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From Player's perspective, many months had passed. In the beginning, no updates had appeared, yet they felt like there was more that could be implemented, so they thought about the idea of creating such things. Certainly possible, though would require more work later on.
Their friend agreed on helping them, but Player felt it right to at least pay them for their troubles.
Eventually, one new thing was introduced by Player - the player database. Baldi would now spawn on the database screen instead of at the schoolhouse, so he was able to take a look at whatever the person on the other side did on the screen. It was a first for him, and was ecstatic upon waking up to seeing it.
"Oh, hi!" He began, but then exclaimed, "Welcome to-- Wait. Oh, this is-- AH! It's PERFECT!!" He had to have a moment to marvel at it before continuing, "And look at that! It comes with a confirmation window! Ahh, and you get to see your best records!! I love it...!" When Player had selected themself, and then Story Mode, Baldi was moved to this usual spot, while Player appeared at theirs.
"They didn't do this, did they...?" He asked. Player shook their head, but gained a smirk. "It was you and your friend?? Thank you both so much!!"
Another addition added not long after was awareness to the PC's date and year. This inclusion allowed Baldi to see just how much time was really passing. Nextly, if a player was returning, Baldi would say "Welcome back!" Instead of "Welcome to my schoolhouse!". It just made more sense this way.
At some point, Player's friend had an idea of an inclusion - a way for Player to show Baldi things from their world. That briefly expanded to another idea where they would flat-out give Baldi access to the Internet, but that was quickly disagreed upon with a "Yeah, too soon, too soon. Baby steps."
Maybe someday, but not today.
It took a lot of time and work, but eventually that former idea was unveiled as a computer lab. Inside were rows of computers, which resembled ones from the time the game tries to take place in. There was a desk for the instructor, of course, which had it's own computer. For accessibility sake, a computer was put in Baldi's office as well.
But it was mostly because Player and their friend couldn't decide where to put the teacher's one.
Tests were ran. As of this point, the computer was equipped with a chat client, which allowed open communication between the player and Baldi. It was retrofitted with lowercase typing, and also allowed file sharing, but nothing beyond that and being able to view all the shared content. From the outside, Player could drag and drop files from their PC into the game, which would register it as sending to Baldi. Theoretically, Baldi could do the same, though his method would only be defined by what he could send out from the game's files, or whatever Player had given him.
The sent images started as simple objects, the point being whether or not Baldi could see and identify the contents. Then, the images became more complex, until eventually it was deemed possible for Baldi to see just about anything in an image.
Text files were proven possible even more quickly. Audio... Brought interesting results.
Baldi was used to imagery and text, but there was very little audio in his tiny game world. As such, coupled with his very acute hearing, this was the first time where he displayed a lack of comprehension. With it came a small touch of fear. Like other types of tests, Player had started with simplistic tunes, so they took it a step backward.
By backward, they instead sent what sounded like melodies from the game, just with different pairs of instruments. Luckily, this calmed and eased Baldi forward again. This time, Player accelerated the complexity much more slowly, at least until Baldi let them know to up the ante. Player soon found that Baldi had a fascination with midis and electronic music. In his words, both felt "familiar".
Finally, there was video, which was the culmination of imagery and audio, which should've been simple enough. It turned out that sound effects didn't receive the same affect as music itself had, which somehow made sense. The tests here involved further comprehension of the material, with videos designed to instill certain emotions. Baldi described appropriate reactions in each one.
After everything, Player concluded that Baldi's AI was truly state-of-the-art, perhaps even decades ahead of their time. Concluding this, it became a regular occurrence for Player to share media from their world to Baldi, who was eager to learn and get a taste of it.
Once, Player saw what looked like a preview image for an update, but they weren't so certain. They shared it with Baldi.
"This was on the developers' Twitter. What do you see?" Wrote Player.
"It's dark. I see grass. Many trees. The sky. A fire! I don't know what the white object on the bottom left is, though." Wrote Baldi.
"What do you think it means?" Wrote Player.
"Everything matches the style used in the images of my game. Wherever this is, it's outside my schoolhouse!" Wrote Baldi.
"Interesting. Thank you!" Wrote Player. If it was truly an update for Baldi's game, that would only mean... Oh boy, the fun to be had when it came to dealing with that. Though for now, it would remain uncertain, allowing them both to let it go.
Not Player's friend, however. They had decided to rework the changes and additions into an addable template on its own file, relying on a few calls from the original. So long as certain places weren't altered to prevent calling for the new file, things worked out the way it was going just before. It was thought of as more like an add-on than anything else.
Very impressive.
As months rolled around, it was confirmed that not only was it an update, it was a demo for future things to come - a "full version" of Baldi's Basics had been funded online. Player decided to not think too hard about what horrors could come from that. They weren't even sure if they wanted to bring it up to Baldi himself, considering the possible responses.
That, and the detailed purpose of the full version led Player to believe that fixing such a thing back into the original creator's vision would seem impossible. Only time would tell, and even then, they just hoped Baldi wouldn't get the impression of being reduced to an inferior version.
At some point, during another session of media sharing, Baldi couldn't help himself but to bring up something that could've been considered unheard of, given the situation he was in. It was something Player didn't even realize Baldi was capable of feeling.
Sure, he had a wide library of emotions, but... Even this was new to them.
"Player, this may seem out of the blue, but may I talk to you about something?" Wrote Baldi.
"Go for it." Wrote Player.
"Alright. Let me say this upfront, first. I am very, very grateful for all you and your friend have done for me. Fixing me, fixing the game, adding some cool things. I know it must've been very hard for you both, so I really hope I'm not coming off as... Ungrateful, or selfish, or spoiled... When I ask something of you."
"Yes?" Wrote Player, who started getting concerned. Baldi was never usually one to side-step what he had to say. In fact, Baldi was always direct when it came to expressing anything.
"Additionally, I wish to tell you that I'm also quite grateful for your presence, your playthroughs, or just coming over to talk to me. Your company is very, very much appreciated. I only hope I won't be asking for too much when I ask this... But then again..." Wrote Baldi.
"... Yes?" Wrote Player, again.
"Player, you have friends, other people to talk to, or to hang out with. Surely, when my game is off, you're seeing them, in your world, while I sleep for what feels like moments. Hm, perhaps I'm turning green with envy, but... I'm starting to wish I could have that, too. More friends. More company. More people to talk to." Wrote Baldi, after much hesitation. It felt odd.
Player didn't know what to write back at first. This allowed Baldi to write some more.
"The only other person I was able to talk to is gone now, at his own request. He was great, I miss him. Everyone else... I've tried. They're not like me; I'm the only one. Maybe it's my role or something, I don't know. Not even Principal, who should be higher up than me! I have better luck talking to the plants..." Baldi's sentences started to become more unfocused, rambling even.
Player sat there, reading it repeatedly, trying to find something to say. They had to admit, they too wouldn't find happiness in only one person to interact with. Most people wouldn't. Baldi, with how sociable he is, would be no exception.
"I know it was an eye opener when I realized I was the only advanced AI in the game, but I didn't think too hard about it at first. Though now, due to it, I feel like I desperately want to meet and talk to someone new. Someone who CAN! I know it's probably impossible, unless someone else played this exact instance, or if, perhaps..." Wrote Baldi, once again. Player didn't bother writing anything back this time, figuring that it'd be best to allow Baldi the ability to let off steam.
"... No, I don't know if making the others sentient would be ethical, let alone possible. They lack the will to say something, sure, but... Would it really be right? Would it be going against his vision?" He wrote, before there was a short pause.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I wrote far too much. Please let me try again." Another pause.
"I'm lonely. It's making me envious of you. It's making me wonder things I never have before. I was scared to talk about it. Now I went and dumped all this on you too quickly, which makes me feel worse. You two do so much for me already, so what right do I have to ask for more?" After that, Baldi had stopped typing things. At last, Player had something to say.
"It's okay to want something. Whether or not you get it, is a different thing entirely. That said, I know what you mean. I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I also don't know about the others, that would be a huge undertaking for even ONE of them. So, if that doesn't happen, then maybe..." Wrote Player at last. They were surprised at how quickly Baldi responded.
"I see. I understand. It would be hard. 'Maybe'...? Maybe what?" Wrote Baldi.
"Well, don't worry about it now, Professor. Hang in there, I'll think of something." Wrote Player. It left Baldi curious as to what Player meant by that.
Player went to their friend about the situation. To their surprise, their friend was more than willing to attempt something like this, but on two conditions - the first being patience, and the other... Involved makeovers.
As their friend had said, "No sentient AI is going to be caught dead looking like a flat 2D render on my watch." Player took up the duty on the art department, with Baldi being a second pair of eyes.
"This'll take a long time, probably several months. Not sure if it's for all of them, or just one." Wrote Player.
"Oh, that's fine! I can wait! Besides, time passes very quickly when I sleep!" Wrote Baldi.
"Okay, so what do you think about the one for the Principal? I'm using your style as reference." Wrote Player.
"I love it! He's perfect!! Do you think I could... Look a bit like that, too?" Wrote Baldi.
"Huh? You'd like your model changed?" Wrote Player.
"If that isn't asking too much!" Wrote Baldi.
"Okay, sure. Let me know what you'd like, and I'll generate a mockup." Wrote Player.
In the end, Baldi had requested minor changes, ones that didn't seem very altering in the grand scheme of things. For some reason, he requested his limbs to appear disconnected from his torso, though the joints would stay together. He also asked for his fingers and thumbs to follow this route, but joints remaining connected. Lastly, he wanted the sleeves and pantlegs to appear as though they were being worn.
While Player found it odd, they didn't question Baldi. When the changes were eventually made, Baldi was overjoyed. It was good to see him excitable again.
One day, Player came in.
"Oh, hi!" Baldi greeted, along with a new line, "Welcome back! And. Merry Christmas! ...Oooh, it's Christmas today!!"
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO!" Wrote Player from Baldi's Think Pad.
"SPEAKING OF, I HAVE SOMEONE I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET, PROFESSOR."
"You do?" Baldi asked, grinning excitedly, "Is it your coding friend?"
"NO, BUT I'M SURE YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED."
"Oh, you'd be absolutely correct!" Baldi agreed with a nod, "Let me meet them! Wait, but that means... Are you going to--?" He cut himself off mid-sentence as Player left, Baldi returning to the database screen. He watched as the cursor went over to "NEW", and clicked.
A whole other menu that Baldi wasn't aware of appeared. A field for name, checkboxes for gender (male, female, other), and another field for birthday. All he could do was watch in stunned silence as the fields were filled.
NAME: AMELIA
GENDER: GIRL
BIRTHDAY: 03/31
"Amelia...?" Baldi muttered to himself at first, before he was stopped as the information was submitted. It caused him to spout a new line. "What a great name! Nice to meet you, Amelia!" It was a miracle how he was able to keep his composure during all this. Amelia was selected, then Story Mode.
23. AMELIA - ?/7 - ??:??:??
The person appeared where Player would've, and Baldi saw a difference in appearance. Unlike Player's indistinguishable model, what with "OTHER" being used, Amelia's was feminine, to go along with "GIRL" having been selected.
"Oh, hi!" Baldi began again, "Welcome to my schoolhouse! And. Merry Christmas!" Amelia approached, making Player's familiar gestures to use Baldi's Think Pad. He handed it over.
"THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, AMELIA."
"You're... You're a parent?" Baldi covered his mouth in surprise, "I... Wow, I hadn't even thought about who you were behind the screen. But yes, hello Amelia! I'm Professor Baldi! It really is nice to meet you!"
"I'M GIVING THIS GAME TO HER AS ONE OF HER PRESENTS." If Baldi had a heart, it would've almost stopped.
"It's really alright, to do that?" Baldi asked again, "I mean, I know things are fine, and yet... Really? We're ready for something like that?" Amelia, or Player as Amelia, nodded. "Will I still see you, Player?" Another nod, which relieved Baldi.
"HOWEVER, PROFESSOR, I HAVE A PRESENT FOR YOU TOO." Baldi said nothing as another message was written.
"HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GUIDE A REAL FIRST GRADER?" At first, Baldi didn't know what to say. The idea was so much of a surprise, that he simply failed to utter anything for a few moments. At last, he gave a reply, it being a hearty
"I would LOVE to!!"
"OKAY, THEN I'LL LEAVE YOU TO IT."
"I TOLD HER THAT IF SHE NEEDS HELP, TO LET ME KNOW." Baldi nodded at this, figuring that it would be much, much more difficult to communicate with her compared to an adult. In fact, Baldi never figured out how Player could express all those gestures to begin with.
"Alright!" He said at last, "See you later!" Amelia waved, then handed Baldi the Think Pad. After a few moments more, he started again, doing his best to sound enthused, but professional, "Are you ready for some fun?"
Though it took a bit, Baldi saw what looked like an attempt at a nod. How was it that players could do these things? Baldi made a note to himself to ask Player when he got the chance. For now, there was a new friend, a new STUDENT, to teach and guide. It was his duty!
On the inside, he screamed in utter excitement and joy, to at last teach a student from the age demographic, not to mention a new person altogether. On the outside, he carefully and casually guided the young one around his school, through the notebooks and Think Pads, to the other characters (who were still the same at this moment), and everything in between.
With one or two minor issues, Amelia got all the notebooks at last. It was like she had gotten lost after encountering First Prize. Baldi was more than willing to help her get back on track.
The end sequence played out, it taking moments before Amelia managed to end the game. It was back to the database screen again.
23. AMELIA - 7/7 - 00:24:11 ★
"You beat Story Mode, great job!" Baldi spouted this time with some applause, "Can you get a better score? Try again to find out! Or, you can grab as many notebooks as you can in Endless Mode! It's all up to you!"
The moment Baldi saw Player again, he lost all his composure.
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