Chapter Text
The halls were damp and cold, the pipes were rusty and groaned. No one has been down here for years.. Well, not anyone who wasn't already consumed by the ink. Down here in this damned studio lurked a creature, a disgusting, soulless creature that can, and will, drag anything into the dark abyss. The Ink Demon roamed the halls, listening to every piece of paper that fell, and every footstep. Walking with a limp, he slowly made his way over to the giant cave that housed his lair. Grumbling, he stopped to look at what had brought him to life. It was huge, with a giant tube curved down, and a opening at the bottom leading to his throne room. Giant pipes were attached to it, ink flowed through them; giving the giant machine life. He wondered why, and how, someone would design such a thing. Let alone build it. Forcing open his permanent smile, he let out a sigh and continued forward. After crossing the ink he looked at the glass cases embedded in the walls as he passed by. He seemed to slip into his own thoughts as he did so, as a sudden scream made him blink his ink covered eyes and snap back into horrible reality. Only to find himself staring at a toon in one of the cases. How long had he been staring? He didn't know, but what he did know was that this toon wasn't here earlier. "Get away!" Is what she said as she backed up as much as she could in the tiny exhibit. "S-Stop staring at me!" The Ink Demon cocked his head to the side, examining the woman's design. She wore a black dress, some gloves, tiny shoes, and what was really interesting was the fact that she had horns.. and a halo! Was she a demon? An angel? A mix? He didn't know. Stepping closer he leaned his face inches away from the glass, causing his breath to fog up part of it.
"I said stay away!" The toon swatted her hand at him in the case, ready to scream again if he continued to move closer. Or worse, break the glass and attack her. The demon stopped and looked at her expression. She looked like she was practically on the verge of a breakdown. So he stepped back, allowing her to hopefully get the hint he wasn't there to harm her. It seemed to somewhat work, as she didn't seem as stiff now. She moved closer towards the glass and looked at his features, moving her eyes up and down, scanning him. "Who are you?" She asked in a sweet, yet scared voice.
He wanted to answer her question, only there was one problem; he couldn't speak. He looked around and saw a poster on the floor. He picked it up and showed her the little demon on it. ".... Bendy?" She kept looking between him and and poster, raising an eyebrow. He surely didn't look like that cute little demon. "Well," she started. "I'm Alice Angel!" She did a curtsy and looked back up at him. 'Alice?' He put his hand up to his nonexistent chin and thought about it. Now that he saw her, she did look like the woman on some of the posters. He tried opening his mouth to speak, only to have ink drip out. "Rrrr.."
"Are.. Are you trying to speak?"
He closed his mouth and nodded. He must've disgusted her, as her expression now seemed to show something reflecting that. So he instead decided to motion her to cover her face.
After a few seconds of being confused, she finally understood his gestures. "You.. want me to cover my face?" The response was a nod. "Why?.." He hit his hand against the glass gently, signaling he was going to break it. "Oh.. Alright.." She did as he said, and heard the glass shatter. Removing her hands, she saw that she could step out now. The demon held his hand up, letting her know he was going to help her. She hesitantly accepted, and he helped her down; being careful for the glass. "..... Thank you.. Bendy, was it?" He nodded again and bowed just like he would in the cartoons. Alice giggled, a nervous giggle at that. "So.. where am I?"
Bendy looked around and made hand gestures. "I'm sorry... I don't understand sign language.."
Bendy frowned, then got an idea and drew on the floor. Spelling out INK MACHINE.
"So.. this is a machine?" Alice looked all around, in awe at how big a machine could be. "Well then, could you show me around?" Bendy nodded, though he knew there wasn't much fun to be had here. Except, maybe the carnival booths? He extended his hand out again, and she took it. "Lead the way I guess?" Alice said with a nervous smile. Bendy nodded again and started limping and leading her around the studio.