Meanwhile in the parking lot, Bryan – who was actually an incredibly charismatic and charming man in his own right when he wasn't babysitting his colleagues – was successfully handing out pamphlets and conversing with a rather varied selection of people. From old women, to grown men, to mothers with young children, they all came across as interested, especially since the courier and logistic companies stopped at certain points, forcing the denizens of the less shiny, somewhat more dangerous Districts to go out and collect them from branches. Around twenty minutes later, Morgannin lumbered over to the truck, seeing B engaged in conversation. His pamphlets were finished, so he had decided to go back to the truck.
"You done?" Bryant asked once his conversation was finished.
"Yeah, I'm outta paper."
"That was quick."
"That's because I don't flirt with the people – I just give them the paper and thank them."
"Nothing wrong with being friendly and personable, Morgs. You seen the others?"
"I saw Ryan on my way back, and it looked like he still had ALL his pamphlets."
"Yeah, well he probably forgot how socially awkward he is. The power trip made him forget just how much like Pop he really is." Bryant chuckled and he split his flyers in half and handed them to Morgannin. "And what about Vincent and Nat?"
"I didn't see them – they went to Entrance 3, didn't they? Ryan took the first and I took the second, so I didn't see them when I made my loop."
"Fair enough."
The pair continued with the idle chit chat in between handing out flyers, and after some time, Ryan came back to the truck, looking a little drained. Oddly enough, it almost looked as if the stack of flyers he was supposed to have handed out had grown, causing both Morgannin and Bryant to do a double take.
"Damn." Morgannin blurted out as Ryan leaned against the truck. "You look like you just wrestled an Ironman Match."
"He doesn't watch wrestling, so he won't get that reference." Bryant remarked with a chuckle. "Give us some of those pamphlets, Ryan."
Ryan complied without saying a word, and the trio continued with the business of promoting the company. As time went on though, Bryant started to feel a little concerned as the remarks people were making as they walked past the truck kept poking at his attention. It got to the point where he looked at Morgannin, who also looked a little worried – and furrowed his brow.
"You hearing what I'm hearing, Morgs? These people keep talking about 'those two' and 'that baby' right?"
"I heard something about a 'derpy baby' but they couldn't be talking about what I think they're talking about, right? OUR baby is a builder, not derpy."
As if trying to convince themselves with shaky voices and weak conviction, the pair simultaneously swallowed lumps in their throats as the sound of cackling children and approaching footsteps. The pair looked at each other with a level of trepidation as the sounds got closer and closer, but eventually, they took a deep breath and turned around. The sight that met them caused them to take a few steps back, and for Bryant to reach for his waist. A group of close to fifty kids of varying ages was approaching the truck, with Builder Baby front and center, leading them all. What caught the pair off guard was the fact that they were mimicking the mascot's movements, but in a way that made them look like a zombie horde. The toddler walk that Visuveus had been practicing had been completely transformed, going from childlike to stiff and raggedy, the tiny arms flopped and bounced around with each and every dip, the massive head bobbed from side to side, and every time Builder Baby straightened up, there was a bit of a pause in his walk. The children were walking the same way, however the older ones that knew of zombies were walking with their harms extended and their wrists limp and their mouths hanging open. The moment the animatronic wings started flapping and squeaking almost unnecessarily loud, the kids all followed suit, flapping their hands and some even began mimicking the baby wail preemptively, just moments before the wail crackled from the speakers. The ENTIRE horde then wailed in unison, the unified cry filling the parking lot.
"BWAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!" Ryan, who had been in the load bin on his back, thundered as he sat up like a reanimated corpse.
Natalie, who was following behind the group of children with their parents, looked like she was on the verge of collapsing from fatigue. She quickly looked at Bryant and Morgannin, signaling to them to hand out the flyers they had to the parents. They did just that, and Bryant quickly took over from Nat, speaking to the guardians and explaining everything while he and Morgs did their thing. Natalie slipped away to the other side of the truck to catch her breath, while the children broke out into a 'Derpy Baby' chant. The chant got louder and louder until the mascot began doing some weird robot dance, which drew an insanely loud cheer from the children as well as the worst synchronised robot dance ever witnessed. It was absolute bedlam in that parking lot, and one Bryant announced to the children that it was time for them to go, a loud and disappointed 'awww' rung out. As if re-energised after hearing it was time to go, Natalie suddenly appeared, smiling and waving at the kids as she grabbed one of the limp arms and pulled Builder Baby out from the crowd. She looked about ready to lift and throw the mascot into the back and leave, but with a level of grace and athleticism that seemed impossible in that suit, Builder Baby jumped up and landed perfectly in the truck. Natalie FLEW into the truck, with Bryant, Morgannin and Ryan following suit.
Another Derpy baby chant rang out, with the kids clapping excitedly as they chanted. The mascot placed one foot on the bin wall, looking like the mascot for malt liquor called Derpy Morgan or something, and the classical music started blaring from the speakers. As Bryant started the truck, the baby's wings started flapping, and as he drove off, Builder Baby spoke.
"GOO-GOO!!" It roared emphatically.
"GOO-GOO!!!!!!" The crowed boomed in reply.
The mascot said it again, and the children reciprocated. This went on right as the truck drove off and eventually disappeared into the District with the drones that Ryan had started using before they split up flew overhead. In the truck meanwhile, silence prevailed for a few minutes until Morgannin broke it.
"…what the fuck just happened?"
"Are we in for that level of craziness two more times?" Bryant asked.
"I'm just going to say this now – I'm NOT babysitting again. Morgs is next."
"Wha?!"
"You heard me!" Natalie boomed as she scowled at him, causing Ryan to burst out laughing again.
"…we can't be in for that again, can we?" Bryant asked again as they drove towards the next shopping center.