(( --- @dancingdevilbendy ))
once upon a time, henry had been a well-meaning man. a man all too happy to assist, all too happy to bring life ( figuratively, might he add ) to a dream he shared with one other. he'd been hopelessly optimistic, perhaps to a fault, but it had gone unnoticed until things had fallen apart. now, he'd lost count of all the times worn leather shoes carried him back and forth as he fought to ignore the persistent nagging at the back of his mind --- a small voice, mumbling blasphemies into his brain - murmuring memories and sorrow-riddled curses into his thoughts until each neuron felt alight with distress. regretful mantras filled his mind until he struggled not to scream, to grasp the sides of his skull and yell until his throat was an angry-red, until his voice gave out an all he could do was utter soft, soft apologies to someone he knew could never hear him again.
(( god, he was TIRED --- he was so tired. ))
the sky was grey, blue sapped from the atmosphere by swaths of ash, releasing a shower of rain unto the earth below. the faintest hue of orange peeked through the charcoal contours of the clouds, signifying the lowering sun as it began to disappear above the horizon. the animator had left his house hours before to pick up a few cans of soup --- something to hold him off until he figured out what he could do for work, as his steadily diminishing currency was beginning to worry him. small droplets had begun their descent towards the concrete moments before he approached the nearest store, to which the man had fumbled to extend the umbrella he'd brought with him, just in case. it opened with a quiet noise, and the man would lift it over himself, taking a moment to listen to the gentle tapping of ever-increasing precipitation as it batted against the cloth.
after a moment, he would shake his head, continuing on his way until he reached the glass door of the market; only to release a defeated sigh. closed. fantastic. his free hand raked through brunet waves, slightly damp from rain and thus putting up a bit of a fight as calloused digits made their way through dark locks. the man didn't want to walk any further. hell, he didn't even know how far it would take before he reached another, and he hardly wanted to go through the sectors for a can of chef boyardee. it was raining harder now; a strong wind beginning to pick up, further ruffling already-mussed hair. henry clutched at the edges of his coat, bringing it further over his torso and turning away from the door with a sigh, dejection as clear as the thunder that rolled over the city mere moments later.
exhausted emerald hues drifted down the walkway, a frown traversing pink lips as he noticed how quickly the pedestrians had filtered out of the streets. scurrying away from the weather, he’d guess. the sky steadily grew darker as he started back down the sidewalk, the force of rain hitting the ground forming a mist around his ankles, forcing him to squint to peer through it all --- until he spotted a shape, just off to the side. it moved rapidly, as if searching for something; even more notable was the trail left behind, a dark substance that stained the crystalline rain that coated the sidewalk. the animator blinked, then squinted harder; suddenly, eyes widened, alarm setting in quicker than he could manage to quell it ( old habits, he’d say; but despite everything, a fierce protectiveness still remained ). the sound of quick footsteps was nearly drowned beneath the downpour around him, but not near as loud as the words he released.
❛ bendy, i.. for god's sake. ' his tone was firm, yet decidedly unsure; the name felt too odd on his tongue. vaguely familiar, but carrying with it a feeling that he'd done something wrong. henry swallowed hard, opened his mouth to say something else -- then moved the umbrella he'd held over himself, closing his mouth again and restraining himself from saying anything more.
