Y'all voted for Eclipse, much to my surprise. So we're doing that one first! The Eclipse Route is a go!! Also, the AO3 link too.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/63012859/chapters/162277714
Your eyes are drawn back to Eclipse’s file. It’s worn and dirty from passing through the hands of his technicians, creased and bent in awkward places. The characters doodled on the page are mostly one’s from the Megaplex, the Glamrocks, Bonnie, Foxy, Sun and Moon. There’s a doodle of a child in a striped shirt, hands holding balloons. This location used to have a Balloon Boy, or so you think. Your boss was also drawn on the page, his hair pulled back in the same style he had now. Beside him was the unfamiliar man. The doodle is a bit childish, but you think he has shoulder length dreadlocks. It looks close enough. Slowly, you reach out and take it.
Across from you, Paul sighs. His face falls and he looks just a little disappointed. Maybe because he's supposed to be Eclipse's technician. Your grip on the folder tightens, a creeping fear that you will be asked to choose again. You don't want to choose again. Something felt as if it were drawing you towards the file. How could you possibly give it up now that it sat in your hands?
“Well, I did say to pick any of them, so go ahead. I'll take ya to meet him. Be sure to read the file on the way. First page is a general summary on his information to make things easier.” Paul says this as he stands, pushing his chair back and collecting the remaining files. He stashes them away quickly in his desk drawer.
Paul is already at the door by the time you get to your feet. You follow him slowly, peeking at the file as you walk. The first page reads:
Exhibit: Superstar Daycare/Theater
Role: Security, caretaker, supervisor
Functional Bodies: Lune, Mars, Pluto
Non-functional Bodies: Sol, Venus, Saturn
Temperament: Docile, friendly, clever, curious, mischievous.
-Protective of the other two attendants, believes them to be his children.
-Likes to flirt for fun, please ignore. (????) (Corporate asks that you not flirt with the animatronics.)
-Exhibits mild kleptomania, can be found taking from the lost and found or gift shops after hours.
-Stole his favorite arcade cabinet. (still has it???) (Unsure)
-Will refuse maintenance if done in the cylinder. Must be done manually. No, you cannot move him, don't try it.
-Body Lune has a damaged right leg. It throws off his balance.
-Body Sol has gone missing.’
You read as you follow Paul, curious to meet the animatronic in question. “I heard they're very life-like.” You say in an attempt to break the awkward silence. It's starting to feel strange. Unsettling. It seems Paul isn't too keen to chat, so you add, “Is it normal for him to avoid the cylinder?”
The man shrugs, glancing back at you. “Clips doesn't like it after they tried to decommission him. Sun and Moon are much the same about it.” It's a simple statement, but you suppose it made sense. You've never thought about it before, but the AI must have considered it a frightening place.
“Okay, and this thing about different bodies?”
“It's a unique feature. He can transfer himself to any of those bodies, though the only fully functioning one right now is Lune. Hence the note about the damaged leg.” He explains, pushing open a door that leads you into the theater’s basement storage. You follow him up, rereading your file until you find yourself standing beside the stage. It didn't seem like anyone else had such a feature. You had to admit that was pretty cool.
“Aight newbie. He oughta be here soon, I pinged him as we left…” The silence settles over you two again, just as uncomfortable as it was before.
Soon the uneven tap of metal on the tile filled the air. The bot that appeared around the corner wasn't quite what you expected, though you suppose you didn't know what to expect at all. He stood tall, dressed in a dark outfit decorated in golden circle patterns. The long, pointed hood was pulled up over his reddish orange head. His faceplate had a clear crescent shape separating both halves.
The animatronic paused seeing you standing there, head tilting slightly to the left as he leaned heavily on the lantern pole he carried. He shrunk in on himself, the golden lights in his black eyes flickering up and down your form for such a brief moment, you thought you'd imagined it. Turning to Paul, a smooth, gentle voice crackles, “Whatever it was, it wasn't me.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You're so unproblematic. Totally innocent. Absolutely didn't cut open all the meeting room chairs, stuff them full of whoopee cushions, and then sewed the seat fabric closed again.” Paul's tired, sarcastic drawl can't hide his bemused smile. The affection there practically seeps into his tone.
Eclipse scoffs, turning his head away from Paul. “As I said, I'm innocent. Anyone could've done that. Moony is infamous for his pranks.” His gaze falls on you again, one hand coming up to grip his chin in a quizzical way. “Who is this? I've never seen them before.”
Paul glances back as Eclipse limps across the room towards you. “Your new tech. Handler. Whatever ya wanna call ‘em. Corporate is drownin’ me in work so I was hirin’ some extra help.” Eclipse hums in response and says nothing.
It's not until he's standing in front of you that you realize he towers over you. He has to be at least seven feet tall, but you suspect he's larger because he slouches against the pole he's using as a walking stick. You flinch instinctively, feeling your cheeks burn under the weight of his curious stare.
“I see,” Eclipse responds, reaching out slowly. He gently caresses your cheek with one large hand as he leans in. You can hear Paul sigh heavily in the background but the pounding of your heart muffled it. If it's from fear or from nervousness, you can't really tell. “Don't look so frightened my dear, I promise I won't bite… unless you’d like me to?”
Your brain shorts out as you struggle to respond. Finally, you manage to:
(Flirt back)
(Say nothing but look to Paul for help. How else do you respond to this?)
(Laugh nervously and back away. The file says not to flirt back.)
(Push him away.)
Voting ended onFeb 24, 2025