Chapter Text
Chapter One
Beautiful
November twenty sixth, twenty-twenty one. The start of the holiday rush at the Mega Pizza Plex. One whole month where the underpaid staff were pushed even harder and took out the seasonal frustration on the robots of the Plex. Thankfully, to the staff, there were plenty of mechanical punching bags.
Not only was there the band consisting of Four Glamrocks animatronics there were three supporting characters and several staffbots. The staffbots seemed to take the brunt of their human counterparts' abuse. Maybe the fact that Management was commissioning more of them was making the human workforce nervous.
The Band consisted of four animatronics. Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie Bunny, Chica Chicken, and Roxanne Wolf, all four were Glamrocks. The ‘supporting cast’ consisted of three animatronics. Montgomery Garor, who was a Glamrock himself, Sun the daycare attendant, who was not a Glamrock, and DJ Music Man who was also not a Glamrock.
DJ Music Man was definitely the most different from the gang, or at least he supposed he would be. Being a twenty foot tall beetle like animatronic felt like something different, then again Sun was a celestial jester so maybe it was impossible to say. DJ Music man, though he preferred to be called DJ, was stationed in the West Arcade also called the Fazcade. Due to his large size he was unable to leave the arcade. He had an unusual design of a squarish head with pupiless black eyes, blue eyebrows, blue cheeks and a stripe on his chin just under his open lit up maw of a mouth, piano key teeth, and a large pink nose. He wore neon green headphones atop a top hat. His body was a strange oval shape, with six arms, each ended with a gloved hand. DJ Typically used two as primary arms and the other four to move around, or hold himself up. He had two blue stripes going down the front and back of his body, and a speaker sitting on his chest and on his back. This combined with his size made him an easy target or particular frustrated staff.
Not only was DJ unable to leave the arcade, should he ever complain of the treatment he received from the staff or defend himself management would just shrug him off or punish him with an electroshock. After all, what could a five foot human do to a twenty foot robotic bug? The most he could do was hide from the staff in his tunnels between performances. The tunnels were built so he could maneuver around the arcade and perform his ‘ janitorial duties ’. Though even he wasn’t sure what those were or how he was supposed to fulfill them, being massive and what not. It wasn’t the only feature he had that he didn’t understand. He was apparently equipped with a ‘ Bouncer Mode’ , but was told never to use it as it would void his warranty. Something about it still being in development? Considering they punished him for even knocking a human staff over, by accident or otherwise , DJ obeyed and avoided turning on bouncer mode at all costs. Stuffing the practically reflexive reaction deep down.
On the day of black friday DJ was performing his usual duties, playing music during showtimes, and hiding his tunnels from staff. Occasionally moving in the direction of the ‘ Lounge room’ meant for private parties, but DJ was never booked for them, usually one of the other five, not including Sun , were.
One would think, being his area, DJ’s stage would be in the center, the main focal point of the Fazcade. It wasn’t. DJ was literally in another room, only connected by a circular arch he could not fit through, and a hallway just tall enough and just barely wide enough for him. Not that DJ liked wandering around the arcade, almost as if it was an afterthought, and given his popularity, or lack thereof, it probably was. He was usually limited to the ceiling and walls since the game cabinets were clustered together, separate enough that people could maneuver around but not him. It wasn’t even enough of a space for one of his massive hands. So he was mostly in his one room. On his stage. In the center of the arcade was a massive statue of the Glamrocks, Bonnie, Freddy Chica and Roxanne. DJ still remembered when it was Foxy there and not Roxanne but when they scrapped and replaced him they changed it. It took one single day.
DJ was sitting on his stage when MapBot wheeled in. The staffbot specifically designated to handing out maps to patrons of the Plex. DJ saw him enter and zoom past the entrance, no doubt towards the hall that would put him next to DJ’s stage, as there was a step down onto the dance floor that would have trapped the legless bot there. DJ had taken to calling him Mappy
“ Hey Mappy,” DJ greeted as the bot finally wheeled up to his stage.
“ Take a map.” Mappy waved. He was limited in what he could say and tended to rely on body language to convey what he was saying. Unfortunately he was limited in how he could move too so most struggled to understand him. DJ had nothing but time on his many hands to learn the ways of Staffbot communication.
“ What brings you to the arcade?” DJ asked, Mappy visited more often than most but still not as often as DJ would have liked. DJ wouldn’t admit it to anyone, more because he was sure nobody cared than because he was prideful, but DJ got lonely alone in the arcade.
“ Take a map,” Mappy held up one of his maps and mimed hiding behind it. Tapping Monty’s image with one of his fingers. DJ tried not to let his disappointment show. Oh. He was hiding from Monty. It wasn’t DJ’s favorite reason for a visitor, not that he’d complain. . . outloud.
DJ couldn’t even be surprised. While DJ was fairly new himself he was still older than Sun, Roxanne and Monty. Both Roxanne and Sun were made to replace Foxy. Sun was made to handle his daycare duties when it became clear Roxy’s personality wouldn’t work with kids. Monty was the newest of the group, he had been around long enough that no one even remembered he was the newest. But he was, DJ wondered who Monty was intended to replace, and when that would happen. Since Monty’s arrival he’d clearly had an aggression problem and regularly broke something. Property, Staffbots, himself. DJ lost count of how many arcade cabinets had been removed due to Monty punching it in rage. While DJ would admit the number had dwindled as of the last six months. He still had his days though and today was one of them.
“ That oversized handbag isn’t even in the band,” DJ resisted to say the word yet, “ Who does he think he is?” A stab of irritation hit him, and DJ had to remind himself to keep calm or bouncer mode might try to come on. As recently as a year ago bouncer mode had been triggered more frequently. It started small with actual security threats DJ had to ignore and let the human security staff handle, then escalated to DJ simply getting angry enough or scared enough or really any emotion that wasn’t Happy or content. Which was a hard feeling to come by these days. He had once humored the idea of reporting the problem so a technician would look at it, then thought better of it. If it proved to be too difficult to fix they’d just get rid of him, and DJ wasn’t ready to go yet.
“ Take a map,” Mappy shrugged. DJ hummed. It was that moment the elevator doors opened and DJ saw three adults step into view through the dance floors archway. Two were looking at the statue of the four Glamrocks while the third took in the whole dark space. It was a lot to see with dark walls, darker floors and the only lights being the neon blues and purples throughout the arcade. The occasional yellow, green and red. It was two females and one male wearing grayish blue jumpsuits with the Fazbear logo on them. DJ tilted his head in confusion as he observed them. He wasn’t due for a tune up was he? One of the women, wearing a red and orange Freddy bag locked eyes with him, her own went huge.
“ WOAH WHAT IS THAT?!” She sprinted into the dancefloor and skidded to a stop in front of DJ’s stage. It was then she was close enough for DJ to grab a scan of her face and pull up her employee profile. He froze when he realized who she was, “ VERNON COME LOOK AT THIS THING!” She called back, the man entered the room and looked up at DJ.
“ Woah, what the hell,” He moved closer. The second woman stayed by the statue but was watching them, and observing DJ. DJ didn’t need to scan her to know who she was anyway. It was obvious once he got the first. These three were the Glam-Techs . The three sibling team of Faz-Techs responsible for designing, building and programming the Glamrocks. All of the Glamrocks.
Cassidy Bailey, the brown doe eyed woman in front of him with copper brown hair that she kept in a messy ponytail, and freckles covering her cheeks and nose was the head Programer. She programmed all of them but was most applauded for her work on Chica, Roxanne and Bonnie. She was the Baby of the family apparently, her age saying she was twenty three.
Beside her was her brother Vernon Bailey, he like his sister had brown eyes, they seemed to have a blaze in them. His own black hair was a touch too long to be well kept but too short to be pulled back. He had a five o'clock shadow with some pig hairs on his chin. According to his file Vernon was twenty six and specialized in engineering and Robotics. He was most known for his work on Bonnie, Roxanne and Monty, giving DJ the impression he liked making strong animatronics.
The third must be Heather Bailey and though DJ couldn’t scan her he could pull up her profile by name.She was the eldest by a single year. She had brown eyes like her siblings but they were cold. She had copper brown hair that she kept tied in a messy but tight bun. She was the jack of all trade regarding Robot building but seemed to specialize in design. She was more notable for Freddy, Roxanne, and Monty. If they were here it could only mean one thing.
DJ was getting replaced.
“ They didn’t tell us there was a character already here,” Vernon said, confirming DJ’s fears. Cassidy nodded.
“ Right?” She stated, gesturing to DJ. The longer they stood the longer DJ felt his anxiety turn to panic. He glanced at where Mappy had been to find he had fled. DJ wanted to be mad but found he couldn’t bring himself to blame the staffbot. The Glam-techs were well known.
“ What’s with the giant bug,” DJ heard Heather ask and looked back at her to find she was talking to a staff member wearing a dark purple polo with neon blue and pink shaped sprinkled over it. The supervisor of the Fazcade employes. Dale DJ thought his name was.
“ Oh uh, that? It’s you know, one of the characters,” He explained weakly. Heather seemed unimpressed with his answer as she deadpanned him with what DJ had heard referred to by older patrons as a ‘Resting Bitch Face’ . “ It was an experimental thing I think” Dale quickly continued, “ Inspired by those Music Men from the pizzarias, the um,” He mimed clapping his hands, “ The ones with the cymbals?” She turned away from him, her face never changing as she stepped down into the Dancefloor, and crossed it to her siblings. Standing between them, hands on her hips as she looked up at DJ.
“ How long has this been here?” She asked, Dale shrugged.
“ Longer than me,” He said, following her. She rolled her eyes in annoyance to the response.
“ I’m surprised it hasn’t outlasted you,” She spat, Dale and DJ flinched. The action was more noticeable from DJ, making the other two siblings jump in surprise.
“ Oh woah is it on? It’s been so still, just staring at us I thought it was off,” Vernon commented. Dale shook his head.
“ Can’t turn it off, too big, won’t come back on if we do,” He explained, “ It kinda sleeps, like a sleep mode at night but it doesn’t turn off,” Vernon looked at him.
“ Why’s that,” Dale shrugged again, “ Wow you are just a fountain of information aren’t you,” Vernon drawled sarcastically, turning back to DJ, “ How sentient are you? “ He asked, and it took DJ a moment to realize he was asking DJ himself . He thought about answering, but his paralyzing anxiety finally shifted fully into fight or flight panic. He chose flight. Backing into his tunnel away from his stage. The huge space was very small for him, with no room to turn around til he found a connecting tunnel. He didn’t get that far before Vernon was climbing onto the stage clearly intending to follow him, “ Woah woah woah, Big guy where are you going!” Vernon called.
“ Yeah he does that hold on,” Dale climbed onto the stage as DJ continued to back away from them. He held up a small square Ifor DJ to see and though it was hard to make out in the low light DJ knew what it was. The controlled shock remote. DJ froze, unsure what to do. Bouncer mode tried to come on but DJ dismissed it, stuffing it down, “ Get back out here, these three wanna look at you,” Dale ordered. DJ hesitated, then slowly crawled back to his stage. The other two backed up and Dale stepped off the stage as DJ returned to the mouth of the tunnel. Vernon didn’t, taking the opportunity to look DJ over as he moved.
“ So. . . Pretty damn sentient?” Vernon asked, DJ looked over at him, making Vernon step back in surprise.
“ No more than anyone else,” DJ finally said. Vernon nodded.
“ Cassidy you gotta check his code,” Vernon said leaning over to look at his sister, Cassidy looked to Heather who nodded. Cassidy quickly climbed onto the stage and gestured for DJ to lower himself as she dug through her backpack. DJ glanced at Dale who was still thumbing the remote, before slowly lowering himself so he was laying on the stage. His fingers drumming anxiously off the edge. Cassidy tapped at his left headphone.
“ Is this your control panel?” She asked, DJ hummed in confirmation, and she opened the small panel door. Vernon seemed to finally get enough of a look because he jumped off the stage.
“ He’s pretty damn impressive, he moves so fluidly considering his size,” He commented as Cassidy plopped herself cross legged on the stage, her tabled connected to DJ’s control panel.
“ You have his file.” It wasn’t a question. It was a demand. Dale instinctively, and stupidly patted himself down before pointing to the archway leading back to the arcade.
“ Yeah! Yeah it’s in the office, hang on,” He sprinted out of the room.
“ Do you actually need it or were you just getting rid of him,” Vernon asked, sending his sister a smirk. Heather sent him a look, and Vernon chuckled in response.
“ What’s your name?” Heather asked DJ, who rhythmically drummed his fingers harder on the stage.
“ DJ Music Man?” He responded. Heather raised an eyebrow at him.
“ Is that your name or are you asking me?” DJ felt his systems heat up and his fans kicked on to stop him from overheating.
“ M-my name,” He managed. Heather nodded, holding her hand out behind her as Dale returned, folder in hand. He handed it to her, and she opened it.
“ What is it you do here, DJ Music Man,” She asked, DJ didn’t answer right away, there was too much happening and he felt like he was suffocating, despite the fact that he did not need to breath.When he took too long to answer Heather looked back up at him eyebrow raised.
“ S-Sorry I’m nervous,” DJ quickly sputtered before continuing, “ I-I play music, remixing,” DJ was squeezing the stage and could feel it straining under his grip but drumming his fingers was no longer helping. Not when he was pleading his case for existence. Heather seemed to accept his excuse for his hesitancy.
“ I suppose you should be nervous,” She said, looking back to his folder, “ Is that all?” She asked, DJ heard the stage creek from his hold.
“ Alright let go of the stage,” Dale ordered, presenting the remote again, DJ reflexively released the stage. Heather shot him a glare and Vernon turned on him.
“ Do not push that button while my baby sister is that close to him, she’ll get shocked too,” Vernon practically growled. Dale flinched.
“ But he’ll break-”
“ Then let him. '' Vernon snarled, “ Let him break the stage, it’s a stage, it doesn't take long to fix but you electrocute my sister and I will break you.” Vernon warned him, Dale pocketed the remote, hands up in surrender, Vernon turned back to DJ.
“ Do what you gotta do big guy,” Vernon said, his voice a 180 degree from how it was a minute ago. DJ hesitantly placed his hands back on the stage, and started drumming his fingers again. Heather turned back to DJ’s folder.
“ What else do you do?” She asked again. DJ found himself gripping the stage again.
“ I p-preform janitorial duties,” please don’t ask for clarification, please don’t ask for clarification, PLEASE don’t ask for clarification.
“ Could you clarify what those are,” Damn it! DJ would sink in on himself if he could.
“ No. . .I-I can’t,” He admitted, Heather hummed.
“ So you don’t know what they are either?” DJ stared at her. Either? Vernon noticed too.
“ Is it not in his file?” He asked, looking over at her, she tipped the folder so he could see it better, Vernon leaned over his eyes scanning the page, “ Woah woah, hold up,” He pointed at DJ almost accusingly, “ You have a Bouncer mode ?! What is that? How does that work?!” He asked, DJ stared for a moment and amazingly they waited for his response, but Dale was faster.
“ Bouncer Mode doesn’t work, it’s still in development,” He explained, Vernon glared at him, and turned his accusatory finger on him.
“ First off, didn’t ask you, ” He snapped, “ Secondly, That’s not what it says in his file! Says it’s been done with development for a while now,” he leaned over to double check the file, “ Bouncer mode has been completed and can be used as soon as April third twenty- YEAH! It’s been done a while now, he should be able to use it,” Vernon turned to DJ who was staring wide eyed, not that anyone could tell with his pupiless gaze.
“ I -I was told it would void my warranty,” DJ sputtered automatically. Vernon shook his head.
“ Bull shit, these people just didn’t want a lawsuit! Look at him, he’s TOO BIG!” Vernon snapped, gesturing to him. Heather turned the file away from him, flipping through the pages as she let her brother go off, “ I mean he tried to stop any fights in here he’s gonna squash the people involved and then BAM lawsuit, He can clean jack squat because he’s too big to go anywhere, there is no space on that ground floor,” Vernon snapped, pointing to the archway leading to the arcade, “ It’s like they made him for shock value and then were like, ‘ doh shit, how do we make this practical? I know SLAP A BUNCH OF USELESS FEATURES ON HIM!!!’ “ He shouted, slapping his hand five times with his last few words. DJ desperately wanted to run again, but didn’t since Dale still had the remote, and the third Glam-tech sibling was still attached to his control panel. Heather turned a page in DJ’s folder with a sigh.
“ I am a foot from you.” She reminded him, “ there is no need to shout.” Vernon let out a frustrated groan.
“ BUT HIS CONCEPT IS SO COOL!” Vernon exclaimed, gesturing to DJ, “ It has so much potential, it’s just not utilized correctly,” He huffed finally. Heather closed the folder.
“ We’re on the clock, if you’re gonna jiz your pants over his mechanics go somewhere else,” She snapped, Vernon sent her a playful glare, “ Cassidy hows the code look?” She asked, Cassidy looked up as if she had completely zoned out the last several minutes.
“ Hm? Oh! Yeah, it runs so smooth I can’t believe it’s not butter,” She laughed at her own joke, and actually got a chuckle out of DJ. She giggled at the sound of it, “ Heh, I bet you needed a laugh huh,” she patted his head, “ anyway yeah it really nice code, who ever designed this knew what they were doing.” Heather hummed.
“ And Bouncer mode,” She asked, Cassidy hummed as she messed with her tablet.
“ Um. . . I’m having trouble accessing it to get a clear look but it looks okay from what I can see,” She said, Heather nodded.
“ alright then,” Heather held up her phone and took a picture of DJ, Vernon quickly fumbled and followed suit, taking a picture from his side, confusing the beetle, “ I have what I need,” Heather said, pocketing her phone, “ C’mon Cass,” Heather turned and started for the elevator, Vernon followed but at a slower pace while Cassidy unattached herself from DJ, and stuffing her tablet and cable back into her back before jumping off the stage to sprint after her siblings. Vernon sped up once she caught up. Dale and DJ watched them go, and when they were gone Dale sent DJ an annoyed look. DJ half expected a shock to come, but it didn’t. At least not an electric shock.
“ Well now, your days are numbered,” Dale walked away.The weight of what had just happened hit DJ so hard he almost collapsed on the stage, instead he sunk into his tunnels to hide away with his existential dread.
Ten Days passed. Ten agonizing days where DJ was forced to smile and play music, waving to the occasional patron or fellow animatronic that came around. DJ briefly thought about telling someone about what was happening, but then he figured they knew, the staff certainly did, constantly whispering about it or talking about it like he wasn’t there. If they didn’t know, then he figured they didn’t care. When DJ wasn’t performing he was hiding away, trying his best not to panic, not to let bouncer mode come on. Trying to keep it together, occasionally wondering why he bothered anymore. Why not let it come on, then his fear would circle back around and he wouldn’t bring himself to let it come on.
On the tenth day, December Sixth.It was before the Plex opened when the Glam-Tech siblings returned, looking tired but pleased with themselves. They wheeled in a tall eleven foot mass covered in a protective sheet into the arcade and past the arch way to the hall connecting to the stage. DJ saw them. Dj Panicked, and backed into his tunnel, and hid deep inside it, far enough they wouldn’t see him, close enough so he could see them.
“ Oi!” He heard Vernon snap, “ where'd he go?” Vernon climbed onto the stage and looked into the tunnel, “ HEY! “ He called, cupping his hands over his mouth, “ COME BACK HERE!” DJ didn’t move. Cassidy stepped onto the stage next to him, and clicked on a flashlight, its beam pointed to the ground. Well shit. DJ didn’t count on a flashlight. She lifted the beam to shine in DJ’s face.
“ There he is!” She said cheerfully, DJ flinched at the slight and moved a hand to cover his eyes.
“ Hey big guy! Come on out, we gotta get this show on the road before the guests show up!” Vernon called, less loud since he knew how far DJ was this time. DJ shrunk in on himself and backed further into the tunnel, “ No no, don’t do that! I don’t wanna chase you through these tunnels man,” Vernon called exasperated. DJ wanted to snap that he didn’t want to die but fear held his voice box hostage. Heather came into view.
“ I’ve had enough of this if you’d rather we shut you down and put a new AI in it, fine but I got the impression you wanted to keep existing.” She snapped in annoyance. DJ froze.
“ W-what?” He asked, Heather shook her head.
“ It’s cheaper to transport your perfectly good AI than build a new one!” She snapped, “ Come out here so we can move you to the new body,” She ordered. DJ didn’t move, uncertain of her intentions.
“ H-How do I know you’re telling the truth?” He asked, “ How do I know you actually plan to move me,” He tilted his head to the side. Heather impatiently crossed her arms while Vernon and Cassidy looked at her.
“ You don’t.” She said simply and coldly, “ But your options are to come out here, and get transferred to a new body, with the possibility that I’m lying to you about it, or ” She stressed the word, “ You can do what you’re doing now, running from us and guaranteeing your end because we’ll just go and come back when we have a new AI for it, and definitely shut you down.” When she put it that way DJ didn’t have much of a choice, he wasn’t really debating as he was processing. Then slowly, he started crawling forward again. Nervously hovering at the very opening on the tunnel, not quite on the stage. Cassidy grinned at him.
“ You wanna see it before we move you?” She asked, DJ hesitated, then nodded. Vernon pointed to a spot off stage Right. An uncovered animatronic body stood there, strapped to a dolly. It was tall, as previously mentioned with a similarly shaped head to his own. A little more rounded than his awkwardly blocky head. It’s eyes were blocked out but Vernon informed him it would have multi colored pupils that change color once it was powered on.
“ To make you seem less creepy, people will be able to see where you're looking,” He explained. The body still had blue eyebrows, blue cheeks, a blue stripe on its chin, and a pink nose. Still had neon headphones with a red band over a top hat, but there appeared to be dials on either phone.It’s mouth wasn’t the gaping maw DJ had, it was flat, and seemed to resemble a digital screen.
“ You’ll be able to emote more with this, make practically any expression you want!” Cassidy exclaimed excitedly. Its body was painted to look like it was wearing a white V-neck dress shirt under a pair of neon green shoulder pads. A speaker was sitting in the center of the V and the space around it that wasn't the painted on white ‘shirt’ was painted dark gray. DJ’s blue stripes were reinterpreted to be suspenders on the body that connected to a magenta belt that connected to its legs that were also painted white til it got to calves where it was painted to look like it was wearing black knee high studded boots. The body had four arms, the biceps were painted to look like it was wearing white sleeves complete with painted cuff buttons, while it’s forearms were painted a dark gray. It had red studded bands just before its wrist joints. Each hand was painted white to resemble the gloves he currently had.
Once DJ had gotten a good look at the body that Heather claimed would be his own soon, DJ lowered himself to the stage, Cassidy patted his headphone lightly, “ Poor baby, so nervous,” She baby talked, and it did not comfort DJ, he wasn’t even sure if that was her intention or if she was teasing him. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was the empty body in front of him.
If DJ was able to feel anything during the start up process it would be relief. Instead that wave hit him when he was conscious and staring into the worn not well maintained face of his old body. It’s mouth was dark as it was no longer powered on. Vernon squatted down in front of DJ from the stage, so he was closer to DJ’s eye level.
“ Alright follow the pen,” He said, holding up the pen and moving it around, DJ’s gaze quickly locked onto it and followed its motion. Vernon nodded, “ Alright now repeat after me, She sells seashells by the seashore ” Vernon said, DJ raised an eyebrow, “ Say it,” Vernon pressed.
“ She sells seashells by the seashore?” DJ repeated, noting how quiet his voice sounded in his smaller body. Vernon reached over and turned the dial on his left headphone.
“ Now say Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” He said. DJ obliged. Flinching as his voice boomed at a volume that he was much more familiar with but still wasn’t expecting. Vernon winced too, Cassidy flinched, and covered her ears, only successful with one since she was holding a tablet in her hand. Heather grimaced. Vernon reached over and turned the dial back the other way a little, “ let’s get TaterTots and Lots-A-Tots at the Tot Lot, ” Vernon said, and DJ already understood the game, repeated it. This time his voice was what most would consider a normal volume. Vernon nodded, “ Alright voice box works, Cassidy hearing test,” Vernon said, Cassidy tapped on her tablet and DJ flinched when a loud sound of cymbals went off to his right, he turned trying to found the source of the sound, only having enough time to process that nothing was there before the sound happened again, this time from the left. DJ spun around instinctively to find the source. He stumbled on two unstable legs and fell on his butt. Vernon and Cassidy were laughing. Vernon recovered first.
“ Alright alright, can you stand up and cross the dancefloor to that wall?” He asked, pointing to the wall across the room. DJ blinked at him, processing both what had just happened and what he had just been instructed. There was a long stretch of nothing.
“ Did you not put enough processing power?” Cassidy asked, to which Vernon clearly took personal offense.
“ I put enough processing power in there,” He snapped. Heather put a hand on his shoulder.
“ As much as I to want to move on, we do have to keep in mind he just went from that,” She jerked her thumb at the twenty foot husk behind them, “ To that,” She pointed to DJ sitting on the floor still, “ Give him a moment,” And with that the three fell silent as they watched him.DJ hesitated from his spot on the floor. He looked down at his feet and experimentally tilted his left foot to the left, then the right, it tapped against his right foot with a metallic tung . DJ hesitated again before making his right foot tap against his left twice to hear the tung tung as they connected. He felt a giggle bubble up in him but he swallowed it down. Feeling the pressure of six semi patient eyes on him.
He looked at all four of his new hands, quickly giving each of them experimental finger wiggles, wrist rotations and fist making. Then he realized he still had to get up from the floor. He paused as he questioned how he’d get up. Surely he’d seen staff fall down before, they usually braced themselves didn’t they? That wasn’t too different from how he used to move around in his old body.
DJ looked around at the ground before cautiously using his two lower arms, his secondary arms , to push himself while using his primary left hand to brace himself on the stage as he lifted himself unsteadily to his feet. Then he looked up at the siblings. Vernon pointed to the wall across from the stage. Reminding DJ what his actual task was. DJ turned and took a cautious step towards the wall, then after a pause he took another. Then another, by the time he was halfway across the dance floor there was no hesitation between steps. He pressed a hand to the wall as he reached it and looked back. Cassidy clapped and bounced a little, Heather looked unimpressed but Vernon sent him a thumbs up.
“ Good, good, now come back,” He called. DJ felt that giddy excitement well up inside him again and this time he couldn’t contain it. A grin spread across his face and he broke into a full sprint back to the stage. Stumbling slightly as he struggled to stop. He caught himself by slamming his primary hands on the stage floor, his secondary arms stuck out at his sides to keep his balance. There was a beat of silence Cassidy broke into a fit of giggles.
“ Awe!” She squatted down, poking his shoulder and cheek repeatedly in a baby voice, “ He got a little excited!” DJ didn’t appreciate the condescending nature of her tone, but given that it was what happened, and they did just literally spare his existence by transferring his AI instead of deleting it, he didn’t complain. Instead he sent her a sheepish smile. Vernon huffed and squatted down on DJ’s right side, lifting DJ’s right primary hand off the stage and rotating the wrist joints.
“ Don’t do that, you’re very expensive,” He scoffed, setting the right hand down and reaching out for the left, DJ obliged and let Vernon check it.
“ So motor skills, voice box, visuals? All good?” Heather asked, arms crossed as she moved to stand between her two crouching siblings. DJ tried to look up at her, which alone felt unnatural, but it was especially difficult with the empty shell that was once his body laying deactivated on the stage. It triggered an uncomfortable icy feeling deep in DJ’s chest as he tried to ignore the massive thing looming over them. He ended up looking away. Unable to look at it anymore.
“,Um I mean, he’ll probably need time to adjust, and we still haven't tested EVERYTHING, but the basics are good yeah,” Vernon reported, “ Scuffs are fine, avoid dents,” Vernon added, pointing at DJ’s face before standing by himself. DJ blinked in surprise then chuckled.
“ I’ll try,” He joked, Vernon pointed warningly at him. Heather ignored this.
“ Alright then, let’s debut him,” She said, climbing off the stage and heading towards the entrance of the dance floor. Vernon and Cassidy followed her, leaving DJ standing by the stage. They all crossed the Dance floor threshold then paused, looking back at him expectantly. They stared at each other for a moment then realization hit DJ.
“ Oh! Right!” He ran to catch up to them, pausing at the archway. An Arch way literally hours ago he was too big to fit through, he had to duck his head a little to step through it. HIs eyes wide as he took in the arcade from the ground floor for the first time in his entire existence. It was massive, it was beautiful and it was a little overwhelming. DJ almost felt like the room was swaying from the colors. The massive gold stature looming over him for once.
“ Big guy we’re going,” Vernon called, as they headed to a door labeled Staff Only . The staff tunnels, tunnels DJ had heard of but had never seen. He headed towards them.
“ Sorry, I’ve never left the arcade before,” DJ said as he looked around, he began tapping the knuckles of his secondary hands rhythmically. Subconsciously. Vernon chuckled.
“ Yeah I bet.” He said holding the door open for DJ. DJ dipped his head again to enter the tunnel, and start down the stairs. The staff tunnels were dark and DJ couldn’t see much. But the walk to wherever they were taking him kept him from worrying about as they continued to inform him of features he had, but they didn’t have time to test.
“ LIke Dark halls like these won’t be a problem once you use bouncer Mode.” Cassidy informed him excitedly. DJ felt a shock run through him. He still had bouncer mode? “ You’ll have thermal and night vision, only active in bouncer mode of course,” She giggled as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and passed a sign with three location written on it. One pointed up the way they came and read West arcade . While the other two pointed in the direction they were heading and read Parts & Service and the other read MAIN STAGE .
“ I can’t use bouncer mode,” DJ reminded her, “ It voids my warranty,” Vernon scoffed in an annoyed way.
“ No it doesn’t,” He huffed, DJ gave him a confused look. Heather sighed and turned her head to look back at him while she walked.
“ We talk to management about that, they confirmed that they mainly told you that so you wouldn’t injure a patron by accident,” She explained, DJ felt a flare of annoyance hit him. “But now that you’re smaller, bouncer mode could actually be utilized,” She finished. They passed a hall that seemed to have an assembly line in it. It was lined with inactive endos. One twitched. DJ flinched. He hoped they were inactive. DJ turned back to her, forcing himself to not dwell on it.
“ I can’t use bouncer mode,” DJ stressed. Heather came to a dead top, making the other three stop with her. DJ actually stumbled a bit. She turned, hands on her hips, eyebrow raised.
“ Why?” She asked, “ Is there something wrong with it?” She leaned forward a little. DJ felt anxiety start to creep back into his chest. What could he tell her? That bouncer mode had been trying to activate on it’s own for a year now? That he struggled to keep it off? That he didn’t know what would happen or what he would do if it did come on? DJ shook his head.
“ N-no. . .” He forced a smile, Heather eyed him for a moment longer then they continued walking past two large red double doors. A charging station was positioned next to the doors. DJ imagined it was for the other animatronics since it was roughly their size. Large lettering hung above the door. PARTS & SERVICE . They turned right towards a hall that led to a large shutter door. It lifted and revealed a large circular platform. Heather released a breath.
“ ALright, I’m heading up to start the announcement, I’ll radio you when it’s time to send him up,” She said to Vernon who unclipped a radio from his hip and pressed the talk button making both radios beep. Heather nodded, and headed for a door labeled stairs. DJ watched this happen, anxiety growing in him. His rhythmic tapping got faster.
“ Um. . what’s happening?” He asked, as the door closed. Vernon turned to him.
“ It’s opening time, time to show the public the new you,” He explained, guiding DJ onto the platform. DJ primary hands were clenching and unclenching at his side nervously. DJ could hear Heather above him talking but she couldn’t make out what she was saying.
“ Send him up,” Heather’s voice cut through the air from the radio. DJ felt the anxiety turn to panic so quickly it practically gave him whiplash. Vernon pushed the button and stepped back from the platform.
“ On route,” he said into the radio, “ Break a leg,” He called to DJ. DJ stepped towards him, he wasn’t ready for this, he wasn’t sure what this was, but he wasn’t ready for it.
“ Wait! Wait! Wait! What am I doing?! What’s happening-” Vernon was gone behind a wall as the platform lifted up. DJ was left alone in the dark slowly moving space. DJ turned back the way he was originally faced, trying to steady his ever wavering nerves. The walls slowly slid past him as the darkness seemed to enclose around him. It wasn’t like small spaces were new to him, his tunnels had always been just big enough for him to go one direction through. Maybe it was because the space would have been too small for him mere hours ago, maybe it was because everything was so new to him and he was getting overwhelmed by it all, either way the shadows felt like serpents trying to crush him.
The ceiling above him opened up and a blinding light poured into the space, DJ had to shield his eyes with his right primary hand, his secondary hands no longer tapping and instead squeezing each other tightly. He could hear Heather’s voice more clearly now.
“ So I’d like to introduce, or reintroduce, the NEW and IMPROVED ,” DJ was suddenly passing the ceiling opening and as his eyes adjusted he became aware of the new lights, flashing and continuously blinding him. Photos being taken, he realized. Something he was a little more familiar with. His eyes adjusted to those too and he realized he was standing in the center of a massive room he’d never been in before. He was on a stage, before the stage was party tables, and several staff bots, and even the Glamrocks themselves, staring agape at him. People were lined up on the balcony of the second floor, he could see signs for each of the attractions and could even see Sun standing by a sign that read Kid’s cove . Covering his mouth in shock. All eyes were on DJ as his brain finally processed where he must be. He was standing on the MAIN STAGE and even
more people were pouring in from the second floor as Heather finished her introduction, “ DJ MUSIC MAN! ”
More fan art by oobbbear! It's so many doodles but they're all so cute! :D
