Chapter 11: Herp

Whee, I actually updated within a month. :D Too bad this is the last chapter that I've..um..written in the past three months. :D;; So since I don't have anything to type up, um, the updates will go back to the horror ages. Oops. XD

Still, it's a good read as any. And happy future Halloween to everybody~ :D

This was his seventh, or maybe his eighth drink. Eight, tall glasses of the most intoxicating drink money could buy at a local Viridian bar. It was probably nighttime - no, it was definitely nighttime. Those lights outside had to prove it, or maybe the proof was in the two clocks that read 11:30 p.m. Or was it a.m. ? Hell, did time really matter, anyway ?

Spinning a mixer straw around in his glass, Giovanni wasn't even sure what day of the week it was anymore. Not that that mattered much, either. After two days of torturous punishment, vacation time had finally started, beginning with getting hammered. Sure, it wasn't the healthiest option out there, and with his excessive drinking he could end up busting a kidney, but he didn't really need that second kidney, did he ? If he wanted to get hammered after a long day's work, then it was his Kantonian right to do so. The very definition of freedom.

Besides, his vacation time now was rather similar to that of the pink slip. His best executives had defected, he almost got shot, and to top it all off, most of his crew abandoned him. After they had all enjoyed a quiet meal at the restaurant, agreements were that it was best if everyone took a breather for the rest of the night. Erika, Koga, and Surge decided to walk back to the hotel with their new "friends", while Delia found it easier to just go back to her own home in Pallet for the night. She was still not speaking to him, for whatever reason he had already forgotten. Well, she didn't need to talk to him. He was fine all on his own.

Two more drinks and a heap of satisfaction later, he was ready to leave the bar before someone threw him out. He swayed back and forth as he stood up from his stool, tipped the bartender, and headed toward the door. His surroundings were blurred, his speech was slurred, and he was pretty sure his breath stank more than a Magikarp carcass. Yes, this was the very definition of getting hammered. Some people could claim he couldn't handle his liquor, but they were wrong. He could handle his licorice-er...liquor.

Outside, there was one person who stayed loyal to him no matter how drunk he was. As he approached his car in the parking lot, Mondo was hugging himself in an attempt to keep warm from the cold winds. At the sight of his drunken employer, the boy placed a worried look on his face. "Sir !" he exclaimed. That boy was the closest thing he had to a son right now, but he was pretty annoying at times. Most of the time...like now. "Sir, I thought you'd never come out of there ! I would've helped to protect you, but they wouldn't let me in on account of they said I looked like a twelve-year-old. Are you okay ?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm, uh, I'm fine as a fhhh- a Clefairy. I just, uhh, gotta get my keys and crapola, and we can go somewhere and p-pass out on the roof."

Keys rattled in his hands as he searched for the ones that would open his car doors. Two pairs down, about thirty-hundred to go. Mondo's eyes widened at the thought of who was about to get behind the wheel. "Wait a sec, hold on, Sir ! Maybe you think I should drive us to this somewhere ?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Monroe. You...you can't drive lookin' like some Dennis the Menace. You're not old enough."

"But, Sir, you can't drive !" Mondo pleaded. "I've seen those films where people drink and drive. The higher-ups make all of us suppliers watch those films. You're driving your car while having a couple of glasses of something, and then smash ! You get in the way of an SUV and crash and explode ! As a loyal employee of Team Rocket, I have to make sure of your safety at all costs. I can't let you crash and explode !"

"I'm not gonna crash and explode, goddammit !" Giovanni snapped. "I'm, uh, p...perfectly capable of driving below- behind the wheel, Monroe ! And if you...uhh, don' wanna come along with the ride like a pansy, then you can walk somewhere ! I ain't responsible for no pansy boy that can't even count right, ha !"

Almost falling to the ground at that statement, he laughed and stumbled into the driver's seat. Mondo dashed inside the backseat before the car rolled backwards, worried about sudden combustion from his boss. If Giovanni would suddenly crash or explode on his watch, Domino would never forgive him, maybe even hit him. She did admire the boss a lot, and she also did dislike him a lot, so keeping an eye on the boss was the best he could do. Well, that or getting her one of those deluxe flat-screen TVs with the high-definition, but he knew that one wasn't happening.

The car swerved back and forth as it bounced along the road at a high speed. Mondo clutched the seat belt over his stomach, suddenly feeling queasy from the rocky ride. There were so many things wrong with driving beyond the speed limit in Viridian City. Officer Jenny could stop them and stick Giovanni with a parking ticket or a DUI or one of those jail sentences without bail. They could be chased across Kanto by a hundred Officer Jennies until Giovanni drove himself sober or the police gunned down both of them. Or worse. Giovanni could run over a stumbling woman in the middle of the road.

"BOSS, YOU GOTTA STOP THE CAR ! YOU'RE GONNA RUN OVER THAT LADY !"

"Huh ?"

Mondo kicked the driver's seat, sending Giovanni into the steering wheel and the brakes. Before his boss could fly into a drunken rage, the boy stepped out of the car to assist the lady. She was a trembling figure, distraught with a bloodstained labcoat and what looked like a pink blob. Maybe it wasn't the smartest idea to approach a total stranger, but it wasn't too smart to ride in the car with a drunk driver, either. Somehow he had to help her. "Hey, ma'am, it's not very wise to walk by yourself in the middle of the road. My boss almost ran over you. Um, are you hurt ?"

Stupidest question ever. If Domino was there he knew he would've been punched somewhere. This woman, however, seemed to be patient despite her obvious injury. She smiled, nodding. "I'm afraid so, little boy. I had a little dispute with my brother, and I was wanting to look for a hospital. I believe there's no immediate danger, though. It's okay."

"Oh. You're not around here ?"

"No, I'm not. I came to Kanto some odd number of days ago, and I'm still not sure of much. Can you tell me where we are ?"

"Oh, yeah. We're in Viridian City," Mondo replied, blushing. He wasn't used to meeting foreigners that often, and most of them intimidated him. This woman didn't look threatening, though. "It's a very green place, ma'am. A lot of forest."

"Really ?"

"Yeah."

A car horn blared. Either Giovanni had passed out or he was growing impatient, but neither option was good for Mondo's safety. He grabbed the woman's hand and guided her inside of the backseat, lest they ended up as roadkill. Mondo supposed his boss was just impatient as the car began to zoom forward again. He glanced at his new friend, who shifted in his seat. "I do apologize for not acting so normally, little boy," she murmured. "I'm just a little down in the weather, is all. Munna and I are very homesick right now."

The pink blob squeaked and nestled against its owner's chest. The woman addressed Mondo's confusion with a small smile. "This is Munna. You see, I live in a place where the most unfamiliar pokemon live. You may only see one or two of them in a magazine or private habitat. I've already seen a few Kantonian pokemon that look so unique to me. If I was here on different business, I'd probably act a lot sillier and study these beautiful creatures. Do you have any pokemon, dear ?"

"Nah, I just supply stuff."

"It's rare to find such kind strangers. What's your name ?"

"I'm Mondo. And you're, uh ?"

"Fennel, dear. Friends call me Fennel."

"Well, um. I guess we can get you to a hospital soon, but you see my boss driving. He's a little wrecked right now."

"Of course. I can wait 'til the morning if need be."

"A...Are you sure ? I mean, there's like a big bloodstain on your-"

"Nothing a bit of detergent can't fix. I don't think it's a big deal. I'm just very thankful I'm not anemic like some poor souls."

"M-Monroedo !" Giovanni growled, glaring into his front mirror. His eyes were bloodshot, wishing to prey on whatever objects he could focus on without crashing into anything. Mondo questioned his boss's intentions. "M-Monroedo. I g...stop the car so you can pick up some, uh, tranny hooker or whatever ? Y'know...we are on a mission here. A mission to, uh, party and fight crime ! We're the friggin' crime fighters here, kid ! Bent on...bent on...bent on destroying the...crime ! So. Who's our tranny hooker partner ?"

"She's not a tranny hooker !" Mondo defended, groaning. "Her name's Fennel, and- and are you driving us to that hotel, SIr ?"

"Yeah. Can't find my house keys."

"What if I helped you find them ?"

From the backseat Mondo spotted Giovanni grunting with a shrug. "Nah, I'm fine."

They sat in silence for the remainder of the trip. Mondo's eyes widened at the realization of what hotel they were staying for the night. This was the luxurious Perh, four stories of beauty and grandeur meant for the elite visitors. Usually Mondo would see the hotel featured in those tabloid magazines. (Tabloids loved big buildings for some reason.) He'd see Lorelei reading poetry on a water bed or Agatha caning one of those bellhop people. Sometimes even pokemon trainers would stay there as a reward of competing in the Indigo Plateau. Of course Giovanni would want to stay at a place with prestige, even if he was wrecked.

Speaking of his boss, Giovanni parked the car and proceeded to stumble towards Perh's entrance. Mondo grabbed Fennel's hand and raced off after him, hoping for the best. If Giovanni was to get in any fight, argument, or accident while in the hotel, it could result in a nasty front-pager in the Pokemon Staryu. Not to mention the embarrassment and rage.

And so far Pokemon Staryu's description of Perh was accurate for being a tabloid. Two pleasant bellhops with dark green uniforms lounged near the check-in counter. A sunny-looking girl with green pigtails sat cross-legged behind the counter, pawing at the assistance bell. Mondo noticed a plaque on the desk that read Brenda with a paw print next to it. This was not the average attitude at past midnight, but maybe the people were just putting on a front. " Welcome to the Perh, guys. How may I help you ?" Brenda asked.

A normal response was to smile and reply with some degree of politeness. Instead Giovanni began to rage at the poor counter girl, fuming about poor service and lack of decor, much to Mondo's dismay. This began a nasty argument between employee and customer, with the two bellhops threatening to call security. "And you do realize this is a highly-esteemed hotel, and we can kick people out at will ?" one of the bellhops growled, pointing a finger at his opponent. "We can get the police here faster than you can piss off a Primeape !"

Bad idea to taunt a drunken Giovanni. Mondo shivered, thinking about the last time someone dared to make that mistake. He doubted that the bellhop would be struck by a gourmet wine bottle, but it wasn't impossible. The man was already advancing toward one of the bellhops, intimidating the other employees like it was a bank robbery. The counter girl squeaked and grabbed onto the other bellhop's hand, hoping there weren't any guns to be involved. Those glass windows couldn't take much more abuse.

About ten minutes later, Mondo's blood pressure was at a safe level as he and Fennel walked around the third floor. He was always somewhat uncomfortable being along with women, but he had to accept being on his own for the time being. After his tiff with the hotel's employees, Giovanni managed to score one of the suites for his pleasure. However, he made it about halfway up the stairs before passing out face-first, leaving Mondo and Fennel to find the room themselves. It shouldn't have been that hard to find, seeing as there weren't many rooms on the third floor.

Being alone with a woman almost twice his age made Mondo more than lost, though. He knew they had to have circled around the floor several times by now. At least Fennel and her pokemon were enjoying themselves. While they searched the two ooed and ahhed at what Perh's glamour had to offer - plush rugs, fake potted plants...doorbells next to every room. Mondo himself was in awe of the expenses his boss paid for, but he knew better than to show it. Most women he knew would hit him if he showed such amazement.

Still, Fennel didn't seem like the hitting type. Mondo forced himself to gaze at the floor as her chest bounced up and down in excitement. He couldn't handle curvy bosoms too well. "Oh, aren't Kanto's styles and fabrics just gorgeous," she breathed, leaning against a plant. Munna cooed and wiggled on its trainer's head. If the woman was in any sort of pain, she sure hid it very well. "It's such a drastic change from the isolation I'm used to seeing. We may like our fancy patterns and diversity, but I haven't seen anything so...so...stylish."

"Yeah. We're a pretty popular region with the tourists," Mondo chuckled. Those tabloid magazines really gave him a lot of insight with Kanto. He'd never been past the Vermilion outskirts due to his supplier status. "We got forests and the ocean and volcanoes and beaches. All the time I'll see Miss Lorelei taking a cruise by the Cinnabar coastline or a few gym leaders shopping at Saffron's malls. Really intense stuff."

"Ehh, really ? Sir Mondo, do they have observatories, too ?"

"Pro'lly. I think they have one set up by Mt. Moon or something like that. Ooh, look, I finally found the room."

Mondo shoved the key into the doorknob, then groaned. Leave it to the boss to give them the car keys instead. He sunk down to the plush rug and sighed, wiggling the key ring around his fingers. "Sorry, Miss Fennel. Looks like we'll have to sleep it out here 'til my boss finds us. I really should've checked the keys before we went up here. Oh, well. Tough cookies, I guess."

"Dear friend, we shall have a sleepover, then."

The boy's nose shot out blood as his head was pushed into something squishy. Fennel had taken a seat beside him and tucked his noggin under her chin in a loving embrace. It was rather difficult to just stare down at the rug now, which set the tone for Mondo's flushed face. Although she didn't mean to stun her friend intentionally, Fennel was oblivious to his discomfort as she pressed him harder against her chest. "Oh, God. I remember when my brother was as sweet and innocent as...as you," she sobbed. "We'd always play together when he was little. He...he was always an attention seeker. I was the only one he ever turned to, ooh, boo-hoo. Ahh, boo-hoo."

"Mmphr, Miss Fennel, Miss Fennel..."

"H-How'd I-I ever let him go a-astray ? He was so energetic, and he...he just turned into a rotten apple. Dear Mondo, you should never go onto the path of darkness, never ever ever."

"Mmmphr. Mmmphr."

"Hey ! Get a room or let me in, you two !"

Mondo hopped out of Fennel's grasp and almost choked on his breath. He couldn't decide whether seeing the lieutenant in a Batman costume or seeing Fennel's labcoat open wide was worse. His hand wiped his bloody nose, and he wondered if he could find a few sheets of tissue. Mr. Lieutenant was running across the floor, with Mr. Ninja and Professor Sebastian right behind him. The boy hoped it was just a dream as he grabbed Fennel's hand and helped her to her feet. Before she could ask what was going on, Mondo pushed her into the wall. "Hold on, Miss Fennel, they're heading straight for us !"

CRASH !

"Mmmphr ! Mmphr !"

He started to squeal as he tried to get off of Fennel and her exposing bra. Surge, who was crushing Koga's legs, made a cheeky grin and patted Mondo's back. "Hey, little boy. I didn't think I'd ever see you all grown up and handlin' a woman like some good ol' high-quality American beef !" the lieutenant exclaimed. "Uh, not so sure if she's very high quality, though. Hope you didn't overpay her...that'd be a real shame for someone like you, little boy."

"She's not a hooker !" Mondo blurted. "Miss Fennel and I just met."

"Nnn, it's not very convincing, little one," Koga murmured.

"Please, sirs, I'm telling the truth ! Miss Fennel just had a rough night, and, uh, we just met and drove off to here and we're locked out of our hotel room now. Uhh."

"Is she gonna be okay ?"

The professor was glancing at Fennel with a raised eyebrow, particularly at her bloody labcoat. Mondo bit his tongue, knowing full well that he wouldn't be fooled by a lame excuse like the gym leaders. He had a PhD or whatever, for God's sake. And of course he'd be concerned of a trembling woman and why she would be hanging out with someone...someone like Mondo. Didn't hospitals pay more professional people to deal with the sick and injured nowadays ?

"Mondo, I asked you a question. Is she gonna be okay ?"

"Ahhh, for now, I think. Miss Fennel'll be fine, I think."

"Fennel ? You don't mean the professor Edith Fennel of the Unova region ?"

Pushing Mondo to the side, Sebastian knelt down and examined Fennel, taking note of the torn labcoat and other broken aspects of her appearance. While the other men gave awkward looks, he shook his head. "Medical treatment should be made possible within the next few days or so. Immediately, preferably." Then he shook her hand, pleased with his diagnosis. "I've seen your research in several science magazines, and I'm a big fan of your work,"he confessed. "You're one of the ones who prove science isn't all about the money, you and...Juniper, was it ? Very admirable work, fellow colleague. I'm Professor Sebastian."

He pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat, frowning. Fennel shifted to a more comfortable position, taking on a serious expression while he spoke. "While I'm not going to judge why you are in Kanto or why you've made company with young Mondo here, but I do remember you being less distressed in the last public appearance you've made. Less blood, less rips and wear-and-tears..."

"Less boobies."

Koga kicked Surge in the chest, silencing the lieutenant. Fennel paled and grimaced, leaning against the wall with crossed arms. She took a sharp exhale, gazing up at the ceiling. "Sebastian. Yes, I've heard of you. One of the top scientists in the Johto region, recently transferred to Kanto after some hounding by several tabloids. Though we study different areas of pokemon and are from different lands, we are colleagues, and to an extent, partners, allies...friends. Human nature bonds us." She nodded to herself, convinced of her version of the universe's thought process. "My brother and I met today, as a matter of fact. Not a very fond meeting. We fought a little. Very sad."

"Didn't you call the police ?"

"No, dearest Mondo, the police cannot help."

Sebastian took off his vest and handed it to Fennel, who draped it over her chest. Somehow, both professors shared a small laugh despite the tense atmosphere. Fennel stood up and nodded again, hugging the vest. She decided to pat her colleague's hand, making the other professor uneasy. "You're quite welcome, Professor. I don't really need the vest anyway." He cleared his throat again, turning to Mondo. "Loks like we got two more to bunk in tonight. I thought you were at least a litle smarter than this. How did you get locked out of your own room ?"

"Huh ? Well, it's not exactly my fault. Mr. Giovanni gave me the car keys."

The other men stirred at this, gawking at the young boy. Mondo grew confused and looked up at Sebastian, but his professor friend merely waved his hand. "Let's not talk about that, then. You know, it's a little late and we should probably go to bed soon. Mondo, you'll have to sleep on the floor with us men. Professor - Miss Edith - you'd probably be able to bunk with one of the other ladies. One of them's bound to have some extra clothes. You and your pokemon will be welcomed."

"Thanks."

"Huh. Yeah, she'd have better bunk on the couch. That blonde missy is really a handful."

"The lieutenant actually makes a point for once, Sebastian."

"Yes." A small sweatdrop appeared beside Sebastian's head. He chuckled, once again reminded of his fellow coworker's violent quirks. "We'll cross that bridge when it comes, too, I suppose. Let's just get those buns to bed so I don't have to think much of my biker hippie days."

And so they all walked to where everyone was staying. When they finally reached the room, Mondo was speechless at how grand Perh's accomodations could really be. There were only two beds, but each one could stuff a half dozen people in it without much discomfort. Two long windows viewed the Viridian Forest, treetops, Butterfree, and all. A flat-screen television was embedded in one of the walls, complete with ultimate satellite and DVR capabilities. The television was playing a popular drama involving a hospital filled with amnesiac assassins. Along with two leftover boxes of pizza, two mini-fridges were also available. Unbeknowst to Mondo, this was just one of the standard gym leader suties, paid for with pooled money from Erika, Surge, and Koga.

Another surprise Mondo noticed was the women being wide awake, with one more woman than he expected. Erika, Delia, and Domino, all in night apparel, were playing a round of cards with a less glum Gloom. Upon seeing the boy and the others, Domino lost her cheery attitude and scowled. "Oh, God, out of all the people who could find me, it had to be you. Couldn't handle the night of wilderness without your apron strings ?"

She smirked at him. Delia placed her drink on the table and waved. "Hello, Mondo. Didn't expect you here tonight, honey."

"Didn't expect you, either, Miss Delia. Weren't you gonna stay in Pallet ?"

Delia shrugged. "I wanted to be a bit more accessible with everyone else, so I decided to stay here in the meantime. Hehe." She smiled, then looked confused. "So who's your friend, honey ?"

They turned their attention to Mondo's guest, who shifted in her labcoat and borrowed vest. Mondo suspected Fennel wasn't usually on the reserved side, but he knew she had a hard time for the past few hours. He also knew she had taken a liking to him, probably due to his naive innocence. Therefore, he did not take it very well when his new friend wrapped her arms around him, pressing her chest against his back. Quite uncomfortable for the innocent Mondo. "T-This is Professor Fennel. We met on the road tonight. She had a fight with her brother, but she's not from here. Or her pokemon."

"Hello."

Domino raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "She is so not sleeping in my bed. I had an agreement with the other girls, and they told me I can have a bed to myself if I please." There was a sudden spark of annoyance in her eyes, with a possible hint of something else as she glared in Fennel's direction. "Look, Mondo, don't think for a minute that I'm impressed with you and your new older girlfriend. She may be a professor, but nowadays you can practically get your degree from a frickin' cereal box. That seems like the case with a lotta chicks."

"But she's not my girlfriend."

"Yeah, right. I don't wanna believe it, either, but how else could she be feeling on you like that ?"

"She's just like that."

Fennel nodded, squeezing Mondo even tighter. "Please understand that I do not wish to steal away your beautiful boyfriend. As a respectful adult, I-"

"WHAT ? Bitch, you can keep him, 'cause I know he's not my boyfriend ! How dare you try to go all creeper-eye on everyone and act like you don't want someone stupid like my idiot-brained, dumbass comrade over here, you friggin' cornstalk !"

Delia and Erika held Domino back from attacking Fennel, despite her demands to be let loose. Sebastian ushered Fennel and Munna into a recliner, whispering words of how Domino always gave everyone a hard time during introductions. Meanwhile, Mondo paced back and forth, going between the two ladies. He couldn't understand why Domino would be so critical toward Fennel so quickly, but he knew his fellow comrade could be a complete mystery sometimes. Instead he settled on the floor and focused on the other topic at hand while gazing at the celing. "So, uh, I guess we'll all just get some shut-eye. Are we gonna meet with the boss in the morning ?"

"No."

"No."

"No friggin' way."

"Huh ? How about you, Miss Delia ?"

The woman looked down at the floor and released Domino, rubbing her arms together in slight frustration. "Well, Mondo, honey, to be honest I don't think your boss really wants to help out with us," she admitted. A streak of disappointment was visible across her face. "It's...it's not like we're wanting to kick him out or anything. Everyone can just sleep on it and we'll work on it in the morning, hmm ?"

"Yeah."

Soon everyone began to settle into a slow and steady pace of easy slumber. Snoring like a Snorlax on one bed was Domino; Erika and Fennel were stretched on the other bed, backs pressed together with Munna and Gloom snoozing on top of them. The status on Fennel's injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening, but Sebastian still wanted to inspect them more closely in the morning. Sebastian and Koga were situated on the couch and recliner after a long talk of Kantonian politics, while Surge rolled about on the long rug, clutching his superhero cape. It was a time where everybody could get their thoughts together and hope for the best, a small beacon of light within the vast lands of dreaming.

During that time Mondo had stepped out of the room. Since he couldn't fall asleep due to his growing concerns of his leader's safety, he decided to take another walk around the third floor. He kept his distance from attracting attention, looking down at the potted plants until he noticed someone else walking around the area. When their eyes met, Mondo felt a slight pinge of embarrassment and waved. "Um, Miss Delia, what are you doing up late ?"

"Thinking."

"Thinking, huh ? It's pretty good to think."

"I think we may be thinking about the same thing tonight."

Mondo nodded. "Yeah. Um. I mean, I really don't mean to be rude or anythig, Miss Delia, but I figured you're at least a little worried about him. I guess he just needs to grow up a little."

"Yes. I know I could never hate him."

"Then why are you giving him such a hard time ?"

Delia raised an eyebrow and snorted. "Honey, you have a long way to go before learning the complex nature of women. If I just gave in to him so easily...again...how would that make him learn his lesson ? He's already done stuff like this countless times. Besides," She bit down on her lip with a slight agitation, "he did get me a little upset."

"A little ?"

"Maybe a lot. But women forgive quickly and easily most of the time."

"Nnn, I'm not sure if I could agree with you on that, Miss Delia," Mondo groaned, smiling. "I've spilled coffee and bumped into drawers and stomped on feet enough to know that most women respond with kicking or punching...or biting. Ahh, and I think only one or two girls have actually forgiven me for all of that, and that was about quite a few months later. Miss Domino's like that." He sighed. "She's one of those girls who forgave me a few months later...well, maybe two years later. And I still got a few punches for it afterward, too."

"Well, wait a sec, Mondo. You have to understand that girls and women are two different species. Miss Fennel, Miss Erika, and I are very forgiving, and that's because we're women and we've been around the block a few times." There was a hint of amusement in Delia's voice as she smiled. "Domino's...Domino's still somewhat of a child, just like you are, just like my son and all of his friends. You guys may think you're awesome and mature and everything, but when it comes down to it, you're like a bunch of cat burglars stuck in a tree. Think about that. When you think about Domino trying to punch you, just like when I think about Giovanni trying to snap at me, think that it's never wholeheartedly your fault. Although I would think she blames you for everything, right ?"

"Haha, right. She's just like that. Thanks for explaining."

"Mm-hmm."

As they continued to walk around the floor, enjoying their late-night stroll, there was a thick figure slumped against one of the doors. Only these two would take enough pity on the figure and open the door to the room, drag him inside, and hope that in the morning there would be no rampages.

End