Author's Note: Hello! I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has read, favorited, followed, and reviewed the story thus far! Thank you for your lovely reviews: KitKatt1998, animegamefanatic, Cuphead from a different AU, bunchofbugs, and Loup973! I'm super glad you're enjoying the story and your reviews make my day.
One last thing, if anyone is interested in seeing the illustrated edition of this fic and/or me being able to respond to your questions/thoughts in the comments, please check out the version of this fic of A03 (just look for "The Strength and The Sight". I'd love to see you there!
Has Doomsday Arrived?
The Inkwell Isles awaits its fate with bated breath.
Here in the Inkwell Isles, things have speedily spiraled from bad to worse.
After the alleged kidnapping of the Cup Brothers and Elder Kettle, tensions were high.
Now, this burdensome bubble seems ready to burst!
In related news, the runaway debtors such as the grandiose genie,
Djimmi the Great, have begun to disappear without a trace.
Our experts here in the Honeycomb Herald say
they've either been kidnapped by the Devil or they've gone into hiding.
While terrifying, this is not unexpected.
The Devil is sure to be fuming after getting scammed out of receiving their soul contracts.
Now, tonight is what citizens are calling "Doomsday."
The Devil's casino is reopening.
People from all around the world are arriving to attend this grievous gathering.
It seems his imps have truly spread the word of his return far and wide.
For us average folk, our advice is:
Lock your doors.
Stay inside.
And most importantly,
DO NOT antagonize the Devil and his casino patrons.
Who knows what devilish debauchery will be taking place,
and with all these kidnappings, what horrors will be next?
- The Honeycomb Herald, circa. December 1930
- Chapter Five: The Grand Reopening -
"Boy. Wake up."
A hand grabbed Mugman's shoulder, yanking him up. Mugman woke with a start, mumbling incoherently. He froze the moment he saw who had woken him. King Dice.
"Get up. It's the big day." Dice grumbled, pivoting on his heel and walking away.
Mugman scrambled out of bed, glancing around. Cuphead was already up, adjusting his casino uniform. Mugman followed suit. Once they looked presentable enough, the boys scurried over to King Dice. He'd been impatiently waiting at the door, arms crossed.
"Keep up. I ain't gonna tolerate you two makin' me late." He hissed, grabbing both the boys by the arm; dragging them along.
They left the Devil's Palace, hurrying along the red-carpeted bridge into the Devil's Casino. Every light was shining bigger and brighter than ever before. It was beautiful. King Dice hauled them through the casino; up a flight of stairs to the second floor. Mugman recognized it as the restaurant the Devil had shown him a few days ago.
There they saw the Devil, sitting in front of a large table filled with food, cigar in hand. Cuphead grimaced, then bowed. King Dice raised his eyebrow, impressed by the boy's initiative; he and Mugman followed suit.
Mugman leaned over to Cuphead mid-bow. "Please, don't tick the Devil off." He whispered.
Cuphead rolled his eyes, he was already painfully aware of that fact. But it didn't hurt for his brother to remind him.
"Welcome." The Devil grinned. "I was beginning to think Dice here had chickened out of waking you up. Afraid they were gonna shoot you in their sleep, eh, Dice?"
King Dice kept his gaze low, trying to hide a glare. "No, boss. These kids o' yours jus' took their sweet time gettin' out the door."
"Mhm." The Devil chuckled, gesturing for King Dice to sit by his side. "Please, boys, eat your fill and enjoy yourselves. You'll need plenty of energy for the long night ahead."
"Yes, boss. Thank you." Mugman said, politely smiling.
The Devil nodded, then turned to look at Cuphead.
"Oh. Um, yes, boss. Thank you for the food." Cuphead replied awkwardly.
The Devil clapped, grinning. "Very good!"
It took everything in Cuphead to not blow a raspberry at the Devil or insult him. So instead, he stuffed his mouth with food. While the boys weren't in a good mood, they couldn't help but enjoy the food. It wasn't as amazing as Elder Kettle's pancakes, but it was close.
Mugman was mid-bite into a roll of bread when he spotted a staff member watching him from across the room. It caught him by such surprise that he almost choked. Wheezy, the intimidating cigar, was glaring directly at him. The look was so offputting, it made Mugman's skin crawl.
Mugman remembered Wheezy very well from that day. He was a good fighter, but no match for the brothers. Mugman still felt an immense guilt for being forced to fight the casino staff. He hadn't wanted to, but he had to thanks to King Dice. Regardless, the staff despised the boys for what they'd done.
Mugman shot Wheezy a nervous smile -a peace offering. The cigar spat on the floor in response. Mugman took the hint and looked away, no longer feeling hungry.
"It's getting close to evenin'." King Dice said, checking his watch. "Ain't it 'bout time to get started?"
"Ease up, dear." The Devil replied, smiling lovingly at Dice. "The whole world won't end if we don't start exactly on the dot."
"But we have a reputation to keep." King Dice retorted. "This is 'bout them boys, innit?" He scoffed, turning his back to the Devil. "It's like you don't give a hoot 'bout what happens to the casino anymore, or me for that matter. Nowadays all you care 'bout is your little pets."
"Oh, my Dice. You think so lowly of me. I don't always give in to such base instincts." The Devil dramatically sighed, pulling King Dice back to his side. "If you must know, I'm observing. Seeing how the boys react to certain stressors and such before the whole world has their eyes on them -and how we treat them. Just like you, my dear Dice, I'm trying to make this reopening a success."
"Seems more like a waste o' time to me." King Dice muttered. "We have a casino to run, not a goddamn social experiment."
The Devil's grip on Dice's arm tightened, no longer amused. "Watch your tone Dice, or that attitude of yours will have major consequences. I do hope you haven't forgotten who's the boss around here, have you?"
"No... I haven't, boss."
As the clocks chimed at 6:00, the food was cleared away. The casino staff scurried off to their various workstations; the Devil left with the boys and King Dice.
As they walked, Mugman couldn't help but notice that for the very first time in the last few days, King Dice had a big smile on his face. Mugman didn't particularly like King Dice smiling. It usually meant something nasty was on the way, but he figured it was smart to keep Dice smirking. It was much better than him glaring.
The four exited the casino, striding through the hollow inside of Inkwell Hell. The boys could see the exit to the Third Isle, but it was blocked off by a strange translucent barrier. Cuphead's heart pounded against his chest. Was running an option? Couldn't they make a break for it and hide in the crowd? No... Their souls wouldn't let them. And that barrier didn't look inviting, even if they still had their souls intact, the barrier would probably sear them alive for trying to cross it.
They could hear the rumble of many voices from the Third Isle. The crowd outside had to be massive. Mugman nervously clutched Cuphead's arm, he held it so tightly that it hurt. Cuphead tensed up, how could he have forgotten Mugman's stage fright? This was bad.
"It'll be okay." Cuphead whispered, trying to reassure himself and his brother.
King Dice peered out, assessing the size of the crowd. "We ready to get swingin'?" He said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Indeed we are." The Devil replied. "Now, let's head up and greet our loving audience."
King Dice grinned, grabbing Cuphead and Mugman's shoulders. The manager's eyes glowed. A card platform abruptly appeared beneath the group's feet. Lifting them into the air. Cuphead let out a small gasp. Mugman squeezed his brother's arm tighter. The Devil glanced down, chuckling at the two. The platform raised them high into the air, carrying them towards a small balcony overlooking the Third Isle. The chatter of the patrons grew louder and louder.
The card elevator reached the balcony and it was then that Cuphead and Mugman saw the sheer magnitude of the crowd below. It was massive, with more people than the brothers had ever seen in all their lives. Mugman's heart pounded out of his chest. He couldn't breathe. Cuphead grabbed his hand.
The Devil stepped onto the balcony and the crowd instantly hushed. The demon was grinning ear to ear, illuminated by the bright casino lights. He muttered a few words, summoning his pitchfork. The crowd began to scream out in excitement as it appeared, a green light radiating from the pitchfork's center.
"WELCOME!" The Devil roared, silencing the crowd. "To the Grand Reopening of The Devil's Casino!"
Earsplitting cheers filled the air. Mugman tried to cover his ears, but King Dice slapped his hands down. "Don't make a move unless I tell ya to." He hissed.
"Now, I know why some of you are here." The Devil continued. "Some of you are here to observe the fate of two little boys. Two boys who foolishly challenged me and assumed they'd won." The Devil began to laugh.
A chill went up Mugman's spine. He was shoved forward onto the balcony. The crowd began to laugh. Cuphead was thrown forward as well. Now scrambling back. King Dice strode up to the Devil's side, flashing the crowd with his signature grin.
"Do they look like winners to you?" The Devil yelled out, snagging Cuphead's collar with his pitchfork, and hoisting him into the air.
Cuphead screamed, trying to free himself. The crowd's laughter grew louder and louder. Mugman was petrified, watching his brother, but unable to move. There were too many people. Too much noise. He hated himself for not being able to help Cuphead, but he was too terrified to move.
The Devil turned to look at Mugman and beckoned him over. Mugman's body followed without question. His mind raced as the Devil wrapped his arm around his shoulders, keeping him in the center of the balcony.
"This is what happens to those who try and cheat in my casino!" The Devil bellowed. "So, please, feel free and try to scam me outta a deal. But know the consequences." A sick grin spread across his face, highlighting his pointed teeth. "So, will you try to cheat in my casino?"
A resonating cry of "NO" echoed throughout the crowd.
"THEN COME ON IN AND TRY YOUR LUCK!" The Devil roared, snapping his fingers and evaporating the barrier.
The horde rushed inside, pushing past one another to secure a good spot. The Devil and King Dice remained, Cuphead still hanging by his shirt collar, and Mugman frozen in the center. Down below, for a split second, the boys thought they saw a familiar face. A chalice, looking up in abject horror. Then, in the blink of an eye, she was gone.
The Devil chuckled at the brothers, regaining their attention. "Welcome to your new life, my boys. Come, we have an adoring public to meet."
The Devil's Casino was packed to the brim with patrons bustling about. Poker tables were filled with players and onlookers. There were so many people, they looked like schools of sardines. Restaurant tables were chock full, attended to by imps carrying trays of food and drinks. Loud jazz music filled the air, captivating patrons and staff alike to sway to the beat.
Cuphead and Mugman's job was to stand beside the Devil and greet patrons. The boys weren't allowed to speak to said patrons unless the Devil allowed it, which was rare. The most Cuphead and Mugman could do was force smiles for patrons and shoot each other the occasional funny glance when the Devil wasn't looking. Cuphead despised it but remained on his best behavior. The Devil took notice.
After most of the patrons were inside and properly greeted, the Devil took a stroll. Waving to excited guests and feigning interest in the casino's games.
"Do you actually like talkin' to all these people?" Cuphead grumbled to the Devil as they walked.
The Devil chuckled. "Of course not."
"Then what's the point in doin' it?"
"So that they think I like it." The Devil smirked. "What patron wouldn't want to be greeted by the Devil himself? Quite the honor. It makes them feel good. Like luck is on their side."
"So you're trickin' them."
The Devil patted Cuphead on the back. "Last time I checked, it wasn't a crime to make someone feel good about themself. It just comes with... Unexpected benefits."
Mugman wasn't half as bold as Cuphead, resolving himself to ease his boredom by people-watching. His main focus of the night was none other than King Dice. The casino manager was beaming the whole night, striding about, and treating every patron like a close friend.
It was obvious why he managed the casino, whenever King Dice went, all eyes were on him. He could command an entire room with a simple snap of his fingers. Mugman couldn't help but be a little impressed. He had the social skills of a shoe, what he would give to control a room like Dice did, just much nicer.
"He's quite a sight to behold, isn't he?" The Devil said, interrupting Mugman's thoughts. The sudden intrusion nearly scared Mugman to death.
He let out a shriek, whipping around to face the Devil. "Oh! Y-yes, boss. Sorry for starin'."
"No need to apologize." The Devil laughed, patting him on the head as a parent would. "He's mesmerizing when he's in his comfort zone. You haven't even seen him sing and dance yet. Ahh. It's lovely. Do you dance, Mugman?"
"No, sir!" Mugman squeaked. "I have stage fright."
"Oh dear. I suppose we'll need to fix that, then. Here in the casino, anywhere and everywhere can be a stage." The Devil said. "You be the laughingstock of the casino if this "stage fright" of yours keeps up."
"U-Understood, Mister Devil, sir."
"Wait, I have an idea!" The Devil exclaimed. His smile was wide and ominous. Mugman didn't like it one bit. "Why don't you go on and stay with King Dice for a little, won't you? Learn some of his skills."
Mugman's eyes practically popped out of his head. "W-What? You said yourself, he doesn't like me and Cups! He'll be furious."
"He's gotta face his fear somehow, just like you have to face that stage fright of yours." The Devil grinned, gently pushing Mugman over to King Dice. "Go on. You'll be just fine."
Mugman felt like if he was going to vomit at any point, it would be now. His heart was racing and his stomach was turning circles like a gymnast. He shot a fearful glance back at Cuphead. In response, Cuphead gave him a double thumbs up, mouthing, "Go get 'em!"
Mugman smiled a little at that. His brother was such a dork.
Approaching carefully, Mugman waited till King Dice wasn't busy with a patron to speak. "Um, Mister King Dice, sir?"
King Dice whipped around, moments from backhanding him. "What in Hell are you doin' here?" He hissed. "Get back over to the Devil, this instant, or I'll split you in half."
"But, sir! He told me to come over and stick with you for a little. I won't cause you any trouble, I-I promise!" Mugman whispered back, shuffling out of King Dice's reach -just in case.
King Dice looked ready to commit a murder. He shot the Devil a deathly glare. If looks could kill, Dice would've murdered this whole place with just a look.
"Jus' keep your trap shut. Got it?"
Mugman nodded, his hands shooting behind his back, trying to look professional. King Dice smirked, turning back to the casino's patrons; putting on his signature wide grin. A skeleton patron approached, giving Dice a grin of familiarity.
"This place looks wonderful, King!" The skeleton exclaimed, grabbing King Dice's arm. "Good god, ya did us all proud!"
King Dice chuckled and the two struck up a conversation. Mugman stood a few feet back, watching. He felt very out of place and couldn't help but look around for the Devil and Cuphead. He'd never imagined wanting to be next to the Devil, but at least then he probably wouldn't get slapped. Here, that was up to sheer luck.
"Mugman!" King Dice snapped. "Get us some drinks and make use of yourself, will ya?"
"Mugman?" The skeleton exclaimed, looking down at the boy, "Well, well, whaddya know? It's one of them urchins who beat the Devil!"
Mugman nodded shyly, backing away. He didn't like this man one bit.
"Now, now! Don't leave so quick-like!" The skeleton insisted, grabbing his arm and yanking him back like a toy. "I gotta know all about how ya managed to beat the Devil, himself."
"Well he didn't, did he?" King Dice cut in. There was bitterness to his tone. "Lookit him now. He ain't nothin' in here."
The skeleton chuckled, but the curiosity in his empty eyes remained.
"I'll go get y'all some drinks," Mugman said, pulling himself out of the skeleton's grasp and hurrying away before anyone could protest.
Mugman felt very nervous now. He'd never given it much thought, but he realized what all the patrons in the casino saw him and Cuphead as. Living weapons. Means to an end. He could sense them, their eyes fixed on him, wondering how these children could've brought the Devil to his knees.
He hurried to the bar, not making eye contact with anyone. Ol' Rummulus, the bartender, peered down at Mugman as he approached.
"Mister King Dice wanted drinks, sir," Mugman said, standing on his tiptoes just to get his head above the tall counter.
Rummulus nodded and got to work. Various bottles began to levitate around him, pouring themselves into two glasses.
Mugman was fascinated with watching him use magic. But he couldn't help feeling a sense of dread just by being around a casino staff member. He kept thinking back to this morning. The staff had to know that King Dice forced them to fight. Cuphead and himself didn't want to hurt them. They knew that, right? Mugman wasn't sure.
The drinks floated onto a tray and landed on the counter in front of Mugman.
"T-Thank you, sir!" Mugman squeaked."Have a good evenin'!"
Ol' Rummulus met the boy's gaze, an eyebrow raised, but before he could say anything, Mugman darted away. It had taken all his courage just to say that little thank you.
Mugman squeezed his way through the crowd back towards King Dice. There were so many people, that he had to push past some, and kept apologizing. He was almost to King Dice when a particularly tall patron stepped forward, blocking his path. "These drinks fer me, squirt?" The strange creature laughed, snatching one of the glasses from the tray.
"Hey, stop! Sir, you can't take that! It's for Mister King Dice!" Mugman sputtered. He tried to grab the drink back, but the creature lifted it out of his reach. Mugman leaped up in the air, trying to grab it, but all he did was almost knock over the second drink.
A small crowd began to form, hollering at Mugman to take down the patron by force. But Mugman refused. He could barely even look at them. There were too many people. It was too much. This only drew in more patrons, amused by the scene.
"Please stop, sir!" Mugman pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes. "Mister King Dice will be fumin' mad with me!"
The creature's laughter grew, revealing yellowed and rotting teeth. "Eh, that cube-head can wait a bit longer, can't he?" He raised the glass to his lips, emptied it; slammed it back down on Mugman's tray. "Now be a dear an' gimme that other drink on the tray ya 'ave there!"
Mugman shook his head, he felt too faint to speak.
"Such rudeness." The creature crooned, tsking his tongue. "What if the Devil were teh hear o' this?"
The gathered patrons cackled at that. Mugman was sure he was going to pass out any moment.
"Now be a good lad an' gimme the drink." The creature continued, leaning down to look Mugman in the eyes.
The boy hung his head in defeat, tears running down his cheeks. He took the seocnd glass and held it up to the patron.
"That's it." The creature smirked.
Mugman shuffled back, but the creature grabbed him, digging his fingers into Mugman's shoulder. "Lemme finish first. Wait like a good host, then take it back." He hissed.
Mugman helplessly watched as the creature drank. What was he supposed to do? If he went back and got more drinks for King Dice, the patron would stop just him again.
"HEY!"
A bolt of energy shot through the air, perfectly hitting the glass. It exploded on impact in the patron's face. The crowd let out cries of fear and surprise. Cuphead pushed his way through.
"No one treats my brother that way." Cuphead snarled, giving the creature a shove.
Now all eyes were on the two boys. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. It was them, the Cup Brothers, in action.
Cuphead hurried to Mugman's side. "Are you hurt?"
"No…" Mugman replied, massaging his shoulder. "I-I'm alright, Cups."
Cuphead let out a sigh of relief, then turned to the patron, finger gun pointed at his forehead. "You better never cause trouble here in this casino again, you hear? Or I'll take you to the boss myself, and he'll have a couple of words with you. The boss don't take kindly to troublemakers in his casino."
The patron growled, trying to swat Cuphead's hand away. In response, Cuphead shot again, missing the patron's face by a few measly millimeters. "That's my last warnin' shot, bucko. If you try anythin' again, I'll-"
"CUPHEAD!" King Dice bellowed, shoving his way to the front of the crowd. "What the hell do you think you're doin'? How dare you shoot at one of our casino's patrons, you lil' rat. I'll make sure the Devil hears of this and makes you wish you'd never been born."
Cuphead rolled his eyes, finger gun still aimed at the patron's head. "You ain't the boss of me, cube-head. I'm just lookin' out for my brother, didn't know that was a crime."
"Cups!" Mugman hissed, grabbing his arm.
"Excuse me?" King Dice bristled.
"You heard me." Cuphead retorted. "You ain't the boss of me or my brother. The casino don't have your name on it. It's the Devil's Casino. So, I don't gotta answer to you."
That hit a nerve. The crowd winced and the creature took his chance, scrambling away. All eyes were on King Dice. The manager's eyes filled with an almighty fury and he strode over, ready for a fight.
Cuphead tensed up. He glanced over a dark corner on the opposite end of the casino, where the Devil was watching him. He'd been the one to tell Cuphead about Mugman's predicament in the first place. Meeting Cuphead's gaze, the demon simply smiled. He wasn't going to intervene. The Devil was enjoying this.
"I swear, if I hear one more smart-ass remark outta you I will smash you to piece." King Dice growled, snapping Cuphead back to reality as he lunged forward to grab him.
But, Cuphead was quicker, dodging Dice with ease. The crowd howled in delight. Cuphead couldn't help but smile. This was kinda cool. Cuphead's earnest grin only made King Dice angrier. He tried to grab him again. Missed. Patrons were making bets on the winner. Cheers echoed throughout the casino. It was now a game of 'catch me if you can'. Dice was losing. Bad.
Fuming, King Dice went in for a tackle, but not towards Cuphead. He attacked the unsuspecting Mugman who screamed. King Dice held him up by the handle, eyes glowing bright green. "Ya knock this bullshit off right now, or I'll beat your damn brother so hard he ain't ever gonna walk again."
Cuphead paused. No. He wasn't letting Dice get away with threatening his brother. He'd pay.
"Don't you dare hurt him!" Cuphead roared, aiming his finger gun directly at King Dice's head. "I thought you was a 'gentleman', but you ain't nothin' but a big, fat coward, who's so scared that he's gonna lose, he cheats! If you try and hurt Mugman even the littlest bit, I'll beat you black and blue into the ground, again."
That silenced the frenzied crowd. All watching with bated breath. King Dice looked ready to snap. Cuphead But Mugman spoke up first, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"C-Cups, please stop… This ain't worth it. Please. Just let it go, Cups."
"He's right." King Dice crooned, cocky once again. "An' if you don't listen, I'll never let him forget it." As he spoke, he pressed Mugman's face into the ground.
Cuphead didn't respond. He wanted nothing more than to beat King Dice -calling his bluff, but Mugman looked so scared. Cuphead refused to keep scaring him. Without another word, He hurried away, angry tears pouring down his cheeks.
Mugman threw up the moment King Dice dropped him. Then, like magic, the Devil appeared in the nick of time to whisk Mugman away and calm down the excited patrons. His entrance was awfully convenient and suspicious. Had he been watching? No, he couldn't have. Why would he let Cuphead cause such trouble?
The next few hours crawled by at a snail's pace and Cuphead still wasn't back. Mugman stayed at the Devil's side for the rest of the night, nervously waiting for his brother to return, but he didn't. The Devil assured him that Cuphead was safe, but that didn't stop Mugman's worries. Nearing the end of the night, The Devil took Mugman up to a large observation deck, telling him that it was restricted to himself and whoever he invited.
"Get some rest." The Devil said, gesturing to a plush armchair while he perused several bottles of booze. "It's been a long day."
"Thank you, boss." Mugman weakly replied, crawling into the large armchair.
Everything hurt. His stomach and throat from throwing up. His eyes burned from crying. His body hurt from King Dice tackling him. He buried his face in the chair, crying softly.
"It's alright, you can cry up here." The Devil said, with his back still turned to Mugman. "It can be hard, adjusting to a new life like this."
A mug of hot cocoa floated over to Mugman, tapping him on the arm till he looked up.
"That's for you if you couldn't tell." The Devil added.
Mugman sniffled, rubbing the tears out of his eyes. The hot cocoa looked delicious. Why was the Devil giving it to him? He studied it as if a poisoned mug of hot cocoa would look different somehow.
"I'm not trying to kill you. If I wanted that, I would've done it days ago." The Devil said, mixing strange liquids together and taking a swig. "It's a gift."
With a timid 'thank you' nod, Mugman took a sip. It was delicious beyond his imagination. He'd finished it within the minute. Feeling a little calmer, he glanced at the Devil. "Thank you, boss."
The Devil smiled warmly at him. "What good guardian wouldn't look after you two? I want you to feel at home and safe here, Mugman. You can trust me."
His sudden shift to kindness -like a parent- was strange and uncomfortable. There was temporary happiness with how the Devil was kind to him, it made Mugman feel special. But Mugman couldn't trust him, there had to be a reason behind his change in behavior. Was the Devil trying to trick them into liking them? If so, it wasn't working. Mugman didn't want the Devil to be his parent, he wanted Elder Kettle. He wanted to leave this place and go home. The Devil was the reason they were trapped here. Mugman refused to forget that.
Mugman didn't remember dozing off, but the next thing he knew, the Devil was carrying him up the spiral staircase to his room. It took him a second to process what was happening. His heart pounded. He did not want the Devil to touch -let alone hold him- in the slightest. But if he moved and the Devil realized he was awake that would be a painfully awkward conversation. The last thing he wanted was to anger the Devil while being halfway up a spiral staircase in his arms.
He heard a door creak open and he was laid down on his bed. The Devil let out a long sigh.
"Just a few more weeks."
Then, Mugman heard another voice, an imp.
"Boss, I found the other. The red 'un."
Mugman had to hold his breath to keep himself from gasping in relief.
"Excellent."
Cuphead had gotten himself hopelessly lost in the casino. He didn't have the slightest idea where he was going, but he kept walking. He'd always had a short temper. Whenever he'd lose his cool, Elder Kettle would tell him to take a long walk about the woods. It never failed to calm him down, no matter how mad he was.
Now walking just made him feel sad. Wandering around this place instead of the forest was depressing for him. Everything here felt so unfamiliar and dangerous. And, Cuphead kept wondering if this was all his fault.
He'd made the deal with the Devil in the first place.
Cuphead's eyes filled with tears at the terrible thought. He didn't feel like walking anymore. He felt heavy. Slow. He sat, slumped over against the wall. Curled up. He was so tired. He just wanted to go home.
He'd been curled up against the wall for some time before the Devil appeared. Cuphead didn't know where he was, his eyes were still shut, but somehow, he could sense the demon's presence.
"Why didn't you stop me and King Dice from fightin'?" Cuphead mumbled. He knew the Devil was listening. "I saw you watchin' back in the shadows. But you didn't say anythin'. Even when Dice got smokin' mad… Why?"
"Must I break up every fight amongst my staff?" The voice of the Devil replied.
Cuphead's eyes flew open. There was the Devil, sitting beside him. How had he not heard him approach?
"You know, running a casino isn't easy, boy. Especially with such… Colorful staff, like yourself. I find that breaking up infighting is a waste of time. You'll understand soon enough, perhaps even help me run this place."
Cuphead scoffed. "You and me? I thought Dice ran the casino, he's the manager after all."
"For now. But, as you said, it's not his name on the casino. It's mine. Wouldn't you just love to show Dice who's boss? You could replace him, help me run the casino, have everything you want, and rescue your brother from him." The Devil said, leaning in with an oddly charming smile.
For a moment, Cuphead considered the offer. No. The Devil was trying to trick him. He couldn't fall for his tricks that easily.
"Yeah right. If you really cared that much 'bout Mugs, you wouldn't have stuck him with Dice in the first place." Cuphead shot back.
The Devil didn't reply. He just smiled. Cuphead hated that smile.
Cuphead looked at the floor, determined not to let the Devil have the last word… Or lack thereof. He'd sit here in silence.
He felt the Devil put his arm around his shoulders. "I like you, Cuphead. Quite a bit. You've got spirit, it's refreshing. I think this place suits you well. Even if you don't see it. Soon enough, you'll love it here, just wait."
Cuphead didn't give the Devil the satisfaction of a reaction, but his words did get under his skin.
King Dice paced angrily around the Devil's room. The majority of the patrons had left and the imps were running the casino in the daytime. He knew the Devil would come back to his room any second. Then, as the door swung open, King Dice went off like a bomb.
"How could you jus' let them run amuck like they own the damn joint?" King Dice seethed, storming up to the Devil the second he walked through the door. "By tomorrow mornin' we're gonna be up to our necks in mischief. Mark my words, boss."
The Devil didn't respond immediately. He seemed amused by Dice's frustration and let Dice wait impatiently before he responded. "Oh Dice, you're adorable when you get so worked up." He chuckled, closing the door behind him like nothing was wrong.
"This ain't no laughin' matter, boss!" King Dice said, his face now bright red with indignation. "The casino reopenin' was supposed to go perfect if anyone's gonna respect us again. With that stunt your boy pulled back there, we coulda lost it forever."
"Darling, we haven't lost an ounce of our patron's respect, I swear to you. All you need to do is not worry your pretty little head and just be you." The Devil said, a strangely genuine smile on his face. "Please, Dice. I miss you. You've been so uptight since the boys. Relax, come back down to earth for me. I'll take care of it. I promise."
"Yeah? You'll take care of it? Like you did with the boys? You sure "ensured" our success when they beat you black an' blue. They left you cryin' like a lil' baby for chrissakes!" King Dice spat.
The Devil's nonchalant smile evaporated.
"Cat gotcha tongue? Or do you jus' damn well know I'm right?" King Dice continued, holding his ground. "I picked you back up from rock bottom an' now you think you can treat me like second best? While you fawn over those damn boys? I don't think so."
The Devil was silent. Choosing his words very carefully. King Dice steeled himself. He would not give in, not this time.
"Dice. My darling Dice. While I find your passion adorable and occasionally admirable, this time you've crossed a line." The Devil said, his golden pitchfork appearing in his hand.
He took a step forward, pressing the pointed end of the pitchfork to Dice's chin. "Have you forgotten who you are? And who I am? Need I remind you that, I, and I alone, made you special? I made you who you are today. Without me are nothing more than a rat from the gutter. Something only worth killing, as a mercy to its existence."
He loomed over King Dice, a sinister grin spread across his face. "And if I ever desired, I could let you become that rat again. But, in my infinite patience, I choose not to. Even when you insult me so. And as for the boys?"
He chuckled. "Those boys are something remarkable, even without my assistance, unlike you. But, such raw power must be tamed and disciplined with extreme caution and care. They must depend on me and only me. Once I am through with them, none will accept them, except me. With their devotion, nothing will ever stand in my way ever again."
The Devil's pitchfork disappeared and King Dice instinctively stumbled back. The Devil approached cupping King Dice's face, pushing him against the wall. "Now you, my love, can either help me with this task or leave and return to the gutter where you belong. Your choice. Either way, I have work to do."