The Show Arena - Just outside the Manager/Booking Office

They say no matter if you win or lose a tough fight, your body loses every time. Or not, he may have made that up himself. The White-cheeked spider monkey still put stock in that as he rested on the old bench in the old moldy green brick hallway just outside the booker's office. Gustavo had jabbed him with some lidocaine earlier, but his body still had aches like nobody's business.

All because you were sloppy, he thought.

His face had puffed up and bruised, his jaw was sore, his ribs were so tenderized that he'd be ready to serve in one of the slum's meat markets, his throat hurt from the strangling, and his tail… his poor chewed-up tail. That was the worst casualty to him.

Gustavo had assured him it wasn't so bad, just a few nights with an ice pack and some antibiotic shots, but all the same, he cradled the gnarled mutilated mess of flesh and fuzz and couldn't help but feel distraught. After all, what was a spider monkey without his tail? His tail was basically his partner in crime, even if it was just a part of his anatomy.

"So...urgh." A gravelly voice wearily spoke just across the other side of the booker's door.

Pao opened his tired eyes and turned to see he wasn't alone. Sitting on the same side of the hallway, just across the door on the bench opposite him sat the swollen and bruised up Cape honey badger that he had defeated earlier. Rampaging Rashid. More like Tail Biter, painfully thought.

The beat-up ratel looked like a big sad mess with his broken bloody nose, closed eye, and a tightly-fitting blood-splattered t-shirt that his cornerman likely used to towel his bloodied face off with. The haggard-looking Mellivora too was waiting for his manager inside the booking office.

Despite losing, the badger was still owed quite a sum of money by the promotion given he had fought and survived the ordeal. Typically, because of how brutal a lot of these unsanctioned fights were, the show arena tended to pay more than other venues. And they would pay the winning and losing parties.

Blood money, seasoned people would call it. Usually somewhere in the ballpark of five-hundred bucks or roughly fifty-thousand yen maybe less was expected if you made it. Which on paper sounds like a lot, but really can be very cheap considering your average fighter's partnership with a manager. Sometimes you have to split that. Pao, as the winner, was going to get twice that with a thousand bucks that he would split 30% of with Gus.

Still, generous offer considering what people usually get at the other underground spots. Pao even remembered the fights back in Salvador, Bahia where he wouldn't have even dreamed of making five hundred in Brazilian real, even if he did win.

It was a business trade on Baraki's part. It made the potential death matches worth it, and also served as hush-up money to keep the less than scrupulous business practice under wraps when the Raccoon started hocking corpses and body parts to the right people on the market.

"Nice moves out there… uh… amigo … that's the word right?" The white-scalped ratel spoke, unsure if he had used the right phrase. "Not bad for a flowery little pretty boy."

Some beasts have all the nerve, Pao thought, closing his eyes and ignoring the badger's patronizing and poor attempt to be friendly.

The bastard was being disingenuous, even a fool could tell right down to his voice. It was bad enough that he got short-changed on his date with his rabbit acquaintance as well as the bigger payout he would have gotten defeating her, but now he had to deal with this jerk's attempt at banter. The same bastard that had used his precious tail like a damn chew toy no less.

"Amigo?" Pao finally responded, " Não, we ain't amigos Snowtop…. especially not after what you did!" Pao spat with some venom in his voice, smoothing out the fur at the tip of his tail.

"Cry me a river, but hey it was a good fight, though...right?" The badger insisted.

Despite his disdain for the badger's conversation, their fight had been a strenuous affair, so he wasn't wrong. The beady-eyed black and white brawler had been a mean task to put down, a real emphasis on the mean. A few minutes ago, he had been unsure if he'd ever drop the bastard...so he guessed he did owe him credit for that .

" Uh... Boa luta, eu acho. Good fight, I guess" Pao answered, with a sorta respectful tone. "Would have rather fought da champ tonight, but eh...we did put on a good show out there. You put up a good fight." The monkey didn't even bother turning his head in Rashid's direction as he bundled up and nursed his poor tail. "Now, can you leave me alone, Snowtop? The winner is trying to get some rest over here. "

"C'mon. Lighten up." Rashid took offense, sensing the hint of a cold shoulder. "What? You too good to talk to me?"

"I just want to rest," Pao answered. "But I guess you don't understand da concept of beauty sleep, do you feio ugly? "

"Hey quit being a little bitch over there, ya fruity little knuckle dragger! You listen when I talk to you."

"Are you trying to talk to me or insult me? Because I'm not really in the mood for either, Tail Biter! "

"That's it, huh?" The busted-up ratel snickered lowly. "Still sore about that? Could be worse. I could be picking the rest of you outta my teeth instead of just pieces of your tail! You got a nice taste by the way."

Pao awoke with a fire within him. "Foda-se! Vá se foder! Fuck it! Go fuck yourself!" He barked down at the ratel, baring his sharp fangs. The monkey ground his teeth together furiously as he hopped down from the bench and tore off his tight green shirt, ready for another fight. The badger happily stood up to meet him.

"ALRIGHT!" The bruised-up badger cried, eagerly pounding his fists together as he readied for round two. "Let's finish this right, you girly boy!"

"Caralho!" Dick!

Wait…

It might have been his own exhaustion or maybe just post-fight clarity, but in the moments before he could throw himself into another brawl the simian capoeirista began to weigh just what he would achieve by locking horns with this macho asshole again.

He had already beat him. He was getting paid. And he wasn't in the best of shape right now anyway. Pretty much, it wasn't worth it, especially since he wasn't getting paid for this incoming brawl. Beating Rashid again for free wouldn't really fix his tail, make him feel better maybe. But then again… getting paid would feel a hell of a lot better.

Pao slowed his pace to a halt and took a deep breath. Rashid similarly paused briefly, puzzled at what the monkey might be planning.

"What's da matter?" The ratel asked, dukes still raised.

"Eh, you know what Snowtop? Forget it." Pao said, throwing his hands up. "Don't feel like it anymore."

"What?"

"I'm not getting paid to knock you out a second time. So no point. I'm just going to go sit down now."

"Aw come on…COME ON!" The badger growled restlessly, beckoning the spider monkey menacingly with his claws. "Come on down here so we can tear each other apart!"

The badger was that desperate for a rematch.

"You got any money on you then?" The monkey mischievously propositioned, putting his fists. "Something you wanna put up? I'll fight you for money. Jajajaja."

"Well...no…" The badger said, embarrassed, his purple trunks didn't have any pockets and his manager handled the money. "I mean... I'm getting some in a bit, remember. I'll bet whatever I get."

"But you don't have any on you now?"

"...No," Rashid admitted.

"Não…*tsk tsk* not good enough." The monkey folded his arms and shook his head. " Sem dinheiro, sem luta. No money, no fight." Pao cracked a cheeky and mischievous smile at the flustered sharped-tooth beast. "You should have won where it counted, amiiigo. "

"Fuck off with this coward shit, you banana-breathed faggot!" The weasel-faced monster roared undeterred as he rushed up and threw the first blows.

Pao, all though not in tip-top shape, easily avoided the Mellivora's attack with his confident rocking back and forth before striking back at him with a rapid-fire hard kick to the side that made a loud pop as if someone had busted a paper bag full of air.

The badger grunted sharply and gasped as he doubled over. Pao grabbed hold of the badger's head and fired a swift follow-up knee right into Rashid's solar plexus, sending the ailing ratel dropping to the floor sucking in air in big gasps like a vacuum.

"You fuckin-urgh...faaaag…" The honey badger groaned, before coughing up some red spittle on the floor.

"What is with you and dis fantasy of me being a homosexual, hein?" The panting monkey responded.

The badger could only respond in a set of harsh wet coughs.

" Desculpe. Sorry I'm afraid I'm not interested." Pao joked.

"Shut u-URGH!" The badger managed to grunt sharply before the smug simian took advantage of the belligerent badger's little spill and piled on top of his back, effectively pinning him down.

"All tho… I do have dis cousin back in Bahia… looks just like me I swear." Pao looked down at the black and white beast and flashed him a very friendly smile. "Ele gosta de ratos de academia como você. He likes gym rats like you. Maybe work on your attitude, I can set something up. How bout dat?"

"Get... off!" The badger wheezed, trying to angle his arms to claw at the monkey, but Pao was quick to grab and stretch his arm behind him. Rashid was too sapped of energy to fully shake the primate off.

" Jajajaja ." The monkey stomped the weasel-faced brute's head into the floor and began lounging on top of him like a couch. Normally he wouldn't go this far, but this joker had been asking for it.

"Wow! Did you know you make a very comfortable sofá Snowtop?" The monkey humorously commented much to the badger's dismay as he tried to buck the cocky simian. "Maybe you should retire from fighting and go into the furniture business. Jajaja."

"I give...damn it...I give...please...get off." The badger whined, his eyes watering as he strained to rise off the floor, before tuckering out under the monkey's weight.

" Sure thing, chorão." Crybaby The monkey mocked as he got up off of the living comfy couch, feeling that he had learned his lesson.

Rashid couldn't even stand after that, he had to crawl his way back to his previous spot, tail tucked between his legs while Pao cracked his neck and slid his discarded shirt back on.

"You know what? Because I'm good guy, I won't charge you for dat. Ei?" Pao added, stroking the fuzz on his chin. "Keep your money. On da house. Jajaja." He said flashing another winning smile.

The hurt badger did nothing, but whimper feebly in response. Rashid's breathing was very labored as he began to slump on the wooden seat, lying on his side trying to relieve the world of pain he was in.

As he sat down, Pao silently dropped the cocky act, and let himself breathe finally. He was glad he shut him down so quickly, the truth was that was all the energy he had left to spare, no way he would have lasted another drawn-out contest.

No sooner had their little spat concluded, another commotion seemed to have sparked off, this time in the booking office. The sound of furniture and animals shrieking could be heard through the thin walls and then the door flung open.

"Get the hell outta here ya fuckin' scavenger!" The raccoon's shrill voice screamed as a cloud of dark feathers exploded out into the hallway.

It was Rashid's manager, a middle-aged Cape vulture, being forcefully ejected from the office like a bowling ball rolling down the lane. Strike!

The balding bird smashed against the wall and rested upside down on his shoulders as both the raccoon booker and an abnormally buff cream-and-black-furred vixen emerged hefting a studded metal bat on her shoulder.

The irate raccoon threw a small plastic bag of money at the avian and then promptly told him and Rashid to hit the bricks.

"Damn lucky enough to get that!" He screamed, stamping his little feet. "If I had my way, I'd have my guys chop you and your boy up and have your guts with price tags by morning for that kinda lip! You better be thankful for our host's almost infinite patience that I put up with your rude, deceitful bullshit you hear?! Now get your ungrateful tail feathers out of my sight before she plays bird baseball with ya skull ya bum!" He said forking his thumb at the wolf-fox enforcer standing at his side.

The vulture sporting a bloodied beak wasted no time, getting the hell out of dodge. "Come on, Rashid we're leaving." He said, leaving with limping Rashid in tow. The wolf/vixen followed behind them grinning wickedly as she brandished her blunt instrument, causing the bird to hasten his pace, pushing and shoving the slow-moving badger down the hallway.

"We're going! We're going! Move Rashid baby, Move!"

Content that the badger was finally out his fur, Pao smiled and laid back, closing his eyes.

Baraki turned and gave the simian a respectful look as he rested against the wall. "Amazing work Cyclone." He said, lightly punching the monkey in the shoulder.

"Tanto faz cara." Whatever dude. The young monkey said slyly in his native tongue, blowing him off. He had had enough of these foreigners' praise for tonight.

Pao just coasted off into slumber, ignoring the ring-tail as he laid on further praise.

"Wish more fighters were like you and at least your manager isn't such a bloodsucking scavenger like that bag of feathers. We're almost done counting your winnings...won't take long."

The Office Interior

"Eight, nine, ten. There you go, Mr. Gustavo. One-thousand. Thank you for your business." Priscilla said as she pulled a rubber band over the cash and handed it to the dark-toned ape. "Come again please."

San, who stood next to her waiting like a bodyguard, took notice of the tone she had shown throughout the meeting, a neutral and rehearsed manner of speaking. Even when the Vulture had tried to appeal for money, her tone remained the same.

It wasn't much to go off of, but he could tell this conversation bored her, likely she was dying to just get this over with. He was too.

"Você é um anfitrião adorável e cortês." You are a lovely and courteous host. The middle-aged bonobo took the money graciously and tipped his hat to her with debonair charm. "Muito obrigada, Senhora Priscila."

"Aren't you the charmer?" She said with a dry smile. "Enjoy."

" O Adeus. " The ape said walking out with a smile.

"Now that that's out of the way. Let's you and me have some quality time?" The brown-furred vixen said, stroking the underside of his jaw.

"Yeah, About time." The blonde wooled llama said, grinning down at her. She grabbed him by the collar and planted a big wet kiss upon his muzzle, almost surprising him.

Gustavo didn't even give them a second look as he hurried out of the office. He knew when to mind his own business, especially in this strange land.

"Girls, take a powder." The Summer-furred vixen ordered, telling the other Inarigumi foxes to stand outside. "You too, Baraki-san." Baraki was just coming back into the room when he was just as quickly ushered out by the taller females.

The vixen and llama started to embrace sloppily over the edge of the desk.

"Aw come on," The raccoon groaned and complained. "Can I at least get my scotch real quick, Priscilla-sama? The Old Stag ?"

Not losing a beat, Priscilla, still pressing her muzzle into the herbivore's, produced a glass bottle and a cup from his desk, before closing the drawer by slamming San's behind against it.

"Eh, just the bottle," The raccoon said dejectedly as he just grabbed the amber bottle, looking on at the two makeout with a hint of disgust on his face. He didn't linger as he popped the cork and took a long swig. "You two love birds have fun I guess...ugh." He said, half-serious as the golden liquid burned his nose.

Both the simians were leaving when the monkey glanced in the room. The raccoon's mention of 'lovebirds' garnered his curious attention. The fox in charge was making out with...a llama? There in the office with the brown vixen was a blonde fleeced llama. Then it clicked. The boy from earlier. His shocked mind instantly went to ask about Kyuu.

"Ei ei lhama! Kid!" The monkey frantically started trying to get San's attention, much to his manager's dismay. "You know de Psycho right?"

San's eyes widened with shock, as he pulled away from Priscilla's lips to see the spider monkey with complete disregard for his safety, attempting to barge into the room. He barely made it past the threshold, before Fa tackled him.

"Back off!" She growled shoving the crazy simian hard into the wall. "Who the hell do you think you are? That herbivore is off-limits."

"Ow ow ow... não tão duro! Not so hard! Look I ain't trying to hurt da guy. I don't eat meat. I just wanted to ask some questions."

"You don't just approach the Inarigumi's entourage without setting up a meeting!" The vixen hissed. "Besides can't you see they are freaking busy?!"

"Only take a few seconds. Ei, lhama my name is Pao. You know da rabbit right? Kyuu? Look….is she alright, yeah? She still owes me an explana-"

"Shut your trap!" Fa hissed in his ear, jerking him away from the couple and forcing him towards the door with some difficulty. "Ferro, help me drag this guy out of here!"

San wanted to say something, but he was still a little shocked by the brazen attempt. He didn't know what to say? Why was the guy so interested? Did he want to finish her off?

"That mean anything to you?" Priscilla asked him, confused and concerned.

"I'm not sure," San answered. "I think he might be referring to meeting Kyuu last week. They fought each other without knowing they both fought here."

She shook her head wearily, "So he's the reason why she's out?" She asked sitting back in her chair, crossing her fingers tentatively.

"Y-yeah…" He said, hesitantly. "Y-you aren't going to do anything... rash to him about it are you?"

"Would you want me too?" She slyly offered, grinning from cheek to cheek.

"Well...no. Not really." He answered, "I don't think she'd want that either."

"Well, then it's not important," Pris said, uncaringly with a smile.

San however still felt concerned, he didn't want to be the cause of the guy getting hurt or killed, just because of a coincidence. "They aren't going to… do something harsh to him are they?" He asked.

"You care that much?" She asked, rather amused. "Well, given that he's a named commodity here..." She mused out loud. "They'll probably just rough him up a bit, standard procedure. No need for anything permanent. It's not like we're the Shishigumi."

As the door closed behind them, the foxes' silhouette held the monkey down while the wolf-fox, Loba, started laying punishment into him. San flinched with each loud 'thack!' and grunt. The blows stopped after a bit when the monkey's manager interceded on his fighter's behalf.

Outside the Office

"Hey hey. Senhoras ...Paulo don't mean anything." Gus anxiously tried to appeal to them as eased his way in between Pao and the foxes. "He's just a bit out of it. Too many bumps on the noggin...sim? Probably forgot where he was."

The foxes paused and looked at each other and then to the barely conscious monkey. Loba cracked her knuckles, but Fa gave a quiet signal that made the muscular wox back off. Then they let the spider monkey ungracefully fall to the floor like a sack of bricks.

Pao coughed violently on the floor, feeling similar to Rashid. Perhaps this was a bit of karma for that humiliation, he thought.

The gracious chimp smiled nervously at the vixens as he jerked his foolish pupil up to his feet, dusting him off. "Dis what you get for mistaking their office for the locker room you little idiota !"

"Locker Room..." Pao rambled off, his head seeing stars and bright lights.

" Sim, you thought that was the locker room right?" Gus said, looking Pao in his glazed-over eyes trying to get his attention. "You just need some rest, hein?" The monkey came out of it when Gus began slapping him upside the head.

"This isn't da locker rooms?" The battered dark-furred monkey wearily asked, sounding surprised.

The bonobo bonked the monkey on his head hard. "Of course not! O que há de errado com você ?! Você quer acabar jogado no porto?! " What is wrong with you?! Do you want to end up thrown in the port?! He said, speaking in their native tongue.

"Eu estava tentando falar com a lhama. Aquela lhama conhece o coelho!" I was trying to talk to the llama. That llama knows the rabbit! Pao explained.

" Ele conhece o coelho agora? Oh. Esse muda tudo. Does he know the rabbit now? Oh. That changes everything. The bonobo said sarcastically. " O que você vai fazer então?! Apenas entrar e ser amigo desses carnívoros?! Pensar! " What are you going to do then?! Just come on in and be friends with these carnivores?! Think!

A shrill voice interrupted them.

"Hey if you two are going to have a little Latin soap opera… do it someplace else." Lùn, the little fox standing at waist height, ordered, shooing them away. "I hate soaps."

Both the monkey and the ape stared at the pygmy vixen slightly confused before heeding her words.

"Claro, garotinha." Of course, little girl. Gustavo said, shining a friendly smile at her. "Yes, this is something we should discuss in private. We'll just get out of you fine senhoras' hair and be going now."

"Fine, just don't let it happen again," Fa said, jerking her head towards the stairwell. "Beat it."

The two simians started making their way down when Pao felt a sharp pain shoot up his spine. A small hand wrapped their fingers around his lacerated tail and tugged. He turned around to see the little fox glowering up at him holding a big sharp kukri knife at ready.

"You listen to me." The mini vixen growled at him to his wide-eyed surprise. "I heard exactly what you were talking about, monkey. I don't know what you want with the rabbit, whether it's to fight or fuck her, but you better understand this... She's mine. "

Back inside the Office

"What you're suggesting sounds like a horrifyingly cataclysmic disaster of an event just waiting to happen," Priscilla replied, scratching her head.

They were discussing the prospect of Kyuu and the pygmy fox becoming workout partners, as fringe an idea that was. The monkey barging in like that had 'ruined the moment' as she put it and he kinda agreed as well. Was a bit hard, not thinking about how the simian had just strolled in asking for Kyuu of all people, and then felt a bit bad because he had gotten beat up on his account. So instead they just talked and shot the breeze.

He went with the workout arrangement first as it seemed more an apt and comfortable topic over him just dropping his stressful nightmare baggage onto her. it's not like he could just ask, "Oh hey, Priscilla-chan, have you killed anyone before? How did it make you feel afterward?" With that in mind, it seemed the proposition wasn't exactly an easy sell either it seemed.

"I just don't see how it would work." She stated, uneased by the whole thing, "They can't stand still in a room together much less train together."

"That's just the thing, Priscilla...I don't really think they hate each other." He said. "It's just an act at this point."

"I'm pretty sure that Lùn hates her." Priscilla humorously responded, scratching her claws behind her ears. "That little bitch's desire to settle the score has been her entire driving force for even participating in these arena fights. Even if your rabbit isn't feeling it anymore, that girl still is I assure you. Honestly, it's been the most use I've gotten out of her ever since I allowed her to join. Before that, she was just an annoying piece of extra baggage leftover from Fa joining."

"I think you are much too hard on her, Priscilla," San said, frowning at her. "If I can say that at least." He said, hopped off of the desk, and looked down at her. "She seems to fit in with your group pretty well."

Priscilla giggled, scooting the chair closer to him. "It's funny. You sound just like Raira. I hear the same things from her, that Lùn has the right spirit. I still don't see it. She's just runt running around acting big"

A slight smile parted on San's lips as he felt he had something. "Well, I think she has a point."

The vixen smiled back at him, amused by his audacity. Eager to see if he realized just how thin a line he was threading.

"I can tell," he continued. "Just from how you act that you're just channeling your outward frustrations onto her. How you treat Lùn. It is basically how the other Inarigumi treats your group. Like I remember...um, Rin, right? The one from the range that was ridiculing you."

The fox frowned a bit but said nothing.

"She treats you like you were a toy or a plaything. And she is your senpai right?"

Priscilla sighed. "She is my senpai, yes."

"Well the way I see it, the both of you, you and Lùn, are the smallest and you don't meet their expectations. The runts. Lùn's smallness is just more physical, you get it? Both of you strive to prove them wrong. And that's what you two have in common."

Priscilla cocked her head curiously at him and rested back in the chair with her hands folded as she listened intently to him.

"At least-least that's my observation." He nervously followed up. "H-how I-I see it."

"Don't lose your nerve, speak your mind. I like that about you." She said, with a warm smile.

San took a draw of breath before just saying it. "So, I think that this arena stuff for Lùn, really her wanting to beat Kyuu... it's all just a part of impressing you, proving she's not useless. Like in the same way of you trying to impress your other sisters by doing all of this and making all this money or running these places despite your shortcomings."

Priscilla burst into a wild cackle as he finished. "Hehehe! Interesting hypothesis."

"Why do you have to use such a big fancy word like that?" The llama complained, rolling his eyes.

"Belief...whatever," she corrected. "So what you are saying is that there isn't anything murderous on the pipsqueak's end for the rabbit and that she wants to just prove herself?"

"Yes," he said nodding, before clarifying. "I mean, I can recognize someone trying to prove themselves. Especially growing up with Kyuu and I still believe there is a competitive edge there, don't get me wrong, but I don't think Lùn is in the mindset to kill her. Take her down, knock her out, but not...kill." He started scratching the underside of his chin for a second thought, "I think, at least."

Priscilla cupped and massaged the underside of her muzzle, as she let his words digest. She nodded at him to continue.

"All the times they've met back up, Lùn could have killed her, but she didn't. We're talking times where she wasn't watched, like the time she saved us or recently with those Komodo guys. They may have actually fought that time, but it's clear Lùn held back. All Kyuu got out of it really were two scratches and some bumps. One might wonder, does she really want to kill her?"

"Okay." She said finally conceding. "Okay, you may have a point there and this is all very interesting, but... and this is the most important part here. Why should I care about making Lùn and Kyuu happy? It has nothing really to do with me."

She reclined deeply in the raccoon's chair and tapped her foot patiently against the desk waiting for his reply. "And don't give me that 'because you're a nice person' bullshit. You know that's not true and I can only stomach so much."

"Well... it'll make me more available." He flat out said. "If Kyuu has someone else to work out with, I'm freed up from a lot of responsibilities."

"Now why didn't you lead with that?!" She asked, leaning in and tapping him on the wrist, looking intrigued much to his dismay. The fox let out a terrible cackle as the llama just sighed.

"Hehehehe! All that psychology mumbo jumbo, and really all you had to say was 'you'd be more available.'"

"Soooo, just like that?" He asked, twisting his mouth unsure.

"Yeah…. that convinced me." She said, giggling at him.

"So you'll do it?" He asked.

"If it gets me more time with you, then it's worth it."

"Yes!" The llama shouted, ecstatic as he celebrated his little victory.

"However, there will be a few conditions." She added. No doubt she had to get some form of control in.

"Course…" He said, easing down a bit and nodding his head.

"One, Lùn has to wear a muzzle and gloves whenever they train. I don't need any unfortunate accidents happening, and I'm sure you don't either.

"Makes sense." He nodded.

"Two, no real weapons. If they do train with weapons they are to be blunted."

"No brainer."

"Three, they are to be under strict supervision whenever they train. Loba probably is the best candidate given she's already Lùn's trainer.

"Sounds good to me." He said, "That's the big one right?"

"And finally, you have to say 'yes' to what I'm about to ask you."

"Sur-wait what?" His long ears pricked up curiously. "Me? Ask me what?"

"I need your help with something San, for my clan. For the Inarigumi."

"Well, you don't have to twist my arm, Priscilla." He stated, scratching the blonde fleece on his neck, feeling a bit insulted. "Just tell me what you need help with."

"Well, this is probably asking a lot for someone like you after all, which is why I couldn't just ask you over the phone. And no, it's nothing to do with eating any body parts or anything grisly like that." She said, dismissing any silly accusation he might have.

"Just tell me, already." He said, eager to hear it.

"Well, first I need to ask you a question."

"Alright, shoot." He said, leaning back on the desk.

"I need to know if you are good with...crowds. Like the ones upstairs? People like that?"

"I'm not sure I follow." He said, staring at her.

"Okay, you remember how skittish you were upstairs when I tried to get a handful right?"

"A handfu- oh…oooh." His eyes widened slightly, and his face reddened with a bit of embarrassment. "So you noticed that? Oh boy."

"Of course, I noticed it, San-san ." She mocked, smirking and growling lustfully at him. "You seemed real afraid of that handy I was offering. I would have thought you'd like another one after last week. Was it because of the other people around, I wonder?"

"Well yeah. But what does 'me not wanting to get touched like that in front of all those people' have to do with what you're asking?"

"Are you afraid of sex?" She finally said bluntly. "Like I get that you're a virgin, but like did I make you feel embarrassed back then?"

"Well... I... you don't have to say it like that." He said red-faced.

"Well, you are ." She said as if stating the obvious.

"Okay, maybe a little embarrassed, but not because I was scared or anything. I mean I trust you." He said, trying to sound brave. "I just thought people would stare at us, you know? That it would be bad for you."

The fox patted him on the cheek softly, seeing through his facade easily.

"That's sweet of you, but that's not necessary. Fuck those guys. I just want to know if we were to say… do stuff as we did in the backseat...would you have a problem doing it in front of a lot of other people, would you feel uncomfortable with that?"

"I don't really know to be honest. I guess? I mean, I assume it's considered perverted. I never really think about stuff like this. Just what exactly are you trying to sign me up for?" He asked, starting to feel utterly overwhelmed. "Front of other people?"

"Okay." She finally cut the chase. "I need you to accompany me ...to a High-Class Animal Party in a few weeks."

"W-What exactly i-is a High-Class Animal Party?" he stammered.

"It's a get together hosted by very wealthy beasts, pretty wild parties where animals get drunk and get wild in the afternoon. Sort of like the party upstairs, but much grander. They've been all the rage in the city ever since this gazelle big shot started hosting them."

"Wealthy?" San looked at her concerned and confused. "Priscilla, you do know I'm not very rich right? I thought we went over this."

" I know that, but all the same..." The fox assured him. "You can come with me. I have the money. I'm High Class, so don't worry. It'll be like a few fancy dates." She said, patting her breast.

"But why?" He inquired, leaning in mystified.

Priscilla snarled, frustrated as she cradled her head in her palms, becoming tired of answering questions.

"I don't mean to keep asking." he apologized.

"I need you to be my herbivore date." "

"Herbivore... date? Like specifically me?"

"The deal is, we need to impress this very important individual who will be there, so we can open up trade between his company and the Inarigumi's holdings. He's a herbivore that typically doesn't trust carnivores which has been our group's issue with them for a while, so the plan is for you to come with me and be my companion, and maybe we can give him a reason to trust us. If he sees us together enough, he may give us an audience."

"So you're using me?" He said, piecing things together.

"Don't say it like that!" She barked at him, wounded.

"Well, you are ." He plainly stated half-serious, much to her dismay.

"Okay, smart ass...yes." she seethed at him. "But I'm not doing this because I want to. Look, San, what we have has nothing to do with this stupid plan, okay?" She sulked in her seat and growled, just letting out her frustration. "I still really like you for who you are. I honestly do. I just need to use you for this occasion. This is just something that was given to me by my Boss. It's something they need us to do. My clan needs this. I need this, San."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." He sighed and shook his head. "As long as there won't be any killer cats to worry about, I don't see why not." He said giving her a confident shoulder shrug that he intended to cloak his nervousness. "Let's do it I say!"

The Arctic fox let out a sigh of relief and grinned cheerfully at him. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear you say that."

"Don't worry it will be good fun, I bet. As you said, we'll treat it like a few more dates."

"Well...fair warning...when I said these parties are wild….I mean wild . It's why I was asking if you were too prudish ."

That really struck a nerve with him. His self-esteem started getting the better of him. as he looked her right in her orange eyes and declared: "You know what? Now I can't wait to go to your little pervert party!"

"Uh…" The fox facepalmed hard and the feeling wasn't lost on him either.

"Yeah I know, that sounded awful right after I said it." He wearily stroked the bridge of his snout. "Look, I'll go with you is what I'm saying."

He sighed as he reached and pulled a small golden square wrapper from his pocket. "Now speaking of perversions, do you want to...uh try again? " He grinned mischievously at her.

The vixen stared at him shocked before a sense of pride swelled within her. He was learning. She merely smiled and made him put it away. "Hmm. Tempting, but not now."

"Really?" He asked, surprised. "Not now?"

"I think we should go out for a bit." She said hopping up. "It's a full moon after all and we have the night to ourselves so... maybe later."

"Alright let's hit it."