Fav Friends + Family

fav friends + family 🫶

(also, it’s my birthday today!! here’s some doodles of characters that make me very happy <3)

FNAF movie Mike might have the better sibling,,

When they last saw each other, Cassie had pressed a gift bag into Gregory's hands, with a little note that said 'DON'T OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS — I'LL KNOW.' and a look that said just about the same thing, maybe a slight bit less threateningly. Okay, she knew the threat really wasn't necessary, but she also knew that Gregory was a shit and she wouldn't be there to keep his grubby little hands out of the gift in person for the next couple days. She didn't say anything about the gift for the rest of the time she was there, but she did give him a small smile and a, "I mean it. Christmas," alongside her goodbye wave.

When the bag was eventually opened, be it on Christmas or immediately after Cassie was out of sight, a few items could be found inside.

First, a piece of paper, carefully slid in between the side of the bag and the first fold towards the middle to (hopefully) keep it from getting all bent. Its blank side was visible, facing the inside of the bag, covered in stains from marker ink bleeding through. The other side, which the ink happened to be from, was a little drawing, clearly from Cassie – she was never as passionate about art as Gregory, but she tried this time. Thought he would appreciate it, maybe.

Two figures that hopefully resembled the two of them well enough stood in a field of grass – typical child drawings, you know, yellow sun in the corner, little flowers, a couple clouds – and next to each of them, there were, well ... Colored blobs was the best way to put it, probably. Near the Cassie stick figure was a gray blob with pointy ears and a green streak in front of its face, and near the Gregory figure was an orange – brown – orange? (she couldn't choose which marker to use, it's both) blob with round ears, a little top-hat, and a blue squiggle on its chest. Roxy and Freddy. Maybe.

She tried, okay? It's not her fault she was always more interested in the 'crafts' side of 'arts and crafts.' She did her best, and it shows.

Next, beside the drawing, is a teddy bear. Just a plain, old teddy bear. Not one of the expensive Freddy ones from the Pizzaplex, unfortunately, (though, rest assured, Cassie tried her hardest to get one, even asking her father if he could bring one home from work, by any means necessary) but, on further inspection, Cassie does seem to have made some... Modifications. To make the gift a little more personal. A little felt top-hat rests on its head, complete with a teal ribbon wrapped around the bottom of it. Similar black ribbon is tied in a bow around the bear's neck, and wrapped around its wrists to imitate Freddy's bracelets. It even has the lightning bolt — sure, it's just a piece of teal construction paper taped to its chest, but the attention to detail shows the time and effort put into the gift. She couldn't afford the official thing, so... She tried to give Gregory the next best.

Under the bear, at the bottom of the bag – quite easily missed, be careful! – is a handmade, braided friendship bracelet. It has quite a few colors, including Freddy's teal, red, and orange, and some of Gregory's more typical blues and browns so it matches the clothes he prefers to wear. It's not tied, of course — Gregory might have to ask someone for help, or Cassie can help him with it next time they see each other. Either way, she hopes he likes it, same as she hopes he likes everything else. And she can't wait to show him her matching one.

★ — Gregory had tried to heed her warning about waiting until Christmas ; he really had, had hurried home with the gift bag home like it was something precious and excitedly showed Michael before placing it in the corner of his room. And when their crummy little tree had gone up in a corner of the living room, the present had moved next to it ( well, half - heartedly shoved up under the branches but ultimately sticking out a little bit funny ) where it had been intended to wait until the day. But it was basically taunting him.

So he'd almost made it. Really, almost. The day before Christmas Eve — Christmas Eve Eve, practically the holiday anyways, and besides, would Cassie really know? So he pulls it into his room that night while Michael is too busy watching some dumb movie to notice. Closes the door just to make sure he won't get caught. Looks guiltily around the room ( not feeling guilty enough to override his curiosity ), before pulling out the tissue paper.

The carefully placed piece of paper is, of course, the first thing Gregory takes notice of. He pulls it out with gentle consideration, first noticing the smudged ink staining ( and immediately wondering what she could've drawn for him, the beginning of a grin tugging at the corner of his lips despite the way he tries to bite it down with teeth on his lower lip, even with no one around to see him ) before flipping it over. Head tilts, and ... well, he sees what she was going for, and the sight of it makes his chest feel warm.

It will find a home, taped to the wall above his nightstand before the night is over.

Next to notice is the bear, which he tugs out with a bit less care than the drawing. He's running a thumb along the leg with a small smile, taking note of how soft it is ( and already planning to tuck it among his pillows, where a few other stuffed animals have settled ) when he notices the additions Cassie made — and he can't help the giggle that escapes. It's unbelievably thoughtful ( and gregory is already thinking about what he could possible get cassie by the time they return to school ; sure, it'll be passed the holiday by then, but it's the thought that counts, right? ), and Gregory can't wait to show it to Freddy himself. He's sure the animatronic will love it, too.

He does almost miss the final item, tucked at the bottom of the bag — only noticing the flash of color when he goes to tuck the tissue paper back in the bag and dispose of his evidence. A quick blink, and he pulls the band out to inspect a bit more closely. Impulse wants him to run out into the living room and ask Michael to tie it on his wrist that second, but then he'd have to admit to sneaking the present into his room early .... so after a moment of consideration he pulls the Freddy plush closer, looping the bracelet around the bear's neck and loosely tying it ; safe keeping, in the meantime, to ensure he doesn't accidentally lose it.

He'll take a picture, later, to send to Cassie on Christmas day and tell her thank you. And he'll get her to tie the bracelet for him when he sees her again.

👀 + Do you actually care about Cassie?

Send me a “👀 + a question” and my muse has to answer honestly!

★ — "Of course I do!"

Practically bristling at the implication of anything otherwise ; hands balled into fists at his side, eyes narrowed, frown tugging at his lips. Clearly a subject worth starting a fight over.

"She's my best friend! She was —— my first friend."

A little more subdued now, eyes averting. Almost somber.

" .... I've never had a best friend before."

★ — "No —— !!"

The game is afoot. His initial attempt at stopping Michael with his arms thrown out as wide as he can possibly make them doesn't seem to be doing much to stop his guardian, who begins to skirt around him, so Gregory decides to change tactics — he puts his arms out straight in front of him, hands on Michael's torso, and pushes all of his weight into keeping the man back. It's not much, given how small he is, but it's with a lot of exertion on Gregory's part. He's laughing openly now, unabashedly, with no attempts to stifle himself. Like a normal kid, for once.

"Not fair!"

Repeated with a huff, trying to sound like he's not having fun ; a serious facade, like a brownie is worth starting a brawl over.

"You don't! You're just being annoying! You just wanna go back to the apartment and watch bad T.V.!"

ONE OF THESE DAYS, he'll tell Gregory more of the reasons behind the way he ended up— he doesn't intend on keeping all of it to himself forever ( he had, at first, before he expected the influence Gregory would have on his life... on allowing him some semblance of living again ), only to... slowly reveal those details. When he's a little older, when Michael is more assured that the kid won't fall into the same destructive pattern. For now, when it isn't a driving force behind conflict, it is a little amusing to see him groan at the same old excuses Michael continues to give ( though he doesn't quite catch the fondness, the running joke maintains lighter spirits: at least, sometimes he can get things to go his way ).

Michael struggles not to laugh again as Gregory rushes in front of him, equally as amused by the attempt to block his way ( as if Michael couldn't easily slip past him ), though he holds it in, keeping the jokingly serious demeanor. "Nope— I warned you! Told you I could revoke the treat privileges at any time."

Keeping up the bit, he tries to slide past Gregory's barrier. "Maybe I've got other places to be— you know, to get out more and all that."

Send me a “👀 + a question” and my muse has to answer honestly!