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A small studio building in Dewclaw opened for business just as the sun began to wipe away the bruised blue of the night. People were walking toward the building with duffle bags slung over their shoulders and hands brought up to their faces to cover yawning mouths. The groups approaching the building chattered among themselves with a few stragglers choosing to remain by themselves as they brave the morning. Two turf tiger hybrids were heading to the same destination. One was a chimera of sorts with grey fur and a golden eye. Half of his face was occupied by a mask that shared a smile with him while a thin tail flicked back and forth tipped with the open mouth of a very tiny serpent that looked more like a decoration than anything else. The turf tiger hybrid next to him was much taller and stronger built despite the timid look on his face, orange touching his fur while black eyes swimming in gentle cyan looked around. They both wore loose-fitting clothes and carried a bag just like the rest of the group. Toyle had been looking forward to this little venture and it was even better since he had Claude with him. He figured that the big guy would enjoy something like this and sometimes, it was good to just relax rather than muck things up and create a mess. He just hoped that this session wouldn't end up with him feeling as sore as he had last time. When they entered the building, they were greeted by bright white lights above them. A few of the people that had already arrived were taking out their mats and rolling them to take their places. Toyle and Claude did the same, taking a spot near the middle.

Just when Toyle was ready to start his warmups, he heard a voice addressing him from behind with irritation tinged in every word, "What are you doing here?"

The sharpness in the tone and the suspicion wasn't unusual and the voice was a welcome familiarity. When he turned around he did so with a bright smile and saw that there were two familiar faces rather than just one. A turf tiger with white and bluish-black checkered fur that had a smile on her face that curved up to frosty blue eyes and a stripe-goat touched by white fur whose pink goggled eyes were staring at him with a pointed intensity that matched the question. The stripe goat had her hair tied back with a few loose strands of blue and pink coming over her goggled eyes.

"Well!?" Blurted Neon while throwing her arms up.

Toyle put a golden claw on his chin and wondered for a second if he should take the bait and bother her or if he should answer in genuine. Of course, both was also an option. Keeping the same smile, he turned away to sit on his mat and spread his legs to start his warm-ups, "I'm here for the same thing you are, probably."

He could practically hear the fuses popping while Neon tried to chew through his answer before she finally responded, "I highly doubt that. You always have some sort of angle and I bet you're here to either stir up trouble or just perv around."

With a hum, he tilted his head while leaning down to stretch forward, "Nah, can't say that I am."

"Then what's your cameraman doing here?"

Claude turned around with the smallest smile and put up a paw to wave, "Hello."

Charthur returned the gesture while Toyle answered, "Claude's here to do the same! Figure he could use a bit of stretching so he can keep up with Mellie's sort of liquid flexibility during special moments."

Though a cyan blush touched the other turf tiger's cheeks, he nodded and muttered, "Yeah. I got a bit hurt doing some stuff and I figured that this could help prevent injury. Um, plus it is kind of relaxing."

The light tap of a frustrated hoof could be heard behind him while he sighed, "So there you have it. Me and Claude are taking yoga because we want to. Nothin' weird or perverted unless you're offering then you know I can't say no."

A disgruntled exhale marked the end of that little exchange. In truth, part of the reason he was here to learn a bit of extra flexibility for sexual pursuits so in a way, Neon was kind of right but at the same time, he had nothing dirty planned for the class itself and there were more important reasons than just sex. The fact that he could feel Neon's eyes burning a hole in his back put a smirk on his face and his mask mimicked the expression perfectly.

"You know." He said aloud without turning around, "It is pretty rude to stare."

Neon huffed and went through a variety of sounds while trying to compose some sort of response before Charthur's voice came with a chuckle, "Although this exchange has me ensnared, I beg that you let Neon relax, that is part of the point of this venture we all share."

Toyle sighed, "Guess you're right. I really can't blame Neon for looking anyway. I'm just perfect all around."

The door opened and whatever Neon's response would have been fizzled into a low hiss of breath while the voice of their instructor came loud and full of energy, "Good morning everyone! I'll give you all a bit of time to keep on warming up but in a few minutes, we'll be more than ready to begin! It might be the morning but you won't be falling asleep during this session of ours! There will be relaxation but with a bit of burning too!"

Everyone in the studio greeted the instructor with nods and waves, a few of them bowing or getting up to ask a few questions. The instructor was an avian of sorts with bright plumage and eyes that were shining like the morning sun. They oozed a sort of aura that permeated the class in ambient excitement. Even Toyle had forgotten his mischief with Neon to continue stretching. Maybe someday he'd have to ask if it was magic or simply their shining personality that affected the class and maybe he'd use that opportunity to ask them out too. For now, warmups were finishing and the instructor clapped to call everyone's attention.

They began the routine with some easy positions that Toyle had no issue following. He was about to scoff and even ask if the instructor had been bluffing but something kept him from snarking. A burning in his body was slowly building up with every changed position because the instructor was taking it slow today in the sense that every position needed to be held longer than usual. By the time the first break came up, he found himself lying on his back with all limbs outstretched.

"I am totally and absolutely relaxed. How are you holding up Claude?" He sighed.

Claude leaned over, a bottle of water offered as he responded, "A bit sore but I kind of like it. Didn't expect going slow would hurt so much."

Neon's voice came with a grumble, "Tell me about it."

Toyle sat up to take the bottle and turn his head just in time to see the stripe goat settle next to him. With a shrug, he flicked the cap off the bottle with one claw and offered it up to Neon while speaking, "I thought that I'd be breezing today as soon as we started but my body is telling me that I should have trusted the instructor's warning and braced for it. Either way, I think I can do more."

The stripe goat snatched the bottle and snorted, "I don't doubt that you can handle the pain. As for me, these endurance tests don't bother me so much as the ones where I actually have to stretch."

Before Neon took a drink, Charthur took the bottle to take a sip, returning it with a chuckle, "You all complain so much, but this tiger here could go even past lunch."

Neon and Toyle narrowed their eyes before Neon huffed, "Whatever. You've been doing this kind of thing longer than I have. I just came along because Lily said it would be good for me. That and I kind of want to be able to keep up with her."

Toyle took the bottle once Neon took a pull of it and did the same before raising it, "See? You and I aren't so different after all." When Neon simply raised her brow, he raised his chin and beamed, "I'm doing this to impress. I'll be able to bring it into the bedroom before long if you catch my drift."

A digit poked his chest while Neon huffed, "So you do have an ulterior motive!"

He chuckled and gave her wrist a pat, "Yeah but I'm not planning on making any moves in this class. I'm here to learn, besides, you can't tell me that you aren't planning on doing something with Lily involving all of this."

Neon's cheeks burned with a pink beneath the fur while she fished for the proper words, mouth opening and closing before she blew strands of pink and blue hair out of her face, "Fuck off."

Charthur laughed, "Such a dull retort from a sharp mind, surely you could be less benign?"

That soft pink seemed to glow while Neon bleated, "Not helping!"

Claude's voice came quietly, "Maybe you should let up a little Toyle? I think we all came here for the same reason anyway."

Everyone paused to look at Claude for a moment before Charthur chimed in, "I suppose you're right, flexibility lends a bit of fun beneath covers at night."

Toyle snorted, "I guess we're all just the same, aren't we?"

Neon groaned, "I'll never accept that. Besides, my main reason for doing all of this is so that I can stop being embarrassed whenever attempting anything involving a shred of flexibility with Lily. If it means less coddling and concerned mothering eyes then I would gladly go through all the body burning possible."

He shrugged, "Fair enough. I'd be pretty embarrassed too if I couldn't keep up with a lover. Of course, that never happens to me."

"Maybe in terms of pain tolerance but when it comes to other places I know that you're lacking." Neon snapped.

"Yeah, but you still come back anyway."

The stripe goat huffed, "On occasion because sometimes even I want trash."

Toyle beamed, "Hey, so long as I get my dick wet I guess it'll be a win for me."

Digits squeezed onto his shoulder as Charthur slipped between them, "You two seem on the verge of either hissing or sharing a kiss, but perhaps you should save it for after class or you'll find yourselves remiss."

They all then heard the instructor of the class clapping for everyone to get back to their positions and that was all. Neon and Toyle returned to where they were leaving the tension hanging in the air. Toyle felt like he had gotten good progress with Neon and he could probably squeeze out the right response if he played his cards right, or annoyed her enough for that type of thing. A wide and curved smirk touched his features with eyes that were glittering with mischief at the start of the lessons but that look began to fade away as he went through the motions again.

The positions were the same as last time and for the same length of time being held. It was a bit easier but still straining. Even through the dull ache in his body, he felt the world start to fall apart around him as he breathed in and out. Each movement and breath were blended together perfectly, the stretching basic but enriching as he focused on himself rather than anything else. He was feeling excited because of his interaction with Neon but that sensation faded away as he exchanged it for a gentle peace. The smirk that had lined his features slowly shrunk and the expression on his mask turned blank. Maybe he should be genuine for once and tell Neon that the major reason for coming here was to destress. If he was following a class then there was no need to perform, no need to look like anything else but one of the students. The movements and breathing required him to focus on those things alone. That bliss was something that would keep him sane through all of his work.

When the last position was called, he raised his head and opened his eyes as he pressed his lower body to the mat, stretching back carefully with his claws reaching forward as he tucked himself inward and breathed out.

"Good job everyone!" Called the instructor before clapping their wings, "I'll see you all in a week but if you have any questions or want to attend an extra session please do let me know."

Everyone got up at their own pace and began to file out of the room. Toyle himself took his time sitting up before stretching wide. There was a shower if anyone wanted to use it but he hadn't sweat that much and he didn't have any business to attend to immediately, still, he wanted to stay back for just a bit.

An arm was curled around his shoulders and he was drawn into an embrace from Charthur while she spoke, "I like to reward diligence, meaning smoothies for a certain stripe goat, and to you and Claude I extend an invite or else I'd consider it negligence."

Toyle grinned, "Couldn't resist, huh? If you can wait a bit outside while I talk to the instructor then I'd be glad to grace you with my presence."

Charthur passed a paw through his hair and ruffled it while muttering simply, "Be good."

She got up with Neon and Claude to start walking off leaving him alone with that simple statement without rhyme. He sat there for a moment looking at the group before they stepped out of the room. Guess he deserved that type of suspicion. With a sigh, he got up and headed to the front of the class where the instructor was waving off another student.

The avian brought their wingtips together and beamed, "How may I help you?"

Toyle saw that there were a few people still around, a grin forming on his features as he shrugged, "I guess you could help me by helping yourself to a date." When the instructor simply quirked a brow, he continued, "I know I might just be a beginner but I'm sure I could show you a thing or two elsewhere and uh..." He paused as he noticed that there wasn't anyone else in the room.

That slight pause was enough for the instructor to interject, "And you'd like to sign up for another day perhaps?"

His smile grew as he put a claw up proudly and said, "That's right!" He then fully registered the other's words before muttering, "Come again?"

With a chuckle, the instructor repeated, "I'm guessing you'd like another day? You seem enthusiastic and the weight lifts off your shoulders after every class! I can't imagine that someone like you wouldn't love to do this twice a week even if it burns just a bit more!"

Toyle rubbed the back of his head while the smile on his face faded and his mask began to switch through a few uncertain expressions, "Uh yeah, I'd love to."

The instructor beamed, "Good! I have an opening at the end of the week. Come with me and we can sign off on it."

Together, they went to the instructor's office to get everything scheduled along with payment. He put a copy of the schedule in his bag before heading off still feeling strange, mask moving through pensive expressions. When he got out of the studio, the only one waiting for him was Neon with her arms crossed.

"Rejected?" She asked with a brow raised.

Toyle blinked, taking a moment to think about what she meant before scoffing, "What? No. I never get rejected."

She tilted her head, rubbing her chin while she muttered, "You're either lying or that instructor has horrible taste."

"Hah! I'm sure they'd be dying to go out with me if I even asked in the first place." He said as they started walking.

Neon hummed, "So you were just staying back for extra lessons then?"

He thought of some sort of retort full of spice but being read like an open book by the instructor had left him off-kilter. Instead of making something up, he sighed, "Yeah, actually. I stayed back to schedule an extra class for the end of the week. Two times a week instead of just one. Figure it'll be nice."

The stripe goat looked him up and down, her eyes trailing to his mask that was still a mix of expressions before she said, "Huh...Here I thought you were going to be a complete jackass to the instructor and get kicked out."

Toyle scratched his cheek while muttering, "I did want to ask them out properly and I kind of did but they sort of just ignored what I was saying for what I really wanted to get around to. They just saw right through me and asked if I wanted to schedule another session."

Neon smiled a bit, "So you really like this then?" He shrugged in response and she continued, "Guess I should be apologizing for being so harsh on you."

He stuck his tongue out, "Blugh, seriously? You're apologizing to me? What a weirdo. Next, you'll be asking me out on a date but I mean, why wouldn't you?"

The smile faded away and he grinned, the features of his mask finally settling to mimic the expression while Neon rolled her eyes, "You're right. Apologizing was a stupid idea. I should have just said I was proud of you for doing something that you enjoy and been done with that instead. It probably would have tripped you up more. Anyway, I'll pay for your smoothie just because you're not as much of a scumbag as I thought you were."

Toyle chuckled and kept on walking. He felt odd. The smile on his mask faded to a singular dot and his own expression seemed frozen. He'd have to rethink how he engaged that instructor. Being read wasn't acceptable. It wasn't a matter of privacy but of image. If he wasn't at the top of the charts, wasn't the best, then what was he? Next time he'd turn up the charm or maybe he'd ask if she'd like to have her studio recorded. Those all seemed like wonderful ideas and it would normally be so easy to pick one but he had found a certain peace in that breathing, in those positions and movements that carried his mind away. Ruining that peace would be worse than rejection; maybe. Soon enough, he was given a distraction in the form of a table and the people surrounding him. It was better to just suck down a smoothie and think about this kind of thing later or not at all. Why mess up a good thing? He could get attention and fame elsewhere.

His gaze picked up on the fact that Claude was waving a paw in front of his face and the world came into focus along with the sounds of a busy shop buzzing around him, "Hm? What's up?"

Claude muttered, "I just wanted to know if you were okay. You're quiet."

Toyle looked at the large turf tiger before leaning up to give him a gentle tap on the chest, "You worry about yourself big guy. I'm just thinking of what our next venture will be. Whether it be filming the next war or something else. Maybe Vivian needs a bit of help with her music."

Charthur interjected, "If I may, Jasmaby might have something for you and Claude soon, unless you'd rather save it for another day."

"Hah! Of course he needs me. Whatever it is that he needs of me you tell him that I'll be available and if it is sex then prepare to pay extra." He said with his chin lifted high.

The icy-eyed turf tiger snorted, "Glad to see you back to your usual act, although, I liked you quiet and thoughtful with a little tact."

Quiet and thoughtful? Could he pull that off? Nah. There was no sense in even thinking about it. He was more of the type to shine under the spotlight but maybe that light could go out for a bit while he was at those classes. Either way, he'd enjoy things as they were for now with the people around them; no matter how irritated they got.