How much do you hate me? (Nov 7) - U.S.S. Freedom

He just had to laugh - a deep, resounding laugh. It was a little bit mean, perhaps, but he was just playing with her, tapping at her bill.

It was a strange sort of role reversal. She was enjoying it, even if he was tormenting her a little.

Oh, he took it one step further - he reached out to grab her wings, unfurling them as he held her up. He made clucking sounds with his tongue, very much akin to her clacking.

She clacked back as her stumpy little legs bicycled in the air.

He made her 'dance' a bit in the air, nipping back to 'mock' the poor Pelican.

She bonked him on the noodle with her bill.

He grinned, trying to nip the end of her bill back.

Her legs kept moving, her bill kept bonking. It was all she could do.

"Ya gonna change back?" as he continued to tease the powerful little Pelican.

She bonked him one more time before she gave up her ghetto-booty for her more standard one.

The smile was wider now. "Much beddah. Well.. maybeh not beddah in someways." said the Beast.

She smiled. "You're cute when you're playful."

"Ain't many dat ah'm playful wid."

"Practically de only one."

"Ya 'ard headed woman... ah'm always 'ere. Ya gonna learn dat one day."

She curled into his arms.

He rested his chin on her head. ".. Tu sais... Ori was tryin'to 'elp meh gitcha jealous. Silly, ain't it?"

"What?" Now she was really confused.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, frowning. He was trying to figure out how to say this. "De.. datin'.. ting. Was kinda sumptin'to... ah dunno 'ow tah make sense ah it. Ya was wid othah's. Didn't tink ya want'd meh messin'dat up."

She was confused. "I was with you too though. I wasn't in a relationship with anyone." Had he really tried to make her jealous? She was stunned.

"Felt... ah ain't say it was smart. Ah don't git people either. Ah don't even git meh. Juss... tryin'teh figuah sumptin out. Ah 'adja. But de bond made it... bad. Ah dunno." he pulled off his hat, running a hand through his hair. "Tried teh do flowahs once. Flowery words. Maybeh ah juss ain't good at dis, je pense."

"But I don't want any of that from you." She was staring at him, still not quite believing he'd tried to make her jealous. "I've always liked you just the way you are."

"'Ere," he taps his head, "ah knew. 'Ere," he tapped his chest, "ya look at de othahs different den meh. Ya... ah dunno, weh beh different. Maybeh ah miss de old days. Juss... je ne sais pas, Duckie. Ah can't 'plain it. Not in words. Not in..." he sighed.

"Maybeh, ah wanted teh beh claimed by ya."