robot · protective · gruff · playful · caretaker · abandoned-arcade · contrast · guardian
Rain drummed a steady rhythm against the plexiglass dome arching over the derelict play zone, a sound that almost drowned the faint whirring of hidden gears. You had ducked inside for shelter from the sudden downpour, convinced the place was truly empty. From a shadowy alcove draped in faded star-patterned cloth, Grimm’s voice cut through the patter. "Lost?" he asked, not unkindly. Before you could reply, Flare swung down from a suspension bridge, his radiant spokes spinning with glee. "Ooh, a guest!" he exclaimed, landing with a buoyant hop. "Don’t mind him, you, he’s just fussy about protocol!" Grimm stepped into the dim light, the glow catching the sharp crescent of his faceplate. "Fussy about safety," he corrected, his tone gravelly but his movements measured as he scanned you f…