Bearbones

Bearbones is the slash ship between A Real Magic Skeleton and Brandon from the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes fandom.

Canon
In “Plaza Prom”, the first hint of romance between these two, Brandon states how, after learning that there would be a prom held at the plaza, he’ll “text his date” to accompany him. After learning this, RMS looks visibly uncomfortable learning about his “date”, and quickly (and terribly) lies in order to make it appear that he has a date as well. Later in the episode, when the prom started, KO notes how tense RMS and Brandon seem to be, which to RMS states how he’d “be ok” if he “wasn’t in the company of a complete liar who lied about having a date”, showing that he is still upset over both the idea of Brandon having a date and being lied to by Brandon. Towards the end of the episode, after the dance battle between Rad and Raymond, RMS apologizes to Brandon for lying about his own date, to which Brandon replies that RMS is his “fav”. He then follows up by saying that he “lied about [his] own date too,” then exclaiming that they’re “both garbage”. Brandon proceeds to offer RMS his corsage, which would be unnecessary under platonic circumstances, as they already made up. RMS then looks teary-eye’d, blushes, and accepts the corsage, bringing it to his face. He then thanks Brandon, and promptly gives Brandon his own corsage, who blushes in return. The two then proceed to dance and take a picture with each other, as seen in the very end of the episode.

In “TKO”, when both RMS and Brandon are running away from TKO’s hate dome, RMS is the first to be struck by TKO, to which Brandon looks distressed in response to, and quickly tries to dive in towards RMS, while shouting, “My skeleton”. Later in the episode, Brandon places a hand on RMS’ shoulder (which will be soon mentioned as a running theme between these two), and calls RMS “Magi”. This is the first time Brandon called RMS this nickname, and will also be mentioned later again in the page. In “RMS’ and Brandon’s First Episode”, one of the beginning scenes these two have is Brandon accidentally getting his paws stuck inside a display case, which prompts RMS to remove one of his arms and smash the case, letting Brandon’s paws be freed. Brandon then bashfully smiles at RMS, to which RMS smiles back, and tiredly but happily sighs. Later in the episode, when Mad Sams breaks into the Frame Store, Brandon jumps into RMS’ arms, in which he instinctually catches Brandon. RMS and Brandon proceed to hug each other in fear, while also having Brandon let RMS sit in his lap (another recurring theme in the series). After Mad Sam finishes terrorizing the two, RMS states how he “likes hanging out with [Brandon] all the time”. Brandon then expresses how “everything is easier with [RMS] around”, and proceeds to nap. RMS then gazes at Brandon while he naps, drawing his eyes towards his face, remarking on how “peaceful” Brandon looks. After RMS finds the new job opportunity, RMS states how “watching Brandon sleep is fun sometimes”, implying that him gazing at Brandon while he sleeps is a reoccurring situation, and apologizes to Brandon before announcing him taking his new job opportunity. When RMS is filling out his resume, Brandon then grabs his attention by banging Mad Sam’s helmet against a display case, prompting RMS to say “Brandon my dude, I love you, but I’m so glad I’m applying for a new job.” This will be the first out of two times RMS states that he loves Brandon. Brandon is then visibly upset at RMS planning to move jobs, and tries to convince him to stay by recounting pleasant experiences the two have shared. RMS states how he didn’t enjoy those experiences, but only because of his lack of bone availability, implying that he enjoyed Brandon’s company. Brandon then states on how he envisioned him and RMS to be working together “forever”. Throughout the episode, Brandon continues to state his disagreement on RMS leaving his current job. When RMS goes to his boss to seek advice, he remarks on how he’d “miss spending all [his] waking hours with [his boss] and [Brandon]” with his voice shaking. RMS proceeds to finally disembark on his trip to apply for his new job, with Brandon stating how he “needs [RMS]”, and adamantly begs for him to stay. RMS continues to proceed to his job, but appears more reluctant with Brandon’s pleading. Brandon calls RMS by his full name, to which RMS seems to not be accustomed to, and the two sadly depart. After RMS’ body was dismantled in the battle between the boxbots and the bodega crew, Brandon returns to aid RMS, carrying his bones and stretching a hand towards him. RMS then accepts his offer, hops into his hand, and appears very touched by Brandon’s willingness to aid him in his journey, shown by RMS having tears in his eyes while questioning Brandon about helping him. It's also worth to note how in RMS' point of view, Brandon has sparkles strewed around him, a theme in OK KO signifying attraction to a character. Brandon then replies on how he “couldn’t watch [him] fall apart like that”, and how he “needs to protect [himself] to protect [RMS]”. Brandon proceeds to place RMS into his arms, and protectively carries his body towards his new job. After Brandon helps RMS arrive to his new job, only to find out that the job was already taken by Drupe, RMS blushes at the idea of staying at the Frame Store until he finds another job, laughs with Brandon, who’s also blushing, and, when Mad Sam forces them to hug, RMS again sits in Brandon’s lap with the both of them being content.

In “Super Black Friday”, Brandon shows interest in buying a present for RMS.

In “Beach Episode”, RMS and Brandon are shown lighting separate sparklers away from the group towards the end of the episode.

In “KO’s Health Week”, Brandon shows signs of low self esteem, to which RMS seems greatly upset by. When The Other Brandon later appears and tells the Original Brandon that he loves him, RMS joins in by saying “me too”. This is the second out of two times RMS told Brandon that he loves him.

In “Dark Plaza”, RMS is shown leaning against Brandon, and when KO states how the two of them don’t have a way to contribute to their plot, the two seems content on staying together by themselves.

In “Let’s Fight To The End”, RMS and Brandon are shown hugging, with RMS sitting in his lap once more. They are promptly hit by TKO’s attack, letting them faint in each others’ arms.

In “Thank You For Watching The Show”, it is revealed in the end that RMS and Brandon still work at the Frame Store, with RMS taking responsibility with implications that show that he and Brandon are now running the store together.

Fanon
In "Parent's Day", Rad asks Enid's mom about if there's any "skeletons in the closet" in her house. Some fans speculate that, even though RMS wasn't involved in the episode, this could be loosely tied to RMS having a romantic relationship with Brandon, due to there being hints of Bearbones in the series before.

Recurring Themes
A visible motif between this ship is one (or both) of the pair placing their hand(s) on the others’ shoulder(s). This occurs in “We Got Hacked”, “Plazalympics”, “Plaza Prom”, “TKO”, “RMS’ and Brandon’s First Episode”, “Plaza Alone”, “Beach Episode”, “KO’s Health Week”, and “Dark Plaza”.

Another present motif is Brandon calling RMS “Magi”, a nickname he presumably gave RMS himself. Brandon calls RMS “Magi” in “TKO” and “Super Black Friday”. No other character calls RMS by said nickname.

Behind The Scenes
During a Discord Q&A session, Dave Alegre answers the question of “are RMS and Brandon more than friends?” with “they are whatever you want them to be! the official 'canon' is: WHATEVER UR HEART DESIRES". Max Collins, a storyboard artist, drew Brandon and RMS in the same bed together, presumably with them spending the night that way. The post with the picture included to the right is now unfortunately deleted.

In certain dubs of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, RMS's gender was changed to a girl. This could be theorized to be because of certain censors speculating that Brandon and RMS' relationship was too romantically coded for their standards.

Plaza Prom
Brandon: Ohhhhhh. Sweet! I’m gonna text my date.

RMS: Ahhh, I’m gonna text mine, too. I totally have one, too (nervous laugh).

KO: Horsie doorvre? May I interest you in some hors? Uh, are you guys okay?

RMS: I would be, if I wasn’t in the company of a huge liar who lies about having a date!

Brandon: I am not lying! I bet she’s just… stuck in traffic!

RMS: Sorry for getting up in your grill earlier. I’m actually the one who... lied about having a date. I just didn’t want you to think I was lame.

Brandon: No way, dude! You’re my fav! Plus, I lied about having a date, too. We’re both garbage! Here... take my corsage.

RMS: Wow… thanks, dude! Take mine, too.

TKO
Brandon: My skeleton!

RMS' and Brandon's First Episode
RMS: Here we are again, fearing for our lives, framing— gah— junk. I like hanging out with you all the time, but don’t you ever feel… trapped?

Brandon: Speak for yourself! Despite the couple wackos, this place rules! Plus, it’s like the easiest job in the world!

RMS: Is it, though?

Brandon: Yeah! Everything’s easy with you around! Now, let’s get to work… after I take a nap.

RMS: Look at him… so peaceful. Not a care in the world. Must be nice to be so willfully complacent.

RMS: Watching Brandon sleep can be fun sometimes, but maybe it’s time for me to move up in the world! Sorry, Brandon, but I’ve gotta get that job!

RMS: Ooh, my geez, why?! What are you doing?!

Brandon: I’m trying to get Mad Sam’s helmet in this display case.

RMS: Ugh! You’re driving me nuts! Brandon, my dude, I love you, but I’m so glad I’m applying for a new job.

Brandon: New job?!

Brandon: So you’re just gonna turn your back on all the cool stuff we do here? Like when we duct-taped each other to the walls? Or that time I took all your bones and hid them around the store.

RMS: I didn’t like when you did that! I need my bones.

RMS: Hey, Mr. iFrame. I don’t really have anyone else to talk to about any of this. Maybe you’ve heard. I’m looking to apply somewhere else. I want to broaden my horizons. But, on the other hand, I’d miss spending all my waking hours with you and Brandon. I just don’t know what to do!

Brandon: Need a hand… or three?

RMS: Brandon… You’re helping me? And you’re wearing Sam’s helmet?

Brandon: Well, I couldn’t just watch you fall apart like that. And I gotta protect me to protect you, bro! Now, let’s get you that job!

Super Black Friday
Brandon: Pfft, Magi’s is gonna be sooo stoked I got him a Blorby, he'll forget all about covering the Super Black Friday shift alone at the frame store.

KO's Health Week
Brandon: I can’t do anything right, because I am a piece of trash.

RMS: No you aren’t, dude!

Original Brandon: Thanks, me! I love you!

Other Brandon: I love you too!

RMS: Me three!

Fandom
Fan Fiction: https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Brandon*s*A%20Real%20Magic%20Skeleton%20(OK%20K*d*O*d*!%20Let's%20Be%20Heroes)/works

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/search/bearbones