Ink Demonth 2024 Short Stories - Bendy : The Untrusted AU

Day 17 : Sailor

Allison caught the hat on her head as it threatened to fly along the wind, forcing it to stay fixed to her.

She sighed out loud to herself, looking up from the deck and towards the sea.

It wasn't that long of a ride from New York City to Atlantic City, compared to the cross continent cruises she'd been on, but this one was heavier on the heart.

Running away, causing chaos.. all the events that had just transpired was something Allison wasn't dreaming of doing when she agreed to join Joey Drew Studios out of desperation. She couldn't help but feel guilty when recounting everything she and Thomas did.

Speaking of Thomas, he's still taking care of that machine.. he told me not to worry about it, but..

Allison sighed again, making her way off the deck and back into the shabby looking cabin. She couldn't help but feel a sense of relief when she couldn't spot Joey Drew.

"Please, take a seat ma'am." One of the crew members gestured towards a chair nearby. Allison acknowledged the goodwill and promptly took a seat, placing her hat in her lap.

Suddenly, she felt a gaze land on her. She carefully glanced to the side, noticing a young boy looking at her, a notebook and pen in hand.

The young boy was dressed in a fashionable attire, a clear contrast to other passengers on the ship. In fact, besides her and Joey, everyone else was wearing either work outfits or casual outfits.

The young boy opened his mouth to speak.

"You're dressed rather nicely."

Allison chuckled dryly. "You too, young man."

The young man didn't reply. He looked back at his notebook again.

"Master Arch, do you need anything?" One of the sailors passing by quickly asked.

"No." The young boy called Master Arch replied, not raising his head. The sailor swiftly left to continue on with his other duties.

Master Arch? This young boy is..

She wasn't unfamiliar with that surname.

"Father told me I could use this ship to get a ride to Atlantic City." He said, lifting his pen. "I know you. You're Miss Pendle."

Allison didn't deny it. She was just slightly surprised Nathan Arch's son would know her this well, as she felt she'd rarely seen the tycoon bring a child to the many social events she attended.

The young boy's pen began to scribble thoughtfully on the notebook pages. He appeared extremely focused, trying to make out a character with the limited drawing abilities he had.

Allison watched intently, curious about the final product.

The boy lowered his notebook, staring blankly at it. The figure he had drawn was something in between a sailor, a pirate and a mythical sea creature.

"Should it be a sailor?" He suddenly turned to ask Allison curiously.

"I think that'd be lovely." Allison honestly gave her own opinion. Besides, there were more sailors around them than pirates and mythical sea creatures.

The boy outlined the figure of a sailor. After thinking for a moment, he made the body a little chubby, and the face a little cheeky. He seemed to have thought of Popeye, as the outfit resembled a sailor leaning towards such an attire.

"How adorable!" Allison remarked, but the boy didn't acknowledge it. He seemed to still be unsatisfied.

He glanced up at Allison.

"He needs a friend." His voice suddenly brightened.

"Of course, what should he be?" Allison played along.

Allison could tell the boy was resisting the urge to draw another similar figure. He instead seemed to want to draw something else.

"A.. crab?" The boy thought out loud.

"A crab to accompany the little sailor boy.." Allison continued on.

The boy smiled softly, adding a crab grinning brightly next to the sailor.

The drawing now looked rather complete, like a set of cartoon characters ready to go on a sea adventure. The boy looked outside as he imagined the scenes playing out in his mind.

"What are you going to name them?" Allison asked casually.

The boy thought hard for a few moments, before shaking his head.

"I don't know yet. There's plenty of time to name them." He said.

"Seafarers often say 'ahoy'! That'd be a cute name." Allison gave a suggestion.

The boy's peculiar expression indicated that he didn't quite like the idea, but he was considering it.

"Dudley..." He muttered under his breath.

"Dudley!" Allison repeated. The boy nodded. "My friend is named Dudley."

She didn't press on further about that companion of the boy's.

"Ahoy Dudley!" The boy snorted to himself. "What if.. Shipahoy Dudley? Since we drew him on a ship?"

"That has a good ring to it." Allison pondered about it.

The young boy smiled, placing his notebook aside in satisfaction.

"Thank you, Miss Pendle." He thanked her sincerely. "Oh- I almost forgot, my name is Wilson!"

Bendy : The Untrusted AU - Act 2 (Part 2/5)