[55.00] Going hungry in 3... 2...

[psychoticracer]

[Erol is a light sleeper. And it's been a few days since his beating, so he isn't resting quite as heavily as he was. So the bump and scuffle that turns his comm on is the same that wake him up.

His hand is on the knife beneath his pillow before he's even fully awake, though his guard eases when he sees it's no threat. Just an annoyance.]

Rat

Comments

[nantokanare]

Does it have fur?

[psychoticracer]

Yes.

[nantokanare]

Heeeh. I want to see.

[psychoticracer]

Don't you have one of your own?

[nantokanare]

Yes, but it's normal.

[psychoticracer]

[Uuuugh this means Akagi will see his bruises. Fine, fine. Better to just let the boy come over than make a paper-thin excuse and raise the suspicions of whomever else is listening in.]

Oh, very well.

[nantokanare]

[Don't worry, Erol! You can always just beat Akagi up until he has more bruises than you do.

He's soon at Erol's door, having of course ditched Ocelot and the baby. Knocking, he waits patiently for Erol to open up.]

[psychoticracer]

[Erol opens the door and lets the pale-haired boy in.

.... There's no sign of the baby, or Daxter, for that matter. And Erol looks remarkably far from snapping, for someone who's been forced to co-exist with an ottsel.]

[nantokanare]

[The first thing Akagi notices is that Erol looks like crap. He decides not to mention it however, as poking at the pride of someone who could gut you before you can blink is never a good idea. And of course with one eye and bruises all over his forehead, he doesn't look so great himself.

Akagi's not shy about making himself at home, sitting himself down on Erol's bed and pulling his legs up to sit indian style.]

Where is it?

[Straight to the point.]

[psychoticracer]

[My, that's a remarkably prudent decision, Akagi. Erol makes a mental note in your favor.]

Out of the way.

[He walks to the open air vent - it's a bit shorter than his usual stride, but he manages not to limp - and raps on the wall.]

Rat. Pass it down, it's got a visitor.

[After a second, the vent produces a baby!! Erol catches it and holds it casually, placing it on the bed for Akagi to inspect.]

There.

[nantokanare]

[He's keeping his baby in the vent. Akagi has to laugh at this.

He pokes at the fuzzy orange baby, dusting it off a little as he inspects it.]

Funny teeth. I guess that's from the rat.

[He glances up at Erol, smirking.]

It's orange like you.

[psychoticracer]

[Erol rolls his eyes, smirking. Akagi rarely pissed him off with his mouthiness - he was more often amused by the nerve.]

The rat is orange.

It's got my eyes and ears, though.

[He gives an oversized ear a tweak and the baby squeals in delight at its other parent.]

[nantokanare]

It is?

[Perk. They didn't have orange rats in Japan. He eyes the open vent for a second before turning his attention back to the furry monstrosity of a baby.]

You're lucky, your baby is interesting. Mine's just half.

[Which, in Akagi's opinion, is something of a travesty.]

[psychoticracer]

Oh? Half of what?

[The baby seems quite happy to attempt to eat its toes.]

[nantokanare]

[Akagi gives Erol a look.]

Half not Japanese.

[psychoticracer]

[Erol's not even human, Akagi. He's certainly not from Earth.]

Hm, was that your species? Thought you were "human."