Tooned Out

Chapter 2: The Inkvestigators

Oswald pulled up a chair to the right of Mickey, while Julius took a seat directly across from the rabbit. The sailor-boy then nestled into the central seat at the end of the table.

"So, I called you guys 'cause, as ya' know, the 'Ink Incident' was- fairly recent." The mouse began to voice, making sure the attention was on him. When Julius's gaze dazed off, he'd slightly wave his hand in front of Julius so he'd focus. "An' I wanted to ask for your guys' help on trying to figure out what was goin' on."

"Oh." Oswald raised an eyebrow and rested his elbows on the table, "I- already 'ave some stuff on my plate. 'Sides, the station's got it covered." He answered flatly. "Most I can offer is prayers, mouse." Julius pipes in, earning an eye roll from the short rabbit.

A subtle look of disappointment crosses the mouse's face, but before he can say anything, a voice with an Australian speaks up. "Glad ta' see ya' tryna' do something about what 'appened," Eyes would go onto the source of the voice at the end of the decent-sized wooden table.

"An' you are...?" Julius raised an eyebrow apprehensively, as Felix put his paws on his hips, his black tail swaying behind him. "Arvo, I believe we've all met at some point. Oswald, Mickey...An' Julius. The names Felix." The cat would respond with a smirk as Oswald rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, we know who ya' are, whad'dya want?" The rabbit tried to get to the point, his ears standing stiff as his nose twitched. Felix shook his head in amusement, before placing his paws over the smooth surface of the table.

"Well, I reckon yous should listen to your brotha'. The coppers need heaps of information, an' I need some help providin' said info." He explained, before Julius questioned him once more almost right away, " "An' why should we do that?"

"Because we wanna keep everyone safe, includin' you folks. Innit that your job, Mr. Rabbit?" A sly grin would form over his face once more as he teased Oswald, whose nose twitched once more, his face now filled with a rather annoyed expression, "You're damn right it is." He huffed, crossing his arms, "D'oh, fine- I'm in."

Felix's sly grin would turn to a softer and smaller smile as his ears perked up, "Lovely! You, Julius?" The jittery copycat rolled his eyes and nodded, "Only 'cause they're doin' it." His claws slightly sunk into the wooden table as he gave the other black cat an annoyed glance.

That signature and toothy grin would form over Mickey's face, "Oh boy! Thanks, Felix." The round-eyed cat smiled back, "No drama, mate."
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The Disney brothers, now accompanied by the Australian cat, would be seen in Toon-Square, collecting more of the remaining ink left behind. Oswald would be using a spoon to scoop up clumps of ink yet to dry and let it drip off into a zip-lock bag. His nose would twitch every time the scent hit his nostrils- he was not going to be eating cereal with that spoon ever again.

"Ya' need a hand, Oz?" Felix would offer with a small smile, raising his eyebrow as he mimicked the rabbit's simple process of ink collecting. Oswald wouldn't bother looking up at the black cat as he tightly closed the baggie.

"It's Oswald ta' you, not Oz. No, I'm fine." The shorter man declined almost immediately, a subtle look of annoyance flaring onto his expression as if Felix even asking that question offended him.

However, the Aussie playfully rolled his eyes at that snarky response and chuckled, "Too bad, ya' gettin' it anyway." Which earned a huff of irritation from the rabbit.

Meanwhile, Mickey and Julius- well, mostly Mickey- were making sure no natural or social factors occurred. Meaning, he was capturing butterflies and bees in jars or shooing them away to prevent pollen from messing with the evidence, and politely reminding any Toonspeople to avoid nearing the yellow police tape.