#{ sammy's fear response is for sure ''freeze'' which...does not bode well }

[curseofbreadbear]

[Sammy had made the implication clear -- he'd witnessed his "uncle's" actions on Halloween night. He was sure that there would be a response now, although he feared exactly what it might be. In a way, he'd almost be more worried if he received a kind response instead of the violent one he continued to anticipate -- if William tried to hurt him, he would at least know it was coming ( whether or not he'd be able to do anything about it, though? He wasn't sure ). On the other hand, William's persistent niceties could mean one of two things...]

[Either Sammy was delusional ( and he was sure he wasn't -- he would never have imagined something so horrible ), or he was trying to lull Sammy into a false sense of security.]

[Sammy trembled as the rabbit tilted his head, remarking that he'd also seen Charlie that night. Bonnie's unblinking eyes didn't bother Sammy normally, but when their suit was inhabited by a human being, they felt so much more imposing. He shut his eyes and buried his face into Fredbear's again, hoping to distract himself from the sight.]

["Most of us think we did." Was he accusing Sammy of lying? Or worse, implying that he'd gotten confused about the night's events? To an extent, Halloween was a blur -- he remembered sobbing in his father's arms, prompting a search for his sister, and the horrific blend of masked faces that frantically ran inside and out of the diner, calling out for his sister. She wouldn't respond -- Sammy knew what happened to her. That was his most vivid memory of the night; lingering behind the diner's windows, expecting William to guide Charlie back inside...only to kill her.]

["You must have been so scared." He felt a weight on his shoulder, and immediately tensed -- he'd been terrified to open his eyes before, but without a doubt, William had his hand ( the rabbit's paw ) on his shoulder. It took all of his strength not to scream out or cry.]

[William called him brave, and praised him for his ability to return here -- it wasn't his choice. He'd been dragged here by his brother. If he had the option, he would leave and never come back. Alas, with his "uncle" clinging to his shoulder like this, he'd be too petrified to run. He felt trapped, but he'd done this to himself.]

❝ ... ❞ [Rendered speechless ( again ), Sammy shook his head; it was the best way to tell William that he was wrong about everything without needing to speak. Sammy wasn't brave, he wasn't strong, and most of all...he knew what happened. He wasn't confused. He took a few trembling breaths, desperately clinging to his plush. Tell him.] ❝ ...Charlie isn't missing. I-I...know what you did to her. ❞

A rabbit in the headlights, too slow to escape its painful demise but not quite slow enough to remain oblivious to the danger, William pauses. Just for a moment. Perhaps not long enough to display any kind of admission of guilt - perhaps just long enough to raise suspicion. Not that it matters: Sammy is convinced enough as it is, and the tears in his eyes panic William as much as they irritate him. Some things never change: a crying child will always catch people's attention, and the last thing he needs is the boy to start wailing to adults about how his Uncle William had murdered his sister.

He's played the comedy mask; the tragedy mask is a little harder, but just as insincere. It's much less work to emote when his face is covered, and it's simple enough to put that grotesquely-silly sadness into his voice when he speaks.

"I saw Charlie on Halloween, too," he says, tilting that large, grinning rabbit head to the side, the wide flat eyes never leaving Sammy's face. "Goodness, I think most of us think we did. It was such a mess, wasn't it? So loud and confusing. You must have been scared."

Serpentine - as much as it was possible, in the suit - William reaches out, goes to lay a hand on Sammy's shoulder. In another time (only a week ago, maybe) it might have been comforting.

"You're awfully brave, you know. Coming back here. You're a strong boy."