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It had been exactly three days since the near worldwide release of Coyote vs ACME in theaters. Three days since the Looney Tunes' triumphant return to the silver screens of cinema. The mood hadn't died down among the Looney Tunes cast. Not a bit. In fact, it had only grew.
Currently, the theater room in the Warner Bros studio was packed with all members of the main Looney Tunes cast rearing to watch Coyote vs ACME again. As they had worked in the film themselves, they had their own private DVD copy of the film, so they could view it whenever they wanted without having to pay to watch it in theaters with humans.
And right now, it was proving to be quite the grand old time amongst the Looney Tunes themselves.
"AHAHAHA! Look at me go, look at me go!" Daffy laughed, viewing the scene where the on-screen him went absolutely batty at the mere mention of the ACME company. He laughed even further as he saw a number of orderlies of the asylum rush out to try and contain him, only to fail and fall flat on their faces as he sprayed paint everywhere and anywhere. "I sure gave everyone in this film a run for their money in that scene!"
Bugs smiled softly at Daffy's enthusiasm, stealing quick glances to make sure the duck wouldn't be able to accuse him of staring. There was a reason he had suggested Daffy play his "associate" in the film. Not only would their history make it immediately believable, it also created an implied and hidden yet nonetheless compelling reason for why Bugs himself would want to take down the ACME company from the inside. He was sure the fans were chewing on it right now.
He wasn't about to tell the movie makers OR ESPECIALLY the executives that though. Better to keep it to himself. It was always better that way.
At a further distance away, Sylvester and Tweety were sitting in their own section. Tweety as he was prone to doing recently, was sitting happily in Sylvester's lap. Sylvester was watching the screen eagerly, gripping tightly but gently onto Tweety's hands whenever an intense scene came up, such as when the train scene involving Wile E, Kevin, and Paige fully began. Of course, the ever observant bird was quick to notice when the cat did this but he liked having Sylvester touch him, so he wasn't complaining at all.
Finally, Wile E and Road 'Roadie' Runner themselves, seated at the very middle in the very front, were sharing a tub of popcorn happily. Wile E's arm was wrapped lovingly around Roadie, smiling knowingly as he watched the on-screen roadrunner cause absolute chaos for the ACME company when they tried to trap him themselves. Roadie noticed this and happily grinned back, gently leaning onto Wile E's shoulder. While lightly surprised, the coyote didn't object, simply leaning himself on top of Roadie's head and crest feathers.
The rest of the Looney Tunes were scattered about the theater, laughing and grinning and pointing at themselves whenever they appeared on screen. Granny eagerly clapped at the scenes of her expositioning to Paige Avery. Taz laughed as he prepared to answer the jury's question of whether or not he knew about Project Sisyphus, only to be launched out of the courtroom. Pepe Le Pew had fondly rolled his eyes at the scene of him getting blasted with "anti-predator" spray, an arm happily wrapped around his longtime love Penelope Pussycat. Sure it wasn't the most traditional way of reintroducing himself to the masses...but he was back on the screen again, so who was he to begrudge the film makers?
Not everyone was happy with watching the film though.
Foghorn Leghorn, occasionally known to friends as 'Foggy', gripped the armrests of his theater chair, biting his beak and looking to the side as he watched the scene of him explaining in the D.C courtroom that "cartoons can simply bounce back from being harmed!" He looked even further anguished as he asked the entire room "does anyone care for this coyote aside from his lawyer? Anyone at all?"
McKimson have mercy...this was perhaps his most villainous characterization to date. Sure, he had never acted as a saint in his original cartoons...but he usually had some form of heart hidden underneath his bellowing bluster. To see a version of him like THIS...talking down to his own kind, especially talking down to Wile E, someone he knew for YEARS, and whatnot....it frightened him a little.
Don't get him mistaken at all, he was happy for his fellow Toons! Bugs played his part brilliantly, Tweety was a rather effective underling, and Daffy did well at pretending to be completely crazy, the duck always did. Foghorn was happy for Wile E and Roadie especially, they deserved this film to be seen more than anyone. But a VERY small part of Foghorn--a deep, horrible part that Foghorn HATED having to face--was secretly GLAD that the film was originally canned.
For it meant he would never have to be seen like this.
Like a villain. Like an enemy. Like someone who could no longer be trusted.
Bugs, who the rooster was sitting fairly close to, eventually turned around to comment on a particular scene to Foghorn when he noticed the rooster's rather forlorn expression. Seeing the usually loud and obnoxiously cheerful rooster be silent like this, perhaps even upset...didn't sit right with Bugs.
Pulling out a carrot from his hammerspace, Bugs quickly chewed on it out of habit before asking "Ehhh...what's up, cluck?" He quickly finished the rest of his carrot before chucking the the stump into parts unknown. "You look like youse been weaned on a pickle."
Foghorn sighed. He appreciated the concern but he REALLY didn't want to talk about it. He was a Looney Tune. Looney Tunes didn't talk about their emotional problems. They all knew that. "Ahhh, I say, I say it's nothin' to worry about Bugsy boy. Really."
Unfortunately, Daffy decided that meant it was high time to interject himself, twisting his body around in his seat to face the rooster. "I hate to admit it, but the bucktooth is right! You look terrible! Your face is all screwed up!"
Foghorn had always had a soft spot for Daffy, really, he did....but right now, he wasn't in the mood to humor the duck. He pinched his fingers between the bridge of his eyes, trying his best to stay calm. "Daffy, I say, I say, it's fine."
Perhaps he had said it a bit louder than he intended, because now BOTH Sylvester and Tweety were facing him, concern etched onto their features. "Oh, poor Foghorn." Tweety tittered, shaking his head. "He wooks completely crushed!"
Sylvester also seemed to agree with that statement. "You ain't wrong sunshine, he DOES look rather down..."
Foghorn raised his hands, trying to placate everyone. "Everyone, I say, everyone, really, there's no cause for concern. I'm fine!"
Liar.
No one seemed convinced. Pretty soon, everyone was looking at him. From Granny, to Taz, to Pepe, everyone now all had their eyes on him. Foghorn froze, eyes darting from side to side as he tried to look for a way to escape as everyone's murmured voices began to stir amongst themselves.
"Oh my, Foghorn DOES look rather upset..."
"Wonder what could be causing that."
"Maybe he ate too much?"
"Blaggghh!"
Too many eyes. Too many whispers. Too much.
He couldn't take it anymore.
"I'M FINE, I'M FINE, NOW DROP IT!"
Everyone immediately stopped, looking at him in shock. Foghorn wasn't one to blow up like this at all. Daffy, sure. Taz, definitely. But not Foghorn.
Foghorn, for his part, looked absolutely mortified. His large body shook, the rooster's hands shaking as he looked at them. "Oh lord, I say, I say, I'm....I'm so sorry..." Foghorn quickly got up from his seat after that, almost rushing to run in his haste to leave the theater.
The rest of the Looney Tunes didn't know what to do. Foghorn wasn't particularly close to anyone in the cast outside of Barnyard (who was currently away attending to other matters), but they all cared for him. He was still considered one of them after all. Still, none of them made the move to go up and chase after Foghorn.
....All except for one roadrunner, who nodded at the coyote he was sitting next to and hurried off after the retreating rooster, the coyote quickly following after him.
---
Foghorn walked through the halls of the studio, head hanging low and arms clasped sadly behind his back. Consarn it! He just had to go and open his big mouth again, didn't he?! Now he ruined everything!...Like he always did.
It was no wonder why the others didn't like to be around him. No wonder why he was cast to be the villain. Only villains didn't have friends. Only villains could ruin a good thing going for them.
Only villains could...could be so obnoxious. Just like himself.
The rooster knew it was only a matter of time before the writers cast him into more roles like this. More roles where he would hurt others. More roles where he would gladly explain why others didn't matter.
He just knew.
"Beep Beep!"
The rooster turned around to see Roadie himself trailing right behind him, a worried expression on his face. Foghorn was definitely surprised, to say the least. "I say, I say, what are you doing here son? Why ain't ya back at the theater with everyone else?"
Roadie held up a sign that read YOU WERE MORE IMPORTANT.
"Well, that's awfully kind of ya to say," Foghorn admitted, scratching the back of his head. "But don't worry about big ol' me Roadie! I'm doing fine, really!"
The roadrunner frowned, pulling out another sign: IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. YOU SEEM REALLY UPSET.
Foghorn looked to the side, trying to avoid Roadie's knowing gaze. Oh, it was in the rare times like this he could curse Roadie's naturally sweet and caring nature. "My feelings don't matter that much." It hurt to say, but it was true, wasn't it? "I shouldn't, I say, I shouldn't have blown up. It's YOUR big moment and I may as well have ruined it for ya both."
"We are far more worried about you."
The rooster's eyes widened as he saw Wile E approach from the end of the hallway, eventually reaching the spot next to his co-star and partner. Unlike Roadie, he seemed to be forgoing the signs entirely, relying on his natural voice.
"Foghorn...both of us know something is troubling you gravely." Wile E began, wrapping an arm around Roadie and pulling the roadrunner close to him. "Would you mind explaining what it is?"
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOU. Roadie signed. AND DON'T SAY YOUR FEELINGS DON'T MATTER. THEY ABSOLUTELY DO TO BOTH OF US.
Foghorn sighed. Well, he supposed it couldn't hurt to share to these two. "I just...I just worry some folks will start seeing me....like that."
"Like what?" Wile E asked.
"...Like a villain. Like someone who hurts others for fun. The way I was portrayed on screen..." Foghorn paused. "....didn't sit rather well with me."
Roadie and Wile E looked at each other, sharing a silent communication. After about a minute, Roadie pulled out another sign. WE KNOW YOU WERE JUST ACTING.
"But what if others don't see that!" Foghorn stressed. "What if, I say, what if others see that portrayal of me and I say, decide I really am like that in real life?!"
Wile E and Roadie shared a look with the other again, much more brief this time before turning back to Foghorn. Roadie pulled out a completely new sign. WHILE YOU CAN'T STOP THE PUBLIC FROM FORMING THEIR OWN OPINIONS....THEY DON'T REALLY MATTER IN THE LONG RUN. He flipped the sign over to reveal, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE A CHARACTER PLAYING ANOTHER CHARACTER ON SCREEN. IF HUMANS CAN'T SEE THAT, THEN THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM, NOT YOURS.
"Roadie is absolutely correct my tall feathered fowl," Wile E began. "All of us in the Looney Tunes ensemble know you would NEVER truly betray your own kind. You bring laughs to everyone around just like all the rest of us. And..." Wile E grew a small smile on his face. "You may be a blowhard but your OUR blowhard."
AND NONE OF US WOULD TRADE THAT FOR THE WORLD. Roadie signed happily, a cheerful 'Beep Beep!" emerging from the bird to further his statement.
Foghorn looked like he was about to cry. "Well shucks, I say, shoot, I say...I truly have no words for this." Without thinking much of it, he swept the coyote and roadrunner in a tight hug. Both coyote and roadrunner were rather surprised, Wile E even struggling to try and free himself out of sheer shock....but eventually, both allowed themselves to fully be immersed into the hug.
Eventually, Foghorn let go of the coyote and roadrunner, gently placing them both back on the ground. Foghorn smiled as he beamed, "That...I say, I say, that really helped. What do you say we head back to the theater? We still got a movie to finish after all."
Roadie simply grinned as he pulled out another sign. It read: WE COULD WATCH THE MOVIE AT ANY TIME. WE ONLY HAVE ONE YOU.
"Indeed," Wile E agreed. A slow, mischievous smirk grew on the coyote's face. "Why don't we head to the snack bar? I do believe I can use the premiere to get us the more coveted snacks the staff like to keep away from us.
Foghorn smirked right back. "I say, I say, I like the way you think, coyote! I say let's get to it then!"
With that, Foghorn headed down the hallway alongside Wile E and Roadie, arms wrapped around the two the whole while.