Disclaimer: Chapter title really says it all. Nothing too crazy going on here, but the upcoming chapters-the ones that mark the end of part 1 of the sequel-will be pretty wild. The second part especially, will have a lot more action than the start. We're just jumping back and forth from one woman to the other as their day goes on.

I don't own BATIM or Cuphead.

"Speaking"

Thinking

"Reading"

"... you are... very quiet today, Nicky."

She looked up from her book, seeing David's concerned look. Gee, what brought that on? Quiet? How was this silence different than her normal quietness in class? "I'm fine, if you're worried," Nicky replied. Normally, early morning classes had her act at least a little off. Mostly due to sleep. Heck, she nearly fell asleep in the class right before she wound up in the Isles! "Just... I had a really long weekend, David. That's all."

He nodded, giving her a thankfully understanding look. How could it be understanding? He had no idea what she had been through? To her, more than just a simple weekend had passed, thanks to the passing of time in the Isles. Only buying it from how often I've drifted off before. "Were you looking at universities?"

"Yeah, I was. I think I found a really good choice, but I'm still stuck on what to study." They had no actual lecture at the moment. The professor was letting them study through the book, before discussing the actual material. Keeping their voices low so they didn't disturb the others, Nicky continued. "I'm taking classes here with no real goal in mind, just until I find what I want to do."

"Well, what do you enjoy doing?" He asked, glancing back at his own book. "What makes you happy?"

"Happy?" Nicky mumbled. Following his actions, she looked back at her book with a neutral expression. What did she enjoy? I like walks-no. No, something that I can actually make a career out of. She liked... learning. She loved learning about places, and their cultures. How physics worked, and their laws. Law... the Devil's contracts. How that worked also interested her. How toons and even herself were able to sign souls over. Hate to say it, but he is a businessman. She hated what they had done, fighting people for the papers, but the Devil was right in his rules.

"It's not really my problem," David added with a shrug. He flipped the page, reading the remaining section. "But if I were you, I wouldn't make a big deal about it. You seem like you have a lot on your plate. H-hey, we're stopping at 6.3, by the way."

"Oh... thanks." Following the lines with a finger, she threw him a quick smile before returning to the paper. School. Focus on school. She couldn't dismiss her classes for the day, despite how much she wanted to go practice. College first, then work with Jack on bettering her dodging skills, and then maybe try to look at the different programs the university offered.

I hope Kate's having better luck than I am. Her eyes fell halfway shut, and she struggled to hide a tired sigh from her study buddy. Cuphead, Mugman... hope your day is going well.

Sleeping with a beanie on sucked. Her braid loose, covering her back and pillows in a blanket of silky black hair, Kate waited for the three toons to leave before crawling out of her own bed. At least with the darkness of her bedroom, with the curtains closed, she could somewhat not have them be aware of her eyes.

Key word was the somewhat... given that they glowed.

Taking the hoodie that Bendy no longer had to wear, and throwing it on over a yellow tank top, complete with a simple pair of grey leggings decorated with black stars, Kate sat down on her bed and began the long process that was combing. Normally, the woman preferred to dress rather business-like. Perhaps it was from watching all those 1930's cartoons, but the style just... stuck. She dressed like she was going to a meeting, or a themed dance, rather than a day of fun.

What could she say? Kate thought she looked great in the outfits she wore. She never really cared what others thought. However, at home, she preferred to a bit more casual. And nothing said casual like running around in your bare feet and a hoodie, snuggling down on the couch with a massive bowl of popcorn. I... really need something to do.

Leaving her hair loose, she went to grab the beanie. "... hmm." I wonder... glancing at the mirror built onto her wardrobe, she grabbed several strands of black hair, and looped them around her horns. It looked a little funny, but they were covered. Plus, with a few pins, were stable. Giving a pleased laugh, she rushed to the door... and ran back to the mirror. I-it was stable. Nothing was going to fall and give herself away to the brothers. She was fine. Great! "... whatever."

Finally emerging from the darkness that was her room, she inhaled the sweet smell of syrup and headed off to the kitchen. Syrup meant either waffles or pancakes. And ham or bacon. Feet kicking up a bit at the mere idea of food, she rushed down the rest of the stairs and to the kitchen. Her mom and dad weren't there. That didn't surprise her. They'd be at work. However, Allison was there tending to a pan filled with bacon, while Tom was prepping his own finished plate. And there at the table, were the three toons she couldn't stop thinking over.

It was very different, to see Bendy wear clothes. Compared to his previous pure black, inky form in the studio, she had wondered why he decided to put them on. After all, it was clear he had a problem with controlling his emotions. The constant drip, drip, drip; the stained fabrics. Maybe it was because he wanted to try and appear more... normal? Separate himself from how his cartoons portrayed him? Either way, the pants he wore when they visited the Iwerks' house remained, but this time, with the addition of a brown short sleeved button-up. His bow remained, but like his eye patch, was stained with ink. It managed to catch most of what poured off his face, preventing the rest of his ensemble from being dirtied.

Cuphead and Mugman no longer wore the clothes that Nicky had thrown at them too. Proudly wearing their respective red and blue shorts and straws that matched their noses, they dug into the food on their plates. Cuphead's was drenched in syrup, far more than Bendy and Mugman. "He hogged the syrup." She looked at the demon, hearing his displeasure. "Used up the rest of the bottle."

Cuphead snickered, cutting into his waffle again and putting a forkful into his mouth with a satisfied hum. "Ah." Moving to the counter, she snatched the spatula up and nabbed two pieces of bacon from the pan, once Allison sat it on a cool burner. "Any plans for the day?"

"Nothing that I can think of." Allison picked up her own bacon, and took one of the two remaining waffles. "It is... getting boring, staying in the house."

Tom nodded, and Kate looked at the two of them in mutual understanding. They were safe in the house, but they were even more trapped than before. True, in the studio, their lives were threatened, but it was a bigger place than this one. Tom enjoyed helping her dad, but it was going to get repetitive sooner or later. After all, they can't die. Mom and dad... can.

"Kate?" She felt a cold hand rest on her shoulder, and she looked up at Tom's furrowed brows. Turning to Allison, she hurried to throw another smile on her face.

"Sorry. Just-I'll... think on what we can do." Mom and dad would die. The toons would not. If they remained the same for thirty years, what did that mean for her? Would she still age, or... would she remain stuck? Lost in time as she was before she was put into the machine by Bendy? Eat, Kate. Focus on breakfast. Not that.

Listening to herself, Kate and the others moved to the table. Allison and Tom sat together, with Bendy next to the former voice actress, and her next to Cuphead. It was wise for Mugman to be between the two. There was clear tension between the cup headed boy and the demon. As she sat, munching on her bacon-a little burnt, but not bad-she continued wracking her brain for ideas. Ideas and thoughts that didn't apply to her.

They never did get to go towards the ocean yesterday. It'd be an idea for them to kill time, and to introduce the sight to the three that never saw the open waters before. I'm guessing Allison and Tom have seen the ocean before... even if they forgot it. "How about we take a drive, huh?" All five of them turned to her, as she lowered the rest of her bacon. "Not sure if my car can fit everyone, but I did say I'd take you three to the ocean."

"You're really going to take us?" She nodded at Cuphead, picking up her own fork and knife.

"I said I would," she repeated. "Staying coped up in the house isn't really ideal. Trust me, we would know." Kate paused to eat a bite of the waffle, and smiled at the taste. "Mmm... but anyway, you said time works differently there?"

"Nicky said only a few weeks passed for her since she left." Mugman reached forward to grab the milk left on the table, pouring some into a glass. "But it was several months for us."

"Which means that since you came into this world Saturday night, and it's Monday morning now, we can guarantee more than a week has already passed." The brothers nodded. "Hopefully that means sometime today Nicky will hear back from your Elder Kettle."

Hopefully. It was just wishing and hoping they were relying on. Wonder how dad broke the news to mom about all of... this. They ate the rest of their meal in silence, and while her mind didn't race back to the studio or herself, there were some things she wondered about. The biggest one... did her parents call Uncle Ryan and Aunt Natalie and inform them of what their daughter had been doing? After all, they... they did call them to talk about what had happened to her in the studio.

And if Nicky reacted the way she did, they obviously never told her what went on. That's not smart, Kate thought, stabbing another piece of her waffle. Both of their parents knew they weren't on speaking terms, but that was... huge. What, was Nicky supposed to think she was missing? Dead, like the rest of the world? Or were they still trying to figure out how to break the news to her? "Hey... um, Kate?" She looked up, seeing Cuphead had finished his plate. "You and Nicky are cousins, right?"

"Yeah. Her mom and my dad are siblings." She chuckled, and lifted a strand of long black hair. "It's sort of obvious when you look at it." Nicky got her frizzy curly mess from her dad, but kept the length and color of her mom's hair. Kate's own mom had short hair, but its length was nothing that could be compared to hers. The artist's several feet of black locks because, well... she just hardly ever cut it.

"We never met her parents," he replied. "We've only seen the photographs." He fell silent for a moment, and she watched as the porcelain contorted. How interesting. She could see faint lines, proof of his many fights. But besides the clinking of the straw moving, it shaped in a way that shouldn't be possible. "... do you hate Nicky?"

"H-hate?" Kate sharply inhaled, and noticed that everyone's eyes were on her. "I don't... I don't hate Nicky. It's just..." just... what? "It's... complicated, Cuphead. It isn't my place to explain what happened between us. Nicky should be the one to tell, while... I should be the one to tell the others."

"You don't have to tell us, Kate." She shook her head at Bendy's words.

"I-I know, Bendy. But I want to." No she didn't. She didn't want to say anything. If she didn't, the weight of it would just continue to build until something bad happened. Memories, and emotions, building behind a dam. "Now then." Kate stood up, and clapped her hands together. "Let's go get some stuff together-water, maybe a towel, before we head out. We're going to the beach."

A coffee held in one hand, and a toon card hiding in the curtain of black curls, Nicky walked along the road. David, bless his heart, did make the rest of the day a bit better. Not a lot, but some. Besides the classes they didn't share, he insisted on being with her at their overlapped lunch and getting her a drink on her way out. A lot of milk and sugar, just as she liked it.

Taking another sip, she smiled at the warm liquid racing through her body as the fall breeze swept around her. "This was... a good day, wasn't it? Sort of makes it almost feel... normal." And it... feels weird. Was she honestly that used to the Isles? Even when nothing crazy happened, just being there made her feel happy. Does... it have to do with the magic too? Heh. Just another thing to the growing list.

"Hey, Jack?" The card turned to face her, which she saw out of the corner of her eye. "How'd you come into being?" Jack chirped at the question, and it did its impression of a shrug. "I wonder if the others could fill me in?" They aged, therefore, people should be able to provide some form of answer. If not... she supposed she could live with remaining a mystery. Besides, she got almost everything else answered.

How big the world of the Isles was, how people arrived there, and even learned of Chalice's fate. So many topics, all mysterious and dark in nature. And while no one ever did say it to her in person, Nicky had pieced it together that what she felt within the islands was magic. She felt magic. In the air, and when Dice used his little teleportation trick. It was all around her, which was why it wasn't working in her world. It's because there's no magic that I can't carry out the attack. It was probably also due to her not unlocking her... power, or whatever too, but it was also the first thing.

Arriving at the house, and not bothering to give another word to the card, she hurried to unlock the door and step inside. Nobody was home, obviously. Everyone was at work. Could she have also driven herself to school... yes, but the weather was still nice. Once it started snowing, then she'd break out the keys. "Alright, Jack." She tossed her bag across the room, watching it sail and land onto the couch in a thump. "Let's go get some water, maybe a granola bar, and go practice." Pulling her phone out, Nicky hurried to set herself a timer. "We have two hours before we need to be back."

Everything still ached, especially her legs. But she couldn't let up. Not until she was at least somewhat comfortable with the idea she could stand a sliver of a chance against the demon. Still, the callouses on her heels she could live without. It was proof of how much she was pushing herself. Wonder what... they're doing? Elder Kettle and King Dice? Where was the brothers' guardian hiding, away from the Devil? It had to have been some place that would either be far away from the casino, or a place where he would never even think of checking.

Then there was the right-hand man himself. Nicky was surprised, that she had not given him much thought in the past few hours. All her mind could think about was Cuphead, Mugman, and Kate. How was he handling the mess left behind at the casino? Her... former boss, he knew-even if Dice never said it aloud-that they were meeting in secret. Discussing what, that remained hidden. If Dice goes to find me, he might be followed. She closed the fridge door, holding the blue bottle in her tightening grip. How... how would that work? He would look for her at some point, and the Devil was not one to let go of things so easily. So what, did she have to hide from Dice now? Easier said than done.

Skipping the bar, she returned to the entrance of the house and stepped out, making sure it was locked behind her. Back into the woods we go. Walking along the side of the house, watching the trees start to loam over her and the playing card, Nicky forced the worry to the back of her head. Avoiding Dice-she managed to pull it off for a while. It wouldn't last forever. I need to plan. I need some sort of step for when I go back... but what?

"Now... this is much better, isn't it?" Kate stretched her back, feeling the breeze rush off the waves and blow her hair out behind her. Driving was... tight. Allison, naturally, sat in the front. As for the others, Tom, Cuphead, Mugman, and Bendy were shoved in the back. It helped that three of the four were quite small, but with the added fact that Bendy was a demon, both brothers were on edge for most of the ride.

However, the rest of their attention was drawn to the outside world. Watching buildings fly by; signs filled with bright lights and colors. Everything was new to them, and while they obviously had stuff like fast food and theatres back in the... Isles, it wasn't like what she had. Hell, her friends were in the same boat. Allison and Tom, their memories of their human lives were wiped. Bendy had nothing before his birth in the studio. Driving out of Brooklyn, and passing by more and more small towns and suburbs, it wasn't until Allison pointed out a small path along the side of the road that she knew they found their spot.

Just hidden enough in the trees as to not attract attention, the overgrown trail lead them out to a small cove. Trees lining the edges, except for a tiny small beach littered with rocks. Cuphead and Mugman, abandoning their footwear, had immediately taken to the water. Their faces expressed their misfortune at the temperature, but it didn't take too long to adjust to it. Splashing one another, and examining what lurked below the surface.

Tom and Allison rested along a fallen log, enjoying-like her and Bendy, who remained at her side-the change in scenery. The wind on their faces, the smell of the salty spray. "So... this is the ocean." Kate nodded. "It's... nice." Bendy leaned forward, staring at his reflection. "Not sure if I really trust it though."

"Because you're ink?" He nodded this time. "I... don't really blame you." Allison's words back in the studio, before she went to face Inky, were that they couldn't enter the ink like her. Bendy was exempt from that rule. He dove in to rescue her from drowning, and put himself back in the machine to make sure her mind wasn't... lost? In pieces, like Susie's? "Hmm..." she knelt down, and placed her hand in the water. No ink drifted from her palm, no pain was felt. I never had any problems with showers, but I am still... somewhat human. I'm not that different.

Different... huh. Standing back up, and wiping the water on her pants, Kate looked back down at her impish friend. "What do you think it's like? In... their world?" Together, they looked ahead to Cuphead and Mugman. The two had gone out to where the water brushed at their knees. The sweatpants had been ditched on shore, as had the hoodies and sneakers, leaving them in their toon clothing sans straws. Straws, that remained tucked in her trunk within their bags. "A world filled with only toons?"

"Who knows?" Bendy shrugged, sticking his hands into his pockets. "Not like we'd fit in there anyway." We...? "We might look toon, Kate, but in the end, we're somethin' else. Human souls trapped in a toon body, or lackin' a soul entirely..."

"... or whatever it is I am." She didn't pay much attention to how his eyes darted to her at those words. "Do you think it'd be... worthwhile, in checking it out?" Her glowing eyes, still masked by glass, darted to the sky. White fluffy clouds drifted lazily by, letting sunbeams in through gaps down to the group of six. "Who knows... maybe I'd fit in better in a world of cartoons?"

Would she? Well, she definitely didn't fit in a world of humans now. If it wasn't for the brothers' reaction to Bendy, and the fact the Devil exists in their home, maybe she'd be more intrigued with the idea-wait. Kate, don't be going down that track. You're helping her out. That's it. Why would she even end up in the Isles, anyway? She didn't know anything about them. "Eh, you're thinkin' too much into this, kid." She blinked, and looked back down at him. "Just enjoy the moment. 'sides, you got back to your family, remember? Why would ya wanna leave em?"

"R-right," Kate said, giving a quick nod. Another gust of wind hit her, and she reached up to plant a hand on her head, keeping her horns covered as the ribbons of black danced behind her. She was free. She was out. She made peace with her mom, and her family life was never better. Why on earth would she want to give that up?

Her clothes were nipped at by branches, and dirt was smudged on her knees, elbows, and hands. Jack chirped from her shoulder, watching Nicky toss her bag onto her bed and drop into the chair, sending it spinning sideways until she dug her heels into the ground. And sore. Holy cow, was she ever sore. "Well... that was an experience." She wiped the back of her hand on her forehead, grimacing at the sweat that came back with it. Jack threw itself off her shoulder, landing down on the table with practice. "Heh..."

Brown eyes trailing across her desk, she stared at the pamphlets from the university. Mixed in with her notes from classes, under and over them. "..." she stared at the book, at the far end. It didn't appear to be disturbed, but then again, its appearance could be deceiving. We left on Saturday. It was Monday evening now...

The book flew from the table as she snatched it, sending several papers flying onto the floor. Jack chirped in surprise, not expecting how quick the action was going to be. There was no glow, no light wrapping around her hands and arms. It was still. Check the pages, Nick. Starting at the beginning, the human began to thumb her way through them. Quickly, but taking just enough time to check if anything was stuck in the folds.

Flip, flip, flip went the paper. The story of Cuphead and Mugman verses the Devil played out in rapid speed, as did her heart. There had to have been some news, right? It must have been at least a week for them. Please, Elder Kettle. She gave a short sigh, her page turnings starting to slow. Say some-

There was something stuck in the map of the first Isle.

Heart stopping, Nicky opened the book to its fullest, and plucked the folded paper from its spot. It was old, a far cry from any paper she had in her room. She could see the ink had not fully dried, leaving small spots around the words. Elder Kettle...

"Dear Nicky.

I hope this notice finds you well. I am safe, and as of writing this, the Devil and his minions have not found me. It would be too soon to say that you and the boys are out of the woods, but as it has been almost two weeks, it should be safe enough for you three to return."

She stopped for a moment, rereading the small paragraph. Almost two weeks, that... that would make sense. If that was true, she was surprised he hadn't written sooner. Then again, he must have wanted to be careful. In case anything else rose up. Keep going, Nick.

"However, should you return, I highly recommend keeping close to the shadows. The dark side of the Isles shies away in the day, and the first two Isles should be safe to explore in the meantime.

Send your response when you are able. I await your return, and what stories you three have to tell me about your time in the other world.

Sincerely,

Elder Kettle."

It was what she expected to hear. Hiding when they returned, but returning all the same. Things won't calm down though, she thought with a frown. Resting the book, closed, back on the desk, Nicky continued to stare down at the letter. The Devil would continue to pursue her, no matter how long she waited. Be it days, months, even years, she was going to remain hunted. Constantly having to be on her toes every time she entered the world of the Inkwell Isles.

A soft chirp, and she glanced at Jack. The card hopped its way over to her, staring at her in concern. "Heh... sorry, Jack. Just... what do I do next? We have to go back, but what then?" He wanted the book, but... what good would that do him? If she was right, magic didn't exist in this world. The Isles were drenched in it, it gave them life. Gave him life. Her world was bleak compared to it; lifeless. Even if the Devil got hold of it, nothing would happen. And... he wouldn't learn that, unless someone told him. Unless... unless...

She told him.

… I... can't be considering this, right? She slid her hand into her pocket, and pulled her phone out. Opening to her contacts, she slid to the one right above her aunt. Why she kept Kate there, after all these years... she had no idea. Nicky was never one to clear her list, and half of the numbers on there she hadn't used in ages. Plus, she didn't know if the number was still working. It could have changed.

No matter. She selected it anyway, and as she brought it to her ear, Nicky really had to wonder... was Cuphead's recklessness rubbing off on her, or was she really that desperate to ease his worries about him and his brother being murdered in their sleep? Eh. Probably both.

It was sad, the flip phone. Far more dated than her previous one, but it wasn't as though she had much of a choice. Her old phone was shattered beyond repair, and filled with ink from that first fall. Beggars can't be choosers. At least she got to keep the number, despite having to remove every other contact that was useless in her current state. "Oh, boy." Flipping it open, Kate brought it to her ear, listening for the voice over the wind and waves. "Hello?"

"Kate..." her heart, no matter how slow it moved, felt like it paused at the tone flowing out of the speaker. "Get their bags and get over here... we're going back. Now."

Compared to many other chapters, this is a very casual chapter. Jumping perspectives to show how both sides are trying to adapt to the feelings left behind the previous day. It does do a lot of time jumps unfortunately, but I didn't really want to have two chapters all about this one single day. Thankfully, this is the only chapter that will be jumping this much in the story, if I can help it.

Until next time!

Angel