Welcome to Gaia! ::

The snappy retort that flashed through Richard's mind was Well some of us also get to keep their balls. No way he was admiting to that to Billy however. The thought reminded him of the discomfort in his chest, the binding was too tight to be comfortable. Turning away from Billy he pushed one of his small hand inside his shirt to tug at the bandage. He looked to be gazing something along the beach.

"Wasn't my choice. So you don't want the smokes? Maybe you want to switch to that gum now? You could chew it underwater." Richard chuckled a bit. Something about a gum chewing octopus made for an musing mental image.

Resituated, Richard turned back to Billy.

Richard felt like he somesort of drug pusher at the moment but he quickly justified it to himself, as getting his hands on the chip would be for the greater good. He smiled eagerly and stepped closer to Billy. "I met your friend, the kitty. He told me some interesting things."

Richard's eyes paused as he watched the smoke curl from Billy's "ears." He managed to repress the shudder but his tail stopped dead and fell to the ground behind Richard. He breathed in and out before continuing. "Maybe, but you did take something from him right?"

Richard wasn't sure whether Billy was playing dumb or just too dense to pick up on his not very subtle hints. His eyes narrowed as he took another step towards Billy. "Jamal." Richard hissed the name at Billy.

"Hmpf." Maddening. Richard coughed once. Richard had to remind himself that Billy's rock was probably watched. "Fine. I'll leave the cigs. I have more in my duplex." He paused wondering how to express himself. Convert was never his fortie. "Just trying to help people out around here."

Richard eyed the collar. Did he actually want to go through with this idea? He wondered what it did to Billy. It probably wasn't pleasent, what ever it was. Broke a camel's back? Was pulling the chip from Jamal that last straw?

"I could do it. I was one of the best back in the day." Richard muttered to himself more than Billy. "I just want the option. When the day comes." What that day might be Richard had no idea. While he had little faith in god. Richard had faith in human falliablity. Some day the Labs would make a mistake.

A growl rose from Richard throat and he turned away. "A life? What kind of life is here? What sort of future is becoming a monster dreamed up by some satanic fourteen year old?" Richard glared back at Billy. His mask like smile consumed by a snarl.