Chapter 10: Annoyances
There were not many people in the world Daffy Duck despised.
Despite the cartoons, he was a relatively calm duck, who never took his enemies seriously. He was a lover of fun. He essentially made Looney Tunes and Warner Cartoons stand out from the likes of Disney and Universal. But even then, those types of enemies were some of his closest friends. The piano duel between him and Donald didn't start out of nowhere, after all.
But if there was a certain group of people Daffy hated, it was the studio executives. They were the one thing Daffy was grateful he lost when he was in the future.
They annoyed him endlessly. Have people draw up work schedules that is so piled up and messy, it'll leave your mind scrambled. They made him hate what he loved the most as a young duckling and that was acting. They ruined acting for him with their ungodly hours of filming and parties that force you to wear clothes.
And he knew what would happen if they found out he's here. Looking at his siblings, they're far too relaxed for toons at hard work, meaning they've been held off from work due to him going missing. Although Bugs did seem much more stressed, which could've been the reason he's so ill currently. If the executives found him here, they'd force them and him right back into work.
Daffy shivered at the thought of the amount of projects that must have piled up over the decade.
Perhaps that's the reason Bugs is so sick-
" X-2, sthop messin' with the A/C", Daffy hissed," I'm tryin' to listhen".
They were currently locked in the dining room, which was conveniently, for the moment, out of earshot from the lounge.
" This is the air conditioning?", X-2 said," So primitive".
" It'sth the 21sth century. What did you expect?", Daffy replied before letting out a frustrated sigh," I can't hear a word they're sthaying".
" Just out of curiosity, Dodgers, why aren't out there with them?", IQ asked.
" Becausthe they'll force me and my family to go back to work", Daffy replied frustrated," I think I heard Plotz...".
" H-H-How c-can you be so sure?", Cadet asked.
" Independence Day. Future Independence Day is different from nowadays Independence Day. Meaning that they're for different reasons and I got a feeling I know why", was all Daffy said before the door opened to reveal Tweety.
" Sowwy, I needed a break or otherwise I'd break my mallet out", Tweety said exhausted as he flew in, closing the door behind him.
" Who'sth all there?", Daffy asked.
" Thaddeus Plotz and a bunch of guys from the front office of Time Warner", Tweety said.
Daffy groaned," Plotz? You'd think they'd boot him out after Animaniacs", he said exasperated.
Tweety clicked his tongue," 'Apparently', he's a good addition to the board, they said", he said rolling his eyes," Honestly, Coal would've been a better executive than Plotz. At weast her business skills are legit".
" Coal'sth apart of the CE. Even if sthe's a better businesstbwoman, the sthudio ain't gonna have her with them in fear of risthking their image", Daffy said bitterly," How isth Coal by the way?".
" Eh, she lost her house few years back, been living with Mom ever since, doing the cleaning, literally doing anything she can to not seem like a nuisance to Mom", Tweety said," But you know Mom, too sweet for her own good. But Coal's pretty stubborn about earning her keep so you can imagine how that goes".
Daffy nodded, knowing exactly what would happen.
" You could've given her my housthe, y'know", Daffy said.
" THAT was the plan but Coal said no. Besides, I think she's much more comfortable around Mom anyway", Tweety said as he settled in a fruit bowl, taking a huge bite of an apple, much to the future gang's shock.
Daffy sighed, leaning back against the door to listen in, hoping everything would be fine on the other side.
XXX
" Absolutely not. No. We are not recreating my big brother", Bugs argued.
Bugs shared a similar opinion on executives as Daffy. But this level of hate started to grow beyond Daffy when that suggestion was made.
Thaddeus Plotz sat uncomfortably as several Looney Tunes started growling angrily at the mere suggestion.
" Bugs, I completely understand. Daffy was a huge part of your life-"
" Daffy's the reason I'm even a star", Bugs countered," AND YOU WANNA REPLACE HIM!"
Plotz cowered when the sick rabbit nearly jumped him but thanked the creators that Lola held him back.
" Look, it's been years. We need to accept that Daffy isn't coming back and move on with our lives but most importantly, YOUR careers!", Plotz said as he pulled out a studio document," You signed a lifetime contract with the Warner Bros and I intend to keep it that way. Even if it's remaking a remarkable figure in toon history".
" Well I won't be a part of this! You can fire me for all you like. I'm not doin' this without Daffy!", Bugs said angrily.
" Only an idiot would fire you Mr Bunny. You're the star, the golden boy for our studio. And you won't be without Daffy per say. You'll just have an animated version of him", Plotz explained.
" Like that's better", Bugs muttered before coughing.
Plotz looked at him pitifully. Once upon a time, this rabbit was a strong figure amongst toons. Now he was a broken, sick toon of despair.
" Mr Bunny, please know that I'm trying my best to lengthen your break more. But it's been years. The studio won't accept Daffy as an excuse anymore", Plotz said," You need to let him go".
" I won't let my brother go 'til someone in this town finds a body", Bugs hissed.
Bugs couldn't deny that he was enjoying his little overdramatic tantrum. Plotz was a good toon, but he was butt-kisser towards him and the rest of the family. Willing to do anything to keep everyone, especially him, happy. And if it's more breaks for him, then so be it.
This was the last time, Bugs swore. The next time Plotz would come to beg them to get back to work, Daffy would be right next to him screaming Plotz's ear off for suggesting to recreate him (Bugs had to bite back a chuckle as he imagined the duck complaining about every single minor mistake his recreation toon would have in design.).
' At least we got the real deal right here with us', Bugs thought warmly. It was a great feeling to have the family back together.
Now if only Bugs could get a hold of Porky.
" On another note, the water tower is being sprayed for termites this weekend", Plotz said slowly.
" Lemme guess, you're gonna ask me if the Warners can stay the weekend", Bugs said relaxing onto Lola's lap.
" I promise they'll stay out of hair, Mr Bunny"
" That's the problem, doc. They stay outta my hair, which makes 'em distant, which makes me seem like an abusive toon, which I'm not. To put lightly doc...", Bugs said before yelling," STOP PUTTIN' ME ON THE PEDESTAL IN FRONT OF THE KIDS YOU MAROON! YA CRUSHIN' THEIR SELF-ESTEEM!!".
" O-O-Of course, Mr Bunny", Plotz stuttered.
" Y'know what, bring 'em tomorrow. Headstart on the whole thing. They can stay with Honey and Bosko for the bit until Friday", Bugs said as he drank from his glass.
" I'll see if the three are up to it", Plotz said getting up.
" I'm pretty sure they're always up for it", Lola muttered.
Bugs smirked at his girlfriend's muttering, agreeing with her silently.
" Best be sure to tell the other executives of our extra month break, Plotzy", Bugs said calmly.
" Of course, Mr Bunny. Take care everyone", Plotz said respectfully.
" Bye Mr Plotz", Lola said happily.
When Plotz disappeared up the burrow, everyone sighed in relief, glad that the little act was over.
" Man, wasth that a good warm up", Sylvester said grinning," An extra month free from work".
" Don't get too excited yet. We still got bills to pay", Penelope droned.
" Be happy, mon cherie. At least now we have more time for... you know what?", Pepe whispered.
Penelope nodded, patting the skunk's hand gently.
" Someone go tell Daffy and Tweety the exects are gone", Bugs said as he cuddled into Lola's lap," So soft...", he purred.
" Will do", Foghorn said tiredly.
" Do you need a blanket?", Lola asked.
" No, I'm content here", Bugs said smiling.
Lola snorted," I'm not leaving for a while, am I?", she said.
" Nope", Bugs said happily.
" So clingy", Lola said softly, rolling her eyes in exasperation. The bell rang again," Can I at least see whose up there?".
" Fine", Bugs mumbled," It's probably Mum anyway".
Lola smiled as she got, heading over to the intercom to check who was there.
Meanwhile, Foghorn knocked on the dining room door, expecting a normal conversation, not a pie to the face.
" Oh shoot. Sowwy Foggy, that was meant for Daffy", Tweety said sheepishly.
" If it were aimed for me, why did it him sthquare in the face, eh?", Daffy said.
" It was a warning shot!", Tweety said defensively.
" Sthure, Tweetsth, sthure", Daffy said grinning.
" Are you okay, Foggy?", Tweety asked.
" I've got, I say, I've got pie on my face, brother. Pie! And stale pie that is!", Foghorn said as he wiped the contents off his face easily.
" Sthale pie?! Tweety, I thought we had a understhanding", Daffy said dramatically in mock sadness," I feel stho betrayed".
" Get over it. As if I threw you a pie with the mold still on it", Tweety said rolling his eyes exasperated.
" WHERE THE H-H-HECK DID THAT PIE COME FROM?!", Cadet exclaimed, confused and looking slightly deranged.
The future gang had been stock still during that whole ordeal and Cadet had just vocally screamed out their thoughts.
" Daffy, you really need to tell these folks what's goin' on before we take 'em to the city. I think, I say, the pig's gonna go into cardiac arrest if he meets Taz", Foghorn said.
" I know. I know. I'll tell them everything. Justh get Bugsth and Roadie sthome hearing plugs. There'sth probably gonna be a lot of yelling and cursthing", Daffy said as he beckoned his future friends out of the room.
" Why don't you just tell us now?", X-2 asked.
" Sthome of my sthibsth could fill in the minor detailsth", Daffy said tiredly," While I sthrain Cadet from running off like a REAL loon".
" W-Why would I r-run off l-l-like a lunatic?", Cadet asked.
" Becausthe, kid, we're cart-"
" Daffy?..."
Daffy stopped in his tracks at the sound of that voice. A voice he had since longed to hear. A short black and white furred creature in dusty red and gold stood mouth agape as she and Daffy locked gazes. Her brown eyes were still as warm as the sun as the day he last saw them. Such a beautiful honey brown colour. Definitely suited her name.
" Hey Mom", Daffy said sheepishly.
End of Chapter 10