Chapter Text
It's a lot brighter outside when they arrive the next morning. It was a bit of a drive, going from the city to the countrysides. But, it was peaceful. With light traffic on the roads, nice warm weather, and not a single grey cloud in the sky, it's shaping up to be a nice day in Tennessee.
Looney bird sits next to him, buckled up in his sorry excuse for a seat. Unfortunately, for Looney bird to ride up front with him, the laws made it all too clear he had to be seated in a safe seat rather than just a seatbelt.
So it's not, exactly, a car seat. But it is a booster seat. A flat cushioned slab. Looney bird swore up and down that he'd never use it, but by the time they both got the damn thing strapped down in the truck, Looney took to appreciate the comfort of a padded cotton seat rather than the sticky leather Billy Bob had grown used to.
Billy Bob swivels the wheel, craning it to the right. The club comes into view down the street, the brazenly painted bright pink exterior leaving nothing to the imagination of what that kind of place is.
The grizzly stops momentarily, pausing at a cross walk. An older human and an android pass on by, providing assistance to the woman as she crosses the way on slow and weary legs.
Billy Bob reaches over and taps his friend. Looney bird merely snorts.
“Looney.” He taps him again.
The bird snores louder.
Billy Bob takes his hand back, placing it on the wheel as they continue on. They have a bit of time before they go into the club anyway.
He turns the truck again, driving behind the back of the big pink building. Another turn, and they're at the side of the building, where a sparse parking lot appears as they turn into it. It's a small lot, with about ten or fifteen spots. There's not any other cars in sight.
Billy Bob pulls the truck into one of the spots, closer to the front entrance than they did yesterday. The building seems to almost glow in this light, beaming the bright sun right back and basking the surrounding area in a light pink glow.
He switches the vehicle off, and he shoves his paw in his pocket, depositing his keys.
‘tap tap’
“Looney bird.”
‘snoooooooore’
“Loooooney.” Billy bob pats at the bird’s white splotched chest. “Wake up, buddy, we’re here!”
‘snoooooooooore’
‘snap snap snap’ The bear clicks his fingers.
“Come on Looney, get up!” He claps his hands together.
“Whuzza-” The avian’s head rises, slow on his cricked neck. Sleeping with your head back doesn't do any wonders for your spine. Looney bird sits up a little bit, licking the inside of his probably dry mouth.
“Wha…?”
Billy Bob pats the bird’s stemed head, wiggling the plant stalk. “We’re here. But, I don't think Wilbur is. Wasn't his car parked out here last time?”
Looney bird shrugs lightly, and he stretches his tucked wings out to their full length, brushing Billy Bob's stomach and laying curved against the truck's door on the other side. “Izzit in the front? Mighta parked closer... ‘cross the street maybe.” He snuggles his head into his arm, nuzzling it comfortable.
The grizzly bear clicks his tongue. “Oh you're right. It prob’ly is.” He looks to the road to the side of them, then down to his friend. He pats the bird's head. “Come on now, don't fall back asleep.”
“Why noooot…?” Looney bird whines, curling up tighter. Billy bob huffs with a smile. “Cause we gotta work! Can’t work the ropes if you don't know them yet. Besides, I put on my good clothes today. It'll be easy.” The grizzly bear pulls his shirt away from his body. It's a long sleeve button up. He's got on just regular jeans though.
Looney bird peeks out at his friend. He snickers into his arms. “Alright.”
The bird stretches out all the way, and then flops back, opening his eyes wide and blinking quickly. He rubs them fiercely.
“Too bright.”
Billy Bob hooks the latch and pushes open his door open. “It’s not so bad, I’ll carry ya in, the pavement’s kinda hot.”
Looney bird grumbles. “Ain't you barefoot too?”
“Nah.” Billy Bob hops out, and he swings the door closed with a mighty thump that shakes the old truck around. Looney bird scrubs his wings over his eyes.
The other truck door opens in a couple of seconds, and Billy Bob reaches in to click that latch on Looney bird's seat. The seatbelt slides away back to where it belongs, freeing the bird. “I gots some shoes for once. Barely ever broke em in." He kicks his leg a little, though it's not in Looney's eyesight. Judging by the get up, they're just those black ones that the bear got at that second hand shop.
Looney bird raises his arms and clenches his little fuzzy fingers at his buddy. “Neh.”
The grizzly bear picks him up under the armpits, settling him on his hip like he's done with Choo Choo too many times to keep track. Looney bird scrabbles his feet until he can push out of the bear’s grip, clawing up to his shoulder to perch like a parrot with sleep squinted eyes.
“You adjusted?” Billy Bob swings the truck door closed.
“Mmh.” Looney bird nods, and he shoves his beak to his wing to pick at the plumes.
“Alright, we’re off!” The grizzly takes a grand step forward, marking such an occasion.
His last steps of confidence.
The walk up to the front of the building with ease, light on his feet.
He only falters a little as they get closer.
But he starts to get nervous when he walks up to the door, and he realizes that.
Wilbur's car isn't anywhere to be seen.
Well.
“I don't think he's here.” Billy Bob places a hand over Looney birds feet, keeping him steady as he stops walking.
The avian lifts his head up, tucking his wing back. “Whatcha mean?”
Billy Bob points his long clawed thumb at the empty street. “Ain’t here. Ya think he went somewhere?”
Looney bird shrugs.
“Didn't ya tell him to go see Choo Choo?” He offers.
Billy Bob furrows his brows, and his head cocks. “Oh, well. I guess I did. I kinda forgot, huh?” He chuckles lightly. “I don't know if we’re gonna be able to get in yet.”
Looney bird jumps down from his shoulder. “Doesn't hurt to try.”
The scarlet bird trundles to the double glass doors. He looks up first and foremost.
Looney pushes at the door. He stops after one push, then points up at the handle-less doors.
“Try the uhhhhhh…” The bird waves his wing around. It points to the right. “Button.”
On the short wall besides the doors, there's a silver, square button.
So Billy Bob leans over and presses it.
A short little burst of light comes from it, then it rises back into place again.
They wait.
Billy Bob twists his fingers around each other. “I don't think they're open.”
“Give it a second.” Looney bird lifts his wing.
…
The doors open slowly, sleek as they slide into the walls like a plastic sheet, curving into the nooks left in there.
“Huh.” Billy Bob hums. “How’d you know how that works?”
Looney points at the button again. “They've got those all over the web right now. Scans your hand, sends a notification to a database or something the owner makes. Looks like cousin Wilbur put ya on last night.” The bird ventures past the doors, and Billy bob ushers in before the glass can close on him.
The glass slides shut behind them, and the club is welcomed to their vision. It's lit up just like last night, if not brighter. The windows are actually blocked up from in here, black sheets over the panes. It makes it just as dark as it was last night, but aside from those tubes being the only lights on, now there's light on the floor, these solid beams of light serving like floor imbedded lamps. They're a nice sunny orange and light blue on the pink carpet of the entrance.
Looney bird starts walking immediately, set with a purpose. Billy Bob follows after him. “Wait up Looney!”
The bird raises his wings up as he goes, jaunty as he runs. Billy Bob catches up with him soon enough, but it's only when they hit the entrance of the room.
The tube room.
The grizzly stops, but Looney bird slips right on in.
“Awww…”
The bird comes back out fairly quick. “Not on.”
“Oh.” Billy Bob shrugs. “Well, they'll be on soon. I think. It's alright.”
The grizzly bear walks into the room, inspecting the interior. Even in here those little lamps have appeared, brightening the club by a small amount. They're between each of the cases, beaming up the empty spaces left beside them.
Looney bird steps closer, resting his wing on his friend's leg. He looks over the room as well, stepping just a little bit more to see past.
He pauses.
Looney bird taps his leg.
“Huh?”
The bird points over at the right side of the wall. Billy Bob focuses on the lamp. Looks fine.
“What is it?”
Looney bird points again, but he goes closer to where he’s directing the brown bear.
“Where’s that one?” Looney looks up to Billy bob.
“What?” Billy Bob combs the front of the cases with his eyes, inspecting the interiors.
He pauses on the one he was standing at just last night.
Beach Bear’s case is empty, leaving a glowing tube in the place of a droid.
“Huh.”
Looney bird raises his brows. “Whatta ya think they're-”
“I don't wanna know.” Billy Bob raises his hand.
But he stops.
Wilbur isn't even here.
The brown bear turns around, leaning back to look down the hall.
None of the rooms are lit up. Not red, green, nothing. Just grey. Powered off.
Billy Bob lifts his shoulders. “Well, I don't know either, actually. Sorry bout cuttin’ ya off.”
Looney bird flicks his wings. “‘s cool. I wasn't going that direction. Where ya think It’s at?” He points in the direction of the main room.
The grizzly cocks his head. “I'm not sure. That's not a bad place to start. We just can't break nothin’ while we’re here alone, Wilbur’ll never trust me in here again if we bust something the first day.”
Looney bird flips a wing. “We’ll be alright. I'll try tho. Can't exactly promise nothin’, you know how that turns out.” He begins to toe away, sneaky with it.
Billy Bob turns to walk with him, taking longer strides. He approaches first and brushes open the curtain.
There's a couple feathers that fall off of Looney as he goes, ones that fall from his stretched out wings.
The bird creeps along, low to the ground. Billy Bob follows after, not exactly sneaking, but he does step carefully to silence his shoes.
“Do ya think the wolf is workin’ on ‘im?” Looney bird speculates, bringing his beak low to the floor like he's looking for prints. Billy Bob brushes his fingers along one of the tables. “Probably? That's my guess.”
He looks to the maintenance door.
Piercing ice blue eyes look back at him.
The brown bear flinches.
Beach Bear's pressed close to the door at his side, hunched down a little bit with his paw resting on the door handle. It's not there like he was gonna twist it though. The polar bear’s face is quite blank, though his eyes are wide.
“Hi.” Billy bob offers, and he folds his hands together. “Looney.”
“Yeah?” The bird peers back at him. The bear points over at the other, much larger white bear without looking back at his friend.
“Oh. Well there he is.” Looney bird shrugs. “My work is done.”
Beach Bear straightens up, rising above the door.
“Uh.” Billy Bob lowers his paws. “What are you doin’ out here?”
The polar bear remains quiet, the most response that Billy Bob gets is Beach Bear standing there, twiddling his fingers.
Billy Bob tilts his head, unanswered. Looney bird comes up to the plate.
“Ya lost?” He offers, beaming up with such curious eyes. They blaze with that of wonder.
Beach Bear shakes his head, small movements. His hands twist up, similar to the grizzly bear.
“I heard something.” He points his thumb, jabbing it at the door. His voice is held in quiet. “There's… something in there. I don't know.”
Billy Bob hums. “Oh? Well, that's odd. We’re the only ones here. It's probably your friend, the… Rolfe? I think it's alright.”
“We’re coworkers.” The white bear crosses his arms together, relaxed. Though his claws clench around his elbow. “He doesn't laugh in that pitch.”
His voice is calm, just as calm as it was the majority of last night.
Billy Bob begins to walk towards him. Beach Bear clutches both his arms, his fingers tight.
Despite this, the grizzly bear continues on, coming closer to the giant bear.
Is he nervous? Of course he is! He's never been around a person dressed like this. Heck, the reason why he can right now is that Beach Bear is dressed up in a grass skirt today, something that covers just about everything the brown bear can see from here.
And of course. When there’s intrigue afoot, who is he to deny such a friendly bear?
Beach Bear steps back from Billy bob, backpedaling with each step the other takes. The grizzly bear stops, a couple feet from the door.
“What's the matter?” Billy Bob raises his hands. “I don't have nothin’. I'm just takin’ a listen is all.”
“I'm not allowed to be around people who aren't paying.” He simply states, tapping his fingers against his pristine snowy fur.
Billy Bob hums. “Huh. Well, I’m not payin’ ya, no. But I'm not touchin’ either. I'm just investigatin’ like you are. I'm gonna be workin’ with you guys too, heck, we might as well be considered coworkers too!” The grizzly tucks his hands together, trying to come off as something more gentle.
Beach Bear seems to work something out in his head, cause he steps forward, and he slings his arm over the door, blocking it off.
“You're registered as a guest. You have no authority to enter this room.”
Billy Bob reaches out, placing his hand on the bear's arm. The polar bear stares down at him.
“I'm not entering.” Billy Bob rubs his thumb on the man’s white covered wrist, pleasantly surprised with how soft he really is. “Oh wow.”
The polar bear turns his eyes to his wrist. Billy Bob runs his palm down the gentle furs. They don't prickle as they bend back, flexible and soft. The strands muss as he smooths them backwards, then rise with ease when let go.
The paw flips, exposing his palm. Billy Bob slides their hands to face side to side, comparing the skin on their palms. Both are dark, black in their color.
The hand jolts, and Billy Bob’s bark colored paw is snatched in an iron grip. He flinches hard.
“No touching.” The polar bear warns. The grizzly bear chuckles anxiously. “Oh. Whoops, I'm sorry.” He takes his hand back.
“Eheeheeheheh!”
The both of them turn to the door. Looney bird runs right up, and he presses his ear to the door. Beach Bear’s leg kicks out in front of the bird. Looney merely holds the limb.
Beach Bear jitters in place for a moment, and then he slides in front of the door, essentially stepping over Looney to do so. He bends, forcing Billy Bob to move back as the tall bear scoops the scarlet bird up in his hands. Looney squeaks in his throat, half a step away from squawking out loud.
Beach Bear holds the bird, a gentle grip around his sides with both palms. “We don't allow pets and nobody is allowed in this room.” He holds the creature out. Billy Bob takes Looney around the body, pulling him back to his own arms. Looney bird scrambles on top of his shoulder.
“He's not a pet.” The grizzly frowns. “He's my best bud, he's as anthro as I am.” He pets his friend's wing. “If I'm not allowed in there, why ain't ya opened it up to take a peek? You work here, don't ya?”
“Yeah.” He answers automatically. “You don't.” He follows it up. “I'm not allowed in there either.”
“Ahahaha!!” *thunk*
Beach Bear turns his head to the door.
“If ya ain't allowed,” Looney Bird points at the door. “What made you allowed to get out of your case?”
The polar bear blinks. “I was never properly shut down.”
The avian waves a hand. “That means you're allowed to roam? I ain't your boss, but I'm sure he wouldn't care for ya walkin’ around without bein’ watched.”
“Boss doesn't-” Beach Bear shakes his head. “The boss never told me to stay in the tube.”
“He told ya to go.”
Beach crosses his arms. “I did.”
Looney bird squints up at the droid. “Ya act awful human for a robot.”
The polar bear pauses.
“You're not authorized to access this room.” The man shakes his head.
“Eheeheehe- AHHH!” *BBZZT*
“Hold still!”
“AGH! Eheeheehee-”
Looney bird points at the door.
“Is Mr. Giggles authorized to enter either?”
Beach Bear looks back at the door.
…
“Don't ya wanna keep the place safe?” The avian continues. “What if he ends up hurtin’ Rolfe?” Looney pries, and he tucks his wings to his sides to point with his foot. “I think it's a safety hazard, ain't it?”
“That's not his name.” The bear states.
Looney bird cocks his head, his stalk wiggling around with it. “Rolfe? What's his name then?”
“No.” Beach Bear shakes his head. “The other one. It's not Mr. Giggles.”
Billy Bob twiddles his fingers. “So, who Is it? They sound an awful lot like a Mr. Giggles. Don't you wanna meet em?” The grizzly bear smiles bright.
“...” The polar bear clicks his claws on the door. Raucous giggles rise from the metal. “He won't tell me.”
“Who?” Billy inquires.
“Rolfe.” Beach offers nonchalantly. “He doesn't let me in there.”
“Well, why not?” Billy Bob holds out his hands. “You seem well behaved, like a proper gentleman. For just a peek I don't see anything bad happening.”
Beach Bear shakes his head. “I'm not gentle. I get in the way. I'm too big for my own good and my fingers aren't as bendy as they say they are.” He raises his hands in double quotes. “I'm not allowed inside. I'm not allowed to look. I'm not allowed to see what Rolfe does back there. I need to leave the room before I break something.”
Billy Bob taps on his neck.
“That doesn't seem very friendly of him to say.” His long nails run down his shoulder. “You don't seem like you'd try to make trouble.”
“Rolfe doesn't like to be bothered.” Beach Bear lifts a paw to his head, and he takes the grassy reef around from his ears into his fingers. He pricks at the strands, pulling them in different directions. “I haven't been allowed in there or to see in there since I…”
He pauses in his movements, stilling on the green band.
“I'm not allowed to disclose what happens at closing to the patrons.” He continues to pull at the fake grass, and he smooths his thumb over the strands.
The bear’s small white ear swivels, turned to the door.
He spins his head to it soon after.
“Oh. That's alright. I don't need to hear anythin’ bad like that anyw-”
“WHAAAAGH!”
*Clatter*
“Oh calm down, you're fine!” Rolfe's voice dips like he’s lower now. “You're gonna crack the tiles flinging my good tools.”
“Dat’s not connectted righ- aaigh-!”
“There! Stop wiggling!”
“AH-!”
Billy Bob shakes his head. “Alright, that’s enough-”
He marches towards the door, intent on getting some sort of explanation for what kinda madness could be going on here.
The brown bear is caught by strong arms, holding him firm to his spot. Beach Bear pushes him back, knocking Looney straight off his shoulder. “Not allowed.”
“That don't sound good!” The grizzly warns, but he abides by the other bear's hands and he stays put. “It’s just a check, that’s not good screamin’! Please? What if they're hurt in there?” He shifts his head to the side. The polar bear stares down with his widened eyes.
Looney bird shoots straight through both of their legs, darting right for the door. He jumps and clutches it in his hands, pulling it back and forth as he claws at the side of the frame for purchase.
Beach Bear spins, but he's not quite quick enough with his occupied arms. Looney pulls himself up and grabs the doorknob from its top. He flips all the way upside down once he cranes to the side, sent to the floor but also leaving the door unlocked.
It swings open with a good bit of force, bouncing on its hinges and coming back. It stops with a kick by the bird.
“What?! What?! Don't you know this is dangerous work?!” Rolfe voice calls from inside. Beach Bear snatches Looney bird up and tucks him into his arm. The avian struggles in his limbs. “I'm sorry, these-”
The wolf begins pulling off his gloves, working the stretchy material off of his wet sleeves carefully. “Don't you think I see that?! What's the matter with you?!”
Billy Bob jumps up to the other side of the door, already with a lieu of defenses for the polar bear chasing at his tongue. He gasps just as soon as he stops with his eyes in the room. “Oh my lord-”
Splayed across the table is yet another android, not one that any of them have seen before. They're all brown, but that's all that Billy Bob can gather based on the fact that the bot is cut straight down the middle and currently stretched into two different pieces, only connected by thick multicolor wires. They're set face down on their chest, giving access to a panel opened on its back. Their legs sit on the other side, in a sitting position, completely exposed at the waist. Earl pokes around without a single care to the intrusion, far too busy with jerking at a lone bit of plastic. The bot's leg twitches wildly.
Billy Bob turns as white as snow, and he turns right around, walking off in a different direction entirely. He doesn't utter a word besides incomprehensible mumbles.
Looney Bird pops out of Beach Bear's grip, and he perches on his arm.
“Woah!” He coos, his wings flap hard. “Ya got 'im all busted open in there!”
Rolfe scoffs, and he throws down his gloves. The bot on the table lifts his head up, and besides him his long tail slips back and forth. “Egh!” Earl jumps over it as it swings by. “Get yer tail, ya whacko!”
“Get out of here! Don't you see I'm busy?!” Rolfe snaps. He flicks his hands as he marches forward. “Go on, out! This is-”
“Delicate work, I heard ya man.” Beach Bear repeats flatly. He adjusts Looney in his arms like a football, and grabs his feet, holding him there. The bird grumbles, but he stays, content with being able to see at least.
The opened up android beams a great big smile. “Heyyy!! Didja know there's a hundred billion stars in the milky way?” He lifts his dark gloved hands and shoots finger guns at the people at the door, wiggling them back and forth. “Still not as many times as I'll milk ya dry!” The bot cackles, and he flops over the table again. His legs jerk and kick, swinging back and forth when the little mechanic stabs inside him with a screwdriver. “Eek!”
Rolfe blocks their view of anything else once he shoves the both of the snooping anthros back, slamming the door shut behind all of them. “What did I tell you about coming in here?! You're supposed to be shut down, and you can't even keep these people out when you're not in there! What's your issue?!” Rolfe pushes on the bear's stomach, forcing him back. “I've got thirty minutes before Boss comes back, and that one is sitting there messing with me cause he WON'T STOP SPOUTING NONSENSE ABOUT GODFORSAKEN SPACE!” The wolf snaps back at the door, slamming a fist into the middle of it. It rattles like a crashed car.
He reels back with the fire of a thousand suns slapped across his face. He stabs his finger up at the polar bear. Beach Bear remains stoic.
“I don't need you messing with any more things in here. I'll shut you down myself.”
The big white bear steps back.
“Yeah.” Rolfe sneers. “Get these people out of my way.” He points at the bird, and then at Billy Bob.
The grizzly bear turns at that, still as pale as paper. His jaw hangs momentarily.
“I-I-I’m sorry, that- that was my fault. We’ll be leavin’ now, yeah, we won't bother ya none.” His hands shake as he sets them at his sides, brushing them down his pants. Billy Bob comes forward a couple steps. “It's n-not… Not Beach Bear. That was me. We’ll be out of your hair.” He rests his hand on the big bear’s arm. “I'll take him away for ya. Come on.” He stares quite hauntedly at the silver wolf, patting at the polar bear's soft furred arm.
Rolfe crosses his arms. “Either one of you, I don't care! Put him up, and tell him to shut down this time!” His tail snaps back and forth behind him. “If you're gonna be working here, here's your first rule, bear.” Rolfe holds a finger in the air.
“Don't. Mess. With. My. Room.” He slices a hand in the air. “Period. There's too many breakable things and the last thing you wanna do is get on my bad side messing in my territory.” He jerks his hand over his throat. “Any of you. It's off limits. Don't make me tell you twice.”
Billy Bob raises his thumb. “Oh I'm g-good. You don't have to worry about ol’ Billy bob! You won't see a trace of us. Right, Looney? Not a trace?” His face shines pleading, not a hint of color returned.
Looney bird turns back to the wolf. He nods quickly. “Right, right! Not a trace. Not a foot print or nothin’!” The bird shimmies around where he's stuck. “We’ll be good.”
The wolf's spindley snout turns to the polar bear. Beach Bear releases Looney bird's legs to hold his hand up. “Got it. No snooping.”
Dark eyes narrow at him. “Watch yourself. I'm not catching you out of your case out of turn again. I'll call Mozzarella over to wipe ya clean.”
Beach Bear drops his arm. “Won't be the first time.”
Rolfe’s glare pierces daggers into his own.
…
The wolf growls in his throat. “You know your place.” He slams his paw onto the knob and jerks it to the side. He pushes the door open. It comes back in his direction, and Rolfe stops it with a raised foot.
“Start listening.” He snarls up at Beach Bear. “And keep your paws where they belong.”
“I never touched anything.” He shrugs.
“If you keep smarting with me it won't matter if you touched anything.” Rolfe pushes at the man’s arms. “Wilbur’ll tell you and he’ll keep you-”
“But you're not the Boss.” The polar bear decides, and he takes Looney bird from his side, holding him by one arm. He simply sets the bird on his arm, where he was before. Looney clings to his soft fur. He crosses his arms as well, but he doesn't dare challenge the lead mechanic. “And he doesn't care where I go. Just where I am when he needs me.”
Rolfe's eyes narrow even farther.
Beach Bear tilts his head.
“You don't hold any power over me.”
“I hold a lot more than you think.” The silver wolf steps into the room backwards, holding onto the doorframe. He leans forward. “Leave me alone and we won't have any more issues today.”
“What are you gonna do?” The bear challenges. Billy Bob pats his arm. “We should go-”
“Leave. Because sitting here is making me stupider than that one is.” Rolfe points behind himself. “Good riddance.”
“Just as well-”
*SLAM!*
The door crashes into the frame. It sticks shut.
A click rings through the thick metal afterwards. Rolfe grumbles behind the door, incomprehensible through the mute.
They all stand there.
Billy Bob is the first to talk however.
He grasps Beach bear's arm. It's barely considered a grip, it's more like he's holding the guy.
“I think… that's enough exploring for today.”
Beach Bear scoffs. He waves his paw at the door. “Prick. He's no fun anyway. He's got a stick up his ass longer than my-”
Looney bird jumps up, pressing his wings over the polar bear's mouth. He shuts it, albeit with a confused look.
“How do you keep doing that?!” The bird holds his face, eyes ablaze with curiousity. He tilts the man’s face every which way. “What's in your programming? What's making you act like this?”
“What? This is!” Beach Bear swings his hand at the door. “That's not fair. I didn't do anything. He's always a grouch.” He folds his arms. Billy bob lightly pulls him.
“Yeah… yeah… we should. Get going.” The grizzly bear begins to walk off, his voice despondent and hollow. “We should leave 'em be. Don't wanna… don't wanna break nothin’.”
“Billy Bob.” Looney shakes out his feathers. Some fall down onto Beach bear's arm. “Ya doin’ alright?” He cocks his head.
“Oh me?” The bear shakes his head. “Oh I'm fiiiine. I just… need to sit down for a little bit is all.”
The grizzly bear lets the polar bear's arm return to his side. He keeps walking, done without pulling either of the others along.
The two of them look at eachother. Beach Bear turns to the brown bear’s wandering husk.
“Subdrop?” The white bear offers.
Looney bird shakes his head. “Shell shock.”
The polar bear blinks.
“Did I act out of turn?”
Looney bird twists his head back and forth again. “No. No… you… that was like. A bug. Or something.”
“Bug?” Beach Bear tilts his head.
“Yeah.”
Looney bird nods. “Like… a fault. In your programming.”
“I'm broken?” The polar bear begins to walk, following after the grizzly bear. Neither of them are really sure where he's going, but it's probably better than standing by Rolfe’s door.
“No. I don't think so.” Looney bird shrugs. “I think it'll go away if someone takes a peek at your brain hard enough.”
Beach Bear shrugs as well. “Rolfe does all the time. He's never found anything. That he's told me.” The bear blanks for a moment.
“Is that why he keeps getting mad at me?” Beach Bear tries.
Looney raises his shoulders. “I dunno.” He wiggles his wings. “You're actin’ different now, though.”
“I am?” Beach bear wiggles his fingers. “I don't feel very different?”
Billy Bob pushes open a curtain. The other anthros follow him in. It's the one that was to the far left. One they haven't entered before. The polar bear clicks his tongue.
“Why are we going outside?”
Looney bird hums. “Uhhh. I don't really know. Uh.” He rubs his wing over his head. “Billy Bob?” He calls.
“Yeah bud?” Billy Bob turns back. He keeps walking. Looney bird raises his shoulders. “Where uhh…? Where are we goin’ Buddy?”
“Fresh air.” The grizzly bear responds. “I reckon I just need some fresh air.”
“Uh… alright.” Looney bird settles down on Beach Bear's arm, hunching lower into a squat. “Guess we’re going outside.”
“That sounds fun~” Beach Bear purrs, a way different influx of his voice than from before. Looney bird nods, turning a pretty good look back at Beach Bear.
“For air. Just air.” He holds out a wing towards the door they're approaching.
“Gotcha.”
Billy Bob pushes the door open by its metal bar. He swings around it and pulls it open. Even in his empty mind, he's still got his southern hospitality inside him to hold it open.
Beach Bear and Looney bird venture through the door. If this is where he's gonna be taken, well, Beach Bear is gonna listen. Not like he's got anything else he's supposed to be doing for anybody right now.
The polar bear hunches, and sets Looney bird on the ground. The avian squeals, hopping around on the pavement. “Wouch! Hot! Hot!” He flaps his wings around.
Billy Bob lets the door close, and he steps in front of it. He gently lowers down onto the one step in front of the door, brushing his paws over his head. They shake gently.
Beach Bear lightly pushes his foot at Looney bird, directing him into the shade of the canopy above. There's a pretty small pool out here, not very deep or very wide, but it's a basin of water nonetheless. It's not very clean out here. There's loose leaves and such and the water in the pool lays open, dotted with a couple of leaves as well.
The bird stops as he meets the cooler concrete, sighing nicely. “That's better.”
“It's eighty six degrees out here.” Beach Bear looks up to the canopy. It blocks out a good bit of the sun. “It should cool down in the afternoon.”
Looney bird flaps his wings about, and rests them over his eyes. “It's bright out here.”
“It is.” Beach Bear steps past the canopy's shadow. The sun beams down on his fur. “I haven't been out here in the morning time.”
“No?” Looney bird looks back at the man. The polar bear raises his shoulders a little bit. “No. It looks different.”
“Like what?” Looney bird trottles over, leaning his head back to see the bear's face. Just as frozen as ever.
“I think…”
Beach Bear looks to the side. The road is visible from here. The building is in an odd place, really. Smack dab in the middle of a bunch of other buildings of different apparel. Hell, there's a tackle shop somewhere near here.
“There's more out here now. That I can see, anyway.” He smiles. “It's cool.”
Looney bird copies his look. “Yeah. I guess so.” He combs over the area with his eyes. It's not very decorated out here. Pretty sparse actually. Not even a plant to be seen.
“Say…” the bird starts. Beach Bear hums.
Looney points at the pool.
“Didn't they say you can go in the water?”
Beach Bear nods. “Yeah. My body shell is completely sealed. No leaks or anything can get in and damage my components.” He steps towards the water.
Looney bird cocks his head. “How do you vent? Ain't it gonna get hot in there with no circulation?”
Beach Bear reaches behind his head, brushing his fingers over the back of his neck. “There's a flap over the vent on my neck. It closes like a snorkel. There's a rubber slat that seals over it whenever I reach the water.”
“That's it?” The bird raises a wrinkly brow. “That's awful little tech for someone so big.”
The polar bear lifts his shoulders. “There's a main fan that vents through my throat.” He rubs over the front of his jugular
“There's a compression bag in my chest cavity that cycles the hot air out of my body to keep all my insides cool.” Beach Bear snaps his mouth shut, then open. Air puffs audibly through his jaws. “I can fully submerge up to fifteen feet. But not below. I busted open at eighteen feet.”
Looney bird nods brightly. “That's amazing! So, there's like, a fire blower in your chest?” The bird compares, pushing his hands back and forth at each other.
Beach Bear shrugs. “I guess so. I think it's more like an accordion. That's what it looks like in there.” He traces his claw down his sternum. He brushes it past the multicolor flowers on his neck.
The fuzzed bird hums. “You said you remember bustin’ open? Or did they tell ya that after?”
Looney bird pauses.
“Where did they submerge ya that far?” He inquires.
The polar bear raises his hands. “My memory doesn't go that far. It was dark. And then there were bubbles. Really big ones. I think there was one that looked like me.” He rubs over the side of his face. “It was really cold. Went through a gnarly catastrophic error.”
“It's really hot out here.” Billy Bob chimes in. The two turn back to see him.
The first couple buttons on his shirt are undone, and he's waving a hand at his neck. “It's a little too much for a dressed up bear like me.”
“Ya doin’ alright?” Looney bird begins to come forward. His clawed toes click on the pavement. Billy Bob lifts one shoulder. “Oh, I don't know. I think I'm running well enough.”
Beach Bear links his fingers together at his stomach. He wiggles them a little. “It might be the heat. Air is good, but, the temperature might make you feel worse.”
Billy Bob nods. He rises from the step slowly. “Yeah. I think I'm alright now. Inside sounds good.”