Chapter Text
You walked into your workspace, flinging your toolbag onto your well-used desk. Taking a long sip from your favorite drink. It helped you get through these kinds of weeks the best. It was your second time entering it today. Two completed contracts before your lunch break? What a slow day.
This job often left you feeling numb. Being a general technician has its perks, you didn’t hate it, but the tedium of it left you craving more. Long gone were the days of figuring out a complex wiring mishap or figuring out what was making that horrible clanking noise. You hadn't viewed this line of work appealing as a kid, but it was one of the last careers that paid decently well with its bar of entry. Over the years you had probably seen the majority of issues techs would handle, and heard about all of the others. Your career had become an effortless dance to you. One you feared you could do just as effortlessly in your dreams. Nothing really surprised you anymore; how could it when you've seen the same damaged coil cracked in the same place 100 times over? You are a tad more bitter than you care to admit with what you do for a living. Lamenting your lost childhood dreams. Did they even really matter any more? You couldn't remember what they were to begin with.
You had fixed everything technicians like yourself could at this point. Well, almost everything. The only frontier yet to be crossed was the repair of complex A.I.’s. One you were all too content leaving uncrossed.
Sinking into your chair with a huff, you turn your attention to your computer. Finishing up the report for your last tedious jobsite would be better than stewing in your own discontentment. Just before your fingers could find their place on the keyboard a small, spider-like figure with 5 legs jumps onto your hands.
“Mini!” you cry out. Knowing all too well that your animatronic companion wouldn’t respond to your disapproval. Instead he lowers his rounded body to further cover your keyboard (and hands), no doubt smashing a few keys in the process. “Mini, come-on!” you plead, “this report will take less time than you take to slice through aluminum.” The tiny toy tilts his head at your request. His plastic top hat and painted cheeks following the bot's movements. You get two skeptical clicks of his teeth, raising his brow at your claim.
You huff, knowing this was not a battle you would win. “Fine fine, alright. How about we switch out your torch fuel instead?” Mini straightens at this, still having his five legs sprawled out on your keyboard, giving you a delighted single click of his teeth. You chuckle as you offer one of your newly freed palms to your spider-like companion. Swiftly carrying him over to the small workbench you considered his.
Drawers filled with polish, cleaner, and replacement parts alike. Old and failed modifications and add-ons claim the drawers flushed to the surface of the workbench. Mini’s recharge pad adorns the edge closest to your desk, decorated to look like a bed for a small pet. Just behind his ‘bed’ a few pieces of different colored and patterned cloths hang. He loved to pick one every morning for you to neatly tie around his neck in a back-facing bow. Today he had gone with the simple pink fabric that matched his slightly faded cheek paint.
You placed him down onto the clear space besides the drawers. Reaching over to where you keep his custom-built blowtorch refills. “You gotta stop sitting on my keyboard,silly!” You begin to say, replacing his nearly empty fuel from the chamber built into his connecting arm. “Writing notes for closed tickets is the last part of the job.” Finishing by closing up his right arm chamber with a pleased hum. You scooped up the little robot in your hands, quickly climbing up your arm instead.“You can have my keyboard all to yourself after I submit it, ‘kay?”
As you begin to walk back to your desk you feel a slight tug on the scarf that sits around your neck. All of a sudden, Mini hops off you and onto his workbench, your scarf hanging proudly from his rubber-cased symbols. You looked back to your repair bot companion with disbelief. “Mini!-” You lunge towards the tiny robot as he makes his way onto the wall. Your stomach hits into the workbench in your failed attempt. Scowling up towards the bot all too proudly waving your favorite accessory above your head. Changing strategies, you make another grab towards him as he runs across the wall. You run infront of his path, having him change directions towards your desk.
Once he was in the area you wanted you slowly moved your hand into the air, the other firmly pressing against the desk. A grin spreading across your lips as you spoke. “You know, I can still type without my scarf-.” In a blur, Mini drove into your chair, at the same time, you rose yourself on top of your desk. Your outstretched hand finding its target in the air as he landed. Mini let out a startled click of his teeth as your fingers pulled at the fabric around his neck.
You gave the pink fabric a small wave with your fingers towards Mini as you sat proudly ontop of your desk, shooting Mini a victorious grin. “Trade you.” The little robot looked at you for a moment before a series of joyful chattering filled the room. Hopping on to the desk with you to grant a comfortable angle to gently tie his favorite bowtie back on.
Reclaiming your chair and scarf, a gruff voice unexpectedly pulls your attention to your office door. “Are ya really playing keep-a-away with your repair bot? No?” Standing at the door with a bewildered expression was the same person who you shadowed under as a teen. He was a wide-statured man whose skin was in a constant state of dryness. He always had his thinning hair styled back in a 1950’s style. His Italian facial features and accent added to his gruff and suave appearance. You briefly gawk at the paperwork; the hefty stack of papers in his arms causing him to look shorter than he already was. It might be the largest stack you’ve seen the man affectionately referred to as ‘Da Boss’ with in awhile.
“Why do you look surprised? You were the one who gave me Mini to repair to begin with!” You turned to Mini, who had claimed his favorite spot on top of your shoulder, “I’m thinking Da Boss is missing more bolts than you!”
You are met with an annoyed grumble from the man “I’m not surprised when it comes to your antics anymore kid. Finish up any remainin' work you have and come see me in my office. I got somethin’ right up your alley!”
“Ugh, if it’s one of Mr. Benton’s contracts again-” you began to grumble. Earning yourself a half-hearted eye roll as he replied “Ah, stop your fussin’. It aint a contract no one here has gotten before. It’s urgent and top priority to get someone workin’ on it”
You perked up to that. It’s been over a year since a new contractor has been signed up. “Really? Who is it then? Is it a big company or independent? Why is it urgent? Oh! Is there any-”
“I told ya’” he cuts you off, “ya’ need to come to my office later.”
“Why your office? My office is perfectly fine and I have plenty of time.” You begin to question, gesting vaguely as you do so.
“I haven’t even had de time to go through all dese papers yet, let alone put dem into de system. Do cha’ really want to sit around readin’ all this with me?”
You shrug at his question. Even if the satisfaction of your curiosity only took a few seconds to discover, it wouldn’t be a waste of time on such a slow day like today. “The sooner I know about the contract the sooner I can decide if that’s an alley I want to be in. Besides, the more the merrier, right?” You drop your shoulders, looking up to Da Boss with a playful smirk forming on your lips. “Plus, you can’t just tell me the most exciting thing I've heard from you in a while and expect me to wait. Weren't you always saying ‘a good tech doesn’t wait around, they find out’”?
He stared at you for a moment, eyes narrowing at your stubbornness. Then with an annoyed huff, he closes the door behind him. Briskly walking over to stand beside you behind your desk, shifting papers and blueprints to the side. You give the man an offended “H-hey!” as he drops the pile of paperwork over the newly cleared spot on your desk.
His head turns to the side to address you. “A’ight, go brin’ over a chair for yourself.” You shoot him a confused expression as you mouth a silent ‘what?’. “I need ya to get a new seat so I can have yours.” Da Boss says matter a-factly. “Umm, no, this is my chair? Why do I have to sit on one that we both know will be uncomfortable!” You whine to the man before he returns the same playful shrug you used on him earlier. “Sorry youngin’, old man perks.”
With a few silent grumbles, you do as he says. Dragging one of your stools from your workbench to sit across from him. “Soooo-” You began, drawing out the word as you get comfortable. “What’s this mystery contractor?”
Da Boss gave a weary inhale as he started his explanation. “...It’s one of dose robo-service places. A lot of maintenance has been neglected as of late from what I’m told.” He pinched his nose in annoyance. “Apparently it has gotten so bad dat dey are losin' quite a bit of revenue. Even had to discontinue services that were fan-favorites! Can’t imagine that’s helpin’ with the revenue loss. dey don’t want to close the place to fix everythin’, nor do dey want to pay a whole crew to do the work.” His grumbling gets replaced with a sly chuckle as he looks back to you. “Luckily for dem, I happened to have a great employee and payment plan dat’ll help dem avoid further long term losses!”
“And who’s the contractor?”
“FazCo.”
“What type of FazCo location are we talking about?” You ask, leaning slightly back on the stool in suspicion. FazCo is a massive company with a monopoly on robotics and many markets outside of it. It wasn’t uncommon to find at least one supermarket or gas station per town with only FazCo animatronics running it these days. You had worked on some of their simpler models before, but refused to take any A.I. repair jobs with anything more advanced than a smart fridge.
“Eh, it’s one of dose fancy coffee shops that seem to be all the rage now.” He slides the large stack of papers, documents jutting out every which way, over to you. “Selling an assortment of drinks with entertainment and service all done by an animatronic. When I was un ragazzo
we were all entertained by a jukebox, but I guess I see de appeal.”
You carefully start to work through the thick load of papers. Appearing to be the documents signed and drafted up right after meetings. Containing basic information, legal wording and contracts, and most importantly for you, job expectations and maintenance tickets. No doubt the computer file you would receive for this site would be three times as many documents as what barely fit in Da Boss’ hands. “So why is it so urgent that I work on this contract? Is there a strict timeline I need to stick to or something?”
“No. As long as somethin’ is being done every workday and dey see steady increase of revenue within the first month; we have a pretty flexible timeline. FazCo has alotta’ basic maintenance and repairs I know ya can knock out within de first month. Dere are quite a few larger repairs that be a project within themselves, hence dem agreein’ to this style of work. It’s quite de list! I haven't finished readin’ it all myself!” Da Boss chorted. “I had you in mind because I’m sure ya be able to get dis handled. Besides, maybe a jobsite with a bit of challenge will do you some good. Whatcha say?”
You put down the document you were just reading, perusing your lips in thought as you consider your boss’ words. Maybe he was right, a new jobsite with some challenges might help alleviate your boredom. A small part of you wondered, no, hoped that this contract would offer you something to break the repetitive nature of life, but you just as quickly pushed that thought aside. You knew better than to get your hopes up in your limited field.
“Where is it?” You implore as you reach absentmindedly to another document.
“Over on de west side, where all dose new fancy renovations have been happin’, ya know?”
“The ‘fancy renovations’ that’s been causing both traffic and train delays all over town, right?”
“At least de renovations around de worksite have been mostly complete.” Da Boss says with a half shrug, eyes steeled onto the document in his hands.
“I’ll do it.” You say, breaking the few minutes of comfortable silence. Your stool making an unpleasant squeak with your hurry to stand up. Da Boss looks up surprised, whether from what you said or from the chair’s cries for help you are unsure. “Just text me the address after we’re done in here!” With that you begin to open the companies filing page on your computer, eager to get the small pile you’ve read out of the way. Da Boss stops you. Curtly nugging the mouse lower in your hold. “Now youngin’, ya really want to waste daylight doin’ dis boring office work with de type of delays dat part of town is handlin’?”
You pause for a moment, staring at the dry fingers keeping the icon on your montoir lowered, away from any input boxes. “Are you sure? That’s a hefty amount of paperwork left.” He drops his hand away as he gives you a stiff nod. He starts to open his mouth to speak again, but you already turned on your heel. Tool bag, phone, and Mini all in toe as you make a dash for the doorway.
He clears his throat rather gruffly as you get a foot out the door. Turning back to watch him dig through the pile of documents as he speaks through the noise. “Don’t ch’a want the repair list before ya go? No?” You shoot Da Boss a playful grin, “I don’t want to keep such a big client waiting to be assessed, especially with the type of delays that part of town is having. Just text me the list when you have it! I’ll be able to figure out most of it while I’m there.”
Before you can fully turn around and leave, he steps besides you with something in hand.“Good idea! I always hoped some of my words got through dat thick skull of yours.” Da Boss cackles as he gives Mini a short pat on his tophat. “Before you start a-walkin’ dough- here’s this.” He swiftly moves one of his hands infront of you. Patting a thin plastic rectangle in your hands. You hold up the card-or rather badge- to briefly examine it. It was rather basic. Double sided with pastel sunny morning on one side and a neon starry night on the other. Only having a barcode running the horizontal length, QR code, and your working title mirrored on each side. “FazCo is very adamant that ya wear it on your person somewhere visible at all times while workin’ on site. Somethin’ about deir security system.”
Slipping the badge around your neck, you smile as you turn away. Walking briskly out of your office. As you begin further down the hall, you could make out his muttering about “youngins dese days” and “why is it always by text?”
You and Mini lock eyes before laughing. You had a special talent of getting under that man’s skin. “Welp, we better go take a look at this place before the traffic gets too bad- or are you going to stop me from doing that too?” You playfully tap Mini’s cheek as you make your way into town.
Ah, your second eye roll in the last 5 minutes! It really was a slow day.
- - - - - - -
The buildings that lined the street towered only a few stories high, uncommon for most of the newly renovated city streets. As you stood on the busy sidewalk, bustling from the activity mid-day often brings, you took in the facade your newest jobsite.
Your initial impression of the little establishment snuggly caged by two other unrelated buildings were positive, if a bit unimpressed.
The ground floor seemed to be the café itself, looking eagerly out toward the street. 3 windows lined the sidewalk. Stone carefully framing the glass, creating small ledges perfect for setting drinks and bags atop. A tinted glass double door welcoming anyone wanting to enter. Outside, a few shiny tables lined the front. They look as if they were never used with how clean they are. Even the legs of the chairs appears to have never seen use, a few small scuffs being the only sign of attention. Separating the seating area from the rest of the street was a line of poles connected together by colorful ropes. Bright and inviting yellow skies transitioning to calm blues dotted with stars. Oddly enough these continued to the doorway, as if they were meant to do more than just separate the passers-by and customers. To the side of the door a small chalkboard advertised assorted teas and lattes. The chalk seemed to have been sitting on board for a while now, being slightly faded and choppy from the elements.
An awning hangs above the seating area stretching towards the door, sagging slightly where lights hang from the metal frame. Above said awning, a sign with licenced silhouettes proudly announced the location.
Strangest yet, above the coffee shop and the in-your-face branding were two windows.
One had a window box filled with bright and healthy looking flowers. Colorful stick-figure drawings littered the window pane. You couldn't see into the room too well from your angle, but could only assume it was just as bright and playful as the window pane.
The second window seemed to vastly contradict the first. A thick, dark cloth covered the window. A small crack of the room behind slipped through where the curtains weren’t fully pulled together. You couldn't see much of the room, other than what looked like a stuffed toy sitting on the inside of the window frame.
So full of personality, you dare even think life, but that couldn't be right. Why would a fully animatronic ran drink establishment have what are clearly supposed to mimic inhabited rooms? Was this an advertisement strategy you never heard of? Some of the un-renovated buildings in the area still have businesses run out of homes, but would that really help this location fit in? Isn't the point to stand out?
Your mind buzzed with the conflicting information just outside of the building! Quickly peering down to your phone, you breathed a heavy sigh. No text of what you have to exactly fix yet. Maybe you should've just waited for Da Boss to give you the run down before you left. You were a little anxious to walk in to assess the inside due to everything you’ve seen so far.
"Well no more stalling" you lightly chuckle, patting your repair-bot companion a few times on his head. "Let's go see what we got ourselves into this time Mini."
You swung the doors open, a light bell greeting your entrance. The faint scent of black coffee and vanilla filling the air. The place was bigger than it looked on the outside you realize. Making a quick visual sweep of the place before speaking.
Multiple tables and booths littered the floor. To the left of you past a few more tables the flooring lifted slightly. The elevated surface had a line of neons illuminating the stage. A standing mic was center stage, hogging all the light. A piano and a suspiciously large chest quietly frame the back. Fairylights hang from the ceiling above, completing the stage's attention-grabbing look. In the back stretching almost the entire length of the shop-front was the service counter. A series of barstools covered most of the left side, the counter slightly rising to meet the additional height.
"Hey, I'm the repair technician called from-"
Stationed behind the middle of said counter two tall, lanky, robots freeze mid-action as you cut your sentence off awkwardly.
Standing to the left side was the one that looks almost like a cartoon sun or flower, thanks to the multiple rounded triangles that circled the faceplate. One of them to the left sported a jagged tear right at the tip. Creating two points on a singular ray. The solar themed bot’s face was split in half with what resembled a crescent moon, divots peppering the edges of the shape. A soft cream colored the crescent side of the faceplate while yellow colored the other half. Half of the body, the crown of rays, and arms appeared as if dipped into a warm summer’s sunset. Bright yellows that fade into warm oranges over the bot’s body casing. The animatronic sported a clean dress shirt with a colorful apron hanging over it. The sleeves neatly rolled up to the elbow joints, held in place with a scarlet red ribbon tied into bows around each one.
Standing closely to the solar animatronic on the right, the other one seemed to be mostly the same, minus some differences. Instead of yellows and oranges, this animatronic was bathed in a cloudy night sky. Different shades of blues and a deep purple cover the body, face, and arm casings. This one also has the crescent moon splitting the faceplate. However, instead of the cream color, this part of the face and the other half of the body was a cool silver. A series of cracks decorate a corner of the crescent faceplate, reaching up to the mouthpiece. Thankfully it doesn’t look too deep, with no chips along the surface or side. Instead of a crown of rays around the faceplate, The lunar animatronic sported a light blue nightcap dotted with yellow stars. A white puffball hanging from the very bottom of the hat. The animatronic’s dress shirt wasn’t as clean and well pressed as the other, with clear creases adoring the fabric. A thin waistcoat is thrown overtop, one button halfway up laying unfasted. A stringy thread visible from the unused button. A dark blue ribbon tied lightly around the cresses formed from the bunched up sleeves on each arm.
The solar robot’s hands are positioned onto their nightly counterpart as the faceplate swivels towards you, white optics with faint blue irises staring in shock. Firmly holding the end of his nightcap in one and the purple wrist in the other. The lunar robot’s head also turns to look at you. One optic shining red with a scrutinizing white iris, in the other a red iris floats in a void of sharp white. Its hands are just as occupied, grasping onto a drink of some kind in its seized hand. The other one making contact with the solar animtroic's faceplate, slightly pushing them back.
The three of you lock into a staring competition. The air is thick with a tension you can't place. Clearly steaming from whatever was happening in here before you opened the door.
Just as you start to fear the three of you would be locked in this stalemate of eyes, the lunar animatronics optics narrow. With a flick of their wrist, the glasses contents gets flung into the conterpart's face. The solar animatronic dropping it’s hold on the lunar robot, rising up and away in shock. The rays adorning its faceplate flew halfway into their head as a static filled "ack" filled the nearly barren room.
As if on cue, your phone dings. Swiftly, turn on your heel, thanking your lucky stars for the perfect timing. The sound of chaos and bickering promptly being muffled behind the closing door.
You stare out to the busy street, completely unphased and unaware of the scene that just played out, unlike you. You stand to the side of the CoffeeShop for longer then you probably should, the shock still fresh in your mind. You definitely should have asked Da Boss for the list before you left.
What have you gotten yourself into this time?
Two simultaneous clicks of plastic brought you out of your own thoughts. Looking over to your shoulder, Mini started at you, cocking his head slightly to the side.
"I'm okay, I'm okay. Definitely wasn't expecting a show as my greeting though." You reassure with a lopsided grin.
Fishing your phone out of your pocket, you look down to see a string of new messages. Da Boss sent you the necessary information as promised. This however, was a lot more words than usually used by the straightforward man for your jobs. The text box didn't hold all the words by itself, cutting off to the dreaded 'click to read more' text box.
You harshly inhaled as you skim the available information. Unwilling to click on the textbox just yet, trying to avoid the headache you know awaits. Dawning some snark, you began texting your boss back.
'Jeez, got a whole book for me? Didn't know I'd be needing a user manual for this job.' You playfully type.
A few seconds passed before another message pops up.
'The client has many requests and even higher expectations. This might be our biggest contract yet kid.'
'Oh now you really got my interest peaked. Spell it out to me tho, what's my main focus?'
'Did you really not read anything I just sent you?'
'I took a glance at it. A bit more preoccupied with the job site itself currently'
You quickly looked up from your phone at this, only spotting the solar animatronic now. The robot hunched over, seemingly cleaning the mess made. Arms blurring at their frantic pace.
A ding from your phone draws you back to the new messages that await.
'Youngings' these days. Always trying to quicken the pace.'
You roll your eyes at the lecture you heard plenty of when you were shadowing him as a young teen.
'There are a few appliances that need repairs, but your main task is the bar attendant.'
Bar attendant? This wasn't a pub nor did you see any of those fancy mechanical aids on the countertop. Unless-
'Uh, I hope you're not referring to the animatronics. You know I don't do repairs on complex A.I.!'
'Now you do!' Your boss sends back with an emoticon smiley face fixed to the end.
'No further contracts will be assigned to you until all requests are fulfilled.'
Your hand tightens around the electronic brick, face twisting into a grimace. Why when you see that grumpy old friend of yours again-
You briefly consider handing off this contract to someone else. The newest hire would be more than thrilled to have such a big contract with FazCo themselves… even if they were setting themselves up for something way out of their skill set.
No-
No, you’re not that mean.
The opening of the door behind you cuts off any other escape plans forming in your head. A soft jingle faintly being heard over the energetic voice calling out to you.
"Ah sorry for all that friend! You caught us quite off guard" the animatronic nervously laughes. "You don't need to worry though! We were just practicing new tricks. Yes yes yes!"
You turn around to better face the towering robot. They slightly rock to-and-fro on the heels of it’s dress shoes. The cream and yellow finger-tipped hands frantically wringing one another. Was the solar animatronic nervous, or was this programming to make them seem caffeinated?
"Yeah, I figured I wasn't expected" you say with a lopsided grin. "Though I hope you don't greet all your guests with such theatrics, I can't imagine getting a drink spilled on me everytime I see someone new."
“I definitely don’t enjoy the mess it creates!” The solar themed animatronic stares down at you for a moment, cocking his head slightly to the side. "You said you were the repair technician requested earlier, correct?"
You nod in agreement. "Yes that's correct." You introduced yourself with a bit of a theatrical bow of your own. "I'm one of the best general technicians in my company."
"And this guy here," turning your gaze to your companion, "is my specialized repair aid Mini."
The small robot gives a singular click of his teeth and nods to the animatronic standing before you both.
"Oh ho ho! Best in your company you say? I didn't know we would be greeted with such an important presence. I just knew I should have put on my nice dress shirt this morning." The animatronic said, comically deflating on themselves before righting their posture with a bounce. "I'm SunDrop, the Daytime Bar Attendant! But feel free to call me Sun, Sunny, or whatever you like really."
Daytime bar attendant? Your boss never specified the type of attendant. You also noted the hours of the place didn't last late into the evening, let alone stretch into night time. Why specify that?
As you pondered this new information the solar animatronic, Sun, joyfully continues their ramblings. "Oh there are so many fun nicknames- like once a customer called me Flowerhead! -I don't believe it was meant in a kind fashion- but oh how fun it is regardless."
You held up your hands in a mock surrender "Oh-okay then Sun. You wanna show me where I can start? I got a list here and the sooner I can start the sooner everything can be fixed."
Sun stilled for a moment, contradicting their earlier energetic movement. "A list you say?"
"Yeah, got a few appliances that haven't been functioning correctly, or at least that's what I've been told." You give with a half-hearted shrug.
Sun immediately perks back up, going back to bouncing slightly on their heels. "That is correct! Oh that darn espresso machine has been giving me issues for months."
Sun holds open the door, beckoning you to follow. As you round the counter you notice that the lunar animatronic is still nowhere to be seen.
"Here's the trouble maker itself!" Sun announced, one of their palms much too big to be human resting on top of it. "It hasn't pumped water properly in quite awhile. Tsk tsk tsk"
It looks to be a pretty popular superautomatic model, one you have fixed a dozen times over at this rate. Mostly likely it was either an issue with a faulty valve or a clog in the pump line. A clog would force you to take the whole thing apart depending on where it is. Regardless of this thought, you give the daytime bar attendant a confident grin. "I'll give it a look over. These usually aren't hard to fix."
Sun stepped back, giving you the needed space to do your job. Starting the boring task of unscrewing the side panel you ask; "so what happened to the lunar animatronic after it-? They-? He-? Splashed you with that drink?"
"O-oh! Either he or they is fine with us!" Sun answers in a gleeful tone, if seeming caught off guard.
"Noted" you nod as you place Mini in the machine. Angling the light from the center of his modified symbol deeper into the appliance. Checking the steam and hot-water value first came up with nothing out of the ordinary. Prodding around inside you access the second most common issue for this model. “Ah ha!” you absentmindedly announce, your voice coming back to your ears weirdly from having half your face in the appliance. Thankfully for SunDrop (and you) the pump line wasn’t a fix you would have to wait for parts for.
"So he-?" you begin again. You would have your face in this espresso machine for a few minutes after all.
Sun made an artificial sigh "Oh Moon can be a tad…temperamental when his tricks don't go to plan. He's in the back keeping himself busy."
"Temperamental?" You raised a brow quizzically. "What do you mean by that? Is he not acting correctly?"
Sun once again stills at your question. "Oh, maybe temperamental isn't the right word… more like...shy. Yes, shy! He is just avoiding the awkward first impression. The Nighttime Bar Attendant is functioning as intended! No reason for him to get assessed by you."
You gave a hmm of acknowledgment to the solar robot. “Do you guys often have time during business hours to goof around like that?”
“Sometimes! It doesn’t get super duper busy during this time of day. Though every now and again we’ll get quite the welcomed surprise!”
“Have you had any surprises recently?” You ask, following the social script that this style of small talk leans towards.
“Oh, well you walked in!” You flinched away from the appliance at the solar animatronic’s answer, wanting to face them head on at your mention. In the process you accidentally cause a few of the internals you’ve been piling up to fall off the table. Before you could even fully react to your mess, Sun already swooped in to scoop them up mid-fall. He continues, grin still as wide as before. “Neither of us were expecting you to come in after standing outside for so long. We definitely didn’t expect FazCo to send us a technician near the end of the day at that!” You did probably look like you were waiting for someone, not scoping out your next jobsite. He pulls out what looks to be a brand new cloth and a spray bottle from the pockets of his apron, whipping off the (already clean area, you mentally note) spot you originally had the pile of parts on. He gently puts down the internals of the machine one by one, giving a few bolts and screws a quick wipe as he goes along. You turn yourself around to better look at the tall robot, chuckling softly at his cleaning habits. “So, what kind of trick was he trying to do?” You question, handing him another bolt to wipe off.
“He claims he’s practicing his tin pivots but I think he's just practicing how fast he can get a rise out of me.” He dramatically sighs. In the corner of your vision you can even see him with a hand over his faceplate and everything. What a stage jester. “Some days he’s worse than that finicky appliance!”
You chimed in with your own dramatics “oh no, and here I am making it so he will be worse then this finicky thing! Guess I’ll have to find something else to repair. Or maybe I should pivot your counterpart’s glass-spinning abilities.” You chuckle a bit under your breath at your joke.
Sun, however, doesn’t laugh at your joke, instead sounding very uncomfortable. “O-oh, I don’t think Moony needs any adjustments to his tricks. Oh, no no no! He can do tricks easily that I even trip up at, literally! No need to ‘pivot’ his abilities.”
Your brows furrow as you begin refitting the pieces back inside the espresso machine. Just as your hands are busy twisting metal and wires, your brain is twisting through recent events.
The Sunny animatronic clearly was nervous. You thought it was due to the admittedly awkward introduction, but now you’re suspecting more. No way the lunar robot throwing a beverage into Sun's faceplate during what seemed to be a physical conflict is 'functioning as intended'.
Something tells you Sun isn’t too keen on his counterpart being on your list of fixes. You aren’t too keen on it either. You aren’t even sure which one needs your attention or for what. You really need to read that novel of a text your boss sent you.
For now you conclude it'd be best not to suggest either of them are on your list until you know what it is you are expected to address.
With an annoyed huff, you close the espresso machine back up, concluding it'd be best not to suggest either of them were on your list for the time being.
"Well that spot for ‘finicky appliance’ appears to have recently opened! Go ahead and give it a go!"
Sun softly grins at you, inspecting the appliance before effortlessly using it. He lets out a pleased hum, "Oh look at that! Working as new. You really are one of the best technicians I've seen!"
"Ha, like it was ever any competition!" You triumphantly proclaim, placing both your hands on your hips. It wasn’t a hard competition, you briefly thought to yourself, it was another basic repair. However, you know better than to turn down a complement. You watch as the solar themed animatronic’s optics turn upwards in a stiff manner. The silicon around them not wanting to stretch from their earlier position. One of your hands falls from your hip as your face twists into a mix of mild confusion and concern. Sun seems to notice your reaction as he pulls out another new cloth from a stack behind him. “Ah, don’t fret friend! Seems like Moon used one of the syrup based drinks earlier. I must of missed a spot.”
You don’t doubt his claim as you watch him carefully wipe around his optics with fingers much too big for the tiny creases of the sunny faceplace. You took a hesitant step forward, holding out your hand to the bar attendant. “I think my slimmer fingers would have a better chance at wiping off the last of that stickiness.” You begin, your smile turning upwards in an uncertain manner. Were you crossing a line by even offering? That uncertainty only solidified as you watch Sun freeze in his movements, blue irises focused completely on you in a weary manner. “If you wouldn’t mind it, of course. I would feel bad if I didn’t at least offer to help.”
Sun stares at you for a moment longer, his optics narrowing (as much as they could) at you. “That’s… very sweet of you to offer that…” His voice box still had that energetic tone to it, but there was a hint of another emotion there you couldn’t quite put your finger on. “...But I wouldn’t want you to take time out of your day to document wiping my optics clean for FazCo!”
“Oh, no I wouldn’t document it.” You laugh, allowing your face to take on a more confident smile. “Consider it good faith, free complimentary maintenance to celebrate the start of us working together!”
To this Sun visibly relaxes, a joyful laugh ringing through his lanky figure. Handing you the cloth he was cleaning with, he agrees. “Well I’m not one to turn down gifts!” He leans down slightly to give you access to his faceplate. Hooking your fingers gently behind where their sunrays slide out with one hand to better stabilize the large surface. “Y-you won’t get in trouble for this, will you?” Sun asked as he rocks ideally on his heels. You give a small shrug, not wanting to jostle the arm trailing the upper silicon of his right optic too much.
“There’s plenty for me to document by the looks of it. I’m sure FazCo will appreciate one less completion ticket to file.” You say as you wipe at a stubborn spot on Sun’s left optic. “Besides, I didn’t see ‘clean the Daytime Bar Attendant's eyes’ on any of the maintenance tickets.”
Both you and Sun share a laugh as you pull back from his faceplate. His eyes upturning with his widening grin much more easily this time around. Satisfied with this, you start visually assessing the state of the other appliances behind the counter. Everything is shiny and well organized (minus what appears to be shallow scratches on some surfaces) above the counter, but below was a different story you wouldn’t be able to start today.
"So mind showing me these other problematic equipment giving Moon a run for his money? I know I saw something about a coffee bean grinder on the list."
“Oh yes! I’ll show you to it right now friend! We keep our industrial coffee grinder in the back.” With this, Sun starts to lead you through an archway behind the service counter. Shelves lined with a myriad of drink ingredients stand against the wall separating the store front from this supposed storage area. A few tall refrigerators and coolers line the opposite wall. The lunar themed animatic from earlier- Moon, as you’ve gathered he’s called- stills as you, Mini, and Sun enter. The air carrying a slight chill from the open cooler Moon is in front of. His eyes narrow on you and Mini, both optics flashing a scarlet red before returning to the half white-half red he wore earlier. A gravely huff escapes his voice box as he turns his attention to his counterpart.
“Mind watching the front for a bit Moony? I want to show my new friend here our issues with the coffee grinder!”
Moon’s glaze falls back onto you for a beat before closing the cooler and responding with a coy smile. “Sure. Don’t go rambling your battery low though.”
Sun waved one of his hands towards his counterpart. “Ah, don’t worry Moon, I still have plenty of battery life.”
To this, Moon’s faceplate sharply turned 90 degrees to the right before quickly spinning to hang upside down. An accusation you were not privy to crossing his crescent face. You took a small step back at the freaky sight. Knotting your brows on why someone would design their faceplate to do that. Mini’s reaction is more aggressive. Crawling further up your shoulder to perch his body protectively against you, producing a series of harsh double clicks aimed towards the lunar robot. You looked up to see Sun rather unimpressed by this display. His hands finding leverage on his hips as he shoots his counterpart an accusation of his own.
Moon, seeming content with these reactions, rights his face as he sluggishly walks towards the front. Before he is fully out of view he turns to you, Mini still protectively clinging to your form, giving a small wave with his fingers.
You stare as the nighttime bar attendant’s form completely falls from view, Mini finally relaxing a bit on your shoulder. “Geez, I can’t imagine an upside down face with glowing red eyes serving me coffee in the morning.” You quip as you turn your attention back to Sun. The robot wringing his hands together as the rays on his face slide slightly inwards. “W-well his eyes wouldn’t shift to red while helping customers unless his security protocol gets triggered or a customer wanders somewhere they shouldn’t be.”
Sun’s explanation only raises more questions. “But one of his eyes already seems to be that scarlet red? Why did they both flash briefly when he saw us?” You question out loud. Sun’s higher pitched voice startling you as he repiles. “O-oh that’s because this is a restricted area! Only a-authorized personnel are allowed to come back here or touch equipment. His security mode was brief because he saw your badge.”
Okay, now you were sure this animatronic was acting anxious. The hand wringing had only become faster and the smile on his face was slightly strained. You feel bad for him, you don’t want to make the slender fellow uncomfortable. Curling your lips into a light grin, you attempt to change the subject. "Oh that's neat! Do your eyes do something similar..? Wait, no! Umm- W-what’s your favorite blend?"
Sun brightens up to your question, much to your relief. Happily engaging in your question while you start the inspection of the industrial coffee grinder, responding here and there as you go about your work.
- - - - - - -
You sigh heavily, sinking into your office chair. There were quite a few things at the coffeeshop in desperate need of repairs and replacing. Most of the equipment you saw showed obvious signs of stress and overuse - animatronics included. You never thought a robot’s display of anxiety could make you feel anxious as well. You needed to start ordering all the necessary parts and replacements for the job. Maybe some more durable frames to protect from what you assumed was overcleaning.
The novel of a text Da Boss sent you didn't help narrow down which of the bots you were supposed to fix. It listed plenty of issues they want addressed, but not which bar attendant is slotted for some TLC. Strangely enough, it seemed like it was only talking about one animatronic, not the two that are clearly there.
You turn your head over to Mini, who was cozily laying in his charging dock. "Boss wasn't kidding when he said this was gonna be a big one. A big headache. At least SunDrop seems like he’ll be fun to work with, huh little guy?"
He delightfully clicks his teeth together once as you turn back to stare at your desk, the report from earlier today mocking you.
While you dread what tomorrow could bring, there was another emotion tangled in there. One you hadn't felt since you were a kid first learning the difference between wires and coils. A slight smile grazing your features as this excitement begins to build.
This might be your most interesting jobsite yet.