Chapter Text
That Wednesday, Bugs reluctantly made his way to the Warner Brothers studio in his old, red Toyota Prius.
The lights in the small car light up like a Christmas tree, telling him to check the engine, or check the oil, or some other car thing, despite him going to the auto shop a billion times now.
But he still drove it everywhere he went.
Could he probably get something newer now?
Yeah.
Honestly, he probably could do with a new car.
But he liked his old car despite Daffy telling him he should get a sports car or something. It felt cozy. Normal.
Bugs pulled into the little security check at the front of the plots and rolled down his window.
"Eh, what's up Doc? I'm here about a meeting-"
"Oh, Mr. Bugs!" The security guard smiled. "It's nice to see you again! You doing another movie?"
"Hey, Dave." Bugs smiled warmly. "No, I'm not trying to. But they convinced me to come here, so we'll see how it goes."
"Ah, well, good luck then! Stay outta trouble!" Dave smiled and lifted the barrier so Bugs could get the car past.
"I will." Bugs assured and drove inside, slowly rolling his window back up as he did.
He liked Dave. He was a chill dude. I mean guess you have to be when you've been doing the same security job for the last two decades.
Bugs eventually found a parking spot, put it in park, then checked the time on his phone.
3…
He's early.
Why'd he come here early? He doesn't want to be here.
Ugh.
He switched off his engine and opened the car door.
Well then, minus well, look for those props for Daffy. Maybe raid a snack table or two.
So with that, Bugs began wandering around, trying not to be in the way and not make eye contact with anyone. Last thing he wants is to get a bunch of people to recognize him and ask for pictures or something.
It's annoying when he's trying to do something, and people follow him around. Honestly, one of the reasons he moved to the middle-of-nowhere suburbs. He hated doing the same little routine over and over again.
Though if it were kids, he usually didn't mind. They were usually sweet and meant well. Reminded him when he was a kid, and was meeting with actors he looked up to. Honestly, he wishes he could go back to that feeling sometimes…
Anyways what sets can he take something from??
Wonder if there's still Minecraft stuff around here.
Oh, or the stuff from Coyote's movie.
Or maybe-
Before he could figure out where to go, he bumped into someone, stumbling back a bit.
"Ah! I'm sorry I- Oh!" He looked up at the tall man with wild, dark brown hair and nicely tanned skin standing in front of him.
Wile E.!" Bugs beamed, seeing the man.
"Bugs!" He signed, with a smile on his face. "It is good to see you!"
"Nice to see you too!" Bugs signed back despite also saying it.
He knew he could probably go without the signing since Wile E. could lip-read well enough and partially hear. But Bugs made it a point for him (and Daffy) to learn when they began acting more together, so he's going to use it.
Plus, it makes it easier for Wile E. I mean, the man messed up his hearing for being so dedicated to the job, so minus well make something easier for him. The higher up sure ain't lining up to do that for him.
"How have ya been doin'?" Bugs asked. "I haven't seen ya since the movie premiere."
"Good!" Wile E. gave a toothy grin. "Really good, actually. I have been getting more calls to act in more movies and shows after how big the movie got. Not just the villain roles either!"
"That's great! I'm happy for ya, Wile E.! I am glad ya are doin' so well."
"Thanks!" He signed happily. "I really appreciate you vouching for me when the movie got shelved. I don't think anyone would have seen it otherwise."
"Of course. Anythin for an old pal." Bugs patted him on the back.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Wile E. asked, tilting his head curiously.
"Ugh, Daff accidentally set a meeting for me to meet up with some producers. They want me ta act again in some big movie, but I already told em no. But since Daffy made an appointment, I gotta come, y'know?"
"Duck is still causing you trouble?" Wile E. chuckled.
"Nothing but." Bugs rolled his eyes. "Keeps life exciting though."
"I bet." He signed. "Anyways, I have to go now. Rhode is waiting for me. I'll see you around."
"Oh fa sure! You should totally come over to dinner sometime." He offered.
"Totally." He nodded and turned to leave. But before he did, Bugs raised his hand, "Wait! Real quick, is there any old props or somethin that looks cool around here?"
Coyote put a hand on his chin to think. "Yes, I think there are some superhero things in lot 3. Why?"
"Oh nothin~" Bugs waved dismissively. "But if someone asks, I wasn't there."
Wile E. gave a thumbs up before walking off.
Bugs continued on with his plan of acquiring some props and grabbing several bagels and carrot sticks from a snack table, and finally went to the place where his meeting was supposed to be.
It was in a big room that was mostly windows that had only had a big wooden table and several spinny chairs for the several men and Bugs to sit in.
He's been in here way too many times over the years. Whether it was for a new movie or show or even for talking about some scandal or somethin they were overly worried about.
He could still see the bunny doodle he drew on it several years ago when they were talking too much.
"So, what's up, docs?" Bugs greeted as he sat down in the spinny chair and set his feet on the table.
"Mr. Bunny," The man dressed in a navy suit, smiled at him. "It's a pleasure to have you here-"
"Yeah, yeah, skip the plesaentries." Bugs waved. "Just get on with it."
"Right." The man nodded and looked at some papers. "We have a great movie here that we'd love for you to-"
Bugs raised a hand. "Aaand that's enough." He lowered his feet from the wooden table and rested his head in his hands now. "I don't wanna act in your movie."
"But sir, we can-"
"I don't want to act in a movie." Bugs insisted. "Look, it was nice to be in da last movie, but give someone else a chance. I've been doing this for 30-ish years. Pick someone else."
"But you do great in all the movies! And isn't retirement a bit… slow?" The man asked.
"I like slow." Bugs insisted.
One of the other greying men chuckled. "Sure. Because that won't get boring after another year or two. Especially with that… hm." he simply hummed.
Bugs frowned, narrowing his eyes. "That what? It's rude not ta finish a sentence, y'know"
The man in the blue suit gave the greying man a scolding look before looking back at Bugs.
"Don't mind him, sir. We know how much you enjoy being with Mr. Duck and all. Which is why we made a part specially for him." The blue-suited man told Bugs.
The man snapped his fingers, and a woman handed him a thick packet, a collection of scripts, and pushed it towards Bugs.
"Honestly, you should have brought him here with you today so he could read it over!" The man enthused. "I'm sure he'd be pleased."
Bugs looked at the script for a moment, half tempted to give it a quick read through. But he shook his head dismissively. "No, I know what you're trying ta do. You'll cut em out and pretend he doesn't exist. Y'know, just because he don't fit your ideal, doesn't mean ya can treat em like that."
"Of course, Mr. Duck is part of our ideal!" The man laughed. "He's always been! We'd love to have him!"
"Oh really?" Bugs cocked his head to the side and lifted his brows, "Because last I checked, the only reason ya hired me in da first place was because I looked like you and don't speak, what did ya call it all that time ago, Mr. gray hair?" Bugs looked to the other man. "I don't speak that 'island language'? Yes! That's exactly what you said! Sayin I was sooo lucky I didn't end up lookin so foreign and could get a job here. I'm pretty sure that's been your ideal for some time now, hasn't it?"
The grey-haired man looked away with a frown on his face.
"What's the matter, doc? Cat got ya tongue?" Bug smiled at him, narrowing his eyes.
The other man nervously began trying to flatten his suit jacket. "I will admit we've had… issues in the past. But! This is the present! We have a much more inclusive cast now!"
Bug snapped his fingers. "Riiight! And that's why you shelved Wile E.'s movie! The hard of hearing, hispanics man's movie. Co-starring a young asian woman and an older indigenous man. Because you're soooo! different now!"
"Well… it made it to theaters now."
"Only after public outcry."
"Well, we-"
"Nope. I'm not hearing any more. This charade has lasted long enough. Give the role to Wile E. or even Rhode. Hell give it to Pedro P.! I'm not doing this-"
Before Bugs could finish his sentence, there was a loud thump on one of the windows, making everyone quickly turn their heads towards the sound.
"Is that… pie?" Bugs asked, tilting his head to the side and seeing pie splattered across the window.
Bugs stared at the splattered pie on the window. His brows knit in confusion. Bugs jumped at the sound of another hitting the window next to it. It was followed by papers flying up into the air and giggling.
"It's those damn brats again!" The gray-haired man yelled and ran out of the room.
"Brats?" Bugs asked, confused.
"Ugh! I'll call security!" The blue-suited man groaned and pulled out his phone.
Bugs watched from his chair as he saw the man try to wrangle three kids who were running around the office, throwing papers and food around. They were even coloring on the walls, making cute, colorful flowers and smiley faces on the dull, beige walls.
He chuckled as he watched them trip the grey-haired man and put a party hat on his head.
"Who are they?" Bugs asked with a smile.
"Huh?" the blue-suited man asked, confused, lowering the phone.
"OH! OH, please ignore them, Mr. Bunny! They're trespassers! They keep getting in here, and we have to throw them out every other day! They're meneces, so please igno-"
A confetti canon went off in the office, cutting the man off.
"They're a riot." Bugs beamed.
Suddenly, the security guards entered the room and immediately tried to grab the kids. But they kept throwing things like staplers, crayons, and other such office supplies, running around the room, and making it difficult for the big, bulky men to catch them.
"Why are they here anyway?" Bugs questioned the man.
"I-I don't know! They're just kids trespassing and causing issues." The man gagged, "disgusting… kids. They just want to make a mess of things…"
"Hm." Bugs hummed as he watched the kids dodge and weave between the guards and ran to some other part of the office.
"Anyways," the man sighed. "We can continue on with the meeting now that security is handling the… issue. So Mr. Bunny, as I was saying we-"
"No thanks," Bugs stood up. "I'm going home. Have fun gettin someone else. Call me when ya are done soul searchin."
"B-But wait-"
"Nope! See ya neva~" Bugs gave a little finger wiggle and walked out of the meeting room.
He stepped over the mess that was all around the office and made his way out of the building.
When he did, he saw one of the security guards trying his best to keep ahold of one of the kids. Bugs didn't see the other two. Just her.
"Come on bra- OW! SHE BIT ME!" One security guard shouted.
"Just deal with it, dude." The other security guard rolled his eyes. "She's like, five.."
"It still hurts!" The first guard complained.
They then led the girl away to what Bugs could only assume the security office.
Bugs turned to leave, ready to get away from this stupid studio and get some Chinese food or something for dinner.
But he felt something tugging at his chest.
Something telling he shouldn't go yet.
He turned back toward the direction the security guards had walked.
Should he… No… its not his place…
Eh, but since when has he cared about that?
Bugs turned around and made his way to the security office.