#sad that disney toon studios close :(

[theghostofwilburtheworm]

man the tinkerbell movies are so good!

[preciouslittletoonette]

“Your Daddy”

A self-indulgent Mickey Mouse fic that I just wrote on a whim. Based on a headcanon I made several months ago

//

1928

“ LES CLARK! GET IN HERE, NOW”

It has been a.... bizarre three years working for Walt Disney.

Back in 1925, when Les first joined Walt, he was truly expecting a temporary job, possibly washing cels and doing a couple drawings here and there. But what once was thought to be a temporary job turned into three years honing his craft under the careful mentorship and friendship of the great Ub Iwerks, someone Les heavily admired.

But that was not the bizarre part.

The bizarre part came in the form... of Julius the Cat.

When Les entered the studio on his very first day, the toon barreled straight into his gut in excitement at the prospect of meeting someone new. Les, not expecting the greeting, barely caught the doorframe in time to stop himself from falling from the sheer force that was Julius.

Rather than amusement from his new coworkers, he was met with sympathy. Making him realise that this was, indeed, a normal occurrence.

The only one who had looked mildly amused was Walt, who sent Les a sheepish smile as he (rather gently) pried Julius off of him and settled the toon against his hip.

“ Heh, sorry about that Les. Julius here gets rather excited at the prospect of newcomers”, he said motioning to the cat, who was cuddling up to Walt’s side.

Les had accepted the apology and was soon introduced to Ub, who after the introduction immediately moved to scold Julius, who looked sheepish and nervous under Ub’s gaze. The entire interaction between Julius and the two men confused Les until two words came out of the cat toon’s mouth.

“ Sorry Papa”

While he looked nonchalant on the outside, the words had hit Les like a freight train on the inside. 

And thus began Les’ journey into the bizarre absurdity that was the Animation Industry.

Working under Disney led to Les learning a plethora of things, and some of them had less to do with actual animation and more to do with the toons. Sometimes while Ub was teaching him, the man would throw in advice on caring for toons. Any question Les had, Ub would answer and the man was incredibly blunt with his explanations.

“ So you’re Julius’ father?”

“ Yes”

“....But he calls Walt ‘Dad’”

“ It’s co-parenting”

And some answers were... weirder than others.

“ What do toons eat?”

“ Everything we eat and a little more”

“ What?”

“ Julius once ate an entire an entire paint can, filled with paint. Nearly sent me and Walt to an early grave, the little bugger. He didn’t get sick or anything, oddly enough he looked a lil’ healthier after that...”

“... So you let him eat paint now or-”

“ God lord no! We’re not taking chances in case he actually gets poisoned someday”

“ Oh”

“ Another tip, don’t ever let your toon eat erasers. That stuff will make them sick”

“....Noted”

Though it suffices to say, the years leading up to 1928 was an experience Les would never forget.

It was currently well past 11PM when Les entered Walt’s home, Lillian letting him in and calling for Walt, who was in his office, who then called Les to get to his office.

Les peeked inside to see Walt pacing from one side of the room to another. Sitting on a chair in the corner was Ub, holding something close to his chest as he tried to not doze off.

Both Ub and Walt looked like they haven’t slept in days.

Les lightly knocked on the door, announcing his presence.

Walt ceased his pacing,” Ah there you are, Les. Thanks for coming over”.

“ Well it sounded urgent. Couldn’t leave you two hangin’. What happened?”, Les asked concerned

“ We did it”, Walt sighed as he ran a hand down his tired face before looking to what Ub was holding.

Les’ eyes widened when the realisation of what had happened, finally noticing that what Ub was holding was definitely moving and shifting in the sleep-deprived man’s arms. Ub, noticing the attention from the standing men, shifted the being in his arms until Les could properly see him. In his mentor’s arms...

... was a sleepy small toon mouse.

“ When did you-?”

“ An hour ago”, Walt answered,” We made him an hour ago- but that’s not the point of you being here. Wait right here, I’ll be back”, with that said, Walt left the room to go further into the darkness of the house.

Les made his way over to his mentor’s side, dragging another chair closer to him and sat close by.

“ You okay, Ub?”, Les asked concerned.

“ I’m good”, Ub replied looking down on the toon in his arms,” Walt called me out of work to do this”, he moaned tiredly.

“ You were working?”, Les questioned.

“ I had extra work to do for Mintz because of planning with Walt”, Ub explained.

Les was well aware his mentor was working on things for Walt even while he continued to work for Universal. Ub was providing the money they needed to get the studio running while Walt and Roy went out, looking for new distributers after Winkler Pictures and Universal betrayed them.... and took Oswald away from them.

It was tragic watching everything unfold after Walt and Roy returned from their meeting with Mintz. After everyone just upped and left, leaving the four of them behind. Ub was in a fit of rage when he found out and what happened after that was the loudest, most rage-filled argument Les had ever heard between Walt and Ub. It had gone on for nearly a hour before things quieted down. But they didn’t leave the room they were in immediately, they were in there for a few minutes before finally coming out, eyes bloodshot and puffy despite vehement denies that they were crying. But it was clear as day that they were deeply hurt.

Les hoped to never ever have to go through what they went through.

“ What’s his name?”, Les inquired.

“ Michael Theodore Mouse. Mickey Mouse”, Ub stated with a nod,” It was Lillian’s suggestion after hearing Walt’s original name for him”.

“ And that was...?”

“ Mortimer”, Ub gagged.

Les snorted when he heard the name,” Bless Miss Lillian for stepping up where Walt failed in the naming department”, he joked humorously.

“ Amen to that”, Ub said with a short laugh as he looked down on the toon,” Hear that, Mickey. Your dad was going to name you Mortimer. What an unusual unneeded punishment, eh buddy”, he continued as Mickey smiled at Ub with sleepy eyes.

“ He’s very cute”, Les commented with a smile.

“ Of course he’s cute. I designed him after all”, Ub quipped with a smirk.

Les chuckled,” Of course”.

Ub smiled before looking down to Mickey again, this time his eyes filled with sadness. Les noticed this.

“ Thinking about Oswald again?”, Les asked.

“ Yeah. It’s just..... it’s been weeks since Mintz took him away and I haven’t seen him around the studio even while I was working. I’m worried about him and Julius”, Ub admitted,”.... I initially really didn’t want to do this”.

Les raised a brow,” What changed your mind?”.

“ Walt”, Ub said plainly,” We’ve been runnin’ around this for weeks now- well I was. You probably overheard me and Walt talking about this one night at the studio”.

Les nodded. He had overheard the conversation between Walt and Ub one evening when they were doing checks on the Hyperion studio. A mere two weeks before the current moment, Les recalled. It was far from an argument but there was definitely a disagreement. Ub wanted to wait a bit longer before creating another toon but Walt wanted it done sooner rather than later. The man even had a rough idea sketched out after seeing a mouse on the train  heading back to Burbank, Ub just had to create a proper design and then bring it to life. But to Ub it was moe complicated than that.

The man was exhausted, not just from overworking but from the very fact he had not JUST lost Oswald, but also Julius as well. And the guilt and sadness was eating him up from the inside. He was still wounded by the loss and Walt was not letting it heal like it was supposed to.

Not to say Walt wasn’t also facing his own major problems. He was also NOT coping well with losing Julius and Oswald (the latter especially) and his temper was much more explosive than usual from Les’ perspective. He threw himself into his work, dragging Roy everywhere to every film distribution company in the Los Angeles county. Heck, Les wagered Walt’s desperation might even have him go look for distributors in New York. And the man was constantly stressed out and judging by what Walt looked like earlier, even sleep deprived from working this much to avoid his own thoughts to grieve. You could say his desperation and grief was blinding him to his friend’s own grief.

 Les winced at the thought, silently pitying his seniors.

Ub continued on speaking,” Distributors want to see the stars nowadays and not just concept art. They want to see and meet the toon and as charismatic as Walt is, he can’t convince them to wait any longer. So I bit the bullet tonight”, he explained, shifting Mickey as the toon squirmed a little in his arms,” But I’m don’t regret this. I feel a lil’ better after making lil Michael here. He’s just too darn active for me to ignore, isn’t that right buddy”, he said addressing Mickey, who was about ready to fall asleep again.

Les smiled at the sight of the toon,” Well I’m sure this one right here’s gonna be the one to boost us to success”, he said.

“ You think so?”, Ub inquired with a grin.

“ O ‘Course! After all, who could resist this cute little face?”, Les cooed at Mickey before turning to Ub,” AND you and Walt have already raised some pretty big stars. No doubt this little one will follow suit with his brothers”, he proclaimed confidently,” You two are gonna great dads.... again”, he joked lightly.

Ub chuckled,” And I’m sure you’ll be a fantastic dad too, Les”, he stated light-heartedly.

Les frowned, about to ask Ub what he meant before Walt peeked in, having returned from where he went off to.

“ Hey, sorry for the delay, she crawled out of the basket and I had to find her”, Walt explained nervously with a chuckle.

Les raised a brow at the mention of a her but Ub spoke up before he could ask

“ It’s fine. We were distracted with talking anyway. Bring her in already so Les can meet her”

Les was highly confused for a second before registering another toon mouse in Walt’s arms that was quickly transferred to his lap in seconds.

“ Les, meet Minnie, Minnie, this is Les Clark-”, and the next words will forever imprint itself in Les’ mind-

“ -Your Daddy”

“ Wait what?!”

[disneytva]

Sad & Good News About  Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway!

First the good news many Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Fans where worried that Car Toon Spin will close and be replaced . Disney Parks has confirmed that the ride WON'T be replaced, M&M RR will be built in a backstage area, 

Now for the sad news Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on Disney's Hollywood Studios has been delayed for a spring 2020 release

[inkyrealities]

Time to Set Them Free

A parody of NerdOut’s Endgame song Whatever It Takes. Henry, Wally, Sammy, Susie, Norman, Shawn, Allison, Thomas, Grant, Lacie, Buddy, and Dot all got out in time, but Henry, Norman, Grant, Buddy, and Dot returned to help Joey set things right (the rest are doing fine). Warning: This is a bit long. ————— (As the piano introduction begins, we see shots from the first trailers for Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5. Cut to the Sillyvision Survivors [Henry, Wally, Sammy, Susie, Norman, Shawn, Allison, Thomas, Grant, Lacie, Buddy, and Dot] quitting in ones and twos. Cut to Joey watching a car pull away.) Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. Time to set them free. (Cut to Henry, Buddy, Dot, Norman, and Grant standing outside the studio, Henry holding Joey’s letter.) Grant: Of the Joey Drew crew, we’re among the twelve last, But only five came back to confront the past. The devil nabbed our colleagues and he turned them into monsters, Then he went and twisted their minds through the words of a false prophet! (We see the remaining staff being turned into various ink monsters. Cut to Aaron [the band conductor] donning a mask made from a Bendy cutout.) I’ve learned that history can’t be erased. All the memories of the lost ones, yeah we got them all on tape. So let’s put an end to the demon’s Gospel of Dismay, We’ll free their souls from this hellish prison of black, white, and gray! (Cut to Norman and Boris wading through a flooded hallway, the ink up to their knees.) Norman: Prayers, can I get an amen? Toons trapped deep in the devil’s den. Gotta get them out, we’ll find a way To let the Toons see the sun, we won’t die today. (Suddenly, the Projectionist appears. Norman and Boris run, the former firing the Tommy Gun at the monster. Eventually, he shoots out the lens, blinding it and letting Henry deliver the killing blow with his axe.) Monsters want our souls, they just won’t let us be. Even my projector is alive and trying to kill me. So flow the ink, we cannot be stopped, wow. Tell me who’s laughing now. We’ve got a shot, it’s time to turn the lights out. (Cut to Buddy, walking down a hallway with Bendy at his side, when they are ambushed by several Searchers.) Buddy: Walking alone through the halls There’s blood on the walls Can’t ignore the demon’s calls So many of our friends What did it do to them? (Tears well up in his eyes as he dispatches the Searchers.) Don’t know if Joey’s earned a second chance But hope to atone drove him to call us five back Give the devil his due You know that dreams do come true! (As the last of the Searchers disappears into ink, he picks up Bendy and continues his trek. There’s a brief shot of the Boris corpse from the Chapter 1, followed by scenes from the second Chapter 5 trailer.) Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. Time to set them free. (Cut to a third-person view of the chase scene from the end of Chapter 2.) Henry: Is escape possible? Well, we have to try. Yet even so, I still find myself wondering why Why the demon forced me to run and hide Devil darling’s become something I don’t recognize. (Cut to Henry, Buddy, and Bendy hiding inside a Little Miracle Station. Henry pulls Bendy into a reassuring hug as Buddy peers out, only to jump back as the Ink Demon pounces. Thankfully, the door remains shut.) But we will not let this horror show be televised From the depths, we will arise We won’t bend or break, so don’t bet on our demise We are alive—immortalized! (Cut to Dot standing on a catwalk, looking down at a vat of ink. We see images of Matt [Bendy’s voice actor], Rick [Boris’s voice actor], and Lauren [Joey’s secretary]. This is followed by Lauren laughing wickedly as she emerges from the Ink Machine as Malice.) Dot: Twelve survivors, all that’s left Matt, Rick, and the rest, I can’t forget Won’t leave ‘til we can bring them home Those little Toons we love and know (We see shots from the second Chapter 4 trailer. Cut back to Dot, closing her eyes and diving into the ink vat. A moment later, the true Alice surfaces, looking the way she does in game.) I will not bow before a fake Just one path left to take No, I’m not afraid to pay the price, My soul to give Alice life! (Cut to Joey sitting with the others in the safehouse, looking remorseful. Henry, Bendy, and Boris attempt to comfort him.) Joey: Listen, all I wanted was to give my characters life Everything that happened is my fault, so I gotta make things right Get them outta here, there’s a way, I know I just have to believe Only takes a pencil and a dream But I got to think of how we’re gonna bring the devil down! (Cut to Joey in his office, watching Henry, Buddy, Norman, Grant, and the Toons enter a secret elevator. The moment they’re gone, the Ink Demon breaks down the door. Joey turns to him, a sad smile on his face.) Like the prophet says, for love, sacrifice is needed The beast wants to claim my soul, he must be cheated. I’ll give up any chance I had at freedom to keep the Ink Demon bound. Rewind! (A pentagram drawn in ink on the floor lights up. Everything resets to how it was before the arrival of Henry and company, with one difference—the Toons are no longer present.) Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. (Know we must believe.) (Cut to the outside of the studio, where Henry, Norman, Grant, Buddy, and the Toons are watching the sun come up. Wally, Thomas, and Lacie’s vans pull up, with Sammy, Susie, Shawn, and Allison on board. Henry takes one last look at the studio as he and the others get in. As the song ends, we see the vans drive away, leaving Joey Drew Studios behind for good.) Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. (You know we must believe.) Time to set them free. ————— Notes: I imagine the characters as resembling the designs of Aileen-Rose, as her art tends to have sort of a Disney-ish feel to it. -Character matchups: +Grant as Captain America: Grant is voiced by Will ‘DAGames’ Ryan, who wrote Build Our Machine, possibly the most famous BATIM fan song in existence. In Whatever It Takes, Captain America is voiced by JT Music, who wrote another popular BATIM fan song called Can’t Be Erased. +Norman as Thor: In Whatever It Takes, Thor is voiced by FabvL, the only other singer to have a BATIM song (don’t know about Divide, who did the chorus, but he wouldn’t count anyway). Likewise, Norman is the only other in-game character who only appears as a recording (I’m not counting the Projectionist as an appearance). +Buddy as Hawkeye: Hawkeye did not appear in Infinity War, and Buddy only appeared in the tie-in novel. +Dot as Black Widow: She is the only female character to return, and like Buddy, she only appeared in the novel (prior to Endgame, neither Hawkeye nor Black Widow had a movie of their own). +Joey as Iron Man: This version of Joey is a good guy, trying to make up for his mistakes, not entirely unlike Tony. +Henry as the Hulk: The Hulk is the only option left. XD -If anyone wants to do a comic or video of this, be sure to credit me! :)

[disneyphantomlover]

Time to Set Them Free

Submitted by @magicalmonsterhero 

A parody of NerdOut’s Endgame song Whatever It Takes.

Henry, Wally, Sammy, Susie, Norman, Shawn, Allison, Thomas, Grant, Lacie, Buddy, and Dot all got out in time, but Henry, Norman, Grant, Buddy, and Dot returned to help Joey set things right (the rest are doing fine).

Warning: This is a bit long. ————— (As the piano introduction begins, we see shots from the first trailers for Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5. Cut to the Sillyvision Survivors [Henry, Wally, Sammy, Susie, Norman, Shawn, Allison, Thomas, Grant, Lacie, Buddy, and Dot] quitting in ones and twos. Cut to Joey watching a car pull away.)

Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. Time to set them free.

(Cut to Henry, Buddy, Dot, Norman, and Grant standing outside the studio, Henry holding Joey’s letter.)

Grant: Of the Joey Drew crew, we’re among the twelve last, But only five came back to confront the past. The devil nabbed our colleagues and he turned them into monsters, Then he went and twisted their minds through the words of a false prophet!

(We see the remaining staff being turned into various ink monsters. Cut to Aaron [the band conductor] donning a mask made from a Bendy cutout.)

I’ve learned that history can’t be erased. All the memories of the lost ones, yeah we got them all on tape. So let’s put an end to the demon’s Gospel of Dismay, We’ll free their souls from this hellish prison of black, white, and gray!

(Cut to Norman and Boris wading through a flooded hallway, the ink up to their knees.)

Norman: Prayers, can I get an amen? Toons trapped deep in the devil’s den. Gotta get them out, we’ll find a way To let the Toons see the sun, we won’t die today.

(Suddenly, the Projectionist appears. Norman and Boris run, the former firing the Tommy Gun at the monster. Eventually, he shoots out the lens, blinding it and letting Henry deliver the killing blow with his axe.)

Monsters want our souls, they just won’t let us be. Even my projector is alive and trying to kill me. So flow the ink, we cannot be stopped, wow. Tell me who’s laughing now. We’ve got a shot, it’s time to turn the lights out.

(Cut to Buddy, walking down a hallway with Bendy at his side, when they are ambushed by several Searchers.)

Buddy: Walking alone through the halls There’s blood on the walls Can’t ignore the demon’s calls So many of our friends What did it do to them?

(Tears well up in his eyes as he dispatches the Searchers.)

Don’t know if Joey’s earned a second chance But hope to atone drove him to call us five back Give the devil his due You know that dreams do come true!

(As the last of the Searchers disappears into ink, he picks up Bendy and continues his trek. There’s a brief shot of the Boris corpse from the Chapter 1, followed by scenes from the second Chapter 5 trailer.)

Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. Time to set them free.

(Cut to a third-person view of the chase scene from the end of Chapter 2.)

Henry: Is escape possible? Well, we have to try. Yet even so, I still find myself wondering why Why the demon forced me to run and hide Devil darling’s become something I don’t recognize.

(Cut to Henry, Buddy, and Bendy hiding inside a Little Miracle Station. Henry pulls Bendy into a reassuring hug as Buddy peers out, only to jump back as the Ink Demon pounces. Thankfully, the door remains shut.)

But we will not let this horror show be televised From the depths, we will arise We won’t bend or break, so don’t bet on our demise We are alive—immortalized!

(Cut to Dot standing on a catwalk, looking down at a vat of ink. We see images of Matt [Bendy’s voice actor], Rick [Boris’s voice actor], and Lauren [Joey’s secretary]. This is followed by Lauren laughing wickedly as she emerges from the Ink Machine as Malice.)

Dot: Twelve survivors, all that’s left Matt, Rick, and the rest, I can’t forget Won’t leave ‘til we can bring them home Those little Toons we love and know

(We see shots from the second Chapter 4 trailer. Cut back to Dot, closing her eyes and diving into the ink vat. A moment later, the true Alice surfaces, looking the way she does in game.)

I will not bow before a fake Just one path left to take No, I’m not afraid to pay the price, My soul to give Alice life!

(Cut to Joey sitting with the others in the safehouse, looking remorseful. Henry, Bendy, and Boris attempt to comfort him.)

Joey: Listen, all I wanted was to give my characters life Everything that happened is my fault, so I gotta make things right Get them outta here, there’s a way, I know I just have to believe Only takes a pencil and a dream But I got to think of how we’re gonna bring the devil down!

(Cut to Joey in his office, watching Henry, Buddy, Norman, Grant, and the Toons enter a secret elevator. The moment they’re gone, the Ink Demon breaks down the door. Joey turns to him, a sad smile on his face.)

Like the prophet says, for love, sacrifice is needed The beast wants to claim my soul, he must be cheated. I’ll give up any chance I had at freedom to keep the Ink Demon bound. Rewind!

(A pentagram drawn in ink on the floor lights up. Everything resets to how it was before the arrival of Henry and company, with one difference—the Toons are no longer present.)

Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. (Know we must believe.)

(Cut to the outside of the studio, where Henry, Norman, Grant, Buddy, and the Toons are watching the sun come up. Wally, Thomas, and Lacie’s vans pull up, with Sammy, Susie, Shawn, and Allison on board. Henry takes one last look at the studio as he and the others get in. As the song ends, we see the vans drive away, leaving Joey Drew Studios behind for good.)

Chorus: With axe in hand, we make our stand. Our goal is plain to see. Make real your dreams, just start up the machine. You know we must believe. (You know we must believe.) Time to set them free. ————— Notes: I imagine the characters as resembling the designs of Aileen-Rose, as her art tends to have sort of a Disney-ish feel to it. -Character matchups: +Grant as Captain America: Grant is voiced by Will ‘DAGames’ Ryan, who wrote Build Our Machine, possibly the most famous BATIM fan song in existence. In Whatever It Takes, Captain America is voiced by JT Music, who wrote another popular BATIM fan song called Can’t Be Erased. +Norman as Thor: In Whatever It Takes, Thor is voiced by FabvL, the only other singer to have a BATIM song (don’t know about Divide, who did the chorus, but he wouldn’t count anyway). Likewise, Norman is the only other in-game character who only appears as a recording (I’m not counting the Projectionist as an appearance). +Buddy as Hawkeye: Hawkeye did not appear in Infinity War, and Buddy only appeared in the tie-in novel. +Dot as Black Widow: She is the only female character to return, and like Buddy, she only appeared in the novel (prior to Endgame, neither Hawkeye nor Black Widow had a movie of their own). +Joey as Iron Man: This version of Joey is a good guy, trying to make up for his mistakes, not entirely unlike Tony. +Henry as the Hulk: The Hulk is the only option left. XD -If anyone wants to do a comic or video of this, be sure to credit me! :)

[bendy-dreamland]

“He’s missing?! This can’t be! Where could he have gone?!”

“What makes you think I have any idea? I want nothing to do with him.”

“You know this building better than me! So, you have to know something, you son of a..!”

“I know this building, not the version he vanished from, not like you do, so I don’t get why you’re asking me if I know. Again, I want nothing to do with him, I have more interest in-”

“Uhg, I know, I know. Don’t say his name, or whatever stupid title you’ve given him now. Hmm… I suppose I’ll have to take things into my own hands. After all, I’ve been meaning to speak with an old friend of ours for quite some time now.”

The squeaking of the door reminded Henry that he had, once again, forgot to get oil for the old hinges. He should just call the landlord, but he never liked bothering Mrs. Vargas, she always gave him an earful for letting people smoke in his office whenever she visited. Hey, if it calmed their nerves while they stammered through their story, then it made his job easier.

Sighing, Henry removed his coat, putting it on the rack in the corner of the small office space. He glanced around the room, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, nothing moved or taken. Didn’t hurt to be a little paranoid, especially when working in the private investigator business. After making sure nothing was wrong, Henry smiled a little, running a hand through his hair, before moving to a small record player he kept on a bookshelf near the coat rack.

Today seemed like a calm day, maybe a little music could help make it even calmer.

Once he picked out the proper record, can’t go wrong with some old classics from the ol’ studio, he moved to make himself a cup of coffee. These new personal, electrical devices were a lifesaver, and Henry liked being able to enjoy coffee prepared by his own hands, and not by whoever makes the pot in the lobby.

Leaving his office to the sound of You Left Me in a Heartbreak playing from the machine, he noticed someone down the far end of the hall. Green eyes narrowed as Henry looked at the figure, they were obviously a woman, but it was odd that she was dressed in all black. Black shoes, black tights, black jacket, and black gloves. Even her face was obscured by the rim of a large, black hat. The only thing that wasn’t black was the steely gray ribbon tied around the hat.

She seemed to be looking for something, but Henry ignored her, just letting her do what she needed to do while he went to the restroom to get water for his coffee pot.

When he left the room, he found that she was gone, must have found the room she was looking for. With a shrug, the private investigator entered his office, shutting the old door behind him, hearing that annoying squeak. As he started up the coffee maker, he heard the squeak again, a customer? Mrs. Vargas? Gus, asking to borrow something from him again?

No, no one entered, but the door was left slightly ajar, a shadowed figure was seen behind the foggy glass of the window on the door, the one that read ‘Henry Ross, P.I. of Toons and Humans Alike’. “Come in.” He called out, having a good idea of who it was, simply by the silhouette of the hat they wore.

Henry watched as the door opened, the squeaking of the hinges sounded worse as the mysterious woman purposely let it move slowly. She quietly stepped in, her heels clicking on the hardwood floors. “Detective Ross?” She asked, her voice as soft and smooth as silk, delicate as an old china doll.

“Yes, that would be me. And you are?” He asked in return.

“You can call me Ms. India Eenck, spelled e-e-n-c-k.” Interesting name, Henry noted mentally. Might be an alias of some sort. Only a toon would have a name that obvious of a pun, but this lady was clearly human. “I’ve come to speak to you about a missing person, someone I know.”

“I can help you, I suppose. Would you like some coffee?” He offered, gesturing to the machine.

She gave a nod, it was rather annoying to Henry that he couldn’t see her face, that hat was tilted downwards enough that he couldn’t see anything, except he did note that she had long, black hair. It stood out greatly against her extremely pale skin, what little of it he could see.

Henry gave a nod in return before grabbing two cups that sat by the machine, ready to pour when the coffee was brewed. He offered for her to take a seat, which India did. “So, what is the case? Who is the person?”

India let out a small sigh. “I am surprised that you are not aware, but then again, I wouldn’t put it past you to do your best to ignore the man and his infamous name.” She commented as she toyed with one of the framed images he kept on his desk. Henry wanted her to stop touching that particular picture, it was very special to him.

“There are a lot of men that I do my best to ignore, elaborate.” He started to pour the coffee into the cups.

“It’s Joey Drew.”

Henry stopped, tensing up. Joey Drew… is missing?

Turning, he looked at her with wide eyes. “What do you mean? How is he missin’? When did this happen?”

“Four days ago, he was last seen around The Studio.”

“Why was he back at the studio? I heard it closed down about five years ago.” He handed her a cup and she took it with her gloved hands.

India shook her head, making a disagreeing noise. “No, not Joey Drew Studios. The Studio. It is what your old work place has been labeled in Toon World. He was last seen there, alone, without a toon escort.” She pulled something from a pocket in her jacket, a folded-up sheet of paper.

She set it down on the desk as Henry took a seat, letting him take it. He unfolded the paper, seeing that it was a missing persons flyer. The word ‘missing’ was written at the top, above a photo of Joey Drew himself. Under the picture was his name, when and where he was last seen, and a small reward of two hundred dollars for finding him, dead or alive.

From the High Order of Cartoons, it seems. Hm, they have no interest in these sorts of things, especially when it comes to humans. So why would they give a reward for someone like Joey? He wasn’t exactly someone toons welcomed with open arms in Toon World. “You want me to find him? Why? Joey and I lost contact years ago, and honestly? I don’t care if that asshole is missin’, probably his own fault, knowin’ him. Was it a mob? Did he piss someone off in Toon World? Or is he doin’ this just to get attention?”

It was petty, and stupid, to reject a case, seeing as he hadn’t had a decent one in weeks. But Joey betrayed Henry ten years ago, and, as sad as it was, he was still nursing the wounds from their falling out.

“I understand that you are still mad at him.” India commented.

“How would you know that?”

“Joey and I were close.”

“How close?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business, just as the reasons for your hatred for him are none of mine. But hear me out.” India pulled something else out from her pocket. It was an old, beaten up piece of paper, yellowed with time. She handed it to him, and Henry looked it over, instantly recognizing the handwriting.

It was a message from Joey, addressed to Henry.

Dear Henry,

Seems like a lifetime since we worked on cartoons together. Ten years really slips away, doesn’t it?

If you’re back in town, or visiting Palomino City, come visit either of the workshops! There’s something I need to show you.

Your best pal, Joey Drew

Henry looked over the letter three times, before setting it down. There’s no date on it, but from how old the paper is, Joey must have written this a while ago, yet it seems that he never sent it. Why? Why did he write him a letter?

“I’m sure you have questions.” India spoke up, catching the investigator’s attention. “I found this note in his office at the studio here in Over World. I was trying to look for clues myself, but this is all I could find that was useful. I have heard of you, Henry. You are a man who is willing to solve cases for both humans and toons. Joey had connections to both, and to you. It seems best that you would be helpful in finding him. Especially considering that note, it sounds like he wished to patch things up between the two of you.”

He picked up the note once more, looking it over, reading it again. Was Joey really wanting to repair their broken relationship? Why not just contact him by phone? Or come to the office? Henry was known well enough in Toon World, even in Palomino City, so it shouldn’t have been hard for Joey to find some way to contact him. It’s pretty much the easiest way to get in touch with him, ask a toon for Henry Ross, they’ll tell you where he is.

Then again, Joey Drew never made anything easy, so this shouldn’t be surprising at all.

Still, there is something so unusual about all of this…

“So, let me get this straight,” Henry frowned, setting down the yellowed letter, “Joey was planning on sendin’ me this note, just days before his sudden disappearance?”

“That’s right. It seems that he wished for you to be back in his life, Detective. Will you take the case? You’re the only person I believe that has a chance of finding Mr. Drew.”

“I don’t like the idea of lookin’ for him, but I suppose I can take the case. As much as I’ve tried to avoid him, I do hear the gossip in Toon World.” Henry sighed, sipping his coffee. “I’ve heard people say he’s lost his mind, that he wants to become a toon or somethin’, but people use to say that about Disney back in his early days, so I ignore the words of the chatty people of Toon World. Same with here in Over World, where everyone thinks Joey Drew blew all his money and ran the company into the ground on stupid purchases.”

“Well, that last one is true.” India commented, there was obvious humor in her tone.

The detective snorted softly, leaning back in his chair. “I knew it, probably drove poor Cohen crazy, Joey never did know when to stop. So… I guess I can take the case.”

“I will pay you three thousand to find him, alive. Two thousand if he’s dead, but I’m sure you understand that I want him alive.”

Henry’s eyes widened at the prices, that’s… more than he’s ever gotten for a case, usually he tells them how much it will cost a day! He looked at her, surprised. “I… that’s too much.”

“I am desperate, Detective Ross. Mr. Drew is important to me, and I would very much care for him to be found, safe and sound.”

He frowned, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair, giving this some thought. He needed the money, and he had actually been wanting to speak with his old co-worker for a while now. Plus, he doubted anyone would wanna even look for the old fool, so it seems that Henry’s hands were tied.

“I’ll take the case. Let’s discuss my conditions and yours.”

“Excellent. You won’t regret this.”

Whenever someone says that, Henry couldn’t help but feel like he would.

Henry remembered the last day he stepped foot in Joey Drew Studios well.

It had been his last day there, the day the fallout between him and his best friend occurred. He remembered the yelling, the fighting, and the anger and hatred Henry had been filled with when he stormed into his work space to gather his things.

And then the pressuring guilt, when he had to say goodbye to his friends, and to his toons.

He had been the co-founder of Joey Drew Studios and had been head animator and director for the older episodes, until he left in 1933. He was also the proud creator of several of the famous characters from their most popular series, Bendy the Dancing Demon, including the Dancing Demon himself. Bendy had been his pride and joy, a dear friend of his, but Henry was banned from seeing him after he was fired.

In fact, it’s been years since he’s seen any of his characters, the last one he had seen was…

Well, anyway, since that day, Henry decided to change careers. Sure, he could go work for another studio, but he felt like it wouldn’t be the same. He decided to indulge in an old interest of his, something he would have gotten into if he hadn’t decided to become part of the cartoon scene. He looked into private investigating and decided to open up a business for both toons and humans.

Toons and humans live both alongside one another, but also separately in their own worlds. The human world, the one where most live, is the Over World. It’s where humans and toons tend to mainly work together, though toons are seen and treated on the same levels as those who are not white and middle-to-high class in society.

However, in Toon World? Toons live well enough with one another. Yes, there is still racial bias, but that can be blamed on the studios and creators. It’s not perfect, but it’s better and safer than Over World. Crimes are different in the world of cartoons, where things are ridiculous and silly, often like things seen in the shorts themselves. Bank robbers, kidnappings with the usual suspects, it’s all simple and easy, nothing to worry about. After all, murder isn’t common among toons, and if it does happen? It’s easy to solve, toons are careless when it comes to such a serious criminal act. Why would they bother to cover their tracks?

And a toon is always the suspect, seeing as only a toon can kill a toon.

The business went well for a while, petty crimes and such did pay the bills, but Henry also had to rely on human cases. Toon paid better, but crimes weren’t as reported or as frequent. How annoying, but human cases helped when things were tight, and Henry made a name for himself in both worlds, so he was given work.

Then the war happened, still happening, actually. But Henry was drafted, and had to close up shop in 1941, right after the attack in Hawaii. He was only in the frontlines for six months before he was sent home with a damaged leg, a missing pinky on his right hand, and a purple heart. He always felt like it had been a pointless matter in his life, at least he was able to return to his P.I. career after a short period to recover.

But work was quick to being slow and pointless, not much going on lately, until this case with Joey Drew.

Henry’s fingers itched for the metal case in his coat pocket, wanting a quick smoke, but he needed to stay focus. He had decided to return to Joey Drew Studios, to see if he could find any clues that India had missed. She was even kind enough to give him a key, so that was something.

He looked up at the old building, left to the elements. The sign above the door, that read the name of the studio, was rusted and the paint chipped. It was even missing a few letters. The grass around the front was overgrown, the windows of the building were completely boarded up, but the door was left just fine, minus needing a serious paint job.

What bothered Henry though, was the writing on the door, in a dried, black liquid.

Where it all began…

Was this someone’s idea of a joke? Henry didn’t like it, and he wasn’t gonna have any of this nonsense. Pulling the key from his pocket, he made his way for the steps up to the door, only to feel like someone was right behind him.

Turning sharply, Henry found himself staring down at a small boy.

He couldn’t be any older than thirteen, dressed in rather nice, clean clothing, but the colors were odd. His shorts, socks, and button up shirt were a solid black. Even his shoes, though they were also coated in a black liquid, it looked fresh. The only color of his outfit was the bright yellow vest he wore, and the white bowtie and one glove he sported, seeing as he was missing his left arm.

He was pale, his hair black as night and slicked back into two, messy spikes of some sort, made Henry think of cat ears. Kids these days were always trying to stand out with weird clothes and hairstyles, it seems. Minus this, the kid looked completely normal, except his eyes were a bright shade of gold, and they were narrowed as they focused on Henry.

“You shouldn’t be here.” He said in a voice that sounded a tiny bit deeper than it should be for a boy his age, accented as if from Brooklyn. Hm, sounded familiar, but that’s an accent he’s heard a million times over, so of course it sounds familiar.

“And why’s what? What do you want, kid?”

“You shouldn’t be here, dis place ain’t fer you anymore. Just walk away, an’ don’t be comin’ back here anytime soon, or ever. What’s in there is nothin’ but trouble!” The boy pointed at the building, Henry took notice that his single glove had two, shiny, black buttons on the back of it.

Kinda like Bendy.

Actually, now that Henry looked this brat over, the hair made him think of the toon’s horns… hell, there was a black patch on his vest, shaped like the Bendy logo. Hm, must be a fan, wouldn’t be the first time Henry’s seen a kid (or the rare adult) dressed like a cartoon character. He’d give this kid a seven out of ten on creativity with the outfit, but he was still being a brat, so Henry wasn’t appreciating the fan.

Henry scoffed, crossing his arms. “Come on kid, I have work to do. I used to work in this place, I’ll be fine, I just need to look for somethin’ that will help me out in my case.”

The boy looked annoyed, huffing as he turned his nose up at the older man. “Fine! But if ya get hurt cause of what lives in there, its yer own fault, Ross!” He spun on his heel and stomped off, glancing over his shoulder to stick out his tongue at Henry, blowing a raspberry at him.

“Rude.” The detective grumbled, turning back to the door before realizing something.

The kid knew his last name.

He looked back, but the boy was gone, no sign of his yellow and black clothes, or his bizarre hair. The studio was located just outside of the city, there wasn’t anyone around, nor was there much traffic. Where did that kid run off to so quickly?

Henry frowned as he shook his head, probably best to… not think about that right now.

He stepped up the stairs and stood before the door, slipping the key inside.

“Alright, Joey… let’s see if we can find what you wanted me to see.”

END ACT ONE SCENE ONE

[inknorant-a]

Headcannon: A True Loss - The Real Reason ( All Verses )

“ Why did you leave Henry? “

Hiding the truth, saying other things that’s at least close to it, was the only way to make others not feel bad for him. To not grieve for him. In fact...he didn’t have a real family. He never had a child, though..he did have a love interest. Now Henry’s last name wouldn’t be Drew, the liar, the traitor. No...it would stay as Dobbs, the ignorant man who caused ignorance to others.

This, is the REAL(self canon) reason why he left Joey Drew Studios.

He had a love once, a love who was always by his side until he “ partnered “ up with Joey Drew. Her name was Linda (Reinald). The two had met a longer time ago, even before he met the creator. It was a lot more than love at first sight. It was more of a connection, something that kept his mind off of the Great Depression, despite their financial disabilities.

Once Henry had a call, that he was accepted to a job with Mr.Drew himself, Henry had wanted to take Linda with him, move them both out to California and explored the sites, and the great opportunities. Yet...it was Linda who thought of bad emotions towards him(Joey). She sensed something bad, something wrong when receiving that phone call from across the way. Henry seemed surprised at first, nearly taking her word for it. Until their true injury of the Great Depression. His current job at the homeless shelter wasn’t helping paying the bills, or keeping their house for rent. So, he had to call Drew back, and had  to accept the job, despite those warnings. Yet...Linda understood, and decided to stay behind with her current job as an accountant at a bank(which was crowning with visitors) to help them out. Henry said his faithful goodbye, and left from Tennessee to California.

It felt nearly an honor to work with Joey Drew, his own hobby of drawing characters and such bringing a spark to their financial crisis. Instead of a concerned expression, there was excitement. Even though the building wasn’t much, it was worth the shot. 

The more Henry had worked, the more employees that were applied. Joey was a man of kindness and compassion, treating Henry just like his partner. Like a partnership business was in tact.

However...throughout the years, despite being as many employees as there were for both the animating and the new music department, the hours were starting to become tiresome, everyone except for Drew himself had to live inside the studio, some even paying the rent. Either it was the Depression catching up to them, the business being competitive to Disney, or was it Drew himself. Either way, there was no telling what made the work load so much and so hard.

Sleep deprivation and isolation from their loved ones made Henry worried, but his own self told him that Linda would be okay. She has the job she loved and the job that would keep herself on her own two feet for a long while, at least until the Depression slid by or Henry returns back home.

The latter came up first however.

Because, soon enough, he received a call on his phone, telling him to return home quickly, or as soon as possible. Henry stopped his work, commenced to pack up his stuff and leave the studio immediately. In the middle of the rush, he was stopped by Joey, whom “ needed “ him to stay. But Henry had to go, and after the arguing and sudden push to the side, the shoving done by Henry, he left, dropping a sketch of the now favored cartoon character on the floor while leaving out.

Joey picked it up. And was interested.

Back in Tennessee, Henry had rushed to the home, where he sees various of people, whom he guessed had worked with Linda standing by the door way, a few of them inside the house, and a couple in their bedroom. When Henry walked in, a woman was laying on the bed in terrible shape. Blood stained her clothing, along with her wrist being broken, her skin pale from the loss of blood that had drenched the bed sheets as well. And Henry couldn’t believe his eyes. The woman on the bed, was Linda. Her partners around her, thinking of the obvious, but Henry thought of the opposite. Sadness and grief fled into his heart as he heard Linda within her last breath,

“ Henry.. “ 

And just like that, she was gone, while Henry had held her hand until the very end. His first love, the one he met ever since a child, was gone. And there was nothing, nothing he could do about it. Though...it was about time now..after healing for so many months in silence and loneliness- to return to the studio.

The house was sold, and his supposed to be wife buried in the cemetery right where she belonged, to that happy place before Henry took one last hopeful trip back to his job.

Though the trouble didn’t stop there.

Eyes dilated and the drop of his bag, and Henry would see various upon various of a familiar designs across the studio. Cutouts, posters, even spreadsheets of troubling expressions. It was..everywhere. No one paid attention to the man who made him come inside, since they were having so much trouble in pleasing the man he went straight to.

A scowl came from the man once the ignorant entered his office, before a strict issue was upheld, including Drew himself holding up the picture Henry dropped on his way out (approximately 10 months ago). He..He wanted to know how he was drawn, how much perfection that was there to make a toon out of this.

Henry wanted to refuse, but remembering what he had been through...that refusal that caused the life of his wife. He had to accept. And the steps were shown, and soon they were in true, business.

However, Henry received credit for only making the...adjustments of “ Bendy the Dancing Demon” ‘s design. Not for actually creating him. And by the interview, he realized this, and...his heart sank along with his caring personality.

Everything, everything was taken AWAY from him! His WIFE, his old LIFE, now his OWN CHARACTER??

The sanity was driving him nuts to the point he groaned in low satisfaction, and said

 I quit.

Again, he packed up his belongings, took every drawing of Bendy that he had himself, and left the studio.

Never wanting to come back again. But the question is...

Why did he?

The letter came from Joey Drew, in a calming tone and in a calming paper whom never harmed the hand that held hit, whom drawn the toon as well.

Why did he?

Drive from other home, took a vacation from his free lancing artistic ways, took another vacation from his other job at accounting(taken into prior measurement from his passed wife who was killed, for a...mysterious reason).

Why? Did he?

Because honestly... he missed it.