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Point of Departure, Ch. III

Chapter III of "Point of Departure," a Joseph's ToonTown story.

Thus, this final chapter of the story also marks the end of Shinko's involvement with my blog. I'd like to take a moment just to say that... even though our roleplay world kind of fell apart, it means a lot that you continued to hang in there, as I wrote my own spin on Shinko's life in ToonTown. While only the first story was ever truly "canon" to Shinko, I hope I, at least, did your character justice, in my writings. Thank you, Shinkomod, and godspeed to you in your life, interests, and hobbies. You are one cool cat and I hope you find happiness in this ridiculously stupid world, of ours.

Word count: 4,766 – Character count: 27,114 Originally written: January 5th, 2017 Revised on: August 4th, 2017

Unable to directly help Shinko, Tiana does the only other thing she can think of and confronts Joseph, face-to-face.

Shinko created by and © shinkothetoongirl Tiana, Tiana's Place, The Princess and the Frog, Fawn Deer, Raw Toonage, and related characters and properties created by and © The Walt Disney Company Woody Woodpecker, Winnie Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation Spydor, Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys, and related characters and properties created by Monkeyshine Productions, Inc. and © Hallmark Entertainment

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In what must have been the most dramatic reversal of roles anyone watching could have seen, Shinko completely let go of the fox and, within two frames, found herself sitting on the knees, on the floor, hiding her face with her hands. She wasn’t mad, anymore… no, quite the contrary.

She was sobbing!

Security arrived on-the-scene shortly after, only to be called away by Tiana, herself. She and Joseph quickly helped Shinko to her feet, the former escorting the two to somewhere far away from the customers. She knew she was going to have a lot of explaining and apologizing to do, later… but, for that moment, her only concern was making sure her employee… her friend… was going to be alright.

“So, you’re the fox Shinko told me about, huh?”

Joseph sat on a stool, his ears folded back hard and tail curled around the stand. Tiana had taken a few moments to calm Shinko, in another room, before bringing him to that one. She looked rather unimpressed by what she saw, too…

“You 3D ‘toons think you’re all-that, don’t you?” “W–” was all he could muster, a little taken aback. He was still shaken-up by his encounter with Shinko… but, finding himself questioned by the slim lady in the dress just added to the tenseness he was feeling. “You just waltz around like you’re so superior just because you have a third dimension and buttery-smooth motions!” “A–” “And, worst of all… you take advantage of younger, more innocent ‘toons like Shinko!” Tiana narrowed her eyes. “How do you sleep at night…?” Joseph gave a blink. “Wait, what? I–” “Well, you messed with the wrong ‘toon, this time, pal! She has connections! Namely…” The restauranteur pointed her thumb at herself. “Me!” “Now, hold on just a–” “I don’t wanna see you in my restaurant ever again,” she continued, her hands moving to her hips and a stern look forming on her face. “And, furthermore… I’d better not see you in this district, again! I know your game… I know what you’ve done!” “What… I…” The fox’s face scrunched in half-angry confusion. “What…?” The lady pointed toward the door, then. “There’s the door. Now, get the hell outta my sight.” As she turned to walk away, Joseph blurted out, “Wait– hold on!” She stopped in her tracks, keeping her back toward him… “Save your breath, fox. There ain’t nothin’ I wanna hear from you.” “You… stupid… bitch!” Tiana spun around just in time to see Joseph put his hands over his muzzle. Her eyes narrowed, again, as she asked in an alarmingly calm tone… “What… did you call me?”

The fox could not have felt any more embarrassed. Tiana had managed to push one-too-many of his buttons and he let his tongue slip. He really hadn’t mean to call her anything… much less that… but, something about her accusatory tone… and, the way she seemed like she “knew him…” It just set him on-edge. Slowly, his ears curled back and his tail rose. He could feel himself getting angry, again, just from the way she was glaring at him… Still, he felt that he owed her an apology, for what he’d said.

“I… called you a ‘stupid bitch,’” he began. “And, I’m sorry that I did.” The regal-looking hostess gave a snort, crossing her arms over her chest. “I find that hard to believe…” “Alright, look…” he said, growing impatient. “You clearly don’t know the whole story.” “Shinko has no reason to lie,” she countered. “I’m not saying that she did!” “Then, what are you saying, fox?” “I’m just… Y… Hnn…” “Mm-hmm…” Tiana closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Get outta my sight.” “No– you…!” he sputtered. “Use your words, fur-ball.” He was stunned into silence. Her impatience was really getting under his skin…

“Well?” she shortly asked after he’d failed to say anything more. “I’m waiting!” “Listen…” the fox said, pausing to try and calm himself, again. “I am listening. You’re just not sayin’ anything!” He wasn’t normally one for violence… but, the thought of slapping Tiana’s impatient glare right off her face had certainly crossed his mind, by that point in their conversation… “If you would just shut up and let me think, for a second…” “What? And, give you time to come up a convincing lie?” She leaned back, wearing a smirk. “Right.” “No…” he said with a growl. “I’m just having a little trouble trying to explain myself with you staying in my face, like this.” Her smirk widened. “I don’t see how that’s my problem…”

“Miss Tiana?” The dark-haired lady turned toward the door. The waiter from earlier was standing there. “It’s getting close to midnight…” She gave a gasp. “Oh! The celebration! I got so caught-up in this mess…” The lady quickly turned back to the fox, glaring at him, again. “Listen, you… Get outta here and don’t let me see you ‘round here ever again, alright? The door’s over there,” she said with a point. “If I see you in here, again–” “You know what? Fine.” She gave a blink as the fox interrupted her… then, she took a step back as he rose. Once she realized he was just heading to the door, however, she relaxed…

“I don’t need this place,” Joseph spitefully said as he headed out. “I don’t need your food or your entertainment. And, I certainly don’t need your sass. I can even live without ever coming back to this district. So, hey, blacklist me if you want… I’ll just take my business elsewhere. The line to get in here is way too long and not worth the wait, anyway…” Tiana narrowed her eyes, at that… but, she stayed quiet. The fox slid by the waiter in the doorway a second later, not bothering either them in the slightest. However, before he was completely out-of-sight, he turned around, stopping to glance back at Tiana. “By the way,” he said, “I’m not a ‘toon. And, you’re no princess. See you never…” And, with those strange words… the fox was gone.

“What in the…? What did he mean he wasn’t a ‘toon?” Tiana quietly asked her waiter. They just gave an unconcerned shrug. “Well, anyway… tell the band I’ll be out in a minute. I need to go check on Shinko.” “Yes, ma’am! And, ma’am?” She gave a blink. “Yes?” “You’ll always be a princess, to us all.” “Yeah, well…” She smiled to the waiter as a faint blush made its way onto her soft skin. However, she was quick to hide it by rubbing her cheek. –––––

“You’re leaving? After all that…?”

Joseph didn’t seem to be listening as he walked by the table where he’d previously sat. Woody had tried to talk to him… but, he clearly wasn’t interested.

“Hold on a second…” Lola had spoken up, then. “What about our double-date?” “Date’s over,” the fox spat. “Mine, at least… You, enjoy yourselves.” “It’s kinda hard t’ enjoy ourselves knowin’ our amber-colored fox friend ain’t here!” “Don’t let that stop you, Woody…” he replied, continuing to walk to the front. “As for me… I’ll… I’m… I’m going to Joe’s, I guess. That seems to be where I always end up in this Trinity-forsaken town…” Joseph walked outside, a moment later, leaving his friends to stand at the door. It really didn’t seem like anyone had anything they could say to change his mind…

“Should… should we go after him?” Lola asked, a concerned look on her face. “You can do what you want…” Woody turned toward the back of the club, an angry look showing on his face. “I’m gonna get some answers!” The woodpecker charged toward the rear door of the club, followed at-a-distance by Winnie and Lola. They thought about trying to dissuade him… but, for some reason, neither one of them could find the words. However, something else had suddenly kept the angry bird from gaining entry to the back rooms of the club…

“Oof…!”

Winnie gasped and Lola’s eyes went wide. Woody had been knocked on his rump… but, he wasn’t the only one. Sat in the doorway of that side door was none-other than… “Shinko?!” “Woody…?” was her reply as she looked at the bird. His face turned from surprise… back to anger, then. “What in the he– wah!” “Joseph!” she suddenly shouted, getting to her feet and picking him up within three frames of animation. “Where is he?!” “Why should I tell you?!” the woodpecker said with spite. “Because…” She looked down, her face darkening. “I need to apologize, to him…” –––––

It was only ten minutes until New Year’s. After the previous year’s fiasco with Spydor and his homemade liquor, the owner of Joe’s Diner had put a ban on end-of-year parties, there, so it was business-as-usual, with the midnight crew. Or, at least, it would have been, if not for the sudden addition of one very-upset fox, sitting at the counter.

“Eh, I wouldn’t worry ‘bout it none, Joey. Here, have another… ech… soda.” Spydor poured another full glass of fizzy cola for the fox before swinging over and hand-delivering it. It was kind of fortunate the diner was empty, due to the on-going celebrations all around the city. Apparently, word had gotten out about the previous year’s fiasco… “I don’t know why I’m even bothering…” Joseph said as he brought the soda up and gave it a sip. “It doesn’t help…” “Yeah, but, ya know…” The spider-monkey gave a shrug as he hung down in front of the fox. “‘Da maaan’ says we can’t soive no alkie-haul, hereabouts!” “And, whose fault is that?” “Ah, details, details, Fawn, dear!” he replied to the talking deer girl. “My point is, life… well, it ain’t fair… so, drink up! It may not help but it ain’t gonna hoit!” “I just… I can’t believe I ran into her… after all this time… and, she… and, she…” “Ah geez… Hey, Fawn!” he called to his co-worker. “Do dat ‘lady’ thing ya do, huh? I don’t wanna mop up this mook’s tears, again…” Fawn shot Spydor a glare as he swung into the kitchen. Luckily… Joseph didn’t seem to hear his parting words.

“Mr. Lithius?” the deer called as she stood next to the seated fox. “It’ll be alright… you’ll see. I’m sure things will go back to normal, by tomorrow! You just have to have hope!” “‘Hope?’” And, just like that, the fox’s head had found its way on to the counter, much to Fawn’s surprise… and, concern.

“Hope is gone, Fawn…” he muttered, thinking of his “ex-not-girlfriend” from Ragnarok. “And, so is Carlos, Kris, and everyone else… At least, as far as I know. I don’t even know what the future holds, here, in ToonTown…” He sat up just enough to rest his head on his arms. “Tiana seems like the kind of lady who’d make good on her threats… and, if she has the kind of connections she said she does… being blacklisted from the Disney District might be the least of my problems…” “It’s alright, Mr. Lithius…” the deer said as she leaned in to give him a hug. “At least you’ll always be welcome to ‘Eat at Joe’s!’” “That’s not funny…” he chuckled. “Then, why are you laughing?” “It’s a pity laugh, Fawn…” he said, closing his eyes and leaning into her arms. “That’s okay…” She pulled him a little closer. “This is a pity hug…” He chuckled, again, knowing she was kidding. “I’ll take what I can get…”

For a while, the two stayed like that… Joseph seated and leaning into Fawn’s arms while the deer hugged him and pet his head. It was comforting, for the former, and it made the latter happy, knowing she could be of some help to him. When they heard the bell of the diner’s door jingle, however… “I’ll be right back,” Fawn softly told the fox, giving him another pat before straightening up. “We have a customer.” “Heh. I’ll be here…” “Chin-up, Mr. Lithius… It’ll be alright.” The fox gave a light nod before placing his head back on the counter, his ears flicking as he heard the tip-tap of Fawn’s heels walking away.

“Welcome to Joe’s Diner,” she greeted to an unknown party. “Feel free to sit wherever you feel like, Ma’am, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask!” There was another brief sound of heels-on-tiles… followed by the sound of someone else walking. Joseph couldn’t quite identify the second sound… but, he didn’t care enough to look. “Can I get you something to drink, Ma’am?” Fawn offered from the other side of the counter. The fox’s ears caught the sound of the seat next to him being filled but, again, he didn’t bother looking… “No?” The deer gave a hum. “Well, whenever you’re ready to order, just ask!” “I will. Thank you.”

Joseph’s ears perked, suddenly. That voice… he thought. No… no… She wouldn’t have… she couldn’t have… But, a glance to his right quickly confirmed… “Hi there, Joseph!” the figure cheerfully greeted. “Come here often?”

Seated directly next to the fox was the relatively-simple form of the very ‘toon he was crying about. He tensed… only to relax, as he noticed something. She didn’t look mad… she didn’t look sad… she didn’t even look a little upset… If anything, she looked almost kind of… happy to see him, smiling and giving a wave, still wearing her waitress outfit, minus the apron. Seeing her there, with that expression… It filled Joseph with confusion…

A lot of questions went through his head as she waited for a reply – most of which started with a W. Eventually, though, he went with the only question that seemed to make sense… “What the Void are you doing here, Shinko?” “Oh! Well, I was just in the neighborhood,” she said, pressing her triangular hand-tips together and looking away. “Figured I’d see if you were here!” His eyes narrowed. “There is no way in the unending Nether that I believe that, you know.” “Oh, I know!” she said, rubbing the back of her head. “But, I’ve always wanted to say something like that!” “Yeeaaah… okay. Now, what’s the real reason you’re here?” There was a long pause while the shorter girl fidgeted, her eyes darting around the room and her hands fiddling with the hem of her skirt. After several moments, though, she finally spoke, again.

“You know those movies where two people get into a fight, only to realize that, in the end, it was nobody’s fault, so they make up?” Part of Joseph wanted to tell her real life wasn’t a movie, since he had an idea of where she was going, with that thought… but, he decided to just nod, instead. “Well… I just… I wanted to… I…” Her words slowed and came out softer-and-softer, her head tilting downward. The fox could see her face darkening, under her bangs… Still, he felt the need to encourage her. “Yes?” Again, silence filled the air while Shinko remained static. It would have been a little eerie, had Joseph not been used to the lack-of-motion.

“You know…” His ears perked as she spoke again. “You know those movies… where two people try to make up… only for… something to go wrong, Joseph?” He narrowed his eyes… “Yeesss…?” “I…” Her hands squeezed the bottom of her skirt. “I can’t even get that far…” “I’m… sorry?” “No. You’re not.” The fox gave a blink, his ears perking as he sat up. Shinko’s tone had darkened, not unlike her face… “A… a– what?” “You’re not sorry!” she suddenly shouted, alerting both Joseph and Fawn. One look at her face told the former she was really upset… Tears had formed in the corner of her angry eyes.

“You’re not sorry and you’re never-ever going to be sorry, Joseph!” she yelled, slamming her hand on the counter. “Never-ever-ever!” Joseph blanched, stammering letters without words. He genuinely had no idea where she was coming from! “You did something to me…” The girl pointed one angular hand his way. “You did something to me! Something I can’t fix! And, you’re not sorry at all!” “What did I do…?!” he immediately rebutted. “I don’t know, I don’t know…! But… but…” She lowered her hand, grasping her skirt, again, with a frustrated look on her face. “It hurts… It just hurts, okay?!” “What–” The fox gave a blink. He didn’t know what she was talking about… –––––

As soon as she’d sensed conflict, Fawn had slipped into the back to confer with Spydor. As much as the two enjoyed daytime drama television, the former had convinced the latter to go out the back door and leave the two alone. It seemed like the respectful thing to do, to her… “Ya sure ya don’t want me t’ spy?” the monkey offered. The deer briefly considered it… but, she shook her head. “Let’s just climb up to the roof and enjoy the New Year’s fireworks. Okay?” “Yeeaaa’, a’right… Race ya!” “Wh– hey!” She jolted as Spydor flipped his way up the nearby ladder. “At least give me a head-start! Do you know how hard it is to climb in heels?” “So, take ‘em off!” “Ah– oh…” She lightly thumped herself on the head, then. “Oh, yeah…” And, so, the two ended up climbing to the roof to wait for the show in the sky. –––––

“Joseph, do you know what it’s like to think of someone… see someone… and, even though, all you want to remember are the good times… your heart won’t let you forget the bad?” The fox’s brow furrowed at Shinko’s question. He wanted to tell her, yes, he did… but, instead, he just gave a slight nod… “Well, that’s what happens when I think about you… That’s what happens when I see you… I just… I can’t shake the bad times… that one, singular bad time… i-in my apartment…” “Is that why you didn’t write back or come visit?” She felt a slight pang of guilt, at the question… For a moment, she debated lying… saying that she never received his letter. But, she couldn’t lie to him… Even after everything that had happened, that night.

“I couldn’t, Joseph…” she honestly replied. “I just couldn’t. I hope you understand…” In a way, he really didn’t… He’d thought about it long and hard, in the past, and he knew he’d made a mistake in kissing her, like he did… She just didn’t know what to do… how to react… She wasn’t ready for the kind of affection he was willing to give… It never seem like she hated him for it. Still, though… he had to ask… “Shinko, do you hate me?” The question made the girl visibly jolt. “Do I… hate you?” she squeaked, repeating his words with some hesitation. “That’s the question, yes.”

As much as she wanted to tell him “no,” right away… for some reason… she found herself incapable of such as quick answer and, instead, started really thinking about the question… “Do I hate you…” she thought aloud. “Do I hate you…?” He gave a nod, not wanting to interrupt her train of thought. There was a long pause, Shinko closing her eyes and maintaining a neutral look, her brain and her heart struggling with the question… Do I hate him, do I hate him…? she pondered. I really don’t have any reason to hate him… He… didn’t do anything really that bad… But, at the same time… why can’t I forgive him?

After several tense moments, Shinko’s eyes opened – first, halfway… then, all the way. “Joseph… I want you to know something. Please, listen to what I have to say.” The fox gave a swallow… then a nod. He was ready to listen… even if it hurt him. “When you left my apartment, last year, a lot of questions entered my head. ‘Does he hate me?’ ‘Will I ever see him again?’ ‘Should I have just let him do what he wanted?’” That last question made him frown… but, he kept his thoughts to himself. “I didn’t know the answers to these and honestly… still don’t. Well, aside from, ‘Will I see him again,’ I mean. But, one more question stayed in my head, for the longest time… and, that was, ‘Will he be okay on his own?’ I guess I got my answer, when I saw that letter in my mailbox on the 29th of December, last year…” Her eyes narrowed a little. “A 100-dollar gift card is a nice gesture, Joseph… but, not a very responsible one.

“Gift card aside, I was happy to hear you were doing fine. You had a place to stay, a job with steady income, and even had friends. But, something about your letter bothered me…” She paused, closing her eyes. “That kiss… your reaction…” Her eyes opened halfway, her look turning more serious. “It left its mark.”

Joseph cringed in his seat, his ears lowering and his tail curling tight to the stool. Shinko was glaring at him, again… “I decided not to reply,” she said, her face relaxing. “But, it wasn’t because I hated you… or, wanted nothing to do with you. It was because…” Her face turned a little sad, making the fox blink. “Try as I might… I couldn’t think of anything to say.” Shinko turned toward the counter. Her arms crossed and came to rest on the surface, her head settling on her limbs as she stared toward the kitchen window. “And… as funny as it sounds… I was kind of… jealous of you.” “You were… what?” “Yeah, I know!” She turned to her side, resting one elbow on the counter and propping up her head. “It doesn’t make sense, at all! But, somehow… reading that letter… imagining your life here, in ToonTown… and, especially seeing that gift card… I got jealous and…” She gave a sad smile, closing her eyes again. “I got the feeling… that… you didn’t need me, anymore.”

“What?” The fox gave a blink at that. “That’s ridiculous! Why would you–” “When I met you,” she interrupted, “all you had to your name was a fancy ring and a couple-hundred bucks! But, I guess…” She gave a slight sigh. “I guess a lot can happen over the course of eight months, or so…”

The redhead straightened up, giving a stretch and a grunt. Her hands once again rested in the lap of her skirt and she continued to wear that soft, sad smile… It did very little to make the fox feel reassured, though…

“I’m proud of you, Joseph…” she said after a moment. “I really am. You were able to pull yourself up, straighten yourself up, and make a life for yourself here… You should feel proud, too. Not everyone can make it in ToonTown… Sometimes… not even ‘toons…” He gave a blink at that statement, tilting his head. “Wait a minute,” he said, his ears flicking. “Are you trying to tell me you haven’t ‘made it,’ in ToonTown?” “I never said that,” she said with a shake of her head. “Yeah… but, it seemed like you were implying it…” “I’m not sure what gave you that idea…” She gave a soft sort of giggle. “I mean… I’ve been working the same job at Tiana’s Palace for a couple of years, now, without a raise or a promotion… I’m still in the same run-down apartment down the way from the House of Mouse… I’m still barely able to make ends meet and I still don’t have a friend in this town that I can truly count on, other than Miss Tiana… I just can’t imagine why you’d think that I’d think that I haven’t made it, here…”

As he listened to Shinko describe her life with that same, sad sort of smile she’d been wearing for the past few moments… he found himself genuinely feeling guilty. He knew he had no reason to feel that way. He hadn’t exactly been handed everything free-of-charge… and, he sure wasn’t friends with his boss, Minerva… But, even so… comparing his life to Shinko’s really sort of put things into perspective, for him… and, it made him wonder, once again… “Do you hate me, Shinko?” She closed her eyes and shook her head again. “I don’t hate you, Joseph…” was her reply. “But, I’m definitely jealous, of you. Even when things fall apart… it seems like you always find a way to make it work.” “I don’t know about that…” he said with a reassuring smile. “But, there’s no need to be jealous. It’s not like there isn’t room for you in my life… and, I’m sure Woody would be thrilled to see you around. You two seemed to get along pretty well, way-back-when… Plus, Winnie and Lola would–” “Remember what I told you, earlier, Joseph?” He gave a blink as he was interrupted… His ears fell, seconds later, and his eyes started to water, his mouth curling into an upset scowl. “That– that’s not fair, though…” he whimpered. “You don’t hate me… I don’t hate you… I don’t understand why it hurts to see me…” The fox gave a blink as Shinko leaned up and brushed the tears from his face. “Some questions just don’t have an answer, Joseph…” He then noticed… even with her smile… she was starting to cry, too.

A sudden burst of sound and color caught the duo’s attention. They could see fireworks going off in the distance, through the diner windows. Without a word, both Joseph and Shinko got up and left the building, seating themselves on either side of the outside door, their heads tilted up at the brilliant display coming from somewhere in the Universal District. It seemed like just the thing to distract them from their sadness…

“I talked with Miss Tiana…”

Shinko had spoken up amidst the colorful bursts and pops, catching the fox’s attention. As he looked over, he noticed that she was still looking skyward. Her back was to the diner wall and she had one knee raised, using it as an armrest while her other hand touched the cool pavement. Even after everything that had been said… he couldn’t help but think that she still looked pretty, under the flashing lights… “I explained everything to her, after my nervous breakdown…” she continued. “It took some convincing… but, I got her to reconsider having you blacklisted from the Disney District. I… still wouldn’t poke my head into Tiana’s Place, if I were you, though. I don’t think she believed me when I said you weren’t a bad guy.” A smirk appeared on her face. “I think there was something about calling her the B-word?” The fox shrunk down… He still felt embarrassed he’d done that. “I’d… ask you to apologize for me, again,” he said, “but, I doubt it would do any good. Thanks for trying, though… I appre–” “You’re a terrible person, Joseph.” “Wh… what?” Shinko’s smirk had become a calm sort of smile. “You made me worry…” “O… oh… I–” “Plus,” she continued, “you kept me in suspense for months then popped in from nowhere and nearly cost me my job. Worst of all, I don’t think you’re even sorry for any of it.” She paused… then asked… “But, why should you be?” The fox’s ears fell. Shinko had closed her eyes, despite her interest in the fireworks. “It’s really not your fault I reacted the way I did…” she said after another pause. “I guess I have a lot of unresolved issues… some of them, with you. At least…” The redhead turned her head toward him, opening her eyes. “Until tonight.” She silently turned her head back toward the sky after that statement…

By the end of the fireworks show, he still had no idea what she’d meant. Nothing felt resolved, to him… Sure, it seemed like there was a definite end to that particular chapter of their lives… but, was it really the way things were meant to go? The fox didn’t know. But, as he watched Shinko wordlessly get up and leave a moment later, all he could do was sit and wonder why things had turned out that way… and, why she seemed so okay, with it.

Tears started to break free of his eyes, again, and he slowly realized… maybe things going that way was for the best… As unsatisfying as it was… at least… they’d both gotten closure.

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josephstoontown · 6 years

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Point of Departure, Ch. II

Chapter II of "Point of Departure," a Joseph's ToonTown story.

Word count: 3,230 – Character count: 18,459 Originally written: January 5th, 2017 Revised on: August 4th, 2017

Tiana does her best to help her employee sort her uncontrolled feelings.

Shinko created by and © shinkothetoongirl Tiana, Tiana's Place, The Princess and the Frog,, and related characters and properties created by and © The Walt Disney Company Woody Woodpecker, Winnie Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

“What’s going on, Shinko?”

The half-animated ‘toon stood in a back room of the restaurant. Her hands were clasped, one nervously rubbing the back of the other as she stared toward the floor. There was an air of panic about her and a confused, uncomfortable look on her face.

“Shinko? Shinko, hey. It’s me, Tiana.” “Tiana?” the redhead replied. In an instant, she adjusted herself, standing upright and regaining her composure before turning back around. “H-hello, Miss Tiana!” she said, brightly smiling with her hands behind her back. “How can I help you?” Tiana gave a concerned frown. “You can help me by explaining why one of my hardest-working employees ran into the break room, freaked out!” “Oh… you… saw that?” “Honey, half the restaurant saw that.” Shinko gave a nervous giggle, looking down at the floor and kicking one foot. The raven-haired owner in the lily-styled dress offered a comforting smile. “Talk to me, Shinko. What’s goin’ on, with you?” There was a pause… then, she looked up. “I’m going to take my break now, Miss Tiana. Okay?” “There’s my girl,” she said, giving the slightly shorter figure a gentle tap on the shoulder.

“You know how a lot of fairy tales start with bad stuff and end with a happy ending?” Tiana leaned up against a nearby counter, stirring her coffee as she watched Shinko. The redhead was sitting on a stool, holding a can of soda and looking down at the floor, again. Her boss noticed the contemplative look on her face and was happy to let her share her thoughts. “Well, I had a fairy tale of my own, once. It started back when I was younger… smaller… like a lot of fairy tales do!” Shinko looked up, pausing before she continued. “I was a little ‘toon girl with big dreams… But, I guess you know that part, already.” “And, I can still relate,” Tiana replied with a smile. “So… to move ahead, there was this guy I met… He was tall, practically towering over me… and, really nice. Sweet, even! He… he made me feel something special… something no one else made he feel.” The taller woman tilted her head. “I was, for all intents and purpose… a little girl. But, he treated me like an adult; with respect… kindness… and, even a bit of affection.” “Uuuhh…” “Oh!” Shinko perked, rubbing the back of her head. “Nothing naughty! I just mean that he gave me things and always seemed happy to make me happy…” Tiana calmed as she heard that. “I was gonna say…”

“Anyway… one day, he just sort of… vanished.” Shinko gave a frown. “I was upset…” Her boss gave a nod. “How could he just… leave like that? I thought… I thought he liked me…” Tiana reached over, gently giving her a pat on the shoulder. She could tell the redhead was getting a little upset… “Eventually, though… I forgot about him.” “Forgot about him?” “Well… almost. He was a pretty small part of my life, even if he was pretty cool…” She looked over to her boss, giving a soft sort of smile. “But, I remembered the good times, sometimes. Plus, every time I looked at the neat Mickey Mouse watch he gave me, I was reminded of how sweet he was, to me…

“The years rolled on like they do… and, I found myself going through a lot of changes. My old web show – you know the one – ended up being canceled and I ended up moving in with my creator, here in California. She took care of me for a while… but, the more time I spent with her, the more I realized… I was growing up. She must have known, too, because… before I knew it… I wasn’t a little girl, anymore. I was a teenager. “A little more time passed and I found myself growing, again. I started feeling bad… feeling like I was just being a burden, to the person who made me… But, I also wanted something… I wanted to go out on my own… be my own ‘toon, find my own way… And, just like that… I was an adult. And, so, I set out to the one place where ‘toons of all kinds could find their way… ToonTown!” Though none of that was new news, to Tiana, she wanted Shinko to keep going. The girl clearly had a lot on her mind, right then…

“Well, after a while, that fox was the farthest thing from my mind! I barely had time to think about the past, since I was too busy worrying about my future… As it turns out, ToonTown wasn’t the place I thought it was… Don’t get me wrong; it’s a wonderful and welcoming place, especially compared to the human world! But… ‘toons have their problems, too… and, it became pretty clear to me that I was one of them! Uh, the “‘toons with problems” thing, I mean, not a ‘toon’s problem!

“So, anyway… with the meager funds my creator could afford, I ended up finding a place to stay and, eventually… I found my way here. To you.” She offered her boss a smile. Tiana returned the gesture in-full. “I finally thought I was going to get my life on-track… It wouldn’t be easy! It wouldn’t be quick! But, by gosh, with your help, I was going to finally be someone! But, then…” Shinko gave a sigh… “He showed up…”

“I was so glad to see him… see the fox that made me so happy, when I was younger… But… but he was different, somehow. It was like he had amnesia! He couldn’t remember who I was… didn’t know how he got here… He didn’t even know how much his money was worth!” The brown-eyed lady gave a blink as she heard Shinko’s soda can crinkle. “It was infuriating, seeing him spend so much money when I was just scraping by… He didn’t even have that much but he was just so willing to spend it all! On me, of all things! It… it was flattering… but, it made me angry, too…” She looked up toward her boss, again. “I-is that weird?” “I don’t think it is.” Tiana offered another comforting smile. “It was sweet of him to think of you and all… but, I can see why you’d be upset. It can be really frustrating to see someone blow through their money… even if it’s for something they think is a good cause.” “Yeah…” The two fell silent, after that, both sets of eyes cast downward, in the silence.

“I… half-invited him to live with me, you know…” Tiana, having taken a sip of her coffee, almost spat it right back out, half-choking before jerking her head toward the simple ‘toon. “I’m sorry, what?” “Yeah, I know…” Shinko closed her eyes with a faint smile. “Looking back… it was pretty dumb… But, he seemed so lost… and, we got to talking about how he didn’t really have much of a game-plan after he turned up in town. And…” She paused before softly stating… “And… I was lonely…” Tiana gave a blink, looking at Shinko, again. The girl wasn’t moving… but, she could tell that Shinko was upset. She’d thought about saying something… but, seemed at a severe loss for words. She, herself, had been through a lot of troubles… but, strangely enough… loneliness never really seemed to be one of them.

“Maybe it was loneliness… that made things go the way they did…” The raven-haired owner raised both eyebrows as Shinko spoke, after a moment. “You know how, in romance novels and some movies, there’s just this… mood, this… atmosphere, where everything seems just right…?” “Yeah?” “Well…” Shinko looked down farther, her bangs darkening her face. “That… never happened with us…” Tiana gave another blink, staring at the smaller figure. It was hard to tell if she was sad, angry, or just generally upset, at that point…

“I let him get too close. I let my guard down,” she continued. “I let him kiss me…” The boss-lady gave yet another blink. “It was… the single-biggest mistake I have ever made, in my entire life.” Tiana was expecting… something… but, nothing quite as negative as that. Shinko didn’t sound sad… she didn’t sound upset… She sounded… angry. Almost… scornful…

“I knew what was coming…” she continued, “knew what he was going to do… I didn’t do anything to stop him… But, when it happened… when I felt that fox’s lips touch mine…” The soda can in Shinko’s hands crinkled, again, becoming crushed between her mitten-like digits. But, just as suddenly as she’d crushed the can… she calmed, simply stating… “I felt numb.”

Tiana blinked a couple of times, standing up from the counter with a concerned look. “You felt numb?” she repeated. “Well…” Shinko looked up, an almost bashful look on her face. “After I stopped screaming, I mean.” “You were screaming…?” “Well, yeah! I… no one’s ever… not like… not like that…” She set the soda can down, bringing her hands to her face. She was turning noticeably red, under those simple shapes… “I was so… so embarrassed… But, right after that, it… it was like something just… broke. On the inside…” She put her hands in her lap before looking down, again, wearing a frown on her face.

“After we both calmed down… I suggested we take things a bit slower… and he… he…” Her face darkened, again. “He acted so insulted… so entitled…” She then noticed the worried look Tiana was giving her and straightened up. “Oh! No, it– it wasn’t like that!” she reassured. “It’s just… I guess he wanted… maybe expected… s-something else… And, that just… it kind of… I… I don’t know…

“He left that same night, leaving money for the pizza and the trip to the… uh… a-arcade,” Shinko lied. “I… I was sad to see him go but, at the same time, I was… kind of… I don’t know…” Tiana had an idea… but, she wanted Shinko to finish her thoughts. “I guess I was… kind of relieved, in a way… I know that sounds awful, but–” “No, I get it,” the other girl said with a patient smile. “Things were awkward, that night, plus with him living with you, money would be even tighter… right?” “R-right!” “Right.” She smiled, at that. “So, it makes sense, that you’d feel relieved.” “After he left, though… something weird happened.” Tiana tilted her head. “After that fun day of hanging out, I just sort of… forgot about him. Again!” “What?” “Yeah!” she said, sitting up. “I… I don’t know why or how but… I just kind of… forgot all about him and put that day behind me. It was almost like it never happened…” “Oh, honey… that sounds like repression!” “But, why, though…?” Shinko squirmed in her seat. “Why would I just… bury that day? Even if it wasn’t ideal… it still meant a lot to me, just to see him, again…” That, however… Tiana couldn’t even begin to guess.

“Can I ask you something kind of personal, Shinko?” “Sure, Miss Tiana,” she replied with a smile. “I keep telling you, just ‘Tiana’ is fine!” her boss laughed. “Oop– sorry. ‘Tiana…’ Hee hee!” “Anyway… the personal question is: how do you feel about this fox fella?” She gave a blink of her blue eyes. “What?” “How do you feel about him? Like, do you get any kind of feeling, one way or the other, when you think about him?” “It’s really hard to say,” Shinko mused. “I haven’t thought about him in so long…” “Well, do me a favor…” “Okay?” “Close your eyes and take a second to think about him… then, let your mind wander.” She gave another blink, at that. “Trust me.” “O… kay…” she replied with a confused frown. A moment later, she did as her boss had told her, closing her eyes and thinking about the fox.

A picture of the Joseph slowly began to form, in her mind. She could see all of his defining traits… The white-tipped bangs that hung down over his golden eyes… his chocolate-tipped ears and brown-furred hands… his big, fluffy tail… As she started to let her mind wander, she soon found herself smiling… The way his golden eyes lit up whenever he talked with her was so endearing… and, the way his ears swiveled, showing how he was feeling, was so cute… She smiled, as she envisioned his tail wagging… and, she blushed as she realized… it was wagging for her. It seemed like she had nothing but fond memories, for the fox…

Tiana perked, her eyes widening as she noticed Shinko’s face change. She had been smiling… but, that smile was giving way to an uncomfortable, almost distressed look. Shinko was starting to breathe a little oddly, too… Uh-oh… she thought. I know that reaction…

The simple-drawn ‘toon’s face curled into an ugly grimace, her hands balling-up in her lap. Her eyebrows were lowering and her teeth were starting to clench. Shinko’s angry eyes opened a moment later. She immediately hopped off the stool and, without so much as a word to her boss, walked out the door and back into the dining area of the restaurant, shortly followed by Tiana, herself. The owner had no idea what Shinko was thinking, much less planning… but, if the angry look on her face… or, the way she’d stepped back out, into the dining hall, was any indication… it couldn’t have been good.

Seemingly, whatever fond thoughts she’d had about the fox were long gone… And, replaced by angry… vindictive ones… –––––

Joseph gave a sigh, slumping on the table with his ears folded back. After he and Woody told his tale to the finely-dressed rabbit, months of buried regret and sorrow had hit him… hard. “Joe, I’m really… really sorry I found her…” Woody said, genuinely upset. “I didn’t know it was her at-the-time! I just thought–” “It doesn’t matter, now, Woody…” the fox quietly interrupted. “We found out where she works… and, now, we know where to avoid. It’s better that way… for both of us.” “Isn’t there… some way you could patch things up, though?” Winnie asked with a frown. “You saw how she reacted to just hearing my name, Winnie… I don’t even think she saw me… just heard I was here… You said it yourself; she… she freaked out…” He emitted a slight whimper. “She wants absolutely nothing to do with me… She’s… she’s afraid of me…” “She doesn’t look very afraid, to me!” Lola suddenly said, slowly getting out of her seat. “W– what…?”

The fox suddenly noticed… the band had stopped playing, again. He sat up, looking around the restaurant. Patrons were turning their attention toward something… Even his companions had risen, standing and facing out toward the stage. He slowly got to his own feet… only for his fur to bristle and stand on end, at what he saw. Shinko was heading his way. Her hands were clenched, she was taking quick, hard steps, and the look on her face was absolutely unmistakable. She was absolutely beside herself, with rage… and, judging by her focused glare, all of it seemed to be aimed squarely at him! “Shinko, calm down! Think this through!” Tiana half-cried, still following the redhead. Unfortunately, the half-animated ‘toon girl was too lost in her emotions to listen. She only wanted one thing, right then… and, no matter what… she was going to get it.

“Uuh…?!” was all Joseph could manage to say before he found himself backpedaling, trying to get away from the infuriated waitress. His ears remained folded and his tail went between his legs as he took step-after-step backward, almost backing into a number of other patrons’ tables and chairs, along the way. Before long, however, he found himself pressed into a corner near the front of the restaurant, on-lookers gawking as he pressed himself up against the wall as hard as he could. He didn’t know what Shinko was going to do… and, he really didn’t want to find out!

“You…” He sharply winced as the girl spoke, her tone short and sharp. That, alone, would have left enough of a scar on him… He’d never heard Shinko take that tone with anyone! Unfortunately… “You… animal!” It didn’t seem like that was all she’d had in mind.

Joseph gave an odd sort of squeaky-grunt as he felt Shinko grab him by the collar. Even though the girl was barely moving, he could feel her vibrating with anger, her normally-calm, blue eyes practically on fire, her glare practically strong enough to melt his face off! It was like something out of a horrible nightmare… but, he knew he wasn’t dreaming. All of it was really happening…

“Miss Tiana!” Tiana looked to one side. One of her other waiters had run up, beside her. “Should we call security…?” the waiter asked, deeply concerned. “I… I don’t– I don’t know…!” the owner admitted in a flustered tone. “I know Shinko… I know she’s not like this… But…” “But, she’s causing quite the scene!” “I know! I know…” The lady in the green dress reached up, rubbing her temples and closing her eyes. “C… call security, I guess,” she said after some hesitation. “I don’t want this situation to get any more out-of-hand than it already is.” “Yes, ma’am!” With that, the waiter ran to the nearest phone, leaving Tiana to continue watching the events unfold. Please, don’t do anything you might regret, Shinko… she thought. Just… let it go… But, letting it… her personal beef with the fox… or, the fox, himself, go… didn’t seem to be in the cards, that night.

“Do you know… what you put me through?” Shinko said in a controlled, assertive tone. The only thing Joseph could do was wince… “Do you?!” she shouted, giving him a shake. “No…!” he yelped. “How… how dare you…!” Joseph gave a gasp as he felt his collar tightening. Whether she realized it or not, she was starting to choke him… Either way, she continued…

“How dare you come back into my life only to vanish without a trace, again… How dare you send me such a casual Christmas letter and keep flaunting your money around like it’s nothing… And, how… dare… you… come here, to where I work… make your friend come get me… and, then, not even have the decency to show me your face!” “Hey!” Woody was standing on a nearby table, wearing an angry look on his own face. “He didn’t make me do anythi–” “I bet you’re expecting him to fight your battles for you, too, huh?” “What? No!” The bird blanched. “Wuh-deh–?!” “Well, Mr. Joseph Lithius… This is one battle you’re going to have to fight for yourself!” Joseph gave another yelp as Shinko pulled him in before slamming him against the wall. “I can’t believe that, after all this time, you’re still here… still in ToonTown… and…” The fox gave a blink. Something unexpected was happening to his captor… “And…” Her grip was loosening… and, her face was starting to change… She was still upset… but, she didn’t look angry, anymore… No… as Joseph looked at her, he noticed, Shinko wasn’t mad… “And you couldn’t even let me know, face-to-face…” She was sad!

#fiction #Point of Departure #commercial characters #The Princess and the Frog #Tiana #The Woody Woodpecker Show #Woody Woodpecker #Winnie Woodpecker #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #original characters #shinkothetoongirl #Shinko #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #drama

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josephstoontown · 6 years

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Point of Departure, Ch. I

Chapter I of "Point of Departure," a Joseph's ToonTown story.

Hoo-boy… This is one of those stories that was like, "I'm not sure I really want to write this… but, at the same time, it feels like the logical conclusion, so…" You can kind of consider this the end of at least this segment of Joseph's ToonTown, I suppose. Though, I'll probably write stories that take place after this one ends, anyway.

Here's a random fact: This story was originally one chapter/part. I split it into three because it was too big, though.

Word count: 3,882 – Character count: 22,965 Originally written: January 5th, 2017 Revised on: August 4th, 2017

There’s a reason that they say "old acquaintances should be forgot and never brought to mind…"

Shinko created by and © shinkothetoongirl Winnie Woodpecker, Woody Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Tiana's Place, The Princess and the Frog, and related properties created by and © The Walt Disney Company Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and related characters and properties created by Gary K. Wolf and © The Walt Disney Company Droopy Dog, Red, and related characters and properties created by Tex Avery and © Metro-Goldwym-Mayer Crag, Rip, Chunk, Slab, The Ripping Friends, and related characters and properties created by John Kricfalusi and © Spümtwø, Inc. "That's The Spirit" Guy, Rocket Power, and related characters and properties created by Klasky Csupo and © Viacom Media Networks (Mama mia, that's a lotta credits.)

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“Ya know… if you told me, last year, that I’d find myself in one of the most popular restaurants in the Disney District of ToonTown… sat down beside my two best friends and seated across from the most beautiful rabbit, in all of ToonTown… well, I’d have to call you a dreamer. But, here we are. All of us sat here… in Tia’s Palace… on New Year’s Eve.”

Four people were seated around a circular table, off to the side in the aforementioned restaurant. Joseph, the fox who’d spoken, brightly smiled to his companions – a pair of woodpeckers and a rabbit. Everyone was dressed to-the-nines that night, the gentlemen in nice-looking tuxedos and the ladies in lovely dresses.

“I’m pretty sure this place is called, ‘Tiana’s Place,’ Joseph…” The female woodpecker who had spoken up offered a smirk to her friend. Even so, she looked particularly nice, that night, in her sparkling, midnight-blue dress, heels, opera gloves, and jewelry. “Oh. Right…” Joseph rubbed the back of his head. “I keep forgetting, Winnie…” “And, you’ve lived in ToonTown how long, now?” the male woodpecker, seated across the table from Winnie, asked. He was grinning at the embarrassed fox. “C’mon, Woody…” he murmured. “It’s not like I get out, much.” “Which is exactly why we made these reservations, for you!” Winnie said with a smile. “And, don’t think I don’t appreciate it!” Joseph returned the smile. “I mean, I’d be just as happy, if we’d spent New Year’s at Joe’s, again, if it was with you all. But, well…” He smiled to the trio. “I think spending it here, dressed all fancy-like, is going to be even more memorable – if not more fun! This place is pretty amazing… but, I kind of feel at-home, here, too.” “Hear hear!” Winnie said, raising a glass filled with some yellowish drink. “You can’t hear him?” Woody asked his girlfriend, wearing a smirk. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head. A moment later, he, Joseph, and the third person at the table joined her cheer, clinking glasses before three of them took a sip of their respective beverages. The fourth person, on the other hand, seemed to be a little preoccupied with the fox sitting across the way, from them…

“You… really think I’m the most beautiful rabbit, in ToonTown?” they asked. “I do, Lola,” he said as he admired how nice she looked in her black cocktail dress. The way she’d curled her ears seemed especially cute to him, too. “I dunno, pal…” Everyone at the table looked toward Woody as he spoke, again. “I mean, don’cha think that Jessica gal’s the most beautiful ‘Rabbit,’ in ToonTown?” “What?” The other male gave a blink. “She’s a bat…” “What…?” The woodpecker’s face showed complete and total confusion. “No, she’s not. She’s a Rabbit! Who th’ heck are you thinkin’ about, Joe?” He gave another blink, his ears perking. “Jessica is, too, a bat!” “No, she’s a lady! And, a very lovely one if do say so myself!”

Everyone at the table looked up as they heard a fifth, much more ridiculous-sounding voice had come into play. Standing nearby was the form of a goofy-looking white rabbit with big, blue eyes, a big pink nose, huge feet, and a small tuft of red hair between his big, floppy ears. He, too, was dressed in a tuxedo… though, his didn't seem nearly as well-tailored.

“Holy smokes…!” Woody said. “It’s…” “Roger Rabbit!” the fox finished, standing up from his seat. “In th’ fur!” he laughed. “Now, would someone p-p-p-p-please tell me what all this silliness about my sugar-muffin being a bat, is all about?” “Roger, darling…” called another voice. All eyes were cast to the figure at the white rabbit’s side, then. Standing beside him was drop-dead gorgeous ‘toon redhead standing a little taller than even Joseph – who was standing about twice as tall as anyone else, at the table. She wore a shiny, red dress similar to Winnie’s but slit down the sides. She also had matching high heels, purple opera gloves, and tiny pearl studs on her ears. Rather than be any sort of animal, however… she was modeled after a human woman. A very attractive one, at that.

“Yes, my sweet?” Roger said, tilting his head upward. “I think they may be thinking of someone else, entirely,” she offered in a smooth, almost sensual sort of tone, her purple-shadowed eyes looking the fox’s way. “I doubt he even had me in-mind when he said that.” “He’d be crazy not to!” Once again, all eyes fell upon Woody. He’d zipped toward the taller figure took her hand in his own. “Enchante, mademoiselle…” he said, giving her hand a gentle kiss. Both Roger and Winnie looked more than a little irritated by the gesture… but, Jessica, oddly enough, seemed amused. “Well…” she said as she knelt down by the woodpecker, “aren’t you the charmer?” She then ran her gloved hand through his quiff of hair, a smirk showing on her face. That motion sent a shiver down Woody’s spine which made him nervously laugh and shyly squirm. “I’ll bet this is the sort of charm that got Winnie’s attention, in the first place,” she added, reaching under his chin and looking into his eyes. “Isn’t it?” The woodpecker seemed completely under her spell, eyes half-open and a drunken sort of smile on his face. “Who’s Winnie…?” he quietly asked. Jessica seemed all the more amused by that reaction, as she stood back up. During the exchange, Winnie had found herself growing more-and-more angry… but, not with Jessica… but, rather, with her boyfriend. Picking up on that, the human-looking ‘toon took a step back, watching the other woodpecker dig around in her small purse.

“Oh, Woody…” The man turned toward his girlfriend… Immediately after, a resounding splat reverberated in the room, drawing the attention of all nearby patrons and even bring the live band to a halt. Winnie had smashed her boyfriend with a giant, wooden mallet!

“Anyone get the number of that tram…?” Woody groggily asked as he lay, flat as a quarter, on the ground. “Wow, Woody…” The actual rabbit sat with her arm over her chair’s back, looking down at the squished bird with a mix of pity and disbelief. “Wow…” “He’s always been like that…” Winnie said with a sigh. “He’s always been a pancake?” The bunny-lady looked toward the other woodpecker with a genuinely confused expression on her face. “I’ve never seen him like this, before!” “No, I mean…” “Every time I’ve seen him, he was a little taller and a little less flat.” Woody audibly popped back up, stumbling around as his eyes wandered and rolled. “Yeah, kind of like that! But, less messy. And, less confused-looking.” “I think she means that he’s always been a flirt, Lola,” Joseph offered as a guess. “Oooooh…” The rabbit smiled… then gave a blink. “He’s never flirted with me!” Winnie and the fox both gave a blink as Lola turned to the dazed woodpecker. “Woody, flirt with me!” “Hookay, pretty lady…!” was his response. And, that was all it took to make Lola beam. “Did you hear that?” she said, leaning over the table. “He thinks I’m pretty!” “I think you’re pretty, too!” the fox said in befuddlement. “Oh, you’re just trying to copy Woody,” she said with a dismissive look. Joseph scratched his head while Winnie gave a giggle, at the situation. Shortly after, the attention turned back to Roger and Jessica.

“Anyway, yeah, I knew a Jessica, back where I came from,” the fox explained. “She was actually a bat-girl – a pretty cute one, at that.” The Jessica that was standing there gave a hum while Roger quietly listened. “So, I wasn’t calling your Jessica a bat. Or, bat-faced. Or, anything like that. I was just saying, the ‘Jessica’ I knew actually was a bat. Not a Rabbit. But, looking at her…” He gave a friendly smile to the femme fatale. “I can see why Woody implied that she was the prettiest Rabbit in all of ToonTown.” “Why, thank you,” Jessica replied, offering a friendly smile of her own. “Not only that but she’s a magnificent cook and really really smart!” Roger added, beaming with joy. “Why, my cupcake is the smartest, most clever Rabbit in all of ToonTown!” “Wait a second… I just got it!” Everyone looked toward Lola. She had a look of realization on her face. “She’s not an actual rabbit… but, her last name is ‘Rabbit…’ so, that makes her ‘the most beautiful Rabbit in all of ToonTown!’” “And, that’s th’ joke!” Woody exclaimed, causing everyone to laugh. “Cleeeverrr…” Lola said with a grin. “I can see why you like this guy, Jojo!” Joseph gave another chuckle, rubbing the back of his head and grinning…

“Well, thanks for the explanation!” the white rabbit said after a brief period of silence. “Let’s go enjoy the festivities, Jessica, dear!” “Yes. Let’s make this a New Year’s Eve to remember, honey-bunny,” she replied with a smile. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Fox, Ms. Bunny, and it was good to see you, again, Winnie… and, especially you, Woody.” As Jessica cooed to him, he turned bashful, again, wringing his arms and squirming “You’re a lucky girl,” she told Winnie as she passed by. “He’s a funny one.” “Oh yeah…” she said with a smirk. “He’s hilaaarious.” Jessica shared her smirk before the two exchanged smiles. A moment later, she and Roger were off toward the back of the club, where live entertainment was playing.

“Well, that was fun!” Woody said as he and the fox sat back down. “It’s always fun visiting with old friends,” Winnie happily agreed. “Even if they do have a… certain effect… on your boyfriend.” “Yeah– wait, what?” She gave a giggle as Woody stared at her. “Ah, you know you’re th’ only girl for me, babe!” “True, true… But, it never hurts to remind you of that, every now-and-then!” “Says you!” he replied with a grin, rubbing his head.

Woody and Winnie fell into a conversation shortly after the Rabbits’ departure, leaving Joseph and Lola to look around. Neither had really taken in the sights of the palatial establishment until just then, the former, in-particular, taking some time to admire the look and feel of the building… From the tables and chairs to the walls, the chandeliers and candelabras, and even the flatware… everything within that old, converted storehouse seemed to glimmer like gold! The fox couldn’t help but be amused, thinking about what Spydor might do if he ever got in there… There were a number of circular tables set up along the main dining area as well as on the balconies a floor above where they were and, at those tables, sat many other people of many different walks of life. Some were easily recognizable as ‘toon celebrities such as Roger and Jessica at their table near the stage, as well as Droopy and Red who were, coincidentally sat near the quartet. Some others were familiar, such as Foxy and Roxy – a pair of ‘toon foxes who slightly resembled a certain Disney mouse couple – but, didn’t seem to draw as much attention. Others, still, were fairly unknown, even to the mixed group… but, curiously enough, they seemed to draw attention to themselves, all-the-same.

“We’ll have four of your finest steaks, please!” said a rather large, muscular fellow in a form-fitting tuxedo to a nearby waitress. The fellow was bronze in complexion and wore his white hair short, aside from a spike surrounded by “retro-future” hoops and sticking up near his forehead like a radio tower. At that same table sat three others of varying skin tones and hair colors… but, of similar muscularity. “And, don’t skimp on the char!!” said an orange-blond, gray-toned gentleman in a somewhat intense but still friendly tone. He was sitting to the first man’s left.

“Can I get fries, with mine, please?” added a young-faced, pale-skinned blond with innocent eyes. “Real men eat their potatoes baked, not fried, Chunk!” “Real men can have fries, too!” Chunk immediately countered. “And, I want fries!” “Y’all have dem sweet, seasoned curly fries they serve at some places?” said a darker-skinned, slightly heavier man wearing a mask. “I sure could go for some’a dem!” “Aw, not you, too, Slab!” the redhead said, looking disappointed. “As a matter of fact…” the white-haired gentleman spoke again, “I could go for some french fries, myself!” The orange-haired man’s eyes angrily narrowed as he looked around at his table… After several tense moments, however, he sank down and crossed his arms, pouting… “Fine, I’ll take some stinkin’ fries, too…” The white-haired man was about to say something… but, a voice cut him off, saying… “That’s the spirit!”

The quartet of muscle-men and the waitress all looked to the side of their table. Standing near them was a blue-haired man in a blue tuxedo with a red cummerbund. He was smiling an odd smile and looking at them with distrustful eyes, despite his cheerful tone, as he waved his top hat their way. A moment later, he put his hat back on and wandered off. At that point, the muscle-men just looked at each other… before bursting into laughter. The waitress jotted down their order, a second later, and was on her way. It was about that time the fox turned his attention back to his own table.

Winnie and Woody were still chatting away, seemingly too lost in their conversation to really pay attention to him or Lola. He turned toward the bunny, then, tilting his head as he noticed her curiously looking around the room, as he had been. When her black eyes caught his look, however, she jolted… then, she smiled and gave a wave. “Enjoying yourself, Lola?” he asked with a smile of his own. “Yuh-huh!” was her perky reply. “It’s so sparkly, in here! Plus, there’s so many things going on, all-at-once! Why don’t we come here, every night?” “Well, reservations aside, this place is usually packed-to-the-gills, from what I gather.” “This place has gills?!” Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Are we underwater, right now?! Where’s the nearest window?! I’ve gotta see!” The fox started to say something… but, the bunny in the black dress had already run off. When she came back, a half-minute later, she seemed irritated… “You lied to me, Mr. Fox! We’re not underwater!” “I… I never said that we were!” he said, tugging on the collar of his dress shirt. The woodpeckers were staring at them, then… “But, you said this place was ‘packed-to-the-gills!’” “I didn’t mean the restaurant had gills, though! I just meant–”

“What if it did have gills, though?” she interrupted, taking her seat. “How awesome would it be if this place could go underwater?” Lola’s eyes sparkled, her imagination clearly conjuring up something fantastic… “That… would be kind of neat, I guess?” was all he could say. “Does this place have a suggestion box? Or– oh! Hang on, a second! Hey, Tiana!!” “‘Tiana?’” He gave a blink. “W-wait, Lola…!” But, before the fox could object, Lola was off like a shot, again.

He watched as she ran over to a dark-skinned, human-form ‘toon woman, wearing a very lovely green-and-white dress and tending to some other customers. He recognized her as Tiana, “Princess of Maldonia” and the proprietor of the very restaurant they were in. Once Tiana had finished with the current customers, she turned to Lola, listening… rather intently… as the rabbit made a lot of grand gestures, most-likely running her ideas by the confused lady. After the bunny had finished, the fox noticed the look on Tiana’s face… Is… she actually considering Lola’s ideas…?

“She said, she loved the idea of an underwater cruise restaurant and would run it by her husband and backers,” Lola said as she came back. “But, she wasn’t interested in making this restaurant go underwater…” “Oh, well, that’s… that’s a shame,” the fox said, unconvincingly. “I know, right? How neat would it be if the whole thing just sunk down into the water and scooted around the bay? Ya know… just for a while!” “Tell ya what, Lola… Next time they have a submarine ride, in the bay, we’ll go.” The rabbit clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling and a bright smile on her face. “Reeeally?” she asked. When the fox gave a nod, she gave a happy squeal, in return, before saying, “You’re the best, Jojo!” “Well… heh…”

With that discussion done and over with, the two started talking about a few other things before eventually merging their conversation into the woodpeckers’, the four of them having fun just chatting. As the minutes added up, however, something dawned on one of them.

“Where the heck is our waiter?”

The four looked to one-another. Woody looked annoyed while the other three looked confused. They were having such a good time just being there, none of them had even realized… “Do we even have a waiter?” “Well,” Joseph started, “that little green, one-eyed guy that seated us said the waiter would be along, shortly… but, that was, what? Twenty minutes ago?” “At least!” Woody gave a frown. “What’s a guy gotta do to get served, around here?!” “Maybe they’re short-staffed?” Winnie suggested. “It is New Year’s Eve… A lot of people are probably over at the House of Mouse right now.” “Which is exactly how we got in here,” the fox added with a chuckle. “That’s not the point! We’re payin’ customers–” “We haven’t paid for anything, yet…” “– and we deserve to be treated like it!”

“Woody, calm down…” Winnie said, giving him a concerned look. “We’ll be served, eventually…” “I don’t wanna be served, ‘eventually!’” he argued. “I wanna be served, right now!” “Yeah… yeah!” Lola added, slamming her hands on the table. “He’s right! We deserve to be served!” “What? Guys…!” The fox scowled to the two, his ears folding back. “It’ll be alright! Just… ya know, give it another 5 or 10 minutes!” “No!” Woody stood up. “I’m gonna get us a waiter, right now! Uh… uh… you! Hey!” Both the fox and the female woodpecker hid their faces. Woody had hopped up to get the attention of a nearby waiter… and, unfortunately, he’d succeeded.

“Yes? How may I– oh, Woody! Long time, no see!” The fox’s ears perked. That soft, high-pitched voice sounded vaguely familiar, to him… “I haven’t seen you in over a year! How have you been?” He looked up, blinking his golden eyes. Woody looked… surprised.

The redheaded woodpecker was staring up, in-awe at a taller figure in a yellow dress shirt, black skirt, and what looked to be an apron. She seemed to be a ‘toon girl that was drawn with simple shapes – the sole exception being her bushy, shoulder-length orange hair, which was the most complicated part of her design, being segmented several times over and looking soft, despite the fact it hadn’t moved even an inch. Something else about the hair caught his eye, as he continued to study the figure, though… There was a bit shooting off the top of her head, almost like a sprig or a leaf of some kind.

“Jojo?” he heard Lola call. “Are you okay? Your fur is standing up… and, not in a good way! Is there an electromanget, nearby…?” But, he wasn’t paying any attention to Lola, anymore. A tensed-up Woody was leading that waitress back to their table and all he could do was stare… Those orangey locks of hair… Those friendly, blue eyes… The way she walked… as though she were only partly-animated… It really was like something out of his past. But… that partly-animated ‘toon couldn’t be who he thought it was. There was just no way! But, then… he couldn’t think of anyone else that moved… or, even, looked like her…

“I uh… I got us a waiter,” Woody stiffly said as he sat back down, briefly glancing at Joseph. The fox had hidden behind his menu before they’d returned – something the bird figured he might do. He seemed to know he’d just made a mistake by retrieving that waitress… “Hello! I’m really sorry, for the long wait! We’re very busy, tonight!” The waitress in yellow brightly smiled, her body moving in two sudden motions as she withdrew a notepad, from her apron. “I’ll be your waitress for this evening,” she continued. “My name is Shinko!” The fox visibly jolted from hearing her name. That caused the entire table, plus the lady in yellow, to look at him. “Um… is he alright?” she asked. “I… don’t know,” was Winnie’s response. “Joseph? Are you–” He gave another jolt, sincerely wishing he hadn’t drawn attention to himself.

“‘Joseph?’” Shinko repeated. She took a second to look around the table… before realization overtook her. She dropped her notepad, one of her hands rising up to her bow-tie and collar as she took a step back. “No, it can’t be…” she audibly reassured herself. “Joseph’s gone! He left ToonTown again, just like he did before. He… he…” “He never left, Shinko…” Woody said with a skittish look toward her. She took another step back, nearly bumping into another nearby table, much to the patron’s irritation. “I… I…!”

The stiff ‘toon spun around and ran away without so much as an explanation. Woody shrunk down in his chair, shortly after, an uncomfortable look forming, on his face. Even Winnie seemed more than a little bothered, by what had just happened. Lola, on the other hand… “What the heck was that all about?” she asked in confusion. “Jojo? Do you know that badly-animated girl? Why’d she freak out, like that? Is she afraid, of you? She seemed afraid!” Once again, all Joseph could offer was an uncomfortable jolt. “Jojo…?” “Um… Lola…” The bunny perked, blinking her black eyes at Winnie as she spoke. “That waitress was… I mean… Shinko was…” “Waaait a sec…” A thoughtful look appeared on her face. “Was she… Jojo’s ex…?” “More like ‘never-was…’” The female woodpecker gave a scowl. “Woody!” “What…?” He rubbed his arm, unable to look at his girlfriend. “It’s true, ain’t it?” “That doesn’t mean you need to say it like that…” “But, he’s not wrong…”

The trio turned toward the fox as he finally spoke up. When he lowered his menu, the three noticed… his ears were pressed firmly against his head, every strand of his fur seemed rigid, and he wouldn’t stop biting his lower lip. On top of that, his golden eyes were glassy, as if he was on the verge of tears…

“What… Jojo?” Lola quietly called. “You’re not okay… are you?” “He and Shinko have some… history… Lola,” Winnie offered with a concerned frown. “Wait a second…” The rabbit tilted her head, in thought. “That name’s starting to sound familiar… Where would I know a ‘Shinko’ from, though?” “Well, I don’t think we’re gonna get any food, anytime soon…” Woody interjected, “so… how ‘bout we clue ya in, instead?”

The bunny gave a blink… She wanted to say something… but, given the grim looks on everyone’s faces, she decided to stay quiet. Something told her that she was in for a story…

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josephstoontown · 6 years

Text

Nightmares

A Joseph's ToonTown story.

So, alright. This story here? Half of it was kind of inspired by a rather… not-real-great dream I had, once. I'll just leave it, at that.

Word count: 4,279 – Character count: 24,566 Originally written: January 28th, 2017 Revised on: September 6th, 2017

Everyone has to face their own nightmares to face. These are just some of them.

Fawn Deer, Raw Toonage, and related characters and properties created by and © The Walt Disney Company Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation Spydor, Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys, and related characters and properties created by Monkeyshine Productions, Inc. and © Hallmark Entertainment

“Fawn…?”

The deer looked up from the counter of Joe’s Diner. She was busying herself, counting the money in the tip jar, but when she saw who’d called her name, she brightly smiled. “Mr. Lithius? Hello! I’m…” Something suddenly struck her as odd. Her smile faded in an instant and she set the jar down, her full attention upon the man at the door. “Are you alright…? You look terrible… Your eyes are really bloodshot and… and… have you been crying?” she said, noticing tear stains in his fur. “I… I had a bad dream, Fawn…” the fox whimpered. “You did?” She gave a blink. “It really must have been awful for you to look so shaken-up… But, why come here, after a bad dream?” “Because…” He gave a hard swallow before murmuring, “It was about you…”

Joseph sat sideways on the lawn chair across from Fawn. Even though the weather was much cooler in November, the deer knew he’d wanted to talk to her in private… and so, leaving Spydor to keep an eye on things, down below, she led him to the roof of Joe’s Diner where they could chat, uninterrupted. She’d expected Joseph’s dream to be bad, given his state… but, what she hadn’t been expecting… was just how bad of a dream it had been.

“There’s… there’s no way you would ever do something so awful, to me,” she quietly reassured the fox. “I’m absolutely sure of it.” “But… but, it felt so real to me, Fawn…” he whimpered, trying to keep himself from crying. “I could feel you squirming… feel your heart beating through your back… I could hear you cry out in fear as I… as I…” “Mr. Lithius…” she cooed as she walked over and sat beside him. He winced a little as she wrapped her arms around his frame… but, it still seemed to calm him, if only just so. “It was just a dream…” she told him in a soft, compassionate voice. “A horrible, terrible dream… but, that’s all it was. It doesn’t mean anything.” “But, what if it does…?” Joseph fearfully asked. “What if… what if I’m just waiting for the right time to… to do that, to you?” Fawn hugged him a little tighter. “You’d never do that. Not in a million years.” “But, Fawn…” The deer sat back as she felt him sit up. She couldn’t help but brush the tears out of his golden eyes and away from his white cheeks as she looked up at him with a smile. “You’re a good person, Mr. Lithius…” she said with confidence. “Good people don’t do things, like that. Plus, you care about me and I care about you. You’d never throw that away just for a night of one-sided ‘romance.’”

The fox hesitated… She sounded like she knew what she was talking about… and, the way she smiled up at him, as she said those words… It just reminded him of what kind of warm and wonderful person she truly was. Maybe that’s why… he had to look away.

“Do you know what just went through my mind just now?” Joseph said with a sniffle. “Something genuine and sweet?” was Fawn’s answer. That made him jolt and perk his ears, again… A moment later, the ears fell back down. “So you know, then…” “I had a feeling…” she said. He gave a twitch as, in the moment that followed, he felt her draw close… and, kiss his wet cheek. “Bad people act on thoughts and impulses, like those, Mr. Lithius… but, you don’t. You don’t… because, you care enough about me to respect my relationship with Bonkers and would never do anything to upset that. And, that’s why I gave you a kiss.” He looked back her way just in time to see her settle back down, one foot on the roof and the other bent leg on the chair. As she continued to look his way, he couldn’t help but think… She really has a beautiful smile… “You’re a warm, wonderful person, Mr. Joseph Lithius,” she continued, “who deserves the best out of life. I’m sorry that I can’t be the one to give it to you… but, I’m flattered that you feel the way you do… and, I’m very honored to have someone, like you, as a close friend.” And, that… seemed to be the breaking point for him.

“It’s okay, Mr. Lithius…” she said as she held the crying fox in her arms. “It’s okay…” “I’m… so… sorry…” he huffed. “I don’t know… why my brain…” “Shhhhh shh-shh…” The deer gave his back a rub as she hushed him. “A-and, I can’t believe… I can’t believe…” She perked a little. “I can’t believe…” Joseph seemed to be calming… but, he also seemed to have something on his mind – something he couldn’t quite get out. She continued to rub his back and keep him in her warm embrace, letting him vent his emotions into her shoulder until he was done.

After several moments of quietly sobbing then a couple more to catch his breath, the fox sat back. Even after all of that, Fawn still wore her beautiful, friendly smile for him, just happy to help out in any way she could. “Fawn?” She perked again. “Hm?” He hesitated, looking to one side. After another moment, Fawn watched as he brought two fingers up to his muzzle, giving them a kiss. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to try and touch them to her lips… but, to her surprise, he ended up touching her cheek, instead.

“Mr. Lithius…?” she asked, wearing a confused look. “I’m a rotten friend…” he said with another huff, keeping his ears folded and gaze averted. “I don’t deserve someone as awesome as you. But…” He looked up, a little, offering the deer a soft smile. “I’m glad to have you in my life.” Fawn reached up and ruffled his bangs, brightly smiling with her eyes closed. “Me, too, Mr. Lithius,” she quietly giggled. “Me, too…”

After grabbing something for the road, Joseph found his way back to his apartment. When he walked inside, however, he was surprised by what he’d found.

“Lola?” The orangey-furred rabbit looked to her right from a seated position on his couch. She offered a welcoming smile as Joseph closed the apartment door behind him. “What are you doing, awake…?” he quietly asked. “Couldn’t sleep without my faaavorite body pillow!” was her simple answer. “Where’d you go, anyway? No, wait, I can see where you went.” She pointed to the bag in his hand. “You went to Eat at Joe’s! Must be some good food, to make you cry! I should’ve come with. I’m pretty hungry… so hungry that I could eat a bull moose!” She paused… “Well, not an actual bull moose… but, maybe, a bull moose made out of bean curd! Boy, wouldn’t it be weird if moose were made of bean curd? They’d be so wobbly and probably trip a lot! It’d be like that time I worked out for too long! I couldn’t move, for hours! Good thing I was really tired, then. But, when I woke up, I was really stiff! But, that’s what happens when you forget to do your cool-down exercises!

“Anyway!” she started, again, as she stood up. “What’d you bring me…?” “I, uh…” The fox gave a blink as Lola took the bag away from him… then, he folded his ears as she gave him a dirty look. “This meatball sub isn’t vegan-friendly, is it?” She gave a mighty sigh before complaining, “Great, now I want a no-meatball sub!” With that, she handed the bag back and stomped over to the couch. “What… are…” the fox asked as he watched her remove her oversized t-shirt and replace it with her purple dress. “Gonna Eat at Joe’s!” she said as she spun back around, fully-dressed. “The craving is strong, in this one! Can I borrow your keys? Thanks!” The fox had no time to reply as she stole his key ring. “Don’t wait up, Jojo! But, if you do? Try and keep it down. Woody’s reeaaal tired and gets reeaaal mad if you wake him.” When she kissed her gloved hand then placed it on his cheek with a playful “chu” noise, he just gave another blink. “‘bye-yeeeee!” And, with that, she ran out the apartment door, leaving the fox standing dumbfounded near the doorway. –––––

“Monsieur!”

Fawn looked up with a start as she heard the diner door violently jingle and clatter. A look across the way revealed the form of an orange-and-tan rabbit girl in a purple dress… holding her foot straight forward. Apparently, she’d kicked the free-swinging door open. But… “Your finest– eep!” The door did not take kindly to being handled so roughly. It was quick to swing back at the rabbit, essentially swatting her away from the diner like she were a fly. “What-the-monkey-lovin’-what… is goin’ on, out there?!” a voice called, from the back. “I think this customer is having a fight with our front door!” Fawn said as she ran around the counter. “And, losing!” “Oh, now this I gotta see.”

She opened the door as her co-worker swung into the room. The two then stared as the rabbit lay face-down with her butt in the air, some distance away from the entrance. “Miss Rabbit…?” Fawn called with a gasp. “Are you–” “What th’ heck happened, anyways?!” the monkey on her head and shoulders interrupted. “Well, Spydor…” the deer responded, “She tried to kick the door in… and, it kicked back.” “Oh. I see.” Spydor tilted his head. “Should… we help ‘er up?” “I’m okaaay!” was her pavement-muffled answer as she raised an arm up. “Ah-hah… Well, I’m goin’ back inta th’ kitchen.” The monkey hopped into the lights and swung his way back behind the counter as he said, “Gimme a ring if ya need me, Fawn.” “Will do…” She looked down at the rabbit, again. “Do… you need some help?” “No, no, this is actually pretty comfy!” was her response. “The cool pavement feels nice, against my warm face.” Even though she hadn’t noticed any sarcasm… or, maybe, because she hadn’t… Fawn gave a grimace, standing awkwardly in the doorway and rubbing her arm. “Well… if you’re sure…” she said before turning around and re-entering the diner.

After a couple of minutes passed, Fawn was once again alerted by the door that they had a customer. It was the rabbit, again. Unlike earlier, however, she’d gently opened the door and calmly walked inside, much to the deer’s relief. “Monsieur!” she called before noticing who was standing behind the counter. “Oh, I mean, Mademoiselle! Your finest no-meatball sub, s’il vous plaît!” “Our what, now…?” Suddenly, Spydor flew out of the back of the eatery, leaping over the counter and landing a few steps away from the rabbit. “Th’ heck you tryin’ t’ order, lady?! ‘No-meatball sub?!’ So, what? Jus’ bread ‘n marinara…?” “Oh! You must be ‘Spider!’” the rabbit said as she looked down with a bright smile. “Jojo’s told me a lot, about you!”

The monkey suspiciously narrowed his eyes, after hearing that. “What’s that s’posed t’ mean? Who’s ‘Jojo?’ An’, fer that matter,” he said as he pointed a finger up at her, “Who th’ flip are you?!” “Who, me? I’m Lola!” she cheerfully said as she extended her hand to the monkey. “Pleased to finally meet you!” Spydor’s eyes narrowed even further, at that… “Wait… You’re Lola?” Both Lola and Spydor looked over at Fawn as she spoke up. She was brightly smiling from behind the counter as the former. “I thought I’d recognized you, from somewhere!” she cheerfully said. “You’re the famous ‘Miss Lola Bunny’ from that movie, ‘Space Jam,’ aren’t you?” “Close, but no cigar! I’m Lola Bunny from The Looney Tunes Show, Miss…” She paused, focusing on something Fawn was wearing. “I can’t… read your– hold on.” Lola took about two steps before stumbling right over Spydor, causing her to hit the ground with a whump and causing him to screech and scurry around in a panic. He eventually jumped into the lights, again, hanging by his tail and glaring daggers at the downed rabbit.

“What’s th’ big, monkey-lovin’ idea, ya stupid, clumsy–?!” “Spydor!” He winced from his hanging position before looking over at Fawn. She was glaring up at him with narrowed eyes. “I’m sure it was just an accident! Isn’t that right, Miss Bunny?” “Not my fault!” Lola said as she picked herself up. “Didn’t see him! He’s just so tiny!” “‘Tiny?!’” raged the small monkey. “Why, I oughta…! You tryin’ fer a fat lip t’ match that fat head’a yers, lady?!” “Spydor!” “My head’s not fat,” the rabbit said as she left around her face. “Is it…?!” “Yer darn right it is, ya–” “Spy… dor!” “Bu– but…” Lola turned around, deeply frowning up at the monkey. “I take such good care of myself! I eat right, I count my carbs, I exercise all the time! It’s like I was telling Jojo, just now… this one time, I exercised so much that I ended up sleeping on the floor!” “Oh, dear…” Fawn said as she turned her attention to the bunny. “That doesn’t sound very healthy…” “Funny enough, it was the best night’s sleep I’d had in forever!” she said as she looked at Fawn. “But, I was so stiff, the next morning… I could barely even move! Luckily, I didn’t have to be anywhere, that day, so I just set my iPod on Shuffle and vegged out! Going to pee was an problem, though… Oh! That reminds me, I’ll take a salad with that no-meatball sub, please!”

“No-meatball sub?!” Spydor screamed a second time. “What are you even– How do you– that doesn’t make a lick’a… a-ga-fhg– jeh-buh-ghk–!!” “Mr. Spider, are you okay?” Lola innocent asked as she looked up to him. “You’re foaming… Do you have rabies?!” She hopped back from the monkey as he wiped his mouth with a growl. “S-stay back! I haven’t had my rabies shot, this year!”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to get those, annually…” Fawn commented. “Oooooh…” the rabbit said with a thoughtful look. “That’s probably why I haven’t had one! Hey, Mr. Spider!” Lola gave a blink as she looked up at the monkey hanging from the ceiling. He looked like he was having an aneurysm, with the way he was twitching and trembling. “Maybe you should get a rabies shot! If you have rabies, I mean… or, even if you don’t! You can never be too safe!” The noise he made as he tried to respond was an odd one. After failing to speak, however, he just gave a short, labored sigh and scurried toward the front door from the ceiling. “I’ll be on th’ roof,” he spat. “I can’t deal with dis dame…” “But, aren’t you the cook?” she asked as he vanished through the swinging door. She immediately turned toward Fawn with her gloved hands pressed together just in front of her jaw, her face showing a worried expression. “Now who’s going to make my no-meatball sub and salad…?” she asked. “I could make it,” the deer offered. “Really?!” Lola’s face lit up as Fawn gave a nod. “Only…” The rabbit gave a blink. “I’m not exactly sure what you were trying to order…” She gave another blink, upon hearing that.

“A no-meatball sub!” she explained. “It’s like a meatball sub… but with ‘no-meatballs!’” “So… marinara sauce and cheese on a baguette?” “No! Actually, wait… when you say it like that, that sounds really good.” Lola pointed to the deer. “Can I get that, instead?” “Isn’t that what you were trying to order, in the first place?” “Was I?” The rabbit took a moment to think about the question. “You said you wanted a ‘no meatball sub;’ a submarine sandwich without meatballs.” “Oh, no-no-no-no!” she said, shaking her head and waving her hands at the waitress. “What I wanted was a no-meatball sub!” “Right.” Fawn gestured with one hand. “A meatball sub without meatballs.” “Yes! No! Wait– I’m confused…” The deer scratched her head, looking at her customer and feeling much the same way.

“Can you, maybe… just describe what it is that you’re trying to order?” she offered. “Be as detailed as possible.” “Maybe I should just make it, myself…” Lola suggested as she hopped up on a nearby stool before vaulting the counter. “You guys clearly have no idea of what I want!” “Um… Miss!” Fawn called as she followed the rabbit into the kitchen. “Miss, customers… generally aren’t allowed back there!” “I’m not a customer… yet!” she said, opening a nearby fridge. “I’m a connoisseur! Now! Where do you keep the fresh lentils…? I’ll need about a cup of them! Put some water on to boil, would you, please? These beans aren’t going to cook themselves! Oh, but what if they did?” Lola turned around, a thoughtful look on her face as she stared at the deer. “Can you imagine? Self-cooking beans! I should invent that! I’d make a ton of money!! But, that can wait for another day! Right now, let’s find those normal beans!”

The rabbit’s search for lentils quickly turned the kitchen of Joe’s Diner into quite the mess. Containers of dried goods were knocked over, pots and pans were strewn about, and even the fridge and freezer had become disorganized. In the end, though, Lola had to end up settling on something much less fresh.

“I guess this can of store-brand pinto beans will have to do…” Lola said as she stared at the can in her hand. “Now, all I need is some garlic and onion… and, a mixer. I think I saw one over there, a minute ago!” “Miss Bunny, stop!” The rabbit jolted at the raised voice. When she turned to look, she noticed Fawn standing nearby… but, she looked kind of different. Her apron and hat looked disheveled, her dress was wrinkled, her hair was slightly messy, and, above all… she looked pretty angry. “Oooooh, you look like you could use a beauty day, at the spa!” was Lola’s immediate response. “Want me to make an appointment at the one in Burbank? I know a guy!” “What I want is for you to stop messing up our kitchen and get out!” Lola scoffed, in response to that. “Well! Rude! See if I ever recommend this place, to my friends!” And, much to Fawn’s relief, Lola left the kitchen. As she began to undo the mess the rabbit had made of things, however, she heard her come back in.

“Say, can I have these beans?” she politely asked. “You’re not using them, right?” “Out!” was all Fawn cared to say. “You’re not out of beans!” Lola said as she walked over to a nearby cabinet. “See?” As she opened the door, however, the entire thing fell and crashed onto a nearby counter. “Oooooh… sss…” She clenched her free hand under her chin again, giving a sheepish look. She then pointed at the broken cabinet as she said, “You should get that fixed.” Fawn just stood there with a broom in her hands, giving the rabbit a death-glare. “Riiight… I’ll just be going, then.” The bunny casually walked back to the swinging kitchen door. Before exiting, however, she turned back and cheerfully said, “Thanks for the beans! ‘bye-yeeeee!” As the door’s bell jingled, signaling Lola’s departure, Fawn fell to her knees, covered her face, inhaled… and…

“Fawny…?” Spydor swung in through the back door after hearing the girl scream into her hands. “What in th’– holey-moly!!” He dropped to the floor as he looked around. “What in th’ flippin’ heck happened back here?! An’, why ya sittin’ on th’ floor? Jus’ what all’d I miss…?” Fawn got back to her feet and stomped over to Spydor, shoving the broom into his hands. “You deal with this mess!” she angrily shouted. “Now, I need some ‘roof time!’” And, just like that, Spydor was left in the ruined kitchen, confused… and, worried.

“Man, oh, man,” he said as he started to clean up, “that rabbit dame must’a done a number on poor Fawn… I ain’t never seen ‘er look so mad! Then again, can’t say as I blame ‘er. That bunny is bonkers!” “What about my boyfriend…?” Spydor looked toward the rear entrance. Fawn had come back in, for some reason… “Naw-naw-naw, Fawny… I was jus’ sayin’, that rabbit gal is crazy-in-th’-coconut!” “That’s putting it mildly…” she muttered. “Also, I’m sorry I raised my voice to you, just now. I just…” “Yeeaaah… can’t say as I’ve ever seen ya lose ya cool wid a customer, before,” he commented. “She must’a just up ‘n blasted yer patience!” “Well…” Fawn said as she started picking up spilled cans, “she decimated the kitchen, looking for fresh lentils…” “She did this?” He gave a blink. “Wait, len’ils?” “Yeah. I tried to tell her we don’t have any, but…” “Did she look inna upper half’a th’ fridge?” he asked. “What?” Rather than answer Fawn with words, he hopped up on a nearby counter and pulled open the top half of the fridge. She gave a blank stare as he withdrew a large bag of what appeared to be fat, disc-like pea pods. The deer looked over at Spydor as he shook it toward her. “Len’ils, fresh from m’ own garden!” he said. “We usually don’t serve ‘em t’ customers, but– ah, Fawny? Why ya laughin’? What’s th’ gag? Fawny…?” But, she was off in her own little world, again, collapsed on her knees looking completely out-of-it, as she laughed. Clearly, she’d hit her limit of nonsense, for the night. –––––

“I’m baaack!”

Lola announced her presence – quietly but excitedly – as she walked through the unlocked door to Apartment 3C. She was holding a small grocery bag of items and wore a bright smile on her face as she closed the door before walking to the kitchenette.

“Apparently, not everyone can Eat at Joe’s! Can you believe they wouldn’t make my no-meatball sub? They didn’t even know what it was! And they call themselves a diner! Oh, well… it’s not a total loss!” The rabbit placed a can of beans on the kitchen counter, then started unloading the other items from the bag. “I got a can of pinto beans… plus, I stopped by that 24-hour Walmart over in the Warner District and got some other things! If you’re still hungry, I can whip up some of my no-meatball subs for us in no time! Even Woody couldn’t complain about oven-baked, well-seasoned no-meatballs delicately placed on top of finely-cut, day-old French bread, drenched in spicy, delicious marinara! Très bien! Ne seriez-vous pas d’accord, Monsieur Renard?”

Lola smiled as she waited for a response. “Monsieur Renard?” she called again. “Salut? Êtes-vous là?” She then realized… “Oh! Was I speaking French, this whole time? No wonder you didn’t reply! You probably didn’t know what I was saying! Well, let me start again…” The bunny headed out of the kitchenette, rounding the corner and taking long strides. “I said, ‘Very good! Wouldn’t you say, Mr. Fox?’” Once again, there was no response. As she drew closer to the living room, however, it didn’t take her long to find out why… Joseph was sprawled out on the couch, his blanket a bit askew and one leg hanging off the cushions. His eyes were closed and he still had his glasses and clothes on. Given his long, slow draws of breath and relaxed pose, Lola concluded… “Oh. He must have fallen asleep, waiting for me…” She gave a light smirk… “When I said ‘don’t wait up,’ I didn’t think he’d take it so seriously!”

Bearing that in mind, she walked back over to the kitchenette and turned off the light. She then walked back to the couch and carefully removed the blanket from her friend before snuggling up against him, not even bothering to change back out of her own dress. She wasn’t particularly tired, by that point… but, snuggling up all warm-and-cozy with her friend seemed like a good way to relax, after her impromptu trip to Joe’s. Plus, she was a little chilly, from the night air, besides.

“Dormez bien, petit renard d’or,” she whispered as she pulled one of his arms around her body and settled in. “Demain apporte de délicieux sous-sandwichs, mais pour l’instant, ils doivent rester un rêve dans votre petit tête de fourrure.” With a soft kiss to his cheek, she added, “Bonne nuit,” before settling in for some rest. –––––

“Say, did you hear about the crazy customer we had, last night?”

Joseph’s ears perked. He’d been washing some dishes at Joe’s Diner when his boss, Minerva, had called back through the order window. “Crazy customer, ya say?” replied the voice of his co-worker and friend, Woody. “Yeah. From what Mona heard from Fawn and Spydor, Some crazy lady came in, last night, just after 2 AM. She kicked open the front door, tried to order something nonsensical, then started smashing-up the kitchen, looking for beans, of all things!” “Is that why our canned goods cupboard is missing?” the woodpecker asked. “I guess so…” “Great…” He scowled as he flipped a couple of hamburger patties on the nearby stove. “Well, if she comes back, on our watch, we’ll just run her right back out! Ain’t that right, Joe?”

As Woody gave his trademark laugh, all Joseph could do was stand by the sink… stiff as stone and frozen on-the-spot. He knew exactly who Minerva was talking about…

Gods… damn… that… rabbit.

#fiction #Joseph's ToonTown #commercial characters #Raw Toonage #Fawn Deer #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys #Spydor #original characters #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #drama #comedy

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Blog Updates (09/11)

One more update.

Updated Stories

Swim Date - Revised and updated

Stains of Orange - Revised and updated

And, that... I believe... is the last of the stories to be updated. For now.

#blog news #temporary post

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Jojo and Lolo, Ch. III

Chapter III of "Jojo and Lolo," a Joseph's ToonTown story. (Originally part of Chapter II of the original story of the same name.)

Another story, another split. "And, that's all I have to say about tha-tuh."

Word count: 5,095 – Character count: 29,424 Originally written: December 23rd, 2016 Slightly revised: June 6th/7th, 2016 Revised further: September 2nd, 2017

Things take a turn for the strange then a turn for the dire as Lola realizes something about her friend.

Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

After what seemed like a long while, Lola had finally finished her thought. Though she had started with a story about Porky Pig, her thoughts rapidly changed, the longer she talked. It was almost like she couldn’t focus, as she rambled about past roommates, trips to local regions, interests and hobbies, and everything in between. It was actually kind of a relief, just listening to her go on-and-on, not having to think about their current arrangement. Eventually, though…

“So, Jojo?” she called after going on about some hand sanitizer she’d purchased which made her gloves turn gray, for a while. “Yes?” “You wanna keep cuddling? Just curious…” And, just like that, he was tense, again. “If not,” she continued, “I guess we can just go back to sleep. Buuut… if you’re going to have another one of your ‘Winnie dreams,’ maybe I should just sleep on the couch. I don’t really mind you putting your hands all over me… but– oop…” The fox gave a blink. Lola had looked down and was biting her lower lip. If he didn’t know better… he’d have thought she looked a little guilty… “But…?” he encouraged. The rabbit perked up, eyes looking straight ahead. “Huh?” “You said ‘but,’” he explained. “‘But,’ what?” “Oh! Uh… no– nothing, nothing!” she nervously answered. “Don’t worry about it!” “Lola…” “Really, it’s nooothing…!” she said with less confidence. “I just… don’t want you… keeping me up all night, with your Winnie dreams… That’s all! Eh heh…” The fox’s ears perked. Lola had become almost inaudible, during the midst of that last thought. For some reason… he got the idea that there was more to the matter than she let on.

“Lola.” She perked again, looking back at him. He was offering a patient smile. “It’s me. ‘Mr. Fox.’ ‘Jojo.’ If there’s something the matter… you can tell me.” “I told you!” she said with a smile. “It’s nothing!” “You know for a fact that I don’t buy that,” he said with a smirk. “Well, that’s the truth…” she replied with less confidence. “As I make it…” Once again, the fox picked up on her murmuring. “Huh?” he asked, head tilted. The bunny girl jolted a little. “Wuh…?” “You said something, just now,” he said with a gesture of his hand. “‘As I make it.’” She gave a nervous fidget. “D… did I say that out loud?” “You did.” “I… ssseee…”

There was another long, awkward pause as Joseph watched his bedmate fidget, more. She didn’t seem too eager to look his way, anymore, and she was continually biting her lower lip…

“So…?” She jolted, yet again. “Huh…?” “Are you going to tell me what’s up? Or… am I going to have to make you tell me?” Lola gave a blink, her face showing confusion. The fox was grinning at her… After a moment of deliberation, however, she just turned her eyes down and went back to fidgeting. “Okay, then! Your choice, girly…”

She once again jolted, as the fox spoke… and, again, as she felt something touch her. She gave another confused blink as she saw where the fox’s hand… or, his arm, more specifically, was resting. There was a crease in the sheet, between them, and it led from Joseph’s shoulder down to her general middle area. It didn’t take her long to figure out… he’d poked her!

“Wh… wha–?” “Poke!” The smaller figure gave a twitch as Joseph poked her, again. Then, a third time… and, a fourth. By the fifth time, her confused face was starting to give way to another, more intense look… One of forced amusement! “S-stop that…!” she cried with a grin, wincing away from the fox’s prodding digits. “Poke-poke-poke!” was all the conversation she got, in return, as Joseph went all over her body with his finger, poking her belly, her hips, her arms and even her under-arms, at random times. It was getting to her… making her grin… and even starting to make her laugh! “Cut it out…!” she squeaked, her eyes half-closed from the involuntary tickle reflex of the fox’s continued assaults. “Nevah!” “I-I’m serious…!” she laughed, trapped between a wall and the playful fox. “Stoppit!” “Not until you tell me what I want to know!” She jerked and twitched, batting his hands away… to no avail. “N-nooo…!” “Then, suffer! Mwa ha hah!”

Joseph continued to prod and poke the ticklish bunny while she did her best to avoid his touch… but, with the wall directly behind her, it was hard to get enough distance to get him to stop… She needed another plan… something he wouldn’t expect…

“Hah!”

The fox gave a blink, unsure of what had actually happened. Somehow, he found himself staring up at a grinning bunny. How… he didn’t know… but, as he sat there, he decided to start piecing the clues together.

A quick look around told him that he was still in the apartment bedroom. A glance to the right revealed the frame of the twin bed, though its sheets were pulled from the mattress and wrapped behind the bunny’s back. He then noticed that he was on his back and that his assailant was hovering overhead with a triumphant grin on her face, her hands keeping his pinned down at the wrist, roughly level with his head. As he continued to examine the area, he made another… much more startling discovery.

His assailant was topless… and, even in the dim light of the room… he could see it all…

His face turned bright red, everything coming together in his head, all-at-once. Lola must have tackled him out of bed, yanking the sheets with them as they tumbled down. While he was dazed, she must have grabbed his wrists and pulled them up, to keep him from poking her, again. And, all of that happened only after she’d demonstrated how her dress was worn… and, removed.

“Got’cha!” she triumphantly exclaimed after a moment. “Uuuhhmmm…!” She then noticed the odd look he was giving her. “What?” His head tilted down… then, away, his blush intensifying. Lola looked down, as well… then, back up… then, down and up, again. A blank look could be seen on her face, then. A second later… she fell on top of him, letting the sheet gently glide down over the two.

“Well,” she calmly said after a beat. “I, um…” “No bra, huh?” The fox gave a wince, wishing he hadn’t said that. He had no idea why he hadn’t stopped himself from saying that… Strangely, though… “No bra…” she repeated, without missing a beat. “I… don’t have enfvv fv mmm…” The fox’s ears twitched in response to her muttering. “I-I’m sorry, what?” She hesitated before repeating, “I… don’t have… enough… chest… to…” Joseph could tell that the topic wasn’t something Lola liked talking about… and, he immediately interjected. “Say no more, say no more…” he said with a soft smile. She gave a blink, in return… then, she smiled back. “For what it’s worth, though…” The rabbit perked at his voice, a look of curiosity on her face. He wasn’t looking her way and he even had his head turned to the side. His ears were folded back and there was a slight blush on his face… “I um… I think they’re… I like…” A sudden peck on the cheek distracted him from his compliment. He turned his head to face her… and, he immediately noticed the bright smile she was wearing.

“You’re a sweet guy, Mr. Fox…” she softly commented. “Thank you.” “Yeah, well, I…” he murmured, his voice getting lower. “I’m sorry I… drew attention to it… I just…” He blushed a little harder, his eyes closing. “I thought it’d be funny…” His eyes opened as he felt her brush against his cheek. Her head was to the side of his… “It was,” she whispered. “You butt-face.” “Wh… Butt-face?” He grinned at her. “Who kicked who out of bed, missy? And… who has who pinned to the floor?” “Don’t start what you can’t finish!” she teased, leaning back just enough to grin at him. “I… ehn… hrm…” He didn’t know what to say, at that point. Despite being so slim and weighing next-to-nothing… Lola did have him trapped and, more-or-less, at her mercy.

“Alright…” The rabbit perked, giving a blink as Joseph sighed and looked up to her. “You win this time, Lola…” He offered a smile. “I’ll stop asking.” She gave another, more confused blink. Truth be told, she’d completely forgotten why she’d tackled him… but, soon, a thought entered her head. “I don’t mind you putting your hands all over my body…” He gave a blink as she repeated herself from moments ago… then, again, as she released his wrists. When he wrapped his arms around her sheet-covered body, she responded, in turn, by curling hers around his shoulders. “But, I just wish…” The fox tilted his head. She’d looked away… “You’d think of me, while you did it, instead of her…”

“Wait. That’s it?” The rabbit jolted, turning her head back his way. He looked as surprised as she did… “That’s the thing that’s bothering you?” She didn’t know how to feel, just then. For a moment, she looked confused… then, curious… Finally, though… she settled on indignation. “Well, excuuuse me for wanting to feel loved, Mr. Fox!” Lola said in a raised voice, wearing a scowl on her face and shooting him a glare. “Everyone just wants to be loved, sometimes! And, maybe… maybe, now’s one of those times!” She then gave a pouty huff, turning her head away. Joseph felt a little bad… but, at the same time, he found her reaction kind of cute. “Aww, come here, li’l Lolo…” he said as he pulled her in closer. “Let Mr. Fox love you!” She seemed like she was going to verbally lay into him again, her face becoming even more agitated. After a moment, however… she snickered… then, she started laughing!

“You silly thing, you…” she whispered after her bout of laughter. There was a smile on her face that matched his own as she looked into his eyes. But, as they watched each other’s eyes, in the dim light of the room… they both felt something strange begin to happen. Their smiles turned into looks of quiet admiration… which, slowly grew into adoration. A blush quickly spread among them, then, and they felt compelled toward each other, as if by some outside force… Their embrace tightened as their heads drew inward, their eyes unwavering… He could feel her heart thumping… and her, his… There was only one thing either of them could think to do in that situation… “Wait…” But, Lola wasn’t ready to do it.

“Um…” Joseph shook his head. “Huh?” Lola had looked away, again, with an uncharacteristically serious look on her face. “I… I don’t know if we should do this…” she spoke in a hushed, worried tone. “Wh… what?” The fox gave a blink. “Why not?” “I’m just… I’m worried…” “You’re… worried,” he replied with a flat tone and a look of utter disbelief. “Well, yeah!” She looked his way, seemingly upset. “Why…?” He paused, then added, “Yeah, why? What’s the problem?” Lola gave a slight frown… “What if… what if…” She paused, giving the fox time to swallow… and, to ponder what she might be thinking…

‘What if I don’t like it?’ he thought she might think. Or… ‘What if I do like it…?’ ‘What if it ends up leading to something else… something even more intimate…?’ With each passing moment Lola kept him waiting, he felt himself growing tenser… He dreaded what she might say… and, even more, what she might not say…

“What if…” Joseph sharply inhaled. He didn’t know what she was going to say, but… “What if I catch some strange disease that’s completely harmless on your planet but completely deadly to people, here?!” But… that was not even remotely in the ballpark of what he was thinking. The fox… was stunned, left to give a blank, wide-eyed stare at the worried face of his companion.

“Oh, no!!”

He gave a jolt as Lola sharply pulled away from him, again. Her own eyes were wide and her mouth was hanging open. “You… you already kissed me, this morning!!” It took him a second to remember… but, yes. He had. “What if… what if I’m already infected?!” she cried as she sat up on her knees, letting the sheet drop down behind her. “What if that kiss you gave me sent a bunch of little, tiny foxes into my bloodstream and they’re controlling me, from the inside? Or… or…!” She gasped. “What if your space germs… are deadly to Earthlings…?!”

The fox yelped as the panicking rabbit leaned back down and grabbed him by the scruff of his chest. “How could you do this, to me?!” she shouted, violently shaking him by his fur. “I’m too young to die from some horrible space virus!!” “Lola– Lola– Lo! La!!” “Gosh, you don’t have to yell, Mr. Fox,” she calmly said, her panicking and shaking coming to an immediate stop as she winced. “I’m infected, not deaf! Infected…” Joseph grunted as Lola let him go, causing him to flop back and knock his head on the laminate wood floor. The fox then blinked. Lola had gone from being panicked to being calm… but, just as quickly, she looked utterly defeated! He had to say something… “I… uh… uhh…” Too bad he couldn’t think of a thing.

“So, this is how it ends…” Lola said a moment later. Joseph watched as she slowly got to her feet, picking up and draping the sheet over her body before walking to the bedroom window. “It was a good life,” she said in a sad tone, one hand at the window and the other clenched over her chest. “Short… but, good. I got to meet a lot of really nice people…” Joseph gave another blink as Lola cast a sorrowful look his way. “I just wish… that I’d known one of them would kill me…” The fox sat up before rubbing the back of his head. His companion had turned back to the window, staring out through the open blinds with half-closed eyes…

“Was it worth it?” she asked… herself, he guessed? “Was it worth it to throw your life away for a kiss from a visitor from beyond the stars?” She was definitely talking to herself… “Was it worth it,” she continued, “to let this handsome, young man from another world sweep you off your feet and free your heart from its iron case… only to realize, far too late, that growing close would cause your demise?” “Lola, I…” “No.” She threw a hand back to stop him short. “You’ve done enough, Mr. Fox…” He gave a concerned frown, after hearing that…

“Happy, then horrible. Loved, then lost. Giddy… then, like a goner…” The sheet-covered rabbit turned his way, wearing a stony look on her face. “That’s what you made me feel, Mr. Fox. So, thank you… Thank you… and…” She narrowed her eyes, shaking a fist as her narrowed eyes glared right into his. “Darn you… and, your deadly space germs…” Joseph’s ears could not have fallen any farther back… “Go, now!” she suddenly shouted, dramatically pointing to the door. “Leave me! I want to be alone, during my final… Days? Minutes? Milliseconds…? However long I have… it’s best that I stay alone and suffer in silence. I could be contagious, after all!”

The fox got to his feet. He wanted to say something… do something… but, watching Lola stand there and look out the window, not wanting him around as she literally waited to die… All he could do was slink away in defeat. Lola was doing to die, miserable and alone… and, it was entirely his fault…

“How could this have happened…?” he thought aloud as he walked out into the third-floor hallway. “I never meant to hurt her… but, because of me… she… she…” The fox whimpered, feeling the tears welling in his eyes as brought his hands into view. “What have I done…? Why did I do this to her? Why… why couldn’t I just keep my hands to myself… keep my feelings in check?! If it wasn’t for me… she… she wouldn’t be…” “Brothah, yer preachin’ to th’ choir!”

Joseph gave a blink, looking around for the source of the sudden, unfamiliar voice. “Down hea!” The fox looked down to see a little ‘toon dressed in blue standing beside him. He also had a familiar-looking brown bottle in one gloved hand. “Hea! Drink this!” he said, offering the bottle up. “It’s good fer what ails ya!” Within an instant, the contents of the bottles had passed the fox’s lips and slid down his throat. He gave a heavy sigh before dropping the empty container and looking away.

“I gots my faih share’a lady-problems too, bud,” the little, blue ‘toon stated. “My gal’s a rap sensation! Maybe ya heard of ‘er? ‘Queen Rapsheeba?’” Joseph hadn’t heard of her… but, he found himself interested enough to listen. “Well, anyways, she’s always on th’ road so’s anytime we meet up, she ‘n I… ya know…” The fox gave a twitch… but, he nodded in acknowledgment, getting the idea. “So, dis one time, after a romantic evenin’, she asks me, ‘Snap, honey,’” he continued with a sassy accent, “‘When are you gonna put a ring on this fing’a?’ So, I says t’ her, I says, ‘Why buy th’ cow when th’ milk is free? Am I right?’” Snap gave a long, loud laugh… then, a deep, troubled sigh. “Turns out, I wasn’t. Ain’t seen ‘er, since.”

“Not… that I don’t feel bad, for you,” Joseph said with a sniffle, “but, what does that have to do with the fact I’ve sentenced my friend to death?” “Eh?!” The ‘toon in the mask looked up, eyes wide open. “How’sat, now?” “Yeah!” The fox gave another sniffle, rubbing his nose. “I kissed her and… and, I gave her my deadly space germs! She’s going to die and it’s all my fault…!!” “‘Space goims…?’” Snap gave a scowl. “Bud, are you sure yer not drunk, a’ready?” Joseph’s face turned hostile. “Listen, you little–” “Whoa!” The shorter ‘toon backed away. “Easy, pal! I was just joshin’!” The fox calmed, giving a sigh and a nod… “Sorry…” “Aaanyhoo…” Snap gave a grin. “She really tell ya ya gave ’er some kinda ‘lethal space disease?’” “Yeah…” Joseph crossed his arms and looked at the floor. “Heh. That ol’ line, huh?” “Wh… ‘line?’” He gave a scowl, looking back at the laughing ‘toon. “I’m an alien!” he exclaimed. “I have strange, alien diseases!” “Do ya, though?” The ‘toon’s grin widened. “Or, is she jus’ yankin’ yer chain?” “I… don’t…” Joseph paused to blink. “I don’t know…”

“Hah! Well, even if ya are some kinda ‘freaky alien…’” Snap sarcastically stated, mimicking air quotes with his round, fingerless hands, “I doubt’cha gotta worry ‘bout givin’ her any kinda ‘strange disease.’” “W… why?” “Well… I’m gonna guess she’s a ‘toon gal. Am I right or am I right?” “Y-you’re right…” “Well, if yer not a ‘toon, yerself, but some kinda ‘alien…’” He stopped to chuckle, again. “Then, no matta what kind’a weird bacteria ya got, there ain’t nothin’ ya can do t’ hoit ‘er!” “Wh… wh…” was all Joseph could say. “See, ‘toons ‘n ‘normies’ can’t give each othah diseases, pal! Heck, it’s pretty rare ‘toons ‘n ‘toons even make each othah sick, outside’a sharin’ colds!” “S… so… you’re saying…!” “She’s gonna be juuus’ fine, Bucko!”

The fox’s face lit up in pure elation. Snap was right! If he remembered the properties of ‘toons correctly, they were almost indestructible… at least, as far as physical ailments and injuries went! It only made sense, to him, that they’d be immune to Earth diseases… and, maybe even space diseases, like his!

“Snap!” he said aloud. “Yea’?” The fox looked down to the ‘toon. A moment later, Snap found himself elevated to chest level, the man’s arms squeezing his body tight in a joyous hug! “You’re a genius! Thank you!” “Ehn… ech… sure-sure…!” was Snap’s response. “Now could’ja do me a favah ‘n stop crushin’ th’ life outta me?!” “Eh? Eep!” was the fox’s reaction before he dropped the ‘toon. He gave a blink as Snap gasped and wheezed, trying to catch his breath. “Ah– sorry…” “Yea’ yea’ yea’…” the winded figure said. “Jus’… g’wan, a’ready! Tell yer lady friend she ain’t got nothin’ t’ worry ‘bout!” “Right!” the excited fox cheered as he ran back toward apartment 3C. “Thank you!” “An’, put some freakin’ paaants on, ya furry weirdo!” Joseph gave a blink… then, he noticed he was standing there in just plaid boxers. “Uuuhmm…” “Don’t ask,” Snap said as he shook his head. “Don’t tell.” “Rrright. Well, bye!” With that, the blue ‘toon returned to his apartment… and, Joseph re-entered his own.

“Lola! Great news!” “Oh, hey! You’re back! Ooh… niiice shorts!” The fox gave a blink… but, not from her dialogue. Lola had apparently turned the apartment’s lights on and was resting cozily on the couch, a can of iced tea in one hand with her other in a bowl of popcorn. She seemed to be somewhat engrossed in something on the television. She was also back to being fully-dressed, he happened to notice.

“Wh… Wh– wha…?” “Check it out, Mr. Fox!” she said as she sat up. “I found this cool documentary about dung beetles, on PBS! Did you know… that dung beetles are super-strong? They can move stuff up to 250-times their size! But, I think that’s mostly poo… It’s really interesting, though! Hmm… I wonder what life would be like if I could move 250-times my own weight in poo…?” “Why would– Wai– Wha…?!” “C’mon!” she said, patting the couch. “Come watch with me!”

The fox was stunned. Lola was sitting there, on the couch, like nothing had happened. He felt confused… then, relieved… before starting to ponder… That pondering gave way to more emotions. Annoyance… betrayal… anger… His brow furrowed, his ears lowering as he felt himself grow hotter… His lips slowly rolled back, his teeth showing as he let the anger rise. Within a few seconds… he was absolutely livid with the lounging rabbit girl. “What… the… ff–” “Shh!” Lola hushed, cutting the enraged fox off. “The British guy is talking!” Joseph trembled. He could feel his breath coming in short bursts and his pulse quicken. He was boiling over, with anger! Not only had Lola completely discarded her fears, from before, only after sending him away… not only was she was ignoring him to eat his food, drink his tea, and lounge on his couch… but, she had the nerve to tell him to hush?! That was the last straw!

Lola’s eyes widened and she stared at the fox as he began to yell at her. She wasn’t sure what was more shocking… What he was saying, as he made frantic, nonsensical gestures at her… or, how he was saying it. Either way, all she knew was that there were a lot of words in there which she really didn’t appreciate!

“Now, just one second, Mr. Fox!” she shouted in an angry tone as she sat up. “Sit down!” he shouted back. “Shut up!” Lola gave a squeak and a wince, immediately flopping back down with a scared look in her eyes. “What the–” She winced as he used that word, again… “– do you think you’re doing?!” “E… eating popcorn a-and watching a–” “Shut up!” he shouted again, causing her to jerk. “You… you… you…” He actually had to take a moment to calm down before he could continue.

“What are you doing, out here?! Why are you so chipper?!” “W… well, why wouldn’t I be…?” she offered with a nervous smile. “I’m hanging out in my best friend’s apartment and–” “You… were… doing… to… die…!” “Wh-what…?” she squeaked, her smile turning more uncomfortable by-the-second. “You were scared you were going to die just a few minutes ago!” he explained in a barely-controlled, openly hostile tone. “What happened?!”

“Oh, that?” She made a carefree noise and gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “After you left, I sat down and had a good, long think about my life. I really had a lot to think about, too! It was really depressing, thinking about everyone and everything I’d be leaving behind! Buuut… after a few minutes, I got bored with being depressed and decided to spend whatever time I have left doing all my usual stuff! You know! Having fun… making people laugh… going on adventures… all that stuff! Sooo… I came out here, made some stove-top popcorn, and turned on the TV! Oh! Look-look-look!” Lola pointed to the TV, her eyes sparkling with interest. “The beetle’s moving a huuuge ball of poo around! Look at it go!”

The fox was, once again, speechless. After all the melodrama… after all the depressing thoughts and guilt… it really was like nothing happened for her; like… absolutely, positively, not a thing had happened. There were no worries… no cares, in her world, as she contently watched the beetles move around, on the TV. And, the strangest part of it all? He didn’t even feel angry, anymore. He just felt… hollow. No, maybe not hollow… More like… spent. He had spent so much energy fearing… worrying… and, put so much effort into beating himself up over it… that he hadn’t even tried to make Lola feel better. Yet, there she was… happily munching on snacks and watching a documentary. It really didn’t matter to her whether she lived or died… just so long as nothing stopped her from doing what she wanted. “Don’t worry…” he quietly said. “Just… ‘do…’”

“Hm?” The rabbit perked, giving a warm smile to the fox. “Did you say something?” Without a word, Joseph stiffly walked over to Lola and sat down beside her. She gave a curious blink as he looked at her… then, another, as he placed his hands on her cheeks, slightly squeezing her face. “Wrrf?” Her eyes went wide open a half-second later. The fox… had kissed her. Again. “Mmph…! Mmmph…!! Mm– m-mm, mmm… Mmm…”

Before either really knew what was happening… they had begun to share a rather impromptu… but, very tender kiss. Her arms found a place around his shoulders… and his under hers. Their eyes closed and neither dared to move… for, in that moment, for that time… all there was… was a kiss.

Lola’s eyes fluttered open just a little as she felt him withdraw. Still, she let not a word pass her lips, slowly drawing air in and softly exhaling it. She felt dizzy and could swear there was a star field masking her eyes. If she’d been more aware of her surroundings… she would have noticed that the fox sitting in front of her… had a similar look and feel about him.

Eventually, she took a long breath… and, gave a deep, happy sigh before reaching up and ruffling the fox’s hair. He fondly smiled to her, his tail wagging and ears contently folded. He briefly thought about telling her what Snap had told him… but, as they snuggled up side-by-side and watched the dung beetles at work, he realized… it didn’t matter, anymore. Not to him. Not to her. Not to anyone. All that mattered… was that they’d live for the moment. At least… until something occurred, to Joseph.

“Hey, wait a minute…” Lola looked up at the fox. He seemed upset, again… “I’m still mad at you!” he audibly realized, glaring at the rabbit. “Wait, what did I do…?” Joseph’s anger faded, his scowl replaced with a wicked sort of grin… “Because, you said I had deadly space-cooties!” he teased, giving her a poke. She gave a surprised squeak before laughing as he poked her a couple more times. A little while later, he actually did tell her what he’d learned from Snap… which came to great relief to the rabbit, as it turned out. But, not before he made her wriggle and squirm from his frantic fingers, a little more.

As the two returned to a relaxed state on the couch, Joseph found himself drifting off again… and as he did, a familiar scenario started to play in his head. In his arms was a beautiful, loving girl. Her eyes sparkled like black diamonds, as they held each other, and her smile was more radiant than a thousand suns… He couldn’t help but be happy to have someone like her in his arms, again… and, she was just as happy to have him in hers. The girl gave a squeak of happiness as he embraced her then the two shared a kiss, in that perfect little dream world of Joseph’s mind…

“Have you ever have one of those nights?”

Back in reality, Lola was trying to keep the affectionate, sleeping fox at-bay with one arm as she continued to watch the PBS documentary. He really seemed to want to cuddle her… It wasn’t so much that she minded the affection, of course… but, there was a time and a place for everything and, at that moment, she just wanted to watch the documentary! Still, she didn’t want to wake him up… He seemed to be having a really good dream.

Eventually, the documentary came to an end, as did the active part of Joseph’s dream. Lola gave a stretch and took her canned drink into the kitchenette. A moment later, she walked back into the living room… only to smile at the sleeping fox. He was smiling and seemed content to hug a nearby pillow as he lay there, occasionally snoring and letting his tail wag. It really was cute, she thought to herself.

“Mmmngngn… beauti– snrk– mm… Lola…” The bunny’s head tilted to one side. Had he just called her? Curious, she walked closer and knelt down, curiously watching and listening. “Gorgeous… mm…” he mumbled in his sleep. “Soft… warm… cuddly…” The fox gave a content sigh, causing her to grin. Bet he’s having that dream, again… she thought. He really must like– “Lola…”

The rabbit blinked, leaning back a little. Joseph was purring and nuzzling at the pillow in his arms… He’d clearly called her name, a second time… but, somehow… she had a hard time believing it. Still, as she watched him squirm and cuddle his pillow friend, she had to wonder…

Is… he dreaming about… me, this time?

#fiction #Jojo and Lolo #commercial characters #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #comedy #slice of life #romance #drama

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Fools in April, Ch. II

Chapter II of "Fools in April," a Joseph's ToonTown story. (Originally one-half of a one-part story of the same name.)

Yup. I split it. Thanks, DeviantArt.

Word count: 4,501 – Character count: 25,956 Originally written: December 21st, 2016 Slightly revised: January 25th, 2017 Further revised: August 31st, 2017

The competition becomes a heated battle as Lola reveals her true intentions.

Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, Acme, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

All activity had ceased in the bowling alley, only the lights of Lane 19 shining brightly while the rest fell dim. Anyone that was playing a game, eating barbecue, or just lounging around had flocked to the alleyway to see what Joseph figured would be the most embarrassing part of Lola’s day. Then again, she had just spent a good minute clucking and strutting around him like a chicken, so that might have been debatable… Either way, he was focused, he felt pumped, and he was more-than-happy to put the cocky rabbit in her place if that’s what she really wanted.

“Last chance to back out, Lola,” he said with a confident grin, typing their names into the only active scoreboard, of the time. “Not a chance, Mr. Fox!” she said with just as much confidence. “And, just to show you how confident I am, I’ll even let you go first!” “Eh? Alright…” The fox adjusted the scoreboard accordingly. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though…” “Oh, trust me…” she replied in a low, assertive tone, her eyes narrowing. “I won’t.”

“Laaadies and gentlemen, are you ready for an intense grudge match?” The nearby crowd cheered and clapped as the shoe rental clerk’s voice boomed. He’d put on his DJ voice, for the impromptu event. “Filling the top position of the scoreboard this round is that mediocre mammal… ‘Mrf!’” “H-hey! That’s ‘Joseph,’” he corrected, despite the mixed cheers and boos. “A-and, wait, what? Why are you booing me?! I–” “And, sitting in the number two position is that long-eared lady that lacerates the lanes, give it up for… Lucky Lola!” Joseph gave a blink as the crowd cheered again. “What the– why did your name get announced right…? Wait…” He paused. “‘Lacerates the lanes?’ ‘Lucky Lola…?!’” “Ladies, gentlemen, man-and-‘toon…” There was a pause. “Lllllet’s bowl!”

The stage was set for the showdown… and, only one person would take the prize. The fox grabbed his ball with a grumble. Fueled by the terrible misrepresentation given to him by the shoe guy-turned-announcer and the crowd’s favoritism towards Lola, he took a focused swing. And, just like that, he knocked over all the pins. “And, that’s how ya do that!” he said with a laugh, standing aside as Lola got up. “Your move, cottontail.” “Thank you kindly, Mr. Fox!” she graciously said. “But, ooh… ooone sec, okay?” The fox tilted his head. He watched as the rabbit turned around and pulled what looked to be a strapless, miniature purse from out of nowhere. “What are you doing?” he asked. “We have a game to play.” “Oh, I know…” She gave him a smirk from over her left shoulder. “But, I want to get my good luck charm, first!” Joseph’s look turned uneasy. “It’s not a rabbit’s foot or a fox tail, is it…?” “Nope! It’s nothing like that!” She poked around in her purse for a moment. “Then, what is it?”

“Nothing special… Just…” She turned around. The fox gave a blink as she noticed something on her dominant hand. Something he hadn’t been expecting… “My lucky glove!” Instead of her usual, white glove, Joseph noticed her hand was wrapped in a very fine-looking, pink, leather glove… one with very specific modifications. Namely, the thumb and first two fingers had been removed… all of which slipped into the familiar, pink ball Lola had been rolling all night, shortly after. That’s a bowling glove… the fox internally mused. Why would she– But, before he could finish his thought, she’d thrown the ball down the lane with tremendous force… and… demolished the ten pins, in one fell swoop.

The crowd burst into uproarious applause as Lola daintily swayed her way back toward the lane’s seating, a pleasant smile on her face and both eyes closed. “I guess my lucky charm is working… eh, Mr. Fox?” she said in an almost condescending way. And, just like that, Joseph knew… he’d been hustled. “You… smarmy…” “Sticks-and-stones, Mr. Fox!” she taunted. “It’s your bowl, now!” She gave him a cocky look. “Let’s see if you can keep up…”

All thoughts of going easy on her had gone right out the window with that taunt. As far as he was concerned, she had just sealed her fate. However, the next four frames didn’t exactly go well for Joseph… Altogether, he’d gotten two strikes, a spare, and two sets of nine for a total of 77 – not exactly his best score. Lola, on the other hand, seemed like she was on fire! Three strikes in a row, a 9-1 spare, and another strike would put her score at 119 if she kept playing as well as she had been. “Don’t worry, Mr. Fox!” she called as he lined up his sixth shot. “I’m sure you’ll catch up to me! You’re way better at this than I am, after all!” The laughter of the crowd played on his nerves. He threw the ball, and… “Oh, no!” the announcer shouted. “A 7-10 split! Can he pick it up??” Joseph answered the question… with a solid whiff. “Apparently not!” He gritted his teeth, his tail flicking. Things were not looking great for “Mr. Fox…”

By the end of the 9th frame, Joseph had managed to bring his score a little closer to hers with two strikes and a 9-1 spare… but, even with Lola’s back-to-back spare and 7-2 scores, his 154 was still a far cry from her 171.

“It all comes down to this, ladies and gentlemen… With a maximum of three strikes possible, here, Mrf could bring it back… but, only if Lucky Lola chokes and chokes hard! What’s going to happen in this, the 10th-and-final frame of this impromptu grudge match? There’s only one way to find out… and, that’s by staying tuned after these commercial messages!”

To Joseph’s surprise… a commercial started playing on all available monitors. The crowd momentarily dispersed and even Lola seemed to relax. Was it an actual commercial break…?

“Tense game so far, huh, Mr. Fox?” Lola asked with a smile and a friendly tone. “I’d say you’re doin’ pretty darn good, though! You could easily take it back if I’m not careful!” “What’s your game, Lola?” the fox snapped, crossing his arms as he stood near the lane. “You sharked me!” “I what?” she asked, looking confused. “You pool-sharked me! But… in bowling!” “Oooh, riiiiight… Yeah, I do that, sometimes,” she admitted with a grin. “You suck.” “Relax, Mr. Fox… After all…” Her grin turned into a smile. “It’s just a game!” “Eat my shorts.” The rabbit gave a scoff at that. “Well! If you’re going to be like that…” Her smile turned predatory as she tilted her head down and looked up. “Then, I’ll just have to break you.”

The commercial break ran for five-minutes-too-long, as far as Joseph was concerned. He was eager to get back into the game, pivoting in-place from one foot to the other as he waited. When it was finally time to keep going, he took a firm grasp on his ball and focused…

“Mrf has a look of intense concentration as he goes for this, his first of a possible three shots in the 10th-and-final frame… Let’s see how he does.” Joseph gave the ball a soft, controlled roll. “It’s going for the gutter…! Wait! No… it’s coming back!” The fox grinned as he watched the ball swerve. “And… oooh, what a hit! Ten pins with one ball, ladies and gentlemen!” He didn’t bother celebrating, however. He still had another roll, ahead of him… “Mrf has that same look of concentration on his face as he lines up and– what’s this?!” Joseph hurled the ball with all his might! And, once again… “Those pins are gone! There’s not a pin left standing! Mrf’s got a solid Turkey going, here! The pressure’s building… Can he, will he, get this third strike?!”

As the ball found its way back to Joseph, he shook his right hand. After bowling one frame short of five games straight, it was starting to feel sore. Still… he wanted to finish the game. He needed to show that tricky little rabbit that he wasn’t one to be messed with… “The tension in the air is thicker than calm chowder, folks… Mrf has one shot left after bowling two consecutive strikes… If he gets this, he may be able to take the game away from Lucky Lola! And, if not? He’ll have blown what may have been a huge upset! The pressure is on as he sets up this, his last chance…” The fox narrowed his eyes and zoned-in on the pins… He gripped the ball in his fingers… took his steps, released, and…

“Ladies and gentlemen… That has got to hurt.”

His eyes went wide. He couldn’t believe it. “The dreaded 7-10 split claims yet another victim and that ends Mrf’s game! Let’s see what Lucky Lola can do to keep him from winning!”

Without so much as a glance, Joseph walked by the rising rabbit. Neither player had a word for the other as Lola retrieved her pink ball. At that point, all the fox could do was lower his head and wait for the inevitable…

“What’s this?! She… missed a pin?!” The fox jerked up, ears perked and fur bristling. The crowd emitted a collective gasp and even Lola seemed stunned, herself, just standing there with her bowling arm out and the opposite leg pointed behind her. She had somehow missed the back-right pin… “Well, this is a turn for the worst, isn’t it, folks? Lola desperately needs to pick up this spare! Otherwise, she can kiss that win goodbye!”

There was an uncomfortable tenseness on the rabbit’s face as she set up for her second roll of the ball. Joseph also noticed… she was sweating. Did she really think she might miss such a simple shot? He certainly didn’t. “Lola rears back for her second shot and… oh, no!” Everyone watched in surprise as the ball veered wildly off-course! It had gone far too far to the left! “This is it!” the announcer commented. “It’s game over for Lucky– wait, no! The ball is heading back…! It’s going… going…!” Just as the announcer stated, it had curved its trajectory and… a moment later… “That pin is outta there! Lola picks up the spare!!”

The crowd cheered as Lola wiped her brow. She was still in the game… and, all things considered, it didn’t seem possible for her to lose.

“All Lola needs to do is hit two pins to win. But, ladies and gentlemen… we’ve seen this before. Long-time viewers will remember the Ajax Classic Bowling Tournament back in 2012 where Mortimer missed all the pins on his final shot, handing the win over to his long-time rival, Mickey! Will we see a repeat of that colossal blunder from our own Lucky Lola? Will she blow it and forever be remembered as the lady who couldn’t seal the deal?! Or, will she walk away from this grudge match as the victor? We’re about to find out!”

All eyes were on Lola as she set up her last shot. Just as it had been for Joseph, the air was tense and anxieties were high… Lola intensely stared down the lane, narrowing her eyes… “Two pins…” she muttered under her breath. “Just… two… pins…” Her arm went back and she stepped forward… But, then…! “What’s this?! A botched throw?!” Lola had let go of the ball too late. It was crawling down the alley… but, at the same time, it was moving fairly straight. Still, the rabbit couldn’t bear to look!

“It’s just about made it to the pins, folks… Just a little more and… I don’t believe it!” The sound of lightly-clattering pins filled the arena. Joseph, Lola, and the crowd looked down the lane with bated breath. What had the ball actually done?

“It’s all over, ladies and gentlemen, with another 7-10 split!” shouted the announcer. “Not ideal, but more-than-enough to give Lucky Lola the win with 189 points over Mrf’s 182! Lucky Lola really lives up to her name as she wins the match!!” The entire arena burst into applause for Lola! After wiping her brow and adjusting her dress, she graciously bowed to the spectators then raised both hands in victory! –––––

“Well…” Joseph had joined Lola after the crowd dispersed back to their own lanes and tables. “I guess you earned yourself a free lunch, on me, Lola.” He extended a hand forward. “Well done.” The rabbit looked at the hand of her opponent. She then glanced up at his face with an almost confused look on her own face. “Ya know… I’ve been thinking��” she said, crossing her arms before bringing a hand up, thoughtfully tapping her cheek with one finger. “Instead of making you pay for lunch, why don’t we just pay for our own meals? I mean, we were just playing for fun, right?” The fox gave a blink at that. “So, whaddya say, Mr. Fox?” She extended her hand up. “Wanna ‘go Dutch?’” There was a pause as Joseph stared at the rabbit. He seemed to be contemplating… “Yeah, alright,” he finally said with a shake of her hand. With that, they removed their footwear, headed into the nearby barbecue, and got something to take on-the-go.

“Ya know…” Lola looked up from her custom Island Caesar Salad. Joseph was looking at her from across the table. “I’m still kind of ticked about you tricking me, like that.” She looked to the side at that, fidgeting with her fork. “Be honest. Why did you try and scam me, like that?” “Because, it’s fun?” she casually commented. “‘Fun?’” He tilted his head. “You find it fun, tricking people into thinking you’re bad at something only to come back and destroy them, later?” “Yuh-huh! Aaand…” she continued with a grin as she looked to him, “I like getting free stuff from the people I beat! I mean who doesn’t like getting free stuff?” The fox murmured… then, he returned to his chicken. She returned to her salad, as well.

“The funny thing about doing that…” he said a moment later, “is that it only works once. I’m not going to fall for the whole ‘I’m not very good’ routine, again.” Lola looked up again to see that Joseph was smiling. “The next time we go bowling, I want your best game right out of the gate. Alright?” She hesitated… After a moment, however… “So, you want me to beat your butt, again, huh?” The fox gave a smirk. “We’ll see…” The two then went back to their meals, each content to know that there were no hard feelings between them.

The day seemed to pass by pretty quickly after lunch. While wandering around and watching the on-going April Fools’ Day festivities, the two managed to find themselves outside of a fairground. Apparently, there was a one-night-only fair in town to celebrate the occasion, complete with themed rides and attractions. When asked, it was hard for Joseph to say “no” to more fun with his new friend… so, the two of them headed into the fairgrounds.

The afternoon quickly gave way to evening, which seemed to turn to dusk almost immediately, as Joseph and Lola enjoyed themselves at the fair. Whether it was rides, carnival games, or just taking in the featured entertainment, the two were really having a lot of fun! Even when Lola turned the bumper cars into a competitive sport of sorts, Joseph couldn’t help but encourage her and make a game of it… though, eventually, the two had to be escorted away for causing damage and scaring the other fair-goers – no small accomplishment, considering most everyone there was a slapstick ‘toon. “I’m not a very good driver…” Lola bashfully explained as the two walked away. “Lola, I don’t think anyone is a good driver when it comes to bumper cars. But, I have to admit…” The fox looked back at the 12-car bumper car pileup behind them. “You certainly go above-and-beyond…”

Things finally started slowing down for the two as Lola insisted they go on the carousel. The trip to a garbage can that followed added some amusement to Joseph’s day, though he was quick to be there for the sickly rabbit as her body rejected the five pounds of carnival food she’d eaten, prior. “I guess I should glad we didn’t go on the Gravitron, first…” he said with a chuckle, giving her back a rub. “Yeah, I–” was all she could get out before leaning over the garbage can again. “Heh… Take your time.”

After another stop for more carnival food – something Joseph really didn’t approve of, considering – Lola decided the two of them should head to the Ferris wheel. It seemed like an alright idea to him… He didn’t figure it would spin fast enough to make her sick. Still… one question did come to mind. “You’re not afraid of heights, right?” “Nope!” was her immediate reply as she chewed on a fried carrot-on-a-stick. “Okay, then. Let’s go.” The two headed over to the Ferris wheel a moment later… and, were surprised to see that there wasn’t much of a line. “I guess people are more interested in the exciting rides…” Joseph thought aloud. “Their loss!” Lola exclaimed with a grin. “The Ferris wheel is my faaavorite ride!” “Oh, yeah?” the fox queried as the two got in-line. “Yuh-huh!” She looked straight up to the very top of the wheel. “Especially since this Ferris wheel is tall enough to see the whole city from!” “Wait, really?” He, too, looked up. “The whole city?” “ToonTown isn’t as big as you think!” she replied with a wink. “Well, considering I don’t know how big ToonTown actually is…”

Despite the short line, the wait for the Ferris wheel took longer than expected due to a slight mechanical issue. Once that was sorted, however, the carnival worker started letting people on and, eventually, it was Joseph and Lola’s turn.

The two soon found themselves in an enclosed pod. It was actually fairly roomy, with seats on either side, a space for walking in the middle, and a layer of windows surrounding them. It was even tall enough for Joseph to stand up if he’d wanted to. “Wow! This thing sure is big!” Lola commented before sitting down. “We could probably fit four people and still have plenty of room!” “Four?” was Joseph’s reply. “I could swear I saw a group of seven hop into one ahead of us… But, I think they were really short, so…” The rabbit gave a shrug at that. “Either way!”

After a short delay – presumably to see if anyone else was interested in a ride – the worker started the Ferris wheel. Just as Joseph had figured, it had a slow, smooth motion which probably wouldn’t have upset even the most delicate of tummies. Just to be on the safe side, though, he kept an eye on Lola, wanting to make sure she was alright. The rabbit didn’t seem to notice she was being watched as she moved around, looking out every possible window with great excitement. Even though they hadn’t gotten to the top, there were still plenty of things that caught her interest. “Ooh, look at that!” she said, drawing Joseph’s attention. As he looked, he could see the House of Mouse sitting in the Disney District, its lights aglow and waving freely in the night sky. “And, look over here!” she said again, pressing up against the opposite side’s glass. The fox slowly looked to see some of the taller living buildings in the distance. As if alerted to their viewing, one gave a hearty wave… and, Lola waved back, rocking the car ever-so-slightly.

For a while, Lola seemed content to just point out various sights around the city, happily calling Joseph’s attention to them, as she saw fit. It wasn’t until they’d reach the apex of the wheel’s height that she’d settled down and focused on something.

“Joseph, look…” she quietly called. When he did, he noticed… they were really high up! It was almost like being in a low-flying aircraft, the way the details of the city were lost to their multicolored lights. In a way, it was a little intimidating… maybe even a little scary… But, there was also one more thing about the view which Lola had noticed, above all. “It’s so beautiful…” she mused in a hushed tone. That distracted Joseph from his slight discomfort… but, at the same time, it also made him notice something.

Lola was standing up on her seat, using her knees to give her more height as she peered out the window. That, in-and-of itself, wasn’t terribly noteworthy… but, as the Ferris made a scheduled pause at the top… the moonlight seemed to hit Lola just right… and, it really caught his attention. He hadn’t really given Lola a close look all day, spending more time being annoyed or competing with her… but, as he saw the lunar beams caress her soft, orangey fur and bounce off the purple fabric of her cute dress… he suddenly noticed, she wasn’t just quirky. She was actually kind of… beautiful, too.

Joseph saw that the fur pattern on her feet made it look like she was wearing cream-colored slippers… which he found pretty cute. He noticed how lovely that purple dress of hers actually was and how nicely it fit her soft, slender body. He also noticed what a cute little tail she had… and, how her ears were tied back with a purple hair band, making them look like a ponytail and keeping them separate from the soft, platinum-blond bangs that hung just above her bright, sparkling eyes… And, of course… he couldn’t help but appreciate how cute those white, cartoon gloves of hers looked on her hands. What he didn’t notice, however, was the fact that she had stopped staring out the window… and, was instead staring at him.

“Mr. Fox?” she softly called, sounding mildly concerned. “Huh?” Joseph gave a blink. “What?” She reached up, brushing her bangs from her face. “You were staring…” The fox jolted in his seat! He really hadn’t realized that’s what he’d been doing! “Oh! Um… I… uh…” he stammered with a blush. “It’s okay…” was her response as she offered an understanding smile. “I appreciate it.” “Er, uh…” Lola’s look returned to the window a moment later, leaving the conversation to hang in mid-air… and, leaving Joseph to wonder…

“Do… you know why I was staring?” he cautiously asked. “I think so…” was her response. He noticed that she sounded kind of… embarrassed. “Oh… U-um…” “But, like I said…” she continued, still looking out the window. “I appreciate it.” The fox rubbed the back of his neck, not really sure what to say at that point… “I just wish you’d said something sooner…” He tensed at that, ears perking. She settled down in her seat with a smile. “If you had…” He felt a lump form in his throat and swallowed… “Then, I could have done something about it…” The fox then watched as Lola reached into her mini-purse.

Wh-what’s she reaching for…? he nervously thought, watching her open the bag. She… she’s not looking for lipstick or something, is she?! I… I didn’t mean to give her that kind of impression! I just… I got caught up in how pretty she looked in the moonlight… that’s all!

He felt himself swallow a second time as Lola withdrew something from her purse. As she opened it, he could easily identify it as a compact mirror of some kind… which only seemed to reinforce his earlier thoughts. When she brought something else up toward her face, however, he felt compelled to speak again. “I… didn’t mean to… uh…” The rabbit perked, lowering the compact. Joseph could clearly see what she’d been – and, still was – doing, then…

“Didn’t mean to what?” she asked, rubbing a small, wooden pick between her front teeth. “N… never mind,” the fox said as he turned to look out the window, his ears folding back. He could not have felt any more foolish, then…

The ride down the wheel was a quiet one since Lola had already pointed out most everything she’d wanted him to see and Joseph was quietly thinking to himself. I can’t believe I thought she was going to kiss me… he thought. I must be really starved for attention or something… I’m just lucky she misunderstood the way I was looking at her… He looked over at the preoccupied rabbit, keeping his ears folded… Things could’ve gotten really awkward… really fast, otherwise… Moments later, the ride came to an end and the two hopped out of their car.

“That was a lot of fun!” Lola said with a bright smile. “Thanks for joining me!” “Sure thing…” “Ya know… if you ever want to hang out again…” The fox gave a blink as she withdrew something else from her purse. “Why not give me your number so we can set something up, later?” she asked as she held up a rectangular item that was apparently her cell phone. “Oh, uh…” He hesitated… then gave a nod. “Sure thing.” Joseph drew his own cell phone from his pocket, reading out his numbers and watching as she punched them into hers. When he’d asked about her own, however… “Is that your message tone?” she asked, listening as his phone started playing a tinny jingle. “It sounds like old video game music!” “Yeah,” he said without shame, checking his phone. His ears perked as he noticed… “‘Hi, colon-three’ to you, too, Lola.” The two exchanged grins before Joseph saved her number to his phone’s memory. They then walked out of the fairgrounds and back to the crossroads of central ToonTown.

“I should probably head home,” Joseph started to say a moment later. “My roommate worries if I’m gone for too long on the weekends.” “You have a roommate?” Lola asked, eyes full of curiosity. “Yeah… Woody’s is a rascal… but, he’s really a nice guy.” “Is he cute, like you?” The question gave Joseph pause. She had asked that question so casually… “I… Maybe?” “Awesome! You’ll have to introduce me, sometime! Oh! And, maybe I can introduce you to my boyfriend, too!” That… visibly made the fox’s heart sink. Or, at least, it made his ears fold. “‘Boyfriend,’ huh…?” he weakly asked. “Well… ex,” she corrected herself. “At least… I think? Sometimes, he’s not really clear!” He tilted his head, giving a blink. “Aww…” She smiled. “You look like a doggie when you do that! Anyway…” Lola’s smile brightened. “Thanks for today, Mr. Fox! I’ll see you some other time! Bye-yeeeee!”

Soon enough, Joseph was left standing there, alone. He was kind of confused… but, kind of happy, all-the-same. After all, he’d made a new friend. A pretty cute one, at that…

#Joseph's ToonTown #Fools in April #commercial characters #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #original characters #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #comedy

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Fox Hunt, Ch. II

Chapter II of "Fox Hunt," a Joseph's ToonTown story. (Originally one-half of a one-part story of the same name.)

Logistics once again decided that I should split this story in twain. I'm okay, with this.

Word count: 5,657 – Character count: 32,878 Originally written: December 18th - 19th, 2016 Slightly revised: January 18th, 2017 Revised further: August 30th, 2017

The search for Joseph continues… and ends in the strangest sort of location.

Woody Woodpecker, Winnie Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Moe Syzslak, Moe's Tavern, The Simpsons, and related characters and properties created by Matt Greoning and © Fox Broadcasting Company

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Woody’s first thoughts were to head to the Disney District and ask around. He figured that Winnie had a good point about the fox being unique enough to be memorable. He briefly even considered going straight to Shinko’s apartment… but, when he remembered Joseph moaning about there being no reply to his Christmas letter, he decided against it. He then decided that there was no sense in even going to the Disney District at all… since he couldn’t think of a single reason for Joseph to go there if he and Shinko weren’t in contact.

“Now if I were a wanderin’ fox,” Woody started to say to himself, “where would I go?” A lightbulb appeared over Woody’s head and he brightly smiled. “The Henhouse! Of course!” The light suddenly went dark, his face turning thoughtful. “Wait, no… He kept sayin’ he wasn’t a ‘toon so that’d be too obvious… But…” The light once again turned on. “That does give me another idea!” Woody pulled a somewhat reckless U-turn, driving his car to the southeast. “I bet I know where he went… I know it’s where I’d go if I just got kicked out!”

While Woody headed south, Winnie decided to head farther east from Woody’s apartment, though still northernly. Just as she’d said she would, she arrived at a bus station situated outside the tunnel connecting ToonTown and Los Angeles, built some 20 years prior. If he’s been through here… Winnie mused as she pulled in, I’m sure someone would have seen him… The woodpecker stood in the small terminal building a moment later.

For as far as she could see, there were rows-upon-rows of blue-colored chairs, all lined-up side-by-side. Some of the chairs had ‘toons and even a few humans sitting in them, all presumably waiting for their bus. A further examination revealed a long counter at the far side of the well-lit building. As she saw the few people lined up and awaiting service, there, she couldn’t help but be reminded of your average airport terminal. Well… she thought a moment later, I should probably ask the staff about him.

Winnie calmly walked up to the left-most service counter. Though the clerk was busy with a customer, she decided to ask about her friend. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she started, “but, I was just wondering… Did you happen to see a tall fox come through here?” “Tall fox?” the clerk repeated, typing on his computer. “Probably. Can you be a bit more descriptive?” “Um, okay… He’s just under six feet tall and his fur is kind of an… amber, olivey color?” “Not ringin’ any bells…” “He has a trio of bangs that hang off his head like of like spikes or quills?” “Like one of those anime characters?” the clerk asked as he started to print the customer’s ticket. “Something like that… And, um, he kind of looks like Tails, from Sonic the Hedgehog or Sonic Boom, if you’re familiar with that? But, add a few years and remove the goggles? He was probably wearing jeans and a T-shirt of some kind, too… Oh! And, a backpack!”

“Hmm…” The clerk handed the customer his ticket before turning to Winnie. “I actually did see someone like that, the other day. I think he was heading to Nebraska… But, he was shorter – about your height – so, it probably wasn’t him.” The clerk paused… “Say, how recently did this ‘amber-olive’ fox guy come through here?” “That’s the thing…” Winnie shyly rubbed her fingers together, lowering her head. “I don’t know… Within the last 10 days, is my best guess…” “Oh! Well… that’s a long time, in this business,” he laughed. “But, ah, maybe one of the other clerks saw your friend?” As the clerk started to turn toward the other windows, Winnie stopped him. “It’s okay! I’ll ask them, myself… Um, thank you for your time!” “Sure, sure… Sorry I couldn’t be any help.” The male clerk gave a wave to the friendly little bird as she walked beside the counter. It didn’t take long for Winnie to reach the next occupied window. And thus, the chain of inquiry resumed…

By the end of Winnie’s questioning, she was absolutely no closer to finding Joseph than she had been 15 minutes earlier. Apparently, none of the on-duty staff… clerks, bus drivers, the snack bar operator… none of them had seen anyone even remotely close to what she’d described – at least no “Tails doppelganger.” She did get a lot of information as to where the actual Tails had been going… but, of course, that was of no use to her… Darn it, Joseph… she thought to herself as she walked back to her car. Did you leave by bus? Did you even leave at all? Maybe you rented a car? With that thought in her head, she set her own car’s navigational computer to take her to the nearest car-rental place. At the very least… it would tell her where Joseph wasn’t… –––––

The search for Joseph had reached the 2-hour point and Winnie was starting to get frustrated. She had searched every car-rental location and any place that could have possibly provided a way out of ToonTown for a wanderer… as well as nearby hotels, motels, and a couple of flop-houses… but, to no avail. Not one single person had recalled seeing any sort of “tall, amber-colored Tails clone.” “This is ridiculous!” she said into a wireless earpiece connected to her cell phone. “We don’t even know if Joseph’s still in ToonTown, much less where!” “Gee, that sounds familiar!” laughed a voice on the other end. “Oh… you’re no help, Woody!” “Heeey, nooow…!” he replied, sounding mildly offended. “I’ve been lookin’, too, ya know! I looked around every diner, drive-in, and dive I could find from Disney to Warner and ain’t no one seen him! But, if you wanna know where Tails ‘s been, this last week…” “No, thanks…” Winnie muttered, shaking her head. “I already know that.” “That fox gets ‘round, doesn’t he?” “Focus, Woody! We need to– gah!! Hold on a second, would you?” The next thing Woody heard in his own wireless headset was the sound of one very angry bird who was shouting, presumably, at nearby traffic.

“Trouble on the mean streets of ToonTown, babe?” he asked with a grin. “Some… arrogant fop cut me off!” Winnie replied with a huff. “Just because you own a luxury sedan doesn’t mean you own the road!” The male woodpecker winced at Winnie’s loud voice but grinned all the more. “Now who needs t’ focus?” He could hear her give a frustrated growl… but, even knowing that it wasn’t aimed at him, he had to laugh.

“Anyway…” Winnie said after taking a few cleansing breaths, “I’m going to keep looking for another hour, then I’m going home. I can’t keep searching forever and if he wants to play hide-and-seek, well… then, he can play with himself!” “Uh…” “I know, I know…” she sighed, realizing her unintentional innuendo. “Woody…” She paused for a moment. “If you find him… or any information that might be helpful…” “You’ll be the first to know, babe!” he assured her. “Thank you…” Winnie gave another sigh. “Talk to you later, Woody. And, thanks for helping…” “No problem! Catch you later!” And, with that, they terminated the call.

“Gee, Winnie sure seems down in the dumps…” Woody thought aloud as he continued driving. “Maybe I should get her some pretty flowers on th’ way back… I think she likes flowers, anyways. All girls like flowers… Don’t they?” Woody briefly stared at his reflection in the rear-view mirror of his car. It gave a casual shrug before going back to driving. “Some help you are!” he said with a grin before turning his full focus back to the road.

Another twenty minutes flew by as Woody continued his search. He really had tried a number of eateries, both formal and non, but to no avail. Not sure where else to look, he eventually decided to go to the one place he thought Joseph would avoid…

“The Red Light District…”

True to its name, that area of ToonTown was a bit less family-friendly than the other districts. The streets and sidewalks were dirty with refuse, though the buildings seemed fairly clean. They also looked a lot more lit-up than most other areas of ToonTown, some places advertising their services… often shamelessly. However, attractions of the Red Light District weren’t limited to just the risqué… but, also, the addictive. ToonTown was one of the rare places in California where gambling on non-Indian land was legal. In addition, it seemed like there were a lot more bars… both upscale and dive… in that area, in particular. Oddly enough, Woody started to realize, as he drove through the seedy underbelly of the place he lived… “This… might actually be the one place Joe would go, now that I think about it!”

As booming as businesses were in the Red Light District, there were also more than a few ‘toons and even some humans hanging around in darkened alleyways, vacant lots, and other private-public places, just trying to survive. And, unfortunately… Woody thought he’d recognized more than a few of them, himself. “We should really do something to help those old ‘toons…” he thought aloud. “But, there just ain’t enough work in Cali to help everyone… Plus, not everyone can go from check-to-check like I used to. Money just ain’t what it used t’ be, after all…” Woody gave a sympathetic frown. “Maybe one day, when I’m rich ’n famous, again… Hah, that’ll happen!” He gave a smirk at his reflection. “Knowin’ my luck, I’m more likely t’ get mugged than get another job in Hollywood!” The woodpecker suddenly tensed. “That… prob’ly wasn’t th’ smartest thing t’ say, considerin’ where I am…” He shook his head… then, he continued driving and looking.

Woody’s luck seemed like a mix of good-and-bad as he cruised around the district, checking to see if Joseph was among the homeless or even the people out-and-about. On the upside, he didn’t get mugged or even stopped by a homeless person. But, on the downside… “That fox ain’t nowhere t’ be seen!” Once he’d driven around the large part of the area, he decided to check what time it was and give Winnie a call. He’d had enough searching… Unfortunately, though… “What– my cell phone’s dead…?” Despite being plugged into the car’s charger, his phone was indeed completely blank and no amount of button-pressing would wake it back up. “Well, that’s just great…” he grumbled. “Now, I don’t know what time it is and I can’t call Winnie! Guess I’ll have t’ find a pay-phone…” He paused for a moment… “Preferably one inside some place… I could prob’ly knock some heads if I need to… but, better-safe-than-sorry…” With that thought in his head, he drove around his immediate surroundings until he found a place that was likely to have an indoor phone. Strangely enough… “What? I didn’t know we had one’a those in ToonTown!” Woody’s search had led him to an unexpected location.

He pulled up to the curb next to the somewhat generic-looking square building he’d recognized. The outside of the location was dull-brown, not unlike dirt. It had some purple, wooden slats decorating its top as well as surrounding the frame of the two green-and-orange, stained glass windows and free-swinging door. A large, plain-looking sign above the door, which had been the thing to get Woody's attention in the first place, told him exactly what it was. “Moe’s Tavern!” Woody said as he stepped out of his car. “Well, I’ll be darned!” Amazed to see such a place right there in ToonTown… even in the Red Light District… the woodpecker walked right in. His surprise didn’t end there, however… for standing behind the service counter was none other than…

“Moe Szyslak?!” he called without thinking. “Yeah, who wants ta–�� The bartender paused, his sloped brow furrowing. “Woody Woodpecker?!” “Hey, Moe! Whaddaya know?” Woody was quick to hop up on a bar stool, a big smile on his face as he greeted the tavern’s owner and founder. Moe seemed pretty thrilled to see the bird, as well.

“Woody Woodpecker!” he repeated with a smile of his own. “I ain’t see ya fer so long…! What’cha been up t’? Here, lemme pour ya a cold one!” “I prob’ly shouldn’t…” the woodpecker warned. “I gotta drive back home. Plus I’ve got work, in the morning!” “Aww, c’mon!” Moe said as he poured a tall, frosty mug for the bird. “One beer ain’t gonna hurt’cha!” “Weeeeell…” “For old time’s sake?” he pleaded, pouring himself a mug as well. Woody paused to think… “Oh… I can’t say ‘no’ t’ those beady li’l eyes! Hit me, Moe!” “There’s my favorite woodpecker!”

Even though Woody was several years older, the two still had their fair share of stories to regale the other with. And, along with those stories… Woody was convinced to have more beer. Much more beer, in fact…

“Awright well,” Woody said sometime later with a slur to his voice, “I sh’uld pro’ly call Winnie ‘n tell ‘er ah’m comin’ home empty-handed ‘n fully-loaded…” “Hey hey, before ya go…” Moe gave his best puppy-dog face. “Would’ja do th’ laugh one time, fer ol’ Moe?” “Th’ laugh…?” Woody hicced, wobbling on his seat. “Ya know! Yer Woody Woodpecker laugh! Hoh-heh-huh-haaah-huh!” The woodpecker gave a sloppy grin at Moe’s pale imitation. “Tha’s not how it goes… Is more like… huh-hah-heh-haaah-huh!” “Naw-naw-naw, that ain’ it… It’s… hoh-hee-hoo-haaaah-huh!” “No, Moe…!” the woodpecker said with a chuckle, “I know Woody ‘n he’s got a laugh like… ‘hwee-hee-huh-haaah-hoo!’” “C’mon now,” the bartender said with a grin. “I ain’t lettin’ ya leave ‘til ya does it right!” “Oh. Okay… Um…” He gave an uneven blink. “How’zit go again…?”

Moe and the woodpecker exchanged odd-sounding laughs back-and-forth, each getting closer to Woody’s trademark but still missing the mark, thanks to Moe’s bad mimicry and Woody’s intoxication. It might have been maddening to listen to, for any other patrons of the bar. But, save for one lone figure in the corner, no one else had come in. “Hey… Hey…!” Unfortunately, said figure had clearly had their fill of noise pollution…

“Oh, look,” Moe said as he crossed his arms, “we woke Sleepin’ Beaut-y. Enjoy ya nap, ya drunk skunk?” “I’m a fox, you f–” Woody gave a jolt as the figure spat a vulgar word at his friend. Slowly, the wheels began to turn in his head… “Fox…?” he thought out loud as he slowly turned around in his seat. “Saaay… I been lookin’ fer a fox… Maybe you can help me? I’m lookin’ fer a fox about…” The woodpecker sized up the figure that had walked toward the bar. Eventually, he got to his feet and held a hand up to the fox’s forehead. “Yeeeeea tall? Kinda weird, pukey-gold fur… kinda like this,” he said as he brought the fox’s olive-gold arm into view. “Blackish-brown gloves ‘n ears ‘n feet… kinda like this… White mask… goldish eyes…” Woody narrowed his eyes, looking at the fox’s own irritated orbs. “Yeah! Kinda like that! Answers t’ th’ name of ‘Joe-seph…?’ Ya know ‘im?” The fox narrowed his bloodshot eyes all the more and gave a growl. He yanked his arm free of the woodpecker’s gloved hand, causing him to rapidly spin around on the stool. After a few rotations, he came to a stop and held his head, wobbling… “Oooh… I see ya got some twin brothers…”

“Woody, you idiot!” the fox snarled. “It’s me! Joseph! The guy whose life you ruined?! Ring a bell?!!” “Joe-seph…?” Woody repeated. “Joe-seph… Joe-zef! Oh, hey! I been lookin’ all over th’ place, fer ya! Where ya been, ‘Bro-seph?’” Joseph growled again, glaring at the seemingly oblivious bird. “Dude man bro man dude…” Woody continued, “wait until I tell Winnie this ‘s where ya been hidin’!” “You will do no such thing,” the fox said in a warning tone. “Oh, no, you dun under–” Woody gave a hiccup. “– understand… See, Winnie was all like, ‘We gotta go find Joe-seph,’ ‘n I was all like, ‘Why we gotta go find Joe-seph,’ ‘n she was all like, ‘‘cause I wanna go find Joe-seph,’ so I was like, ‘So let’s go fuh-hind Joe-seph,’ ‘n she was like–” “Wait…” the fox interrupted, giving a blink. “Winnie wanted to find me?” “Oh yeeaaah, Bro-seph…” Woody said with a nod. “She wanted t’ ask’ew some stuff!” Joseph looked to one side, his ears folding back. “Well, maybe I don’t wanna talk to her…” he coldly stated. “You’re gonna turn down a chance t’ talk wid the Winnie Woodpecker?” Moe interjected. “Ah, you young 3D ‘toons don’t know nothin’ ‘bout nothin’! Why, there’s plen’y’a toons what would give their left ear t’ meet Winnie Woodpecker!” “Yeah, Bro-seph…!” Woody drunkenly added. “Consider yerself lucky she wants t’ see ya! I tol’ her there ain’t no reason fer it… but, you know how gals are… Ain’ that right, Moe?” “Most dames ain’t nothin’ but trouble,” the bartender mused, “but, that Winnie’s a classy lady! ‘sides, any friend’a Woody’s ‘s a friend’a mine!”

“Yeah! So,” the woodpecker said, jabbing a gloved finger against Joseph’s chest, “you gotta do it. ‘cause any friend’a Moe’s is a friend’a Woody’s. And, brother? You wanna be a friend’a Woody’s ‘cause that woodpecker’s one powerful enemy! Why, just a few days ago, this bum fox thought he could mess with Woody’s girlfriend! But, he showed ‘im! Threw ‘im right outta his place and– heeey…” Woody paused, examining the angering Joseph. “You kinda look like that bum fox…” “I am that bum fox, you drunken jackass!” “Wait a sec…” Moe looked over to the fox from behind Woody. “You’re that low-life what thought they’d break Winnie’s heart?!” “Yes!” The fox paused to blink. “Wait– no? What…?” And, just like that, he found himself looking down the barrel of a cartoony… but, very dangerous-looking shotgun.

“We don’t serve yer kind here, fleabag. I suggest you mosey on along now.” The fox slowly lifted his hands as he heard Moe priming the shotgun to fire. “Elsewise, I guess I’m gettin’ a new fox-skin rug fer my bat’room. Get it?” For a moment, Joseph felt afraid… He was one little motion away from ceasing to exist! But, as he stared down that shiny, metal barrel and smelled the scent of gunpowder… a new thought entered his head. “Fine…” Joseph lowered his hands and his head, looking down at the floor. “You’ve got me fair-and-square. I’m the bad-guy. I’m at-fault. I said some horrible things to Winnie which, apparently, broke her heart. But, you know what?” The fox jerked his head back up, his teeth gritted and his ears folded back. “I don’t give a shit, anymore!” Moe jerked back as the fox shouted. He looked genuinely surprised! Still, the fox continued, starting on a rave…

“For the last 11 months of my life, I’ve been the butt of so many senseless and pointless sight gags, pranks, jokes, and japes! And, most of them were from him!” Woody jerked back as Joseph pointed at him. “During those 11 months, I’ve been a stranger in a strange land… lost and alone. But then, as if by-chance… I ran into the girl of my dreams. Literally! I couldn’t remember who she was or where I would have ever seen her… but, somehow, I knew she was someone I knew and, slowly… as I hung-out with her… I started to remember who she was. “Her name was Shinko. She was a half-animated ‘toon from right here in California. And to her, I was like a breath of fresh air to her otherwise unhappy life. Things were going great! For about… three hours.” Joseph looked back down, closing his eyes. “I made a mistake that changed everything… changed her opinion of me… I ruined everything that could have been… All because I couldn’t keep it in my pants…”

“Yeah, that’s real nice ‘n all,” Moe muttered, keeping his shotgun aimed at the fox, “but, I really don’t–” “Fast-forward to later that week…” The bartender gave a labored sigh… He wanted… really wanted… to just pull the trigger… but, for some reason, he just couldn’t. And so, he put the shotgun back behind the bar and leaned against the rear counter, arms crossed and eyes half-open. He knew he was in for a long story…

Joseph had started from the very beginning of his entry into ToonTown and gone into great detail about his rotten luck… but, during the course of the story, something else seemed to pop up. A lot, in fact. And, that was one name… and, it wasn’t “Shinko.” “It was such a weird feeling… knowing that Winnie thought of me as a friend…” the fox said, coming to the end of his thoughts as he rubbed his arm. “But, I guess, for whatever reason… she did. And, that’s why it hurt so much when things ended the way they did…” “Yea’, I feel ya pain,” Moe said in an unconvincing way. “I really do. Now I’m gonna have t’ ask yas t’ leave ‘cause I don’t like ya face, no mo’. Get out.” The fox gave a sad look to the bartender, a frown on his face and tears in his eyes. However, Moe came right back with a cold look of his own which told the fox he just didn’t care. “A shotgun to the face would be less far painful than what I’ve been feeling for the last ten days…” “Yea’ well, shells ain’t cheap, fleabag,” Moe spat. “Now, mosey on outta my bar b’fore I change my mind.” “Wait…” Both the fox and the bartender looked at Woody. He’d been quietly sitting there, taking in every word Joseph had to say, up until that point. However, as they looked at him, he had his hand on the fox’s arm and wore a curious look on his face.

“Is… is what you said true?” he quietly asked. “Do you really feel that way… about my Winnie?” Joseph gave a blush… but, slowly, he confirmed the thought with a nod. “I didn’t want to upset you… or, hurt you…” he said, “but…” “Well, now… that’s an eye-opener…” Woody looked down, putting his hands on the bar. “Guess that explains why she was so eager t’ find you, too…” “She was…?” The fox tilted his head, watching the bird nod. “I didn’t think it was worth botherin’ with…” He looked up with a smile. “Kinda glad I was wrong, though. You are, after all… the best friend I’ve had, in a while.” For some reason, that just made Joseph blush even more…

“Eh-ehhhn…”

The two jerked, startled by Moe’s sudden sigh. “If you two loveboids ‘r done huggin’ it out…” “You know something, Moe…” “Yea’?” he said with a glare at Joseph. “What?” Suddenly, the fox slammed what looked to be fifty dollars on the counter. He had a glare of his own, by that point. “Thank you for your service, over the last couple of days,” he said in an angry tone. “I sincerely hope business picks up, for you.” “Ah… T’anks?” The bartender gave a confused, somewhat worried look as he took the fox’s money.

“Where’s your car, Woody?” Joseph said in a calmer tone. “I’ll drive you home.” “Oh, ya don’t need t’ do that, pal…” he laughed. “I can drive m’self home!” “You can’t fool me, Woody. You’re still pretty drunk.” “Yeeaaah… I prob’ly am…” he bashfully admitted. “Alright. Let’s go.” “Hang on just one second there, woodpecker!” The two looked back to Moe. He still had his cash register open and appeared to be looking directly at Woody. “Friend ‘r not, ya still owe me fer dem twelve beers ya drank!” The sudden sound of a hand slapping against a counter alerted the bartender and his client. Once again, Joseph had offered up money. “Keep the change,” he said with an scowl and an attitude. “C’mon, Woody…” The two immediately headed outside, leaving Moe baffled… but, eighty bucks richer.

The drive back home was a curious one. Woody seemed content to just sleep the whole way while Joseph, despite being cramped and curled into a ball by the small vehicle, drove at a moderate pace back to the Universal District. Soon enough, they’d arrived back at the Rubber Arms apartment complex… and, it seemed that someone had been waiting for them. “Woody!” The woodpecker snapped out of his nap and groggily looked out through the passenger window… just to see the smiling face of his girlfriend staring back. “Oh… Hey, babe,” he quietly said. “Look who I found at Moe’s Tavern…” “Moe’s what? We have one of those?” Winnie asked before turning her attention to the driver’s side door. As she watched a figure spill out and on to the pavement, her heart skipped a beat. “J… Joseph?” she quietly called. “Nngh…” The olive-gold fox slowly got to his feet, brushing himself off before stretching with several audible pops. “I really hate this car…” “Joseph!”

He turned around just in time to see Winnie climb up on the tiny car’s roof. Her hands were clasped together and she wore a bright smile, her eyes sparkling in the lights of the apartment complex. He couldn’t help but wonder why she was so happy to see him…

Slap!

That thought, however, quickly escaped him as a gloved hand left its mark on his left cheek. When he started to rub it, he could see Winnie’s expression had become an angry scowl, her hands on her hips and her foot tapping on the roof of the car.

“I…” he started to say. Suddenly, he changed his mind, asking, instead, “What was that for?” “What do you think, you stupid jerk?!” she shouted, throwing her hands up. “How dare you make Woody worry about you, like that! What were you thinking?!” “W… Woody?” he repeated, his ears flicking. “The way he tells it, you were the one who was worried about me. Or at least… curious? I guess?” The female woodpecker gave a huff, crossing her arms over her chest and looking away. “I couldn’t care less about where you’ve been!” “You know…” Joseph smiled. “You’re a terrible liar.”

Smack!

“Don’t assume you know me, Joseph Lithius!” she scolded after making his right cheek match his left. “That’s how this whole mess started, to begin with!” “Yeah…” he said as he rubbed both cheeks. “About that…” Winnie narrowed her eyes as she watched the fox fidget on-the-spot. He looked down, his ears folding back, a thoughtful look on his face. It seemed like he had something to say… “I’m… sorry,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I said you weren’t funny.” The bird’s eyes narrowed further. It didn’t seem like she was buying his apology… “I’m serious, Winnie…” he said, cautiously turning his eyes her way. “I’m really sorry I said you weren’t funny… It was… I just…” The fox gave a sigh. “I wasn’t in the mood to be messed-with… I was in the mood for…” He quickly looked down to the dozing woodpecker in the car before finishing with, “s-something else.” “‘Something else,’ huh?” She tapped her foot again, giving a suspicious look. “Y… yeah…” he hesitantly admitted. “I just… I was getting frustrated when you wouldn’t quit pulling pranks on me and…” “Joseph.” The fox looked up at Winnie. She still seemed upset with him, her half-open eyes piercing into his own and her brow curled downward. However… she didn’t seem quite as mad as she had been, a minute prior…

“What you said to me,” she started to say in a stern tone, “was unacceptable. It was horrible. It cut me to the bone and made me question all the work I’ve done over the years. Even after you were gone, I couldn’t get those words out of my mind… ‘You’re not funny.’” Her eyes opened wide and her voice filled with emotion, then. “Do you know what it’s like for a ‘toon like me to hear someone they care so much about telling them, point-blank, that they don’t think they’re funny?!”

The fox winced, ducking down and frowning… He felt worse than ever… “I was made to make people laugh, Joseph…” Winnie mused, looking up at a nearby street lamp. “And, if I can’t do the exact thing I was made to do…” She gave the fox a sad, scared look. “Then, what’s the point of living…?” The guilt was rising in Joseph’s soul… and, that look she was giving was killing him… “Sure, I can keep working my 9-to-5 job at the hospital,” she said as she looked away, “or, any other job, for that matter… But, those would be… are… just that. Jobs…” She looked back to Joseph with a frown. “My creators put me on this planet… in this world… to make people laugh. Even if I’m not being paid for it, that’s what I was made to do! I can’t fight that… can’t change that… But, I also don’t want to. A ‘toon going against their very nature… the reason they were created…” The woodpecker shivered. “That could lead down a very dark and very dangerous path…”

Once again, Winnie looked directly into Joseph’s eyes. He could see… practically feel the weight of her words as she continued.

“I have been to a lot of places in my life… Some of them, good. Some of them… not-so-good. When you told me I wasn’t funny, Joseph, I…” She looked away, inhaling in a very broken way. “I should stay mad…” she whispered after a moment. “I should hate you for taking me back to that dark place… that place I hadn’t been for… for a long time…” She looked back toward Joseph. He noted a mix of anger… and, sorrow… to her gaze. “I can’t trust you, right now, Joseph… I can’t trust that you won’t say something horrible like that, again… I just can’t…” The bird paused, closing her eyes… “I hope you understand…”

The fox stared at the woodpecker, his ears folded and his body tense. There was a terrible, sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach… and, he was sure it wasn’t from whatever alcohol was still in his system. He had hurt Winnie… really hurt Winnie… and, she wasn’t afraid to let him know.

“I guess what that one guy said is true… ‘You can drop anything on a ‘toon’s head and they’ll be fine,’” he paraphrased with a sad smile, “‘but, break their heart…’” “‘And, they go to pieces…’” she finished, slowly opening her eyes. “Boy, that quote feels so relevant to my time in ToonTown…” The fox gave a hollow laugh, rubbing his left arm as he stared up at Winnie.

“I can’t forgive you right now, Joseph…” she began again. “But, that doesn’t mean it’s forever… I want to forgive you… but, I may never forget just what you said…” “I don’t blame you, Winnie…” he assured her. “And… while it’s not ideal… at… at least you’re talking to me. Ya know?” The two went silent. Winnie seemed to know exactly what Joseph meant…

“Maybe you should just forget about her,” Winnie offered. “There’s plenty of fish in the sea and this one’s been driving you crazy for a while. Just… cast again and hope for the best?” “What?” The fox gave a blink. “Cast again and… what? And, forget about who?” “You know…” Joseph paused to think… “Oh. O-oh! Oh!” he suddenly said, his eyes widening as he realized what Winnie was talking about. “Oh, no, no, Winnie! I– I didn’t mean to imply…” Joseph gave a frustrated growl, putting his hands over his face. “I’m sorry…” he whimpered. “I’m so sorry…” “No… no…” Winnie rebutted. “I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions.” This did little to comfort the fox, however.

“But…” Winnie looked up. Joseph had removed his hands from his face and spoken again. “You’re not wrong,” he continued with a slight smile. “On both counts.” The woodpecker tilted her head, confused at what he meant. “Shinko’s a sweetheart… but, there are plenty of other people… ‘toons or otherwise… ones actually looking for love. And, maybe it’s time I started looking for them…” He crossed his arms, lightly grinning at he looked toward the sky. “You know, I do have some options, come to think of it,” the fox mused. “Oh?” Winnie seemed genuinely curious. “Sure.” Joseph looked back her way, gesturing with one hand as he spoke. “That Velma lady seemed pretty interested in me, last year. I mean, I haven’t really kept in contact with her, since our last meet-up… I work days and she’s a night-owl… but–” “Hang on…” He gave a blink as Winnie suspiciously looked at him. “You know Velma? As in… Velma Dinkley?” “Yyyes?” He blinked again. “The girl with the glasses and an orange turtleneck?” “That’s her.” She hummed, crossing her arms. “You know Velma… but, you don’t know anything about Scooby-Doo?” “I don’t– wait.” He narrowed his eyes. “Is… was Velma a character on the Scooby-Doo show or something?” “You know… we should really get you guys a subscription to Netflix, or something. Maybe, if you actually watched some of these cartoons I keep bringing up…” “Well… when you’re literally in a cartoon, every day…” The two shared a bit of laughter then a quiet smile… Even though Winnie had told him it would take a while, Joseph had faith that she may find it in her heart to forgive him… even if he would never forgive himself. Even so, it was just comforting to know that, despite his colossal mistake… Winnie still saw him as an acquaintance… if not, a friend. He just hopped Woody would, as well, when he sobered and woke, later that evening…

#Fox Hunt #commercial characters #The Woody Woodpecker Show #Woody Woodpecker #Winnie Woodpecker #The Simpsons #Moe Szyslak #original characters #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #drama

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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The Eve of the Eve of an Eve, Ch. II

Chapter II of "The Eve of the Eve of an Eve," a Joseph's ToonTown story. (Previously one-half of the story of the same name.)

I didn't actually split this story for logistical reasons or anything like that. It just felt like it should be split, to me.

Word count: 4,063 – Character count: 24,017 Originally written: December 15th - 16th, 2016 Slightly revised: January 14th - 15th, 2017 Revised further: August 29th, 2017

After a visit to a creepy collector of old electronics, Winnie and Joseph take in and discuss a classic movie right at home.

Winnie Woodpecker, the Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Judge Doom, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and related characters and properties created by Gary K. Wolf and © The Walt Disney Company

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“Huh…” Joseph tilted his head after waiting a few moments. “He usually responds, by now,” he told his companion. “Maybe I should try it, again.”

Tap, tap-tap-tap, tap…

Another handful of moments passed as the two waited. Still, nothing happened. “Maybe he’s not here, today?” Winnie offered. “It’s Valentine’s Eve-Eve… plus, it’s the weekend, so–”

Tap, tap.

The two of them perked as they heard something knock from the other side of the door. Joseph smiled at his companion with excitement. He quickly cleared his throat before looking up at the security camera, again. Before he could talk, however… “Where’s… Woody?” called an odd, wheezy voice from behind the door. “He had to work overtime, tonight. It’s just me. Well…” He paused… then, he looked at Winnie, gesturing to her. “Just us, rather.” “Is that– is that… who I think it is…?” the voice said as the bird looked up. “If you think it’s Winnie Woodpecker, then, yes. Yes, it is.” Suddenly, the door vibrated. Joseph and Winnie could hear various fastens being undone from the other side. A moment later, it opened and revealed… a rather underwhelming form.

“Come in, come in… What a pleasant surprise!” said a very tall, very gangly, man. He stared at the two from behind thick, soda-bottle glasses, standing there in a pair of striped pajama bottoms, a stained, white t-shirt, and what looked to be old, beat-up bunny slippers. He was balding on the top of his head but had long, stringy, black hair, otherwise. The thing that struck Winnie as the most interesting, however, was the fact that he wasn’t a ‘toon like she’d been expecting. He was a relatively normal-looking human-being!

“Hey, Fred,” Joseph said as he entered any hesitation. “How’s business?” “Gooood, gooood…” Fred looked down at Winnie, who had lagged behind. “Come in, come in… my little friend! Can I offer you teeea… and, something to eat?” “We just came from dinner, actually,” Joseph said. “Winnie? You comin’?” Winnie stood by the door. She did not like the looks of that “Fred” guy… or his “store”. Fred’s Video Shed was a little too appropriately-named, she thought, given how compact and dimly-lit it was. There were numerous shelves stocked with various outdated electronics and related paraphernalia within and the place was basically a small hole-in-the-wall sort of store. It also smelled, Winnie noted solely to herself, strongly of marijuana…

“I’ll… wait out here,” she said, frowning at Joseph. “You sure?” The fox turned toward the door. Fred was still standing there, staring down at his friend. “I’m… quite sure.”

Joseph frowned, finally noticing the discomfort on his friend’s face and in her voice… “Alright, I know Fred looks a bit…” The shopkeeper turned toward Joseph, a wide grin on his face as he stated, “Creeeeepy…” wiggling his fingers all the while. “Right, well… right.” The fox gave a chuckle. “But, he’s actually pretty harmless.” “So, why not come in, my little friend, so I can show you…” He paused, taking a moment to breathe in a very raspy way before saying, “my collection…?” “Fred, c’mon now. Cut it out. You’re scaring her.” “Oh, alright…” he said in a slightly deep but otherwise normal voice. He then backed away from the doorway and shuffled over to a counter, sitting down on it and crossing his arms.

“Fred loves theatrics,” Joseph explained to the confused woodpecker. “He also remembers the story of ‘The Collector’ who plagued Los Angeles years ago, when all those ‘toons were being abducted. He kind of relates to being–” “A collect-ooorrr…” Fred interrupted in his wheezy voice from before. “Right. But, honestly, he’s just a guy who collects stuff nobody wants anymore.” “Not unlike…” He inhaled before wheezing, “The Collect-ooorrr…” “Fred!” “Sorry, sorry…” The beanpole rubbed the back of his neck. “So… yeah,” Joseph continued. “A collector collecting stuff nobody wants. Not ‘toons… but, simply, used and/or outdated electronics. Mostly video media… but, sometimes, other stuff.” “Like, for example…” Fred reached behind the counter. When he leaned back over, he had something odd in his hands. It looked like… “This positively… adorable… toy robot from the 1980s…” Winnie watched as he knelt down and set the object on the floor. He pressed a button somewhere on its back and, after a moment, it came to life!

The little, black robot stiffly walked forward, its eyes and the ray-gun in its left hand flashing while a jingling noise emitted from somewhere on its body. Winnie also noticed that it seemed to be emitting a bit of smoke or steam from its head. “This little thing actually runs a little bit of electricity… but, mostly oil,” Fred explained to the bird, “which is why you’re seeing smoke. It had moderate success during 1984 but was well outsold by G.I. Joes, The Real Ghostbusters toys, and the like.” As Winnie watched the robot take step-after-step toward her, she had to admit… it was kind of cute. Between the toy and the story behind it, she also felt herself become more comfortable with the grungy shopkeeper and his dank, dark shop. “I guess you really can’t judge a book by its cover!” she absentmindedly thought aloud, happily watching the robot flash and walk. “Perhaps… perhaps…” Fred playfully wheezed before offering a friendly smile.

With the ice truly well and broken, Winnie finally decided to enter the shop. Once she was inside, Fred walked over and closed the door behind her, fastening two of the locks in the process. That made Winnie feel a little tenser… but, if Joseph wasn’t worried, she figured she probably shouldn’t be, either.

“So…” the fox said, turning his attention from the shelves and to their maintainer. “I hear tale that you have something we’re interested in, Fred… Woody and I.” “Indeeeed…” he rasped, rhythmically tapping his fingers together. “But, the real question is… do you have what I am looking for?” “I should hope so,” Joseph replied, withdrawing his wallet from his rear pocket. “Unless Woody was just screwin’ with me… again.” Winnie watched as Joseph withdrew something from his wallet… something ‘toony. It looked to be a small, shiny, black triangle… or, a flat cone of some sort. It wasn’t until Joseph started unfolding it that she realized what it was.

“Isn’t that a portable hole?” she asked. “Yeah?” was his reply as he snapped it, getting the wrinkles out of its texture. “How in the world were you even carrying that? It should have eaten your wallet… or, at the very least, punched a hole through it.” “I lined my wallet with ‘toon-proofing.” He looked to one side with a grumble. “Mostly to keep Woody from randomly jumping out and scaring the crap out of me. Or, stealing stuff…” “Stealing stuff…?” Winnie gave a blink of surprise. “You mean money…?” “Business cards… my work ID… et cetera,” he grumbled again. Fred chuckled at that. “Anyway, it should be in here somewhere, I think…” Joseph said as he reached into the hole. “Wait… wait… I think– this might be it. Yeah, here we are!” The shopkeeper watched in awe as Joseph withdrew… a small rectangle. “What is it?” Winnie asked. Joseph showed the item to Winnie… who then stared, wide-eyed at it. “Is that… a Woody Woodpecker VHS from the Netherlands?” Indeed, the yellow cover had a very poorly-drawn version of her boyfriend on it as well as some sort of black cat. It also had a white border around the front with a red banner proudly displaying the words “Star Cartoon Festival” at its peak. Just under that, a wooden-lettered marquee read “Woody Woodpecker” and finally, at the very bottom were some Dutch words in white which Winnie recognized to read “Dutch Language.”

“I’ve been wanting to get my hands on this for so long…!” Fred said as he hopped up to take the item. Joseph, however, was quick to withdraw it from his sizeable reach. “Not so fast, Floydsberg!” he said, waving a finger on his free hand. “Do you have it?” Fred’s eyebrows lowered and a look of anger flashed across his face… “You dare to defy the wants of The Collector in his own domicile…?” he said, rearing back and pointing a long finger at the fox. Joseph replied with a smirk before saying, “I dare.” The tall man gave a loud hiss, twirling and walking around the counter. To Winnie’s surprise, he seemed to vanish right before her eyes! However, she could hear footsteps. A peek over the counter revealed a staircase… previously hidden under a fake floor! “Joseph…?” she called with a look of concern. “Wait for it,” he said in a reassuring tone. The female gave a scowl… She really wasn’t sure what to make of the situation… but, she really didn’t like it. That Fred character had a hidden room… under his floorboards. That generally didn’t lead to good things, if books and movies taught her anything…

“I have… returned!” called a voice from the hidden stairwell. Fred quickly made his way back up to the surface. “And, I have that which you seek… you wretch!” “Show me,” was Joseph’s reply. And show him, Fred did. The tall man gently placed a large device on the counter. It was rectangular, bulky, and had a ridiculous amount of buttons on it, not to mention a couple of dials and several input and output jacks. Winnie also noticed that it had the words “Multi Laser” on it. While it put her in mind of a DVD or BluRay disc player, she noted it had a slot for something she didn’t see much of, anymore – a VHS cassette. It then dawned on her… “Is… is that a LaserDisc player?” “This is the Panasonic Multi Laser Disc Player, model LX-K700 with cables and…” Fred normally said before drawing something from his side. “A remote!” “And…?” Joseph said with a grin. “Where’s the other thing?” The human grimaced a little, inhaling… then, exhaling. Slowly, he withdrew a large case of some sort from behind himself. It looked a little like a very thick record sleeve… but, the label of the object immediately told Winnie, as well as Joseph, what it actually was.

“That’s a Who Framed Roger Rabbit? LaserDisc…!” Winnie squeaked. “Heh. Shinko would flip her cowlick if she knew I had access to this.” “For one week,” Fred sternly stated in his regular voice. “And, you’d better bring it back in this condition or better! Or else!” “Oh, don’t worry, Fred…” Joseph started as he stretched the portable hole and held it up. “I don’t think even Woody would do anything bad to something this rare. He’s been wanting to see the widescreen, uncut version of this movie in the best quality possible for a while, now… so, I think he’ll be mighty happy when he comes home toni– well, tomorrow morning.” “I’m deadly serious about this, Joe,” the collector said as he gently slid the whole kit-and-kaboodle into the hole. “If I don’t get this back in the exact condition I’m lending it to you, I’ll have your hide and his feathers!” The fact Fred wasn’t using his “Collector voice” gave Winnie the impression he was exactly as serious as he sounded… Joseph, too, seemed to get the picture.

“If anything happens to this stuff on my watch,” the fox said as he folded up the hole, “I promise, I’ll personally reimburse you for the items with inflation. At your rate.” Winnie wasn’t sure, but it looked like Fred had narrowed his eyes at Joseph… “Okay…” the shopkeeper said. “Now, about that VHS cassette…” “All yours, no further strings attached,” Joseph said as he handed it over. “Suh-weet!” The balding man smiled… then, he started to run the two out of his shop. “I’m gonna go watch this right away! Tell Woody I said ‘hi,’ would’ja? Nice meeting you, Winnie! Sorry I freaked you out. Have a nice night! ‘bye!” And, before either of them could even say “Goodbye…” they were out on the street.

“You know,” Winnie said as she and Joseph resumed their walk back to Woody’s apartment, “I think I’m beginning to see why Woody never mentioned that man, before.” “Yeah, well…” Joseph laughed. “That, and the fact he’s a hoarder.” “Don’t you mean…” Winnie gave an exaggerated draw of breath. “A collect-ooor…?” “Okay, that’s somehow even creepier coming from you, Winnie.” The bird gave a giggle. She then gave a hum, a thoughtful look appearing on her face…

“Say, where did you even find that tape?” she asked. “Woody had it in storage from some years ago,” he started to explain. “Why the Dutch version? I have no idea. But, hey! It got us two front-row tickets to a near-theater-perfect screening of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? so I can’t really complain too much. Maybe, now, I’ll finally get to see what the big deal is…” “Wait…” Winnie stopped in her tracks. Joseph followed suit, staring down at the bird. “You mean to tell me that, in all of the time you’ve been here… in this world… in ToonTown… you’ve never actually watched this movie, before…?” “Yeah, that about sums it– aaapp?!” Joseph couldn’t even finish his thought before Winnie grabbed him by the hand and bolted full-tilt forward. “What the Void are you–” “We have a movie to watch! Now!” And, without a word more, Winnie drug Joseph all the way back to his apartment.

It took the combined efforts of both Joseph and Winnie to figure out how to hook the LaserDisc player up to the old CRT TV in Woody’s apartment. However, they were finally able to get it displaying something on the screen. All that remained was to see if it worked right. “Careful with that disc,” Joseph said as Winnie removed it from its package. “Don’t worry, I am,” she assured him. The two delicately inserted the disc into the player’s top. For a moment, nothing seemed to be happening but a lot of whirring noises. But, then… “Advertisements!” Joseph triumphantly exclaimed. “We have advertisements!” Winnie clapped her hands together, a bright smile on her face. “Marvelous! That means the device is working properly!” “You know what else that means, right?” The bird blankly stared for a moment… before her face lit up, again. “I’ll go put the popcorn in the microwave!” “And, I’ll uh… uh…” Joseph gave his head a scratch. “Pause the advertisements?” “Er, right!” Winnie gave a giggle as Joseph did exactly that. She then wandered into the kitchen to start on the popcorn. It didn’t take long after that for her to return with a bowl full of buttery, fresh-popped popcorn for the two of them.

“Go ahead and make yourself comfortable,” Joseph said as he removed his sweater. He’d already removed his shoes, by that point. “Okay!” She set the bowl down on the coffee table. Joseph then watched as she slid out of her shoes, setting them off to one side before slipping out of her bolero jacket. He couldn’t help but blush when he noticed how bare her body looked, at that point, even with the pinafore dress covering her top half.

“What?” she asked with innocent eyes, folding her jacket up. “Nothing…” the fox said, rubbing his blushing cheek. “It’s kind of weird, actually.” “What’s that?” “Well… you usually run around topless…” he commented, causing her to giggle. “But, seeing you covered-up in that skirtall dress and with that jacket thing… then, watching you take off the jacket… well…” The fox found himself silenced by a sudden kiss on the cheek. “I understand,” was all Winnie said as she curled up against his body, making herself comfortable. “Yeah, but, I’m not sure I do!” Joseph laughed. “Sometimes, less is more. And, sometimes, more is less… Or, something like that.” “Something like that, I guess…” he agreed. “Now, then… let’s start the movie!” The fox gave a blink. “Oh, right…” He then hit play on the remote, unpausing the movie.

The next hour and 44 minutes were filled with a lot of sights, sounds, and impressive special effects, Joseph had to admit. For an older movie, it still held up really well! Then again, what wasn’t done by ‘toons or humans had been done by actual, physical props and effects rather than the computer graphics he’d been used to, from the few modern cartoons he’d seen. By the end of the movie, however, he started to wonder…

“Toward the end there… was Judge Doom’s actor just Christopher Lloyd with special effects on him… or, was it an actual toon wearing a Judge Doom costume?” “I’m not really sure…” Winnie said, looking up from her reclined position on Joseph’s lap. “The mix of special, animated effects and real life things were done so well, it’s difficult to tell!” “And… is that ‘dip’ stuff – oh, hey! It’s Woody!” the fox suddenly stated as he noticed the woodpecker’s cameo during the closing scenes. “He looks so… odd, there.” “He was wearing a lot of stage makeup which made him look like he did before he got his redesign, in the 1980s.” “Huh…” The fox tilted his head. “Well, anyway, about that ‘dip’ stuff…” Winnie tensed, at that. “Is that stuff real? I mean, does it exist?” “You heard that man in the warehouse scene, right?” The woodpecker visibly swallowed. “‘Turpentine, acetone, benzene…’ I-in the right combination… it… it can be… more than a little harmful to your average, hand-drawn ‘toon… Fatal… even…” “Oh.” The fox hummed. “But, the components by themselves wouldn’t kill a ‘toon?” “Probably not…” Winnie looked fairly uncomfortable, then. “B-but it would hurt…” “Why?” “Does the term ‘paint thinner’ mean anything to you?” Joseph gave a blink at Winnie’s sudden tone. She sounded… and looked… a little upset. It didn’t take him long to figure out that the current topic probably wasn’t the best type to be talking about with her… However, another thought interrupted that one, soon after.

“So, wait…” he started again. “That would hurt a drawn ‘toon… but, what about computer-made ‘toons? Like those characters from Sonic Boom?” “I don’t– I don’t know.” She squirmed out of his lap. “Can we please stop talking about this?” “Huh?” He tilted his head. “Oh, sorry…” He cleared his throat, watching Winnie take the empty popcorn bowl away.

“Uh, anyway! Yeah! I can definitely see what all the hype is about, now! That was a really good movie! And, I’m glad I was able to share the best version of it with you!” “Today’s been a good day…” Winnie commented from the kitchenette. “Even with the awkwardness…” “I agree! But, hmm… What to do now?” “Well… I was giving some thought to staying around for a while…” the woodpecker said above the rush of the water she was running in the sink, “but, I’m feeling a little tired now, so…” “Wait, what?” Joseph got to his feet with a blink, staring back toward the kitchenette. “Are you… mad at me?” “I don’t like thinking about the fact that some… lunatic… found a way to basically erase ‘toons from existence…” he heard her respond. “Well, I mean… it was just a movie, right?” “It was based on something that actually did happen, though…” Once again, the fox had to blink. “I’m… sorry? What?”

After a few moments, Winnie finished up in the kitchen and walked back over to Joseph. She sat down on the couch with a sigh before patting the seat next to her. The fox sat beside the bird, giving her a curious look. It seemed like a story was brewing…

“There really was some sick, twisted ‘toon out there during the 1940s,” Winnie started. “And, he did masquerade as a human. Even the name was the same… ‘Judge Doom…’ It should have been obvious, right from the start, that he wasn’t some ordinary judge… much less an ordinary man. But, somehow… Judge Doom ended up becoming the judge of ToonTown, back then, and things played out more-or-less like they did in that movie.” She paused for a moment. “It’s hard to believe that anyone could ever come up with the exact combination of chemicals needed to completely erase… dissolve a ‘toon… but, the real Judge Doom did. And, just like in the movie, there were casualties. But, the first wasn’t a shoe…” Winnie looked up a Joseph, sorrow in her eyes. “It was a gopher.” She swallowed hard, pausing… “The gopher had high hopes. He heard that Disney was going to make some Winnie the Pooh theatrical shorts and planned to audition for the role of, well, ‘Gopher.’ But, said gopher never made it to the auditions… He was tried, juried, and executed by that mad toon for a phony crime – just so Doom could show off his new chemical cocktail…” Winnie closed her eyes, tightly hugging herself… “I-I still remember the screams… His… the crowd’s… my own… I… I want to forget. But, I can’t… I simply can’t…”

Joseph was quick to wrap his own arms around her, pulling her into a hug. She carefully snuggled up against him, keeping her eyes closed and continuing to shiver… “Maybe we should talk about something else for a while…” he suggested. “This is getting way too ‘real,’ for me…” “Like what?” she calmly asked. “I… uh… I…” But, the truth was… he really didn’t know where to go, from there. Winnie seemed like she’d terrified herself, thinking about that movie… those events… for so long. Normally, he would tell her something like, “It was just a movie,” but… she’d already disproved that. He’d also thought about comforting her with facts such as “The odds of someone finding that formula again are pretty low,” as well… but, he knew that would just remind her of the fact that some had found it, in the first place. As much as he hated thinking about it… he had no real way to help her, other than to keep hugging and holding… caressing and cuddling the poor girl in his arms. After a moment, however, another thought of how to soothe her came to mind… Winnie perked, catching an unusual sound coming from her friend. She looked up for a moment, glassy eyes opening as she watched his muzzle move. He was speaking… no, singing something… but, it wasn’t in any language she could identify. “What… what language is that? Is that a language?” she asked. “It sounds vaguely Latin-based… kind of like French… But… it’s not anything I’ve ever heard, before.” “I… I don’t know what it is or where it came from, actually.” He gave her a squeeze, giving a confused chuckle… “I was trying to sing something else, actually… an old, silly, soothing song from my childhood. But, then… that just kinda popped into my head. So… I just started singing it, not knowing what it was.” There was a pause between the two, then. “Would you… would you mind singing more of it to me? Please?” “What?” The fox looked at his friend… who was gazing up with hopeful eyes. “You have a nice singing voice… and that sounded like a lovely song.” “I… can try?” Joseph gave a blink. “Um, let me see how much of it I know…” Without knowing why or how… without knowing where the words had even come from or what they meant… Joseph sang that soft, sweet song to his friend, again.

Even without knowing what the words meant, Winnie could easily see pictures being painted of things that took her far, far away from the original thoughts that had upset her… a pleasant land full of fantastic creatures. But, before she could explore that new land… she found herself rapidly losing focus… losing consciousness… and, before long… she had fallen asleep.

I wonder… Joseph quietly thought to himself as she put the slumbering bird to bed. I wonder if that song came from somewhere… in my past existence, here in this place? Shinko told me, I’d been here, before… Maybe I picked it up, somewhere… but… He hummed, quietly closing the bedroom door as he returned to the living room. Why now? And… where would I have heard it? He gave a confused sigh… but, in the end, decided that it wasn’t worth worrying about. After all… He smiled. It did its job… and, that’s all I wanted.

#Joseph's ToonTown #The Eve of the Eve of an Eve #commercial characters #The Woody Woodpecker Show #Winnie Woodpecker #original characters #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #Fred Floydsberg #comedy #slice of life

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Holiday Breakdown, Ch. II

Chapter II of "Holiday Breakdown," A Joseph's ToonTown story. (Formerly one-half of the story of the same name.)

So, if it wasn't obvious by how many things I've chopped in-half (or more), I write long stuff. That being said, I decided to chop this previously-22-page thing roughly in-half, too. (Maybe this DeviantArt limit nonsense isn't such a bad thing, after all…)

Word count: 5,515 – Character count: 31,948 Originally written: October ?? - ??, 2016* Slightly revised: January 13th, 2017 Revised further: August 26th, 2017 (* I don't remember... The original post date and the actual writing date are different. Sorry.)

Sometimes, the things people don't want to hear are exactly what they need to hear.

Shinko the Toon Girl and related characters and properties created by and © shinkothetoongirl Winnie Woodpecker, Woody Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions The House of Mouse, Mickey Mouse, "Steamboat Willie," and related characters and properties created by and © The Walt Disney Company

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“Hello, again!” she cheerfully said to the fox, waving one glove-covered hand and offering a warm smile. Joseph’s eyes turned toward her, ears flicking at her voice. “Oh. Hello…” he quietly replied. “I thought you went home?” “Oh, I did, but Woody left his keys behind and, well, I couldn’t just leave them there, ‘cause you never know when he might need them so I drove all the way back here to give them back because it would be awful for him to be locked-out of his own apartment, especially tonight of all nights, and I really didn’t want him staying over at my place and uh… umm… am– am I babbling?” she audibly realized. “I feel like I’m babbling…” “Just a little.” The fox’s disposition cracked just a little and he offered a weak smile. “I think it’s kind of cute, though.” Winnie gave a blink of her blue eyes. She wasn’t sure what to expect from the sad fox… but, a compliment certainly wasn’t up there on her list. “Umm… th-thanks?” she nervously laughed. “I, uh…” There was a pause as the bird cleared her throat.

“Are you okay?” she asked, trying to turn the conversation back toward him. “You seem a little sad…” “Are things different in ToonTown, Winnie?” She gave another blink. “Pardon?” Joseph let go of his legs and turned toward the female. “Relationships,” he clarified. “Are they different in ToonTown?” “I don’t… think so?” she answered in a confused tone. “What do you mean, ‘different?’” “Back home, relationships seemed a lot… easier… I mean, I’m not trying to sound brag-y… but, back on Ragnarok, it didn’t seem like the girls minded when I kissed them. Here, though…” “I don’t understand…” Winnie half-lied, despite Woody’s briefing. “What do you mean?” “Well, let’s say for example… what if you and I were getting cozy?” The woodpecker’s eyes widened and she leaned back. Clearly, something about that suggestion had rubbed her the wrong way.

“I-I-I don’t know what kind of girl you think I am, but–” “Relax, relax…” Joseph said with a quiet chuckle and a handwave. “I’m just using you as an example.” Winnie’s brow lowered, her face becoming angry. “E-excuse me?!” “Alright, I worded that poorly. But, here’s where I was going with that: If you and I were more, ya know… close, and what not–” The woodpecker narrowed her eyes… but, she continued to listen. “– what… would be your reaction to me kissing you?” “First of all,” she replied in a stern tone, “I’m very happy with my Woody, thank you!” Joseph couldn’t help but snort at the phrasing she’d used… but, he quickly pretended like he was clearing his throat. “Secondly… if you and I were… ‘close…’” The female paused, a look of irritation on her face. “I wouldn’t let you just kiss me! You’d have to earn my respect… my trust… and, my affection, before I let you get that close to me.” “Fair enough,” the fox said nonchalantly. “But if you had earned my respect, trust, and affection… and, if the mood was right…”

Winnie looked to one side. She was calming down but still seemed more than a little annoyed by Joseph’s suggestion. “If all of that were right… then… then…” She brought her hands to her cheeks, her look becoming somewhat shy. “I… I don’t know. I might pull away and giggle… or… or… maybe kiss you back…” “So what I’m hearing is…” The fox paused. “You probably wouldn’t scream and hide your face, then turn cold on me for the rest of the night. Right?” Winnie turned back toward the fox, her expression back to curious neutrality. “I… um… n-no? I guess not?” “Then, why did Shinko do that?!”

Winnie was once again startled, leaning back as Joseph’s calmness gave way to an almost manic sadness. His ears fell back, his eyes watered over, and he wore a horrible frown on his muzzle. If it hadn’t startled her so badly, it might have been a bit heartbreaking… “I– ah– whu–” was all she could say before Joseph continued, ignoring her confusion. “Why did Shinko freak out then just… just… lose interest, like that?! Was it my breath…? Does she already have a boyfriend?! Or… or, is it because of what Woody said; that I shattered her image of me… and, depressed her with how I did things…?” “I don’t know!” the woodpecker said in a raised voice. “C-calm down!” Joseph’s ears perked and he gave a blink of his crying eyes, blankly staring at her for a moment. And then… he looked away, ears folding and tail drooping.

“I’m sorry, Winnie,” he said with a sigh. “I just… it’s… it’s something that’s been on my mind for months, now… It’s just… it doesn’t make any sense! How does someone go from ‘Oh wow, he’s just as cool as I remember’ to ‘Gods, I hope he leaves me alone’ so quickly?” “I can’t answer that…” she said as she leaned forward, “but, Joseph?” The fox tilted his head and ears perked as Winnie asked him something. “Are you sure she even liked you like that?” “I…” The fox briefly paused before giving a shaky “Y-yeah!” “Are you really sure, though?” “Positive,” he said in a more confident tone. “I mean, at least… I think so?” Winnie tilted her head. “You think so?” “She was the one who made the suggestion of… ya know… trying to have a relationship… after we both kind of… confessed to each other.” “Is that so?” “Yeah! She seemed so sure of it when she curled up against me… softly told me ‘Maybe she’d try it, this time…’” The woodpecker gave a blink, watching the fox start to space-out. He wore a soft smile and an even softer blush as he sat there thinking…

“Try what?” she said, causing him to snap back to reality. “Huh? Oh, uh, sorry.” Joseph rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. “Got a little lost in fond memories…” “Okay? But, what did you mean, ‘Maybe she’d try it this time?’ Try what, exactly?” Joseph blushed again, looking to one side. “Sh… she seemed interested in… ya know… s-starting a… re… relationship.” Winnie gave another blink as Joseph jerked his head back her way. “I tried to talk her out of it! Or… I mean, I wanted to make sure it was something she wanted and… and she said…” Joseph had to pause again as he remembered something else Shinko had said.

“Hey, Winnie…” he said after a second. “I have a question.” The bird tilted her head, blinking her blue eyes yet again as she waited for the question. “What would you consider to be ‘affectionate friends?’” “Uh…” For a moment, Winnie was confused. However, she soon narrowed her eyes at the fox, becoming suspicious of him again. “Where are you going with this, Joseph…?” “Like, if you and I were to become ‘affectionate friends–’” The fox stopped as he noticed the death-glare she was giving him. “Eh… you’re making this explanation harder than it needs to be, Winnie.” He shook his head. “Alright, look. Shinko said our relationship would be, ya know, as ‘affectionate friends.’ So, going by that somewhat-vague description… would you say that giving her a kiss on the lips was a bit more than she was hoping for?” “Yes, I’d say so.” The fox gave a blink. Winnie had answered him so clearly… so quickly… that it had thrown him for a loop. “B… but there’s different levels of affection,” he started to clarify. “And, maybe, her idea of ‘affectionate’ isn’t the same as yours?” The woodpecker crossed her arms and looked down at the fox. “No offense but, you do seem like a presumptuous kind of guy. And, if I’m being honest here… I can’t help but feel like you’ve been kind of backhandedly flirting with me, since I got here… which, if that’s the case, I’d like to say…” Winnie turned her head to one side and gave her arm a rub. “I am a little flattered… but, I’m afraid that I’m not interested.” Joseph scratched the back of his head, a look of confusion coming on his face.

“I… uh…” he started. “The… thought never crossed my mind, to be perfectly honest.” Winnie’s eyebrows rose at the fox’s reply. She seemed genuinely surprised! “I mean, you’re cute and all, absolutely! And, you do have the prettiest blue eyes I’ve seen since I looked into her’s. Plus, I like your skirt. It suits you well!” Suddenly, she wasn’t sure how to react to the sudden pile of compliments… “But, ah… you’re kinda spoken-for. Right?” “R-right…! A-and don’t you forget it, Buster Brown!” she said with renewed confidence. “Which is kind of a shame… I bet you’d be a lot of fun to cuddle with.” Her eyes once again narrowed. The fox was smiling at her again… “You look really soft, warm, and cuddly, is all. Plus, you’re the perfect size, for it!” “Watch it, Joseph…” she warned. The fox gave a nervous chuckle at that. “Just sayin’!

“In any case…” he started again as Winnie relaxed, “I guess I really did screw up, huh?” “Maybe…” she told him. “But, that doesn’t mean it’s forever, Joseph.” The fox tilted his head as he saw the woodpecker offer a reassuring smile. “They say that ‘time heals all wounds…’” He looked down, giving a disgruntled sort of murmur. “They also say that ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder…’ so, maybe, after all this time apart…?” “I know what you’re getting at, Winnie… and…” The fox gave a sigh… then softly smiled to the woodpecker. “Maybe, you’re right. Maybe, after this some-odd months apart…” “There’s only one way to find out, bucko!” “‘Bucko?’” Joseph’s ears gave a flick. He then gave a grin as he saw Winnie cover her mouth with both hands. “That sounds like something your boyfriend would say…” “Well, we have been spending a lot of time together, this season…” Winnie gave a sheepish grin. “I suppose it’s possible I may have picked-up one-or-two of his colloquialisms…” “That reminds me…” The fox gestured one of his chocolate brown hands towards Winnie. “What sort of game is ‘Find the Mistletoe?’” “‘F-Find the Mistletoe…?’” The woodpecker gave a nervous laugh. “Wh-what makes you think I’d know anything about that sort of game?” “What sort of game?” Joseph repeated. “What is it?” Once again, Winnie nervously laughed and grinned as she thought to herself… I’m going to kill that woodpecker…

Joseph decided to let the topic drop, given her reaction to the question. A moment later, the two walked to the door together to let Woody know what was going on. As they spotted him in the hallway, they could see that he was talking to someone on a flat, cartoon-ish cell phone.

“Really? That’s great news!” the male bird said before he noticed the two arrived. A second later, his eyes caught their glance and he gave a slight jerk. “Whoops… Gotta go! Happy Holidays, Mir! G’bye!” The woodpecker turned toward the duo and brightly smiled. “Sooo…? How’s my best gal and my fave pal?” “I’m feeling significantly better now,” Joseph replied. “Winnie really knows how to put a smile on my face!” “Issat so?” Woody gave a suspicious look to his roommate. “We talked his problems out,” Winnie reassured as she gave Joseph a dirty look, much to his confusion. “He’s going to try again.” “Great!” the male woodpecker said as he gave Joseph a pat. “So, no more long faces then, ‘Horse Collar?’” Although Winnie gave a giggle, Joseph just continued to look confused. “No more long faces. Winnie helped me figure out where I went wrong… I think… and, well… I’m gonna try and fix it. At some point. Right now, though?” He smiled to the two. “I think I should just focus on writing that Seasons Greetings letter I’ve been trying to write for the last however-many hours… Oh, and Winnie?”

The female woodpecker looked up. When she saw Joseph extend his hand, she happily accepted it, giving it a polite shake and offering a warm smile. “Thanks again for helping me feel better. I’d give you a hug but, well… ya know.” Winnie gave a smirk. “I sure do… Joseph. And, you’re welcome… you silly thing.” “Anyway,” he said after the shake, “back inside I go! Ya comin’, Woody?” “Right behind ya, pal!” “Not so fast there, Mr. Woodpecker!” Joseph paused in the doorway, looking at the two woodpeckers. Winnie had spoken up and held Woody back by the arm. When she shooed the fox inside, though, he obeyed, closing the door behind himself.

“‘Find the Mistletoe,’ huh?” she said, giving a playful smirk and standing cockily with her hands on her hips. All at once, Woody knew he’d made a mistake. “L-listen, babe! I didn’t– i-it’s not like–” Winnie suddenly pressed a gloved digit to his beak, silencing him. Her eyes were half-closed and her smirk had become a grin. Slowly, she stroked her finger down Woody’s chin and back up to the tip of his beak, nudging his head upwards as she pointed directly above them a second later. Woody gave a blink as he noticed something hanging on the hallway ceiling… a small plant with three red pods. He shivered as, in the next moment, he felt his girlfriend lean in and whisper in a warm tone that could melt butter…

“Found it…” –––––

“You two have a really strange relationship, don’t you?” “I could say the same about you ‘n her, pal! I mean, what kinda guy heads over to his girlfriend’s place on Christmas Eve at midnight just to hand-deliver a letter?”

Joseph and Woody were driving through the darkened roads of ToonTown sometime later, heading toward the Disney District together. It was a particularly-chilly night and the streets were strangely devoid of both traffic and pedestrians, everyone likely at Christmas parties and the like.

“Still not my girlfriend,” Joseph said with a sigh. “And, me, obviously.” “Obviously!” The fox gave a groan as he heard the woodpecker laugh. “On th’ bright side,” Woody continued, “at least ya got th’ darn thing written, finally!” “Yeah…” Joseph looked down at the yellow envelope in his hands as Woody continued talking.

“I’m sure she’ll be happy t’ read that you’re still alive ‘n kickin’, though!” “I wonder…” “Oh, now, don’t start that, again!” The woodpecker gave his roommate a nudge. “Just be grateful ya even have someone t’ write nice stuff to!” “I’ll be grateful when I’m out of this car…” “Why?” The woodpecker tilted his head, not taking his eyes off the road. “Whatsa matter?” “Well… it’s a little… small.”

Joseph looked over from the passenger side of Woody’s car. All things considered, he kind of looked like a clown in a clown car, minus the makeup. He was practically curled into a ball, his legs squished between himself and the dashboard, his back hunched over, and his head bent down thanks to the low ceiling. It was fairly uncomfortable, needless to say.

“Well, I didn’t want’cha t’ catch a cold!” was Woody’s reply. “It’s pretty chilly out, tonight!” “Not where I’m sitting…” The fox gave a pant. “It’s pretty darn toasty in here…” “Yeeaaah, sorry…” the bird said with a sheepish grin, his eyes still on the road. “Heat’s been stuck on high since I got into a li’l bump in May! But, hey! Ya could always pop a window if you’re too warm!” “I’d love to… but, the crank is jammed somewhere between my thigh and my tail.” “Oh yeah? Could be worse! At least it’s not–” “Don’t… even go there, woodpecker.” “Would I do that?” Once again, Joseph groaned as Woody gave a laugh. They couldn’t arrive at their destination soon enough, as far as he was concerned…

“We’re here! I think? Can you confirm this location, Captain?”

The fox looked out the windshield later that night. In the distance to his right, he could see the House of Mouse, the focal attraction for the area. It was lit up and decorated for the season and business seemed to be booming, despite it being Christmas Eve. Directly in front of him, however… “This is it. I’m pretty sure…” The two had parked at a large, ten-story apartment complex which, while festively decorated, paled in comparison to the House of Mouse down the road. Even with the Christmas decorations though, Joseph recognized it as Shinko’s place of residence. “Which apartment she live in?” Woody asked as he hopped out the driver’s side. He had to stifle a laugh as Joseph collapsed out the opposite side but was quick to help him up. “Let’s see…” the fox replied. He then began to count the floors, followed by the windows, until he eventually came to a number that made sense.

“That one,” he said as he pointed three windows from the left on the sixth floor. “Well? What are ya waitin’ for?” The woodpecker pulled on his arm, walking toward the entrance to the complex. “Let’s go!” “Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait!” the fox protested, pulling back. “What are you doing?” “Aren’t’cha gonna deliver the letter?” Woody gave a confused blink. “That’s what we came here for, isn’t it?” “Well, yes, but…” “But, what?” “How are we even going to get in?” Joseph gestured to the lobby door. “I remember Shinko’s place having a locked lobby… and, we don’t have a key.” “Hmm… you’re right! That is a problem! One that requires a li’l squash-‘n-stretch!”

It was the fox’s turn to blink as he watched Woody pull a gigantic mallet out of nowhere. As he walked toward the door with it, Joseph was prepared to stop him, thinking he was going to smash the doors in. A moment later, however, the bird violently smashed himself against the pavement! “Woody!” the fox said in a startled tone. “Are you alright…?” “Yuuup…!” was the flattened bird’s flat response as he tossed the mallet away. “Just gonna squirm my way under here and–” The moment Woody touched the underside of the door, however, the Christmas lights of the apartment complex violently flickered! At the same time, the pancake-like form of the woodpecker lit up brighter than the 4th of July, hundreds – if not thousands – of volts of electricity surging through his body, causing him to make a number of incoherent, guttural noises and, not-incidentally, re-inflating his ‘toon body back to its original shape.

“Trinity Above, Woody!” Joseph half-shouted, rushing over to his friend. “Are you alright?!” “Sure!” the scorched woodpecker said as he billowed a massive plume of smoke. “No problem…!” A moment later, the blackened bird’s body disintegrated into a pile of dust, his eyes hovering in mid-air for a moment before falling into the pile. The fox gave a sigh, at that… “Oh, geez… Woody, you idiot…”

“What was that noise?!” Joseph’s ears perked and his eyes caught sight of a bright light from the inside of the building. Someone on the first floor was heading their way! The fox looked between the lobby door and his friend’s ashes. If breaking-and-entering was as much of a crime in ToonTown was it was back home, they were in a mess of trouble!

“Crap, crap, crap…!” he quietly exclaimed as he tried to figure out a way to pick his friend up. Thinking quickly, he ran over to Woody’s car, popped the trunk, and started looking around. As if by-magic, two of the first things he found there were a dustpan and a broom. It didn’t take him long to sweep his ‘toon friend’s ashes and eyeballs up. “I’m glad this thing’s an automatic…!” he said as he tossed Woody’s dusty remains in the passenger seat. He then jumped over the top of the car and climbed into the driver’s seat, starting it up a half-second later.

“Hey! You!” “Crap!!” A security guard had exited the building, by that point. Joseph didn’t waste any time and hit the gas pedal as best he could, flying out from the street curb and into the street! The car did an impressive series of six upright spins before he got it in the forward gear. Another moment later, he drove away, leaving the angry security guard stand there to shake his fist at the two. –––––

“Woody, you insane little asshole!”

Joseph was shouting at a dustpan he was carrying with him, still housing the remains of his little ‘toon friend, as he walked back into the lobby of their own apartment complex. He was more than a little angry, needless to say.

“What were you thinking?!” “I dunno…” the pile of dust with eyes replied. “Seemed like a good idea, at the time!” The fox narrowed his own eyes… then, he callously dropped Woody into a nearby trash can. “You’re a lunatic… An unhelpful, insane lunatic. And, to make matters worse…” the fox said, withdrawing his envelope from his sweater pocket, “I didn’t get to deliver this!” “Don’t worry about it!” the woodpecker said as he appeared from the trash can, looking completely unscathed, aside from the half-coconut he was suddenly wearing as a hat. “I have a plan!” Joseph gave a snort. “Does this one involve breaking the law, too?” “Smarty-pants. I think you’ll like this plan.” Woody gave a grin. “It’s boring, just like you!” Once again, the fox narrowed his eyes. However, his curiosity was piqued. “Go on?” “Well ya see, since we know which apartment your girlfriend lives in–” Joseph gave a warning growl, causing Woody to nervously grin. “Eh heh heh… I mean, which apartment your friend lives in…” he corrected himself, “we can just mail it to her usin’ snail mail!” “I hope that’s not a literal thing…” the fox sighed. “Besides, do we even know the address of the apartment complex?” “Nope! But, there’s a quick way t’ find out!”

Joseph watched as Woody withdrew an oversized book from his leg “pocket,” putting it down on a nearby lobby table, then whipped through the pages of the tome, reading faster than the fox could keep up. A few moments later, the woodpecker was pointing at a name in the book and shouting a triumphant cheer! Joseph was about to ask what Woody had found… but then, without warning, the woodpecker zipped over and yanked the envelope out of his hand! “Wh– hey!” Joseph shouted. “What in the void–?!” The fox narrowed his eyes, watching as Woody pulled a fountain pen, again, from seemingly nowhere and scribbled on the envelope. Then, before he could even begin to object again, Woody shoved the envelope in his face!

“There ya go, pal!” he happily said. “All it needs is a stamp!” “What the…” Joseph pulled the envelope back, examining it. “W-what? Hey…” The yellow envelope was now labeled with his and Woody’s apartment address and number, as well as Shinko’s. Even more surprising… the lettering was done in a decorative, calligraphic style which was absolutely beautiful! It looked so nice, in fact, that it was almost like the envelope was labeled by a machine. “Woody… I had no idea–” “Less chat-y,” Woody said as he pulled Joseph toward the lobby outbox, “more send-y! Here’s a stamp. You can pay me back, later!” Joseph blinked as the woodpecker handed him a small square of shiny paper. It had a picture of a familiar-looking little black mouse with a white face wearing gray shorts and a captain’s hat. He seemed to be driving a ship of some kind. “‘Steamboat Willie…?’” Joseph said, unsure of where he got the name from. “Uh-huh!” the woodpecker said with a nod. “Part of the Disney Collection!” “Huh… Heh.” The fox gave the stamp a lick before placing it on the envelope. “I’m sure she’ll like it.”

After sliding the envelope into the outbox, the two made the short walk up three flights of stairs and back into the safety of their apartment. Joseph flopped on the couch almost immediately, emitting a long, contented sigh. “Thanks for all your help tonight, Woody…” He gave a smile to the woodpecker across the room who seemed occupied with something on their budget laptop. “And… sorry I got a little short, with you. It’s just… ya know.” “No problem, Joey!” Woody replied. “Though, I gotta say… ya picked a fine time t’ send your girlfr– I… mean, gal-pal, a Christmas gift.” “Oh, yeah?” The fox sat up. “Why’s that?” “It’s Christmas right now, pal!” “And?” “Mail doesn’t run on Christmas!” Woody grinned over to his roommate. “Heck, you’ll be lucky if it even gets t’ her by New Year’s Day!” It took a second for Joseph to register what Woody had just said. However, when it finally hit him… “Oh… holy… sh–” “Niiight! The stars are shining bright-ly!”

As Woody began to sing, the fox brought a pillow to his face, shaking his head and loudly grumbling. It was hard to tell if it was because of his mistake… or, because of Woody’s impromptu caroling. But, at least… the fox thought. At least I got it written… and, hey, who knows. Joseph’s face turned hopeful behind the pillow. Maybe she’ll even reply… –––––

The 29th of December had been a fairly long day for Shinko… She was more-than-happy to be back at her apartment complex that day, dead-on-her-feet and ready to crash on her couch. Before she did that, however, she made a routine stop into the mail room on the ground floor.

She put her mail key into the box marked 605 and opened it up. To her surprise, there was something inside! Something kind of odd… It was a small, yellow envelope with a lot of fancy, curly text on it and a Steamboat Willie stamp. If that wasn’t interesting enough… it would appear as though the return address was from someone the resident hadn’t heard from in a while. The ‘toon girl’s eyes widened as she read the name. “Joseph Lithius,” she silently mouthed, her body tensing and her pulse heightening. When she’d read that the letter had come from right there in ToonTown, she felt all-the-more tense. Apparently, her old friend had taken up residence in some place called the “Rubber Arms,” down in the Universal District.

Almost immediately, she ripped the end off the envelope and shook its contents loose. To her surprise, not only was there a letter… but, some sort of gift card, as well! However, she ignored the card and focused on the letter, instead. It seemed to be handwritten in ink and smelled vaguely of spearmint. The contents of the letter were as-followed:

Dear Shinko,

Hello! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Well, I’m sorry I took this long to reach out to you… I’ve been a little busy here in ToonTown (yep, I’m still here), between my job and other distractions. Plus, ya know… that whole thing last April… But never-you-mind, this is a jolly time of the year!

After I took off from your place, earlier this year, I went back to Joe’s Diner. They directed me to a Motel 6, where I stayed the night. The next day, though… I got right to work on establishing a base-of-operations… sort of. I went back to Joe’s Diner, that morning, intent on getting a job there (since I liked the atmosphere and the people). Oddly enough, I ran back into that little red-headed ‘toon woodpecker again… and, he decided to tag along with me. Turns out, he was in the market for a job, himself! And so, the two of us went into Joe’s Diner and demanded jobs! Well… I demanded they give us jobs, anyway. Rather than throw us out, though, the afternoon manager decided to give us a chance as part-time dishwashers. I guess she must have liked the cut of Woody’s jib, though, since she promoted him to full-time afternoon-shift cook, after about a month. Who’d’ve thunk? So, anyway, Woody and I have an apartment in the Universal District (a bit of a walk east and somewhat south of the Disney district, as I’m sure you know) and I have to say, it’s not bad. I mean, it’s not cheap… but, it came semi-furnished with a fridge and an electric stove! We also found a smelly, old couch sat by the side of a road (don’t worry, we cleaned it) and Woody somehow managed to get us a little CRT TV/VCR and stand. Oh! And, we were also able to get a bed for-cheap from Mona, the morning manager at Joe’s. (She’d purchased a Japanese futon thingy so she didn’t need the bed, anymore.)

Now, I’ve brought up Joe’s a few times already but I haven’t really said much about the people there. Truth be told, they’re a really nice bunch! I mentioned Mona, already. She’s that lizard-girl. She’s apparently studying marine biology in her off-hours and even brought me along on one of her class-related trips, one time! She’s also the morning manager, like I said, and works alongside Wally Walrus, an old friend of Woody’s. You might have met him, already? He’s pretty friendly but he speaks kind of oddly… One-too-many knocks on the noggin, maybe? The afternoon manager, Minerva Mink, is, well, a mink. I’m surprised more people aren’t flirting with her as she waits their tables, to be honest. She’s pretty! Then again, I haven’t flirted with her, either… but that might be because she’s my boss – and a really hard one, at that! If I didn’t know better, I’d say she likes Woody more… As for the graveyard shift, there’s a cute little deer-girl named Fawn Deer doing the tables and a wisecracking little monkey named Spydor doing the cooking. I’ve gotten to spend a little time with Fawn and she’s really super-nice, but… if you ever eat at Joe’s (heh heh heh) during the night shift, though, watch your pockets! Spydor’s a bit of a kleptomaniac… and, even though he always returns whatever he takes, I still don’t trust him. At least not completely… Plus, he’s pretty crude at-times. But, I guess, we can all be kinda crude, sometimes… huh? Honestly, though… he’s okay. When he’s not shooting his mouth off, I mean. Hee hee.

Well… life in ToonTown has been pretty interesting, these past few months, and I hope that trend continues. If you’re ever bored and in the Universal District, feel free to stop by our place at the Rubber Arms, Apartment 3C. I’m sure Woody would be happy to have you over. (I know I would!) And, remember… Eat at Joe’s™! ;)

Happy holidays, Joseph Lithius

Shinko felt a wave of relief wash over her and she leaned against a nearby counter. Joseph had not only survived ToonTown… but, he seemed to be doing just fine! A warm smile curled along her face as she calmed, still feeling the shock of getting a letter from him. However, she remembered something… Looking at the letter a second time, she noticed that, under where the letter had seemingly ended, it apparently kept going in a postscript a little farther down. And so, she read on…

P.S. I almost forgot to mention! Did you know Woody has a girlfriend? Her name’s Winnie (I think it’s short for “Winifred”) and she’s really nice! In fact, she kind of helped me write this letter! I think you’d like her. She’s a little more down-to-earth than Woody but still has her moments of, ya know, ‘tooniness.

But, that wasn’t all. There was a second postscript.

P.P.S. Where is my head this Christmas? I completely forgot to mention the gift card I’ve enclosed in this letter! You’ve probably already seen it by now but it’s a $100 gift card for what I’ve been told is a regional chain store? There’s one right here in ToonTown so I figured it was a good idea. I don’t know if you’re still hurting for cash but, hey, everyone could use a little money during the holidays! Feel free to use it for whatever you need or even just something nice for yourself, if you want! It’s just my way of saying “I wasn’t sure what to get you.” Super-sorry about that… eh heh heh.

Anyway, happy holidays!

Upon reading that, the redheaded ‘toon recalled the card that had fallen out of the letter. She looked at it as it sat there on the floor and, indeed, it was a $100 gift card for Walmart – one of which had opened up some time ago, right there in ToonTown.

She looked to the card… then, the letter… then, the card, again. For some reason… her eyes narrowed and an odd thought entered her head… one that seemed to make a lot of sense to her, the more she thought about it.

Her key frames updated, her face showing neutrality. A moment later, she walked right out of the mail room and headed to the elevator… leaving both the cash card… and, the letter… to lay there on the mail room floor.

#fiction #Holiday Breakdown #commercial characters #The Woody Woodpecker Show #Winnie Woodpecker #Woody Woodpecker #original characters #shinkothetoongirl #Shinko #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #drama

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Repercussions and Reparations, Ch. II

Chapter II of Repercussions and Reparations, a Joseph's ToonTown story.

Contributions by: shinkothetoongirl Word count: 4,274 – Character count: 24,306 Originally written: April 27th - April 30th, 2016 Slightly revised: January 12th, 2017 Split and revised on: August 16th, 2017

Joseph settles in for a long sleep… only to be interrupted by uninvited guests. Repeatedly.

Shinko the Toon Girl and related characters and properties created by and © her creator June, KaBlam!, and related characters and properties created by Robert Mittenthal, Will McRobb, and Chris Viscardi and © Viacom Media Networks Droopy McPoodle and Red created by Tex Avery and © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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The streets of the Universal District of ToonTown were oddly quiet at 1 AM. Barely any vehicles seemed to be passing by and the singing from much earlier in the day had given way to little more than the occasional cricket chirp. Even the living cartoon buildings seemed to be snoozing away, some silent and some snoring aloud. It was kind of unnerving in a way… but, thankfully for Joseph, nothing of importance seemed to be happening and, before long, he found himself standing in front of a small complex.

A large, blue sign with a red number 6 stood tall and proud at curbside, brightly lit and humming as it clearly indicated the area and building as the “Motel 6.” A parking lot sprawled out from the road to a two-story building a few yards away. As had been the case with Joe’s Diner, everything seemed perfectly ordinary, aside from seemingly being hand-drawn. That made Joseph feel a bit more at-easy as he walked up to a door marked “Check-In”.

“Welcome to the Motel 6!” came a chipper voice from behind a desk. As Joseph looked, he saw an interesting-looking ‘toon girl standing behind a desk. She looked like a human, short and blue-haired, wearing a fuzzy, orange jacket and a plain, yellow t-shirt. “Uh… hi?” Joseph replied. “You… work here?” “Of course!” The girl gave a nod. “I wouldn’t be behind this desk, otherwise!” As she moved, Joseph noticed the girl didn’t seem to be animated very well… It kind of reminded him of Shinko… except that Shinko was drawn far better and moved much less. “You… seem a little young to be working here, is all,” he commented, noting her looks. “Puh-lease…” The blue-haired girl gave a piff and hand-waved at Joseph, rolling her eyes. “I’m in my twenties, dust-mop! That’s more than old enough to work just about anywhere in ToonTown!” “You’re in your twenties?” Joseph blinked. “You look about half that age.” “That’s just my character design,” she explained. “Now, do you want a room… or, did you just come in here to harass me?” “S… sorry…” Joseph cleared his throat before continuing.

“How much is a room for one night?” “$89.99! But, for you, ‘friend?’” she said with a sarcastic tone. “We’ll make it an even ninety bucks! Minus one penny, of course.” The fox suspiciously narrowed his eyes at the cashier. “You… don’t have anything cheaper… do you?” “Well, you could always sleep in the dumpster out back…” she said, smirking and pointing an oversized hand toward the rear of the building. “I could… But, I’d prefer not to.” With a sigh, he retrieved his wallet and handed a 100-dollar bill to the girl. “I hope you can make change…” “Of course I can! Business is booming!” she said as she rang him up. A moment later, she handed him a 10-dollar bill and one copper coin… which, he assumed was a ‘penny.’ “Here’s your keys,” she then said, tossing him a keyring with the number B6 on it. “Your room is on the second floor. Thank you for choosing Motel 6 for your lodging needs. Please, abide by the rules of Motel 6 and enjoy your stay!”

Joseph gave a nod as the lady bowed. Soon after, he noticed her pull out a small, hand-held device, unfolding it before pressing some buttons while staring at something that was generating light. He assumed it was a gaming device and shrugged to himself, exiting the main office and heading back outside. It wasn’t long after that he found his way up to the second floor and to his room. As he unlocked the door and turned on the lights, he thought aloud… “Huh… This isn’t bad.”

A glance around the room revealed it to be a moderate-sized place with a desk, a television, and one queen-sized bed. There were also nightstands on either side of the bed, a dresser to one side, and an open door in the back which led to a small bathroom area. Joseph didn’t really care about any of that, however… The excitement of the day had finally caught up to him and he was ready to get some sleep…

After closing and locking the door, he set his backpack aside, kicked off his shoes, and flopped on to the bed, not even bothering to get into it properly. The comfortable mattress and soft pillow quickly relaxed his body and, soon enough… a knock on the door stirred him from his sleep. He grumbled, rolling over and falling onto the floor from his bed.

“Someone apparently wants to die…” he muttered to himself as he stumbled over and answered the door. “Yeaoh…?” “Hello,” said a slightly muffled voice. Joseph looked around, blinking as he failed to see anyone. A moment later, that same voice called again. “Down here, bub.” The fox blinked and looked down. Standing a little less than half his height was a small, white dog with a tuft of red hair on top of his head. He had baggy eyes, sagging cheeks, and looked mildly depressed… or, maybe, he was just tired – something Joseph could relate to.

“I don’t mean to be a bother,” he said sounding like he had marbles in his mouth, “but, I saw your light was on and was wondering if you could spare a neighbor some ice.” “Don’t these places normally have ice machines…?” Joseph said as he rubbed his face, still trying to wake up from his brief nap. “The ice machine seems to be broken,” the dog calmly said. “Figures… Well… go ahead and knock yourself out, I guess. Just, ya know… speed it up. I’m really tired…” “Oh, thank you, Mr. Fox,” the dog said as he slowly waddled inside. “Red will be ever-so-happy.” “Yeah, yeah…” Joseph replied, watching him. “Wait… Who’s ‘Red?’” “Droopy, dear…”

A voice came from outside. Standing in the doorway was a much taller and much more curvaceous figure wearing a white, knee-high bathrobe. Joseph couldn’t help but stare a little, looking the very attractive redhead over. From what he could see, she had legs for days, short hair done in a lovely bouffant style, and the most crystal-like sky blue eyes he’d ever seen. She also wore red, high-heeled slippers, eyeshadow that matched her eyes, and crimson lipstick. Even without the heels, Joseph could see that she was a little taller than him.

“Come back to bed, Droopy, dear…” she said in a seductive tone. “Your little red Corvette is ready for her test drive.” “Just a moment, my dear,” the dog said as waddled by Joseph, carrying a bucket of ice in his hands. The fox couldn’t help but stare in amazement as the girl leaned all the way down and kissed him on the forehead.

“You know what?” Droopy asked, staring up at Joseph. “I think she’s sweet on me.” “You know it, Droopy, baby…” the girl said, taking the ice off his hands and walking away. “Thank you very much, Mr. Fox,” was the next thing the hound, extending his short arm up toward Joseph. “Y… yeah…” was Joseph’s response as he shook the dog’s hand. “You’re… welcome.” “Have a good night, Mr. Fox.”

With that, Droopy waddled out of sight, leaving Joseph to stand there in front of an open door. For several moments after, the fox could do little more than stare. Were that human-looking ‘toon girl and that little dog… in a relationship? “Oh… whatever…” he suddenly said, shaking his head and closing the door. “Sleep…”

After making sure to turn the lights off, Joseph returned to the comfort of his bed… only to be stirred by another knock on the door. “Ash damn it…” he said in a half-growl, standing back up. “If it’s that little dog again…” Of course, it was. “I’m sorry to bother you, again, Mr. Fox,” Droopy said after Joseph answered the door, “but, my sweetie-pie wanted me to give you something.” The dog reached into his… pocket? He then handed Joseph a five-dollar bill. “This is for the ice,” he explained, “and, for disturbing you. Again, thank you very much. We appreciate it.” Joseph blinked… then shook his head. “You’re… welcome?” “I won’t disturb you again, Mr. Fox,” Droopy said as he headed back down the walkway. “Have a good night. I know I certainly will.” The half-dead tone didn’t really fit the trailing comment he’d made… but, Joseph didn’t give it much thought either way as he killed the lights again and went back to bed. And… for the third time since he’d tried to go to sleep… “Son of a…!” He found himself disturbed by a knock on the door.

The fox had to resist his urge to stomp his feet as he got up and checked the door, again. After sharply whipping it open, he glared down at the figure standing there, half-shouting. “Who in the–!!” However… his words came to a sudden halt. It wasn’t Droopy standing at the door, again. It was, however, someone he recognized all the same…

“H… hello…”

Joseph stared in awe at the nervous figure standing there. Her head was down, though her blue eyes were skittishly looking at him. She also had one hand on her opposite arm.

“Sh… Shinko?” The fox blinked, ears perked. “Shinko, it’s the middle of the night… Whyyy are you here…?” In an instant, she looked away, trying to hide her face. “I… I was worried…” she said, just barely speaking above a whisper. “And, I… I wanted to say… that I was sorry…” “How did you… find me, though?” “Oh!” She rubbed her pointed, bare foot against the floor, hands going behind her back. “I… I went to where I thought you might be… but, the monkey told me you came here. The… the young lady at the front told me what room you were in…” “Oh… I guess that makes sense…” He suddenly perked. “Wait, you want to apologize…? No no, I–” The fox went silent as he found a soft, mitten-like hand covering his muzzle. Shinko was looking right into his eyes with a soft, apologetic smile on her face. “May I come in…?” Joseph slowly nodded… The ‘toon girl removed her hand from his mouth and quietly walked inside, immediately taking a seat on the bed. Shortly after, he followed, sitting opposite of her.

“I want to apologize…” she said, setting her hands on the lap of her blue skirt. “I shouldn’t have acted like I did. It was wrong of me.” The fox blinked. “Uh– uum… Sh-shouldn’t I be saying that to you…?” “You have to understand…” she continued, “I’m under a lot of stress. My life isn’t turning out like I thought it would. Real life isn’t like the cartoons where everything turns out okay in the end… But, when you arrived out of the blue… it was like something from a cartoon… or a dream…” Shinko turned toward Joseph, offering a sad sort of smile. “I’ll admit, I got a little jealous when you started spending money like it was water… but, after spending the day with you… remembering how you used to make me feel when I was smaller… I wanted to do something nice, in return. But…” She turned away, hiding her face again. “Real life isn’t very nice sometimes. I know, some day, you’re just going to go away again. And then, I’ll be here… by myself… alone, again… That made me upset… so, I tried to distance myself… But…” When she’d turned back around, Joseph could see she had tears in her eyes, despite the warm smile on her face. “I don’t want you to go.” She hiccuped a little, giving a soft sniffle. “I don’t mean to sound selfish… But… I… I need you… It’s scary, here… Even with my animator living not too far away, I get scared… and, lonely… That’s why I was so quick to offer you a place to stay. Because I didn’t want to be scared and lonely, anymore…” She leaned over, placing her face in her hands. “I’m sorry…”

Joseph could feel his heart breaking as Shinko sat there quietly crying. She’d put on such a brave face, earlier in the night… seeming so mellow about her living arrangements… But, hearing her confess her fears and watching her break down… it was too much for him.

The fox nudged himself over on the bed, quickly wrapping one arm around her shoulders. She was quick to press her face to his chest, holding him in one frame of animation and continuing to let her emotions out against his shirt. He reciprocated, wrapping his other arm and tail around her, pulling her closer and gently nuzzling her cowlick, his own eyes closing… Neither of them said a word more until Shinko had finally calmed down, several moments later.

“I’m sorry… about that display…” she whispered, leaning up and sniffling with a smile. “I think the stress finally got to me. I don’t really have anyone I can talk to about this stuff… and I don’t want to worry my animator… so…” She rubbed one eye and softly sighed. Joseph softly wiped the tears from her other eye, shushing her and smiling back. “It’s okay… I think we all need a good cry, sometimes.” “Yeah…” she giggled. “I feel a lot better, now, too. Except for this headache, I mean.” “You cried for a while.” The fox said as leaned down, kissing her forehead. She giggled again, smiling and blushing. “So, it’s kind of understandable.” “I guess I needed that…” she whispered, snuggling up against him and closing her eyes. “Sorry I made your shirt a wet mess, though.” “It’ll dry,” he said with a laugh. “As will your pretty blue eyes.” “Now don’t start that again…” Shinko’s blush brightened a little. “You remember what happened last time.” The fox’s ears fell at that and he frowned.

“Shinko?” She opened her eyes, looking up at him. Her smile turned to a small frown as she noticed his own expression. “Shinko, about earlier tonight… I’m–” Joseph blinked as he felt something press against his lips. For a half-second, he’d seen Shinko’s face pressed against his. A half-second later, she could be seen smiling and blushing again. “No more frowns, silly fox…” she said with a playful giggle. Though she was doing her best to reassure him… Joseph still wanted to say what was on his mind.

“Shinko, I’m sorry my kiss upset you. I just wanted to–” Once again, he was silenced by a warm hand on his muzzle. “I wasn’t ready for it…” she whispered, her blush staying on her rounded cheeks. “But… now that I know what to expect… maybe…” It was Joseph’s turn to blush as Shinko put her hands in her lap, cutely sitting in his, their eyes watching each other’s.

“Listen…” she suddenly said. “It’s a bit of a walk back to my place from here. Would… would it be okay if I stayed here with you, tonight?” Joseph’s ears flicked… “There’s… only one bed, though.” “Can’t we share…?” Shinko blushed again. She’d asked so innocently… but, it was clear that she was a little shy about it. The question also made Joseph pause… and, blush all the harder… “I think my head is going to either going to pop… or, burst into flames,” he idly commented, aware of how red he must have looked. “Maybe you should splash some water on your face?” she giggled, giving him a nudge. He hesitantly agreed, letting Shinko slide out of his lap, and walked into the bathroom.

This is crazy…! he thought as he rinsed his face in the hotel bathroom. Sh-Shinko’s being… flirty! I’m sure it’s not my imagination, either… I mean, she’s a full-grown adult ‘toon in mind and body… B-but, I never expected her to be so forward… especially after the night we had… I… I guess she’s not mad at me, after all. Huh. Huh…

Joseph gave a blink as he pondered his own thoughts. After taking a moment to rub his face dry with a towel, he returned to the motel room. “I think I’m– huhnn–?!” The fox felt his face start to heat up all over again as he stared at the figure on the hotel bed. Shinko had apparently changed outfits while he was in the other room, wearing something Joseph recognized immediately…

She’d let her long, orange hair down and slipped out of her white blouse and blue skirt, changing into an oversized, blue shirt and… not much else. She was also laying in a somewhat provocative pose, her left arm under the pillow where her head rested while her right sat on her opposite side. Her upper leg was slid forward at the knee, accentuating the curvature of her small hips under the drawn, blue fabric while the lower leg was straight down.

“What’s the matter, Joseph?” Shinko giggled with half-closed eyes. “You’re steaming…” “Huaaauuaaah…” was all he could say as the ‘toon water, seeming to recognize the opportunity for comedy, was indeed evaporating off his warm head and causing steam. After a few seconds, however… “The look on your face…!” Shinko had rolled on to her back, slapping the blanket and overcome with laughter! “I wish I had a camera!” Joseph just groaned, hiding his face behind the towel. He was a bit embarrassed… but, he was sure the look on his face had been pretty priceless if she was laughing that hard.

Once the two had calmed down, Joseph headed to the light switch while Shinko folded the covers of the bed back. He made sure she’d slid in before he turned the lights off, walking back to her a moment later.

“This bed sure is comfy!” she commented, her eyes clearly visible in the darkened room. “There’s room for one more, too…” Joseph half-babbled before clearing his throat. “Aww, is the cute fox still flustered from before?” The eyes disappeared as he could hear Shinko giggling again. “I can’t help it…” he muttered. “I didn’t know you could be sexy as well as cute…” The eyes reappeared, joined by a tinge of pink underneath. “You… you think I’m sexy?” “Among other things…” Shinko’s eyes turned away from the fox, then, the blush disappearing with them. Joseph’s ears heard sheets rustle and he figured she’d turned around. That seemed like the best time to join her in bed, to him. At least… until… “Eep!” Joseph had only gotten half into the bed when Shinko made a startled noise.

“You okay?” More rustling noises came from the bedspread. He thought Shinko had given a nod, since the bed shifted just a little… and so, he climbed the rest of the way in, pulling the covers up. A second later, he felt a thump against his body. Looking down, he could barely see a blush in the dark, half-buried against his chest. The ‘toon girl had apparently rolled over and cuddled up against him. He couldn’t help but smile as he curled one arm around her, gently stroking her head as he leaned down and gave her a nuzzle. “Sleep well, Shinko…” he whispered. “Good night…” He felt her arms curl around him at that, her face rubbing against his shirt. “N… nite-nite…” she nervously whispered. Despite that, the two quickly fell asleep together, warm in each other’s embrace as friends… or, maybe more than that… –––––

Dawn seemed to come in an instant as ToonTown started up, soft singing filling the air along with the sound of motor vehicles putting and zooming around. Joseph’s eyes fluttered and his ears flicked as he awoke, softly yawning. As he tried to stretch, however, he noticed something holding his arm in place. He blinked, looking down… Something was in bed with him. Something… or someone.

“Sh… Shinko?” he quietly whispered. A blush came over his face as he suddenly remembered what happened the night before. Had Shinko stayed with him the whole time…? “Good morning, Shinko…” he happily whispered, giving the bulge in the blankets a little nuzzle. It didn’t respond, however… “Still asleep, huh?” He quietly chuckled. “Alright… you can sleep in. I should probably get a start on the day, though… But, ah… not before I do ooone thing…”

Joseph tilted his head down, puckering his lips. His eyes closed as he drew the covers back… A moment later, his lips made contact with something soft and fluffy. He drew back shortly after, opening his eyes. “Rest well, Shink–” His eyes widened. “Oh…” To his disappointment… he’d kissed his own tail. Apparently, he’d somehow managed to cuddle up with it during the night…

“It was a dream…” His ears folded and heart sank as he came to that conclusion. “Of course it was a dream, you dimwit…” He scowled at himself. “Cartoon world or not, this isn’t some fairy tale. Sometimes, you just don’t get a happy ending… or, a new beginning.” Joseph gave his moistening eyes a rub with his arm. A moment, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Stop crying…” he half-snapped. “You don’t have time for that. You have things to do, today. Like… look for a job…” With a long sigh, he rolled out of bed and prepared for his day in ToonTown. As he showered, however, he couldn’t help but remember the wonderful dream he’d had about his ‘toon friend… only to start berating himself all over again.

You really have some problems, he thought. Get over it. She’s not interested, anymore. You blew it. That’s what he told himself as he tried to get rid of the images in his head. There was no point in thinking about a dream when reality was staring him right in the face… and, though it wasn’t an ideal one… at least, he thought, it could have been worse.

Joseph gathered his equipment and left the motel room, checking-out shortly after. He then walked out to the pavement, examining ToonTown in the early morning sun. “I… really wish I had some sunglasses,” was his thought as he headed out into the day soon after. As he began to walk, he had one solid goal in mind:

Self-reliance. –––––

Shinko woke up the next morning with a yawn and a stretch. Noting the time, she slipped into some comfy PJs wandered into the bathroom to start her day. About halfway through brushing her teeth, however, she thought to herself… I wonder how Joseph slept? With her breath minty and teeth clean, she walked into the living room… only to find that her friend was no longer there. Where did he go? she wondered. She quickly retrieved a pocket watch on a chain from her hammerspace, giving it a glance. It’s early… she noted, so, he should be here… He… he didn’t leave, did he…?

Shinko wasn’t sure what to think as she came to the conclusion that Joseph was gone. At first, panic and worry set in. Had he run away? Or, had he simply gone back to his homeworld? She didn’t know. As she pondered the possibilities, however, something caught her attention… Sitting on her coffee table was a pizza box from the night before. However, something about it looked different. A closer examination revealed that $40.00 were sitting on top… as well as a writing implement. As soon as she noticed that, she moved the paper and pencil away… only to reveal a hand-written note etched on the pizza box.

Dear Shinko,

I'm sorry for everything that happened last night. You're a good friend and deserve to be treated with respect. That said, I've decided not to stay with you, after all. Don’t worry about me, though. I’ll figure something out.

Thanks for a fun time and take care of yourself.

~ Joseph

A feeling of relief fell over Shinko as she read the note. She took a deep, cleansing breath and blinked her eyes, rubbing one mitten-shaped hand to her cheek to remove a tear that had worked its way out. I wish he hadn’t left… she thought, but… at least he let me know why. She smiled a little more… before something else catch her attention. Hey… there’s more writing.

P.S. The money I left is for yesterday's pizza and gun show. You can’t say ‘no’ and give it back if I’m not there, now, can you?

The ‘toon girl couldn’t help but smile as she read that last part. There was a little smiley face at the end of the sentence and everything… Such a goofball… I hope he finds his way.

With the mystery solved, the rest of the morning was spent getting ready for work. By the time she was dressed and ready for her job at Tiana’s Place – the real-world version of the fictitious restaurant from the Disney movie, The Princess at the Frog, and quite the popular place for ‘toons and humans alike – she kept a small smile on her face. Joseph was alright the last time he was here, she reasoned with herself. He’ll probably adjust, again, and… who knows? Maybe I’ll even see him some time down the road… when we’re both better off. He may even remember more about here, then… Gosh, that would be great!

The thought of her friend doing better and possibly regaining his memories kept a small smile on her face throughout her morning routine. When it was finally time to leave her apartment building, however, she found herself whispering a small wish for him…

“Wherever you are, Joseph… please, be safe…”

#fiction #Repercussions and Reparations #commercial characters #KaBlam!#June #Droopy McPoodle #Red #original characters #shinkothetoongirl #Shinko #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #drama

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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A Rainbow of Emotions, Ch. III

Chapter III of A Rainbow of Emotions, a Joseph's ToonTown story.

Welp, I reckon that, by the end of the story, any misconceptions about (my take on) Lola have gone right out the window. Oops. Don't look at me. Casual chatter is casual for a reason.

Word count: 7,521 – Character count: 43,463 Originally written: December 30th, 2016 Revised on: August 14th, 2017

Oh, no! Now, Joseph's sick! But, don't you worry! 'Nurse Lola' is on the job!

Woody Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters properties and created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

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“Shouldn’t you be at home, pal?”

Joseph gave a grin from behind his white mask. He was still recovering from the cold Lola had somehow given him but, with her help, his symptoms had significantly lessened in a fairly short amount of time. In fact, as he stood there washing dishes in the kitchen of Joe’s Diner, he found himself barely sniffling or coughing. Still, he wasn’t without precaution. To prevent the spread of whatever germs that might be lingering in his airways, the fox had placed a sterile mask over his muzzle. Minerva, the afternoon manager, had also suggested the fox wear cleaning gloves as a further precaution… though, he didn’t really mind. It was kind of a nice change from having sopping-wet fur, in his opinion.

“I feel just fine,” he replied to his friend. “Probably gonna take a nap when I get home… but, otherwise, I feel fine.” “Yeah, well… just don’t bring your sickly self over here where th’ food is, alright?” Woody scowled from behind his own protective mask. If there was one thing Joseph had learned over the last couple of days, it was that Woody was surprisingly germophobic – at least when it came to people who were genuinely ill. He found it kind of amusing, in a way…

“Why?” The fox turned around, wriggling his wet, rubber-covered fingers at the woodpecker. “Afraid I’ll contaminate the food with my spaaace geerrrms?” “No, but’cha might make these burgers nasty with your Earth germs!” “Well… you’re not wrong.” He laughed. “I don’t know how contagious I am, after all. It’s lucky this kitchen is so big, too. I must be a good thirty feet away from you.” “Kinda wish you were fifty feet away from me ‘til you’re better, though…” “Ah, you worry too much, Woody.” he said, flicking some water at the bird. “Watch th’ food…!” he scolded as he jumped in a start. “Heh, sorry.”

The next four hours went by pretty quickly, for the duo. Woody continued making the orders while Joseph scrubbed the dishes delivered to him. By the end of the latter’s four-hour shift, he actually had a good five minutes of downtime before he could officially punch-out. “Are you sure no one’s close to finishing their meals?” he asked Woody. “Positive,” was the woodpecker’s reply. “Go home.” “Are you really sure, though…?” “Yes!” He sounded annoyed. “Now, get outta here!” “Alright, alright… Let me just– ah… Ah-ah…” Woody tensed… then, he ran over to the fox lickety-split. Before he’d even realized what was going on, Joseph found himself stripped of his dishwashing gear and on the outside of the diner’s back door. “A-ah…” He gave a blink. “Man, I really hope he remembers to punch me out…” “I did!” the bird shouted as he threw Joseph’s backpack to him. “Now go home!” “Alright, geez…”

Joseph got back to his feet, taking a minute to withdraw a light jacket and scarf from the void of his backpack. After guarding himself against the cool August weather, he started on his way back to his apartment.

“Jojo!” “Eh?” The fox perked. “Oh, what? Lola?” His favorite ‘toon rabbit seemed to be waiting for him as he rounded the corner toward the front of the diner. “I see you’re wearing the scarf I made for you,” she cheerfully said. Joseph noticed she was wearing a similar, striped scarf around her own neck – difference being, his was green while hers matched her usual purple dress. “I think you wear it better,” the fox said with a grin. Lola gave a giggle and a hand-wave. “Oh, you’re just saying that.”

“So, what brings you all the way out here?” Joseph gestured down the road. “Couldn’t wait for me at home?” “Nope!” The rabbit reached behind her back. A moment later, she placed a nurse’s cap on her head. “After work, you’re back under my watch!” He gave a chuckle. “Well…” “And ‘Nurse’ Lola demands you get your fluffy behind home right away, ‘Patient 001!’” The fox smiled, giving a playful “Yes, ‘nurse’” before walking with her.

“How was your day at work?” “Eh, basically the same as always…” Joseph shrugged with a grin. “Dishes-in-dishes-out. Tedious… but, it helps pay the bills.” “Maybe you should try hustling!” she suggested. “It’s always exciting! Oh, especially when you think you’re about to lose but then… you win!” “I… don’t have enough of a poker-face for that, not to mention I’m not really good at anything… Besides, you know how I feel about lying or cheating people.” “It’s not ‘lying’ if they don’t know how good you are in the first place! And… it’s hardly ‘cheating’ if you beat them fair-and-square!” “Yeeaaah, well… I still think it’s dishonest. But!” he exclaimed, giving the shorter bunny a little nudge. “I’m not one to judge. If it pays the bills, it pays the bills. Plus, some people really do need to be taken down a peg or two. How many of them run into you, though?” “Eeeh, a couple here, a couple there…” She brightly smiled, giving a shrug. “Speaking of work though,” Joseph said, changing gears, “what did you do all day?” “Who, me?” the bunny asked with a perk. “Well, I cleaned up the apartment a little… then, I cleaned it up more… then, I cleaned it up a bunch! And, then I went to the park and fed the birds. Those Goodfeathers aren’t the nicest bunch but they appreciate a little bread now-and-then. Especially that big, fat one I see sometimes!” “Do you actually interact with them? Or… just give them bread?” “Either-or!” Lola cheerfully answered. “They like to talk about what they’ve seen on any given day. Like, today, they said they saw Yosemite Sam chatting with Andy Panda! Squit said it was Mickey Mouse but Pesto told him to get his eyes checked… They argued, then fought, like usual! But, to make a long story short, Bobby told me it was Andy, not Mickey.” “Huh…” The fox tilted his head. “Okay.” “I love it when you do that…” Joseph gave a blink as Lola suddenly climbed up his back and sat on his shoulders. A moment later, she gave his ear a scratch, causing him to closing his eyes murmur… “Just look like a li’l puppy-dog!”

As the two arrived at the apartments, Lola split off from her friend, heading to the back of the complex. He immediately knew where she was heading… but, his pace remained casual as he walked inside and checked the mail. “‘You may already be a winner,’” he read. “Riiight. I may already be the King of France, too. But, I’m not.”

After collecting the remainder of the mail – two bills and a magazine – he headed up to the third floor and walked inside his apartment, hanging his jacket and scarf on a coat rack. He then set the mail on the coffee table, deciding to sort it some other time. Before long, his ears picked-up on the sound of glass being tapped. He knew what it was… but, he just grinned to himself, retrieving a cola from the fridge before deciding to investigate. One pit-stop to the bathroom later, he finally made his way into the bedroom.

“Jojo?” called a familiar voice from the other side of the bedroom window. “Someone locked the window… Can you let– hey, what’s that in your hand?” He removed his mask, shooting the figure outside a grin, his tail wagging as he sat on the corner of the bed. “Is that… a cola?!” She scowled, putting her hands on her hips. “Mr. Fox, you know you’re not supposed to be a drinking anything but clear liquids while you recover!” He gave a chuckle… She had, indeed, told him that a few times during his recovery… but, that didn’t stop him from taunting her by taking a sip of the cold drink. “C’mon, Jojo!” she said in a raised voice. “Drop drinking that and let me in! It’s chilly out here!” “It is kind of brisk for 5 PM in early-August, isn’t it?” “So be a good little patient and let Nurse Lola in so she can take care of you!” “What’s the magic word?” “‘Please?’” Joseph gave a chuckle… then took another sip of his cola. “How about ‘pretty please?’” she asked again with a patient smile. He just continued to sit there with a grin, his tail swishing and swaying… “Let me in, darn it!!”

Lola had started pounding on the glass, tugging at the frame, thumping her head against the panes… basically doing all she could to either force her way in or just make a huge ruckus. It was certainly amusing to watch… but, after a few moments, Joseph decided he’d had his fun. “I’ll let you in under one condi– ah? Lola…?” He gave a blink of his golden eyes. The rabbit had vanished without him noticing… “Lola…?” he called as he stood up, walking to the window a moment later. He thought she might be pulling some sort of trick… but, his curiosity was getting the better of him. Eventually, he unlatched the lock of the window and opened it to take a peek…

From what he could see, she was nowhere to be found… She wasn’t on the roof access, she wasn’t on the platforms, she wasn’t in the alleyway below… She wasn’t anywhere, out there! “Did she just give up and go home…?” he thought out loud. “Got’cha!!”

The fox yelped and jolted, dropping his soda on the fire escape as he felt something drag him back inside. A look back revealed that the form of Nurse Lola, suddenly fully dressed in her nurse’s uniform, had her hands on his shirt and a triumphant grin on her face.

“Come back in here before you make yourself worse!” she ordered. “Nooo, my soda!” was Joseph’s reply as he held on to the window frame with one hand and reached out with the other, desperately trying to get the can from the metal scaffolding. “Soda is super-bad for you – especially in your condition!” she scolded, tugging harder on his shirt. “Let me make you some nice, warm, healthy broth, instead!” “But, I don’t want something warm!” he protested. “And, I don’t want something healthy! I was something cold and bad for me! It’s been three days, Lola…!” “That’s ‘Nurse Lola’ to you, patient!” she corrected, giving him a yank. “Now… come… in… side!” “Waaah– crap!” The fox suddenly lost his grip on the window sill and went flying backward, crashing into his caretaker full-force! The two went tumbling out the bedroom door, rolled between the TV and the coffee table, and came to a sudden stop against the apartment door.

“Well, that was fun!” Lola said as she flopped on the floor, lying flat on her back and staring “above” her. Joseph had somehow managed to come to an awkward stop, sitting upside-down and on his shoulders against the front door. “Oooh… that doesn’t look comfortable. Are you okay, Jojo?” “Why is everything upside-down?” he asked in a wobbly voice. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes!’”

After sorting themselves, Lola lead Joseph to the couch. She then headed into the kitchen and started preparing some of her broth. A moment later, she could be seen heading back into the bedroom. A slam of wood-on-wood told the fox she’d closed the window. “There!” she said, dusting her gloved hands off with a satisfied grin. “Now, no more cool air can come in!” “Did you at least get my probably-empty soda can…?” he asked. “I recycle those.” “It’ll be there tomorrow,” was her answer before she wandered back into the kitchen. “I… yeah, probably…” “If you want to change into your jammies, though, Nurse Lola will allow it!” The fox tilted his head… Why did she even put me on the couch, if that was an option? He then gave a shrug and a nod before heading back into the bedroom.

“I hope you don’t mind a little variety tonight, Jojo…”

Lola offered a large mug to the fox as he returned, wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants. He looked inside before giving it a sniff… “Oh, this smells spicy.” “I figured, since you were feeling better, that I’d add a li’l something special!” “Oh?” He gave a smile. “What’s in it?” The rabbit offered a grin. “I’m glad you asked!”

Joseph patiently listened as Lola told him the extensive process she used to make the perfect batch of her homemade no-chicken broth. By the time she got to the ingredient list, he was already slowly sipping the tasty concoction. “And, for this batch,” she continued, “I added a little garlic, a little cayenne, and one last secret ingredient!” “Is it ‘love?’” he asked as a joke. “Oh, don’t be silly, Mr. Fox…” Her grin returned as she said, “I put that into everything!” That got a laugh from the fox. “No, the secret ingredient I added to this batch was… well… Promise not to tell?” “You have my word, Lola.” “‘Nurse Lola.’” “Nurse Lola,” he said, correcting himself. “Well, okay…” She cleared her throat before leaning in and whispering to him.

“The secret ingredient that makes this particular batch of broth super-special…” Joseph blinked, his ears flicking as he waited for Lola to finish her thought. “Iiiiis…” Again, she delayed, building tension… “Yes…?” he asked. “Carrots.” The fox had to give another blink as Lola leaned back, with a bright smile on her face.

“That’s the secret ingredient?” Joseph asked, looking at the broth in his mug. “That’s the secret ingredient!” she happily repeated. “Well, I have to say… I can’t even taste the ca–” “Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh a’bup-bup-bup!!” she interrupted, reaching up and holding his muzzle shut. “Seeecret ingredient!” “The… secret ingredient,” he echoed after she let him go. “I can’t really taste it.” “And, that’s what makes it secret!” was her explanation. “That’s…” He paused… then, he gave a chuckle. “Yeah, alright.” The fox had to admit… it did make a pretty good secret if he couldn’t even taste it. Lola seemed pretty proud of herself, hearing him say that, too…

“98.5 degrees…” The self-proclaimed nurse had taken his temperature sometime after his liquid snack, much to his annoyance. “That’s a little below normal… but, I think you’re good to go!” “Great…” he murmured. “Can I take this stuff off, now?” Just like the first night when he was ill, Lola had buried him in a small collection of warm blankets. It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable for him… but, he really didn’t like sweating as much as he was, considering all he was doing was sitting and watching TV. “Nurse Lola saaays…” The rabbit paused. “Yes, you may!” “Oh, thank the Trinity…” he said as he wriggled out of the blankets, setting one to his side and another on the back of the couch. The third one, however, he randomly decided to fold-up.

“Say, shouldn’t you be doing this?” he suddenly asked. It seemed like Lola was less interested in his well-being… and, more interested in the time, he noticed. “Huh? Hmm?” The rabbit in the nurse’s uniform briefly glanced at the fox before turning back toward the clock on the wall. “Nope, sorry!” “No?” he repeated. “Why?” “Because… Nurse Lola is off-duty!” The fox gave a blink as Lola reached down to the hem of her uniform. For a split-second, he felt himself blush, watching the fabric shift up and over her head. However, it didn’t take him long to notice that her normal, everyday dress lay under the nurse’s uniform. It was kind of impressive, the way she’d removed the uniform without even rustling the dress, too…

“Well, then,” he said with a chuckle, watching her fold the uniform up before sticking it in her purse, of all places. “When will ‘Nurse Lola’ be back on-duty?” “Between 8 AM and 12 PM, depending on when she wakes up!” the rabbit said before hopping over to the couch and sitting next to him. He then watched as she grabbed the largest of the three blankets and wrapped it around their bodies before snuggling up beside him. “Um…” “Let’s watch a movie, Jojo – a scary one!” was her suggestion. “Do you have cable?” “We kinda let it lapse last month…” he said as he set the blanket he was folding aside. “But, I think we have some sort of scary movie on VHS.” “Ooh! Let me look!”

Once again, the fox watched as Lola hopped up. She was quick to head over to the entertainment center and rummage through the ever-growing collection of VHS cassette tapes Joseph and Woody were amassing. It was kind of amusing, seeing her be so enthusiastic about sorting old video tapes.

“Oooooh… how about this one?” Joseph looked up as she came back and tripped over the coffee table. Though she’d face-planted on the floor between the couch and table, her arm had landed on the couch cushions. “Beetlejuice?” he asked as he stood to help her up. It wasn’t necessary, though, as she got back to her feet not a second later. “That’s a scary movie, right?” she asked, looking at the box. “It looks kinda like one! I mean, that one guy’s holding the other guy’s head! At least, I think that’s the other guy’s head?” “I, well… I guess it can be scary?” he said as he sat back down. “There’s a lot of creepy and weird things in the movie. Plus, the story does revolve around a couple of dead people… But, the movie is kind of a comedy-horror thing so, I mean–” But, before he could finish the thought, Lola had already run back over to the tapes and resumed her search. “What about this one?” And, once again, she ran back and showed him a tape. “Stephen King’s It?” His ears folded back. “Now, that is a bit of a creepy movie…” “Let’s watch it!” she said before running back and popping it into the VCR. “I– eh, alright…” And so, after making some popcorn, killing the lights, and snuggling up in the blanket, the two settled in and watched what turned out to be the extended version of the classic movie.

Within the first few minutes, Joseph noticed that Lola had already tensed. Pennywise, the villain of the movie, had made his first appearance… which seemed relatively harmless. However, the bunny seemed to know better. At least, that’s what he thought at the time. When the clown finally revealed himself to be some horrible bug-alien thing, she gave a shriek and hid under the blanket, the only part of her left visible being her eyes from underneath. The longer the two watched, the more it seemed like Lola was completely focused on the movie. Sometimes, she could barely take her eyes off the screen, frequently missing her mouth as she tried to eat popcorn at the same time. Other times, she seemed too tense to even try. Even when Pennywise was doing typical clown antics or making funny noises, something about him just really made her fur stand on-end… And, of course, whenever Pennywise appeared in his true form, she dove under the blanket again and hid, making the couch vibrate as she trembled.

By the end of the movie, it seemed like Lola had been sufficiently freaked-out. Even with the movie ending with the good-guys triumphant, she was refusing to come out from under the blanket. Strangely, though, as soon as the tape deck ran to the end of the tape and automatically started to rewind it, Lola popped right out!

“Wooooo…!” she said, standing on the couch and stretching. “That was a really scary movie! I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep, tonight!” Despite saying that, she was all-smiles as she plunked down next to her friend. “You okay…?” the fox asked. “Never better!” was her genuine-sounding reply. “You seemed pretty frazzled by the movie while it was on… Are you sure you’re okay?” “Oh, Jojo…” she said, standing to give him a little pat on the head, “it was only a movie! It’s not like there’s a real Pennywise out there dragging people into the sewer!” Just then, the two heard a knock on the door. Joseph seemed more startled than Lola, jolting in his seat while the rabbit just stared toward the foyer. “Now, who could that be?” she asked. “Want me to get it?” “No… I got it…”

The two stood up, Joseph heading to the door while Lola picked up the popcorn bowl and headed into the kitchenette. The fox hesitated for a moment, looking at the clock… Winnie wouldn’t be visiting this late… he thought. And, she’d call beforehand, besides… It could be Snap, though. Wonder what he wants…? With that bit of thinking out of the way, he decided to open the door. What he saw on the other side, however, made him stare in awe as standing a head or two above the fox was a very intimidating, very green form.

The figure’s humanoid body was lumpy and a little misshapen but very sturdy-looking. He wore what looked to be an orange burlap sack for a shirt, tattered blue jeans, raggedy brown boots, clean-looking bandages around his wrists, and… strangest of all… a burnt-looking tutu around his waist. He was also carrying a normal, everyday mop in one hand and had a friendly smile of pearly-white teeth on his lopsided face.

“Why, hello, neighbor!” the mutated figure said in a disarming, lighthearted voice that carried a tone of innocence with it. “I just moved in downstairs and I thought, ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be swell if I introduced myself to the neighbors?’ So, that’s exactly what I decided to do!” “Oh…” the fox said, staring up at the figure, still somewhat dumbstruck. “Okay.” “My name is ‘Melvin,’” he continued, introducing himself, “but, some people call me ‘The Toxic Crusader!’ Some people also call me ‘Toxie,’ for short, which I think is just dandy! Oh! And, this is my mop… ‘Mop!’” The figure’s mop squirmed, its handle bending and its head giving a friendly wave. “We’re both very happy to meet you!” the large man said, extending his hand forward. “What’s your name, neighbor?” “This is ‘Mr. Fox!’” called Lola as she walked over beside Joseph, quick to shake Melvin’s hand. “But, I just call him ‘Jojo!’”

“Well, hello, Miss!” was Melvin’s response as she shook her hand. “What’s your name?” “Lola Bunny!” She brightly smiled to the green man. “Pleased to meet you!” “Did you say your name was ‘Lola?”’ The larger gentleman paused, a thoughtful look on his face. “What a funny coincidence! I met another bunny-rabbit named Lola just the other day! Saaay… are you two related? You kind of look alike…” “She’s my sister!” Lola said without missing a beat. “Sort of, anyway! “Oh? How fun!” Melvin withdrew his hand, setting it on his hip. “You know, family sure is nice! I have a mom, ‘Mom,’ and she is just the nicest mom you’ll ever meet!” “I don’t talk with my parents much,” was her response. “They’re… distant!” “Oh, I know what you mean! My mom used to live around here until she retired to Florida. Keeping in touch is a little easier now with the Internet, though! You should try it!” “Maybe I will!”

It was an odd sort of situation for Joseph, watching Lola and the… rather large gentleman… stand there and converse about a number of trivial things. And, did he say he’d just moved in? The fox certainly wasn’t looking forward to seeing that around the place…

“Well, I’d better get going!” Melvin said after a long while of chatting. “Aww, do you have to?” Lola asked, much to Joseph’s chagrin. “I’m afraid so! We need our rest for our big day tomorrow! We have a short commute to L.A. where I start my new job as a janitor for a new, cartoon-themed resort hotel!” “Now that sounds like fun!” “Oh, I sure hope so! Mop loves cleaning up messes! Isn’t that right, Mop?” The mop once again wriggled a nod with its ropy head. “It sure was really nice meeting you two! I hope we can be the best of friends!” “I’m sure we will, Mr. Toxie!” “Oh, please, Miss Bunny…” He offered a bright smile. “Just ‘Toxie’ is hunky-dory!” She gave a grin. “Okay then, ‘Just Toxie!’” That got a laugh out of the larger figure. “Have a wonderful evening!” he said as he walked away. “Bye-bye now!” “Byyeee!” And with that, the gentle giant was finally gone.

“Okay, I gotta be honest…” The rabbit perked as she closed the door. She noticed, Joseph didn’t look too happy… “I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea of having someone like that living one story below me…” “Oh, don’t be so judgmental!” she said with a frown. “I know he looks like a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength… and, he probably is that exact thing… but, he’s really super-nice!” “That’s what I mean,” he said, crossing his arms. “It’s just… if I have to say ‘Hello’ to someone that cheerful every morning, I think I might end up going nuts!” The rabbit suddenly looked confused. “You say hello to me practically every morning and I’m that cheerful!” “Well, I mean… I… Hn…” Joseph scratched his head, feeling a little awkward, then. “Okay, well… you’re not like… I dunno. He seemed so… kid-friendly… Like, does the guy ever get angry? And, I mean, I hate to actually sound judgmental… but, his personality really didn’t seem like it fit his form. Kind of like a radio DJ’s looks and voice. Ya know?” “Maybe?” She gave a hum before smiling. “I wonder what he did?” “What?” “You know! This is ToonTown! He was clearly a ‘toon! Sooo… I wonder what he did! Hmm… Maybe he was a Saturday morning superhero?” “Eh, doesn’t matter… All I know is that I finally get to experience that sitcom scenario where I have an overly-friendly neighbor… and, I’m not too sure how to feel about it.” “Be happy!” she cheerfully said. “It just means there’s plenty of chances for funny stuff to happen! I mean, if he’s the overly-friendly neighbor… then, that makes you the grumpus!” Joseph gave a blink as Lola poked his nose. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of being the “grumpus” in a neighbor-to-neighbor relationship he never asked for. Usually, it was his job to be the annoying one…

“Say!” He blinked again, perking as Lola looked up at him, curiosity on her face. “When did Woody say he was coming back?” “Uh… Friday? Which would be tomorrow, I guess. Why?” Her face lit-up at hearing that. “Let’s do something crazy, Jojo! Something we couldn’t do if Woody was here!” “I…” he started to say. Once he noticed the mischievous look on the rabbit’s face, however, he found himself pausing… She had a wide grin under her overhanging teeth and her eyes were half-closed, looking straight up at him. It didn’t help matters when she took his hand and gave him a little tug. Before he knew it… he was being led into the bedroom. “What…” “Shhhhh…” she hushed him. And with that, she pushed him inside.

For the minutes that followed, Joseph and Lola tried a great many different things together. But, by the end of it all, Lola could only lean back and think… “Well, darn… This is disappointing.”

Lola sat on the edge of the windowsill, arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face. She was staring right at Joseph… who just awkwardly stood there rubbing his right arm and keeping his ears folded back. Just as she said, she seemed really disappointed. “I-I’ve never done this, before!” he explained with a frown. “Well, obviously! But, I was hoping for something a little… meatier!” He gave a wince… then a growl. “You’ve gotta work with what you’re given!” “It’s a real shame…” she sighed. “We were gonna have so much fun… but, now? After seeing that?” The rabbit gestured toward him. “I’m not really in the mood, anymore…” “Well, I mean… we can make this work… Maybe?” “No, Mr. Fox… I don’t think we can. There’s just not enough there to work with.” His frown turned a little more annoyed at hearing that. “You know, I wasn’t even into the idea that much, in the first place!” “Oh, I can tell,” Lola said in a dead tone, lowering her eyelids. “Then, why did you make me do it, to begin with…?” “To broaden your horizons, Jojo!” she said with a sudden smile. “Expand your mind! Try new things! Live a little! Heck, live a lot!” “I mean… I’m all for that…” he said as he rubbed his arm again, “but… this was never going to work. Especially since… ya know…” The rabbit sighed… then gave him an understanding smile. “I know, Jojo. We tried. But, now, we have to pick up the pieces.” “Yeah…” “So, let’s get to work!” With that, the two started undoing their handiwork…

“I really wish you guys had more than one couch!” Lola commented as she moved some cushions from the bed. “Three cushions and a couple of pillows isn’t nearly enough for a good-sized pillow fort! Even with night-stands and a sheet tent!” “What can I tell ya…” the fox said with a chuckle, taking the cushions into his arms. “We have a limited amount of space for furniture, so…” “Even just one more couch would have made this fort work! Now, how do we read comics and eat ice cream until our brains explode?” “We could always do it the old-fashioned way…” “It’s not as much fun reading comics and eating ice cream by lamp-light, though!” “Heh… You’re silly, Lola…” “What’s so silly about reading comics and eating ice cream by-flashlight in an impenetrable fortress made of couch cushions and small furniture?” He brightly smiled at that. “Never change…”

Lola sat on the edge of the bed sometime later. The couch and bedroom had been put back into order… but, she was still visibly bummed about her failed idea. Joseph sat down next to her, gently curling his tail around her side. When she looked up, he offered a friendly smile. That, in turn, made her smile… but, she quickly looked back at the floor in disappointment.

“I just wanted a cool fort…” she sighed. “Well, it was a good idea… Certainly a fun one. But, we kind of have a severe lack of building materials here, so…” The bunny sat up, snapping her fingers. “You’re right,” she said, giving him a determined look. “I’ll just have to find more cushions! Maybe your neighbors would be willing to let us borrow some!” “Well, I also had a different idea…” The gave a blink of her bright eyes, curiosity once again taking hold of her. “Why don’t I take you to the out-of-town fun center, tomorrow?” he offered. “I know it’s not the same as making a fort… but, they do have those massive plastic castles. And, ball pits.” “Baaall piiits…?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah! Plus, I think the one I’m thinking of has all-you-can-eat pizza for dinner on Fridays. It’s pretty affordable, too.” “Can…” The fox gave a blink, turning toward his friend. She had her hands pressed together and wore a hopeful look on her face. “Can I get any toppings I want…?” she sweetly asked. “I don’t see why not,” he said with a chuckle. “Even… even pineapple-and-carrot pizza?” Internally, the fox made a disturbed sound. Externally, however… “Again, I don’t see why not.” And with that, Joseph found himself being hugged tight to the rabbit’s body. “Oh, thank you, Jojo!” she happily squeaked. “I can’t wait until tomorrow!” “Heh heh, well…” was all he could say as he gave her a gentle pat. “Let’s go to sleep right now so we can wake up nice and early!” “Uh…” Before he could say anything else, though, Lola bounced up to the head of the bed, flopping over and, apparently, started snoring. Rapidly.

“Uh, Lola…” he said, trying to get her attention. “Can’t talk. Sleeping,” she replied before going back to “snoring.” “You do know that I have work tomorrow, right?” Her eyes jolted open at that. “Oh!” she exclaimed before sitting up, her legs resting sideways in a feminine way as she leaned on one arm. “I guess it wouldn’t matter if I went to sleep right now, then…” “Yeah, ‘cause I’d be going with you after work, anyway… so, unless you slept from, like…” He took a moment to do the math. “I dunno, uh… 10 AM to, I guess, 5 PM? Yeah, unless that was your sleeping schedule, I don’t see that it would make much difference.” “Then, I know what we have to do!” “Wh… wait…” He gave a blink. “You’re not suggesting I stay up all night just for you, are you?” “Nooo, silly!” she said with a wave of her hand and a smile. “We just have to kill time until we’re tired enough to sleep… then, kill more time the next day!” Well, it wasn’t the most unsound plan he’d ever heard…

“Truth be told…” he said a moment later, “I’m a little tired, right now…” “A little tired?” Lola asked. “Or a lot tired?” “Eh… only a little,” the fox clarified. “Like, I’m sure if I laid down and closed my eyes, I would probably fall asleep… or, if I wasn’t tired enough, I suppose I could just ma–” He stopped in mid-thought, a blush showing itself. The rabbit gave an odd look at that. “Just what?” she asked. “N-nothing!” was his immediate response. However, she knew he was lying…

“What is it?” she asked again with growing curiosity. “What’s the thing you could lay here and do if you weren’t tired enough to sleep?” “It’s, uh… I mean…” “Is it masturbate?” Curiously, the blush left his face and his look changed to one of surprise. “I-I’m sorry, what?” “Masturbate!” she repeated. “You know… Spank the monkey, choke the chicken, stroke the poker… That sort of thing! Or, wait…” A look of realization appeared on her face. “Do you even know what masturbation is? You must know! You don’t go from nothing straight to sex! At least, I don’t think you do… Maybe you do! Maybe you did…!” She crawled over to the fox, pushing her face up toward his and causing him to lean back. Again, there was an intensely curious look to her face. “Have you never masturbated, Mr. Fox…?” she brightly asked, eyes wide and face straight. “I would think someone like you would be an expert at it!” Joseph sputtered for a moment, eyes blinking and ears flicking. “What the Nether is that supposed to mean…?” he finally said, getting indignant. “Nothing!” she replied, looking away as he sat back on her knees. The fact that she’d started whistling and twiddling her thumbs was a dead giveaway that she’d meant something… However, he found that he really didn’t care enough to find out what.

“To answer your question…” he said after a moment, “y… yes. I have. A-and, I do. And… yes, that’s what I was going to say. Until I remembered who I was talking to. S-sorry…” “Oh, pff!” She offered a grin, bending her arms inward with her hands in her lap. “It’s a completely normal thing a lot of people do! Even me!” “Really?” he asked before he remembered himself. “Of course!” was her chipper answer.

For a while, Joseph didn’t know what to say to her. He was surprised by how casually she discussed the topic… but, at the same time, any embarrassment he’d felt seemed, well… unnecessary. She wasn’t embarrassed… so, why should he be? As he sat there, looking at the smiling bunny, though, he began to wonder… “What does a ‘toon girl think about while she ‘flips her dial…?’”

“Lots of things!” she answered before Joseph had even realized he’d said that out loud. “L… like?” he encouraged her, finding himself growing more curious by the second… “Mostly Bugs,” the rabbit said with a grin. “Sometimes, other guys I like…” He tilted his head as Lola gave a squirm. She didn’t seem particularly shy… but, it definitely seemed like she needed some encouragement to loosen her lips. “What… kinds of other guys…?” Her hands rose, resting on her cheeks as she gave a bright smile. “Batman!” “Bat– Batman?” he replied. She gave an enthusiastic nod, keeping her hands on her face and closing her eyes as she began to explain.

“Okay, so, I have this one fantasy that I’m Batgirl, right? And, Batman is so sweet and sensitive… but, when we’re in bed together, he’s so powerful and so passionate!” He noticed Lola shiver at the thought. “Oh, Batman…” she softly said, her eyes half-opening again. “Take me to your Batcave, tie me up with your Bat Lasso, and make me your bat-lover…!” The fox had to look away at that, his blush finally showing itself again. “I… didn’t know you were into that sort of thing,” he casually commented as he rubbed his cheek. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, mon petit renard…” she said in that same tone before straightening up with a bright smile. “You should ask me more questions!” “Well, alright…” He took a light breath before asking, “Since we’re on the topic… what other sort of… ya know… things are you into?” “Well… there is one thing I’d like to do at least once…” she confessed, acting somewhat shy. “It’s a little silly, though!” “How silly could it possibly be? Besides… you’re a slapstick ’toon. Isn’t ‘silly’ second-nature to you?” he said with a wink. Lola just went quiet at that, squirming and continuing to shyly smile.

“Promise not to laugh?” she quietly asked after a little break. “You have my word,” Joseph replied. “Okay!” She took a deep breath, exhaling before she told him… “I want to have sex in a giant thing of warm, gooshy, chocolate pudding!” The fox gave a blink at that. Lola had closed her eyes again. “I’m not real sure how breathing would work,” she continued, “but, just all that warm, rich pudding… touching me all over while I’m in the throes of unbridled physical passion…” She gave another shiver, actually blushing a little before looking back his way. “But, see…? I told you it was silly…” Joseph kind of disagreed with that assessment… In fact, if his body was any indication… he really seemed to like the idea. Or, at the very least, Lola’s description of it… He was kind of glad she was looking at his face the whole time… since he was wearing sweatpants. “I don’t think it’s silly,” he said after taking a moment to calm down. “I’d like to think it would feel pretty good, actually…” “Yeah… but, only if the pudding was the right consistency!” A serious look – or, as serious as Lola ever looked – showed itself as she leaned in again, holding a hand up.

“If the pudding was too thick, you’d just end up rolling around the top!” she said, making a circular gesture with one finger. “That’s kind of sexy… but, not really. On the other hand, if it was too thin…” She lowered her hand down, letting it rest on the bed. “You’d sink right down to the bottom and probably suffocate! I’m not into that.” The fox gave a blink at the added comment. “But, if it were just thick enough to support two people and let them squirm their way back to the top without too much trouble…” She leaned back, clasping her hands together over her chest and closing her eyes. The wishful smile on her face said it all…

“It’s a silly little fantasy, I know,” she commented with a thoughtful smile. “But, it’s mine. And, even if I never get to experience it in real life, at least I can always imagine in my head as many times as I want with whoever I want! Bugs, Batman, you…” “Me?” he asked, sounding genuinely surprised. “What? You don’t think I think you’re sexy?” She covered her mouth with one hand, giving a girlish giggle. “Why do you think I let you put your hands all over me?” “I… had not given it much thought,” he honestly answered. “You mean you took it for granted!” she said, pointing at him and smirking. “Oh, I know your type, Mr. Fox. You never have any problems with women, do you? A natural-born Casanova with more ladies than he can count on both hands, willing to give him their still-beating hearts on a silver platter!” He gave a blink, his ears perking as Lola analyzed him. As much as he hated to admit it… she wasn’t exactly wrong. He didn’t know why… but, it never seemed like he had much of a problem getting close to women – at least, not back home. As it was, he could readily list the names of five girls he’d gotten snuggly with… if not, gone further! And, for some reason… that made him feel a little bad…

“Chin-up, Mr. Fox!”

He jumped a little, snapping out of his thoughts. Lola was giving him one of her bright, friendly smiles, her hands in her lap as she continued to sit there. “It’s okay if you’re naturally gifted in love. I don’t hold it against you! Some people are just lucky like that… while others have to work at it! Besides, it’s kind of reassuring, knowing that even someone like you isn’t immune to being dumped!” The fox winced at hearing that. Again, she wasn’t exactly wrong, but… “W-wait,” he said, suddenly realizing something. “Reassuring?” “Yuh-huh!” “Wh… why reassuring?” “Because, it means that you’re not perfect!” was her cheerful answer. “And, if you can be dumped and snubbed, then that means just the opposite for others; even if it takes a long long time… there’s always going to be someone for someone, out there!”

Joseph found himself blinking quite a bit… The conversation had started so oddly, talking about the things they did when they were alone, then Lola telling him about her fantasies… then, having it come to her seemingly criticizing him… only for that to end up turning into an inspirational sort of thought! And, as always… she wasn’t wrong. His friend Carlos was a perfect example. Even after he’d insulted his at-the-time girlfriend and caused her to break-up with him… he still eventually found the love of his life… in Joseph’s own girlfriend… who had broken-up with him, prior! He had to admit… “Life works in mysterious ways…” “Yuh-huh!” Lola said with a nod. “And… you’re right, Lola,” he continued. “I am?” “Yes.” He gave a warm smile. “I shouldn’t take others’ affections for granted. I did with Kris and, even after trying to fix things, I still lost her to the better man.” “I kinda wish I could meet these people you keep talking about!” the bunny interjected. “When are they gonna discover Planet Ragnarok?! It sounds so cool…!” I dunno…” he said with a laugh. “But, anyway… thanks for opening my eyes a little, Lola. I really do appreciate it.” “You’re welcome!” she cheerfully said. “Although, I have to ask…” Her face turned curious as he paused. “Do you… really find me attractive…?” “You’re super-handsome!” she brightly replied. “And super-cute!” The fox once again found himself leaning back as Lola sat up. However, when she started playing with his bangs… he just laughed. “You really do like my hair, don’t you?” “It’s just one of a bunch of things I like about you, Jojo…” The soft way she’d spoken, looking up at him with admiration… It made him happy.

After conversing a little more about their various fantasies and the people they liked, the two finally found themselves tired enough for bed. “You look so cute in my clothes…” Joseph said as Lola walked in from the other room. She was wearing one of his normal-sized shirts which, on her small frame, looked fairly long and very baggy. In fact, if she hadn’t been wearing off one shoulder, it probably would have slid right down her arms! It did seem like it’d be comfortable sleepwear, though. “I bet you’d look cute in my clothes, Mr. Fox!” she countered a moment later. “Too bad they wouldn’t fit… You’re just so big compared to me!” “Heh. If I could… I would,” he said with a faint blush. “Alas… the size-difference confounds my attempts to make blackmail material!” He gave another blink. “What?” “Only kidding, Jojo…” She gave a grin. “Or am I?” The fox chuckled. “You crazy bun, you…”

Shortly after that, the two snuggled into bed and turned off the lights. Joseph went to sleep that night, happy to have someone like Lola as a friend… even if she was a handful.

#fiction #Rainbow of Emotions #commercial characters #The Woody Woodpecker Show #Woody Woodpecker #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #original characters #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #comedy

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Eat at Joe’s, Chapter IV

Chapter IV of Eat at Joe's, a Joseph's ToonTown story.

So, I'd like to mention… this was a nightmare to convert from the… 100-some posts… of the RP? The writing was just fine… but. restructuring things so they had a flow… then, having to fight the page breaks… and, splitting the story several different ways… ay-yai-yai… But, hey. I got it, eventually. And, I was only 13 hours behind schedule the first time I posted this. Not… that anyone would really know, of course. But, hey…

Co-written with: shinkothetoongirl @ Tumblr Word count: 4,935 – Character count: 27,638 Originally written: April 5th - April 25th, 2016 Converted/revised: January 10th - January 12th, 2017 Re-split and revised on: August 14th, 2017

At the end of the day, some ideas… are best left in one's head.

Shinko the Toon Girl and related characters and properties created by and © her creator Tiana's Place, The Princess and the Frog, and related properties created by and © The Walt Disney Company

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“Hey, Shinko…”

Joseph quietly spoke up, his infernal brain not letting him stay cuddled up with her for too long. There was one question that wouldn’t leave his mind… one question that demanded to be asked. And so, he asked his question…

“Are you… in any position for this sort of thing?” He paused before clarifying, “Is everything in your life stable enough for an additional distraction like this, I mean? Relationships have a funny way of changing things in a person’s life…” He leaned back just enough to nuzzle her again, shivering slightly. “Because, um… if I… I mean… if we… um…” He slowly sat up, still keeping his hands on Shinko’s arms as he looked at her. She looked more than a little confused… but, his face could not have been much redder… “I’m really having a hard time putting two words together right now, aren’t I? Must be my nerves…” The ‘toon girl gave a slight giggle and a nod… At that point, Joseph took a slow, long breath and calmed himself before trying to speak again.

“Every part of me wants to give this a try, Shinko. But, as adults – and I almost hate to use that term, even though it fits so well… we need to stop and consider everything else… things that might get in the way or otherwise prevent things from working like we want. Like I said… stuff like this can change lives.” He gently took the ‘toon back into his arms, hugging her close. “And… I’d kick myself if everything went to the Void because of ‘wants’ over ‘needs…’” He paused… then he let his cheek brush against hers, another thought popping up. “You don’t have to decide now, by the way. I just wanted to… ya know… make sure you really thought about this instead of listening to your heart. Or… ya know… O-other things,” he whispered in an unsure tone, giving her a playful nose-bump to the shoulder.

There was another pause between the two before Shinko spoke up, speaking calm and clear, but with a sad smile on her face. “It doesn’t have to be anything super serious,” she commented. “I was thinking more like ‘affectionate friends’ than anything else. Besides, there is one huge problem I can see…” She glanced up at him, her smile fading ever-so-slightly… “At some point… I’m sure you’ll have to go back to your own world… That’s probably something that can’t be avoided. I mean, as cool as it would be for you to stay here… it’s probably not gonna happen.” The fox gave a blink… He was starting to feel bad he’d even brought the whole thing up. However, a giggle and a boop on the nose snapped him right back out of it and caused him to stare at her once more, his eyes crossing for that brief moment she’d poked him. “In the meantime, I don’t see why we can’t enjoy the moments we do have together! Make ‘em stuff that maybe you’ll actually remember this time, right?” she asked with a grin.

His ears perked at her response. Somehow, watching her be so chipper and playful after his dramatic display actually made him feel less bad about things… and more… silly. He suddenly found himself laughing on the inside. He should have known Shinko better than that… After all… she was always pretty darn sharp!

“I don’t know how I ever forgot you, Shinko… and…” The fox leaned in with a grin on his face and tail wagging. “You’re right. About everything. So, that being said…” His grin widened… “I think being ‘affectionate friends’ can be arranged…”

Suddenly, he gave her a little lick on the nose, making Shinko giggle again! He then blinked, staring for a moment as something caught his attention. “W-wait a minute… that wasn’t there before, was it?” Joseph slid his arm out from behind her and reached one hand up. One of her eyes closed as his fuzzy digit gently booped her… nose…? “On your smaller design, I mean. I’m… pretty sure this didn’t just appear in the last five minutes… did it?” Though he was kidding again, he once again sounded unsure of himself. “Well, it actually came around during the late stages of when I was smaller,” she explained as he leaned back. “Huh… I guess I really did miss that, then.” The girl giggled again as she added, “I still don’t have ears though.” Joseph perked. “No ears…?” He reached up to the side of her head with his left hand, gently running his fingers through the almost-static hair on her right side, causing her to squirm. “But how do you heeaaar…?” he playfully asked, being mindful of the volume of his voice as he leaned inward and nuzzled his way through the hair on her left. She giggled a bit, her eyes shutting as his hand and nose seemed to tickle the side of her head. Her shoulders shrugged a little after… but, it wasn’t in response to his question. It seemed like she was preemptively keeping him from going near her neck… though, he didn’t notice. After calming down from the slight tickling sensations, she managed to open an eye to look back at him.

“I listen with my heart,” she replied, smiling back at him. The fox’s ears flicked at her reply and he slipped back enough to look at her. The blush from before returned to his face as he happily admired her. “That…” he quietly said with a pause before smiling. “Was so corny… but ridiculously sweet…” She grinned at hearing him say that. Whatever she could do or say to make him smile always made it worth it. It was part of her nature as a ‘toon to try and make people smile, anyhow! However, her eyes widened and she started to blush again as Joseph’s hands slid up, gently cupping her cheeks. He leaned in a second later, cutely pressing his nose to hers and looking into her eyes with his own half-closed and full of fondness. His own blush had found its way back to the surface, too…

“Why are you so darn adorable, Shinko?” he asked the ‘toon girl with a purr to his voice. “It’s a frustratingly irresistible trait…” “I don’t know…” She shut her eyes and giggled a bit. “I thought all my adorableness left when I grew up.” Her eyes opened again, a fond smile on her face as she looked to her friend… “It’s nice to know someone still thinks I’m cute, though. Or, maybe that just shows how kind you are…” “Trust me, Shinko…” he whispered as he drew a little closer. “If I was just ‘being kind…’” For a moment, the fox seemed to hesitate in his actions… as if unsure of himself once again. A second later, he closed his eyes, took a breath through his nose… leaned in close, and… did something.

There was a moment of confusion for the young ‘toon. At first, she didn’t really seem to know what was going on. However, it didn’t take her long to realize what Joseph was doing… However, she wasn’t exactly sure how to react to it…

After a moment, the fox leaned back just enough to watch her face, his own still bright red under the fur and eyes fluttering open. “Th… then I probably w-wouldn’t be taking this so slowly…” he said with a nervous smile, his ears somewhere between folded and perked. He really did seem to be airing on the side of caution with Shinko, despite her not once telling him “no” the entire day… Was he that unsure of himself? Or… did he just care about her happiness that much?

“A… aa…” The fox gave a blink, his ears flicking as he heard Shinko make an odd noise. As he watched Shinko react… his own eyes opened wide. Akin to watching a thermometer rise in temperature, her skin slowly became redder-and-redder and her expression slowly displayed more-and-more surprise and shock. “Aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaahh!!!” Such was her sound of growing realization that Joseph had just kissed her where her mouth was. The sounds never got too high that she would be considered screaming. However, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from making the sound. As a result, she quickly pulled a pillow out from her hammerspace and turned away to muffle her face with the pillow while her sound of shock continued. Joseph’s his ears perked and his fur bristled while the girl as she did her best imitation of a tea kettle, both in sight and in sound. A lot of emotions hit Joseph all at once then. Concern… confusion… surprise… even a little bit of nervous amusement tucked away in the corner of his mind. But, for the most-part, he seemed stuck on surprise. And… that surprise caused him to lean back, albeit just a little… and, caused his mind to race! I broke her, I broke her–!! he thought to himself. Holy crap…! What did I do…?! Is she gonna… how do I… that… I… this… a-aah…! Of all the reactions he could have foreseen… Shinko utterly breaking was not one of them! Clearly, she was a ‘toon that had never been kissed on the lips, before.

Slowly but surely, the noise Shinko was making seemed to die down the longer she kept the pillow in front of her face. As the same time, Joseph’s face relaxed little-by-little and he leaned forward, just staring. For a while, she laid there against the arm of the couch, not moving. No new key frames updated and no sounds were made. And, that… made the fox perked his ears and lean in a little closer… Suddenly, she let out a gasp as her frame updated to one of removing her face from the pillow, sitting back up straight as she took a deep breath. Finally, she glanced back to him, blinking twice as she noticed him practically tumble off the couch in surprise. She wore a neutral expression on her face, then… as if she was still deciding on what she thought about what had just happened… and, briefly… if she’d wanted to do that again.

“I know you already said you were taking it slow… but…” She managed to put on a smile and shut her eyes happily before asking… “Do you think we could take it slower-still?”

The fox gave a blink. He’d just calmed down from the start he’d given her, panting and feeling anxious from her neutral look… He had started to relax when he saw her smile… but, as she made her request… “Ah… uh… o-oh.” Those were the first noises out of his mouth. After a moment, though, he returned the smile and replied with something a little more coherent… but, a fair bit more nervy, as well.

“A little too much all at once? Heh, I understand. I mean, you’re probably still getting used to that body and I just kinda popped in outta nowhere… and, I’m sure this is all new to you, besides! I mean, I’m sure you’ve seen and read about things like that and been curious and stuff but if you’re not ready then you’re not ready! We– we can definitely– I mean I can definitely slow it down a bit! Absolutely! Eh heh heh… heh…”

Though he sounded cheerful enough and even wore a convincing smile, his body language did nothing to hide his disappointment. His tail had gone limp and ears hung low. The quickened pace of his voice was probably a dead giveaway, as well. She may not have said “no” to what he had done… but, as far as he’d felt then, she may as well have. As Shinko opened her eyes moments later, her smile turned much more sad, being immediately greeted by how disappointed he looked. Thoughts entered her head, then… She certainly didn’t want to leave him upset. The ‘toon in her refused to let that be the emotion that lingered. And so, she put on a patient smile and decided to comfort him.

“It won’t be so bad…” she offered. “You know what I think would be okay? Stuff like this…” Joseph’s ears perked as he was kissed on the nose. A moment later, she sat back and tilted her head. “And… maybe even a little of this.” He then blinked his golden eyes at Shinko, tilting his own head as she leaned in again, kissing his cheek before sitting back and giggling again. “That’d be okay… right?”

“Baffled” would be an appropriate term for the look on the fox’s face as Shinko asked her question. It wasn’t like he was going to say “no” to her… especially not when she was the one who was being affectionate. But, for some reason… “Guess Kris isn’t the only one who can read me like an open book…” He sighed, offering a smile of his own as the redhead gave him a curious look.

“In all seriousness, Shinko? I did mean what I said just now. Every word of it. I think part of my disappointment comes from the fact I’m misreading you. I mean, I have no doubt that you might be interested in a casual-friendly, affectionate kinda relationship with me.” He paused, a look of realization coming over him. “W… wow. That sounded egotistical, didn’t it?” Shinko giggled with a faint smirk and he chuckled a little before he continued. “But, what I mean is that I have absolutely no reason to doubt what you said and still believe it. However… my idea of ‘affectionate’ and your idea may be, ah… a little different? Although…” Joseph stopped again, bringing a hand to his muzzle, a thoughtful look on his face. “No, no… I think you’re a pretty good judge of character… so, that kiss was probably no surprise. I mean, I didn’t just telegraph that thing. I sky-wrote it in glow-in-the-dark smoke! But, when it actually happened… Hmm…” ��Hey, don’t hurt your head over it okay?” she replied, trying to get him to calm down a little. “Not to mention, a lot has happened today…” The fox watched as Shinko slowly stood up. “So, I’ll tell you what: I’ll order in some pizza, we can have some dinner, and then we can both get some well-earned rest and figure out what to do tomorrow, okay? Just… try to relax. And, have fun.” “Well… I mean, I thought we’d pretty much decided.” His ears flicked as his stomach suddenly growled. “But… pizza does sound pretty good. Meaty pizza, a movie, and thou.” She nodded at his suggestion and took out an old-fashioned, red-cabled phone receiver from her hammerspace, placing it to the side of her head. As she called and ordered the pizza, Joseph stretched and leaned back against the couch, resting his head against the cushion and closing his eyes. All things considered, she was right… They’d reunited and reintroduced themselves to each other… hung out… then, a lot of things happened all-at-once, while they were at her place… and, all within the span of under twelve hours! It really had been one heck of a day with no real opportunity to… “Relax…” he murmured. “Yeah… That’s what I need to do. Just kinda… chill out. Let my mind wander a little.” As he started to relax, his ears flicked. One eye opened and he glanced at the ‘toon girl. He could feel his cheeks beginning to warm and tail start to wag again as he watched her. “To other topics, I mean” he chuckled, keeping his voice low. He then jokingly suggested to himself, “Maybe a cold shower would help, too…”

After a brief conversation, Shinko tossed her phone over her shoulder, effectively making it recoil back behind her and disappear into hammerspace. She then turned toward her friend, smiling as she saw him relaxing. “That pizza place is really good on their service,” she said with a soft, reassuring smile. “Why… you’ll know they’re here before they even get to the door!” The fox’s ears perked and he sat up, blinking at the odd commendation. “Wait, what?” He chuckled. “How does that work?” “Oh, you’ll know…” she replied with a slight grin.

Just as she spoke, they could hear a bunch of commotion going on outside… the kind of commotion that Joseph hadn’t heard too frequently in his life. Upon hearing what sounded like a car crashing into something, he leaped up and started for the nearest window. Sure enough… a car had crashed and even flipped somewhat, causing both the pizza and its driver to be sent flying up into the air! “What in the–?!” But, before he could finish his thought, his ears caught another noise… one of crash-after-crash getting louder and closer. Confused and alerted, he looked to Shinko, blinking in complete disbelieve as she took a few steps toward the door and casually waved him over. Not sure of what else to do, he walked over… and, almost immediately, he heard the doorbell. Shinko looked back at Joseph with a giggle and opened the door. Shinko seemed excited, for some reason… However, what Joseph saw on the other side of the door didn’t really tell him why. Or… maybe, it did? On the other side, the fox could see… a pizza guy… the same one he’d seen rocket into the air, before! If that wasn’t enough, he was hanging by the edge of his jacket from a sharp end of an opening that led to the floor above, the pizza box safely suspended in his hands!

“That’ll be $15, miss…” he groggily told her. With another small giggle, Shinko handed him a $20 before taking the pizza. “Keep the change,” she told him, closing the door with a big smile on her face. When she turned back to Joseph, she politely asked, “So, ready to eat?” Once again, the fox’s ears perked and his fur bristled. The comedic sight of the pizza delivery guy hanging there was enough to give him a start… but, the way he’d half-casually conducted business made Joseph all the more baffled. Even after Shinko had exchanged her money for the pizza, the fox had to look at her with his head tilted… After another moment, though, he crossed his arms and gave a smirk. “I am…” he said, answering her question, “but, you didn’t tell me the pizza came with a live stunt show! What a…” He paused, running through adjectives in his head. After failing to find an appropriate one, he decided to finish his thought with the word, “surprise!” Shinko giggled a bit at that, grabbing a paper plate and napkin from her hammerspace and placing it on the counter along with the pizza. She then opened the box, showing him that, despite everything, the pizza was completely undamaged by the stunt.

“That guy’s really good with slapstick!” she commented. “His squash-and-stretch is always on-point! I know it’s not much… but, I always figure that, when he delivers pizza, he deserves something extra simply for being one of the most classically comedic ‘toons I know!” She took out another paper plate and napkin and handed it to Joseph. As the fox accepted the plate and napkin, he started to wonder just what else Shinko might be hiding in the invisible space just out of his sight… but, he didn’t ask, thinking it would be rude to ask, and instead looked to the hot, delicious-looking pizza. “By the way, did you want something to drink? Pretty sure I got some soda in the fridge. Or, if you want, I have water, milk, apple juice, and pink lemonade.” His ears perked again as she got to the end of the list of choices. “Pink lemonade?” he repeated. “I haven’t had that in a long while… Yeah… why not? Set me up with a nice glass of pink lemonade, please!” “Coming right up!” she replied with a smile, walking over to her fridge. She then retrieved two glasses from the actual cabinets and poured some pink lemonade with ice for them both.

“Ya know,” he said as he helped himself to a couple of slices of pizza, “I’m really really glad nothing I’ve eaten today has had a face – like, an actual face.” Shinko returned with a giggle, placing one of the glasses of drink near him and the other on the counter closer to herself before she went about grabbing a slice for herself. He took a moment to thank her before continuing his thought. “I was a little worried at the diner that, whatever Woody had ordered, would be staring at me like those buildings or the sun… In fact, I was going to ask that walrus fella if they served ‘normal’ food there. But, honestly? There’s been no need. At least, not so far!” “This is normal food, silly,” she said with a giggle and a smile. “It’s your food that’s odd! Photo-realistic hamburgers and fried eggs without faces? How weird!”

Joseph rolled his eyes, causing her to giggle again. A moment later, Shinko settled-in and took a sip of her lemonade. The fox took a bite of his pizza slice, in the meantime, his tail wagging and a big grin on his face as a trail of stringy cheese stretched from the slice to his mouth. It took him a minute to eat it but the look on his face seemed to say it was well worth the effort. “Man…” Joseph started after finishing the bite, “ToonTown’s been 2-for-2 on food since I got here. This pizza is really good!” After taking another reasonably sized bite of his first slice, he set the pizza and plate down and reached for the lemonade. “By the way… did you know that pizza guy personally? Or, is he just a regular you see a lot or something? You seemed keen to mention his comedic credentials,” he said with a grin before taking a drink. That made Shinko giggle all the more before she answered.

“Well, when I first moved in, I didn’t exactly have a lot of cash, so I ended up eating pizza most nights. As it turns out, he’s the one that comes to my door every time! He doesn’t always do the same routine, of course… but, really, I’d like to think he might’ve been an extra in some cartoon, somewhere. His potential seems too big to simply be a forgotten character.” She gave a nostalgic sigh before shaking her head. “Anyways, he seems like a good guy. And, he’s basically the reason I’ve almost become a regular customer for that place. They have my address memorized by now and everything!” With her thought finished, she finally started to dig into her own slice of pizza. Her smile never left her face as she tasted the delicious baked good.

“Huh. That’s pretty cool…” Joseph hummed, looking at the ice in his drink for a moment. “You know… I like it when you talk about ‘toon history, cartoon physics, and things like that. I’m not sure why… but, you make it seem really interesting!” Joseph took another sip of his lemonade, contently humming as he did. “Plus… I love the way the topic makes your pretty, blue eyes light up. They really accent the radiant smile you get on your cute li’l face.” “Ah–” Her eyes widened a bit as her face turned red in embarrassment. Joseph just offered a grin to the ‘toon girl. He really could not help himself…

“C-come on, now… that’s too many compliments in one day,” giving a little wave. “Anyways, it’s not like I’m knowledgeable or anything. It’s just… well…” She paused… then shook her head. “Never mind. I really don’t want to talk about the past.” The fox’s head tilted, one ear cocked and the other lowered as she said that. Though he’d noted a sudden shift in her mood, again, he decided to leave it be, for once, simply giving her a nod and letting his ears return to a neutral position. He then returned to his pizza, starting on the second slice while Shinko plated another for herself.

“Anyways…” she said, keeping his attention, “I think I’ll be going to bed, now. Feel free to help yourself to whatever and I hope you get a good night’s sleep.” “Wh– um… sure…” He scratched the back of his head as she kept a friendly smile on her face. “And, thanks for letting me hang out with you today. I… I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Shinko. I really do.” He gave her a warm smile, wagging his tail again. “Plain-and-simple, you’re a darn good friend and a darn good person. You get a good night’s sleep as well, ya hear?” “Sure.” She nodded, keeping her small, friendly smile. “Goodnight, Joseph.” With that, she headed into her room and closing the door. As soon as she was out of sight, however, she leaned against the door, giving a light, somewhat exhausted sigh.

What a goofy guy… she thought. It certainly will be interesting to have him as a temporary roommate… For a split-second, she wondered about something… But, as quickly as a thought entered her head, it left.

It should be fine… I can trust him. Plus, it will be nice to have some semi-regular company. I just hope… She turned her head toward the door, her smile giving way to a concerned frown, one last thought making its way to the surface. I just hope… he’s not upset with me…

With that thought escaping her head, the ‘toon girl decided to go about her business, finishing her pizza and busying herself until she was tired enough to rest for the night. She really was tired… and, it wasn’t like there was any reason to stay up. Right? –––––

It was midnight as Joseph sat on the nicely-drawn couch of his friend’s apartment. He’d finally finished watching the animated movie he was supposed to watch with her and, though he’d enjoyed it, he couldn’t retain much about it. He’d let his mind wander in the middle of the movie and, since then, a scene from earlier that evening had been playing in his mind.

He could remember feeling the rise in her temperature… seeing the brightening coloration of her skin… He could recall the noise she made… and, how she seemed so dismissive of him and what he’d done, afterward… Joseph hugged his legs to his chest, resting his head on his knees and curling his tail to one side.

Why did you do that? he asked himself. Why did you have to go and kiss her for? You were having a good time just being friendly and affectionate and you had to go and… and… do that! She obviously didn’t like it, with as quickly as she changed the subject… and, worse still, you made her feel bad because of her reaction! What sort of friend does that? No wonder she ran off to her room so quickly… His eyes closed and his ears remained folded back as his train of thought continued.

What’s the matter with you, Joseph? She spends the day with you… invites you into her home… and, you go and try to make-out with her? You just barely reunited with her… but, you’re already hitting on her? Why…? I thought you weren’t looking for that sort of thing after Kris dumped you? Why are you falling back into old habits, like that…? He growled at himself for a moment… then, he relaxed.

She… she seemed interested, though… At– at least until you… you took it too far. Yeah, you took it too far. Too much, too fast, too soon! Joseph shook his head and whimpered. As mature as she’s always been, she’s still a young, naive thing, in some respects, Joseph… You knew this would happen but you pushed it, anyway! What’s wrong with you?! You even said it yourself: Your idea of ‘affection’ and hers are probably leagues apart! I mean, it was probably her first time being kissed like that and–

The fox’s ears perked, his eyes opening wide at his own realization…

“Oh, Trinity Above… I… I stole her first kiss. I stole her first kiss…”

Under other circumstances, being able to make such a claim might have been something that would fill the fox with joy… maybe even pride. But, given how she’d reacted… You’re the lowest of the low, Joseph Lithius… he berated himself, head lowering again. You don’t deserve a friend like her.

Joseph looked to the side of the couch, eyeing his backpack. I should leave… But… I don’t want to worry her… But, I also don’t want to stay and make things awkward, again… He gave a whine, digging his dull claws into his denim jeans, his eyes tearing up in frustration. Gods… I… what do I do…? Where would I even go…? He couldn’t answer those questions, himself… but, maybe, he thought… maybe someone else could.

After finding something to write with, Joseph wrote a note for Shinko on the top of the pizza box and left it somewhere she could find it. He then grabbed his backpack and walked to the door.

“I’m sorry for tonight, Shinko,” he quietly said as he opened it. “I’m not sure if I can ever repair the damage I caused… but, I can at least do this much.”

With that, he locked the door, silently closing it behind him, and hit the road.

#fiction #Eat at Joe's #original characters #shinkothetoongirl #Shinko #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #romance #drama

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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Eat at Joe’s, Chapter III

Chapter III of Eat at Joe's, a Joseph's ToonTown story.

Yeah, no. You're not seeing things. I just… decided to split the story up a little more finely. Partly because of DeviantArt. Grr.

Co-written with: @shinkothetoongirl Word count: 6,680 – Character count: 37,637 Originally written: April 5th - April 25th, 2016 Converted/revised: January 10th - January 12th, 2017 Re-split and revised on: August 14th, 2017

Shinko devastates some targets before proposing a scenario to her new friend.

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As Shinko walked in through the double doors of the building, she explained that the location was a near-wall-to-wall shooting range. Every corner of the place seemed to have its own theme, ranging from the wild west to sci-fi, too, the sounds of lasers and gunfire being heard no matter where you went. All manner of ‘toons seemed to be there, all bringing their own guns and shooting at the seemingly limitless amount of targets that the place provided. But, amidst all the marksmanship, a desk lay at the center of the building where people paid to use the facilities by-the-hour – the rate of which seemed to be about $20 an hour for unlimited use of all the facilities and ranges during that time.

Shinko glanced over when she saw that one ‘toon had a wristband that had a red light that was beeping, signifying that their time was up. With a disappointed look, the ‘toon put their gun away and headed back over to the counter to return the wristband before walking past Shinko to leave. She smiled all the more at the additional ruckus. It always felt good to be around other ‘toons who shared a skill similar to hers. It made her feel like she truly belonged… However, a thought slowly entered her head. Was Joseph okay with all the loud noises? The ‘toon quickly glanced over at the anthropomorphic fox to see how he was handling the situation… and, to her relieve… and great interest… Joseph seemed completely entranced by what was going on! His normally half-closed eyes were wide with wonderment, his ears swiveling back-and-forth, and his head looking around, several things catching his attention in a very short span of time. The displays of lasers and muzzle flashes… the sound of ammunition of all sorts in the wide variety of ranges… the pings and zaps of the targets being shot time-and-time-again… It all seemed very captivating to him! It was… a little surprising, for Shinko. But, at the same time, she was also happy that he seemed to be enjoying what he saw, so far.

“This is so coooool…!” the fox quietly squealed after a moment. He was doing his best to keep from being too loud while, at the same time, trying to talk over all the gunfire. His tail was wagging faster-and-faster and his excitement grew the more he looked around. If he was at all bothered or intimidated, it was extremely well hidden under his enthusiasm! The redhead by his side giggled a bit as she turned to look back at the chaos that was before them. “It is pretty cool, huh? If it wasn’t so expensive, I’d be trying out my rifle more than once every couple of months. I usually save up for two or three hours because… well… I get really into it.” She flustered a bit, shaking her head. “Sorry… That was probably more than you needed to know. But…” She offered a smile, then. “I’m glad you like this place.” To her surprise, though, the fox was still half-distracted by the sights and sounds of the range, his tail wagging at a rapid pace and eyes still wandering. It took him a minute to even realize she talking to him, again.

“Um… huh? Oh, uh… y-yeah, this place is pretty wild! But, in a good way.” He rubbed the back of his head and gave a chuckle. “I honestly can’t say I expected a place like this from what I’d seen of ToonTown. And…” The fox looked his companion over, a grin appearing on his face. “I’m still kind of surprised a nice girl like you would be into this. But, believe me when I say…” He tilted his head down and grinned more. “It’s a pleasant surprise.” “Well,” Shinko giggled, “it’s really not that big a deal… There’s plenty of girls in skirts who take a weapon out of their hammerspace every now-and-again. It’s just harder to do with guns because of censorship. That’s why a lot of them come here to blow off some steam.” Joseph couldn’t help but grin and chuckle at the phrasing Shinko used to describe her position, stifling a full-blown laugh when she mentioned “censorship.” However, he thought he knew what she meant. “Anyways,” she said, shaking her head, “we can stay and watch for as long as you want. I don’t think they’ll kick us out with so many paying customers around them.” She paused, a small frown appearing on her face as she looked around. “Yeah… too crowded… I probably wouldn’t be able to find a decent place to shoot from anyways…” she murmured to herself as if she was trying to talk herself out of using the building’s facilities. Despite her “reasoning,” though, she knew that the current amount of people around them was basically the norm in terms of how full it was.

“I’m actually kind of surprised Joe’s Diner wasn’t this busy,” Joseph started to reply, “what with it being the afternoon and all. But, ah, to get the most fun from your weapon-of-choice, I’m guessing you’d need a long stretch between you and the target… not to mention some place to rest your gun to get a good shot if it’s one of those really high-powered, super-long-range ones. Not sure what the number of people here has to do with that, though.” The fox gestured to Shinko, taking on a neutral look. “If combat simulation games have taught me anything, it’s that’s the two key things to hitting your mark are patience and focus. Maybe you could think of the other patrons as distractions? I mean, they could be – especially if they’re gunnin’ for the same target you are.” Shinko blinked at that before giggling at his response. “Well, you’re not wrong. But, no. My problem really lies in the fact that everyone is much more animated than I am. If they move into the line-of-fire…” She shook her head with a frown before returning to a soft smile. “Anyways, it doesn’t matter. Like I said, there’s a reason I only come here once every couple of months; I can’t afford $20-an-hour… and, you’d be surprised how short an hour is when you’re having fun!” She gave a sigh and looked back toward the fox. As she did, however, she noticed… something had apparently upset him. His eyebrows and ears were lowered… She gave a blink, perking as he spoke. He was just soft enough for her to hear but sounded fairly annoyed…

“What kind of da– ang fool,” the fox adjusted on-the-fly, “would get in the line-of-sight? I mean, it should be pretty obvious when you’re doing things… I can’t imagine you not having key frames – um… that’s what they’re called, right?” Shinko flustered when he mentioned her key frames. She was usually embarrassed to talk about just how barely animated she was… yet, just hearing Joseph get the term right made her smile a bit. She placed her hands on her cheeks, still looking very flustered. “Y-yeah… you’re right. That’s what they’re called…” she responded. Joseph’s ears perked a little, his head tilting to one side as he noticed her flustered look… but, he continued.

“So, like I was saying… I’d think you’d have key frames for idling, aiming, and maybe even firing the weapon. Like… knockback or whatnot. So, if anyone got in your way, I’d think it’d be their own dang fault! Besides…” Once again, he gestured with a one-armed shrug. “I’d think a place this nice would have some sort of quick or easy access to a medical facility. Even if their policy is ‘fire at your own risk,’ you’d think they’d have someone or some way to help someone in need. Accidents happen, be it misfires, weapon malfunctions, or someone just plain falling on their faces.” Joseph crossed his arms. Even though he’d admitted his ignorance about firearms as a whole, he seemed like he knew what he was talking about. Of course, he had no actual idea if any of what he said was even relevant… but, at least he sounded confident.

“Um…” Shinko shook her head, shaking off her shyness before looking back up at him. “It’s not the ‘getting hurt’ part that’s my concern,” she began to explain. “It’s just that, if someone gets hit… they’ll want to hit back. It’s like starting a bar fight… but, with guns! I can usually deal with a decent amount of distraction… but, that’s just too much, you know?” “Oh. Yeah…” he said, a thoughtful look on his face. “I can’t imagine starting a wild gunfight in a place like this would end well…” He paused for a second… as if thinking about the consequences. “Frenzy at the Firing Range!’” he suddenly proclaimed in an “official-sounding” voice a moment later. He once again gestured with his hand, as if printing a newspaper headline. “‘Cute ‘toon girl causes massive gunfight at local shooting gallery! Receives one-week ban and small cash prize for accuracy. Details at 11!’” He laughed a bit before smiling to Shinko, clearly teasing. Shinko laughed as well, shaking her head at the thought. “But, anyway, Shinks… still wanna spend some time here? I don’t exactly have unlimited money, myself, but…” He paused again, looking to one side with his arms behind his back. He looked back a second later, wagging his tail and smiling more. “It’d be worth it to me just to see you enjoy yourself!”

“Well, you already bought me lunch, technically speaking…” she countered, causing the fox’s head to tilt the other way. “I don’t think I should make you pay any more.” “Well, you didn’t really make me buy you lunch… You just weren’t, ya know…” He closed one eye, and held his right hand in his left, making an L-shape with the former. “Quick enough on the draw?” Shinko gave a grin and shook her head as he laughed at his own bad pun. “But…” she continued, “if you really wanna see me in action for a bit, I guess… today, it would make a good excuse to splurge a twenty.”

She offered a smile to the fox. Although she’d been hesitant to actually utilize the range herself, a new thought had entered her head. She really wasn’t sure when Joseph would be on the road again or how long it would be until they next see each other. If anything, then seemed like the one time where she shouldn’t worry about the money. After all, what was she going to do? Make Joseph wait a couple months just so she can splurge on the shooting gallery?

She didn’t think so.

Without another word, she finally approached the circular desk in the center of the building, walking up to the serious clerk who looked like they were just about done with everything that day. “Just one hour, please,” Shinko told him, taking out a twenty and handing it to the clerk. Oddly, he didn’t say a single thing, barely even noticing her as he took the cash, put it in the register, and wound up a wristband for an hour’s time before handing it to Shinko. It wasn’t much of a surprise to her, though. She could certainly relate to the clerk’s low spirits, being in customer service, herself. Joseph gave the clerk a look, himself. Part of him wanted to ask the man a couple of questions… but, not unlike his friend, he figured the clerk was in no mood for extensive interactions. With that thought in mind, he just gave the man a nod and murmured something about spectating, not paying much attention to whether or not the man cared.

“Hmm… let’s see…” Joseph’s ears perked again as Shinko spoke. He figured she was talking to herself since she was looking around… but, he still smiled at her. She walked beyond the desk a second later, followed closely by her fox friend, glancing about at all the various shooting ranges. “It looks like the Space Invasion section looks the least-populated,” she commented. “Not my favorite one, but…” The ‘toon reached behind her, causing Joseph to blink and stare. Her next key frame showed that she had pulled out a long sniper rifle and by her next frame, she was already looking through the rifle’s scope. Usually, she would need something to somewhat steady herself… but, with Joseph present, she felt like showing off a bit.

“Okay,” Joseph started. “I’m pretty sure you didn’t have that last time I… was…” But, the fox found himself trailing off as he noticed how focused Shinko seemed. He quietly cleared his throat and stood behind her and to the left, ears perked and tail swishing low to the floor, his eyes looking down the field at anything she might be aiming toward…

For a while, it seemed as if she was stuck in that one key frame. But, really, she was watching the patterns on the targets to see just how many targets she could get in the quickest way possible. After a moment… her frame updated ever-so-slightly. Her visible eye narrowed and her gaze was set upon a loop of aliens that seemed to be coming from the top of the gallery. Then, in an instant, her shot was added to the rest of the sounds in the gallery! Unlike herself, the ‘toon sniper rifle was fully animated and, thus, one could watch as the bullet spiraled out from the barrel and hit its first target, knocking an alien out of the never-ending loop. However, Shinko didn’t stop there… Though every kick wasted a fraction of a second, she managed to get right back into position and shoot the incoming target aliens until a good amount of the loop had been taken out. She reached behind her, reloaded her gun, and continued to move on to some flying saucers in the left corner which were erratically spinning in a generally circular motion. Just as before, the shots came quick and he saucers were dispatched. There was one bothersome saucer that was only nicked the first time and needed a second shot to take it down but, otherwise, the half-animated ‘toon was on a roll!

During all that, Joseph could do little more than stare in complete awe… The first shot had startled him, despite all the other gunfire around them, and he found himself briefly distracted by the contrast in animation styles between her and her weapon… but, his attention turned back to the field just as quickly when the first target was dislodged from its path. He was about to cheer her on when she fired her second shot… then, the third. It didn’t take long for Joseph to realize that Shinko was in another place… and it was making for quite the interesting show!

When Shinko had stopped to reload, Joseph turned to look at her. It was then that Joseph began to notice something he hadn’t before… He closely watched the girl as she set into her second volley. After a few shots, Joseph felt like he could see her move between moves… almost like his mind was filling in the frames between key frames and, to his mind’s eye, not a single motion was wasted. She moved like a well-oiled machine with each shot, but there was a grace… a beauty… to her actions. Even if gunplay was just a hobby, there was a genuine passion for what she was doing and, whether she realized it or not, it was showing. He found himself wondering as he’d watched… was that a side of Shinko that she’d hidden from everyone years prior? Or… was it a more recent development, not unlike her new form? About twenty minutes had passed as Shinko focused on nothing else but her targets. When she finally did stop, it wasn’t because she ran out of ammo. Rather, it was because it was dawning on her… she couldn’t tell how long she had been silently shooting at things and ignoring everything else around her. She stood up straight, holding her sniper rifle in both of her mitten-like hands a moment later, her blue eyes staying on the targets for a little longer until she finally turned to glance back at Joseph. W-wait… has he been there the whole time? she wondered with growing concern. Oh, gosh… did I go on for too long? Is he getting bored…? Those worries filled her mind as she looked towards the anthropomorphic fox… It didn’t help matters that he just sort of stared at her, eyes open, ears still perked, and tail in a neutral position. It seemed like it took him a few seconds to realize she was looking at him… As soon as he had realized it, though, he blinked, then covered his muzzle and coughed, letting his face relax as he looked to one side, ears folded. “I… guess you weren’t kidding about being a crack shot,” he said in a casual tone, rubbing his cheek. “Or really getting into it.” He paused again, keeping his head turned as he looked at her. She seemed worried… “That was some pretty amazing shooting, though! You’re scary-good, Shinks.” The fox gave a light chuckle, continuing to rub his cheek and avoid eye-contact with the blue-eyed girl. There was a definite air of awkwardness to how he was acting… but, for what reason? Still, Shinko managed a small smile as she walked up to him a moment later.

“Thanks… but, I hope that doesn’t mean you think I’m scary, now.” She stopped a few feet in front of him, tilting her head a bit. “You… okay though? You seem kinda nervous…” “It can wait,” he replied with another chuckle. He turned to face her, tail flicking and ears perking. “You’ve only got like, what, half an hour for this session?” The fox confidentially reached to the ‘toon girl and ruffled her hair. Shinko shut her eyes and giggled a bit at that. It was kind of nostalgic, for her… She only remembered people being able to ruffle her hair because she was so tiny. But, with Joseph doing exactly that despite her increased height… all those feelings she associated with being cute and small were resurfacing.

“Don’t spend it talking to me,” he continued, taking a step back and gesturing for her to keep going. “There’ll be time for that, later. For now? Make the most of it knowing that I’m having fun watching. And, just so you know?” Shinko opened her eyes as he finished and smiled at seeing him grinning. “You’re not scary to me… but, I do feel extremely bad for anyone who really cheeses you off!” Another giggle escaped her throat at that… and made her smile. It meant a lot to her that he felt that way… and continued to remind her of her “younger” days as a small and cute ‘toon girl. It was something she’d all but forgotten as she experienced life in ToonTown… “Well… okay,” she said as she got back into position. “And, after this, maybe you’d like to head to where I live? We can hang out and relax and stuff!” “That depends…” He waggled a finger and winked. “Does your place has a policy against pets?” She shook her head at Joseph’s joke… though, she was still smiling. “I’d love to, Shinko,” he said with a smile of his own. “Thank you. Now, show those smart-alecky targets who’s boss, lady!”

He brought his hands behind his back then and stood nearby, ready to watch the girl show her stuff all the more. Upon hearing him cheer her on, she went back to aiming at the targets with a small grin on her face. “Gladly.”

After what felt like far too short of a time, the two heard the buzz and saw the light flash on Shinko’s wristband, signifying that her time was up. It was fun while it lasted, her shots hitting target-after-target while Joseph watched in awe… but, with a small sigh, the former put her gun back into her hammerspace and gently removed the wristband. “Thank you,” she told the clerk, returning the item. After she walked by the desk, she motioned for Joseph to follow her out the door. He gave a slightly disappointed nod but offered a friendly smile as he walked behind her again.

Outside, the sun was slowly starting to set… but, that didn’t mean that ToonTown was losing any momentum. If anything, it seemed like it was literally the town that never slept! That aspect somewhat surprised the fox and he brought his wrist up to check the time. Unfortunately for him, he’d forgotten he wasn’t wearing a watch. “Does time move faster around here?” he curiously asked, beginning to look for a clock tower or something similar. “Or… does ToonTown go by its own time? Not that it seems to matter either way, of course…” “Time flies when you’re having fun,” was all she offered as an explanation. “Seems like there’s never a dull moment here,” he continued with his ears perked, attuned to the sounds of things going on near-and-far. “Though, I have to say, this section of town seems a little less chaotic than that other place we were, earlier. Better-animated, too.” He offered a playful grin… until he remembered who he was talking to. “N-not that there’s anything wrong with…! I… I mean, uh…” Shinko gave a sad sort of smile as she watched Joseph look away and rub his left arm. His ears were folded back again and he’d apparently deciding to stop talking after putting his foot in his mouth like he had. Really, she knew he didn’t mean anything by what he’d said… but, it was still something that bothered her every-now-and-again. “The apartment complex is over there,” she casually stated, glancing a little down the street near Downtown Disney. “Come on.”

There really wasn’t much to be said during their walk down the road. A mix of self-inflicted embarrassment and curiosity of his surroundings kept Joseph quiet as he followed an equally silent Shinko through the streets of downtown streets. Before long, though, the two arrived at an apartment complex. It looked fairly standard save for the fact that it seemed to be about ten stories and painted a bright color. There were many windows lit up in the twilight sun as well as several cars in front. Despite the normalcy, Joseph seemed impressed by the sight of the building.

Following a brief stop at the front door, Shinko led the way to the elevator that would take them to the sixth floor. As she traveled with Joseph through the dimly lit halls, it seemed noticeably quiet and almost kind of dreary… which was quite the contrast to the outside areas. The two also passed by various numbered doors before stopping at the door with ‘605’ on it. It didn’t take Shinko long to retrieve her key ring from her hammerspace and unlock the door “Make yourself at home,” she told Joseph as she made her way inside. His ears perked at her offer and he gave a nod, looking around all the more as he followed.

The door had opened up into a living room setup with a dark green couch against a wall which was facing a shelving unit topped by a small television. A window was to the left of the couch, facing out onto the street so that one could have a decent view of Downtown Disney. One could even see the spotlights from the House of Mouse, from where they were. Across the way, just beyond the TV set, was a small, sectioned-off area for the kitchen, complete with all the basics; a fridge, a sink, a stove, and a counter where a toaster and some other things sat. To the right of the kitchen sat a small hallway that had two doors on either side of it. The door on the right, which was open, showed a small bathroom whereas the door on the left led to what Joseph assumed was the bedroom.

“This is a pretty nice place you’ve got here…” he idly commented as he walked toward the window. “You have a pretty good view of downtown, it seems like. This place is decorated pretty nicely, as well.” The fox turned toward the ‘toon and offered a smile. “I like it.” “I’m glad,” she replied with a small smile. “The remote for the TV should be on the couch cushions and you can help yourself to whatever’s in the kitchen. Umm….” She rubbed the back of her head. “It’s… actually been a long time since I’ve had company over. Even my animator hasn’t seen my place yet!” “Well,” he said as he walked toward the couch, “for what it’s worth, I’d say you’re doing a good job of being a good host. Although… are you going somewhere or something? You seem a little restless… I-I mean… if you’re really tired or want to take a shower or something, don’t let me stop you! But, ah, I dunno… I’m probably misreading you. Heh.” “Ah–! N-no…” She flustered a bit, quickly shaking her head. “No, I’m not going anywhere, I just… I’ve never really entertained people at my own home before, so uh…” She glanced down at herself, shyly pressing the tips of her vaguely shaped fingers together. Joseph had slipped his backpack off and set it down near the couch before putting his hands in his pockets and warmly smiling to Shinko again. He seemed like he was waiting for her to figure out what she was doing before he did anything else. After a few moments, she looked back up at him.

“I mean…” she quietly started, “is there something you’d like to do?” “I dunno,” he replied, rocking back and forth on his feet. “You’re the one who brought me here, after all. Surely, you must have had something in mind?” Shinko’s head tilted a little. Between his wagging tail, the grin on his face, and the curious, sing-songy tone of his voice, it was hard to tell if he was implying something… or just teasing her. “Hmm… well, maybe we could watch a movie? I got some DVDs we could watch. They’re basically all animated movies, of course…” she offered, still looking a bit shy. He smiled all the more, his own head tilting, then. She seemed to be fidgeting a little… and, with good reason. Her mind had suddenly wandered to an odd question… Have I ever been alone with a guy like this, before…? she wondered, unable to recall. There was a chance it had happened before her reboot… but, she didn’t want to think too much about her past… She had become her own ‘toon since those days and she was going to try her best to be a decent friend to Joseph, if not a good host, at the very least.

“Animated movies, ya say?” Joseph hummed, tail swishing and ears flicking. “I like animated movies, yeah… Sounds like a good way to spend the rest of the day… well, night… to me! Or, ya know, however long it is ‘til you kick me out anyway. Heh heh heh.”

The wink he gave made Shinko giggle a little. A moment later, she gave a nod and looked over to her DVD collection, the majority of which were gifts from her creator… a little something to make her feel more at-home in her new apartment. Joseph, meanwhile, decided to settle down on the couch, taking a seat on one side and getting comfy. He stretched a bit and gave a light grunt before looking over to Shinko again.

“If you don’t mind me asking… do you live by yourself? Sorry if that’s a bit too personal…” he added with a little chuckle. “I’m just kinda curious… partly because I think it’d be funny to explain to a roommate that came home why there’s a distinctly non-‘toon, bi-pedal fox-man sitting on your couch. And, partly because…” His ears fell a little, but they quickly perked back up as he finished his thought. “Well, never mind. This is ToonTown, after all, not downtown Murasama City. What’s the worst that could happen in a place called ‘ToonTown,’ anyway? A drive-by pie-ing?” Joseph rubbed his muzzle and grinned, though his ears folded back just a hair. Why his mind had gone down that road was beyond him… He really couldn’t imagine anything bad happening in a place called “ToonTown.” But, then… the place had already surprised him in several different ways, that day. “Well, yeah,” Shinko nonchalantly replied, ignoring the thoughts that followed his question. “I live by myself. Gotta be a strong, independent ‘toon if I plan to make it anywhere, you know?” she replied with a small smile. “Even if… I don’t know where I’m going just yet…” While she answered his question, she decided to take out “How to Train Your Dragon” and slipped the DVD into her player. Joseph wasn’t surprised that he’d never heard of the movie she’d picked… but, it looked like something he could get into. Dragons and movies always seemed like a fun combination, to him! Once she’d hit play and the movie started, she turned around to have a seat next to Joseph. He smiled and wagged the tip of his tail in response – which shifted positioned to the opposite side once she sat. Shinko, though, seemed more focused on her lap than anything… “But, yeah, that would be funny, wouldn’t it? Too bad I don’t have a roommate… though, that brings me to something I’ve been thinking of, today.” She glanced back at him with a somewhat worried expression. Joseph noticed the thoughtful look on her face and perked up, ready to listen.

“You were basically thrown into a world you maybe vaguely remember, armed with some cash and some magical ring by some stranger… and, you don’t even know why. Right? Well… I don’t know… it doesn’t feel right just to kick you out when you don’t know anyone else aside from Woody and whoever else you met. So, I was thinking…” She twirled a fringe of her orange hair again as she looked away. “That you could… crash here… for a while? You know… have some place to fall back on until you figure out where you plan to go next? Something like that?”

“Does… your lease say anything about whether or not you can have guests over for an extended period?” She glanced at him, noticing his soft, neutral look. His tone had also become as serious as hers. “Because,” he continued, “if you’re allowed to, then… it’s probably not a bad idea…?” He leaned back on the couch, looking at the ceiling of the apartment with a sigh.

“Honestly, I actually hadn’t thought about where I was going to sleep, tonight… I probably would have gotten a room – or tried to – some place in town. But, putting things into perspective… I really don’t know how long this four-hundred… what’d you and the waitress say?” he asked, briefly glancing toward Shinko. “‘Bucks’? Yeah… I really don’t know how long it’ll last me, especially since I’m still not 100% sure how much it’s actually worth… though, compared to Rai, it seems 100-times less. Like, 100 Rai would be something like 1 Bucks. Er… wait. Is that right? ‘Bucks?’ Or, is it ‘Buck?’ “Well, regardless, I’m not sure how far that would get me – especially the way I use it. But, as they say… if you can’t learn from your mistakes…”

The fox sat forward before turning to Shinko, brightly smiling and letting his tail wag. “I really appreciate your offer, Shinko. Hopefully, I can find something to do, either here or someplace nearby, so I won’t be too much of a stretch on your budget… but, for now?” He leaned back against the arm and grinned. “Sharing a cozy place with a pretty, young lady sounds pretty good to me.” His grin returned to a smile a moment later as he added a “Thank you,” in a sincere tone. She smiled sheepishly at him once he’d finished his thought… only to have give him her own. “As much as four-hundred bucks is… spread thin, it probably won’t last you long, especially since we don’t know how long you’re going to be staying in this world.” “Could be worse, I suppose…” He grinned again. “That ‘M’ person could’ve given me 500 Rai instead of 500 Bucks. Then, I’d really be in trouble!” “And, really,” she continued with a soft smile, “the leases here are pretty fluid. So long as the rent gets paid and nobody mentions anything, everything’s good! From what I see, the worst that can happen is that I’ll have to pay extra for the time you spend in my apartment. But, really, I’m willing to do that in the long run.” She let out a small sigh before leaning back against the couch. “And, you’re welcome,” she added, still smiling.

Joseph laughed a little more before leaning back again. He then noticed Shinko doing something with her hair… She’d apparently gotten tired of wearing her hair up in a ponytail and swiftly undid it, putting the hairband in her hammerspace and allowing her shoulder-length hair to come down. This caused the fox to tilt his head… “Oh, wow, how’d I miss that…?” He smiled again. “Guess your hair grew with the rest of you. I’m sure I’ve said this a couple times already… but, you really did grow up pretty, Shinko. But, you weren’t exactly ugly when you were smaller either so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised… Though, there is one thing I find kinda funny…”

Shinko stared a little, watching the fox lean toward her. When he reached up and gave the sprout of hair on the top of her head a playful flick, she gave a nervous laugh… “Seems like this part didn’t grow with you. I mean, it doesn’t seem quite as pronounced as I remember… but. it’s still just as cute.” “I’m glad you think so,” she said, shyly looking away. “I mean… I’ve been called cute when I was little, too. I just… didn’t think that cuteness stayed with me when I grew up…” Her blue eyes finally glanced back at him, her cheeks slightly tinged pink. “Thank you, though… for all the compliments and encouraging words.” “Abso… lute… ly…” Joseph blinked a couple of times, his speech slowing to a stop. There was something about the way she’d spoken… or, maybe it was the fact that she couldn’t seem to maintain eye contact… But, something about her… was having an odd effect on him, then… “I, uh…” he started to say, finding it hard to stop staring at the blushing ‘toon girl. After a couple of awkwardly silent moments, however, he looked away, ears folding back.

“Hey, Shinko?” he started again, brushing his hand over the top and back of his head, doing his best to avoid eye contact, himself. “What, um… what can you tell me about the past? Like… specifically, about me? Anything in-interesting…?” “Hm?” she asked, glancing up at him for a moment. “You mean, before my reboot?” It wasn’t long before she was in a thinking pose, her eyes glancing up with her hand on her non-existent chin. By her next frame, she was looking back at him with a small smile. “Well, you were always so nice to me. Despite me only being a half-animated ‘toon… and, the fact that I was so young and inexperienced… you were among the top people that made me feel welcome and wanted. In fact, we even went out for pizza once and… you gave me this.” She reached behind herself before shifting to another key frame. When the fox looked, he noticed that she was showing him a watch… once with a black, cartoon mouse on it. “I’m never late to work when I wear it,” she giggled.

Joseph blinked again, staring at the timepiece for a while longer. Seeing the watch there in her hand seemed to spark something. His ears were still folded back… but, there was a warm, sentimental smile on his face. “You… you kept it?” “Of course,” she replied with a sweet smile. “I… I’d forgotten all about that… Until now, I mean.” The fox rubbed the back of his head again, his mind wandering a little… “H… hey, Shinko…?” She looked up at him, an expression of curiosity on her face. There was a tinge of pink to him, visible even through his fur… “There’s… a lot I don’t remember about this place,” he started. “But, spending time with you today… I… think remembered something. Something I… W-well…”

Shinko quietly blinked, watching him. Her face turned to surprise several moments later he reached over and took her hands in his own. The girl’s eyes widened a little when he gently squeezed them… but, he had her full attention. She could feel her face warm along with his as he looked into her eyes. Before long, continued to speak.

“I remembered how adorable you always were,” he said, his eyes unwavering from her own. “I remembered how much fun it was to be with you. I remembered what a wonderful person you are. I remembered how beyond your years you seemed, despite your young appearance… and, I remembered how much I admired you just for being you. But, as I remembered all of that, there was one last… very important thing… that I recalled.” He looked down for a moment before looking back to her. “I remembered… how very fond of you I was. And…” He leaned in, cautiously rubbing his nose to her cheek in an affectionate way before leaning back. His blush was painfully obvious as he did. “And… neither this weird amnesia nor years apart has changed that, I’m afraid…” he whispered with a nervous chuckle. “Even if it did take me a minute or two or remember…”

She had listened intently to every single word he had to say and, by the time he’d rubbed his nose against her cheek, she couldn’t help but giggle, her cheeks staying pink as she looked back at him. Beyond that, she seemed… speechless. Yet, after a few moments of reflection… “You know… I didn’t forget that part,” she quietly said. “But, I didn’t want to assume anything. That and, well…” She glanced down with a small smile on her face. “I guess… back then… I wasn’t sure if I wanted this sort of thing. As a little ‘toon girl, there probably wasn’t much I’d be ‘allowed’ to do. But, now that I’ve been rebooted with a form that better suits me…” She took a moment before slowly leaning into Joseph, her head on his shoulder. “M… maybe I’ll try it… this time.” Her eyes closed again as she stayed there against the soft fox, just content to enjoy his warmth… She didn’t know what the future held… but, for that moment… it seemed like it held nothing but good things. Besides… she thought, if a goofy, white rabbit and a Tex Avery-esque ‘toon woman could be a thing… why not a half-animated ‘toon girl and an anthropomorphic fox?

For the time Joseph spent there, letting Shinko rest against him, he found himself pondering her words… Questions came to mind, more assuredly… but, for some reason… he just couldn’t find the will to ask them. Eventually… he decided to gently nestle his own head against hers and closed his eyes.

The fox’s arms and tail softly curled around her slightly smaller frame and, for several moments, he remained like that, ignoring the opening cinematics of the DVD playing on the TV. Nothing more needed to be said or done, then… It was just a peaceful time for them both…

One… that he didn’t want to end anytime soon.

#Eat at Joe's #original characters #shinkothetoongirl #Shinko #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #slice of life #drama #romance

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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A Rainbow of Emotions, Ch. II

Chapter II of A Rainbow of Emotions, a Joseph's ToonTown story.

I think it was around the time of this story that I really found that I liked Lola. Or… nah. I already knew that from The Looney Tunes Show. Heh heh.

Word count: 9,098 – Character count: 51,551 Originally written: December 28th, 2016 Revised on: August 13th, 2017

Joseph nurses an ailing bunny back to health after her unexpected overnight stay.

Lola Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Woody Woodpecker, Winnie Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters properties and created by and © Walter Lantz Productions

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After a long, peaceful night’s rest, Joseph awoke to the sunlight from the nearby window. He gave his eyes a rub before fumbling for his glasses. It didn’t really phase him when he somehow slapped the TV on via remote, the fox being a little too groggy to care. Mornings… he mentally grumbled, eventually retrieving his glasses. For a while, he debated just laying there listening to the news but, after a moment, he suddenly realized… I gotta pee… And so, he slowly got to his feet, rounded the coffee table, and headed into the bathroom.

The fox gave a groan as the built-up pressure in his lower half was released. A contented sigh and the sound of swirling water being drained followed that… and, another sound followed those. However, it wasn’t one that Joseph, himself, had caused… His ears perked at the sound of a soft, grumpy-sounding moan coming from his right. He took a moment to examine the source… then, he jumped at what he found! Oh, crap! he thought, looking at the orange-and-tan rabbit trying to sleep in the bathtub. I completely forgot she was in there! “S-sorry, Lola…” he whispered as he backed out of the room. “Go back to sleep…” Not hearing a response, the fox slowly closed the door and decided to go about his business, albeit more quietly than he usually would.

The morning seemed to fly by, Joseph content to watch TV while he ate some cereal. There was a good hour before he and Woody had to leave for work together and he was already dressed and ready-to-go. That bird is such a late sleeper… he thought with a grin. Then again… he works a full eight-hour shift so he needs that energy. Hmm… speaking of late sleepers, though… Joseph looked toward the bathroom door. I hope she wakes up. Woody’s gonna need to shower, soon…

Woody came stumbling out of the bedroom about twelve minutes later, rubbing his green eyes and clicking his tongue, apparently trying to get some morning funk out of his mouth. “‘Morning, Woody,” Joseph cheerfully whispered. The bird responded with an incoherent mutter, waving his way. “Oh, hey, Woody, don’t go in there just yet…” The woodpecker stopped just inches from the bathroom door. His tired eyes shot a glare at the fox… as if wordlessly asking him, “Why not?” “Lola came by last night…” he explained. “She looked dog-tired and almost immediately crashed in the bathtub.” Joseph’s roommate did not look amused. “Uh, lemme see if she’s awake, yet…”

The fox got back up and walked by the annoyed bird, gently opening the bathroom door and walking inside. Once he was inside, he knelt down beside the bathtub. One look at the rabbit told him she was still asleep…

“Lola… Wakie-wakie,” he softly called. “Woody needs to use the shower.” She didn’t respond. “Lola? C’mon, wake up.” Again, no response. “Seriously, Lola…” the fox said as he reached into the tub. “Wake up.”

Giving Lola a nudge didn’t seem any more effective than talking… but, it did reveal something interesting. Joseph noticed that Lola felt cold… It wouldn’t have been too surprising, given that the bathroom wasn’t heated very well and that the tub itself was cold. However, Lola felt even colder than he’d expected… and… kind of sweaty…? A cold sweat? Oh, please tell me you’re just really-really tired, Lola… he thought as he gently raised her arm As he compared her pulse to his, he thought to himself, I wish I knew what her normal pulse was… She feels a little fast, to me, but… not by a lot. Unsure of what else to do, he put her arm back against her side and reached up, checking her temperature. He almost had to yank his hand back at what he felt… “Woody…?” he called in a raised voice. “Do we have a thermometer…?”

The two conferred around a small, ear-based thermometer a moment later. The readout on the digital display seemed to confirm what Joseph had found out first-hand. “She’s burning up, Woody…” he said, his ears folded. “How long was she out there in that rain…?” was his first question. “An’, did she really sleep in that wet thing?? I don’t even wear clothes and I know better than that!” “I don’t know…” the fox said with a frown. “And, that’s a good point, about her clothes… Do… you think your robe would fit her?” Woody gave a blink… then a nod. “You get her outta there ‘n I’ll go get that robe.”

There was a slightly awkward moment for Joseph as he draped a towel over the rabbit’s body while simultaneously trying to remove her dress. The fact that she wasn’t responding even to that made him worry all the more… She’s got a fever… she’s clammy… she’s unresponsive… He held back a whimper. Thank the Trinity Above she’s breathing…

Once Lola had been properly wrapped in Woody’s oversized robe, Joseph carefully carted her into the bedroom and headed her toward the bed. “What are ya doin’?” Woody asked with confused concern in his voice. “She’s got a fever… but, her body is almost frozen…” was the fox’s reply as he tucked her in. “I’m hoping that she’ll wake up once she gets warm, again… Damn it, Lola… why did you feel like you had to stay here last night? Why didn’t you just go home?” The woodpecker gave a slight frown… but, unable to do much, he decided to just get ready for work and let his roommate tend to the rabbit.

By the time Woody was ready to head in, it was abundantly clear to him that Joseph wouldn’t be following. He was too busy worrying about the ailed bunny in his bed. And so, Woody called to the diner and told Mona, the morning manager, what was going on. A moment later, he let Joseph know he’d be covering for him that day, much to the fox’s appreciation. “I’ll make it up to you,” he said with a worried smile. “I promise.” “I know ya will, pal…” was Woody’s reply as he playfully thumped the fox on the arm. “Just make sure that dumb bunny gets better, soon! Don’t wanna have t’ share a couch with ya!” “Heh, I’ll do my best…” Woody left after a few moments, leaving the fox alone with the rabbit.

“Alright, let’s see…” Shortly after Woody had left, Joseph retrieved their laptop computer and brought it into the bedroom. He’d intended to diagnose Lola’s symptoms – or at least the ones he noticed – with an online website… but, a lack of information on his end was making things a little difficult. Eventually, though, he was able to narrow it down to one of two things. “Lola either has the flu…” he read, “or… she has pneumonia.” He gave a worried look to the resting rabbit. “Oh, please wake up, Lola… Wake up so I can help you get better… Trinity Above, I hope it’s not the latter…” Joseph suddenly found himself wishing his close friend Hope, who was a registered and active nurse, was there… She’d probably know what to do, he figured. He then wondered… “Would Winnie know how to treat her, too? She should, but–” A sudden noise derailed his train of thought. He jolted upright, looking at his friend as she gave a loud series of coughs before groaning and shivering. “Lola?” he quietly called, not expecting an answer. “You okay?” Strangely enough, Lola just slowly shook her head before rolling on to her side. Hrnnn… I guess she wasn’t waking up… Oh, Lola…

Joseph didn’t have much interest in food or drink that afternoon, being far too busy keeping an eye on his bed-ridden friend to think about himself. As the minutes started to add up, he found himself wondering if she would ever wake up… Almost three hours later, though… “Uuhnn…” The fox looked over from the window, his ears upright and his tail straightening. Lola was starting to squirm… “Lola…?” he whispered. She gave a series of short rasps and a shiver before letting her eyes flicker, her eyelids opening just enough for her to see. She turned her head toward the fox and gave another groan as he walked back over.

“Hey…” he whispered, kneeling beside her. “Hi…” she responded with another groan. “How do you feel?” “Not so good… I think I might be sick…” She coughed. “Or… something. Ugh…” The fox couldn’t help but give a light, somewhat relieved chuckle. At least she was coherent enough to be honest…

“Where am I…?” she quietly asked. “How did I get here…?” “Shh…” Joseph said as he gave her cheek a little stroke. “You just get some rest. I’ll go get you something cool to drink.” The fox left, returning with some water shortly after. Lola didn’t even put up a fight as he gently nudged her into a sitting position and carefully helped her drink. “Small sips, now…” he sweetly suggested. “Take your time…” The rabbit’s eyes closed as she felt the liquid slide down her throat. It was kind of a relief since it felt so dry…

“I’m glad you’re awake…” Joseph whispered after she’d finished her drink. “I was a little scared you were even more sick than you are…” “You mean I am sick?” she weakly asked as she was helped back into a laying position. “Yeah… I think it’s, um…” The fox thought for a moment before saying, “the flu.” “The flu…?” “Yyyes.” “But… I don’t want the flu…” she said with another little cough. “Hey… I’d take it from you if I could, sweetie.” The rabbit rubbed her cheek against the soft, cool pillow and gave a sigh. “I’m sorry…” she whispered, sounding weaker than before. “Don’t worry about it. Just get some rest… okay?” She hesitated… but, after a moment, she gave a slow, light nod. “If you need anything… don’t hesitate to ask.” “Jo… jo?” she meekly said. “Yes?” The fox watched as the robed rabbit slid her arms out from under the blankets. His head tilted as he watched her reach over toward him, her arms shaky under the thick robe and her gloved hands extending and retracting. His ears perked as he heard her moan… “Huuug…”

He gave a chuckle and leaned in, letting her arms wrap around him as he gave her a hug, still being careful not to jostle her too much. When he’d heard her begin to breathe a bit more deeply a second later, though… Uh-oh… Did she fall asleep? A light nudge to the rabbit’s body generated no response… and, that seemed to confirm it. It’s times like this I wish I’d bought that neat-looking stuffed fox toy… Heh heh, oh well…

The fox patiently waited for Lola to fall into a deeper sleep before removing himself from her embrace. Once free, he slipped out of the room, leaving her the laptop in case she woke up and wanted to do something fun. I really hope she gets better soon… he thought as he walked into the kitchen to make some soup for the two of them. I have to admit… it’s kind of cute seeing her be so weak and frail… but, I really do prefer the energetic, random Lola more.

A couple more hours passed before Joseph heard a knock on the door. To his surprise, Winnie had come by to check on the rabbit. Apparently, Woody had called her from work to let her know what was going on and she felt compelled to look into things, herself.

“What are her symptoms?” Winnie quietly asked as she stood outside the bedroom door. “Well, she was burning up earlier… Her body was kind of clammy… she coughs, sometimes, and she’s basically been sleeping since late last night.” “Hmm…” The female woodpecker looked down in thought. “Did she anything about being achy?” “She was groaning a little… but, I don’t think she’s hurting too badly. So… maybe?” “Has she wanted any food?” “Nah… she just wants to sleep, I think. Oh, but, she drank some water earlier.” “Well, that’s good…” Winnie paused to think a little more. “You say she has the flu?” It was Joseph’s turn to pause… He didn’t want to say what was on his mind, but… “I think… she might have pneumonia, actually,” he quietly answered… “Pneumonia??” Winnie gave a blink of her blue eyes. “From one night out in the rain?” “I… well… the website I checked said it could be that or the flu, so…” “Why don’t I just go check her, myself?” The woodpecker offered a smile. “I’m an assistant nurse… so, I can probably tell what’s wrong.” “I… yeah, alright…” The two quietly entered the bedroom, then.

Just as Joseph had said, Lola was still asleep. One of her arms had made its way back under the covers while the other was haphazardly tossed to her left. She seemed to be resting on her back, her head turned slightly and her mouth hanging open with a little saliva dripping down. “Well, that’s… that’s kind of an improvement,” Joseph said. “She looks a lot more relaxed than she did, earlier.” “Mm… her head feels a little warm,” Winnie whispered as she checked her temperature, “but, she’s certainly not burning up.” “Should we wake her up…?” the fox asked. “I don’t think so… Whatever she had seems to be working itself out of her system while she sleeps. Given that, it was probably just nothing more severe than a bad cold.” “A cold…?” His face brightened. “That’s great news!” “Well, you know what they say about colds, right?” Joseph tilted his head. “‘Starve a fever, feed a cold,’” Winnie said with a smile. “Make sure you have something good for her when she wakes back up.” “Oh, I have some chicken-noodle soup prepared for that.” “That should work, yes.” The two shared a smile before quietly letting themselves out of the bedroom.

“You have my number if you need me, Joseph,” Winnie offered as she picked up her purse from the door. “I think Woody plans to stay over at our place for the night, as well. He said something about not wanting to catch whatever Lola had…” “Oh.” He gave a blink of realization. “I… hadn’t even thought about that.” “Well, keep yourself hydrated and fed. Just as long as you stay healthy, you should be fine! But, make sure to keep her healthy, too!” “Right.” He gave a nod. “Thank you, Nurse Winnie!” The woodpecker blushed a little at being called that… but, she offered a grin. “Take care of yourself, Joseph,” she said as she headed out into the hallway. “Call me if you need to!” “I will,” he assured her. “Don’t be a stranger now, alright? And, tell Woody…” Joseph gave a little sigh… “Tell Woody he’s awesome and that I said ‘thank you.’” “I will,” she said with a nod. “Bye, now!”

Joseph closed the door as Winnie departed, giving another happy sigh… “Those woodpeckers are so nice…” he thought aloud. “Sometimes, I wonder if I really deserve friends like them…” “Friends like who…?” The fox’s ears perked. He stared in awe as he saw the familiar form of the orange-furred rabbit slowly shambling out from the bedroom. She had to pause and catch her breath at the door frame… but, seeing her up and moving around made him feel a mix of relief… and worry.

“Lola…” He shook his head, smiling at the weakened rabbit, “what in the world are you doing out of bed, you silly thing…?” “I wanna watch TV…” she quietly responded. “Please…?” “That’s fine… but, darn it, Lola… You really shouldn’t be up-and-moving. Your cold’s gotta be pretty bad if you’re feeling so run-down…” “I have a cold…?” she asked, rubbing her head and wobbling. “What happened to the flu…?” “It got downgraded by Nurse Winnie, thankfully,” he responded as he walked over. “Winnie was here…?” “Yeah. She checked you out while you were sleeping and said you probably had a cold, rather than the flu.” The rabbit slowly shook her head. “I don’t want a cold, either…” “Well, like I said earlier…” he commented, picking her up with a grin, “I’d take it off your hands if I could.” The fox found himself blushing a little as Lola nestled her head to his shoulder. “Sorry…” was all she said as he carried her through the living room. “Ah, don’t worry about it…” he said with a smile, setting her down on the soft couch cushions. “People get sick all the time. Even ‘toons, apparently! You just keep resting while I reheat the chicken-noodle soup I made earlier.”

“The… what-soup…?” she asked with a light cough. “Chicken-noodle?” The fox tilted his head, stopping half-way toward the kitchen. “If you don’t want soup, though…” “I’ll eat it…” Lola slowly shook her head. “I don’t want to be a bother…” “Well, wait… it’s no bother, Lola.” He returned to the living room and knelt down to look at the sickly rabbit. “What would you rather have?” There was a perfect opportunity for her to be silly, there… but, she didn’t take it. Instead, she gave him a serious, somewhat bashful answer.

“Well… back when I was working on The Looney Tunes Show…” She gave another cough and a sniffle before continuing. “Bugs showed me this one brand of soup… ‘Amy’s No Chicken Noodle.’ It’s like chicken-noodle… but, with tofu instead of chicken. It’s pretty good…” “‘Amy’s No Chicken Noodle?’” the fox repeated. “Never heard of it… but, let me see what the Internet can tell me.” “You can get it at Walmart…” she groaned. “But, you don’t have to…” “Maybe. But, I want to,” he replied with a smile. “I just wish I had something for you to nibble on in the meantime…” “Do you have any celery…?” The rabbit gave another cough. “I can eat that…” “Uh… oh, wait! Yes, actually!” was his response. He went into the kitchenette and rooted around in the fridge for a moment before retrieving, rinsing, and drying a stalk of celery, bringing it back to Lola with another glass of water.

“Woody keeps these things around for Bloody Marys…” he chuckled as he helped the bunny sit up. “He really likes his tomato juice tonics.” “I like Tipsy Carrots, myself…” Lola commented with a weak smile. “You mentioned those last night, too… I really don’t know what that is… but, I’m assuming it’s some sort of alcoholic drink.” “It’s… just…” She slowed to a stop. The fox was quick to steady Lola as she wobbled. “You can tell me, later… In the meantime, let me get Winnie on the phone and have her bring over that soup.” “Oh… nooo…” the bunny turned to look at her friend with a frown on her face. “Don’t do that… I’ll just ha–” She gave a tired blink as Joseph silenced her by placing two fingers on her lips. For some odd reason… she gave those digits a gentle kiss. That caused the fox to blush a little…

“Uh… a-anyway,” he said as she offered a tired smile, “Winnie said if I needed anything, just give her a call… and, ya know… it’d be kind of irresponsible to leave you here alone. So…” “Okay…” she said with a sigh. She then quietly nibbled on the celery stalk as she settled back into the couch. There was no sense in wasting energy by arguing, she figured… especially since she didn’t have that much energy to spare!

“Hello, again!” Winnie said as she arrived 17 minutes later, calmly greeting the fox and his sickly companion. Joseph rose to greet her, letting Lola continue to watch a documentary show on PBS – something he was finding she liked to do a lot.

“How’s she doing, now?” the woodpecker asked, walking with Joseph into the kitchenette. “She’s… stable, I guess you’d call it?” was his reply as he started to prepare Lola’s soup. “She hasn’t gotten any worse… but, she doesn’t seem to be getting better too quickly, either… I mean, I’m sure after a good meal and more rest, she’ll be fine. Just, right now, she’s–” “Are you okay, Joseph?” The fox gave a blink, looking down at Winnie as she interrupted him. She had a look of concern on her face, staring right back up to him. “I’m… fine?” Joseph responded. “I mean, I don’t think I caught her cold or anything…” “I mean in here…” she clarified, placing a hand over her chest. “Oh, what? Emotionally?” He paused as she gave a nod. “I… guess…? I dunno… I feel a little responsible, in a way?” “Responsible?” Winnie asked in surprise. “She… came in, soaking wet, last night… immediately crawled into the tub… She didn’t even bother taking off her wet clothing and just… slept. I honestly don’t know how she managed that, freezing-cold and soaking-wet… But, in any case, yeah… I feel like I should have at least tried to give her the couch… or maybe encouraged her to take a warm shower or something…” “Mm…” She looked down. “I see…” “Do you think she’s mad at me?” Joseph asked, stirring the no-chicken soup. “As mean as this might sound…” Winnie cautiously began, “she ‘made her bed’ and she ‘laid in it;’ if she was too tired to dry-off or warm herself before she decided to sleep, she has no one to blame but herself. If anything, I would think she’d be happy with you!” The fox gave a curious tilt of his head. “I think she feels guilty…” was his response. “I think she thinks she’s being a bother.” “Well, she did keep you from work today…” she said with a playful smile. “Heh! Maybe I should be thanking her, in that case…” “However… if she hadn’t been so careless in the first place, she would be healthy and happy, right now, instead of weakened and wispy. Right?” “Er… yeah,” he replied with a nod. “I suppose so…” “But, still… I’m sure she appreciates you taking care of her. I know I certainly would. Not that I ever see myself needing to be taken care of by you or Woody, of course…” The fox gave a grin. “Of course.”

“In any case…” Winnie reached up, gently squeezing the fox’s free hand. “Don’t worry too much. ‘Toons are pretty resistant to sickness… and, with you ‘playing nurse’ to her, I think she’ll be perfectly fine by morning!” He chuckled at the “playing nurse” statement then gave a nod. “And, if you need anything else…” She brightly smiled, giving his hand another squeeze. “I’m just seven digits away.”

Lola sat up as she saw Winnie take her leave. When Joseph rounded the corner himself, she offered a friendly smile.

“The Grand Canyon is lots more interesting than I thought…” she said, weakly gesturing to the TV. “Did you know the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long…? I guess that’s why they call it ‘Grand…!’ I… uhn…” The fox was quick to stabilize the weary rabbit once again. “I’m really glad you’re starting to feel better,” he commented with a patient smile, “but, I don’t think you have enough energy to be yourself right now…” She gave a blink, groggily looking at him as he gave an awkward chuckle. “The… Grand Canyon’s also over a mile deep…” she continued, “and, as wide as 18 miles from side-to-side in some places…” “That’s quite a lot of canyon,” the fox said with a less awkward chuckle. “It was carved by… the Colorado River years and years and years ago… and…” Joseph gave a blink as he felt Lola start to lean on him. “Lots of Indian tribes lived… There were… Spanish explorers… Mmzzzm…” Aww… he thought with a smile. She tuckered herself out with Grand Canyon facts…

The rabbit had indeed lost what little energy she’d possessed. Her eyes were closed, her face was neutral, and she was almost completely limp as she leaned on the nearby fox. It took him a couple of minutes to sort her situation, nudging her down the couch and resting her head on a throw pillow, letting her sleep more comfortably. “Sleep well, sweet little Lola…” he whispered. “When you wake up, I’ll have some yummy tofu soup ready for you…” She gave a murmur at that, softly smiling in her sleep. “To… fu…” Gosh, she’s a sweetie… he thought again. I’ve never seen her be this cute and innocent… Then again, I don’t think I’ve ever watched her sleep before. The fox grinned as he remembered… Usually, she watches me sleep.

After gently draping a light blanket over his houseguest, he returned to the kitchenette and went back to stirring her soup. It was already smelling pretty tasty, he thought as his stomach growled in agreement… Luckily, he remembered there was still a small bowl of the generic store-brand chicken-noodle soup waiting on the counter. And so, after making sure Lola’s soup was warmed all the way through, he took the other soup and settled in on the floor in front of the couch, watching the documentary that had kept the rabbit’s interest.

The fox found himself learning quite a bit about the Grand Canyon that night. From the various people who had lived or visited there to more modern-time factoids about the state park and surrounding areas, there was plenty for him to absorb. When the documentary ended thirty minutes later, he found himself remembering something Lola had mentioned not too long ago… Maybe I should take that trip with Lola, sometime… he thought, taking a sip of his meal. Maybe we can go halfsies on the plane fare and room. Ah… but we’d need more money for food and goodies. Hm… I should look into how much this trip would actually cost!

He was just about to get up… when he felt a gloved hand bump against his head. A glance to his side earned him a face-rub with that same hand. His ears folded back and he gave a murmur as he thought, Well, hello to you, too…

“Jo… jo…” The fox’s ears perked. “Yes, Lola?” There was a long pause, giving him ample time to notice… her eyes were closed and her head was still pointed straight up. Still, she did eventually tell him… “I’m hungry…”

Lola’s timing could not have been better. With the delay between cooking the soup and Joseph eating his own leftovers, her soup had cooled to just the right temperature for eating. He was happy to prepare a bowl for her and even offered to help feed her if she needed it. “I’m not that weak…” she commented as she slowly sat back up. Joseph noticed, she seemed short of breath by the time she was back upright… but, he didn’t comment on it. “I wish we had TV trays for situations like this,” he said as he draped the blanket from before over Lola’s lap. “Then, you wouldn’t have to go so far for a spoonful.” He gave another chuckle as the rabbit smiled. “I’ll be fine…” she assured before picking up the utensil. Despite that, Joseph made sure to stay nearby, seating himself next to the dining bunny and turning on some cartoons.

“I really am feeling much better…” Lola murmured after eating half of her soup. “I’m sorry to be such a bother, though…” “Ah, don’t sweat it, Lola.” He offered a friendly smile. “I’m taking this as a learning experience; it gave me a chance to care for someone other than myself, for a while. Plus, it’s not like you’re really all that demanding… The biggest request you’ve made was for that soup, there… but, it was hardly any problem for Winnie to deliver it and, even if she couldn’t, I would have gone out to get it, myself. ‘cause, ya know… whatever makes you feel better!” The rabbit had stopped eating during the fox’s monologue. Her hands had come to rest in her lap, behind the bowl, and she felt herself tense up… Just listening to him go on, sounding so happy to be at her beck-and-call… It really made her feel… “Terrible…”

“Eh, what?” The fox gave a blink. When he noticed something roll down her face and splash into her soup, he sat upright with a start. “Lola…?” he called in concern. “Are you alright…?” “I’m a terrible friend…” she whispered. “Aren’t I?” “W… no… I don’t think you are,” he assured as he watched her move the half-empty bowl to the coffee table. “Why would you–” “If I hadn’t been so selfish… so stubborn… so prideful… you would even need to take care of me right now…!” Joseph was completely baffled… He had no idea where all this was coming from so suddenly… “Lola…? What in the world are you–” “I didn’t think you liked me anymore…” she tensely commented. “Wh… what?” He felt himself grow even more confused. “Why on Earth–” “I saw you…” “You ‘saw me?’” The fox tilted his head, ears perked. “I don’t understa–” “With her…”

He gave a blink at the second interruption, staying quiet for a moment as he tried to figure out what the upset rabbit was talking about. It didn’t help matters that she refused to look away from the blanket on her lap. “Yesterday…” she continued with a sad sniffle, “I came over to see if you wanted to hang out… When I got here, I found out you were hanging out with someone else…” “You mean Winnie?” he asked, still not sure where she was going with her thoughts. “I didn’t mean to hear what I heard… I wish I hadn’t seen what I saw… but…”

There was another pause as the mystified fox mulled the crying rabbit’s words over in his head. From what he could gather… Lola had somehow seen him hanging out with Winnie the day before. What he couldn’t figure out was why she seemed so upset by, apparently, what she’d seen or heard. What, exactly, had she seen? What had she heard?

Suddenly, a terrible thought entered his head.

“W… when did you come over, yesterday, exactly?” he nervously asked. “When you… and her… were in bed together…”

His fears were confirmed in an instant. He didn’t know when… he didn’t know how or why… but, Lola had somehow managed to spy on him fooling around with Winnie. As he thought about that, though… he started to wonder… “If that’s what you saw… then, why are you so upset?” Lola gave another sniffle before she answered. “When I saw you two doing that together, I thought you didn’t like me anymore… I thought you only did that sort of stuff with me… but, when I saw you doing that… and more… with her… I thought…” She paused, gripping the blanket. “It hurt, seeing what I saw. I just… I didn’t know why…”

The rabbit finally turned her head, looking over at her friend. Her eyes were mostly-closed and full of tears, her nose was running, and her face held an open-mouthed sort of scowl. Somehow… he really hadn’t realized just how upset she was until she saw that face…

“When I went to Pops, he told me… it was because I was jealous… because, in love with you. I didn’t believe him… I’m still not sure now… All I know for sure is…” He gave a blink as Lola offered a soft, sweet smile. “You’re the only person I can count on anymore… You’re my best friend, Jojo…”

Joseph felt himself blush as he looked at the rabbit’s weepy, black eyes watch him. He’d never seen someone look so upset… but, so happy… all at the same time… and, he really didn’t know how to feel about what she’d told him, either. After a moment, though, he decided to just tell her the facts. Absolute honesty did seem to be the basis of their relationship, after all…

“Winnie and I… We’re not a couple,” he explained as he reached up and brushed the bunny’s tear’s away. “We’re friends… close friends… Friends who… probably shouldn’t have gotten quite that close if nothing was going to come of it if I might say so… I mean, don’t get me wrong…” He blushed again, his ears folding and a look of slight shame coming over him. “I think Winnie is… really cute. Like, really cute. Like, so cute that I could just…” He cleared his throat when he noticed the odd look Lola was giving him. “B-but, I mean, we’re just friends. She has her relationship with Woody and, well… you know me… I’m kind of all over the place with my own heart! So… what I’m trying to say is… don’t read too much into what you saw yesterday. We were… um…” His blush brightened and his look of shame grew. “R… really enjoying each other’s company… y-yesterday…”

“Jojo?” The fox gave a wince as Lola called his nickname. He looked up a little… then, he noticed the curious look she wore. “What do you want out of a relationship?” she calmly asked. “W… what?” “What do you want out of a relationship?” she repeated. “What would your ideal relationship be?” “W… well…” He paused, glancing down before looking back to her and starting.

“An ideal relationship would be one where I can always count on my partner… or partners… to be there when I need them… and, for them to always be able to count on me to do the same. There would be no jealousy… no suspiciousness… no question of loyalty… I’d want my partner to be exactly that: A partner. A teammate. A friend. And, I would want that to be the primary aspect of the relationship – how close we are as friends, rather than how much we ‘love’ each other… because, in my experience, at least… love comes naturally with friendship and, sometimes… a friendship can lead to love.” He gave his arm a rub before asking… “Does… that make sense?”

There was another long pause as Joseph watched Lola visually process what he’d just said. She looked down… then to the side. She crossed her arms, bringing her hand under her chin, then to the side of her face, in thought. She hummed and murmured, her nose wiggled, and her lips pursed… And then, after the longest time… she put her hands back in her lap, looked right into Joseph’s eyes, and asked… “Are we friends?”

The question made Joseph blanch. It seemed like such an odd question to ask him… especially after all he’d done for her that night… or, all they’d been through together… “I don’t understand…” he admitted. “Why do you ask?” “That’s not an answer,” she said, shaking her head. “Are we friends?” Once again, he found himself confused… “Where is this coming from, Lo–” “Are. We. Friends?” she asked a third time, sounding more demanding. “Yes or no?” The fox was starting to feel suspicious… It seemed like there had to be a reason for her to ask such a question… She’d already expressed her fear of him not liking her minutes prior, he thought… Maybe she was just looking for a simple answer to a simple, related question?

“Y… yes?” was his response. “You don’t sound so sure…” she said, lowering her eyelids, her face turning cool. “No… yes, we’re friends.” “‘Yes, we’re friends?’” she echoed. “Yeah.” “Are you sure?” For some reason, the fact she sounded doubtful struck a sour note with him. His ears folded and his own face turned cloudy… “Yes, damn it! I…” And, before he knew it… he was the one crying.

“Why do you always do this?!” he half-shouted, startling the rabbit. “Why do you always turn things around on me and make me feel like the bad-guy?!” “Wh-what?” She seemed genuinely surprised to hear that. “You have this uncanny knack for knowing exactly what to say… and, how to say it… to make me feel like I’m always at-fault or in-the-wrong, even when I know in my head that I’m not! I don’t honestly think you’re even aware when you do it! But, I guess… I guess if I thought you were doing it on purpose… I would have said something sooner…” He took a moment to collect himself, removing his glasses and rubbing his moistened eyes with a sigh. The next time he looked up, Lola was giving him one of her trademark confused stares.

“Yes… I think of you as a friend, Lola,” he said, speaking from the heart. “And, regardless of what happens with Winnie or anyone else, I always will. You’re the only person who can give me any reason not to be your friend… and, I have yet to find one, even now.” “I can give you one…” she quietly said, making the fox blink. “W… what?” “I made you cry.” Lola gave a weak chuckle before adding, “If that’s not a reason not to be friends with me, I don’t know what is.”

The fox gave a blank stare for several moments, just watching Lola awkwardly smile and stare at the coffee table. After several quiet moments, however, he whispered… “You dummy…” The orange-furred rabbit looked back toward the fox. He was smiling…

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years… it’s that, sometimes, friends are the people who can make you cry the most. Or… laugh the hardest. Or… smile the brightest…” The rabbit gave a blink as he continued… “Honestly, if we had a friendship where we always got along and never fought… or, never had any rough patches… I’d have to question whether or not we truly were friends. Friends should always be willing to open-up toward each other… and, they should always be able to be emotional with one-another. Well… okay, maybe not always… but, sometimes! And, especially when they need each other the most. Ya know?” Lola gave another blink, watching as Joseph reached over and took her hands into his. When she looked back up, she noticed his golden eyes looking into her own.

“I’m sorry I got upset with you, Lola…” he softly said. “I know you’d never do anything to hurt me on purpose. I mean… not unless you were like… really mad at me. And…” He looked down for a moment, his ears folding again. “I’m… sorry about yesterday. Please, don’t be sad. You’re still as much my friend as you ever were.”

There was another long pause as Lola and Joseph just looked at into each other’s eyes… Joseph was smiling so fondly to her… while she just wore a calm, mildly confused look on her own face. For the time, it didn’t seem like either of them had anything to say…

“I’m… not sure what to do, here…” The fox gave a blink as Lola spoke up some time later. She still had that confused look on her face… but, she hadn’t moved an inch after Joseph held her hands. “What do you mean?” he asked, his own look showing a little confusion. “I’m not sure what to do here,” she repeated. “I’m not sure what to say… what to do… I feel like something should happen here… but, I’m drawing a complete blank.” “Well… uh…” He paused. “How– how are you feeling?” “Kind of like a TV set to the wrong channel?” was her honest answer. “My mind feels staticky; like something should be there… but, I just can’t find it…” Joseph paused to think about that for a moment. As he did… he realized… “Me, too…”

And so, the two continued to sit there on the couch, looking at each other while Joseph held Lola’s hands. Eventually, though, the awkwardness of the situation finally got to them both. Joseph turned back toward the TV while Lola returned to her soup… which had turned a little lukewarm since their conversation.

“You know something funny, Lola?” She looked up, rubbing her glove on her lips as she finished her dinner. “This is going to sound odd – well, to me, anyway – but…” He paused, scratching the side of his face. “Gosh… I… I don’t know what to say, actually. I don’t know how I feel…” The rabbit set her bowl aside again before turning to face her friend. “What do you mean?” she politely asked. “That is the question, isn’t it…?” The fox took a long breath before offering a calm smile to the rabbit.

“You’re a lovely young lady, Lola,” he suddenly said, surprising her. “You’re a bit random, hyper, and energetic, sometimes… but, you know what? You’re smart, funny, cute… you have beautiful eyes, a cute fashion sense, and… as I’ve said in the past… you can be just as much of a tomboy as you can be feminine. You’re not egotistical, you’re quirky, and frankly…” His smile turned shy… “I’m pretty fond of you because of all of that… and then-some.”

The awkwardness finally gave way to affections. Joseph had finally let himself say what was on his mind… let himself let her know how he felt about her… and, he felt all the better for it. Lola really was special to him… just like Woody… just like Winnie… Though, maybe, he thought, more along the lines of Winnie…

“Can I be honest, Mr. Fox?”

He tensed, blinking as he noticed the look on Lola’s face. She didn’t seem upset… but, rather, she wore an uncharacteristically serious look. Her tone seemed a little tense, as well…

“I was upset when I saw you and Winnie in bed together,” she plainly stated. “I guess I figured, ‘Well, he doesn’t need me, anymore!’” The fox gave a shy, somewhat embarrassed blush, his ears folding and his head ducking down… He felt a little bad, hearing that… “But, after tonight… after you took all this time to take care of me… and, after everything you told me, I think I figured something out.” She gestured to him with one hand. “You need me… as much as I need you.” Joseph gave a very confused blink as he looked at the rabbit sat beside him. She still had that same somewhat-serious look on her face, but, her tone had lightened ever-so-slightly… “Maybe I’m assuming too much and maybe you actually don’t need me… but, at the very least, you seem like you want me around. And, that…” Her face suddenly broke into a soft smile. “Makes me happy.

“Mr. Fox… The last thing I want to do is be a burden to any of my friends but, in all honesty, I need someone like you in my life. You’re such a sweet, honest guy… Plus, you’re loyal and true to your friends like any good friend should be. I guess I didn’t realize it yesterday when I saw you and Winnie going at it, but–” Lola came to an abrupt halt, tilting her head. Joseph had blushed again, his ears folded and face showing shame once more.

“Why… do keep making that face whenever I say that?” she curiously asked. “I– w– hn…” was all he could say, blushing more and looking away. “I know I probably wasn’t supposed to see it…” she said, looking to the side for a moment. “It was supposed to be an intimate, private moment… not something you wanted to show people. Otherwise, you would have set up a video camera or something!” She was killing him with embarrassment by that point… “But, Mr. Fox… don’t be ashamed.” She brightly smiled. “I think it’s great that Winnie likes you that much… and, that you like her back! I had no right to be jealous… and, I’m sorry I was. I guess I just wanted you to like me that much and thought you never would since you and Winnie were already that close…” “I–” he squeaked before clearing his throat. “I never meant to give you that impression, Lola… I don’t want you to think that just because Winnie and I are… um… c-close…” Lola gave a giggle at his shyness. “That… there’s no room for you.” “Ooh, I’ve never been with a girl, before!” Lola said with a bright smile. “Do you think Winnie would mind?” “What?” The fox paused… then hid his face, catching on to the unexpected innuendo and making the rabbit playfully giggle… “Anyway… There’s always going to be room in my life for you, Lola. I mean… until you decide to completely shut me out…” He offered a smile. “You’re kinda stuck with me.” “Right back at’cha, Jojo!” she said with a brighter smile.

“So… you seem to be feeling better,” Joseph noticed. “Oh! Yeah!” was Lola’s response. “I guess all I needed was some yummy food!” “Um…” The fox paused… “Do you have anywhere you need to be, tonight? Woody’s apparently spending the night at Winnie’s house and–” “Where’s my dress?” The fox gave a blink. “What?” “Where’s my dress? My favorite turquoise dress!” Joseph had to look away as the rabbit unceremoniously yanked her robe open to examine herself. “I only just now noticed, my dress is gone! All I have on is this super-cozy, warm robe!” “Well… a-and your gloves…” Joseph shyly added. “Hey… yeah! Even my panties are gone!” she casually exclaimed, making him blush again. “I probably just forgot to put some on but… I know I was wearing my dress! Where is it?” “I-I put it on a hanger… in– in the bathroom.” He gave a curious glance toward the rabbit only to look away again. “Uh… can you… close that robe, please? I mean… I-I don’t want you catching a cold… again…” “What? Oh!” The fox heard the rustle of thick fabrics being shuffled before Lola said, “Sorry. I sometimes forget where I am!” “Heh, I have that problem myself,” he replied, slowly looking back her way. He was a little relieved to see she’d closed and tied the robe… but, at the same time, the naughty side of him kind of wished he’d taken a longer look at her…

“Anyway… I hung it on a hanger in the bathroom,” he repeated. “Your dress, I mean. I didn’t want you getting any more sick than you already were…” “You stripped me?” He winced… but, he gave a slight nod. “Aww, you’re such a sweetheart!” Lola said, brightly smiling with her hands in her lap. “I’ll do the same for you if you ever pass out sopping wet!” “U-uh… Thanks?” He continued to blush as Lola beamed at him. It was almost like she had almost no sense of shame or boundaries… or, was she just that comfortable with him? He hummed, thinking about it for a moment…

“So, what’s this about Woody going to Winnie’s for the night?” she suddenly asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. “Oh, uh… Woody decided to stay with his girlfriend while I was making you feel better. Something about not wanting to catch your sickness, I guess?” Lola’s eyes widened at that, making the fox jolt. “Do you think I’m contagious?!” “Probably not to me,” the fox mused. “I’m not a ‘toon. Remember?” “Oh, right… Say, that means I can do this!” “Do wh– ack!” Before the fox could even finish his thought, he found himself bowled over against the opposite side of the couch. Lola had tackled him… and was hugging him around his waist.

“Mmm… hugs…” she quietly murmured. “H-heh… yeah…” was all he could think to say as he brought an arm around her. “I do want to thank you, though…” The fox gave a blink as Lola’s voice lowered. “Thanks for taking care of me while I was sick, Jojo… I really appreciate it.” “Well… I meant what I said earlier,” he answered as he reached up, giving her ears a stroke. “It was no problem.” “Nn… don’t do that.” “What?” He gave another blink… before he realized, “Oh! I’m… stroking the wrong side of your ears, aren’t I?” “It sounds weeiiird…” she giggled. “Like a weird, windy noise over my ears.” “Well, that’s what you get for wearing them like a ponytail,” he chuckled. He then whispered, “A really cute one, at that…” He felt Lola give him a squeeze… then, he blinked as she leaned up, flicking his bangs. “I like your hair, too, Mr. Fox.” She did it again, a grin showing on her face. “It’s so springy!” He couldn’t help but chuckle at that. She was so easily amused…

“Cute li’l Lolo…” he unconsciously whispered. Lola paused her actions, looking up at the fox. It took him a second… but, eventually, he realized he’d said that out loud. “Uh… I…” But, a kiss on his nose made him pause. And, then… sneeze!

“Thanks for turning your head to do that,” Lola giggled, smiling at the fox as he sniffed. “Well I mean, what was I gonna do? Sneeze in your f–” “Ha-choo!” Joseph paused again as Lola sat back, gasping and covering her mouth with her hands. “– ace…” The fox grumbled and removed his glasses, gently wiping the sneeze off his lenses. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Fox! I didn’t know–” “Don’t worry about it,” he said, cutting her off. “It’s just spit…” “Here, let me just…” The fox’s ears fell back as Lola started rubbing his face with the sleeve of her robe.

“There we go! Good-as-new!” she said, leaning back again with a bright smile. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case… Even without seeing himself in a mirror, he was able to notice that, between the sneeze and Lola’s attempt to clean it up, his facial fur had gotten mussed and matted. “Yulch…” was his response as he brushed his facial fur back. He then gave a blink… and a blush… as Lola began smoothing it out herself by licking her fingers before running them along his fluff. “What are you? My mother?” The bunny gave a blink of her own, blankly staring after the comment. That caused Joseph to stare in return. “I… didn’t say stop…” he said, looking down and grinning up at her. She continued to blankly state for a moment more… before her face cracked and she started laughing. “You’re so silly, Mr. Fox!” Her tone became much softer as she whispered, “I really love that about you…”

Once again, Joseph had to blink… and blush… as the rabbit snuggled up against him. Her arms curled around his back and she pressed her cheek to his chest, her eyes closing and body relaxing… After the surprise cleared from his head, he placed an arm around the calming bunny, sliding down the couch and giving a contented sigh while she gave one of her own.

“We have such a weird relationship,” Joseph said as he started to relax under her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Jojo.” “Ya know…” He smiled. “Neither would I, Lolo…”

The TV was largely ignored the rest of the night, Joseph perfectly content to have the warm, healthy ‘toon girl lay against him and Lola just as content to use him as a pillow. There was a little snuggling for a while… but, eventually, the day finally caught up with them and they ended up falling asleep like that. Warm… content… happy. –––––

“Ha-choo!!”

Joseph rubbed his nose and wheezed, holding the collar of his warmest sweater together. Despite the fact he was fully dressed in layers and under a blanket, he just could not get warm…

“Da-bit, Lola…” he said with a stuffy nose. “You gabe be your cold…” “Who even knew that could happen…?” the bunny in the nurse’s outfit laughed before holding up a spoon with a warm, steamy liquid in it. “Say ‘ah,’ Mr. Fox!” “Aaa– hr-gack-hmm!!” The rabbit barely had time to pull the spoon away before Joseph had a coughing fit. “At this rate, you’ll never finish your no-chicken broth, Jojo!” “Nnnnn…” was all he could say. His head hurt… his nose was somehow both clogged and runny… his chest was congested… and, worst of all, he was completely at the mercy of self-appointed “Nurse” Lola!

“Heeelp…” he weakly cried, giving a pleading look to a nearby pair of woodpeckers. “Not on your life!” Woody exclaimed as he kept a mask held to his beak. “You two sickies can sort yourselves out! I’m goin’ back t’ Winnie’s for th’ rest of th’ week!” “Wiiinnieee…” he whimpered to the female bird. “Fair’s fair, Mr. Lithius!” she said with a laugh. “You took care of her so it’s only fair she gets a chance to return the favor! Don’t you agree?” “Buh-ah-dun-wanna…” he whined, much to Winnie and Lola’s amusement. “Here comes the X-Wing Fighter! You’re all clear, kid!” Lola called in a masculine tone, waving the spoon near his face. “Now, let’s blow this thing up and go home!” “Whaaa– ulk!” “Kabooooom!” she exclaimed as she popped the spoon into his mouth, much to his discomfort. He had to admit, though… Lola’s recipe for no-chicken broth tasted pretty good…

Joseph gave a labored huff, keeping himself bundled up on the couch next to Lola the rest of that day. Winnie and Woody had left him in her care and, unfortunately, she was really vigilant about making sure he was getting better, forcing him to stay hydrated and fed as well as taking his temperature regularly. She really was taking her role seriously… The fox had to admit, though… she looked pretty darn cute in her traditional hat, white dress, and apron…

“98.8°,” she commented as she looked at the fox’s temperature later that night. “That’s pretty close to normal! But, how do you feel?” He narrowed his eyes… “Lousy…” “Great!” she cheered. “That means the medicine is working! Still, though, I think it’s time for bed! You can’t get better if you don’t sleep, Mr. Fox!” Joseph thought about arguing… but, truth be told, the medicine was making him drowsy…

Lola soon escorted the sickly fox into the bedroom. She helped him out of his blanket and sweater, then into the bed, before pulling the blankets up for him. He blushed a little when she kissed his forehead and gave him a look of admiration… but, found himself smiling. She really did make a good nurse… or, at least, some sort of caretaker. And, just like the night before… even without Lola in his arms… he fell asleep. Warm… content… and happy.

#fiction #Joseph's ToonTown #Rainbow of Emotions #commercial characters #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #The Woody Woodpecker Show #Woody Woodpecker #Winnie Woodpecker #original characters #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #drama #slice of life #comedy

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josephstoontown · 7 years

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A Rainbow of Emotions, Ch. I

Chapter I of A Rainbow of Emotions, a Joseph's ToonTown story.

So, alright. I wrote things the way I did, in this story, for a reason. Just, keep in mind, my interpretation of certain characters may not accurately reflect either the actual characters themselves or how I actually feel about them.

Word count: 5,712 – Character count: 32,116 Originally written: December 27th, 2016 Revised on: Auguast 13th, 2017

After seeing something she shouldn't have, Lola seeks shelter the storm-clouds of her mind… as well as the ones overhead.

Lola Bunny, Walter Bunny, The Looney Tunes Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Pops, Pop's Moon Palace, Johnny Bravo, and related characters and properties created by Van Partible and © Turner Broadcasting System

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

Deep in the heart of the Warner District of ToonTown sat a small place off the beaten path. A colorful sign on a large column sat behind the main building, the name of “Pop’s Moon Palace” clearly visible on the vaguely spherical display. The building itself had a somewhat unusual design and didn't look much like an eatery. If anything, it almost looked like a motor lodge. Still, the smell of hot-cooked meals could be smelled by nearby potential patrons and passersby alike. The building was more than just a diner, however…

“Another Tipsy Carrot, please…”

A somewhat large, balding man in a spotted bow-tie stood behind a bar, casually rubbing a glass clean with his apron. He’d looked toward the speaking patron with a sneer. “I’m not really sure I should do that. You look like you’ve had plenty!” The customer looked up from her half-collapsed position on the bar, red cracks showing in her eyes. She had one hand on a near-empty glass with a carrot top in it. Sat nearby were about three more glasses like that one in varying states of emptiness.

“Just… one more, okay, Pops?” she quietly requested. “You know I can afford it…” “Eeh, that’s not the problem…” The man, whose name was apparently Pops, sat the cleaned glass down and crossed his large forearms over his chest. “The problem is… you’re drunk. Really drunk. I bet you can’t even sit up, can you?” The patron rubbed her cheek against the bar, giving a grumble before responding. “I like the bar better… It makes my head hurt less than sitting up.” “Geez… I haven’t seen you like this since that Bugs fiasco.” Pops gave a frown of genuine concern. “How’d you even get like this, Lola?” “It’s a long story, Pops…” the rabbit replied. “Eeh, I’ve got nothin’ but time… Most people seem like they wanna go to one’a those fancy chain restaurants they keep buildin’ than come here. But, enough about me!” The balding man lowered himself to eye-level, resting his arms on the bar. “What’s got you feelin’ so low, kiddo?” The orangey rabbit gave a long, labored sigh…

“Alright, so there’s this guy I like,” she said, sitting up and sounding perfectly sober. “I met him at the library and–” “Hold on a second now…” Pops said as he straightened up. “It’s not Bugs again, is it?” “What?” Lola gave a blink of her bloodshot eyes. “No. But, I like him, too!” “Hmm… Alright.” “Anyway…” she continued, “he’s super-nice and really cute. He’s also a really good kisser…” “Eh, aren’t they all? Heh!” “What?” She blinked at that statement. “No. I’ve dated a few people who were pretty bad at kissing.” “Sorry,” Pops said as he took a rag and started wiping the bar. “Just thinkin’ out loud.”

“Well, anyway… I like this guy a lot! He’s not like some of the guys I’ve dated. And, just between you and me…?” Lola leaned over the bar, whispering to Pops with her hand to the side of her mouth. “He’s an alien from outer space!” “An E.T, eh?” The man gave Lola a suspicious look. “Ya sure he’s not just pullin’ the wool over your eyes, cottontail?” “Well, I mean, he had a really big backstory when he told me…” “People can make a lot of stuff up, kiddo. Why, just the other day, I had a guy come in here claiming he was th’ real Mickey Mouse an’ that Disney’s usin’ a puppet at th’ House of Mouse! Gotta admit… if it wasn’t fer th’ high heels an’ beat-up face, he did look and even sound a lot like good ol’ Mick! But, eh, he was just some down-on-his-luck hobo lookin’ t’ make a quick buck. Gave me my money’s worth, too… Heh heh heh.” Lola gave another blink. Pops had a fairly unsettling grin on his face…

“Well…” she continued again, “we really hit-it-off during the April Fool’s fair and just kinda kept hanging out from then on!” “He kiss ya on the Ferris wheel?” Pops asked. “What? No. He kissed me in his bed.” “Oh-ho-ho-ho!! Maybe we ought’a save this story fer after-hours!” The rabbit gave a confused blink. Pops had that grin on his face, again… “My point is that he’s super-nice and super-sweet and I was pretty sure he liked me! At least… until today.” “Oh?’” Pops prompted. “Something happened…” “Did he make a move on ya you weren’t expectin’?” The rabbit tilted her head. “You could say that… But, it wasn’t on me.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah, it was on another friend of his.” “I think I see where this is headed…” Pops’ grin returned… though, it wasn’t quite as creepy as the last two. He crossed his arms over his chest again before leaning on the bar and giving the rabbit girl a friendly look.

“I bet you caught him cheatin’ on ya with this ‘friend,’ right?” “We’re not together,” was Lola’s immediate response. “Yer not?” She shook her head, giving an audible denial. “Well then, what’s th’ problem?” “Problem?” She gave a blink. “Yeah!” Pops turned to face her directly. “You came in here an’ started orderin’ drinks like th’ world was comin’ to an end tomorrow! You even settled down on th’ bar all quiet-like. I just figured somethin’ was wrong!” “Oh, that?” She gave a bright smile. “I just like Tipsy Carrots. They’re really good! But, they make me kinda sleepy…” Pops gave a blink of his beady, black eyes as Lola yawned, stretching on the stool.

“So wait a minute…” the man said a moment later. “If yer not datin’ this guy… an’ he doesn’t have ya down… then, why’d’ja bring ‘im up in th’ first place?” “Oh!” The rabbit perked, then smiled. “Because, I like talking about my friends with you! You’re a really good listener.” “I see…” “Plus, I’m really not sure if I should like him or not!” “Well? What’s the problem?” “I think he’s dating his roommate’s girlfriend,” she said like it wasn’t a big deal. “How d’ya figure?” “Because I saw them together.” “And?” “In bed.” “Oh?” Pops gave a blink… then his eyes opened wide. “Oh…! I see!” “Yeah… so did I,” she replied. “I could see just about everything… I could hear everything, too! They really should have locked that window if they were gonna do that. I think she really liked what he was doing, too…” The man gave a blink, noticing a change in her disposition. Her eyelids were starting to lower and her neutral face had become just a little upset. She also started fidgeting with the collar and chest of her turquoise dress. It didn’t take much guesswork to tell that what she’d seen bothered her…

“Ya snooze, ya lose, I guess!” he said with a laugh that snapped Lola out of her funk. “What?” “Seems t’me that you waited too long and got this handsome fella stolen right out from under yer cute little nose, kiddo!” He laughed again, returning to wiping the counter as he continued. “Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened and sure won’t be th’ last!” “I don’t follow,” the rabbit honestly responded. “What do you mean?” “Isn’t it obvious?” Pops paused to grin at her. “You’re in love, cottontail!” “What? I’m not in love…” was her reply… before she asked, “am I?” “You don’t sound too sure! But, in this ol’ greasy-spooner’s opinion, it does sound like a classic case of watchin’ ‘n waitin’ fer too long. I mean, if ya saw your beau in bed with some other babe… well, ya know.” Lola gave a visible wince at that, fidgeting with her dress a little more. After a moment of listening to Pops laugh, however, her expression turned strangely indifferent.

“He can do what he wants,” she told Pops with quick words. “I’m not his keeper. If he wants to fool around with someone else’s girlfriend, that’s his problem.” Her eyes narrowed… “And, I hope it comes back to bite him in the tail.” “Hey now,” Pops said with a look of concern. “Is that the Tipsy Carrots talking, or…?” “Doesn’t matter,” she coolly said as she reached for her miniature purse. “How much do I owe you, Pops?” “Well, with your current tab, about a hundred bucks plus change!” He gave a scowl. “I know yer good fer it, Lola, but–” He found himself interrupted as the girl slammed a handful of cash on to the bar. “Keep the change,” she muttered before standing up. “I’ll see ya…”

All Pops could do was stare, baffled and somewhat concerned, as Lola casually walked out the door of his diner. That is… until he started counting the money she’d left behind. “A hundred-fifty plus… I should give some’a this back. But on the other hand, she did say ‘keep the change…’” He grinned to himself. “Wonder if that Mickey look-alike’s still in the neighborhood… I feel like bein’… ‘charitable.’ Heh heh heh…” –––––

Lola patiently stood at the bus terminal down the road, waiting… and thinking… That was a bad idea, she thought, handing Pops all my money like that. I don’t think I have enough to get a room tonight… but, I don’t want to sleep out in the park. I might be crazy… but, I’m not stupid! Her head turned as she saw bus number 45 coming her way in the distance. The 45… That bus runs right by… there… I could stay there tonight, without paying a dime… But… do I really want to go back… there? The rabbit gave a blink. Something had struck one of her ears. She looked up just in time to get sprayed in the face by a storm-front that had slipped in under her radar. Well… I guess that answers that… With a mutter, she took shelter from the rain under the bus stop’s meager enclosure. Thankfully, the 45 pulled up not too long after.

I can’t believe I’m this desperate, she thought as she popped a bus token into the transport’s cash box. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been back there… The lightly moistened rabbit made her way to the back of the bus as she thought. I wonder if they even remember me… She paused… then, she scowled at herself. I wonder what about me they remember… The bus took off a moment later, heading to its next stop.

Lola couldn’t help but wonder if there were any alternatives to where she was heading as the bus drove around the Warner district. She racked her brain trying to come up with one… but, to no avail. She didn’t really have that many friends willing to put her up for a night and she knew she didn’t have enough money to pay for a room even at the worst hotel… Sleeping out in the open was well out-of-the-question and going back to Joseph’s after what she saw… didn’t seem ideal. In the end… it seemed like she was completely out of options. I just hope they’ll let me stay the night… she thought with a sigh.

The ride to her stop took longer than she’d expected. They’d made several stops in-between, causing the bus to fall slightly behind schedule. It also didn’t help that the weather had gotten almost impossible to navigate. It had started raining cats-and-dogs – literally – which made the bus driver especially cautious. Lola was very thankful by the time it stopped. It also seemed like it couldn’t have picked a better time…

“Blanc Drive!” the bus driver announced. Lola reached up and gave the signal cord a pull in response. A moment later, the bus came to a stop and the rabbit made her way out. “Get somewhere warm quick, alright, miss? It’s nasty out there!” “I will,” she told the driver. “Thanks.”

Lola gave a sigh as she used her purse like a makeshift umbrella. It wasn’t terribly effective… but, at least it gave her some protection from the rain. What a great night to be doing this… she mentally muttered to herself. Well… I’d better get going. No sense in catching a cold out here. With that thought in her head, she began walking to the west from the bus stop. She knew she had a long walk ahead of her, since the closest bus stop to her desired location was a good mile away… but, given her options, it was the one that made the most sense to her.

Blanc Drive seemed like a nice enough stretch of road. The block she’d started from – a section nestled between Messick Road and Welker Avenue – was a small place which housed a mix of residential and business property. There was one market on the corner closest to Welker Avenue that she liked, in particular – a small, strangely nameless store run by a small, Chinese-looking ‘toon she didn’t know the name of. She could always count on him for decent prices on common goods if she were in the neighborhood. However, she wasn’t going there, that night, and continued walking on by.

After trekking for a good fifteen minutes through the rain and occasional mud, Lola eventually found herself standing outside of a large, two-story house sitting a good distance away from any main roads. Even in the rain, the place looked remarkably good for being an older, wood-crafted building. The outside of the house was surrounded by a white, picket fence, set back several yards around the perimeter. The house itself seemed made of solid, white planks of wood while the roof rose up at an angle, sloping toward the back of the acreage. She could see a familiar-looking rose garden in one area of the yard as well as a nice, hearty carrot patch stretching out from behind the garage to the right. It didn’t seem like much had changed since her last visit…

Well… she thought, here it is. But, do I really want to– A sudden crack of lightning made her jump. “I’m going, Mr. Storm, I’m going!” she shouted at the sky, hopping the fence and running to the porch. Though, all things considered, she was glad to finally be out of the rain. For a moment, she considered just camping-out on the porch itself. Surely, the people inside wouldn’t notice her if she just spent the night there… “Ha-choo!” Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me… she mentally muttered. The shiver that followed her sneeze seemed to confirm her thought. She was going to catch a cold if she stayed out there… or, maybe even something worse! As much as she hated the idea of staying in that cozy little house… it seemed like she really didn’t have any other choice. Plus, she’d made it that far, already… and so, she took a deep breath, raised a finger to the doorbell… and gave it a ring.

The seconds passed slowly as Lola waited, her clothes and fur dripping and her body shaking. Was it from the cold, horrible weather, though? She wasn’t sure… All she knew was that, in a matter of moments, she’d be greeted by the main reason she’d hated that place… and, with her lack of options, she would just have to grin and bear it.

After a long while, her ears caught the sound of a latch, followed by a lock, being undone. She took a step back and watched as the door opened just wide enough to reveal… “Hi, daddy…” she said with an awkward grin. “Can I come in? It’s kinda wet out here…” A single eye narrowed from between the door and the jamb. The door closed a moment later, leaving Lola to stare in confusion as nothing happened for several moments more… Eventually, though, she heard the chain of the door become unlatched… and, she watched the door open all the way. “Come in, come in,” said a masculine figure standing much taller than Lola. “Don’t drip on the carpet, dear. Here’s a towel.” “Thanks, dad…” the rabbit said, accepting the towel with a skittish smile. The strong-looking rabbit-man closed the door as Lola began to dry herself.

“So, what brings you back here at this hour, Lola?” he said as he started to rummage through a small cabinet set against a nearby wall. “Oh, you know…” Lola began as she toweled off, “I was just in the neighborhood… thought I’d drop by, unannounced… say ‘Hi’ to you and Mom… Is Mom here?” “She went to spend some time with a friend who lives in Georgia,” her father said. “Oh…” She draped the towel over her shoulders with a frown. “That’s… that’s too bad.” “But I’ll make sure to let her know you dropped by. Unless, of course…” he said, turning toward her with a small glass of amber-colored liquid in his hand, “you’d prefer we keep this visit between you and I.” The female rabbit’s eyes lowered and she looked away. She knew what that tone meant…

“What’s the real reason you’re here, Lola?” he asked in an accusatory tone. “Did you get caught stalking another, more successful actor?” “I’m successful…” she quietly defended. “And, no. I just… um…” “Let me guess,” continued before taking a sip of his drink. “You’ve run out of money?” “I have money…” “Then, what brings you here? If you have money, why not head to a motel? Or, better yet,” he continued, his tone turning more hostile, “why not save your money and get a nice apartment? I’m sure with your line of work, you can afford a fairly good one.” “Wh… what’s that supposed to mean?” she nervously asked. “Nothing, nothing…” The male took another sip of his beverage. “I only assumed you made some good money doing whatever it is you do. What are you up to these days? I would hate to think my little girl was doing something her own parents would be ashamed of...” Although he’d said that, Lola knew better…

“Why do you always assume I’m doing something bad to get money?” she asked. “For all you know, I could have a nice job at a place like Tiana’s. But, even when you ask, you’d rather just assume. Like always.” “Well, you’ve never given your mother or I any reason to assume you’re anything more than a filthy street urchin, dear. That is, after all, the life you’ve chosen…” Lola narrowed her eyes, her face turning as stormy as the weather outside.

“See, this is why I don’t come by very often,” she said, gesturing one hand toward her father. “You always do this!” The taller rabbit finished his drink before turning to pour another. “Do what, exactly?” he casually asked. “Think about all the poor choices my baby girl made in her life?” “If only!” she said in a raised voice, finally walking into the room proper. “No, every time I come over, it’s always ‘disrespectful’ this and ‘shameful’ that… You act like you’ve never made a bad choice in your life!” “I haven’t.” The smug look on her father’s face as he turned her way made her blood boil…

“Even before Warner terminated our contracts, I invested the money your mother and I had made in proper stocks… diversified our funds, paid close attention to the market… and, here we are. Living comfortably with more-than-enough money to pay for our expenses. Granted, it’s still a far cry from the Country Club lifestyle we portrayed on our show…” The rabbit lowered his head, giving his daughter a snide sort of grin. “But, at least we’re not forced to perform unscrupulous acts just to get-by.” Lola’s face curled into a horrible, ugly scowl, her eyes starting to water. Even though she knew what to expect from her judgmental father… it still hurt to hear him say such things.

“Why do you always say things like that…?!” she squeaked, barely able to keep from yelling at him. “Because…” he said, still wearing that grin as he walked toward her, “I know you. You haven’t got two pennies to rub together nor the skill with which to earn them. Now, you may not be the prettiest thing out there… but, I’m sure there are some depraved lowlifes out there would be perfectly happy to… help… a girl-in-need, such as yourself.” The paternal rabbit took a long sip of his drink, walking around his tensed daughter. She seemed like she was somewhere between bursting into tears… and laying him out with a right hook to his smug, superior face. “It really is a shame,” he said with a chuckle. “Your mother and I were hoping for so much more than some no-class vagrant girl… But, with the way you went through your savings, I suppose it was inevitable! If only you’d bothered to listen to us instead of spending all your time stalking that rabbit boy and partying…” He reached over, trying to nudge her head up. She immediately pulled away, keeping her eyes clenched and biting down on her bottom lip. “Then, you wouldn’t be the blemish you are on our good family name…” The rabbit walked into the living room, walking behind a couch and giving a sigh. “If it wasn’t for you, maybe your mother and I would be more well-to-do. If it wasn’t for you, we might have connections… powerful ones… If it wasn’t for you–” “You’re the blemish…”

The tall, grey-haired rabbit jolted, staring at his daughter as she spoke up. “I beg your par–” “I said, you’re the blemish!!” she shouted, giving him a hate-filled look. “Don’t you dare raise your voice to me, young lady!” He stomped back over to his daughter with a threatening look on his own face. “I helped bring you into this world and I can certainly help remove you from it!” “You didn’t do anything, Walter!” Once again, the taller figure was taken aback. “Excuse you, Lola?! What did you call me?!” “Walter!” she spat, the anger in her face continuing to grow. She was scowling at him, stood hunched-over with her fists clenched and tears rolling down her face. “Don’t you dare talk to your father that way!” Walter brought his dominant hand back, swinging at his daughter’s face. However… “You’re no father of mine…” Lola wasn’t having any of that.

“Let… go of me!” the taller figure said, tugging on his arm. “Let go of me this instant!” Lola had a vice-like grip on his wrist… and, it didn’t seem like she was going to let go anytime soon. “No.” “No…?” Walter narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, ‘no?!’” “I’m done here. I’m done with this place… done with you! I’m sick of your abuse!” He gave a sneer, glaring down at his daughter. She wasn’t even bothering to look at him, anymore… He didn’t deserve her full attention, as far as she was concerned.

“You think you’re so high-and-mighty just because you know how to play the stock market, don’t you, Walter?” Hearing his name come from his own daughter made his temper flare. Once again, he tried to yank himself free… and, he succeeded! He gave his sore wrist a rub as he watched Lola slowly walk away from him, her back turned and her voice unsettlingly calm. “You kept an eye on how things went… Invested low, sold high… Good for you. I’m proud – I really am. Want to know what I’ve been doing since my last job?” He didn’t really care… but, for some reason, he just let her keep talking. “I’ve been living out on the streets of ToonTown, making money by playing people at games. I’ve held up in this motel room when I had the money or that flop-house if I thought I was going to have the money for it… or, sometimes, I just curled up under a park bench, cold, alone, and scared. Yes, scared, Walter. I live every day scared that I won’t have enough money for the next day. Yeah, I might put on a smile and make jokes… but, Walter… Inside, I’m just a scared little girl who’s afraid of what will happen when her luck finally runs out.”

Lola turned back, tears still falling from her black eyes as she looked at him. She didn’t seem quite as angry as she had been earlier… but, Walter could tell she was still angry enough. With that in mind, he decided to let her keep talking…

“You don’t know what it’s like, do you, Walter?” she calmly asked, not looking for a response. “You don’t know what it’s like, always being afraid that someone’s going to hurt you… take your money… or do something far worse… And, why should you?” She gave a hollow chuckle and a shrug. “You and mom have it made! A nice, cozy house in the suburbs… plenty of things to keep you distracted… and, of course, a nice, steady income from gambling with your stocks.” She gave another chuckle, crossing her arms and smiling. “You don’t know a thing about what it’s been like for me. You didn’t make the same mistakes I did with your money… and, even now, I really hope you never do. But, Walter?” Lola closed her eyes, slowly shaking her head before continuing. “Just because you don’t understand the life I live… just because I made some mistakes that lead me down this one-way street… doesn’t give you the right to judge me the way you always do – especially when mom’s not around.” She turned her back to the taller figure again, taking those few extra steps toward the door. It seemed like she was just about to leave when she paused…

“I meant what I said, by the way…” Slowly, she looked over her shoulder. The disdain for him had returned to her face… “You’re didn’t do anything. At least, you didn’t bring me into this world.” Walter’s brow furrowed in anger. “What is that supposed to mean…?” Lola gave another hollow chuckle… then sighed. “I’m a ‘toon, Walter. I wasn’t born… I was designed. I was designed by the same people who made you. Difference being… I was my own character. You, on the other hand…” His brow furrowed again… as if processing her words. “You and… yes, mom, as well… You were made to give Bugs someone to be funny with. The whole ‘over-protective father’ thing is sooo cliché… but, it still works for both kids and adults to this day. Sure, you and mom had your own personalities… but, at the end of the day? You guys were just comic foils.” The taller figure’s brow shifted a third time. “Still, though… they made me for a specific purpose, too – to play opposite the real star: Bugs Bunny. Once the series was done and our contacts expired… I was nothing to Warner.” She offered a wicked grin to the male. “But, if I was nothing… then, I guess that makes you less than nothing. Huh… ‘dad?’”

With that weight finally lifted off her chest, she gave a long sigh and turned the doorknob. “Tell mom I said ‘Hi,’ Walter,” she commented as she took a step toward the raging storm. “Or, maybe… just do like you said and ‘keep this between us.’ I still like her… but, you?” Lightning flashed as Lola took one last look back. “You’re no father of mine. You’re just a mean, cruel, judgmental man who’s great with the stock market but is too wrapped-up in his own perfect little world to realize when to be a parent… much less what it means to be one. And, with that, I say…” She gave him one last, teary-eyed scowl… “Goodbye… Walter.” And then, she was gone. –––––

I still can’t believe that happened…!

Joseph was all grins as he reclined on the couch of his apartment. Even though he had work the next morning, he was far too excited to sleep, thoughts of the day’s events still playing on-repeat in his head.

And, what I really can’t believe, he continued to think, was that Woody… didn’t kill me. He wasn’t mad… heck, he wasn’t even surprised! In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d almost say he knew what was going on between Winnie and I the whole time… which… may be the case, now that I think about it. Winnie had no reason to hide it from him. They’re in a… eh… ‘semi-open’ relationship? I’m just lucky Woody likes me, though. I’m sure if I’d been someone stranger… or, someone he didn’t like… he probably wouldn’t have been so jokey about it. Still though… the fox thought with a shiver… When Winnie started telling him about our day after he came home, I just about jumped out of my skin! It hadn’t even dawned on me that she’d tell him outright the first chance she got! I mean… she was kinda subtle about telling him… but, she did tell him! Right in front of me, no less!

His thoughts turned back to a few hours prior. Woody had just eaten the dinner Winnie made and was feeling pretty good. Joseph remembered being on the far end of the couch when his lady friend sat on the coffee table and told Woody she’d wanted to talk. He remembered feeling like his fur was going to pop right off in fright as she ran familiar “what-if” scenarios by her boyfriend… most of which, they actually had done, that day! He then recalled his heart almost leave his chest when she asked, “What would you say if those ‘what-ifs…’ weren’t…?”

I almost can’t believe Woody actually congratulated me! he thought with an odd sort of smirk. I mean… he said he wants to watch next time… what a perv! Still, though… he was fine with it! Really, truly fine! The fox gave a happy sigh. That woodpecker… Both of those woodpeckers… They’re crazy… Crazy-awesome…

After a moment, Joseph reached over to the coffee table, setting his glasses down and retrieving the TV remote. He decided he’d spent enough time reminiscing and should get some sleep. He had a long day of dish-washing ahead of him, after all… Oh, geez…! he thought as a crack of thunder caught his ears. I really hope it doesn’t keep raining like this, tomorrow… I could have Woody drive me… but, I really don’t want to ride in his little car again. I mean… it does beat walking… especially in this… but, man is it cramped. He murmured, shuffling down against the couch and pulling a blanket over his body. Well, I guess I’ll worry about that, tomorrow. No sense giving it any thought, now… He murmured again, his eyes drifting shut. I feel bad for anyone that does have to be out in that weather, though…

Suddenly, his ears picked up on a different sound. A slight rapping on wood? It was soft… but, certainly audible. When he’d heard it a second time, though… I really doubt someone is here at this hour… he thought. But, I’d better make sure…

After putting on some pants and his glasses, the fox undid the deadbolt lock on the apartment door, keeping the chain attached just-in-case. There was no sense in being reckless, after all… Slowly, he pulled the door open… only to jolt at what he saw. “L… Lola?!” Standing on the other side of the door was the waterlogged form of one Lola Bunny. Her fur was drooping and dripping, making a mess on the hardwood floor of the hallway, her damp, platinum hair was covering her eyes, and even her normally-springy dress seemed to sag on her thin frame. Yet, despite all of that… she wore her usual cheerful smile.

“What in the Void are you doing here at this hour, Lola…?” Joseph asked. “And… why are you so wet? What’d you do? Walk here?” “I may have…” she said with a grin. “Can I come in?” “I… yeah,” he answered before withdrawing. A moment later, he brought the soggy bunny a large towel. “Just, ya know… keep it quiet. Woody’s trying to sleep.” “Caaan do!” she happily exclaimed. “Oop– I mean… can do…” Joseph shook his head before finally letting her in.

“Seriously, Lola…” he said as he watched her dry herself, “what are you doing here? It’s like… almost 1 AM! Who visits at 1 AM…?” “I do, obviously!” she quietly giggled. “Well, at least you came in through the door, for once…” The fox gave a blink, ears perking as he realized… “Wait. You came in through the door.” “Yeah? So?” Lola politely asked as she worked on her hair. “You… never come in through the door. You said you like climbing the ladder up to the fire escape scaffolding, which is kind of odd for most being… but, regardless–” “Can I stay here tonight, Joseph?” she suddenly asked. Once again, the fox was caught off-guard. “What… what did you call me?” he suddenly asked. “‘Joseph?’” she replied, a confused look on her face. “That’s your name, isn’t it?” “Well, yeah, but…” His ears fell back. “I… don’t think I’ve ever heard you call me that before… It sounds kinda… weird… after all the ‘Jojos’ and ‘Mr. Foxes’, really…” He was chuckling… but, all she could offer with a slight, amused murmur. “Lola…?” he asked, growing more concerned. “Is everything alright?” “I’m just… really tired,” she reassured. “And, maybe a little drunk off Tipsy Carrots. Busy night! I’m gonna go sleep in the tub… ‘kay?” “I… sure…?” The fox gave a frown as she walked by him. He’d thought about offering her the couch… but, given how distant she was being so suddenly, he decided not to argue, figuring that maybe, after a night’s rest, she’d be more talkative. If only he’d know what she’d been through…

Lola’s eyes closed as she thought about the night, making herself comfortable. Removing her soaked garments or dying her fur seemed so very distant from her mind… She didn’t want to come back to that place… but, in her mind… Joseph was still the only one she could count on.

Even if he didn’t care for her… like she did for him.

#fiction #Rainbow of Emotions #commercial characters #The Looney Tunes Show #Lola Bunny #Walter Bunny #Johnny Bravo #Pops #original characters #Essence of Ragnarok #Joseph Lithius #drama

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