[Freddy proposes like it might be a genuine suggestion. He's clinging like a damn koala, though so far Larry's the only bear in the tree. Oh god are the crocodiles actually settling in around the tree for the night? Fuck that. And fuck the bird who keeps prowling the perimeter.]
They're working together, man. They're fucking working together.
[Unsettling notion as it may be. They were getting hot and heavy then boom wild animals attack. Larry passes his handkerchief to Freddy in case he wants to clean up some.]
We gotta just wait.
[Because it looks like they're not budging. He shakes his head.]
Damn.
[Can they even fuck in a tree? Spoiled moment times a million.]
[What is he supposed to do with a handkerchief? Throw it at the crocs? Lucky for Larry Freddy does no such thing, he just holds onto the piece of cloth.]
This is fucking ridiculous.
[Oh he should probably button his shirt and pants back up. The kid got dressed in nicer clothes for dinner too. At least they're well fed, unlike the animals.]
[Okay so preening is an excuse for touching. Not that they need those anymore. Larry folds up his handkerchief even though it is looking far more rough for the wear along with the rest of them. Clothing is oh so disposable though.]
Let's wait some. If I miss it might rile em even more.
[Sigh. He looks down at the critters far below.]
...this wasn't what I was thinking when I said it could be a wild night.
I don't wanna shoot something that ain't goin' after somebody.
[Who's going to counsel him over it if it dies a slow sad death? The LAPD psychologist isn't on hand. Sigh. Another look down and he shakes his head at the old man.]
Gators and big fuckin' birds are a little too kinky for me, sorry.
[And were saved by a tree. Lucky bastards they are. Truly though the old man would hold no bones for killing an animal that tried to do em in, especially if it tried first. What are gators or killer birds? The bird he could maybe understand. A killer bird of their own had more tact.]
[The old man is really laughing until that push. It was kind of unexpected. Watch him grip on the tree for dear life for a moment. That was unpleasant. Okay, he's good now.]
Wait. Talk.
[Smoke. He's going for a Chesterfield because it looks as though they're going to be here awhile.]
Michigan state has a mascot that's an eagle even though their initials are EMU.
[Freddy leans in to puff then huff before leaning back to relax right into this conversation. In a tree. Surrounded by crocodiles and a mean looking emu with dinosaur feet. Nothing doing.]
Here I was thinking you went to the zoo and took notes. Bet it would've been cheaper.
Nah. It's the county fair! If you ask me, it's even better. They only got the best looking sorta farm animals and oddities in the same place as delicious barbecue.
[Sturdy branches are the only branches they'll be on together right now.]
They got trashcans at amusement parks. Does that mean that they're really special?
[Ash is carried by the wind. It's strong enough to keep the fire hazard to a minimum even for being in a tree. Larry just has to hold out his cigarette.]
Once you stick around and see em all the time, it's not so wild or special. Wait long enough and you see em for free.
Hah hah hah. [Tapping his smoke in a similar fashion.] The wildest thing you get out in California is a coyote with rabies. You gotta go to the backwoods for a bobcat.
['Backwoods' he says, when he means the forest and the mountains.]
No moose poppin' its big fuckin' head through the kitchen window. [That's how he imagines Wisconsin yep.]
[No offense, Mr. White. Tap tap of ash, oh this cigarette is finished. He can either put it out on the tree or drop it down and hope for the best. Hm.]
You feed any?
[You're not supposed to feed them, he knows. Okay out on the tree it goes. No fire so far. Freddy's unaware how putting his hand over here is the perfect bridge for something to hitch a ride on his sleeve.]
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