#like she just sees herself and circus baby as one in the same and it just kinda stops there

[scover-va]

*william afton voice* Of course you aren’t “cisgender”, Michael, it came free with your fucking identity crisis

[mylittleredgirl]

i know some of you have been pressing your faces to the glass waiting for me to see this one in particular SO i saw "the nurses" the other night and am still thinking about it!!

i love love love it when characters get pushed to a point where you can almost see their childhood selves pop out, like are they even talking about what's happening right now? or are their 12-year-old hearts just screaming?? i love that margaret's outburst is both irrational (the hostile work environment is coming from inside the house; i was yelling at my tv "baby it's your fault!!!") and so so honest.

[this turned into a bit of a character thesis, so not only is there a readmore, there will also be a reblog soon with the rest of the post because i maxed out the image limit] [edit: part ii now in the reblogs!]

this whole time, margaret has treated her subordinates with a heavy hand because she thinks it's the right and fair thing to do. the rules say this is how it works!

she maintains a high standard of excellence in brutal circumstances, but she's also reactive, moody, and unforgiving. she's often shown on the edge of losing control and authority, she inflames situations by overreacting, and the thing she punishes most egregiously is disrespect (toward frank, toward the army, toward herself). she intentionally underlines the distance between herself and the other nurses at every turn.

from season 3 "there's nothing like a nurse": [all IDs in alt]

really, everything she thinks and does comes from a place of "they're not supposed to like me," but the childish part of her that is completely unable to see her own behavior is confused and hurt because "i'm just doing my job so why don’t they like me???"

it's her job to maintain discipline, but especially here in 4077-land, she doesn't have to lead with the whip. henry was beloved because he was an overly permissive clown, which will never be her speed, but colonel potter has all the same training as she does. he's loved and respected as the Good Regular Army Guy because he leads with discernment and mutual respect.

it's easier for him. he's more experienced, he's respected and supported from above and below, and he has a calm temperament — which isn't nothing.

from season 4 "the interview":

whether she's aware of this as a problem or not, we at home can see how margaret's inability to control her emotional reactivity causes her as much grief as her inability to control other people.

if she were capable of laughing off small slights, hawkeye and trapper wouldn't have used her as a chew toy so much, and henry might have taken her real concerns more seriously if they weren't lost in the noise of daily fits, you know? she rarely started it, so i'm not blaming her for the hostile chaos circus of seasons 1-3, but i am saying she would have had a better time if she knew how to take a few deep breaths.

this description from the script, after the near-brawl in the nurses' tent in act one, is basically her character thesis statement:

and here, when she's reacting fully emotionally, the truth comes out! the reason that she won't be flexible and show compassion to the nurses isn't because of the rules, but because they're mean to her!!

that's obviously a very bad place to lead from. she has enormous institutional power over them, including controlling their freedom of movement, but she feels like all the other girls in school are hanging out together and they hate her. because they are! and they do! the fight in act one boils over when they make fun of her hair, and that sent all of them back to middle school.

and in many ways, that's where margaret's emotional maturity is stuck (which is, i think, why i find her so endearing). she can't see herself. she knows they don't like her, trust her, or want her around, but she doesn't understand how she dug this hole herself, or how to get out of it.

to add insult to jealous injury, one of the nurses (mary jo, who gets between margaret and baker to stop the fight and takes care of the others in different ways) is margaret's age, and the others look to her as their chosen leader and personal support.

and i'm sure margaret had NO IDEA this was the messy truth until she heard it come out of her mouth.

and her emotionally breaking on the "one lousy cup of coffee" in particular…

i wonder, how often does some version of that first tent scene happen? does she deliver their assignments every night? she walks in already defensive, they immediately stop laughing, and then... she either finds a reason to scold them or they ice her out until she leaves. (and they probably start laughing again as soon as she does!)

from her perspective, when she arrived for the dreaded sleepover and they turned out the lights the minute she walked in, it's like they cancelled the nightly coffee klatch just to avoid spending one social minute with her.

i also think the nurses are right when they assumed that she wouldn't have accepted an invitation to hang out with them (and might even have snapped at them for being inappropriate for asking). she doesn't cross that emotional line, even when she should — she didn't know gaynor was spiraling after losing so many patients in a row, and didn't respond compassionately when she learned.

has she ever invited them for coffee or a friendly chat? no.

...... but her circumstances have recently changed.

[reblog with the rest of it is here!]

[the-s1lly-corner]

Hello, could you do, gummigo x wife reader, where the two say goodbye before gummigo leaves with his brothers, to steal Maple Syrup from the Kingdom of Candy Canyon, but when they fall off the map with Pomni, he tells him about the reader Afterwards, when Caine kills Gummigo, I think, the team goes on an adventure again to the same place as Candy, but he finds the village where Gummigo lived. Pomni goes to look for Readee to tell her, and when he finds her, The reader invites her to come to the house, where Pomni discovers that they both had a baby, and Pomni doesn't know how to tell the reader.

pomni visiting npc!gummigoos wife!reader after caine poofs gummigoo

short post! not much to say here in the beginning notes lmao notes: reader is gn, maybe afab due to the baby but one can assume they dont have to be given digital world physics + npc stuff Cws: guilt

one can assume that gummigoo still exists, just poofed and sent back to the void waiting for when he needs to be used once more. though i personally think that if he were to return, he would not remember anything that happened in episode 2... so lets explore two ideas in this post! ill divide each by a gap

assuming gummigoo does not return in the quest that involves the reader, and pomni stumbles upon you and sees your child... oh god she feels so horrible. as far as she knows shes doomed gummigoo- and that he no longer exists. ragathas reassurance that he may come out again did little to comfort her

she cant bring herself to be around you for long

she wants to tell you, she feels like she needs to- but you talk like everything is perfectly fine. of course you would, you werent sentient. you had all of these false memories. to you gummigoo had only been gone for a short period, off trying to get the syrup to save your village

ultimately i feel like pomni may swallow her guilt, what if she told you what happened and the exact same thing happens to you? poofed. she wouldnt let you go to the circus, but does that really matter? does this place still exist when the circus members are there?

its all so suffocating, she cant stand it. and the fact that youre trying to ask her whats wrong only makes her feel worse- she feels like shes going to puke

she likely holes herself up in her room as soon as the adventure ends, trying to recover.. its not going to get easier, is it?

but on the chance that gummigoo is around once more, just without his memories of... everything he experienced that day..

its not much better, but at least pomni can try to convince herself that at least he still exists- even if not consciously. it kills her a little inside to see the three of you interact with each other

completely unaware that you arent real people

you talk about how your child is the light of your life

but theyre just lines of code

the visit is brief, she doesnt find much of a reason to stick around

theres still the thought in her mind, almost telling her that shes obligated to tell you and your family everything thats going on

but you look so peaceful and shes not sure she can handle shattering your reality and just leaving you all alone- she has to go back to the circus eventually and shes learned her lesson that she cant bring any of you with her

similarly, the idea of "do you even exist when you arent needed" plagues her mind- would telling you and leaving you here do anything? would you all just forget again? that feels... needlessly cruel

[thewadapan]

Spent today checking out The Amazing Digital Circus and Murder Drones, and god, the kids today have it so good when it comes to this sort of content. When I was a teen, I was obsessed with Red vs. Blue and RWBY, which I think it's fair to say are the equivalents of the time, and the sheer gulf in terms of writing quality and production value is stunning. I hear there were some rumblings of unprofessional conduct from the production company, which would hardly be surprising considering this is yet another guys-working-from-their-basement success story, but much bigger companies with much shittier business practises consistently put out much worse content than this.

The Amazing Digital Circus is definitely the better show of the two, thanks to its slam-dunk premise and some great writing from Gooseworx. The producers have talked about aiming to fill a perceived gap in the market between kids' cartoons (The Boss Baby) and adult animation (Bojack Horseman), and I think they have successfully threaded the needle to create a very unique tone. There's a sense of these works existing totally outside the mainstream media machine; they're not getting BBFC rated, but you just know millions of kids are watching them. It's on YouTube and the fact that it looks like some Frozen Spider-Man kids' slop just means da parents won't question what their kids are watching.

But truth be told, there's nothing objectionable about the content of The Amazing Digital Circus whatsoever. It's unusually metatextual and loosely apes the aesthetics of much darker media, touching on slightly more existential themes than your typical kids' cartoon, but it still has a lot in common with those same cartoons. The zany characters are all fairly one-note, and the emotional arcs of the episodes are honestly quite straightforward. The second episode in particular has an absolutely textbook plot structure to it. It's a far more self-assured and traditional style of writing than you ever see in this kind of independent work—certainly far more so than Murder Drones, which is written by an insane person.

More than anything, I'm reminded of how I felt watching Puella Magi Madoka Magica: that it's a very solid work of fiction, but that the people who'd get the most out of the work are isolated teens struggling to make the transition into adulthood. Certainly if nothing else, the fandoms of these shows must be bringing a lot of kids together around the world. I adore this soundbite from Goose: "Above anything else, I just wanted it to feel kind of lonely." You see Pomni's worldview shatter, she suddenly finds herself in a body that feels completely wrong, and she has to construct a new kind of belonging for herself.

As for Murder Drones, that show's absolutely fucking nuts, yo. The writing is at once painfully basic and utterly incomprehensible. If someone just sat down and explained the plot straightforwardly, it would be fantastically boring. But man, the presentation, the sheer delight the animators seem to approach every scene with...! I'd say it's clearly trying to use "the characters are robots" as an excuse to expose da kids to some absolutely shocking levels of gore, much like the Transformers movies, but midway through the series it starts straightup swapping the oil and wires for blood and bones and you've got to respect that.

The writing itself is so excruciatingly irony-poisoned that it goes beyond cringe and somehow wraps back around again to being sincerely funny. The show kind of wants to have its cake and eat it in terms of constantly lampshading how flat and cliché the emotional plotting is, but also clearly aiming to genuinely tug at the heartstrings and whip fans into a frenzy. And it kind of succeeds, I think! The way it veers between bizarrely high-effort implementations of memes, seriously cool fight scenes and horror visuals, and big emotional moments is very disarming. If The Amazing Digital Circus is an attempt to faithfully rework the American-cartoon formula for a slightly older audience, Murder Drones aims to crib the aesthetics of high-school cartoons while actively rejecting every traditional narrative technique used in those stories. Which means it's kind of bad, which means it's also kind of great.

If it's not already, then within a couple of years it will be deeply cringe to have ever been into Murder Drones in particular or (to a slightly lesser extent) The Amazing Digital Circus, in much the same way that everyone seems embarrassed to admit they were ever a Homestuck fan. But like with Homestuck, I feel like these series are genuinely pushing at the frontiers of storytelling in a way that's commendable and might inspire new kinds of writing once the fans grow up.

ENA is also pretty good, for the record.

[ladytrist]

Marionetta: Thoughts on how Julia is doing

Just so we’re on the same page: Chapter 53 is the latest update in my country.

Based on Chapter 53, Julia claims that she found a purpose in the circus - being productive with a real job. And her friendship with Kamille is healing. However, I for once believe that she’s not near to being alright at all. I believe she’s just really DISTRACTING herself and is still in the heavy process of convincing herself that everything has already come to place that everything is alright, but I really don’t think it is. Besides Kamille, she needs someone in the circus that she can fully trust but I believe that Julia is still lost, confused, and scared - probably not like the first time she entered the circus but yeah she really needs someone wiser to confide to. And I just don’t think she can fully trust tonny yet.

Someone commented that Julia is being lied to and I 100% agree. I don’t think her letters to her father are actually being sent. Dotty is highly suspicious, the circus is her haven and she would do anything to protect it.

The reason why I’m really convinced that this is really just a calm before the storm is that Kamille is now the first one to be concerned about Julia’s contract. Julia shouldn’t put all her faith to tonny resolving everything

Julia honey, No.

Plus I think Julia still has a lot of things pent up after the stunt sahed pulled her into (unaliving tonny). I just think that tonny and especially dotty has julia on a tether. They’re focusing too much on Julia not to go scheming again while have they even considered her actually mental and emotional well being? I know Tonny had a talk with her about how he made a mistake not being there for julia enough but I still think that he needs to try and genuinely understand ehat Julia is feeling and what she is going through. If they just let Julia be on a leash nothing good is gonna happen.

Also I’m not saying that nobody in the circus has helped Julia in the past. Tonny is a kind person but he definitely could’ve done more for Julia. Before season 2, Julia was just practically running around in desperate for someone to help her. Everybody was just like “oh yeah you’re dead now but relax”, Julia really needed help but she was just overlooked. When someone is distraught, overlooking their issues would create twice the trouble for them. Julia got invloved with sahed because there was no one to guide her. Even kamilled dismissed what she was feeling. Julia didn’t want to be in the circus, Imagine what she felt. Of course people like dotty who sees the circus as their haven would think Julia is just overreacting.

Julia is still definitely not okay…have y’all seen the ending of chapter 53. Our girl was imagining home but it didn’t end well. My poor baby julia needs a hug.

Phew…sorry guys, I just see myself a lot in Julia.

[zorosleftshoe]

Hii, can you do a Colby Brock x fem!reader when the whole group went to the haunted clown motel (2021)? :)

Sam and Colby plan a prank (identical in the video) for Alex and fem!reader. Fem!reader obviously screams and falls on the chair and tries to hide herself (I hope this makes sense, if not do whatever you desire <3). When they tell that it was a prank she makes jokes (for example: when we’re back home your sleeping on the couch (Colby) and etc). They have to sleep in different rooms: Sam and Colby, Nate and cameraman (Justin), fem!reader and Alex [obviously single beds XD], Colby and fem!reader text for a little bit and colby whines that he needs his cuddles and that’s pretty much it.

If this is too much I apologise in advance, I just rarely see these type of fan fics. Make it as long as you want it to be ❤️

Yes! I could relate to this cause I do NOT like clowns either 🤷‍♀��

Pairing: Colby Brock x fem!reader

Warning: swearing

“Clowns? They named a motel after clowns?” Colby can sense the skepticism in my voice and rolls his eyes playfully.

“Yes. Completely clown themed.” Before I can even spew my sarcastic comment he’s quick to speak. “Yes, it’s weird. Yes, I’m asking you to come.” I place a freshly painted finger against my chin and tilt my head in a faux pout.

“Hm. You know I don’t like clowns, Colbs.” He leans forward and takes my hand pulling me to him and I lazily throw my arms around his shoulders.

“But I want you there, baby.”

“You kill me. You absolutely kill me.” He kisses my forehead quickly before turning to walk out of the room. He makes it halfway before the pillow I throw smacks him in the back of the head. “You owe me.”

Sam, Colby, and Nate are stood reading reviews from previous guests and I can’t help but scrunch my nose is disgust. This place is horrible. Not only that but at every corner there is a clown staring at you with its beady eyes. I hear Nate mention something about a guest complaining about the LEDs and my eyes dart in their direction.

“Well, at least if a killer clown manages to break in we’ll see him coming.” Colby shoots me a look and I stick my tongue out at him before looking around us. Clowns, clowns, and more clowns.

“Why are we staying here again?” Colby asks tilting his head at Sam and Nate jokingly. Sam and Nate head off in the direction of the main area and Colby reaches out to me. I follow in pursuit and he presses his hand against my back guiding me along.

“I hate this.” I stick out my lower lip and Colby mocks me by doing the same. “You’re mean.”

“Mm, but I love you.” He kisses me gently and we begin our journey to the rest of the motel. We’re all standing by the office when Colby pipes up again. “This property is protected by killer clowns.” I glance at Alex who is already looking at me with a similar look on his face.

“If I die tonight, I’m haunting all of your asses.” I say pointing a finger at each of the boys individually. With a huff I follow them into the office and watch as the graze over all trinkets and Knick knacks.

“What is your best pick-up-a-clown pick up line, right now?” One of the boys asked gaining my attention.

“Can I show you a circus tonight?” Sam asks looking into the camera. I roll my eyes and let out a groan. There’s no way I can deal with this all night. Colby winks at me before looking back to the camera and saying ‘you’ve got red balls, but mine are blue’. I stop listening after that. The boys go to talk to the owner and I continue to look at the different clown statues that stand around the small building. If one of them reaches out, I’ll definitely throw up. I hear Colby ask the owner if he thinks the rooms are haunted and not long after we’re headed to the rooms. The sleeping situation was, unusual, if you asked any of us. Nate and Justin were in a room together, Sam, Colby, and I were in a room together, and Alex was left alone by himself. I offered to bunker down with Alex but when I did Colby shot me a look and claimed he couldn’t protect me if I was that far away.

“Colby.” My voice wavered as I focused on the painting that was staring back at me from the wall. “Be for real right now. I am NOT sleeping in here.” He rolled his eyes and took a few steps towards me before slinging his arms around my shoulders.

“You’ll be sleeping with me. I’ll protect you.” I roll my eyes and punch his side lightly.

“Like you did at my mom and dad’s when my cousin dressed up as Bigfoot?” Colby glanced down at me before straightening out his jacket.

“That was a moment of weakness.” I lightly chuckle at his words and follow them to the next room. Once they’re done checking everything out they ask Nate, Alex, and myself to head to the car for a minute while they set up a seance in our room. Although I wasn’t entirely comfortable with it, I wasn’t going to cause a scene and ruin the video they had planned.

Alex and I were sat at the car scrolling through our phones when he looked over at me.

“You look uneasy.” He wasn’t wrong. I could tell he wasn’t trying to be degrading with his words. He was just trying to make conversation.

“I don’t like clowns.” He chuckles.

“Then what are you doing here?” He raises his hands when he realizes how that may have sounded. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just mean, this is literally a clown motel.”

“Colby. Why else.” That causes us both to laugh. When I look back up I see the rest of our group walking towards us. “Are we ready to explore?” I follow the boys around aimlessly as they continue with their investigation. Colby keeps his space as he walks next to Sam near the front of our small group. A chill creeps up my spine as we enter the graveyard and I have the urge to turn back, to sleep in the car for the night, but I continue forward.

“Don’t step on the graves, guys.” I say quietly. Before I can see if anyone heard me a dog jumps over the fence and rolls onto his back. “Oh, hello!” I give him a few belly rubs and he runs off to greet the others. The boys agree to go back to the room and do the seance and my stomach churns at the thought.

When we get to the room Sam and Colby are sitting on the bed closest to the bathroom and Nate is standing next to them while Alex is sitting on the bed closest to the door with me. All of a sudden we hear a thud and a clown emerges from the bathroom. I let out a scream and jump up from the bed, backing away from the stranger in our room. My foot catches something and before I know it, I’m tumbling to the ground with the chair beside me. In a moment of panic, I grab the chair and crawl behind it. My eyes are closed tight as the boys start to laugh at one another.

“You knew it was gonna happen.” I hear Alex say but I’m still too stunned to look. My heart is beating a mile a minute and when I open my eyes Sam, Colby, Nate, and Justin are eyeing Alex and I with smiles plastered on their faces.

“Welcome to the prank wars, bitches!” Sam says before pointing at us with his hands. I let out a huff, still trying to catch my breath, and grab the pillow that was sitting in the chair next to me before chucking it at Sam. Colby hops over the bed and sticks his hands out to help me up but I push him back playfully.

“Oh, ho, ho. No way. You’re in the dog house, buddy.” His eyes widen at my words and I flip him off. “You were in on this, you asshole. I nearly had an aneurysm.” Colby gives me a faux pout but I just pinch his bottom lip before grabbing my bag and looking at Alex. “Alex, show me to our room.”

The night quickly comes to a close and Alex is fast asleep in his bed. His snores the only thing keeping me sane as the clown on the wall stares me down. My phone vibrates next to me on the bed and I grab it.

Colbs❤️

I’m sorry baby. We got you good though

I roll my eyes and open up the text thread before typing my reply.

Only because I don’t like clowns. You better sleep with an eye open, baby bear.

The room is silent for a few moments before my phone vibrates again and I roll my eyes playfully before picking it up.

Colbs❤️

Were you serious about sleeping on the couch? I need my cuddles, woman!

With another eye roll I put my phone back down on the bed and close my eyes, preparing for sleep. My phone vibrates again and I groan before looking at it.

Colbs❤️

I need my cuddles!

With a soft chuckle I type out a short reply and put my phone down before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

[thebuildblog]

Remembering Tyke.

30 years ago yesterday, Tyke, a young elephant stolen as a baby from the wild and forced into the circus through whipping and abuse, snapped and killed her trainer while being hit to enter the tent. Tyke wasn't "angry," or "savage," -- you can see it in the video. She was upset and terrified, an act of self defense, trying to protect herself. Tyke endured years of abuse by that trainer and the circus. She was shot over 100 times before she died on the street. The confusion in her eyes as a firing line of police shot at her, for doing nothing wrong but wanting to get away from a lifetime of abuse. All animals are sentient beings, meaning they feel, have memories, think, emotions, etc. No animals, except humans, kill other living things out of malice.

Most people would have done the same after years of abuse and fear, if they were Tyke. If most humans watched how elephants -- and all animals -- are "trained" to do things like tourists rides/attractions, circuses, zoos, etc, or how the animals forced to do so live, they would not ever support anything but protecting and helping animals instead.

They'd be upset for days, as people do when they see the video of Tyke that day, or of the "crush," the tactic used to restrain and hurt an elephant repeatedly, until it's spirit is broken and it stops fighting being forced to do tricks in the circus, or give tourists rides.

If you go to the horse track, dog track, ride horses or any other animal offered by a company, have a petting zoo at a party, or think it's "so cool" to do XYZ in the wild with animals, you're contributing to their abuse and neglect, and paying someone to do it.

A lot of people don't realize this, and it's good to spread the word. Please consider going to sanctuaries for these animals instead, and use your passion to help others learn about the reality of animal tourism and entertainment for the animals. Support the causes who are working to set animals in zoos, labs, circuses, etc. free. You'll be so glad you did. Animals in these places do not want to be there, and they have no way to help themselves. They're afraid and need help. Just like Tyke.

Remembering Tyke, today and everyday, and all living things in need, including animals, people and the environment.

People think it takes a lot of people to change the world or a lot of money, but all it takes is for one person to do something. That's me, that's you, that's all of us.

[justinewt]

Familia Mea Mihi Omnia Est - THOSE ABOUT TO DIE REWRITE Chapter Four

[THOSE ABOUT TO DIE MASTERLIST]

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter

Summary: 5th of Augustus, 79 CE. Another food riot in the city led to chaos in the city and the only way to distract the roman citizens were games. A chariot race was called and Tenax and Aldea got ready quickly. There wasn't supposed to be race that day but it meant they had to go set up for betting. Aldea didn't expect who she would see at the Circus Maximus, right before the race even started.

Words: 4.3k

Warnings: title means "my family is my everything" // Those about to die spoilers (episode 1 "Rise or Die" and one scene from episode 2 "Trust None"), fluff

It was very late that day of Augustus, the sun had set when Aldea saw Tenax come back to the tavern after leaving with his right arm, Dacia, one of the most loyal men that worked for him. Tenax trusted him to the point that he was the one he asked if he needed someone to watch over his wife. She knew that, but she didn’t know that Tenax hadn’t just asked him to keep an eye on her. He had given word to every single man working for him, making the betting tavern the safest place she could be at, which was why he let his pregnant wife keep on working – because she liked working, yes, but also because she was safe there.

Once the betting tavern closed after the last race ended a while ago, she went to the orphans they had under their care. She had known them for about as long as she known Tenax, and even longer than they had been a couple. She quickly saw the two men leave the tavern and she knew where they might be off to now, while not knowing anything at all at the same time. Tenax was off doing what Tenax does – dealing with people. Whether that meant only threatening or killing them. She had grown accustomed to his business and though she didn’t like it – she knew he didn’t either – but she knew who she had married, and she was surprised with how easy it was for to turn a blind eye to his actions. His business was what allowed for their comfortable life, despite being plebeians. They rarely spoke of it anyway, but he didn’t keep her in the dark either. If she asked about it, he would tell her certain things, keeping quiet on his actual crimes to preserve her, but if she really didn’t want to know, she just didn’t ask. And she often simply didn’t ask about where he had been the previous night. She loved him, knowing very well he was considered a criminal – the king of the Suburra. Aldea herself had gotten a nickname, which came from Scorpus’ habit to call her Spanish princess.

She had cooked dinner for the kids while laughing because of how impatient they were to get food from her and ask about her baby. She was about four months pregnant at this point, but still barely showing, especially dressed in her tunic and toga. They always argued with each other on whether it would be a boy or a girl. It seemed they were taking their older siblings’ role very seriously. It was beyond funny and adorable to her. By the time she was done cooking for them by the torches’ light. The children had moved out of the way to let Tenax pass. She put down the pot on the table and looked over her shoulder, locking eyes with him as he gave her and the children a smile. As she served the food to the children, she watched Tenax walk away, two of his men lifting the curtains to clear the way for him to the betting counter. She had also worked at the counter during the day already, as she did almost every day whenever there were races or gladiator fights, there were several of one or the other every day. The gambling tavern of Tenax was the largest and most profitable in all of Rome. People knew Tenax, though it wasn’t his real name, and they knew her too, from afar. Tenax was the only plebeian roman of all the Suburra to have married a former Spaniard slave.

Tenax then came back and once the kids had finished eating, he took them with him to the ludus beastus at the other side of the Circus Maximus. She went to the stables to meet with Gavros, whom she sometimes helped caring and prepping the horses. She grew up with horses and it only made sense for her to hand around the beasts, in the absence of being able to ride them. The couple was awakened from their sleep the next morning by the screams and shouting of the mob in the streets of the Suburra. Aldea turned on her back, leaning on her elbow after Tenax sat up with a start. He stared at the window before pushing the blanket aside and getting out of bed.

“What is it?” She asked quietly as she joined him by the window. People were running down the street, shouting to go to the Palatine – the emperor’s palace adjoined to the Circus Maximus. Another food riot probably, but they saw, right outside their house, three young men standing there and letting everyone run past them. One, with red hair, put pouches of what Aldea assumed to be coins in the hands of his friends and they left in the opposite direction. They started this riot for some reason and both Aldea and Tenax understood this, though they had no idea what was going on with those three. Maybe Tenax would find out eventually, but Aldea would just go on about her day. About 20 minutes later, they heard the rumbling of drums echoing through the whole city, meaning there was going to be a race today. It was clear that it was to distract the mob and interrupt the riot because there wasn’t supposed to be a race today, but now there was. Dacia and Noro came in the apartment, looking a little concerned and anxious.

“Drums.”

“I’m not deaf.” Tenax was fastening the large leather belt at his waist as he walked up to them. Aldea stood in the back of the bedroom and threw her cloak over shoulder, securing it right above her broken collarbone with a brooch. She never went out with just her beige stola, which was sleeveless.

“Scorpus is nowhere to be found. Fimbria has looked everywhere.” Noro said.

“I can guess, I’ll go get him. You two get set up for the betting.” They followed him to the door, giving a nod to Aldea to greet her as she walked through the apartment with them and went to Claudia, their housekeeper, in the kitchen. The latter still stood by the front door. Upon noticing Aldea come out of the house with them, Tenax glanced at her – she knew he wanted her to stay home because of the riot but she wasn’t about to sit on her ass the whole day – and Dacia directly told him she would be safe with them and not to worry so he just ordered to keep her away from the stables and he left on his own to go find Scorpus, where he was always found, in a brothel. She wouldn’t risk venture around the stables until after the race because once people saw Tenax bringing Scorpus around, they would definitely get followed by a crowd and it would be dangerous for her. She stayed at the betting counter, working with Dacia taking the bets. It was already set in her mind that she would go to the stables once everyone had gone to watch the race.

“Aldea! Aldea!” Nica, one of the kids came running in the tavern, calling out to her. She took a bet, motioning for her to wait a second and she walked out from behind the counter, kneeling in front of the little girl to be at her height.

“What’s going on?”

“I was at the stables, helping Gavros with Incitatus. I saw three Spaniards standing in front of the blue faction stable.”

 “Okay. You’re telling me this because I’m a Spaniard? I don’t know them all, you know?” She chuckled with a shrug, an amused grin on her face. Her mind instantly started thinking about her brothers, but she didn’t know what they would be doing in Rome years later, and tried not to take the kid’s words seriously to not get her hopes up and end up disappointed and sad, as she usually did when thinking about her family. She missed them terribly. Her brothers had always been her best friends, and their absence definitely left a large hole in her heart. “Are you sure they’re even actually Spanish and not just a little tanned?”

“You’re from Baetica, right? One of them said he had a letter of, uh, of introduction from Baetica.” No words left Aldea’s mouth. She felt a little stunned, wanting to believe it and not wanting to believe it at the same time. She didn’t know the kids remembered everything she had told them about her family, how she was from Hispania baetica and had three brothers. She told them about her family in the beginning, but it was hard to talk about them after a while, feeling like she would never get to see them ever again and she stopped talking about it, but they might be there, and she was having conflicted thoughts over it. Maybe they were just three random Spaniards, that happened to be from the same region as her but were totally unrelated. Maybe it was the case, and maybe they knew the Corsi family name but not the actual family. They weren’t the only ones to raise horses in the whole region. She quickly sent the kid away, telling her they would go back to the stables after the race had begun and the stables would be less hectic. The bell was ringing loudly as Tenax came in, letting them know Scorpus was racing, and the name was added to the slates on the wall behind them.

“Blue Faction!” He exclaimed, slamming his hands on the counter. “Nine to three odds, driver… Scorpus!”

Hearing this, betters clamored to the desk, rushing in droves to place more bets. There was twice as more work once Scorpus’ name was announced and Aldea couldn’t exactly slip away to go check who were the Spaniards that Nica saw at the stables. What she did instead was to ask her to run back to the stables, see if they were still there, and ask them their names. The little girl remembered Aldea’s brothers’ names and darted across the tavern.  She counted the seconds that passed until she came back, some 5 minutes later. Nica was positive, excitingly telling her that the names of the three men were indeed the same as those of her brothers: Andria, Fonsoa and Elia. Aldea took a shaky breath, shocked and looked around, unable to think clearly for a brief moment. Nica was pulling her arm. Tenax saw the trouble in her eyes and came up to her, a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you feeling all right? Do you need Dacia to walk you home?” He probably thought that because she was pregnant, she was feeling tired or ill, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. The shock and excitement were such that she was just straight up stunned.

“My brothers are here.” She finally said before letting Nica drag her to the stables. She didn’t take the risk to run so they walked with a brisk step, but Aldea stopped in her tracks midway, staring in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw them at the end of the hallway. She could only see Andria and Elia. As the latter took a step aside before turning around, she saw Fonsoa walk away in the opposite direction. Elia was the first to see her and make eye contact with her, and his heart definitely skipped a beat as well. He took big steps, soon sprinting towards her and almost throwing himself at her, wrapping his arms around her, both sobbing as they repeated each other’s names. None of them could believe it. She couldn’t believe she was reunited with her brothers, minus Fonsoa who would join them later.

“Oh, mi querido hermanito—” She sobbed. “Mi precioso hermanito… My precious baby brother, Elia.” The bond between Aldea and Elia was even more special since she and Fonsoa had raised him from birth since their mother died in childbirth, and Andria was always off with the horses. They had their father and their grandfather, great male figures present in their lives, but she was the sole and only maternal figure Elia ever had. He cried in her arms, mumbling in Spanish, articulating so little she couldn’t understand everything he was saying. She wasn’t surprised he had gotten so emotional; he was her little, sensible brother. Andria joined them, putting his arms around his younger siblings and held them tightly, gently cradling his sister’s head in head. They took a step back, not fully breaking their embrace, all three of them wiping their tears with smiles on their faces. “The race is about to start. We should go get our tickets if you wanna attend. You’ll see, the Circus is so big. It’s great.”

“Yes. We’ll talk later, when Fonsoa comes back.” Andria acquiesced, giving her a kiss on the temple and they walked to the entrance. Aldea was about to get coins from the pouch she carried under her cloak, but Elia was adamant as to buy her the ticket and they squabbled in spanish at the ticket office and she laughed, sharing an amused look with Andria, letting her little brother pay for her. They climbed the stairs and found themselves nice seats. Elia was so happy to see his sister again, he clinged onto her hand. The crowd was cheering, waiting for it to begin. Now that she was sat and no longer in the heat of the moment, she realized she hadn’t told Tenax where she was going but she figured one of the kids, or someone around them must have seen her leave with her brothers. Three Spaniards hugging and crying, talking in Spanish in the middle of the Circus Maximus’ stables shouldn’t didn’t really go unnoticed. 

The siblings giggled, looking around them. Elia was so excited to be there, it was adorable to see. Aldea took it upon herself to explain it all to them, pointing at the factions’ booths, showing the consuls and senators sitting in the colors of their factions, and she showed the imperial platform. The emperor, dressed in his bright white robe was already sitting there with his younger son, Domitian. Their attention quickly went to Passus, the games’ master, as he addressed the crowd, his voice echoing through the sports’ arena.

“Citizens of Rome.” Lots of people in the crowd cheered louder, standing up. Passus held out his hand towards the gate behind which the drivers waited. One behind the other, they paraded around the spina. “I present to you: the contestants! Four factions, eight chariots and eight drivers! Try or die! For… victory! The Greens, seeking a win, after loss, after loss… after loss… And the Reds, is it painted red or is it blood from the last seen shipwreck? And the White Faction, with Xenon, their lead driver. The Adonis of the Esquiline!” Aldea laughed, seeing all the women giggling and cheering and covering their faces. But they weren’t the only fans of Xenon’s. Lots of people were screaming his name. “And wiping up the rear! The Blues, with Kirko and the Great Scorpus!”

“Scorpus!” Aldea cheered, raising her hand and Elia’s up in the air as she shouted her friend’s name joyfully.

“Ah, you see, Elia? She gets it.”

“I get what?” She lowered their hands, turning her head towards Andria.

“We saw Scorpus in the stables. Elia said he didn’t seem that special.”

“He still doesn’t.” The young man shrugged.

“Oh, he’s great. I know him well. He’s a friend of mine and my husband.”

“He’s your friend?”

“You have a husband?” Andria and Elia’s talked over one another, their questions overlapping but she could tell who asked what. They both heard her despite the loud crowd, but they didn’t pick up on the same detail. She wasn’t even surprised to hear Elia ask about her husband, staring at her, looking somewhat upset. Aldea had always been amused by how expressive her brother was. They weren’t even listening to Passus at this point.

“Yes. You’ll meet him later. He owns the largest betting tavern in all of Rome. We got married last year. I was really sad not to have you, my dear brothers, with me. But now you’re here and I couldn’t be happier. How I’ve missed you!” She sketched a large smile, grinning from one ear to the other, as she playfully rubbed her little brother’s hair, putting her arms around his shoulders to hug him before turning back to the arena. The drivers had returned behind the gate, waiting in their lanes until Passus let a white handkerchief fall to the floor and the stall doors opened, unleashing all the charioteers onto the tracks. Aldea loved watching the races. Her eyes followed Scorpus the whole time. Xenon’s supporters cheered for him as he took the lead during the first few rounds. At some point, Scorpus’ peer, Kirko, got into an accident and he went flying in the air, landing on the tracks.

“Shipwreck!” The crowd was chanting. Aldea frowned slightly. It was the only thing that didn’t amuse her at all when it came to chariot racing – the death aspect of it. It was a dangerous event afterall and there was at least one shipwreck per race.

“Aldea?” She turned to her left and looked up, seeing someone stand next to her. She had recognized Fonsoa’s voice, and they locked eyes. He was as shocked as Andria and Elia had been back at the stables. He drew her into a hug and pressed his cheek against hers. They could feel each other smile broadly. He grabbed her shoulders, taking a good look at her. He was in disbelief but couldn’t stop smiling and shook his head, chuckling. Fonsoa kept his arm around her back, holding her shoulder – thankfully the good one or he would have been wondering why there was no bone. They turned back to the race as bell chimed. “What did I miss?”

“Not much.” Andria told him as they watched people come out from the stalls under them, rushing to come and collect the fallen drivers and horses after the shipwreck. Kirko managed to stand up, clearly disoriented. He walked in the middle of the tracks after everyone had cleared out because the chariots were coming back. Aldea closed her eyes, turning her head towards Fonsoa and sighing through her nose when the young driver got ran over and strampled by the mounts and the wheels of the rigs. As the second to last round came, Elia pointed at Scorpus with his hand. He was behind in the race.

“Look at those two centre horses, they’re barely pulling.” He complained. Aldea knew why that was the case. He wasn’t doing it for no reason, there must be some money to be made from doing this, making someone’s bet fail on purpose perhaps but she kept quiet. Elia was unimpressed by Scorpus and didn’t seem to like him, probably because of his arrogance and the way he carried himself like the celebrity he was. Those two things were very funny to Aldea and were the reasons she liked Scorpus.

“He’s famous for his come-from-behind victories.” Aldea said. Then the last bell rang as they entered the last round of the race. It would be over in a minute or so. She laughed and cheered when he raced past his contestants, taking the lead within a dozen seconds. Xenon came up next to him and the two drivers were neck and neck and with one snap of the reins, Scorpus was first again and won the race. Aldea jerked to her feet, Fonsoa’s hand falling off her shoulder. She cheered loudly in excitement at her friend’s victory and sat back down. The solemn trumpet called the end of the race and people began standing up to leave. The Corsi siblings eventually left as well. As they walked, they came by a bunch of prostitutes standing to the side and Fonsoa was drawn to them like moths to a flame and she chuckled, shaking her head. Elia didn’t shake his head for the same reason, frowning. He looked upset and quite annoyed by their brother ditching them for a harlot. Andria playfully punched his shoulder.

“You brought horses to Rome?” She asked.

“Yes, do you wanna see them? Ferox has missed you. Come.” Elia’s smile returned and he grabbed her wrist. She didn’t flinch or wince, but she blinked as a reflex when he pulled on her wrong arm. She subtly switched the arm he held, and they walked to the stables. She was excited to see Ferox again, it was one of the horses she took care of back home and her and Elia’s favorite. She saw the way Andria looked at her after Elia took her arm and she knowingly ignored it. She wouldn’t be able to lie to her big brother and had no desire to get into all that she went through before coming to Rome. She didn’t want to stain the memory they had of her, as if she was the one who had done something wrong. Though she knew it wasn’t, she still couldn’t stop putting the blame on herself. She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind when she saw ten Andalusian stallions, white as snow; Beautiful beasts. She observed them and recognized Ferox and went to pet him first.

“Aldea?” Gavros’ voice rose as he approached the three Spaniards. His eyes were going back and forth between her and the two brothers he had surely met earlier.

“They’re my brothers. I told you about them, you remember?”

“Oh, they’re your brothers?” He seemed pleasantly surprised and smiled, nodding.

“Where’s Tenax? I didn’t see him when we walked past the tavern.”

“He must have gone to see Scorpus in the drivers’ changing room if he wasn’t there.” She acquiesced, looking back at the horses happily, petting them.

“Who’s Tenax?” Elia asked.

“That’s my husband. You’ll meet him soon enough.

“It is getting late; we should get you home.” Andria spoke. She nodded in agreement and stepped away from the horses. Elia noticed Gavros walking by the stables and bringing Incitatus inside the blue faction’s one. His siblings followed him in there. Elia walked up to the seasoned stablehand while his three siblings stood by the door.

“How do you know Andalusians?” Elia enquired.

“I drove them. A long time ago.”

“You raced? Well, there are no horses out there to equal our Andalusians.” Scorpus walked past the siblings, marching with a quick and assured step into the stable. He saluted Aldea upon seeing her, giving her a friendly and jokingly flirty smile. She laughed.

“How are they?” He asked, passing by Gavros and Elia, going to see Incitatus in the stall at the very end of the stable.

“Sorna and Sista got their legs cut from the debris. We’ll have to rest them for a week.”

“Andalusians, huh?” Scorpus then walked back to Gavros and Elia. He leaned on a stall door and chuckled. “Gavros, and Aldea, have a high opinion of Andalusians. I think they’re pigs.”

“They’re faster than your bays, sturdier and more nimble.” Elia crossed his arms, facing the charioteer, ready to throw hands with him if he kept on criticizing their horses. Gavros watched the young man as he walked around him. “If they’re pigs, what does that make your Bays?”

“Listen to the boy, who does he remind you of?” He smirked, looking at Gavors.

“I was thinking me. But now… I’m thinking you.” Aldea chuckled at this comment.

“Tomorrow afternoon… I’ll take a look at your Andalusians.” Elia excitingly reached for Gavros’ arm. Fonsoa and Andria went up to them while Scorpus stopped by Aldea.

“I’ll walk you home. I have to go see tenax for something. Does he know you’re still here?”

“I told him I was with my brothers.” He stopped, raising his eyebrows and looking over his shoulder at the three Spaniards around Gavros, pointing at them with his thumb. He was surprised, to say the least.

“They’re your brothers? The brothers you’ve been telling us about? I see where the little one gets his temper from.” He scoffed, softly poking her shoulder with his fist.

“I’ll say goodbye and we can go.” He nodded and stood right outside the stable, grabbing onto his large leather belt. Elia saw her and immidietaly jogged towards her, almost taking leaps instead of steps. He seemed sad and almost worried to let her go, and she laughed quietly with how urgedly he took her in his arms and how tightly he held her against him, as though he feared to let her go. She smiled, closing her eyes and rubbing his back, cradling his head in her hand.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? I won’t disappear overnight again.” It broke her heart to have to promise that. She wished it never happened to begin with. She felt a deep sens of guilt for having already disappeared on them years ago, and maybe making them think she was dead all this time and having to grieve a living person. Or maybe they still had the hope she was somewhere out there, all this time. She was convinced that Elia had refused to believe she was dead, no matter how long it had been since she had gone missing. It took a good minute for Elia to break the embrace, and she caressed his cheek tenderly as he stared at her with a sad frown. He just wouldn't take her eyes off her as if she was going to disappear into thin air, right before his eyes. She then hugged her two other brothers as well and walked out of the stables with Scorpus.

[To be continued…]  

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter

Published (08/18/2024) by Andrea

[aceinacloset]

Circus Baby headcanons, because the voices won.

(Yeah, I finally caved in on myself and made a headcanon post to self indulge. Teehee. Hope all my Circus Baby fans enjoy.)

-CB is very hypervigilant, mostly to sound, like she has learned what sound everything in the facility makes, and she's able to identify others' foot step patterns.  The moment any sound she can't identify is made she will go into a silent panic, expecting the worst.

-Her pigtails move.  Like those things will wiggle, tilt, and sway when she moves her head, it is subtle but noticeable.

-CB is quite expressive, minus her permanent smile she is very expressive through body language as well as her eyes.

-CB will often use the different abilities she has to comfort herself, specifically the song request feature.  She will select a song in her song bank and play it as a form of a self soother.

-CB, when focusing or examining Something will just stare, kinda cat-like in a way when she does so.

-CB doesn't usually sleep, it's not like she can't or won't, it's just she doesn't really see a reason in doing it.  Of course not sleeping leads to her body deactivating to get the sleep baby is missing.  She had many days where she was out of service because of this issue.

-CB will often talk to herself, this is another one of her coping mechanisms and self soothers, mostly done to keep herself sane in the facility.  Sometimes she is talking to someone though.

-CB has a lot of patience, it takes a lot to anger her but when you do anger her you will know.

-CB really enjoyed entertaining kids, she sometimes wishes she could go back to that time on stage, before the "accident", sure she is rented out but it just doesn't feel the same.

-CB is 100% touch starved, but is also super touch repulsed like she associates touch (specifically by people) as bad.  So she is in this constant conflict about touch, but if you just put your hand on her cheek she will melt into it like ice cream on a stove.

-CB can be apathetic, not like unable to feel sympathy or empathy for anyone, more in a way of being unable to understand another's suffering if she doesn't believe it's as bad as her own, this isn't always the case but it can be.

-If you had CB handle anything that isn't built for her to grip or handle she will hold it so tenderly, like if she put any ounce of force on it it would break kinda tender.

-CB keeps gifts people give her, from children, staff (sometimes), the bidybabs, and even the funtimes.  She keeps these little things just because they are…well…gifts and she really appreciates them.

That's all I got.

If you got your own Circus Baby headcanons, you can send them to my inbox and I may make a part 2 of this.

[xpoisoned-stardustx]

THE SHOWS ARE HOLDING BACK!!!

Tw: mentions of sewer-slide, mentions of mental illness, mentions of trauma (I’m just putting this here for cautions)

And by that I mean holding back on angst

I’m not just talking about TSAMS or TLAES, I’m talkin’ ALL SHOWS (granted, i haven’t watched all of the recent show things but I do know they haven’t been to angst)

Now, you might think, “oh stardust, but we’ve had lots of angst! I mean think of Cassie on TRWAGS-“

Yeah, Cassie, the only one who has recently had a lot of angst, and it was only really her being mad her phone wasn’t working and talking a bit about her dad (im not including The Musical btw). I also feel like we should’ve had a lot more Gregory angst after Rocky’s death. I mean Gregory blamed himself for that, it wouldn’t just go away. And Circus Baby should be had more angst after Gregory almost frickin died!!! The characters recover so quickly and just go back to their goofy normal lives. Obviously I won’t cover everything for these shows but some of my main thoughts.

“uh but what about Glamrock Chica on TFFAGCS?”

Not. Enough. Glamrock Chica was easily back to normal after blaming herself for their whole issue because of stuff out of her control, having an exstistential crisis after being kicked out of the PizzaPlex, getting a message from her parents she doesn’t remember and so on. Also if ANYONE is getting angst it should be Funtime Foxy and his brother. Funtime Foxy almost drowned when he was around 10, Fexy (the brother) tried to stab FT.Foxy while screaming “THIS IS MY BODY, I WANT IT BACK” because they were in the same body at some point, he and his brother burned their house down because when FT.Foxy was running away from his brother they knocked over candles, then his brother literally tried to commit s—-ide by not leaving the burning building and saying “if I can’t have this I’d rather die” so FT.Foxy had to drag him out the house, then Fexy got sent to a mental hospital/asylum/psych ward (idk which one exactly) and lots of other things. And we haven’t seen ANY Lolbit angst whatsoever. Don’t even get me started on Mangle or Ray. (You can just tell this is my favourite show, can’t you?)

“…uhhh TFAFFS??”

Tbh I don’t watch that one alot but FT.Freddy Deffinetly has abondonment issues, as far as I know we never find out where that came from, Shadow Freddy had a bit of angst, Freddy is doing loads of things that I’m not bothered to say and ‘The Evil Gang’ or whatever their name is are another case of ‘comic relief villains’ I think.

“TLAES or TSAMS?????”

I already posted about this by rebloggin soemthing but ‘Sun gets Therapy’ was so disappointing, Lunar acts like things are normal, I feel like Solar should be seeing things after killing his Moon because as the Old Moon said “when you kill someone, they’re not there, but you can see them” or something like that, Moon just screams and gets mad at people for angst and he did apologise to Monty and have that whole “I’m a loser blah blah blah” but that’s it, Sun is hiding ALOT and other things.

“but TMGAFS has alot of angst”

which is why it’s my second favourite show. I’m just sad Foxy said him and Monty are more acquaintances than friends :(… I respect that show. If anyone else wants to criticise the angst there, be my guest.

Anyways I’m just rambling here. I’m gonna go listen to the entire C.C.C.C. album again, toodles.

[krizzler]

How I see

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

-as someone with synesthesia.

#1 - SKINNY

I kinda think of skinny as light, pale and soft. I think the lyrics really reflect those elements, especially since the song is mostly about body dysmorphia. And when I think about body dysmorphia I think of pale and colourless things. So everything about this song just lacks colour, but in a good way. I think it symbolises Billie's growth and development through the album. She starts paler but then she slowly develops colour through the songs, also symbolising that she's found herself and she's comfortable in who she is.

#2 - LUNCH

Lunch is definitely a hard one. Whenever I listen to a song, I can always see all the colours in different parts of the song. Especially this one. But it only looks good in my head and to physically make it visual to other people is hard because I had to include all the colours without it looking terrible. So what I did was I kinda channelled the main colours and what came out was blue and orange. Blue being the base of the song, and then orange being the guitar in the background. These two colours and this song make perfect sense to me and I'm super happy about this one.

#3 - CHIHIRO

This song is mostly blue but BITTERSUITE and BLUE are blue already so I wanted to make it more diverse. So I gave the song a listen and decided that the base of the song is blue 100%, and in the chorus of the song you kinda feel melancholic, euphoric, ethereal etc. So I drilled deeper into my brain and decided that in the chorus of this song, I could feel a bit of yellow. I think it adds to that floating, euphoric feel of the song.

#4 - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Unfortunately my least favourite on this album. I obviously don't hate anything Billie's put out at all, but it screams clean girl. I can't stand clean girl so I have a bit of a dislike towards this song. It's a good song obviously, but not for my ears. It's very soft and dream like, and I think the white and baby pink really reflect it. Love how this is like a polar opposite to LUNCH.

#5 - WILDFLOWER

This was nice to do. Finding and looking through photos really helped me understand this song better. It's the perfect balance between hard and soft. I think this is like the middle man in this album. Especially when you know what it's about. Or who. This reminded me a lot of Guitar Songs (TV and The 30th). It's like a morning walk through a field on an overcast day at your grandma's house. It's a bit of a laid back green. Symbolising the mood of the song.

#6 - THE GREATEST

This was the hardest song I've had to visualise. This song is more of a feeling than a visual. But I'd probably say it's a mix between blue and green. Blue being the base, green being the accents. This whole album definitely has blue in most of its songs. I'm still not sure how to view this song but I think this is the closest I can get.

#7 - L'AMOUR DE MA VIE

I don't think this song needs much of an explanation. It's neon, it's bold, it's different. It's a vibe. The colour perfectly matches the sound of the song. I mostly see red and orange in this song and I think that's to do with fire for some reason. It's hot and it burns your eardrums like a hot branding iron in the best possible way.

#8 - THE DINER

I think the diner has the same look for everyone. It's dark, spooky and possessive. I can't believe it's second least streamed song on the album because it's my no.1. Black is the base of the song because I feel like it's set at night, then we have red because it's hot and bold. I added in some photos of circuses because the little instrumental sounds like a spooky circus. This is THE Halloween song of 2024. Fight me.

#9 - BITTERSUITE

This is such an amazing song. To me it's blue. But a very darkkk blue. It also feels like you're drowning so I incorporated lots of water into it. This feels like swimming at the sea in a storm. It's terrifying and exhilarating in the best way. I think this song would also smell like Eilish no.2 and I'm so sad that this is the least streamed of the album.

#10 - BLUE

this song is the bluest of blue. It's neon. It's again more of an feeling that a visual. Very similar to BITTERSUITE but just more vibrant. I find it hard to explain this one but I think for a song that's also hard to visualise, it's probably the most accurate on the list.

[perfectvoidofnothing]

What if scenario about Vanessa from the Movie and Micheal from the games (Spoilers for the movie) (Does this count as an AU??)

“Why exactly did you take this job?” “…Employees get free pizza.”

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀

Micheal - The oldest of the Afton Family, and also the only kid that didn’t die… during childhood at least. Back then, the Afton Family was a normal family. However, the first Afton that fell was Mike’s own mother. She died after giving birth to Elizabeth. The next Afton who died was none other than Mike’s younger brother, Evan. And that was because of Micheal’s own hands.

Ever since the Bite of 83, Mike kept having nightmares about the spirit of Evan haunting him, torturing him with his guilt. He kept grieving, tossing and turning in bed every time he’s reminded of his former torment of his younger brother. But his father William… he had a different reaction. While he seemed sad at first, he had a sort of… fascination.

Mike and Will were distant to each other ever since the bite of 83. Granted, Mike still had Elizabeth. Well, that is, until Elizabeth herself disappeared on the opening day of Circus Baby’s Pizza World. Micheal was distraught, asking Will where she was. But the father and the son continued to be like strangers to each other.

Then, William himself disappeared. After many searches, he was presumed dead, leaving Micheal the supposed only living member of the Afton Family. Though, William had one more asset tied to his name: Circus Baby’s Entertainment and Rental under Afton Robotics LLC. The new owners were looking for a technician to search around the place, since no one but Will knew the inside, so Micheal decided to give it a shot. After all, he didn’t really saw what his father was doing under his own company. Plus, those animatronics from Circus Baby’s Pizza World were there, and they could possibly have clues for Elizabeth’s disappearance. Can’t be hurt to check, right?

And what a revelation it is, to realize what his father was doing all along. He was shocked and scared. But with Circus Baby, housing Elizabeth‘s soul, he could finally redeem himself after Evan’s death, right? Instead, he got tricked, and is now a walking corpse left by Ennard as he starts his journey of finding his father. Using pseudonyms such as “Micheal Schmidt” and “Fritz Smith” to try and distance himself from his father, he takes a job at one of the few still standing Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza locations to try and set the souls of children free, to make up for his father’s crimes.

His father won’t just simply disappear. After all, he kept researching all about remnant in that underground facility disguised as a rental. He was obsessed for immortality. Mike knew one day he was going to see him again— it wouldn’t matter what he looked like— he would be the same old William Afton, the deranged child killer that just so happened to be his father. What Micheal didn’t expect was to see her. He had to wonder— with the many warnings that Vanessa’s been giving to him— just what does she know?

Vanessa - A kind and friendly police officer, who is known to be helpful. She seems like your regular police officer in Hurricane, Utah. What people don’t know is that her father is William Afton— the supposed child murderer who made a bunch of kids disappear within Fazbear Entertainment. But she never knew about her half-siblings Evan, Micheal and Elizabeth. That’s because of a deal that William struck between him and her mother before she was born. He will financially support the family if she didn’t tell anyone that he was Ness’ father, and they dont come near him if he’s with his “true wife” or his “main children.”

Ness loved Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and everything it stood for, all the fantasy and fun was all mesmerizing to her. And when William started visiting her and her mother a bit more, she was quick to idolize him. However.. that lovely fantasy stopped when she saw her father in a yellow rabbit costume luring kids to an unknown place of the pizzeria, only for said kids to disappear without a trace. Ness’ mother immediately distanced her and her daughter from the Afton name, even after William was released due to lack of evidence. But Vanessa knew. She knew.

Vanessa still feels guilt letting William get away with the missing children. All she did was stand there— and let it happen. And it certainly didn’t help when she found out that the children’s souls are housed in the animatronics. I mean, the animatronics at the 1987 location act weird when adults were near. Hell, the daytime security guard there got attacked by an animatronic, losing their frontal lobe and their life. And since Will was a security guard.. it was easy for her to put two and two together.

Vanessa became a police officer as some sort of penance for what she could’ve done. She hadn’t thought of Afton or anything of Fazbear Entertainment— until, that is, he showed up.

She visited Mike during his second night of guard at the 1993 location. She made small chat and stuff, but mainly vaguely warn him about what happened that makes the animatronics aggressive. However, with Mike not only ignoring her warnings— but also actively pursuing the animatronics— she’s bewildered, angry and worried. Who does he think he is, ignoring what she knows best to do?

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Boy that was a lot of writing wasn’t it

Ever since watching the FNAF movie I really like Vanessa and her role, so I thought of some ideas on how she could fit into the OG afton family from the games. It also gave me the excuse to test out a new artstyle lmao

Also, here’s some little tidbits about Mike and Vanessa in this scenario that I made up:

Due to Mike being essentially a walking corpse, his nervous system is almost non existent. Things such as pricking a needle through his skin or shooting him doesn’t hurt at all.

Since Mike’s actual hair all fell out when Ennard was inside him, the “hair” he has is actually a wig that Mike sewn on his scalp.

Mike has put on many perfumes, colognes and body mists to try and combat his horrible odor smell, but that instead turns into a weird smell where you can smell Mike’s corpse odor along with different combinations of said perfumes, colognes and body mists. He’s tried using them individually, but that puked odor never really leaves.

Like in the movie, Vanessa gets the red airplane toy from William, and Evan is the one who originally had it. In fact, William gave Vanessa a lot of Evan’s old toys. She did not, however, got his plushies, cause Micheal took them without Will knowing.

Since it’s been a while Vanessa saw Will (cause the last time she did William was arrested due to the missing children’s incident), she doesn’t think Micheal looks like Will. She doesn’t even register a hint of Will’s appearance in Micheal.

While Vanessa back then thinks of William highly, Mike used to actually try and prank Will. He got him atleast once, but that grounded him for 2 weeks. Those 2 weeks were paradise for Evan.

Micheal (when he was young) used to work in the bigger 1987 location with another security guard— Jeremy Fritzgerald— as his mentor. When Jeremy got switched to day shift and became the bite of 87 victim, Micheal was so desensitized to death that he didn’t even shed a tear. He was a bit sad though.

Anyway, that’s enough typing. My brain’s already exploded and turned to mush while I was trying to write down lore things. Maybe this is what MatPat feels like when writing a new fnaf game theory vid lol

[idsfantasy]

Okay so, head up, I think your videos are cool and I respect the effort and work you put into theories. I also understand not every theory is going to be actually reflective of views, instead following different roads of logic to see what seems the most likely.

But the big reason why I think robot people being in the games is such a reviled concept by so many people, is that it feels like a lame twist that doesn't really accomplish anything and doesn't really go anywhere. And part of that is the source material it comes from. (Warning: long and emotive analysis incoming)

In the actual Fourth Closet book Charlie being a robot isn't handled well. She's written as a mostly normal human person with internal emotions, struggles, and thoughts only to be completely discarded because she's "not real". As soon as it's revealed, she immediately kills herself and Elizabeth with no narrative buildup, and the only possible resolution is a cliffhanger ending that is never fully explained and left up to speculation. We don't really feel the weight of this on anyone, except possibly John, who never discusses it with anyone and never actually ponders what that might mean beyond feeling bummed the girl he wanted to date is dead and also not human. It also gives Circus Baby a very needlessly convulted backstory for the sole purpose of having her run around in a humanoid form and double down on the henchwoman characterization introduced in FFPS.

It doesn't even really explain much beyond a few strange lines and wonky plot threads, it's a thing that happens and despite Charlie being a protagonist she doesn't really get to react to this.

Sammy is completely dismissed as a concept despite it being such a big deal in TSE and TTO and the whole point of Charlie's arc of acceptance and grief. And we get one line saying he's actually alive... and living with the mother Charlie herself mentions talking to in the past. It's a mess.

The only character who is made more intresting and given more weight by this reveal is Henry. Because it changes perception from "flawed man struggling with mental health but ultimately a very loving to father" to "all the above but also with those flaws much more prevalent and damaging". It's fascinating because what he does is incredibly messed up on so many levels, yet entirely understandable. Henry in the novels is a straight up antagonist, not a villian, and not actively malicious, but someone very poorly coping and causing harm by proxy. And that's reflective of a lot of people who are understandably struggling and need support, but at the same time refuse help and find themselves sinking deeper while their loved ones feel helpless. It's deeply tragic, and leaves Henry being a much more nuanced character, mainly because of the fact Charlie doesn't know quite how to feel about him. When she's still allowed to have thoughts, at least.

The whole point of the Charliebots is that grief and loss can make vulnerable people susceptible to delusion, and how that effects the children around them. Both the Charlie-bot and Circus Baby are shaped around trying to conform to a grieving parent who wants them to fill a role that at a certain point, they simply can't. The moment Charliebot stopped living past the age of three, she simply wasn't reflective of that real little girl anymore. She was someone new, based on the hopes and dreams her family had for her. The Charliebots are so so intricately linked to this theme, that I really feel removing the idea of androids from it is kinda insulting to the whole premise.

William blatantly says he couldn't build robots like that, Circus Baby is build upon a failed experiment her modified for his own use, even the Twisteds were implied to be a joint effort. He also simply didn't see his kids in the same way, I truly don't believe he would drive himself to that same point of delusion for kids he just doesn't love.

I've seen some fanauthors right really compelling narratives around these ideas, but they simply aren't in the actual texts. To approach something purely logistically is to deny to narrative and emotional potential of it.

Yes, it's 100% possible. I don't doubt Scott might try to do it. But that doesn't make it impactful. So if he doesn't want to engage with the premise outright, and doesn't say it outloud, then why should I care either? If he's not going to committ to the idea and explore it, then neither am I.

Glad you generally like my videos! And I understand that perspective, but I disagree. Honestly, I think robot people works great thematically for the modern era.

Ithink part of the interest with Charlie being a robot is that she's a robot, but she IS alive. She's not the original Charlie, but because of Henry's emotions she has her own soul.

With William, his goal iirc wasn't to create a human *looking* robot. His goal was to find a way to create that same spark of life that Henry did, but he wasn't able to. Elizabeth was the closest but she's still an actual human soul inside a robot.

When I suggest that robot people are present in the modern games, I don't think they were made out of love, and I don't think they have that artificial soul that Charlie in the books had, hence the connections to CC and Elizabeth. Heck, we know for a fact that there are robot people present in Tales, so why would that be impossible in the games? The issue wasn't making a human looking robot, it was giving said robots life.

Just because we can't see the end goal at the moment doesn't mean there isn't one. Additionally, assuming Scott isn't going to engage with the premise or saying it out loud is probably something to steer clear of. After all, the main evidence I use for Gregbot isn't the weird vision or him looking like the Crying Child, but the wall code in the Sister Location room that describes Gregory in SB to a T while also saying "I built the breath they hunt drawn to life not real still keen" etc. That seems pretty "out loud" to me given the obscurity of most things in these games tbh.

So I do think Scott has committed to the idea. That's why there are 3 robot people in Tales. That's why there are 2 Vanessas. That's why there's the wall code in SB. To me, it seems as though the themes of Help Wanted and onward are highlighting where the line is drawn between the real and the artificial, the virtual and genuine. And imo, having characters who blur the line between the mechanical world and the real and the spiritual adds pretty well to that whole theme. We just haven't seen everything play out yet since we're only partway through the arc.

I understand if you disagree, but I think writing it off as something to consider would be the wrong move personally. Hope you have a nice day :D

[catsthepope]

Hey FNAF fans! I want to write angst, but can’t write angst in the fic yet.

This one will have spoilers for events happening kinda soon.

CONTENT WARNING FOR DEATH GORE AND TRAUMATIZATION OF A CHILD

Elizabeth, Evan, Mike, William are the main speakers in this one

“But daddy!” Lizzie wailed, grabbing at the tools hanging from dad’s belt. “You said she was mine!”

“Liz, just because she’s based on you doesn’t mean she belongs to you,” I looked over at the show stage, where three, brand-new animatronics stood, shining in their chromatic complexity. “Besides, you saw them in the garage when dad was building them.”

“…” Elizabeth glared at me with the rage only an entitled 12 year old can possess. “It’s MY party.”

“They’re dangerous. Daddy said so,” Evan mumbled, holding dad’s tool bag close to his chest.

“None of you are any help! Daddy!” She whipped around to face dad again, except dad was gone. Headed into the back room, probably. “This isn’t fair!” She yelled as she slammed herself back into a chair.

“Liz,” “no! It’s my party and I can’t even go near the animatronics? Daddy promised this would be the best party and so far, I’m not even meant to leave this room!” I barely had time to speak before the door slammed shut. I heard the crash outside, and saw the wave of kids and parents running out. Even Evan looked up from what he was pulling apart in dad’s bag.

Liz looked around as the room emptied, and I saw the damn smirk on her face when she realized there was nothing stopping her from seeing baby.

I tried to open the door. It was locked. “Elizabeth!” I shouted. She either didn’t hear me, or didn’t care. “Elizabeth come open the door! It’s stuck!”

I watched as she walked up to Circus Baby, and she stopped singing. “You’re so pretty,” she said. “Daddy said he made you to be just like me. Do you know that?”

The thing towered over her. It waved at her, and Lizzie giggled. It was smiling down at liz. Her eyes were almost piercingly blue. I hated that these animatronics could smile. I hated their eyes. It was terrifying. Its stomach hatch opened, and a small rod extended. A single ice cream cone. It looked like chocolate? Elizabeth reached for that perfectly swirled cone. It didn’t even look real. The room was still empty. As she grabbed the cone, she thanked Circus Baby with a smile.

Evan huffed as he joined me at the window. “No fair! I want ice crea!-”

My heart stopped. That.. claw? Something lunged out of Baby’s chest the second Elizabeth licked the ice cream. It grabbed her, I heard a crunch as Elizabeth was pulled into the animatronic. All of a sudden, the room was full again. I shoved Evan to the floor. “Evan, no matter what you do, do not move until I get you.” I took a few steps back before ramming into the door with my shoulder and running up to that thing. Every other animatronic has some kind of fail safe. I heard the choking breaths and sobs inside. “Hold on, I’m getting you out, I’m here!” I yelled. I could’ve sworn I heard her say my name. Dad would have killed me if he’d known I was making a scene like this. I banged on its chest too. For good measure. So Liz knew someone was here. I looked everywhere. No emergency button, no place for a wrench. I felt hopeless, watching the trickle of blood leak from baby’s back. Every time Baby moved, I heard the sharp crunch, another soft sob, saw another spurt of blood, and found myself begging for my sister to be alive.

After a while, almost 2 minutes, I think? Evan came in with dad. My head was throbbing. He shoved me aside, and I watched as he did the same thing I did, as he banged desperately on baby’s chest and pulled at that hatch. Screaming. Evan pulled on my shirt as dad screamed. I picked him up. I didn’t want to let go of him. At some point, for us to go outside. At some point, someone called 911.

At some point, I promised Evan he wouldn’t have to go near one again. I’d protect him.

At some point, Uncle Henry showed up. Asking us what happened? Where’s your sister? Evan was crying too much to answer. I barely got words out before Dad was there, explaining. There was an “accident.” It would ruin Fazbear Entertainment. It had to stay a secret, he would figure out the details.

At some point, dad told us there was a gas leak, and if the police asked, that’s what we had to tell them. We would back up the story. Dad would assure them he could handle this. They believed him.

There was never a point where dad acknowledged the blood on my face and hands, or the blood staining his white dress shirt.

There was never a point where dad acknowledged that Circus Baby’s eyes were green, or that someone had to have designed her to do.. that. Dad never acknowledged that Elizabeth was dead because of… that.

Uncle Henry took us home, dad told him he was going to the hospital with Lizzie.

No ambulance ever showed up.

[not-so-mundane-after-all]

Now I'm gonna be predictable and ask you for Dick and Rachel for the character thing 💙🖤

My two favorite birds!!!!! Okay *cracks knuckles* here we go

DICK GRAYSON

First impression:

Hot, mysterious, "hmmm I know that face", had this edge about him that had me lean closer to my tv and go "okay, interesting, go on"

Impression now:

The love of my life, a mark on my soul, the blueprint for a Comfort Character™, my #1 TV Dad, must be protected at all cost mostly from himself

Favorite moment:

How can I pick just one? My favorite kinds of his moments are when he gets feral protective over his baby girl (like in 1x07 or 4x08) or any alteration of "I won't let anything happen to you" because all I hear is "I love you"

Extra kudos for all the shirtless scenes 😏

Idea for a story:

One that has been recently lurking at the edge of my mind is giving him an AU where basically everything is the same except his parents are alive — mostly because I want to write them interacting with Kory and the kids

Unpopular opinion:

He gets waaaay too much crap from the fandom, for even the littlest things. He's a flawed character who makes stupid mistakes sometimes. If he was perfect all the time, he'd be boring. He doesn't have to be the best leader, an A+ father figure 100% of the time or constantly kissing the earth the woman he loves walks on to be a good character. Don't like his storyline? Shit on the writers, it's their fault.

Favorite relationship:

There's only one answer to that, always will be.

His light in the darkness. His turning point. His true north. He wouldn't be the man he is now if it wasn't for this one little girl throwing a brick at a cop car and getting herself brought to his station. You can't deny that. The show doesn't. It reminds you, time and time again, who is his anchor. Who keeps him from slipping back into the dark.

Favorite headcanon:

He knows how to play guitar and a little bit of piano because the Haly Circus crew used to jam out all the time. His dad taught him the guitar, Clay was a master of keys and his mother had the voice of an angel and wrote her own songs.

RACHEL ROTH

First impression:

OHHH SHE'S A BABY!!!! I was instantly protective of her and related to her in her loneliness.

Impression now:

FOREVER MY BABY GIRL. Always proud of her, always protective of her. My best girl, my favorite witch. Daddy's Girl and The Best Big Sister-to-be™

Favorite moment:

That walk?! The confidence?! Making dad look all proud in the background?! COME ONNNNNN

Idea for a story:

A while back I wrote down some notes for a concept about adult Rachel and her relationship with teenage Mar'i, inspired by my own relationship with my older sister. There's 19 years between us and the difference between Rachel and Mar'i could end up being similar. I was thinking of writing her as a bestie but also the second mother, ride or die and voice of reason, "dad's gonna kill you" but also "dad's gonna kill both of us if he finds out so we're not gonna tell him". A lot of shenanigans, a lot of heart-to-heart.

Unpopular opinion:

She should have had the final fight with Brother Blood, since this whole thing was about and came from her brother, her heritage, her prophecy.

Favorite relationship:

The simplest reason is because I was just happy to see this child finally being loved. Finally having someone to believe in her and protect her. Finally knowing what it's like to have someone who cares. Finally being held and comforted and understood.

Favorite headcanon:

Girl can SING. But is shy as hell about it. Only Gar knows about it and only because he found out by total accident when he heard her belt out those Ariana Grande whistle notes like it's nothing. They keep it secret until Dickkory's wedding, where she gives a performance of a lifetime.

CODY I LOVE YOU! THANK YOUUUUUU

[connectionterminated13]

This story takes place in my AU death swap, Basically a lot of the deaths are swapped Charlie is alive Sammy is dead, Michael gets his self grabbed by circus baby and Elizabeth does Michael's role in sister location and gets herself scooped. Now Evan who survived the bite and became a murder guy just like his dear old dad. This is right after the events of Elizabeth waking up and being found by Charlie Evans coming in to give the more information on what happened. Or so they think Evans about to lie through his teeth for like 3 minutes straight

Sorry if there's a couple mistakes I really pushed this out to make the day! but it was really fun having to write things quicker :3

TW: Mentions of blood, death, mental illness, Murder.

Anyway my submission for the last day of the bash @and-stir-the-stars I hope you like it!

Evan stood outside of the building. It was in a bit of a dirty part of  town but was still nice enough.. honestly it was better than he was expecting. His boots didn't even get that dirty as he walked over to the collection of buzzers on the outside of the apartment looking for Elizabeth's apartment number. 

Evan pressed the correct button and cleared his voice.

“Hello” 

Susie's voice hasn't changed a bit in the almost 7 years since he spoke to her. Evan expected being in a band would make her voice louder, bigger but no it was still that delicate pageant girl voice that had been trained into her. 

“Hey it's me Evan! Here to see Charlie and my sister!” Evan couldn't help but smile to himself despite the bite ruining his face and head, he still had inherited his father's buttery British accent.

“I thought I told you to go shove a stick up your ass…” and The nice Christian slightly overweight, pageant girl was gone and the Punk girl who thought she was interesting was back. 

Evan was hoping the charisma that he had been practicing almost his whole life would get her to be a little bit less obnoxious..

Evan replied with a good natured laugh hiding his annoyance. “Funny but Susie this is serious if you could just open the door for me I love that!”

He heard a bit of chatter too far for the small speaker to pick up. Charlie had intervened, thank God he liked Charlie.

“Sorry about her Evan! She's just a little bit on edge. I'll let you in!” Evan smiled. Charlie was nice. Charlie always came to the hospital to read him books when he could not read himself. She had always been kinder to him than anyone else other than maybe Elizabeth. The only problem with Charlie had been how she liked Michael. He hated how they were friends and then he hated when they were together. One of the many things that had gotten better once Michael had died.

He heard the door open. There was Charlie, a tired smile on her face, Her dark brown hair Wild.. She was wearing some band t-shirt he didn't recognize And comfortable loose sweatpants. She looked like she hadn't slept in days.

“Charlie!” Evan smiled hugging her tight as he felt her arms wrap around him. Always forgot how tall she was.

“Evan I'm so sorry we didn't talk sooner just with school.. and the band… and work. It's been a lot.. I'm so glad you're okay man..” Charlie let out a sigh letting go of him. Evan understood.. 

His less important job at Freddy's and his more important job of gathering remnant took up most of his time.

“Same here Charlie…” And Evan was telling the truth it wasn't part of the plan to have Charlie go down to Circus baby's entertainment and rentals. He had any say in it his sister wouldn't have either. But it was all part of his father's plan so Evan had no choice 

Evan and Charlie talked a little bit as they walked through the door and got into the elevator in the apartment. Apparently school was going well and she had gotten a job working for a computer company doing programming. The band was also going to perform at a big venue next month or it was..

But Evan wasn't really listening to the chatter though. He was thinking about Elizabeth. From what he had heard over the phone she was dead. 

Charlie had told him the whole story through heavy gasps and obvious tears. How they had gotten the call from William telling them that Michael was down in Circus baby's entertainment and rentals and they needed to put him back together. How Elizabeth got a job as a night technician and Charlie got a job as a day technician. How Elizabeth had fought through the first four nights with the help of a mysterious voice revealed to be the main star herself, Circus baby.

How on the 5th night circus baby and all the other animatronics had tore themselves apart and melted together into a new monster that called itself Ennard. How they head killed the other technicians and nearly killed Charlie but stopped. Evan had heard Charlie's voice break when she mentioned the monster had Michael's voice.

And then the monster, the horrible wire thing lured Elizabeth into the scooping room and ripped her to shreds. It had stolen his sister's skin.

He felt a bit vindicated, he was right all those years of Michael playing like he was some kind of saint. Refusing to kill, refusing to get blood on his hands even though he wasn't Michael with free will, she was Baby the killing machine.. 

He was getting spiteful, Charlie noticed. 

“Gosh Evan, I didn't know you hated Computer programming so much.” Charlie looked over nervous as the elevator door opened. Evan had let his mask slip that was bad.. 

“No I was just thinking of everything that happened, I'm So Sorry Charlie..” It was a good enough excuse and he was sorry. Evan knew he and Elizabeth were estranged and she hated him, but he hated the idea of something that horrible happening to her.

But he also had to admit he loved the vision of it. Blood and visceral everywhere organs spilling on the ground and Michael once again covered in blood. Evan thought of the years that he had spent checking the camera footage of Baby's room, to see the cowardly thing crying to herself or pleading for someone to acknowledge she was Michael. How she had refused to do the one thing she was built for.. and she still ended up covered in blood! since that was all Michael was good for getting his siblings blood everywhere 

The two of them stopped at number 5. Even if Charlie hadn't guided him Evan would know this was Elizabeth's home. A pride flag sticker was on the door. 

“Yeah.. Liz and Susie aren't exactly secretive about….” Charlie let out a small chuckle as she opened the door. Evan couldn't help it. He did too, her laughter even so small, sad and tired was infectious.

“What are you laughing at…” And there was Susie. Jesus Christ. Time had sculpted the Pink dress, wearing golden curls, Bible reciting, Susie he had known into a black clad, imposing woman. Evan could still see the traces of the shy, homeschooled, girl he remembered. But None of the kindness she had held for him as a child still lurked in her eyes.

“Nice to meet you again!” Evan put on his most charming smile, Reaching out his Hand to be shook. 

Susie just stared down at his hand, Her bright blue eyes looking at him with such hatred he almost feared that she knew how many lives his hands had taken. They stood there for a minute before Charlie broke the silence.

“Um.. Let's just go inside.. I can make everybody some coffee!” Charlie said nervously. Susie nodded sharply, moving out of the way so both Charlie and Evan could get into the apartment.

Evan stepped inside and he had to admit, the apartment was nice. There was a cozy old couch and armchair with a nice, if slightly rickety table to sit and have meals at. There were a couple shelves filled with records, a drum kit and two electric guitars. 

“Not fancy enough for you?” He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Susie's voice. 

“No, it's a nice place..” It wasn't the sort of place Evan wanted to live, but it seemed to fit Elizabeth, Susie and Charlie well enough. 

It was definitely nicer than his room back at his father's house. He hadn't changed it since he was carted off to the hospital on that fateful birthday in 1983. His father didn't let him change it.

“Yeah sure…” Susie sat down on the couch. Evan sat down on the chair beginning to hear the noises of Charlie making coffee in what seemed to be a small kitchen.

“Did you know your dad was sending my girlfriend, your sister, his f****** daughter down to Hell?” Her voice was accusatory and angry. Evan did know. Evan knew that place was a death trap, That there was a chance his sister wouldn't come out of there. But what was he going to do about it? it's not like he could change anything, like he could stop it?

“No! And I swear to God my dad didn't either! He's already having a discussion with the owners of rentals” Evan tries to believe the lie himself, tries to believe that his father didn't mean for his only daughter to die.

He did not know his father's plan but he had a feeling that Elizabeth was supposed to die down there.

“Susie, can we please not get accusatory! I know you're scared, I am too but Evan's here to help us fix this” Charlie stumbled in with three coffee mugs. Evan gratefully took a big long sip.

“I get it! you think he can help but Elizabeth doesn't want to see him and Elizabeth is the one who's..” Susie stops herself from saying that part. Evan can only imagine what it must be like.. He doesn't know much about their relationship other than it's romantic. To have your partner become a monster before your eyes must be horrifying. 

Susie and Charlie began to whisper. 

It was almost sweet.. To love someone that much, to be loved that much. Avenue nothing of love. He was almost certain he couldn't feel it, just another sign that he was broken.. He wondered if his father didn't feel love. He wondered if it was the bite that made another part of his brain broken.. 

The whispering stopped and Susie, her face still a mask of anger yelled out. "Liz! Evans here!”

Evan put on his best Charming, biggest, I've missed you sister, smile. As he ran through the possibilities of what his sister actually would look like. He wasn't good at the supernatural science of it all, but he had a basic understanding of how these things worked and Elizabeth's condition was nothing he had ever heard of.

There was a possibility that dad had just never told him about anything like this but he didn't think so. 

And then trudging out from the hallway which presumably led to Susie and Elizabeth's room came Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth trudged out with an angry look on her face. The first thing ever noticed was that his sister was missing half of her face. The entire skin on the right side of her face was gone revealing the bone. Her skin was also pinkish purple… And she was covered in.. 

“Sticky notes?” Evan said in confusion. Now that was a big slip up his first words were supposed to be something inviting, not sticky notes… He couldn't help it! He was surprised! Evan didn't know exactly what he had been expecting but not this…. 

“Sorry I was busy writing you know all of this being sent to my death by my father, seeing the kind of ghost of My Dead Brother and becoming a zombie business gave me some killer ideas for music..” Elizabeth ruled her eye and Susie let out a small chuckle 

Evan, cleared his throat 

“It's been so long, Elizabeth! I know it's under bad circumstances but still it's wonderful to be back together!” 

Evan hopes that his words were convincing enough. Despite not wanting anything to do with them, Elizabeth was still an Afton, so she was able to recognize manipulation but all those years away from father probably lessened the skill.

“Stop trying to be my brother.. Just get this over with so I can get back to songwriting and cuddling my girlfriend” Elizabeth looked away; she only had one eye now. And that one eye was filled with such hatred.

“Yeah and you better not tell any faz-themed lies you little company rat” Susie looked like at any minute if Evan said Susie deemed a lie, her fist would be planted in his shattered skull.

Charlie gave them both a stop fighting look before speaking 

“You work with William, you know something about the rentals and what happened to Michael right?” 

“Yes I do..” Now it was time for the lie.. Evan had been practicing this. His father had gone through the basic idea of what he was supposed to say but Evan had added on details..

“As you all probably remember, on the Opening day of Circus Baby's Pizza World there was a gas leak..” This he had gone through with his father there was never a gas leak. 

Most of the “gas” was just circus baby overheating and letting out excess smoke because her body wasn't built to fit someone of Michael's size 

All three of the women's faces fell dark. Evan could remember that day just like they did.. Smoke choking the air, children running in fear and Elizabeth stepping out of the party room covered in pizza sauce. It was really Michael's blood, but William had convinced everyone that the gas had tampered with Elizabeth's mind and she had just wandered into the kitchen and spilled tomato sauce. How poor little Elizabeth hadn't been able to understand what she had just seen and had begun to cry that circus baby ate Michael..

“But what you don't know is that the gas leak was caused by Michael…” Evan tried to look somber but he could barely hold in his grin. He had added this part. And the next one 

Charlie began to fidget uncomfortably. She had been closer with Michael than anyone at that time; this was going to hurt her a lot..

“He went mad I think quite a while ago.. Was convinced he needed to combine himself with the machines. Made an excuse of getting ice cream for you Elizabeth, then rigged circus baby so she would instead of handing out ice cream pull ice cream in and in this case he was ice cream..” Oh this was fun to see, the look on Elizabeth and Charlie's faces. He cared for them both but the way they liked Michael after everything he did made Evan's blood boil..

“No no you're lying! he wouldn't- I knew him! he-we had a plan! he wouldn't-” Charlie got up beginning to pace.

Evan just sat there trying to look sad. “I'm afraid it's true.. My father didn't tell anyone, fearing that him and Henry would be under more scrutiny and I know it's wrong! He regrets it a lot! but he was scared and sad and thought that was the best decision..” 

Evan spoke in a quiet voice trying to sound sad harder, since even though he was a good liar, seeing Charlie dislike Michael seeing her finally understand that he was a monster and a murderer made him feel good…

“So Michael went crazy and let out the gas leak and shoved himself in the robot? How does that explain him being a part of circus baby and appearing to Liz? Is he like haunting it or something?” Susie was the only one not having an emotional reaction to this; she hadn't known Michael. The only steak she had in this was her girlfriend's well-being.

“He was mentally unstable and scared and thought that was the only way he could be whole.. And yes I believe that in some form his consciousness lingers on and it influences Circus baby and the rest of the animatronics to be violent.. to do that..” Evan gestured to Elizabeth making Susie give him a death glare. 

This was sort of true. Michael was Circus baby and was fully conscious. But he wasn't responsible for the others' murderous programming, dad just made the funtimes like that.

“That's why they were locked up down there. That's why they're punishment was so severe, Michaels sou-if you want to call it that made them go insane…” Elizabeth nodded along quietly.

“It makes sense, He didn't seem that sound of mind when I saw him..” Elizabeth ran an unconscious hand over the entry scar on her back where the scooper had hit and that monstrosity had torn into her. 

“No, I know Michael! I knew him so well then!! We were close! If he was feeling like that he would have told me!? he would have said something, he would have like painted it or some s*** Michael doesn't-” Charlie looked around hoping for that hostility Susie and Elizabeth had to Evan earlier but his lie was good they knew he was right. 

“Look Charlie I'm not saying we trust the corporate asshat over there..But it seems to line up with what Elizabeth said…” Even though Evan hated being called a corporate asshat, She was on the right track or the track he wanted her to be on.

“May I continue?” The word sounded Melancholy as if he couldn't bear to continue telling the tale.

Charlie nodded, looking like she was about to explode. Evan went ahead quickly before Charlie could say anything else 

“But trapping a bloodthirsty animal in a cage makes it more vicious so All of the animatronics influenced by Michael's anger and Madness at time of death combined and used Elizabeth to escape..”

“Then I got moldy and they injected” Elizabeth added on 

“Exactly and here's where it all comes in.. You brought me here to find out more information and now you've got it! but we still have a murderous pile of wires on the loose, who's willing to do worse than what happened to Elizabeth in a heartbeat…And it still thinks like Michael in some weird twisted way so.. ” Charlie stopped pacing and stared in object horror at what next was going to come out of Evan's mouth. Evan couldn't help but smile here he had been waiting for this part, he'd been waiting to even do this since he woke up in that stupid hospital bed in 1983

“We need to kill it, And Charlie I need your help to get it done…”