Chapter 49 - To Steal a Mask

"How long do you think we have to stay at this thing?" Legosi asked as the two made their way downtown, following Gouhin's note.

"Do you want to party or do you want to just steal this mask and go?" Louis grinned. "I would have felt better bringing my gun but we would definitely be caught if we did that."

"Maybe. As long as the party doesn't bother me too much, I guess we might be able to stay. I do like the idea behind it, after all. I just don't understand me having to drink before going in. Maybe we can explain to them that I can control my instincts?"

"Well...if we are going to stay and party...Maybe being a little drunk might be fun?" Louis grinned. "And it would look way less suspicious if we blended in."

"How tough could it be to steal the mask, anyway? I guess maybe they take it on the way out." Legosi adjusted his tie so it wasn't so tight.

"That's why I think we should watch what happens when animals exit. That makes sense, right?"

"Makes sense."

They arrived at the address, which appeared to be a nondescript building. They wandered around a bit, wondering if they had gotten the right place, until they spotted a well dressed group of animals head toward the back of the building.

Speaking of well-dressed, the two were looking fine, themselves. Louis recalled Gouhin's words. "Don't get caught off guard. Things could get crazy in there. I don't want you to get...taken advantage of."

The two followed the other animals down the alleyway and came upon a door much similar to the entrance of the We're Only Animals restaurant. Legosi tentatively opened it and poked his head in. There was a small receiving area where a well dressed lynx woman stood.

"Welcome, gentleman!" She reached behind the counter she stood behind and produced a breathalyzer. "Step forward, mister wolf, so I may test your blood alcohol content."

Louis blinked, stepping to the side.

"Um, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to drink before coming here or if you would provide the drinks, actually," Legosi explained.

The lynx just smiled again. "Ah, new to the party, then? In that case..." She reached down and pulled out a bottle of vodka and a shot glass. "140 proof. A shot of this should bring a big guy like you within range."

She opened the bottle and Legosi's nose already wrinkled.

Louis blinked. "Just don't drink too much, sweetheart."

"It's just the one shot!" the lady assured. "It will raise your price of admission up a bit, however."

Legosi nodded and walked forward. The feline poured him the shot which he drank down in an instant. He immediately set the glass down and turned away, eyes shut and tongue stuck out.

Louis stepped forward. "Is that all?"

The lady looked down at her watch. "Now we just wait a few moments for it to run through his system. I can't let any carnivore in without testing their breath."

"But I'm real good with my instincts!" Legosi assured.

"Oh, I hear that all the time! You must understand, though, that even one incident where an herbivore is killed would get this party shut down."

"How long do we have to wait?" Louis asked.

"Oh, he should be feeling it soon."

Legosi cleared his throat and his ears twitched. His tail slowly started to wag. "Heh, my throat is all warm."

The cat beckoned him forward, and she put the device in his mouth. "Yep, that's a tipsy carnivore! I'll take the price of admission, now. 10000 yen!"

Louis sighed, taking it out of his satchel and handing it to her. Thank goodness for Oguma.

She took the money and smiled again. She glanced over at Legosi, who was now swaying happily. "He's quite the catch. Guess you managed to nab a carnivore without the help of this party, mm?" she purred.

"Yes, I did," Louis grinned. "How are you doing, Legosi? It didn't hit that fast did it?"

The wolf turned around and gave a thumbs up. "It's definitely something!"

"That was a shot of 70% alcohol. If *you* had been the one to drink that you'd probably be on the floor!" the cat laughed. "Now go on into the other room and pick your mask out!"

"Alright. Thank you." Louis grabbed his mate's hand and they moved on to the next room.

The next room contained row upon row of head shaped mounts for masks to sit on. The animals they had followed in were in the corner putting them on. Legosi immediately made a beeline toward a deer mask and poked at the antlers.

Louis scanned all the different kinds of masks. It seemed endless. He moved along all of them, his eyes darting around until finally, his eyes set upon the perfect mask. Of course, all the masks looked strange and steampunk, but it was nonetheless, a wolf mask.

The deer grabbed it and wondered if it would fit his head. He turned it over in his hands, figuring out how to put it on.

Louis put it on his head and pulled the draw strings until it was tightened just perfectly. Surprisingly, he had very good visibility, and he didn't feel like he was suffocating. Thank goodness, because he hadn't been looking forward to that.

Legosi, on the other hand, had now donned the deer mask and was now breathing heavily. "I can't smell good in this," his muffled voice came out.

"It probably smells really strong in there," Louis said, turning around. He tilted his head. "And now my canine is an herbivore. Damn."

Legosi held his big, clawed hands up. "Nuh-uh."

Louis came closer. "Without my antlers, you can't really tell what animal I am from the front."

"Yeah." Legosi bent down and looked behind him. "At least your cute lil tail is there still."

It wiggled at the mention. "Let's go in and see what all the fuss is about."

"I can already hear music," Legosi noted as they headed to the next door.

The music became louder as a sea of bouncing animals lay before them. Each and every animal had a mask. There was a dancing, grinding, touching...Lots of noises from the crowd.

Legosi gasped. "Woah...the smell in here is so strong it leaks through the mask."

"What do you smell?"

The wolf turned over to the deer, his eyes obscured by the glass lenses of the mask. "Uh...it's hard to explain. Like, sex? But more like...desire, I guess."

"You can smell desire?" The buck blinked.

"I mean, I guess it's like, pheromones or something? But..."

"Well, we're here. What should we do?"

"I guess we could check the place out. Do some dancing." Legosi held his hand out for Louis to take.

The deer laughed. "This music sucks, though."

"Yeah. It's too loud and obnoxious."

"So are all these animals."

Legosi perked up and looked around. "A lot of them are like us, though."

"True." A fox bumped into him, then turned around, laughing, burping, and stumbling off.

The deer blinked. "What a welcome. Maybe you should lead the way."

Legosi reached down and took Louis' hand. "Alright."

The two weaved through the crowd and walked down the steps toward the dance floor. Two women of indeterminable species were making out at the bottom step.

"Oh, I wonder if there's mouth flaps on these masks," Legosi shouted over the crowd.

"Maybe! Try finding it!"

Legosi reached forward and fumbled with Louis' mask. "Hmm..."

The deer held his sides, stroking them gently. "Anything?"

Legosi pulled on a string and the part covering the deer's chin flapped open. "Oh!"

"Oh!" Louis gasped at the same time. "There we go." Now his lips could be seen moving.

His husband reached up and found something similar on his own mask. His own mouth was now visible, his fangs poking out from his lips. "Hey...I have an idea."

"And that is?" Louis stayed close so he could hear. Animals danced and rubbed against each other around them. Curious hands wandered around moving bodies unashamedly, some with claws and some without.

Legosi lead Louis through the crowd, moving toward the center of the room. Once they were there, he held Louis by the shoulders. "Gon won't be here to stop us this time."

"Oh?" The deer's eyes weren't visible through the mask. "That sounds...sexy. But I suppose you're right." He looked around, watching animals make out and hump each other and feel each other up. He let out a breath. "This is all so...different. It's not like a school dance..."

"Guess this is an adult dance. And I'm still feeling woozy from the booze, so..." Legosi leaned down and kissed Louis quickly before drawing back. "Ugh, annoying with these masks on."

"I know, but we can't remove them. And everyone else seems to have gotten the hang of it. Look over there." He pointed to a higher level. "Those three animals are definitely having sex."

"Well, I don't know if I want to go that far, but, I want people to see our love. Even if they might not be paying attention."

Louis chuckled. "I'm kind of in the mood to drink, but this is a mission and I might forget to OOF!" A gay couple bumped into them and Louis was thrust into Legosi's arms. "Hey! Careful!"

"WHAAT!?" The donkey who bumped into him shouted.

Louis didn't respond, looking up at Legosi. He grinned and his hand moved down to squeeze his butt. "We could never do this in front of people under normal circumstances. Be so close...And some of these animals are...as close as they can be. And no one cares."

"Yeah," Legosi said breathlessly. He dipped back in and kissed Louis again, this time deeply.

The buck kissed back, moving his tongue against his mate's teeth. "Mmm..." He squeezed his butt again and ran his tail through his hand. The music blared on around them.

Legosi leaned down and ran his hands up and down Louis' back. He thought about how they hadn't been here for more than five minutes and they were already doing something like this. It just went to show how repressed all of these animals were.

Louis moved his body even closer, pressing against him. "Maybe I can have just a little bit to drink, yeah?"

Legosi pulled away. "G-guess we find a bar, then."

Now, Louis led the way and in almost no time at all, they found one. All the seats were taken up, so they went between someone with their back turned to an animal wearing a rabbit mask and two animals wearing dog masks making out deeply and very sloppily. The animal closest to them had their hand between the other animal's legs. Louis did his best to not pay attention to the activity and he prayed it didn't escalate while they were right there.

"Bill and Pina would love this place," Legosi commented with a laugh.

"It's freeing. I'm really afraid I'm going to see a penis tonight," Louis said with a smile.

"Why are you afraid of a penis?" Legosi asked, laughing harder.

"Seeing it out in public would be strange! But then again, there are two animals probably having sex over there. It's kind of funny since they're both wearing rabbit masks and humping each other."

Legosi thought about it for a second and then laughed again.

"That has to be a joke, right? For anyone who notices it? Animals are so weird." Louis looked to the animal behind the bar. "Can I get a drink? I don't care what it is."

Legosi raised a claw. "Me, too! Or we could share!"

"Does it cost money?"

The bartender howled in laughter. "Of course it does!"

Legosi turned to Louis. "How much you bring?"

"More than enough." He turned his head. "How much?"

"Well, you said you don't care what the drink is, but name your price range first."

The masked bartender turned around and started pulling bottles from the illuminated shelf behind him. Legosi glanced over to Louis and smiled through the hole in his mask.

Louis smiled as well and his eyes flitted to the animals next to them, who had gotten significantly more progressive in their passion. He moved a bit away. "This place really doesn't hold back at all, does it?"

"Nope!" The bartender turned back around and placed a large-ish glass of pink liquid in front of them. "That means you guys don't have to either! Celebrate your deviance!"

Legosi sniffed at the drink. "It's pretty!"

"It's the Lover's Embrace. Secret recipe of mine."

The cervid looked at the colorful substance. "Lover's Embrace..."

"Yup! 1500 yen please."

Louis pulled out the money and handed it to him. "Thanks." He pulled it back, holding it and looking at Legosi. The moment he heard a moan from beside him, grabbed his hand and pulled him a little away until he was sure it was safe. Well, safer. "Do you think it will taste good?"

"It smells sweet. I think there's passionfruit in there? I've only ever smelled passionfruit once but I still remember!" Legosi tried his best to focus on Louis and block out everything around him. The shot of vodka from before was helping.

"Hm. Down the hatch, I guess." Louis took a swig, smacking his lips together. "Definitely fruity."

Legosi made grabby hands at it. "Here, here, lemme try!" Louis handed it over and Legosi took a drink too. He immediately put it down and started flapping his hands next to his face. "Aaaah! Sweet!"

His deer blinked. "What are you doing with your hands?" He took it back and drank some more, feeling the nice burn in his throat.

Legosi looked at them. "Well, the drink was too sweet! I hadda put it somewhere."

"Too sweet? It tastes good!"

The canine nodded. "It does, but it's sweet." He went in for another sip, causing his eyes to shut tight as a squeal escaped his lips.

Louis laughed. "What are those noises, Legosi?"

The wolf hopped up and down slightly. "I dunno!" He pushed the drink over to Louis. "Here your turn."

The buck drank more, looking around at the risque movements of animals. "It's just astonishing...Gouhin wasn't joking about this being a place for animals to come and experiment sexually. Knowing there's a place like this is...fascinating."

"Still smelly," Legosi said with a laugh. "I wonder why's illegal?" His speech was starting to slur.

Louis crossed his arms. "We've literally seen interspecies and same gender animals having sex in public multiple times. Society would lose it if they knew about this."

"Society's lame," Legosi stated, plainly. "And...stupid also."

Louis took another sip, getting closer. "Mmm, you know it~"

"Although seein' it all is kinda awkward. Buuut not as awkward as I thought I thought it might be."

Louis held the glass out. "Here's some more."

The wolf examined it. "That's like, one gulp left."

"That probably wasn't enough to even get me buzzed, huh? Oh, well." He finished the last of the Lover's Embrace. "Where do we return the glass?"

"I think ya just leave it." Legosi looked behind the counter, spying the bartender at the other side. "He'll get it, probably."

"Alright." Louis set it down and they moved away from it. A reptile-like animal grabbed their glass and tried to drink every last drop in the glass, with two friends looking on, laughing. Louis just stood there, blinking. "Uh, okay."

Legosi laughed along with the strangers. "What the heck! Who's that!"

"I have no idea. Come on, maybe we should dance."

"Even though the music is weird, sure." The two found their way back into the crowd of rowdy animals.

Louis smiled. "Rest in peace, our poor jazz."

Nonetheless, the tall wolf started to bob a bit to the beat. "It really just kinda shoots through your bones!"

His mate began bouncing a bit, moving his hips rather gayly. Someone whistled next to them, but it was hard to tell at what.

Legosi moved to the side so he could bump the deer with his own hips, an action he usually did but this time it was a bit stronger due to the inebriation.

Louis stumbled a bit, chuckling. "Maybe I should close my mask?"

"Mm? Why?" Legosi held him by the shoulders.

"Oh, I dunno? Why not?"

The wolf leaned down and kissed him, the taste of their drink passing between their lips.

Louis pulled him closer, rubbing his chest. "Mmnn..."

Legosi leaned into him, opening his mouth to deepen the kiss.

Their tongues moved and danced as everyone did the same around them. "Hahh..."

Legosi pulled back and lifted his head in the air. He took a deep, long breath before bellowing, "I LOVE THIS DEER!"

His voice was somewhat lost in the sea of bodies but the few that did hear the loud noise responded with whoops and hollers.

Louis covered his face, but realized the mask was there. "Mmm...don't embarrass me!"

"But nobody here cares!" Legosi argued.

"Yeah, but..." He sighed, taking a breath. He looked to the ceiling. "I FUCKING LOVE THIS WOLF!"

As before, a few cheers erupted, and even someone answering with; "I FUCKING LOVE WOLVES TOO!" obviously mishearing the initial shout.

Louis blinked, then laughed. "Funny, considering I look like a wolf right now."

"I wonner what they're gonna have you do with that mask. Ya know?"

"Wear it, most likely. Lucky you, getting to drink however much you want."

"Just cuz some of it was price of admission. You could get more, if you want."

"Like I said, this a mission. It could...distract me..."

"Hmm, hmmm~" Legosi leaned down, his hot breath on Louis' neck. "Well, I do like being here, even if it is a lot."

"More than a lot."

Legosi held their bodies together and swayed them back and forth. He brought his claws down and combed them through the fur of his short deer tail.

"...I love this wolf," Louis said, so only he could hear. He moved his hand under his shirt, rubbing his pecs. "Saw someone do this earlier, so it's okay right?"

Legosi nodded. "I like it when you touch me."

"Oh, I know..." He felt his mind gradually become a little clouded to the previously strong drink. "I know."

There was movement in the crowd, suddenly. Everyone was moving out of the way to make way for two animals who were now taking up the dance space. The larger one, wearing a bull mask, had picked up their smaller partner and was now spinning around with them. Legosi looked on, curiously.

Louis kept his hand on his chest, watching as well, his ear twitching behind his mask.

When Louis looked back, Legosi was now looking at him. Or at least, probably was. Hard to tell with the damn glass eyepieces. The wolf cocked his head.

"Wh-what?" Louis asked.

Legosi's hands soon found themselves on Louis' waist as he began to lift him.

The deer yelped as his feet left the ground. "H-hey!"

Legosi lifted Louis up until the deer's legs and arms were splayed out in all directions. The carnivore giggled as he mimicked the other animals.

"C-careful!" Louis huffed.

Legosi slowed down a little bit, but not a lot. The animals that had moved to escape the other couple now had a wolf and deer to contend with. Some even shouted; "Oh shit, there's more!"

"What's even going on?" Louis asked.

"I'm spinning youuuuu!"

"Just not too much! My legs might—" And then they smacked into someone, knocking them down.

Legosi felt the impact and immediately set Louis down. He turned around and went to help the animal. "O-oh! I'm sorry! Oh no, I'm so sorry!"

The animal on the ground was dressed in a purple suit, although it was hard to tell from the dark lights. He wore a lion mask but his zig-zag horns gave him away as a gazelle. He got up on his own, refusing Legosi's hand. "Well, can't say I didn't deserve that." His voice was a smooth mid-tone, muffled through his mask. "Always gotta watch yourself at these things."

Louis came over. "I apologize for that. We were just having fun!"

The gazelle brushed himself off. "It sure looks like it! You and all the other animals here. Is this your first time?"

"It is. It's been fun so far."

The stranger sighed, wistfully. "How fun it must be to act on desires," he uttered as he walked off into the crowd.

"I kind of love it?" Louis blushed. "The vibes are very..." He gestured.

"Friendly?"

"Sure. Let's go with that." He pointed to a couple of unintelligible nature, one animal on their knees with their head between the other's legs. "Friendly."

Legosi's ears flapped. "I wonder if these animals are dating or if they're strangers to each other."

"Both. Most likely. Good thing no one can see my face or they'd be all over me," Louis joked. "Kidding."

His husband shook his head. "No, I think you're right."

"Then you'd get jealous~" Louis purred.

"It'd be worth it to see your face," Legosi crooned, his voice suddenly unbelievably smooth.

"Mmm..." Louis moved against him. "I think I'm going to buy another drink, but before that...how are we going to steal this mask..."

Legosi shrugged. "Shove it in your pants?"

"That's what I was thinking, actually. Go to the bathroom, shove it in my pants and tell them someone took it and get another."

"Smarty deer!" The wolf knocked on the deer's head gently.

"Well, you said it out loud first."

"Do you want me to come with you for your drink?"

"When should we do everything?"

"I dunno. We should look around some more. Maybe we could meet some people?"

"Mmm. Maybe. People who aren't in the middle of banging each other's brains out."

Legosi laughed and nodded. "We should probably leave if we feel like we want to do that."

Louis raised his mask to give him a flirty face. "Or should we~" He grinned and the mask went back down.

"D-don't tempt me!"

Louis moved his hand down his leg. "Maybe we should embrace this place..."

"Mmm..." Legosi bucked his hips forward, slightly.

"Just saying, maybe the mask isn't the only thing that should be shoved down my pants." He turned around and his tail flicked as he began walking toward the bar.

Legosi would have followed him, if he hadn't burst out laughing at the deer's lame joke.

The crowd began making the buck disappear inside the sea of bouncing animals. Louis was making his way to another drink.

When Legosi regained his composure finally, the deer was gone. He couldn't rely on his nose or the deer's antlers to locate him, either. He perked up, trying to find where the bar was again.

Louis made it to the bar and the handsy animals from before were gone, allowing him to sit in the seat. "Hey, I'm back."

The bartender turned around. "Hm? Which one are you again?"

"The animal from before. You gave me and my husband the Lover's Embrace."

"Gotcha. Didn't recognize you alone. Want another?"

"Whatever will bring the fun, I guess." He leaned on his hand, smiling. He turned his head. "Legosi, do you—Legosi?"

The bartender craned his head up. "Yup, looks like you lost him. He'll turn up eventually, considering how big he is."

"Should I be worried? Maybe I should find him and come back."

"Did you tell him where you're going?"

"...I made a flirty joke and walked away thinking he'd follow."

"Hmm," was all the bartender could offer.

"Well, just give me the drink and I'll pay." He turned to watch the crowd and everything...the kissing, the touching, the...public sex, seemed to become normal. This was how this place was.

Meanwhile, Legosi was trying to make his way through the crowd to the bar, but he was impeded by more and more animals. Now that he was alone, he seemed to be drawing attention.

"Hey, try out this Bloodbone! 5000 yen!"

"No thanks."

Legosi marched forward as the drug dealer went to find someone else. He was stopped, once again, when he felt a pressure on his crotch.

"Oh hello big boy!" A woman in a horse mask was below him, openly groping him. "What say we go to a corner and get to know each other?"

Legosi started to sweat. "Uh, um, no thank you."

Louis kept looking for a pair of antlers floating on the sea of party-goers. "Mm..."

"I could show you a good time~" This woman kept going on and on. It was annoying. Legosi moved faster toward the bar, but she followed. "That's the fun of this party! Just let loose."

Louis turned back around, resting his head on his arms on the counter, huffing. "Is the drink done?"

"Here you are." It clunked on the counter in front of him. "I'll watch it if you want to find your husband."

"I haven't paid you yet."

"You haven't drank it yet."

"I paid you first for the last one."

"Yes but you didn't have a missing husband then. I just thought I'd offer."

"Fine, fine," he waved his hand. "Thank you." He quickly took a drink.

Soon, the wolf parted through the crowd and walked quickly over to Louis, another animal behind him.

"Ohh, gonna buy me a drink, handsome?"

"Y-you don't even know what I look like!"

Louis kept sipping, finding this drink not as tasty as the first, but at least it was alcohol.

Suddenly Legosi was next to him, clinging tightly. "Louis, there's a crazy woman after me!"

"What?!" Louis blinked. "Where?!"

Soon the animal was upon them both, her breasts squished against them. "Ohh, have you found a playmate? I don't mind company~"

Louis' eye widened. "U-uh...uh..."

Another animal, a male wearing a similar wolf mask to Louis', joined them. "I see we're having a party over here. Mind if I join you?" His hand went on Louis' thigh. "I can tell you're a deer from back here. I'm quite the deer wrangler, myself~"

Legosi lowered his head forward and pointed it to the encroaching male. A low growl escaped his throat.

"Ooh, that's a wolf, isn't it~ Hello, you~ Why don't we four go to the second floor and show each other what we can do?~" His hand moved onto Louis' crotch, who stood there, frozen.

Legosi's growl turned into a snarl as he stood up. The lady latching onto them let go and laughed. "Woah, no sharing with this guy!"

"Why not, wolf~" He moved to run Louis' chest. "We have matching masks, we're probably all drunk. It would be really fun. There's probably a couch or table up there..."

Legosi couldn't find his words. He simply saw the face of another wolf trying to take his husband. He lifted his mask up so the stranger could see him lifting his lips and exposing his fangs.

His husband looked up at the male mode his husband was in and went into his own male mode, so to speak.

The bartender soon came over. "Alright you guys, break it up. This couple doesn't wanna mingle, capiche?"

The other wolf mask groaned. "Aw...no two on two action?"

"No." Legosi managed through his growls. His tail was poofed up.

Currently, he had his arms around Louis' neck, who continued to remain silent. He looked to the horse woman. "Guess it's you and I then, baby~"

"I guess. Let's find some team players." She was clearly unimpressed by the other male but they walked off nonetheless. Even after they were gone, Legosi remained on alert.

Louis grabbed the waist of his pants and pulled him forward. "Hello, Mr. Wolf~"

Legosi grabbed onto his back, claws poking. "L-Louis..." his voice came out gravelly.

"Mhm?~" He grabbed the drink and sipped even more.

Legosi's breathing started to get heavy. "I-I...wow I...don't know what happened there. That...I haven't felt that since the fight with Riz."

"...Because I kissed Riz?"

"Uh...no I mean...the aggression from fighting him..." Legosi's tail started to settle down and his shoulders stopped hunching. A growl still lingered in his voice, however.

"Oh, I think that guy is coming back!" Louis pointed, joking.

Legosi looked in that direction and growled, clinging to Louis.

"Kidding, Legosi! Kidding!" Louis laughed. "You're so silly..."

"Mm." Legosi grabbed the drink and took a big swig of it.

"Woah, slow down there, babe. I'm fine! I'm fine! I mean, my crotch was touched by someone else, but I'm fine."

"That lady touched my crotch too," Legosi grumbled. "She was so rough and not delicate like you are."

"She hurt you...?"

"Little bit. Kind of squished one of them."

"Aww..." Louis moved his hand and kneaded his crotch gently. "That better?~"

"Mmm...yeah."

Louis turned his head. "Can I get one last strong drink? I think I want to really party."

The bartender perked up. "Alright, lovebugs! But if you guys decide to get busy do it elsewhere."

Louis stared into Legosi's eyes. "What was that growling and tail thing about?"

"Well...um that guy's wolf mask sort of set me off, I think. Plus, he was trying to take you..."

"In more ways than one. Did he say there was a table somewhere?"

"A what? Table?" The wolf cocked his head.

"A sex table, I guess. Before we do anything, I need to...use the bathroom."

Legosi sputtered. "W-wait, really? We're gonna...y-you...table?"

"Why not? Might be sexy. If I'm gonna be forced to go here, I want to take *full* advantage of it."

The bartender put a new drink down on the counter. "Here's a stronger one like you said. That's 4500 yen with the other drink."

"Fuck. No more drinks after this. Hold me back, Legosi." He handed the bartender the money for the two drinks. "I'm going to the bathroom first. Come with me and wait outside with my drink?"

"Uh, yeah." Legosi felt dizzy, but not from the previously drank alcohol.

They made their way back through the party and to the bathroom, where a pair of animals were making out in the hallway, one with a monkey mask and the other with a cat mask. Louis stopped, sighing. "Will you be okay out here? What if someone else..."

"I could come in with you," Legosi suggested, trying not to spill.

"It won't take that long, don't worry," he smiled. "Don't let anyone take you."

The wolf nodded. "Yeah." He turned around with his back to the wall, attentive to anyone that might try and accost him.

Louis pecked his lips and then made his way into the bathroom. The first thing he did was hear moaning when he went inside, and loud moaning at that. Then thumping and his eyes turned to the stall, seeing two pairs of legs there with dropped pants. Okay, okay, all I need to do is get in the stall next to them and put this...in my pants. You can do this, Louis.

Meanwhile, Legosi was outside, sipping at the strong drink and grimacing each time.

Louis went into the stall quickly, locking it and turning around, then seeing movement out of the corner of his right eye and it immediately widened as he spotted a hole cut into the wall between the two stalls. Oh, god.

He turned away from it and quickly removed the mask, folding it and pressing it down.

The buck began putting it in his pants as the door slammed open and sloppy kissing was heard, along with giggling. These sounds criss crossed with the loud moaning. He heard one of the animals complain about hitting the wall too hard and he moved even quicker, finally getting the whole mask in his pants. Thankfully, it didn't look noticeable.

He saw a shirt fall to the floor under the stall where the new animals were and he quickly exited the stall, rushing out of the bathroom and back to where Legosi was.

Legosi blinked when he saw the maskless deer. He smiled instinctively at seeing his face. "Oh, you did the thing."

"And so did two other animals, and then two more. I'm pretty sure I heard someone finish in there..." He made a face.

"I wonder if this party is always this active," Legosi thought aloud.

"...I love it," Louis grinned, genuinely. "I can't even tell how much time has passed. Let me get a new mask and then how about we dance and then...perhaps find a dark corner?"

"You think you can just go back and get another one?"

"Easily. I'll pay for it if I have to." He grabbed the drink and took a few seconds drinking quite a bit of it.

"If you can even walk there! Slow down, hon!" Legosi tried to grab the drink from him.

Louis finished and handed it back to him. "Time to go steal a mask!"

After Louis had easily gotten his second accessory, he came back to his wolf and they got on the dance floor, where they danced their heart outs, becoming more sloppy and wild and loud due to the alcohol. Louis eventually had forgotten he had even stolen the mask.

Animals moved around and as things became more hazy and time all but stood still, they found themselves close together, with some animals arms and backs rubbing against them. It was a tight crowd.

The haze of alcohol had washed over them, making their bodies feel amorphous. They were hot and sweaty and the music just kept getting heavier and heavier. It felt like they were each others' raft on rough waters.

Louis made sure to keep gripped onto him. "You're...sssooo hot right now...You know that riiight? All panting and drooling for someone, eheheh..."

"Just wish could take 'ff this fuckin' mask," Legosi huffed.

"I do miss your sexy face..." Louis slid a hand in his pants to feel his very hot thigh. "At leassst you're still here." He moved so their hips were touching. "Mhmhm~"

Suddenly, the music came to a stop and the lights dimmed on slightly. The mass of animals took a while to even notice the change.

Louis blinked, moving his head. "Weh? What happened to the music?"

Legosi looked up. "I 'unno. Maybe party's over?"

"Nooooo," Louis cried out.

Suddenly, shushes and shhs echoed through the crowd and a loud whistle was heard. Legosi and Louis turned their attention up and saw the gazelle in a purple suit from earlier atop a balcony, flanked on either sides by large body guards wearing herbivore masks.

"Alright, alright, you party animals! I know you all wanna get back to it but I know how much you love the sound of my voice!"

The crowd erupted in laughter at the unfunny joke. Legosi just looked at Louis in confusion.

Louis blinked, waiting for the gazelle to continue.

The gazelle spoke without a microphone, but was still loud enough for everyone to hear. "I just wanted to let everyone remember who's sponsoring this gig, and is letting you all prance around out of the prying eyes of society! Without me you'd all be stuck out there still!"

"We know, Melon!"

"Stick a sock in it!"

Despite the words being flung around, everything still seemed to be in good fun.

Louis wrapped his arm around Legosi's. "Melon..."

"Mmm? Did we miss out on some food, too?" Legosi asked.

The gazelle spoke again after the crowd died down. "Okay, the real reason I'm busting your balls is to let you know the next mask party will be held on May 10th! Mark your calendars, buy your condoms, and get your doctor appointments in!"

The crowd roared again as the gazelle walked out of view and the lights dimmed. Everyone was chanting. "Melon! Melon! Melon! Melon!"

"What's this about melons?" Legosi pondered. "And wasn't that the guy we knocked over earlier?"

"It wasss...funnyyy..." Louis leaned against him.

The music came back and the dancing started again, but both of the boys were now tired of dancing, and they both knew it.

Legosi ventured first. "So...the dark corner?"

The buck grinned. "Follow me."