(With parental and animatronic supervision. Benjamin's Arcade is not liable for any injury or death occurring on its premises.)
[ A multimuse FNAF OC and FAN LOCATION rp blog ]
🎸 Benjamin's is a ROCK'N'ROLL themed arcade and buffet intended for the older audience of children! Supervised by the manager of the location, Friedrich Knight, and featuring FIVE, STELLAR ANIMATRONIC FRIENDS! Come meet the gang!
BENJAMIN BEAR! Leader of the band and stage-bound presence!
FERRIS FERRET! Game master and mischief maker!
RILEY RABBIT! Beloved server and host!
MAYA MOUSE! Cozy Corner's darling caretaker!
PRIZE PUPPET! - out of service.
And of course, how could we forget our lovely manager! Friedrich Knight, the founder of this location! 🎸
#ADVERTISING ; in-character posting from this location's socials
#IN THE DARK ; standalones and short stories
#FAZBEAR CONNECTIONS ; interacting w/ other fnaf blogs
#QUESTIONAIRES ; asks
#CAN'T YOU HEAR US? ; threads w/other blogs
#LONG NIGHT? ; other blog's Benjamin-Related posts
[#Ferris-Centric, #Benjamin-Centric, ect are specific posts.]
It's suffocating in here. It could hear children outside, running around, could hear the worker at the Prize Corner shuffling by. Tickets and coins and numbers, lots of numbers, quick math that Prize quietly echos in jingles and bells, the soft pop of a broken voicebox. It's agonizing, to hear but never speak. To know and never touch, never talk, never see.
It sits, crumbled in fabric and strings, knotting and unknotting the fabric shreds over and over and over. It lays upon a throne of discontinued prize items, hoarded away for safe keeping, and listens to the world outside.
It hated it's box. Better than the storage room, at least. Being locked away makes it's fabric crawl, porcelain shaking with rage. To lay abandoned, like a discarded toy-
-it was furious. Prize was always so fucking angry.
Night gets left alone with his thoughts. It takes him until the clock strikes midnight for him to come back. Right, right.
Lock in, Night. Lock in.
As with every shift, he expects a phone call as he settles in. Almost on cue, on time, it rings and he answers. A recorded message, as he expects, fills the silence in the office.
A voice of a young man plays, with Night leaning over to hear him right with his fingers clicking over cameras and searching for what's available for him.
"Uh hello?" The recording asks, Night thinks the caller sounds younger than him. "I think it's recording. When was the last fucking time someone used one of these things? It’s shitty."
Night could almost make out what's happening behind the scenes. A shuffle of a few papers, and a clear of the throat.
"Well, hello. Welcome to your first night at- at Benjamin’s! My name is—" The phone then makes an unintelligable noise, successfully cutting off his name. Night hits the base of the device with a light smack. Guess some of these technologies are a bit old school. "—I’m here to give you the training to, uh, manage this job."
The caller then tells Night all he needs to know for his shifts. First nights are always easy, they don't tell you that directly but it's always implied. At least he's acquainted with some of these bots already.
Ferris, according to the phone, is just apparently always online. Which, isn't a diss on Night's part, but more of a funny joke. What is he, a smart appliance? (Well yeah he's a robot.) Fuck he gotta be connected to the 'net for, y'know? Fucking... I-pad baby or something.
Night's kidding, though. Mostly. Just enough that Ferris isn't near to hear his thoughts.
But it's easy enough to keep him away at least.
The change in demeanor would've frightened most guards, Night guesses. One hour ago the ferret was almost too eager to meet a new guy in the arcade, and now he's almost too eager to meet the new guy. Face to face. Teeth to skin.
But again, it's easy.
Night plays cues, a little sound he's actually getting fond over, and slows the ferret as much as he could. When he does come around to take a gander at what Night might be at his shift, he greets him with a little shut of the door. He's a little lucky that his ears are good, that knock saves him power and his dead life.
But Ferris isn't the only one he's babysitting tonight, and every other night from now on.
Riley peeks around shyly, but morbidly curious. It's just the door, like Ferris, except he doesn't have to look over her all the damn time. But that's about the end of who he's (currently) familiar with.
Benjamin Bear and Maya Mouse, of who the call so graciously tells him, who they are and what they do. Close the door again when Maya's camera goes dark, play a cue, and just- fucking book it if the main man shows up. Cool, but he takes note of Friedrich's words a bit ago, that they don't leave as much as the other two.
It's still good to keep an eye and ear out.
Especially when he's suddenly forced to just use his ears. Around four to five in morning, the puppet takes over his fucking camera system like a child forcing you to pay attention. Night can see right above its stupid head is a stupider ghost giving him the middle finger as if he couldn't see. He flips the thing off with a disregard whether or not it could see.
Night jingles his keys over the camera the next night just to fuck with it.
Again, it's still easy.
And it stays easy, for the first night until the third. Although they've tried getting funny with him, and he's not sure if he appreciates it.
On the second night, his power almost drains out. (Karma for that boo boo key joke.) Not enough to blackout though. Just barely hanging by five percent to the clock to chime by six in the morning. He had to stay back on the third for an injury that took him by surprise.
Night didn't see it coming, nor did he even hear it. It just- happened so fast. So much that he's still in shock from what just happening, breathing heavily with his back pressed up against his seat, hands shaking as one folds over the other, bleeding over his work clothes and all over these papers that aren't even his.
Ferris got in, plain and simple. Like a ferret jumping out of the grass, and into Night's office. And he moves, of fucking course, lunges over his fucking desk to reach the button. It wasn't quick enough, fucking obviously.
The bastard clawed his hand (almost off), and Night's for sure going to get in trouble for damaging Ferris. His paw pressed the button again before the door could even get down in time, and Night had to kick it as he scrambled for his hand to not get taken out fully. He doesn't keep any flesh lost once he resets, so he has to be careful.
After deciding for a good while whether to keep going, he takes the easy way out and restarts his whole shift all over again. That way, whatever damage he did to the fucking ferret doesn't cut out of his paycheck and ruin whatever good reputation he has as a guard.
This is his first fucking week here. He's not even half way.
He gets through it anyway, (cheater), and keeps going. Door closes, door opens, a cue plays opin a room farthest from the office, a cue plays a little closer, door closes, door opens, Night leaves, Night comes back.
Door closes, door opens.
This shit doesn't even deter the bots either. They started to get more frantic, more active, more... hungry.
It's not the first time Night has had to multitask like a maniac to keep all of his limbs in tact, but fuck, has it been a long time for him to come back to it after calm nights all year long. He almost feels as if he was a newbie again.
But when six am hits again for the fourth time, he's not that concerned anymore. It's the first week jitters, he'll get over it.
-Is what he WOULD SAY IF HE DIDN'T KNOW NO BETTER.
Night loses his momentum again, getting too cocky for getting used to his rhythm of looking over these guys. The power also plays games with him, much like night three, but as much as he tries to save up, it dies on him.
At the worst time too, he's supposed to be out right now to hide from Benjamin. He's shut inside with his only entrance and exit closed down from an encounter with Riley. It's pitch black in this saw trap of a room. Night's flashlight is dead too. Shit, should he start over?
With his newly scarred hand holding over his pendant, giving him his only source of light. Bright blue and wispy. Night's eyes focus on it before his ears perk up at a scraping noise in front of him.
Claws, he can barely see with the small light illuminating it. He can hear mechanical whirring and steady breathing that he can't tell if it's his. Night's not going crazy. The door is opening. Slowly.
It's too dark still to find the hands of his wristwatch. He's not sure if he trusts the digital clock on the desk just yet. The hand prying the door open is still trying. No, not even trying. He's actively, and painfully, slowly pulling this door open.
Night can see Benjamin's eyes search for him through the dark. They meet him easily, with his gifted pendant's light giving him away. His grip tightens on it.
Benjamin looks over at his light, then at Night. He stares back in respect, but he starts to shift himself to his coporeal form. His feet don't touch the ground as he mentally prepares to start over.
The door's almost snapped open halfway, and Night holds his breath. To his luck, Benjamin does too. His eyes look up at him, and for a brief moment, Night could see them.
Another pair of eyes behind animatronic made ones, almost the same as the one behind the puppet's. A shine on Benjamin's eyes, ghost blue light reflecting on the plastic ball. Ghosts stare at one another.
Night doesn't believe in anything above or below him, just that nobody deserves to be trapped in a life they can't escape. But for a brief second, he simply prays that he could make it another day with all his limbs to learn more. Explore, find, and eventually talk to these spirits.
Because fuck, if any soul deserves to stay on this world for long rather than pass on, it should be him.
Something answers his prayers though. A chime, a familiar tune playing in the room as both he, and Benjamin, look down on the digital clock. Six in the morning, and his wristwatch a minute late. Maybe he should trust this clock.
In respect to the silent agreement between all animatronics, or a built in safety program, Benjamin backs away from the door and he walks away, leaving Night backed up against the wall to drop onto the floor in relief. His limbs physical and in tact with the solid world around him once more.
He doesn't think about how close he's gotten to dying again in the arcade because he's slipped up, or how he's lost his edge to keeping everything in check. No, he thinks about Benjamin, who's in Benjamin. Then whoever's in the Prize Puppet. And all other hidden souls that haven't gotten the chance to slip up the same way he has.
To uncover themselves unknowingly to a living ghost. That's fascinating. He's hooked, definitely.
When Friedrich comes in the later morning to let him out, Night doesn't open his mouth about what ne saw back there. There's no point in saying it. After all, he already knows the older man doesn't believe in it, or rather chooses not to. He was already dismissing an assumption that Night didn't even have.
What he does tell him though, is that they need a new door. As well as he's coming back on Monday.
Congrats Benjamin's Arcade, you've gained a new part of the crew. And he's not going to fuck around to find more of it.
Night pulls his busted car up to an empty parking lot. The whole area's supposed to be carless anyway, it's the dead of night and that makes his job a lot more easier. He's not even sure if intruders could even get in, there's trees lining around the lot. Night himself got lost trying to find the clearing.
He steps out of his seat, immediately squinting at the bright light of the sign. Benjamin's, huh? At first, it sounded like an odd job, needed more people to be hired. That's a pretty normal thing.
Night doesn't exactly mind. He has no use for the pay or the amount of buildings he has to babysit, but it does feel a tadbit draining to go to work every night. Then again, what's he supposed to do with his afterlife? This, even with the same greetings of death and another full twenty-four hours to repeat, it feels better than doing nothing.
The building's incredibly retro. With the big neon sign that's blinding his eyes, and cartoon characters of what he assumes to be the cast stuck on the windows. It looks... pretty welcoming, and on point for somewhere kids would go.
Time for him to do the same.
Night begins the short trek of walking over to the front doors, when the knob rattles and out steps someone else from the inside.
Friedrich was not an ugly man by far, but the uniform certainly helped. He's dressed in a red button up tucked into black pants, the classic fazbear bear logo on the pocket. Granted, this one had electric guitar and arcade game logos behind it, meant to represent Benjamin's own beloved bear. He looks startled to find a body in his way in the dead of night, only for his face to very suddenly warm at the sight.
"Well hello there." He immediately starts, smooth and easy, taking note of the security hat nestled on the other's head. The man immediately links his keys back onto his belt, besides a tazer-sized box concealing that exact weapon.
"I figured so! I was told you'd be coming in. Welcome over, boy." Friedrich extends a hand, grinning. He's an older man, somewhere in his fifties, eyes crinkling as he widens his easy smile. He seems like he smiles a lot. Fitting for his occupation. "I'm Friedrich Knight, I'm the head hancho around here, heh!" He laughs at his own joke.
His hair was already greying. He seemed too young for that part. It's a deep black, bangs above his eyes, cleanly cut short and even. Hair travels down both sides of his jaw, but he has no beard, just a thick scar on his chin. That smile puts some silver teeth on display. "We've been needing guards for a while. Got some real expensive games in here, yknow. Part of our pride n' joy."
Friedrich raises an eyebrow at that introduction. It wasn't trustworthy in any respect, but the older man just hums, patting Night's shaken hand with his free one. "Lovely ta' meet 'ya. It's always fun to have someone interested in joining the band." He let's go.
Turning, he opens the door again, this time holding it there. "Come in, come meet the guys. The bots, I mean."
"Right." Night follows Friedrich in timidly. He has to focus though, no time to feel nervous.
He notices a stage as he walks, some seats around, makes sense. They're usually a staple in these locations, what's the point of having stars of a show with no stage and no audience? Then again, what's the point of having guards in a place like this?
Night needs to ask everything about this place. "So about the bots-"
Friedrich, quite rudely, waves a hand in Night's face. "I know, I know, you've heard the rumors, but it's nothing bad. They run on a very advanced AI, is all, so to get that walkin' and talkin' they do, they gotta be active all the time." He rambles immediately, not even awaiting the rest of the question.
He gives a warm, almost blinding smile. "We have a door. You can close it all night if you want, don't worry. Even then, only two of our bots tend to roam the night."
If he's lying, it isn't obvious, so oblivious may be the word to best describe him. He eagerly motions Night along- and is abruptly stopped. A mechanical hum and whirr comes from the form- and looking up reveals the large white rabbit with a hard metal-plastic shell. She's covered in stickers and colors, optics widening and scanning the two as she moves on past them. The manager just smiles, large and wide, unbothered, before reaching a hand out and taking the arm of the tall, eerily graceful, robot.
"This is one of them! Riley Rabbit! Night, this is our server bot, she helps with hosting and junk!" Fried turns, making a wide motion to the bot. He's not afraid to be near it at all- touching, lingering, showing off the mechanical creature like a prize. She turns, her constant smile unwavering as she waves cheerfully and gives a pre-recorded "hello!"
Despite never seeing her before, Night immediately feels like he's just seen an old friend. He suddenly feels comfortable. He gives Riley a timid little wave.
"Hi Riley," Night awkwardly greets. "I uh- hope I'll see you later?"
There's a deep, odd sensation there. When she looks at him, she's looking at something. That's not a soulless robot's stare. Still, she doesn't waver, doesn't move, follows the programming to nod and cheerily respond, then turns and continues on her path. Fried seems pleased, grinning.
"Crazy technology, right? She's one of our more advanced ones. Not much personality, but what can you do? It's Ferris that really gets the crowd going. Wanna stop by and see?"
Friedrich claps Night on the shoulder and beams. With a turn, the man leads the new hire further into the building and past the arches separating the games from the tables. It's all off at the moment, only the dim overhead lights on, though during the day it clearly was alight with the colored lights that could be seen.
He leads the guard to another animatronic- though this one was clearly more animated. A ferret, shorter than the other, that was busy... shoving coins in his mouth. When he seems to catch sight of the two approaching people- ears promptly shift down and dulled teeth immediately bare, then calm abruptly as the bot goes stiff. It's eerie, the way the programming seems to take over, the way it smiles in an obscenely empty way and waves, bounding over.
"Ferris Ferret!" Friedrich doesn't flinch. Ferris actually speaks immediately. It's hands twitch- very human hands, not quite paws, staring down at Night with something barely restrained. "Hey there. Here to play some games?"
Fried gives a crooked smile. "Yeah. They're like employees. That's how you introduce people, aint it? These are roamin' bots, they're just gonna be around."
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here." Friedrich blinks at the mechanical voice, raising an eyebrow at Ferris, who's giving this weird pout-like action. He sinks down from his spot just a bit away, then shaking his head oddly. Something rattles inside- those coins, most likely. There's a large dispenser in the robot's chest and stomach, after all.
Ferris promptly cocks his head far too far to the right. There's a click, and then his optics turn every which way. There's a moment of silence, just the humming of his system, and then Ferris speaks just as Fried prepares to. "I sent them signals. They're in... Kitchen, Cozy Room, Employees Lounge." He raises his head back into the proper position. "Oh. Prize Corner. Puppet is awake."
The manager huffs softly. "Our puppet is out of commission, but it's systems still turn on." He explains to Night. He points up. There's tracks on the ceiling- assumingly meant to attach to strings, though they certainly didn't seem used. "It's kept in that little prize box in the corner. You won't need to watch it- It can't move on it's own. Not like some other models. Too top-heavy and pin-point legs and all."
Ferris twitches like that disturbs him. He looks over his shoulder by mostly moving his head, on high alert. Rather than a Ferret, he's oddly cat-like in his movement.
That's a first. Night stores that in his little cranium later to boast about to Charlie. She'd probably make a fuss about there being another puppet, and that this one can't move.
"That's alright. I can still say hello." He grins instead, seeming more calm and chipper. Night looks back at Ferris from looking up. "I'm on the babysitting duty now, I think at least. But, I uh, hope you and your buddies can consider me a friend."
He rubs his neck awkwardly as he extends a hand out to Ferris, merely an option.
"You don't ha-" Friedrich is very promptly interrupted by Ferris's fiendish mechanical laugh. He takes Night's hand in a furiously tight, eerily warm grasp. The metal fingers are far too articulated for the retro vibe of the place. He's well designed. "Prize would love that."
Ferris does not let to. He watches the flesh and blood he makes contact with, eyes too sharp for this sort of place. When he does let go, it's with a barked laugh. That one resembles a Ferret's noise. "Well, let's not keep 'im waiting!"
Friedrich chuckles lowly, checking his watch with a slight growing concern, then putting both hands into his pockets. He follows along as Ferris now takes charge of the party and excitedly leads them away and towards the Prize Corner. It's a lovely little place- and by little, it was a large genuine corner covered in merchandise and candies. In the center, behind the counter and all, there's a large present box. It's covered in rockstar stickers and little drawings.
There's a cross at the top of the box- strings pull as the lid is lifted. There's a puppet inside, alright. It lays there, motionless, limp. It's plush-looking, too soft, bells sewn into it's chest where buttons should be and it's sleeves poofed comically. It doesn't look like an animatronic- it looks like a sad toy. The porcelain mask resembles a comedy mask- lacking the wrinkles and nose, instead painted in beautiful bold colors for the tears and cheeks. It's a mockery.
A spectral hand reaches from inside, fingers sharply hooking against the bottom of the mouth, and it lifts it's head as the spirit fades, turning. White pin eyes stare at Night with the possibly the most vile hatred in the world- and it rises. The puppet's hands, three too-long fingers curl over the side of the box, the other lifting the lid more, and it rises. It's wearing a jester's hat, the bells on the end ringing softly as it brings itself to a stand, leaning hard against the edge of it's containment.
Looking too closely, there's strings moving with nothing to control them. The head tilts hard to the left. And it- speaks. Or, it tries to, but the mangled noise of a broken voice box hums and pops, and instead a soft bell-like ringing is what comes out.
Friedrich claps, a distance away. He didn't even pass the counter, nowhere near the thing, leaning against the counter to laugh. "Well, look at that, Night! Look at it sayin' hello, It likes 'ya."
Night's eyes follow the hand, not the head. From the naked eye, it'd look like he was simply looking at the strings or the direction of the head. But no, to him, there's another spirit in the room. He doesn't say anything about it.
There's a sharp gaze from the puppet. Night stares back, almost in respect. The puppet reminds him of his own. He just nods to it.
"..Right." He says to Friedrich, he hasn't looked away yet. What does Ferris make of this? Or the puppet itself?
The puppet seems nothing short of pissed of. If it recognizes the self through the guard, it can't communicate it, pin-prick eyes and ever-smile existing in place of any real emotion. The lights do move, granted, but only to bounce around and scan Night's face. It gives a pop from the voicebox, then- abruptly lets go of the edge of the box. The hand touching the lid slams it closed.
Quite the attitude on that one. Ferris comes closer, poking at the box, before huffing. Then the robot ferret grabs it and- he just starts to shake it. It's a very human turn of events for the robot to take, like a teasing older brother would do, and soon alarmed chiming and the ringing of bells admits from the box in a frantic, constant, very much exhasperated tune. "Sorry about Prize!" He apologizes, too authentic, and turns to give a practiced smile.
If Friedrich has anything to say, he doesn't say it. He stays a distance away and watches with a smile far too constant. He checks his watch again. Every moment that passes brings them closer to the average time of danger these locations held.
Again, even though he has never ever met these bots, this just feels normal to him. Even though it is, technically, with his own bots, this group seemed to lean on the edge of being programmed and feeling alive.
He's interested.
"Don't worry about it," He waves off. "The Puppet back where I work doesn't like people either."
"Starting to think they just get built like that." Friedrich chimes in with an amused smile, though his interest buds obviously at the mention. "Ours is good with kids, at least. Shame it's so busted. We don't take it out of that box."
Ferris stops shaking the box. Then proceeds to kick it. A mechanical popping come from inside. The Puppet seemed to have a few choice words about the action, but the Ferret only puts his hands on his hips and stares down at the puppet's home. So, Friedrich keeps talking. "There's about two more- Benjamin's our head, and then Maya. Neither of them really leave their designated areas all that much, they won't be any problem for you."
"That's alright." Night sighs, relieved that he didn't get to say much. He would've started talking about Charlie, and he knows she'd brag about the favorite. (Not in a million years, kid.)
He pulls his hat down towards the direction of Ferris and Prize. "I'll see you two later. My tour's not exactly finished quite yet."
"I don't mind meeting them if you want to take me there. Kinda just wanna see the office either way."
Ferris waves. He seemed friendly. Whether that was genuine or programmed remained to be determined. Friedrich just hums lowly, checking his watch again. "Absolutely. The office, then. I can point the other two out on the cameras, but then I have to get going. My son hates when I get home too late." He chuckles heartily. "Well then, come come." And, with that, they move onto their next destination.
This place is easy. It's relaxed, fun, the colorful carpets and easy lights and designated path between games. It's decorated like it's loved, cameras drove and move, lights look new. It all looks like it would pass a health inspection. It's... up to code. Friedrich, the golly guy he was, leads with a hum and a edge to his step, out of the games, down the hall labeled EMPLOYEES ONLY, into a room with a heavy metal door.
The cameras are beautiful. Modern. There's a thick box on the desk as well, a selection of sound cues each labelled with little animal faces. The cameras show each and every one of the animatronics- the stage is occupied now. A bear with the same punkstar design as the others stands motionless there. The other unseen animatronic- a mouse, big ears twitching and moving- was seemingly cleaning an area elsewhere in the building. That cozy little corner, as advertised to be for younger and more sensitive kids. She looked plush, in fact, big paws padded and pushing around baskets of toys.
Night whistles at the office layout on its own. But these cameras? Fuck, they looked more stable than those at the fucking Pizzaplex. He's drawn in already.
"You're in the office, surely you can say a few swears around." He jokes. Night's hands flex and stim as they hover over the office desk. He gets way too giddy seeing what he's going to be equipped with.
"Are these all your cameras?" He asks first, "Or do you have more and I have the ability to pick or...?"
"Nah, nah, nah." The manager chants, warm and easy-going. "I work with kids all day and go home to two more, can't catch myself slipping too much." He watches the new hire excite over the cameras, an amused smile settling over his lips beneath the facial hair. He reaches up and strokes at it, pausing to consider that question.
"This is all we got for here. Well- actually, we have screens in the other office." He waves a hand dismissively. "But those aren't really job material. More like just something to check during shift changes to make sure nothing bad happens. We're real good about child safety around here, especially with all the rumors floatin' about the fazbear company."
He grins like he's proud. "Never lost a kid around these parts. But anyway. Yeah, this'll be your set up. Our power is consistent, also helps power-" He knocks the wall. "-this big ass door. Intruders can't do shit about this thing. Bulletproof. You're all safe in here and all equipped. Ain't that awesome?"
Night nods, listening too intently. "Yeah, I get it. And the- office is fantastic! Really fascinating so far."
He wants to explore this whole office and find everything inside. What mechanics do these mascots have? Are they going to say hello tonight? Are they aggressive? How do they get in?
"-Are there any vents? Can that door open? I wonder how strong it is to them... How long am I gonna be here.. Are there specific times any of them come out... Mutter mutter mutter.." Night talks to himself with his eyes continously darting around the room.
Friedrich opens his mouth to respond, but Night gets carried off. Like his own little world. It makes the manager smile, watching the other as he looks around, examines the unassuming office space and new technology. He lets the other go on, checking his watch, then hums. "That recordin' I mentioned will handle all'a that. I gotta hit the road, it's past my shift, but the keys to the buildin are in the employees lounge. The training call is all set up for you."
He jammers a bit more, motioning, comforting, before... He leaves to let Night get settled into the dimming building. Time ticks onwards and... Night is alone.
HEY! Friedrich here! Nope! We don't keep any secrets from our customers! Any questions about the food, service, or routine can be answered! Thanks so much for asking!
