TRIGGER WARNING: suicide (implied) and self-harm
Sammy walks into Joey's office, blueprint in hand, hoping that this is the design that's accepted. Joey looks up at him, sudden smile on his face. "Oh, hey! You have another design?" Joey asked him. He nods and hands the blueprint. Sammy could only hope that this one is the design, he knows for sure that he wouldn't want to work another blueprint. "You know...I like this one," Joey said. Sammy lets a smile show up on his face, mainly because he won't have to work on making blueprints anymore. "You do?" Sammy asked just to be clear. "Yes, this looks like the one." Joey said, still with a smile on his face.
Once Sammy gets back to his office, he looks through all the blueprint designs before throwing them away and decides to put the oldest design on his desk.
A couple of weeks past after, and with the ink machine design now decided, it was time for everyone to prepare for it, Thomas was getting prepared for repairing the machine, something that he knows is going to take a lot of work. Others got prepared by getting a ton of ink cans, besides that doing their usual work.
Grant had a lot of work to do, he knew by the looks of the ink machine design that this was going to cost a lot. He decides to look in his safe to see how much money he has in order to get this ink machine the proper finance it needs to be made. After looking through the money and the bills, he realizes that he doesn't have enough. He didn't realize he was slowly going in debt until now.
Being too scared to tell Joey, he decides to grab one of the ink cans instead when Jack spots him. "Hey, you need that for something?" Jack asks him. Grant looks at the ink can, puts it back on the floor, and then looks back up at Jack. "No, I was just inspecting it...this studio is really going to be different once this machine is made," Grant responded with. Jack puts a hand on his shoulder. "You know, it's okay if you're worried about this project, I'm worried for what it's going to do to the studio. Especially since I do admit, we didn't need this change," Jack said, "feel free to follow me into my area in the sewer. I know I like peace and quiet but I can talk about this project for a bit." Grant agrees to follow him, so they both go down into Jack's sewer area.
Once in there, Jack gets himself seated on his chair as Grant leans on the wall next to his area. "So, my opinion on this is that we do NOT need an ink machine to apparently believe more, does Joey know that I work on these lyrics for a reason? I also don't see why these toons need to "come to life", not only would that not work, it's kind of random. We don't need a gigantic looking machine to get things going here," Jack stated. This wasn't Grant's problem but he goes on with the statement anyways, especially since he agrees. "I've known Joey for a few years now, he's not the type of person who'd go as far as doing a huge project like this, or at least that's what I thought," Grant stated back, scratching the back of his neck, "I should get back to work though." Jack slightly turns back to his desk but not without saying something back. "Alright, you do you. I, in the meanwhile, will get back to writing some more lyrics. Sammy and I are currently nominated for an award," Jack said. "See you later..also congrats to you and Sammy," Grant said before walking away. Jack nods in thankfulness and fully turns back to his desk.
This was the day Wally decided to also speak up to Joey about the ink machine, walking into his office again, which catches Joey's attention, looking up. "Anything you want, Wally?" Joey asked. "Listen, are you sure you need to make the size of this machine gigantic? That's something this place would not be able to handle," Wally said. Joey sighs, it was one of these moments. "The more, the better! You should know this by now!" Joey exclaimed. "We don't need A LOT of ink cans!" Wally exclaimed back. "Wally, you're just overthinking it! Everything will be back to normal once the machine is made and properly working," Joey tried to explain. "Overthinking? Yeah, it might be overthinking but if any more stupid plans are involved for this machine, I'm outta here!" Wally exclaimed, once again shutting the door from behind. Joey just sighs again, thinking it was nothing but deja vu.
Back in Heavenly Toys, Shawn decides to prepare for the ink machine in a unique way, by making an ink toy. Thinking he has finished it, he has Norman test it out. Tapping the bowl turned the ink into the following: Bendy, Boris, and Alice, with the ink toy cycle ending off with the ink machine. Shawn smiles, widely and looks at Norman, the toy actually worked the way he was hoping. "That's a nice creation. How exactly did you make this?" Norman asked in curiosity. "My father taught me," Shawn answered, a smile still wide on his face, he was proud of just a little toy. "I admit, you took a lighthearted approach on this upcoming ink machine. The rest of us are just annoyed," Norman said, not in a happy time because he was indeed annoyed over this upcoming thing as well. "I prefer to take things lighthearted," Shawn explained. He might not support Joey's ideas either but he can at least make upcoming processes fun.
Susie walks into the Recording Studio, expecting to still be able to walk in the booth when suddenly, she sees something that her eyes can't believe. Was that another girl with Sammy in the recording booth, and was that girl singing lines that were for Alice? Her world felt like it shattered. Not wanting to bother the two, she shuts the door from behind, which catches Sammy's attention but figures it was maybe someone else who came in to check.
After walking out of the Recording Studio, Susie sits next to the 'Sent From Above' poster, sobbing. She couldn't believe Alice was going to be replaced by someone else, she felt like a part of her was taken away and there was only one half of her left. Sammy decides to go out to see what the door shutting was about and ends up seeing Susie crying on the floor. "Woah, hey. What happened?" Sammy asked, crouching next to her. "I was replaced, that's what!" Susie exclaimed. "No, Susie. Let me explain-" Sammy tried to say but Susie wouldn't take it. "You lied to me, you said I fit for the role and you replaced me," Susie exclaimed, trying to hold back any more tears. "Listen, you were perfect, Joey just found Allison Pendle and wouldn't stop bugging me about her until I agreed on her getting the role," Sammy said. Susie knew this "Allison Pendle" was going to be her new enemy. "I bet you were on Joey's side all along," Susie said, still trying to hold back her tears and sobs. "No, I wasn-" Sammy only gets cut off by Susie getting up and storming out of the music department. Sammy knew he had to speak to Joey about this.
Later on, Joey decides to check on everyone at work, only to notice Grant's not in his office while everyone else is. However, before looking for Grant, he decides to check on Henry last, who's drawing animations for each character, for an idea of animations to teach the real life toons. "How's the animating going?" Joey asked, putting a hand on Henry's back for reassuring. "Yes, I'm currently in the middle of thinking of animations I could teach the real life characters. Here's one for example that I want to teach Bendy," Henry responds, showing a concept animation of Bendy doing a cane dance. "I love it! I knew this plan was going to go well!" Joey exclaimed in excitement. "I still need to work on some animations for Charley and Edgar," Henry told him. "Well, get those animations coming," Joey encouraged him, "I just wanted to check on what you were up to." Henry smiles and nods a bit in response. Even if he didn't agree to the ink machine, he wanted to prepare wisely.
After looking in Sammy's office (and confusing Sammy in the process), Joey remembers he hasn't gone down in the infirmary yet so he decides to go down and sees a sight he didn't expect to see; Grant is standing on a chair with a noose in his hands, startled by Joey's sudden entrance. "Grant, what are you doing? Are you okay?" Joey asks, trying to calm him down. "Y-yes, I promise.." Grant tried to reassure him but Joey wasn't going to believe it with that rope in his hand. "Put down the rope, we can talk about this," Joey tells Grant to try to reassure him. Grant steps off the chair and puts the rope down, only to lean against the wall, shaking in panic. "What's wrong? You can tell me," Joey tried telling him again. "I don't have enough for the ink machine. I'm going in debt and I don't know what to do about it," Grant said, hands over head stressfully while burying his head in his legs. "Is something I'm doing wrong, what's the matter?" Joey asked, crouching in front of him. Grant took his hands off his head to look up at him. "N-nothing is wrong, I just need to work on getting more money. Why didn't I think of that?" Grant asked to himself. Joey knew something was wrong at this point when something else catches his eye. "If there's nothing wrong then why is there also a bit of blood on your hand?" Joey asked.
Grant knew he had no escape from this one, he takes off his jacket, putting his hand back on his head while having no choice other than to expose the other one to Joey. Grant lifts up his arm in guilt, showing a cut on his wrist, immediately looking down to avoid any eye contact. Joey's eyes widen in concern, he knew that Grant did this to himself. "Grant, just because things aren't going right financially right now doesn't mean you have to do this to yourself, I'm well aware you've had this issue for years now but trust me, things get better," Joey explained, putting his hands on Grant's shoulders to reassure him once more. Grant just didn't know what to say anymore, Joey offers to help him up, in which he does so, keeping the wounded hand next to his chest. "I'll call Norman down here to help clean that up, is that okay?" Joey asked. "Yes, Mr. Drew," Grant said, looking down once more. Joey gestures him to sit on the infirmary bed and goes to get Norman.
Meanwhile, down in the sewers below, Jack is working on lyrics when Sammy comes down to tell him something. "Jack!" Sammy exclaimed, getting his attention. "Oh, hey Sammy! What's up?" Jack asked. He could tell Sammy was excited which made him eager to know. "I was told that one of our songs actually won an award!" Sammy said. This made Jack just as happy as Sammy was. "Is this real?!" Jack asked, to be clear. "Yes!" Sammy exclaimed. Feeling quite proud, they hug each other. They both took in the fact that they were just two men working on music for a show together and they get awarded for it. Once they break out of their hug and Jack is back in his chair, Sammy decides to bring up the event in the infirmary just to get the elephant out of the room. "Also, there's a tiny bit of stuff going on up above, just in case you need to go up for something and you don't get confused," Sammy told Jack, in which he slightly nods. "Alright, I got you," Jack said, "I'm proud of our work." Sammy couldn't help but smile. "I'm proud of everything we've done for this show," Sammy told him.
Moments after Sammy had walked by the infirmary again and gone back to his office, Norman finishes bandaging Grant's injury, Joey watching from behind and when done, Joey walks back to him as Norman walks out. "One more thing, don't ever do that again, got it?" Norman said, although meant to be in a joking way, he was serious as well, before walking out of the infirmary to get back to doing his job.
Henry was finishing up the animations for Charley when Grant decides to casually walk up to him, Henry noticing in advance. "Oh, hey. You up to anything or are you just walking around on break?" Henry asked, politely. "Nothing much, I just need to borrow some money," Grant told him, hoping that he doesn't look bad. Henry could understand, however. He only imagined it was because of the ink machine, which is huge in design, the cost was going to be high. "Here," Henry said, reaching for some money in his pocket, "I have 30 dollars you can borrow if it's for what I think it is." Grant politely takes the money from his hands, a smile forming on his face. "Yes, this is what I needed. Thanks, Henry," Grant said. "No problem," Henry said smiling back. Grant then proceeds to walk back to his office.
Joey sits in his office, relaxing after the events from earlier with eyes closed when Susie peeks through the door's window and then leans next to the door. "Joey didn't find this "Allison Pendle" and force Sammy to use her to replace me, no, they lied to you. If they were being honest, I'd still be Alice Angel. Allison is not Alice Angel, I refuse. I'm Alice Angel." Susie spoke to herself, quietly before walking away from the door.
(A/N: I messed up the timeline...yes, Sammy and Jack win the award after Henry leaves but I'm not going to lie, in my AU, I don't follow the timeline :p I don't have much to say here, let's just say things got heated here and it's only going to get even more heated from here, trust me.)