orangetoughguy | log post II

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?

[On this side of things Freddy's trying to process the meaning of that because really one can then construe the fact that if both Larry and the bird belong to Freddy then that puts the bird on par with Larry himself because no one's yet said that by virtue of belonging to Freddy the bird then belongs to Larry. Just saying. For now though the kid just watches this interaction intensely, seeing as how the bird is stretching its neck out towards the old man.]

...Uh....

[If it draws blood it's gonna have to go, even an enthusiastic Newendyke understands this. That big giant bill opens slowly to draw out the suspense. E-e-e-e-ee-e-ee-e-e-e. It almost sounds like alien morse code. Then without another click the bird turns around to stick its tail feathers up at Lawrence Dimick, before pulling some horror movieish turn of its head to lay that weapon across its own back. Right, Freddy looks at Larry.]

Naw, that's good.

[It's not a dog, and if memory serves right it isn't even a talking bird. Still those marble eyes blink and blink almost like he's listening in.]

The hell kind of a noise is that.

[A creepy one. As for the turning and head spinning, he can't make anything of it. The point's been made with it's spots in it. Oh yeah, he realizes. Saying that he belongs to Freddy was making it less of a monarch. Something like that, and ain't it the truth though?]

How big a cage you goin' for? One you can share?

[Seems like the toucan's comfy enough, Freddy will just have to figure out how to put this load in without loading the bird in it. He'll come up with something or other. As for that remark, he just looks at Larry and makes a face.]

Hah hah, real funny. Let's pick up your doghouse while we're at it.

[Is this what they call domestic bliss? Or is it just the calm before the fucking storm? At least no one got mad. Much.]

This part here it's gotta be appendage D. What you have is appendage B. There should be a letter kinda near where you put the screws in.

[He moves his gaze back to squinting to read the directions for the cage. In theory, it made more sense to buy it and assemble it. Sure made it easy taking it into the apartment and up the stairs. ...do they have a policy on pets here? Larry didn't think about that. Then again, too fucking late now.]

Says that you gotta put those into the piece that looks like a barbecue grill.

[At least no one has to do it alone...right?]

I see that.

[Regarding Appendage B, honestly. Freddy goes looking for the right slot for what prong and for once it's not some kinky ass metaphor. Ah there it is. He positions the bars for bolting. ...So it Larry going to help him out with that or is he just reading the instructions eh? As for pets in the apartment, shit man the rent's not pocket change, for the cost they deserve to have a pet. Besides, the kid recalls somewhere in the lease stating pets to be no bigger than 35lbs. The toucan is so much lighter. Speaking of that fella, the bird's busy taking a watermelon slice apart on the kitchen counter. Perfectly clean place for a bird, and yes Freddy's already had to wipe up a mess here and there.]

[Rustle, rustle of the instructions. He's folding it over. Back up at Freddy to see the progress.]

So you wanna keep this down here? [Please. Please keep it down here. No bedroom bird. Munch, munch munch on that watermelon. They're in season after all. He stops a moment to look at the toucan go to town.]

Your pal loves that melon.

[Larry sets down the paper to pop in a few metal pieces as well.]

Why they gotta print everything so small?

Yeah, I sure as hell ain't moving it upstairs after all this.

[Freddy wipes his brow with a 'whew'. Setting it up by a window is good enough, gives the bird sky on one side and shelter on the other. There's a log with a hole in it just ready to be installed so he has a place to hide for whatever reason too. Nice of them to pick up so much for one unannounced bird. As for the melon, damn right it's going to town. Taking care to separate the seeds from the rest too. Who knows why. Peck peck tok. Then it raises its head to stare at Larry, like Sam Knows he's being talked about.]

Saves paper or something, okay hold onto this, I'm gonna do the washer and nuts.

[It sounds so dirty. Oh look now here comes the bird hopping over to see what's going on, complete with watermelon on its face.]

[Hide that grin old man.]

Okay by me. Downstairs can be his pad.

[As for the staring, he can feel those eyes on him. Larry's not the paranoid type but the way that bird looks with those small dark eyes it's like he's trying to get a message across. Who the hell knows what. Maybe he's figuring out the pecking order because words alone aren't enough. Freddy belongs to the bear.

The old man's back in the moment holding onto the pieces as Freddy asks.]

Okay, baby. I'm ready.

[Sure does sound dirty. Maybe that kid will say some more.]

[Just when he's got the washer set and the wrench ready to start cranking, Freddy also gives Larry a look. Like bird like man or something. Staring. But unlike Sam, Freddy hear doesn't click in morse code or look like he's sizing the bear up. For one, he knows most of what Lawrence Dimick is capable of in the first place. Can he take the dirty home improvement?]

I'm gonna tighten that shit up you hear?

[The kid's playing along, wrench turning once, twice, followed by the sound of exertion from Freddy Newendyke. The bird there has excellent timing. Hop hop and it's up on its own cage before moving to perch on Larry's shoulder. He's the one being still and not cranking after all. So, can the bear take it?]

[More he does. Lawrence Dimick looks on back into those green eyes.]

Sure needs a firm hand like yours. I'll keep real still so you can get it as tight as it can come.

[He licks his lips. Those sounds of exertion are getting a rise out of him in more ways than one. Feathers stroke his ear, he didn't see it coming. Seriously bird, do you know what you're getting into? He has to look away from Freddy to that other beaky one.]

[What? The bird's just as interested as you are, Lawrence Dimick. It tilts its head one way then other, bill sticking out way past Larry's own face. E-e-ee-e-ee-e-e. The kid meanwhile pays the toucan's participation no mind. It's just a bird after all.]

Shit that's hard, I don't think I can shove this around and around any farther. How does it feel?

[He means the tautness of the metal of course. Just a couple more panels and that cage will be good to go. Maybe the old man will be too.]

Feels like you've got the right technique.

[For constructing this cage.]

Don't want to work too hard on the same piece. You could wreck it and we're not done yet.

[How do you like them apples, kid? Larry is prepping the rest of the pieces scooting them closer to be lifted and fastened by Freddy. Oh yeah. And he's still got the bird on him. Careful now. Looks like they have something in common, they like watching Newendyke and being around him.

Though the old man imagines that the bird isn't effected by Freddy that way.]

Edited 2011-04-16 00:08 (UTC)

You think I might bust a nut just like that? I'm a professional too you know.

[Freddy carries on, sinking his teeth into that apple happily. Moving onto the next corner he's got his washers and bolts ready for the twisting. This prevents the kid from putting his full attention on the bird, only because he figures the old man will tell him if something's up. What's he gonna say now? Because the beast shifts its attention from Freddy Newendyke to Lawrence Dimick. Headtilt, headtilt, tok. It takes a gentle stab at the bear's ear.]

Oh yeah, that one's going in. A little grease and nothin' doin'. [Insert more gruff exerting sounds.]

Even professionals can be rough. Not your fault if the pieces can't take it right.

[Nngh bird. He tilts his head to one side, trying to bend it away from that big ol' beak. Lucky it's gentle. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if it wanted to it could bring the pain.

This doesn't effect his cooperation with the cage construction.]

Stick it in right, fella. Like that.

Oh shit this is a tough one.

[The kid's not making reedy pain level noises but the grunting and the huffing ought to be familiar to one Lawrence Dimick who had evoked these sounds from Freddy Newendyke himself. Twist twist twist, oh yeah he's got it in there. With the blondie's attention elsewhere the bird focuses on the brunette. Strrrreeetch and now it's 'combing' through Larry's hair with the tip of its beak. Some people call this a grooming ritual. Too bad most people don't do this kind of thing with watermelon still sort of sticking to them.]

I think you're growing on him. [Freddy remarks, finally taking a break from his 'strenuous act' to watch this unfold.]

Not too tough for you. Do it.

[Goddamn those noises. Naturally, he wants more of it out of Freddy Newendyke. The real shit with the reedy gasps and moans. There are two obstacles in the way though: the bird and the cage. But if they complete the cage then the bird can hang out there.]

He's getting his foot all over him.

[Larry lifts a hand to try and stop the motion without hitting at him.]

Hey. Quit it, pal. I don't want any mess. Don't be a slob.

[All of this to the bird.]

Nnngh, that's it...that's it, baby...

[He's talking to the nuts and bolts of it all of course. Come on now Larry, the bird's not that much of a distraction is it? Oh wait.]

You're a funny bird. [How the kid can break character and slip right back into it so fluidly is his secret. An undercover cop's gotta be Marlon Brando after all. Flutter flutter, the handwaving stops the toucan only momentarily. Pinch. It's going after those fingers now, but not harshly. Honest.] I think he's just getting to know you better...giving you an excuse to get in the shower later.

[How's that for a hint, Dimick?]

[That one earns an exasperated pant from the old man. What a performance, kid.]

Yeah well. We're working up a sweat anyway.

[He says trying to be as cool as a cucumber, attempting to wag off the grip the bird has on his fingers.]

I could go for a shower. How about you, Mr. Professional?

[That's a blinking neon sign.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject