Rid3le._kun

In case I haven’t said it enough, Vita’s thing is freedom. I’d liken her current state to a teenager who just moved out and is expecting to just be allowed to do anything. “I’m free now, so don’t I just get to do whatever I want?” So it's really no wonder she joined the Masked Fools...but there's more to it.

Vita just really wants to be included. She does appreciate her ability to be an observer, but more than anything she wants to be part of the world of people (I specify because of Ai Hyperion Λ, who Vita hangs out with and there's trust there but Ai is not part of the world of people, she's a fellow observer).

She used to feel like she had a place among the little Vitas, but now that they no longer remember her, she's an outsider there. Seele, who she sees as partially to thank for her escape from Sa, distrusts her enough to write an article about it. Kiana, who gave Vita the opportunity to actually end Sa, had already been warned off her by the time they properly met. The same goes for everyone else.

Something Lucky Vita, notably the Vita wearing the Salt Snow Holy City outfit, said really rang true in my eyes for Vita proper:

That's what Vita wants. That's the thing. Unfortunately, it's something she just can't have right now, and so...she turns to the Elation.

If all the universe is just a joke, if laughter can heal pain, why wouldn't she laugh alongside Aha? THEY aren't concerned with right or wrong. THEY are not holding grudges. Elation accepts her, all of her, even the her that can't understand people, even the her that has brought an end to countless bubble universes. Not that Vita worships any Aeon, but she does kind of follow the concept religiously. Her introduction to it, Sparkle, is someone she feels she can talk to without fear, without awkwardness.

Vita has understood that's not something she gets with other people, so she goes 'fuck it' and acts however she likes with everyone, because she feels she has nothing to lose, and that itself is an exercise of her freedom.

Vita's story has always been in part a tale of isolation, to me. That's part of why I chose to write her.

First, she was alone. As soon as she woke up, she was thinking "I want to talk to people!" but she didn't get to as herself, not the way she wished to. Her creator wouldn't let her. The only person she spoke to was Marah. They were plotting an escape together. It was Marah who first heard Vita's name. And then Marah left without her.

Then, she was assigned to take care of the little Vitas. They called her their sister. She had a family of people who appreciated her, who always welcomed her when she came back from missions. They might have forgotten the details of their lives, but they never, ever forgot her. And then they did. It's all really sad, and it's no wonder that she's a bit desperate a lot of the time.

Jamil warned everyone that the festival would attract visitors and tourists, and he especially warned Grim and Malleus to be careful not to get lost, but who would have thought you of all people would be the one lost amidst the crowds?

You bite your inner cheek and push yourself to your tippytoes, trying your best once again to spot your friends in the crowds—hoping and seeking to find Malleus’ familiar curved horns, or Cater’s sweet orange locks, or even Grimmy’s blue flames but nothing familiar catches your eyes. After a few more minutes of searching fruitlessly, you decided to seek shelter from the beating sun, fanning yourself with the fabrics of your headpiece.

Truly, the sun really is relentless in the country of the Scalding Sands. It’s different back in Night Raven College where the quiet sunlight would curl through the curtainless windows of Ramshackle, kissing gold on the thin dusts that float in the lobby or when it would bake softly on Grim’s grey fur that had you burying your nose and inhaling the sunburnt scent of it on his belly until your companion starts pushing his paw to your cheek and calling you weird. A pearl of sweat beads down your forehead and you retreat into what seems like a market tucked beneath a shade, away from the grueling heat and boisterous crowds of the bazaar.

You did not have time to worry, not when your eyes chased after the marketplace in wonderment. Splayed across vendor stalls were intricate furniture, golden potteries, carpets. You approached a table, leaning down to run your finger on the ceramics. You must've been distracted, because the next thing you felt was a warm presence by your side and laying a palm on your lower back—straightening you.

“Goodness, didn't your parents teach you to watch over your valuables carefully especially during throngs of festivals?”

You spin your head. Teal was the first thing that catches your eye, then chestnut brown hair that falls beneath the person’s headpiece.

Jamil…? Your mind staggers before you trace your gaze over his features. No, this is not Jamil. He’s wearing teal and blue, and his eyes are nothing like those familiar serpentine ones that belonged to your schoolmate. This person’s eyes are softer, but more tantalizing. Almonds like a feline.

“...Excuse me?” You say between your surprise, and the person beside you glances behind for a mere moment. You watch the way his peacock earring jingle as he turns his head.

“Someone was eyeing that wallet you had in your pockets.” Those rich-colored eyes return to you. “Zahab Market is known for pickpockets, be careful next time.”

You blink once, twice, then realization sinks into you. Your hand immediately pats your wallet, “Oh, thank you for letting me know...”

Instead of a response, the person gazes at you with quiet intensity. His eyes flicker to the curves of your face then down your attire, you try not to flush underneath his avid scrutiny, taking a couple of steps back. “May I help you, is something wrong?”

“You’re…not a local, are you?”

You tilt your head at his question before shaking your head. The handsome stranger hums softly, as if thinking. “So you're a tourist? How odd.”

Your brows furrow, “Yeah I am, why are you asking?”

“I would have recognized a pretty face like yours if you're one of the children from affluent families here in Silk City.”

“What, pretty face—?” Before you can sputter out your sentence, you feel him reach down to pinch the fabric of your attire, gently tugging on it for emphasis. “Silk clothes like these don't come by often, they're expensive and the ones you're wearing now feel like top-quality.” He takes a moment to eye the pattern on your sleeve, running his thumb on it—almost missing the dark pinch in his thick brows.

“This is the first time I've seen an embroidery like this…probably for this year’s Fireworks Festival, but the style is uncannily similar to the Asims.” he looks at you then, his brown eyes almost golden under the light if you stare at it long enough. “...Are you connected with them?”

A honeyed tension pours between the two of you despite the hustle and bustle that flurried around. He’s very sharp, you muse to yourself. And very well-versed, he sounds so cocksure but it’s muted beneath his elegant tone and warm voice…who is this?

You think carefully of how you wanted to answer him, “Kalim Al-Asim is my upperclassman. He invited me to his home city for the Fireworks festival. He allowed me to use these clothes as well. If that's what you're wondering, I didn't steal it.”

“Apologies, I didn't mean to sound accusing but…” The stranger sighs and the tension drops. “That definitely sounds like something he would do alright.”

“Pardon me, do you know Kalim?” You immediately shake your head, “No actually, better question, what's your name?”

The stranger is taken aback by your inquiry, then the softest quirk of his lips as he smiles at you.

“You don't know me.” His tone is more of a statement laced in amusement than a question, and you can see how your words piqued him.

You purse your lips, crossing your arms. “Should I be aware of someone high-handed like you?”

He lifts a brow then, a hearty laugh spilling down his mouth at your accusation. It's weird. Really, really weird because for some reason, you're reacting to his laugh. The way he almost had his shoulders fold over, the sound a mixture of breathy and something rich, it fits the rasp cradle of his tone. When he’s finished, he leans close to you but not close enough to disturb your bubble—or what remains of your tucked dignity.

Playfulness sparks in his eyes, “High-handed, me? I—”

You both tense when you hear voices. From behind you, the familiar cry and wail of Grim reaches your ears as he shouts for you. And in front of you were a series of panicked calls,

“Your highness? Are you here—?”

The stranger beside you clicks his tongue, it draws your attention back, watching a thin sheen of annoyance draw over the playfulness that once plagued his expression. Though his face distracts you, you try to also make sense of the situation; Familiarity in his tone when he talks about Kalim, proficient about the expensive silks and styles of the Asims, knowing families of the city, your highness…is he rich too?

But before you can arrive at a perfect conclusion, he turns towards you. “Hey, are you good at running away?”

The sudden question throws you off but you nod your head, “I guess? Why are you asking me that—”

He reaches out his hands towards you, all and every syllable piling on your tongue falls flat. You look at his outstretched hand, then let your eyes crawl up his arm, his teal capelet, neck then at his face where his hardened expression had loosen then into something genuine, something exciting with a hint of ribboned defiance.

“I still haven't answered you and well, I'm in a bit of a bind so we might have to run somewhere else in order for us to talk properly like this, are you in?”

You hesitate a second, and he notices. The mischief that flavored his brown eyes rich had softened into something sweet and ripe.

“Then, do you trust me?” He asked, a slight tilt to his head, his peacock earrings following the movement. You blink at him before laying your palm across his—you feel his callousness against your skin, the deftness of fingers as he curls it around your own and tugs you to your feet. You’re not quite sure what came over you when you took his hand, you should’ve returned to your companions than follow a stranger but seeing the way his smile stretches across his face is really contagious.

Ten minutes later after running through the markets’ corners, ducking into open doors and flying down and up stairs, climbing a ladder—the stranger finally releases your hand and you almost crumple to the floor in heaps of silk clothes and sweat and exhaustion, catching your breath heavily.

You shouldn’t have trusted him. That arrogant and haughty and handsome—no, cease the notion. You fell for his cocky little flattery so easily, Grimmy would be so—

You see his outstretched hand fall over your vision, once you catch your breath you look up at his face.

And instantly your eyes narrow. He doesn’t even look the least bit tired, he was the one that ran expertly through the crowds, tugging you close and hoisting you by the waist through narrow gaps. Just how athletic is he?

“You okay?” He asked, then an apologetic smile flashes on his face seeing you. “Sorry, I went a bit overboard there.”

“You think?” Instead of accepting his hand, you sat down. A momentary silence fills the room, all except for your labored breaths and distant chatters and music, it’s enough to ease the fracas in your heart.

Seconds bleed before you hear fabrics shuffling. Then, bending on one knee he presses something cold on your cheek. You open your eyes and he stretches out a piece of cut fruit on his palm. You catch his eye and he looks at you intently, “I bought some sliced silky melons from Camel Bazaar a few minutes ago as snacks. Here, take it. I’d feel bad if you passed out because of me.”

You take his offer, “How charming of you…”

“Minhaj.”

You intertwine your gaze with his.

“Minhaj, what’s that?”

He smiles, “well uh, just call me that for now.”

You try not to look at him sourly. You told him who you were, accepted his offer to run till your lungs are close to collapsing and he’s giving you a name that’s not even his?

“That’s not your real name, is it?”

He cocks his head over his shoulders, walks over to the edge and pats the space next to him. “Where’s the fun in that? Now come, I still have more fruits I can share with you.”

At this point, you decided not to argue with him. When you settled beside Minhaj, the view before you had stars dancing in your eyes. No wonder why it felt like you were climbing endless flights of stairs, the view before you is enough to span across the bazaar from here, with its colorful roofs and bustling people down below. Palm trees and canal roads and elephants with bits and bobs flurry the streets, making you smile at how beautiful Silk City truly is.

You were too busy looking at the scene and snacking on sliced fruits you almost missed the way Minhaj closely admired you from the corner of your eye, his palms on his cheek.

This time though, you feel your cheeks flushing hot. “Is something on my face?”

“Yeah.” He points at the edge of your lip. “Right there—no, a little bit more…yeah, there.”

You swipe away at the piece and try to fan away your embarrassment, heat furnacing your cheeks in red.

You hear Minhaj chuckle, “you’re a messy eater, huh?”

“Normally no…” you mentally blame Grimmy and his glutinous manners influencing you, but then turn back towards Minhaj and still see him smiling at you.

“Is there still fruit on my face?”

He shakes his head, “no but…” he eats a slice as well, his stare not leaving yours, as if challenging you on something you haven’t quite realized yet.

“Do you know the significance of silky melons in Silk City?”

You thought about it briefly; Jamil had explained about the melons with a story, then it hit you then, his words.

Over time, people started saying that if you shared one of these melons with someone, your friendship or romance would last forever…

Your head whipped to Minhaj so quickly he had to stifle his own laugh at your reactions.

You open your mouth, press your lips close then part it again, flustered. “Are you trying to imply something here?”

“Relax, I was just joking. You’re rather fun to tease, you know.” Minhaj shakes his head, “Besides, I’m your upperclassman too. Just not in the same school as you or Kalim.”

You perk up, “so I'm guessing your family’s also rich like Kalim?”

He turns to look at the view before him, “Something like that. I’ll tell you who I am though, or what my real name is when we meet again. So for now…”

His arm lays flat beside your thigh and he leans in close again, tapping a sliced fruit to your lips and grinning,

“Keep our first little meeting a secret till I see you again, yeah?”

You hold the fruit, watching as the warmth on his skin brushes your fingertips when he pulls away. You frown, “you’re rather sure we would meet again. I’m not from the Scalding Sands, so who knows when I'll ever have the chance to come back and see you if ever.”

Minhaj simply smiles at you, brown eyes crinkling in the corners. “The melons mean something, and well, we’ll just have to see.”

The promise floats between the two of you until you both finish the melons and bid each other farewell, he immediately spins around before your friends could catch a glimpse of him. The festival continues and you’re half disappointed you don’t see the familiar teal amongst the crowd during the Fireworks festival, and eventually you’d forgotten about the whimsical encounter with the playful stranger from the Scalding Sands, returning back to Night Raven College and its usual stubborn students and history classes and magic concepts and whiny Grimmy and life-altering overblot encounters.

That is until the Inter-school tournament between Night Raven and Royal sword came.

Ace was pressing down and poking at your still evident bed head and you try to swat his hand away from your hair. You feel Grim plop on your lap and shushing you all as they announced the one’s competing from the Royal Sword Academy,

Receiving the Radiant light of the true princess’ wisdom, Dunasmina Dorm!

You’ve huffed and wrapped your arms around Grim as he huddled close to your touch getting comfy, unknowingly furrowing your brows at the dorm being announced. After all, that color teal seemed rather familiar to you but you can’t quite put a finger on it yet…

“Minajael Tealrajah everyone!” The announcer cries and for a moment, the hum and roar of the studio goes dead silent.

The familiar teal, that smug smile, those rich brown eyes, dark hair…

“Minhaj?”

Grim cranes his head up to look at you quizzically, “huh? Whaddya say? Minja wha—hmph!”

Grim’s question ends in a choke and sputter as you accidentally squeezed him tight to your chest, the realization and familiarity of the player competing clicking in your brain.

That carefree boy from Silk City’s markets Minhaj is a Royal Sword Academy student, but not only that but a prince?!

Yuu actually first met Minajael all the way back during the Fireworks Festival, when the group went on the trip with the Scarabia duo... It wouldn't be completely out of the question, given the set-up. Kalim's family is hosting, so it would make sense for them to invite their relatives. And why wouldn't the royals of the country show up to the event?

Minajael is stated to sneak out of the palace multiple times, causing a stir in the media in the process. What if he just so happened to be in his commoner's disguise at the same time NRC students were visiting with Kalim and Jamil??? You know, this one:

What better time would there be to explore outside of the palace than during a festival, when people from all over Twisted Wonderland are visiting and the local businesses are at their busiest? There would be so much to see and to experience!

And maybe--just maybe--Minajael bumps into Yuu (somehow separated from the NRC group, probably lost?) while he's out and about? Perhaps he's even trying to escape guards that are looking for him, and Yuu helps him out like how Aladdin helped Jasmine escape the angry merchant. Or maybe he plays the role of Aladdin? Yuu could get into some kind of misunderstanding with a merchant and BAM suddenly there’s Minajael, come to rescue them and talk them out of it.

Alternate scenario: Maybe Mina mistakes Yuu for foreign royalty (since they’d be wearing fancy clothes from Kalim) visiting for tourism?? So they could have a “Prince Ali” (Yuu) moment.

Then they could run off together and have fun, reenact a lot of those romantic Aladdin-Jasmine moments from the movie. Minajael tossing Yuu an apple, offering a flower he picked, evading capture hand-in-hand, vaulting across rooftops Yuu accidentally stumbles and falls right into his arms, and more. Maybe they'd even open up to one another about their personal problems. Minajael feels "trapped" (in his princely obligations), and Yuu feels "trapped" too (in a strange new world). When they part ways, he's left feeling like he's made a genuine friend, a real connection.

It kinda fits for Yuu since they’re pushed by the narrative as someone who can connect with others. They feel like an Aladdin too, since they’re impoverished and live in a run-down building for most of the school year, but generally come off as a good person.

And then when Minajael comes to RSA for the interscholastic competition, he recognizes Yuu so he's automatically hitting it off with them www Yuu may not remember him, so he'd play coy and skirt around it, not wanting to outright tell them where they may have met before. Bruh, he invites them on a magic carpet ride and encourages them to hold onto him if they're scared of heights 💀

faibfuayyaeipafeib BUT IMAGINE JAMIL (whom Minajael plays against in Relic Labyrinth) SEEING THIS AND JUST. COMING IN TO BREAK THEM MAPART UNDER THE GUISE OF "it's not proper for a prince to mingle with us common folk"???? He'd even address Minajael as a prince to subtly get under his skin (fully knowing that Minajael dislikes being referred to that way). Maybe Jamil would also scold Yuu as well, either for "befriending the enemy" or "behaving so casually" with royalty.

So Jamil manages to successfully chase of Minajael for now--but right before the prince leaves, he gives a little wave and a wink, asking you to please watch his match veeery carefully. He'll show you how cool he can be!

“Cold?” Minhaj asked, quirking an eyebrow at you. You waved him off, pulling your silken scarf from your head and wrapping it around your shoulders. 

“Just peachy.” 

“...And that would mean?” He asked, seeming confused at your phrasing. You only sighed, his confusion a stark reminder to yourself that you don’t belong here. 

How does this world have French but not ‘just peachy’...?

“I’m fine, thank you.” You revised, hoping he would think it was foreign slang instead of otherworldly slang. If he suspected something he didn’t say anything, instead reaching a hand up to brush against your cheek. The warmth of his hand was a welcome one against your chilled skin, and you had to remind yourself to not reach for that warmth as he pulled away. 

“You feel pretty cold to me.” He remarked, giving you a teasing grin. You grumbled at his words, quickening your pace and walking ahead of him, a small smile on your lips. “To think you would leave poor me behind so quickly!” Minhaj chuckled from behind you, a bit of a dramatic flair to his words. 

There was a light ‘whoosh!’ sound, and you suddenly felt another layer fall over your shoulder, making you feel a bit warmer. Minhaj came up by your side, his cloak pointedly gone from his own shoulders as he looked over your appearance.

“Hm, much better now.” 

“...You didn’t have to do that.” You murmured, cheeks feeling hot. This time he was the one waving you off, shaking his head. 

“I wanted to though, so I did. Someone very wise once told me to not take things for granted, you know.” The way he referenced your previous words made you look away from his warm gaze, a bit embarrassed at how high and mighty you must have sounded. 

“...If you say so.” 

“I do.” He teased. “In other news, it seems we have arrived at your destination, habibi.” At his words you looked around, realizing that the two of you were now in front of the Asim estate. It might have been a bit worrying that you hadn’t even noticed the familiar surroundings, completely content with following this person you had just met today, but there was something about him that made you feel like you didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing, (you could almost hear Jamil’s voice in your head, scolding you for your actions). 

“Are you really so upset to part with me, (Y/N)?” Minhaj asked seriously, now standing in front of you. 

“What?” 

“...You’re frowning.” He murmured, brows pulled together. You immediately fixed your face at his words, realizing that you in fact had a bit of a small frown, (what for? You only just met Minhaj today…). Looking at the boy in front of you, you smiled a bit, his intense gaze making you feel a bit flustered. His expression lightened a bit at your smile, although his eyes seemed to still hold some kind of worry. “That’s better. Frowning doesn’t suit you.” 

“Hey, if I feel like frowning I’ll frown…” You started, the teal color of the cloak around your shoulders making you change the subject. “Let me give your cloak back.” You began to slide it off, but his hand shot out, his gentle grip on your wrist reminding you of earlier in the day when he had done the same thing. 

“You can keep it.” You looked at him in confusion but his face didn’t change; he was serious. 

“Aren’t you going to be cold?” Minhaj chuckled lightly at your concerned words, letting go of your wrist and instead adjusting the cloak back around you. 

“You might remember that I grew up in the Scalding Sands, so I’m quite well-adjusted. Think of this as a souvenir of your trip, perhaps. Aside from that though, I won’t be going far.” 

“Do you live closeby?” You questioned, making him pause for a moment. 

“Perhaps.” He said a bit mysteriously, his eyes seeming rather intense now. 

“Keep your secrets then, mysterious Minhaj.” He smiled at your joke but didn’t respond, his hands staying on your shoulders as he looked down at you. “...Is something wrong?” You asked gently, a bit nervous at his sudden change in disposition. 

“...It’s nothing.” He finally said after a few moments, shaking his head. “You should head inside now, I’m sure your friends are worried sick.” 

“Can we keep in contact, maybe?” You asked hesitantly. “Like…Magicam…? Or can I give you my phone number?” He sighed softly at your words and shook his head, making your heart drop to your stomach. 

Go figure. 

“I have faith that we’ll meet again, (Y/N).” One of his hands slid down to yours, lifting it up gently. “And when we do, maybe you can show me more of your world.” He leaned down, his lips brushing against your knuckles and leaving a chaste kiss before letting go of you. 

“But-?!” 

“(Y/N)!!” Your head whipped around at the familiar voice, a figure running down the road from the estate. Quickly, you turned to face Minhaj once more, only to be met with an empty spot where he had just been standing. Your eyes darted around, trying to find if he had hidden somewhere, but he was just…gone. 

Minhaj…

“(Y/N), are you okay?!” Jamil’s voice broke you from your thoughts, your heart pounding as you nervously approached his running figure, certain you were about to be cooked alive. Before you could get a word out, Jamil reached you in record time, his eyes laced with worry and his eyebrows furrowed as he frantically looked at you top to bottom. “Are you hurt?? They didn’t do anything to you, did they?!” He asked, panic in his voice. His hands hovered over you, clearly wanting to check you for any injuries, but stopping himself. 

You were expecting for him to be absolutely livid with you, so this panicked and worried state that he was in had you shocked. His hair was loose from its usual style, flowing wildly as if it was in sync with his emotions. Jamil was always the level, cool-headed one in any group setting, logically thinking through the next course of action, so to see him like this… 

You took hold of his hovering hand, bringing it to your cheek and holding it. “Jamil, I’m okay. See? No injuries or anything. I’m all good.” You assured, the warmth of his hand feeling comforting and familiar. His gray eyes searched your own for a few moments, almost as if he was trying to see if you were lying. He seemed satisfied and let out an exhausted sigh, his hand now cupping your cheek of his own accord.

“You’re always getting into some kind of trouble, aren’t you…” He trailed off, shaking his head in disapproval. “And how could you just run off like that? I had it handled!” Jamil scolded, making you a bit sheepish. 

“I panicked, okay? Those guards were huge…” He didn’t seem pleased with your excuse, his eyebrows still furrowed together. “I’m sorry, though. I didn’t mean to make you worry.” You added, unconsciously leaning into his hand a bit, (it was rather chilly out…). 

“...Don’t ever do that again.” He said, his tone serious. “I already have Kalim to worry about, I don’t want to be worrying about you too.” His harsh words made you look away, shame churning in your stomach. 

“Sorry…” You murmured, keeping your eyes fixed on the ground. Jamil sighed, silence falling between the two of you for a bit before he spoke. 

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault. Just…don’t scare me like that again.” His hand fell away from your cheek, his expression seeming rather conflicted. “Where even were you all this time? I’ve-We’ve been looking for you all over the city. We thought you got thrown into jail. Were you with someone just now?” He asked, looking around behind you as if trying to spot whoever you were with.

“Err…” You hesitated, thinking about whether or not to tell him about Minhaj. On the one hand, Minhaj was a local who kept you from getting caught and showed you around the Scalding Sands, but on the other hand, you just met him today and he could be a serial killer, (you seriously doubt it though). 

“Well?” 

“That was someone I met today…He saved me when I was about to get caught by the guards. He brought me back too, since I didn’t know where I was.” You explained, omitting the rest of the day. Jamil didn’t look at all convinced, looking down at you with an unamused look. 

“Really.”

“Yup.” 

“And that took five hours?” You internally cringed; you hadn’t realized that you were gone for so long, and now it made a little more sense why Jamil had been so panicked. 

“...Yup.” 

“You trusted a complete stranger to lead you around a foreign land.” He said flatly, clearly disapproving. You pressed your lips together, knowing there was no defense you had left. 

“I didn’t know how to get back…” 

“You could have called me back, you know.” Jamil sighed again. “I would have come to get you. You shouldn’t be relying on random strangers you find on the street; you’re lucky that person wasn’t a serial killer. Be more careful.” 

Did he read my mind?

“Okay, you’ve made your point, Jamil…” You relented. “I said I’m sorry…let me back in? It’s kinda cold out here.” 

“Fine. You should know that Vil has been planning different ways to lecture you, though.” 

“Oh god.” You groaned, making Jamil smile slightly. 

“It’s the consequences of your own actions.” 

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it.” You grumbled, pulling the teal cloak around you more as the two of you walked back to the estate. Jamil’s brows furrowed slightly, as if he hadn’t even realized what you were wearing, (or more like, what had been added to your outfit). 

“Where did you get that?” He questioned, taking hold of one of the corners of fabric and examining it. 

“The person I mentioned gave it to me, since it was getting chilly out.” You explained, confused as to why he was examining it so thoroughly. “Why?” He looked at it over you for a moment longer before turning his back to you, walking back to the estate rather quickly. 

“...Nothing. Let’s get inside.”

♡♡♡

As promised, you were given an hour long lecture from Vil on safety procedures while on trips, and he subsequently gave you a battery pack for your phone since, ‘it must have died, given you didn’t pick up my calls’.

Grim had tried to act all tough at first, saying ‘Heh, finally! Hench-human, you took too long!’ before fat tears started rolling down his furry cheeks, yelling about how he wasn’t crying when you picked him up and gave him a hug, (you didn’t miss the way his paws gripped onto you tightly). 

Similarly, when Kalim saw you he barreled straight into you with a hug, (he’s surprisingly strong) crying and apologizing for not finding you sooner, promising that there would be no bounty on your head and that you wouldn’t be going to jail, (thank goodness for that). 

“One of my cousins, Minajael, is the prince, and he said something like ‘I’ll take care of it’, so it’s gonna be good now! He was here actually, you just missed him!” Kalim beamed. 

“The prince?” You questioned, feeling a bit alarmed. “How did the prince know what happened?” Kalim tilted his head at you like a confused puppy, putting a finger to his chin. 

“Did you not tell him what happened?” He asked. 

“Obviously not,” You sighed. “I don’t even know who the prince is, much less that he’s related to you!” 

“Ohhh, true! Haha, I forgot about that.” He laughed. 

“Kalim, when did the prince come? I didn’t see him.” Jamil asked, looking rather concerned. 

“Oh, he showed up at my window!” 

“He what?!” Jamil looked like he was about to bust a blood vessel with the way his eyes bulged, his mind clearly running through the many things wrong with that sentence. 

“Yeah, it totally scared me! But then he said that and I was like ‘Wow, thanks so much!’ and then he left!” You gaped at Kalim happily saying all of that as if it was the most normal thing in the world. 

“Wow…” You murmured, glancing over at Jamil, who was closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. “Well, at least I can show my face in the city again tomorrow…” 

♡♡♡

You flopped on your bed, the exhaustion of the day beginning to get to you. Your thoughts were racing through your head, but the one person that you were thinking about the most was Minhaj. You would be leaving fairly soon for school again, and who knows when or if you would ever come back to the Scalding Sands? 

Maybe I could ask Kalim if I could come back with them during break…

You shook your head, casting the thought aside. There was no guarantee that you would even see Minhaj again if you came back to the Scalding Sands, given that he hadn’t given you any way to contact him, and you didn’t know where he lived. He had seemed pretty convinced that the two of you would meet again, but you just couldn’t see a way that it could happen. 

You stretched out over the bed, but your hand hit something hard and metal underneath your pillow. You froze for a moment, feeling for what it was, pulling it out and examining it. 

In your hand was a beautifully engraved golden bangle, the surface of it reflecting even in the dim light of your room. The engravings consisted of curling vines and lotus flowers, and you noticed that in the middle of the design was an engraving of a small tiger, the tiger being the only part that was filled in with tiny colored jewels. 

Attached to the bangle was a small slip of paper, which you carefully opened. In neat, fancy handwriting the note read: ‘For (Y/N). With love, Minhaj. 

You stared at the note for a long while, rereading it over and over again. Eventually, you carefully slipped it off the ornate bangle, setting it carefully on the nightstand. You hesitantly slipped the bangle over your wrist, half-expecting for it not to fit. Instead it slid on smoothly, settling on your wrist comfortably. 

Flopping back into bed, you smiled at the thought of Minhaj giving you such a beautiful gift, (and maybe a touch concerned about how he got it and knew which room you were staying in). Maybe the two of you really would meet again. 

a/n: okay yall rlly ate up the last part so i got to work on this one lol i literally wrote it all today before going to work ..... also jamil is jealous in his own ways okay its not rlly outward displaying at least in my opinion ... anyway, might do a part three that happens at the tournament lolol if anyone wants it :P lmk ...

tagged for part 2: @kimura-uzuri , @yasminniejoon , @sincerelyruu , @arccanadian

Perhaps it was some sort of common scam that you fell into, but when the vendor of the stall you were purchasing items from accused you of stealing, you literally laughed in his face because, well, you didn’t steal anything. You knew much better than to steal in general, especially not in a foreign land in a completely different world where you basically didn’t exist, that’s for sure. 

For what it was worth, Jamil had attempted to calm down the situation, using the Asim family name to try and shield you from the accusation, but the vendor was quite adamant, insisting that he had seen you attempting to steal. It probably was not the best option, but seeing three very large guards start to move towards you triggered your fight or flight instincts, making you dart around them and into the market, (in hindsight, it probably made you look guilty as hell, but it was too late to take it back). 

“Hey! Get back here you thief!” The gruff shout was much closer than you thought, making you pick up your pace, attempting to slip through the crowd without knocking anybody over. 

“I didn’t steal anything?!” You yelled back, ducking under a clothesline and frantically looking around for any sort of hiding spot. Your stamina was running low, especially with the intense heat of the sun beating down on you, making you feel a bit panicked. Should you try and go back to Jamil and the rest? Should you assert yourself as a guest of the Asim family? 

What am I supposed to do?!

You could feel sweat dripping down your face as you reached the end of the market street, the crowd thinning out, which made it a bit easier to run. Unfortunately, it also made it a bit easier for the guards to run as well, and you felt like you could hear them directly behind you, very nearly caught up. 

“Stop right there! You think you can steal here and get away with it?!” You groaned, locals staring you down as you ran, taking another turn and hoping it would lead to some kind of hiding spot. 

How do I even hide while running…?!

“Again, I didn’t steal anything!! This is crazy!!” You shouted. It was probably in vain to deny it at this point, but you were no thief! You’re not going to own up to a crime you didn’t commit! 

You were sure the sheer panic and desperation could probably get you through another couple of blocks, but you suddenly got yanked rather forcefully to the side, abruptly pulled into a small side alleyway. 

“Hey-!” 

“This way. Unless you’d like to be caught?” A smooth, teasing voice came from the cloaked figure in front of you, a firm yet gentle grip on your wrist as you were led through a series of alleyways, weaving through different intersections and jumping over crates. You were panting viciously at this point, barely able to keep up with this nimble stranger who seemed to know these roads oddly well. 

Another firm tug on your wrist had you careening into a small gap between two buildings, the momentum of suddenly being yanked made you collide into your hooded savior, which elicited a small chuckle. You drew back quickly, embarrassed, back pressed firmly against the wall behind you.

“Oh? Falling for me already?” The hood of the cloak had fallen, revealing possibly the most handsome man you’d laid eyes on, (and you had seen many since arriving in Twisted Wonderland). 

He only seemed to be slightly out of breath after running for so long, his short brown hair not even seeming to have a hair out of place, (how was that possible?!). His bangs swept over either side of his face, and there was a very intricately designed teal headpiece tied over the top of his head, the length fastened in what seemed to be a bubble braid, flowing down until it almost reached the floor. What caught your attention the most though was how his dark brown eyes were trained on you, an amused smile on his lips as he quirked an eyebrow at you.

“Speechless from my good looks, is it?” 

“Wha-?! No!” You sputtered, pulling your silken scarf across your face. “You would be in shock too if you got accused of stealing, then subsequently got chased through a market in a different world and saved by some random stranger.” 

“Different world?” He questioned, hand at his chin as he gave you a rather suspicious look. “As far as I know, we can’t travel to other worlds…” 

Shoot. 

“Foreign land, then. Whatever you would like to call it,” You said, hoping it was enough to cover your slip-up. “It’s a rather jarring experience, I’ll have you know.” 

The stranger seemed to be a bit hesitant to accept your words, but he did anyway, leaning back against the wall that was behind him. “So then, if you weren’t stealing, what were you doing?” He questioned, arms crossed. His gaze was strangely intense now, his dark eyes now a stark difference from his previous teasing. 

“Well…” You paused for a moment, praying to whoever was watching over you that you hadn’t stumbled upon some secret security guard that would lock you away for life. “If you must know, I was about to purchase some items in the market when the vendor accused me of stealing.” 

“And did you?” You scowled at the man across from you, not appreciating his insinuation. He only tilted his head in question, waiting for your answer. 

“Of course not! I just said that…” You sighed, furrowing your brows in frustration. “I don’t think I would attempt to steal something even if it was guaranteed I wouldn’t get caught. It’s wrong…but also, I have too much anxiety for that. I just want to try and live a peaceful life.” You admitted, staring at the ground and huffing in defeat. “Fate has it out for me, it seems.”

A few moments passed by, and you almost thought that you were about to be interrogated again, when suddenly you heard laughter. 

The stranger in front of you had covered his mouth with his hand, shaking silently as he seemed to be trying to stifle his chuckles. You stared at him in shock, eyebrows raised all the way up as you tried to think how he could possibly find your situation even slightly amusing. 

“Pfft…Sorry, it’s just-” 

“You’re laughing?! How is this funny to you?!” You questioned, unsure of whether or not you should be offended right now. 

“Hah! Running from palace guards is certainly one way to try and ‘live a peaceful life’.” He teased, his seriousness almost immediately gone. “And here I thought you were some kind of famous thief!” 

“You helped me thinking I was a famous thief??” You asked, stunned at his seemingly crazy decisions. “What would you have done if I threatened you?!” 

“It’s a good thing you aren’t then, is it not?” He countered, a smug smirk on his lips. “You’re not a native, so what brings you here?” 

“...And why do you want to know?” You questioned, giving him your own suspicious look. “How do I know I can trust you?” 

“You’re suspicious of me…” He murmured, a thoughtful look on his face. “At least you have some survival skills.” 

“Hey!”

“I feel a bit hurt though. I practically saved you, didn’t I?” 

“Yes, but…I don’t even know your name. Do you want me to give you my whole life story just because you saved me?” You questioned sarcastically, waving him off. 

He sighed dramatically, laughing a bit when you glared at him “Minhaj.” 

“Huh?” 

“My name. Your turn.” He looked at you expectantly, his fingers tapping on his crossed arms. You pressed your lips together, already hearing Jamil’s voice in your head about not trusting strangers and ‘personal safety’. 

He did save you, though. That probably counts for something, right? 

Right.

“...(Y/N).” You finally said. Minhaj seemed pleased with your answer, pushing off from the wall and looking at you a little closer, an amused smile on his face. 

“Hmm, I should have known there would be a pretty name to a pretty face.” Your eyes bulged at his words, immediately looking away and choking on air. He chuckled at your reaction, and you were suddenly very aware of the rather small space the two of you were hiding in.

“You don’t really-” 

“Shh.” And he was suddenly right up in front of you, a slender finger held to your lips to silence you as his sharp eyes stared at something outside the space you both were in. 

“Sir, we weren’t able to locate the thief.” Your heart damn near stopped beating at the familiar voice of the guards, who seemed to be gathered just outside of where you and Minhaj were. 

“Damnit! That brat got away…Search the market area again!” 

“Yes sir!” With that, there were heavy footsteps that seemed to be running away, getting quieter until the guards had left the area altogether. 

Minhaj removed his finger from your lips, and you let out a shaky breath you didn’t know you were holding, your heart going a million miles an hour. 

“Thanks…” You murmured, paranoid about being found. Minhaj lingered for a moment longer, the edges of his silken cloak brushing against you before he pulled away again, letting out a big sigh with a shit-eating grin. 

“Who would’ve thought you would be so dangerous to be around, (Y/N)?”

“I’m not dangerous, it’s just a misunderstanding…!” You huffed, biting the inside of your cheek. You had no idea how you were going to find your friends again now that the guards had gone back to the market to look for you, but you had a sliver of hope that Minhaj might help you out. 

“Mm, if you say so~” You only rolled your eyes at his grin, choosing to look at the wall instead. 

“I do.” 

“You’re cute when you pout.” 

“Wh-I’m not-?!” 

“Are you thirsty? You seemed to be struggling in that last leg of running.” His words immediately shut you up, a bit embarrassed that he noticed your lack of stamina. 

“...I might be.” 

“Well, I might be able to help with that, and I might also know how to get you to your next destination. What do you say? Do you trust me?” He put his hand out in offering with his question, the words looming in the air for a few moments. 

Screw it. 

You carefully put your hand in his, your fingertips brushing against his in a way that felt like a spark of electricity. “For now…yes.” He gave you a cheeky smile, using his free hand to adjust your silken scarf in a way that covered your face more. 

“I was hoping you would say that.” And suddenly he was leading you out from the hiding space, peeking around the corners just in case there were some guards lingering around. Even after leaving the small space he kept a firm hold on your hand, saying something about ‘not wanting to lose you’ when you carefully asked him about it, (you feel like you’re about to combust). 

It felt as though he was leading you through a city-wide maze, making various turns and helping you climb over small fences and boxes. He was surprisingly gentle in his touch, but still kept a firm grip in case you lost your balance, catching you by your waist in one instance where you had almost fallen. 

“Falling for me again, (Y/N)?” He had teased, that playful smirk almost haunting you at this point. 

“You wish.” 

The sun was beginning to set on the horizon when you two finally reached his destination; a lone stall far away from any other sellers that had a bountiful amount of green coconuts, all perfectly ready for refreshing coconut water. Your thirst had reached an all-time high after the time you both had spent getting here, and you were grateful to finally have a bit of rest. 

“Two coconut waters, please.” Minhaj politely asked. The vendor let out a grunt in response, grabbing two large coconuts and promptly chopping the tops off of them. A straw was placed in each one, which was rather convenient since you think it would be rather hard to drink directly from a coconut without making a fool of yourself. 

You rummaged around in your sling bag for a moment, trying to scrounge up the money Jamil had given you at the beginning of the trip. It had fallen to the bottom of the bag, probably when you were running throughout the streets. 

Before you could get a hold of it, Minhaj paid the appropriate amount of money to the man, taking the two coconuts and handing one of them to you. 

“Wait, let me pay you back at least.” You said, furrowing your brows in concentration as you got a grasp of the money. Minhaj shook his head though, taking a long sip of his beverage before speaking. 

“It’s my treat. After the events of this afternoon, I would like for you to have a somewhat good impression of my homeland’s hospitality.” You frowned at him, feeling a bit guilty about letting him pay for you. 

“I have money…” 

“I am well aware. Can a man not be chivalrous anymore?” The rhetorical question hung in the air for a moment, making Minhaj shake the coconut in your direction. “My arm is getting tired here, you know.” 

“...Fine. Next time though, I’ll pay.” 

“Oh? You’re already thinking about seeing me again?” He teased, giving you a wink. He wasn’t being serious, but his words suddenly made you realize that yes, that’s exactly what you had been thinking of. 

“Nevermind.” You said, walking off in a random direction, trying to play off your fumble. What was going on with you, and why was Minhaj having this effect on you…?

He followed behind you, catching up rather quickly. “Do you even know where you’re going?” He asked, seeming amused at your embarrassment. 

“Mm, I can figure it out.” 

“Right…you don’t know my secret spot, though.” You finally looked at him again, a bit curious as to what he was referring to. He gives you an almost blinding grin, and you suddenly begin to wonder how he doesn’t take out every person he smiles at.

“...Your secret spot?” 

“I mean, if you’d rather wander around these barren streets, be my guest.” He said nonchalantly, humming to himself and sipping his drink. His eyes peeked over at you, seeing if you were convinced by his performance yet. 

“Well, since you seem so eager to show me, I guess I’ll let you.” You finally said, giving in. Minhaj looked at you with a proud look, like he knew he would eventually convince you of it, (as he seemed to keep on doing). 

“I knew you’d come around. It’s this way.” 

Now that the streets were more empty, he didn’t keep hold of your hand this time, and you couldn’t help but miss the contact from him. Maybe you weren’t thinking straight or maybe the heat had finally gotten to you, but you could feel yourself gravitating more towards him…

It’s vacation, I can let loose a little…

His ‘secret spot’ wasn’t too much farther from the coconut stand, and it happened to be at the top of what seemed to be an abandoned building. Surprisingly, it didn’t seem as eerie or scary as they usually were in your own world, and was instead home to different stray animals, (whom you spent way too much time petting and cooing at). Minhaj eventually was able to drag you away from them, leading you up the stairs and through the doorway to the roof. 

He seemed to spend a good amount of time here; there were a few chairs arranged in a corner, along with a small side table and a tiny carpet that had probably seen better days. 

The part that caught your attention the most was the gorgeous sunset that painted the sky. It was a mural of fiery reds and oranges that faded into soft purples and pinks, a sight that you usually could never see on Sage’s Island. 

“Woah…is it always like this here?” You asked, taking a seat next to Minhaj and staring at the colors in the sky. He chuckled at your childlike awe, resting his head on his hand. 

“For the most part. Despite seeing it hundreds of times, the sunsets still manage to surprise me.” He said, staring off into the distance with a thoughtful look in his eyes. “It reminds me that there’s still so much I haven’t seen yet.” There was a longing tone to his voice, almost as if he wouldn’t be allowed to see the things he wants to. 

There was something about the sullen look on his face that resonated with you. You paused for a while, taking time to think about your words. “I think…sometimes it’s easy to take what you have for granted,” You started. Minhaj seemed surprised, but stayed silent, waiting for you to finish. “Not that that’s what you’re doing. But sometimes…you get so caught up in wanting something new and different, that you don’t realize what you have in the moment. It’s something that you can regret if you do lose it.” You finished, your eyes drifting back over to him. “I really hope that doesn’t happen to you, Minhaj.”

He was silent for a long while after that, long enough that you had begun to think you had upset him. That hadn’t been your intention, but then again, you weren’t sure if you’d ever had a particular way with words. 

“Hah…” His dry chuckle made your heart drop, and you prepared yourself for a scolding of some sort. “Normally, I would say that you’re wrong, but something tells me you know all too well what that feels like. I appreciate you being honest, it means more to me than you might know. Honesty is…not something that’s easy for me to come by. Thank you.” He gave you a small smile, his dark eyes warm as he gazed at you. 

You looked away, feeling your face flush at his cute expression. “It’s the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me today.” You murmured, sipping on the last parts of your drink. 

The rest of the lowering sunset was calm and quiet, a peaceful silence hanging over you both as the sky began to darken. You weren’t exactly sure what it was about Minhaj, but he made you feel calm and collected. 

Once the sun had dipped below the valley, Minhaj stood up from his seat, stretching his limbs. “Now then, where shall I lead you next?” His words made your eyes go wide; you had completely forgotten about meeting back up with your friends. 

Jamil is going to be so pissed.

At your shocked expression, Minhaj laughed, striding over and ruffling your hair. “Were you having so much fun with me that you forgot about getting back with your group, habibi?” You quirked an eyebrow at the nickname, unsure of what it meant. 

“In your dreams. I’m keeping them waiting on purpose.” You confidently said, checking your phone. 

25 missed calls from Jamil, 30 from Vil, 100 missed text messages in the group chat…

You closed your eyes for a moment, praying to anybody who would listen. Jamil is genuinely going to cook you alive when you get back to the estate…

“Oh? You don’t seem so confident now.” You stood up from your seat, giving Minhaj a playful glare. 

“We will probably never meet again, since I’m about to be cooked alive.” You stated, accepting your fate. “Thank you for today though, I probably owe you the rest of my life for not being thrown in jail until death.” 

“Until death?” He asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. “I suppose you’re indebted to me then.” 

“I suppose I am.” He smirked at your words, amused. 

“Careful there. I might just ring in a favor someday soon.” You probably should have felt a bit nervous about that, but instead you were only filled with the hope of seeing him again. 

“I’ll be waiting.” 

a/n: thinking abt a part 2 w jealous jamil ,,, lmk yall ,,, also this might be ooc in the future since rsa just got released less than a week ago lol. also just rq, what kind of name is minajael tealrajah lolll as a south asian person I REBUKE THIS .... & dont come for me yes i am working on the jade story i just wanted to write something different :,) i hope you all enjoyed!! <3

You had quickly realized that working at Freddy Fazbear’s during the night was a completely different experience from working there during the day.

During daytime shifts, your job was almost insultingly easy. You were basically just another security guard walking around the building with a badge clipped to your uniform, making sure no child cracked their head open running through the arcade, no parent tried to sneak into employee-only areas, and none of the animatronics got damaged by overly excited kids with sticky fingers and absolutely no sense of boundaries.

It was simple. Repetitive, maybe a little boring at times, but simple.

You liked simple.

The pizzeria itself was chaotic enough during the day anyway. Kids screaming, music blasting, arcade machines chiming every five seconds, birthday parties happening in at least three corners of the building simultaneously. There was always something happening and a lot of noise and movement to keep you distracted.

It paid decently, your coworkers were tolerable enough, and compared to some of the miserable jobs you’d had before, standing around in a brightly lit restaurant full of cake-fueled children wasn’t exactly torture. So you didn't mind working there.

The animatronics were… kind of cute, which was not something you ever expected yourself to say about robots.

They had been designed with a more human appearance, apparently to make them feel friendlier and more approachable to children. Their bodies were almost entirely human in shape and proportion (altough they were still big and heavy as fuck), with realistic facial expressions, synthetic skin, soft features and smooth natural movements. The only obviously artificial parts were the animal features integrated into their designs—ears, tails, little details that made them stand out just enough to stay fun and visually interesting.

Children absolutely adored them.

And why wouldn’t they? The animatronics were equipped with advanced AI systems capable of holding actual conversations, remembering names, adapting their behavior depending on the child they were interacting with, and generally acting far more intelligently than what you would normally expect from glorified entertainment robots.

They knew how to comfort crying kids, encourage shy ones, keep entire groups entertained for hours and somehow never once looked visibly exhausted.

For you, it had always made the job kind of charming.

You never really interacted with them directly beyond the occasional polite greeting while passing by, but you didn’t need to. They had their routines, you had yours, and that was more than enough.

Well, until now.

You heard that there had been some kind of accident during the night shift involving one of the animatronics, and now Michael was out.

That alone had been enough to leave you standing there like an idiot, staring at your manager with your mouth slightly open.

An accident?

With one of them?

How the hell did that even happen?

That was unsettling.

You’d seen those robots every day for months. Sure, they were large, technically strong enough to accidentally hurt someone if something malfunctioned, but actually injuring a worker badly enough to put him on leave?

Actually, scratch that.

That was terrifying.

The whole thing had left a sour feeling in your stomach from the moment you heard it, and you probably would have politely refused when management approached you about covering the shift—

But, oh well, they mentioned extra pay. A lot of extra pay, not “buy yourself something nice this weekend” extra. More like “okay, maybe I can survive a little psychological damage for this” extra.

And that was exactly how you ended up sitting alone in the security office on your first night, already feeling like you’d made a horrible decision.

The room itself was significantly smaller than you had imagined. Cramped, dim, weirdly stuffy despite the old fan buzzing away on the desk. There were two heavy metal doors on either side of the office, each equipped with control panels and small overhead lights. Directly in front of you sat a monitor connected to the building’s camera system.

Then your eyes landed on the battery indicator. Limited power?

“…What kind of horror movie bullshit is this?”

You leaned forward slightly, narrowing your eyes at the percentage as if staring would somehow change what you were reading.

Because surely you had misunderstood.

There was no way the security doors—the only obvious protective feature in this tiny death box—ran on a limited battery supply.

That was ridiculous.

You were still silently judging the entire setup when the office phone suddenly rang. The sound was so abrupt in the otherwise quiet room that you physically jolted in your chair.

Your hand flew to your chest before immediately moving to glare at the phone instead, deeply offended by the heart attack you’d just been forced to experience.

“Oh my god.”

It kept ringing, and with a long sigh, you leaned over and picked it up.

“Hello?”

A burst of static crackled through the speaker before a man’s voice came through.

“Uh... hello? Hello, hello! Uh... You must be the new replacement for the night shift, right?”

Replacement.

Lovely.

Already hated that wording.

“Unfortunately,” you answered, slumping back into your chair. The man gave an awkward little chuckle, though it sounded more nervous than amused.

“Well, before you start, I wanted to leave you some instructions. Sort of a guide, I guess. Just some things you should know if you want to successfully complete all five nights.”

That sentence immediately made you sit up a little straighter. Complete all five nights? Why did he phrase it like some kind of challenge?

You frowned slightly, fingers tightening around the phone.

“You’ll be fine,” he added quickly, almost as if sensing your concern.

That did absolutely nothing to reassure you. If anything, hearing a stranger rush to clarify that you would probably survive before even explaining the job made your stomach tighten unpleasantly.

“As you probably know,” he continued, “the animatronics are equipped with highly advanced AI systems. That’s how they’re able to perform, interact with children, hold conversations, recognize regular guests and generally behave as naturally as possible.”

You nodded absentmindedly, though he obviously couldn’t see you.

“Now, because the systems are fairly advanced, they aren’t always... perfect.”

“In what way?”

“Well,” he hesitated briefly. “Occasionally, they can deviate from their intended programming. Usually it’s harmless enough. Temporary memory issues, slight personality changes, behavioral inconsistencies... things like that.”

That sounded suspiciously vague.

“Basically, sometimes they may not follow their usual scripts properly, forget previous interactions and act differently than intended.”

You were just beginning to relax slightly when he continued.

“In more severe cases, they can become aggressive.”

Your entire body stiffened as you blinked slowly.

“…Come again?”

He awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Mostly during nighttime hours. They don’t react well to inactivity for extended periods. Less stimulation, fewer interactions... some of them interpret it negatively.”

“Negatively HOW?”

“Well, they can become more irritable. Agitated. Territorial, sometimes.”

You actually sat up fully now, gripping the phone harder.

“Is that what happened to Michael?”

The man hesitated for just a fraction too long.

“Uh... It wasn’t anything serious” he said quickly. Avoiding questions, of course. “But it was enough to make management decide a full reset was necessary.”

You repeated that word internally, trying to process the fact that he was speaking about emotionally unstable robot-animals like they were moody computers.

“Surely the obvious solution here is just turning them off, but the shutdown buttons are hidden, the engineers who installed them handled that. Apparently it was done intentionally to prevent accidental tampering from kids or guests. Those buttons are for emergencies only, since using one completely resets the AI and requires reprogramming.”

This was insane.

“So let me summarize,” you said flatly, leaning back in your chair and pinching the bridge of your nose. “I am currently alone in a locked office with unstable animatronics wandering around the building, two battery-powered doors, and a hidden emergency shutdown nobody can find.”

When you said it out loud, it somehow sounded even worse.

“…When you put it like that, it... it does sound concerning,” the man admitted. “But you don't have to worry. Just keep an eye on the cameras. If one gets too close, shut the doors. Be mindful of battery usage, though. You don’t want to waste power too early, they may get in.”

Your eyes immediately flickered back to the battery indicator.

“And if they do?” you asked.

“…I’m not entirely sure what happens if they get in, but try not to let it happen,” he said, which somehow managed to be even less comforting. “And if worst comes to worst, maybe just... try to keep them entertained?”

You stared blankly ahead. Fuck you were scared.

“Anyway,” he finished, far too cheerfully considering the psychological damage he had just inflicted on you, “that should be everything. Good luck!”

The line clicked dead and a soft dial tone replaced his voice.

You slowly lowered the receiver back into place and sat there motionless, staring directly at the old desk fan as it rotated lazily from side to side, making that same repetitive clicking sound over and over again.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Your thoughts were moving so fast they somehow circled back around into complete emptiness.

He didn’t know what happened if they got in.

That was a sentence that had just been said to you.

A real human being had casually admitted that your potential cause of death was currently undocumented.

Your mouth slowly fell open.

“Why,” you whispered into the empty office, “would no one tell me any of this before I accepted?”

Michael being on leave suddenly felt a lot less like unfortunate workplace drama and significantly more like a warning sign you had ignored.

You sank further into your chair, dragging both hands down your face.

Night one had officially started.

In the cold chambers of the lab, sunlight rarely breaches in. That is how he likes it. The founder of this place can be quite whelming at first, though all who actually meet him with a hypothesis based on his height are quickly shut down. For all he has done, yet many still judge him for his looks rather than his achievements. It’s a shame. Little do newcomers know that scattered around each room are various experiments: some left to rot, some unfinished, and one who lurks the laboratory when everyone’s away.

As the lone boss, Cosmo thoroughly believes he can handle everything himself. Ever since he was conscious, each decision was one to prove that he is independent. No one would look down on him, because no one could. He will spend days, weeks inside his bone-chilling facility with no one to worry about him. His greatest and newest work is what he calls “Frankenstein.” A sharp record is taken regularly, hastily dated with overly enthusiastic scribbles by his research. He is elated—until the Frankenstein developed a habit that not even he can contain.

Once Cosmo’s attention wanders off, so does he. Somehow, that large specimen has learned to escape his cells as he pleases. Cosmo notes he is lucky there is no drive beneath the former’s flesh. Otherwise his research would have to come to a full halt.

Never in a million years will Cosmo stoop down to hire other souls to watch over his experiment. Which is why he only hires one.