And yes, Darky, you can laugh at the title, good RP’in’ times eh?
The Reason Behind Nasty Rammers…
Lecture: Why Steef Have Extremely Huge Horns…
Spring grew into summer and Bailey noticed that some of the male Steef, particularly those without female companionship becoming rather more agitated and violent the usual. They were picking fights and just generally being edgy. Though, Haigar became more depressed then angry and Stranger – thankfully – didn’t change at all.
Bailey at first thought that they were just restless but when she saw a couple of the males ramming each other and locking horns over another, female Steef, the human finally put together what they were up too. And she was completely fascinated. She would watch them fighting utterly awed, there was a lot of power in these…well, ‘cute and furry’ individuals. Of course the bellows were deafening and Bailey cringed at the though of being caught in the middle of two combatants, but from a safe distance they were somewhat intriguing to watch. Stranger found her watching a few days after this ‘rutting’ season had started.
“Bailey?” he asked questioningly, “Whadda yer doin’?”
“Watching them beat the snot out of each other.” Bailey remarked nonchalantly, nodding towards a big dark Steef and a smaller, lighter one who were butting heads like a couple of mountain goats. Stranger looked towards them and then back at Bailey,
“Why?” Bailey shrugged,
“I dunno, I just like watching ‘em.” There was a pause, “So when are you gonna get out there?” Bailey asked innocently, Stranger gaped at her for a moment, mouth open.
“What!?”
“You heard me.” Bailey watched him intently, completely unabashed. Stranger on the other hand suddenly looked awkward and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Why would-”
“Why not?” Bailey countered, interrupting him. “It s’not exactly fair that you havta be stuck with just me forever.” Stranger grinned and growled as he ruffled her already wild hair,
“What if I like bein’ stuck wiv yer forever?” Bailey quirked a half-smile but Stranger looked suddenly sad. He reached out and stroked her head. “Hey, they’ll be plenty of time fer me ter find someone when yer all grown up.” There was a pause. “Humans…don’t live very long do they?” Stranger asked.
“Compared to Steef…no…not that long.” Bailey said. “Few make it past a hundred.”
“Two hundred years.” Stranger murmured sadly, “At least two hundred years ter find someone…” he sounded very depressed. Bailey looked at him curiously,
“Stranger, somat’s botherin’ you.”
“I don’t want ter outlive my kid Bailey.” Stranger muttered, “I don’t want ter be alone without yer. You’ll be long gone an’ I’ll still be the same…” the Steef faded off miserably. Bailey patted his hand,
“You scared I’m gonna die Stranger?” she said, it wasn’t really a question but Stranger nodded. Bailey grinned and cuddled up to him.
“Silly Steef,” she said, “I’m more then likely gonna outlive you by a very, very long time…if I’m unlucky.” Stranger frowned and rested his chin on Bailey’s head.
“How’s that then.” Bailey twirled a bit of grass between her fingers,
“Humans apparently don’t age in Oddworld, they just…continue…although I guess it could just be a matter of aging slowin’ down a heck of a lot… So,” she said sweetly, “When are yer gonna find someone, I need some kind of mother.” Stranger stopped but then smiled and kissed her hair.
“Did yer know I love yer?” he said conversationally,
“Stop changin’ the subject.” Bailey muttered but she closed her eyes and let it go. “I though yer’d get swamped actually.” She added after a pensive silence, “I mean, you beat Sekto and everythin’…”
“But I ain’t exactly a ‘respectable’ Steef…” Bailey spluttered in amusement,
“You? Respectable? Hardly…”
“That’s what I said.” Stranger frowned slightly, but Bailey was off on a musing tangent.
“But you get away with the whole ‘bad boy’ attitude if you ask me…an’ you ain’t exactly unpleasant ter look at…” Stranger’s expression became more and more like a carp. Eyes bulging and mouth open. He made a strangled sound. Bailey snickered. She put her arms behind her head and leaned back on his chest and went back to watching the fighting Steef. “The paler ones gunna win.” She said at length.
“Oh really?” Stranger asked in amusement, “How d’yer work that out?”
“I can feel it.” Stranger let out a sigh and relaxed, closing his eyes, feeling Bailey against his stomach. He thought about the day in the Bolamite nest. He hadn’t known what a human was back then. He chuckled to himself as he remembered Bailey’s first words to him and when she’d threatened him with a gun. He’d disliked her then. How quickly she’d grown on him. Stranger was glad she had, he didn’t know that having the squirt around could make life so much more enjoyable.
Bailey dozed off before she saw which of the two fighting Steef won, she was just too warm and comfortable in the sunshine with Stranger. This life definitely agreed with her. She wondered fleetingly about Jolee and Meech. The Grubb said she’d look after him. Bailey let out a sleepy sigh as she descended into dreams. She hoped they were alright…