#and for what is sammi doing it? foolish vengeance

[silverstudios]

(Bad end) Friends forever more

(Blame @fandomfuntimem and them mentioning their bad end idea, it's what got me thinking about this in the first place. Warning- Angst.)

Clyde liked keeping things organized within- liked keeping the struggling souls in the correct places. The important ones- the little ones, Sammy, that one gas station attendant that got it to laugh- sat in its chest, beating alongside its hearts. Their whispers are audible, understandable- their voices a part of it’s own on a daily basis. 

The rest-police officers, drunken teenagers, those unlucky enough to cross its path during a hunt- sat in its center, muffled, forgotten, unneeded. A byproduct of its biology. 

Alex was going to be in the center of its chest, cradled between its hearts and ribs- the mere thought made its tail twitch and a gleeful giggle raced from it as it jumped over the little picket fence. It paused to make sure Winfrey didn’t get caught in the phone lines above, and sent them a large grin as they passed the threshold into Alex’s yard. It was good to have them back, to know they were nearby. 

It was especially glad they were feeling well enough to follow it tonight, it needed its partner's help in cause Alex was able to slip outside during this little game it had planned, and then of course what comes after was for them both. 

It trouted across the grass, tail swaying side to side, the grin on its face only getting wider with each step toward its favorite entry window, a growl escaping from its center. 

It hadn’t eaten in a week as it waited for winfrey to recover, curled up alongside them- dreaming of this moment. 

Once Alex was inside, tucked into its chest, their heart beating alongside its own- no fear of fading, no fear of mortal life- this partnered pair were going to make Eastridge a Ghost town. As a celebration of freedom- as vengeance for what this town had allowed to happen. 

It rose and tapped against the glass- tap tap tap tap tap tap- and its tail raised in joy as Alex poked their head into view. It smiled and wiggled its claws, and Alex- oh sweet, kind, foolish Alex- opened the glass for it. 

“There you are- got me a bit worried there.” They sighed, stepping back as it crawled in. It couldn’t help but feel almost Bad for what it was about to do, for the betrayal it knew Alex was going to feel…but this was a good thing- for them both. 

Life unending for Alex, no fear of fade or the limits of their fragile body- they still had that massive slash across their cheek from last week- and for it? It’s companion, its friend, safe and warm within, never to be lost nor taken. A comforting weight against its hearts, to hold and enjoy whenever it pleased- their mind, entwined with its own-.

A grumble-then a growl-escaped from it, and Alex blinked heavily. 

“Oh.” they whispered. “Here, let me go make some sandwiches-” The fact they had ducked in time to avoid its lunge was a surprise, them yelping like a squeaky toy that had just gotten run over was not. It giggled from its spot on top of the kitchen counters, Tail swinging out in gleeful swipes- the world Warped, reflecting its delight around it. “What the hell was that Clyde-!?” They stopped when their eyes met its own, and it got to watch Every second of recognition and dread that crossed their features. “...Oh.” They took a step back, It shifted on the counter as its tail curled onto the wall behind it, eyes widened and a delighted grin reached its eyes. It Purred- it couldn’t help itself, it was so excited, so Gleeful, hearts beating like drums in its chest. The ones within were divided- some begged for it to change its mind, to stop, while others- the little ones, mostly- were just as excited at the thought of having a New friend as it was! “You knew this was Coming~” “Fuck.” They ran, and it Cackled as it sprung from its perch. Hallucinations, visual and auditory- no holding back tonight. No muffling itself to protect fragile ears or minds, no dimming of its visions, no holding back- it’s time to play! This was Always its favorite part of a hunt- playing Tag. 

A blur, a rush- a chorus of yelps and slams and curses and Laughter. It didn’t care that it was causing a wreck of the house, it didn’t care that it’s tail shattered glass and tables. It, for those wonderful moments, let its instincts take over. The rush of the chase, of near missing it’s swipes and grabs, and skidding across wooden floor- And then it slammed into a door. Alex had slinked into a room, and had managed to slam it shut a second before it entered. It had slammed into it like a bull- and the fact the door didn’t fall off it’s hinges was honestly impressive. Annoying, but Impressive… “...You can’t hide in there~” It cooed, leaning against the indented wooden door, tail tapping against it playfully. “That room doesn’t have an exit~” It could practically taste the fear coming through the door, could hear their gasps for breath and the pounding of their heart. Could smell the salt from the tears in their eyes and sweat. “........Clyde, you don’t want to eat me.” they whispered just loud enough to be heard. “I- I would not taste good, sleep medications and pain killers aren’t tasty.” Ah, there’s the barging, which It had expected before flight or fight. 

“I’ve eaten humans with much worst materials in them, You’ll taste just fine~” A gulp, a shudder. “....I…..This is what I get for thinking you cared….” It slumped slightly, eyes glanced away for a second. “I do.” “You’re trying to eat me.” “Because I care- Because you’re my friend.” And it does. It really does- just maybe not in the way Alex views those words. Every moment it stood near them, it fought itself to not pounce, to not lunge. It repeated it over and over again, “I don’t care about Alex”, to keep itself from cracking and acting on what its heart demanded of it. From swallowing them whole, putting them next to the little ones and holding on tight. It fought every instinct it had, bit its tongue at every cut Alex had gotten during this little adventure…

Because it had needed them outside, it needed their help to get Winfrey back and they couldn’t do that tucked away in its rib cage. But now, Winfrey was free, the asylum up in flames and the bastard who started this dead and rotting somewhere. 

Alex didn’t need to be outside any longer.

 The two remained silent for a while, the only sounds being the breathing, Clyde’s purring and the quiet, fought back sobs that Alex was trying to hide. Clyde knew Alex wouldn’t let it in or come out while it was still there…and so it climbed up onto the wall, tail striking the ground to mimic its walk, moving it further and further away… It waited, breath held…and grinned as the door opened, Alex poking their head out and looking around. “.....Clyde?” they whispered, moving slowly and looking down the hall…and it lowered itself, mouth opened wide. It wouldn’t chew…much, anyway. It didn’t need to, and it didn’t want to hurt them. Alex had looked up just as it lunged down. They didn’t even get to scream. All they had seen was a flash of yellow- and then warm, tight darkness and the sound of delighted purring.

[maguro13-2]

War of Shadow Realm ~ Origins of the Ink Demon Chapter 4 Finale [5/5] ~

[Vengeance is Mine (Shadow Ver.) - Jun Senoue]

Seto : Damn! This is one crazy demon to chase. Using A Blooper to get us distracted with ink? I don't know if I even catch up with her! How is this supposed to work!

Eve : (on her motorcycle) Hey there, Reaper! Looks like you could use hand for me, I'll be an assistant for your battles as a friend or a helper!

Seto : Eve Neuschwanstein! You sure got good timing! I need your help on stopping Inky Albarn!

Eve : Leave it to me!

Inky Albarn : (chuckles) That stupid reaper won't catch me if I'm speeding off the rails, but it's a good thing that I'm on the tracks to keep me safe from those pests

Eve : Or will be?

Inky Albarn : Huh? What the bloody hell?!

[Mad Convoy Race - Jun Senoue]

Eve : Looks were on the same tail as you! So, you're supposed to be the fastest thing by speeding?! Ha! What a joke!

Inky Albarn : That does it!!(turns into Bullet Bill) Now you've really made me mad, fools!

Eve Neuschwanstein : Is that the best thing you can do? (Turns into Bullet Bill) Why don't you let someone pick on your size!

Seto : (groans) I hate it when turn into that! Not the best thing to cheat in kart racing.

Solva : I told you so!

Seto : There's gotta be an easier way to stop that crazy demon queen for good. (Holds out an Item Box) I've been planning on doing this, just for an occasion. It has to be the ultimate weapon that destroys the lead vehicle and it's very important.

Solva : You thinking what I'm thinking?

Seto : Gladly you asked.

Eve Neuschwanstein : [turns back into Bullet Bill] There's nothing that will slow her down! She's too loony and fast, not all cartoons like that would do it in real life!

Inky Albarn : (laughs triumphantly) Looks like I'm gonna win this race to loose you all and there isn't a single soul to stop me! Guess it's gonna be a Win Win for me! I'm gonna take you down fair and square!

Eve Neuschwanstein : But there's one thing that you forget and I say it's very important that you might lose to this race by me. With a friend to help?!

Inky Albarn : ?!

Seto : Hey, Inky! I gotta special delivery for you! Feast on this!

Inky Albarn : W-What?! What is that?! (We show Solva holding a Blue Koop Shell) A Blue Shell is racer's choice for a weapon?!?

Solva : I hope this better works! (Throws the Blue Shell)

Inky Albarn : That's not gonna work. (Blue Shell suddenly grew spikes and wings) Wait a sec, it can fly?! How is that even possible?! Why is that Blue Shell alwaysa problem to racers?!

Wario : The blue tortoise shell is Mario Kart race's ultimate weapon. It-a magically finds the lead car in the race, and it takes it out.

Inky Albarn : What did you expect that I was about to get hit? I'm gonna directly get hit by a Blue Shell that is definitely straight up to my--AAAAAAAAAH!!!

[DBZ SFX : Explosion]

Solva : Alright!

Eve Neuschwanstein : Direct hit!

Seto : I won!

Ashley : Good job on tracking down that perpetrator! She won't be giving herself a speeding ticket if you know what I Mean.

Seto : Alright, you nutcase. Give it up! You won't be going any further!

Ashley : Surrender now and turns yourself in!

Seto : So what are you going to say for yourself, huh, Inky? Got something for you to have that little nervous system. Time put up to your foolishness.

Inky Albarn (?) : ....(chuckles, shifts with into a male voice) Very clever of you. I never imagined that I would be so surprised. Having that wild goose chase was a really fun ride to hunt me down. But it turns out that the one you were chasing me on my tail, I'm not a heartless nor a doppelganger...but I am someone's counterpart to the original, after all, I am was the one that broken Inky Albarn's seal with Samny Lawrence in order to free her.

[Dark Samus Appears - Kenji Yamamoto, Minako]

Seto : Hold the phone, broken the seal of Inky Albarn with you and this "Sammy Lawrence" guy? Then who are you supposed to be?

Inky Albarn (?) : (Chuckles) Oh irony. That's a cold reception that you will ever receive for me, but now, don't even think that I am Inky Albarn's great servant to her own will. You never actually forgotten someone did you? Behold!

(Inky changes her appearances and reveals to be a young man in a suit that looks alike Soul Evans)

Seto : Woah! Freaky! It's like a girl's appearance has been changed into a...guy! This one went from a "She" to a "He". Not gonna lie about it.

Inky Evans : Maybe this will clear things up with your mind. So, how do I even look to introduce myself when I look at you?

Ashley : Hey, it's a demon shapeshifter! A creature that has doppelganger ability! A wolf in sheep's clothing! Who is this guy?

Eve : He's got the same ability to change one's appearance! That's not fair! But in fact, he does kinda look like that Soul Evans guy, he could be an Identical Twin to himself.

Seto : This is getting crazy around here. Who is this Am I seeing? Another one in human clothing?

Solva : Could be.

Inky Evans : Sorry about that, ladies. Let me introduce to you all from before, I am Inky Evans, the counterpart to the original Soul Evans, the Soul Eater and relative of the Infamous Mad Piano.

Seto : Original one, counterpart, and relative to the "Mad Piano"? Let me put that finger on something about before. And...And what do you mean by that? Are you saying that this Soul Eater guy is a creation of King Boo? Is that what you said about someone that is the original created by another ghost?

Eve : That's a weird thing to say that Soul Evans is a creation of that Boo guy, the one with the crown and not the one who is a diabetic pink villain from Dragon Ball. I get no hard feelings about a reference going on, but you are definitely something.

Inky Evans : Correct-o mondo! You finally catch on quickly, you miss blondie Seto, who wields a big ass sword, you're a fast learner to know about the painful lessons from truth.

Seto : So, you're the one responsible for breaking Inky Albarn's seal, just answer my questions for it. A : That was you when you came from Bendy's World. B : Who broken the seal that imprisoned the demon queen under brooklyn, and C ; Why in the world would you go and break the seal that imprisioned Inky Albarn in the studio!?

Inky Evans : Just taking orders from the man Sammy Lawrence, and I'll even ask you a question for me. When you died from the world of Needless along with Solva in 2013 A.D., what do you remember before the Mobian Death God brought you back from the Afterlife? Hmmm? How long did you remembered in the world needless before bringing to life in Real World AU?

Seto : I just can't put my finger on it, I just tried helping Solva and myself to remember that if we died and Solva's personality would forever changed how'd look, the so-called Adam Archlight destroyed in the final battle of the world of Needless.

Inky Evans : Oh that? Well here's a hint, When you died the world of Needless, you and Solva Probably remembered as heroes of the world of Deathless that existed within the Real World, and you even probbably remembered your missions and battles against the forces of evil fairly accurately with the help of the many Gods of Death, but beyond being a hero to all by you and Solva, any personal memories stored within you? It's hardly a fact to remember that you could even traced back with someone in a fairly manner way, and showed someone to proven you to become the Death God of Japan, that was your dream of being a Deathless hero.

Seto : Me...A Deathless? How I ended from me a Needless to a Deathless? How is that even possible!? How died and was recreated as a Hero!? Why me? Why dream of becoming a Deathless hero?! You're think so smart about it, why don't ask me another question. How did my memories with Solva and I come together in Real World AU?

Inky Evans : Yes it's all coming to for something possible and I know how did you and Solve come together as a duo from these memories of yours, yours and her memories of you from friendship to partnership have been pieced together by the Grim Reaper's Database stored from within the computer.

Seto : Solva and I were friends back at school, if she was really friend back in the days when I was at school, I usually meet her as a friends, but then we died and was brought back to life as Deathlesses, that's crazy talking...nobody secretly knew that I was brought back to life as a Deathless. Now I understand that...that...I left the world of Needless by mistake and was brought into Real World! I should've known it was that stupid Adam Archlight's fault, he's should've done that to me and Solva! I felt like a foolish girl and a foolish hero! How was I even born for this?

Solva : Seto! Hang in there! Don't let his words rattle you! He's only trying to mess with you to think that we live in the real world! The World of Needless has been gone for days and we've been brought here to tell you that we're no longer needlesses, we're deathlesses! race of individuals that are boorn with the supernatural ability of death. Please, Seto. You've gotta wake up, Seto! Please, wake up!

~ Seventy Second Scene : Reaper Action Pt.2 ~

[jeanmoreaux]

you know, i low-key despised sammi almost right from the moment she first appeared on the show, but now i wanna see that woman burn in hell for what she has done to ian

[a-bear-at-hogwarts]

Mc Interview

Tagged by @phyl-the-gryffinclaw and @ravenclaw-craftsgirl !! Ty ^-^

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What’s your Name? ➔ “Like... my full name? Well I dinnae use it often but m’middle name’s Ursa Minor. Dahlia ‘Ursa minor’ Goldman. M’told my father picked it out.”

 Are you single? ➔ For a second the blank expression wavers, her eyes going a little wide as she just blinks. “I... I don’t think that’s relevant? But I guess...” She pauses, her gaze dropping to the ground. “Since fifth year or so, no.”

 Are you happy? ➔  “Happy or no, it’s not that important. I’m alive aren’t I?”

 Are you angry? ➔ She seems to withdraw a little, sitting back as though to move herself further away. Arms fold over her chest. “...yeah. I’ve got a lid on it though.”

 Are your parents still married? ➔ “Well. M’dad’s been dead for years now so I’d hazard a guess at no. Not like she ever remarried but...”

- NINE FACTS 

birthplace ➔ “Scotland. Family owned parcel of land, home birth.”

hair color ➔ “Really? Brown.”

eye color ➔ “Also brown. Green in... some lights I guess but it’s just brown.”

birthday ➔ “I dinnae get why this is such a big deal for folks but it’s the 22nd of December.”

mood ➔ She gestures to her face, which frankly doesn’t clarify anything. “Take a guess.”

gender ➔ “M’a girl.”

summer or winter ➔ “Ehhh... gotta pick winter here. Feelin drowsy all the time sucks sure, but the glittering and cold is just real nice. Summer’s just way too hot for me, always feel like crap.”

morning or afternoon ➔ “Morning. Early, EARLY morning. Before everyone else is awake yet, it’s nice feelin like the only person in the world. Just you and the sunrise...”

- EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE 

are you in love ➔ She presses her lips together, shifting a little; it’s a small tell but she seems uncomfortable. “I... don’t know. I think so. But I-” She cuts off, shaking her head. “Next question. Please.”

do you believe in love at first sight ➔ “No. Attraction maybe, but appearance is deceiving. You can’t trust even the people you hold dearest, let alone a perfect stranger and I... I still don’t know if you can love without trust.”

who ended your last relationship ➔ “We both did. M’first lover wasn’t meant to last forever, we were both just kinda usin’ one another t’figure out what way was up when it came to loving. Eventually we just figured it wasn’t goin anywhere anymore and talked it out. Mad’s still close... aye, Mads. Maddy. I dinnae call her Madeline she’s no keen on it.”

have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔  She blinks again, brow furrowing. “Well I... no in terms of romantic love, no.”

are you afraid of commitments ➔ She seems uncomfortable again. Her ankles cross, leaning back again and folding her arms tighter. “Look. Trust’s hard aight? Lets just... move on.”

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ Now at least she unwinds a little, taking a breath as a fond look flitters across her eyes. “Used to be I wouldn’t be able to tell ye the last time I hugged someone. I’m getting better with it. Sammy hugged me just the other day, Lau too... Jason still pretends to trick me into it by doin something reckless and waiting for me to scoop him up. They’ve been good for me.”

have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ Now for the first time, a tint of colour crawls across her face as she fiddles with her fingers. “Well I uh... yeah actually. I thought they were just kinda... watching me train? But the kids kept gettin tongue tied and runnin off when I asked about it, all red faced. Took me a wee while to realise what was up with that.”

have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ She breathes a quiet sigh, toying with her fingers again. “Aye. Aye I have. No I dinnae want to go into that, next question.”

- SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔ “Ah Merlin... Lust hurts less, in the short run? Easier to deal with, get rid of if needs be, doesn’t control you nearly as much if you’re no an idiot...”

lemonade or iced tea ➔ “Lemonade. I’m no keen on tea I’ve a caffeine allergy.”

cats or dogs ➔ “Yes”

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ “I dinnae think I have anyone I could call a best friend? I let anyone in and they’d count most likely, I’m nae exactly the social type...”

wild night out or romantic night in ➔ “I like a night in. Gotta plan for a night out, gotta have someone watching my back or I feel on edge all the time. Nice night in with one person, just talkin or watching something... nice, peaceful.”

day or night ➔ She wrinkles her nose, brow furrowing as she turns it over. “... I think I’d have to say night. Wouldn’t always have said so but now... aye. Night.”

- FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ She snorts briefly, shaking her head. “Sorry but- aye. Aye once or twice, not often but I’ve made foolish decisions. M’good at gettin away with it at least.”

fallen down/up the stairs ➔  “Ach... aye. Forgot it was winter and slid on stairs at some point of most winters I’ve weathered. Almost a tradition at this point.”

wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ “Aye... aye I’d say so. Ironically usually I want like that when I need something to stop hurting.” A grim smile spreads across her face for a moment, before she shrugs. “Tad dramatic sorry, but aye, yeah.”

wanted to disappear ➔ The discomfort is back with a vengeance. Her jaw tenses and she seems to withdraw completely, an invisible wall rising that shuts her off completely. “Not your concern. Move on.”

- FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ “Eyes. Harder to lie with than your smile... admittedly from experience.”

shorter or taller ➔ She looks almost sheepish for a moment. “Admittedly... I’d like to be taller. I’m 6′5 last I checked, but I’m no actually that tall for my lot. Can thank my dad for that, he was 5′2 to the day he died.”

intelligence or attraction ➔ “Like... on myself?” Receiving no answer she assumes this is the case. “Intelligence. Pretty garners attention, I’m no too keen on that.”

hook-up or relationship ➔ Her brows furrow again as she considers it. “I think... now? I’d pick my current relationship over anything else like it.”

- FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ She’s tense now. It’s noticeable in every visible line of her body, though she takes a breath and tries to pull it out. “That’s a... complicated question. Most part aye. Sometimes... sometimes things fall apart in a big way. But that’s our business, no yours.”

would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ The sharp bark of laughter seems to have been drawn unwillingly, bitter. Like boiling steam forced out by pressure. ”Ye could say that. Couldn’t we all?”

have you ever run away from home ➔ “Merlin, no. I... I used to sneak out. That’s not worked out for me. Dinnae have to anymore, ma’s... busy.”

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ “No. Mam’s too protective to ever consider it.”

- FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ “No? They wildnae be my friend if I did, and I dinnae hate many folk anyways.”

do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ “Aye. I’m not that sociable in the first place, the folks with me today understand an worked through that. Took time, and I’ll admit I got... real attached. They’ve been good for me too. Sammy, Lau, Jason ‘specially when it come to m’touch sensitivity. Talbott listens when I just need to talk, Corbyn understands a lot of the stuff I can’t explain well, Diego’s fun to goof with I just... I’m real lucky y’know?”

who is your best friend ➔ “Really couldn’t say, but I guess Talbott’s my closest confidant? Or Chiara... Rowan’s always gonna have a special place in my heart though. They read me years ago when I was still more closed off than a gringotts bank, and they took those steps that made all this... possible.”

who knows everything about you ➔ The ghost of a smile crosses her face. “Nobody. Not a soul in this world.”

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aaa idk who to tag but this was super fun!! if you wanna do it consider yourself tagged!!

[queenofcats17]

The Ink Demonth 18

Today is OC. Which means it’s Cordelia time~

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cordelia Bell loved working at Joey Drew Studios. The people there were like family to her. She loved each and every one more than she could possibly say. Especially Sammy. God, words couldn’t accurately describe her admiration for Sammy Lawrence. Sammy Lawrence, the man who had pulled her away from the teetering edge of a dark depression by sending a single letter. She’d felt silly, sending a fan letter at her age. All it really was was her gushing about how much she loved his music, along with a few vague mentions of how she wanted to be a composer now herself.  She hadn’t expected a reply, sure the great Sammy Lawrence had better things to do than indulge a foolish girl such as herself. 

But he’d replied. Not only had he replied, he’d encouraged her to pursue being a composer if that was what would make her happy. He hadn’t sugarcoated it, though, making it clear to her how hard it was to make it as a composer. He’d treated her like an equal, not someone to be talked down to. That had been when she’d first developed a crush on him. Said crush had gotten even worse when she’d actually met him and he’d turned out to be extremely handsome. Still, she was determined to be professional while at work. He was her boss and she didn’t want to overstep any boundaries and get him in trouble. It was clear to everyone in the studio, though, that they were more than just boss and assistant.  Sammy never raised his voice nor yelled at her. He was kind and patient with her in a way he wasn’t with other members of the studio. He was even teaching her how to play the piano.

“You sure you two aren’t an item?” Wally grinned, gently elbowing Cordelia in the ribs. 

She sputtered, almost dropping the stack of papers she’d been carrying. “Don’t be ridiculous! He’s my boss!” 

“But you’ve got a crush on him, right?” Wally wiggled his eyebrows.

"That was ages ago.” Cordelia rolled her eyes. “He’s like a big brother to me now.” As evidenced by the fact that she had, multiple times, accidentally called the music director by her brother’s name.

“And I don’t date my employees.” Sammy’s voice came from his office. “So I would appreciate if you wouldn’t continue such insinuations, Mr. Franks.” His voice was calm and even, cold as ice. 

“S-Sorry, Sammy.”  Wally smiled nervously, moving away from Cordelia. 

Sammy was incredibly protective of his little assistant. If someone hurt her, he would know about it and that person would suddenly find themselves greatly inconvenienced. Sammy never outright hurt his assistant’s antagonizers. No, he was more subtle in his vengeance. They would find their pens missing, mugs covered in superglue, bubblegum on their chair. The victim always knew who was responsible, but could never prove it. After all, Sammy was too uptight to be a prankster. Right?

One person Cordelia didn’t have to worry about overstepping any boundaries with was Miss Susie Campbell. Susie, bright and warm and fiery as the sun, had met Cordelia when she’d been hiding in Norman’s booth coming down from a panic attack. She’d found the younger woman adorable and practically adopted her as an honorary little sister. She ate her lunch with Cordelia and often spent her breaks with the younger woman. This had been the beginning of Cordelia’s second crush at the studio. Susie was so bright and beautiful and confident. Cordelia both wanted to be like her and be with her. The fact that Susie tended to be rather physically affectionate didn’t help Cordelia’s crush, but she managed.

“You know, I could give you voice lessons, honey,” Susie said one day while they were on their break.

“M-Me?!” Cordelia nearly choked on her thermos of tea. “But I’m no singer. N-Not like you!”

“I’ve heard you singing when you’re alone.” Susie smiled mischievously. “You could be a singer someday.”

“I’m no singer.” Cordelia shook her head, looking away from Susie. “I’m...I’m not like you.” She envied Susie’s confidence, her ability to be so unapologetically herself, never second-guessing herself for a moment. She didn’t yet know that Susie’s confidence was an illusion.

“Everyone starts somewhere, sweetheart,” Susie said, putting an arm around Cordelia. “But if you really don’t want to, I won’t ask you again.”

“I...I might like the lessons,” Cordelia admitted. “I just...I don’t think I’m going to be a singer.” She glanced sheepishly back at Susie. “No offense.”

“Nonetaken.” Susie waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t mind.”

“But thank you.” Cordelia managed a smile. “I appreciate it.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it!” Susie chirped. “It’s nice spending time with another girl.”

Wally also found himself enjoying the company of Sammy’s assistant. He liked teasing her almost as much as he liked teasing Sammy. She had such adorable reactions. It was certainly worth her chewing him out afterward. He didn’t mind the scolding. He felt like she needed a laugh. She put on a cheerful face, but he’d seen the way that face slipped when she was alone. The girl was wiser than her years. He didn’t know what she’d been through, he didn’t want to pry, but something had clearly happened to age her mind. As long as he could make her, and the others like her in the studio, laugh he was satisfied. 

Although she was closest with Sammy and Susie, Cordelia loved everyone at the studio. Everyone....except for Joey. She hadn’t seen it at first, but there was a darkness to Joey. Something about him made her distinctly uncomfortable. It was nigh impossible to tell what Joey was thinking at any given moment. Although he never seemed to stop smiling, that smile never reached his eyes. Even after she left the studio, those eyes haunted her dreams. Cold and flat, like the eyes of a dead man. She didn’t know what lay behind those eyes, but it couldn’t be anything good. 

Joey found Cordelia Bell to be adorable. He remembered the day she’d been hired. She’d come in, clutching that newspaper ad to her chest, fresh-faced and full of hope. He hadn’t thought much of her in the beginning, but as his plans unfurled...He realized what a wonderful pawn she could make. She was kind to a fault and thought nothing of her own safety. She considered the other studio workers her family. She would do anything for them. He’d just have to take her up on that.