In Case Any Of You Needed A Reminder This Place Is A Twisting Nightmare

“ in case any of you needed a reminder this place is a twisting nightmare ”

I think this is a buzzfeed unsolved meme from months ago

★ — There's a frown tugging at the corner of his lips which he doesn't bother to completely fight off ; he wears it more akin to a pout, his lower lip ( unconsciously ) jutted out ever so slight, his brows almost comically furrowed. They hadn't made it far into the sinkhole — the elevator had been broken, evidently stuck at the bottom.

Why? Why was it all the way down there? If it were the only elevator, shouldn't it have brought someone back to the pizzaplex itself before getting stuck? Was someone down there? Had it fallen?

The sound of her voice brings him out of his thoughts ; he blinks, his expression falling to something childlike and confused.

"I, uh .... really don't think I needed a reminder."

She honestly doesn't remember when Gregory's birthday had come up, maybe in a conversation about them sharing a birthday? Doesn't matter, she know it, so she tries to do something. Even if that something is...largely just stolen Fazbear goods. A cake made using the Pizzaplex's ingredients and recipes, a card she put together, and few pieces of Freddy-centric merchandise. All of which is set out on the table she's guiding him to. "Happy birthday, little guy." Hey, maybe the cake will put him into a sugar coma for the night.

★ — He has no idea where it is that Addy wants to lead him to, yet he follows with little convincing needed .... and a significant amount of whining, intentionally annoying ( sometimes he really can't help himself ), saying she should just tell him already before they stop at the little table and —— .

Oh. That's not what he'd been expecting.

It stops him dead in his tracks, quickly falling silent. He didn't even know she knew his birthday — doesn't remember the small - talk amongst nights upon nights of him sneaking in and her trying to keep him under control. Hadn't crossed his mind then that she might remember. ( no one ever did ).

So now Gregory stands wide - eyed, gaping like a fish as he glances between the older teen and the small display in front of him.

"You — how'd you — why —— uhm."

He can feel his cheeks heating up from embarrassment, quickly scrubbing a hand against his face as if that might hide the color.

"What's the catch?"

there’s nothing reassuring about what you just said.

this has DEFINITELY been in my inbox for like a year

★ — Nose scrunches up in obvious distaste ; Gregory shies a little closer to Freddy, tucking himself just close enough to his leg that he could dart behind the animatronic should he feel the need to. If the bear notices, he doesn't comment — likely for the better.

"What? All I said is Freddy's been helping me. He's not like the other animatronics — obviously, cause he's standing right here and not doing anything."

Freddy seems to shift uncomfortably at this comment. Gregory lets his eyes flicker back towards him, but doesn't acknowledge it more than that.

"The others can't see me when I'm in his stomach hatch— I know it's for cake, but I fit, and there's nowhere else for me to hide! It's how I hid from the security guard the first time! And we're careful about not using too much power!"

vanessa doesn't try and do anything fancy. she &. freddy at the table, (or vanessa fluttering around the table) with a birthday bag (of whatever she could afford, some snacks he liked -- she'd been taking note -- &. one more expensive gift). she'd also found a book on coding for them to work together on, &. almost shamefully, a glamrock freddy themed pair of nice sneakers to replace... well, those. there was also a boxed cake still in the pan so as to not entirely ruin the shape, with icing and a few blue candles stuck into it. she didn't bother writing on it. "hey, kiddo --" she tries when he enters. "happy birthday!" freddy chimes in with a chipper 'happy birthday superstar' - vanessa's head whipping around with a nervous smile. "i know it's not exactly a fazbear party, but it's better than most kids are gonna get nowadays."

★ — It's been years since Gregory has considered his birthday something worth celebrating. Years since someone has cared to make the day anything more than a mental tally mark to be made within the kid's own head.

Which is why he freezes upon entering ; a deer in the headlights when faced with the small set - up, Freddy waiting for him and Vanessa anxiously flittering about, both clearly waiting for him to get home ( to their home, his home, for real ). It's enough to make his chest feel tight, pressure pin - pricking behind his eyes. The threat of crying is enough to move him into action — quickly lifting a hand to press at his eyes, refusing to let any tears fall.

How fucking long has it been since someone gave a shit?

He hadn't thought Vanessa would remember his birthday, same as all his other guardians who knew the date for paperwork purposes but never bothered to commit it to memory — Freddy, maybe, only because the bear is programmed to do so for guests, but he had never expected this. A tentative step forward is taken, glancing over the small arrangement.

"Y'didn't — it woulda' been fine ——."

If you didn't do anything lingers in the air, but he can't bring himself to say it. Gregory's happy, even if he's struggling to parse through all the emotions the gesture is pulling at. A weak chuckle pushes past his lips at Vanessa's comment about a fazbear birthday.

"Thanks. It's great."

( and he really, really means it ).

★ — "M'fine."

Huffed response, clearly annoyed, at the mention of calling someone, his eyes get wide ; a flash of fear he can't quite hide.

"No, don't ——!"

' are you alright? is there anyone i can call for you? ' @braveburned

❛ The most important thing here is we need to stay together. ❜ @jeremangled

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON ONE SENTENCE STARTERS

★ — Gregory's never been outside the wall before.

The thought sits heavy in his chest— this is all completely new to him— a constant weight, a steady, thrumming fear. He has no clue what to do, how to maneuver this terrain, how to get where they're supposed to be going. Michael and Jeremy navigate like its second nature to the pair, and Gregory is acutely aware that he may as well be dead weight.

He sticks closer to Jeremy for the simple fact that the man makes him feel less terrible about that than Michael does.

Gregory hears ( more than he sees, eyes practically glued to the ground as if he can will the rocks and rubble to not shift under his feet and cause him to stumble as he walks ) Jeremy come to a stop and shuffles his feet to mimic the abrupt stop. Blinks in response, a little confused.

"Um — 'kay."

He lifts his eyes to nod in agreement, taken aback by the seriousness in his tone. A beat of silence passes. Gregory opens his mouth to ask a question— promptly closes it. He'll just annoy them. Jeremy turns to lead the trio once again, and nearly as soon as they take their first steps onward once more —— yeah, he can't help it.

"Why? Where are we going? Is there gonna be infected? Or is it more FEDRA patrols? Does FEDRA patrol this far out? Do you guys see fireflies when you come this far out?"