This is just something I do for fun. It is a bit of an AU and the things written may not fit with the cannon as more Chapters gets released.
Also the names given that are not cannon are what I have come up with. Same with description of looks, history, personality and relationship.
I do not personally work in the animation business but I will try to keep it as realistic as possible.
I do not own Bendy and the Ink Machine it belongs to TheMeatly Games
Friday
Henry woke up that morning, recalling the date a smile stretched across his face. He looked out the window and saw how light powder white snow fell from the grey sky.
It was Friday the 10th of February. Two years ago he created the little devil darlin'.
Roughly two years ago his dream of being an animator, an artist took flight. Henry looked around the apartment he called his own. It was about 50 square meters which was a lot for a lone man. It was reasonably close to the studio and even if it was rundown and needed repairs it was enough for him since he was barely there. He was often at the studio and if he had a day free he would travel over the kill and visit the rest of his family. There were times when he haven't returned home to the apartment for two three days and had fallen asleep wither on his desk, a medical cot he kept close by or in one of the infirmary beds down on the lower floors. He knew he was not the only one that did that. He had caught the Blake Twins and the sax player Webber using them for some shuteye. That didn't mean that the residents nurse where happy they were doing so.
Henry through back on everything, about where his life was going to go now. Joey Drew studio was going up, slowly but steadily. But Joey was sure they would soon sky rocket past both the Fleisher brothers and Mr. Disney that became popular thanks to his mouse.
Henry made himself ready for another day of work. After a breakfast consisting of beans on toast and coffee. The apartment was quite dull it would probably be considered uninhibited if not for the clothes in the closet, the framed photographs that sparsely decorated the walls and the pantry that was in a need for more variation in content.
After dressing Henry decided to take a moment to look at one pf the photos, Henry recalled the man in the photo with foundress, his first teacher in the arts, and to Henry still considered one of the most talented artist he has ever seen. And one that the world would probably never know the name off. He wish that the man could see him now, but he knew he would be proud of him and his siblings.
Henry was just happy that his grandfather had a chance to see Bendy before he passed. In his mind Henry thanked him for everything he had given him. Happy having paid his respect to the photo. Slipping on his brown coat and his fedora as he prepared himself for the cold.
Henry made his way the studio with a light skip in his step. The snow below his feet made the faintest of crunch sound. But most of the streets where already cleared of it. He was soon there by his workplace, ready for another day.
He entered the familiar entryway that led to the massive workroom. Posters of the little cartoon demon and his companions decorated the walls.
There in the workroom where two people. Both whom Henry knew and could place anywhere, especially with her special hairstyle.
"Good morning Mr. Howard." Came the voice of Mr. Price secretary. She was sitting there in the workroom with Nick Blake on the other side he was happily talking about something.
"Good morning Henry. How is the proud daddy?" Nick said teasing the head animator. They all knew the story. They knew that Henry had drawn the first sketch of Bendy on a late rainy night exactly two years ago. Henry's fondness for his little toon was obvious and he was often teased when his antics where he acted like Bendy could hear them. Such as his singing and talking to the small demon.
"I didn't know you were married, congratulations Mr. Howard." Miss Troost sounded delighted, having not been around during the time of Bendy's creation. So she took the words for their literal meaning.
"I don't, I'm not seeing anyone either. They are referring to Bendy." Henry said feeling a bit embarrassed by the implication, and mentally noted to scold Nick later.
"Oh, sorry." She said as an embarrassed blush covered her face.
"It's alright, it was sweet of you." He said hoping to save her from some of her embarrassment. Before he turned his attention to the younger animator whom Henry gave the stink eye to.
"Oh come on you are his dad more or less." Nick said trying to get that intimidating stare off him.
"What is Joey then?" Henry asked, he wonder if he would answer.
"Probably the out there uncle." Nick said not really batting an eye.
"Why an uncle?" Henry asked curious to where that was going to lead.
"Well he is a bit too young to be a grandpa by any means. You know, unless he knocked someone up when he was three."
"Nick!" "Mr. Blake!" Both Henry and Ruth said a bit taken by Nicks comment.
"Fine, I stop." Nick said rolling his eyes.
"Then if Mr. Drew is the uncle. Would that make you one as well?" Ruth asked wanting to know just what type of logic Blake was working under. Also to get back to something more pleasant.
"Nah, I'm more of a cousin or an older brother, you know the fun kind." Nick said good-naturedly.
"Poor thing would have a huge family then." Henry said thinking about the entire staff. There were about 50 of them. That would be a lot of names and faces. Not counting in the 'extended family'.
"I take it you both would be sent to the corner quite often." Ruth said sweetly. She had gotten use to the Blake brothers' antics and knew that they would be delighted if she tried to joke back.
"It wouldn't be just them." Henry said, there were quite a few practical jokesters at Joey Drew's studio. Henry included himself in that category.
"Believe it or not, Henry is quite a trickster himself. He just hides it better."
"I would have never guessed." Ruth said a bit surprised. Looking at the tall reddish-brunette.
"Yeah, I was impish." Henry said rubbing the back of his neck. Recalling some of his boyhood schemes. Most of them revolving around his beloved childhood pet. Then again an Irish wolfhound weren't the easiest dog to smuggle into your house without your parents noticing.
"You still are." Nick said in reply.
"True." Henry admitted. The three of them continued their conversation rather pleasantly until the door to Joey Drew's office opened. The heavyset man that stepped out of the room followed by the studios owner.
Godfrey Price was a fancy fella. Henry was pretty sure that man could eat at the Ritz daily if he so desired. He was finely dressed everything he wore was specially made for him and the silver buttons on his vest shone when the light hit them along with his clearly new polished shoes. Besides his clothes the man was huge. Henry could count three chins on the man and even if he and Joey stood next to each other he was pretty sure the gentleman would still be wider than them. His skin always appeared flustered with small brown eyes and greying brown hair.
But if there was one thing Price had it was influence. The same kind of influence that Joey strived to gain. The kind that made people drop everything they were doing to perhaps just get a word of two with the man.
"Ah Mr. Howard. It is so nice to see you. I take it you are working hard on the animations." The man's deep voice always seemed to have tone of snobbery, no matter how many times Henry summed it up to just being his imagination.
"Yes, sir. We all do." Henry said, he might be a workhorse but he couldn't do all of it alone.
"Splendid I am sure to enjoy the next batch shortly then." He said utterly pleased with the response. Henry wondered if the man knew just how time consuming it really was.
"I have high hopes Mr. Howard, you are something special. Ruth it is time to leave." He said as the secretary made her way towards the door after bidding the men goodbye as she followed her boss out into the cold.
"Now then, let us get back to work." Joey said excitedly. As he made his way to the sculpture room. It was used to house 3d models that the team either used as inspiration or as props. But lately it had become the room Joey decided to use for his new research. No one had been in there for a month and they were more than curious what was behind the sheet.
"You heard the boss." Nick said shrugging his shoulders.
"I will see you later." Nick made his way back to the art department. Henry instead of turning back to go to his desk he decided to take a peek into the room knowing that Joey was in there. What he saw where a lot of candles and a bendy toy on the floor. Along with the black star he was quite sure was on the book he saw Joey hold the other day. Hearing Joey's footstep Henry quickly let the drape fall and made his way back to his desk. Wondering what he just witnessed.
The rest of the day went by as usual. Most of the workers left around 4 in the afternoon. Wanting to have a weekend of peace before a new more hectic schedule began on Monday. Henry Stayed behind. Already beginning to sketch scenes for the upcoming shorts. The more he did now the less he would have burdening him when he got back on Monday. Henry looked at the small demon that occupied his mind.
"Hey Bendy. I almost forgot to tell you happy birthday." Henry knew that he wouldn't get any response from the drawing but he for some reason had short conversations with Bendy. It felt nice since he did need some calm and quiet to draw. So talking to the toon filled some of his need for someone to talk to from time to time.
Henry looked at the clock, it was 11.45 and Henry was getting ready to go home for the night. But there was something bothering him. He knew he had seen several things in the sculpture room. And there was something in his gut that was telling him something was going on. He knew that Joey said that the era was off limits till Monday but whatever his friend had been up to. The answer was on the other side of that make shift barricade. As Henry got closer he moved the sheet ever so slightly and what he saw was odd.
In front of joey was some sort of painted symbol he was also mumbling in another language that Henry believed where Latin. The only light was a candle in front of Joey but surrounding the symbol where five candles that where unlit. Henry could make out an inkwell situated in the middle of it all and a small box with what he assumed where hair, more accurately his hair. A few weeks ago Joey had snagged a few strands of hair from Henry's head, claiming it was an accident. But he had seen his friend toy with the very same type of box later that day.
The chanting became more and more frantic. Henry feared that whatever Joey was doing was going to cause him harm, so gathering his courage he went in.
"Joey!" The sound of his co-founders voice startled Joey. Luckily for the dark haired man he had managed to pronounce every word for the spell. For a moment nothing happened. Then the flames around the pentagram lit up and the opened inkwell that stood in the middle began to bubble and spill over and make a great big puddle. It layer still for a second before it began to bubble again and a shape began to form. Henry was petrified, both men didn't dare to move but it was for two different reasons. Joey looked like he forgot how to breathe, Henry on the other hand was confused beyond belief. What was happening?
Suddenly it wasn't just black but speckles of white began to form shifting and forming to what looked like a heart. What made Henry take a gasp was when three lines appeared in the white spot, the more the shape came to the more Henry wondered if this was a dream of some kind.
The ink began to sway, it became apparent that whatever it was doing it was struggling. Then more white began to appear. Forming arms with white ends and a white spot on the upper chest.
Then the moment either Henry or Joey would ever forget.
Dark eyes opened.
Those eyes had a name.
Bendy.
