Chapter Text
"Alright, Joey. I'm here. Let's see if we can find what you wanted me to see." Henry said. But he didn't move, he just stood there. It wasn't like anything was going to happen if he didn't move. He already tested that out before, staying here for as long as possible. Of course, the bacon soup was limited up here, and he couldn't let himself die to the hunger of all things. It was a miracle he didn't die of thirst yet.
Water. Funny how something so simple was starting to get fuzzy to him. A lot of things were starting to get fuzzy to him. Everything outside this studio was. He has been here for so long, repeating the same events over and over. No change in anything. Just the same simple task that kept him away from his family. Kept many away from their families. How long had it been? He knew the time had to work differently in the studio, but it still must have been a long time...
He felt tears run down his face. He couldn't stop them. No one was currently around to judge as he fell to his knees.
He wasn't sure when the last time he allowed himself to cry was. He had tried so hard to become emotionless in hopes the pain of the loops would fade. But it didn't help. And the emotions were just bottled up inside him. He just wanted to go home. See his wife and daughters again! See anything, do anything else... But he couldn't. Because Joey threw him in here, and Henry didn't even know why! He never got an explanation!
He just needed something. Something to help him. But he could never get it. The closest he had was the seeing tool and glowing ink, but those messages never did anything! He found himself suddenly throwing his fist at the nearby wall, letting out a hiss at the pain that filled it a moment later. He just couldn't get out. He was just stuck in an eternal state of despair. No hope, no joy. Nothing but this evil despair! He just wanted out! He just needed out! They all did...
"Stop it, Henry..." He said to himself. His voice hurt a bit, voice? No, throat was the word. He said the same lines over and over, with little change, that it always stung a bit to say anything else. But still, he needed to calm himself down. He couldn't just cry himself a river all day, no matter how much he wanted to right then and there. "Who knows, maybe this time it will be different." He said, a sarcastic tone to his voice.
He held the seeing tool up to the walls, making another tally mark on it after managing to grab a ball of that strange ink. He knew the tally marks weren't accurate. Sometimes, he didn't have access to the seeing tool, so he couldn't mark. Other times he just, randomly lost his memory and had to rely on the letter in his pocket as an explanation for why he was there. Just to change it up a bit, Henry supposed. Not that it matters.
"Why is my memory the only thing you like to mess with, Joey?" Henry asked, turning to the exit. He tried getting out through it, multiple times. But it never worked. It was just something to taunt him. Of freedom, he could never have. He took his hand to wipe the tears out of his eyes, so they wouldn't end up on the wall again. "I hope you are happy with what you've done. I'll never know your goal, but I don't think you do either."
With that, he put the seeing tool away and began to head through the only safe floor in this entire studio. Well, safe for now, he supposed. His body was on autopilot in a way, simply following the steps of the story while his mind tried to turn itself off. But it just couldn't, not today. It was annoying. He wanted to get him and everyone else out. But he would have to kill them to get to the end. So, he would have to find some way to get through without killing.
"Find some way to get through without killing..." He paused after saying that. He tried to shake it out of his mind, but that would be impossible. But it kept coming back, almost like another voice was whispering in his ear and wouldn't stop. Like an angel on his shoulder in a way. He kept shaking his head, eventually reaching to grab it. "They'll tear you to sheards, Henry. Even if you came back, you would still need to get past them..."
But what if he could? He let out a sigh as he pulled out the nearest chair, sat in it, and looked up at the ceiling. He had many loops to try it out, he supposed. And even if it wouldn't break them
free from this place, at least it would keep him from just resetting it. Who knows, maybe then he could find some way out? Find a way to get home, and collapse into Linda's arms. Run a hand through her black hair.
"Or... was it brown?" He asked himself, before shaking his head. "You are hopeless."
Which is why you need to at least try, he found himself thinking. He shook his head, but then pause. Maybe these random thoughts had some sort of point. Maybe it could be the key. Joey would be the type to hide the only way out in a seemingly impossible option. He was always funny like that when it came to scripts. The few ones he wrote himself back in the day never made much sense. He usually only focused on one small detail.
"It's not like I'm a writer that can judge though." He said, letting out a small cough. Joey had managed to write what he was in. At least, Henry thought he did. It only made sense in Henry's mind after all. He could faintly recall sketches on Joey's desk. He was pretty sure they were of the horrors he has seen, but he couldn't be sure anymore. "It's impossible to be sure... how long am I going to keep talking to myself?"
After a hum in thought, he stood up in his chair. He thought about the option again. He had near endless retries to his knowledge. It wasn't like Joey was going to leave him permanently dead.
"Might be fun, in some way," Henry said with a shrug. Even though it would most likely do nothing, it would be interesting to see what would happen if he tried. Better than going through the same events again and again. He just needed a slight change more than anything right now. And as long as he has some free will, that was something he could mangue. "Alright then. I guess we'll see how little ink I can spill today."
Still was weird for him to say 'ink' instead of 'blood' in most cases. He even referred to his blood as ink once, likely more times than he couldn't recall. He was honestly surprised he wasn't made of ink at this rate. He was sure if it wasn't for his blood, he would have started assuming he was just a copy of the 'real Henry' eventually. Would have explained why his memories weren't too good anymore. But being stuck in a time loop was also a good explanation.
"I'll have to find some way to get past the searchers in the music department..." Henry said to himself as he began to go after the six objects to turn on the cursed machine. He could run past the runs in the room with Sammy's sanctuary, but before that he would have to get past the six or seven in the lobby area. "You think I would remember all those rooms' names by now... Maybe I'm just pretending I don't."
Whatever the case would be, he would just have to figure it out. The way the door to Sammy's office and Wally's closest work was it would open when they were all dead. Maybe he could just wait it out, and eventually, it would open. He could climb on the pool table and hope for the best. He would also need to get the value from Jack, which would be a nightmare without crushing the poor soul. But Henry could at least try.
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It worked. Henry was still processing that it worked. He had just been standing at the light switch ten minutes ago expecting to have to rely on his ax or get torn to bits by the searchers. But neither happened. He had managed to race up the stairs and up to Norman's projector booth and was able to get on the desk there. The searchers couldn't reach him, although they got close at times. Henry was so sure he was going to have to hop down at some rate.
But then, eventually, they just gave up. Went back down the stairs and didn't come back. And when he went down himself, the door had opened. The door that always used to be closed until their ink was shed was opened. And like he thought he be able to, he was able to get past the searchers in the music room simply by running. It was possible. It was possible to get past them without them needing to die.
It made him feel bad. Knowing all those murders he committed, again and again, were pointless. Just to make the loop go by a bit quicker.
"But here comes the real test." He said to himself quietly, trying to move carefully to the blob of ink that used to be Jack Fain, behind the broads like he always started. The only clue of his former identity is the hat on his head, somehow not stained with ink after all this time. The valve wasn't magically going to leave Jack's hands after all. And Henry had a feeling he couldn't just wait like with the searchers. "Hopefully this goes well, it's just talking."
Jack disappeared into the ink as soon as Henry broke the broad, as usual. Henry went to where the crate was, where Jack would be waiting. He never really knew what the purpose of this room was meant to be. He pulled down the first lever on impulse, no, out of habit? Either way, he watched the crate raise. He quickly smacked his arm, and the sound alone made Jack disappear into the ink once again. He let out a sigh as he looked around, watching as he appeared nearby. He let out a faint groan as he looked around.
"Jack..." Henry said, hoping his voice sounded soft. He took a few seconds with each step, hoping to not scare off the searcher. He didn't work long while Jack and Sammy were there. He left around a month after they both joined if memory served him right. Or maybe it was a week? The only thing Henry knew was the fact he was the lyricist, and honestly, that was about it. "Jack, it's ok. I don't want to hurt you. I just need the valve from you."
Jack seemed to just stare at him for a moment, before going back under the ink, taking the valve with him. Henry let out a sigh as he walked carefully to the new spot Jack appeared from again. He shouldn't have expected it to be that easy, he should know better by now. Maybe the value was important to whatever remained of the lyricist's mind, or he was told to keep it safe. He wasn't going to give it up with a few words. But that was all Henry had.
"Jack, please. I just want to help you." Henry said. "Help all of us. I just..."
Another groan came from the searcher in front of the man. Henry could have sworn it had some anger to it. Like he didn't trust him. Maybe some confusion and fear as well. Henry could understand, he was sure that's how he was when he first step into this place. But it didn't make things easier though. Henry glanced at the valve as the searcher seemed to tighten his grip on it. It looked like it might be in arms reach.
"Sorry Jack, but I need this." He said, quickly reaching for the valve and trying to grab it. Jack resisted, pushing the older man back into the ink with a shout, while Jack retreated quickly into it. Henry let out a small hiss, his head stinging as he used the machine nearby to help him get back up. Only to pause when he felt his hand push something down. "No.." He said, panic filling him. "Jack-"
The crush filled the former animators' world. The scene was just like it always was...
He took a few small steps to the sight. As if he wasn't fully in control. "Sorry I had to do that. Nice hat though." He slapped himself as those words left his mouth. "Henry!" He shouted, a bit of rage building up. Before it began to die down a bit, he slowly looked away from what little remained of Jack, again. The poor thing... He wasn't sure what to do now. Even if he kept going down this good path, Jack was gone, and it was his fault. "You shouldn't have gotten your hope up so soon, I thought you learned that."
He paused as he glanced at the hat and valve again. He wonders what it was like. Was Jack just gone? Was he still there but with no physical form? Would Jack forgive him if he knew what he did? Most likely he wouldn't... But maybe he would. If he kept trying. He shook his head. Why did a small part of him still think it could work? He just got lucky with the searchers. But there was no way to move on without getting the valve from Jack. Maybe he could try camping it out in Jack's office and see if he drops it.
"But what if that ends up being another few days wasted for nothing..." Henry said, glancing to the side. Then again, it wasn't like this whole time loop wasn't already a giant waste of time. He could afford to try things a little more differently, could he? Maybe not in this loop, but the next? He picked up Jack's hat from the ink. "Don't worry, you'll be ok... I think. I hope." Henry sighed. "I can hope there's hope."
He paused a moment, placing the Hat on one of the nearby machines. He then pulled out the seeing tool, pulling it around the room, before pausing and reaching for one of the glowing blobs of light and ink. It always felt weird to hold one. Yet at the same time, something about it felt natural. He shook those thoughts from his mind as he walked to the lever that would end Jack's inky life. He wrote simply "Don't Trip" by it. In case in the future, he forgot.
"Wonder if Joey will try to rewrite this once he sees what I'm doing," Henry said, shaking his head. Part of him wanted to chuckle, but he couldn't find the energy to. Must have spent too much of his energy on holding onto this strange hope he had. He just had to see what would happen next. See if Joey was as all-powerful as Henry had begun to convince himself he was. "Can't wait to see that, what will he do, lock my hands in place?"
He shook his head again as he began to head out of the sewers to continue. He didn't have a choice not to after all. But he pauses for a moment when he passed by Jack's office. It did look like it could be a decent camping spot, but his eyes fell onto the audio log. Maybe that could be his key to getting through to Jack. Maybe to all of them? He would need some testing to figure it out, he could only guess. But he had all the time in the world.
"I guess we'll just have to see," Henry said, reaching down a plucking one of the violin strings. Why did Jack have a violin in his office, he didn't see a bow anywhere around. Well, he supposes, maybe, one day he could ask him. One day maybe they could both carry on a conversation in the sun, with no ink or darkness trying to hold them back. "But that might be wishful thinking... then again, what is and isn't anymore?"
-------
There was a shake in his step as he began to head down the sewers again. He found himself sticking mostly to the script after killing Jack in the past loop. After all, he had a feeling it wouldn't end
well, if he didn't get him as well. Not sure why, but he did. He mostly just rests where he could to get as much energy as he could. As well as take the time to look around for anything he missed. Any more clues to get out.
He paused once he got to Jack's office, being sure to pick up the audio log from inside. It was the only one he had. Would it be enough to get Jack to remember who he was?
"It's gonna have to be," he told himself with a sigh, beginning to head down the inky path once again. He already figured he couldn't use the audio logs on everyone. Most would just either look at him and brush to the side or ignore and kill him. A few stood out in his mind where the audio logs might end up helping, but he couldn't be sure until later. "Assuming I manage to get past Jack first." he reminded himself.
He pauses when he enters the room. Jack was by the crate, holding onto the value with one arm. Unaware he was near what would be his murder weapon. Henry made sure to be slow as he walked up to the former human. As well as remind himself in the back of his mind not to pull up the creates if he passed the lever. Can't crush Jack if the crates aren't in the air.
"Hey Jack, I'm not here to hurt you..." Henry said gently, stopping about a foot or two from Jack. The Searcher glanced at him and seemed to pause as if debating whether or not to get back into the ink right then and there. Henry was just quiet, gently placing the audio log in front of the searcher. He then turned to face him. "I'm not sure if you remember these words. I hope you do." He said as he pressed play.
"I love the quiet, and that's hard to come by these busy times. And yeah sure it may stink to high heaven down here. But it's just perfect for an old lyricist like me. Sammy's songs always got some bounce, but if I didn't get away once in a while, they'd never have any words to go with them. So I'll keep my mind a-singin' and my nose closed."
The searcher simply stared at the audio log as it heard the voice come from it. Henry couldn't see Jack's eyes if he even still had any, so he couldn't tell if he got a spark of recognition. He seemed to hold tighter onto the valve as he listed though as if worried he would lose it. Or maybe to focus. Henry could only sigh.
"That's you, Jack," Henry said quietly, the searcher glancing up at him again. He seemed to have shaken for a moment as if he had forgotten he was there. Henry wouldn't be surprised if he had. He didn't know what it was like to be a searcher after all. Maybe one's memory was just short-term overall, and there was nothing he could do about it. "I don't know too much about you. But I know you were a good man."
The searcher stared for another moment, letting out another groan that seemed to have a confused tone to it. Henry began to reach for the audio log with a frown on his face, but the ink creature's hand bet him to it. Jack stared at it for a moment, before slowly reaching for the hat on his head. Henry watched as the searcher glanced around again. As if still confused but differently. Like he wasn't sure what happened.
"Jack?" Henry asked, and the searcher looked over at him. And gave a nod, a confused nod but a nod. With his head tilted just a bit Henry smiled. "Do you remember?"
Jack seemed to give a half nod at that. Like he remembered some things, but not everything. He glanced around the area a bit and glanced over to the exit. He seemed to stay still for a moment, before beginning to crawl in that direction. Away from the room that would easily seal his fate. Henry followed the searcher, pausing as he saw him stop in front of his office. He seemed to stare at it for a mommet, before pointing to it.
"It's yours," Henry said, his voice hardly above a whisper. Trying to let his throat rest, he hadn't said this many, not scripted lines in what felt like a year. Maybe it was a year. Henry didn't know, and try not to let that bug him as he watched the searcher reach for the violin, gently bringing his hands across the strings. "Did you play it?" Henry asked as the searcher turned to him, shaking his head. "Someone close to you did?"
Jack gave a slow nod as he turned back to the instrument. Perhaps something bad had happened to them? Maybe Joey got his hands on them and Jack didn't know. How long had he spent, not knowing they were, possibly, close by? Henry didn't know, but he might get the answers one day. He watched as Jack climbed his way up onto his chair, ink dripping as he lifted himself off of the floor. He glanced at the music sheets nearby, silently.
"It's your choice what to do with them." He said with a small chuckle in his voice. He soon glanced down the nearby hall and all the ink that filled it. So much everywhere.. so many lost souls. But maybe, he could get through to them. he just had to keep going. Keep testing. He turned back to Jack after a moment. "Jack, I'm trying to find a way out. But to do so I need to get to Sammy's office." The searcher tilted his head. "And there's this big pipe shotting out ink in front of the door."
Jack let out a confused grone as if it didn't quite make sense. He brought one of his hands to the side of his head, tapping one of his fingers against it faintly. Most likely trying to recall things. He must not have seen the outside of the sewers in a long while. Henry let out a small cough as Jack looked at the valve he had in his hand. And then he reached out, offering it to Henry with his head tilt. Henry couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I need," he said, taking the valve from the searcher. He couldn't help but stare for a moment as he held it, with the hat-wearing searcher in the background of his vision. Not too long ago, he wouldn't have believed this was possible. But it was. He let out a smile to Jack before he began to turn away. "Thanks, Jack." He said, turning back to him quickly. "I need to go now, but I'll be back." He said, turning away again. "Not just for you. But everyone."
He heard the searcher grone again. Part of it seemed worried, and part of it seemed happy. Made Henry feel a little bad, but he was sure Jack would be fine. This sewer was one of the safer areas of the studio after all. He should be able to just camp here until the threats were taken care of. Unless the Ink Demon... Henry still had no idea how he was going to handle that. He pauses as he turns back in the direction of Jack's office.
"Be careful." He said quietly, mostly to himself, before he began to head up the stairs as he looked at the value. "Now... just to figure out how to get through to Wally..."