Chapter Text
The late january hit everyone in the town differently, however it is inarguably the coldest month of them all in Toonville. Everyone bundled up in multiple shirts and coats just to get groceries and their daily coffee. While others ran around and used the snow to the best use they could. Even if it just was chucking snow packed into a small ball to their next door neighbor. Some citizens recognized it as the worst time, some the best. But everyone in Toonville had to go through it.
Riggy was one of the unfortunate ones who disliked the cold seasons. He avoided conversations and hangouts having to do with snow, hot cocoa, or out in the weather. Back in his hometown it was a much calmer winter. Limited snowfall due to the windchill refusing to go below 30. Even if it did cause intense summers, being sweaty was much easier to handle than bundling up to Riggy. It did not help that his alleged house did not have a door, is stuck dead center of a tree, and even a block of snow would make the house shake. If he were to stay in the house for as long as intended. Riggy was most likely to be a life sized ice cube when the flowers finally bloomed.
Riggy was furled up in 4 blankets while watching television. Tuning out the mindless blabbering in exchange for feeling the hairs on his skin straighten when he felt another breeze walk in uninvited. His tail curled slightly around his bare legs to give at least the illusion of more warmth although the attempt was bare. His ears flopping behind his head to try and stay cozy. Riggy’s face scrunches up as he gets reminded there’s nothing more that he can do to stay warm. He wishes he could just take a nap for the whole winter and never have to be freezing again. But as the snow falls down to the town and his roof. Unfortunately his eyes are wide awake with no sign of daze.
“This is stupid.” Riggy muttered under his breath.
He brushed his legs with one of his arms as the other kept the blankets tightly around his jaw and mouth. His tail softly squeezing his legs in a desperate attempt to warm up even slightly. His hand following suit although his head knew it would only be in vain. Seeking for any sort of distraction from the sickening feeling all around his body. Riggy’s eyes redirected to the news channel as he tries to listen in to what the reporter was saying.
“And for the next few weeks seem to be as cold as it is today. The lowest going to the negatives with a -3 on Tuesday with the highest being only a 10 next Friday. Better bundle up warmly folks!” The news reporter enthusiastically stated.
Riggy annoyingly rolled his eyes. All he had was a red hoodie and a torn up excuse for a light blue coat. With mismatching blue and green fingerless gloves.
He shivered slightly from the cold radiating from outside the house. His nose scrunching up in anger from his body being aware of its surroundings. His attempts at burying his face into the blankets to ignore the feeling was futile, even when he was trying to rest. After 3 minutes of going back and forth of shivering and stuffing his head back into the blankets. He gave up on trying to sleep, it was 2:30pm anyways. And he definitely wasn’t getting any sleep no matter what the outcome was.
Riggy outstretched his arm. Making his whole body shiver with the weather being exposed to his bare skin. Grabbing his phone that was just in his reach before immediately straightening back to cover himself up again. Using his phone to mindlessly scroll through social media, even though he isn’t paying attention to any of the videos he’s supposedly watching. He sees a small notification pop up from the top of his screen. Usually he’d immediately clear the notifications casually bringing up memories via pictures every 4 months or so. But this one was different. For some odd reason, he felt like he needed to click on it. He’s still relatively new to Toonville. A scroll down through memory lane wouldn’t hurt that bad.
Riggy looked to where the notification sent him. Which was back to July 2019, summer before he moved away from all he’s ever known. It was mostly filled with beach pictures. With the bright beige sand being the backdrop of the shady picture. Riggy’s face either being shadowed by his phone or his hand. His eyes squinting slightly if he had to use nothing but his hand to cover the bright sun shining upon his lighter blue fur. His smile being genuine in each and every picture he scrolled upon. Even though those images did get repetitive due to his obsession to going to the beach during the warmer months back then.
There was an occurring trend amongst every picture, however. There was no sight of another character in any of the photos. Besides the occasional family photo, where Riggy was always pretending to smile so that it doesn’t seem like hell. There wasn’t one photo which featured anyone that was a potential friend to Riggy.
Riggy frowned slightly at the realization, the date now going back to oct 23rd, 2018. Where the image was of Riggy’s second to last marching band competition. Him smiling widely in his dark blue and black uniform. His bandmates chatting in the background on the bleachers along with him.
Riggy’s unused hand fidgeted with the blankets as he zoned out to the pictures. Feeling a type of solemn when he realizes that all the happy family pictures were fake. Just another brutal realization that he will always be prioritized the least. At least back then he wasn’t freezing to death due to a scammer. Now he has little to nothing. No job, no money, no enjoyment, and a seemingly empty heart. Devoid of any interaction besides the occasional “excuse me” and embarrassing himself on accident whenever even slightly muttering something.
Slowly looking back at the screen. He took the blankets off of him quickly before placing down the phone on the now fallen blankets. His body shivering with nothing but a green t-shirt and gray boxers on as he stood up to grab the box of dvds above the tv box. It was a miracle the penguins didn’t eat all the dvds. Scrolling through the cases while the tv continued playing the daily news. Naming scenarios that Riggy had no bother of listening to. The sound of the talking making Riggy feel more cold than before out of boredom.
Riggy eventually settled on Cars 3. An alleged classic among his family. Even if Riggy forgets the plot every time. Riggy has yet to try and figure out how to change from cable to dvd. But theres no point in not trying. Riggy opened up the plastic case and grabbed the decorated dvd out of the case. The dvd being revealed with a decal of the movie cover, whilst the back was bare.
“Seems fine enough.” He spoke to himself. Blowing off the potential dust off of the disc.
He walked to the front of the tv before kneeling down to open up the disc slot on the dvd player. Before slotting the dvd into the slot and pushing it back in. The dvd glitching violently before appearing onto the screen. Riggy grumbled about the player being near broken before grabbing the remote and pressing play. Immediately tucking his body back into the blankets as soon as both of his hands were unoccupied. 2 of the blankets were thankfully thick. Meanwhile the others are akin to bed sheets rather than a resource for warmth.
Riggy sniffled due to the stinging bitterness of the outside weather. Before snuggling his face back into the blankets around his body. Only his ears shivering from no protection from the weather. Even if that doesn’t mean Riggy’s covered body was doing any better. As his teeth were slightly clattering along with his quivering lips. He softly dozed off as fast as he could. It took him hours to sleep off the chill from the outside. Hasty breaths forming cold visible air around him. Before quickly dispersing into the oxygen once again. Before he could make a desperate attempt to get comfy. He heard a loud blaring ringtone from his phone
Riggy rubbed his eyes as he got used to the light outside being submerged into 4 blankets. And immediately looked at his slightly cracked phone. Picking it up by the dull red silicone case to look at the contact name. Sniffing on his line as he connected the correlation to Billy. Tapping his phone to answer the call, silencing the constant loud ringing.
“Billy? You need anything?” Riggy questioned. It was usual for Billy to call. But that was if either of them needed something. And Billy didn’t seem to need anything based on the slight snicker escaping his lips.
“Hey Riggy! So it’s freezin’ out. And seeing the oddities in my basement is only fun for a few hours. Plus since I realized we’ve never really hung out outside of just the average small talk.” Billy spoke to the other line.
“Yeah?” Riggy spoke through clattering teeth, “Up to anything else?” Riggy joked, chuckling slightly at his own sarcastic wit.
“how would you feel about hangin’ out at my house?” Billy questioned. Repositioning himself on his mattress before speaking into the phone again. “My mom and I have already paid off this year’s taxes, so that certainly won’t be much of a problem for long!”
Riggy’s ears perked up at the question on the other line. His only friend is Billy, and it is true they don’t hang out often unless Billy asked him to help him with something. Which wasn’t that often either. So when he heard Billy request that he immediately dropped all the blankets off of him. A slight cold sniffle coming out of his nose as he replied
“hell yeah! Billy it’s been hell around here!” Riggy exclaimed as he walked to his room to grab some clothing.
Riggy placed his phone on his bed in exchange for a cleaner, light yellow long sleeved shirt. Riggy kept the call on while he was changing.
“Really? Didn’t know this winter would be this harsh for newcomers ‘round here!” Billy laughed. Riggy replied a bit agitated, not at the call, but at the freezing weather.
“When I was in Blueberg it was barely even cold. Winter is summer compared to what happens here.” Riggy scoffed to himself.
“One time my brother was able to sneak me out when i was around 13 to the beach. It was perfect, in December!” Riggy told as he sat on the bed. Pulling his loose blue jeans on top of his boxers before standing up again.
“Jeez!” Billy exclaimed. Taken back from the difference between Blueberg and Toonville when it came to winter.
“How warm is it usually in the summer? If it’s that warm during winter im assuming it’s boiling hot.” Billy questioned to the other line.
Riggy laughed as he threw over his red jacket and zipped it fully up. “It’s exactly what you’d think. Boiling hot. Usually my parents would take me and my siblings down to the beach during the summer once in a while. But left after an hour or so because it got too hot for them.” Riggy responded.
“Probably ‘cause the only thing they ever did was lay on a beach towel and sleep.” Riggy joked. Getting a chuckle from the beaver.
“Yeah, have no clue how any’ne finds that entertaining.” Riggy grabs his phone after zipping his pants up.
Riggy replied as he walked out of his room. “I should probably go now, be there at 5!”
Billy responded with a quick “See ya!” Before hanging up.
Riggy swiftly maneuvered his way down the ladder which was rested upon the bare exit of his house. Making sure to keep balance for the unsteady ladder. His shoes landing with a light thump into the show as he jumped off the ladder about 3 rungs before reaching the floor. The impact chilling his body from inside and out as Riggy subconsciously put his hood on.
Riggy attempted to look around for his skateboard. He left it down one night and it mysteriously disappeared. He’d assume that one of the penguins grabbed it and swallowed it whole. And there was still no sight of the black board anywhere around. Rolling his eyes scoffing lightly as he turned to the town. Walking down to where the sidewalk starts to make it to Billy’s at a reasonable time.
As he glares at the buildings and billboards promoting some random products. He couldn’t help but zone out at the scenery. His steps becoming slower and easier pace as he gets lost in the colorful designs of the various surroundings. Softly smiling as he gets a strange sound of hope beating in his ears. Toonville can’t be that terrible, or else nobody would live there.
He kept his daze for a few minutes. That is until he felt something warm and gooey on his pant leg. Looking down at the back of his right ankle and seeing a fresh egg yolk on his jeans. Looking dumbfounded as soon as he realized it wasn’t just a delusion.
“Wha— who the hell?!” Riggy looked around in confusion. Holding his tongue until he found the troublemakers.
He could see a group of 5 teenagers round around the corner with eggs in 3 of the citizen’s hands. Snickering as they zoomed off without a trace. Playfully nudging each other and urging them to do it again to someone else.
“You’re not slick!” Riggy yelled into the empty street. Mumbling slight profanity as he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. His left leg swiftly shuffling so he could try and get the egg yolk off. Knowing the chase to catch those kids and clean up the mess would be futile.
Soon enough. Riggy turned the corner to Billy’s street. Unleashing his hands from his jacket pockets and speeding up down the sidewalk. Softly smiling as he got closer and closer to the wooden house.
Knock, knock.
“Pizza delivery!” Riggy mocked as he knocked on Billy’s door. Shoving his hands into his back pockets as he waited somewhat impatiently for Billy to answer.
Billy yelled from the upstairs room “coming!” Before sprinting down the stairs to open the door.
“Wow, didn’t realize I ordered pizza today!” Billy joked as he swung open the door. Stepping away not long afterwards to allow Riggy in.
“Well you got a Runkey if thats what y’ asked for.” Riggy playfully nudged his friend as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.
Billy playfully laughed. Before responding “How’d you’ve been doin’? I could hear you sniffling and shit like that on the call.”
Riggy sighed “Winter’s been hell here. Does it usually get this cold or is this just a one-off thing?”
Billy shrugged. Flopping down onto the dark green couch. “Really a mixed bag. It’s heaven if you’re a winter fan though. that’s definitely not me.”
Riggy walked over to the couch and sat down next to Billy. Leaving some room between them that was quickly taken over by Riggy leaning his arms back.
“Yeah, thats the main thing that was cool about Blueberg. If I wasn’t planning on going to college around here I’d definitely stay there.”
Billy perked up upon the mention of college. “Oh really?” He said with a light chuckle. Leaning over himself as he placed his arms on his lap. “which one are you applying to?”
Riggy laughed as he heard Billy’s tone drastically change “you’re even more excited than my parents dude!” Riggy smiled, trying to cover his mouth to hide the ongoing snickers.
Billy rolled his eyes playfully “oh c’mon. College is a big thing and you haven’t told me a single damn thing about it yet!”
“Okay, okay.” Riggy replied, quieting down his laughter. “Since your nerdy ass is actually curious..” Riggy dragged. Leaning back towards the back of the couch.
Riggy faced forward while daydreaming. Resting his hands behind his head as he sighed quietly to himself. The true thoughts etching slowly yet obviously on his face.
“Probably some kind of law school. Law always was that one major that kinda just.. stuck out to me. Y’know? Great pay, not some shabby medical thing, being able to help people get what they deserve. It all just seems exactly what I want in a job.” Riggy continued, saying what comes to mind first as his surroundings got clouded out by his illusions of a successful future.
Billy was intently watching Riggy’s every move. Every time his lips parted to get a word out. Each time his eyes looked down to think about what to say next before subconsciously looking back up to continue. His subtle fidgeting with his hands. Billy saw himself getting immersed in the view in front. Placing one of his hands in a fist for a comfortable cheek rest. Zoning out alongside Riggy’s tangent.
Billy’s trance was however interrupted by a sudden shake on his arm. Hosted by none other than Riggy himself. “You good dude? You’re acting like you’re on the verge of sleeping for all I can tell.”
Billy stuttered slightly over the slight startle before regaining his confidence “yeah, I’m fine. Just really tired lately. Those bills were kickin’ my ass.” He rolled his eyes annoyingly. Stretching his arms onto his knees dangling loosely off the couch.
“Jeez, well at least that hell is over for now.” Riggy responded. Repositioning himself so that his lower body is lying on the couch. His upper half resting on the back of the couch as he looked down to Billy’s eyes.
Billy reciprocated the glare as he looked down to Riggy’s face. His hands comfortably on his lap. “Thats true.”
Billy averted his eyes in thought before continuing. “I have some crappy dvds if you wanna watch anything.” Billy stood up “Usually I’d suggest games but knowing the time I’d probably flop dead if I try and use my brain at this hour.”
Riggy sat up as Billy mentioned the dvds. “Finally a reason to fall asleep.” He joked before standing up alongside Billy.
Riggy walked to Billy’s room as Billy separated to explore the basement in an attempt to find a decent movie.
Riggy sat down on Billy’s bed and took in the surroundings. Waiting patiently for Billy as the only sound which could be heard was the crickets in the far distance. His knee bouncing ever so slightly unconsciously
It thankfully didnt take that long for Billy to come bursting into his room. Holding a 1980s dvd of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
“I struck gold!” Billy declared. Rushing and inserting the dvd into the slot below the tv.
Riggy raised an eyebrow “Ferris Bueller? Never heard of it.”
Riggy shrugged nonchalantly as Billy stared at Riggy with bewilderment “you’ve never heard of this movie?” Billy questioned, Riggy shaking his head as a reply.
“Dude, you need to watch this! It’s amazing! It basically inspired my whole dang childhood.” Billy responded as he grabbed the shabby remote. Walking over to sit at the edge of his bed next to Riggy.
The sound of the dvd starting up filled the both with nostalgia. Riggy zoning out while imagining how the movie may go, And Billy being excited to watch this movie with a new friend yet again.
During the first 30 minutes of the movie. Riggy constantly commented on what was being shown.
“Whys that guy there?”
“That kid’s an asshole.”
Thankfully, Billy didn’t feel the need to entertain his snarky comments. Riggy was already half asleep. And he felt his eyes get slightly droopy as well.
It didn’t take long for Riggy to pass out on the bed. That could not be said the same for Billy, though. His eyes still glued onto the boy’s antics on the screen. As soon as he dares to shut his eyes, another interesting scene came back on. That was, until he felt a light thump on his shoulder. Riggy has fallen asleep. His head lulled onto Billy’s shoulder.
“Hm, Riggy?” Billy whispered curiously. Before taking a look at the exhausted Runkey on his shoulder. Tail softly thumping its end slowly against the bed.
Riggy was fast asleep on Billy’s dark green t-shirt. His soft snoring rumbling through the room. Billy couldn’t help but smile softly at the occurrence. This was the first time that Riggy was ever affectionate. Aside from the playful shoves and laughably hard arm drags to a random place neither of them even bothered to look at until just then. And even if the headrest was just an unconscious movement, it still meant the world to Billy.
All good things have to come to an end, however. As Billy lightly took his hand on Riggy’s cheek, as he moved his head towards the back of the wall. So that Riggy was leaning against the wall whilst in deep slumber.
This also caused a great idea to arise in Billy’s head, however.
He hopped up and rushed over to his dark wooden shelves. Searching for a small notepad he was on the verge of just throwing away. Billy hasn’t had a good drawing idea in months, and it was draining. But here was a muse, straight in front of him. How could he not take charge of this once-a-year opportunity?
After scourging around his room to find a sharpened pencil and his aforementioned notepad. He sat back down with both in hand. Legs on the bed to double as a canvas stand.
His hand immediately went to work. His eyes glancing back and forth from his paper, to Riggy. Billy refused to leave any details out on this art piece. How the tips of Riggy’s ears folded slightly away from the wall. How his monkey tail is resting softly onto the silky sheet of the bed. How his mouth is slightly open while in an unaware haze. It all had to be included in the art piece, Billy wouldn’t allow it any other way.
Once his hard work was finally finished, he took a long glare at the final result. All the eraser marks, all the small lines to emphasize the emotion in the picture, all the small anatomy reworks so it was as accurate as it could possibly be. All of that stored in a single page of a notepad.
Billy looked back to Riggy. Flipping his notepad closed and placing it on the side of the bed. Crawling over to Riggy to shake his shoulder lightly. Hoping that would be enough to wake him up, even if only slightly. The attempt was frail and unsuccessful. Billy contemplated to himself for a moment, he needed Riggy out of his bed. Sleeping with another citizen was weird.
And he was not weird, at least not that weird.
Billy has had various sleepovers before. Mostly during his highschool years, when he knew everything would be temporary. Billy stood up and crouched under his bed, searching for any substitute for a guest room. Before his eyes eventually adjusted to the darkness well enough to find a dark purple sleeping bag. Billy quickly extended his arm to grab the edge of the folded sleeping bag, yanking it out as soon as he got a firm enough grip on it.
Billy stood back up and slung the bean bag over his shoulder, stealing a look to Riggy. Staring at his blissfully empty face for a minute before his brain forced him to snap out of his admiring trance. He scooped Riggy up by securing his left arm under Riggy’s knees, resting his other hand on his back for stability. Billy carefully maneuvered out of the room. Glancing at the pitch black outside via his window. The ice was hitting hard and so was the snow. Definitely not good for how sensitive Riggy was with the cold. Maybe he could negotiate something in the morning to prevent him from having to suffer.
“Neither of us better get sick. Having to do a job application while sick sucks.” Billy annoyingly muttered to himself.
Billy opened up the basement door with his elbow. Making sure to stay slow and steady as he took steps down the stairs. Billy definitely wasn’t expecting carrying someone down the stairs was this hard. Especially when he’s trying to not stare and get lost in the calm rise and fall from Riggy’s chest.
The beaver softly put Riggy’s body on the freezing cold. Sighing in relief as he noticed that Riggy was still fast asleep. Quickly pulling out the sleeping bag and unfolding it, placing it in the middle of the floor. Then moving Riggy’s body cautiously into the sleeping bag. Taking soft steps away before running back up the stairs. Rushing to grab a flashlight, candle, or any sort of light, before any sign of Riggy waking up shows.
Eventually finding a flashlight stuck in between two crevices in the living room. Billy ran back down to the basement. Making sure it worked by flickering it while going down the stairs. Billy crouched down when he finally got next to Riggy’s sleeping figure. Placing the flashlight on the side of him so that the light was flashing onto whatever is in front of Riggy’s sleeping bag, before standing back up again.
Before Billy closed the door behind him. He whispered one last thing, hoping that somehow, Riggy would be able to hear it.
“Night, buddy.”
Then he closed the door.