* VERSE / Then I Would Do Anything To Make Good. ) - Tumblr Posts

she knows he won't believe her. she never did, when she was his age. though for her it's more bad than not -- yet, perhaps gregory had felt the same way. she doesn't know... but she wants to. vanessa places a hand upon the boy's shoulder, kneeling to his level with a sincerity upon her face she's not sure she's even able to grasp. head tilting, with a sway of blond hair. "you're a good kid, gregory." (... who asked? you asked).

can someone please be proud of him like fuck he's trying

★ — The initial hand on his shoulder acts as a comforting weight — a reminder that despite how tremulous their arrangement might seem ( the result of two damaged people trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after everything they knew was crumbled to dust right in front of them, both trapped in their own forms of hell, both saving each other ), Vanessa — this Vanessa, the one that cares — is real and present. She didn't have to take him in after everything, but she had and surely .... surely that meant something.

Gregory isn't sure what to expect as she lowers herself down to be eye level with him, raising a curious brow but staying relatively silent. By her expression, he can tell this is something serious — and as much as he may act out, he's also capable of holding his tongue.

And he's certainly not expecting her to say that to him.

It makes his breath catch, makes his chest feel tight as brown hues widen in clear surprise. Gregory's first instinct is to argue — tell her she's wrong, but he finds the words are caught in his throat and no sound comes out.

How can he possibly be a good kid when all he's done is make things harder for the people taking care of him? He's heard it time and time again ; he's a difficult child, too temperamental, too stubborn, he can't be controlled, he acts out. If he could just behave himself, then people would want him. If he could just be a good kid, then he wouldn't always be alone.

But he never could. He was never good. It's ultimately why he decided running away was his best option, before he went into the pizzaplex — decided it was easier to look after himself than it was to be moved from place to place, never settling, never happy.

Vanessa seems so sincere though, and Gregory doesn't understand.

He hasn't been easy to look after. He hasn't been kind. He knows that .... he's pushed back hard, both scared of what she might be capable of and scared that she might give up just like the others. Not letting himself get attached, making things difficult, it had all just seemed easier ( less terrifying ) than allowing himself to settle into what might be a home.

Gregory's shoulders tense as he stands in front of her, curling inwards, subconsciously making himself smaller. It's hard to keep looking at her ( feels as if he might cry if he does ), so he closes his eyes tight instead. The part of him that's terrified wants to shrug her hand off his shoulder, pull away and pull into himself — but he can't bring himself to shrug off her warmth.

Words still caught in his throat ( what could he say even if he could speak? ), Gregory finds himself shaking his head in response, the motion messy, panicked, shaking unruly locks into his eyes and obscuring his face from Vanessa's view.

★ — Gregory's mind is buzzing. Heart is pounding against his ribcage, the beat heavy and fast and loud, loud enough for him to hear every thud despite the way his ears seem to be ringing. His breathing is becoming a bit shallower, a little shaky if one were to pay close enough attention. He's not thinking clearly — panic overtaking any rational thought the kid might have had.

It's that very panic thats pushing him to lash out ; if she's going to be angry, he's going to be angry first. Give his guardian something to be angry about.

( maybe then she'll see he isn't worth it, just like every guardian before her had ).

It's not fair to her. Gregory doesn't know much about the night guard beyond his single night in the confines of the pizzaplex, but he is observant. He sees the way she's barely holding herself together. He knows there must be a reason they're here, in this extended stay hotel instead of her own home. ( she must have had a home before, right? ). Vanessa is falling apart, and yet still doing her best to ensure he's taken care of. She even let him keep Freddy with them.

As she stands, takes a step closer, Gregory takes an equal step away — his gaze flickering quickly towards the animatronic bear head currently in sleep mode, oblivious to the confrontation taking place. A sense of security. Fear flashes in his eyes. It only lasts a moment, before he steels his expression into cold stubbornness once more.

( it's not vanny he's scared of this time, but rather what experience has taught him to fear ).

"Whatever," ( a huff, curling in on himself ). "I know you could've turned me in and you didn't, but — you're not my mom. You don't have to pretend to be one. I can take care of myself. We both know you don't wanna be doing this, anyways." ( speaking on assumptions ).

𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 of the small suite she'd been able to book for them. their time there wasn't going to be long, though she wanted them to stay there for at least a little while. being responsible for the kid has been - stressful, to say the least. especially since he was so stand-offish. truly, she did notice he wasn't around. when she would open her eyes, & see he was in bed, she would be able to sleep again. or, at least what she could find when it came to rest. though, it's all been too much tonight. the quiet, the loneliness, the stress [...] the fact that gregory had been gone.

it's clear she's been crying, with pink waterlines & puffy eyes. her cuticles are bleeding, her hair pulled back to reveal the heat in her face. knees drawn to her chest. she hadn't even bothered lying down tonight. & freddy was in his charging port for the time being.

her head had been in her knees, when she heard the latch click open. her lips parted as she looks up at gregory. meeting his gaze with big, green eyes. it's not that she didn't care, she just [...]

what if he hates me? he has every right.

his posture changes & she can feel it in her chest. the anxiety. oh no, he does hate her. is she trying too hard? her lips close, brows screwing & teeth grinding. eyes flickering, as her legs slowly move to touch feet to floor.

her lips are swollen from being bitten. with afton gone she hasn't eaten more notable than water, & toast. she's falling apart, somehow more-so than before.

she stands up, picking at her nails again. using two hands, with her sweater sleeve covering her hand. it's still her security windbreaker. cheek still flexing, in her tireless pressing of pearly teeth.

"no -- freddy's sleeping." she looks over. that's what she calls it, anyway. "& i -- wasn't." she admitted.

"but you.." she pauses. shaking her head. "i don't want you to be stuck anywhere, gregory. i just.." [...] she shakes her head, looking down & opening her lips. her head aches -- tension to blame. "look, i'm sorry, okay? --" i just want to make sure you're alright.

★ — He feels pathetic.

Unable to look his caretaker in the eyes — his own eyes closed so tightly that they begin to hurt from the pressure of his muscles contorting inwards. It's a defense, both against the soft nature in which Vanessa had been directing his way before he'd shut them ( a poor attempt at trying to shut her out ) and against the tears that build in the corners, tears he refuses to let fall. Gregory will not cry. Not over this. Not in front of her.

Barely holding himself together, and yet he feels something in him crumble even further at the comforting motion of her thumb against his shoulder. There's concern in the gesture that Gregory doesn't think he's felt in years.

( it reminds him of a time he was younger, much younger and much more oblivious to all the ways the world could be cruel. his own mother may not have known what to do with him, may have left him to fend for himself at too young of an age before leaving him entirely, but she did love him. he knows that. he'd scrape his knee from being too reckless, too bold and she'd kneel down to his level with a similar hand on his shoulder. tell him he was tough. he was never good. but he was tough, and tough was enough ).

"I — I'm n-not."

His words are shaky when he does speak, not quite a whisper but not spoken loudly either. Another harsh shake of his head — Vanessa hadn't done anything wrong. She just didn't know what she was saying. Didn't truly know him. Otherwise she wouldn't be saying that. It felt so obvious. Everyone had seen it before her, so it was only a matter of time before she did.

That knowledge made his chest ache. He liked Vanessa. More than he'd expected to. She was broken, just like he was — wasn't expecting him to be perfect. But it felt inevitable that she would realize he was too much ( a child she had never even asked for ), just like all the others had.

"You .... don't mean that. M'not good."

𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 after having him removed from herself. the ashes of her life [...] of what she thought was her life, fluttering down around her with the literal ashes. with the head of a sentient bear, & a kid outside in that same ruin. how could she leave them there? it didn't seem like her at the time. there was a sickness within herself she needed to combat, & that beforehand she had never questioned before. perhaps it could have been misguided damage done to her, trying to make herself the villain . trying to take some power back for herself. the more she's tried to work it out herself, the more it doesn't connect. all of the lines. though, all she knew was that somehow gregory had given her a chance at something different. no matter whether or not she deserved nor wanted it, or if he had intended for it to turn out this way. the tug within her couldn't leave this child out in the cold. even with the blood of some children his age still drying on her hands.

but vanessa does know that the longer she spends time with gregory the more he gives her purpose again. should be in jail yet now has the ability to take-in a child who needs her. it might not be ideal, but with her ability to help freddy if he needed it (given to her by glitchtrap) -- it seemed like the best arrangement. he helped a lot, but the truth was she & freddy were too ill-equipped, damaged people. or, a person & a robot. as was the child. yet, she felt their bond growing closer. at least on her end. hasn't worked up the courage to ask gregory, yet. despite her life before, & the fact that she doesn't deserve it? she's not alone. & she can see that he is a good kid. just scared, perhaps? she knows how fear can make you act out. want to overcompensate.

his breath hitches, eyes widen: making vanessa give him a closed lipped smile, though her brow has a slight furrow in mild concern. rubbing her thumb over his shoulder in a comforting manner. an instinct she didn't even know she had, though for once nothing is calculated. everything is genuine. whether she has the time to recognize it right now, or not. she's learning. & yeah, she wishes he were easier to handle. also yes, she wish that he didn't insist on worrying her. though she has gotten to see him in his real moments. she likes that kid. but he deserves someone at his worst, not just his best. just like she had, at her lowest.

vanessa's jaw clenches, though she doesn't stop anything. she [...] well, she feels this might not be going well. though neither has a lot of what she's tried. maybe she's trying too hard. her eyes flicker back & forth rapidly when he nods, studying him as her smile fades into something worried. "gregory..." she sighs, her wide green eyes wet with her concern. voice breathy. "i'm sorry. did i -- say something wrong?" she asks. wants to tell him that she means it. that she hopes he can one day believe her. yet, she can't formulate the words fast enough.

“Me? There’s nothing wrong with me!” nessssaaaa pq!

Argumentative Sentences, Vol. 1

★ — Growing pains are to be expected in a situation such as theirs. A damaged kid who never asked to be given home, a damaged girl trying to pick up the pieces of both of their lives, and a stolen robot who surpassed his own code. The trio sounds dysfunctional even at the briefest of glances.

And yet — Gregory can't help the frustration that bristles under his skin at her response. Brown hues narrow as he practically glares at his guardian, his expression making it clear that he doesn't believe her at all.

"Stop fucking lying to me!"

Comes the snapped response, his hands balling into fists at his side. Concern and irritation blend into one. Vanessa did everything she could to ensure Gregory was taken care of ( in every way possible, a fact which he was still getting used to ) while she, herself, was falling apart. She may try to hide it from Gregory, but he wasn't oblivious.

( he's seen it before ).

"We're supposed to talk to each other, right? That's what Freddy said — so why won't you talk to me about what's going on! Because I don't want to be here if you taking care of me means you're not taking care of yourself!"

★ — His concern is genuine. It may have turned to frustration at his guardian's reluctance to let him share in her struggles the same way she encouraged him to share his. ( they were both fucked over by fazbear, weren't they? there was no other person on the planet who could begin to understand what all they had been put through. all they had was each other ). And that may have yet turned to thinly veiled anger ; because all Gregory has ever learned is how to react to things with anger. But his concern is genuine.

( and despite it all, he can't help the self - satisfied smugness he feels at her obvious shock towards his choice in abrasive language, as he always did upon reminding a guardian that he wasn't the good kid they expected — he would never be the meek and mild, gently sweet poor little orphan that would sing praise for the simple act of a roof over his head that so many wanted and expected ).

He sticks his tongue out at her reprimand, the little shit.

Can practically hear Freddy's scandalized concern at his actions. Maybe it's a good thing the animatronic isn't around for this argument.

How can he tell? It's obvious — not that either of them are expected to be okay after everything they went through ( and vanessa, for so much longer ). But Vanessa has looked like she's been falling apart since the night they left the pizzaplex together.

"Seriously, 'Nessa? M'not stupid — you should know that."

Anxiety seeps in, running in his veins like ice alongside the red - hot frustration burned anger. It wasn't his fault? She may claim that it isn't because of him, but he's seen this before. ( his own mother had been around her age, when he'd lost her ). It had been his fault then ... or so he's allowed himself to believe.

His shoulders curl inwards, a slight, subconscious protective gesture meant to make him look smaller. Does his best to narrow his eyes as he looks at her, chin lifted. It looks silly ; childish.

" .... I don't believe you."

𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 on the guardian's face is easily transferred to her open mouthed, pinched brow shock at his brazenness. although she's not sure why she's so surprised. (it's not like she's never heard him swear, before).

arms come down for hands to land upon the former guard's hips, as she looks away with a huff & a shake of her head. smiling, almost in disbelief before looking at the floor.

he was right & she knows it.

vanessa isn't even good at hiding it, anymore. every bad habit coming forth at once, especially some that shouldn't be exposed to a child. her inability to sleep, her crying in the bathroom [...] her binging, & otherwise -- well you get the picture. she picks cuticles till fingers bloat, struggling with her self esteem now that there was nobody to pick her up. guilt at the nagging loneliness when gregory is right there. yet, how is she supposed to handle all of this, when also so deathly afraid of the child's hatred?

not being good enough.

"seriously, gregory?" she sighs. looking up at him with eyes alone, while her lips part blankly & green orbs stare. chin low by her chest. "fucking language."

one arm comes to cross over her chest, while the other pushes the few fly-aways back down against her slicked back hair. resting in a nice ponytail. one she re-did twenty times until it looked right, mind you. thumb resting in between her teeth with a scoff.

"please, you just --" she throws up her hands with a coping smile. "you wouldn't understand, okay? [...] look. i don't know how you can tell that i'm... i'm not taking care of myself." she grits the words like they physically pain her. as if she doesn't have bags under her eyes. "but it's not because i'm taking care of you, okay. so please don't think that."

@braveburned / asked for a moodboard of our muses

#princessquest vanessa & gregory

⚠️ eats all of Vanessa’s favourite snacks and not telling her about it until she finds an empty box 😂

send me a ⚠️ with a reason my muse should be shamed (e.g. “hangs toilet paper backward”) and I can only confirm or deny

★ — He'd prefer not to answer! If the snacks weren't there to be eaten, then why were they in the kitchen, huh?

🕯️ / mama nessie :3

send me 🕯️to hear my character's inner thoughts about your character.

★ — It feels as though everything should be more complicated than it is.

Sometimes, Gregory thinks he should be wary around Vanessa. That he shouldn't trust her, even that he should be scared of her. He hasn't forgotten the fear Vanny inflicted on him, and he doesn't want to let it go. If he's holding on so tightly to the memories of that night, shouldn't he be holding it against Vanessa?

Truthfully, Vanessa feels like the closest thing to home Gregory's had in a long time. It's as simple as that.

She reminds him of his mom, in a lot of ways — she was also young and stressed ( and woefully unprepared ). Despite this, he doesn't think of her as his mother figure ( even though she's definitely found herself in that role ), instead slotting her somewhere between older sister and guardian in his head. Someone to rely on, someone to trust, someone he cares deeply about in return. He worries about the affect he's having on her life ( she's so young, is he ruining everything for her? ), and is scared that one day he might prove to be too much and she'll cast him aside like all his legal guardians had before her.

For all the ways he lashes out in fear and worry, he is incredibly thankful for her taking him in, and wishes there was some way he could look after her as well.

★ — Gregory's staring at the plate set in front of him, inquisitively pushing around bits of food around with a fork while making no real attempt to eat another bite after the first. It's a little funny ; her dramatic, dismayed reaction, and her determination to cook a real, homemade meal for him. An effort very few guardians have ever cared enough to put into him. Hardly there smile, almost shy when he glances back across at Vanessa, forking another bit of food into his mouth .... before immediately talking.

"Yeah. Definitely better. I mean — I can eat it this time." ( a pause, head tilting ). "You know you don't .... have to do this, right?"

🍒 @braveburned 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃 ↪ for a ness starter

ness makes a face across the motel dining table, cringing as she watches gregory staring at the most recent meal she'd attempted to prepare. "come on!" she slumps, her hands loosely positioned before her with a tired pout.

her eyes are still rounded with soft violet, her blue v-neck a bit crumpled &. loose fitting. but, she's doing a little better. "it's . . . at least better than last time, right?"

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 ).