout of wordlessness. "Oh, Harriette," he wrapped her up in a hug. Tight and comforting. Harriette wrapped her arms around him. Soaking in the affection. She knew it couldn't last long. She'd messed up before, with her teachers, with the Dursleys, with Mr. Dressel. She'd mess up at some point with Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon. But she couldn't help wanting to pretend for a little while.
Pretend that she was a normal girl. That she was someone who could ever be loved. Pretend to be someone who didn't mess up everything. Someone who didn't get hated. Someone who wasn't just lucky to be allowed to live, but someone who was wanted. It was nice to pretend.
Mr. Moon picked Harriette up. Harriette wasn't sure how long she'd been pretending, how long she'd been snuggled into Mr. Moon's arms. She didn't want to leave. Mr. Moon started walking to the wall.
"It's time for naptime to be over," He sounded mournful. Harriette wasn't sure why, Had she messed up? "I'm sorry you didn't get to sleep any." Oh, he was feeling regretful.
"It's okay, I slept really good last night, even though the bathroom got really cold," Harriette shrugged. "I'm used to curling up real tight, so doing it to stay warm wasn't that hard." There was that sigh again. Mr. Moon hugged her, before setting her down. Mr Sun woke up the other kids, and then did the stretches.
Mr. Sun still seemed upset but now Harriette was sure she had nothing to do with it. She was still worried, so she sat with him during the guessing game he had them all play. He tilted his head in the way that Harriette was starting to recognize as him smiling. She was glad she at least could be with him. She'd asked if he was lonely and he was, so maybe she could make him feel a little less lonely. Even if it was only while she was here. Even if it was only for as long as he liked her.
They had lunch after the guessing game and Mr. Sun was fully back to feeling better. Insisting that Harriette go play with Mayla, Emelia and Ginny. The twins and the older boy she thinks his name was Fenton were playing together. They joined Daniella and her sibling, and a boy named Mark who was the same age as Harriette. He was a pretty energetic kid and played a college aged family member. All the kids except Ginny were big enough to at least pick Harriette up a little. Ginny was still taller than Harriette too though. Harriette ended up playing the baby 'cause she was easy to pick up. Apparently it seemed like fun to pick Harriette up because the twins and Fenton started playing too. Harriette didn't mind. She liked being held. Felt good to have people want to actually hold her, want to have her close. Apparently it was something other kids thought would be embarrassing cause when they tried it with some of the other younger kids they'd gotten upset. Bunny had literally kicked one of the twins in the face, and Milicent asked if Harriette really wanted to be held. Saying the word held like it was a bad word. Harriette didn't mind. It made everyone happy to pick her up and she was happy to be picked up. She liked being held. Later when the day was starting to get late Mr. Sun decided it was time for the kids to wind down, so they did another arts and crafts. After that they ate a snack as Mr. Sun performed a puppet show. Harriette worried he hadn't been feeling good, but she didn't want to disappoint him or upset him by prying so she had to be good and keep it to herself. After that it was more free time, but quiet free time, it was late and it was time to start winding down for the day. Mr. Sun set out craft stations and books. Kids started going out en masse as parents were freed from their grown up obligations.
The last ones to be picked up were Harriette, Katrina, and some boy that Harriette learned were here for a week while his father went to the conference that her uncle was attending. His mom had needed to do something so she'd dropped him off ah our or two ago. Then she was going to pick him up. They'd spend the rest of the week together after today though.
Harriette was settled down with a good book, it wasn't a small book, but it wasn't so big that Harriette didn't think she wouldn't be able to finish it with in a week. She knew how the days would go. At the end Mr. Sun liked to clean up the area some, putting away stuff. Harriette had offered to help but Mr. Sun said she'd cleaned up enough while she'd been doing art, and wondering around the rest of the daycare.
"If you keep this up I'll be out of a job," he'd joked, touching the tip of her nose with the tip of his finger. "Go, sit. I already owe you so much candy." Harriette shook her head.
"I don't need more candy, what I have will last a long time," Harriette said. "Months even."
"All the reason to give you more," Sun said. "Now go, sit, sit. Or I'll start giving you candy just for standing." Harriette shook her head at the joke, scurrying away.
Now she is reading. In the actual open, with a light that she didn't have to hold up to keep reading. She sat with two people that she liked. One who she'd call a friend, the other could be one if they'd had more time. Each with a book, though Katrina had some sort of puzzle book, and the boy was laid out on the floor reading through picture book after picture book. Nothing Special. It felt good. A warm feeling fluttered in Harriette's chest. She'd always watched other kids with their friends and told herself, mostly as hollow comfort, that having friends would be tiring. That they always seemed to have to be doing something, and they'd just get tired of Harriette not being able to keep up anyway. Harriette was learning that being friends was completely different. It was about quiet little moments of sitting and coloring, or drawing, or reading. It didn't take any talking either. Just three people silently sitting together, enjoying the other's presents as one might the sound of rain outside the window of a library.
Emelia and Mayla, and the Weasley's had all gone home. Matty, and Katie, and Milicent were long gone. Matty and Katie heading home and Milicent and her family heading to a restaurant and then a hotel. Daniella and Damie, were heading toward the main desk escorted by a security guard after they'd been called over the intercom. Mr. Sun had huffed in annoyance at that. Mark who Harriette was sure she liked well enough to consider a friend, was off to dreamland, heading home in his mother's arms. The daycare was quite empty save for the three kids and Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon who was tucked in his mind.
"That a good book?" Katrina asked, voice low and soft.
"Uh-huh," Harriette said content. She liked Katrina's voice, low and soft with a crisp undertone.
"That's good," Katrina said, in her pretty voice. Harriette was getting a tiny bit sleepy. She kind of wished she'd taken that nap. She wanted to sit with Mr. Sun and learn about spiders. But she was so content that she had a hard time fighting off the sleep. The silence was so warm and comfortable that she almost sank into the story she was reading and past it. She finished the short story she was reading and moved on to the next. It was perfect.
"Alright, let's fix your hair before you go home, okay," Mr. Sun's voice said, pulling Harriette out.
"Thanks, Sunny," Katrina said. Giving Harriette a hug. It was warm and soft and smelled of an earthy soap.
"Bye Katrina," Harreitte said, hugging back as best she could without dropping the book. It was rude to drop books. You could hurt them. Katrina stood up straight
"Bye Harriette, bye kid I don't know the name of, hope you have a good day tomorrow and the rest of your life." The boy looked up at her surprised, before smiling giving a nod.
"You too," He said.
Then Katrina headed over to Mr. Sun who fixed her hair back into a boy style and sent her off with a quick hug.
"Bye Friend!" Harriette said. Not sure what her parents thought her name was and not wanting to get her in trouble.
"Bye, Friend!" She shot back. "See ya tomorrow."
"Yeah!" Harriette said. Excited for tomorrow.
The daycare was completely empty except for Harriette. The announcement that the daycare was closed for all non-sleepover guests was announced over the intercom system. Sun watched as Harriette drew pictures and added notes to the page of her little spider booklet.
"Unlike many arachnids the females of the Myramarache erythrocephala are actually smaller than the males." Sun said, reciting the words from the staff maintained site he was permitted to use for child education. Something to help with Autistic children and they're special interests. Sun was glad he'd been given the site. "They belong to the Salticidae family which include other jumping spiders. Oh, this is interesting. Most early specimens collected in South Queensland and NSW were initially named Myrmarachne simoni but a few were instead called Myrmarachne cognata. Neither of these names is now considered valid but the specimen found in southern Queensland have been subdivided into M. Erythrobephala and M. Erethrocephala erato. See, things names change all the time. Isn't that neat." Harriette nodded, still focused on the page.
"Oh," Harriette said thoughtfully. "Where's Queensland? What is NSW?"
"Let's see, ah, here it is. The range is, ah, it's an Australian species." Sun said. Harriette nodded, writing it down. She was so focused she was sticking her tongue out as she made her little notes. Sun couldn't stop the warm affection that filled his metaphorical heart as he watched the girl work. A message popped up at the corner of his vision. Moon picked it up immediately. It was a rule that whoever was out delt with their physical duties and whoever was in the headspace looked after the other stuff.
Oh, that's not going to be fun, Moon said over their internal link.
"What's wrong?" Sun asked, he hadn't meant to ask out loud. Harriette looked up at him. He patted her hair. Moon made a strangled sort of sound in their headspace, panicked emotes flashing up. Oh, it was bad, bad.
Not perse, Moon said. Just going to be - Sun was starting get frustrated.
Moonpie, Sun said.
Harriette family just signed her up for the daycare sleepover pass, Moon said.
This is great!
Sunshine, Moon said exasperated.
What? Sun asked. Those people are awful and-
They abandoned her, Moon said. Those words hit Sun like a truck. Well, what Sun guessed was that it was what it felt like to be hit by a truck. Harriette was looking at them. Green eyes are curious and concerned. She was going to be heartbroken. Even if her family was awful, they were her family. Sun took a simulated breath.
"Well, I'm fine with it if you are," Sun pretended they weren't in agreement. They needed to stall just a few second longer. They weren't going to let a child walk home, or to a hotel in the dark. Even though technically they'd applied a little late for the sleepover. Sun adjusted the time sheet of the email. Technically they weren't supposed to accept a single sleepover party. Moon was already making adjustments to other parts of the invitation, even if it was just one more child they were allowed to accept it. That was all easy. It was the emotional backlash that was going to be hard to deal with. He ruffled Harriette's hair, then left his hand there. She was looked at him so curious, confused, concerned. Sun hated how bad this was going to make her feel.
"What's the matter?" She asked, the curiosity getting the better of her just as they finished up all the preparation they'd need to start the sleepover protocols.
"Oh! Oh sorry," Sun said. Trying to pretend that this wasn't the most heartbreaking news he could possibly give a small child. Harriette deserved so much better then this. They didn't even stop by to make sure she'd be okay. "Well, you know how there are sleepover passes for the daycare?" Harriette nodded, brows furrowing. Harriette was smart, but she was still a kid. Was she figuring it out? In denial? Sun thought it might be worse if she didn't respond. She was so casual about so much of her mistreatment. Like she thought it was normal and expected. It wasn't like that was uncommon, but by school age it starts to click that something is- isn't normal. "Well there's no limit to how late a person can apply for a sleepover pass." Sun said, nervousness heating his wires almost painfully. He took another simulated breath it helped the fans sometimes. "As long as it doesn't interfere with maintenance a sleepover can be registered." Harriette really looked confused. "So, right, well not really, but-" Sun had to take another simulated breath. Sure she'd notice. A yellow flashing warning him that Harriette was already distressed made him wonder if he was making it worse of if she'd figured it out. "So, your family set up a sleepover for you." Sun wondered if he should try to sound cheerful. Before he could even say the next part Harriette burst into tears.
Harriette felt a strange mixture of joy and terror, excitement and sadness. Then she'd started crying. She tried to rub the tears off her face but they were coming so fast that her face ended up soaked, her sleeve wet. Then her breaths started stuttering. She didn't understand why she was upset. She didn't want to sleep on the hotel bathroom floor. She didn't want to have to worry about upsetting her uncle and driving him to acts of cruelty. She didn't want to have her aunt turn her face away and just let it happen. She didn't want to have to hide her plushies. She didn't want to have to sit alone in the dark even when she wanted to be held. She didn't want to leave the daycare. It was safe, and she was given lots of food, and could play and she was allowed to be interested in stuff. Mr. Sun was nice. So nice he'd scooped her into his lap, hugging her and rubbing soothing circles into her back and hair.
"I know, shsh, I know," He said. Harriette cried even harder. How could he know? What did he know? She didn't even know?
"They le-left me," She said, though it was more like it punched it's way out of her from somewhere deep, deep in her belly. "They didn't even come to tell me they were leaving me." Harriette said, like she was possessed. Part of her thought it seemed really silly to cry over this. It wasn't the first time they'd left her.
She'd been left at school and been forced to walk home enough times that she'd learned not to even expect a ride home. She'd been left at stores, and parks and other places. Harriette had learned her way around the entire town of Little Whining. She'd walked home at night, in the rain and snow. She'd walked home sick. Aunt Petunia hadn't even bothered to come and help her since she was three. So why?
"Why does it hurt so much?" It did too, a deep ach that filled up her bones and organs. She'd seen the inside of an animal once, it had been cut open. Vernon made sure to show her, make sure she looked, telling her what was spilling out, and why the person who killed it. It was a bad cat just like she was a bad kid and someday someone was going to split her open. She felt like she was being split open right now, did that cat feel this way. Harriette sobbed harder. "Why?" She sobbed.
"Oh," Mr. Sun said. "Oh, Harriette. That's not the question you should be asking?" Harriette wasn't sure she'd been meant to hear that. Normally she knew better then to mention things she wasn't supposed to here, but something punched the next words out of her. White hot and angry.
"But it is!" She shouted, pushing far enough away to make sure to look Mr. Sun in the eyes while she spoke. Hot tears spilling down her face around angry sobs. "They do this all the time! I don't even want to go back to that stupid hotel room! I don't want to sleep on the bathroom floor! I don't want to have to hide my plushies, I don't want to have to be silent and still and hide all night. I don't want to leave!" Harriette said, more shouted. She was being unreasonable. Mr. Sun probably didn't want anything to do with her now. He probably- he hugged her. Cradling her to his chest, rocking back and forth. Carding his fingers carefully through already messy hair, rubbing circles on her back again. "The-they didn't even come and tell me?" Harriette sobbed. "They just left and they didn't even tell me. And why does that hurt at all. Less much this much." She whimpered buried against his ruffles. "They just left." she whimpered again.
"It hurts because children are completely dependent on their caregivers," Mr. Sun said, low and slow. "Children are hardwired to need their caregivers love. Your relatives have consistently showed they do not care about you. Less much love you. That they won't give you the care and love you need, you deserve. That doesn't mean that you don't still crave it. That doesn't mean that it will ever stop hurting that they won't give it too you. You deserve care, love and affection." Mr. Sun said. "You deserve to be able to feel safe, and wanted. No child should ever go through what you are going through right now. The fact that you have had to, that there is nothing I can do to stop it from continuing is going to haunt me for the rest of my days." He sounded like he wanted to cry. "You deserve so much." the whole time he continued rubbing her back and head. Soothing her. Letting her sob into his ruffles till she'd spilled every drop out. She was completely empty, but it was a good kind of empty. Like there was finally room for her to breathe. She was too tired to even cling to him anymore. Still he rocked her, rubbed circles into her back, cupped her head against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Harriette said in a hoarse water logged voice.
"Don't be," Mr. Sun said. "Being ditched if never any fun. No, no, no." He said. "Why don't we clean you up and get you into your pajamas?"
"Pajamas?" Harriette asked. She managed to sit up tilting her head at him.
"Why am I not surprised she doesn't have any pajamas?" Mr. Sun was saying, but it sounded like he was talking to Mr. Moon so she stayed silent. She felt tired, and numb, but it was the good kind. Like she was laying in sun warmed grass on a particularly warm spring day. She giggled.
"You really are like the sun," Harriette said.
"Thanks?" Mr. Sun said. "There should be some unusable stock in the back of the gift shop. Hopefully there's something in your size. Though with how small you are it should be fine." "Let's clean that snot off your face first, huh?" Harriette nodded sleepily.
"Okay," Harriette nodded. Mr. Sun stood up while still holding Harriette.
"Do you have a toothbrush?" Harriette shook her head.
"I didn't want it getting all gross in my backpack," Harriette said. "So I was keeping it under the sink in the hotel."
"I'm honestly surprised you have a toothbrush at all," Sun said.
"I took it from under the sink in the hotel, there was a few of them," Harriette said. "I was going to sneak it back to private drive when we were going back, to replace the one Aunt Petunia got for me two years ago."
"Two-I'm surprised it even had bristles left," Mr. Sun said.
"There weren't that many, that's why I was going to steal the one from the hotel." Harriette said. "I'm sorry." She said, feeling guilty. Stealing was wrong.
"You're not at fault," Mr. Sun said, back annoyed, but Harrette thought her probably wasn't with her. "Of course your going to do something drastic if your basic needs aren't being met." He patted her head. "I'm guessing you don't have any toothpaste either." Harriette shook her head. "Welp not the first time I had to steal to provide for one of the little ones in my care, and if no one else is going to provide you with your needs, I will."
"But I don't want you to get into trouble, Mr. Sun." Harriette said, worry making her feel a little sick. "'Specially not just just one night."
"You can take both with you when you go back with your relatives,' Mr. Sun said. "Honestly I'd rather you didn't have to go back with them at all." That part was muttered to himself though so Harriette let him continue before saying anything. "Let's go. I'm sure I can get a towel for you too." Mr. Sun thought for a moment. "I'll need to carry you over the fence, or… well, I could fly you?" That last part was too himself partially but Harriette was too amazed to leave that alone.
"You can fly?" She'd remembered Emelia mentioning that Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon could fly with their wire, but she'd thought she was just making it up. Mr. Sun nodded, doing the head tilt that meant he was smiling. She was bouncing with excitement now. "Yeah, I want to see how you fly, I want to fly, please." She bounced again. She watched Mr. Sun waited for the wire to drop down, then he hooked the two together, they hooked automatically. Harriette watched, eyes growing wider. Mr. Sun chuckled at her clear amazement and excitement. She hadn't even realized she'd started bouncing.
"Ready?" Mr. Sun asked. She nodded, gripping his ruffles a little more tightly. He braced her a little more carefully, then they were rising.
"We're getting higher," She whispered. They arrived far too soon in Harriette's opinion. Mr. Sun set his feet down on the ground again at the top of the balcony next to the stairs and slide.
"What are you doing, Sun?" A voice came from the side that Harriette hadn't been before. It was further into the pizzaplex.
"Oh, ah," Mr. Sun said. "I didn't see you there." She was behind the wall. She looked exasperated but not angry. "I figured since Harri-," Mr. Sun started, but the woman interrupted.
"Sun, you know you're not allowed to take kids on flights," the woman said. Harriette was pretty sure she was the lady who'd checked her in that morning. "It's a safety hazard, and if you do it for one kid they're all gonna want to have a go. Put him down already." Harriette didn't remember her being there.
"Her," Mr. Sun said, he set her down, reluctantly,
"I won't fall, and I won't tell, and I'm a girl," Harriette said at the same time.
"Oh, your file says you're a boy," the woman said. "Do your relatives know?" Harriette shook her head. She nodded. "Still it's a safety hazard. You'll get Mr. Sun in trouble."
"Oh," Harriette felt her heart sink. She didn't want make Mr. Sun get into trouble.
"It's fine," Mr. Sun said, ruffling her hair. "I can get myself into trouble just fine on my own," Mr. Sun said, his head turning the way it did when he was pretending to wink. Harriette couldn't help the little giggle that came out of her.
"I'm supposed to call it." The woman said. "Your not going to cause anymore trouble are you Mr. Sun." She was teasing him.
"Cross my heart," Mr. Sun said, teasing her back. The woman let out a little snort.
"Alright, I'm trusting you Sunny," the woman said. "When's her relatives gonna come get her."
"Oh, you didn't see? She's staying the night," Mr. Sun said. The woman's brow wrinkled a little, she opened then closed her mouth.
"Oh," she finally said, looking at something on her wrist that apparently had a lot of buttons. "Ah, I see. Alright. I'll see ya tomorrow, Night Sunny. You too kiddo."
"Night," Harriette called back politely, waving until the woman was far enough away. The waiting a bit longer. "We're going to go again right?"
"We sure are!" Mr. Sun said, giving that same wink. Harriette had to clamp her hand over her mouth to stop the little shriek of delight that came out. "Bu~t, We'ver gotta wait till a little later. And it's-"
"A super secret that no one can ever know," Harriette offered her pinky to Mr. Sun. He returned the gesture. Then picked her up again.
"Now, let's get you ready for bed," Mr. Sun said.
Sun wasn't entirely sure why he'd offered to take Harriette on a flight. He was glad he had though. The way her eyes had lit up at the very idea of flying. Moon had expected and warned and worried that she'd fall, or that she'd hate it once she'd started leaving the ground. Most kids tended too. Sun had assured that those kids tended to feel uncomfortable in their arms to begin with. Harriette hadn't shown any fear of at that. Still Moon had worried. It was rare for kids to like heights at all, it was even more rare that kids actually enjoyed flying. The lack of ground, of support, the height ti was honestly a combination of fears that most adults struggled with, less so with children.
It was why their room was scrapped and turned into glorified storage. On the plus side, that meant they'd found their room was far more private then any of their fellows. It also meant that finding a onesie that would fit Harriette would probably be easy enough. It would probably be a little bit too big since she was so tiny, and there'd been some sort of coloring error that meant it wasn't sellable but Sun had thought it was super cute anyway.
It really isn't common Sun, Moon was still annoyed with him about taking Harriette flying. You could have scared her. He worried so much sometimes.
But she hadn't been scared, she'd loved it, Sun argued back. The way she'd giggled, the way she'd asked to go again. She'd trusted them not to drop her. She'd been so excited. Sun felt warmth in his wiry heart, or whatever passed for a robot's sout. If such a thing even existed at all.
She was cute, Moon admitted. She seemed to really like flying.
Didn't she! Sun thought back. They'd always loved flying. I'm not sure what came over me. Sun finally admitted.
Huh? Moon's confusion was palpable.
She was just so upset about her relatives. Sun continued. I just offered. Flying always makes us feel better. It was one of the few things that really did when they got truly upset. When being stuck, separated, isolated, and all the other things got to be too much. At least until today. Harriette had been kind enough to sit with them. Not doing anything much, just sitting with them. It wasn't much, but the fact that she'd been trying. Sun had to try something to make her feel better. Who would leave such a cute kid! She's precious! Moon sent a wave of silent agreement over their link. They remembered her helping kids get to sleep, how she'd offered them a present something just for them, how she brightened at any form of affection or attention.
Sun riffled through the collection of pilfered goods they'd collected over the six years they'd been trapped in the Fazbear Mega Pizza Plex. Well the fabric collections at least. They'd collected, stolen, so many things of so many varieties that they'd had to re-organize it a million times. Which was always fun. Sun liked organizing things. They'd organized the things they'd been made to keep in storage here too. It wasn't hard to find what Sun wanted. Sun shifted through the box and found the towel he was looking for.
Grab one of the sweaters we made, Moon suggested. It gets cold in the plex at night and Harriett will be all by herself so it'll feel even colder. They might not have to do physical patrols but they were still expected to somehow clean around the children an night. Seriously sometimes Sun wondered if any of these people had ever been around children. Each kid had a different sleeping habit, and different sleeping needs. Harriette was clearly going to be a light sleeper, most likely. Sun was sure that moving would wake the girl in seconds. I hope the sound of being in the pizzaplex won't be too much for her to sleep through.
Yeah, hopefully the sweater will help, and if push comes to shove I'll doctor the photoage, Sun stood, shuffling through the box in question, it was a box of various clothing items. Sun riffled, picking through the items. He picked the smallest of the onesies, holding it up. Do you think this will fit?
Should, might be a tiny bit too big but the fabric is soft and the kids used to wearing oversized cloth. Moon's words soothed the worries Sun had about that, and the sweater he'd pick. He shuffled around until he found one Moon had knitted, blue sky and white clouds. Sun held it up and admired it. Moon never got to see a real sky, but Sun could easily imagin this was what one looked like. It was also incredibly soft, made from a yarn the company had accidentally ordered, and would have sent back if not for Sun pilfering it away before they could. Throwing the two articles of clothing over the towels Sun headed further into their maze of boxes. They'd stacked the boxes carefully to hide away their secret alcove, it had a desk hidden behind all the mountains of boxes, there in the back was their most dangerous project. Sun looked over the schematic, it showed the construction of a staff bot. The head of a staffbot rested next to it, along with tools wires and other items Sun had been using for it. It was a little annoying that Sun couldn't function at night when he had the actual time to work on it. Still right now they had a guest, and a important one at that. Sun, pulled open one of the tubes under the desk, fishing out a toothbrush for Harriette. He grabbed three, in the more traditionally feminine colors he could; pink, purple, and a light shade of blue-ish pink. Then grabbed a tube of toothpaste. This wasn't the first time a child didn't have a toothbrush and toothpaste. Kids forgot things when they got excited. Sticking the items into their chest compartment.
"Alright, can you think of anything else?" Sun asked, aloud.
Mmm, well, most of the blankets are downstairs, and she's got her own comfort items, Moon thought carefully making sure they passed through the link. They could think to themselves or share thoughts. Sometimes if one of them got lost in thought during a conversation they forget to use their internal link. Blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or plushies… Yeah.
Isn't it too cute! Sun said over the link once Moon was done. He could feel his confusion, emotions passed through the link much easier then pictures, which passed over more easily than words. They had to try and keep each other out when it came to emotions. I don't think we've ever been anyone's favorite before. She picked yours before she'd even met you too.
It's cuter than me and my color scheme is literally designed to be soothing.
You are too cute! Sun said, looking over the space for anything else they might need. We're fucking adorable and more people should love us!
Sure, Sunshine, Moon drawled, Sun could feel his eyesroll. Language, he added as an after thought. Sun wished he could argue more thoroughly, but they were quite troubling to look at.
"It's not our fault no ones bothered to update us since making us the ones in charge of the whole building," Sun complained. "They could give us silicone face molds or something so we're more expressive."
I don't know that might be more frightening, Moon cackled. Sun sighed, wishing he could roll their eyes. Now that it was confirmed they had everything, Sun started back toward the balcony, Harriette was probably still showering, and Sun didn't want to walk in and potentially give the child a panic attack.
It wouldn't look so bad if they gave us better face molds and proper eyes, Sun said. He'd seen some really realistic prosthetics, but they didn't need that necessarily. Softening up their features and giving them the ability to not smile, maybe blue eyes to match their candy posters. Sun shuffled to another box which had various kinds of soap, kept at the daycare for sleepovers.
Ah, upgrades, Moon sighed. The company channel is discussing potential glamrock upgrades again.
What? That's not fair! The last time he and Moon got upgrades was almost four years ago, and someone literally almost killed them. Not to mention they'd barely gotten reprimanded for misused of company resources.
Yeah, Moon said. Chica was complaining that the new model was even thinner than the last, and they're making some sort of core upgrade that's supposed to do something about her eating habits. Whatever that supposed to mean.
Rude, Sun said. Why are they making it thinner? I think Chica's current model is cute.
They're wanting to do some sort of fitness thing with her, Moon said.
Isn't her shape fine for that?
Apparently not, Moon was still looking through the message. Apparently it's deliberately ment to represent weight loss.
Oh, because everyone loses weight the exact same way, Sun said. We're robots.
Sun stepped out onto the balcony and called their wire. They rose up out of the daycare and lightly stepped down in front of the bathroom. Sun stood there a moment staring at the part of the door you used to push it open. Harriette might not be finished with her shower and it could upset her. He was also worried that she'd rush through it if he mentioned that he was there. Then Sun heard it. A sniffle. Wires twisting with worry, Sun opened the door. He froze for half a second. Harriette was curled up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor. Naked.
What the hell are those? Moon asked. Sun's scanner roving over the old scars. Moon knew what it was, he was just hoping Sun would tell him that it was an error. But no, they were faced with some truly nasty scar tissue over the little girls back, upper arms and legs. It stuck to the back part of her body, just the upper portion of the non torso- there was a hard on the skin of her neck, low enough that it would be perfectly hidden by a shirt color. Even one as baggy as Harriette's. The same could be said for her arms and legs. Hard stops. Not gradual. This was deliberate. Harriette looked up, and smiled, her nose was running. She was wet. Her temperature was too low. She was covered in scars.
"Harriette are you alright?" Sun said, distantly. How are we supposed to react to this? "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to take so long." Sun stepped further into the room. There were scars of Harriettes feet too. The whole thing, some of them were fresh, barely healed. Sun wished he could be sick. Instead of just an ache in his chest cavity. "Harriette what happened to-" Harriette looked down.
"You didn't take too long," she said, she stood up wobbling on her half asleep legs, it showed more of her back. So many scars, all lumped together and clustered. "I finished." she said. Like she didn't think she was showing something that should horrify any reasonable adult.
"You didn't have soap," Sun said, because how was he supposed to tell her that it wasn't normal that her back looked like that, that whatever specific thing happened- the stops were too hard and thorough, like a line was drawn between scars and healthy normal skin. It wasn't natural to, was that a brand? Sun wished throwing up was an option because he definitely felt sick. Who would deliberately burn a child?! An act of such cruelty.
"For washing hands?" Harriette asked.
"No for washing your body, and hair," Sun said.
"Oh, is that why everyone always smells so nice?" Harriette asked, mirthful curiosity in her eyes. Then she frowned. "Am I allowed to use that?" Sun's heart broke, shattered. He wanted to scoop Harriette up and never give her back to those monsters.
How could they? Sun growled. How fucking dare-!
Sunshine, focus, child, Moon said, trying to ground him. Right they had to focus on the little girl. They had to take care of her. Sun settled down on the floor.
"Let's, Let's, lets, get you cleaned up," Sun said. Oh, boy he hadn't had that vocal error in a while. His voice sound more tinny too. He cleared his throat, well he made the sound that people made when clearing their throat. "So, Harriette, how did, how did, did you get those scars." He cleared his throat again and lightly thunked the upper part of his chest where he's voicebox was. There was a little squicking, staticky pop. "Sorry." Harriette had stepped closer.
"Are you okay?" She said. Sun wasn't entirely sure whether he was glad she didn't seem to feel the need to cover herself. On the one hand it probably meant that she was never force to do- Sun's voice box gave an ugly little sound. Nope, nope, nope don't think about that, nope, nope, nope. Sun's heart was breaking, in his metaphorical chest. He couldn't think.
Obviously your chest is metaphorical, so's your heart, and it can't literally break you'd die, Moon chastised starting to get frustrated. Now, would you please, get her cleaned and warmed up. She's shaking. Sun flinched at that eyes focusing. Of course she was freezing, the pizzaplex's temperature was kept pretty low in order to keep it form getting too hot while all the guest were in. She really was shaking. She was on her knees now, just sort of staring up at him. He was leaned so far forward it was the only way she could look him in the face.
"I don't even know where to start," Sun said. He tapped the back of his head, gently shaking it in hopes of getting his logical brain to start working. He had to deal with this situation one horror at a time. All those scars were going to have to wait. "Alright." Sun shuffled around in his. "One thing at a time. Let's get you properly cleaned up." Sun pulled out the items he'd brought. Clothes, towel, soap and tooth care, he also pulled out his hairbrush or more accurately it sort of all came out in a lump on top of the towel. "Here you go… Soap." Sun offered the bottle to the girl. She started at it. Realization occurred to him a moment later. "You don't know how to use this do you?" She shook her head. "Right, silly me." Even he knew his voice sounded panicked.
"Do you?" Harriette asked.
"Nope, nope, nope, not a single clue," Sun said. "Well the plex has plenty of hot water so you can-" Harriette had flinched at that.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I-" Harriette was starting to panic
"Oh, hey, hey, no not, not boiling never boiling. I Meant warm, not hot." Sun said, panic lacing through his own voice. She looked at him, she took a shuttering breath.
"P-prom-please, I-I-" Harriette said.
"Okay, okay, okay, promise, promise, promise," Sun said, voice glitch causing it to hike up almost painfully high. Harriette took a shuttering little breath. Then nodded. Holding it for a moment before letting it out. It wasn't long enough. A few tears spilled out of her eyes. "Okay, the, the, the, water should be warm as long as we need it. So, so, so, you want to start that." She shook her head. Sun opened his arms to hug her, realised that might not be what she wanted and froze. It was a good thing she seemed perfectly comfortable with taking it as intatation. Her cradled her as she calmed down. Both waiting.
"Maybe it has instructions somewhere on the bottle?" Harriette's voice was soft. "Sometimes there's instructions on the packages of stuff."
"Oh! Your so smart," Sun said. "I would never have, ever, ever, have thought of that." He managed to get control of the vocal glitch. Sun looked at the bottle turning it over and over in his hands. Instructions: for external use only keep out of eyes and mouth. Keep out of reach of small children. Then it repeated in three different languages, none of which were braille which seemed stupid. Sun told Harriette his findings, when Harriette huffed Sun felt obligated to try something to make her feel better. "Well, it was a good idea anyway." Harriette huffed again.
"How much water am I allowed to use?" Harriette asked, and Sun felt like another piece of his heart got chiseled away. "Maybe I could wash off real good?"
"I don't think that will work," Sun said.
It says to keep out of reach of small children, Moon pointed out.
And? Sun couldn't help the frustration he shot through the link at his partner. Sorry.
Forgiven, Moon said. As for why I'm pointing that out is… well, Harriette a small child.
Fantastic observation, dear, Sun said with as much sarcasm he could manage. If Moon was going to just point out obvious stuff maybe he- Sun sighed again. I'm assuming, there's an actual reason your pointing this out. And your not trying to give me the robot equivalent of an aneurysm. Moon sighed.
Well, it means she can't use it herself, Moon said. The instruction say; keep out reach of small children and Harriette's a small child. Sun sighed. Another obstacle to their plans. Harriette was going to freeze to death at this rate.
"Of course," Sun said. "Are we even waterproof?"
"Mr. Sun?" Harriette asked.
"Moon says that we'll have to help you 'cause the bottle says to keep out of reach of small children." Sun said. "So, I'm asking if he remembers if we're even waterproof."
"I think that just means babies," Harriette said. "I'm pretty sure it says that because a baby might drink it. 'Cause they don't know any better."
"That's ridiculous," Sun said before he could stop himself. It was. "Why would a baby drink body wash?"
"Because…" Harriette trailed, but continued quickly. "They don't know any better?" Harriette said. Ah, she had said that.
"Well, egg on my face," Sun said. "I doubt a baby would even be able to get the cap off but what do I know. Apparently not anything about shampoo and bathing children." Sun said glaring at the bottle as if doing so would some how intimidate the thing into giving up its secrets.
"Egg on my face?" Harreitte asked.
"An expression meaning I feel stupid," Sun said. "It's says; keep out of reach of small children, not babies." Sun said. Brandishing the bottle with pride.
"Uh-huh, well I guess that is true, and your the adult," Harriette said. "Are you waterproof?" Right solving one issue didn't solve the other. It did buy Moon enough time to go through their memory banks to try and see if there'd been any mention on their bodies schematics.
I think we'll be fine, Moon said. It says on the instructions that we could be hosed down with a pressure washer. Which is just a really high intensity stream of water.
"Okay, one less thing to worry about," Sun said. Harriette tilted her head like a curious puppy. A wet, shivering, curious puppy. "We are in fact water proof. Let's get you back under som h-warm water before you won't fre- so you won't be so cold." Sun stood, setting Harriette's stuff aside, before stepping into the shower area. "We'll figure this out as we go." Sun said.
"Okay," Harriette said. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Your still wearing- clothing?" Harriette asked tilting her head to the side even farther this time.
"Oh, I think the pants should be fine," Sun said. "I'm pressure washable."
"Okay?" Harriette said, skeptical but trusting.
It turned out that the pants were not infact fine. Which was stupid because they didn't even come off, so how was he supposed to be pressure washable. He was forced to wring out the pants while helping Harriette towel dry her hair, and get into the onesie.
"Can you even change you pants?" Harriette asked.
"No, they don't even come off," Sun grumble whined. "Stupid wet, sudsy, messy, mess." He grumbled. Harriette made a little huffing laugh that she tried to cover with her hand. Looking appalled at the sound.
"Sorry, It's not funny," Harriette said, sounding guilty and regretful. Sun crouched down to continue toweling off her hair.
"Oh, it's fine," Sun said. "I could never stay mad at you for laughing." He said, voice full of as much affection as he could put into it. She was such a sweet kid. "You're just way too cute for that." He booped her nose, and her eyes widened in surprise like it did every time. A smile forming on her face a second later.
"Okay, but I still shouldn't have laughed," she said. "You're not having fun and to laugh at that isn't very nice."
"Alright, thank you for apologizing," Sun said. Now that she was dressed and mostly dry he lifted her up once more. He was careful to keep her away from the stupidly drenched pants. "Maybe some flying would help us dry off?" Harriette's eyes lit up, and she nodded.
Harriette laughed in gleed as they swooped around the daycare. Sun, and just below the link Moon too, laughed. They'd always loved traveling by their wire, but few if any could understand the wonder of flying through the air at high speed. It was the one thing Sun and Moon would actually miss if they were ever free of Fazbear Entertainment prison. Though they both were fairly certain they might be able to come up with some form of solution for that given enough time and the right tools. Still having someone to share their favorite thing in the world with them was wonderful in and off itself. They swooped around the play structures. Harriette whooped quite and soft but gleeful.
"Faster!" She whispered, and Sun obliged diving through some of the bars, flipping so that if he did make a mistake, which he wouldn't, Harriette would still land safely on top of him. She cheered as he swung back up and spun. She covered her mouth to muffle her gleeful shriek as they tumbled through the air.
Sun! Be careful! Moon said, slight panic edging his voice. Sun decided to have mercy on his other half.
"Fine, fine," Sun said mirthfu. "We're going down, little one." Sun said. Curling around her to drop a little, just a little, Moon shrieked in terror, Harriette in delight. Before Sun slowed to a stop then settled down on the ground Harriette was giggling up a storm. It took her a moment for Sun to be confident she would just fall over if he put her down. Once she was calm enough though he did. Setting her on her feet, and then ruffling her hair. She was still beaming, grin stretched wide. Sun felt his own bright joy at that. He booped her nose and she stared wide eyed at him before grinning. "Now that we're dried off lets brush those cute little tangles of yours?" Harriette giggled. The sweater was a little too big on her, the sleeves hanging over her hands as she pretended to try and block her nose, and stifle her giggles. She'd already stared wide eyes at him. If she was going to be surprised everytime it was never going to get old booping her little nose. She giggled as Sun pretended he was going to do it again, moving his hand around like he was trying to get around her poor attempt at a blockade. Then he tickled her. She giggled and he had to steady her.
Sunlight, Moon said in their shared mind space. Stop it our I'm going to have to take over to get her hair done.
"Maybe you should," Sun commented, unable to stop himself from booping Harriette's nose one last time. She looked so surprised, but burst into giggles after a second. Yup that was never going to get old.
Sun, please, Moon begged. But his own mirth was still clear in his voice.
"Alright, alright, it's about time for little like you to go to bed," Sun said. "It's time for us to switch out anyways."
"Goodnight Mr. Sun, have a good sleep," Harriette said, waving before collecting her plushies she had one of the wave to Sun too. Then she giggled. Sun's own laugh bubbled out of him.
"Nighty, Night Harriette," Sun said, ruffling her hair one last time. "I'll see you in the morning." He waved one last time as he switched the light off. Sun slipped backwards. Moon sliding forward. They same way they'd always done. But Harriette seemed to find the process very interesting with how intently and studiously she watched.
"Hello, Harriette," Moon said, smiling.
"Hi, Mr. Moon," Harriette said, grinning, and waving her hand behind her plushies. Silly little being.
"So, how abou twe wind down before going to sleep?" Moon said, walking over to the girl who tilted her head curiously.
"But you don't sleep?" She said.
"Well, no, but little ones like you need lots and lots of sleep to grow up healthy," Moon said, he'd crouched down in front of her. "So, what do you say? Want a story, a song, a gentle sleepy time game to help you settle down after Sunshine got you all riled up?" Harriette shifted.
"Um," She said. "I don't know if I-I can sleep." Harriette said. "It's-it's too open." Her shifting from foot to foot, her wandering eyes like suddenly the day care had become a frightening place.
"I won't let anything happen to you," Moon promised. "Nobody can even get into the building without me knowing."
"But don't you have to… I dunno, didn't you say you had a night job.. Patrols too?" She chewed the inside of her cheek. She was really getting nervous now.
"I don't have any such duties while a sleep over is happening," Moon said. Trying his best to reassure the girl that he'd keep her safe. She looked up at him, her eyes big ad starting to water. "Pinky promise." Moon said. Holding out the little finger. The girl looked at it skeptically. Before wrapping her finger around it.
"Okay," Harriette said. "Can you- will you stay with me?"
"Of course," Moon said. He had no intention of even doing his cleaning duties. He was staying with this little girl till the daycare was filled with kids again.
"Can I- Um… Mr. Sun was- well, I was-"
"Do you want me to hold you?" Moon asked.
"Please," it was barely more then a whisper. A delicate plea. Filled with all the desperation that the word could possibly hold. Moon was absolutely sure there was no more to be held in any word. He opened his arms and the girl hesitantly stepped forward once, twice, then all at once. Like at first Moon would take the offer back. She buried her head in his ruffles. Those were kind of scratchy. He'd make a new set if he had to. He scooped her all the way up and stood. Humming softly to her as he collected the blanket, pillow and sleep matt. They talked for a little while. She'd tried to insist she didn't need either, but Moon managed to convince her that it was fine. More than fine. He wanted her to have a comfortable place to sleep.
She curled into his chest as he wrapped the blanket around her. They talked some more, about spiders, about art, and about the people they actually liked. Moon's heart broke a little when she could think of anyone that she loved from before the pizzaplex. Moon cradled her in his arms as she drifted off to sleep, fitful at first but more comfortable as time passed. Moon brushed fingers through her hair to sooth away a nightmare that started. She snuggled deeper into his chest at that. Sighing contentedly in her sleep. It probably wasn't the best sleeping position, but Harriette seemed more than fine with it, and Moon didn't have the heart to let her go.