Another Way

Chapter 20: Heresy

Fortunately for Ginger's back, the other construction workers expressed their joy at his return in less... abrupt ways. That's not to say hugs weren't present; the opposite, if anything. The bipedal rhino might have dwarfed the technicolor lizard to a comical degree, but the large high five the two soon exchanged left the gray one reeling much more than Ginger. At least, if them shaking their hand off in pain afterwards was any sign.

The group's excited chatter was so loud that even if Sue had known their language, she doubted she'd be able to make out more than a few scattered words.

Granite got his hug, the rhino got their high-five, and the spiky brown pangolin got... a chest bump. Suppose that was the safest course of action with their ridiculous claws and the many spikes covering their back. Or at least, the safest course of action for the other side. Once the two had finished that greeting, the pangolin kept going as Ginger pulled up some of his loose skin. Their constant chitters grew louder and happier as they pulled the lizard into another hug.

Judging by his brief hissed remark and a chuckle, the lizard commented on it all with a joke of sorts. That's not how it felt like to the builders, however. Whatever he'd said, it left them... sappier; their flare-up of joy dimming and with sorrow now underlining it, even as they tried to keep their minds away from it. That held true for everyone except for the red robot... creature.

Now that they'd caught her attention, she'd realized they've been keeping towards the back of the group. And that they haven't spoken up at all yet. For a moment, Sue grew concerned, thinking about what might've caused that colder reception. The idea of the colorful lizard being about to receive a heaping portion of bigotry from a bunch he'd clearly considered friends was harrowing to consider-

And thankfully, not true.

Soon after she'd noticed the metal one's silence, so did the rest of their group, proceeding to then apparently introduce the two to each other. Curt handshake paled in comparison with all the other displays of affection earlier, but it palpably put the robot at ease. Only for something said shortly after to make them go wide eyed and stare down at Ginger; their subsequent question delivered in what sounded like highly compressed-sounding buzzes.

Someone needs their bitrate upped.

The moment of tension that followed didn't last long as the group kept talking amongst each other; the robot soon easing out around the night kin. As they cooled off, Sue glanced off to the side to check on how Basil was doing- only to find the spot beside her empty. The bee turned out to be in the middle of chatting with Birch in the crowd some distance away, the nameless caterpillar now in their other half's arms.

Red robot spoke up another question, catching Sue's attention again. Their speech was distinctive for all the ear-grating reasons, but it's not like it was a deliberate thing. Ginger perked up at whatever was just said, his answer slow and uncertain, as if he hadn't quite understood the question. Undeterred, the metal bug tried again, first pointing at Ginger's orange-red crest, then at... himself, and lastly at the pile of roof tiles nearby.

Something about color, maybe? The tiles' shade was a coincidental match for the row of scales on top of Ginger's head, after all.

Regardless if that was the topic or not, Ginger's response made it clear that it didn't matter. His answer was brief and capped off with as large of a shrug as his lanky body could provide. Not a particularly in-depth one, but the red metal one seemed to be content with it, acknowledging it with a nod.

That's one potentially awkward discussion resolved.

The chat continued to relax following the metal one's question; the excitement easing out into contentment. Sue's horn definitely appreciated that change in mood, its burning pain subsiding as the mood calmed down.