Cuddles' Journey!

Chapter 4: Drunk

It took Cuddles the entire day to finish his basic rounds. Normally, it wouldn't have taken him so long, but he had more low-level bushfires to put out today than usual. He'd stopped a Panthorian brawl in one of the canteens. He became a diplomat in an Omeocoon tri-way relationship after one member of the triad suspected the other two to be engaged in an infidelity with another triad onboard, making the whole situation into a weird...six-sided...love...hexagon...thing. Anyway, someone got a divorce. That is precisely why the Panthorians did not get married or stay in relationships for longer than they were comfortable. It was usually a one-night stand, and that was it, none of that nasty lovey-dovey stuff. Cuddles wasn't really sure how Omeocoon managed to reproduce at all; he thought that they had a tradition for maintaining complete loyalty to their partners—guess that went out the airlock when they launched into space. And keep in mind—he did all this while simultaneously continuing negotiations with the Slugaxians over comms. Suffice it to say—all of his hands were full. Despite the Panthorians being known as modern-day Vikings, with their large bodies granting them the title of 'clumsy warriors,' they were actually quite efficient with multi-tasking. Not many organic beings were capable of such a thing, but they were. It's believed that this is the reason for having evolved four arms instead of two—they might've been dumber than Omeocoon, but they were certainly better jugglers. 

Now, he was finally taking a break. And he would be doing it in the one place he actually felt comfortable. Cuddles was on his way to Bodi's cabin again, this time via a private elevator. One of the perks of being the Viceroy to the Chancellor is that you had your very own lift that took you straight to your quarters, a lift he didn't mind squeezing into if it meant he didn't have to be bothered with occupying it with everyone else on the ship. It was only a tiny advantage—yes, but a delight at the end of the day nonetheless. The pneumatic door slid open as it arrived right where Cuddles wanted it to go; he entered the room fully and snarled, huffing with fatigue. Sixteen hours he'd been running around this ship. Sixteen hours. He plopped down on the sofa face first. He was so big his legs dangled off the edge, but it was enough, and he was too tired to return to his webbing. Cuddles rolled over onto his back and addressed Bodi's open door. "I swear—between your brother and your...friends. This vessel is a madhouse. How could there be so much to do on a half-deconstructed ship with only 1,400 people on board it? I might just have to quit." Cuddles joked, laughing at that tiredly.

No response.

"Chancellor?" Cuddles sat up after he didn't get a comeback. That was not good. With Bodi, no responses were bad; it usually meant he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing. Cuddles scrambled to his feet immediately and walked over to the bedroom, ducking to ensure he didn't hit his head on the door frame as he entered the space. "Bodi, what are you doing?" He demanded as he entered the room. The lights were on.

"Oh hey! Cuddles! You're back!" Bodi enunciated. He was slurring his speech and looked like he could barely stand; he looked...wobbly. He braced himself on the wall with one hand as he took a sip from a flask made from the leather of a gel-crawler. Cuddles' flask.

"You were in my room!?" Cuddles snarled with an eye twitch as he realized it was his flask. He went over to Bodi and snatched it right away. The flask of a Panthorian was not meant to be touched because they were designed specifically to fit into their hands without looking like a toy, which meant the thing was about four times the size of an average flask, and something as small as Bodi needed two hands to carry it around. And it was filled to the brim with the last of the void-fire brew Cuddles could scrounge up before they left Omeocoon forever...well, it was. Bodi had inhaled at least half the contents inside. "Are you crazy? You can't drink this stuff! You wanna die?!"

"Look...look. All that matters is that I don't feel anymore...pain, I mean—it's gone!" Bodi continued to slur.

"Yeah, I don't doubt it—but you also have a meeting with a potential trade partner who is boarding this ship right now, and then less than three hours after, you have a dinner party with their governor of the sector, Chancellor Bodi."

"Who?" Bodi huffed, "You're talking very loud." Bodi started to sing drunkenly. He obviously wasn't listening anymore.

Deja vu...about a year ago, they met like this. But instead of Bode being drunk, it was Cuddles. And now he was worried sick—thankfully, Bodi was a G1...so eventually, in a day...maybe two. The alcohol would dissipate in his vitalum, but they couldn't wait that long! He needed to meet with the Slugaxians tonight if they wanted any chance of sparking a trade agreement; this was the Omeocoon's very first ally in this deathtrap known as space, and as the viceroy to the Chancellor, Cuddles had to make sure that he was putting his people's wellbeing first. Void brew had more alcoholic content than even the most alcoholic of alcoholic Earthen beverages. There was a reason why Panthorians evolved with two livers. They were literally designed to stomach the stuff...but...impressively, Bodi seemed to be holding his own so far. "Come on...lets get your boots off, you need to lie down."

"I will do nothing of the sort!" Bodi gasped. Offended, he scrambled into a corner and continued to resist Cuddles' advances.

"Bodi!" Cuddles snipped as Bodi used his smaller size to his advantage and crawled under his legs.

"I am the Chancellor of the Omeocoon and will drink as much as I want!"

"Ugh! I'll just talk to you when you're sober! Give it to me!" Cuddles walked across the room and snatched the flask.

"God damnit! Give it back! This is no way to treat your Chancellor." Bodi rushed Cuddles and jumped for the flask, waving his hands and jumping up as Cuddles used his height to his advantage.

"This is mine. And you're getting some rest before—"

The comm chirped. "Tommy to Cuddles—" Tommy's disembodied voice spoke overhead as Cuddles continued to fend off Bodi.

Cuddles gritted his teeth. He used one of his hands to restrain Bodi and stretched his sleeved arm out to push the button to activate the comm. "Y—yeah..?"

"It's not like you to be late. Is everything okay?" Tommy asked with genuine concern behind his voice.

"Yes, Commander, everything's fine. I'm just...having a wardrobe malfunction." Cuddles grunted as Bodi bit him.

"Well, the delegates have docked with the bridge module. They're going through decontamination now. Is Bodi still not feeling well?"

"No! In fact, he's very—very unwell!" Cuddles snarled as he glared at Bodi, "I'll stand in for him as usual. Cuddles out—!"

"Wait, hold on—" Tommy was cut off.

"That is it! You're getting a time-out." Cuddles finally snapped. He grabbed Bodi and carried him to his compartment. Bodi shrieked as they entered a manifestation of thick webbing that lined the walls and ceiling. In a way, the pattern was woven nicely, and attention was delicately placed into its construction. "Since you like going through my stuff so much. Why don't you take a closer...look!" Cuddles grunted as he tossed Bodi.

Bodi screamed as he was thrown like a football into Cuddles' web. He was caught instantly and then struggled right away. This method of restraint was surprisingly sticky and relatively resistant to shapeshifting.

"Try to get some rest, Bodi." Cuddles insisted as he turned off the light.

"Wait—I'm afraid of the dark!" Bodi screamed.

"Fine, fine!" Cuddles turned the light back on. "You're very annoying. I'm going to the briefing. Now, you better relax and try not to cause too much trouble...well, more than you already have, anyway."