May 29
based on something @/voidvinn said on a recent post of mine
seen from Pakistan
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based on something @/voidvinn said on a recent post of mine
how it feels to still be obsessed with Springtrap after 11 years
husbunny posting, i need to talk about that damned animatronic. musings inspired by conversations with a friend of the blog, you know who you are.
heed my content warnings, and feel free to reply with any of your own thoughts! i love talking about springtrap...
[Content Warnings and Such: NSFW, gender neutral pronouns for reader & no mentions of reader genitalia, predator/prey dynamics, springtrap likes the reader but is not normal about it, springtrap does not have functioning genitals anymore (sorryyy), gore (specifically, discussion of springtrap's dead body. this will have its own dedicated section at the end that i'll label so you can avoid it if you wanna read the rest!), sadomasochism, unconventional means of sexual gratification]
I like to get a bit creative with the ways Springtrap could possibly interact with the reader. Sex is a diverse subject, and there is a lot of things you could explore with him specifically. I get a little bit bored of just equipping him with fully functioning genitalia, even if it's warped by remnant or agony or... whatever else (not that I hate those interpretations, I just like to explore other possibilities!)
I also don't think Springtrap feels things the same way a living person does anymore. His body has been fused with metal and machinery, he is a ghost possessing his own corpse and the animatronic suit that killed him. I like to imagine his physical senses are dulled, as if every touch is being filtered through hundreds of layers of thick fabric. He knows something is touching him, but what it is, what it really feels like, none of that gets through to him. That doesn't stop him from enjoying the touch of the reader, but he can't entirely receive it either.
Between these two factors, a lot of his interactions with the reader revolve around power dynamics, sadomasochism, and... whatever else is left available to him.
Springtrap loves the thrill of hunting the reader. I've touched on this a little bit before in a previous post. Fear and desperation are so enticing to him. Tracking them through the attraction, getting just close enough to terrify them and then letting the reader slip through his fingers, allowing the fear to build up and become palpable in the air...
It doesn't end when he finally catches them. He's massive and strong, fully capable of manhandling them. His favorite thing is to see the aftermath of their games. The reader, bruised and bloody, aching and exhausted from their disingenuous attempts to escape him.
Without any traditional means to experience pleasure himself, his mind is focused on getting as much out of the reader as he can. I think it's very entertaining to him to see them come completely undone. He wants to see everything: adoration, horror, desperation. All of it.
I have a hard time getting too graphic, so please excuse me for being vague, but I think he likes to use his hands a lot. Especially now that they're reinforced with cold, sharp metal. When he isn't trailing his claws down the readers body or leaving bruises along their hips, he's putting his hands to good use elsewhere.
But it's also very easy to plop the reader on his lap, on one of his thighs, or lay them flush against his lowerbody, and let friction do all of the work. I think it would be borderline torturous, in the most delectable way.
I don't think he would be interested in using any outside stimulus. As easy as it could make things, I think he would enjoy the lengthy games between himself and the reader. All of the tension that gets built up, all of the emotions he draws out of the reader... it's worth the extra effort.
The part where I talk about his dead body ⬇️
His body inside of the suit is a little different from the metal and fur on the outside. The cold, leathery skin of his corpse feels about as much as the animatronic shell surrounding it. Perhaps the sensations come through a little stronger, not quite enough to really be noticeable. But his insides beyond the rotting flesh are very, very sensitive.
It shouldn't even be possible for him to have such lively innards considering the state of his corpse. Twisted, wet, semi-decayed organs, writhing underneath his skin. I imagine the closest thing he feels to true gratification is the readers hands exploring just a little too far into his suit, into his body. Going from feeling almost nothing at all to suddenly feeling every single poke and pull is a violent shock to him. It being the only stimulation he can truly feel anymore makes it both painful and pleasurable.
I also think it'd be fun if this applied to the robotic innards of his body as well. The wires, certain delicate machinery in his endoskeleton, etc. Although most of his metal body is borderline impermeable, theres those little bits and pieces that feel every tug or gentle graze. Any repairs he and the reader try to make to his body would be that much more intimate. I like imagining them together, him already feeling a bit vulnerable letting someone tamper with his body, and accidentally finding out that he's a lot more vulnerable than he thought. All it takes is one brush too close to his delicate wiring...
It's definitely something he would have hang ups about. Letting the reader literally explore the inside of his body is kind of a big deal. But when he is so infatuated with them, and he is so starved and desperate, eventually he's not going to be able to hold back. Guiding their hand closer and closer to where he really wants them to be, giving himself up to them. A complete flip on the usual power dynamic he exerts onto the reader. A true acceptance of their strange relationship.
Pt.1 > Musing on Tempe/William :p
[next >]
(i accidentally wrote a small one-shot, i think. Read till the end for some slightly more straightforward thoughts about Tempe... hehe)
In the 90s, when Temperance and William first meet, William is at a weird place in his life. By now, he's lost every loved one he's ever had, save for his eldest son, whom he despises. His public reputation is cluttered; the nicest thing anyone has to say about him is that they feel sorry for him. However, most people just find him intimidating and unpleasant.
After years of loss and spiraling, William doesn't have the patience to keep up his charades. His pizzeria receives mediocre business, mostly from morbid teens and checked-out parents that don't feel like paying attention to their kids. No amount of false niceties will bring in the kind of business he had in the 80s, not after what happened; not after what he did.
(obligatory read more :p)
William is a murderer. A foul and wicked person. He's aware of this. Keenly aware. When a person is so far gone, it's hard for them to find reasons not to give in to things they normally would've held themselves back from...
It isn't just his cruel attitude that he gives into. William picks up smoking again, for the first time in years. He abstained from drinking for most of his life, but now, he can't help having a glass or two... or three, or four. Vices, vices he would've avoided like the plague in his prime, become routine parts of his life.
---
When he first encounters Temperance, he pays them little attention. They're a young, nervous little thing. Short and plump, with ratty black hair and ill-fitting clothes. Another drone for his restaurant that will surely turn over, just like the rest of his staff eventually do.
But Temperance stays far longer than most of the others. William barely cares, but it is odd. He decides to pay a little more attention to them. He watches them mill about the pizzeria. He catches them one day. Smack in the middle of the dining room, midway through mopping, he see's them idling by the animatronics. One minute turns into several. What could they possibly be doing?
"Enjoying yourself?" Sneaking up behind Temperance, he catches them completely off guard. They sputter. The mop in their hands clatters to the floor.
Immediately, Temperance flies into a fast-paced ramble. Something about "being a robotics student", "loving the animatronics", and "please don't fire me". William is mildly startled by their about-face; Temperance is normally deathly quiet. Now that he thinks about it, he isn't sure he's ever heard them speak a full sentence.
Still... if he's not mistaken, Temperance said something very interesting. Very, very interesting.
William cuts them off. "You're interested in robotics?" Temperance stares up at him through their bangs. They have big, sad eyes. Miserable dark pools of black, and long eyelashes.
"Uh..." They start. Suddenly, all their chatter is gone. "Yes... I was, uh, a robotics student."
"Was? You were... but you aren't anymore?"
"I dropped out of school–" Temperance's hands quickly clasp together in a motion not dissimilar to praying, "That's why I really need this job... I'm sorry for slacking off, please don't fire me!"
Much to Temperance's dismay, William lets out a dry laugh.
"I'm not going to fire you over this little incident, so long as it doesn't happen again." William crosses one arm over the other, and brings his hand up to rest on his chin, thinking very loudly. "If you're intent on studying my animatronics, we could arrange time for that. Outside of operating hours."
The way he says it is casual, simple. For Temperance, it is anything but casual or simple. Here he is, their idol and inspiration, handing them the offer of a lifetime.
---
William doesn't really understand why he did it. Temperance ranges from borderline unresponsive to headache-inducingly chatty. Their oversized clothes and slightly greasy hair make them look like they were plucked off the streets. It all annoys William greatly.
But deep down, William knows he cannot resist his own ego. It's been decades since anyone looked at his work with awe and admiration. Temperance is special in that way. William can't bring himself to ignore them.
It's a crisp, cold night the first time they meet after hours. William promised Temperance that they'd take a look at the robots together on Monday night, after everyone else had gone home. Despite the sturdy doors separating the restaurant from the cold outside, a chill still manages to creep in.
Once Temperance finishes with their closing duties, they meet William in front of the stage, the same spot they'd been in for their first conversation. William goes through the motions of explaining the basic inner workings of his robots to Temperance. He finds it mundane, really. It's procedural, rehearsed, instructions and explanations he's given dozens of times. But Temperance focuses on his every word. When they ask questions, they're still very nervous... but also specific, intentional. They take quick notes, like they're trying to make sure they don't miss a single moment of instruction. It's clearly very serious to them.
William finds himself soaking up the attention. He starts to feel lighter than usual. He almost finds himself getting excited to answer Temperance's questions and show off his animatronics.
By the time they're done, it's well into the night. Before trudging off into the cold, Temperance thanks William abundantly for this opportunity. William brushes them off, trying to maintain his aloofness... but inside, his mind and heart are racing. Nothing exciting, interesting, or even mildly entertaining had happened in his life for years. Nothing else had ever managed to distract him from the fear and emptiness that had swallowed his mind.
Yes, something was special about Temperance. Unbeknownst to him, another vice begins to sink its fangs into William's life.
---------
Ah! I hope this reads okay! I know I always say it, but I'm really not a writer, so I have no idea if this is coherent. In particular, I find myself very nervous to write dialogue, but this musing session required it... uwah...
Temperance... It's not a super common word. It's an even less common name. You might know what it means, especially if you practice tarot. But for those who are unfamiliar...
"Temperance: 1. moderation in action, thought, or feeling 2. habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions"
An ironic name for a person that I've included under William's list of terrible vices. Truth be told, it wasn't intentional! Temperance/Tempe is a name I've actually gone by in my lifetime, a name I stole from a show I enjoy. Now that I'm here writing for this project, I realize the irony in giving it to my self-insert. I've been told in the past that it's an ugly name, but I love it.
Anyway, yes, I would consider Tempe one of William's "vices". I plan to explain it more, once we dive further into their relationship. Some things are already obvious though, aren't they?
If you read this far, thank you. And if you have any thoughts, please let me know! Interacting with you kind people always brightens my day.
I have many more things planned for Tempe and William... Meheheheh... >_o
> Musing on my interpretation of William Afton
Although I wrote quite a bit about him when I posted my William Afton Design, I still have the urge to ramble... Before I get into it, I really encourage all William-Enjoyers to watch this and this if you haven't already. My characterization is heavily inspired by the (excellent) analysis in these videos. Not all of my ideas are 1:1, but I still think these are definitely worth a watch.
I want to talk abt how I view William's personality, mannerisms, hobbies... So expect all of that! This is going to be LONG, so... expect that as well.
(obligatory read more so that I don't clog anyone's feed with a super long post)
• Athough I think Afton is a classic sweet-talker, and generally considered charming by people he encounters, I don't want it to seem like he's an abundantly friendly person. When he's working (outside of the suit), he's cordial. He's good with people in the ways that matter. But Afton, in isolation, is a person with a very low opinion of those around him.
He's someone that has mastered the art of passive aggressive interactions. He's the kind of person that you dont realize was insulting you until hours later. And if he knows you arent a threat? That you arent important? His ability to condescend is matched by no one. He will make you feel exactly as small as he thinks you are. If your opinion of him doesn't have any impact on his life, he really doesn't care to humor you.
• Calculating and manipulation aside, I do enjoy the idea of Afton being borderline incapable of holding back his eccentricities. He gets away with a lot. A man that can wriggle out of almost any situation has very little reason to worry about whether not people find him too silly.
He's the co-owner of an especially successful children's entertainment franchise... Eccentricities and unseriousness are sort of expected from his crowd. He's falling into that stereotype neatly and willingly.
• Afton's cold and condescending personality exist in heavy contrast to his interests. He genuinely loves making art (mostly drawing and sculpting), and he has an honest appreciation for the artwork of others. He loves performing, and he puts a lot of effort into being a good performer.
He knows magic tricks, he knows how to juggle, and he knows how to excite an audience. He knows how to keep your attention, he loves to keep your attention, he needs to keep your attention. For a man that largely disregards the opinions of the general public, he cannot exist without the general public. He has so many secrets, but would probably go crazy (crazier?) if he had nobody to put on a show for, if all the eyes on him disappeared...
In my version of the story, Afton being an engineer comes second to being a designer. He's an artist first an foremost. I think Spring Bonnie was a character he had always sort of had rattling around in his mind, and that Fredbear's gave him an opportunity to finally realize this character he had made and loved for a long time. Which brings me to my last thought for this section: I think William genuinely loves rabbits. I think rabbits appear all throughout his life, in his decor, in his art, in his work... and of course, in his death.
• Alongside his hobbies, Afton also has an eccentric way of expressing himself in his mannerisms and fashion. I do NOT think the two-toned wardrobe is exclusive to his work in the restaurants; i love the idea that he's just genuinely like that. His outfits are always some garish purple-yellow nightmare. Between his height and his loud clothes, spotting him in a crowd is easy.
His expressions and body language are very animated. Sometimes this is deliberate; a precise part of his act when baiting investors or talking to customers. His ability to make himself seem warm is impressive... but his belief that he is so much better than you is always lingering behind his words. Even when he's with important clientele, he can't completely hide his inflated ego. He expects to get exactly what he wants from every interaction.
It's hard for people that notice his arrogance to critique it when he really is so talented. He's a good manipulator, but part of that is unintentional. He might not notice those times when people detect his bad attitude, or when they let it slide because they want something from him.
Even when he turns down his people-pleasing act, he never loses his animation. Always gesticulating and pulling faces. He can't hide the deep furrow in his brows, the twitch of disgust in his lips, or the way his hands fly into the air when he's frustrated. He can't sit still unless he goes out of his way to do so, he's always crossing his arms, wringing his hands, bouncing his leg. He leans back too far in his chair while he thinks. He chews on pencils and pens.
He would hate this, but he is somewhat easy to get a read on. You can pick up on his little quirks if you spend enough time around him. His negative reactions can be spotted a mile away by people like henry, or his family. His positive emotions are a little more difficult, outside of situations where he's caught by surprise. I think he goes out of his way to cover up when hes pleased or impressed, because he knows that being aloof makes people around him easier to control and intimidate.
He definitely cant hide when hes excited about something stupid, though, or when he finds something funny. If you managed to make him laugh, he might even get standoffish afterwards... you cracked his oh-so-scary shell, and he's embarrassed.
• When it comes to William's family, I think his views on them are complicated. I dont like the idea that he absolutely hated his family, nor do I like the idea that he was a loving father driven to madness. Family dynamics are often much more complicated than that in real life.
I think Afton cared about his family. However, his ego and his controlling nature cause him to see them as an extension of himself, rather than as their own individual people. Afton is the type of person that finds it more valuable for his family to look perfect, than to actually be perfect.
He's a workaholic, which he justifies easily since it puts food on the table. He's emotionally removed from his wife and children. He loves them, but his ego commands the way he expresses that love. To him, loving his children means ensuring they are successful, ensuring they are presentable, and ensuring they consider his word to be law. He knows what's best for them, of course...
He's definitely not incapable of bonding with his children, but it happens sparsely. These brief moments of connection are part of what make his relationship with them so complicated.I think he can't help but connect with them whenever they display an interest in his work or his hobbies.
I see him as the kind of man that genuinely enjoys cartoons, and I love the idea that they're one of the few things he and his children ever enjoyed together. None of the kids ever had to fight for a chance to watch TV before school, because William always had cartoons playing in the morning while he ate breakfast.
I think Elizabeth, when she was old enough, became very intrigued by William's animatronics. I can see him trying to tiptoe the line between nurturing this passion of hers and keeping her away from his dangerous projects...
The kids are intimidated by their father. They know his temper is short. They know his standards are high. They know that if they mess up, the consequences are dire.
At the same time, they know he's silly. They know he's probably the only adult that would genuinely care about their drawings, their imaginary worlds, or the latest animated show they've been watching. William loves art and creativity, and cannot help but nurture that same love in his own children.
(Of course, once Michael gets older, his fathers selective attention just isn't enough. But that's a thought for a different post.)
---------
If you got this far, I really appreciate you taking the time to read through my insane ramblings! I know I can be very wordy. I really love William Afton, and I really love talking about my specific characterization for him. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions about my interpretation :)
I like talking about the things that make him feel more human to me. A genuine passion for art, a genuine talent for entertainment, and small physical traits that bring him to life. People are layered. Good artists and performers can be nasty people behind closed doors. Afton is a nuanced person; a brilliant creative, and an egotistical, jealous, selfish man.
One day, I'd like to write about his motivations as a killer. I have some very specific ideas about it, suited to my personal version of the lore. I'd also... really like to write up some ideas about how I think he would show affection in those rare cases where he's fond of someone. I have quite a few ideas about that too ;) so perhaps expect something in the future for those subjects!
Thank you again if you read this far. It means a lot to me.
> Musing on my interpretation of William Afton (pt. 2, the sequel)
im back on it again. tonight, i want to get further into headcanon territory and talk about backstories, motives, violence, and murder. lovely!
expect canon-typical violence, but i will also be touching on religious trauma, abuse, and self harm.
thoughts under the read more, as always. this post is Especially long and Especially pretentious so... keep that in mind lol. im not a writer, i just want to talk about William.
For this post, i need to start by explaining the backstory i created for William. In my lore, William is the only child of an affluent and deeply religious (Christian) family. His parents were strict, no nonesense, very judgemental and uptight people. They had extremely high expectations of him.
As a child, it was immediately obvious to anyone that William was... soft. I think when he was young, he was reclusive. Artistic and withdrawn, not interested in the same things as his peers. It kept him out of trouble, which his parents appreciated. His interests leaned heavily into art, music, and theater. It worried his parents for a number of reasons. How did he expect to make a real living by drawing silly pictures? Was he ever going to learn to socialize? Was he... a homosexual? Etc and so on. A child can't simply be a child. He is under constant scrutiny, to make sure that he grows into a Proper Man.
William is quietly rebellious though, unwilling to completely give in to the demands of his parents. When they crack down on his behaviors, he finds ways to keep being himself, even if it means hiding from the world. His parents didnt raise an obedient child: they raised a clever, sneaky one.
He's good at hiding things. He's good at lying. He's good at wriggling out of any bad situation. He has to be.
As he gets older and pressure becomes stronger, I think William indulges his parents by applying his cleverness to business. He learns from his father, and then he goes to school for it. William is smart enough to understand that learning the ins and outs of financial literacy can only ever be beneficial, even if it's not where his passion lies. He's just so clever, isnt he?
As a fully realized adult, married young and a father of one baby boy, he moves his family to the states. He coincidentally reunites with an old friend; the one person he ever bonded with in his youth. He had met Henry as a child, while he and his parents were briefly staying in the U.S. Like fate, they hit it off, and the concept of Fredbears snowballs from a silly idea into a full-fledged business.
I think there's a part of William, somewhere in his mind, that moves to escape the lurking of his parents. Even as a young man, his family loomed over him, expecting... Something. Anything. His rebellious streak continues into adulthood. He packs his new family up and flees the country. Re-establishes himself in a place only vaguely familiar. Sticks it to his parents by proving that yes, he can make a career out of drawing silly pictures. His "silly pictures" are successful, loved, adored... profitable.
I think also, that William almost entirely abandons religion as an adult. Of course, those sorts of beliefs tend to linger... but Mr. Afton is not a church going man. God fearing, but not enough to sit in the Lord's house. It's just too much for him.
---
All of this to say: William Afton is a man that holds himself to high standards. High standards for his career. High standards for his family. High standards for what it means to be successful. You would think that it should be the opposite, but I think William internalizes his parents ideals in a very particular way.
His parents saw him as a soft, spaced out, reclusive, strange child. They didn't think he could amount to anything unless he gave up on his frivolous hobbies and did exactly what they thought he should. For William, his idea of rebellion is proving that he can reach that same success, without his parents. He can be the family man, the businessman, the rich man, and still be himself. But it leads him to setting his own strict standards. He becomes very controlling and obsessive in his own way.
In a hypocritical twist of fate, he becomes very similar to his parents. It's an unfortunate fate for many people raised the way he was. He might consider his parenting style comparatively lax, but he still puts an immense pressure on his children. When they embarrass him, when they get poor grades, when they act out... it drives him crazy. He has worked so hard to carve out a life for them, he understands so intimately what is required to make something of oneself, and the thought that his children might not fall in line greatly upsets him. He just wants what's best for them.
William is far more accepting of his children's personalities than his parents were of his. When they express creativity, William nurtures it. He tells corny jokes, he watches cartoons with them, he draws funny pictures. The kids like him, which makes it much harder for them to deal with the fact that he absolutely terrifies them. I don't think he was physically abusive to his children outside of the rare slap on the wrist or across the mouth when he was especially upset, but he was definitely verbally abusive. When they failed to meet his expectations, he made them feel small. He made sure they understood how disappointed he was.
Controlling and obsessive really are two of the best words to describe him. He needs to be in control of everything happening around him. He scrutinizes and obsesses over every detail of every aspect of his life. He keeps a relatively strict routine (which is easy for him, since he spends most of his day working). He stays on top of his appearance. He would probably croak if a stranger saw him unkempt or in his pajamas. To be honest... he probably wears a little bit of makeup. Just a little bit. Enough to give him this almost uncanny sort of perfection to his face.
He's wound up incredibly tight. He has to be. And his only solace is the fact that he found a way to pull it off. To make his hobbies and his passion into something material and successful. His art and his performance, they are probably the only parts of his life he freely, shamelessly indulges in. Just because he was able to "prove them wrong". Why be ashamed of it?
William craves success. He claws at it as soon as it's within his reach. He is not above doing underhanded or even cruel things to achieve that success, because "making it work" is the most important thing to him.
---
William is also a very jealous and temperamental person, although he does his best to hide this. Jealousy and rage are "weak" traits to him, probably. But he just cant help himself.
When he sees how effortlessly Henry is liked by people, it makes him angry. When he sees how effortlessly intelligent and skilled Henry is, it makes him angry. When he sees how successful Henry can be, without all of the charades and obsession, it makes him angry. Even if he wont admit any of this to himself, it bubbles under the surface.
And when he sees Charlotte, alone in the rain in the back alley of the pizzeria, that same angry fire lights up again.
---
Charlotte's murder is a crime of passion. A reaction that William just cannot bury. His most innate inclination, finally realized in a moment of pure jealousy.
In little ways, William was always violent. Breaking his pencils when he gets mad. Hitting himself in the head out of frustration. Chewing and picking the skin off of his lips until they bleed. Slamming doors, throwing tantrums in his alone time, practically ripping his hair out in rage. Would he admit there were times he took this anger out on the small animals, the insects and moles, he could find in his parent's yard? His most immediate reaction to anger is violence. His only way to express and vent that emotion is violence. He used to be so good at keeping it to himself.
When he kills Charlotte, it is quick and personal. Why does Henry always get to have what he cant? This time, William can't let it go. Henry will feel exactly the way William does. He has to.
---
After Charlotte's death, William has to struggle with the weight of his actions. Does he feel guilt? Remorse? Does his heart ache when he sees the state Henry is in? No.
William is a selfish, cowardly man. His only thoughts are on the gravity of his actions, how they could come back to bite him. What if someones finds out what he did? What if he loses everything? What if he goes to prison? What is going to happen when he dies?
That's the big question, the real weight on his shoulders. What is going to happen when he dies? What is God going to do to him when he dies? William does not go to church, but he still fears the wrath of God. The idea of repentance is not really a thought in his mind. William can't repent for something that he doesnt feel bad about. He just doesnt want to suffer. Selfish and cowardly.
The answer to his torment appears in the form of a strange report from one of his employees.
"That thing moves, man. I mean, sir. That puppet thing, something is wrong with it."
William's first thought was, "it's an animatronic, dummy, of course it moves." But it still made him curious. In the weeks following, he would come to realize what his employee was so stressed out about.
William starts to wonder if Charlotte is still here, somewhere inside the security puppet. Maybe, after it dragged itself to her lifeless body, something tethered her soul to it. That gives him an idea but... he can't be sure. He needs more information.
Luring four children away from a packed birthday party is easy. Killing them is easy. It's somewhat clinical. It's... almost relaxing. If William wasn't so on edge, worried about being caught, he might find the same relief in killing them that he did when he would dissect the moles in his yard. He puts the children, still barely clinging to their lives, inside of the animatronics in the backroom. They take their last breaths inside of the plastic shells.
He quietly pats himself on the back for his good work, until he hears the door to the backroom creaking open. A girl, just shy of 13, stands in the doorway. The older sister of one of the other children. She came here looking for them, after she saw them disappear into the crowd.
Her death is worse than the others. She fights back. Shes old enough to do some damage. It makes him angry.
Now, William cares less about being caught. He's too slighted. The relief he gets when he puts her, still writhing, inside of the Fredbear costume... it's the same relief he used to feel when he was a child. When he would dissect the moles.
Her desperate attempts to fight back against William and the costume only ensure her fate. Her movement, her blood, and her tears set off the delicate springs inside of the suit.
---
William's little experiment proves his theory. The restaurant is definitely haunted. Evening staff and security guards are turning over at an unprecedented rate. The building is alive with a sick, sticky feeling of grief.
All William cares about, though, is what his experiment has revealed to him. Death is not the end. It doesn't have to be. Death can be cheated, somehow.
In my version of the story, I don't think William goes full on remnant experimenting after this. Actually, I tend to keep his kill count at just six. What I think happens is that William becomes obsessed with the concept of cheating death.
He drives himself crazy considering how he could keep his soul from facing judgement. Would he have to die violently? Would he have to suffer? Would he need to die in one of those suits? He can't know for sure without taking more risks. As much as he would probably enjoy killing again, he has to weigh the pros and the cons. The thoughts eat away at him: his thirst for more information, and his thirst for more violence.
Of course, William gets his answer eventually. When the exhausted spirits of his victims gather to torment him, to hold his crimes against him, he has only one option. The old, dilapidated suit. If William is going to die, it's going to be on his own terms. One final experiment.
He puts on the spring bonnie costume. He can feel the old machinery groaning with effort, trying to hold itself together. But he isn't expecting it to. He laughs; one terrible, performative cackle. If he's right, that means he wins. He will never have to face what he's done.
His laughter sets off the damp and broken springlocks. The robot's skeleton snaps back into its proper place, right through his flesh and bones. It's a horrific, slow, painful death.
But he was right. The violence and the agony tie his soul down to the old animatronic. As the spirits fade away, knowing there is nothing left for them to do now, William revels in his victory. Even if it means an eternity of agony in his metal coffin, he will not face what he's done.
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It's kind of ironic, though? What exactly does William think hell is, if not spending forever trapped in a painful mechanical prison? I guess to him, his autonomy and choice in the matter is the most important. The idea that he doesnt have to answer to God, but only the pain he inflicts upon himself, is probably satisfying enough for him.
I enjoy the idea of William as this larger than life person that is secretly harboring a very small, jealous, cowardly man underneath all of his charm. He's pathetic, really, but so volatile that he loops back around to being dangerous.
I also like to tie his fear of death to a religious background. I think all of the allusions to heaven and hell in canon FNAF material makes it easy to draw the connections, especially since we all know Cawthon is a religious man himself.
I really love the idea of William being this religiously traumatized weirdo. He's turned his back on his faith, but he can't fully let it go. It only drives him crazy in the end. I was inspired by a person my mother once told me about. A man she knew that was raised Irish Catholic, he was even an altar boy. When he grew up, he never stopped believing in God, but the idea of making his family go to church made him sick to his stomach. I thought that'd be an interesting thing to apply to William.
I hope this story I've pieced together makes at least a little bit of sense. As always, I apologize for being so wordy. I can't help myself. I write my thoughts basically the same way they appear in my head, which isn't really conducive to coherence. If you have any comments or questions, please let me know! If you read everything, thank you so much.
what kind of music do you guys think william would have liked in his lifetime? i enjoy a lot of music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s but im shy to consider what he might like... cus i might just project my own tastes onto him. what do you guys think...
i imagine music was sparse post-springlock failure... lol. although it is funny to imagine him either hating or adoring some weird tune he heard after being unearthed.
i made a compilation of my favorite william afton/springtrap lines... with some additional commentary since i just cant help myself sometimes.