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[[CHAPTER 21: Roxstar]]

>*bzzt bzzt*

>Rox's phone wakes you up before the alarm does

>The wolfess yawns, rolling on top of you

>"Mornin', Anon," she says, reaching for her phone

>Her body bears down on you heavily

>Her fur tickles your senses, including a few that have 'roused' earlier than you have

>"Mornin', little Anon," she chuckles

>Rox's paw strays down to your groin

>You inhale sharply as her warm paw pads close around you

>"Maybe we can do something about this after we 'get up' ourselves."

>Rox checks her phone and lets out a sigh

>"Crap, maybe not. Looks like Chee's coming back early. She wants to see us before we head out to work."

>She's still hanging onto you

>Rolling her digits over your morning wood, thinking deeply

>"Hmm, best not to risk it I guess. C'mon, let's get dressed before our roommate comes barging in."

>Still not letting go

>Or moving off of you

>Rox rubs her body up against you with a few grunts

>"Dammit, should have taken advantage of last night while we had the chance. You could have been a little more assertive, Anon."

>When you open your mouth to argue, her tongue darts inside and you're locked into a kiss

>"It's alright, I forgive you. Well, I will AFTER some ear scratches later."

>Rox finally releases you so you can get dressed

>There's no evidence of your weekend romp in the apartment, but she makes sure to double check just to be safe

>The two of you have a light breakfast while you wait for Chee to get back

>"Wanna make a bet on how much new stuff she's coming back with?"

>Don't think so

>You've learned pretty quickly not to take Rox up on her bets

>It's getting close to the time you need to leave when the apartment door finally opens

>The oriole is noticeably quieter than you expected her to be

>"Hey Chee!" Rox says. “You have a good time?"

>"U-uh huh," Chee mumbles

>"Your parents doing okay?"

>"Y-yeah...."

>The wolfess gives her a concerned look

>"What's going on, Chee? You look like something's eating you."

>The bird's emotions snowball from that moment

>She drops her bags to the floor, shaking

>Her face scrunches up and her eyes fill up with water

>She brings her wings to her face, and then everything lets loose

>Chee cries harder than you've ever heard from her

>Rox rushes over and holds the bird in her arms

>"Chee, what's wrong?"

>Chee can't even speak for a while

>When she can breathe at last, her words are broken by hiccups

>"M-m-my parents...they want me to come h-home! They want m-me to leave Whimsey World!"

>She bawls even harder

>"I d-don't want to leave, Roxie! I don't want to leave!"

>Your stomach knots up

>Rox is speechless

>Chee just keeps wailing

>You're all at a loss for what to do

>"Why do they...?" Rox chokes out

>It's clear her heart's lodged in her throat

>"T-t-they think I'm just wasting my future h-here," Chee sobs. “They want me t-to come back home and get a r-real job like my brothers and s-s-sisters...."

>Rox looks angry

>Angry at the thought of losing her dearest friend

>Angry at Chee's parents for thinking Whimsey isn't a “real job"

>The wolfess grabs Chee by the shoulders, trying to get the bird to look into her eyes

>"Listen to me, Chee. We'll get through this, I promise. I won't let them take you away from us, alright? Are your parents still in the area?"

>Chee nods

>Rox motions you over, and she transfers the hysteric bird into your arms

>For how light Chee is, she can be capable of some crushing strength

>Rox looks to you pleadingly

>"I'm going to need your support for this, Anon."

>She laughs grimly

>"We might have to skip our lunch break today, though."

>Whatever it takes to keep your roommate from leaving

>Rox pulls her phone out and leaves you to console Chee as best as you can

>You can just make out her words as she paces nervously back to the bedroom

>"Sher? It's Rox."

>It's impossible to focus on work today

>Rox tried to get someone to cover her shift, but had no such luck

>She was seconds away from just blowing work off altogether, but Chee begged her not to

>With Rox's spotty track record, pulling a stunt like that wouldn't look good for her chances at the mascot initiative

>Or keeping her job altogether

>"Should have just kept my big mouth shut," she growls when the two of you have a moment alone out in the park

>She's beating herself up about it hard, even though she had nothing to do with this

>Rox sighs, loud enough for you to feel her pain

>"I just...when I said I wanted her to 'fly the nest' I didn't mean like this. I jinxed it. I fucking jinxed it!"

>She punches a garbage can in frustration

>Even with her costume's padded hands, it's enough force to make a visible dent

>Better the garbage can than some poor guest, at least

>You try to calm Rox down a bit

>No matter what she said, she had nothing to do with Chee's predicament

>"I can handle if she had to move out of the apartment, but I can't stand losing her for good, Anon...."

>Even through the thick costume you can sense Rox's sorrow

>"She's the only one who ever put up with my shit...and always with a SMILE, too! I never had a lot of friends, but I didn't think I needed any other than her. I'd be a mess without her. Hell, in some ways she's even more of a mother than my own mom!"

>She glances up to one of the clock towers scattered around the park

>There's nothing you can do until your lunch break, and time is more than prepared to remind you of that

>"Dammit, Chee...."

>Break time finally arrives

>Rox has you in hand, pulling you through the employee tunnels and farther out of the park

>She throws you into her car and the two of you speed off toward the Cast Complex

>It's the only place you can meet Chee's parents on park grounds, considering even anthro families aren't supposed to be in the employee backstage areas unauthorized

>Rox got Chee to call her parents and have them meet up with you here

>They probably think they're just going to say hello to Rox before they head home

>You find Chee and her parents over in the lobby where the Whimsey museum begins

>It's completely empty except for the trio of orioles, you, and Rox

>Chee's mother and father both have gorgeous plumage, just like their daughter

>They immediately give you shocked looks as you approach

>"Mom, Dad...this is, um, Anon," Chee says

>This is more than a little awkward

>They just have their beaks open, unable to find the proper words

>Guess you're still an enigma to these anthros

>"Excuse me for being late...."

>Now THERE's a voice you never thought you'd be relieved to hear

>Sherry-K marches into the lobby, dressed in her usual coordinator's pinstripes and armed with a clipboard

>Though something about her is a little off...

>Also, isn't today supposed to be her day off?

>The tigress walks right up to Chee's parents and extends a paw

>"Sherry-K, Head Coordinator. Pleasure to meet you both."

>The two orioles shake Sherry-K's paw, though they keep glancing back to you

>This doesn't go unnoticed by the tigress' grassy eyes

>"I expect neither of you have been properly introduced to Anon," she says. “He has been under Chee's care since entering our company."

>"Wait, he...living with Chee?" the mother gasps

>The two parents look at their daughter with confusion

>She really didn't break the news to them yet

>"I apologize if there has been any miscommunication," Sherry-K says. “Chee has been asked to keep Anon's situation confidential while we intergrade him into our organization."

>"How long—?" Chee's father blurts out

>But Sherry-K cuts him off

>She's right on point

>"Almost two weeks now, and there have been zero incidents. I have personally selected Chee to watch over Anon as she has proven to be highly capable of such a responsibility, already having demonstrated admirable success in watching over Roksa."

>You can't tell if that was a slight against the wolfess or just a joke

>Rox doesn't look happy about it either way

>But she holds her tongue as you hold her arm

>"Now then," Sherry-K continues, “it is my understanding that Chee is thinking of leaving the Whimsey Corporation?"

>The way Sherry-K words the question makes it very obvious she knows it's not Chee's wish

>And she blames the parents for it, too

>Though nobody is going to challenge the tigress's accusations and her unparalleled professionalism

>Chee's parents look to one another for an answer

>The father steps up first

>"Well," he says, “our daughter has been working here for a while now, and we've talked to her about finding another career. We were under the impression this was going to be a temporary sort of job."

>Sherry-K nods thoughtfully

>"I understand. It is not my place to question or interfere with family matters. This company was founded on the bond Darwin Whimsey shared with his family, biological or otherwise. However...."

>That one word carries so much weight behind it, especially from the mouth of someone like Sherry-K

>"I would like to say on behalf of the Whimsey Corporation that we would be losing an exceptionally talented member of our family. Chee is far and above one of our better employees, and that's not a compliment I give out frivolously."

>Rox rolls her eyes

>It's enough to make Chee's parents look somewhat impressed, though

>"As a matter of fact," Sherry-K adds, “I am currently in the process of approving a pending promotion for Chee. She will be elevated to Senior Supervisor of Park Operations within a few days."

>Knowing Sherry-K—and Whimsey as a whole—this is probably just a fancy way to say “running the attractions with a little more seniority"

>Though the tigress could make custodial duties sound important by the way she hypes them up

>Regardless, the new title makes Chee suck in air loudly out of awe

>And that's enough to sell it to her parents

>"Admittedly, not every position within the company is glamorous or well-compensating," Sherry-K says, “and it's unfortunate that many of our employees do not exhibit the aptitude to rise very far through the ranks. Your daughter, however, shows incredible potential. There is a lot of vertical advancement opportunity within Whimsey Corporation, and if Chee stays on this course she will no doubt see the upper echelons of the company in the near future."

>For a brief moment you're worried that Sherry-K might be laying it on a little too thick

>But you quickly realize that she's completely right

>Chee is easily one of the hardest workers in the park, and her undying love of Whimsey makes her a perfect fit

>You'd never want to see her deal with the same kind of stress you saw Sherry-K crack under, but then again Chee could be a special case

>The bird girl looks to her parents with hope

>They look to each other with worry, but their daughter's misty eyes seem to melt their hearts

>"If this is what you want..." the mother says

>Chee nods furiously

>"Alright then," the father says. “We can talk more about this later. Would you mind driving your mother and me back to the station?"

>"I can arrange a driver," Sherry-K interjects. “I would like to speak with Chee a little longer while she's here. Might I recommend the Cast clearance store while you wait?"

>Man, that tigress is smooth

>Chee's parents head out toward the clearance store while the rest of you hang back

>Sherry-K doesn't have time to brace herself before the bird wraps her wings around her

>Chee's back to sobbing, but out of happiness this time

>"T-t-thank you, Sherry! Thank you!"

>Rox stifles a laugh as Sherry-K tries to figure out how to handle the situation

>The tigress just pats the bird on the back gingerly

>"D-do you really mean it?" Chee sniffs. “About the p-promotion?"

>"I'm not in the habit of making promises I don't intend on keeping. I meant every word of what I said, yes."

>Of course Chee would start crying again

>"So you're really able to just push a promotion through like that?" Rox speaks up at last. “Didn't think you had the kind of power, Sher."

>Sherry-K manages to calm Chee down enough to step away

>She straightens her shirt and stands with dignity

>"Yes, well, it seems I too have been given some degree of advancement within the company. Ever since Anon has come into our lives I've found myself burdened with an increasing amount of responsibility, but with the benefit of greater authority."

>Sherry-K cocks an eyebrow at you

>It's hard to read her thoughts of you, but they can't be bad after everything you've gone through, right?

>Right?

>"Well, we really owe you one, Sher," Rox says. “You helped keep our little family together, and we...."

>The wolfess' eyes narrow

>"Are you, uh, wearing eye shadow, Sher?"

>The tigress' eyes dilate

>You just KNEW something was different about her

>There's a light dusting of violet color around Sherry-K's eyes, which she hastily wipes away

>There's already some smeared makeup on the back of her furry paw as well

>She tugs at her collar and flips through papers on her clipboard absentmindedly

>"N-no, there's an explanation...indeed, what had happened...with that said...just as I noted...."

>She makes a cough that sounds like a gunshot

>Then she's back to her reserved way

>"I need get a hold of that driver for Chee's parents. Rox, Anon...I trust you will make it back in time for the rest of your shift?"

>Right on cue, your stomach yells at you

>Looks like you're definitely going to be missing lunch today

>"Don't worry, I'll treat us to something nice later," Rox whispers

>Before she leaves, Sherry-K gives Rox a stern look

>"On the matter of 'owing' me," she says, “I hope you will look into the affair we discussed yesterday."

>The tigress gives Chee a quick glance for emphasis

>"Yeah, I'll get right on that," Rox says with an A-Okay signal. “Thanks again for showing up on your day off, Sher."

>"Very good."

>Sherry-K walks out of the lobby, brushing her eyes again as discreetly as she can

>Chee folds both you and Rox up in her wings

>"Oh, thank you both for being here! I couldn't ask for better friends! I'm going to have a wonderful dinner cooked for you both by the time you get home from work!"

>"Aw, don't sweat it, Chee. We can bring something back ourselves. You should take it easy after all you've gone through today."

>"No no! I insist! I'll make something nice for the three of us, and I'll tell you all about my weekend!"

>You can see Rox's hand hovering in preparation for a facepalm

>But she restrains herself

>"You know what? That sounds nice. I'd love to hear it, Chee."

>The wolfess gives both of you a warm smile

>Never again is she going to take her friends for granted

>"Great! Maybe then you can tell me about the weekend YOU guys had!"

>Rox scratches her neck sheepishly

>"Haha, ehh...I don't think so...."

[[CHAPTER 22: Roksa Casbah]]

>"...And then we played Whimsey Trivia for an hour while we had Frostbitten playing in the background and my mom was sewing up my Princess Glacika scarf, and I told them about the fun time we had last weekend at the Cast Complex, and...."

>Chee gives you and Rox the complete play-by-play of her weekend with her parents

>A small price to pay for a nice, home cooked meal

>Rox isn't exactly listening with rapt attention, but she isn't ripping her ears out like you'd expect from having to endure her roommate's unrelenting storytelling

>In fact, she looks pretty happy about things

>It only took the threat of losing one of her closest friends to make the wolfess grateful for what she has

>"Hey!" Chee says. “Maybe we could watch Frostbitten together tonight?"

>You try to anticipate what sort of response Rox is going to make

>Like, “I don't really feel like it tonight", or “Haven't you seen it enough already?"

>But Rox has none of that snark for the bird

>"Yeah...sure, Chee. Whatever you wanna do."

>It's the closest the three of you have ever been in the apartment, literally and figuratively

>Unusual for sure, but very much heartwarming

>When dinner's over the three of you all sit together on the couch, watching Chee's favorite Whimsey movie

>Rox has one arm around the bird's shoulder and the other around yours

>Her eyes look past the TV, but there's a permanent smile on her muzzle

>She absentmindedly rocks her head to the sound of Chee singing along to the songs

>The wolfess is in a trance, lost in her thoughts and daydreams

>You know you're a part of them as she strokes your shoulder

>"I really do hope we can have Sherry-K over for a movie night someday," Chee says during a slow moment in the film

>Rox snaps back to reality

>The tigress' name being the key

>"I've been meaning to talk to you about something after you got back," she says. “I've been planning a way to treat Sher to a nice evening and introduce her to your friend Mio, and I was hoping you'd help with this."

>Chee blinks

>"Sure, Roxie. What do you need me to do?"

>"Well, our Cast Night's coming up pretty soon, and since you're going to be on OUR rotation now it's the perfect chance to get all of us and Mio together. I have a little surprise in mind for her and Sher: a nice dinner in that Whimsey Castle restaurant. I want you to talk Mio into dressing up and coming along."

>Chee gasps loudly

>"Oh, how magical! They'll love it!"

>"You'll be along for it, too. And Anon will. I want this to feel as natural as it can for the girls, just like a casual dinner between coworkers, right?"

>Chee gasps even louder

>"ME? In the castle for dinner!?"

>She looks like it's her who's getting the surprise

>Chee has no doubt been in the Castle before, but probably not in the restaurant from a guest's perspective

>"Yeah, why not? You're always taking care of us, and I'm sure Mio will appreciate you being there to ease things up a bit."

>You didn't think there was ever a way to get Chee to ignore a Whimsey movie, but not even the emotional climax to Frostbitten is enough to recapture her attention now

>"I'll talk to Mionra the first thing tomorrow!" the oriole sings. “Thank you, Roxie!"

>"Hey, we're the ones who should be thanking you," Rox says. “Well, ME more than Anon. You've done more for me than I could probably ever repay you for, Chee."

>Rox draws Chee in for a hug

>"I'm pretty lucky I got stuck with a roommate like you."

>The wolfess pulls you closer as well to join in the fuzzy feelings

>The movie credits finish scrolling by before anyone says anything else

>"So, it's going to be the five of us at the dinner?" Chee says, looking ahead with excitement

>"Actually, there's one more I'm planning on bringing along," Rox says

>A grin stretches on her face

>"I owe him a bit for something. So, I figured I'd repay him and fill in that last seat to even out those nice little tables the restaurant has at the same time."

>"That's really nice of you, Roxie! Who is it?"

>"You know that pheasant who works in the Castle?"

>"Amadeus? Yeah! He seems like a really nice guy."

>Rox chuckles slyly

>"I'm glad you think so."

>The apartment feels at harmony

>Chee's back

>She's here for good

>And everyone is happy with themselves

>"Goodnight!" Chee calls out to you and Rox when it's time for bed

>You have to admit, you missed that

>Now you have to see how things go with your wolfess

>The two of you stand in Rox's bedroom, just staring at each other for a while

>"So, how much do you think we can get away with tonight?" Rox says mirthfully

>Oh boy...

>"I'm kidding!" she says, holding up her paws

>Then she scratches her chin, eyeing you from head to toe

>"I mean...sort of. Yeah, I think we'll have to restrain ourselves now that mother hen is back. It's definitely going to make things a little challenging for us...even just how we sleep together."

>Didn't seem to be a problem before

>Even when she slept without her shirt

>"I can cover the puppies up fast enough," she says, cupping her chest for emphasis. “But I'm not sure how fast I can throw some shorts on if she comes barging into the room and my tail's up in the air."

>Maybe she could actually try setting some boundaries with her roommate for once?

>"I guess so...."

>You look at Rox with suspicion

>Seems like an unusual hang-up for her to have all of the sudden

>"I didn't want to lose Chee today, any part of her. That even includes her sweet innocence, too."

>Her innocence?

>This coming from the wolfess who was bragging about corrupting the naïve bird

>"I'm just kind of afraid she really, honestly doesn't know ANYTHING about...what couples do when they're alone. You heard her stories tonight: she was genuinely confused why her parents wanted to put her in a separate room when they stayed at the suites."

>Rox makes some lewd gestures with her paws

>"She obviously didn't get the lesson about the birds and the Chees from her folks, and I don't really want to be the one to teach her when she asks why we're locking our door...or she accidentally sees our bare asses."

>You just roll your eyes

>"Hey! Cut that out. These are valid concerns."

>Rox sighs

>"Maybe I'll have a talk with her tomorrow. For now, I guess there's not much we can do but keep the pants on. Just the pants, though."

>She whips her shirt off and climbs into bed with you following after

>But rather than spooning, she keeps your body facing hers

>Her golden eyes are full of hopefulness

>"Please?" she mouths

>The wolfess sticks the top of her head in your face

>"Remember, you owe me for getting me all riled up this morning."

>She DID say this is how she'd “forgive" you

>You're still trying to figure out how that's fair, or even your fault

>You reach for her ears and give the backs some scratches

>One of her eyelids droops as you work your fingers into her fur

>*scritch scritch scritch*

>"Ooohhh yeahhh," she moans

>After a while, Rox wads up some of the sheets and bites down on them

>Then she takes your hands and places them on her belly

>She's playing a dangerous game, this girl...

Your hands rub up and down her stomach

>Feeling her abdominals tense up then relax

>Massaging from navel up just below the breast

>Rox's noises intensify, and you can see the sheet clump in her mouth soaking through with her drool

>Her tail thumps the bed loudly

>"Mmmm...I luff hyoo," she mumbles into her makeshift mouth gag.

>The petting continues for some time

>Your arms fall asleep before you do

>Rox has the look of a wild predator on her face today as the two of you walk through the employee tunnels

>She doesn't seem to be angry, but her brow is furrowed and her eyes dart around everywhere

>And then she spots her prey

>Coming out of the guys' locker room is Amadeus

>Rox slides in front of him, looming over the poor bird

>"Morning, Ace," the wolfess smiles

>"A-ah!" Ace yelps. “G-good morning, uh, Rox."

>The guy definitely doesn't seem like he's good at talking with the ladies

>Or at least the ones who could probably toss him over Whimsey Castle

>"Say, Ace...do you have any way of getting off work for this week's Cast Night?"

>"This...what, you mean in two days?"

>"That's the one."

>The pheasant looks to you for support, hoping you'll call off the lupine breathing down his neck

>"That's...uh, a little short notice. Why...?"

>You urge Rox to get to the point

>The more she draws this out, the bigger the chance Ace is going to pass out from stress

>"Look," the wolfess says, “how would you like to have dinner with Chee?"

>Maybe she should have eased into it after all...

>Ace's eyes bug out and his beak practically unhinges

>"WHAT?"

>"Inside voices, Ace," Rox hisses. “Alright, the quick version is that we're planning on throwing a little dinner party for Sher, and Chee's going to be there helping out. If you want to join us, here's your formal invitation."

>Ace balks at the mention of the tigress

>"W-wait, Sherry-K's going to be there? I...uh...I don't know...."

>That might actually be a bit of a problem

>Sherry-K's preference for the ladies isn't likely well known outside of a few people

>Would the tigress even want someone like Ace to figure it out?

>Either Rox hasn't thought of this, or she just doesn't care

>Knowing her, it's probably the latter

>"Look, you'll be fine," Rox says. “Sher is going to be too preoccupied with what we have in store for her to care that you're there. As long as you don't pester her or anything, there's nothing you have to worry about. You just need to keep your cool and focus on making small talk with Chee."

>Ace squirms around a bit

>"I don't know if I can switch my shifts in time," he groans

>"Is there anyone I can talk to for you?" Rox says

>"W-well, there's Baggy...."

>Ace looks like he just damned his friend to some horrible punishment

>"Great, I'll have a chat with him," Rox chuckles. “I think he owes us for being a poor partner for Anon when I was gone."

>Rox has an interesting way of looking at debts and favors...

>You leave the pheasant looking baffled as Rox struts off triumphantly

>"You might want to talk to costuming if you need some nice clothes!" she calls back

>Rox is back to her usual self when your shift starts, but she seems a little on edge when it gets closer to lunch

>"Go on without me," she says when your break arrives. “I need to do a little more 'preparation' while I have the chance. I don't want you to have to miss lunch again."

>You don't like the thought of eating without Rox, but she's far too fast to keep up with

>So it's either you have lunch without her, or you go without food AND you waste all your energy tailing her

>Every so often you hear her name being muttered by other anthros, or see her dart by out of the corner of your eye

>She's making waves, whatever she's up to

>"Hey! Anon!"

>Chee flags you down when you reach the cafeteria

>"Roxie's not sick, is she?" Chee whispers. “She doesn't normally miss lunch."

>You explain to Chee what's going on, and she suddenly looks frightened

>Almost like Ace did

>"Uh-oh, I'm supposed to talk to Mionra. Roxie told me—whatever I do today—I have to get her to agree to come to Cast Night with us!"

>The bird looks around the cafeteria frantically

>You can see the vixen dumping her tray and getting ready to leave

>"Eep! M-MIONRA!"

>Chee flaps her wings and chases down her friend

>This was meant to be for a nice meal, Rox

>Nobody's going to have a good time if everyone's freaking out about it

>You eat your lunch in solitude

>It reminds you of the days you had to go without Rox by your side

>Everyone's staring at you again, this time trying to figure out what's gotten into the wolfess and why she's not with you

>It's fine, you didn't have a huge appetite anyway...

>Although it gives you an excuse to save a snack for Rox when she inevitably comes back without having had anything herself

>Your break is almost over when the wolfess finally returns

>She looks satisfied about something

>"Hey," Rox pants. “Welp, I got her!"

>What?

>Oh, she must mean Sherry-K

>"Kind of wish you were there to see it," Rox laughs, slapping her knee. “The poor girl almost collapsed when I brought up the dinner. Took a bit of convincing to make her put down the clipboards for the night, but I guess someone's covering for her on Cast Night."

>Sherry-K?

>Not walking around with her stack of clipboards?

>No way

>"I knew you wouldn't believe me. Doesn't matter, because you'll see the pretty kitty for yourself very soon!"

>Rox pulls out a nearby chair and slumps into it

>You hold out a back of chips for her

>"For me? Thanks, buddy."

>She's about to open the bag when she sees a mass of black and white lumbering out of the cafeteria

>The bag of chips explodes as Rox jerks it open in surprise

>"Cookie! WAIT!"

>She leaves the snack debris all over the floor as she charges after the panda

>You're already beginning to look forward to Cast Night being over

[[CHAPTER 23: Rox Me Amadeus]]

>Cast Night

>Rox spent most of her free time yesterday organizing whatever she has planned for tonight

>She disappeared again today for lunch to make sure everything's all prepared

>Her dedication to this is impressive

>"Our friends need this," she pants when you finally manage to catch her for a minute. “Life can't just be all about work. It's killing Sher, and I don't want Chee to miss what it's like to have someone really special in her life. Her own Anon, you know?"

>Rox begins to dash off again, but she turns around as though forgetting something

>She plants a big kiss on your cheek

>"And WE could use this, too. Haven't had a formal dinner date yet and we don't really get many chances to do this in the actual park."

>Not to mention how much it would cost even if you were allowed to treat Rox like you were both guests

>It's a shame you couldn't get the whole place to yourselves, though

>"Yeah, a triple date isn't as romantic, but I'm sure it'll be fun anyway."

>Rox snickers and shakes her head

>"Then again, we're dealing with four helpless, inexperienced daters. We might have our work cut out for us tonight."

>The wolfess runs off for the remainder of your lunch break, almost late in returning to the park grounds

>You can hear giddy laughter coming from her costume as the two of you finish up your shift

>It certainly helps the goofiness of her performances

>Though you don't know whether to be excited with her or a little concerned

>Rox doesn't wait past a minute of the hour before splitting off once again

>"Go make sure Ace is all cleaned up," she says before leaving. “I'm gonna find our little feline friend."

>It doesn't take you long to find the pheasant

>He's in the locker room, struggling to get himself dressed in a pretty sharp looking vest

>Seems like bird anthros aren't made for wearing traditional suits, what with their wings and all

>"Oh, hey Anon," Ace grunts, hopping around in circles like a dog chasing his tail

>You help him get everything clasped and buttoned

>"Thanks. I'm not really used to being dressed up like this. I, uh, borrowed this from costuming like Rox said."

>Whimsey does a pretty nice job with their costumes

>You wouldn't be able to tell it's from a theme park unless you work here

>Though that might be a problem for poor Ace, considering two of the girls are massive Whimsey fans

>"Hey, could you tell me a little bit about Chee?" Ace says while you get dressed yourself. “Like her favorite movies and things? I don't want to bore her…."

>Chee doesn't seem like the type to think people are boring

>But you tell the pheasant everything you know about her

>"Frostbitten, huh?" Ace says with a grimace when you mention Chee's favorite princess. “That's rough. Not a big fan of it, but…well, if that's what she's into. Thanks."

>At least he's a good sport and willing to make it work

>You hear muffled arguing coming from the women's locker room

>You and Ace hang around outside, where Rox told you to wait for her

>"Alright, fine! You're a big girl; I'll let you do it yourself!" the wolfess shouts behind her as she exits the locker room

>She's in her high-skirted, golden dress from the night with the fireworks

>Toned thighs visible, shoulders bare, chest hefted up and prominently displayed

>This time she's let more of her wolfish side stay out, with her head and neck fur tousled wildly

>Though that might just be from a lack of time or space to get properly cleaned up

>And yet she looks even more beautiful this way

>"Evening, boys," Rox says with a wink. “Just waiting on our woman of the hour to figure out how dresses work."

>"A-and Chee?" Ace says

>His nerves are already getting the better of him

>Rox grins deviously

>"Someone's got a hot date I take it?"

>Ace tugs at his collar nervously

>"Ah, just messing with you," Rox laughs. “Chee's driving Mio here, so we'll meet up with them at the restaurant."

>You hear the slow pace of heavy footsteps approaching from inside the locker room

>Everyone backs up to give the tigress room for her appearance

>Sherry-K steps out, looking a little uncomfortable

>But also very, very elegant

>She's wearing a vibrant teal dress that perfectly compliments her fierce orange pelt

>It's not as short and risqué as Rox's, but it does just as good of a job at accentuating the feline's modest curves

>You never realized just how busty Sherry-K actually was under those unflattering pinstripe shirts

>Her fur is immaculately groomed, and you see that subtle dusting of violet makeup around her grassy eyes

>The only thing that takes away from the bombshell picture in front of you is how stiffly she carries herself

>Her arms are very clearly grasping at invisible clipboards

>"Looking hot, Sher!" Rox says, walking around the tigress

>Sherry-K's eyes wander down Rox's cleavage

>"You're not doing that body any favors by covering it up with those ugly uniforms," the wolfess continues

>"Roksa, please!" Sherry-K hisses

>The tigress glares at you and Ace, daring you to say anything

>"Alright, keep those cat tats in," Rox scoffs. “Let's go get the rest of our little dinner party."

>"You're not expecting us to walk around on the grounds like this, are you?" Sherry-K says

>"Why? Are you afraid of showing a little fur to your coworkers?"

>The tigress stares daggers at the wolfess

>"Yeesh," Rox says. “We're going to have to get you some wine or something, STAT."

>The employee tunnels are barren as you make your way to the castle backstage

>Everyone either went home or is out enjoying the attractions

>The only other coworker you see along the way is Cookie, who is working the restaurant kitchen

>"Thanks again for doing this, Cook," Rox says

>The panda grunts in affirmation

>This was his Cast Night as well, so Rox really must have buttered him up to go along with this

>When you pass through the kitchen you end up out in the main restaurant floor

>It's enormous like a ballroom, with a plentiful number of tables scattered around

>Many are pushed to the side, leaving a single table alone in a wide clearing

>Standing beside the table are Chee and Mionra

>Chee looks as bubbly as ever in a tiny, rosy princess dress that's far cuter and innocent than anything any of the other anthro ladies are wearing

>By contrast, Mionra looks like a gift all wrapped up with her stunning emerald cocktail dress and a large, exquisite bow tied around her neck

>Vixens have a naturally easy time being charming

>Rox glances smugly at Sherry-K, who looks to be having difficulty swallowing the lump in her throat

>The same can be said about Ace, who retreated behind you as soon as he saw Chee

>"Well!" Rox says with a loud clap of her paws. “Everyone's here, so let's sit down and get to know each other!"

>She has to nudge Sherry-K forward with every step, while Ace needs to be practically dragged forward

>Once at the table, everyone looks at their dates

>Sherry-K clears her throat

>"Mionra," she says as professionally as possible. “You're looking…rather lovely tonight."

>The vixen takes her all in

>"Sherry, wow," Mionra says with a twitch of her bushy tail, “Why haven't we ever seen this side of you before?"

>This catches the tigress off guard

>"Excuse me?"

>"You carry yourself with such incredible authority, but those awful coordinator shirts don't do you justice. I feel like this is the first time we're really seeing the true Sherry-K."

>"I see…" the tigress says, straightening out her dress

>Meanwhile, Ace seems to be struggling with his composure just as much

>"H-hey, Chee. You look g-great tonight!" the pheasant stutters

>"Thank you!" the oriole says. “You too, Amadeus!"

>"Heh, a-actually it's A…uh, yeah, thanks."

>It's feeling less like a dinner date and more like a prom

>Rox turns to you and grabs your hand tightly

>"I'm Rox. Nice to meet ya!"

>She yanks you into a smothering hug

>Your face is buried in her fur and you inhale her pleasing, earthly scent

>For being just as much of a city girl as any human female—dress and all—her smell makes you imagine the forested wilderness

>Rox's muzzle is right up against your ear

>"I tend to put out after a really good date," she whispers. “Just food for thought."

>She slaps you on the back and pulls a chair out for you

>"Everyone grab your buddy and take a seat! Our waiter will be right over."

>You all sit down with your respective dates, with an appropriate wingman on the other side

>You're keeping an eye on Ace, Chee has Mionra nearby, and Rox is Sherry-K's moral support

>Cookie marches out from the kitchen with menus and water

>Even the largest waiter uniform Whimsey World has isn't quite enough to fit a panda bear

>His outfit is comically stretched over his burly body

>Nobody has said anything since sitting down, so it's up to Rox to break the ice as Cookie pours the waters

>"Sooo…where does everyone know each other from?" the wolfess says with wiggling eyebrows

>You can almost hear the crickets

>Well, you thought it was a little funny

>"Great, thanks," Rox mutters sarcastically

>Everyone sits in silence reading their menu

>Is Cookie really going to make anything you ask for?

>Rox leans forward slightly, and then Sherry-K gasps

>"R-Roksa!" she snarls

>"Sorry, sorry!" Rox says. “Thought I was scratching my own leg there!"

>Sherry-K scoots away from the wolfess with an upturned nose

>Now putting her closer to Mionra

>Somehow you think this was Rox's plan all along

>Mionra smiles sweetly to Sherry-K, who tries to contort her face likewise

>On the other side of the table, Ace is working up the courage to talk to Chee

>"So, I hear you're, uh, really big into Whimsey?"

>"Yes!" Chee squeals. “I love it all so much! The park, the cartoons, the movies...."

>"Y-yeah, me too!" Ace says. “I bet you're really into...Frostbitten?"

>Oh that poor bastard

>Now he's done it

>Chee's eyes go wide, and she jitters in her seat

>"It's my FAVORITE! Oh, Princess Glacika is the best princess and it has such a great message about family and Puddles is the cutest sidekick and I listen to the soundtrack every day and I heartheymightbeworkingonasequel!"

>Maybe you should have warned Ace not to lead with Frostbitten discussion...

>Ace catches a break for a moment when Cookie returns to take everyone's orders

>He definitely seems to be honoring everyone's choices

>"Roksa, how is this all getting paid for?" Sherry-K asks inquisitively

>"Don't worry, I got it all figured out," Rox says with a wave of her paw. “Just get what looks good to you."

>When it comes time for the wolfess to order, she just gets a hamburger

>Even Cookie raises an eyebrow

>"Are you serious, Rox?" Mionra says. “Everything here is so much better than the typical park fare. Why not be more adventurous?"

>"Geez, I didn't know I was going to get grilled for just wanting a burger...haha...."

>"Are you going to push aside your vegetables as well?" Sherry-K adds in mockingly

>"No, mom, I'll eat my damn vegetables."

>Rox leans in closely to you

>"Can you help me with those, buddy?" she whispers

>Guess a diet of ramen sort of narrows one's taste

>Miraculously, it seems jointly heckling Rox gets Sherry-K and Mionra to open up to each other a little more

>When all the orders are taken, Chee returns to talking Ace's ears off

>Rox looks a little sour about getting ganged up on, but when she sees your face she warms up instantly

>Her paw strays to your lap under the table

>"Think it's working?" she mouths to you, motioning to the rest of the table

>For normally being the most outgoing one, Rox keeps quiet for a lot of the meal

>She just observes the scene before you

>The tigress and vixen face each other a little more when they speak in turn

>The wine probably helped a lot

>There seems to be some genuine, mutual interest in their conversations, though it's hard to miss the not-so-discreet glances they each make to each other's bodies

>Rox only butts in when it sounds like the topics delve a little too deeply into work

>A compliment from Sherry-K about Mionra's improvement in performance starts to drift toward park operations, until Rox kicks things back around

>"Yeah, Mio and I had quite the rebellious streak for a while. You'd almost think we were doing it just to hang out with you, Sher."

>The tigress rolls her eyes, but Rox nods to Mionra encouragingly

>Hoping to coax a confession, perhaps

>"Actually, Rox is correct," Mionra says carefully. “I gladly took the reprimands so I could have the private moments with you, Sherry."

>You don't know whether it's a fox thing or a Mionra thing, but the vixen's eyes have a downright enchanting effect to them

>Sherry-K reels back with shock

>"W-what? You don't really mean that. Why didn't you just...approach me on your own?"

>Mionra twirls a finger around the knots of her bow sheepishly

>"...It's because I'm seen as not approachable, isn't' it?" Sherry-K sighs

>"I didn't think you were at first, truthfully," Mionra says, “but now that I've had the chance to talk to you, I see that it was my own hesitation holding me back. I should have worked up the courage sooner. It should have been ME taking the initiative, and not Rox pushing us together."

>"You're welcome," Rox grunts

>The conversation between her and Sherry-K tapers off to silence for a little while

>Time to check in on the other lovebirds

>"...And the fifth time I visited the Whimsey Suites it was with all my brothers and sisters again and Sooty-nail came out that weekend so we stayed up extra late for the premiere and almost missed 'Breakfast with the Characters' the next morning and..."

>Well, Ace is still boned

>Though he nods the whole time with a polite grin on his face

>What a trooper

>Dishes are removed promptly by the panda waiter, as are the accumulating number of drink glasses

>It's starting to get pretty late, and Cast Night will be over soon

>Table talk continues amongst the dates while Rox excuses herself

>"Gonna square things away with our chef," she says, though you're the only one really listening to her

>She confronts Cookie out of earshot and pulls out her wallet

>Money exchanges hands, and the two shake paws

>But as Cookie heads back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up, Rox looks down to her wallet

>Mournfully, with ears partially folded back

>It's empty, no doubt

>She reads your face as you read hers when she returns to the table

>It was a generous thing she did, though you feel bad for how much it must have drained her savings

>"Hey, it was worth it," she murmurs

>Rox points to Sherry-K and Mionra

>The tigress is in the middle of a story, speaking with frequent hand gestures (or paw gestures, rather)

>Each time she puts her paw down on the table, it gets a little closer to Mionra's

>Soon their fur is touching

>Sherry-K might not have found quite a firebrand like Rox is, but she doesn't seem to be complaining about the beautiful vixen seated right up against her with allure in her eyes and a gently swishing tail

>Rox drapes an arm around your shoulder and leans her head on yours, admiring her handiwork

>Cast Night is all but over

>Everyone grabs their belongings and waits for some sort of closure

>Sherry-K decides to make the first move

>"I have to admit, Roksa," she says, “that was delightful evening."

>"Agreed," Mionra says

>"Yeah, thanks Roxie!" Chee chirps

>The bird turns to Ace, who's lingering nearby

>"And I had a great time talking to you, Amadeus! Hey, if you're on our schedule for Cast Nights now, you should totally come and hang out with us!"

>Chee wraps her wings around Ace and hugs him tightly

>The pheasants eyes bug out, and his cheeks puff out with happiness

>"Well, I'm ready to give you a ride home whenever you're ready, Mionra!" Chee says

>"Actually, Chee," Mionra says, “Sherry has offered to drive me home. Thank you for bringing me, though. I'm glad you talked me into this."

>The vixen's paw gravitates close to the tigress'

>The two of them are almost hip to hip

>"Alright, sounds good!" Chee responds. “Have a goodnight everyone! Roxie, Anon, I'll see you two at home!"

>Chee skips off to the employee tunnels, followed by Sherry-K and Mionra at a slower pace

>The vixen gives a wave back at you in gratitude

>Now it's just you and Rox...and Ace

>"Hey, man," Rox says, patting the bird on the back. “Sorry you didn't get much action tonight."

>But Ace doesn't look broken up about it in the slightest

>He's still dazed by the hug

>"H-huh? Oh, yeah, no problem. I had fun tonight. T-thank you, both of you!"

>He strides off as well, with his wings wrapped around himself as though trying to relive the moment he had with Chee

>Now it's truly just you and Rox

>"What a night, huh? Speaking of 'action'...."

>Still under her arm, Rox leads you out of the restaurant with the lights shutting off behind you

>Her hips sway and her tail brushes against you with every wag

>"Someone's earned a little something himself, I think. I DID have a great date, after all...."

>Rox adjusts her top, but she pulls the hem out deliberately to give you a little peek inside her dress

>The wolfess then rubs her muzzle all over your face and runs her paw up and down your neck

>It's a long walk through the tunnels and back to her car, but you relish every step

>"Another weekend ahead of us," Rox sighs

>It's already the third one you've shared with the wolfess

>Somehow it already feels like months, or even an entire year

>"So what about you? You have anything in mind for what to do?"

>Obviously you know who you want to hang around with

>Rox chuckles

>"Alright, I'll think of something fun. Maybe I'll see if I can't set up another playdate for our roommate. Get her out of the apartment for a little while, huh? Of course, it could also be nice to just laze around the place. We'll think of something...or not."

>Rox bops your nose with her own

>After the crazy week you've had, a little rest and relaxation would be welcome

>Held in the wolfess' arms, against her warm fur and having her love for you repeated again and again...

>You were looking forward to Cast Night being over before, and now you are even more so

>A night of bringing people together needs to end with you being as close to your own lover as possible

[[CHAPTER 24: Punk Rox]]

>Rox stops you just outside of the apartment

>She drops her head and bats her eyelashes at you

>"I had a really good time tonight, Anon," the wolfess says sweetly. “Not too bad for our first triple date, huh?"

>She gives you a quick kiss on the forehead

>You can tell she's playing up the “demure sweetheart" shtick as a joke, but her displays of affection are always authentic

>It's actually pretty adorable to see a big, spunky goofball like Rox act all shy and feminine, even if it's just for a few moments

>She doesn't keep the act going for long though before she licks her lips and gives you a seductive stare

>"Why don't you come inside for a while?"

>This has been your home too for a few weeks now, but Rox somehow makes you feel like she's inviting you someplace special for the very first time

>She opens the door for you invitingly, but someone's already waiting on the other side

>"Welcome home, you two!"

>"Hey Chee...."

>The bird is in the middle of gleefully tidying up the apartment

>Not much different than any other night, though Rox is hoping to see a deeper meaning in her roommate's cheery attitude

>"So...did ya have a good time?"

>"Mm hmm!" That was really fun! Thanks again for bringing me along, Roxie!"

>"Anytime, Chee. What did you think of Ace?"

>The bird blinks quizzically

>"Amadeus? O-oh, hehe…I always thought 'Ace' was someone completely different...."

>That's not a reassuring sign

>"But anyway, he seemed really nice! He was a great listener, and we talked about all of my favorite things the whole time!"

>Poor guy probably didn't get a single word in edgewise, let alone have a chance to chat about anything not Whimsey related

>"Anything else?" Rox says, trying to get more out of the bird

>"Um, I don't think so...? Sherry-K and Mionra looked pretty happy!"

>"Wouldn't you like to see Ace again sometime?"

>"Yeah, totally! Maybe we can see him at the next Cast Night we have off together!"

>The bird and wolfess hit a stalemate

>Rox keeps pushing Chee to expand on her statements a little more, and maybe even confess some earnest feelings for the pheasant

>But Chee just looks confused by the interaction she's having with Rox

>"Is something wrong, Roxie?"

>Rox sighs

>"Nah, just making sure you had a good time, I guess. Yeah, we'll have to get Ace to hang out with us again soon."

>"Sounds good! Well, I'm getting a little tired. Hope you two have a nice day off. We'll have to do something together on my next day off! Goodnight!"

>And Chee disappears into her room

>Rox stands there silently for a while

>You get the suspicion her ears are trying to pick up faint sounds from the bird's room

>Like a late night phone call, or maybe something more personal...

>She looks a little ashamed when she catches you staring

>"I-I was just...ah, never mind. We'll get those two lovebirds to open up to each other, trust me."

>The wolfess grabs your shoulders and steers you away from Chee's door, as though YOU were the one eavesdropping and getting caught

>She pushes you all the way to the bedroom, where the “first date flirting" resumes

>"Well, you were quite the gentleman tonight," Rox says

>Her paws caress your face and she rubs her muzzle all around your head

>"Good company, courteous...maybe a little quiet. Can't fault you for that, considering what a little chatterbox my friend was."

>She continues rubbing over you, with her lips parted and the edges of her tongue lightly gliding over your skin

>Small tastes and soft sniffs

>"Hmph. Not a fan of how much you cleaned up, though. You could hardly pick up my scent on you, and there were so many lovely ladies out there tonight searching for someone to take home with them...."

>Rox's silky coat brushes over your face next, and you get another whiff of that earthly smell of hers

>It's downright mesmerizing

>Soon you're breathing her in on your own will, taking in as much as you can with every inhale

>The wolfess' chest rumbles with a deep chuckle

>"I keep forgetting you don't have the same nose that I do. Guess I'm gonna have to do all I can to make sure you can pick up my scent…and never lose it."

>Rox guides your head all over her fur, trying to make you understand the nuances and distinctions of every stretch of her pelt

>Before you know it, she has your face nestled into her chest and strokes the back of your neck fondly

>"Glad I kept my cool tonight having to wear this stupid thing again," she says, pulling her dress down a little more for easier access. “Was beginning to think I cursed it when I had my little breakdown up in the castle. Man, I hate prissy clothes like this…."

>You're happy she gave it another shot, though

>As much as you don't really see Rox as a “dress girl", she can still pull it off pretty well

>She laughs when you tell her this

>"Yeah, well I can 'pull it off' anytime you want me to."

>The wolfess shimmies her body and the dress peels down further

>Soon it's in a heap at her feet, leaving her in just her underwear and you descending along her torso

>Even her stomach seems to have its own aroma as your nose explores her navel and the lower regions of her body

>But Rox pulls you back upright before you stray too far down

>"That's good for now. Don't want you straining your neck down there," she says. “C'mon, it'll be more comfortable in bed."

>Rox strips you down and throws the sheets back

>You're dropped onto the bed unceremoniously and the covers are thrown over your head, instantly making you think back to the first night you spent with the wolfess and bird

>When you pull the covers off, Rox is gone

>Visually, anyway; you can feel her presence at the foot of the bed and hear her snickering to herself

>Then her pointed ears rise up over the edge, followed by her devious eyes and impish grin

>She lifts up the sheets and crawls underneath like a massive bedbug

>The wolfess smells your feet, your legs, and your thighs, working her way up your body

>Her fur drags over your skin and her weight presses down on you

>Suddenly she pauses, and you can feel her breath washing over your waist

>You recoil in surprise as her snout rams you sharply right between the legs

>"Heh, sorry," Rox mumbles, giving your groin a few gentle pats

>The wolfess continues up the length of your body, sniffing and licking as she travels

>You try to decide whether this is supposed to be arousing or endearing, but you end up resigning to whatever she has in store for you regardless

>When she stops moving again, it's for much longer this time

>Waiting…?

>You lift up the sheets to check on her once paranoia begins to set in

>The wolfess' head rests on your chest, and she gazes at you innocently with those beautiful golden eyes

>"Hi."

>Then she darts forward up to your head and flops onto you heavily

>You're thoroughly pinned and at her complete mercy

>The wolfess smothers you, leaving just enough room for your head to get some fresh air

>"Just seeing how it feels to be the top dog for a change."

>Isn't she always, though?

>"Maybe I want to be the one held in YOUR arms once in a while, wise guy."

>Rox huffs and bears her full weight on you even more

>Her arms sweep underneath you, pulling you into her mighty embrace and making you feel her powerful heartbeat

>Her nose pokes around inside your ear

>It's cute until she decides to yawn loudly right into it

>"Wiped…out…" she groans. “Party planning really kicked my ass. Tomorrow's going to be a 'sleep in' kind of day for sure."

>Well, you're clearly not going to be moving much until she gets up, and your body is already falling asleep from pressure

>So much for getting that “action" after your date

>"We'll have the place all to ourselves again while Chee's gone at work," Rox whispers sleepily. “Might be able to sneak in some midday excitement after we recharge, alright?"

>Any protest you could make is silenced by Rox's muzzle as she plugs your lips with a kiss

>"Night Anon. Love you…."

>You grunt back as best as you can

>It's late morning by the time you wake up, body entirely numb and still restrained by the wolfess' body

>Unlike the days you've woken up on top of her and perfectly balanced, you've been flattened into the mattress by Rox's overnight tossing and turning

>Her mouth is glommed onto your face, hopefully not from an attempt at literally eating it off in her dreams

>"Nnnhhhaaa," Rox moans, sucking on your cheek as she stirs from her slumber

>It's her teeth that make you the most anxious, though they haven't punctured your flesh yet

>Fortunately, her ringing phone saves you from such a fate

>"W-huh? Who's…?"

>Rox gives you a brief, but crushing squeeze out of some semi-conscious panic that someone's trying to take her human away

>She rubs the sleep from her eyes and then wipes the drool off your face after seeing how much she slobbered on you

>Any leftover grogginess is immediately shaken away when she looks at her phone screen

>"…Sher?"

>The tigress is calling Rox?

>You're just as floored as she is—or “bedded" rather

>"Hey Sher, what's up?" Rox says. “Wait, are you calling from your place?"

>…

>"Woah woah, easy. Yeah, I know you technically have two days off, same as everyone, but we never see you use the other so…."

>Rox's eyes go wide

>As does the smile on her lips

>"Ooohhh, I see. Someone had a pretty great night and wanted to play hooky the next morning. Am I right?"

>Sherry-K doesn't need to be on speaker volume for you to hear her frantic noises on the other side of the line

>Rox is biting her paw to keep herself from cracking up

>The raucous from the other end eventually dies down, and the tigress reverts to a normal speaking voice

>The humor in Rox's face slowly fades as she listens, turning into shock and disbelief

>"He's…t-tomorrow? Yeah, I…no, it's no problem for us. We'll be there. Do I need to wear my costume?"

>...

>"No, it was a joke, Sher. Alright, we'll see you tomorrow."

>Rox hangs up and lets out a long exhale

>She doesn't even look at you for a while, instead settling back into bed and getting cozy

>Once again, any efforts to protest are stifled as Rox places a paw over your mouth

>"Shh, we're sleeping in, remember?"

>So that's how it's going to be, isn't it?

>You put your hands on the wolfess' belly and dig your fingers into her fur

>It's half aggressive tickling and half genuine massaging, but the outcome is 100% hysteric, vulnerable wolf girl

>"H-ha HA HA! OOOooohhh! A-alright! You win!"

>You spare her the torture, though your hands linger near her ears just in case

>Rox rubs her belly with her paw to ease herself down

>"So..." she pants. “Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

>You give her a few warning scratches to get her to the point, but she throws herself on top of you to protect her weakness

>This time she's less concerned about the amount of air you get while she smothers you

>"Like I was SAYING, we got a big opportunity lined up for tomorrow. Looks like we're going to be meeting a certain head honcho of the whole flippin' Whimsey empire...."

>You'd freeze up completely at the announcement if you didn't have to worry about using your energy to keep the wolfess from suffocating you

>D. Whimsey Jr.

>Getting to meet him at long last

>Every fear and doubt you've had about this encounter comes back to you, along with some new ones

>He's in control of one of the most powerful companies on the planet, and if he felt like your place in the secret world of the anthros was no longer necessary or tolerable he could easily have you taken out of the picture altogether

>It would be one thing if you had to meet the OG Whimsey man himself, but you know very little about his son

>Whimsey Jr. has made far fewer public appearances than his father, and rarely shoots promotional material for the park anymore

>He's bound to have more secrets than just a bunch of animal people working for him, and you aren't too certain you want to know what he's capable of to ensure his secrets are kept

>"Nervous?"

>It's hard to look Rox in the eye the way she's on top of you, but her heightened senses can effortlessly pick up on how you're feeling

>"Yeah, me too."

>Rox grips you tightly, using you for security like a childhood stuffed toy

>"When Sher broke the news to us I saw this as just a kind of audition for our future jobs. But now...I don't even know. I still think if we were in any serious trouble we would have already gotten our punishment, but there's always a chance they could...could...."

>Rox's claws sink into you uncomfortably

>"They'd better not separate us. They won't!"

>That's an issue that didn't occur to you much yet either, but now it's casting the biggest shadow over your thoughts

>Even if they don't do away with you because of how much you know about the anthros, what if Rox's new mascot position doesn't end up needing a handler like you've been to her?

>What if she gets her own living conditions and her own backstage transportation, like some kind of celebrity removed from the public?

>You'd only ever see her when she's performing, just like how every other human guest would see her

>Except while they'd be trying to see where the zippers and the seams of the “realistic" anthro costume are, you'd be trying to see the sadness in her eyes as she performs out of your reach

>Rox's breathing gets heavier and her hug gets even more powerful

>Then she laughs

>"No...none of that. No more of that moping garbage. I'm not going to sweat our future together anymore, and I won't let you do it either. We're going to march into that old guy's office and face him head on. And if he tries to tear us apart, I'll knock his lights out!"

>What worries you is how serious you know she is about that

>You pet her for support and to pacify her, but she only sees it as encouragement

>"Yeah! Just because I'm in a fuzzy costume all day doesn't mean I've gotten soft! You've never seen what years of holding back frustration from noisy, puking brats can REALLY make a wolf capable of!"

>Rox bolts upright with you in a headlock

>Her mind is gone in her fantasies now, which apparently include punching out beloved entertainment icons

>"Just you and me against Whimsey World!" she hoots valiantly. “Hell, maybe we'll let Sher get a few swings in as well! That girl could use a little cathartic release from all the corporate bullshit."

>Sherry-K doesn't strike you as super eager to toss away her love of Whimsey just to enact some retribution, but she's scrambled your expectations of her before so all bets are off now

>Rox continues her play-by-play of how she anticipates how tomorrow will go down as the two of you get ready for what no longer looks to be a quiet, uneventful day

>Maybe she's forcing herself to stay positive—as positive as physical violence can get—in spite of her tenseness

>Whatever she's doing, you'd much rather see this Rox than one who stresses about the things you've already shamefully let yourself get preoccupied with

>When she says they're not going to split you two apart, you believe her

>You spend much of the afternoon still grappled under her arm

>Not for a moment does Rox lose that grit in her eyes or that smirk on her lips

[[CHAPTER 25: What are Men to Rox and Mountains]]

>It was a pretty restless night

>Chee came home from work to find the apartment a mess

>Mostly because of Rox and her inability to keep her excitement in check

>Furniture was turned over and there was a dent in the wall that wasn't there before

>None of it you had any power to stop, since your neck was locked under Rox's arm the entire time

>You expected Chee to be the voice of reason and condemn the wolfess for going crazy, but once Rox explained what got into her the bird ran around the apartment just as wildly

>"Roxie's going to meet Mr. Whimsey!" she sang, acting like she wasn't already aware this would be happening

>"We all are," Rox said. “You're coming with us."

>Chee looked like she was about to die with shock

>"M-ME? I-I...but...I don't really have any reason to meet him...."

>Rox pounced on the bird and grappled her into her other arm

>"Are you kidding, Chee? Even Sher knows you're the real reason why Anon's still living under our roof! If I weren't already going because of the mascot thing, you can bet she'd want me as far away from Mr. Whimsey as possible so I don't screw things up. Besides...."

>Rox's grip on you tightened, and judging from the peep Chee made she got the same treatment

>"I'm gonna need my friends for this," the wolfess continued. “Not just to keep me from doing anything stupid again, but because...well, it's WHIMSEY. Standing up to the big guy himself isn't like simply flipping over a couch."

>She looked around the apartment at the damage

>"And I'll...heh, I'll clean that up myself."

>Nobody could sleep much, but on the plus side the leftover energy carried through the night and into the morning

>All three of you eagerly wake up early like it's Christmas Day and you know there are presents in the living room

>Presents you have to painfully wait for since the three of you aren't expected to meet up with Sherry-K until closer to noon

>Rox isn't eating much breakfast, so Chee has to practically stuff chunks of waffles into the wolfess' mouth

>"You need to eat something, Roxie!" the bird pleads. “You get grumpy when you don't have food in the morning!"

>"Do noff!" Rox says with a muffled growl

>Everyone gets cleaned up; multiple times even in the case of your roommates

>Every time the bathroom becomes available someone else runs in to comb another mat out of her fur or brush down a disobedient feather

>The hour ultimately arrives, and you all take Chee's car over to the park grounds

>The bird is shaking heavily, and Rox's paw is on the steering wheel to aid her almost the entire trip over

>Sherry-K is already waiting for you in the employee parking lot by the time you arrive, with trusty clipboard in hand and an exceptionally large stack of papers secured to it

>The tigress looks to Chee

>Chee looks to Rox with worry

>Rox in turn opens her mouth to argue why the bird came along

>But Sherry-K preemptively stops the wolfess' explanation

>"She can come along, Roksa," the tigress says coolly

>"I…wait, really?" Rox says

>Sherry-K nods

>"As long as she's here, she may as well. Chee has been an important part in watching over Anon, just as you have, and her testimonial to Mr. Whimsey may help Anon's case for being fully integrated into our society."

>"I'll give him my best word!" Chee says, patting you with her wings

>"You'll give him your HONEST word, I hope," Sherry-K says sternly. “That goes for you as well, Roksa. I want this to go smoothly just as much as you do, but being transparent and truthful with Mr. Whimsey is of the utmost importance right now."

>"Don't worry, Sher," Rox says, “I'll say exactly what's on my mind."

>The tigress' eye twitches as Rox squeezes her shoulder

>The four of you then pile into Sherry-K's car, with Rox riding shotgun and you and Chee in the back

>Sherry-K hastily cleans the dashboard off of all her Whimsey memorabilia

>"You really need some help," Rox mutters while Chee giggles

>Guess the tigress hasn't made a lot of headway in decluttering her life like she wanted to

>Rox digs a paw into the passenger seat and roots around

>“And you might want to give these back to Mionra, too…."

>"W-what!?" Sherry-K blurts out loudly, accidentally slamming the car horn along with her outburst

>But Rox sticks out an open, empty paw

>"Only messing with you, Sher."

>"Roxie!" Chee scolds, pecking her in the back of the neck

>The car hasn't even left the parking lot and it already feels like an agonizing family road trip to Whimsey World

>The trip is anything but long, however, as your destination is right within the Cast Complex grounds nearby

>All of the bickering and horseplay ceases completely as the four of you sit nervously outside of the largest office building

>The whole car takes a deep breath in unison

>"Everyone ready?" Rox says after a lengthy pause

>There's an almost unsettling tranquility in the hallway leading up to the office

>It's shockingly barren of Whimsey décor, but a few old photographs occupy the walls

>Even the no-nonsense Sherry-K is stalling a bit, examining the pictures rather than making a beeline toward the room where Whimsey Jr. awaits

>All of the photos have the senior D. Whimsey, and many of them include anthros of various species

>It's surreal to see the legend himself standing next to creatures you had no idea existed almost a month ago

>You sadly expect that most of these individuals have passed on by now considering the age of the photos, though one particular picture of Whimsey and a young male goat grabs your attention

>Even with several decades shaved off, the anthro is very clearly the same goat coordinator you met the day you had to venture out to Sherry-K's place

>It's actually a little surprising that Sherry-K manages to have the authority she does with the goat obviously having far more seniority than her

>Then again, maybe the elder goat is perfectly content with where he is right now

>He certainly looks thrilled beyond belief just to be standing next to and working for such a renowned man like D. Whimsey

>"You recognize that kid?" Rox whispers into your ear

>She elbows you repeatedly in the side with a quiet snicker

>Sherry-K beckons the rest of you along to the end of the hallway, where a much larger picture hangs above the office door

>The iconic photo of D. Whimsey and his smiling beagle Chobbo

>It's undeniable to you now that Chobbo was more than just a regular pet dog

>Sherry-K opens the office door, and the four of you nervously step inside the office

>Almost a dozen anthros of various types stand beside a large conference table, each with an immaculate business suit and an intense stare waiting for you

>You haven't seen any of them before, and you get the feeling they either work far behind the scenes of the park or they aren't related to Whimsey World at all

>They could very well be spokesmen or even government officials to the greater anthro society outside of the company, meaning they're the ones who would inevitably be deciding your fate

>You try to avoid eye contact with them for now, but it's difficult to miss the predatory sight of an older, yet burly male tiger

>He looks from you to Sherry-K, who's trying her hardest not to return the gaze

>…You've seen him before somewhere, haven't you?

>"Thanks for coming in today, friends!" a kind voice greets you

>Standing at the head of the table is Darwin Whimsey Jr., looking like an exact (albeit older) duplicate of his father

>Sharp features, well-groomed, wide smile, and displaying his seasoned age with grace

>The whole room lights up with his charisma

>He struts over and shakes everyone's hand, paw, or wing in turn

>Chee looks like she's going to explode with giddiness the moment Whimsey touches her feathers

>"H-h-h-hi Mr. Whimsey! M-m-my name is Chee and I'm ahugehugefanofeverythingyoudo!"

>She clamps her beak shut, but Mr. Whimsey gives her a warm, reassuring chuckle

>When it's your turn for a handshake Mr. Whimsey gives you an amused look, as though the only other human here is the oddest thing in the entire room

>"Well, Anon!" he booms. “To be frank, I was a little afraid to meet you."

>Him? Afraid?

>The man certainly doesn't look like he has ever stressed a day in his life

>"It was my father's dream to bring all of us together," Mr. Whimsey continues, motioning to everyone around him, “and when he passed away it was a dream entrusted to me to carry on. But…with how little progress we've made since then I believed it would be up to my own children to see that dream realized, or even my children's children. Just a few weeks ago I never would have imagined I would need to confront this issue so soon."

>As Mr. Whimsey speaks, one of the anthros hobbles up from behind him with a cane in paw

>Chobbo

>The beagle has greyed significantly and his face is full of wrinkles to the point of looking like it's melting, but it's unmistakably the same dog you saw in the well-known photograph just moments earlier

>"Pleased to meet you, Abben," Chobbo says gruffly

>"That's 'Anon,' Chobbo," Mr. Whimsey says mirthfully

>"Hmm? Ah, right. Sorry, Nona."

>Even with his eyes nearly blinded by his drooping brow, you still manage to see the dog wink playfully at you

>Chobbo gets his own round of handshakes in before Mr. Whimsey directs everyone to sit at the table

>It's hard to shake the feeling that you're in some kind of legal court, especially with all the unknown anthros staring at you like a ruthless jury

>"Mr. Whimsey, thank you again for taking the time to meet with us today," Sherry-K says

>Her own anxiety might be just as bad as everyone else's, but you're thankful to have someone like the tigress on your side who can keep herself cool and professional

>Though she's sitting pretty rigid, and you suspect it might be because of the other tiger who keeps eying the two of you up

>"I should be the one thanking YOU, my girl," Mr. Whimsey replies. “As I said, I was pretty worried when Anon just dropped into our laps like that, but now I'm relieved you took the initiative and decided to jumpstart the human integration project. A hundred thanks!"

>Surprisingly, the suited anthros around the table nod in agreement, but Rox looks a little peeved

>She opens her mouth to argue, but Chee gives her a swift kick under the table

>The wolfess' grunt doesn't go unnoticed, though

>"Now now," Mr. Whimsey says. “We didn't forget about you, Ms. Rox. I'm looking forward to speaking about what we have in store for you as well. Ms. Sherry-K showed us the tapes of your performances with Anon, and I dare say you could potentially be one of our star attractions!"

>Rox suddenly jumps to her feet

>Chee gasps and Sherry-K tries to restrain her, but despite the tigress' size it's Rox who looks like she has the strength advantage

>The room goes chillingly silent for a moment

>"Mr. Whimsey!" Rox barks. “Before you say anything else, there's something I have to lay out here right now."

>Dammit, Rox...

>There are frightened and even a few angry looks around the table, but Mr. Whimsey himself sits with a blank expression

>Something you've never seen from him or his father

>The wolfess takes a deep breath

>"Anon and I have been through the best and worst of it together," she says. “I've done all I can to help him get used to our way of life, both in the park and out of it. We've become a perfect team together, you saw for yourself...and we're the GREATEST duo you have. That's a PROMISE!"

>Rox leans over to you and puts her paw on your shoulder

>You get that familiar feeling of being pulled by her into something you have absolutely no control over, but the weight of Rox's touch also seems to anchor you to safety

>"I'm not leaving Anon, ever. So no matter what you have lined up for me for the future, if there's no room for Anon in your plans then I don't want any part of them!"

>Everything's quiet again, except for the faint sound of Chee's scared whines

>Rox stares Mr. Whimsey down, while he just looks back unblinkingly

>Then Chobbo bursts out into laughter

>"BWOHOHO! What a livewire! You should look at your face, Darwin! I haven't seen that expression since the first time you had a guest scream at you without your old man around to save your hide!"

>The dog slaps Mr. Whimsey on the back, and the rest of the table tries to suppress joining in on the infectious laughter

>You expected SOME reaction from the human, but maybe not joking defeat

>"You're right, my friend," Mr. Whimsey says with an exaggerated sigh. “Upset guests were something I saw my father put up with time and time again, but you never really know how you're going to deal with it yourself until you're the one who has to make the call alone…the one who has to make the situation better. It was an important first lesson in how to keep everyone as happy as possible when you're running the happiest joint on the planet."

>He looks to Rox with genuine respect

>"And...I'll admit," Mr. Whimsey continues, “perhaps I got a little too comfortable with the routine after a while. A free night at the resort or some merchandise giveaways...it's all too easy to get the average patron to turn around their sour mood. But a fellow employee—no, a friend? One of our best entertainers to boot? Well, that's something I have far fewer opportunities to deal with...."

>Chobbo nods through the whole speech

>The wolfess was probably expecting a less jovial response, and might have even psyched herself up for a literal brawl with the guy

>Rox lets herself be pulled slowly back down to her seat by Sherry-K, and her ears fold back in shame

>"Ms. Rox," Mr. Whimsey goes on, full of smiles once more. “I thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. Fortunately, I think we can come to an agreement that everyone will be happy with in the end! Before we cover that matter, however, I would like to quickly go over the situation with Anon while I still have the rest of my lovely guests held hostage here."

>The suited anthros shuffle their papers around nosily in acknowledgement

>"Mr. Shearod-K, would you please?"

>Oh...

>The male tiger stands up and clears his throat

>Out of the corner of your eye, you see a certain tigress fidget uncomfortably

>"Mr. Anon," the burly tiger rumbles. “Our organization understands that you have expressed interest in entering our communities outside of the sanctioned employee housing affiliated with Whimsey World; communities which normally prohibit humans from entering with the exception of chartered circumstances relating to the Whimsey-Aesop Living Treaties as highlighted—“

>If there were any mystery where your favorite Whimsey head coordinator got her elocution from, it's completely gone now

>You try to sneak the tigress a discreet glance, but you catch a death glare hidden in those grassy eyes and quickly look away

>The older tiger drones on for a while in legalese

>You briefly wonder if this some kind of test, where failing to hold on to the feline's words for even a second means you'd free to be preyed upon by every hunter at the table

>Fortunately, the monologue eventually gets to a part that concerns you directly

>"—And so you will be given a probationary visa which will allow you into our communities, provided you are always accompanied by a guardian. The Whimsey Corporation will designate who these guardians are and will be responsible for their behavior just as they are with yours."

>"I see a few perfect candidates already!" Mr. Whimsey says, looking to Rox and Chee

>Your roommates press up against you affectionately

>With the speech over, the suited anthros rise to leave

>"We'll have your papers ready in a few days," Shearod-K continues as the crowd files out of the office. “If you have any questions or concerns, we have a line of communication in Whimsey with whom you may speak to in order to contact us."

>He raises an eyebrow toward Sherry-K for emphasis, then walks up to her

>The tiger drops his voice, though you can still make out the conversation

>"Your mother has been hoping you could stop and visit soon. We would like to treat you in honor of your promotion."

>"I'll consider it," Sherry-K mumbles. “I've been very busy recently...."

>The older tiger nods, then follows his colleagues out

>You have to avert your eyes to spare yourself from another of the tigress' death glares

>Now it's just you, her, Rox, Chee, Chobbo, and Mr. Whimsey left

>"Well then!" Mr. Whimsey says with a loud clap. “I'd like to go over our plans for Ms. Rox and the mascot initiative, but I was thinking we could take a bit of a trip. Get out of this stuffy room, of course. Why don't I take you all on a tour of what we have in store for the park's future?"

>"That sounds lovely," Sherry-K says. “Thank you, sir."

>Mr. Whimsey waves off the formality

>"Bah, we can leave that behind. Please, call me Darwin. Chobbo does it all the time."

>"I usually call him on the phone, though," Chobbo says flatly

>Rox snorts

>"I like this guy!" she whispers to you

>You follow the two company heads out of the office, where Mr. Whimsey pulls out his phone and makes a few quick dials

>The rest of you give him and Chobbo some space

>Rox hangs back to chat with Sherry-K

>"So what's the big deal?" the wolfess mutters to her. “You suddenly taking the credit for keeping Anon around?"

>The tigress lifts up her nose

>"As I recall, that was part of the bargain, was it not? If management accepted Anon's place in the company, you would 'let me take the credit', right?"

>"You DID say that, Roxie," Chee whispers

>Rox shakes her head and scowls

>"If it pleases you any," Sherry-K says dryly, “I was initially reprimanded myself for allowing this to happen without upper management's approval. Your little wager was irrelevant; someone had to take the fault for Anon's situation, and with YOUR record I couldn't let you be the one to do it."

>Rox winces

>"Damn, Sher...no, that doesn't make me happy at all. Look, I'm really—“

>Sherry-K cuts her off yet again

>"Roksa, please spare me. You wanted this friendship to work, didn't you? Well, you should be able to handle a little banter now and then."

>The wolfess scoffs in response

>"If that's your idea of 'banter', girl...woof."

>You see a small grin curl on Sherry-K's lips

>On the other side of the room, you think you see one from Chobbo as well

[[CHAPTER 26: Glam Rox]]

>Just a few minutes after Mr. Whimsey gets off the phone, a colorful limousine rolls up to the Cast Complex

>The windows are mirrored, making it impossible to see anything on the inside except for the costumed driver on the inside

>Stockcar Squirrel from the looks of it, though whoever is truly on the inside is a mystery

>Poor guy (or girl) probably doesn't have a lot of visibility under that mask

>You'd be a little worried that someone who can't even see well is going to be driving you around the park...that is, if you were just a guest

>But you know from company insight that most of the specialty vehicles like this one would be self-driving

>It gives the illusion that a character is at the wheel for all the entertained onlookers, but with none of the risk of being visually impaired

>Mr. Whimsey gives a friendly wave to the driver and opens up the passenger doors for everyone

>It's thankfully a roomy interior for the sake of bigger anthros like Rox and Sherry-K

>Chee bounces on the seats as though she's excited for an actual ride in the park

>Everyone settles in comfortably and the limo pulls off for a tour of the grounds

>Before anyone else can say anything, Rox jumps in

>"Mr. Whimsey," she says, “I…want to apologize for the outburst back there. It was way out of line, and I—“

>But the company head just holds up his hand with a smile

>"Don't worry yourself over it, my girl. And like I said, call me Darwin, please! You were only concerned about the future; it's perfectly understandable! I myself was a bit of a troublemaker back in the day. Not even nepotism could save me from the threats my father made for if I hadn't shaped up around the park. In fact, I was demoted quite a number of times, as I recall. Whimsey World may put families first, but my father considered EVERYONE part of his family, and the way I acted was not fair to the rest of my 'siblings'."

>Chobbo laughs heartily

>"To be fair, we were partners in crime!" the aged dog says. “You can't take all the credit for the mischief we got into!"

>"Wait," Rox says. “Both of you? Working together in the park?"

>"Oh yes," Mr. Whimsey says. “Just boy and dog."

>He gives you and Rox a wink before continuing

>"Couldn't leave Chobbo alone because he'd get lonely and upset. So, we dressed him up in a costume and put him to work just like everyone else."

>Chobbo scoffs loudly

>"Bah! It was YOU who begged your old man with tears in your eyes to make me work. I was more'n happy to crawl around behind the scenes and watch you sweat your caboose off!"

>The dog leans forward slightly, as though trying to speak to you and Rox discreetly

>"Speaking of which," he whispers, “I saw your names in the guest book you-know-where. Thanks for humoring an old mutt and his little 'pet project'!"

>"What on Earth are you talking about?" Mr. Whimsey says

>Chee looks absolutely confused while Sherry-K gives you and Rox the glare of someone ready to dole out reprimands at a moment's notice

>"Hmm? Ah, I forget," Chobbo says with a shrug. “Never mind me!"

>The dog just laughs it off

>Seems like even Mr. Whimsey himself doesn't know about the secrets of “Rox World"

>Or “Chobbo World", as it's probably been referred to many times in the past

>The limo takes you all through the park grounds, through gardens and past curious guests

>You don't seem to be going anywhere in particular physically, but as you watch Mr. Whimsey's face scrunch up contemplatively you begin to see he's working up to something emotionally

>"Yes, my dear old friend has had to hide for far too much of his life…same as ALL of my friends who can't properly enjoy the park from the surface."

>Mr. Whimsey's eyes fall squarely on you, soon drawing the focus of everyone else

>"How much do you know about the history of the park? Of where our dear friends here with us today came from?"

>It's not worded as an accusation, but suddenly everyone's eyes wanders around to see if anyone's going to speak up and confess that they told you something they shouldn't have

>All you can tell Mr. Whimsey is what you know about the park from your job orientation and general knowledge

>In other words, only things humans know

>Mr. Whimsey accepts your answer with a nod, and your fellow coworkers look relieved

>"A testament to how well our secrets have been kept all these years, I suppose. Though there are days I wish they had been simply leaked to the world, just so this whole charade can finally be done with…."

>Mr. Whimsey gives Chobbo a thoughtful grin before he continues

>"Our two societies have had minimal contact since, well, the beginning. We were skittish of one another at best and hostile at worst, and it wasn't until the days of Aesop that timid bonds were made."

>Aesop?

>"One of the original 'secret-keepers' and mediators, yes, and a massive inspiration to my father. He was such a legend with his stories that our friends often call themselves 'Aesop's Children' to honor him."

>No objection from any of the anthros in the vehicle, though their reactions range from interestedness to (in Rox's case, no surprise) indifference

>Guess even some anthros don't really care so much about their own history

>"When my father was a young boy," Mr. Whimsey continues, “he had an encounter with a young mouse girl…so I've been told. He was very secretive about the details, and to this day I know very little about her. It was during the final days of my father's life that I learned most of what I do know."

>The limo goes silent

>Mr. Whimsey gazes out the window pensively

>When he speaks, it's the first time he doesn't look into someone else's eyes with life and emotion

>"My father loved my mother, and I didn't doubt that for a single day. However, there was always that subtle fleck of sadness in the corner of his eye, and now I know why. He lamented never having the chance to be with the mouse girl who caught his heart first. When he grew older, my father tried tracking her down; he must have met every single mouse in the world EXCEPT her. Though heartbroken, it ultimately led to something positive."

>Off in the distance, you can see the spires of Whimsey Castle

>"Darwin Whimsey Senior…my father dreamed of bringing everyone together: all humans and all of Aesop's Children. He crafted stories and movies about the two societies living as one, and every message he delivered to the world about peace and respect had deeper meanings than most listeners ever understood. He wanted this park to be the place where that dream was realized. Now, it's up to us to decide whether it's a dream worth fulfilling."

>The junior Whimsey looks back to you, this time with a serious expression

>"I won't hide this from you, Anon: we have done…regrettable, terrible things in the past to keep our worlds apart until we felt the time was just right. You are by no means the first human who has stumbled upon secrets we were not ready to reveal just yet, but you ARE the first who has lasted as long as you have."

>You can feel Rox inch closer to you protectively

>Sensing the tension, Mr. Whimsey tries to raise the mood of the vehicle back to normal

>"And now you've changed how we plan on handling human interventions in the future, Anon. We want this to work. We NEED this to work. We will still have to take things slowly, but I want to see the progress being made with what little time I have left. Right, Chobbo?"

>The beagle jumps out of a nap

>"H-wha-? Erm, right, right. A garbage can every twenty-seven feet. I agree!"

>Rox and Chee break out laughing, and even Sherry-K has to hide her mouth behind her clipboard

>Chobbo gives a dopey smirk with self-satisfaction, while Mr. Whimsey shakes his head

>It's evident though that the two of them have been through an extraordinary amount together

>The limo soon pulls behind a building you've never seen on the grounds before

>"Ah, great, right on time!" Mr. Whimsey says

>Once parked, he opens the doors for everyone graciously

>"Watch your step, old friend," he murmurs to Chobbo

>The dog has a little trouble getting out of the vehicle

>"Old coots like me are the reason the ride lines are so long," Chobbo chuckles

>The group walks slowly to let the elderly beagle keep up, but it's worth the slow pace to see what this new building has to offer

>"This is one of Whimsey World's R&D departments!" Mr. Whimsey says proudly. “Not one of the human-operated ones, of course, though the employees at this facility still contribute new technology and marketing techniques for the entire company."

>It's a very simplistic, clinical looking building, but the way he describes it is enough to get a gasp of wonder out of Chee

>"Today, we're here for Ms. Rox," Mr. Whimsey continues. “I think you'll ALL enjoy what the boys and girls have been working on recently…."

>The wolfess drapes an arm around your shoulder

>"Can't wait!" she says, giving you a squeeze

>You'd think such a popular, important man like Mr. Whimsey would cause awe, excitement, and maybe a little a few nervous bystanders to back away with fear

>But all the anthros in the R&D complex simply welcome him like an old friend

>Meanwhile, all that awe, excitement, and fear is directed toward you

>As usual, word of who you are has long since reached every corner of the theme park, but this is the first time many of these anthros are seeing you up close

>Fortunately, you have Mr. Whimsey around to placate the situation

>"Everyone, this is Anon!" he says to all those listening. “If anyone would like to meet him, you know the drill: form an organized line, wait your turn, and we'll set up pictures and autographs!"

>...Is he joking?

>Doesn't really seem like it, and a few anthros even start to head on over to take him up on the offer

>"Don't worry, buddy," Rox whispers to you as she pats you on the chest. “You've been an amazing handler for me since I've known you, so now it's my turn. I won't let any crazy fans maul you to pieces!"

>That's a little reassuring

>Rox makes a pretty good bodyguard, all things considered

>It isn't long before the other anthros are more hesitant to approach “the human" because of her rather than because of you

>Still, a brave few risk the wolfess' wrath and come up to meet you

>They've all seen humans before—clearly—but there aren't likely many mascot performers in the R&D labs where they have a chance to make actual contact with humans

>Some gleefully shake your hand while others looks like they're only coming up to you as a dare

>In any case, Rox is right there counting the seconds

>She looks ready to chase off anyone who spends too much time speaking with you

>You might have to help her work on her people skills later, or teach her how to share

>To her relief, Mr. Whimsey shoos the crowd away after a few minutes

>"Alright, give the poor man some space," Mr. Whimsey chuckles. “We're here on an important mission today for Ms. Rox!"

>He leads you and the others through the labs, which is very much an “organized mess" of brainstorming and planning all done right out in the open

>You know they have tours of the human-run Whimsey R&D buildings (though they're incredibly expensive and difficult to get into), but it's still surprising to see all the anthros so candidly working on new Whimsey projects

>How much of what they come up with ends up just being credited to the humans?

>Just as how Rox is your personal handler, it seems like Sherry-K has to be Chee's

>The bird wanders a little too closely to the desks and worktables as you pass by them, trying to take sneak peaks at whatever she can and leading the tigress to have to constantly give snarls of disapproval

>Of course when she's done corralling the bird back to the rest of the group, Sherry-K has a peep of her own, followed by hasty scribbling on her clipboard

>Workplace professionalism can't stop a true Whimsey fan from geeking out

>The tour of the facility goes on for a while, though it's not done intentionally so much as it's because of how far back the true destination is

>Mr. Whimsey's excitement in showing this off is clear, especially as he opens the door to a new workroom with a flourish

>"And this...this is where we're developing our new line of mascot characters!"

>You can't tell whether his smile or Rox's is bigger

>Canvases, projectors, and a sea of drawing papers fill the studio with sketches and concept art

>Every anthro in here has a pen or a brush in their paw

>Except the few with tape measures in the center of the room, surrounding a display of mannequins made in the shapes of several different animal species

>The mannequins are each dressed in exuberant prototype costumes, making the display look like a lineup for superheroes

>One of the models has very distinctly canine dimensions; female ones, particularly

>The costume itself is a hodgepodge of layers and colors, making the whole thing seem like someone from the distant future trying to mash together every “rock star" trope from over the decades and patch it up with sci-fi wrapping

>It doesn't look like there would be much openness to see the fur of the wearer underneath, but that is probably intentional for keeping the illusion that someone like Rox would still be a human in an anthropomorphic wolf costume

>The wolfess slowly pads up to the mannequin and takes the whole thing in with an open muzzle

>Once the nearby designers get over the initial confusion of a stranger in their studio, they realize she's the one who they're creating for

>A few bold designers even creep up to her and whip out the tape measures and begin to record Rox's proportions while she continues to stare at her future persona

>Mr. Whimsey leans closer to you

>"Do you think she likes it?" he whispers

>He seems to already think so

>But if there was any doubt in his mind, then it's removed by Rox's frantically wagging tail

>Chee hops in place with giddy squeals at the sight of her happy roommate

>Sherry-K's absorbed in her clipboard, but the motions seem too broad to be writing

>Is she...drawing?

>Rox spooks the measurers as she whips around with a goofy look on her face

>"I love it!" she barks. “When can I start?"

>Mr. Whimsey laughs

>"Soon, I promise. We still have some details to finalize, and then we have to do casting calls for your backups and performers in other parks. I believe Tokyo Whimsey already has a few eager young wolves lined up!"

>Rox's muzzle can't possibly contain the size of her grin

>She isn't just being hired along with others for some new role; it's that the others are being hired for HER role

>The joy only falters for a moment with some brief nagging doubt

>"So, do I still have to do an audition or something first?"

>"Not necessary," Mr. Whimsey says

>He points to another part of the room where Rox's prototype costume designs are being worked on

>There's a cluster of tables with several television monitors, each one with a still shot or a looping video of the day you and the wolfess did all those ride-alongs in the park

>"I think the evidence speaks for itself," Mr. Whimsey goes on. “It's as Ms. Sherry-K told me: you are easily one of our top performers! And you work so well with someone like Anon at your side, which is another reason for the delay in getting you ready for the role...."

>A paw claps you on the shoulder, but this time it's from Chobbo

>"Darwin and I knew growing up working together in the park that we made the perfect duo!" the beagle says. “Lookin' at the two of you go at it out there, though...I'm a little jealous! I think we found a pair that can run circles around us!"

>Hearing him say “go at it" gives you a momentary pang of guilt

>Hopefully Whimsey park's cameras didn't pick up on you scratching Rox in the chill room

>Or you kissing her on Little Happy Planet

>"Indeed," Mr. Whimsey says. “It isn't enough to have our friends like Rox out there to slowly get the humans used to them existing. We need to have her AND a human out there as a team to really get the point across! Which is why we're making a role specifically for her character to accompany; a sidekick, if you will!"

>Wait, YOU?

>Both Whimsey and Chobbo nod

>"We'd like you to be there with her, Anon," Mr. Whimsey says. “After all, Ms. Rox clearly has reservations about this new opportunity if it doesn't include you in them. Isn't that what you said?"

>Rox chuckles sheepishly

>"Y-yeah, that's right!"

>Once again, she has just pulled you into something completely unexpected

>You can probably do a decent enough job as a performer, but Rox is leagues better than you could ever be by far

>"Granted, I will confess that you will essentially be continuing your position as a handler for her," Mr. Whimsey adds. “Same as all the other humans who will be paired with their wolf partners. We can't give them a major role in this setup, as we still don't want them being TOO involved with the performers just yet. I can tell it's already going to be an even bigger headache casting for the handlers than it is for Rox's character. We need to make sure those human sidekicks aren't going to be blabbing to the world about our little secret until we say it first."

>A proper show of gratitude would be to shake Mr. Whimsey's hand, but Rox grabs your whole body and shakes YOU instead

>"Thank you, Darwin! Thanks! I won't let you down!"

>She clearly isn't going to let you down either, literally

>The group laughs at her excitement, and the nearby designers join in as well

>When the commotion dies down, only Chobbo's wheezing cough remains

>"Are you alright, my friend?" Mr. Whimsey says with some concern in his voice

>"Bah, just all the loose pencil shavings floating around," Chobbo says. “I don't know how all these young'uns can stay locked in here all day. Much rather be out there in the fresh air...even if I have to wear those damned masks!"

>The group laughs again, though it's a little more subdued this time

>You're allowed to take a tour of the studio as well for a little while

>Chee takes full advantage of the opportunity, pestering every artist and designer she can find

>They eventually have to bribe her with sketches of her favorite characters just so she'll leave and they can get back to their (mostly) peaceful work

>Rox still has you in one of her token embraces as you return to gawk at her soon-to-be new costume

>Your attention switches over to Sherry-K when she makes a yelp of surprise

>Seems she might have been a little too absorbed in her clipboard when Mr. Whimsey approaches her

>You can't pick up on what he whispers to you, but he looks just as eager about whatever it is

>Sherry-K's eyes go wide, and then she nods vigorously

>"O-of course, sir," you can hear her say. “I'll let them know at the next meeting. Thank you."

>The tigress spends the rest of the visit with her back to the walls, so that she can't be snuck up on again

>You stay for a little bit longer, and then Mr. Whimsey collects everyone to head back out

>You're finally pried out of Rox's grip so that the company head can take both of you under each of his arms

>"I know the two of you will do us all proud," he says

>It sounds as if he's holding back some emotion while he speaks

>"If there's anything I can do for either of you, please let me know. The only thing left I can ask for in this world is to see my father's dream come true. I still haven't been entirely...forthright with my own children about our two societies, but I aim to correct that as soon as possible. I just hope that they—and the rest of the world—are as accepting of this kind of unity as the two of you have been."

>Rox sniffs and nods

>"You got it," she says, also sounding a little choked up

>The limo ride back to the Cast Complex feels as short as a monorail ride

>You share a few more handshakes with Mr. Whimsey and Chobbo

>These then turn into full-on hugs

>Chee looks the most broken up about the day finally being over

>Like the trip home from the family visit to Whimsey World, Sherry-K's car is somber and quiet

>Rox eventually breaks the silence when you return to the employee parking lot

>"Hey, Sher," she says. “So what did the big guy say to you? Did ya get promoted again already?"

>The tigress just clears her through and shoos everyone out of her car, carefully replacing some of the Whimsey knickknacks she had knocked to the side

>"I'm surprised you didn't eavesdrop on THAT announcement as well," Sherry-K says sarcastically

>"Yeah, well, didn't that time lead to something great?" the wolfess replies

>"Hmm, I suppose it did. This will as well, but you will have to wait until the next meeting like everyone else to hear it."

>"If I didn't know better, Sher, I'd say you're almost pleased with yourself about something."

>The tigress smirks

[[CHAPTER 27: Rox Lobster]]

>The conference hall is filled with roughly half of the park's anthro employees

>The commotion still isn't enough to wake Rox, who's leaning against you so heavily you have to actively fight against her to remain upright yourself

>Sherry-K called for a park-wide meeting for the anthros before the start of first shift, which means Rox had to get up even earlier than normal

>You look beyond the wolfess to where Chee is sitting, giving her a pleading look to help you

>"Roxie, wake up!" Chee says, shaking her roommate

>The wolfess just leans into you even harder

>"Nnnggghhh, five more minmmm…" she groans

>You're starting to get funny looks from everyone around you

>A few minutes later, Sherry-K marches out to the front of the conference hall and the room goes silent

>NOW Rox wakes up with a jolt

>She looks around worriedly like a student who just got caught napping in class

>"H-hey, hey, what's going on?" she says to you with a nudge

>"Roxie, shh!" Chee says

>There seems to be a general feeling of unease among the anthros

>Why would so many employees be called here unless something's wrong?

>The dread is wiped away instantly when Sherry-K brings up an image of a familiar waterpark on the projection screen

>Whimsey Waters

>The room murmurs loudly

>At least until Sherry-K raps her claws on the clipboard, and everyone goes quiet once more

>"As you all know," the tigress begins, “Whimsey Waters has been under renovations for the past several months, and will soon be reopening to the public. Operations of the waterpark will continue to be largely the responsibility of the human sphere of the company."

>Figures as much

>There are very few mascot characters who get to hang out at the waterpark, and it's not like there are a ton of rides for anthros to work behind the scenes on

>You bet there were a lot of anthro employees happy it's been closed purely out of resentment of the humans

>You've been to the waterpark a couple of times before, but usually by yourself

>"However...."

>That one word from Sherry-K immediately shifts the mood of the entire room

>The seats in the conference hall creak as everyone shifts to the edges in anticipation

>"The reliability of the improved water filtration systems will still need adequate testing. It is expected that the new filters should be able to handle debris and particulate matter of any volume, including large quantities of hair or fur."

>"No way…" Rox says in a hushed voice

>"Mr. D. Whimsey Jr. has thus decided to simultaneously test these systems as well as reward everyone for your admirable performances over the season by allowing access to Whimsey Waters for employees until its reopening."

>An uproar breaks out in the conference hall

>Clapping, cheering, whistling...

>Squawking, trilling, howling…

>You should have given yourself more time to brace for the mass of dark gray fur that envelops your head as you're yanked into Rox's excited embrace

>It's hard not to feel a little happiness for the anthros

>They're finally getting their chance to enjoy a part of the park they've been excluded from for possibly the entire company's history

>Sherry-K fruitlessly tries to calm everyone down

>She gives in and lets the crowd get it all out before continuing

>This must be that big secret she had when you met with Mr. Whimsey, judging from the hint of a smirk she has on her lips

>But that smirk dissolves into a more serious expression

>"It should be noted that we will only have access Whimsey Waters a few times each week up until its grand reopening, and for a few hours each day. We currently do not have the trained staff or volunteers in sufficient numbers to operate the waterpark the entire week."

>You can feel a little bit of the energy drain out of the room, though it's not enough to completely dampen the spirits

>"We will soon be posting schedules for waterpark accessibility. I urge those interested to take advantage of this opportunity while it is still available. As of right now, it does not appear that Whimsey Waters will be open for Cast Nights due to safety reasons."

>Dejected noises fill the conference hall

>"Boy, Sher really knows how to let them down easy," Rox grumbles

>"But we should still be grateful for what we have," Chee says

>Sadly, not a lot of others are probably going to see it the same way Chee does

>And yet, they don't have much of a choice

>Sherry-K goes on to cover a few more less-important announcements

>Rox grabs you and Chee and pulls you both in closely

>"So, what do you say?" she whispers. “Whimsey Waters; first chance we can on everyone's day off together. How about it?"

>The waterpark isn't as big as Whimsey Park, but with its winding paths and thick foliage it feels like it is

>Much like its counterpart, Whimsey Waters is separated into multiple themes ranging from tropical paradise to glacial coast

>In reality, a lot of the slides and attractions are duplicated several times throughout the waterpark with only the backdrop serving as the major difference in each of the themed zones

>That's a non-issue to most of the anthros who show up along with you, Rox, and Chee on the weekend

>Everyone looks perfectly content just to be out in the fresh air during sunlight

>Then again, there are a lot of embarrassed anthros who seem to be having second thoughts about showing up in front of their coworkers wearing bathing suits

>Rox has no such reservations in her bikini, which is so dark that it almost blends into her fur when the glare of the sun hits your eyes

>Chee on the other hand is wearing a much more modest, somewhat antiquated, frilly bathing suit

>No doubt Whimsey merchandise of some variety, like their “princess line" of swim clothing

>Your suit is nothing special, though Rox seems determined to keep it loose on you

>Her nails dig in and tug your waistband when everyone else is preoccupied

>"Looking good, stud," she purrs in your ear

>Everyone is gathered near the wave pool in the center of the waterpark

>A pretty healthy crowd showed up today, with several familiar faces

>Before everyone is let loose into the waterpark, Sherry-K addresses the group by a billboard map of Whimsey Waters

>She's easily the most conservatively dressed one of the bunch with her ruby red lifeguard shorts and shirt

>The mirrored sunglasses actually make her a little intimidating, and instead of her usual clipboard she's clutching a blindingly reflective whistle

>She gives it a shrill blow to quiet everyone down before speaking

>"Alright everyone, listen up!"

>Though just as serious, her tone seems a little different than the stuffy professionalism she's so comfortable with

>"We only have the waterpark to ourselves for a few hours, and because of our limited staff during these periods we will be restricted to certain sections on rotation. Our volunteers will be monitoring the slides and rides a few at a time, and each half-hour we will shift to another spot. This will ensure we get the chance to test every facet of Whimsey Waters at least once."

>"Great, it's like a stupid field trip," Rox sighs

>Her paw works it way around your waist

>"Guess we have to follow the buddy system, right? I got mine right here!"

>Sherry-K points to the wave pool on the map and traces the layout of the waterpark in wide circles

>"We'll begin at Rascal Rapids, then move on to The Slush, and work our way clockwise. You may return here to the wave pool or the lazy river at any time, and this is where we'll meet at the end of the day. Be alert for this sound."

>The tigress pops the whistle into her mouth and lets out an ear-splitting sound

>If you didn't know better, you'd think she's going to be enjoying that thing

>She heads off toward Rascal Rapids with a sizeable chunk of the group following her

>Only a small portion of the anthros hang back to get used to the wave pool first

>"Hey, do you guys want to start with the wave pool, or maybe take a lap around the river?" Rox says to you and Chee

>Chee looks legitimately shocked by the wolfess' suggestion

>"What? Really?" she chirps. “But, those are what we should end the day with! I want to do all the fun slides first!"

>"Yeah, but come on, Chee. Look at this group! Everyone has the same idea, and the lines are going to be long as hell to start with. Don't you want to come back to the slides later?"

>"Not really..." Chee pouts

>Rox rolls her eyes

>"Fine, we'll wait in line all day with the rest of the group, if that's what you want."

>You can't help but laugh

>It definitely feels like the three of you are on vacation, as guests to Whimsey for a change

>The bittersweetness of the situation already tries to take hold, but you push those thoughts aside and try to focus on the positives of the moment

>Rascal Rapids has a lot of the more intense slides, with many of them created specifically for pairs

>"Should we rotate every slide?" Chee says

>"What? Why?" Rox says

>She grabs you around the waist even tighter, protectively

>"Because we have an odd number, Roxie! And I want to get a chance to ride with both of you, too!"

>The wolfess doesn't look ready to share you quite yet

>She looks around the group of anthros, then hones in on someone with a sly grin

>"Why don't you take HIM with you? I think someone wants to be your slide buddy!"

>His cover blow, the spying pheasant tries to duck among the cover of the other anthros

>"Hey, Amadeus!" Chee calls out. “Hey! Over here!"

>The oriole flaps her wings as she works her way through the crowd to catch the retreating pheasant

>Poor Ace

>"Perfect," Rox chuckles smugly

>The silky leather of her paw pads runs over your skin

>"Got you all to myself. At least for a little while."

>Just like Sherry-K alluded to, only a handful of the anthros are trained lifeguards

>Or at least were willing to supervise the rides while everyone else gets to have fun on them

>Not much of an issue for the tigress, who always seems to get more than her share of enjoyment from being the leader and authority figure

>"You going to come down some of the slides with us, Sher?" Rox asks the tigress when you finally make it to the top of a tube with an inflatable, “figure 8" shaped raft in hand

>"Not today," Sherry-K says flatly

>"No, TODAY," Rox says right back. “We'll get you on something here before the end of it."

>"Hmph. Good luck with that."

>You set the inflatable down at the top of the slide and Rox coaxes you to the front half

>"I'd better take the rear," she laughs. “'Bigger rider' and all that, you know."

>The wolfess drops down behind you, almost launching you off your seat from the sudden displacement

>Her legs hook around your body and rest on top of yours

>"See, Sher? Doesn't this look fun?" Rox says coyly

>The wolfess locks her arms over your torso and draws you back against her

>Sherry-K just places a foot on the back of the raft and kicks off

>Rox lets out a sudden yelp of surprise as the two of you careen down the slide

>But she's soon hooting and yelling in joy as you rock and turn down the tube

>The enclosed sections echo her noises, and she sends a long howl down ahead of the raft

>You join in, howling right along with her

>It's not a long slide, but the two of you come out of the bottom with complete satisfaction

>Rox lets out one more holler as you both slip off of the raft and into the collecting pool

>She's already looking hilariously soaked thanks to all the splashing waters and rapids

>"What's so funny?" she says

>The wolfess shakes herself vigorously, whipping the water from her fur like any dog would after a bath

>You wait a minute for Chee and her partner to follow

>The two birds comes shooting out the end with differing expressions

>"Again! Again!" Chee says

>Ace on the other hand had his eyes covered with his wings the whole time

>"Y-yeah, sure. Just let...let me...."

>The wobbling pheasant tries to gracefully exit the raft, but ends up flopping into the pool

>Chee reaches into the water and fishes him out with a giggle

>She whisks the reluctant, dripping Ace back up to the top while you and Rox hang out at the bottom for a while

>"Well, that was a good time, yeah?" the wolfess says

>Wait, she's done already?

>It's true that Rox didn't seem to be big into the rides during Cast Night in Whimsey Park, but you'd think she wouldn't be far behind her roommate in wanting to do the more thrilling stuff here in Whimsey Waters

>None of the slides seem to grab her wild side, though

>Not even the 17-story free-fall body slide that looms over the whole place

>"Hey, if you want to have another go, lead the way," Rox says. “I know I call the shots a lot when it comes to us hanging out."

>You can tell from the way her tail swishes side to side that she knows something else the two of you can do instead

>And that she knows YOU know that she knows

>"On the other hand...I was right, wasn't I? That took WAY too long to stand in line for, and if you want to hit the slides again we might as well wait for everyone else to get tired, yeah?"

>Rox wraps her arm around you

>Even though her fur is still a little wet, it hasn't lost any of its softness

>"Meanwhile, I bet nobody's going to be in the lazy river. Whatcha' think?"

>You're already being led along by the wolfess before she's even done speaking

>Not like you were going to resist her anyway

>Being the tamest attraction in the waterpark, the lazy river is indeed all but ignored right now

>Only the black and white mass of fur belonging to Cookie can be seen on the winding river circuit

>The panda is completely asleep, yet carefully balanced on a small inflatable doughnut like a scoop of ice cream spilling over the top of a cone

>You and Rox let him drift farther ahead before getting into the water yourselves

>A long rubber raft floats into reach, but Rox shoves it away before you can grab it

>"Oh no you don't. We're only going to need ONE."

>Rox drags the biggest raft she can find over to you and pulls herself onto it

>And then pulls you onto her

>The wolfess lies on her back with you balanced over her, just like so many nights you've spent in bed together

>The two of you rock along on the water's surface as the raft settles in

>Eventually, everything calms down and you're floating along weightlessly

>"Mmmmuch better," Rox sighs

>Your head rests on her chest as she gently rubs her paws over you

>It's a completely serene environment, with only the distant screams of joy from the anthros to interrupt the ripple of the water and the breeze in the trees

>"Just like we're on vacation, huh?"

>It almost sends a chill up your spine just how closely her thoughts mirror your own

>"Sher's right. We should take advantage of this while we can, ya know? After all, someday this park is going to be filled to the brim with both of our kinds, sharing this place together...right?"

>Rox hugs you firmly

>She's obviously getting a little sentimental about the future, but as her grip gets even stronger she lets out a throaty chuckle

>"I'm sure we'll always have Rox World for a private getaway, though. Then we can come back here later when we want to bring the whole fa—“

>She goes quiet

>You and Rox drift together for what feels like hours, but when you catch a passing map marker along the side of the river you see you aren't even halfway through the endless cycle

>Every so often she'll dip her paw into the cool waters and then run her paw pads on your skin

>"Feel nice?"

>Of course she does

>Her muzzle darts in to plant a kiss on your cheek

>"Pfft. I meant the water," she groans humorously. “But thanks."

>Time goes on, with you and Rox still intertwined

>It's like you're floating along the very face of a clock

>She stops all your attempts to shift around, fearing you'll want to leave the river

>The sun gets tired of waiting for you to leave the river and instead makes the first move, taking away the rays beating down on your closed eyelids

>The gradually cooling afternoon makes Rox's fur all the cozier to be snuggled against

>But the paradise has to come to an end at some point

>You hear the light tapping of approaching claws on stone

>"There you are!"

>You open your eyes to see Chee skipping along the side of the river after your raft

>"I was wondering where you two disappeared to!" the bird says. “Didn't you want to go down some more slides?"

>Rox makes a groan similar to the ones she makes every morning she's woken up by her roommate

>"Could say the same for your friend Ace. What happened to him?"

>"I think I wore him out," Chee says sadly. “He's taking it easy by the wave pool. Roxie, can't you and Anon do a few slides with me? Pleeease? It's almost time to head home...."

>"Alright, alright," Rox says

>Your world is jostled around as the wolfess sits upright, nearly launching you into the pool

>"We'll go down a slide or two," she continues. “BUT...we need to get our favorite coordinator in on this, agreed?"

>The wave pool is littered with anthros bobbing up and down like buoys

>High on a lifeguard's chair, Sherry-K is surveying the scene

>Perhaps focusing a little too much on a particular vixen who's backstroking along not far off...

>Rox sneaks up to the tall lifeguard's chair and shakes it

>"Yo, Sher!"

>"WHAT, Roksa!?" Sherry-K snarls down at her

>"Come with us for one last slide for the day, alright? We want to do the buddy tubes and Chee broke her partner."

>You spot Ace passed out on one of the lounge chairs

>Though spent of all his energy, you'd have to be blind to miss the content look on his face

>Sherry-K looks to each of you in turn

>"I'm on duty," she says matter-of-factly. “I need to be here to keep an eye on things."

>"I see at least two other lifeguards out there!" Rox says, motioning to the wave pool. “I think everyone here is adult enough to not drown while you go down a quick slide, so don't worry about it."

>Rox has a tendency to make people feel the opposite when she says “don't worry"

>Sherry-K clearly isn't moved by the wolfess' assurance at first

>But when she opens her mouth to object, Rox cuts in with a sweeter deal

>"I'LL even be your buddy for this one, Sher!"

>"I'm seeing Mionra right now, Roksa," the tigress says, seeing through Rox's implications

>"Yeah, I know you are. You're not fooling anyone with those sunglasses. Now get off your fuzzy butt and come have fun with us!"

>Even while wearing those mirrored shades, Sherry-K's brow arcs so intensely you're sure she's doing a pretty impressive eye roll

>"ONE slide, then we're packing up for the day," she says

>Sherry-K barely makes it down to the ground before both Rox and Chee grab her and march the tigress back to Rascal Rapids

>Rox tosses the figure-8 inflatable over Sherry-K's body to keep her arms pinned to her sides

>"Up you go!" Rox says as the four of you ascend the stairs

>"Roksa, this isn't safe!" Sherry-K growls, feebly trying to grab the handrail

>"You weren't safe the moment you let us abduct you, Sher."

>Once at the top of the slide, Chee sets down your own inflatable and hops into the front

>You set yourself into the back spot while the two other girls get ready in the staging lane next to you

>"Well if you're going to be a stickler for rules, I guess you'll have to be in the rear," Rox says. “You're a little bigger than me, girl."

>"I beg your pardon?" Sherry-K scoffs

>"Meet you two at the bottom!" Chee sings

>The bird pushes off and the two of you soar down the slide

>You don't go as fast this time since she's a lot lighter than Rox is, but at least being in the back gives you a different perspective

>Chee giggles and cries out the whole way down

>You imagine this has to be one of several dozen trips she's made on this slide alone today, yet she continues to have full enthusiasm for the experience

>By the time you make it to the bottom you're just about ready to crash right beside Ace from all the collateral excitement

>"Wow, what a rush!" Chee says. “Thanks for being my partner, Anon!"

>You both quickly vacate the pool to watch for your other two friends

>The wait isn't long

>You hear Rox's laughter and Sherry-K's wailing long before the wolfess and feline make it all the way down

>Their inflatable smacks against the water with a loud slap, and Sherry-K's half sinks dangerously under her weight

>The whole thing nearly tips over, and the tigress lunges forward to stay upright

>Grabbing Rox's chest in the process

>The wolfess' face contorts into a mix of shock and amusement as Sherry-K unwittingly cops a feel

>"Bad kitty!" Rox chides

>It takes Sherry-K a moment to realize what happened, but when she does the tigress recoils back

>Leaning away dangerously

>NOW the whole thing tips over, sending the two girls into the pool

>Chee is laughing hysterically

>Rox is positively beaming when she resurfaces, while Sherry-K rises from the water like a striped, crabby monolith

>Her lifeguard uniform is utterly soaked, as is the sour look on her face

>"Welp, I think that was a good way to end the day, eh?" Rox snickers

>The wolfess grabs the whistle from around Sherry-K's neck and gives it a wet blow

>The tigress' ears twitch at the pitiful sound while Chee continues rolling around in stiches

>As Sherry-K wrings her uniform dry—slapping away Rox's paws when the wolfess attempts to assist her—she gives you an unfavorable look

>The look that says somehow this is all your fault

[[CHAPTER 28: Jailhouse Rox]]

>You and Rox return home from work to find your other roommate sitting at the table with booklets and folders sprawled all over

>She's so absorbed in her work that it actually surprises you how long it takes for her to greet you

>And even then, she barely looks at you and Rox

>"Hey guys," the bird says absentmindedly

>"Geez, Chee," Rox says. “Did you spend your whole day off just reading? You looking for a 'bookworm' or something?"

>Elbow to your ribs

>"Uh huh...huh? What?" Chee says

>Chee suddenly animates and looks around, gasping at how dark it's gotten outside

>"O-oh! It's a lot later than I thought!" she giggles sheepishly

>Rox picks up one of the booklets and flips through it

>The cover looks familiar to all the literature you collected during your “new hire orientation" when you first got the job in Whimsey World

>"So what's all this stuff anyway?" Rox says. “Homework?"

>"It's for my training as Senior Supervisor of Park Operations!" Chee sings. “I don't want to disappoint Sherry-K for promoting me."

>Chee reaches over to a spot on the table where a pristine uniform is still folded up in plastic packaging and gives it a few pats

>If Chee didn't have to wear the uniform for work, you imagine she would have already framed it up on her wall

>"You don't have to sweat anything," Rox says. “Sher was right to trust you, and we all know you'll do a good job. Plus, it's nice to know we have someone working her way up on the inside to make some 'changes' for us down the road...."

>Chee puffs up her cheeks and gives Rox a disapproving look

>The wolfess immediately backs down

>"H-hey, I was just messing with you!" Rox says, waving her paws. “I'm not gonna make you do anything to break the rules, I swear!"

>Chee nods in satisfaction

>Good to know she's still going to be the responsible one of the pair

>Though if Chee rises through the ranks you can bet she'll try to make the park more fun for everyone to work in

>That bird has a really promising future in the company, but hopefully she won't get burned out the same way Sherry-K did

>It makes you wonder just how bright-eyed and hopeful the tigress herself was before the stress of the company got to her

>Now you're picturing Sherry-K's body with Chee's personality

>Rox pokes you in the cheek with her claw

>"What's with that look on your face?" she says with a laugh

>Chee closes up all her booklets and folders, and then stretches with a long yawn

>"What a fast day!" the bird says. “We're all going to be pretty busy soon with our new jobs!"

>"All the more reason to enjoy the days we have off together," Rox adds, kicking her feet up on the couch and grabbing the TV remote. “You want to watch something with us, Chee?"

>"Maybe another night," Chee says with another yawn. “I'm supposed to be at work a little earlier tomorrow."

>"So much for that plan," Rox grumbles. “Not even if we watch one of your favorites?"

>"Sorry...goodnight you two!"

>Even with a busy day behind her, Chee still manages to head to bed with a little pep in her step

>"I tried," Rox sighs as you join her on the couch

>The TV goes largely ignored as the two of you cuddle for a while

>Rox tries rubbing her paws over your earlobes

>"Does this do anything for you?"

>Well, it doesn't feel bad

>Probably doesn't feel anywhere as intense or erotic as it does for her, though

>Rox huffs and tries to rub harder

>You have to turn the tides on her to get her to take it easy, scratching her ears and the back of her head

>As usual, it completely disarms her

>"Ooooaaaooohhh...that's sssooo not fair," she moans

>You tease her a bit as she helps you get to her hard-to-reach spots

>She tries to fight back, but when you move your hands under her shirt to her belly she just sticks her tongue out

>Feeling her powerful muscles flexing and relaxing through her soft fur is something you've grown to enjoy almost as much as she does

>Rox seems far less like an actual wolf when you have her wagging her tail and kicking her leg around

>"We domesticate too, ya know," she eventually grunts as you massage her stomach. “Not like we're all wild animals anymore."

>You brace yourself for some kind of anthro lecture, but it never comes

>Though a part of you is somewhat curious to hear “their" take on it; how they see themselves in a world where humans see regular animals for what they are

>But fortunately, Rox seems to take it all in stride

>"I never paid much attention in school," she laughs guiltily. “So I don't really know a lot about where we come from, or our 'ancestors' or whatever. All I know is I love all this 'human stuff', and I can't help but love your scratches, too. So...you better get in their deep, buddy!"

>Rox flips you over onto your back but holds your hands to her belly

>She forces you to rub at a vigorous rhythm for a while before she trusts you to continue on your own

>Kneeling over you, Rox slathers your face with kisses while you perform your duty

>The wolfess stops just long enough to where you think she's going to say something, but then a shiver or a gasp ends the pause and she's right back to her kissing

>This goes on for quite some time

>That is, until Rox is finished and her heavy body drops on top of you

>"Alright," she pants. “Time for bed."

>Her arms hook underneath you, and you feel yourself being lifted off of the cushions

>But rather than picking you up, Rox is merely rolling you on top of her

>And then the two of you roll off the couch

>You have just enough time to brace yourself before you and the wolfess topple to the floor with a loud thud

>"Roxie? Anon? You guys okay out there?"

>Rox just snickers in your ear

>It's a long-running joke to many (and an urban legend to a few) that Whimsey World has a magical anti-weather bubble surrounding it

>The park manages to avoid the worst storms and conditions, and it has almost never closed in its many years of operation because of it

>Unfortunately, this supposed “bubble" doesn't stop the occasional downpour, and the rains won't stop Whimsey World from running

>On a dreary day like today, it's a mixed bag

>The good news is that you and Rox don't have to be out entertaining the guests in the sweltering sun

>The bad news is that the guests still want to see the mascot characters, rain or shine

>The next outdoor public appearance of Rox as Whirly Barf is cancelled, but you can bet you'll soon be stuffed into a gift shop or restaurant with her among several other characters so the guests can get their photos and autographs anyway

>It's all a matter of waiting for the coordinators to make the arrangements

>In the meantime, you and Rox are just waiting backstage in boredom

>She can't take her mask off (still being in essentially “human territory"), so she's still hamming it up in “goofy mascot mode" to let off some steam

>The wolfess offers you an umbrella, then snatches it away before you can grab it

>Then she bops you on the head with it a few times

>Things quickly devolve into a tug-o-war

>You're fighting over the umbrella when a human coordinator slides in backstage to get out of the rain

>"Nice boxers," Rox says to him

>The young man looks down and curses

>Whimsey's costuming department makes their uniforms extremely thin and lightweight, both to keep the wearer cool and also to cut costs

>This means that when they get soaked, they tend not to hide what's underneath much

>Like the human coordinator's heart-printed boxers under his now transparent slacks

>Rox does her best to stifle a laugh as the coordinator covers himself with his clipboard and slinks off

>When he's gone, she turns to you

>Her paw rests on your lap and her fingers drum on your leg

>Even with the dead, blank eyes of the Whirly Barf mask, you can tell Rox is giving you a mischievous look

>"Hey Anon, I think I left, uh, something outside. You want to go out and find it for me?"

>Not gonna fall for that one

>You use the moment to try and take the umbrella away, but Rox's strength is unyielding

>"Nah, you don't need this. I'm sure you'll be back in no time."

>Having your coworker try to get your pants wet has to be some kind of workplace violation

>"You can complain all you want," Rox says. “Sher isn't here to save you with her rules and reprimands."

>Just then, your radio chirps

>It's your savior...sort of

>Rox scowls as you answer the radio and hear a familiar tigress on the other end

>"Anon. Are you with Rox?" Sherry-K says

>"Not if I have anything to say about it," Rox mumbles, still trying to shove you out the door and into the rain

>"I would like to speak with the two of you in my office as soon as possible," Sherry-K continues

>The horseplay stops immediately

>"Aw shit, what did we do now?" Rox says

>There she goes again, not sharing her umbrella but more than willing to share the blame

>So the two of you make your way deeper through the employee tunnels into the anthro-only ones

>Rox is pensively quiet during the trip, but she can't help but swat you a few more times with the umbrella

>When you make it to Sherry-K's office, Rox walks toward the tigress with open arms

>"Come clean, Sher. You just wanted a little one-on-one time with ol' Whirly Barf, didn't you?"

>The tigress sighs

>"No, Roksa, I called you both here because...h-HEY!"

>Rox has a slight size advantage even over Sherry-K when in the costume, and her bulky costume fluff engulfs the feline in a hug

>"Aww, it's alright, princess," Rox coos. “Why don't you tell your good friend Whirly who your FAVORITE Whimsey character is, hmm?"

>Sherry-K mutters under her breath

>"Sorry, didn't quite catch that," Rox says

>"...Whirly Barf..." Sherry-K mutters a little louder

>"Wait, really?"

>It kind of surprises you as well

>For how much Sherry-K seems to love the company, you would have thought she'd have the same fascination with the princesses that someone like Chee does

>Rox slowly lets go of the tigress and removes her mask

>Underneath is a wicked, wolfish grin

>"Wow, Sher. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it's YOUR fault I get stuck with this slobbering dog more often than anyone else."

>Wait for it...

>"Oh, and also why I get the Whirly Barf costume all the time!"

>Rox pats you on the head to the rhythm of a rim shot

>Meanwhile, Sherry-K looks like she's either jealous of the attention or miffed that she's being called out for what Rox is accusing her of

>Maybe a little of both

>"You are simply the most qualified for the character role," the tigress says flatly. “As you know, we assign the costumes based on employee size, and you just happen to fit the dimensions of the character appropriately enough. I see no reason to change up your role frequently when you are already acclimated to this one in particular."

>"Is that so? Well, if I didn't get stuck with him BECAUSE he's your favorite, then is it because of ME that he's your favorite?"

>Sherry-K's tail curls in frustration, and you can practically imagine her orange fur turning red

>"That's enough, Roksa," she hisses as calmly as possible. “Save your banter for another time. As I was about to say, I called you both here to give something to you that recently arrived."

>Sherry-K hands you a small pile of envelopes and what looks like a passport of sorts

>The front cover is emblazoned with [Whimsey-Aesop Living Treaties] and an overly complicated insignia

>Rox also gets her own, smaller stack of papers

>"This is the probationary visa my...rather, Mr. Shearod-K mentioned at the meeting with Mr. Whimsey," the tigress says. “Included are credentials for the three of you: Anon's visa for access to our communities, and guardian licenses for you and Chee. You are both representatives for the Whimsey Corporation when accompanying Anon, and are thus expected to conduct yourselves with the same discipline as you do here."

>"'More discipline' in my case, right?" Rox says sarcastically

>"I was not going to go there, Roksa."

>Rox looks at the papers ecstatically and grabs Sherry-K's paw to shake

>"Thanks for everything, Sher. I mean it! We couldn't have done this without you! You'll have to thank your old man for us too, alright?"

>Sherry-K's nostrils flare a bit

>"Please, just promise me you'll both be careful. PLEASE. If you need any help at any time, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm registered as one of Anon's guardians as well. Everything we do from this point forward is going to face indescribable scrutiny, and we'll all be facing more than simply reprimands if something goes wrong. Can I put my trust in the two of you?"

>There's a subtle, pleading look in the tigress' face

>"Y-yeah...yeah, Sher," Rox says solemnly. “You got our word. We'll be careful, I promise."

>Sherry-K nods gratefully

>"Thank you. You are dismissed for now. We will be moving your three 'o'clock meet-and-greet to the Little Happy Planet plaza if the current weather conditions persist. I would recommend making your way over there unless otherwise instructed."

>Rox gives Sherry-K one more—much more reserved—paw shake before you and her head out of the office

>"Well, at least we can give the good news to Chee right away," Rox says

>She keeps her mask off as you walk through the anthro tunnels so you can see her beaming muzzle

>The apartment has a predictable liveliness after work

>Chee hasn't stopped squealing in joy since Rox broke the news to her

>You could swear you even heard her from her perch in the Little Happy Planet ride while you and Rox were down in the plaza

>"This is super exciting!" the bird says as the three of you gather in the living room. “We'll have to put in some time off and show Anon around!"

>"You sure you're alright with it, Chee?" Rox says. “Don't you have some new responsibilities with your position now?"

>The bird makes a whining sound

>"Yeah, but...I mean...I really want to go with you guys...."

>"Hey, I want you to come with us," Rox says, putting an arm around her friend. “I just don't want you to get in trouble. It's like you said yourself, we're all going to be really busy with our new jobs. This is just a for-fun sort of thing. Work is more important, I get that."

>Chee nods sadly but tries to force a smile

>"Anon's not going anywhere without us...literally," Rox continues. “There'll be other times. And besides...."

>Now it's her who looks broken up about something

>You can feel her paw search out for you, needingly

>She doesn't continue speaking until she knows you're close by

>"...Well, if we're going to be staying somewhere for a while, we might have to stay with someone we know to save a little money on travel. You know, like...maybe someone's parents."

>Chee opens her mouth to speak, but Rox immediately cuts her off

>"No, not your folks, Chee. I mean, maybe not at first. They're too far away, and I don't want to suddenly dump Anon on them again so soon. I know you were going to offer, but thanks any."

>"But, Roxie...do you mean...?"

>The wolfess nods

>"Yeah, I guess so. I'll have to break the news to them eventually. Might as well get it over with."

>Chee looks from Rox to you, and then back to Rox

>Everyone looks uncomfortable

>"Your parents aren't, uh, together anymore though, right?"

>"No, no they're not...."

>Rox takes out her phone and just holds it in her paw

>Staring at it like a pet that just died in her grasp

>Her chest billows out with a large inhale, followed by a powerful sigh

>"Anyone got a coin to flip?"

[[CHAPTER 29: Rox Climbing]]

>The good spirits in the living room have all but deflated

>You and Chee sit on the couch in silence as Rox paces around the apartment

>The wolfess' claws tap away at her phone sporadically, making the only noise in the whole room

>Every so often she'll stop and stare off into space, motionless and blank

>Then she'll resume her tapping as though nothing happened

>"Roxie, are you alright?" Chee says worriedly

>Rox snaps out of her trance with a sudden jolt, almost confused to see you and Chee still around

>"Huh? Oh, sure. Just...figuring some things out."

>"About your parents?" Chee says, her mouth behind her wings as if bracing for her words setting the wolfess off

>But Rox just sighs heavily

>If there's any emotional baggage the girl has left, it's probably regarding her folks

>It seemed to be the catalyst that led to her breakdown back up in Whimsey Castle, and as far as you know it's the only issue of hers she hasn't really been able to confront or resolve yet

>Admittedly, you knew deep down that this day would have to come eventually, too

>The anthros may do a good job of keeping themselves hidden from humans, but nothing slips by them when it comes to what goes on in their own domain

>It's a miracle you haven't had to confront Rox's parents yet, but you'll have to do it soon

>And someday, when humans and anthros finally begin to interact with one another, you might have to introduce Rox to your own friends and family

>"Yeah," Rox says. “I have no clue how I'm going to break it to the folks about Anon. As far as they know, I've never actually seen him up close before."

>Rox has been pretty secretive about taking phone calls with her parents, usually excusing herself from your company if she can't avoid it anymore

>"It's not like I'm really that close to them anymore, but if they hear I'm dating a human and the news ISN'T coming from me before someone else...."

>Rox looks at you with concern

>"I don't exactly want to just trash what little connection I have left with them, you know?"

>Chee squirms around in her seat

>"Do they really not like humans that much?" the bird says

>"I mean, no more or less than anyone else," Rox says. “But they're kind of, well...heh, 'old fashioned' I guess. Even after they split they both kept asking if I had found a mate yet, and my mom was way worse of the two. She didn't just say 'boyfriend', she flat out wouldn't settle for me having anything other than another wolf."

>Rox just stares at you, as if wanting to apologize in advance for her parents' prejudices

>But the longer the wolfess looks at you, the less concern she has in her eyes

>Now Rox has that resolute, confident air about her that you've seen ever since she knew you were her perfect mate

>Ever since she knew you had the same feelings for her as she had for you

>After about a minute of tense silence Rox claps her paws together loudly, making Chee jump off the couch

>"...Which is why I'm only giving each of them one fucking chance to accept Anon," Rox says. “And if they don't, we're walking out. I've made a life out here without their help, and I wouldn't take back any part of it. I already have all the family I could want right here."

>Rox stomps forward with a swiftness that makes Chee gasp out in fright

>She grabs you and the bird and pulls everyone together for a group hug

>You're smashed into Chee just as strongly as you are against Rox

>"R-Roxie...urrk, t-too tight!" the bird gasps

>The wolfess just chuckles, maybe a bit oblivious to just how much crushing force she's using on her roommates

>"I love you guys," she says, lifting you both up and swinging you around. “I really do. Same with all the other poor souls who got stuck with us in all this. I love them all!"

>You're more than a little lightheaded when Rox finally decides to put you down

>Chee staggers around the living room, flopping back onto the couch with a moan

>"Heh, my bad, Chee," Rox says, scratching her neck

>The world stops spinning after a few minutes, and the three of you settle back down to enjoy the rest of the night as much as you can

>Unfortunately, the future still hangs heavily in your minds

>"So, when were you thinking of taking Anon to see your parents?" Chee says

>"Sooner rather than later," Rox sighs. “I'd like to get this over and done with before the mascot initiative starts up. I don't need both things stressing me out. I'll talk to Sher and see what we need to take care of. Maybe we'll take the trip next weekend."

>Chee whines sadly

>"I don't think I can get off of work so soon for that," she says. “Can't you wait a little longer, Roxie?"

>Rox takes Chee's wings in her paws, forcing a weak smile

>"Sorry, Chee. I don't want this to turn ugly with my parents, but if it's unavoidable then I sure as hell don't want you to have to be there to watch it. Better get all the drama out of the way first. Like I said before, there'll be other trips. We won't do anything too fun without you, I promise. It wouldn't be the same without you there, anyway."

>Chee nods in understanding and the two girls share another — much gentler — hug

>Now you're feeling a little left out

>Rox is quick to pick up on your rejection

>"Aw, get over here, buddy," she says, beckoning you over

>Being sandwiched between fur and feathers is much cozier when you're not getting the life squeezed out of you

>"Please don't get Anon into any trouble, Roxie," Chee says once the hug breaks

>"Sure thing, mom," Rox groans

>The wolfess is right: this is definitely her family right here in Whimsey World

>And yours as well

>You and Rox drop in on Sherry-K's office the next day during work

>"Never though I'd be coming here so much," Rox mutters humorously. “Pretty soon I'll have been here more times by choice than for reprimands."

>From what you've seen of the wolfess' record, that won't be happening anytime in the near future

>...Uh oh

>Maybe it wasn't a good idea to say that to her

>"You calling me a delinquent?" Rox growls

>Try as you might, you don't have time to dodge the wolfess before she puts you in a headlock

>She runs her teeth over your scalp lightly, pretending to gnaw at your head but making it feel more like awkward kisses

>"I'm a good girl," she says matter-of-factly. “You say so yourself!"

>Well, yeah

>Mostly because she asks you to call her one when you give her belly rubs and ear scratches

>Rox pats the spot on your head she was chewing on, rubbing away the saliva

>Though it takes her a moment to remember to release you as you're dragged into Sherry-K's office

>The tigress knows you were coming, but she still cocks an eyebrow at Rox anyway

>"If you wish to spend time in this office so badly," Sherry-K says, “then might I recommend applying for a coordinator's position?"

>"Only if you swap with me and become a performer," Rox says back. “I think you'd make a really lovable mascot, Sher. I know I'D give you a hug."

>"Hmph. I'll have to keep that in mind. In any case, what was it the two of you wanted to see me about?"

>The joking comes to a stop and Rox puts on a more reserved demeanor

>The wolfess has certainly matured in several ways since you first “met" her; mainly times when she knows she needs to be serious

>"Anon and I want to go into the city on our next day off and see my folks," Rox says. “Since we haven't done this yet, we figured maybe you could help us make sure we're not making any mistakes."

>Sherry-K opens her mouth to say something, but then pauses with her ears folded back

>"I'm...glad to see you're being responsible about this, Roksa," she says. “I truly mean it. A part of me was worried you were going to just rush over there without any sort of warning."

>You kind of thought so, too

>"Something bothering you, Sher?" Rox says

>It's a rare occasion that the tigress puts down her paperwork and addresses you with her paws folded calmly

>"Although we have been given the authority and privilege to accompany Anon outside of Whimsey grounds, I have been explicitly instructed to report to the Whimsey-Aesop Living Treaties when he plans on leaving our direct supervision for the first time."

>"So, what, they're just going to know we're coming?" Rox says

>"It will be...a little more involved than that," the tigress says. “Unfortunately, a representative from W.A.L.T will have to accompany you during admissions, primarily to welcome you as well as preemptively ablate any complications or panic from having a human wander around the city."

>"Oh, great...so we get to have a chaperone? Who's it going to be, then?"

>The tigress looks noticeably uncomfortable

>"Mr. Shearod-K volunteered to oversee your trip."

>Oh boy...

>You look to Rox expecting (though hoping not) to see her on the verge of cracking a joke or a grin, but rather she just looks surprised

>"Wait, your old man?"

>Sherry-K breathes in deeply

>"Roksa, Anon...please understand. We've already been thoroughly cautioned about our delicate role as representatives for the Whimsey Corporation. However, when I ask you to be as careful and as responsible as you can, I'm asking this for personal reasons."

>Her brow softens, and there's a pleading look in her grassy eyes

>"My father was a major driving force in my being hired into the company. My rapid advancement coincided with the budding plans to integrate humans into our societies, and so once Anon discovered our organization I was hastily elevated to where I am currently."

>Sherry-K deflates as she lets out all the air in her lungs with a long sigh

>"Sometimes I DO envy your role as a performer, Roksa. There isn't a moment that goes by where I don't worry about how my actions will impact my family's name. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't resent how nepotism has interfered with how I genuinely wanted to advance by my own merits and prove myself to my peers."

>Rox nods in sympathy

>"Yeah, dealing with family can be kind of a pain sometimes, huh?"

>The wolfess walks up to Sherry-K and offers her arms for a hug

>The tigress makes no objections

>"That's why you gotta make your own family sometimes, Sher," Rox continues, holding the feline in her arms. “We're here for you; all of us are. Won't even force you to clean your room or anything like that."

>"That's something I've been meaning to do as well..." Sherry-K grumbles, giving you a quick glance

>"What was that?"

>"Never mind."

>Rox pats Sherry-K on a the back a few times before motioning you over to the embrace

>"Feels like I've been giving these out a lot lately," Rox chuckles

>"Roksa...."

>"Yeah?"

>"If I could ask one more thing: please don't divulge too much to my father about my personal life."

>"You got it, Sher. I'm no gossip."

>Sherry-K gives you the same pleading look, as if making the same request

>You give her a reassuring nod in return

>The last night of the workweek is spent packing up for the weekend

>You and Rox prepare for a two-day trip to the closest anthro city, Moreau

>There isn't much you need to pack, fortunately

>"I'm sure we can get by without taking a lot of extra stuff," Rox says. “We won't need many clean clothes if we just sleep without anything on."

>She grabs you around the chest and tugs at your shirt, snickering

>Sleeping together in the safety of your apartment is one thing, but there's something a little discomforting about being even deeper in anthro territory where there are a lot more judgmental eyes on you

>And having Chee in the next room over is a lot less stressful than potentially one of Rox's parents

>What you're even going to do for lodging over the weekend, neither of you have decided on yet

>Apparently, Rox's parents know she's introducing them to “the human", and nothing else

>"We'll figure something out," Rox says, though with a tone of uncertainty. “My dad doesn't live in the city, so we're only going to be meeting up with him for a little while. Said he'd be treating us to some food."

>And her mother?

>Rox winces

>"Yeah, she has a place we could maybe stay. We'll see...how things go."

>It's a bit of a restless night, but at least Mama Chee has breakfast going for the two of you by the time you wake up

>You hope Rox's mother is even half as much of a loving caretaker as the bird is

>"Call me if anything bad happens," Chee says in her doting way. “I'll have my phone with me at all times."

>"Aren't you not supposed to have your phone with you while you're working, Ms. Senior Supervisor of Park Operations?" the wolfess says facetiously

>You can tell the moral dilemma really bothers Chee

>"Oohhh, but I'd worry so much about you guys!" she whines

>"Relax, Chee. I'm sure Sher's old man isn't going to ever be too far off in case we get into trouble."

>Chee is nearly running late for work by the time Rox finally convinces her everything will be all right

>You and the wolfess don't have much time to enjoy the silence, however, as you're scheduled to meet with Shearod-K at the Cast Complex station pretty early in the morning

>"Well, you ready?" Rox says as she grabs the luggage

>Getting introduced to a society of anthros when you were flung into it unexpectedly back then suddenly seems much more desirable

>You didn't have time to worry about the future when you didn't know what the hell was even happening in the present

>This is supposed to be a fun outing — sort of — but it also feels like you're going to a court sentence

>You load up your belongings into Rox's car and soon you're off to the Cast Complex

>It feels like ages ago that you were skirting past the monorail station, actually somewhat relieved Rox and Chee were shielding you from plunging into a much bigger world than what you had already stumbled upon

>Now, it's your destination; like a place your anthro parents told you you'd get to see when you got older

>"Gee, do you think we're going to have a hard time finding the guy?" Rox says, her voice thick with sarcasm

>Standing near one of the ticket turnstiles of the station is the suited elder tiger

>Even among some of the larger species of anthros you've seen, the guy is still an impressively intimidating size

>Shearod-K is holding a briefcase in one paw and a sign in the other, like the type you'd see for pickups at the airport

>[ROKSA & ANON]

>Does he not remember you two, or is this his idea of a cute joke?

>At any rate, there definitely wasn't enough humor left in his genes to pass down to his daughter

>The station isn't particularly busy, which makes his act of singling you two out all the more confusing

>The tiger doesn't animate at all until you and Rox are within reach of him

>Then his paw immediately thrusts forward to nearly break your fingers in a mighty handshake

>"Anon. Roksa," he rumbles. “I trust that Ms. Sherry-K had adequately informed you both that I would be the one meeting you today?"

>"Are you usually so all-business?" Rox says bluntly

>Shearod-K delicately taps his necktie

>A very subtle Whimsey logo is printed on it, easy to miss if he hadn't pointed it out

>"Not at all," he replies. “For example, I chose this particular tie to demonstrate my youthful, 'happening' side. I apologize in advance if I appear too casually dressed for the occasion. My daughter gifted this to me for my birthday, and I felt it was only appropriate to wear for this affair."

>Now you're having an even harder time telling if this guy is being serious or just has a very weird sense of humor

>"So, how exactly is this going to work?" Rox says. “You going to be tailing us the whole time?"

>Shearod-K clears his throat and adjusts his tie in a very stereotypically professional way, as though the act of drawing attention to the garment was more than enough to send it into disarray

>"I've been instructed at the behest of the Whimsey-Aesop Living Treaties to accompany the two of you during your arrival to and departure from Moreau. In addition, I am to remain available at any possible opportunity, whether it is to assist either of you or step in should any altercations arise. I implore you to consider allowing me to follow you wherever you should go, but I will gladly remove myself from the vicinity should you request privacy."

>"Good," Rox says, “because Anon and I were planning on having sex this weekend."

>Your heart and stomach fight to see which can vacate your body faster

>Goddammit, Rox

>You're afraid to look at how Shearod-K is going to react, but a morbid curiosity forces you to anyway

>Shockingly, the tiger remains completely stoic for what feels like several agonizing minutes

>Then he blinks once

>And then he gives a single chuckle that's more like a sharp exhale

>"My daughter warned me you were a notorious joker, Roksa. I was quite the ne'er-do-well myself back in the day. Alas, that was another lifetime. My purpose now is to ensure our descendants will always have a world in which they have the peace and freedom to tell a good joke now and then."

>Shearod-K gives his tie one final tug before flourishing a paw toward the turnstiles

>"But, I digress. We have a lengthy ride ahead of us, and I would expect the two of you have been eagerly looking forward to this day, correct?"

>"Yeah, sure," Rox says with a shrug

>Knowing the wolfess, she's already making it her goal to mess with the tiger as much as possible

>"Splendid. Follow me, please."

>The tiger inserts several tickets into the turnstiles and the three of you march through the station toward an awaiting monorail car

>You must still be in the process of getting the color back in your face, because when Rox takes a look at your expression she gives you a wicked smile

>"I mean, if you play your cards right..." she whispers

[[CHAPTER 30: Rox-steady]]

>Things change the moment you pass through the turnstiles

>There aren't many anthros in the station presently, and the ones that are here only give you cursory glances at first as they realize you are just “the human" who snuck his way into the park

>You're betting most anthros know who you are now, so the surprise has worn off for the most part

>But once you pass through the gates, suddenly they see you like a zoo animal that just broke out of its cage

>Many stop and stare with wide eyes and nervous looks

>It's not unlike how you'd imagine a group of humans would react if something like Shearod-K appeared on the streets

>"Good morning," the tiger says cordially to anyone within range. “How are you?"

>He tries to diffuse the situation with cheerful greetings, ignoring the shocked looks of the bystanding anthros

>It might be more effective if he weren't a burly tiger in a suit who just screams “authority figure"

>Some of the anthros might actually be more intimidated by him than they are of you

>And then there's Rox

>The wolfess is like your personal bodyguard, throwing glares right back at anyone whose eyes linger too long on your group

>She even drifts away from you and Shearod-K as if ready to chase down anthros who don't mind their own business

>Off to a great start in this new world

>Eventually the three of you reach the station platform where the underground monorail is loading up passengers

>Rox hovers close to you, shielding you from the other anthros

>"Not that I really want to make this a big deal or anything," she mutters, “but do you think we should have given everyone more of a warning that we were coming? Are they going to start freaking out when they see Anon?"

>Your thoughts exactly

>"I'd wager that most of them already know," Shearod-K says without missing a beat. “We've sent out a newsletter to the people of Moreau informing them Anon would be arriving. To make the situation any more of a spectacle, however, would likely result in more panic and unwanted attention."

>"Yeah, I guess," Rox says. “But, still...it would have been nice to have Mr. Whimsey around to meet us or something. Be kind of a distraction, you know?"

>"D. Whimsey Jr. is a very busy man," Shearod-K says. “I am certain he would have loved to be with us today for the occasion, but this was certainly too short of notice for him to work into his schedule. Regardless, he has familiarized himself with our people for the majority of his life just as his father has. Although Anon's initial reception might be a tense journey, I'm confident he will be openly accepted in due time."

>"Pretty confident about that, huh?" Rox says

>Shearod-K nods thoughtfully

>"Perhaps I am overly optimistic," he says, “but I believe the prevailing attitude within our society is that it's about time to make further contact with the humans, and not hide ourselves from them any longer. There are many out there eager to meet humans like Anon. Those are the ones we will focus on first."

>The tiger gives you what he's probably expecting to be a friendly look, but it comes off as goofy as best and frightening at worst

>"You will be something of a celebrity, no doubt. I would recommend that you enjoy such an honor while you can. There will be many eyes on you from here on out."

>So what else is new?

>The three of you step into an unoccupied monorail car and take a seat

>There's nothing about it different than any of the other Whimsey-owned monorails used to get the guests all around the resort grounds

>Then again, the company is such a stickler for cleanliness that any stray fur would probably be snatched up before anyone could find it, and any claw marks would be swiftly fixed

>You might have ridden in a monorail car at one point used for anthros and never known it

>Rox sits as close to you as she can without being literally on top of you, while Shearod-K takes a seat across from the two of you and pops open his briefcase

>He fishes a pair of bifocals out, as well as a brand new book of crosswords and other puzzles

>"I hope you don't mind me," he says, holding up the book. “I like to keep my mind occupied on extended trips. By all means, feel free to strike up a conversation if you so choose."

>The tiger begins scratching away at the pages as you wait for the monorail to depart

>A few other anthros approach your car, but as soon as they see you through the open doors they slink off to another spot

>Not quite celebrity treatment

>Rox grabs your hand and gives it a squeeze

>You can tell just from her expression what she's probably thinking

>Something along the lines of, “It's better like this, because at least I have you all to myself now."

>The way she coincidentally smiles at you makes it seem like she's reading your thoughts

>And then showing how proud she is that you know her so well

>You've had that sort of mental synchronization with Rox ever since you started working with her, but now it runs deeper than ever

>The wolfess keeps her paw around your hand long after the monorail finally pulls out of the station and begins its underground trip out of the park

>Shearod-K is intensively preoccupied with his puzzles, at least until he hits his first real obstacle

>"Hmm...nine letters, 'Frostbitten yeti'...wish my little girl were here for this...."

>"Slushbutt," Rox blurts out

>"Ah, so it is," the tiger grunts. “Thank you, dear."

>Rox gives you a shameful look

>"Sorry. Must have been channeling Chee there for a second."

>The bird would be proud

>Nobody says anything more as the monorail makes its journey

>There's not much to look at for the longest time, as it's mostly just tunnels and walls outside the windows

>Thanks to Whimsey engineering, it's a very smooth ride

>So smooth that it eventually lulls you into a light nap, spurred on by some of the morning fatigue you still had from getting up so early

>Your eyes slowly open to find everyone right where you left it

>Sort of

>Shearod-K is still nose-deep in his puzzle book, though he has numerous cups of coffee and snack napkins littered on a tray next to him

>He closes the book with a satisfied clap and sets it aside

>"All completed to 100% accuracy."

>The tiger sees your stirring form and looks to his snack tray with a touch of guilt in his eyes

>"I apologize. I should have woken the two of you when the refreshments cart came by. However, it was difficult to keep the attendant from gawking."

>That's when you notice Rox's head resting heavily on your shoulder

>Your hand is still in her paw, and when you move a bit she clenches it tightly

>"Jus...f...minuhh," she mumbles

>"Ms. Roksa, you'll want to rouse yourself as soon as possible," Shearod-K says. “We will be arriving at Moreau station shortly."

>Rox snorts awake fully, her ears twitching against your face while still gripping your hand

>"Yeah, I...alright, I'm up," she yawns

>The wolfess grabs her phone

>Just the act of touching it appears to put energy back into her

>"Is something the matter?" the tiger says, looking at Rox's face

>"Just gotta message the folks," she sighs. “Do we have any kind of schedule we need to follow when we're here?"

>"Not particularly," Shearod-K says. “I was strongly encouraged by the missus not to prepare an itinerary for this visit. You will have me for whatever business you need, but otherwise all decisions will be your own."

>Rox taps away on her phone with her free paw for several minutes

>Buzzes and chimes punctuate the silence as her messages are returned

>She doesn't seem particularly thrilled with any of the responses

>"Going to have to meet my dad for a late lunch, then my mom later in the afternoon," Rox says. “Until then, I guess we're free for whatever."

>Rox looks out the window in deep thought, though there still isn't much to look at yet

>"Not too familiar with Moreau," she says. “My mom moved here after I had already moved out, but we...all three of us...didn't make trips here that often before that. Haven't left Whimsey grounds much since I started working, either. Don't really know what there is to do in town."

>"Splendid!" Shearod-K says, perhaps a little too excitedly for such a somber moment. “I would be more than happy to escort the two of you around town, if you so desire. Business brings me through the city quite often."

>The monorail gradually slows down as it approaches the station

>Now you can see a little more of the outside

>Surprisingly, it still doesn't look all that different than the Whimsey station

>Shearod-K notes your confusion

>"Moreau is one of several communities that continues to maintain strong connections with the Whimsey Corporation," he says as though reciting a spiel for an attraction. “It is one of the first communities to have an established W.A.L.T. presence. You'll find that many of the commodities and much of the city layout has been heavily inspired by the same philosophies Darwin Whimsey Senior used for his theme park."

>Rox scoffs and shakes her head

>"There really isn't any getting away from it, is there?" she says. “Seems like once you've seen Whimsey World, you start to see it everywhere."

>"It is quite the empire," Shearod-K says

>He turns to you for confirmation

>"As important as the company is for us, I'm sure you humans feel its presence just as much?"

>That's putting it mildly

>Whimsey's influence can be downright terrifying at times

>After all, they've been secretly harboring anthropomorphic animal people for years, and you were probably just one slipup away from being 'terminated' from your job on more than one occasion

>But when you separate Whimsey's dream-filled founder from the rest of the multi-billion megacorporation that was spawned from him, it's a lot easier to focus on the nicer aspects of the company

>So an entire city built with the same customer service and attention to detail as the Whimsey theme park itself sounds like an incredible place to live

>At last the monorail comes to a stop, and Shearod-K is quick to collect all of his belongings and trash

>Nobody would ever guess a giant, two-legged tiger was sitting there

>You and Rox grab your luggage and follow the tiger through the station

>"I have a vehicle parked for us outside," the big guy says. “You will be able to stow your personal effects inside the trunk in the meantime while we head out into the city for some leisure. Were you able to secure a place for you and Anon to spend the night, Roksa?"

>"Still working on it..." the wolfess says with a grimace

>"Ah, very well. If there is anything I can do to assist, please do not hesitate to ask."

>There are a lot more anthros on this end of the tracks, which means a lot more wide-eyed staring and gossip

>Not to mention cellphones whipped out to capture footage of the fabled Anon

>"So, how many other humans DO come through here?" Rox says

>"Not too many," Shearod-K says bluntly. “However, there have been enough humans in my time that I imagine the novelty will wear off in some time. No offense to you, of course, Anon. It is merely that you are far from being the first human to come through the city, and so I'm certain the populace will acclimate themselves to you faster than any human who has come before you."

>One can only hope

>Your furry and feathered coworkers have warmed up to you a great deal in the time you've been in the park, though on the other hand they're anthros who already live their lives surrounded by humans more closely than these “city folk" do

>The anthros who live in the park know they're going to be close to humans

>The anthros who live in the cities might be trying to get as far from humans as possible

>Ultimately, you try to reassure yourself that the ones with an actual hatred for you strange, furless creatures aren't likely to be living so close to the theme park anyway

>With that in mind, you make an effort to enjoy being the mysterious celebrity for a little while

>You smile and wave, which causes every possible reaction from nearby anthros

>Everything from fright and embarrassment, to awe and cheers

>Rox reins you in before you can get too big a head about it

>"I don't want to see those eyes linger on any piece of fur for too long," she whispers as she hooks her arm around your shoulder

>You can tell she desperately wants to give you a cautionary, but loving kiss to reinforce her point, but even the wolfess knows now isn't the best time for unrestrained public displays of affection

>Shearod-K leads the group to an indoor parking garage, and pretty soon you're at a pristine beast of an SUV

>"Gee, I pictured you as a 'compact' sort of guy," Rox chides

>If there's any way to get a smirk out of the tiger, it seems to be praising his authority or status

>"Perhaps a driven tour would be ideal to begin with," he muses, rolling the keys around his finger

>If you knew even less about Moreau than what you currently know, you'd assume you just took a ridiculously long ride to another part of the theme park

>The place still feels as though you're within boundaries of Whimsey grounds, which gives the city both a cozy and a claustrophobic feeling

>Tunnels, awnings, and the foliage of giant trees all hang over large swaths of the roads and streets

>It's quite some time before you can get a good look at the unobstructed sky

>"The Whimsey Corporation has been exceedingly careful in preventing commercial airlines from flying over W.A.L.T. communities," Shearod-K says. “However, to ensure the privacy of these people, natural and artificial camouflage is used as an added measure of protection against surveillance and intrusion."

>You can't help but feel a little bad for the anthros

>Not only are they still effectively hiding from humans, but this has probably always been the way their lives have been lived

>Does that make it easier or harder to cope with?

>All in all, Moreau is a very beautiful city

>Gardens all over the place, and not a single building looks as though it needs a new coat of paint

>Shearod-K goes over the statistics and trivia of Moreau while he drives you around

>Thankfully, the tinted windows take the edge off a little bit

>Rox seems like she's listening half as much as you are yourself

>Her eyes dart around from one side of the streets to the other, taking in the sights on her own terms

>You put your hand on her lap for comfort, and she turns to you with a warm smile

>When she's completely certain that Shearod-K is obliviously lost in his monologue, the wolfess sneaks a quick kiss on your cheek

>"To tide you over," she mouths, winking

>Without even knowing it, that was something you sorely needed

>Whether on the clock or off it, you never had to go for very long without getting some sort of affection from Rox

>Now you're almost pining for the times when Sherry-K threatening you with a reprimand for “workplace dating" was the worst that could happen

>Why couldn't you have just stayed awake on that monorail ride so that you could spend every moment lucid and aware of the wolf girl by your side?

>Wherever you decide to crash for the night, you really hope you can get some alone time with Rox

>"Hey," the wolfess says

>You and Shearod-K both respond in unison

>Sounds like she was talking to the tiger, though

>"Didn't think to stop and pick something up for the folks beforehand," Rox says. “Like, you know, gifts or whatever."

>Her ears droop a bit

>"I...eh heh...kind of missed a few holidays here and there. Might make it easier to break the news to them that Anon and I are...roommates."

>She taps on the glass and points out to the streets of Moreau

>"Any good places we can do some shopping before I have to meet my old man?"

>"Absolutely," the tiger responds

>He immediately changes his trajectory, and soon you're heading to Moreau's downtown area

>"Lovely shops all over the central plaza," he continues. “I believe many of them are partnered with Whimsey as well, so you both may be able to benefit from employee discounts."

>"Yeah, great," Rox says sarcastically

>Knowing Rox, she's not happy to be so continuously shackled to Whimsey's perks and offerings, but she also doesn't have the kind of spare money to be frivolously wasting away anymore

>She's definitely been a little more frugal ever since the triple dinner date

>The SUV rolls into a parking lot near the end of a strip mall

>Stores round the circumference of a large pond, where the sun shines spectacularly on the surface through a clearing in the treetops

>Anthro species of all sorts are milling about outside

>It might be in poor taste to think, but you feel as though you're on safari with the natural wildlife so close outside of the safety of the vehicle

>It's enough to make you jump a bit when the engine shuts off and the doors unlock with loud clicks

>"Well then!" Shearod-K booms. “Are you both ready to introduce yourselves to some of Moreau's finest citizens?"

>"Eh," Rox says in her typical joking way

>She can't completely hide the anxiety in her voice, though

>Neither can you