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Warm Up | 21 - Scales

"Let's talk about something more lighthearted for now." Tuck suggested.

They were in a milkshake parlor where inorganic ingredients made up the organic-seeming menu items they had. Stylized from an era called 'the 50s', Tuck and Arthur sat together on a red-cushioned bench closer to the windows that had an 'Open' neon sign, buzzing about. This was deliberate given their last few encounters. Phones were in their pockets, and Arthur's even had his on 'Deep Travel' mode.

Arthur, combing down his stressed tuft of hair, let out a loud exhale before taking a sip of Dan's drink, a huckleberry milkshake. The lion only drank a quarter and refused to finish it, not finding satisfaction in its contents. But what was so unappetizing of pink goop with chunks of berries and meat? "What was your interview like?" He wondered, knowing the lion had gone through it himself. Their limited experience had told them that Dan came here at a juvenile age because his parents were decent-enough chefs. They had a fallout of sorts but details on that were still too private.

Dan processed the question for a while, wondering how best to phrase it. He glanced at Arthur who took another sip of such an abhorrent drink, seeing that the deer king had a more intriguing backstory. And an even more intimate one too. His collar felt hot for a moment, having wished his interview even had a chance of going that way. This thought process helped in explaining, "Basic I guess? It's like applying for university- they ask you for your background, where you're from, and if you're royalty." That got Arthur to consider it too, but the lion continued, "There's more to it but it's run of the mill stuff. Plus, I kinda saw a guy I liked that came after me."

Tuck wide-eyed leaned forward, hands smacked down onto the table that gave them a quick side-eye from the owner, "I want details!" His jackal tail wagged side to side. The shock from the others died down, realizing it was basic gossiping.

Though Arthur tugged on his shirt, whispering to him to settle down. Tuck did, and assumed the position of an interviewer. "Alright, Daniel, what can you tell me about your future partner?" One hand resting on the table, another pinching his chin in thought.

Dan certainly felt the repetition of an interview, and like the one he had years before, his memories returned with sudden clarity. "The guy I saw," he recalled his species and his size. "Was this big dragon. Forgot what it was but it's the kind that can walk on suns. Dense scales, handsome face, and a huge body to hug." Those last two details could've been exaggerations.

Tuck glanced at Arthur who had been finishing the drink. Dan looked at him too.

Once Arthur had set the glass down, "Okay, just because I crave knowledge from beyond Inylsen does not make me an encyclopedia of the Universe." But he did know, "What you're describing, however," he turned to Dan, "Is a Daerchus Dragon; often big-bodied, rough scales, and high heat absorption. Most of them are raised to be astronomers because they're one of the few species to specialize in sun analysis. Maybe check your astronomy class then, or enroll in one."

While Arthur raised his hand to order another drink, Dan considered his options. Maybe he could enroll in another class, which got his tail wagging then. A sunwalker? Would that be a good way to refer to them? Still, it was cool that he had met someone who could walk on suns. There was an exiled king in front of him but he couldn't walk on suns.

"I know that look," Tuck giggled. "I'm pretty sure Arthur here can help you with astronomy, isn't that right, deery?"

"I mean I could? I'm still learning though." Arthur tapped his fingers on the table, also mulling over the decision. "Pfffft," he had a dumb idea, "What if we could become classmates?"

Dan raised a brow, "As long as you aren't a delta human, you could enroll for free."

"And you still haven't gotten the fact that you're a citizen of Earth now, hun," Tuck chimed in. "You get a lot more benefits than you realize."

"So it doesn't matter if I'm an exiled king?" Arthur received another tall glass of pink goop and started sipping.

"Mhm," Dan looked away from him and towards the window. Passersby strolling around on an artificially warm Saturday afternoon. "Just focus on a course and they'll provide you a syllabus of which classes you have to take. Sometimes in an order."

"Oh," Tuck reminded, "Before I forget. The only paid ones here are the universities on the surface, Sub-Level 2, and on Luna."

"Karsma Uni is free but it's at Sub-Level 4." Dan said. "But they pay for your commute."

"When do I enroll?" Arthur pulled out his phone and searched it up.

"This semester ends before artificial summer starts. So in a few weeks." Dan pulled his phone out and looked up the enrollment process too.

Tuck snorted, "Can't believe you're going all this way to help Dan get shagged." He nudged Arthur.

Both the lion and deer stammered and choked, the former blushing immensely while the latter nudged him back. Arthur said, "I'm doing this to better learn about the Universe. Given the Great Flash a few months ago."

Dan sat there trying to diminish his presence for now, though his white fluff made it hard. He imagined the dragon having such a massive schlong, and being pounded in his dorm room. Something nudged him down there and he'd rather not make a mess like his newfound friends did last month.

"Who knows, maybe a Derk dragon could be beneficial for your mercenary group." Tuck leaned against his neck.

Arthur tapped his cheek against his jackal's forehead, "Daerchius, hun. And Dan hasn't even met him, I'm not going to bring that conversation up."

Dan humored, "And I'm not exactly supportive of you sending my future partner, any future partner, to their deaths."

Arthur swiped his head towards the jackal upon hearing those words, worry in his eyes as he reached out to hold his hand. "He makes a good point," he said softly. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," Tuck pecked his cheek, nuzzling it after. "We'll only send single people to die for you instead." They both turned to the perplexed lion.

"You're not actually going to send me to your death, right?" The lion chuckled, tapping his foot.

"No," Arthur said. "You've mentioned me in a dream and that's quite a deal, y'know."

"And I'm not there, right?" Tuck interjected.

"No, you weren't. Myself, your boyfriend, two other guys, and him." Kerrigan crossed their minds but saying his name would have resulted in another subtle crackdown.

"Enough about that," Tuck waved the air in front of both of them. "What do you guys think of Earth so far? Besides the, y'know."

"I love it so much," Arthur sighed out. "I have so much information at my disposal without anyone giving me the side-eye." "Or telling me to lay a doe."

"And you're the one who prefers getting laid."

"You're not doing it right now, are you?" Dan raised a brow.

"It was one-" Arthur hissed.

"Three," Dan pointed out. "Three times."

"Five, actually." Tuck added. "That's all, I swear." "Would you do that to your dragon when you get the chance? Help him out in class or with his 'homework'?"

Dan chuckled, "I'm not into that. I'd rather not get into more trouble."

"Risk is fun but I get your point." Tuck grinned, his turn to raise a brow at the lion. "Wanna join us later tonight?"

"For what exactly?" He hoped it wouldn't be for explicit acts. He didn't feel comfortable but for the fact that he wanted them to see it. His feet were crossed, trying to suppress an erection.

"Arty and I will fuck around in the park?" Tuck said straightforwardly.

"I thought you wanted it in an alleyway," Arthur half-whispered, glanced around if anyone caught wind. "We did not agree on that."

"That's boring though," Tuck patted his lap, the deer hadn't said no yet, or if at all.

"You agreed to the alleyway, y'know."

"I did," Arthur bowed his head in embarrassment.

"I'm not hearing a no from you though," Dan persisted, nudging the deer who was already hard then.

Arthur only nodded and rested himself against Tuck's shoulder, exhaling hot submissive air.

"That's my good boy," he kissed his forehead.

"Alright, for that, I'll come along."

"Fiiiiiiiine," Arthur wagged his fluffy hind-tuft.

"Deery, would you mind if Dan, perhaps, joined us?"

"I already agreed to watching, but I'm not exactly fond of joining." Though out of curiosity he asked, "Do I have to wear anything specific?"

"Anything or nothing, up to you," Tuck giggled, but he switched to a sterned look at Dan. "In all seriousness though, if you're not comfortable with it, you don't have to come, okay? Just teasing and all."

"Well, you're good at it." He turned to Arthur, "I can see why you love him so much."

"One among plenty more noteworthy things," he snuggled closer to the jackal, turning to him. "I love you."

"You too deer-y." And Tuck turned to Dan. "No pressure, alright? And I hope you do get to meet this Daerchius dragon." Emphasized it for Arthur. "But if it doesn't work out, there's always more dragons out there, alright?"

"You're right." "And, heck, may not even be a dragon." The lion daydreamed, perhaps could be another lion, or even a rhino. Maybe it could even be the other two in his dream.

"That's the spirit." He smiled.

"Just remember to communicate a lot," Arthur said. "I know his little surprise may seem like a disagreement but I gave him permission if it's within reason."

"And he's my lovely exhibitionist."

"I see," Dan chuckled as he realized something. "Are you going to do that in your homeworld too?"

"No!" Arthur retorted but he was flustered instead of angry. Both of them knew it had crossed his mind. And Tuck for certain figured it had crossed several times. He blushed twice as pink, hiding his head under Tuck's jacket, whispering, "I certainly have not."