NM: Expo - Part 3

You are Michael Schmidt.

You had recently just talked Foxy out of a guilt-fueled Root-beer binge, and then had to deal with an emotional Bonnie, again. Thankfully she forced herself to calm down pretty quickly. You’d heard from Chica she had been working with Freddy to better hold on to a “professional” demeanor. It seemed to be working, for the most part. Your neck was still a little stiff after her impromptu embrace.

You’d left her and Foxy to their devices, and went off to mosey around and check out what else was new. You saw Chica again, heavily scrutinizing some state-of-the-art pizza oven. Fazbear was discussing with his younger counterpart, from the new york crew. Probably trying to give him pointers.

Some glittering arcade machine caught his eye, and he started to walk over to it before a raucous cry rose up towards him.

“MIKESTER! FANCY SEEING YOU HERE!”

Aw hell he knew that voice. The kind of voice that bulged with confidence that the speaker was the most interesting person in the room, and would make sure to let everyone know it.

Goldie was here.

The gilded twin of Freddy Fazbear sat at a table, flanked by a couple female animatrons, cats maybe, it’s tricky to catch all the details with you rolling your eyes at the sight of him. It’s pretty much an automatic response.

“Hi Goldie.” You say with withering false enthusiasm.

“Mike, my main man! C’mon buddy, sit down a spell, catch up with the coolest bot you know!”

Unable to come up with a good enough excuse, you begrudgingly pull up a chair.

“So how’ve you been?” You ask.

He chuckles to himself, shades glinting. “Its been paradise on earth baby, just how I like it. Being THE brand mascot means you get the king’s share of respect from your robotic brethren, am I right ladies?”

The bots to his sides tittered vapidly. Ok one was a calico cat, the other was a raccoon. God, how many branches were they going to open?

“Good to hear you’re…” You search for the right words. “Making friends.”

“Haha, yeah. Like these lovely visions, right? I promised I’d educate them on my philosophy of success later.”

“The Golden Way?”

“That’s the one. Another cool part about being a bigshot at HQ is catching a peek at what they’ve got in store. The stuff they’re showing off today is peanuts compared to whats being cooked up.”

“Really?” You ask. You found this a little hard to believe, considering this was probably the most cutting edge pizzeria equipment you’ve ever seen in your life, as well as the largest army of sapient machine-men you’ve seen as well.

“Yup. Crazy stuff. I mean it doesn’t matter much to me. I just ride the waves no matter how high the crest baby, thats the Goldie Way. That’s a freebie for you girls~” He added, charismatic voice going deep and silky. The girls cooed and giggled some more. They REALLY went all out when designing the processors of these girls, clearly. You supposed it was nice he found some peers as ’unconcerned about life’s larger problems’ as he was.

“So how’ve YOU been my man? How’d it go scoring that little purple number?” His shades covered it up but you swear you heard the faint servo sound of his eyelid winking at you.

You felt a twitch of irritation in how he referred to Bonnie but forced it back down. Goldy was mostly hot air, no value in getting mad over it.

“BONNIE and I are doing good, yeah. We made it an official ‘thing’ months ago. It’s been, it’s been pretty good.”

Goldy beamed. “See? Just a little contact with me, and you’re love-life is a hundred times better? Stick with me kid and you’ll be -swimming- in babes.”

Oh sure, HE Was the reason you managed to land a girlfriend like Bonnie. Though come to think of it, it wasn’t until the day AFTER you met him that things really came to a head with her. You made a mental note to never let him know that. Besides, swimming in babes? You were perfectly fine with Bonnie thank you very much. It was already a little too much with the occasional advance from Chica, and that predatory look Faulten would give you once in a blue moon. Thank GOD you never caught her in the act after that one awkward night.

“Eh, I think I’ll just, go with the flow for now Goldie.”

He nodded and tipped his hat. “That’s it right there buddy. Alright, I gotta go get ready for the big presentation. I got this whole song and dance number lined up for the start, gotta make the franchise look good baby!”

He got up, flanked by his admirers, and strutted off to wherever his dressing room was.

Thanking the gods for making this interaction with Goldy short, you got up and resumed your aimless perusal.

++++++++

You had played a couple rounds of some new generic fighter game, pretty fun but you had always sucked at these. Really badly. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone paying particular attention to the screen.

At least you thought, when a sudden polite cough from behind got your attention.

You jolt slightly, old nerves acting up again, but force yourself to calm down and face the newcomer without acting like a weirdo. “Ah, hi? Sorry, did you want next on this?” You ask cordially.

The animatron in front of you was unlike any other you’d seen. It wasn’t based on any animal; and it was built slender, almost frail looking. It was decidedly feminine in its build, but you couldn’t quite tell its gender at first glance, and its face was a pale mask with streaks of black under the eyes and a dot of red around its lips.

“You are Mister Schmidt, yes?” It asked, with a distinct Russian (what?) accent. Okay, telling by the voice you were going to gamble that it was female.

“Uhh, yeah?”

The masked thing smiled, mask proving more malleable than it looked at first glance. “Ah! Good! I was worried I would have to search entire hall for you!”

It bowed exaggeratedly. “I am Marie O’nette. It is not my original name, no, but was given by those who gave me new life, to fit in with the others.” She said, with perhaps more gravity than needed. “I am told that I am to be working with you in future, yes?”

“What?!”

She shot back up, brow knitting in confusion. “You were not told? I am to be part of your restaurants attractions soon. I was told you were best candidate for helping machines like me. I am… unused to being so human, is hard to adapt to.”

Really? Where you the best? I mean surely there had to be others helping all these new robots cope with sentience. Yeah, sure, your crew had their own particularly bad baggage, but for the most part they were dealing with it on their own now. You never quite understood why the higher ups had such interest in you, and now you were their go-to robot nanny? This one seemed nice enough at least, strange as she was.

You brush your hair back nervously, trying to salvage the conversation and not make her feel guilty about surprising you with this info. It wasn’t her fault management never tells you a damn thing until AFTER it happens.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just wasn’t expecting a new crew member. I’m sure you’ll fit in fine! Mary, right?”

“Da.”

“Mary, okay, good.” You pause a second, wondering how to ask the next question diplomatically. “So, uh, I’m curious. All the other robots Ive seen are like, animals? And you’re, uh, not one? So what’s your… story? Crap, is this rude to ask? This is rude to ask. I’m sorry, nevermind I’ll just-“

She laughed. “No! No it is fine Schmidt! I must be quite unique, yes?” She paused, and rose her arms above her head and stood on one foot, like a ballet dancer.

“I was part of an avant garde dancing troupe, the centerpiece of the show. I would be suspended by cables, and perform feats impossible for regular dancers.” She pirouetted, moving like she weighed nothing at all.  “My memories are primitive, but with my new perspective I can see it was truly beautiful.  But unfortunately, time is not kind. Eventually, the troop disbanded, and I was left to gather dust. Eventually, the K Foundation acquired me, and here we are. It is odd, being free. Not only to think, but to move, how is it that the song goes? No strings on me?”

She stuck out her left arm and had her forearm dangle like it was nothing but a ragdoll’s arm. What -was- she made of?

“That’s pretty cool actually.” You say. “Kind of more prestigious than a kid’s pizza restaurant, I hope you don’t get too bored doing kid’s songs…”

“It should not be too bad I would think, yes? I am just eager to be part of something again, perhaps like a family?”

You can’t help but smile. “Well, if you’re looking for that with our crew, you’ll find one. The band’s some of the best people I know, you’ll fit in fine.”

“Thank you Schmidt, that means very much to me.” She said softly. “Oh, and now I must go! The show starts soon, and I have a very important part! It shall be my first time dancing in so long!”

She lowered her leg, and began skip-running towards the stage.

“Er, Break a Leg!” You shout, remembering good luck was bad luck on staged performances. “And you can just call me Mike!”

You weren’t sure if she heard you, but it was no big deal. Hm, if the show was starting soon then you ought to go too. Didn’t want Bonnie to think you were missing her big show.

You exited the booth, and began walking the same path you so Marie take.

The Real Show was about to begin.