orangetoughguy | log post II

[He's trying, can't you see that kid? And closer he comes.]

Tame?

[It's an animal. Aw shit. Breathe old man. Hear Freddy out. He's not an idiot. There must have been good reason for him to go ahead and go with it.]

A bird? [A fucking bird is in their home. Brown eyes look from that brightly colored feather head to Freddy, then back again.]

Did your customer cry or something as he said goodbye?

[Or do anything that showed this was a big deal?]

[That giant dangerous looking bill is nipping at Freddy's ear but gently so. It only makes the floppy haired tough guy smile and squidge a little.] Hey stop that.

[Oh yeah Larry's still displeased.] Well he made it a long goodbye. [But from the looks of it the toucan is happy to be with a new owner.] That ain't all though. Watch this, Larry. It's super cool. Okay bird, change colors.

[He claps his hands.] Come on, show Larry your magic. [The bird flutters and fluffs a bit before tilting its head then shaking it, turning a green-billed toucan into the more recognizable orange bill of Toucan Sam.] See?

[Don't be mad don't be mad.]

[His jaw drops at that beak trying to rip apart his roommates ear. Oh wait, no that's not pain. Don't be a dick, Dimick calm the fuck down. He asked. Though the last time Larry asked look what happened? ...then look what happened after. That is incentive to push through.

Brown eyes fix at the closest beadie eye. He can't glare at it head on because eyes are on both sides. Suspicious, not like a dog.]

It does--? [Blink. Blink. Woah, what? The old man smiles. That's something you don't see everyday.] Holy shit. It can do that? You could put that on TV.

[Larry's feeling good enough to carefully reach out to touch the silky looking back of that bird.]

[It sees that hand reaching out but the toucan does nothing to discourage Lawrence Dimick. For now. The bird just fluffs up some more before purring under that heavy touch. To Freddy this is a good sign.]

Do you like the limelight, buddy? Do you wanna be on TV?

[The bird seems to have no response to this except to look around some more. Yep. The guy never said the beast was smart or anything.] He doesn't seem like the Hollywood type I guess.

Is it purring? [No offense but that's a cat noise. Only cats should make cat noises. It makes Larry anxious. One more pet because they're playin' nice then he'll leave the bird be.]

You can train em though, like get a bird trainer or something. If not TV then maybe some show? A fair? [Does the City even have fairs?] Just an idea.

[Okay. He's not very mad. Miffed would be more accurate.]

So you like it?

I dunno if he's ready for that, are you buddy? [Tok tok. Ruffle. Freddy's gonna take that as a no.] I always wanted a pet but I thought I'd get a dog or fish or somethin', not a bird. [That's said to Larry before Freddy's talking to the toucan again.] How does Fred sound? You like Fred?

[No Newendyke you can't be Freddy who has a bird named Fred. That's dumb. Seriously, Fred wasn't a toucan either.] Yeah, he seems okay. I mean I could sell him...

[But it must be obvious to a bear the kid prefers not to have to sell the beast. And yeah, he does like it though even Freddy hasn't voiced the curiosity of a supposedly beloved pet who doesn't have a name. Are they really ones to squabble over naming things though? Hop hop. The bird's turned around to look directly at Larry now. Just staring. Sizing.]

[Would the bird really tell or show whether or not he was ready for some kinda special training? Mose people go ahead and do it.]

We could get a dog.

[Instead of keeping the bird.]

Weird the other fella didn't name it.

[You would think if it were so special it'd have a name. Larry visibly stiffens when Fred is suggested. Not. Angry. Though come on, this house isn't big enough for two Freddys.]

Now we got a bird.

[Woah. Wait. The old man knows when he's being stared at. That usually means that something is picking a fight.]

...what's it doing?

Nobody offered to pay me in mutt. [Freddy remarks as if reminding Larry he took the bird as a payment is gonna help. Ahem. A tilt of the head and he's thinking the same thing about the naming business but the kid also likes the idea of naming the avian freak himself. Okay though, not Fred.] How about Sam, whatdya think of that?

[He's asking Larry and the bird this time.] Looks like he's looking at you.

[Duh. Hop hop and the toucan's on the floor approaching Lawrence Dimick. Hop hop hop head tilts and all. The bird takes a light poke at Larry's toe.]

Right.

[Still there is time. Boy though the way he's looking at that flying nose it's easy to see that Freddy wants to keep it. There's nothing the old man can say without upsetting things. Fuck.]

Sam. Toucan Sam. Hah.

[You won another smile, Freddy. His eyes drop as the bird makes it's move.] Hey! Shit! [The old man is in nothing but his socks. He attempts a retreat...closer to Freddy.] Motherfucker wants to fight.

[Freddy stays right where he is, serving as a protector to Larry (for once, or twice). Yes, he's kind of amused that a little bird could send Mr. White retreating for cover.]

He's just checking you out, man. The little dude took a stab at me, nothin' doin'.

[He holds his hand up to Larry showing a flawless freckled palm. See? No permanent marks or bloodshed or anything like that. Hop hop hop. It's still going for Larry's toes. What would really make it happy is a whole sock to itself.] So...can we keep'im?

[See? He's asking.]

[Protector? Larry is moving to be sure he doesn't kick Sam.]

Yeah? Was he looking at you like that?

[No marks or scars. Of course Sam goes in for the toes once again.] Ow. Come on, leggo. [He fishes for something out of the hamper to drop in hopes of distracting. Of course the kid has to ask when Larry is caring the least for the thing.]

He needs a cage.

[To stay in.]

He's looking at you like a bird looks at stuff.

[Duh, Freddy remarks ever so casually as Sam does his Sammish thing. Oh hey yellow boxers. Voila, the bird's got green eyes and a red breast now as it burrows around in the bright fabric. The kid still can't help but laugh, then when the old man mentions a cage his own green eyes warm up. That's a yes?]

Yeah? A big one? Just to eat and sleep in. [And shit in, the man did say toucans can be litter-trained, although he didn't quite explicitly say this one is.] He seems cool hopping around like that.

Stuff to chew or eat. Could chomp on toes if it wanted to.

[That beak is for something.

The toucan is kind of cute when it's playing around again. It looks like a rainbow down there. Larry remembers a trip to the zoo years and years ago. Shit like that is what keeps him moving back to feeling okay about a bird. Sure isn't a dog.]

A big one...remember he's gotta be somewhere when you go to work. [Relief to hear that the bird is going to sleep in a cage. A cage down here, right? Not in any of their rooms, right?] He hops like a pigeon.

So don't piss'im off.

[Freddy counters with a big smile. Just pulling your chain, Lawrence Dimick, now that it seems they're both agreed to keeping the feathery fiend. Burrow burrow, the bird decides the shorts are no longer interesting and hops out one of the legs to venture towards the stairs. Flap flap and it's flying up, just to perch on the handrail. Again it looks at Larry. Just staring.]

I got it I got. [About the cage.] I bet I can work my way up to taking him to work. [He nods then gestures to his own nose.] When you got a big bill you gotta adapt.

Oh yeah. Me piss him off.

[Doesn't the bird know that his mere presence brings anger into the picture? Lawrence Dimick isn't going to give in. No sir. He can live with a bird. Yep. Nothin' doin.]

Woah, look at him fly.

[Naturally they got to stare at him hanging out up there.]

Hey, he's doing it again. With the staring.] See? [Naturally Freddy is going to call it nothing. Sigh. Well then he'll handle the cage deal. That's okay. He finds himself to be slightly unsure of what he means by taking the bird to work, does he mean walking around like a pirate? Drop it, Larry.]

Bill to to pay for the bill.

He could be lookin' at me.

[Freddy suggests seeing as how they're standing next to each other. What does Larry think about that eh? Meanwhile the bird's just staring, staring, then preening. Lucky for them toucans don't produce feather dust or whatever it's called. No shedding unlike mammals.]

You sure you don't mind? I felt bad for the guy. [Both bird and man.] But I bet someone else can take real good care of him too.

[The kid would just love to have a try at keeping something as cool as this though.]

I don't think he looks at you the same way he looks at me.

[He thinks. It's too early to tell. Kinda cute the way he's all ruffled and combing himself with his beak.]

He's not so bad. The bird can stay. [A while. For now. The old bear puts an arm around Freddy Newendyke, the mechanic that's for the birds.]

You talk like you know a lot of toucans.

[His tone says, "I bet you don't." So that's that, ah but a thick arm around him feels so fucking good and comfortable. Freddy smiles brightly.] Cool. So you can finish up the laundry and we'll go find a big fuckin' cage for the guy. He can pay his rent in entertainment.

[Oh and one more thing.] Lemme help you finish that up. [The rest of the laundry he means of course.]

I know looks.

[Shrug.] It's a useful skill. Saves a whole lotta chitchat and speculation. [Paw rubs the kid's arm before a pat pat. There's work to finish.]

One more load to wash. Shit can go to the dry cleaner later.

[Larry stoops to pick up those yellow undies.]

Well I know talk and that ain't the sound of a bird lookin' for trouble.

[That paw is comforting. Freddy wouldn't really take an animal in if he didn't think there was some potential for it getting on just fine with minor effort on their parts. A trained toucan is a welcome toucan. Hop hop. Fly and perch. The bird's decided to hitch a ride on top of the dirty laundry.]

Maybe we'll get free beer outta him.

Okay then, pal. You can be the interpreter. I don't speak bird.

[Nobody likes to fight needlessly. So the bird can be touchy, it's not full out attacking. And it's pretty quiet. The more Larry rationalizes the better he feels. And he also feels more proud of himself.]

Don't go getting my hopes up. [Though now he's got a taste for Guinness. Dog knows what he's doing.] Maybe he could be a bottle opener.

It's just an idea.

[The beer thing, what a nice perk it would be. As for opening bottles, Freddy's got to rub his chin on that one. In goes the bird, burrowing through more laundry jsut because it can.] What's the point? I like it when you open'em.

[Oh yeah, the dog knows what he's doing all right.]

Never hurts to check, I mean, if he can change colors what else can he do?

[Optimism for everyone in this house. Larry picks up the hamper and hands it to Freddy, easy and carefully. The kid and the bird can bond more over it. Okay, really he doesn't want to have to fuss with it yet.]

I like openin' em for you. [Among other things.] The bird'll have to find his place.

Find cereal? [He takes the hamper carefully so as not to jostle the bird on top.] You can tell the bird yourself, I mean if anyone knows how to lay down a pecking order it's you.

[Freddy may or may not be teasing Larry about his territorial bear-who-needs-his-space nature. Of course right when he mentions a pecking order at all the bird turns to face Lawrence Dimick as it flushes to an orange and black coloration. Just staring. Like it understands and wants the old man's input.]

You don't need any bird or anything to find cereal. That's one of your super powers.

[Larry is folding a few towels that were draped on the back of the couch.]

Oh yeah? Then I will. [He clears his throat, full attention on the bird. Larry even clunches down a little to be able to look into those small shiny eyes that are sizing him up for sure] Look now, buddy boy. We're taking you into our house. Me and Freddy here, we're in charge. You belong to Freddy, he belongs to me. I belong to him. You gotta listen to what we say. Everything'll be fine from there.

[Brown eyes lift up to Freddy.] How was that? You wanna add anything?

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