Chapter Text
Two brothers were waiting outside of the cottage on the edge of the forest. They had caught wind of an odd building and were determined to investigate it. Meaning, of course, they had to drag their friend with them. The one in red sighed and tilted his head back, bent straw tapping against his porcelain head.
"Mugsy, you try shouting for 'em again. They do play favorites," he complained to his brother, boredom painting his voice. His brother sighed, setting down the book he was reading, the knocking on the door to the cottage.
"DJ! Please hurry up, Cuphead is getting impatient!" he called, only for the door to be flung open.
The toon standing on the other side looked exhausted, causing the brothers to suck a breath between their teeth each. "Well then, one of you lot ought to be carrying me, cause that's the only way I'm damn well getting any sleep!" they said, hands on their hips in a way that screamed they meant business. Cuphead grinned at that.
"Mugman can carry you! He's been wanting to show off how strong he's gotten for a while now!" he said, gesturing to his brother with glee. Said brother was blushing wildly, cheeks tinted purple. DJ nodded, then promptly flopped against Mugman.
"Okay then. Let's go," they murmured as they were adjusted into a piggyback ride on the blue toon. With a nod between the twins, the trio were off.
Inkwell was used to seeing the two dish brothers and their radio companion wandering the lands and often greeted with smiles and waves. And if those greetings were softer whenever DJ was asleep on one of the boy's backs? Well, that was between the residents of Inkwell and the cup brothers.
"Ah! Cuphead, Mugman, off to Betty's?" Baroness Von Bon Bon inquired as the boys passed by her candy kingdom. The two nodded with smiles, continuing on their way. They breezed by several other inhabitants of the isles, each one greeting the young toons with a smile.
Arriving in the city of the third Isle, the trio head toward a diner, DJ now walking in between their two friends. With the creek of hinges and the ring of a bell, a cheery voice calls out, "Morning you three! Your orders are on the to-go shelf, Chalice covered them."
"Thank you Ms. Boop!" DJ called, picking up the bags of food while Cuphead grabbed the drink carrier. They headed to the dock, hoping to arrive before the ferryman took his break. Thankfully, the group succeeded, eating as the boat drifted along. It was a peaceful day—for once—meaning the group had a chance to breathe, grateful for a break.
Enjoying the sun, DJ leaned against Mugman, who, though offering no complaints, flushed a bit at the contact—though only to the eyes of Cuphead, which rolled dramatically at the duo.
"You two are so obvious," he said, straw tapping against porcelain as he shifted forward slightly.
DJ cracked open an eye. "What're you talking about?" they asked, Mugman nodding gently as they spoke.
"Oh golly, and I thought I was dense—" "You are." Cuphead grumbled as his brother and friend interrupted him.
"Yeah, yeah, at least I'm aware of it. You two," he waved an accusatory finger at the radio and mug in front of him, "are so much worse. When DJ needs extra sleep because they're a night owl—" "And proud!" "—they go to you Mugs. When Mugs needs a breath from my antics he goes to DJ. And recently, every time one of you initiate contact, be it a hug, or just flopping onto the other when winding down, you both blush. Whatever the heck is going on, you need to talk it out. Because it's honestly annoying watching you two be sappy all the time."
The two roll their eyes, though their expressions are clearly thoughtful, DJ subconsciously letting static out from their speakers as they stare off at the soft waves lapping at the boat, while Mugman's brow had a slight furrow. Cuphead leaned back with a slight grin, knowing his words had stuck with them. He closed his eyes, enjoying the sway of the boat on the sea, a gentle rocking that lulled his thoughts to a calm. This calm was only broken when the boat came to a halt, the sound of rope rustling as they docked. Cuphead opened his eyes, sighing softly as he stepped from the shifting boat to the steady dock.
"We've got a bit to walk; we can stop by Saltbaker's on the way," DJ said, draped over Mugman's shoulders as they examined the map Chalice had given them.
Cuphead grinned, saying, "Maybe he'll have some goodies for us! I hope he does." His two companions shook their heads at his antics, their smiles fond.
"I suppose it's a possibility, in fact quite probable, especially if Chalice is there. She always talks him into giving us free pastries," Mugman said, leaning into DJ's embrace. "Let's get going then. We've got two days to explore, so let's make the most of it."
It didn't take long for the group to arrive at Saltbaker's bakery, the bell above the door jingling as they stepped in.
"I was wonderin' when you'd all show up!" The trio were tackled by a ghost, her light blue tail swishing in joy as the group laughed.
"Hello Chalice, good to see you," Mugman greets as the group stands, offering DJ a hand up. Cuphead and Chalice roll their eyes in sync, giggling when they catch each other's eyes. At least neither of them was alone in their spare tire suffering.
"You lot are goin' to that odd new building today, right?" Chalice asks, once all were upright.
DJ nods, then questions, "Have you already checked it out Chal?" Chalice shudders in response.
"Almost. I got, urm, a bit distracted...heh." The ghost girl blushed a little as she rubbed her neck in embarrassment.
"Distracted? How?" Cuphead asks, unknowing to the looks shared between the radio and mug.
Chalice's blush deepens, muttering, "Pretty lady. Really pretty lady." The cup blinks at the response, ignoring the hiccups of stilted laughter erupting behind him. The floating toon shakes herself, blush fading from her cheeks as a door creaks open somewhere in the back of the bakery.
"Oh. Hello you three. Chalice told me you were all likely to stop by," Chef Saltbaker greets, a soft smile dashing onto his face as he grabs a large bag and hands it to Mugman. "I put a bunch of pastries in there, knowing you three you'll be so distracted you'll forget to get food otherwise."
That leads to the three flushing slightly, memories of them stopping by the bakery for food before heading back to Isle One dancing in their heads. They chuckle the embarrassment away and thank the baker for the food. After getting directions from Chalice and saying goodbye, the three continue on their way, chattering amongst themselves as they walk. Soon enough, the building comes into view, towering over the toons, shading them from the sun.
"So, uh, what do you think it is?" Cuphead asks, looking up at the building.
After a moment or two of staring, Mugman answers, "I think it might be some kind of art studio."
"Oh, imagine if it's an animation studio!" DJ cheers, eyes bright. "Inkwell deserves some new cartoons! Those reruns are starting to get boring."
Mugman giggles at DJ's reactions as Cuphead says, "I don't know how well those cartoons would be. Place looks deserted."
He was, much to DJ's misfortune, correct. The building was an odd pale yellow, with ink black detailing that seemed to drip in places. That paired with the few boarded up windows and the cobwebs that clung to corners all across the building, the place screamed abandoned.
"Did you forget that people say they see folks coming and going? Or how that one lady said she had seen something watching her from a window? How about the guy who said he heard what sounded like deep laughter one night?" DJ reprimands. "The two things those accounts point to are either the place is haunted, or inhabited."
"Or it's both," Cuphead jokes, egging the radio toon on. Said toon's teeth grit and hands clench, prepped for a fight.
Mugman, of course, notices, and steps in. "Simmer down you two. You can spar later. Cups, go knock on the door. Under the impression that it's inhabited by living people, not ghosts." Cuphead grumbles but steps up to the door, knocking a few times. Rather, attempting to knock a few times. As soon as his hand hit against the door for the first beat, it swings open, the toons' eyes widening as it does so.