It was now Saturday and Vivian was ready to enact her plan to snap Jack out of the depressed self deprecating slump he was in. Tonight was the annual rooftop party and Jack would be attending it for the first time, he just didn't know it yet. She was getting to inform him of the fact, and by inform she meant barge, tell him to get ready, make sure he did, and then drag his furry butt up to the roof. Currently she was finishing getting ready herself, and she was dressing to impress.

Yesterday Vivian had gone shopping with Skye as she had the better eye for "sexy" clothes and Skye had picked out a few items for her to wear. The outfit she had picked out for tonight was a shimmering shoulderless emerald green dress that stopped just above her knees and complimented her curves quite nicely. It was sure to get a reaction out of Jack and hopefully clue him into the fact that she liked him. But that was secondary, tonight's focus was convincing Jack that all of those dejecting statements he made about himself were wrong.

The plan once she dragged him out of the apartment was to first make him realize he wasn't a machine by attending the party and having fun. He was going to dance, he was going to socialize, and the best part was she knew deep down the only thing she'd have to force him to do out of all that was dance. The next step after he was loosened up and out of his shell would be her being flat honest with him by calling him an idiot for believing all of those things he said about himself and giving him the outside perspective he needs to start considering the fact he's an idiot.

Vivian knew this would be a delicate operation after she dragged him out of the apartment. But having consulted with Demetri about the situation and him muttering "idiot" in regards to Jack no less than three times he assured her that she'd have to problem forcing him to go to the party. He also said it'd take probably an hour or so for him to start emerging from his shell but after that it'd be smooth sailing.

To help pull Jack out of his shell she laid social traps, telling all the friends she'd made so far at the complex to approach him at different times and start talking to him and asking questions. Jack would begrudgingly entertain the first few but after that he would actually start loosening up, the finisher being Skye to fully rip him out of the shell. From there she would try and get him to dance, and laid a trap if he refused in the form of Vince trying to make a pass on her.

If her hunch was correct Jack's instincts would kick in whether his mind and emotions were caught up to the situation. Which would in turn get him into the middle of the dance floor and since he instincts will tell him not to leave, and she wasn't going to, so his paws would be tied on the matter. He'd bergrudegly join, probably do some mediocre dance with just moving his arms around. But, with some teasing and goading she hoped he would start having fun with it, and do a real dance.

Now fully ready Vivian exited her bedroom and headed for the door, Nick was at a sleepover at the Wolford's so she didn't need to worry about him. Exiting her apartment Vivian headed for Jack's door and started knocking.

*Jack*

Jack was at his kitchen island finishing the last of the Russian vodka he had cracked open when Big arrived and was dumping the rest he had stored in his freezer. "I'm not sure I'm in my right mind dumping all of this shit, or maybe I am. But my therapist said I needed to not drink so much."

With that thought Jack let out a sigh as the last dregs of the last vodka into his sink. The last few days had been rough for Jack, after turning tail and running from Vivian and his emotions he'd been wallowing in his apartment doing anything and everything he could to distract himself from the issue. But, unfortunately for him, nothing was working. Training, tinkering, tv, video games, inventing, nothing was working. It also didn't help the fact that his body was currently craving sleep but the few attempts he had at it were definitely not successful.

Safe to say he was falling back into a stupor and he wasn't sure if he could scrabble his way out of the hole he just re-dug. His mind was a torrential mess like his brain had been cooked in a microwave. He would have gone to therapy so maybe Evelyn could give him a helping paw but she was still in Afuristan as she got pulled into some mission that needed her expertise. She wouldn't be due back in the states for at least another week.

Jack had to shake his head at that. "I'm a certifiable godsdamn genius by IQ standards but I'm so damn dense I can't even sort myself out and work through all these conflicting thoughts! What's the point of being this smart if I'm a massive dumbass at the same time?"

Jack let out another sigh as he began tossing the empty bottles into his trashcan when he heard a very forceful knock on his door. Jack instantly knew it was Vivian at his door, he had been expecting her to show up eventually and talk to him. He did say some of his inner thoughts to her and then run away like a coward after all.

Jack stepped away from his island and looked down at himself, currently he was in a Japanese kimono as he had been practicing kenjutsu. It wasn't the most ideal outfit to answer the door wearing but hopefully it would disarm Vivian. But speaking of Vivian a much more forceful knocking sounded at his door followed by a yell of "Jackson Hunter I know you're in there! You either open this door or I can get Mr. MO to open it!"

Hearing Vivian's tone Jack's ears plastered to his head. "Ohh she sounds mad. I'mmm in troubleee."

Resigned to whatever fate laid in to for him Jack made his way to his door, his tail dragging the whole way.

*Vivian*

After Vivian yelling out for Jack to answer the door she got ready to text Mr. MO to bring his keys when the door opened up and revealed Jack…and Vivian immediately let out a snort, the words and way she was going to go about the situation flying at the window. "What in the world are you wearing?"

Jack didn't answer her at first, he was to busy having to pick his jaw up off the floor at the sight of Vivian and the dress he was wearing. "She's breathtaking."

Vivian noticed his staring an she gave an internal smirk while bopping him on the nose which was like hitting the reset button. Jack looked down at his outfit and said "I'll have you know this is a traditional Japanese kimono. I was practicing a traditional Japanese martial art."

Vivian nodded once and then replied, "well you look like a dork. Anyways go change, you're coming to the rooftop party with me."

Jack immediately got apprehensive and took a step back opening his mouth to say something along the lines of no but Vivian wasn't having it. Vivian reached out and grabbed Jack by the collar dragging him down to her eye level. Jack's eyes widened being in such close proximity, he could feel Vivian's breath ruffling his fur. Vivian narrowed her eyes and then very calmly said, "I said, you're coming to the rooftop party with me. So go change."

Jack's ears plastered to his head as he said, "No isn't an option is it?"

"No."

"A raincheck?" Jack said in a hopeful tone.

Vivian's grip tightened on Jack's collar. "Jackson…." she said in a threatening tone.

After hearing the tone Jack put his paws up and conceded. "Okay yep I'm going to the rooftop party with you. I'll go change."

Vivian nodded in approval, releasing Jack and simply replying, "smart choice."

Jack then opened his door up fully allowing her to enter before he began trudging towards the stairs, his tail dragging the whole way. Vivian simply shook her head as she walked into the apartment shutting the door behind her. She made her way into Jack's kitchen following the heavy smell of alcohol. By the time she reached the kitchen island Jack reached his bedroom and shut his door.

Following the smell of alcohol led her to the sink where it positively reeked. Vivian hummed approvingly at that and opening the trashcan proved that once again Jack had dumped his alcohol. "Well that's a good sign."

She then spotted on the counter a glass that had some residuals of vodka in it resting next to a very old looking katana. Vivian bypassed the glass, as it wasn't too surprising he at least drank one of those bottles. She was more interested in the Katana, it was a beautiful weapon and obviously old but in excellent condition. Vivian appreciated the weapon for another moment before looking around the apartment with a feeling of curiosity about her.

The last time she had been in this apartment there had been weapons in every square inch of the place, including a grenade launcher behind his cereal. At that thought she looked up at Jacks bedroom trying to gauge how much time she had before he reappeared. "...maybe not enough time to look behind the cereal, but enough time to check his spice cabinet."

Deciding she had enough time to take a little peak around. Moving to the spice cabinet Vivian cracked it open just enough to look inside and sure enough the pistols were gone. "Another really good sign, but just to make sure…"

Vivian closed the cabinet and moved to Jack's silverware and grenade drawer and opened it to find it was just the silverware remained. She was feeling really good that Jack may be bouncing back from that rut he had fallen in. Nodding her approval Vivian began closing the drawer when she heard Jack call from above her "any particular reason you're rummaging around my kitchen?"

Vivian turned around to see Jack coming down the stairs wearing a black button up, vest, and slacks with an emerald green tie and handkerchief. He was in the process of neatly rolling the button up sleeves as he gave her a curious look. Vivian quickly quipped "I was just expecting to see plastic silverware since this is a bachelor's pad afterall."

Jack scoffed and replied "a luxury bachelor pad madam. (In a mock pompous tone) I have class. Anyways, what do you think of the place?"

It took a second for Vivian to realize that as far as Jack was concerned this was her first time in his apartment. "Well it's definitely nicer than my place, and it screams bachelor pad no matter that it's luxury or not." She then points to the Jackson pollock painting and asks "but is that a pollock?"

Jack shook his head at her first statement before reaching the bottom of the stairs and walking over to the painting. "Yeah, got it at an auction. For way less than it's worth at that. It was one of the last ones he painted pulled directly from his estate, and only one previous owner who never let anyone see it."

Jack's response got Vivian curious. "So how much is it worth?"

"150 million give or take a few mil. I got it for 5." Was Jack's casual reply.

Vivian blinked a few times. "Okayyy moving on. Let's go." And proceeded to grab Jack by the back of his collar and started leading him towards the door. Jack allowed Vivian to lead him although he tried one last time to try and delay the inevitable saying in a flighty tone, "Or we could talk about the painting some more, it's a very nice painting!"

Vivian let out an mhmm and simply kept leading him out of his apartment and towards the elevator. It was only in the elevator that Vivian finally released Jack, a smile on her face. "So far the plan is working smoothing, his instincts are letting this happen telling him a vixen is telling you to do something, so do it. But now I got him out I'll let his brain play catch up."

While Vivian was patting herself on the back Jack was meanwhile trying to piece together just how he got here. "What the hell am I doing here? I feel like I'm being hustled, hell like I've been hustled! I feel like I should have protested more, actually put my foot down but it's like I got pushed out the driver seat! Now here I am in an elevator next to the Vixen I love and can never be with. less than a week ago I told her some of my darkest thoughts about myself and ran away from her…and now I'm going to a party with her. A party I pay for and have never attended, because I was and still am an antisocial shut in….what the hell am I doing here…"

The solution to the equation in Jack's mind was eluding him so he instead opted to ask Vivian a question to take his mind off of his own predicament. "So question, what's Nick getting up to while you and I get our party on? He's not home is he?"

Vivian turned to look at him and replied, "of course not, he's too mischievous and still too young to be left home alone. He's at a sleepover."

Jack lit up at that, his ears perking and his tail giving a small swish, "really no kidding? With who?"

Vivian smiled at Jack's reaction. He went from being bummed and confused to happy in an instant. "With the Wolford pup Ralph and a few of his siblings. They're quickly becoming best friends those two."

That response caused Jack to grin. "That's great to hear, that boy needs friends and wolves make hella good ones."

Vivian smirked at that, "speaking from experience?"

Jack chuckled and replied, "of course."

The smile then promptly left Jack's face as the elevator dinged and opened revealing the rooftop party. The smile evaporated, his ears plastered to his head, and his tail sagged straight to the ground as he took in the sights and sounds of a very busy party. Vivian shook her head and let out a little sigh before she snaked her right arm through his left and said, "come one scaredy fox." Before giving him a little tug to exit the elevator.

Jack looked at Vivian in surprise when she took her arm in his and was snapped out of his stupor when she tugged him out of the elevator. The moment he stepped out of the elevator he felt like a fish out of water, this wasn't his element at all. Jack's eyes began swiveling in every which direction, his assassin senses hating everything about the situation. "To little cover, to many mammals, to much noise to pick up sounds of danger, to exposed, to…."

"Well well it looks like Vivian WAS successful in dragging you out of your den!"

Jack was snapped out of his racing thoughts from the exuberant statement from the lavishly dressed Mr. MO as he clasped Jack on the shoulder. Jack's focused recentered and he greeted Mr. MO. "Hey Marcus. Here keeping the peace?"

Marcus Oliver gave Jack a grin and replied, "you know I leave the peacekeeping to Oliver! I'm here to partay!"

A female voice from behind Marcus Oliver then called out, "Don't lie to the boy dear, you have more of an eye for detail than Oliver, he ends up partying more than you do."

The voice came from Anna, Mr. MO's wife who wrapped her arm around his waist as she came to stand beside him. Marcus Oliver kissed his wife lovingly on the cheek before replying, "this is true. Although he still can't dance."

Anna giggled at that and nodded in the affirmative before addressing Vivian and Jack. "Viv, Jackson, good to see you two here."

"I'm here against my will." Was Jack's immediate quip to which he received an elbow from Vivian letting out an oof as a result. Anna and Mr. MO laughed at Jack's expense and Jack's ears splayed slightly to the side in annoyance. "See, abuse on top of it."

Marcus Oliver's tone changed as he responded, "I've seen you take way worse."

Jack reacted internally to Oliver's almost accusing tone and responded in a neutral tone, "true." Before directing his attention to Anna, "Mrs. Remington, a pleasure to see you. I see most of your job still lies with keeping your husbands in check."

Anna waved a paw and replied, "please just call me Anna. Mrs. Remington makes me feel old. But you're right, they're a pawful."

Mr. MO let out a "hey!" at that before adding after a moment, "but yeah true."

Jack chuckled at that before asking, "so is karaoke still happening?"

Vivian looked at Jack in confusion before shifting it to Anna when she replied, "of course, every other just like you wanted. Plan on picking up the mic?"

Jack shook his head in the negative. "No, I think I'll save my pipes for the shower." He then mischievously looked at Vivian. "This fine vixen on my arm though will be, whether she likes it or not."

Vivian's eyes widened and she quickly replied, "why do you mean I'm doing karaoke!?"

Jack smirked at her and said, "hey you kidnap me out of my apartment, the least you can do is potentially make a fool out of yourself singing on stage in front of a bunch of mammals..and me."

Vivian considered it for a moment. "I suppose, with enough drinks I may be up for it."

Jack's smirk widened at that and his eyes zeroed in on the bar. "Then let's get a drink in your paw!"

Jack then whisked Vivian away towards the bar leaving Anna and Mr. MO behind. Marcus Oliver commenting, "well they're in their own world ain't they?"

Anna giggled at that and replied, "young love is a beautiful thing. Even if it means mammals around them don't exist."

Vivian giggled at Jack's excited attitude as he escorted her to the bar, navigating his way through the crowd with precision. Reaching the bar he greeted the painted dog bartender, "Hey Jamal, hook me up with two Moscow mules! Light vodka on mine."

Vivian tilted her head at Jack and he turned to her and said, "I think you'll like it, vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. It's actually my favorite mixed drink."

Before Vivian had the chance to reply Jamal slid two drinks in copper cups in front of them. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of cash pulling out a 20 and handing it to Jamal. "Thanks mammal."

Jamal took the 20 and gave a nod before moving down the line to serve more patrons. Vivian reached out and grabbed her drink, taking a sip before humming in appreciation. "Not bad, so you know the bartender?"

Jack took a sip of his own drink as he snaked his arm out of Vivian's and turned to face the crowd. "Yeah I got him this job, found him in a dive bar in the Meadowlands miserable, underpaid, and way too talented for the place. So I offered him a job here. Also don't mind him if he doesn't talk, English isn't his native language." Vivian nodded at that and kept sipping on her drink waiting for the next social trap to arrive.

One drink later for the both of them the next trap arrived in the form of Jimmy and his mate Ben. They arrived at the perfect time to as Jack had started getting nervous again, Jimmy coming straight up to Vivian and giving her a hug while saying "heyyy girl!"

Vivian hugged Jimmy back and said "hey you! Missed you at the last party!"

Jimmy released Vivian and replied, "I know! Turns out I got food poisoning, but my Benny took great care of me!"

Said Benny side hugged his mate and chimed, "I wouldn't be a good mate if I didn't now would I?"

Ben then turned to address Jack, sticking out a paw to greet him. "Benjamin Davison."

Jack returned the paw shake with a very firm grip and replied, "Head of advanced prosthetics tech division. I actually have been meaning to talk about you about a potential product, not right now of course though. But anyways, Jackson Hunter, pleasure to meet you officially."

"Pleasures mine. But yeah come into Sparrowtail on Monday and run it by me." Was Ben's reply.

While Jack had been greeting Ben Jimmy and Vivian had been whispering to each other but once they noticed their short interaction was over they stopped. Jimmy faced Jack and with a big grin said, "well if it isn't the mystery tod!"

Jack chuckled and replied, "well if it isn't the famous and flamboyant Jimmy Wolverton, head gossip and top biochemist of Sparrowtail. Allow me to formally introduce myself to you, Jackson Hunter, but please call me Jack, both of you."

Jimmy laughed at Jack's description of him before curtsying and saying "alright then Jack, you going to keep my girl in check?"

Jack immediately shook his head. "Nope, I want to see her do karaoke."

This caused Jimmy and Blake to light up and they pivoted to face Vivian. "Oh you gotta sing!" Came from Ben followed by "I know you'd do great girl!" From Jimmy. This then proceeded to cause a back and forth conversation between the three and Jack just watched with a small smile on his face.

The conversation between Vivian, Jimmy, and Ben lasted through two drinks and a shot. Jack himself also took part in the shot because Ben roped him into it but for the most part he just let the trio chat away. He was more than content watching Vivian have fun and watching the crowd, but he didn't get to stay that way for long as a male silver tod approached him.

Jack didn't perceive them as a threat and he recognized the tod so he let him approach. "Hey I hate to intrude, but are you Jack Hunter?" Was the question the silver tod asked.

Jack nodded and replied, "yep, and your Blake Thorne am I right?"

Blake nodded once and stuck out a paw, Jack taking it and giving it a shake. "Yeah that's right. I got a hold of your EDDs and tested them thoroughly, you do nice work." Was Blake's reply.

"Thanks. You do as well, I got to see the prototype for your bomb dispersal device. Wouldn't mind working with you on some stuff."

That caused Blake to perk up and ask "Oh really? You think you can lend a paw on one of my other projects?"

Jack nodded and replied, "only if you can look at a couple of mine."

Blake grinned and said "deal." Before pivoting and addressing the rest of the group and began chattering away. Jack was once again content with just watching Vivian and the crowd but Vivian ending up roping him in. Next thing he knew he was the center point of the conversation being asked questions back and forth. He answered them all honestly as they weren't overly intrusive and the focus stayed on him for about an hour. The focus finally shifted off of him when Blake's girlfriend, a beautiful albino red fox, arrived at the group.

After about another 15 minutes the group dispersed to the dance floor with the exception of Jack and Vivian. Vivian was extremely happy that her plan was going according to plan, Jack was now loose and semi relaxed due to all of semi forced socialization. Vivian herself was loose and having fun, now ready and willing for karaoke. But, karaoke didn't start for another hour and a half and Vivian wanted to dance with Jack for at least 30 minutes of that time.

Vivian looked at Jack who was sipping on his drink as he watched the large crowd dancing away. Vivian took that as a potential good sign so she nudged his shoulder to get his attention. "So, wanna hit the dance floor with me? Come on show me your moves!"

Jack's eyebrows immediately raised and he shook his head. "Uh no thank you. I am not much of a dancer."

Vivian promptly gave him her best puppy eyes and replied, "oh come on! I already agreed to make a fool of myself doing karaoke the least you can do is make a fool of yourself on the dance floor."

Jack chuckled and shook his head before crossing his arms. "Sorry I'm immune to puppy eyes. Still no."

Vivian stuck her tongue out at Jack and quickly replied. "Well you're no fun! I'll just head to the dance floor myself then!" She then points a finger at him and adds, "but don't you take this as an excuse to sneak back off to your apartment! You're here till the party's over!"

Jack put his paws up and replied, "wouldn't dream of it, now go and have fun!"

Vivian rolled her eyes at the tod and then went off to the dance floor, joining Jimmy and Ben at the middle edge. Jack then ordered himself another drink when he heard a female voice say from behind him "so your're the mysterious tod that's got my girl out of wack."

Jack raised an eyebrow and turned to face the voice, finding a arctic vixen with ice blue eyes and a dress that matched her eyes. The vixen had her paws on her hips and a knowing smirk as she looked him up and down.

"I think you got the wrong tod I'm afraid." Was Jack's reply.

The vixen then cocked her hips and crossed her arms as a knowing smile crossed her face. "Oh I definitely got the right wox."

Jack was about to refute her once more until he caught that she called him a wox. "Orr…maybe you do have the right mammal. I'd introduce myself but it seems you already know who I am, so you got me at a disadvantage here."

Skye giggled at Jack's slightly nervous looked and stuck out her paw. "Yep Jack I know who you are, Vivian won't stop talking about you. Skye Winters, Vivian's long time best friend."

Jack's eyes widened a bit as he said, "oh really? So you could tell me some stories?"

Skye nodded as she approached the bar and took the spot to his right. "I could tell you stories. But first, you gotta tell me some, because I only get the second paw form Vivian."

Jack gave a shrug before replying "sure."

Skye proceeded to ask Jack a few questions and it lasted about 20 minutes before Skye switched gears. "So Jackson, and sorry if I call you Jackson but my mate is named Jack so.."

Jack waved a paw, "it's fine. Continue."

Skye nodded in appreciation and continued. "So Jackson, I gotta be honest with you here. You need to figure out your feelings because Vivian likes you, it's clear as day and if you haven't noticed yet you're an idiot. Now if you don't you need to level with her because the things you do confuse her on whether or not you like her too. Now I'm going to go now and leave you to your thoughts because my jackrabbit just showed up and I want to dance with him. So have a nice night."

And with that Skye got up and walked off leaving a baffled Jackson Hunter in her wake as he tried to process what she just told him. He then watched as she greeted her mate and his head tilted as a quick thought went through. "Is that Jack Savage?"