Chapter Text
"So, you understand your job?" Vanessa eyed the new daycare attendant, a human this time, up and down, judging him.
"Uhm, yep. Just be there to help those daycare attendants, right?" He says, trying his best to remain calm and collected, much like the (rather intimidating, in his opinion) lady in front of him. This was his first, proper, job, and he was so lucky to get a job like this. It payed quite well, and he got to bond with kids!
"And to make sure the daycare generators are running as they should." Vanessa says.
"Oh right! Yeah, that too." He nods. He was quite handy when it came to things like generators. But he was mostly happy to work in a daycare, looking after children and giving their parents a break.
"Good good, head over there now and get ready for your first day. The pizzaplex doesn't open for another hour." Vanessa tells him, and he quickly grabs his bag and leaves Vanessa alone. He got here early to give a good impression m and he hopes it payed off well. But it was hard to tell with Vanessa.
Being in the pizzaplex was.. new. He hadn't really came here when he was younger. His parents said it was a waste of money. He didn't get to do many fun things when living with them.
He looks up when he reaches the daycare entrance. It was quite big, definitely the biggest entrance for a daycare he's ever seen. He supposes that is what happens when you are owned by one of the most powerful corporations around.
He pushes the large doors open and looks around. It was insanely tidy. Those daycare animatronics must be doing well in their job, well, they were built for this. He walks over to the front desk and stuffs his bag under and out of the way before letting out a long sigh. He can do this.
He stands up and walks over to the play areas, looking around. It was quite big. There must be lots of kids who come here. How can two single daycare attendants look after so many kids. Maybe that's why animatronics were chosen for this job.
Speaking of animatronics, where were they?
Just as that thought crosses his mind, he hears the sound of something jumping into the ball pit at the back of the room. The new daycare attendant looks over, and spots nothing. He raises an eyebrow as he walks over, glancing up he spots a platform of sorts, before looking back at the ball pit and peering in.
Before he can think, something is jumping out and grabbing him by the sides, lifting him up in the air.
"New friend!!" A, rather enthusiastic, sun animatronic smiles brightly. He knew who this was, Sun. He thought that name was quite on the nose, though, a sun animatronic being called Sun.
"U-uhm.. hi?" The new staff says, smiling awkwardly, "Mind.. putting me down..?" Sun quickly gasps, and lowers him to the ground, making sure he's stood on both feet before letting go.
"What's your name, new friend?" Sun grins happily, looking down.
"Uh, Quincy.." He says, taking a step back.
"Well, Quincy! I'm Sun- or Sundrop, or Sunny, or sunshine- eheh! Whatever you want to call me!" Quincy blinks a few times, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
"You sure have a lot of names." He comments, making Sun let out a giggle.
"Oh the kids just love giving me all sorts of cute nicknames! Speaking of which.. you aren't a parent, are you?" Sun scratches his chin, "The plex isn't open yet, and I don't see a kid with you." He looks around Quincy, having to bend slightly due to their hight difference.
"Ah, no. I'm a new staff." Quincy smiles awkwardly.
"Oh! Goodie!! That's fun!" Sun claps his hands together, his rays spinning like a fan.
"Yeah.." Quincy hadn't expected the animatronics to be so chatty. Not as friendly, either. And frankly, Quincy was feeling so, so awkward. He wasn't good at small talk. Or talking in general.
Then Quincy thinks. Isn't there supposed to be two day care attendants? Where's the other one?
"Um, isn't their meant to be two of you..? Like, two daycare attendants?" Sun stands up straight, twiddling his fingers.
"Ah, yes, that. I.. think it would be more fun if you.. wait a bit. Yeah." Though Sun is still smiling, it's clear he's became very anxious.
"O..kayyy..?" Quincy raises an eyebrow. "So you just.. tell me what to do, when we open, yeah? I'm here to help you." He starts to walk back over to the front desk. He can hear the clunky metal of Sun as he walks close behind.
"Oki doki!" Sun says happily.
"There's still a few minutes till the plex opens.. so run me through what you do here." Quincy takes a seat in a chair.
"Hm, well, when the children arrive we write their names down in a book! To keep an eye on them in case of an emergency, and after they've been picked up, we cross their names down out!" Sun says confidently. "During the day we set up arts and crafts and loads of fun activities for all the kiddos~!" Sun leans against the desk. "There's also nap time. We do that around half day."
Quincy nods, "I'm guessing Moon deals with nap time?" He tilts his head slightly.
"Yep! Moony puts all the kids to bed!" Sun jumps up to sit on the desk, in front of Quincy.
"Okay okay.." Quincy smiles softly. It's not been long, but Quincy is already starting to feel.. comfortable with Sun. He felt more welcoming than most people he's met.
Quincy turns his head as he hears the loud speaker of the plex, announcing that the place is now open.
"Well, better get ready, heh?" Quincy stands up, smoothing out his clothes and making sure his hair is presentable. For a guy, he has long hair that he usually kept up in a bun. Which meant he often got unwanted stares. But he had hope he wouldn't get any this time.
Sun nods happily as he follows Quincy, who walks to the door and opens it. Almost instantly, he's met with about 5 different parents, all waiting to sign their young kids into the daycare.
Quincy lets out an internal sign, and smiles.
"Oh, hello dear." A mother greets Quincy as he walks over, "I haven't seen you here before."
"Hah, yeah, I'm new, I'm working with the daycare attendants. My name is Quincy." He smiles, trying to look as calm as he possibly can. He had such big first day jitters.
"Well, nice to meet you. This is Eva. She's been here before and just adores those lovely daycare attendants." Quincy gives a slight wave to the little girl clinging to her mother, obviously nervous about meeting someone new.
"I'll get her signed in." Quicey quickly grabs a clip board, and writes down Eva's name, and the time.
"Alright, be a good girl for Mr Quincy. I'll be back to pick you up later." And with that, Eva's mum's heads to some other place in the pizza plex.
"You can go find Sun, okay?" Quincy smiles down at Eva who, shakily, nods and walks into the daycare.
A few more sign ins later, and Quincy is able to shut the gates. There was quite a few kids, but if he just stayed calm and mostly followed what Sun did, things would be fine.
He begins to walk around the room, occasionally helping a few kids with a toy, or a craft. Or just bonding with the children. At points, he'd ask Sun to help him with something the kids want, or with something Quincy simply can't do. But everything was going well.
During all this, Sun gathered the kids for a snack, making sure they are all fed. With the younger ones, he and Sun helped feed them. And after that, the kids all went back to playing until it was nap time.
At one point, Quincy spots Eva, the first little girl he met, sitting alone and doodling. Making sure all the other kids are okay and behaving, he walks over to Eva.
"Hey, Eva.. why aren't you playing with the other kids?" Eva looks out and immediately shrinks, holding the paper to her chest. Quincy smiles softly. "I'm not gonna hurt you.. can I see what you're drawing?" Quincy sits down next to Eva.
Though she hesitates, she eventually hands the paper over to Quincy. He takes it, and, holding the paper very gently, looks at it. It was a drawing of Sun.
"Wow! This is so good. You did so good, I bet you'll grow up to be an even better artist." Eva looks up and Quincey, relaxing slightly.
"It's not done…" She whispers, making Quincy gasp.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry for interrupting you!" Quincy quickly hands back the paper, "Please, continue!" Eva giggles slightly.
"I-it's okay, Mr Quincy.." She whispers quietly.
"You know, I used to draw a lot when I was your age." Quincey says, making Ava look up at him.
"You did?"
"Mhm, I haven't done it in a while though." He sighs.
Eva furrows her small eyebrows before trying to give Quincy a pencil. "Oh! Hah! It's okay, you focus on your drawing right now." He gently guides her hand away
"Oh.. okay.." Eva says softly, turning back to her drawing.
Quincy glances up and looks at Sun. "I'll be back soon. Finish up that drawing and show me it later, k?" Eva nods, smiling slightly.
Quincy stands up and stretches before walking over to Sun, who was holding a slightly younger kid.
"Quincy!!!" Sun grins as Quincy walks over, "Bonding with little Eva?" He glances at Eva, who was busy doodling away.
"Mhm, she's a sweetheart. Just very shy." Quincy smiles. "How are the other kids doing?" He asks, noticing the one in his arms was visibly tired, and falling asleep.
"A lot of them are tired, so I think it's time for a nap." Quincy blinks. Huh, what was the time? He looks up at a large clock, noticing it was already half day.
"Jeez.. the time flew by." He mutters to himself.
"The nap room is over there, mind taking the kids there? I'll sort out the lights and turn them off." Quincy nods as Sun hands him the kid that was in his arms, Oliver, if he remembered correctly.
Quincy walks around, rounding up the kids up for nap time.
After doing so, he walks into the nap room and sets all the kids into a bed. After most of the kids are in bed, he feels a tug on his pant leg and looks down to see Eva.
"Uhm.. Mr Quincy.. I've finished the drawing.." She says nervously, holding out the paper. Quincy smiles softly and grabs the paper, and looking at it. Obviously there was Sun.. but now there was a moon.. huh. Quincey tilts his head, that must be the other daycare attendant.
As that thought leaves his head, the lights turn off. Quincey glances around before shaking his head. "Eva, why don't you get into bed yeah, it's nap time."
Eva looks up at him, pouting slightly, "Where's Mr Moon?" Quincey looks around again.
"I'm.. sure he's here somewhere.." Quincy says softly.
And then, a voice appears behind him. His heart almost jumps straight out of his chest.
"I'm right here Eva.." An, almost raspy, voice says. He has to bite his lip to stop himself from screaming. Though it doesn't stop his heart from hammering.
"Mr Moon!" Eva smiles.
"Hello, Eva.. why don't you jump into bed now, hm..?" Moon gently pushes her, making Eva nod and run to an empty bed.
"U-uhm.. s-so you're.. M-Moon?" Quincy stammers.
"Mhm.. I didn't mean to.. scare you Quincy..~" Quincy blinks.
"How- how did you-" he doesn't get to finish his question as Moon is walking over to the kids and putting on a music box, of sorts.
"Have a nice sleep.." he says before walking back over to Quincy and looking down at him with red, piercing eyes. They were unnerving, to say the least. "Come on, let's let the children sleep in peace." Quincy hesitates before nodding slowly and following Moon out the room.
"E-excuse me, Moon…"
Moon stops and turns around. The stop was so abrupt that Quincy almost bumped into him.
"Yes..?"
"How.. did you know my name..?"
"Why, Sun told me." He grins down at Quincy, causing him to swallow. Hard.
"O-oh.. w-where is Sun..?"
Quincy looks at Moon as he chuckles, "Mhh.. right.. he didn't tell you, did he..~" He bends down to be eye level with Quincy. "Sun and I… were the same animatronic.."
"Wha-" Quincy blinks, "H-how..?"
"We were build that way. We function differently. Sun is all, no pun intended, sunshine and rainbows, while I.. am not. He has fun with the kids, I make sure they nap.." Quincy didn't know they were on in the same. That means there was, technically, only one animatronic running about at a time. That must've been stressful.. can animatronics even get stressed?
"Oh. That's.. interesting.." Quincy looks at. Moon was a lot more intimidating than Sun, and that made him a bit uncomfortable.
"Do I scare you..~?" Moon chuckles as he leans in.
"N-no!" Quincy quickly says. But.. Moon did scare him slightly. Maybe it was those red eyes, in contrast to Sun's pure white ones, and the way he always says things in a menacing tone, he didn't know.
"Good to know.." He moves away, standing up straight, "We're co-workings.. can't have my new co-worker being afraid of me.." He turns around and walks over to the various messes that the kids left.
Quincy then noticed the rest of the daycare lights were off. He really has no situational awareness.
"Uh.. Moon..?"
"Hm..?"
"I can't really.. see.."
"Don't you have a flashlight?"
Quincy didn't know he'd need one. Atleast, not this early. Maybe on days he would be doing overtime, and staying past closing hours, but he hadn't realised all the daycare lights would go off half way through the day. "..I didn't know I'd need one.." He hears Moons mechanic whirring as he moves, and soon he's placing a hand on Quincy's shoulder. Which makes he jump.
"My my, Quincy.. you sure are jumpy.." he chuckles.
"So- sorry- sorry-" He quickly stammers out, before just being able to make out the shape of a flashlight in the dark.
"Here." Moon hands him the flashlight, which he quickly turns on.
"That's better.. thank you.." He says quietly,
"Charging station is behind the desk." Moon hums, walking away. Quincy takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he walks over to a few knocked over building blocks and picking them up so they aren't just lying on the floor.
Moon watches as he starts to tidy up.
"So.. Quincy.. tell me about yourself.." Moon speaks in that same rough voice.
"Oh. Uh.. I'm not that interesting… if I'm being honest.. hah.." He chuckles awkwardly.
"Not that interesting?" Moon hums. "Sun says he thinks the opposite." Moon walks over to Quincy.
"Huh?"
"We're the same body, yes, but we have different codes. We think different, we see through each others eyes. Sun finds you plenty interesting.." Moon grins.
"Oh.. uh.. well.. I… left home when I was 17.. and moved in with a friend. She helped with get into a college where I studied child care and some mechanics." Quincy shrugs. "See? Not that interesting." He glances at Moon, who is observing him intently.
"Seems quite interesting to me." Moon hums, leaning in.
"Thanks.." Quincy sighs softly , taking a seat on the floor. "Uh, how long is the nap?" He asks.
"Usually an hour and a half. Maybe a bit longer. We feed the kids again, and then let them play till their parents come collect them." Moon picks up drawing supplies and puts them away.
"Okay.."
Moon glances at him, "You are very quiet." He comments.
Quincy jumps slightly, "O-oh, s-sorry.." he apologises, almost ashamed.
"Sorry? I didn't say it was a bad thing. It's nice having someone here that doesn't yap like Sun." Moon chuckles. Quincy moves his light up, so he can see Moon.
Usually people say his quietness is unnerving, or he just gets forgotten or ignored. But maybe Moon saying that, is because he's not a person.
"I also have to ask, most of your smiles seem.. fake." Moon says, suddenly. Quincy knew he had a tendency to fake things, but he didn't realise Sun or Moon would notice.
"Eh.. that's just how I am.. I suppose.." He shrugs.
Quincy has always been like that. He's always been quiet.
He's not sure how many minutes go by, buf they clean up a few bits in silence. Making sure the kids have a tidy area to play in.
Moon stares at Quincy, after finishing, and before he can say anything, a chime rings out. Quincy tilts his head, "Is that you?"
Moon nods, "A built in alarm clock." He states. "Helps get the kids up on time. Come on."
Quincy nods and stands up, following Moon as he walks back to the nap room.
"So, Quincy. How have you been enjoying your first day?" Moon asks.
"Oh, yeah it's been good." Quincy smiles slightly, "The kids have been great."
Moon stays looking at him before looking away, "Well, this is where I go away. I'll be seeing you tomorrow."
Quincy blinks before understanding what he means, "O-oh, right! I'll.. start getting the kids up. Bye Moon." Moon smiles at him as Quincy walks into the nap room.
****
Sun holds Eva as they wait for her mother, "Sorry that Moon scared you, Quincy." Sun's says, a soft sigh leaving him.
"Oh, that's alright. I'm just rather.. jumpy, I don't hold it against him." Quincy smiles awkwardly. Again. He realised he's done a lot of awkward smiling in the day.
"Uhm.. Mr Quincy..?" Eva speaks, making both Quincy and Sun look at her. "W-will you be here all the time..?"
"Definitely." Quincy smiles. A soft, genuine smile this time.
Sun looks at him, his rays spinning slowly and his tail (Sun and moon had these long ribbon like tails, with a bell at the end. Quincy found these so cool) swaying and making a jingling sound.
"Okay!" Eva smiles.
"Hi hi, sorry I'm late!" Eva's mum comes running in. Eva looks over at her mum, and her smile grows wider.
"Here, you hand her over." Sun says, holding Eva out for Quincy to take. Quincy hesitates before nodding and, very gently, grabbing her.
He walks over to her mother, "She's had a great day. Wanna show your mum the drawing you did of Mr Sun and Mr Moon?" Quincy speaks softly.
"Y-yeah! Mama look!" She holds out the picture for her mum, who gasps softly and holds a hand to her chest.
"My my baby! That's amazing! Do you wanna leave it here for them, or take it home?" Eva thinks for a minute before facing Quincy.
"Mr Quincy.. can you give it to them, please." She asks sweetly, making Quincy nod.
"Of course." He says, grabbing it.
Eva grins, "Bye bye, Mr Quincy!"
Quincy nods as he hands her over to her mother, "Bye." He waves goodbye as they leave.
"And that was the last little kiddo." Sun walks over, holding the clip board.
"Mhm, oh Eva wanted you to keep this." He hands the drawing to Sun, who's tail wags happily.
"Oh my~! Eva sure is a little artist!" He places the picture on the desk, "This is definitely going to go up in our room~!" He says in a sing songy tone.
Quincy grabs his bag from out under the desk. "I should head home now." He slings the bag over his back.
"Oh. Your shift is ending?" Sun tilts his head, making Quincy nod. "..well, I hope you had a good first day in the job." Sun puts an arm behind his head.
"Mhm, I'll see you both tomorrow."
"Mmm.. bye!.. Moon also says bye!" Sun waves.
Quincy chuckles slightly and waves back, before heading out.
It wasn't as bad as he thought. Sun was nice, Moon as well, if a little.. intimidating and intense, especially with those red eyes of his. The kids were great, all very nice and well behaved.
He was still nervous, but he's sure with time, he'll feel comfortable in this new job.