Ink Demonth 2024 Short Stories - Bendy : The Untrusted AU

Day 9 : Record

(Splashing sounds of a pair of leather shoes and work boots echo through the sewers.)

(It stops)

(A tape slides around the corner)

(Jack's hand reaches out, unsure for a moment, then clicks the tape run.)

(Static ambience)

Thomas : The stench..

Joey : Bear with the stench a little bit.

Thomas : (grunt) A little worse than somedays.

Joey : (weary laugh) Come on, now.

Thomas : ..

Joey : So, finished that report?

(Thomas smoothens a paper and hands it over)

Joey : Thank you!

(Thomas watches as Joey reads the report)

Joey : Coherent enough, alright.

Thomas : Mhm.

Joey : When are you free to deal with the cartoons yourself?

Thomas : ....

Joey : If you're still persistent on doing it yourself.

Thomas : ....

..

Joey : (sigh)

Good we still have help.

Thomas : (under breath) God knows how long he'll stay.

Joey : Excuse me?

Thomas : ...

Joey : ..

Alright then.

So, filling the sewers?

Thomas : No.

Joey : I'll deal with any external complications.

Thomas : You were the one who wanted to cut corners.

Joey : (about to interrupt, then withhold) It's a worthy investment.

Thomas : (irritated) Then how about fixing those blasted elevators.

Joey : (sigh) Those'll be fine.

Thomas : Those won't be fine. You think a few monologues of "visions" and "ambitions" would help the elevator to work properly?

Joey : (warning) Tom.

(Thomas glares at Joey)

Joey : Fine. Fill the sewers, fix the elevators. All at once. Sounds good?

Thomas : ..

Joey : I take that as a yes.

Thomas : ...

Joey : Tommy, you gotta remember this is all for the machine.

It's all for it, one way or the other.

(Thomas' expression becomes somewhat wear and falters)

Joey : For the studio, Tom.

For the studio.

(Ink noises)

(Thomas looks away. He makes a sharp turn and walks to some secret route.)

(Joey watches)

(He walks away too, in the opposite direction.)

(He passes the tape, possibly ignoring it.)

Joey : Jack!

Jack : (perfect poker face) Oh, hey Mister Drew, what brings you here?

(Joey is stunned for a moment)

Joey : Just checking in.

(Jack peers behind Joey dramatically)

Jack : Where'd you come from?

Joey : Another entrance.

Jack : Gee, guess I don't know these sewers as well.

Joey : (chuckles)

Alright, glad to see you're still hardworking!

Jack : (haha) Of course, of course!

Joey : (Heh) Now, to change out of these shoes as well.

(Joey walks past Jack, and out the sewers. As soon as Jack's sure Joey's out he dashes for the tape and stops it.)

(He stares at it for a moment, carefully picking it up and returning to his station.)

........

(A tape lands in Norman's lap.)

Jack : There.

(Norman inspects it)

Norman : (Heh) Didn't think you'd actually do it.

Jack : What? Was all that an attempt at a joke!?

Norman : (smirks) 'Course not. I'll get it sorted out.

Jack : (sighs, unamused)

So you tell me what's up soon.

Norman : Sure, sure.

Jack : ..

They're gonna fill my sewers. Overheard it.

Norman : (surprised) What?

Jack : (downbeat) Yup.

Norman : ...

Anything else?

Jack : All in that tape.

Norman : ..

Thanks.

Jack : ..

Anytime.

(Jack walks off, his expression morphs into that of concern)

(Norman pulls out the other tape. He stares at the floor, as if concerned something will pop up from there.)

(He contemplates for a moment, then creaks open the floor tile beneath his feet.)

Bendy : The Untrusted AU - Act 1 (Part 1/5)