Chapter 12: 11

Chapter 11

Gimme a Baby Otter Toy

Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil

 

In order to keep a sea otter, Bai Yao has to first research the general habits and knowledge on the creature, since he has no idea at all.

Although he’s technically sentient, but the little sea otter acts no differently to a wild sea otter. That makes him a pet. A pet is a commitment, and he must do his homework properly.

There is a small back garden behind his restaurant, with a white hammock hanging between two banyan trees. Bai Yao takes a seat, pours himself another cup of coffee, and puts it on the small coffee table beside.

The weather is quite fine. After the drizzle last night, it’s become sunny. The rays from the sun are just warm enough before midday.

In fact, it’s still early in the morning. Bai Yao’s hearing can just about pick up laughter from children playing on the south side of the town. It’s quite relaxing with the wind chime blowing in the wind as well.

His hammock sways a little in the breeze, and Bai Yao stretches. As his T-shirt moves up a little to reveal the firm, flat pecs of his abdomen, his golden brown skin is almost glistening. His tattoo on the arm is the cherry on the top of the aesthetic.

The little sea otter, at least, is entranced, following after Bai Yao, and now sniffing all about the yard after Bai Yao has sat down on the hammock. He’d just need to start digging around to become a full-fledged puppy.

Then Bai Yao lights a cigarette up, and leans on the hammock while browsing his phone. He types ‘what in the world are sea otters’ into his search engine.

He clicks open a random result, and while keeping the cigarette between his fingers, he starts to read.

There is a detailed description of sea otter’s general habits. They like floating on water, and put food on their tummies, then eat them by shovelling their paws. Also, they like to be clean, and clean their fur and face regularly.

Bai Yao is aware these already. He can occasionally see small groups of otters from his restaurant. They’re either having meals floating on water or brushing their fur. Living the life, really.

Lastly, the article talks about their common prey – up to bullhead sharks.

Bai Yao’s brows perk up, as he glances over at the busy little sea otter in the garden.

The dumbo is currently trying his best to stuff this piece of rock from somewhere into his pocket, but it’s too big, just one glance and it’s clear this will not fit.

He continues trying from all angles, looking confused, then takes the rock back out to study it some more, sitting on his webbed feet.

Bai Yao thought he is about to abandon the fruitless endeavour – when he just changes his own posture this time and continues trying.

He looks almost distressed trying to squeeze in a rock that would not fit.

Bai Yao chuckles. Bullhead sharks? The dumb sea otter might not even know what a shark is if it brushed up against his face.

The garden is not that big, so the smell of Bai Yao’s cigarette is spreading fast. There is a wispy fog in the air.

The little sea otter stops, and smells the air a little, before sneezing.

Bai Yao notices, and he pinches the flame out. He does not throw it away, though, and continues biting it while reading.

They are polygamous, and extremely aggressive in copulation. This sometimes ends up killing female sea otters.

Oh, man. His poor, future wife. A dumbo for a husband who also partakes in domestic violence.

He decides to mourn in silence for his future wife for a second or two.

Sea otters have the thickest fur of all the animals in the world, with approximately 120,000 individual strands every square centimetre. They rely on their fur instead of fat for keeping warm in the cold ocean currents.

So he’s a big pile of fur. No wonder it’s so soft when he gave him a shower yesterday, thinks Bai Yao.

When he’s more accustomed, he can probably tell him to lie on the ground and be a little soft carpet for him. Yes, let’s do that.

The article is still going. Bai Yao skips to the bottom where there are photographs, and starts flipping through. Then he even raises his phone to compare them with his dumb sea otter. He concludes that his new pet is the prettiest of the bunch.

There are many sea otters featured in the photographs, even a comparison photograph between sea otter babies and kiwi fruit of all things.

Cute. They’re really cute.

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Is he also as cute when he was younger?

Bai Yao’s lips turn into a smile – a manly, and even slightly threatening smile, as he looks at the soft pile of fur in front of him.

“Hey,” Bai Yao calls out, while poking at his butt lightly with his feet. When the sea otter turns around, defenceless, Bai Yao pokes his soft little face with his finger.

“If you have a kid in the future, lemme play with them?”

The little sea otter “squeak.”

Bai Yao has finished reading the article, finding the photographs within the most meaningful, and has forgotten about everything else. Before he can put his phone away, though, he receives a message from a WeChat group.

The group ‘Zoo’ has about 20-odd members, all sentient animals. A friend of Bai Yao’s, Qi Ya built this, saying it’s gonna be helpful to know some somebody.

Bai Yao doesn’t know anyone but Qi Ya, though he was invited inside for no reason a few months ago. He was going to quit immediately, but Qi Ya said he’d drag him right back inside if he left.

… Actually, Bai Yao would bet that Qi Ya has had one-night-stands with over half of the members of the group.

In any case, Qi Ya sent a message to the group.

[anyone have sleeping bags for 10 degrees below zero? lend me, giving it back in a month]

The message is ignored entirely. Some time later, ‘AHamster’ replies.

[nope]
[got an umbrella tho, Qi-ge, want one?]

Qi Ya is a sentient raven, who Bai Yao came to know in university. Sentient animals are a rarity in the modern world, and Bai Yao and Qi Ya were the only two sentient animals of the entire student body back then. Coincidentally, they ended up in the same dormitory.

The first time they met was when Qi Ya entered his dorm room to watch anime with Bai Yao’s roommate. Bai Yao, meanwhile, was smoking with his leg outstretched on the balcony. His eyes were shut, and he looked as manly and imposing as he did now.

In the room, Qi Ya saw him almost immediately. Bai Yao still had short hair then, and his shoulders were broad and his curves sleek from the side.

Qi Ya whistled, and forgot about his anime immediately. He saw on the bed, and openly eyes Bai Yao up and down. He’s a fan of Bai Yao’s chiselled side profile, and has sensed that he’s an imposing sentient snow leopard, so he’s intrigued, and wants some action.

Before leaving, Qi Ya shoved the roommate aside, and heads for the balcony, taking proud strides outside.

There are quite a few cigarette butts on the ground. Bai Yao heard him, but didn’t even look back. Still smoking, he’s resting with eyes closed on the wall.

Qi Ya looked down at Bai Yao from atop, then lifts his chin with his index finger, “lil’ panther, wanna fuck?”

Bai Yao doesn’t even look at him. He smirks, and stands up. When he does, he turns out to be half a head taller than Qi Ya.

With his cigarette between his fingers, he pinches Qi Ya’s nape with his other hand. His smoking cigarette brushes past Qi Ya’s hair. He says, with a sticky, gravelly tone, “hey little flightless birdie. I’m a top.”

Nothing happened that night but a newfound friendship. They remained in contact many years after graduation.

Bai Yao, with his cigarette still in his mouth, messages Qi Ya privately on the hammock, [what, a camping trip at home?]

It takes a while for a reply to come, [going off to snowy peaks next week to stalk a three and a half year old snow leopard, weeks of camping in store]

Qi Ya works as an animal researcher at a wild animal rescue. His charges are mostly endangered animals from cold climates. Last month, he went to save an endangered Ural owl in some wilderness off at Jishi, only returning two days ago.

He actually lives in the city not far away from Qiaohai, about four hours away by car. He’s always talked about coming to visit Bai Yao, but never had the time to.

Animal researchers are always busy and have irregular holidays. He’s extremely busy usually, and often teases Bai Yao for already spending his days like a retiree.

Bai Yao slowly types, [oh, dont fall and die now]

Qi Ya ignores the provocation, [well? want me to say hello to your relative?]

Bai Yao rolls his eyes at the phone, and replies with one very simple phrase, [fuck off]

[so what’s up with you? any tasty dishes to share? ive had enough of energy bars already]

Bai Yao looks away from the phone to watch the little sea otter, half sprawled on the ground, currently peeking to see the contents of his armpit pocket, and chuckles, replying, [playing with a sea otter]

Even through the phone Bai Yao can almost hear Qi Ya scream, [what the hell???]

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