oh no

RP blog for BATIM characters. The characters I rp with are best explained on my ask blog, bendysstudio. Please read the rules before interacting. 

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

He’d missed a good chunk of that. Most of it, actually. Part of him was still listening, but he sat rapt, staring off in the direction of the machine. Had she hurt it? Didn’t she know if the machine were to break, he–

His head whipped back around to face her as the story concluded. She looked genuinely sad. Made for the stage, indeed. An actress through and through. Whether her story was true or not, she’d just tried to kill him, and he’d been so blinded by hopes of being fixed he’d almost let it happen. He’d let his guard down and trusted an angel. He didn’t even dare capture her and use her for anything; she’d survived thirty years in a vat of acid. There was no containing her.

Bendy pulled his hand away, tilted his head, and shrugged dramatically.

“haha well I hope you finD your BenDy soon But oh Boy it’s getting late look at the time you shoulD get Back to searching I guess”

That message had taken up an entire wall,but it was completely worth it. See? He could act, too. He hadn’t even screamed at her this time!

[twiisteddoodler]

She seemed to hum in agreement as she stood up, Crude popping out from under her dress and leaping into her cradle made arms. The machine always acted different too… Sometimes it was hostile, sending scores of incomplete ink minions to attack her. Sometimes it cowarded, and set up traps against her (each more clever than the last). Her gaze was a test, to see how it would react from a distance.

Judging from the unknown incoming threat that was snapping wood, she got a distinct “try me, bitch” vibe (Crude’s language had long rubbed off on her).

She turned and tilted her head at Bendy, a questioning hum escaping her. Crude sighed (REALLY, LILI?) and translated begrudgingly, “She would like for you to walk her out…” An added hum. “Please.”

[studiosrecordingbooth]

That frozen face stared at Celie for an uncomfortably long time, the rest of him just as static. He was contemplating. On one hand, this could be another trick, on the other, if she wanted him dead, he’d likely be dead already.

Besides, he kind of wanted to make sure she didn’t go wandering. If the Machine was uncomfortable just from her looking in its general direction, a face-to-nozzle meeting didn’t sound like a good idea.

Finally, he nodded, and hopped off the couch. He stopped at the doorway, turned, bowing and gesturing toward the hall with an outstretched hand.

“laDies anD inkBloBs first”

[twiisteddoodler]

With an affirming nod, Celia floated ahead of Bendy. The two buddies were having a private conversation. ‘You musta shook up the Machine, to have him so eager to kick us out.’

‘I may have poked at it a little. To gauge it’s nature and it’s temper. It’s not the most violent out of all we’ve seen, but it is most certainly a little stronger than the others.’ Celia looked around to the dripping walls, just in case Bendy spoke while they “talked”. ‘They seem to get stronger with every passage… But only by a little.’

'Not like our original world.’

'Exactly. Nothing compares, not yet… And I have a theory. We know every studio we’ve been to, something shifts, something changes. Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes it’s over time and steady. But there’s always a subtle shift.’

'Or a dramatic one. And it alllllways starts with that universe’s Bendy. Something aligns and then poof! We’re off to another studio.’ The only thing Crude didn’t like about their near constant jumps is having to face Bendy. No matter what, he’d always cringe and cower. That Ink Devil had this power over him in every universe, and he despised it.

When they reached the exit, Celia took a deep breath of the night air. Crude spoke, “Well, thanks for the personal escort. If you’re feeling brave, Celia will be your escort out into the free world.”

She turned to give Bendy a parting smile, but then she froze, and Crude froze. They both blinked, Celia’s eyes full of wonder while Crude’s eye was full of shock. They stared as still as Bendy had sat moments ago, though their dialogue was firing back and forth.

'What did you do, Lili?!’

'I didn’t do anything! I just existed in his space!’

'You think it’s the Machine? Did the Machine do this all of a sudden?’

'I don’t know! It’s never happened this fast before!’

'Can he even feel it? Oh fuck, how will he react! What will he do?!’

'It’s… Never happened this fast before…’

“Uhh… Bendy?” Crude said carefully, “You don’t… feel that?” With his long sleeve, he pointed to the whipping thing that was behind his back. It seemed he may have… grown a tail?

[studiosrecordingbooth]

The change had thus far gone unnoticed, mostly due to Bendy being heavily distracted. Celia and her pet left, no problem, but to him, they simply stood there in the void. Could Bendy exist in the void, too? He cautiously stretched a hand outside the door… where it promptly disappeared. Startled, Bendy pulled his hand back, and inspected it. It was fine, and then it wasn’t, momentarily glitching out of existence for a second. He shook his hand as if trying to shake it awake, and looked at it again. It seemed fine… strange.

Bendy looked back out to his guests, they were still standing there. He supposed this meant he wasn’t going to be leaving with them. He was about to wave them goodbye, when he sensed someone behind him.

Bendy spun around to face them… and saw an empty room. And then he caught movement behind him again, spinning around to again see no one, nothing. It wasn’t until he spun just his head around 180 degrees he saw what had been stalking him. It was… a tail? Who’d left their tail here? He followed the thing to where it was attached… to his own behind. He grabbed the thing and pulled, making sure it was really his, and once he was sure, turned sideways, grinning wide out at Celia, pointing at it excitedly. Did she see? Did she see it? Was she looking at it? Wasn’t it amazing?

[twiisteddoodler]

Both of them relaxed considerably from his reaction. Considering sometimes sudden changes weren’t exactly welcomed, this was a good result. Celia giggled her delight at his child-like reaction, nodding when he pointed to reassure him that yes, she could see it too and it was amazing. Her theory was evolving with each pass thru time, some things solidifying while other things shifted like cogs.

The Machine and Bendy were intimately connected, that was a fact. What was it about her presence that made these changes occur?

Crude said, “Well, congratulations on your new forked tail (I guess). We’re just gonna get outta here now…” Celia hummed to him, which would’ve made him groan IF he didn’t have this thing called “manners” that Celia was teaching him. “She wants to remind you that if you wanna see us again, remember the flower. So long!”

With that, Celia curtised her farewell and floated quickly to the sidewalk, beelining her way back to her home.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Bendy watched them fade off into the darkness, and then let the door close. He turned back to the dark, quiet studio. Well, quiet was relative. The voices were whispering, assuring him he wasn’t alone, he always had them. The Machine was safe, and that’s what was important.

The little demon suddenly had a thought-- and dashed down the hall and down, down, down. He had to show Henry is new tail.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

He’d missed a good chunk of that. Most of it, actually. Part of him was still listening, but he sat rapt, staring off in the direction of the machine. Had she hurt it? Didn’t she know if the machine were to break, he–

His head whipped back around to face her as the story concluded. She looked genuinely sad. Made for the stage, indeed. An actress through and through. Whether her story was true or not, she’d just tried to kill him, and he’d been so blinded by hopes of being fixed he’d almost let it happen. He’d let his guard down and trusted an angel. He didn’t even dare capture her and use her for anything; she’d survived thirty years in a vat of acid. There was no containing her.

Bendy pulled his hand away, tilted his head, and shrugged dramatically.

“haha well I hope you finD your BenDy soon But oh Boy it’s getting late look at the time you shoulD get Back to searching I guess”

That message had taken up an entire wall,but it was completely worth it. See? He could act, too. He hadn’t even screamed at her this time!

[twiisteddoodler]

She seemed to hum in agreement as she stood up, Crude popping out from under her dress and leaping into her cradle made arms. The machine always acted different too… Sometimes it was hostile, sending scores of incomplete ink minions to attack her. Sometimes it cowarded, and set up traps against her (each more clever than the last). Her gaze was a test, to see how it would react from a distance.

Judging from the unknown incoming threat that was snapping wood, she got a distinct “try me, bitch” vibe (Crude’s language had long rubbed off on her).

She turned and tilted her head at Bendy, a questioning hum escaping her. Crude sighed (REALLY, LILI?) and translated begrudgingly, “She would like for you to walk her out…” An added hum. “Please.”

[studiosrecordingbooth]

That frozen face stared at Celie for an uncomfortably long time, the rest of him just as static. He was contemplating. On one hand, this could be another trick, on the other, if she wanted him dead, he’d likely be dead already.

Besides, he kind of wanted to make sure she didn’t go wandering. If the Machine was uncomfortable just from her looking in its general direction, a face-to-nozzle meeting didn’t sound like a good idea.

Finally, he nodded, and hopped off the couch. He stopped at the doorway, turned, bowing and gesturing toward the hall with an outstretched hand.

“laDies anD inkBloBs first”

[twiisteddoodler]

With an affirming nod, Celia floated ahead of Bendy. The two buddies were having a private conversation. ‘You musta shook up the Machine, to have him so eager to kick us out.’

'I may have poked at it a little. To gauge it’s nature and it’s temper. It’s not the most violent out of all we’ve seen, but it is most certainly a little stronger than the others.’ Celia looked around to the dripping walls, just in case Bendy spoke while they “talked”. 'They seem to get stronger with every passage… But only by a little.’

'Not like our original world.’

'Exactly. Nothing compares, not yet… And I have a theory. We know every studio we’ve been to, something shifts, something changes. Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes it’s over time and steady. But there’s always a subtle shift.’

'Or a dramatic one. And it alllllways starts with that universe’s Bendy. Something aligns and then poof! We’re off to another studio.’ The only thing Crude didn’t like about their near constant jumps is having to face Bendy. No matter what, he’d always cringe and cower. That Ink Devil had this power over him in every universe, and he despised it.

When they reached the exit, Celia took a deep breath of the night air. Crude spoke, “Well, thanks for the personal escort. If you’re feeling brave, Celia will be your escort out into the free world.”

She turned to give Bendy a parting smile, but then she froze, and Crude froze. They both blinked, Celia’s eyes full of wonder while Crude’s eye was full of shock. They stared as still as Bendy had sat moments ago, though their dialogue was firing back and forth.

'What did you do, Lili?!’

'I didn’t do anything! I just existed in his space!’

'You think it’s the Machine? Did the Machine do this all of a sudden?’

'I don’t know! It’s never happened this fast before!’

'Can he even feel it? Oh fuck, how will he react! What will he do?!’

'It’s… Never happened this fast before…’

“Uhh… Bendy?” Crude said carefully, “You don’t… feel that?” With his long sleeve, he pointed to the whipping thing that was behind his back. It seemed he may have… grown a tail?

[studiosrecordingbooth]

The change had thus far gone unnoticed, mostly due to Bendy being heavily distracted. Celia and her pet left, no problem, but to him, they simply stood there in the void. Could Bendy exist in the void, too? He cautiously stretched a hand outside the door... where it promptly disappeared. Startled, Bendy pulled his hand back, and inspected it. It was fine, and then it wasn't, momentarily glitching out of existence for a second. He shook his hand as if trying to shake it awake, and looked at it again. It seemed fine... strange.

Bendy looked back out to his guests, they were still standing there. He supposed this meant he wasn't going to be leaving with them. He was about to wave them goodbye, when he sensed someone behind him.

Bendy spun around to face them... and saw an empty room. And then he caught movement behind him again, spinning around to again see no one, nothing. It wasn't until he spun just his head around 180 degrees he saw what had been stalking him. It was... a tail? Who'd left their tail here? He followed the thing to where it was attached... to his own behind. He grabbed the thing and pulled, making sure it was really his, and once he was sure, turned sideways, grinning wide out at Celia, pointing at it excitedly. Did she see? Did she see it? Was she looking at it? Wasn't it amazing?

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

He’d missed a good chunk of that. Most of it, actually. Part of him was still listening, but he sat rapt, staring off in the direction of the machine. Had she hurt it? Didn’t she know if the machine were to break, he–

His head whipped back around to face her as the story concluded. She looked genuinely sad. Made for the stage, indeed. An actress through and through. Whether her story was true or not, she’d just tried to kill him, and he’d been so blinded by hopes of being fixed he’d almost let it happen. He’d let his guard down and trusted an angel. He didn’t even dare capture her and use her for anything; she’d survived thirty years in a vat of acid. There was no containing her.

Bendy pulled his hand away, tilted his head, and shrugged dramatically.

“haha well I hope you finD your BenDy soon But oh Boy it’s getting late look at the time you shoulD get Back to searching I guess”

That message had taken up an entire wall,but it was completely worth it. See? He could act, too. He hadn’t even screamed at her this time!

[twiisteddoodler]

She seemed to hum in agreement as she stood up, Crude popping out from under her dress and leaping into her cradle made arms. The machine always acted different too… Sometimes it was hostile, sending scores of incomplete ink minions to attack her. Sometimes it cowarded, and set up traps against her (each more clever than the last). Her gaze was a test, to see how it would react from a distance.

Judging from the unknown incoming threat that was snapping wood, she got a distinct “try me, bitch” vibe (Crude’s language had long rubbed off on her).

She turned and tilted her head at Bendy, a questioning hum escaping her. Crude sighed (REALLY, LILI?) and translated begrudgingly, “She would like for you to walk her out…” An added hum. “Please.”

[studiosrecordingbooth]

That frozen face stared at Celie for an uncomfortably long time, the rest of him just as static. He was contemplating. On one hand, this could be another trick, on the other, if she wanted him dead, he’d likely be dead already.

Besides, he kind of wanted to make sure she didn’t go wandering. If the Machine was uncomfortable just from her looking in its general direction, a face-to-nozzle meeting didn’t sound like a good idea.

Finally, he nodded, and hopped off the couch. He stopped at the doorway, turned, bowing and gesturing toward the hall with an outstretched hand.

“laDies anD inkBloBs first”

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

He'd missed a good chunk of that. Most of it, actually. Part of him was still listening, but he sat rapt, staring off in the direction of the machine. Had she hurt it? Didn't she know if the machine were to break, he--

His head whipped back around to face her as the story concluded. She looked genuinely sad. Made for the stage, indeed. An actress through and through. Whether her story was true or not, she'd just tried to kill him, and he'd been so blinded by hopes of being fixed he'd almost let it happen. He'd let his guard down and trusted an angel. He didn't even dare capture her and use her for anything; she'd survived thirty years in a vat of acid. There was no containing her.

Bendy pulled his hand away, tilted his head, and shrugged dramatically.

"haha well I hope you finD your BenDy soon But oh Boy it's getting late look at the time you shoulD get Back to searching I guess"

That message had taken up an entire wall,but it was completely worth it. See? He could act, too. He hadn't even screamed at her this time!

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy was drunk on emotion. Sorrow wasn’t a pleasant emotion, but it was a powerful one, and somehow sweeter than anger. Anger was easy. This emotion was… new? Or long forgotten, suppressed? Either way, it was gone as soon as Celia stopped feeding it to him. He was unable to retain any of it.

So it had been Joey who ruined Bendy. That, too, hadn’t changed. Bendy wondered if that was why he suffered from tail envy from time to time. Demons had tails, right? Real demons had tails. Joey must have agreed. Too bad a tail wasn’t the only thing Joey thought Bendy had needed.

And this entire time, he’d listened to the story as if it was just that, a story. Events that had happened to someone else. So when her tears and apologies were directed at him, he was surprised, confused. Had she come here looking for her own Bendy, to apologize? Had she gotten lost in the multiverse somewhere, was she stuck here? Was this even his apology to accept? Why did he care?

Bendy shrugged his shoulders.

“nah Joey’s a pretty tough cookie. you proBaBly woulD have DieD protecting him anD then he’D Be corrupteD AND feel guilty over getting you killeD”

That felt about right. He’d watched enough movies to know that’s usually what happened. But if she’d come here for forgiveness, he might as well give it, just in case she was stuck here. Why? Why did he care? There was a part of him going over the list of things he could use her for right now. An emotion battery, for one… a new heart for the Ink Machine… who knew what kind of cartoons he could create with something as perfect as this? And yet…

“at least this way I still have you. a Bright light in the Darkness”

Bleh! That part of him choked on those words. She was still an angel. And she certainly was a bright light in the darkness… but it was dark in the studio for a reason.

[twiisteddoodler]

Celia smiled, still sad but genuine. ‘I’ve learned something in my travels…’ She looked around the studio with a careful, critical eye as she held his cartoonishly large hand. ‘I remembered after telling you this story… I promised you back then, that I’d be by your side.’

Her eyes then lit up, projecting on the wall in full color.

It was a bright, sunny day. Celia had Bendy’s head in her lap, gently petting along his face as he seemed to be sleeping on her, his tail swishing lazily on it’s own (he still hadn’t gotten the hang of it). They were by a creek in Toontown, a peaceful part of the craziness and zaniness, tiny bug and animal Toons went about their lives around them, some flower Toons even uprooted themselves to enjoy a stroll. She was humming a song, a song he was used to hearing and it tended to lull him either into deep relaxation or sleep.

Through her touch, this world’s Bendy could feel clear impressions: Celia soothed him, especially when he had “fits”. He didn’t want her too far away from him while at the studio, and it was starting to spread to even outside the studio. He was still scared of his change, he could make things happen that he never could before and he felt he could seriously hurt someone. Celia calmed down his “fits”, put him back together.

Bendy spoke. “Hey…”

Celia paused in her humming to give him both an inquiring sound and look.

“I don’t want you to leave… I know Joey’s still tryna push you out but… Stay.”

She was struck by his frankness, but even more so by what he could’ve meant. The halo she had kept at greyscale in the studio started to glow gold gently. It glowed more when Bendy nuzzled into her lap.

“With me… Please… I’ll look after ya, Celia, promise.”

Her eyes widened, now her cheeks a much darker color as her halo glowed a little brighter around the corners, some of it turning pink. She didn’t realize she was staring at him until she blinked, realizing he was looking up at her face through one sleepy eye, waiting for her reply. Placing both her hands upon him, he heard her clearly in her mind (as did this world’s Bendy) ‘I promise. I’ll be with you, I’ll always help you.’ Bendy gave her a rare smile.

Then the scene cut off when Celia blinked, her eyes no longer glowing. 'I had promised you I would help you… Maybe that promise is something these walls had taken literally across time.’ She looked at his frozen face again, a smirk on her face. 'I wasn’t always this strong. My toon body kept most of my talents locked away.’ Her eyes flickered to the floor then back into his, a deep suffering now present in them despite her smirk. 'I suppose… being locked in a vat of thinner degraded my safeguards and brought more of my power out. It’s why I need ink when I didn’t before. Sometimes I start to fade, a side effect of being in thinner for… A very long time.’

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Oh. So she and her Bendy were … romantically involved. Good for him. Bendy deserved good things, no matter which universe he resided in. But she’d been captured and punished, he didn’t need to ask by whom. Did this scene take place before that, or after? What became of her Bendy? And all the other toons? Was it Bendy who saved her from the thinner? Or did she save herself?

The image of that bright sunny day she’d projected was still fresh in his mind. He’d like to see the sun again, even if he was afraid of leaving the ink behind. But… he turned his gaze away from the wall to look down at his fidgeting feet.

“I opened the door to this studio once. Know what I saw? Nothin. Just a black, endless void.”

But what if she did come from somewhere else? A place where things were different? Could he follow her back there? He looked back up at her.

“So are you here to help me then? How do you plan on doin that?” He wasn’t even sure what he need help with.  "And are you gonna tell the rest of the story? I know there’s more" Obviously. She’d conveniently left out the whole, thinner, thing, thus far.

“You can have some ink if you need it. I won’t feel it.” He’d hear it scream, sure… just like when Henry slaughtered his ink soldiers with an axe. But feel it? Nah. Probably not. “A whole barrel of it in the corner”

[twiisteddoodler]

She tilted her head when he mentioned his first experience at trying to leave the studio, humming sympathetically. 'I don’t remember what it looked like when I left. I was being carried by… Henry, to safety.’ He was sharp (like always), and understandably curious. They all were… It didn’t make the story telling any easier.

He would feel that race through her fingers: uncertainty, hesitation, crushing fear, and a light sprinkling of anger. To be honest, she wanted to cherry pick the story of how she ended up in a vat of thinner… but that would be unkind to Crude. Her suffering was Crude’s origins, her little friend helped her live before she was saved. Still, she was uncomfortable trying to find the words, picking at her dress and remaining quiet.

“I’ll answer that.” Crude, after being hidden and working up his courage again, lifted up an edge of Celia’s dress to come out of. Well, a little. He wrapped it around himself like a security blanket, the contrast between the dark ichor of his single eye and Celia’s stark white dress enough for Bendy to tell the difference. Yes, he was terribly afraid as he looked up at that terrible, familiar and cruel face.

But his friend needed him, he could feel that.

“I don’t have the powers Celia has, but I can fill in some blanks. She told me her story too.” He hugged the fabric tighter around himself to stop his trembling. “After Joey’s bullshit, you started to slowly change. Sure, Celia slowed it down to ease your transition but it was inevitable. The ritual done to you was going to complete itself, and you were gonna be a full fledged demon of ink.

"It was very much like puberty. Wild mood swings, sudden changes to your body, your singing voice changed into something more sensual and dangerous. The danger part was negated so long as Celia was near you. It got a rumor started y'all was together, since you absolutely refused to have Celia any where else but near you. Y'all was never an item but.” His eye flicked up to Celia before he focused back on Bendy. “Y'all kept your promises.

"Joey hated how "clingy” you got to Celia, but could he really fight you now? Every time he demanded Celia leave an area, you’d snap. That’s when that hellish temper of yours would spike, gnashing teeth and whipping tail that left scars in the floor. Then she’d come up to you and simply hold your hand and you’d calm down, but you were adamant. Wherever you go, she goes.

“Even if she wasn’t in the scene, she had to be on set. Even if she wasn’t part of the interview, she had to be somewhere nearby. Henry didn’t understand it, Joey was stumped, neither of you told them what was truly going on with you two.” His voice softened. “She was… your balm.”

Celia smiled appreciatively at her tiny friend, her hand lifting to project on the wall again to provide visual aid, and give Bendy something else to focus on. Shadow Celia and Bendy were sitting, Celia’s glowing hands cupping Bendy’s face as his tail tapped rhythmically on the floor. Celia was focused where Bendy looked to be in pure bliss.

“Even before your change, Celia’s touch was a soother. At first, it was something to wipe away the stress of the day. But now it was something that kept your new demonic nature in check. Your temper was evened out, whatever vices or cruelties you felt like committing was nullified. She kept you a Toon, kept ya normal.”

Next, Bendy had an arm around Celia’s waist as Boris and Alice appeared on stage to wave to their adoring public. “She was your cloak from your tainted ways, you were her sword whenever and wherever injustice happened to her.” Shadow Alice slowed in her waving to look down at the duo, her frown deepening into something akin to Joey’s terrifying one. “But some things didn’t change. If anything, you two’s relationship only further aggravated those who hated you. Still… She hated Celia more.”

A shift, the scene played now a very large party. The banner above read “CONGRATULATIONS”. Shadow Boris was playing host to the crowd at humans and familiar toon bodies intermingled. A slow pan changed the perspective to just behind the stage, where Shadow Bendy and Celia were, talking and holding hands. “There was a big season premiere party. The new episodes were sure to be a hit and put your show back on the map. Everything was abuzz with excitement and good cheer.”

The shadow duo nodded, Bendy straightening his tie before he went on stage to an adoring public. Outlines of Charlie and Barley of the Butcher Gang co-stars crept up to Celia, getting her attention and calling her away for something. Shadow Celia looked back at the stage before following them off the scene. Crude’s voice grew even softer, some somberness creeping in. “And then…”

Celia’s hand started to tremble, adding an interesting effect to the scene. She didn’t want to show it, but she had to. She didn’t want to see it again, so she closed her eyes as the scene began to play. Shadow Celia was led somewhere, ending up alone. She looked around lost before Shadow Edgar dropped from the ceiling to grab her. She struggled, but the rest of the gang held her tight as Alice slowly appeared in the background with a truly wicked smile. “Alice Angel struck, to execute the perfect plan.” She laughed as Celia was dragged towards her, Shadow Celia struggled more and more but couldn’t break free.

Celia’s hand shook more.

“Back then, thinner was death to a Toon…” Shadow Alice, with a crowbar, popped the lid off a vat that had skull shaped fumes as the Butcher Gang dragged her straight towards it. Edgar was the only one frowning in sadness while the other two smiled in glee. “She couldn’t fight them…”

Just as Shadow Celia was lifted up, her mouth opened in a scream and the name “BENDY!” flew from her mouth before she was thrown in, Alice sealing the lid.

Celia’s hand dropped again, this time to cover her mouth as the tears did escape. As her tears fell from her face, the click-clack! of something solid hit the ground and rolled. Celia’s tears (her truly sad ones) were perfect precious pearls. Bendy would feel as if he was hit by a train of woe and despair, and it stayed. “… She was locked in there and no one knew what happened to her… It was put away in a back room, sealed and never to see the light of day again. The perfect murder… if Celia wasn’t what she was.”

Crude focused on Bendy again. “Thirty years go by. Somewhere in that thirty years, I come into consciousness. I remember like it was yesterday… I heard something piercing thru the all the noise, something soft and not meant to be. I followed it, the voice grew louder as the other noise grew dimmer… I found her, her vat had degraded a little with rust, but I could hear her. She was singing… Usually, I would strike out at things unfamiliar but just this once I felt I didn’t need to do that… It took a few more visits from me, hearing her sing and staying longer and longer beside her prison, until I realised I could… think. I heard my own voice after so long of hearing just noise, noise, noise. It was addictive, I was ecstatic.” He put his head down. “It took longer for me to realise that her voice was weakening. Fear made me find ways to help her, at first. Fear and selfishness. I wanted to be myself, to be myself meant she had to keep singing…”

Celia released Bendy’s hand to place it gently on Crude’s head, her tears had stopped and she was smiling weakly at him. “But over time it stopped being about selfishness and started being about making sure the only light in this place stayed burning.” He huffed, voice now back to normal. “Slipping all the sentiment, I was never strong enough to break her free. But somebody was.”

Now, with all his bravery used up, he ducked back under her dress as he said, “Henry. Henry came. I lead him to her and he got her free. He left this place with her in his arms and never looked back.”

She laid her hand on Bendy’s again. 'As far as helping you…’ She tilted her head this way and that, gazing upon him with a curious eye. 'Maybe… I could help your face move?’

[studiosrecordingbooth]

His previously static smile grew into a grin as he was fed a mixed bag of emotions. Again, none of them pleasant, but they were different, they tickled, they buzzed, it was nice. It crossed his mind again to use her as an emotion battery. Feeding him different emotions like a drug fix. He even laughed silently as he was told of the monster's outbursts, how not even Joey could stand up to it.

But those malicious thoughts faded the longer she went on. She'd gone through a lot, and while he still couldn't muster feeling sympathy for her, he felt it for himself. Bendy's favorite thing had been stolen from him. Locked away to die, leaving him alone. He couldn't feel the sorrow he knew he should be feeling, but the anger came through just fine. There was no more laughing.

Celia's offer to fix his face was a convenient distraction. Could she fix his everything? Did she have the power to make him a real toon?

How many times do I have to tell you, Henry; STAY ON MODEL!

Bendy looked away, the fingers on his free hand twiddling against the couch cushions. Avoid that subject for now.

"Did you ever see Bendy again? Did he remember you? Was he a monster? What about all the other toons outside the studio, what became of those guys?"

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy was drunk on emotion. Sorrow wasn’t a pleasant emotion, but it was a powerful one, and somehow sweeter than anger. Anger was easy. This emotion was… new? Or long forgotten, suppressed? Either way, it was gone as soon as Celia stopped feeding it to him. He was unable to retain any of it.

So it had been Joey who ruined Bendy. That, too, hadn’t changed. Bendy wondered if that was why he suffered from tail envy from time to time. Demons had tails, right? Real demons had tails. Joey must have agreed. Too bad a tail wasn’t the only thing Joey thought Bendy had needed.

And this entire time, he’d listened to the story as if it was just that, a story. Events that had happened to someone else. So when her tears and apologies were directed at him, he was surprised, confused. Had she come here looking for her own Bendy, to apologize? Had she gotten lost in the multiverse somewhere, was she stuck here? Was this even his apology to accept? Why did he care?

Bendy shrugged his shoulders.

“nah Joey’s a pretty tough cookie. you proBaBly woulD have DieD protecting him anD then he’D Be corrupteD AND feel guilty over getting you killeD”

That felt about right. He’d watched enough movies to know that’s usually what happened. But if she’d come here for forgiveness, he might as well give it, just in case she was stuck here. Why? Why did he care? There was a part of him going over the list of things he could use her for right now. An emotion battery, for one… a new heart for the Ink Machine… who knew what kind of cartoons he could create with something as perfect as this? And yet…

“at least this way I still have you. a Bright light in the Darkness”

Bleh! That part of him choked on those words. She was still an angel. And she certainly was a bright light in the darkness… but it was dark in the studio for a reason.

[twiisteddoodler]

Celia smiled, still sad but genuine. ‘I’ve learned something in my travels…’ She looked around the studio with a careful, critical eye as she held his cartoonishly large hand. 'I remembered after telling you this story… I promised you back then, that I’d be by your side.’

Her eyes then lit up, projecting on the wall in full color.

It was a bright, sunny day. Celia had Bendy’s head in her lap, gently petting along his face as he seemed to be sleeping on her, his tail swishing lazily on it’s own (he still hadn’t gotten the hang of it). They were by a creek in Toontown, a peaceful part of the craziness and zaniness, tiny bug and animal Toons went about their lives around them, some flower Toons even uprooted themselves to enjoy a stroll. She was humming a song, a song he was used to hearing and it tended to lull him either into deep relaxation or sleep.

Through her touch, this world’s Bendy could feel clear impressions: Celia soothed him, especially when he had “fits”. He didn’t want her too far away from him while at the studio, and it was starting to spread to even outside the studio. He was still scared of his change, he could make things happen that he never could before and he felt he could seriously hurt someone. Celia calmed down his “fits”, put him back together.

Bendy spoke. “Hey…”

Celia paused in her humming to give him both an inquiring sound and look.

“I don’t want you to leave… I know Joey’s still tryna push you out but… Stay.”

She was struck by his frankness, but even more so by what he could’ve meant. The halo she had kept at greyscale in the studio started to glow gold gently. It glowed more when Bendy nuzzled into her lap.

“With me… Please… I’ll look after ya, Celia, promise.”

Her eyes widened, now her cheeks a much darker color as her halo glowed a little brighter around the corners, some of it turning pink. She didn’t realize she was staring at him until she blinked, realizing he was looking up at her face through one sleepy eye, waiting for her reply. Placing both her hands upon him, he heard her clearly in her mind (as did this world’s Bendy) 'I promise. I’ll be with you, I’ll always help you.’ Bendy gave her a rare smile.

Then the scene cut off when Celia blinked, her eyes no longer glowing. 'I had promised you I would help you… Maybe that promise is something these walls had taken literally across time.’ She looked at his frozen face again, a smirk on her face. 'I wasn’t always this strong. My toon body kept most of my talents locked away.’ Her eyes flickered to the floor then back into his, a deep suffering now present in them despite her smirk. 'I suppose… being locked in a vat of thinner degraded my safeguards and brought more of my power out. It’s why I need ink when I didn’t before. Sometimes I start to fade, a side effect of being in thinner for… A very long time.’

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Oh. So she and her Bendy were ... romantically involved. Good for him. Bendy deserved good things, no matter which universe he resided in. But she'd been captured and punished, he didn't need to ask by whom. Did this scene take place before that, or after? What became of her Bendy? And all the other toons? Was it Bendy who saved her from the thinner? Or did she save herself?

The image of that bright sunny day she'd projected was still fresh in his mind. He'd like to see the sun again, even if he was afraid of leaving the ink behind. But... he turned his gaze away from the wall to look down at his fidgeting feet.

"I opened the door to this studio once. Know what I saw? Nothin. Just a black, endless void."

But what if she did come from somewhere else? A place where things were different? Could he follow her back there? He looked back up at her.

"So are you here to help me then? How do you plan on doin that?" He wasn't even sure what he need help with.  "And are you gonna tell the rest of the story? I know there's more" Obviously. She'd conveniently left out the whole, thinner, thing, thus far.

"You can have some ink if you need it. I won't feel it." He'd hear it scream, sure... just like when Henry slaughtered his ink soldiers with an axe. But feel it? Nah. Probably not. “A whole barrel of it in the corner”

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy was drunk on emotion. Sorrow wasn't a pleasant emotion, but it was a powerful one, and somehow sweeter than anger. Anger was easy. This emotion was... new? Or long forgotten, suppressed? Either way, it was gone as soon as Celia stopped feeding it to him. He was unable to retain any of it.

So it had been Joey who ruined Bendy. That, too, hadn't changed. Bendy wondered if that was why he suffered from tail envy from time to time. Demons had tails, right? Real demons had tails. Joey must have agreed. Too bad a tail wasn't the only thing Joey thought Bendy had needed.

And this entire time, he'd listened to the story as if it was just that, a story. Events that had happened to someone else. So when her tears and apologies were directed at him, he was surprised, confused. Had she come here looking for her own Bendy, to apologize? Had she gotten lost in the multiverse somewhere, was she stuck here? Was this even his apology to accept? Why did he care?

Bendy shrugged his shoulders.

"nah Joey's a pretty tough cookie. you proBaBly woulD have DieD protecting him anD then he'D Be corrupteD AND feel guilty over getting you killeD"

That felt about right. He'd watched enough movies to know that's usually what happened. But if she'd come here for forgiveness, he might as well give it, just in case she was stuck here. Why? Why did he care? There was a part of him going over the list of things he could use her for right now. An emotion battery, for one... a new heart for the Ink Machine... who knew what kind of cartoons he could create with something as perfect as this? And yet...

"at least this way I still have you. a Bright light in the Darkness"

Bleh! That part of him choked on those words. She was still an angel. And she certainly was a bright light in the darkness... but it was dark in the studio for a reason.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy did not like the idea of willingly lending himself to something that might kill him. He’d come too far in cheating death to hand himself over to it now.

“I know the story. I lived it!” But had he? The past of Joey Drew Studios she spoke of sounded far different from the one he remembered.

“I’ll hear your story, but tell me. Does this place you’re talking about still exist? Do uncorrupted cartoons walk around freely beyond these walls?”

He was still unable to believe these claims, and in fact could be a ploy to get him out of the studio where he would die, but what would she stand to gain from his demise?

“How does your ink friend exist so far away from an ink source? Does the sun not dry him out? What keeps him together if not the Machine?”

He was bombarding her with questions now, a part of him daring to imagine, what if. What if these things she said were true?

[twiisteddoodler]

He was getting excited, in the bad way. Still, gaze soft, voice softer and back straight, she engaged with him.

‘Bendy… A very long time ago, where I’m from, there was you. You, Boris, and Alice. You said you’ve lived it… but did you really? You would remember before, the before that was with me. I digress…’

She waved her hand, a glow emitting from her palm and shining on the wall, very much like a projector. She held it up, still holding his hand as a shadow play began. ‘Your career was a successful one, who wouldn’t be charmed by the little devil?’ A smaller Bendy waved, greeting some random groups of people who had little shadow hearts float from them. The Bendy shadow had his trademark grin. ‘Boris enjoyed his place as your second, it was just the right amount of fame that he liked. Boris was always simple like that.’ Shadow Boris appeared by Bendy’s side, they shook hands as a dollar sign appeared above them. Off to the side, another form bubbled into place as Bendy and Boris looked on. Shadow Bendy frowned deeply as the form finished into a very familiar figure. 'It was when Alice came that trouble started to brew.’ Shadow Alice smiled.

'Joey was very fond of Alice, having picked her dimensions himself, and she was saucy.’ A true to life silhouette of Joey appeared with a grin beside Alice, her hand on her hip with her smile. 'Sharp of wit and tongue, she could command a room and on screen? Why, she was the sweetest little counterpart to you.’ Shadow Alice made scores of people laugh, her body language clearly confident and proud. Then with Bendy as a projector appeared, little butterflies floated around her as she and Bendy danced. The grin on Shadow Bendy looked forced. 'Joey had every intent to make the story go as if Alice was your romantic interest.’ Joey was speaking to the duo, but Shadow Bendy’s body language suggested frustration, complete with foot stomping. All three were frowning, Shadow Bendy was making wild gestures. 'But you opposed, vehemently. It was the first time you stood against Joey’s ideas, because you and Alice off screen? You simply could not get along.

'But she was popular.’ Her eye caught the image of Alice’s introductory poster. Shadow Alice posed for cameras, going from sassy to sweet with her poses, blowing kisses that appeared as hearts. 'And she and Boris got along swimmingly. Boris was a bully on screen, but off screen he was passive, a good opposite to Alice’s fierceness. And though you didn’t like her, you played your part because you were an actor first. And it worked.’ The seamlessly shifting scenery changed to Alice and Boris engaging about something with Bendy obviously unimpressed and frowning off to the side. Then he sighed, straightened his bowtie and smiled, the three of them coming together on top of a platform, grinning and waving at an adoring sea of people below. 'You were “The Devilish Trio”, and the Studio got very popular. All three of you enjoyed the fame.’ Shadow Bendy seemed to be on his own platform, rising and rising above Alice and Boris as he waved in the applause all around him. Shadow Bendy’s smile was genuine and full of pleasure. 'With you, naturally, on top.’

Shadow Bendy stopped moving, his frown now showing concern as the crowds faded away in puffs of smoke. 'But it wouldn’t last. For…’ Shadow Bendy looked up, Alice was on a platform much higher than his and receiving those crowds of applause. Shadow Alice was blowing kisses, Shadow Bendy now looked more than worried. 'Alice was popular, gaining more and more much faster than you thought.’

The scene shifted, Bendy was talking with Shadow Joey, a few other shadow figures, and an obvious Shadow Henry. His gestures were desperate. 'You expressed your concerns as soon as you realized where this might go. Everyone back then knew what happened with Bimbo and Betty Boop, you didn’t want to be another Bimbo. And you sure as sunshine didn’t want Alice to be another wildly famous Betty Boop.’ Shadow Joey yawned and walked off scene as the other figures faded away, leaving only a saddened Bendy and Henry, who was still present. Shadow Bendy wiped at his face as Henry bent a knee, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'Joey didn’t care, he didn’t think it would really happen. Henry however, he listened to you.’

Now there was Henry and Joey, having a discussion that was slowly becoming an argument by how the shadows gestured sharply to one another. They seemed to magnify on the wall, their features becoming sharper as it focused more on their fast moving, soundless mouths and angry, knotted foreheads before it exploded. 'He tried, Bendy. He really did, but Joey was the most stubborn one in that friendship.’ Shadow Henry walked to his drawing desk, sitting down heavily with his face in his hands. 'He couldn’t get through to Joey…’ A butterfly floated in and landed on Henry’s desk, he sat up slowly and turned around, his slumped back and slightly darkened foreground suggesting he was working into dusk.

'He was tired one night…’ Shadow Henry yawned with a long stretch before he returned to drawing, though it was getting slower and slower until it seemed Henry was nodding off. The butterfly on his desk flew to his shoulder, causing Henry to pause… Then start to move his pencil with more intent. 'It was the only time I could talk to him.’ A very faint figure was leaning over Henry’s shoulder where the butterfly was, whispering and smiling as Henry was engaging with his doodle. 'I wanted a solid form on Earth…’

The scene faded into Joey talking with the trio, Bendy frowning at whatever he was saying before he looked off to the side, an exclamation point appearing over his head. Henry walked from the edge of the screen guiding someone in front of him, a figure that almost glowed. He was grinning happily, Boris was surprised with his 'o’ mouth, Alice was frowning but not so deeply as Joey, who almost seemed to be snarling. Bendy only looked at the new figure, Shadow Celia waved shyly.

The light cut off as Celia brought her hand to her chest, looking down as sadness again draped her features. 'I wanted to meet you…’ She took a breath after a moment of quiet, looking up at him. 'Shall I continue? It gets unpleasant.’

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Celia’s convictions were starting to become harder and harder to dismiss. She was speaking as if she truly held memories of speaking with the actual Bendy. And, even more alarming, she was speaking to him as if he were Bendy.

But… wasn’t he Bendy? …Yes! Yes of course he was. Joey was the bad guy in this story, see? He was a real jerk, no one likes Joey Drew. Boooo!

The delusions had begun again, and soon Celia was sitting next to a much smaller, less threatening looking Bendy. He looked up at her with his frozen face as if nothing had changed, this was how things had always been.

“Yes keep going. Then what happened?” Did Alice die of ugly? He hoped so.

[twiisteddoodler]

And here he was…

The exact same Bendy she knew, from his size to his voice change. … But it wasn’t really. No, he looked frozen in time, a peel off from one of his many posters. He was static, not the lively and organic Bendy she knew. More and more, she was accepting that this was indeed a different place in space and time.

With her little smile, she raised her hand again to continue with the shadow play.

She giggled. 'You didn’t like me.’ Shadow Bendy threw up his hands and started gesturing wildly at Shadow Celia, clearly saying “what the fuck is this?!” Celia snickered, despite how clearly confused the shadow puppets were. 'To be expected. I was “another angel” to you, and you expressed your displeasure to Henry.“ Shadow Henry took Bendy off to the side, smiling reassuringly and placing a hand on Bendy’s head. 'He reassured you though, I was just another support character and I’d never steal your spotlight.’

The scene shifted to Shadow Celia being on a stage surrounded by angry wolf like figures. Shadow Celia looked concerned at the crowd, Shadow Bendy off to the side of the stage tapping his foot. Shadow Joey and Alice were on the other side smiling gleefully. 'Henry begged Joey to give me a chance, and he did. He set me up to fail with a live audience instead of a practice one.’ She smirked as the Shadow Celia winked. 'But little did he know… I was literally born to perform.’

Shadow Celia twirled and grabbed a mic, large musical notes exploding behind her causing the wolves to freeze, Shadow Bendy to stare, and Shadow Joey and Alice to stare slack jawed. The wolves all began to smile as Shadow Celia tapped a beat, and they followed along before they all howled in praise. 'I was more than qualified to be on the show with you.’

With a shift, Shadow Bendy shrugged and then held out his hand to Shadow Celia. Shadow Celia took his hand with a large smile, causing Shadow Bendy to blink in surprise before he started smiling too. 'I’m a silent cartoon, mostly. Only when I sing am I allowed to speak, it’s how I was drawn. I had one way to communicate and I was so happy to finally be able to talk to you by holding your hand.’ Shadow Bendy’s smile was genuine and large, and with her by his side, appeared a stage with Boris and Alice, a much larger crowd praising them all. 'The show grew even more popular, and not just because of me.’ The focus was on Bendy now, little shadow musical notes around him. 'It was because of you. You were happier, and it started to effect your work in the best way.

'But…’ Just behind Shadow Bendy was a deeply frowning Shadow Alice. 'Alice did not like having the spotlight taken from her, even if you were the star.’ Now on the wall was Shadow Bendy, Boris, and Celia talking with Henry and Joey. Shadow Alice was shaking her head with disapproval, Joey was doing the same while Henry seemed to excited to listen to them. 'There was some changes that was happening, you and Boris overflowed with ideas. The audience liked the idea of two ladies the object of your affections, for me and Alice to vie for your attention.’ Shadow Alice’s frown only deepened as did Joey’s. ’It didn’t and never happened that way…’

Shadow Celia was left alone with Shadow Alice for a side by side comparison. Shadow Celia still seemed to glow, while Shadow Alice dripped from her edges. 'Alice hated me.’ The horns under Alice’s halo grew just as a dark expression came to her face. 'And it was starting to change her…’ Shadow Henry was talking in a room with some figures while Shadow Alice peeked around the corner. 'Henry let it slip in a conversation she overheard that Alice "wasn’t actually an angel”, I was.’ Henry’s mouth moved as Celia continued, as if parroting the words. 'Alice was a demon posing as an angel, and…’ Suddenly there was Henry’s voice in Bendy’s head, a younger sounding one. ’“It should’ve been obvious from her horns. No angel toon has horns, ever. If anything, she is as much Bendy’s foil as Boris is”.’

Shadow Alice looked wounded, then enraged, the light darkening around her, slithering and lashing like tentacles. It was back to Celia’s voice now in Bendy’s mind. 'She did not like that.’ It was unfortunate how Alice found out about her origins, Celia still felt a pang of sympathy for her. 'And her anger bled into the show…’

Now a more deviously smiling Shadow Alice seemed intent on sabotaging Shadow Bendy and Celia in a scene while the cameras were rolling. 'If I shared an episode with you, she was indeed a foil. Almost a villain.’ The scene shifted to it just being Shadow Alice and Bendy, and she was much nicer. 'And if it was just with you, she was America’s sweetheart all over again.’ Shadow Alice’s smile looked so forced it hurt to look at. 'The audience felt the change in her, however. And they loved the conflict between us on screen.’ When the cameraman gave a thumbs up for the scene being done, Shadow Celia appeared to a grinning Shadow Bendy. The director shooed Alice away so they could begin their own scene, Boris following and taking part as well. 'I was gaining popularity.’ Shadow Celia grew with a namecard surrounding her form in the shape of a star. 'I was Celia Darling.’

Suddenly Alice looked to be screaming angrily, taking over the whole wall. 'And though she was still Alice Angel, she no longer acted like it.’ The scene cut to Alice throwing things from her trailer, explictives being thrown out as well to some concerned and sad staff. 'She became more demanding, much more nasty. Suddenly nothing was ever enough.’ Shadow Alice was in Henry’s face, and suddenly her voice was in Bendy’s mind. ’“I want more screen time Henry! I don’t care what trash pile you pulled HER from, I’m still Alice Angel! ME! I’M THE ANGEL!’” Shadow Celia was concerned behind an unimpressed Shadow Bendy as Shadow Alice kept making her demands. A change, Shadow Bendy looked to be shielding Shadow Celia from Alice, arguing with her though she grew more and more angry, Shadow Bendy didn’t move one inch from in front of Celia though Alice was at her most monstrous. Shadow Bendy simply yawned and took Celia by the hand and led her away as Shadow Alice turned into a raging black flame. The scene faded…

’… Alice wasn’t the only one that was changing…’

Shadow Joey appeared on the projection, though now there was a truly terrifying look to him. Though everything about him was silhouetted in shadow, his eyes shown through. They were wide, bloodshot and wild. 'Joey was changing too…’ A slow, crazed grin with his shiny pearly white teeth crept upon the silhouette.

The projection stopped as Celia began to cough, putting her hand to her mouth as a sudden assault of coughing took her attention. Crude popped out from under her dress for a moment to hand her a large coke bottle with a straw before hiding back. Celia took the bottle, releasing her hold on Bendy’s hand for she was too weak to hold the bottle with just one of her hands. She sipped from the straw, the contents of the bottle much thicker and darker than soda. She gave Bendy an apologetic look as she sipped, her strength slowly returning.

“That happens sometimes,” Crude’s muffled voice said in his hiding spot. “She weakens when she doesn’t eat.”

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Bendy had sat there, staring, a part of him mesmerized by the little shadow play. A sort of, what if story. What if the toons had come out right. What if they hadn't needed human sacrifice to take form. The story played out simularly to his own... Celia playing the part of Allison. "Alice" had been corrupted and tainted by hate, pride, and jealousy, that much hadn't changed.

But his Alice had never been a popular character. Her merchandise had never sold well. She had been a foil, alright, to Bendy, Boris, and to Joey Drew Studios.

Celia's coughing fit startled him back to reality. Learning she, too, needed ink to sustain herself was both amusing and a little disappointing; perhaps she wasn't so perfect, after all. Animating the inanimate would always have its flaws, it seemed.

He had to stop himself from asking her, why not eat the little guy? It would have been in jest, of course, but it still may have had offended, and he still needed to hear how this story ended. Instead, he gestured all around them with two outstretched hands.

"you DiDn't neeD to Bring your own y'know I got plenty" He’d had to resort to speaking through ink on the walls again. This was fine.

But he knew why she'd brought her own. The ink in this place was... dirty. Cursed. Would it be purified by her touch, or would it destroy her from the inside out? An interesting question, but not the most pressing one. He kicked his feet back and forth like a bored child as he waited for the story to continue.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy did not like the idea of willingly lending himself to something that might kill him. He’d come too far in cheating death to hand himself over to it now.

“I know the story. I lived it!” But had he? The past of Joey Drew Studios she spoke of sounded far different from the one he remembered.

“I’ll hear your story, but tell me. Does this place you’re talking about still exist? Do uncorrupted cartoons walk around freely beyond these walls?”

He was still unable to believe these claims, and in fact could be a ploy to get him out of the studio where he would die, but what would she stand to gain from his demise?

“How does your ink friend exist so far away from an ink source? Does the sun not dry him out? What keeps him together if not the Machine?”

He was bombarding her with questions now, a part of him daring to imagine, what if. What if these things she said were true?

[twiisteddoodler]

He was getting excited, in the bad way. Still, gaze soft, voice softer and back straight, she engaged with him.

‘Bendy… A very long time ago, where I’m from, there was you. You, Boris, and Alice. You said you’ve lived it… but did you really? You would remember before, the before that was with me. I digress…’

She waved her hand, a glow emitting from her palm and shining on the wall, very much like a projector. She held it up, still holding his hand as a shadow play began. 'Your career was a successful one, who wouldn’t be charmed by the little devil?’ A smaller Bendy waved, greeting some random groups of people who had little shadow hearts float from them. The Bendy shadow had his trademark grin. 'Boris enjoyed his place as your second, it was just the right amount of fame that he liked. Boris was always simple like that.’ Shadow Boris appeared by Bendy’s side, they shook hands as a dollar sign appeared above them. Off to the side, another form bubbled into place as Bendy and Boris looked on. Shadow Bendy frowned deeply as the form finished into a very familiar figure. 'It was when Alice came that trouble started to brew.’ Shadow Alice smiled.

'Joey was very fond of Alice, having picked her dimensions himself, and she was saucy.’ A true to life silhouette of Joey appeared with a grin beside Alice, her hand on her hip with her smile. 'Sharp of wit and tongue, she could command a room and on screen? Why, she was the sweetest little counterpart to you.’ Shadow Alice made scores of people laugh, her body language clearly confident and proud. Then with Bendy as a projector appeared, little butterflies floated around her as she and Bendy danced. The grin on Shadow Bendy looked forced. 'Joey had every intent to make the story go as if Alice was your romantic interest.’ Joey was speaking to the duo, but Shadow Bendy’s body language suggested frustration, complete with foot stomping. All three were frowning, Shadow Bendy was making wild gestures. 'But you opposed, vehemently. It was the first time you stood against Joey’s ideas, because you and Alice off screen? You simply could not get along.

'But she was popular.’ Her eye caught the image of Alice’s introductory poster. Shadow Alice posed for cameras, going from sassy to sweet with her poses, blowing kisses that appeared as hearts. 'And she and Boris got along swimmingly. Boris was a bully on screen, but off screen he was passive, a good opposite to Alice’s fierceness. And though you didn’t like her, you played your part because you were an actor first. And it worked.’ The seamlessly shifting scenery changed to Alice and Boris engaging about something with Bendy obviously unimpressed and frowning off to the side. Then he sighed, straightened his bowtie and smiled, the three of them coming together on top of a platform, grinning and waving at an adoring sea of people below. 'You were “The Devilish Trio”, and the Studio got very popular. All three of you enjoyed the fame.’ Shadow Bendy seemed to be on his own platform, rising and rising above Alice and Boris as he waved in the applause all around him. Shadow Bendy’s smile was genuine and full of pleasure. 'With you, naturally, on top.’

Shadow Bendy stopped moving, his frown now showing concern as the crowds faded away in puffs of smoke. 'But it wouldn’t last. For…’ Shadow Bendy looked up, Alice was on a platform much higher than his and receiving those crowds of applause. Shadow Alice was blowing kisses, Shadow Bendy now looked more than worried. 'Alice was popular, gaining more and more much faster than you thought.’

The scene shifted, Bendy was talking with Shadow Joey, a few other shadow figures, and an obvious Shadow Henry. His gestures were desperate. 'You expressed your concerns as soon as you realized where this might go. Everyone back then knew what happened with Bimbo and Betty Boop, you didn’t want to be another Bimbo. And you sure as sunshine didn’t want Alice to be another wildly famous Betty Boop.’ Shadow Joey yawned and walked off scene as the other figures faded away, leaving only a saddened Bendy and Henry, who was still present. Shadow Bendy wiped at his face as Henry bent a knee, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'Joey didn’t care, he didn’t think it would really happen. Henry however, he listened to you.’

Now there was Henry and Joey, having a discussion that was slowly becoming an argument by how the shadows gestured sharply to one another. They seemed to magnify on the wall, their features becoming sharper as it focused more on their fast moving, soundless mouths and angry, knotted foreheads before it exploded. 'He tried, Bendy. He really did, but Joey was the most stubborn one in that friendship.’ Shadow Henry walked to his drawing desk, sitting down heavily with his face in his hands. 'He couldn’t get through to Joey…’ A butterfly floated in and landed on Henry’s desk, he sat up slowly and turned around, his slumped back and slightly darkened foreground suggesting he was working into dusk.

'He was tired one night…’ Shadow Henry yawned with a long stretch before he returned to drawing, though it was getting slower and slower until it seemed Henry was nodding off. The butterfly on his desk flew to his shoulder, causing Henry to pause… Then start to move his pencil with more intent. 'It was the only time I could talk to him.’ A very faint figure was leaning over Henry’s shoulder where the butterfly was, whispering and smiling as Henry was engaging with his doodle. 'I wanted a solid form on Earth…’

The scene faded into Joey talking with the trio, Bendy frowning at whatever he was saying before he looked off to the side, an exclamation point appearing over his head. Henry walked from the edge of the screen guiding someone in front of him, a figure that almost glowed. He was grinning happily, Boris was surprised with his 'o’ mouth, Alice was frowning but not so deeply as Joey, who almost seemed to be snarling. Bendy only looked at the new figure, Shadow Celia waved shyly.

The light cut off as Celia brought her hand to her chest, looking down as sadness again draped her features. 'I wanted to meet you…’ She took a breath after a moment of quiet, looking up at him. 'Shall I continue? It gets unpleasant.’

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Celia's convictions were starting to become harder and harder to dismiss. She was speaking as if she truly held memories of speaking with the actual Bendy. And, even more alarming, she was speaking to him as if he were Bendy.

But... wasn't he Bendy? ...Yes! Yes of course he was. Joey was the bad guy in this story, see? He was a real jerk, no one likes Joey Drew. Boooo!

The delusions had begun again, and soon Celia was sitting next to a much smaller, less threatening looking Bendy. He looked up at her with his frozen face as if nothing had changed, this was how things had always been.

"Yes keep going. Then what happened?" Did Alice die of ugly? He hoped so.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy did not like the idea of willingly lending himself to something that might kill him. He'd come too far in cheating death to hand himself over to it now.

"I know the story. I lived it!" But had he? The past of Joey Drew Studios she spoke of sounded far different from the one he remembered.

"I'll hear your story, but tell me. Does this place you're talking about still exist? Do uncorrupted cartoons walk around freely beyond these walls?"

He was still unable to believe these claims, and in fact could be a ploy to get him out of the studio where he would die, but what would she stand to gain from his demise?

"How does your ink friend exist so far away from an ink source? Does the sun not dry him out? What keeps him together if not the Machine?"

He was bombarding her with questions now, a part of him daring to imagine, what if. What if these things she said were true?

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy turned his eyeless, grinning gaze to his guests as they entered. He saw them more through the cutout propped up against the couch across from them than through his own ruined face. But he could still see her glow. And he could feel the very walls of the studio wince from its radiance.

It wasn’t until now, another prospect occurred to him. Perhaps he’d been too preoccupied by the fact she was an angel to notice what else she happened to be… a toon. But she wasn’t corrupted, tainted, ruined. Whoever had put her together, they’d done it right. Which meant she might know how it was done. He may not need to perform as many experiments as he thought… all he had to do was get her to tell him what he did wrong. It couldn’t simply be because she housed an angel rather than a demon; praying got you nowhere, the darkness provided results. For a price, yes, but nothing great comes cheap.

But maybe she couldn’t help him. Bendy leaned sideways to glimpse the cowering ink thing behind her. He chuckled, a harsh, gurgling sound. Just like Henry, hiding from the Big Bad Ink Demon. This cowardly creature wasn’t perfect, not in the slightest. If Celia was able to heal him, wouldn’t she have? Bendy sat back up, and extended a hand, as if asking for a handshake, and braced himself for the burning sensation he knew would follow. Even when she didn’t intend to hurt, her holy touch still stung.

[twiisteddoodler]

Crude shivered against Celia’s back, she scooted to shield him from Bendy and hummed a sound which meant it was all right for him to scurry under her dress (which he did, earnestly).

His extended palm surprised Celia, she blinked her doe eyes surprise before reaching out and took his hooked claw of a hand. Her touch was at it’s lowest holy she could muster, a mere 1%. She couldn’t turn off or deny what she was, just like Bendy couldn’t. They could only change forms. ‘Bendy,’ Her gentle voice caressed in his mind as she smiled softly, I’ve missed that cheeky grin.’ This was different from before… Before, the first time they met, he jerked from her touch as if she had shot him, nearly throwing himself away and content to turn his back to her.

This felt… intentional. He wanted something… Demonics *always* wanted something… She would provide what she could.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Distracted and startled momentarily by the implications of what that little creature could possibly be going under there, he was brought back to reality the moment the hand contact occurred. The sting was… mild. It may have even felt nice under different circumstances.

The voice invading his mind was comforting, as it had been before. Warm, and kind. He felt like recoiling from it like a feral cat from a human hand, and yet a part of him loathed knowing it wouldn’t last. The comment about missing his grin both stroked his ego and made him wary of sarcasm. She wasn’t afraid at all, was she? Did she truly trust him that much, or was she more powerful than he’d first assumed? His uncertainty made taking advantage of her seemingly naive kindness, risky.

Right. Questions. He had questions. Where to start?

“who made you?” As good a place as any. The words were thought, but they also appeared on the wall on the far side of the room. It couldn’t be helped.

[twiisteddoodler]

Celia’s bright white eyes looked away, a bit of sadness glossing her features. He really wasn’t the Bendy she knew from the past, she knew when they met there was something very different going on (outside of the obvious growth and corruption of course) but his question really drove it home. Who was it that wore Bendy like a tattered suit then..? She had to know.

‘I’ll answer… but I have my own question as well…’ She turned her gaze upon him, eyes focused where his eyes would’ve anatomically been. ‘Please, be sincere.’ She blinked those sweet pearl eyes, eyebrows furrowing in genuine curiosity and a little concern. ‘You don’t remember me at all… do you?’ If he did, he would know *exactly* who drew her and gave her life… And who was vehemently against her being part of the show.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

At first, he assumed she’d meant if he remembered her from the last time she’d visited… but then realized that wasn’t the case. Had they met before? Long before? He scoured through his memories, and came up empty.

Instead of thinking a reply, he simply shook his head, slowly. Was the corruption affecting his memories, too? Or was she just toying with him? If it was the latter, she was a great actress. That sadness had looked genuine.

[twiisteddoodler]

'I see…’ Closing her eyes, she released the breath she didn’t realize she was holding for his response. It must be happening again… Sometimes he would know who she was, other times not. Sometimes he’d be big, like now, or his normal self or even his slightly smaller, kid-friendly self (the one that appeared in the cartoons). It was fascinating… And sad, at first frustrating, but now simply curious.

Was the Studio a time warp? Or, more troubling… did Bendy always call for her in countless different ways, in infinite timelines?

She placed her other hand over his, a gentle hold, meant for comfort as she looked at him. 'In my time Bendy, toons that were made were born,’ She began delicately, 'Bugs Bunny, Betty Boop, Donald Duck, they lived and breathed as soon as their form was finalized. They walked around looking like toons but lived as people.

'During our time, a wonderfully wild place where the Toons lived was around, called Toontown. Humans could visit but never live there, it was full of fun but endless dangers that only a toon understood, for it was exclusively our world. Once made, we worked at our parent studio, with our creators. Of course… Joey Drew Studios was yours and mine.’ Mostly Joey’s, that man had a darkness in him that Celia never liked.

'It was you first, being born here, for you were the star.’ She smiled something nostalgic. 'And what a star you were…’ Eyes glancing at the posters on the wall, her memories were sharp of every episode, and especially the ones that didn’t make The Cut. 'Then came Boris Wolf, for a star always needs a foil. And then came Alice Angel.’ A pulse of pain rushed through her touch, her pain, old yet still fresh. 'All of you were collaborated on, many hands made the decision of what you’d do, who you’d be, what your purpose was.

'I was different…’ This time, she looked directly at his cutout in the corner so he could see the sadness in her eyes, the troubled expression on her face. 'I had one maker… And just like you… I made me.’ A smile tugged at her lips from the memory, it was always a sweet one. 'I was a muse in his ear. I never had a humanoid form before so I was unsure but determined, and I gently guided his hand one night… He made me softer, he made my form simple yet beautiful. Once he finished, the desire to see me come to life gave me breath though he didn’t know at the time, he thought I was a simple doodle…’

She sighed, then straightened up a little, her face now neutral. 'To answer your question… Henry made me, he’s my Creator.’

[studiosrecordingbooth]

The longer Celia went on, speaking of this magical world, the angrier, the more frustrated, Bendy became. He could, and would, believe that Henry had created her, especially considering she seemed to know about what went on in this studio years ago. But the rest? Lies. Blatant lies. If humans held the ability to just... just, poof their creations into existence, then all Joey had worked for, everything he'd sacrificed, would have been for nothing. He refused to believe that.

Either the angel was still messing with him, or she was simply mad.

And yet, she spoke of these events in past-tense. As if this place she spoke of no longer existed. She knew how terrible Alice was, and she was genuinely sad about the whole situation. This was all very confusing. He would humor her for now, if for nothing more than to sate his curiosity.

"You're saying Bendy existed, then. Like you do. I guess you'll tell me Henry did that, too? And what happened to this magical world? Every good story has an ending."

[studiosrecordingbooth]

[ I’ve noticed the Studio on my ask blog and the Studio I tend to use for most RPs are slightly different.

In (most) RP scenarios, he can change between his two forms. Ink Bendy is Joey Drew, first and foremost, though warped slightly by the demonic possession. His smaller form, Studio, is still Joey... but the part of Joey who has disillusioned himself into believing he’s Bendy. A corrupted thing, with stunted emotions, a childish demeanor, and a cruel sense of humor.

On my Ask Blog, it’s the same... except he can’t change forms. He always looks like the thing in the game, he just uses demon magic to make himself appear small and cute. It doesn’t work on everyone. ]

[studiosrecordingbooth]

💌 (For Jasper, @little-devil-darling-rp)

Jasper,

why didn’t you come with Silent the last time? do you regret what happeneD when you visited? you should visit. it Doesn’t have to be Brownies. the other cats don’t talk to me.

                                                                               Studio

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy turned his eyeless, grinning gaze to his guests as they entered. He saw them more through the cutout propped up against the couch across from them than through his own ruined face. But he could still see her glow. And he could feel the very walls of the studio wince from its radiance.

It wasn’t until now, another prospect occurred to him. Perhaps he’d been too preoccupied by the fact she was an angel to notice what else she happened to be… a toon. But she wasn’t corrupted, tainted, ruined. Whoever had put her together, they’d done it right. Which meant she might know how it was done. He may not need to perform as many experiments as he thought… all he had to do was get her to tell him what he did wrong. It couldn’t simply be because she housed an angel rather than a demon; praying got you nowhere, the darkness provided results. For a price, yes, but nothing great comes cheap.

But maybe she couldn’t help him. Bendy leaned sideways to glimpse the cowering ink thing behind her. He chuckled, a harsh, gurgling sound. Just like Henry, hiding from the Big Bad Ink Demon. This cowardly creature wasn’t perfect, not in the slightest. If Celia was able to heal him, wouldn’t she have? Bendy sat back up, and extended a hand, as if asking for a handshake, and braced himself for the burning sensation he knew would follow. Even when she didn’t intend to hurt, her holy touch still stung.

[twiisteddoodler]

Crude shivered against Celia’s back, she scooted to shield him from Bendy and hummed a sound which meant it was all right for him to scurry under her dress (which he did, earnestly).

His extended palm surprised Celia, she blinked her doe eyes surprise before reaching out and took his hooked claw of a hand. Her touch was at it’s lowest holy she could muster, a mere 1%. She couldn’t turn off or deny what she was, just like Bendy couldn’t. They could only change forms. ‘Bendy,’ Her gentle voice caressed in his mind as she smiled softly, I’ve missed that cheeky grin.’ This was different from before… Before, the first time they met, he jerked from her touch as if she had shot him, nearly throwing himself away and content to turn his back to her.

This felt… intentional. He wanted something… Demonics *always* wanted something… She would provide what she could.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Distracted and startled momentarily by the implications of what that little creature could possibly be going under there, he was brought back to reality the moment the hand contact occurred. The sting was… mild. It may have even felt nice under different circumstances.

The voice invading his mind was comforting, as it had been before. Warm, and kind. He felt like recoiling from it like a feral cat from a human hand, and yet a part of him loathed knowing it wouldn’t last. The comment about missing his grin both stroked his ego and made him wary of sarcasm. She wasn’t afraid at all, was she? Did she truly trust him that much, or was she more powerful than he’d first assumed? His uncertainty made taking advantage of her seemingly naive kindness, risky.

Right. Questions. He had questions. Where to start?

“who made you?” As good a place as any. The words were thought, but they also appeared on the wall on the far side of the room. It couldn’t be helped.

[twiisteddoodler]

Celia’s bright white eyes looked away, a bit of sadness glossing her features. He really wasn’t the Bendy she knew from the past, she knew when they met there was something very different going on (outside of the obvious growth and corruption of course) but his question really drove it home. Who was it that wore Bendy like a tattered suit then..? She had to know.

‘I’ll answer… but I have my own question as well…’ She turned her gaze upon him, eyes focused where his eyes would’ve anatomically been. 'Please, be sincere.’ She blinked those sweet pearl eyes, eyebrows furrowing in genuine curiosity and a little concern. 'You don’t remember me at all… do you?’ If he did, he would know *exactly* who drew her and gave her life… And who was vehemently against her being part of the show.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

At first, he assumed she'd meant if he remembered her from the last time she'd visited... but then realized that wasn't the case. Had they met before? Long before? He scoured through his memories, and came up empty.

Instead of thinking a reply, he simply shook his head, slowly. Was the corruption affecting his memories, too? Or was she just toying with him? If it was the latter, she was a great actress. That sadness had looked genuine.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy turned his eyeless, grinning gaze to his guests as they entered. He saw them more through the cutout propped up against the couch across from them than through his own ruined face. But he could still see her glow. And he could feel the very walls of the studio wince from its radiance.

It wasn’t until now, another prospect occurred to him. Perhaps he’d been too preoccupied by the fact she was an angel to notice what else she happened to be… a toon. But she wasn’t corrupted, tainted, ruined. Whoever had put her together, they’d done it right. Which meant she might know how it was done. He may not need to perform as many experiments as he thought… all he had to do was get her to tell him what he did wrong. It couldn’t simply be because she housed an angel rather than a demon; praying got you nowhere, the darkness provided results. For a price, yes, but nothing great comes cheap.

But maybe she couldn’t help him. Bendy leaned sideways to glimpse the cowering ink thing behind her. He chuckled, a harsh, gurgling sound. Just like Henry, hiding from the Big Bad Ink Demon. This cowardly creature wasn’t perfect, not in the slightest. If Celia was able to heal him, wouldn’t she have? Bendy sat back up, and extended a hand, as if asking for a handshake, and braced himself for the burning sensation he knew would follow. Even when she didn’t intend to hurt, her holy touch still stung.

[twiisteddoodler]

Crude shivered against Celia’s back, she scooted to shield him from Bendy and hummed a sound which meant it was all right for him to scurry under her dress (which he did, earnestly).

His extended palm surprised Celia, she blinked her doe eyes surprise before reaching out and took his hooked claw of a hand. Her touch was at it’s lowest holy she could muster, a mere 1%. She couldn’t turn off or deny what she was, just like Bendy couldn’t. They could only change forms. ‘Bendy,’ Her gentle voice caressed in his mind as she smiled softly, I’ve missed that cheeky grin.’ This was different from before… Before, the first time they met, he jerked from her touch as if she had shot him, nearly throwing himself away and content to turn his back to her.

This felt… intentional. He wanted something… Demonics *always* wanted something… She would provide what she could.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

Distracted and startled momentarily by the implications of what that little creature could possibly be going under there, he was brought back to reality the moment the hand contact occurred. The sting was... mild. It may have even felt nice under different circumstances.

The voice invading his mind was comforting, as it had been before. Warm, and kind. He felt like recoiling from it like a feral cat from a human hand, and yet a part of him loathed knowing it wouldn’t last. The comment about missing his grin both stroked his ego and made him wary of sarcasm. She wasn't afraid at all, was she? Did she truly trust him that much, or was she more powerful than he'd first assumed? His uncertainty made taking advantage of her seemingly naive kindness, risky.

Right. Questions. He had questions. Where to start?

"who made you?" As good a place as any. The words were thought, but they also appeared on the wall on the far side of the room. It couldn't be helped.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

@twiisteddoodler

Bendy turned his eyeless, grinning gaze to his guests as they entered. He saw them more through the cutout propped up against the couch across from them than through his own ruined face. But he could still see her glow. And he could feel the very walls of the studio wince from its radiance.

It wasn't until now, another prospect occurred to him. Perhaps he'd been too preoccupied by the fact she was an angel to notice what else she happened to be... a toon. But she wasn't corrupted, tainted, ruined. Whoever had put her together, they'd done it right. Which meant she might know how it was done. He may not need to perform as many experiments as he thought... all he had to do was get her to tell him what he did wrong. It couldn't simply be because she housed an angel rather than a demon; praying got you nowhere, the darkness provided results. For a price, yes, but nothing great comes cheap.

But maybe she couldn't help him. Bendy leaned sideways to glimpse the cowering ink thing behind her. He chuckled, a harsh, gurgling sound. Just like Henry, hiding from the Big Bad Ink Demon. This cowardly creature wasn't perfect, not in the slightest. If Celia was able to heal him, wouldn't she have? Bendy sat back up, and extended a hand, as if asking for a handshake, and braced himself for the burning sensation he knew would follow. Even when she didn't intend to hurt, her holy touch still stung.

[studiosrecordingbooth]

*shrugs* 💌

chrysalis,

you’re special. I knew it from the first time I saw you. you should visit more. wear the Dress again I like it.the view is really nice from Down here.

                                                                               StuDio

p.s.

mayBe we should meet lower in the stuDio next time where there’s more room