Trigger Warning: Implied Usage of Needles -it is kept very brief, but present.
"Ahh, Miss Chalice, how good it is to see you again.
If only we could meet under better circumstances, my dear friend."
"Quadratus, you gotta tell me what's happenin' 'round here. When I left Inkwell a few months ago everythin' was lickety-split. Now the papers say the Devil's Casino is reopenin', the brothers have been kidnapped, and Inkwell's a mess!"
"Sadly, it's all true.
The Devil fooled everyone, through and through."
"Sounds just like him... Gosh, I shoulda seen this coming from a mile away. If I'd kept my damn head straight on my shoulders, maybe the brothers would still be here. I gotta rescue them before it's too late. Who knows what horrible things the Devil's got planned for them. If they're still alive..."
"Chalice wait! Not so fast.
Do not rush in to face him, as you did in the past."
"...Do you have to bring that up every time we talk, Quad? I don't know what hurts more: thinkin' back or knowin' you're right... I'm sorry, I shouldn't get prickly with you. You're right, you know you are. What is it you wanted to say?"
"Chalice, this isn't an ordinary plan the Devil has concocted.
He has something much more dastardly plotted.
Exactly what, I wish I knew.
But sadly, I can only direct you.
Screams of anguish I sense below,
deep down in Inkwell Hell's dungeon, you must go.
The Elder Kettle is there, at risk,
he holds essential information you mustn't miss."
- Chapter Four: Observation Report -
Elder Kettle was exhausted, but sleep evaded him. The memories of the events leading up to his capture haunted him, stuck on repeat in his mind like a broken record.
There'd been a loud crash upstairs. Elder Kettle had gone to check, assuming the boys were getting up to some nighttime mischief. Instead, he found his beloved children unconscious, the Devil's imps surrounding them. He'd tried to stop the imps, but Kettle wasn't half the fighter he used to be. The next thing he knew, he woke up imprisoned in a cell.
Elder Kettle presumed he was now somewhere in Inkwell Hell, trapped in one of the Devil's dungeons. It wasn't a hard guess, most of the prison guards were imps skulking about, chittering to each other in a strange demonic language. Some guards were mortals who'd lost their souls to the Devil. Poor things. Despite their cruelty, Elder Kettle still pitied them. It was in his nature.
It didn't take long after Elder Kettle adjusted to try and discover what happened that night. Where his boys were. Anything at all, but with no success. Down here, every day was the same. No sounds -besides occasional screams-, no people -besides the guards- nothing useful. Kettle had attempted to speak to the guards once when they came to give him the daily rations. Their only response had been to hit him upside the head with a baton.
It was the third day of his imprisonment when the cycle broke. The one day that changed everything. He'd heard footsteps, which wasn't out of the ordinary, but it was when she spoke, that caught his attention.
"Elder Kettle?"
This voice was unfamiliar to Kettle. He didn't reply, bracing up for a beating. The woman stood, waiting for his response. When there had been no reply for a few tense minutes, she spoke again.
"I know you can hear me, Kettle. Now either you answer me or I'll call the guards. They'll make you answer."
She sounded different from a regular guard. In fact, she didn't sound like a guard at all. Elder Kettle peered cautiously at her through the cell bars. It was a martini glass with heavy dark circles under her eyes, jotting down notes in a large book. Definitely not a guard.
"Who are you?" He whispered.
"Someone who isn't here to beat you to a bloody pulp, if that worries you." The woman chuckled dryly. She sat down in front of the cell, smiling softly. "I'm here to present you with an offer. One that allows you a bit of freedom, Mister Kettle. In exchange for said freedom, better meals, and comfort I only ask that you come with me. "
Freedom? That was too good to be true, especially with the Devil involved. "What is it you want from me, ma'am?" Elder Kettle replied, eyeing her suspiciously.
"That's something I cannot tell you." She said, her gaze shifting away from him. "But I can say that you would be much safer coming with me instead of staying down here."
There was the catch. Elder Kettle was a little surprised. Usually, the Devil hid secret requirements deep in his agreements, but this one was plain to see. "Thank you for your offer, miss, but I must decline. I don't plan on going anywhere unknown with any of the Devil's associates."
She nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your time, sir."
The woman wrote a few notes in her book, then got up to leave. She was almost out of Elder Kettle's sight when she paused. "It's your decision, but if you take me up on my offer, I promise that you will see your boys again."
That single statement made Elder Kettle's mind come screeching to a halt. He was suddenly out of breath, his eyes watering up with tears. She could be lying, but it was well worth the risk. Kettle knew the Devil loved exploiting loopholes in his deals, but he followed the written terms to the letter. There was a chance Kettle would see them again, a risk he would gladly take.
The woman began to walk away. Kettle cried out after her. "Wait! I'll take you up on your offer, miss! But only if I can see my boys."
She slightly turned. "Of course. It will be done. I swear it on the Devil himself."
The cell door flew open, and she approached, handing Kettle his cane. He smiled appreciatively, getting to his feet.
The woman led him through a dimly lit corridor, still writing notes here and there as they went. "The name's Ginette. It's a pleasure to work with you, Elder Kettle." Her greeting sounded genuine, but there was a tinge of sadness in her tone. Or was it pity? Elder Kettle wasn't sure, but it left him on edge, trying to read her.
This woman, Ginette was an enigma to Elder Kettle. She was far too polite and humble to be a servant to the Devil, yet here she was. She didn't look too much older than his boys, maybe late twenties at most, but she spoke as if she was much older. His heart ached for her. How terrible to have one's life stolen away at such a young age.
Ginette led him through the dungeon's stone corridors, waving at guards as they passed. To any who protested, she'd say. "He's with me. Devil's orders." The pair passed by the dungeon's exit and turned into a tiny hallway, coming to a massive reinforced steel door. Elder Kettle didn't like it one bit. What could warrant such a fortified entrance?
"Here we are." Ginette sighed, muttering a spell under her breath. Her happy demeanor had disappeared entirely, her eyes locked ahead.
The giant door swung open, revealing an expansive inside. The walls, a white concrete. Several metal tables sat in the middle beside two chairs. Tall black cabinets lined the walls, all with padlocks on the handles. It looked like a laboratory. Elder Kettle hesitated. All of his senses screaming at him to run.
Ginette glanced back. "You coming?"
Was that even a question? No matter the cost, Kettle had to comply. His boys needed him, no matter what suffering he'd have to endure to see them again. Elder Kettle nodded, steeling himself. He followed Ginette inside; the door swinging shut behind him. With that decision, Elder Kettle sealed his fate.
Ginette still had a heart, believe it or not. Even after being trapped as the Devil's servant for sixty years, she maintained her conscience. Currently, said conscience was screaming at her. Though she had little choice, her participation in such cruelties weighed heavy on her heart.
Convincing Elder Kettle to accept the offer had gone perfectly, and despite the lab's ominous appearance, he'd stuck it out. Now, all Ginette had left to do was complete her assignment. This should've been the easiest part, but Ginette was stalling. She'd asked Elder Kettle to sit. He complied even though it was clear he was nervous. He didn't ask a single question, holding up his end of the deal. Ginette despised how courteous he was.
She'd logged his vitals. Determined his dosage. She checked and double-checked if it had the slightest chance of being lethal. It wasn't. Everything was perfect, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she mimed rummaging through a cabinet while she tried to calm her conscience.
"Everything alright, miss?" Elder Kettle called out. His voice bounced off the lab's walls.
"I'm fine! Don't you worry." Ginette replied, trying to sound lively. "Just doing some last-minute calculations."
Ginette swore like a sailor under her breath. She couldn't let this weakness fester. She had to be brave and get the job done. The Devil would make her and Elder Kettle pay if she faltered. So why draw it out, trying to avoid the inevitable? She had to do it. That was the only mercy she could give Kettle. To calm herself, Ginette took a deep breath. Listening to her heartbeat. Her pulse quickened. Around 110, she guessed -not that it mattered.
"How're we feeling, Mister Kettle?" She asked, turning around with a metal tray in her hands. It held the syringe she dreaded to touch. She kept it out of Kettle's view.
"Alright, ma'am. It was nice to stretch my legs and walk again."
Elder Kettle was stalling, too. Who wouldn't? This place gave away its malevolent intentions. It made her subjects antsy. She wished the Devil would change it to something more inviting. Then she'd have one less variable to account for.
"I'm going to need you to lean back in your chair and relax, alright?" Ginette said, sitting down beside him.
Then, the chair's restraints appeared, locking Kettle in place. He didn't speak, but his eyes darted to her. Questioning. Fearful.
"It's just here to keep your arm steady, I promise you. Now all I'm gonna do is give you a little shot, okay?" She said, voice weakening. Holding the syringe. "It's completely safe. Just a little pinch, nothing more."
She had the needle lined up, moments from injecting when he spoke.
"Why?" His voice quavering. Eyes full of fear.
Ginette didn't reply. She couldn't ruin the test. Her hand was steady, despite her conscience wailing in utter agony. But Ginette had no choice. If she resisted, the Devil would step in and do it for her. He would be brutal and she couldn't allow that. So, she had no choice but to comply.
Elder Kettle didn't struggle against the injection like the other test subjects had. Instead, he remained still, bearing whatever came his way.
Observation Report: Subject 003, Elder Kettle. Injection: The Sight, 100ml.
- The subject tolerated the injection procedure well. Immediately after dosage: Reported dizziness and nausea.
- No major side effects were reported.
- 10 minutes post-injection: The subject became disoriented, reporting visual and auditory hallucinations. He called them "visions". The contents of these visions were extremely specific and accurate regarding my personal life and mental state. (Refer to recording Sight_1A for his exact descriptions of the visions.)
- 30 minutes post-injection: The boss arrived, distressing the subject. The subject became closed off and aggressive towards the boss. I ended the session early.
- An hour post-injection: The dose's effects wore off. Like Subject 001: Djimmi the Great, Subject 003 is very weak after the dosage wears off. Monitor the subject's recovery closely before proceeding with any further doses. Failure to follow proper procedure could prove fatal, especially regarding the subject's age.
- Injection appears to give the subject limited mind-reading capabilities. Effects are temporary and deplete the subject of all their energy. Further tests must be done on imp subjects for creating permanent results with the serum. Do NOT give non-imp test subjects injections testing for serum permanent results.
"We're making steady progress, boss." Ginette sighed as she finished up her report, putting the paper into a manilla folder labeled: "Subject 003".
"Indeed we are." The Devil replied, taking a long drag from his cigar.
They were in the Devil's office. Nowadays, it looked more like a science lab. They had dozens of colorful vials and beakers covering the Devil's desk, and papers scattered everywhere. The Devil had chosen Ginette to be his assistant for this pet project months ago. At first, she'd been bemused by his grandiose plan, but little by little, it had become a reality.
The Devil wanted the serums to complement the brothers' personalities. Enhance what was already there. Their personalities already evened each other out, which he was very pleased with. The serums would complement each other as well, one boy would be powerful by himself, but with both brothers, they could do so much more.
The Devil had been making exhaustive notes on their personality traits.
"Cuphead is a courageous and powerful presence, even with his young age and small stature. This is exceedingly clear whenever Mugman is in danger. The boy's weakness is his arrogance. Even when enslaved, he still remains cocky. That will have to be tempered post-serum. Keep serum as a delightful blend of power, aggression, and hardiness.
Mugman is much quieter. He's insightful, studying everyone around him, and loyal as a dog. That loyalty can be used to our advantage. His weaknesses are incredibly exploitable. He's dependent on Cuphead and panics whenever he's without his brother. For him, I want you to focus on emphasizing his insight. Perceptiveness. He seems to have quite the grasp on reading people. Enhance that."
He'd give said notes to Ginette and she'd adjust the serums as needed to match his expectations. With how well the tests were going, it wouldn't be long before he could put his plan in motion.
But, she could never say a word of what they were doing, not even to the Devil's main squeeze: King Dice.
Ginette found this level of secrecy odd but didn't question it. She knew better than to challenge the Devil's orders. That was a death sentence. At least with this gig, she could have a normal sleep schedule, unlike working in the casino. That hellhole never closed, so she'd work all night, squeeze in a few hours of sleep during the day when it was slow, then do it all over again.
"What are you thinking, Gin?" The Devil said, glancing back at her as she organized a few files. "I can tell you haven't agreed with me on these last few sessions."
Oh great. Ginette despised it when he asked her questions. She couldn't lie or sugarcoat, all because he had her measly soul. "I don't like how sadistic you get with the subjects, boss." She said, grimacing as the words left her mouth. "Your rash behavior creates too many variables. I can never know if The Strength works or if you've just pissed them off. That doesn't even mention how you carelessly threw a wrench into my session with Elder Kettle today. The Sight test was going so well, especially for the first trial. Then, thanks to your help, I only have half the data I should for my analysis."
To Ginette's surprise, the Devil didn't look offended in the slightest by her comments. Instead, he laughed. She awkwardly stood there as he kept laughing, hoping she wouldn't get snapped in half.
"You're not wrong, my dear, but their fear is so delicious! I can't help it." He giggled.
"It comprises the integrity of our experiments. If you don't want to kill your precious little boys with an overdose, you'll have to learn to control yourself." Ginette snapped back.
She froze. She hadn't meant to say that aloud.
The Devil instantly stopped laughing. Ginette braced for impact. He glared, looming over her threateningly but said nothing. They both knew she was right.
He would have punished her. Breaking her body into little pieces and repairing her, again and again -if only her intellect wasn't so damn important. The Devil was too clever to compromise his greatest asset. His soul-searching glare was more than enough to put Ginette in her place.
"Do another test on Djimmi after The Strength is out of his bloodstream." The Devil replied, pivoting away from her. "Do it without me. I have a casino to prepare for tomorrow's reopening. I'm sure you can manage if it turns violent, yes?"
"Of course, boss."
"Just don't kill my test subject. If you do, I'll start testing on you instead." The Devil grinned.