The Inky Mystery

After Holly tried to kill him while possessed by the cog, he makes it abundantly clear he's going to try to shoot her. He doesn't care what other methods everyone has, he's already deadset on his plans-

Or is he?

Because there's a point where Cup glances at Holly's bag and mentions how he wouldn't be able to tranquilize her anyway before attacking. Later on, after shooting her, before he uses his super he says "I'm not holding back so if you die that's on you" [or something similar], which was an odd phrase to me. If he had going in with the intent to hurt her from the start, why would he say that? Wasn't he already going in with the plan to shoot her? Why does he feel the need to give any warning before using his super? Because that WAS a warning

Except after Nightmare Night is done, there's two things Cup does, the first is he keeps any gangs away from Holly the best he can. The second, is when he notices Holly has a scar on her shoulder.

In Cup's pov we watch him quietly debate on whether or not the scar on her shoulder is from him, and worrying if he was the one that shot her. When I refound that scene I thought it was odd since I didn't expect Cup to care about shooting someone who tried to kill him

But that's the thing

Cuphead already cared about Holly on some level before Nightmare Night. Sure not nearly to the same extent he cared for the Bbros or Mugs at that time, but there was already a level of attachment he had for her, even if it wasn't reciprocated

Now, to my knowledge Cuphead doesn't recall he actually met her while she was at the college, so that's not the reason.

So I think her trying to follow them to their meeting with the Devil really charmed him, which makes sense. He mentions at some point she is "excitable as her pet" and keeps teasing her or trying to help her, this isn't something he does with anyone else either

Cup has just befriended the Bbros after trying to kill them, and now this girl is trying follow them. But that's not the only thing she does, she is determined and stubborn, when he shows up to help her out of the tree, she curses at him. He finds out she knows some level about their work to some degree, and when he tells her "hey maybe don't go following mobsters" she says "it's fine if you don't get caught". She's terrified, but Cup laughs at this

All of these interactions, he starts to respect her and find her interesting. After that he goes on to tease her and try to joke around with her despite how she is very offput by him

Which means he already liked her, probably wasn't super attached to her or anything like that at that point, but he did like her personality

Oz regretted running out of town in this type of weather. He was so cold, it hurt. He wondered if he had frostbite. At least Olivia was safe from walking on the snow since she was riding on his shoulder. They were having a hard time finding a place sheltered enough from the wind to make a fire.

Ya I can't say running out of town instead of the portal she mentioned to getting out was wise but yk

If only he’d listened to the mouse properly and escaped the right way instead of just running blind. Stars, if he killed them out here because of his cuss up, he’d never forgive himself. Maybe he’d lose his ‘lucky’ rabbit’s feet to the cold and have to drop the lucky from his name.

I think if you survive this you should consider talking to a professional about your mood swings

The mouse disappeared deeper, angling the hole to be perpendicular to the surface. “I th-thought that would be e-enough, but as I was heading back, I n-noticed the cat lady coming back for you. Then I r-remembered them talking about a b-bunch of weird monsters in that room, and I f-figured she was one of the only people who could d-deal with them.” Oz nodded. If it was anything like the sea monster he and Darius faced, then it was definitely a handful. Then his mind replayed what she said. “Mon-mon-monstersssss?” More than one! Cussing hell! What were these nutcases!

Uh. From what I understand those are Elba's pets. I feel like she might get along well with Cannikin if he wasn't dead but yk could be wrong there

“W-Well, two, maybe three o-options,” Olivia pondered. “Keep wandering around until we freeze, have to eat the cat, starve, or find another town; with freezing being the most likely possibility.” She crept from his coat and sat at the edge of the hole. “Go back to that place and surrender ourselves to our captors again.” Oswald made a face of disgust at that. “Or go back to that place and try to sneak into one of those portal thingies they were using.” Olivia paused. “I’m open to negotiation on eating the cat in the other scenarios as well.” Silence batted at Ozzy’s leg through the bag, as if telling Ozzy he didn’t approve of the cat-eating potential caveat to the plan. “We are not eating the cat,” Oz said firmly. Olivia sighed. “I suppose we do need him as a hostage,” she said disappointedly.

Hello? 😭😭 Also anti-eating the cat over here

Olivia gave a harsh little laugh. “So m-much for all the walking you did. That’s m-moonrocks. But we sh-should get you as w-warmed up as we can before we h-head back.” Oz nodded. “How do you think we should get through that portal? I’m not sure how to use it, and that Minchy lady is always at that desk,” Olivia questioned. Oz looked at the bag. “I might have an idea.”

What's the point in grabbing a cat hostage if you're not going to use it to barter your way out? I thought that was the purpose from the beginning? Olivia?

The cold was quick to become painful once again. He didn’t waste much breath on speaking. Silence pressed further into his arms through the bag, shivering

Poor baby :(

No sign of any guards. It made him nervous. Either he wasn’t important after they got the Part, or this was a trap. Knowing that cusser Darius, it was the latter.

It is weird. I wonder if they knew they'd come back and didn't care? I can't imagine Elba would like to hear her cat froze to death at bare minimum

She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, a bright daisy ornament tying it all together. Oswald sighed silently. In another life, they really could have been good friends. Well, cuss it.

Rip Minchy, I would've killed to see you and him being friends

Olivia’s head snapped to Ozzy, her eyes narrowing. “Are you . . .” she said in a quivering voice, “underestimating me?” There was feral danger in her eyes. Oz opened his mouth, but his ears tingled with a familiar warning. Even though they were numb, he could feel the warning. That was the look Tens had before he found himself in the doghouse. He was on thin ice. “N-No? It’s just that I think she’d be difficult for an-n average to-to-toon to tackle, and it’s not like you’re zany. I’d be worried you’d get hurt.” Olivia’s eye twitched. “I will be the one to jump her,” she declared. “You stay the cuss out, or I’ll yank out your whiskers!”

Wrong response. I think you should pull them out anyway tbh

He thumped a fist on the door. “Minchy! There is a situation! Open the door for me and help me carry him in!” Oz called in with his best Darius impression. The rabbit then backed away from the door and waited for the fireworks. “Darius?” He heard Minchy’s voice through the door.

??? Who all can Oz impersonate? I'm curious now

Olivia dropped to her shoulder, an enormous icicle in her hands. Well, it wasn’t enormous. It just looked enormous in her hands. Olivia pressed its sharp tip to the girl’s ear and whispered in a low and ominous voice, “Keep quiet if you want to keep your life. An easy jab, and at best, you lose your hearing. Everyone knows what doctors say about cotton-buds after all.”

I now have questions for Olivia and her history

“Why in mother nature’s grassy earth did you kidnap Lady Elba’s cat?” Minchy whispered the moment the door was closed. “I dunno. Why on earth did I get kidnapped?” Oz shot back. He set the bag down. “I dunno, I just work the gates!” Minchy said matter-of-factly, putting her hands on her hips before she remembered Olivia was still threatening her. She paused, glancing sideways at the dangerous mouse and gulping before saying tentatively. “Shouldn’t you know that?”

This just kinda goes on to prove they don't really think Ozzy is like. A prisoner and moreso as apart of their squad

Also, new IM cultural swear just dropped

Oz sighed. Should have known they wouldn’t blab to everyone. “Do you know where the Parts are?” She looked back at the rabbit. “The whats?”

... And this confirms not everyone there is apart of the Reliqui itself and are just kinda casual guys living their lives

The rabbit nodded. He wouldn’t argue. Escape had been the plan for a while now. “Open the gate,” he ordered. “Okay . . .” the girl said slowly. She walked cautiously to the desk, very aware of her passenger. She shifted the stones on the desk, writing and erasing a rune here and there. She turned back to the two of them. “When you walk through that door, you’ll be in London.”

The way Minchy is acting almost feels like she'd let them go even if she wasn't being threatened and they just asked

Which like. I really can't imagine Elba would care if Ozzy stays or leaves at this point since he no longer has the brush

Minchy shrugged. “Eh, this isn’t the worst possible outcome. At least you’re not gonna murder me in cold blood, right? And maybe Elba will let me take some paid days off on account of the trauma.” “Play it up for that time off,” Oz joked.

LMAO. Man I should've tried to do that. Idk if I had anymore PTO at that time though 🤔

“Hey, hey! Why are you taking Silence?” Minchy called after them, far more concerned about the feline than when he’d tied her up. “Why else? She took something really important to me. I’m taking something important to her. If she wants to trade, I’m all ears.” Oswald pulled his ears up and out of the coat. “Until then, have a good day!” He gave her a two-fingered salute and backed through the doorway. “Oh, come on!” Minchy called as he closed the door. “He’s just a lil fella! That’s low—”

Reasonable reaction. I hope you feed and take care of that cat, Ozzy or else I'm gonna have beef with you

Wait I just realized if he's going to London he's prob gonna meet up with the Questers, nvm just give Cuphead the cat he'll definitely take care of it. He'll be thrilled, actually

Olivia made a quick call on her payphone, humming and explaining the situation. Once she finished, she hopped back onto his hand. “They’re gonna call us back, so let’s cool our heels for a little bit.”

The Rescuers calling Felix like "Hey do you know this rabbit? He's lost in London"

Also just realized Elba is prob gonna be trying to find him bc of her cat lmao, which is VERY silly

Oswald was acting like a sinner in church. By the time the normal-sized payphone rang, he jumped. It had been nearly an hour. Oz got up and practically stumbled into the booth to answer. “Hello?” Oz croaked and then cleared his throat. “Hello?” He tried again, sounding more like himself. “Oswald! Are you okay? Where are you? Did they hurt you? I’m on my way. You just hold tight,” Felix’s voice was a mile a minute. Oz was so relieved to hear him that he started to laugh. That only made the poor cat more worried.

Rip Felix I just know running around ragged is exhausting rn. Actually is he still out on the town? Is everyone just gonna show up with Ozzy in tow and then Cup, Bendy and Holly will be sitting there like 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️ "What"

“No! You don’t understand! I—I—” again the words fled from him like birds startled at a noise. “Agh!” Oz pulled his ears. “Damnit!” Damn Darius and his damn spell! This contract! He wasn’t going to be able to say stardust about any of it. Oswald sank to the sidewalk as he realized that everything he had learned, he wasn’t going to be able to share. None of it. He rested his back against the payphone wall. He was useless. He lost the Part, learned about this cussing group, and he wasn’t going to be able to share any of it. Darius made sure of that. Cussing hell, they had won! Oz grit his teeth. “Damnit,” he whispered. Now what? The rabbit sighed. “Can you explain everything?” he asked her, warily. Not that she had been there for all of his conversations. Not even half. Stars above!

Awww, Ozzy is about to understand the ✨️Cuphead Experience✨️

Aka warning them and then not being able to say anything at all

“C’mon. Let’s get you back home so you can dry off and eat something. We’ll meet with everyone there,” Felix promised. Oswald let Felix guide him to the cab. They piled in, the cat was carefully put out of reach of nasty claws, and they headed back to Felix’s place. It sounded like a safe harbor to Oswald. Finally.

Snowball’s eyes popped open like a pair of springtime buds on a cherry tree. Snowball raised her head slowly and looked around the room. She was nestled just above and to the left of Alpha’s head. His head fur was a mess, his face relaxed, and his nose did a little whistle like Holly's kettle when he exhaled. His nest leaves were to his chin in the morning chill.

I forgot how adorable Snowball's descriptions are

I also forgot she calls Cuphead Alpha! Ohhh doesn't she call Bendy Dark One??? I can't wait I love this Inky Extra

Snowball stood up on her hind legs and paused, eyeing the messy head fur. She leaned down, using her tiny paws to balance, and buried her paws and snout into it, rubbing her face. His head fur felt so nice. The tiny little spines on her skin righted themselves as she touched his head fur, strengthening. The tips spread like the sun had hit them.

Oh huh? I knew that Cup's magic hair was good for them I just forgot that this description was here

It was dark in tunnel of the large people’s burrow, which made the small creature stop for a moment, nose twitching, paws lifted as she planned her path. Her eyes darted to a fire holder fixed to the wall, a four legged tree down the tunnel, and then the corner where a plant-holder stood.

Ah shit. It's been awhile since I've read warrior cats this is gonna take me a second to try to translate pet speak to people speak

It yanked out from the plant holder suddenly, quickly rolling back up…and taking Snowball with it. The small rodent squeaked in distress from the middle of the soul tree’s rolled up clutches. Snowball and the soul tree rolled halfway to the entrance to Alpha’s burrow. Snowball made a sick noise as her world twirled.

Awww poor baby

Snowball gave a sigh of exasperation. Why did the moving door always close when she wanted to leave and open when she was exploring something especially nice smelling? She stared at the moving tree hard, willing it to open. She gave a loud ‘meep’! The moving tree ignored her. Snowball looked down and grumbled. Someday she would figure out how Holly and the other giants made them move.

Heheheheehe

It was the death magic. The death magic that had swallowed Holly’s soul. She started to shiver as the temperature in her small body lowered. It felt like the eyes of a predator. It was coming closer. Snowball bounced, flying up and hitting the ceiling and bouncing down onto Alpha’s face. He jerked spluttering and Snowball tapped him desperately with her little paw, letting out a loud ‘MEEP’ into his face. “Wha-what in the seven levels of hell?” Alpha growled. He half sat up on one of his limbs. “Puff, what are you doi--” A burst of the magic formed above Alpha’s head mid-growl, engulfing him and twisting his soul. It reached out and did the same to Beta, who had just started to roll over. Snowball squeaked in panic as she felt the Death Holly get closer, the hunger radiating from it sending her racing to hide underneath Alpha’s outer fur and into one of his pouches.

😭😭😭 Poor Snowball was trying to warn him and then Holly knocked him out

But also I'd also be surprised and grumpy if my pet woke me up like that

There was a whoosh of air as the moving tree closed behind Snowball’s mother, her giantess feet making no noise on the fake grass. There was another burst of death magic. Then Snowball’s world shifted. She nearly slid out of the pouch, but barely managed to catch a bit of fur as Alpha seemed to float into the air. But Alpha couldn’t float? Holly had said only Snowball could fly! Too scared to explore why what little knowledge of the world she had was wrong, Snowball clung harder to the inside of Alpha’s pouch.

How old is Snowball? Like. I mean maturity wise even with her being an animal. Unless Holly summoned Snowball from another world? With Lil Monster's family of smaller dandehogs I assumed Snowball was an adult dandehog

Snowball squirmed, hating the feeling of the magic on her. “Meep! Meep! Meep!” Snowball swam in the air, but still ended up going backwards. Holly’s cold fingers curled around Snow. The next second Alpha dropped into the water. Snowball squirmed, watching the bubbles dissipate. That couldn't be good. Could Alpha and Beta breathe like fishes? Holly’s grip tightened, and Snowball’s magic sensitive skin hurt. She let out a mew. Whap! The moving tree swung open, and the Light Lady stumbled in, her eyes wide with confusion. The bad Holly turned, frowning. The Light Lady was there, big eyes wide, her head fur a mess like a young nestling’s. Bad Holly’s grip tightened, and Snowball squirmed in pain again.

OH :( POOR SNOWBALL

WAIT I JUST REALIZED THIS MEANS CUP BRIEFLY WOKE UP TO SNOWBALL TRYING TO WARN HIM AND THEN NEXT THING HE KNOWS SNOWBALL IS GONE

NO WONDER HE WAS WORRIED

“Holly stop!” Light Lady lifted a hand. Another rune appeared. Snowball felt the warmth of the magic reach for her, fighting the cold emptiness of Holly’s magic. Light Lady flicked her wrist, pulling Snowball toward her with her magic. Snowball relaxed for a half second as the warm magic moved her. Then, like a fish caught on two lines, she twanged to a stop in the middle between the two females, her soul being yanked in opposite directions. Snowball flailed. As each of the girls fought, Snowball was jerked back and forth. Snowball squeaked, feeling like a doll she’s seen two girls fighting over. She wasn’t a toy!

Genuinely horrifying to imagine a pet being handled like this btw

The kitten moved closer and then stuck his face into Snowball’s side, nudging her as he sniffed, asking whether she was food a second time. Snowball stumbled. The kitten meowed again, asking Snowball what she was. Snowball gave the cat another warning meep, making it extra sharp so the kitten would know this was the last one she would give. The cat ignored her and stuck his face and whiskers through Snowball’s tufts. Snowball turned and gave the cat's ear a good nipp. He jumped back, yipping in surprise. “Figaro?” a female voice called from the front of the alley.

And this is where the beef between these two begin and why Cup ends up dealing with them fighting whenever they meet

Wonder how Figaro would react to Lil Monster

Snowball wandered over to an old flyer of the cat that happened to be on the table. She sat on the top of it, waiting patiently. It took a second, but the mouse’s eyes widened. “That’s right! You were with one of those people from Dr. Oddswell’s house.” She tapped Snowball’s nose. “Well, they’ll be worried about you, won’t they?” Figaro gave Snowball a jealous glare. Snowball gave the cat a cheesy smile. A low growl came from the cat’s throat.

Just imagining Snowball with a smug grin

The cat mewed. You live with the great man! Great man is the best! You even smell like the great man! I want to live with the great man! No fair! Snowball let out a confused squeak. Who’s the great man? The cat flicked his tail, annoyed. The great man! The one with the soft blanket thing with sleep pouches! Snowball tilted his head. Soft blanket thing? Sleep pouches? Snowball thought a moment. Alpha had pouches. Alpha? She squeaked, a little paw coming up as she sat on her hind legs and blinked at the cat. Figaro twitched his whiskers into a sneer. He’s not a dog.

Imagine if Cuphead could actually speak to animals. Could you imagine his reaction to what all of them decided to call him? 🤣

Snowball felt a bit bad. She shrugged. You really think? I thought they just...tend to do stupid things? She thought of the lecture she’d given Holly when she’d touched that demon wheel. Then the warning she’d tried to give Little Dark, Nice Beast, and mother when mother had been pushing magic into the flattened tree curl that Little Dark and Nice Beast carried.

LITTLE DARK

I feel like Bendy would not enjoy that one. Nice Beast must be Boris

I wonder if Snowball calls them by their actual names now that time has passed? Or does she only know Holly's name for some reason????

This is my pouch, he mewed. Miss is mine! Get out! Figaro pushed a paw into her. Snowball sent a bit of the magic she had collected in her little tufts at the cat. The feline’s hair instantly puffed up like a pom-pom. Figaro let out a yowl for rage and hissed.

SNOWBALL CAN USE MAGIC SHE'S COLLECTED? Does that mean Lil Monster has a bunch of dark magic he could use if he wanted??? How would that look???? Bc I'm assuming that's why Lil Monster is dark is bc he was around dark magic at the Circus, there weren't any white dandehogs either

The nice mouse went up to the door and knocked. There were lots of noises inside and then Big Ears opened the door. He blinked at Figaro’s Miss. Snowball meeped at him. The fox’s eyes went to her, and she jumped, catching his ear as she floated down.

Took me a sec to realize this is Finley

She remembered Alpha and Beta. Had they talked to the fish. Had they told them Holly was sick? That had to be it! She squeaked at Big Ears and Figaro’s Miss happily. That cat probably just didn’t know fish could talk. “It’s no trouble. She helped me with finding Figaro, after all! I’m just returning the favor,” Figaro’s Miss said with a smile. Big Ears thanked her again and closed the door. He turned back inside, and Snowball launched herself at the stairs.

This is so cute, this is going to give me cuteness overload guys

This was bad. She didn’t trust the weird air. It was touchable and then untouchable, touchable and then untouchable. If she fell, she’d be fine, but instinctively she knew the soul trees could get Alpha and Beta hurt if anything happened to them. She bit the edge of one, dragging it to the ledge of the window. Grunting, she barely managed to pull it up. Then, she nudged it with her nose, rolling it underneath the pile of Alpha and Beta’s nests.

Yk I don't know if I wanna know what happens to someone if their contracts are damaged

Then, the other soul tree started to roll and slope downward. It fell. Snowball blinked. “Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!” The small creature dived for it. To her utter surprise, she went straight through. Then, she was falling.

So uh. Whose contract was this one? Mugs or Cup's?

Snowball squeaked, expertly bouncing off a fire tree and heading in the same direction. The giant bird, however, was far too fast for her. With each beat of its enormous wings, she sent a wave of air behind her that slowed Snowball’s flighty, bobbing progress. The rodent squeaked in despair. Alpha and Beta needed that! It had their special scent!

Honestly this would give both brothers a heart attack

Snowball blinked as a bone man ran past, chasing a doe and a small fox. Were they playing tag? Snow played tag with mother sometimes. Although, sometimes mother’s words while chasing weren’t happy words. That confused her.

Imagining Holly chasing Snowball around, worried and Snowball's just there having the time of her life

She crawled towards the soul tree a few feet away. Somehow, the thing seemed to have the same magical energy coming from it as Alpha and Beta. It made her bristles tingle. She rested there for a moment, exhausted. Then, giving a little sigh, she grabbed it and dragged it towards a bush growing across from the strange square of ash. She had just gotten onto the flat, stone walkway when a foul, rotting smell made her bristles stand straight up again. She abandoned the soul tree, hiding beneath the bush. Looking out, she saw a human pup lean down and pick the curl up. He had a large, round, sweet smelling food-on-a-stick. As he lifted the soul tree, he licked his food stick. “Wha’s this?”

Cup: Those are hellspawn you should avoid them

Meanwhile the hellspawn in question;

“I know those two are dumb, but I can’t believe they were this dumb!” the devil pup said, pulling out a two pronged stick with a little string strung across it. He aimed it at the female. “Let’s launch it into the bay, or better yet, go find the Warners and feed it to Dot’s pet when she isn’t looking. I’ll bet it’ll give the thing indigestion.”

THEY KNOW THE WARNERS??? Would bringing it to the Warners save them or would they still be screwed? 😭

Just then, something large shot by her, sending her spinning to the side again. There was a loud shriek as a great cat-bird dove down and back up, talons clapped tightly around a thrashing figure. “Let go, you giant chicken!” the big person shouted. Snowball blinked. Alpha? The cat-bird flew off, ignoring the angry one in its claws. She didn’t know that he was friends with bird-cats. She had the stray question about whether bird-cats could talk, since according to Figaro birds were food too. Then the wind died. Snowball plummeted.

LMAO??? Snowball trying to save what I'm assuming is either Cup's or Mugs's soul and then runs into Cup himself struggling to get down

Also Snowball going "oh huh I didn't know he befriended cat-birds!"

“Hey! Glitter bombs! You’re not gonna come save your friend?” Snowball blinked, rolling back onto her feet. The voice was strange and gravely...but the smell. That smelled like Little Dark. The tiniest of the big people. But that wasn’t what she saw. What she saw was a towering figure of blackness. He dripped with an acidic smelling water and growled. Snowball tilted her head. Little Dark could shrink and grow himself? He was...Big Dark!

Things Bendy would take offense to if he heard. Honestly imagining Bendy being offended by Snowball is really funny

Big Dark’s mouth moved, and one of Snowball’s feet went into it. She turned towards him. I’m trying to stop them, she scolded him. He gave her a dumbfounded look which she ignored. Turning back to the the glowing one horned deer, Snowball let loose her most commanding words. “Meep! Meep! Meep! Me-Meep-Me-Mepity-Mepity-Meep!” How dare they attack one of her big people, she chided the male glow-horse. He was out finding her mother! They looked all pretty with their beautiful sparkling mane and spotless fur, but they were just big hooved bullies that laughed when poor Little-Big Dark was just trying to talk his clumsy big people words at them. Had they even tried to listen and understand him? Sure, big people words were hard to understand, and they were so long and took a lot of time to communicate, but that was no excuse!

I love that in animal's pov they're just big, odd and clumsy to some level

The female didn’t seem convinced. Dark ones trick, she argued. They lead pure ones into traps of metal teeth. They’ll kill the herd and cut off their horns if the herd doesn’t drive them back. They must be slain to keep the pure ones safe. Let us protect you, the horse urged. Snowball blinked. “Meep meep.” But he’s my dark one. He smells like snow. When I sit between his ears all the hot magic goes cold. Snowball waved a paw at the two horses. See? My paws and bristles were hurting, and now they feel better.

I suddenly have more questions about dandehog biology

Snowball preened her bristles proudly and hopped off his neck, onto the one of the big stone slabs. “Meep.” Now bring me to Alpha or Beta so I can fix my bristles, she said to him. Then she could fly and find the soul tree.

Ya, he doesn't understand that

Snowball gave him an argumentative meep. She needed to go get the soul tree. Those pups reminded her of a rat she’d found wandering in at the large burrow one day. He was her size, but he’d spoken like a big person. And smelled bad. Like a bunch of burning leaves.

HUH??? SNOWBALL RAN INTO A TINY TOON??? WHO???? SNOWBALL WHERE DID YOU COME FROM????

“Hat!” Big dark took a big leap, putting his hand up to steady her, and landed in the middle of the herd. When he landed, Snowball saw what the other pretty does had were around. It was another dark one. But this one’s magic crackled with an angry energy. Snowball’s bristles went on edge. This was the one who had made the eater! The eater that had tried to eat Alpha, Nice Cat, and Little Dark. Big dark leaned down to try and pull him up, and Snowball scampered farther back on his head. Her ears perked as a smell wafted up to her. Soap. He smelled of it. He reeked of it. She mentally dubbed him Dark Soap from that moment forward.

DARK SOAP. HAT IS KNOWN AS DARK SOAP?

She needed to find Alpha or Beta so she could fix herself and go get the soul tree. She gave a sigh. Oh well. “Meep!” Pretty white does, she called.

Snowball you SAW where Cup went off to, he got yoinked

And also Idk why but the phrase "pretty white does" itches my brain

She stared at him with focus, tilting her head. They liked it when she tilted her head. Pet me, she commanded him. “And weren’t you with Cup? Why are you a mess?”

Unfortunately your talking to the one guy who understands NOTHING about animals

“Meep.” Snowball puffed out her chest. Of course the pretty horses wouldn’t touch the dark ones after she told them Big Dark was one of her herd. Then, she looked at Big Dark. He had only talked about Dark Soap. “Me-Meep.” I saved you too, she lectured him. Big Dark gave her a stubborn look. Snowball sighed. The one-horned deer had said he was a baby dark one? Well, if he waas a pup, that must be why. You had to be patient with pups.

HAHA. Does this mean Snowball went on to believe Bendy is a little kid?

She looked Figaro up and down slowly. The cat knew a lot. So she knew the city. Snowball raised a pointed eyebrow and gave Figaro a friendly meep. I’ve come for guidance oh-cat-of-wisdom. Figaro froze, blinking. His tail swished and raised erect as he lifted his head imperiously. Oh, have you? His fur poofed out.

Careful Snowball, you'll give him a complex

“Snake eyes~!” A rough musical voice laughed. Snowball blinked, her tiny eyes taking in the scene. The inside of the burrow was filled with a large rotating wheel. Spikes curves from all the edges. An upright wheel rotated at one end of the room, a duck was attached to it. A big, fat sock man grabbed one end of the wheel and spun it. “One!” He grabbed it again, and gave it an extra push. “Two!” Figaro growled softly in his throat as he looked around the room. The duck on the wheel spun. “That’s cheating you cussing mook.” The duck shouted as he went around and around. “Donald, your language. The children are here,” a long nosed dog man said. He was tied to a board on the other side of the room.

Wh. What on earth are they doing over here??? Why are Donald and Goofy gambling rn??? 😭

Snowball looked at the sock man. Then both of them blinked as the sock man ate the soul tree. It disappeared in one gulp. “Hehehe. I’ll play with him once I finish this game.” The sock man turned back towards the dog.

Again which cupbro is it? I'm assuming it might be Cup knowing his luck but it could be Mugs. Wait no earlier Snowball said "the great man's soul tree" while talking to Figaro so it's def Cup's

Her stomach gurgled painfully. She spied one of the wriggling worms. That looked good. If only she were chewing that.

... Is she gonna try to eat Oogie Boogie?

Snowball blinked and looked down at one of the worms on the ground. Her nose twitched. Those kept on coming from in the sock man...where the soul tree. A small rodent smile formed on her face.

Snowball. Snowball are you going to try to eat Oogie Boogie???

The big dog man peered down at Snowball. She was lying on the ground with a large overly extended belly. Her stomach hurt. “Did that little fella just eat him?” the uncle dog asked.

CRYING??? DOES THIS MEAN OOGIE BOOGIE IS DEAD????

“Hello?” A soft voice called out from the far side of the room. Figaro perked up. A strange looking figure stepped carefully in the room. Like the bug man, she seemed to be made up of patchwork fur pieces. She looked at the two big people. “Oh!” she exclaimed. She covered her mouth when she saw the remains of the sock man’s bugs. She looked up again. “Did you stop Oogie?” she asked the big people. “And who are you?” the weird duck pointed the bench leg wood at her in warning. She put a hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. My name is Sally. I knew Oogie came here as well, so I wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurting anyone.”

YAY SALLY!!!! It's okay Oogie is dead. I think. Or maybe that isn't okay? How does Halloween Town feel about their people dying????

She leaned down. “Wow.” She reached down and picked up the empty sock man fur. She looked at them. “I’m sorry Oogie caused you problems. We from Halloween town like a good scare. But we don’t want to actually be mean. This isn’t the first time Oogie has broken the rules.” She made a clicking noise with her tongue and stood up, bringing the sock man fur with her.

Guess he's still alive if she's taking his sack[? skin?] with her

Snowball gave him an offended meep, turning her head toward him. “What’s that?” The doll lady reached down towards the soul tree. Snowball meeped angrily and clutched at it possessively. The girl pulled back and put a finger to her lips. “Well, little thing. Thank you.” She glanced up at the others. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take her with me.”

I mean. Sally is the least likely to pull anything so

“My, my, Cuphead eh?” His toothy grin dropped. “Oh...oh no. The king’s contract?” He turned wide eyes on Snowball. “Now, why would a snack like you have something like this?” Snowball gave the dark one a high pitched ‘peeep’! If only the pretty horses were here. If only she could get the dark one to let go of her! “Well, I’m not crossing anymore lines today. Why ruin such a good thing after all? No, I think you can take this back. I really rather not burn for being caught with one of the King’s contracts.” The dark one shook his head and rolled the soul tree back up. “No, if anyone should ask, I never saw you, and you certainly never saw me.”

SO IT IS CUPHEAD'S

Also this implies most of Halloween Town might know about Cup's contract floating around on Nightmare Night

Snowball blinked as the air hardened against her. It was touchable again...But it hadn’t been touchable when the the soul tree had fallen... This was the last bristle. Snowball sat up erect, chattering nonsensically at the square of air. Obviously this square was the real enemy. It must have been the touchable air’s plan to lose Alpha’s soul tree all along. First it just let the thing fall out all willy-nilly! Now, it wouldn’t let her back in once she had finally gotten the curl of tree back!

Snowball's #1 Enemy: Windows

The other, however... It was sticky from when it had landed in the egg with her. It had tried badly, and the edges had curled up. It was covered in bits of black, and it smelled . Snowball stared for a moment and sighed. She nuzzled it the best she could, cleaning off the black bits and trying to smooth out the edges. When she finished, it still smelled and looked worse than the other. It was the best she could do, though. So, with that, she hopped back over onto Alpha’s nest and fell asleep.

I fear the state of Cup's soul between the demon blood, this and being in a tug of war between Bendy and the Devil 😭😭😭

Then, she bounced back to the head of Alpha’s nest and settled next to the big person’s head fur. The fluffiness of it tickled her nose, and she pawed at it playfully as she waited for sleep to settle back on her. It had been a long day.

Oh that's so cute

So very early on in the story, Cup reveals that as kids, he thought he was invincible. That he wasn't capable of being killed or hurt, specifically while looking at the Warners. He reflects on this time in a bitter-sweet way

I believe that although Cup may have realized he's at risk of dying at any moment, and his loved ones, he still hasn't conceptualized he can actually lose them

What I mean is there's a difference between how he thinks rationally, and how he thinks emotionally. Emotionally, he hasn't realized it fully, rationally, he is painfully aware. I think this may be in part with being raised as a dish, where dishes can just be brought back to life, even if Cup specifically doesn't have this ability, but also growing up on a zany island

We see Cup emotionally struggle to grasp the idea of people dying a few times, he admits he doesn't realize he died or how bad it was while he's in the Labyrinth watching Hat put demon blood in his head. He easily shrugs off and walks off that he just died to the Night Terror [yes he's definitely traumatized from that incident and he didn't want to die in the moment, but after it's said and done he stops caring]. But the most damning evidence for this

Is how he reacts with his loved ones

I notice that after Cup shoots Holly in Nightmare Night right before he uses his super he says "I'm not holding back, if you die this is on you", which is. A very odd phrase coming from him. Then we see later on Cup is a little distraught about Holly's scar because he realizes he shot her

We also see this in the recent chapter, where he admits he saw how painful the ink attacks were but he never actually thought about the potential of Bendy dying during them

But we also see this at one moment; when Cuphead shot Mugs. Cuphead is teetering between "Mugman is dead" and pure denial. He doesn't even check if Mugs is alive. Think about that for a second, Cuphead dropped Mugs off at the hospital and then didn't even bother to check or stick around to see if Mugs died

Like he couldn't actually bare to see it actually happen, and we see right before he tries to kill himself he "talks" to Mugs, like Mugs is still there, and not actually dead

Cuphead, knows yes he can lose someone, he is terrified of it, but mentally and emotionally he can't process or accept that is an actual possibility. Like they will, somehow, get past it as long as they keep their wits. When it happens, he bitches at them and then they all move on, they learn and it doesn't happen again.