Author's Notes: Not much to say except, PLOT DEVELOPMENT!

The Networking of Cartoons

Chapter 2: Repercussion and Recompense

Hilbert G. McCulion had risen from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest and most influential names in modern media. His network had become a household name. His stocks stayed high even during the recession. His name was on the executive parking space clearly marked C.E.O. His name carried weight.

So, when he'd walked into the food-fight, he knew immediately that he had to take action. Cartoons could get wild, but not when they were on his dollar. So, he had called in the most likely culprits, cleaned his glasses and was now ready to dole out appropriate punishment.

Eddy squirmed in his seat, trying to get comfortable despite the constant glare of disapproval and chaffing leather seats. Otto faired little better, his face was glued to the floor and he was fidgeting like a hyper-active two-year-old. Bull's breath had become as silent as possible for fear of further upsetting their boss.

"Um," for once, the short Ed was at a loss for words "Sooo…Bert, boss, the big kahona…did I tell you how great your hair looks today in the light? Because it really-"

"Eddy." the utterance of his name shut him up quite quickly and he felt a mind-numbing fear grip his heart "Otto." the boy cringed "Bull." the shark let a sharp hiss slip from his mouth

"You three have been very…un-productive lately." the tone of his voice sounded like something akin to a death knell "I trust I don't have to point out that your contract has a strict three strikes rule?"

"We were just havin' fun…" Eddy mumbled, shifting uneasily in the seat "Besides, the Looney Tunes trash the place like every other week and they're still here."

"Because they're popular." Once more, the man's voice had quieted the Ed "They've been around for decades and have a very foreseeable future of continued popularity. You, on the other hand, have been on the decline for the past four years. Your veiwership has dropped by more than thirty percent. Nearly fifty for Bull. And sixty-one for you, Otto."

The young boy's face was starting to become damp with sweat and he knew that if this continued, he'd be in urgent need of a bucket.

"Our contracts don't expire for another year, sir." the formality had been almost sat out and Eddy felt his anger rising "As long as we keep doin' our jobs, you can't fire us without a good reason."

"A good reason?" his eyebrow rose and he erected himself, causing Eddy to shrink back into the seat " How about the midnight terror run you committed in '08? Or the illegal betting on the election? Destruction of public property and mischievous conduct on more than forty-five accounts? I'd say I have more than enough of a good reason to fire you, Eddy."

"That's from years ago!" the boy hollered, his cowardice momentarily forgotten

"And we over-looked it due to your popularity. We make money off of how much the populace enjoys watching your show. It would be detrimental and terrible business sense to fire a popular show simply because of unruly conduct. Look at Adult Swim."

Once again, the boy deflated and sank back into his seat. They were in vice. They realized it. And unlike previous encounters of the like, they didn't have the weight needed to back up the dismissal. A bead of sweat drifted from his brow to his the nap of his neck and he swallowed a suddenly dry throat. They were truly, truly screwed.

"However," That got the trio's attention. Break meant he was about to impart some monumental judgment "your slots are still fairing better than others and you've shown an above average track record of behavior until recently. So, fortunately for you it seems, there's on need for OOW."

The toons breathed a sigh of weighted relief. That had lifted what felt like an anvil from their shoulders. Hilbert, however, wasn't finished.

"Punishment, on the other hand," And the trio cringed, a full body shake in preparation for an incoming blow "will be conductional probation for the next two months. You'll also be receiving a pay reduction of three percent, suspension of company credit cards, and free publicity ventures with no extra pay during that time. Do I make myself clear?"

Eddy fisted the arm rests, the leather creaking in a high pitch note as he grinded his teeth beneath a deep frown. This was bad, pretty bad actually and would cut into his plans of livening up his routine by a fair bit. The reduced pay and confiscation were bad enough, but free publicity? Without pay? That was just cruel and unusual punishment. He wanted to shout, to blow his stack both literally and that word Double D used but settled for simmering rage. Because an outburst like that is exactly how Sheep got booted out.

"Crystal." And if his tone was a bit hostile, sue him.

The three rose from their chairs, gave a respectful 'Sir', and then left out the door with a slam harder than was strictly necessary.

"Well?" Eddy came up short, turning to meet the expectant and accusing gaze of his fellow cast and co workers. Crap, he'd forgotten about them "How'd it go?"

Eddy rubbed the back of his neck, eyes shooting everywhere but at his sock headed friend. Seeing the short Ed unwilling to speak, Double D turned towards his fellow academic. Otto, never one to take peer pressure or displeasure well, crumpled an ACME product.

"We aren't OOW." Hearing this, the assembled body all sighed in relief. Otto gulped "But we're on probation for the next two months."

"What?" This was uttered in varying degrees of intensity. Man, they really weren't gonna like what came next.

"They're also docking three percent of our pay, confiscating our company credit, and we have to do free publicity without pay." There was a lull in the waiting room

"WHAT!?" That was said in pretty much the same level. Which is to say loud. And angry, don't forget angry.

"Chill, guys." Eddy was back in now, sensing the young brunette's oncoming panic attack "So we're on probation? Big deal, it's not like we haven't had it before."

"Yeah, but that was when we still Hits and could afford it!" Juniper piped up, eyes burning with a raging fury "I've barely got anything in my saving left after that CN Real debacle and now you're telling me I'm gonna have less because of your screw-up?!"

Eddy took a step back. June was pretty dour and abrasive on her good days, now she looked a hair's breath away from clocking him with those super-powered fists of her's and others were looking close to doing the same. Well, he was in deep dog doo. Lucky, he had a supporter mixed in with the aggressors.

"Pump your breaks, Lee." A boy with a red cap and green sweater strode up, blocking her path towards her intended target "The dork messed up, big time. But he's not the only one that threw some soda and steak. If I'm right, you chucked some mash and celery at Uncle G?"

June said nothing, but her cheeks were lit ablaze and she turned, twirling her long, ebony locks, and marched out the door. A few moments later, more of the casts filed out until the room was down to a handful of occupants. Eddy wiped the sweat from his brows.

"Thanks, Kev." The boy turned, eyeing the short Ed before smiling back with a 'No problem'.

Group Dynamics were rarely the same off set as they were on it and Eddy and Kevin were a perfect example. On screen, the two hated each other's guts with a fierce, childish intensity that was so often seen in shows like their's. Off screen, however, the two had clicked the day after their first shoot and have since remained great pals, despite their portrayal on the clock. Double D gave a cough and the remaining bodies gave him their attention.

"I think it's a fair assessment to say that we must be exceptionally careful from now on?" He sent Eddy a stern glare and continued only when he looked properly cowed "Regardless, this little stunt has set us back a bit finically. I doubt we'll be able to pursue our weekly brunch or other such ventures for the time being."

"But what about Summer Blowout? We can't miss that! We've been working for months on it. And I even made all the food myself and I only burned the kitchen down twice!" Chowder wore a frantic expression and Edd couldn't help but sooth his fears.

"Not to worry." Here, he reached into his cap, pulling out a ledger marked to a certain page "We're still on for it. Raj and Larry still need to decided on décor and Sarah's team are still recruiting entertainment. Ed, I trust you and Clam have posted the flyers?"

" !" Ed nodded with enthusiasm, eager about the upcoming event "We drew up on PhotoShop and printed them and pasted them all over the studio, town, and even on some cars!"

Double D raised a brow. While he knew Ed wasn't quite as slow-witted as many who watched their show believed, he was still prone to fits of hyperactivity and overzealous tendencies that could prove difficult to work with. Hopeful, those vehicles were legally plastered and not just because they thought it was a good idea. Well, Clam was with him and he was of impeccable judgment.

"Yada-yada-yada. Man, you sure know how to suck the fun outta things, dontcha, Sock-head?" Edd dismissed his friend's outburst and to go over a few of the finer details before he dispersed along with the rest of the room.

After all, his break would be over soon. And there was no reason to deduct even more from his salary.

CN-CN-CN-CN-CN

"And over to your left is the Barbera Building, where namesake Barbera first sketched his early works. If you'll follow me down this hallway, we'll pass by the statue of the studio's founder."

Mike, co-star of the TV show Mike, Lu, and Og, droned into a microphone headset. As the last remaining member of her cast and of a show that only saw moderate success before getting canned, being a tour guide for wide-eyed, over curious tourist was a rather cushy job. When the tykes weren't throwing sweets at her head. Or the older members weren't complaining about the latest additions the animated roster. Or how the in-betweens that nagged her obsessively about which show she was on and what it was about when she told them. So no, it wasn't so bad. But that didn't mean it was all that great either.

"And to your right is a picture of one of our most acclaimed programs, PowerPuff Girls which aired from 1998 to 2005. Fun Fact: Hanna-Barbera only produced it until 2002."

"Hey, Miss Tour Guide Lady?" Mike sighed, turning to address the man in the tacky plaid shirt with equally appalling white slacks and open toed sandals. She didn't know what look he was going for, but he did not pull it off. At all.

"Yes?" She didn't bother keeping the bored drawl from her tone.

"But weren't you on that show, Mike, Lu, & Og?" Mike actually paused at that. Someone actually remembered her show? Well, this was a unique occurrence. She gave the man a smile, tilting her headset in something that could roughly resemble a salute.

"You bet. I'm Mike, like in the title." Few ever guessed right about her origins and when they did, she was more than happy to talk about it. She, like many toons, was proud of the show they came from and loved nothing more than to wax poetic about her hay days chumming it up with those superstar names like Ed, Edd, n Eddy, Dexter, and Courage. What he said next, however, soured her mood more quickly than even the entire three hour snooze fest ever could.

"Yeah, that show sucked hard. I guess you're glad to be off it, huh?" The man even smiled good naturedly, like they were in on some joke. Well, Mike was in alright, but she didn't find anything funny.

"Sir, with all due respect, I rather liked my time on the show. I found it to be quite witty and humorous." Her vocabulary had beefed up a bit over the years and her accent wilted until it was barely even noticeable except in times of great distress. Which this was rapidly approaching.

"Are you kidding me?" He barked a loud, mocking laugh which set her blood shimmering "It was poorly drawn, the sets were rudimentary and bland, and the show wasn't nearly as funny as anything else on back then. Hell, I'd rather have been watching Nick-"

That was funny, the guy had stopped talking and people were gasping now. Also, his face was bleeding as he scrambled back from her, shouting something into his hand while there was seemingly blood dripping from her knuckles. Weird, how'd that get there? It would be a few minutes later after security had come to claim her a medic had arrived to look after the guy's bloody nose that she'd realized she'd decked the guy. Well, that hadn't been a very smart move.

"That wasn't a smart move, Michaela." And it seemed her supervisor agreed with her.

Stephanie Mitchell wasn't a very warm woman by nature. She'd started out as a desk assist for some non-descript manager and soon after, she had his position and corner office. She knew how to smooze, how to sweet talk, and generally navigate her walk up corporate ladder with all the skill and efficiency of a stealthy predator. Everything, from her neat, pinned up crimson locks, to her dull, brown business suit, to her equal dull flats spoke of her attitude: efficacy. And Mike's behavior hadn't generated much in that regard unless you counted the potential lawsuit.

"I know, I know. It's just, the guy was ragging my show and-" A glare had her cut off as if she'd shouted. Mike, cowed and slightly embarrassed, sank into her seat.

"I know how protective you are of your origins and those tied to it. After all, you still receive mail from Tak even after he was Reformatted." Og, she piped up softly. He'd always be Og to her. "But nevertheless, this type of behavior is completely unacceptable for a member of our acclaimed staff."

Mike snorted. As if anyone gave two squats about tour guides. All anyone ever seemed to remember about them was how dull/perky/annoying they were. She usually fell into the former. Well, she use to. Now, she would probably be the one you hid your children from and leered at from behind a glass enclosure.

"Normally, procedure would dictate I either suspend you or fire you." Mike couldn't help the full body twitch that word generated. Fired. It was a word that'd managed to be so offensive to toons they'd replaced it with a softer version "But, I shall do neither."

"…Wha?" Because she was pretty sure she was supposed to be Oow right now. Physical violence was only a good thing when done on camera and for the viewing pleasure of millions of Americans. Surely, the lady must have finally lost her marbles.

"You assaulted a visitor. Likely, he'll want to sue for damages rendered while on the premises, but I believe a good talk with public relations will smooth it out." And by 'good talk', she meant 'acceptable bribe' "That still leaves you with a reputation. Which we can turn into a marketing ploy."

"…Wha?" She really wasn't making sense today

"Mike, for years, people have been asking about toons and how they deal with their work and plights in life. A visitor insulted your origins and you retaliated. What seems like an assault from an employee on a customer becomes a minority standing up for their proud beginnings and defending its honor. The reporters will have a field day with it."

So, they were going to paint her as some kinda Martin Luther? Well, she wasn't non-violent, so maybe she was more of a Malcolm X. Well, on the one hand, she was relieved to keep her job and flattered that they thought her in the right. On the other, they were just using her as a gimmick and hoping to turn what is a real, honest to God struggle into a media circus. Integrity demanded she stop such a blatant use of emotional sensitivity. Her stomach and continued employment told her to shut up and take it. Natrally, she went with the right decision.

"When do we start?"

Because her being fired over this wasn't going to change anything but the number of veterans still employed. But maybe, if she played her cards right, this could actually do some good.

Author's Notes: Been away a while, but was working on finishing up the Arc for my other fic. Networking is pretty much secondary, near back burner in favor of it mostly because it's got shorter chapters and writing for it is a bit harder due to certain themes as you've seen here. But, I hope to get at least another two or three chapters out before it's hiatus is up. So, TTFN!