thecapitol | just keep swimmin'

Entry tags:

just keep swimmin'

Who| Jeremy Fitzgerald and Phil Gray
What| Somebody has some explaining to do. But fish are distracting.
Where| The aquarium in the Capitol.
When| Week 4 of the arena
Warnings/Notes| FNAF things, child murder and trauma and bitey robots galore.

It was a whirlwind of events after he woke up a few days ago. At first, he thought everything had been a dream, and maybe this was more of the afterlife he'd originally expected. People tending to him, plenty of fancy food and a warm bed to relax in, it seemed pretty nice at the start. But then it all came back and he was reminded - this is Panem, and this is his new life now.

For the first few days after waking up, he stayed in his room in the training center. He didn't bother going to the actual training rooms - the mere thought of it made his stomach churn, he didn't want to fight again. He didn't eat much, he didn't talk to any of the other tributes or anyone else he came into contact with. But even for a nervous shut-in like Jeremy, three days cooped up in a fancy bedroom was too much, and after asking for a coat and a pair of thin gloves, he left the center to explore the Capitol a little. He didn't want to be gone for too long, but he should stretch his legs, get some fresh air and such. Though he was still mindful of that note from before, wondering who the anonymous donor was, he wasn't sure if he'd ever know who it was. But he wouldn't find out by doing nothing at all.

He's had to take a few breaks since leaving, whether it was sitting on a bench with his head in his hands or finding a quiet corner to curl up in a ball in, but he was surprised to find he was actually enjoying himself. The Capitol was loud, sure, but there were some quieter places he could enjoy without getting a headache. And the aquarium was one of them, a large and lavish establishment with sea creatures of all shapes and sizes for him to discover. He's never heard of most of them. It's incredible.

After a bit of exploring he's found a glass tank expanding an entire wall that's full of smaller fish, groups of them sticking together and swimming around in a cozy school of rainbows and bubbles. It's hypnotic in a way, and he stands close to the tank, touching a fingertip to the glass and trailing back and forth for the fish to follow along. It made him smile, even just a little bit. Even if this was a strange and dangerous new world, even if he could be brought back into the arenas at any moment, this wasn't so bad.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Phillip had been following Jeremy's stint in the arena as closely as he did with his tributes. In a sense, Fitzgerald was Phone Guy's tribute, he was the first guard he instructed after all. Gray was that anonymous sponsor and was devastated when he saw an animatronic, their shared cause of death, shattered the younger man. Sandy was right, Phil was screaming his head off in despair and he was so thankful that she gave Jeremy a quick death. Everything threatened to break his spirit but he held fast, he could do something...

When he saw the man expire, Phone Guy immediately put his Victor status to work and made preparations for Jeremy to have a welcome return to the Capitol. He was treating Fitzgerald as he would Luna (booking her a full day of pampering and care for having been so kind) and Sansa, rewarding them for their work and honoring their sacrifice. In fact, it's with Sansa's gift that Phil arrived at the Aquarium, he was housebreaking a Husky puppy for her arrival while Foxy peeked his head from the man's backpack. He knows he should be back at the tower but...would it be so bad to have a peaceful moment?

"No Foxtrot, these are not..." Phillip chuckled as his pet following the many fish before he realized he wasn't alone in the exhibit. Nearby was a part of his past, in flesh and bone. Scarred, weary, and dressed in all black, Phone Guy looks like he's been through hell and back.n"Hello...hello," he greeted Jeremy, nervous to see him especially after that dream...they have a lot to talk about.

Edited 2015-10-20 14:52 (UTC)

-- oh, god, not again.

His hand stops against the glass, and the fish continue on about their business, swimming along in their tank without a care in the world. Jeremy, on the other hand, was very suddenly not doing so well. It all happened so quick, a calm and serene mood one moment and all of it gone the next.

At the very least, it confirms his suspicions that he really is going crazy.

Jeremy can already feel himself starting to go into panic mode. His heart is already starting to race, and he watched his hand start to tremble against the tank. It's just like back in the arena again, part of him telling himself not to believe it, that surely he's not back at that accursed pizzeria, trapped in his nightmares again. It has to be all in his own mind, his damaged brain bringing up the past again just to torment him. He leans closer to the glass, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths.

"It's in your head ..." he whispers softly to himself, refusing to acknowledge whatever hallucination his mind conjured up. It's not real, Fitzgerald. Don't freak out in public. "All in your h-head."

Phillip recognized those signs...he used to have panic attacks about Freddy's too, before they were replaced somewhat by panic attacks about losing people in the Arena. But why now? Why would Jeremy have one now? They barely saw in person before the Bite happened, and Phil was screaming for someone to get help. For a second, he thought, Is it my voice? He was inextricably linked to Freddy Fazbear's and he did call Jeremy every night. It was best to have the man confirm it before proceeding.

Acting quickly and figuring how furballs tend to make people relax a lot more than talking, Gray picked up the puppy from the ground and offered it to Fitzgerald. "Here," he whispered, "She's very friendly to people. Y-You can sit down if you want..."

Meanwhile, Phone Guy's own companion is rubbing his face against his master, trying to calm him down. Phil wished with every fiber of his being that they had met in better circumstances but this would have to do.

Admittedly, the puppy was gosh darn adorable.

But the fact that the man was approaching - with a puppy - meant there was more of a possibility that this wasn't in his head. It could mean that he really was there, that this was some strange offset circle of Hell he was sent to for being a really shit awful detective back home. Everything Freddy Fazbear's was doomed to follow him for the rest of eternity.

If it was just in his head, however, he wasn't going to pay it any attention. The last thing he needs is to start shouting and freaking out at hallucinations and have a hundred strangers (and fish) look at him like he's crazy. Which, to be fair, he is.

"No--" Jeremy shakes his head and turns away, wrapping his arms tight around his chest as he starts to walk away. It can't be real, it just can't. "Go away ... just go away ..."

"P-Please don't go...let me help you." Phil doesn't speak louder than a whisper before giving up on using his voice altogether. The Capitol preyed on these sorts of moments and made mincemeat out of the unfortunate Tributes. He grabbed his tablet, and typed in:

"I know what you went through and it's not going to be easy to get over. I didn't think that letter would reach you. Please come with me, you need to lie down. This isn't Freddy's but you need to be careful."

In other words, he was the anonymous donor that sent him those supplies and the people that could help him. The puppy is set down and put back on the leash but Phil isn't giving up on Jeremy that easily.

Jeremy's still pretty intent on staying away. It has to be in his head, it just has to be ... that man can't actually be here. Can he?

Not hearing his voice next does help, but it's the mention of the letter that does have him stopping, and slowly turning around to face him. The letter from the arena was certainly real. It had to have come from someone. But it was ... it was from him? Why would--

"S-Stop--"

He had to pause, breathe, wait a moment for his head to stop pounding. True, Jeremy probably really needed to lay down and rest right now, but he had to clear this up first. Was he real? Was he here, right now, trying to help him for some inexplicable reason?

"Why ... w-why are you-- just ..." It was hard getting the words out, nervous stuttering combined with being unsure of what to say. How does one talk to a serial killer? "G-Go away ... you're a horrible p-person, I-I'm not going any-- anywhere w-with you."

It didn't take long for Phillip to figure out what Jeremy meant, he remembered the confrontation in his dream. He'd realize that in his actions to cover up for the company, they made him into a prime suspect for the murders. But this time, he knew what to say, because the longer Jeremy goes without allies, the more vulnerable he becomes to Capitol machinations. Phone Guy lost Jeremy to the bots, he wasn't losing him again to the likes of Cyrus Reagan and President Snow. He started typing fast and determined:

"I'm not the killer, Jeremy. I did a lot of shady things but I'm not the murderer. I loved the place, I loved being around children and watching families enjoy themselves. I took your nightshift and stayed for 5 years, so no one would go what you went through. One night, Foxy stayed too long, bad one. Freddy grabbed me and tore my head off.

He was making sure Jeremy got all the facts straight because he needs to tell him about Springtrap, the real monster at Freddy's. If it meant reliving the one time he was able to go back and see what happened, then so be it.

"Killer got a different fate. Remember the yellow suit? The reason we didn't use them was because they were dangerous, inherited from a place called Fredbear's. He used that to kill the children. We need to talk in private, please.

A plan was forming in Gray's mind but he needed Fitzgerald to be on board.

He was lying.

He had to be lying. He was just trying to drum up sympathy, lure him away, and then find a small cramped space to forcefully shove him into - that was his motif, after all. But that had to be what he was trying to do ... it had to.

Because, if he's telling the truth, then Jeremy's fears are confirmed and he really did die for nothing. All those months of therapy and counselling and x-rays and news reporters shoving cameras and microphones in his face, everything his family went through in trying to take care of him and pay for hospital bills, all of it would be for nothing if Jeremy was chasing down the wrong guy. It wasn't possible, all the evidence he'd found, everything he'd written in his notebooks ...

"No ..."

Panic overcomes him and Jeremy leans heavily against the glass aquarium wall, before slowly sliding to the floor and holding his head in his hands. The husky pup takes that as her cue to tug on her leash and try and investigate, because if there's one thing puppies know, it's that sad and scared humans need a soft head to pat.

That man - that trick of his mind - is just trying to get under his skin. He doesn't want to believe a word of it, not about Foxy or Freddy, not about the yellow suits, nothing.

"N-No ... I found-- they'd shown me ... it's supposed to be you."

Phil let the puppy run to the ailing man while he held Foxy close. He picked this one especially for Sansa, an animal that would be loyal and caring in her time of need, so this was an impromptu trial run. He couldn't type like this, so Jeremy will have to deal with Phone Guy's broken voice.

"I'm guilty of letting the monster loose a-and doing nothing about it. I-I warned you about the past employees," he shivered, the weight of his inaction coming full circle once more, "At the time, I thought th-that if I fired him, then things would go back to how they were. A-and then I found the spare suit in a place that it shouldn't have been. I took on the night shift to investigate what happened."

He knelt down beside Fitzgerald, cracking down into the useless mess of a man from that last phone call back at the "New and Improved" Freddy Fazbear's. Those emotions were raw as they were real, especially when Phil said, "I'm so sorry for what you went through. I'm so sorry you suffered so much because of my actions b-because I trusted the wrong person. A-and I'm so sorry you got reaped."

There is no comfort to be had in Springtrap's fate, because Jeremy is here, in Panem to die for the Capitol's entertainment. The best Phil can offer now is resolution, the event as he saw when he was in between bodies. "Jeremy, if I was the killer, they should have been at peace when I got stuffed...but they kept haunting the pizzeria after I died. For thirty years. They knew he was still out there."

What that bastard did to those children was unforgivable, tore them apart and destroyed the evidence. Phil echoed the words he spoke to Fitzgerald in the dream, "I didn't kill those kids but I might as well have by letting that man go."

The pup surprises him. Admittedly, he wanted to believe it was all in his head, some strange twisted hallucination trying to taunt him about the past, some strange curse or karma for failing so spectacularly in life, but that was definitely a real dog bounding towards him and sniffing at his face. At first, he's nervous - he hasn't been around a lot of dogs - but when he reaches his hand out for the husky pup to sniff at and lick his fingers, that helps confirm it in his mind. This is real. This is right now, really happening, he was in this strange new world fighting in death arenas, all of it beyond his control.

So that man over there really is the one who'd been calling him on the phone every night at Fazbear's. And the man who-- the man he thought was ...

This was all so confusing.

The puppy whimpers at him and crawls closer, front paws in his lap as she continues to sniff and whine at him. She seems gentle enough, so Jeremy tries petting her head next, light scratches behind her ears. The gesture does help to calm his nerves, but he does have to wave a dismissive hand towards the other man, looking away and wincing as if struck by a wrench.

"Talking too m--much--" he stutters, shaking his head. A part of him wants to keep this innocent pup away from that man, just in case, but now he's just ... he's so confused. Is he the killer, the one he suspected all along, or was he wrong the whole time? "Sh--shut up."

Maybe it was rude, but really, that was a lot of information to take in. He needed a minute or two to just think it over.

Edited (wrong icon oops) 2015-10-25 04:27 (UTC)

Phil doesn't take it as rude, given the hell they've gone through and quickly types a sorry before adding,

"My name is Phil Gray. I'm probably not the guy you were expecting. I'm sorry I wasn't straightforward when it counted. I thought you were the killer too. I gotta ask: how did you break into the pizzeria when there was a lockdown?"

Phone Guy wanted to make sure that he's not helping a serial killer. ~~Again~~. Lady is a cuddler just like Foxy, who is now set loose and trotting to Jeremy's side as well. If one puppy comforted, two could help. Phil saw this as a sign of trustworthiness, if Foxy could approach him like this...

"You're good with animals"

Really? They both thought each other was responsible for murdering all those children, an act so despicable and deplorable, and they were both wrong?

It really was a lot to have thrust upon him all at once. Having the pup close and acting concerned for him did help calm his nerves so he could focus a little better, and a cute face like that was hard to resist. The fox also surprised and worried him for a moment, because foxes could be just as aggressive as any other animal (and he didn't have the best associations with foxes in the first place,) this one seemed tame and well behaved. He tried giving it a pat on the head as well, and he seemed to be happy with it, so ... that was good.

"... wasn't ... that hard to do," Jeremy mumbles, still not too sure about this guy, but the more he talked - or typed, which really did help too - the less he seemed like a psychopath. But it could all be a lie. It could. "Security there s-- ... sucks."

Honestly, it really wasn't. None of the doors or windows were boarded up, and only the main entrance doors and fire exits remained locked. It took barely any effort at all to jimmy a window open, and there was nobody there to catch him-- nobody alive, anyway.

"They're ... fr-- ... friendly," he added, a little more quietly.

The look on Phone Guy's face as he realized that his worst fears, that Freddy's wasn't s secure as the higher ups made it to be was priceless. A mixture of both of horror and annoyance took over his scarred face and he muttered, "What the hell was in the water back home..." before he typed:

"I'd hoped that things were safer. Put my faith in the company, lot of good it did. Story of my life at this point. As for the pups, they're babies, they're learning which humans are good and which ones aren't. They're bred to comfort and I've trained them to protect too. They think you're a good person, I can agree with that. ~~Foxy~~ Foxtrot was the runt in his litter, didn't inherit his mom's blue paisley fur or his dad's plaid red."

Yeah that's a thing here.

"They nip at fingers if they trust you too much so there's that." Phil then showed his hand now covered in tiny scars. "But he's like my best buddy. I think we should talk over something warm like soup. You need to relax, Panem is safer than where we came from."

At least Phil is much more direct here: the value of clear communication.

He doesn't regret going back in for that sixth unscheduled night. Jeremy knew he was onto something, that the kids really were trying to show him what happened and no matter how crazy it sounded, they were leading him to the truth. Or, what he thought was the truth. He's not sure what to believe anymore, if the children's spirits were actually leading him astray or if he'd missed a vital clue and he spent this whole time suspecting the wrong person.

That day shift the next day, however ... he regretted going in, and at the same time, he didn't. He could've just stayed home, screw his employment record, and try to get some sleep before going to the police. But if he didn't go and stick close to the animatronics like instructed, then anyone else could've been attacked. It could've been a customer, or a child, even. So, if it had to be anyone, maybe it was better that it was him.

He tried his best to read what Phil was typing out for him, but all the stress was taking a toll on him and he was getting pretty exhausted, the words on the screen starting to blur together. He takes a break from petting the pup's ears to rub his forehead instead. It's all so confusing.

"... I don't want to go with you," he eventually answers, lowering his gaze. Even with Phil professing his innocence at least in the murders, Jeremy couldn't help it. He was still afraid of him. "I don't-- don't know if ... if I can t-- trust you."

Phil understood that sentiment and sighed before he typed:

"I know I'm not the most trustworthy guy but I know what it's like here. Right now, I'm really glad you're safe. I want to tell you everything, now that we can talk, but know this: the children are at peace now. They got their killer."

If there was some measure of calm, it came after Phone Guy died.

"I'd rather have this conversation in private, there's a lot to talk about and I know you have a lot of questions. I listed those people on that letter because I trusted them to keep me safe, I knew they'd do the same to you."

He was right about not being trustworthy. Phil could've definitely made himself seem less incriminating when leaving his messages on the phone those nights, maybe he could've been a little more up front and helpful about everything, but all of that was long in the past now. And while Jeremy would be perfectly content to try and live a new life here without ever having to speak to or acknowledge the man again, it didn't seem like things were going to be that way at all.

Jeremy was especially nervous about going somewhere private with him. It was too hard for him to just forget everything he'd suspected and believe the man on his word just like that. And he wasn't exactly in the best state of mind either, maybe a few minutes away from a panic attack only delayed by having a comforting puppy to cuddle up with. But she's not his dog, and he can't keep her forever. Hell, she might even be part of the ploy to lure him in. The guy's known for that, isn't he? Or-- not him, but ... well.

"No," he says, a little more firmly, letting go of the pup and giving her a gentle nudge out of the way, He pulls his knees up to his chest and pushes further back against the water tank behind him, and lowers his head to his knees, shaking his head. "I'm n-- n-not going with you."

Sorry Phil, but he's making this difficult.

In any other employee, Phillip would have been insulted in their insistence that he would hurt a child, let alone kill one. He was working his tail off to make sure that Rotor would make it out of this Arena, and he hated himself for not doing more for Maglev. But Jeremy wasn't any other employee: he was the one who got screwed over the most because of Phil's incompetence and desire to keep the company image going.

Lady pawed around Jeremy's leg befor joining Foxy in a quick round of playing tag with each other. Meanwhile Gray settled down in front of Jeremy and typed in a solemn beat:

"I'm sorry I wasn't direct with you those nights and for not doing my job. Let me help you, please, not just with this place but what happened at Freddy's."

Phil's greatest fear when he came was that someone else from his world would be reaped (they deserved better than this luxurious cesspool), and Fitzgerald's arrival made it come true. Now it was time to make with what they both had and as a Mentor and former instructor, Phone Guy could see a lot of potential in Jeremy to survive and even thrive in this world. Aside from the medical problems, Jeremy was a desirable Tribute: he was handsome and broken enough that a bidder could sweep him off and shatter him further if they had the chance. And though thinner, Phil saw strength in Fitzgerald...it was time to bring it out.

But only if Jeremy came with him and his friends all across the Districts on the Tower. He knew that Daryl could teach him foraging and Sandy gave him peace.

"You can either stay here and never learn what happened after we both died or you can come with me and we can rebuild. You decide." The tone wasn't managerial, it was hardened from three Arenas and five years at Freddy's.

If anything, the man did seem pretty desperate to earn his trust, and out of all people to be pestering for it, the one who died as a result of workplace trauma (to put it mildly) did seem like the ideal candidate. But why? Was he feeling just that guilty about it that he wanted Jeremy on his side to ease his mind and feel better about that? Was it all just for his own benefit?

Maybe. The guy didn't exactly come across as all too genuine.

And Jeremy wasn't exactly happy about being served up an ultimatum, either. He was clearly in distress and just wanted to be left alone, and this Phil guy thinks he can suddenly change his tone (through text, but his point still stands--) and lecture him like that? His head starts pounding even worse and Jeremy closes his eyes tight, holding his head in his hands and hoping it all goes away.

"I don't care!" Jeremy snapped, not caring if anyone stopped to see who was making a scene. "I don't-- don't care wh-what happened after, I don't c-- c-care if the place burned down, I-I don't care if a hun-- hundred m-more kids were killed there, I don't care if y-you're the fucking owner of the whole thing, just go away!"

The outburst didn't help his headache, but he kept at it. Maybe if he was loud enough, the man would leave already. He was killed twice now because of Freddy Fazbear's, why would he want to learn more about it? "I don't-- I don't w-want anything to do with th-- with that place e-ever again! Go away- fuck off, leave me a-alone, go away!"

Edited (wrong icon and forgot to add a thing oops) 2015-11-01 02:48 (UTC)

"I'm sorry-"

Phil shrank at the yelling but the moment he heard that part about the one hundred kids, he was immediately taken aback. Why would he say that?! Was he not keeping the children safe? Was he so- Phil realized how badly he screwed up this first meeting. This was a panic attack and in his desperation to keep Jeremy away from the Capitol's eyes, he put the man in a corner. He immediately soothed a bristled Foxy and Lady before they added to the scene.

He looked down and held his companion close. He didn't type, or speak...he didn't want to add more to the stress. He had to allow Jeremy to have space and even backed off a little more. He overloaded the poor man...

"I'm sorry."

In a more calm and relaxed state of mind, yeah, Jeremy wouldn't have said something like that. He'd spent his time at the pizzeria not only just trying to survive, but also trying to help solve the case and help those poor children's spirits move on and stop something like that from ever happening again. But right now, he was scared, lost and confused in a strange world out to torment him, and he just wanted all of it to stop and go away.

It took a few minutes for him to properly calm down. His head was pounding and his heart was racing, a situation not at all helped by flashbacks from both the pizzeria and the attack in the arena. Taking deep breaths and trying to think of anything else (like that puppy, she was cute and friendly,) was slowly starting to help. The last thing he wanted was to black out and wake up somewhere even worse.

After another minute he was able to let go of his head, the pain beginning to subside, and instead covered his eyes because tears always followed his angry outbursts. The fingers on his left hand curled, his thumb twitching in gestures reminiscent of flashlight use from back in the day, but after a while - after hearing apologies, which honestly surprised him - he was able to calm back down.

"Are you st-- still there?"

It took a while for Phil to muster up the courage to speak to Jeremy again, whispering instead, "Yeah, I'm here". Spectators seemed to move along, there was no drama left and there were more interesting specimens to watch.

He started to type again, when he noticed the way the other man's eyes were glassy. He really did look like a frightened rabbit, and he offered to clear the trails from his face with a napkin. Jeremy deserved to be spoiled and taken care of...to be safe. But first, Phone Guy had to know who this person was. He accidentally made Jeremy into a mini-deity because he was attacked doing his job and for investigating the case. Was this the reason the man was reaped?

"I'm sorry for putting you in this spot. And for everything." You wouldn't be in Panem if I had done things right.

Phil did take note at how drawn Jeremy was to puppies and to animals and smiled a little: Swann Honeymead gave him Foxy so long ago, time to pay the favor forward. Having a small friend could help Fitzgerald recover.

So he was still there. Jeremy's outburst didn't send him packing. At this point, it really was getting harder and harder to believe this man was the killer he suspected. It's true, the guy could just be a really, really good actor ... but why would anyone spend this much time, and sound this desperate, if he really was the killer after all? Why plead with him and apologize to him like this?

Once he lowered his hands, Jeremy was surprised that the napkin was there, and if it had been five minutes ago he would've smacked the man's hand away and yelled at him again. But he was calming down and thinking more rationally, so he let the other gently dab at his tear streaked face with the napkin. He did start to tremble again, because some fears just wouldn't leave, but he was able to remain calm, and just watch the other man carefully and fearfully.

And he was still apologizing. Phil really was starting to seem pretty genuine.

The tears weren't stopping, but they were slowed now at least, while Jeremy kept taking deep shaky breaths to keep trying to calm down. The silence stretched between them for a long minute, before Jeremy sighed and looked at his hands.

"... it was all f-for nothing, then."

Gray wanted to say that it wasn't all for nothing, but Jeremy's accident was as senseless as the murders themselves. The more Phil thought about the circumstances of both their deaths, the more he saw a connection between them.

You were targeted. I don't ever recall Mangle ever wandering out of the Kiddy Corner until that day, and I never got access to the bots' maintenance mode. I died when suddenly they all ganged up on me. Five years and I've never seen them so aggressive...

It also confirmed his suspicion that the killer was indeed tying up loose ends. It's the only way to explain what happened on November 13, 1987 and the really steep spike in the bots' behavior. They both died as the murderer tried to get away scot-free. Keyword: tried.

"M-Maybe, but you did get me off my ass to do something about what was happening. I couldn't let what happened to you, h-happen again." he didn't dismiss Jeremy's fears, they were just as real as the ones that plagued the Phone Guy in Panem. He remembers putting in money for the medical expenses, because..."I'm so sorry I didn't do my job."

That was the honest truth for Phil: he fucked up. Lady and Foxy eased on their stances and pawed at both men to hold them. Pets have a funny way of just knowing when they're needed the most. "A-And for pressuring you here. Th-this place is overwhelming enough."

That was something else to think about, too. Somehow, without ever having met the guy and while keeping all of his notes with him, the real killer (he was currently undecided on whether or not the man in front of him was telling the truth or not,) had somehow found out about Jeremy trying to figure out the restaurant's mysteries and had taken it upon himself to get rid of him before he could be incriminated.

It would probably be in Phil's best interests to keep that information to himself. Jeremy could barely handle doubting himself with the case as it was, knowing that he messed up even further and made himself obvious would just make it even worse. He'd question everything about himself, it would spiral ... it just wouldn't be a good idea.

The puppy was helping with his mood a little, and he was able to wipe the rest of his tears away and get his breathing more under control. But Phil wasn't helping his case at all. The apologies were one thing, but after he calmed down enough, he shook his head again. He had to confront the man, this was getting to be too much.

"So ... you were f-fine with all the kids going m--m-missing," he said, trying to sound firm and confrontational but it probably didn't come out that way. "But-- after an em- ... employee gets hurt, s-suddenly you want to do some-- something about it?"

It didn't make sense. Except-- well, it did. Missing kids couldn't be blamed on the company, reasonable doubt. But an actual injury as a direct result of the animatronics, in full view of countless eyewitnesses? He could've sued.

"Could you m-maybe get your story straight be-- before talking to m-me about it?"

Jeremy pointed out something important. "...It wasn't that I was okay with children disappeared. They kept telling me the children disappearing, that it wasn't the Pizzeria's responsability, people just wanted to- I love that place."

There's no way Phil could hide how much he shrank at the accusations because they had weight. He really did screw up so badly that he looked guilty as if he'd done the murders themselves. It really hit him just deep the hole went and how much his own actions to keep the company afloat painted him. This brought back that same dread he felt in the arena, a chill that ran through his entire body that killed his breathing. There's no acting here and he seems just about ready to collapse again but he held strong. No one could see him be weak again.

He knows he's not guilty of the murders, he loved Freddy's too damn much, he truly enjoyed watching children be happy and seeing his favorite cartoons give joy to a new generation. Why would he take a child's life, let alone eleven?

"I-I-okay...neither of us a-are in any state to talk about what happened," he suggested, his breaths shorter, he was going to need one stiff drink. This has been the worst week, right up there with Jeremy's week and the murders. "I'm sorry it all happened, the children going missing, y-your injury...everything. C-Can you stand?"

You love a place that's filled with the mutilated bodies of innocent children, yeah that says a lot about you.

Honestly? Jeremy's heard enough. Even if the man didn't directly kill the children, he covered for the one who did, just because ... why, exactly? Because he was more fond of the cartoon characters than the children themselves? Because he wanted to keep a job that couldn't be much more than minimum wage? Was there any good reason to work at a place were such horrible things happened?

The way Phil was reacting to Jeremy's confrontation was just making him all the more untrustworthy. He'd been pushing and pressing, and he'd been so determined, but the second Jeremy pointed out a flaw in his story, suddenly he was backing off. Unbelievable.

"N--not ... yet." Jeremy shook his head as he answered. He knew if he stood up right now, there was still a good chance of him blacking out. "Still dizzy."

As much as he liked the puppy's friendly attention and her soft ears to scratch, he'd had about enough of everything else.

"You're sorry. I g-get it," he said firmly. "Maybe you sh-- should g-go."

"I should." Phillip knows he's screwed this one up, he carried the concealment and burden of what really happened. He knows that Jeremy doesn't trust him...and he understands why. Phil knows how badly one can get burned when they trust the wrong man. He loved the franchise, yes, but the moment the truth was uncovered and the Spring Bonnie was revealed, Phil decided to pick up where Jeremy left off and survived.

It's two snaps and both the Husky and the fox know they're being called back. But not before he offered Fitzgerald an offer, much kinder than before:

"If you ever want to talk...I'm the Mentor at District 6."

Best not ask how he got there but Phil knows the damage is done.

At least the guy knew when to quit, for now. Jeremy was worried about setting off further anxiety attacks because of Phil's presence, and he already narrowly avoided one just a few minutes ago. He knew he was going to have to stay on the floor here for a while, just to be sure his dizzy spell would go away before he could stand up, but as long as he was left alone for it, it wouldn't take very long. The fish could keep him company.

There was still a lot to think about, to try and figure out where he went wrong and what lead him to the wrong conclusions (if they really were the wrong conclusions,) but with his memory not being the most reliable, he wasn't sure if he would ever really know. He was a long ways off from trusting this man on his word just yet.

He doesn't say anything, doesn't care how or why the man ended up as a mentor - whatever that means - he just stays quiet and waits for Phil to leave. The offer isn't one he immediately considers, but in time ... well, maybe. But he doesn't believe it'll be worth the trouble anytime soon.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

just keep swimmin'

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