Chapter Text
Alice smiled big at the studio before her. After 20 long years of waiting, from the day she was born to her finally becoming an adult, finally, father Joey was letting her become part of his fabled cartoon! And, the best part was, she could meet the star himself, Bendy! God, did she crush on him hard. In the cartoon, he was just so cute and charming! Though she was a 'fallen angel', surely, Bendy would be PERFECT for her.
"You have fun now, okay?" Joey patted her shoulder and handed her her purple suitcase. "If anything goes wrong, call me."
Alice smiled and nodded. "Yes, father."
Joey kissed her on the cheek and got back into his car, driving away, and leaving a cloud of dirt dust in his path. Alice waved as the car disappeared around a turn, and then she smiled back at the workshop. Oh, the fun she would have here! The singing, the dancing, the new friendships... and meeting Bendy! Oh, how fun it would be!
She went up to the door and went in slowly. "Hello? Anyone home...?"
"Hey Alice!" a tall wolf ran up to her and shook her hand. "You're finally here! Welcome!"
Alice laughed. "You must be Boris! Hello!" She gladly returned the shake.
"Let me help you with your bag, I'll take you to your room." Boris took Alice's suitcase and led her down a hall. "Good trip, I hope?"
"Yeah," Alice nodded, and smiled at the thought of Joey singing the whole drive here for her entertainment. "it was a fun ride. I'll really miss him. I'll be sure to call him often."
"Mr. Drew?" Boris questioned. "Yeah, he's a cool mister-mister. Bendy doesn't like him much, but that's typical Bendy for ya."
Alice frowned. "But he'll like me, won't he...?"
Boris nodded. "He should. I wouldn't think he wouldn't...? And even if he freaked out at first it wouldn't be long before he got used to you. You'll fit right in!"
Alice smiled, though worry still flooded her. What if Bendy didn't like her? Did she look okay? She looked down at herself. She really tried to dress up and look nice today... hopefully it was enough.
Boris helped her get settled into her room, and after an hour, she was informed that Bendy was done with his model work and was free to see her. Butterflies filled her chest and she stifled many squeals of excitement. The time has come! Finally, she would meet him! Her nerves went bonkers and her hands shook as she tried to do her hair more nicely. She HAD to look perfect. First impressions were a big deal to her. If anything were to go wrong... well, she would try to fix it. She hoped nothing would. She did happen to have small anxiety attacks every once in a while, but it was only when Joey was trying to teach her something new, like drawing an illusion or editing music. She always wondered why Joey gave her that tidbit of her personality... it probably suits her better than most things. Hopefully that won't bother Bendy.
Alice walked slowly into the theater room. Right ahead, there he was! Bendy, short and adorable as usual, was talking to two taller men, one with black hair and bangs that split in the middle of his forehead, and another that had darker skin and a faded orange ponytail. As Alice came closer, she read the name tags and found the black-haired pale-skinned man was Norman Polk, the company's projectionist and youngest employee, and the orange-haired faded man to be Sammy Lawrence, the music director and someone Joey spoke of often. It was no secret to Alice that Joey favored him. She never found out how Sammy felt about Joey.
Sammy was the first to notice Slice and he smiled at her. "Well well well! There she is! Welcome!" His voice was quiet and tired but enthusiastic. Norman flashed her a big excited smile.
"Oh, she is here!" He exclaimed excitedly. "Welcome, Alice! Welcome!"
She shook the hands of both men. "Aha... hello! Hello! Thank you! Hi Bendy..." She smiled shyly at the demon, only two feet away, who was raising an eyebrow at her. Wait, why was he giving her... THAT look?
"Hi," he said. He looked back up to Norman. "Anyway, about this new cartoon-"
"Bendy," Sammy interrupted, "Alice is here."
Bendy glared at Sammy. "Yeah? And?"
"And so get to know her!" Norman smiled big. It was crazy how his enthusiasm and happiness that came with every second he was breathing was genuine and never-ending. How could someone be so happy? "She's part of the cartoon now!"
Bendy looked back to Alice with an observing look. "Like a what, a waitress or something?"
Alice frowned. "No, I'm your love interest in the show, I heard..."
"WHAT?!" Bendy choked, stepping back. "I barely even know you! This was Drew's idea, wasn't it! It seems like that blonde idiot to just throw something together without asking my thoughts first!"
"Bendy!" Sammy said sternly, "He tried to ask you but you responded with 'Joey, I'm busy ignoring you.'"
"How bad can it be?" Norman shrugged. "I thought it was a cute idea."
"Now hold on...!" Alice tried to say with strength, strength she didn't have, "Joey is not an idiot! He's an amazing father... he's a good man..."
Bendy squinted at her. "Seems like the idiot sent another idiot."
Alice gasped and stepped back. Both Sammy and Norman stepped in front of her.
"Bendy!" Norman yelled, "Apologize!"
"What's gonna make me!" Bendy yelled right back, throwing his arms up. "Not publishing this next cartoon? See if that'll make me!"
Alice winced and covered her face as tears began to run from her eyes. She whimpered and hid more behind Sammy.
"Bendy," Sammy began in a low voice, "if you don't apologize..."
"You'll what? Go crying to your big brave boyfriend Joey?" Bendy crossed his arms. "Like you normally do? He's got nothin' on me either!"
Sammy stood back with a look of disbelief painted on his face. He looked to Norman, who was wearing the same expression.
"I can't believe..." Norman shook his head. "I thought you were better than that..."
Bendy smirks. "Well I'm not. Oh look, she ran off."
Sammy and Norman turned to see that Alice did run off, and they had turned just in time to watch her disappear out the door. Sammy glared at Bendy. "Just wait until Mr. Drew hears about this."
Norman pointed to Bendy. "Even worse! Wait until HENRY hears about this! His best friend disrespecting the new character!"
"Oh whatever!" Bendy rolled his eyes and walked away. "See if I care! 'Cause I don't!"
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Alice collapsed on her bed in tears, sobbing loud into her hands and then her pillow. How could Bendy be so mean...? Was it her approach? Her apparel? Did she interrupt something important? She sat up and looked into the mirror near her. Her makeup was a mess, black streaks all around her eyes and cheeks. She gave herself a disgusted look.
"You're a mess..." she said to herself. With a shaky sigh she looked down at her messy pillow. This first impression was not at all good. And it was her fault. It had to be. She would do better next time. She smiled to herself. Surely it was her approach, she could change that! And she would! She just needed to wait until the next day, after this all blew over...