Happiest Place on Fur (Chapter 1-10)
[Greentext] Anon has a job with the biggest exporter of dreams-come-true on the planet, but never in his wildest fantasies would he imagine finding anthros underneath the costumes.
Artwork courtesy of Blokfort
[[CHAPTER 1: Between a Rox and a Hard Place]]
>Whimsey World
>Quickly approaching the #1 all-inclusive vacation destination
>It's becoming so popular that seasonal workers in the resorts and theme parks are in high demand
>That's where an Anon like you comes in
>You've been hired as a seasonal employee for the first half of the year
>Specifically, you're one of the mascot “handlers"
>It's your job to make sure the employees in the costumes don't get harassed by all the demon children and their short-tempered parents
>It's not as physically intensive as you'd expect, but it's highly draining on your mental fortitude
>Poor Rox has it worse, being the one in the costume
>Most days you're partnered with her, and the two of you have become like war buddies at this point
>You've fought it all: Holidays, hurricanes, vomit, Brazilian tour groups...
>Truthfully, you're not sure where the tour groups are from most of the time
>But like Rox says, “There's always a 'Brazilian' of them."
>In a short amount of time you've learned practically all of her jokes and quirks
>You pretty much need to know her inside and out in order to protect her from threats before they happen
>She ends up patting you on the back or the head far more often than she does the guests as a show of gratitude
>She's gotta stay in character, after all, which means she can't speak much when outside
>When she does speak, it's a rough sort of female voice
>The kind you'd imagine coming from a snarky tomboy
>Except you've honestly never actually seen her face before
>Mascots come out to meet their handlers fully dressed, and exit to their own “backstage" rooms
>You have to admit there's a certain thrill behind not knowing what your partner looks like, but your curiosity still beats out leaving it a mystery
>All you know is she's gotta be a taller girl, since costumes are assigned based on wearer height and build rather than preference or sex
>Like tonight she's “Whirly Barf", a large beagle with his food-covered tongue constantly whipping all over the place
>Every time she turns she makes sure to slap you in the face with the tongue
>It's a riot for the guests, not so much you
>But you're a good sport about it
>She's the closest friend you have here, even if you only know her as an enigma inside a character suit
>It tears you up a bit inside to know your season is ending in a few weeks
>Unless by some miracle you get an extension or a permanent position
>You resolve to make the most of what time you have left with Rox, though
>The park is open extra late for select visitors this evening, but there's hardly any turnout for a variety of reasons
>The two of you are just about to call it a day when Rox leans in close
>"Hey, Anon. I really, really, REALLY need a drink tonight. You up?"
>Is tonight the big one?
>Are you finally going to get to see the girl under the mask?
>You're definitely not going to miss this opportunity
>"Great. Let's hit the locker room first."
>...Wait, together?
>"I won't tell if you won't," she whispers, as though anyone else is going to hear her through that clumsy mask. “I'm not putting up with Costuming's shit tonight. Just gonna peel it off and toss it in the bin."
>You're going to get to see Rox's face AND her body?
>This is going to be a summer for the books
>Underneath Whimsey Park is a small city of tunnels for the employees to travel through
>Dodge the crowds, take your lunch break, get your outfit and your attitude ready...
>Everything's segregated by attraction and job role, so you never get to see where all the mascots prepare themselves
>It's equal parts exciting and worrisome
>You don't have nearly the right kind of clearance to be here on your own, but Rox has your back
>Especially as you approach the women's locker rooms
>She ducks in to check if the coast's clear, then beckons you inside
>You're fine waiting for her, but she's not having any of it
>"I need someone to keep me from chucking this thing at the next person who walks in," she says, thumping her mask, “So, do you want to be an accessory to murder, or are you coming in?"
>You may know all her jokes, but you also know when she ISN'T joking
>She points you to the discreet clasp on her neck and you unbuckle her
>Here it is, the moment of truth
>You flip through the last-minute theories of what kind of girl she could be
>What ethnicity?
>What color eyes?
>What species?
>...
>What
>...
>A...wolf!?
>When the dog mask comes off, there's still a canine underneath
>Dark gray fur with a lighter underbelly, brown splotches on her face and muzzle, luminescent gold eyes
>A literal wolf
>A wolfess, to be precise
>And just like that, she continues stripping off the Whirly Barf
>She doesn't look like she was expecting you to react at all
>She's already half undressed by the time you blink again, and soon the whole costume is on the floor
>Rox is just in a creamy bra and panties at this point
>Her body is toned, though her womanly curves still manage to show even through all the muscle and fur
>Her pelt is matted from the costume and cooling packs, making it look like she was somehow sweating
>"God...damn am I a mess. No time to shower. Gotta meet the others."
>There are others?
>The wolfess throws on a tight t-shirt and bounces into some jeans, tail swishing around like it's trying not to be contained
>She ruffles her disheveled fur to make it even wilder, and then collects her costume pieces
>"Ready? Let's go."
>But...
>Wolves...
>She's already out the door, and you're sure as hell not going to stick around to be found in the girl's lockers all alone
>Although you stop to wonder if there ARE other animals working here...
>"ANON! Get the lead out!"
>She takes you to a set of locked doors and flashes a keycard at them
>Now you're even deeper into territory where you don't belong
>Rox literally tosses her costume into a passing bin and you're pulled outside
>It's the employee parking, but in a part of the park you didn't even realize existed
>"Right over here, I'll drive."
>Well, it's a human car: a beat up, nondescript sedan
>You're coaxed into the passenger seat, and the wolfess flops into the driver side
>You're never given any chance to initiate one of your dozen burning questions as she speeds off to the outskirts of the resort
>The whole place is a city in of itself, but everything outside of it flourishes with Whimsey World's secondhand tourism
>And yet even the employees want to stay close to the park grounds, considering it has pretty much any amenity anyone could ask for
>Rox just keeps casually talking about the day as though nothing is out of the ordinary
>"Holy shit were those autograph lines bad today. 'Least I got to write over that stuck-up bitch's sickening little princess penmanship by 'accident'. By the way, thanks for pulling those triplets off me. I'll let you use my discount if you want to get some better lunch tomorrow instead of that vending machine crap."
>You can only make grunts and quick one-word responses with how quickly she carries over to the next subject
>If you didn't know any better (and you obviously don't, given how oblivious you've been to all this), you'd say she's trying to stall you
>But she's still the Rox you thought you knew, right?
>She may have her odd moments, but you don't think she would consciously try to do you harm
>Right?
>Soon you're parking around the back of a pretty popular bar, with the entrance gates of Whimsey World not too far off in the distance
>The Booze Cruise
>There's not much alcohol in the resort, so you have to escape for a while to get drunk
>It's a place you've hung out with your coworkers many times, but never your truest partner
>So it's always humans, and never an anthropomorphic wolf girl
>It's at this time that the wolfess finally acknowledges the situation
>"Alright, keep close to me and don't say anything yet. I have a bet to win."
>Once again, you're traveling through the hidden part of a building you thought you knew pretty well
>Up the stairs you go, and soon you're gazing at a window overlooking the regular bar level below
>You're up in a section that's divided from the rest of the place by a one-way mirror
>You always assumed it was just a regular mirror when you've looked up from the other side
>Not something to protect all these animal people from the “regular" human patrons
>Yes, there are many more animals
>And now they're all looking at you
>"Roxie!?" a female oriole at the closest table gasps
>Rox wraps an arm around your shoulder and steers you up to the bird
>"Anon, this is my roommate, Chee. Chee, this—“
>"What are you DOING?" The bird screams. “A human!?"
>"Inside voices, Chee. What I'm DOING is winning a bet. Brought him here without a single scream, broken bone, or witness. Where's my fucking drink?"
>"That was a JOKE, Roxie! You did this for a free DRINK?"
>The onlookers are just as speechless as you are
>Mammals, birds, a few reptiles...
>Anything you can think of
>Rox ignores them all
>She struts up to the counter where a panda bartender has his jaw wide open
>"Two of the usual, Cookie. I'm guessing Chee has a tab open, yeah?"
>"ROKSA!"
>Ohh, this won't be good
>A tigress wearing what you know all too well as the pinstripe uniform of a park coordinator approaches
>Unbuttoned, but still a symbol of authority
>"Off the clock but not off their high horse", as the saying goes regarding coordinators
>[Sherry-K], the immaculate name badge reads
>"Hey, Sher," Rox replies with a sip of her drink
>The roam on the tip of her black snout looks kind of cute
>"Nobody needs to say anything before trying to do something stupid, I guess!" the tigress sputters.
>You can almost visualize a clipboard in her paws if she were at her job like the rest of the coordinators
>Though it's even more intimidating when it's an apex predator
>“I hope what you're doing is clearly not your idea of a two-week's notice!" the tigress continues
>"Nope, just taking some initiative," the wolfess shrugs. “I overheard the whole, 'Let's consider mixing human workers with anthros and test the waters' plan after the last company meeting, and I figured I'd do a trial run myself. Anon seems to be holding up quite well, huh?"
>She gives you a strong slap on the back, sending a splatter of alcohol near the tigress' feet
>Rox may be the closest friend you have in the theme park
>But your job AND all these other “anthros" against her little stunt?
>Someone's definitely not leaving this bar alive
>Unfortunately, that seems to be Rox's idea, albeit in ultimatum form
>"So, now he knows. Can't change that at this point. We can either get a head start on that 'coexisting' thing, or you're going to have to get rid of the poor guy."
>"Don't give me that choice," Sherry-K seethes with a venomous grin. “You know full well which one I'd go with."
>If Whimsey World can hide an entire organization of anthros in their park, you're sure they could make a single human disappear if they needed to
>"Well I already won one bet tonight, so I'm feeling lucky," the wolfess says cooly
>The two anthro ladies are up in each other's face
>The symmetrical docking of their furry breasts would be arousing if you weren't fearing for your life
>"If management finds out and doesn't like it, I'LL take the blame," Rox says. “But, if you convince them to go with it, I'll let YOU take the credit for the idea. Deal?"
>Sherry-K furrows her brow
>"I'm not taking your ridiculous bet, Roksa."
>"It's not a bet if you have nothing to lose," Rox counters
>The tigress growls
>The wolfess just slams her hand on the counter
>"How about a drink to loosen up? Chee's buying."
>There's tension in the bar, but enough alcohol will ease just about anything
>You already know almost half of the patrons here, considering you've been their mascot handler one time or another
>Some are genuinely relieved you know their “secret", while others are more apprehensive
>Only Sherry-K seems to have major resentment, but it's more at Rox's expense than yours
>However, even being (mostly) innocent in this isn't much of an excuse
>Wolf and tiger have some heated talks just outside of your earshot
>"Yours", because it's not hard to believe the rest of the anthros here are fully aware of what's being said
>The feline coordinator eventually confronts you
>"Until we have this all sorted out, we're going to have to keep you under OUR team's watch. That means staying within park grounds, and I'm going to have to make sure you're ALWAYS with one of us at all times."
>There's that clipboard authority again, but also the tone of someone sick of shenanigans on a more personal level
>"I can't trust Roksa one freaking minute it seems, but at least Chee is responsible enough to stay with."
>Chee has a pitiful “Why me?" look on her face
>You kind of feel bad for her
>The two of you have been roped into something so suddenly, but you have a greater chance of ruining her life than vice versa
>"Responsible AND a fine DD," Rox laughs. “Ready to go?"
>The bird sighs and grabs her keys
>You, her, and the wolfess all pile into Chee's car, with you in the back seat
>"You know I'll make this up to you, right?" Rox says to her roommate as they buckle in, punching her lightly on he shoulder
>"Yeah, I know, but...."
>The bird's feathers waver nervously over the steering wheel
>"Can you promise to at least keep it down when you...you know, go to bed?"
>Even in the rear-view mirror you can see the wolfess' eyes go wide
>"W-what? Me and...? Chee!"
>Yup, a summer for the books
[[CHAPTER 2: Pile of Rox]]
>Within the boundaries of Whimsey World is employee housing
>It's a cheap place to board temps and seasonal workers, like you
>But hidden away from the bright, cheerful roads and sky-scraping hotels is the anthro housing
>Obviously constructed to keep them out of trouble as much as possible
>You're starting to realize why Rox would never accept your offer to come over when you worked up the courage to ask her
>At first you thought she was making up excuses and putting on a fake tone of disappointment just to get out of it
>But now it seems like she genuinely felt bad not being able to tell you sooner
>So now all bets are off, and in a few short hours you've been dragged into something far larger than either of you
>Chee steers her car into a shadowy part of the parking lot outside of the anthro housing
>Pretty much just like regular apartments from the outside
>Probably to throw off anyone who might be sneaking around or flying overhead
>The bird sighs as she takes her keys out
>"I guess now I'm going to have to drive you back to the bar for YOUR car, too."
>"It's not going anywhere," Rox says, waving her off
>"Then how are you getting to work tomorrow?"
>The wolfess frowns, then grins sheepishly
>"You're something else," Chee says
>The two girls keep you concealed between them as you head up to their place
>There's the muffled sound of music coming from the adjacent apartments, and a few have cheesy doormats outside
>It's all very similar to how humans would treat apartments, and it would never make you think anthros were living here until one of them would open their door
>The same goes for the inside of the girls' place
>Everything is decorated just like you'd expect from a pair of bachelorettes
>Not that you'd know from experience
>The furniture is pretty cheap and mismatched, and it looks like their entire budget for luxuries went to nice TVs and music systems
>And a LOT of Whimsey World memorabilia
>Chee picks up on your observation
>"It's all from employee discounts, heh..." she mumbles
>"Don't apologize," Rox says, clapping her on the shoulder. “I mean, I'D never be caught dead with any of that stuff after spending every day in the parks, but you do you."
>The oriole rubs her arm in shame
>"Besides, it's kind of cute how innocent you still are," the wolfess continues.
>She leans in close to you and winks
>"You should have seen her when we met for the first time. Boy, did I have a lot of work cut out for me trying to corrupt her even to where she is now."
>"R-Roxie!" Chee cries
>"Geeze, Chee. I thought 'ruffled feathers' was just a joke."
>The bird stamps the ground and fans the air in anger
>"Roxie, this is NOT a joke! You almost got Anon in trouble, you almost got ME in trouble, and you almost got yourself fired!"
>The wolfess opens her mouth to retort, but she's buffeted by the oriole's frantic wing smacks
>"You've gone too far this time! You're so reckless and inconsiderate! I've learned to put up with you, but you were extremely irresponsible to Anon tonight!"
>Rox's ears fold back
>She mutters something under her breath and scratches her neck
>Chee puffs her chest out, and the wolfess sulks into her room with her tail between her legs
>You've only known Chee for a little while, but you're kind of proud of her
>You were afraid she was the kind of sweet girl who always let her friend walk all over her
>She turns to you with little dewdrops in her eyes
>"Oh...you don't think that was too much, do you? I think that was a bit harsh...."
>That poor, naive girl
>Chee grabs a stack of blankets and an extra pillow from her room
>You catch a brief glimpse of it before she returns
>It looks even more furnished with Whimsey toys and souvenirs than the rest of the apartment
>"Until we get this all sorted out, I'm going to follow what Sherry-K says. You can use our couch for a few nights if you need to."
>Chee spreads the blankets out neatly and tucks the edges under the cushions
>Whistling all the while
>Rox finally comes out of her room with her own wad of crumpled blankets
>"Oh, I was gonna'...alright, guess I won't need these."
>Chee folds her wings and taps the floor with a claw
>Waiting
>The wolfess exhales deeply
>"Look, I wouldn't have done it if it were anyone else but him. Anon and I have been through a lot of shit together, and I just thought...you know...he could handle it."
>Chee's tapping becomes faster
>"That sounds like you're blaming someone else, Roxie," the bird says
>Rox looks as though she was whipped in the head with a rolled-up newspaper
>"No, no. I'm...sorry, both of you."
>Chee clicks her tongue
>"That may be the best apology you're going to get for a while, Anon," the bird says
>With the initial shock and fear subsided, it's a little easier to process the whole thing
>Rox IS still your brother-in-arms (or sister, rather) through the season, and it won't do either one of you good to abandon the other
>You might still be able to say you know her better than anyone else does, given how closely you've gotten in the workplace
>Bonding together often without a single word between the two of you
>You probably should be more upset with her than you are, but the whole thing feels like a dream
>There are animal people working alongside you
>They've been there this whole time
>And some of them are admittedly pretty attractive...
>You wouldn't be able to stay mad with Rox forever
>Even Chee looks like she wants everyone to make up rather than go to bed angry
>Though “go to bed" makes you think back to the car ride
>Rox looked pretty flustered about it
>With these anthros surrounded by so many humans day after day, do some of them ever get interested in something that isn't even their same species?
>No, Rox is just a friend; a pretty cool one, even before you knew she's a wolf
>And now, maybe she's a little cooler because of it
>Chee lets out an exaggerated yawn that sounds like she's singing
>"Well, we've all had a long day, and I'm sure tomorrow's going to be...interesting. Goodnight everyone."
>"'Night, Chee."
>You wish the bird a goodnight yourself, seconds before a mass of blankets is dumped on top of you
>"You looked like you could use a few more," Rox laughs.
>You stumble onto the couch completely smothered in sheets
>"Now you know how I feel most days," she says. “S'why I usually sleep in the buff."
>You stop squirming under the covers
>It's suddenly gotten much hotter underneath them
>You can sense Rox looming over you
>Her muzzle pressing ever so gently into the blankets close to your face
>"You should see the adorable little Whimsey pajamas Chee wears to bed."
>"ROXIE!" the bird cries from her room
>"G'night Chee!"
>The wolfess pads off, and you're left to sweat underneath the covers
>You always go to work with at least a little bit of optimism, but you're outright dreading today
>Chee drops you off near a “backstage" barrier where some of the mascot performers exit into the park through
>One-way exit, for good reasons
>"Didn't hear anything from Ms. Scowls and Stripes yet," Rox says before the two girls drive off. “So you might as well pretend none of this happened for now."
>You're worried some sort of secret furry police force is going to snipe you the moment you turn a corner
>You slip out onto the park grounds and make your way to the nearest employee backdoor
>Everyone in Whimsey World goes about their visit completely unaware of the creatures who dance and sign autographs amongst them
>You almost envy them
>Almost
>You could probably make a break for it if you truly wanted to, but that would mean missing out on a world of anthros
>It would also mean damning Rox to whatever punishment the others might inflict on her
>And would she miss you?
>Your thoughts are interrupted when a door swings open to block your path
>A hidden door within the hidden tunnels of the backstage?
>You take a peek, and a massive leathery arm sweeps you inside
>It's a hippo; a coordinator as well
>His pinstripe shirt barely closes over his massive body
>He doesn't say a word as he bumps you repeatedly down the hallway, until you have the wisdom to move on your own
>The walls of the underground tunnels are lined with familiar safety notices and park schedules, but all of them are designed with anthros in the images rather than humans
>You end up outside an office after minutes of being guided through the park's underbelly
>The hippo pushes you one final time before shutting you inside the office
>Now you're all alone
>With Sherry-K
>The tigress is much more intimidating with her shirt neatly buttoned and a clipboard in paw, making scores in the wood with her black nails
>She's standing there, just staring at you
>As though waiting for you to misstep so she has a reason to discipline you
>You can't deny there's a certain regal air to her presence
>Her body is naturally large for being the kind of feline she is, but it's accentuated in her womanly frame
>Not that she would be the type to flaunt herself if it meant debasing her authority
>She wouldn't even need the hippo if she had to fight you; you'd be dead from a single swipe if she wanted it
>Any defense you had against her piercing eyes, colored like water-starved grass, is deconstructed as she stares at you
>"I think we have a plan for you, Anon," Sherry-K rumbles
>You'd rather take your chances with the hippo
>"Your employment at Whimsey World was just about over. I don't mean premature termination, either. Unfortunately. Now, you're being offered tenure here."
>She slinks forward on the tips of her toes
>Ever step looks like she's preparing to pounce
>"You aren't being FORCED to work here, per se, but those with more concern for your safety would strongly urge you to remain with us."
>The tigress is towering before you now
>You can see the wood shavings peel off the clipboard
>"I suppose this means you friend Roksa got what she wanted. I'm assigning you to her as a dedicated mascot handler so I can keep an eye on BOTH of you at the same time. However...."
>One of her claws punches through the clipboard
>"DON'T look at this as leniency, or some kind of reward. I may be one of the head coordinators of 'our' branch of the company, but I'm not the one with the final say on matters like this. You can bet if I had my way, we wouldn't be having this chat right now."
>She flicks through several of her papers
>"Still, Roksa may have a point. We were considering integrating humans and anthros in our parks, and eventually easing OUR society into yours. If anyone is capable of such a feat, it would be the D. Whimsey Corporation. And so, you're going to be our case study. You should enjoy this opportunity, but remember: you'll be acting on behalf of ALL humans. Don't ruin this for them."
>It's going to be a little difficult to enjoy yourself with that kind of responsibility
>"Now, regarding the housing situation: you will of course have to be relocated from the seasonal employee site to one of our own. I've already spoken to Roksa and Chee on this matter, and they have agreed to board you. Since it's meant for only two occupants, the three of you will have to sort things out yourselves."
>You feel a little guilty for Chee, since she was probably not as enthused about the sudden change in her lifestyle as Rox was
>Then again, she didn't seem all that bothered to make a bed for you on their couch
>Maybe it's a bird thing? Instinctual nesting habits?
>That might be a bit too presumptuous...
>Before you know it, the tigress is leaning over you with a snapped clipboard half in each paw
>"Any reprimands given to you in this park, regardless of the source or reason, will be reported back to me. Whimsey World is a place of imagination, and I suggest you use it if you want to know what will happen to you if you step out of line.
>You can see yourself in her eyes, cut in two by the narrow slits of her pupils
>"Do we have an understanding?"
>You nod
>Your head barely comes back up before the hippo is upon you, bouncing you out the door and into the regular “human" hallways
>When you step out onto the colorful park streets, you can see Rox in her Whirly Barf costume once again
>The wolfess gives you an eager wave
>She may have gotten off easier than you did
[[CHAPTER 3: On the Rox]]
>Whimsey World has a reputation for creating happiness
>For the park guests, that's a given
>After all, you don't get to be voted the top vacation destination on the planet just because your toilets are a little cleaner than most
>But even the employees are treated nicely from time to time when seasonal hours aren't chiseling away at their souls
>Surprising them with birthday wishes or frequent “just because" awards
>The entire company's philosophy is built around making every day a magical experience in some way, shape, or form
>No matter who they are, what they do, or how much money they spend
>Except for Anon
>Anon can go to hell
>For the last few months, the most recognition you've gotten was a few guests leaning in to read your nametag or asking you to hold the camera
>Now you have every pair of eyes you can't see watching you
>Are they in the gardens?
>Can they see you from the trashcans?
>Why is that boy staring at you so intently?
>Who is he working for?
>How far could you run if you just took off?
>You almost black out when a large, fuzzy pair of arms tightly wraps around you
>It's just Rox
>She's been a lot more playful in her mascot performances than ever before
>Guess nobody told her how serious this is supposed to be
>Then again, maybe this is her way of trying to ease the tension?
>She dances around more than usual, hands out more high-fives, and pantomimes her mascot's personality with more life
>You have to check that it's still her in the suit every so often, just to be sure
>"You gotta lighten up, dude," she whispers. “They're going to be on your ass even more if it looks like you're not giving it your all."
>It's easier said than done; it's not HER future on the line
>It's going to be next to impossible to let your guard down in this kind of environment
>Or at least so you think at first
>When you can get past the paranoia you find yourself actually enjoying the park, even as an employee
>It's like Rox said, they'll have no reason to fire you (or worse) if you play along
>So you join in on the festivities
>You react to her antics with more emotion
>You act out scenes with her
>You're even asked to be included in a few pictures with her by the guests
>All that energy has a limit, though, and soon Rox is signaling to you for a break
>"I need...I need to cool down a bit, she wheezes"
>You're a little worried for her
>She's normally pretty resilient to heat, but it's getting bad for her today
>Honestly, you're surprised at how well she does with essentially two layers of fur
>You're not going to object to a little breather, though
>Dotted across the park are various “chill rooms"
>Small escapes for employees to take a break without having to delve into the tunnels below
>They're inconspicuously built into the theming of the park, so they're out of sight but never out of reach
>Out here in “Jungle Venture" the nearest chill room is inside of a grass hut
>It's like a freezer inside
>You help Rox take off her mask
>She's panting heavily, her fur slick with the moisture of the cooling packs
>"Man, I don't know what came over me," she says between labored breaths. “Guess I gave a little TOO much of my all, h-ha ha."
>You still can't quite get over the sight in front of you
>Rox, your closest comrade in this wild theme park, is a wolfess
>Never would you have thought something like her could actually exist
>And yet, when you close your eyes she sounds just the same as the girl you've always known
>She thumps you on the back
>"Hey...don't go dying on me!"
>You're going to try not to
>"Man, I'm boiling. I guess you could call me a...."
>No, Rox
>"Caaall meee aaa...."
>Don't do it
>"Hhhhhh...."
>Her brow flashes up and down rapidly as she elbows you in the ribs
>You can't give her the satisfaction
>She's told the joke at least a hundred times
>Sometimes it has moments where it becomes funny again through repetition
>But something hits you, and it's not just the wolfess' playful slaps
>You always assumed she was referring to the costume as the “hot dog" and not the literal canine inside
>"Aww, no fun," she pouts when she knows you aren't going to relent, settling for rubbing you in the face with her enormous mitts
>Those costume paws can't be easy to work with
>Rox doesn't seem to think so either
>"Anon, I, uh, want to ask you a favor."
>She sounds pained
>"I'm really, really itchy. Do you mind scratching me a bit?"
>You can hear the subtle whine in the inflection of her voice
>She really means it?
>There's a bit of hesitation in you
>Just as much from touching a girl as there is touching a wolf
>But there's only so long you can continue being surprised by this new life of yours
>You're friends with a wolfess now
>You were ALWAYS friends with a wolfess
>She needs your help, and it isn't exactly asking for much
>Even in the icebox the two of you are relaxing in, Rox melts from the moment you touch the fur of her neck
>She slumps over with her eyes closed, and as you work your fingers into her coat she lets out a throaty moan
>"Ooo-o-oh yeaaahhh...."
>She sticks her tongue out through her teeth
>She's a comparatively big girl, but the way she twists and leans into your massage makes her seem like she's a fraction of her size
>Whether it's intuition or maybe even a little desire on your part, you work your way up her neck toward the back of her head
>And then up to the sweet spot behind her ears
>Rox inhales sharply, then deflates with a pleased sigh
>"You're amazing, Anon. Ohh, you've got magic fingers, that's for sure."
>A shiver wracks her whole body, and not from the cold
>Had you been in her position, the last thing you'd want from a day being around sweaty, loud humans is to be touched by one
>You're not Rox, and she's not even like most girls
>She doesn't just enjoy your contact; she relishes it
>The wolfess collects herself, looking much more rejuvenated now
>She pats you on the head, like a good boy
>"Thanks, bud. I think that should last me until lunch."
>She puts the mask back on and helps you to your feet
>"Speaking of which, do you know what we should get?"
>You shake your he—
>No!
>“A HOT DOG!"
>The two of you perform outside for a little while longer before heading underground for lunch
>She needs to drop off her costume first but fortunately doesn't pull you into the locker room this time
>While you're still half in uniform, she's in some pretty casual clothes as you make your way to the food
>It's definitely not the direction you'd normally be going
>Rox keeps you close as you pass several other anthros in the halls
>Their reactions are more on the side of bewilderment and curiosity than surprise or fear
>Obviously most of them were briefed about the human joining their branch of the company, if they hadn't already seen you at The Booze Cruise last night
>Their cafeteria is almost the same as what you're used to, only with more fur and feathers
>You gravitate toward the vending machine boxed meals, but the wolfess yanks you into a line with her
>"Ah-ah, what did I tell you? You can use my discount, remember? Wait, screw it; lunch is on me. And that's just for yesterday. Still gotta scratch YOUR back for today."
>Rarely do you indulge in the actual cooked food in the cafeteria
>It's not cheap, much like the rest of Whimsey World
>Being a seasonal employee, you don't even get good discounts on anything
>Rox, however, gets some pretty sweet perks for how rough her role can be
>You load up a tray, too preoccupied with everything else that's happened to dwell too long on what exactly “food" is to anthros
>The panda, Cookie, is behind the serving counter today
>Guess bartending is his nightly gig
>The wolfess nudges you over to a vacant table
>Off on the other side of the cafeteria is Chee, sitting with a few other birds and a couple of furs
>There's still room at her table for the both of you
>"She's my roommate," Rox says. “We're not joined at the hip. I'm sure she's more than happy to get a break from me now and then."
>Chee's table looks packed compared to yours
>Even after sitting down for a few minutes, it's just the two of you
>Are the rest of the anthros just that afraid of you?
>"Yeah, they're probably a little skittish, but...."
>Rox grimaces
>"I usually end up eating by myself anyway. The others get a little sick of my shit, ya know? I don't think even Killjoy-K eats alone, and I'm sure she has to threaten the other coordinators just to get them at her table."
>Half of Rox's lunch goes uneaten
>You can't deny the wolfess has a personality that could be grating to some people
>You haven't been one of those people
>She's the first true friend you've made in Whimsey World
>"You know, I'm glad you didn't just run off when I showed you what I am. You've already done a ton for me for just hanging around and being a cool guy."
>It's not a side you've seen from Rox yet, and you're not sure you like it yet
>There's something to be said for having a friend you can always trust to be in high spirits
>Fortunately, she has one of her own to help her rebound
>Chee comes over with a bubbly smile on her beak
>"Hey, Roxie! Hey, Anon!"
>The friends she left at her own table watch in awe
>"S'up, Chee. Hey, can I get you anything? I want to make it up to you for last night and everything."
>The oriole just waves her off
>"We're roommates, Roxie. We help each other. You don't have to do anything for me in return."
>"Yeah, well, at least let me give you some gas money for driving Anon and me here before you go. I'll probably be hanging around late tonight, so I'll see you later."
>Chee blinks
>"But, I was your ride here, and....?"
>Chee looks to you
>You're already thinking a step ahead of her
>After all, your car's still out there
>Though a lot has changed since you were “abducted"
>Would they even let you back to it now, with all that extra surveillance on you?
>Before you can say anything, Rox cuts you off
>"Don't worry. I'm catching a bus back. Hell, I'll probably just walk home. It's not that far."
>The bird looks from you back to her roommate, then back to you
>It's the look of someone who needs reinforcement
>"Roxie, let Anon take you home!" she blurts out
>"Chee, please. Don't force that on him."
>You tell her you were planning on offering regardless
>Rox opens her mouth to decline, but she's thrown off by Chee's tickling feather flaps
>"Don't say anymore! Anon offered! You should go with him!"
>The wolfess looks to you for affirmation
>Of course you'll take her
>Again, provided you aren't going to be followed by shady, unmarked cars the whole way back
>"Great!" Chee sings. “And you're welcome to come to Cast Night, as always!"
>She hops back to her table, her friends eager to ask about you
>Cast Night?
>Rox perks up a bit
>"Yeah, you know how every week the park closes a little earlier?"
>Right, for maintenance?
>The wolfess laughs a toothy laugh, back to her usual self
>"Of course that's what they'd say to you! No, one night a week 'our' employees are allowed to enjoy the place like we were guests. Well, it's technically alternating weeks, since some of us still need to run the place."
>She flicks her snout, putting on a cool demeanor
>"Never really did that sort of thing. You get tired of the place sometimes, ya know? Chee's always trying to drag me out, but...."
>The wolfess drums her nails on the tabletop
>You get the feeling her paw is inching closer
>"Maybe I'll give it a go this time, if you're coming along. How about it?"
>You already get access to the park for free on your off days, and it's almost always in the company of your coworkers
>But a night with your favorite one?
>AND a whole park of anthros?
>How could you miss it?
>Rox slams her paw down, startling those at the nearby tables
>"HA! Ha, I mean, great! I'm sure you'll make Chee pretty happy. She's always been the type to gush over the humans."
>The bird must be able to hone in on embarrassing conversations about her, because she looks back to your table ready to scream out at Rox at a moment's notice
>That poor girl
>"Well, look," Rox continues. “Can I at least pay YOU some gas money? I'm already racking up the debt with you, bud. I don't want to have to start doing something I might regret."
>Saying that is one of them, apparently
>Her hackles rise at the slip
>"Ahh, forget I said anything. Ready to get back out there?"
[[CHAPTER 4: Rox Around the Clock]]
>The rest of your shift goes without a hitch
>Mostly
>Rox dances and moves around with her usual zeal, but she seems to take frequent pauses
>Fidgeting when she does
>"It's the heat. TEMPERATURE, I mean! It's just really getting to me today. Must be the shitty cooling packs...."
>Something's up with her, at any rate
>All the while you've thought she was human, she's never been like this before
>She's particularly grateful to end the shift today
>Though she said something to Chee about staying late
>As the two of you walk down the anthro employee halls, Rox clutches her mascot mask tightly to her chest
>"It was a lie, alright? I just didn't want her to feel obligated to take me back home. I've been acting like a real ass to her."
>Now that you can see Rox for who she really is, you notice she's the type who wears her emotions on her sleeves
>Her ears fold back, and she knocks her forehead against the Whirly Barf mask
>"You heard her, right? 'We're roommates. We help each other.' Meanwhile, I try to get AWAY from her because we're roommates. I don't know, maybe I feel like I'm trying to push her away because I feel guilty, you know?"
>Chee doesn't seem like the kind of girl who would ever hold a lasting grudge, or deliberately guilt someone
>She's much too nice for that; you could say TOO nice
>If Rox did “corrupt" her a bit, it was probably for the best
>So in the end, the wolfess and the bird compliment each other
>"Thanks again for driving me back," Rox says. “Hey, we should grab a drink if we're going to be swinging by the bar for my car, yeah?"
>After a day like today, it might be nice to unwind a bit
>You can feel yourself sweat
>And not from the heat
>Your car is parked in the “human" lot
>There's no way they're going to let you out that way, let alone with a wolfess
>And Sherry-K is waiting right around the corner for you to reach that realization
>"Anon, if I may have a word with you in my office," the tigress says
>Rox looks ready to lash out, but she can't act on it
>Undoubtedly she's on a bit of a leash as well
>"You can wait out here," Sherry-K says curtly to the wolfess
>The office door clacks shut, and the two of you are alone
>You wonder how much sound can carry through the walls as the tigress opens a large filing cabinet
>It's filled with fresh clipboards
>The company must have a budget for supplies for her to break if needed
>"First of all, good job today," she says
>A genuine compliment?
>That can't last long
>"I've had several observers keep tabs on the two of you, and apart from a suspiciously prolonged break in one of the chill rooms you both seemed to carry yourselves professionally."
>So she knows you and Rox had a moment in there
>Or at least that something COULD have happened
>"Contrary to what you might think with all this extra...surveillance on you, the D. Whimsey Corporation respects the boundaries of its employees. However...."
>The gently swishing of the tigress' tail during her speech goes still
>"I would encourage you to refrain from any workplace dating here on the park grounds. The happiness of the GUESTS comes first and foremost."
>You try your best to act as though this is common sense
>"Very well. Now then, I wanted to talk to you about your parking situation, as I'm sure you already have some concerns."
>That you do
>"The current plan is to let you use your vehicle as you see fit when outside of the park grounds. However, you must carpool with either Roksa or Chee in order to enter our specific employee parking. We've moved your vehicle over to our lot just for today. Understood?"
>Now the guilt sets in
>You don't want to be a burden on either of them any more than you have been already
>"This may only be temporary, depending on how well you comply. If neither Roksa nor Chee are available, someone will come by to pick you up. Do you have any questions?"
>Nope
>"Good. You may leave, though I hope it goes without saying I'd like you to keep these meetings of ours confidential."
>Of course she would
>But as long as you don't turn around and blab to anyone, you should be fine
>Rox backs away from the door hurriedly as you exit
>You can tell she wants to know what happened, but it's too soon to say anything
>When you get back to your car, Rox isn't so impatient about it anymore
>"Let's just wait until we get to the bar. I'm sure it'll be good for a laugh."
>The wolfess has to duck a bit to fit into the passenger seat
>Her toned legs lean up against the dashboard
>"Not a bad ride," she shrugs. “Not a lot of room, though, but it's not like you were planning on shoving someone like me in, right?"
>You turn on some music as you drive off to the bar
>Avoiding the “Whimsey Channel" that broadcasts park music 24/7 to any radio in the area
>"A bit more room in the backseats for us, at least," Rox continues
>It takes you a moment to think about what she might be implying
>It takes her only a moment more to think about what you might be thinking
>"Ack! I mean 'us' as in 'our' kind! Not...not like US two!"
>Rox clamps her muzzle shut with her paws
>After a minute of silence, she turns the dial up louder
>Back at the Booze Cruise
>Less than 24 hours ago you were here on display for a bar's worth of shocked anthros
>Not to say they are much less surprised to see you this time, but it at least doesn't cause the uproar the first time did
>You see some familiar faces, but none of them belonging to any tigers
>Thankfully
>"You caught Ms. Prissy Pelt in a rare bar sighting," Rox snickers. “She must have had quite a shitty day to show her face around here. Probably gave out an all-time low for reprimands or something."
>"Well this feels familiar!" you hear Chee say
>She hops over to you and Rox, giving the wolfess a squinted look
>"At least you didn't drag any OTHER humans in here, but didn't you say you were working late tonight?"
>You've already picked up on some of Rox's subtle tells for when she's not giving the exact truth
>"Ah, I thought I did. Got out on time, I guess. Sherry-K wanted to see Anon pretty soon after our shift anyway."
>Chee blinks at you
>"What did she want with you?" she says
>"I'd like to hear that, too," Rox adds
>The three of you grab drinks and find a table
>Cookie doesn't seem to be on “bar time" just yet; there's a burly looking badger woman behind the counter for now
>After settling in, you tell the girls of you meeting with the tigress
>And checking around you all the while, just in case
>"'Workplace dating?'" Rox scoffs. “That's a laugh. Probably isn't getting any herself so she has to ruin everyone else's fun."
>"Maybe she actually has a bit of a crush on Anon?" Cheer offers
>Rox slaps the table in hysterics
>"Oh, Chee, Chee, Chee...you're so adorable."
>"W-what?" Chee sputters, agitated
>"If you think she's got a taste for Anon, you're a bit in the dark," Rox says, pulling the oriole into her arm. “She's more into munching the carpet."
>Chee just blinks
>"She's playing for the other team, Chee."
>"I-I don't...."
>Oh, that poor, sheltered girl
>"She's a LESBIAN, Chee!" Rox hisses
>"Roxie! That's a terrible thing to assume!"
>"C'mon, Chee. Are you really that surprised? Look where we work! Hell, Anon can vouch for me about the ratio of the parade dancers; especially the guys!"
>No comment from you
>And Chee's not convinced
>"Do you know for sure?"
>"Well...no. But when you've spent so much time getting written up in her office you start picking up certain things about how she acts. It's a hunch."
>Chee turns up her beak
>"Hmph. Well, just don't go spreading any rumors, or you'll REALLY be in trouble."
>"Thanks, mom."
>Now you need to spring the news on them about carpooling
>You're not so sure they're going to want to house you AND drive you every day to wo—
>"Of course we'll help you!" The bird chirps
>"Yeah, we got your back, dude," Rox adds.
>She pulls you into her other arm, so the three of you are bunched up together
>“It's like Chee said: 'We're roommates'."
>Welp, that wasn't so bad
>"Buuut you have to come to Cast Night!" Chee says, wagging her feathers at you
>She turns to the wolfess
>"You too, Roxie!"
>"Yeah, fine."
>It's getting late when the three of you get back to the apartment
>"I, erm, gotta take a call. I'll be in my room," Rox mutters
>She locks herself in, and Chee sighs with amusement
>"She always does this. Who makes a call this late?"
>She leans in and whispers behind a wing
>"I think she just doesn't want me to see her working out. I'm always hearing grunting and panting coming from her room when she does this. We have an exercise room downstairs, after all."
>Working out?
>She has to be playing you; nobody can be as naive as Chee
>She heads to her own room in her sweet obliviousness, leaving you alone on the couch
>Rox's muffled noises can be heard for a while
>It's only slightly quieter than the whispers of curiosity in your ear
>Now it's slightly quieter than the heartbeat in your ear as you creep up to her room
>You ease yourself against the door and listen
>There's little to be left to imagination
>You hear the grunting, the gasping, the groaning of bedsprings
>"A-ah...a-ah...a-ah...."
>Whatever's going on, she has a good rhythm going
>You start to feel a little shame for what you're doing, until something catches your attention
>Her strained huffs become structured words, and you listen intently like a parent experiencing the first speech of their child
>"A-ah...Ahhhnnn...Onnn...."
>No way
>There aren't any other Anons she works with, are there?
>Of course not
>So is it really so surprising she'd be calling YOUR name?
>Maybe that's a little presumptuous
>Well you don't have much time to dwell on those thoughts before you realize all the noise has stopped
>You glide back over to the couch and throw yourself onto it as nonchalantly as you can
>Only a minute passes, but it feels as though you barely made it in time
>Rox steps out in sweat shorts and a tank top
>Her knees are very softly shaking
>You manage to catch the unmistakable bumps showing through her shirt right before she covers her chest
>You don't know if she caught you looking, but it seems as though she wasn't expecting you to be sitting right outside
>"Just gotta...drink of water," she mumbles
>You keep your eyes focused on the floor
>Then the reflections in the window
>Rox takes large gulps of water and refills her glass repeatedly
>All the while her tail shakes worse than her legs did
>That's when you notice she must be wearing shorts not meant for tails like she normally has
>They're sliding down the back past the base, showing off the top half of her furry, dark gray rump
>A lazy paw drifts down to scratch an itch on her hip, and that's when she notices the wardrobe malfunction
>She slams the glass down with enough force that you're amazed nothing chipped off
>The sound is enough to drop your gaze again
>You keep looking down as Rox quickly pads back to her room
>"Goodnight everyone!" Chee calls out
>You and Rox fumble your responses
[[CHAPTER 5: Rox Bottom]]
>Another day, another shift with the eyes of every anthro on you
>Rox drives you to work today, though her outgoing personality is more subdued
>There's no way she knows about the eavesdropping last night, right?
>You think maybe it would have been better if the two of you worked different shifts for the afternoon, but shortly after you started working at Whimsey World you never worked a day without Rox
>Almost as if she changed her schedule to work around yours
>But that's crazy...right?
>"Hey, Anon?"
>You tense up
>Silence
>"Ah, forget it. I'll tell you later."
>That only puts you more on edge from the anticipation
>And you're already on edge because of how close Rox is cutting it on the way to work
>She's not known for being exceptionally punctual
>Well, maybe today will be all right
>Forcing a smile all day might somehow relieve the stress
>Though first you have to have another check-in with Sherry-K
>Now you're downright paranoid
>Does SHE know something?
>You have no idea what might be getting back to her, like Rox's outburst about the tigress' sexuality
>Fortunately, she just wants a quick word with you
>"Please try to be on time for the future," she says, marking up her clipboard with pen and nail
>She gives you stony look with those sun-bleached, grassy eyes
>"Now then, I'm sure you've been caught up to speed about company Cast Nights, correct? Since you've arrived with Roksa today, I'll ALLOW you to join her rotation. Starting next week, however, you'll be expected to learn park operations so you may give your fellow employees their turn for leisure."
>Sounds easy enough
>As a seasonal worker you've only ever been trained as a mascot, but learning how to run the rides could be interesting
>...Wait, so do anthros ever run the rides during the daytime?
>"Run the rides, cook the food, and even handle customer service calls. There's a lot more to this company than the average guest realizes, Anon. The D. Whimsey Corporation's best kept secrets stay secrets for a reason."
>You can see her pearly whites as her lip curls up into a scowl
>"Even park accidents are smothered to prevent bad publicity. You wouldn't want to be one of those accidents, would you?"
>Nope, this day isn't going to be any less stressful
>The morning, noon, and afternoon goes by with caution
>Caution for you because of your little chat with the tigress
>Caution for Rox because she's trying not to overexert herself like yesterday
>When you think about the evening and Cast Night, the clock goes by even slower
>You're actually looking forward to it
>Despite working in the park nearly every day of the week, you often find yourself spending your days off here
>But never have you gotten to spend the time with Rox
>Nor have you seen the park through the eyes of its undercover anthros
>Night comes, and the employees go through the familiar routines of park closure
>Clean up trash, turn off lights, corral guests back to the front gates...
>You go through the motions as well, letting Rox have a few last-minute interactions with some kids who aren't quite ready to end their magical vacation
>When it comes to the time you'd normally be heading home, you and Rox change into more casual clothes
>Again, in separate locker rooms
>She's in the same jeans and t-shirt you're honestly surprised you remember
>After all, you were focusing all your attention on the wolfess who stepped out of a Whimsey World costume
>"Alright, you ready?"
>She holds out a paw
>You try to take it
>She psyches you out and instead wraps her arm around your shoulders
>"Your call, I guess. Not really into the rides all that much, but I'll go wherever you want."
>Now you have the pressure of trying to get Rox to have a good time
>"We should probably stop and say 'hi' to Chee at some point."
>Oh, that's right
>Chee's on the opposite Cast Night rotation, so she's running the rides on days when Rox would be in the park
>Though it sounds like the wolfess never comes to these anyway
>The lights are only half on as the two of you walk around, likely to keep outside suspicion to a minimum
>Most of these anthros can probably see in darker environments anyway
>One big change is all the food set up on tables outside of the usual restaurants and stalls
>It's going to go to waste at the end of the day, so these animal employees get free grub
>"Really wish this place served beer..." Rox grumbles
>That's what The Booze Cruise is for
>It'd explain why it's such a popular spot for Whimsey workers
>True to her word, Rox goes where you do
>You hit up a few of your favorite rides, with no wait
>There's an anthro running solo at almost all of them
>The park is such a well-oiled machine it hardly even needs its skeleton crew to operate
>Which is a shame, because you really wanted to see some more of the anthros in their relaxed state without half of them just pushing buttons
>At least you get to see the panda Cookie squeeze himself into the spinning teacups in glee
>Some of Chee's friends are skipping around as well, leading you and Rox toward the bird's post
>Among the girls are a gull named Petch and a vixen named Mionra
>Both keep checking over their shoulders and giggling at the sight of you
>You're worried Rox might be a little territorial about you, but she's completely unfazed by the girls
>She just snickers herself and pulls you in snugly
>"Don't worry, I'm not jealous. They're...well, Chee would be angry if I said anything again."
>The wolfess winks
>Of course Chee would be running “Little Happy Planet"
>A mind-numbingly saccharine boat ride with vibrant colors and ear-grating music
>She's clapping her wings as the two of you approach
>"Glad you came out for once!" the oriole squeals to Rox
>"Yeah, yeah. Just stopping by to say hello," the wolfess replies
>Chee looks bothered
>"What? No, you guys gotta go and take a ride! You're already here and everything."
>"Chee..."
>Whether she means to or not, Chee certainly gets what she wants through her sweetness
>"Alright, fine," Rox groans. “Just make sure you stall everyone else so they don't see us going through."
>Chee is bouncing up and down with joy
>Rox looks around the roped queue
>"Uh, you going to let us through, or...?"
>"Nuh-uh, you have to go through the line like everyone else!"
>Rox looks ready to leap over the ropes, but you're there to reel her in
>Roommates, after all...
>"We can't go into the boats anyway, Chee. There are two docks."
>The bird blinks
>"I don't...what?"
>"Look, two docks. It's impossible, Chee. It's a pair-a-docks."
>Goddammit, Rox...
>Chee is left puzzled as the two of you zigzag through the queue
>You step into a pastel boat and the torture begins
>You haven't even gotten out of the station fully and you're already regretting the ride
>{~La la la, sun and joy!~}
>{~Ho ho ho, girls and boys~}
>Please, make it stop
>Please, make it stop
>Please
>You have to literally yank Rox back in by the tail to keep her from escaping
>She's pulling at clumps of fur in frustration
>"How can this get any worse?"
>Now she's done it
>Here comes the karma
>Halfway through the ride everything slows to a halt
>How does a motorless boat even break down?
>Luckily, even the music cuts out
>"CHEE!" Rox screams
>Just an echo responds
>Now you wouldn't blame her for trying to escape
>But even though it's the perfect opportunity, Rox just sits quietly
>You're reminded of how tall she is compared to you
>Though she looks vulnerable with her head hung low
>"Anon, I wanted...I wanted to apologize. For real this time."
>She wasn't exactly having the time of her life tonight, but now she looks downright upset
>Her dark gray fur camouflages her in the dim light, but those gold eyes brighten up the boat
>"Chee was right, I really could have fucked everything up big time. I kind of did. You're stuck here for who knows how long, all because of me. Now you're forced to work here, forced to room with us. You could have gotten really hurt, or...."
>Her ears fold so far back they almost touch behind her head
>"I didn't want you to leave, Anon! You're the coolest guy I know, and honestly one of the few friends I actually have. Every minute I had to dance next to you and couldn't let you know what I am...it just ate away at me."
>She's starting to get choked up
>"I knew your season was just about over, and I thought, you know, maybe I could at least show you something special before...before we split for good. I didn't know what would happen, and I didn't care...."
>You reach out for the wolfess, but she scoots away
>"I was only thinking about myself and my own wants, and now you're caught up in everything, too. I didn't want this. I just wanted you to be happy. I'm sorry, Anon. I really, really am."
>Rox lets out a staggered sigh, followed by a wet snort
>As if powered by her apology, the boat begins to float forward again
>"And I'll understand if you never forgive me for it. I sure as hell wouldn't if I were in your shoes."
>She leans over the side of the boat, splashing the water fruitlessly
>You're worried she might try something rash and drown herself
>You put your hands on her shoulders and haul her back in
>She's sincere about how sorry she is, there's no denying it
>And there's no sense in living in the past
>Time to show her there's no hard feelings
>You move your hands to her neck and start scratching
>"Hey...what're you..."
>*scritch scritch scritch*
>Your fingers work into her fur deeply
>"I don't deserve this, Anon. Stop...don't..."
>Her head droops even farther, leaving her open for ear scratches
>"Don't...stop..."
>*scritch scritch scritch*
>"Oh...don't stop..."
>Rox's tongue flops out as you dig into her sweet spot
>She sways like a pendulum for a while, until she leans too far in and collapses onto your lap with a heavy weight
>Now your fingers are dancing up and down her back
>Making frequent stops back at her ears
>"Hnnnggg," she grunts
>You've dismantled the wolfess, and now she's putty in your hands
>Every new motion brings a different reaction out of her
>Once you realize the ride has been continuing for a while now, you've completely drowned out the annoying music with the sounds of Rox's moans and sighs
>The attention gets too much for her
>She pushes herself off your lap, only to grab your face tightly
>Her muzzle mashes against your lips
>Her own lips engulf your whole mouth, licking your cheeks before her tongue enters to try and find yours
>You continue your gentle scratching as the two of you share the vigorous kiss
>*CLICK*
>You can see a flash of light even through your closed eyelids
>The two of you separate immediately, looking around for the source
>"Shhhit," Rox whispers. “Forgot about the photo op."
>There isn't much left of the ride at this point, and you and the wolfess sit like obedient schoolchildren
>The boat eventually comes to rest at the station, and you amble out toward the gift shop
>Everything's shut down or covered over
>Except for the photo counter
>"Welcome back!" Chee sings. “Would you like the 5x7s, the 8x10, or maybe even the poster size?"
>Up on the monitor are you and Rox swapping spit, in vivid color and crisp quality
>"If you don't want to pay, you can always...charge it to your room."
>There's an impish smile on the bird's face
>You knew it
>She's been just acting innocent this whole time
>"CHEE! If you don't take that down NOW I'm taking back pin collection I gave you!"
>"W-what!? No, Roxie, please!"
>Never mind
>You can hardly wait to see what kind of battleground the apartment is going to be like tonight
[[CHAPTER 6: Get your Rox Off]]
>By the time you and Rox leave “Little Happy Planet", Cast Night is basically over
>Both of you look a little relieved
>Chee does as well, though that might just be because she wants to get home and protect her Whimsey pin collection from Rox's wrath
>You and the wolfess are dead silent on the drive back
>She isn't even trying to mask the tension with music
>The wolfess sharply inhales every few seconds
>Preparing a speech
>You steel yourself with every draw of her breath
>"So..." Rox says at last. “THAT happened. I, uh, hope it was good for you, too."
>It actually kind of was, but more than just because of the arousal
>Rox finally got that apology off her chest, which she's clearly been dreading
>On top of that, she's shown she has stronger feelings for you than you ever expected
>Rox may have been a little brash in flinging you into all this, but it must have been hard to keep those emotions under a stifling costume for months
>You helped her pull through
>And you got a pretty saucy kiss out of it
>So all in all, pretty good night
>Rox reinforces your sentiments
>"It's been a little heavy for me, Anon, especially these past few days. All that stress, all that secrecy...it wears on a girl, you know? God, those scratches...that pushed me over the edge."
>She shivers from the memory, her fur fluffing up a bit
> Is that all it took?
>Good to know, you tell her
>"I'm gonna be honest with you, Anon," she responds with a weak laugh. “I don't think that's enough for me. I'd hoped we could make a good pair ever since I met you, and I really hope we can get a little, uh, 'closer'. But...I won't push things again. I made that mistake once, and until you're ready I'll try to get by with just the scratches."
>So, how far do your feelings for Rox go?
>A few days ago you couldn't even entertain the thought of anthros existing, let alone one that has deep dealings for you
>Now there's one who's essentially saying she wants to get in your pants someday
>You can't say that happens much to you
>Especially with a girl who looks so...soft
>You don't want to rush into things and potentially destroy what you have with her so far
>But maybe in the near future you can help her with “working out" her needs
>Rox winces when you joke about this
>"So, you heard about that, huh? Figures."
>Was Chee really being sincere when she said that's what it was?
>Or does she have a secret mischievous streak?
>After all, it's no coincidence the ride just shut down like that when the two of you were in the perfect place to be stuck alone
>>"Pfft, nah. I know Chee, and she's a naïve chick at heart. I probably know more about a bird's anatomy than she does."
>Rox slaps herself on the muzzle
>"NOT that I have firsthand experience. I meant through the kind of sites she probably never goes to."
>You can almost here her gulp
>"I'm not making things better am I? Don't worry, I don't even really..."
>She laughs sheepishly
>"I don't even really like WOVLES all that much either. Ever since I started working at the park, all I can think about is humans."
>Are any of the other anthros like that? How many?
>"Who knows. There's a limit to how much I pry into others' lives, trust me. Wouldn't be surprised at the number of 'human hunters', though. I bet a lot of them come here specifically to be around you guys."
>Anthros must obviously live outside of Whimsey World then if they don't all work here
>Rox cycles through a whole assortment of emotions within the span of a few seconds
>Excitement, then disappointment, then anger, then shame
>She ends it all with a sigh
>"Now there's something I REALLY want to show you, but it could blow up in our faces ten times worse than what happened so far if we're not careful."
>She drums her digits on the steering wheel
>You've been sitting in the parking lot of the apartment for a few minutes now
>"I'll work on that, but it's going to be rough. Gonna need 'special permission' for this one."
>From Sherry-K?
>Rox shakes her head
>"She's going to be the first step, sadly, but we'll need to talk to the higher-ups eventually."
>The wolfess stares off into the night
>"Including the big man himself."
>You're mystified by her vagueness, but then it hits you
>There's only one man you're sure ANYONE would be more than a little nervous to approach
>Rox nods
>"D. Whimsey Jr."
>Ho boy...
>"One of the only other humans who knows we exist."
>When the two of you stop sitting in the parking lot like a couple of creepers you find Chee already back at the apartment
>She runs out from her room, with her pin collection presumably safeguarded
>"Well?" she says, looking you and Rox over. “Didja' have a good time?"
>"I think you know the answer to that, Chee," Rox says
>The bird doesn't know how to take that
>"But...it was fun, right? You had a good time, right?"
>You shrug your shoulders in agreement
>Rox blows a puff of air sharply
>"Yeah, I guess we did. Well, apart from the little cupid trying to make things complicated."
>Chee pouts
>"But you two looked so cute together! Look!"
>She whips out several photos of “that moment"
>"Chee..." Rox groans
>She thumbs through the pictures
>They're all pretty nice quality
>"Hang on. Chee, where's the rest?"
>The oriole just blinks
>"What do you mean?"
>"These are 5x8s. They come in sets of two. I'm only seeing three right here."
>The wolfess' eyes narrow
>"Chee...where is it?"
>"I, uh...nnugghh...it's in my locker!"
>Chee WAS one of the only employees who ran Cast Night still in her uniform
>It'd make sense she went to her locker afterward
>"I hope you're right, Chee," Rox warns. “I can handle a little flak if one of our own found it, but if you left it out in the open for a human to find we're going to be in deep shit."
>"I didn't, Roxie! I swear I have it in my locker! I'll bring it back tomorrow!"
>The bird looks on the verge of tears
>"Don't...c'mon, Chee. It's all right. Just, please get rid of it before something else happens to it, okay?"
>Chee nods furiously
>The three of you get ready for bed
>Despite the tension, it's mutual that nobody wants to go to sleep angry
>Chee's off in her room singing
>Whimsey songs, of course
>Rox keeps looking from her own room to your couch
>You can see the gears turning in her eyes, but they're gears that also turn her ears down
>"Maybe we should just take things slow."
>She's talking to herself more than you, and doesn't sound happy with herself
>It's really HER limitation not to move things along faster, but it might be better to be the voice of reason here
>Then again, such a spunky girl like Rox would probably be an animal in bed
>Yikes, it's a good thing she didn't hear that groaner of a joke...
>Rox chews on her lips
>She leans in closely
>You can see yourself in her golden eyes
>Her muzzle opens ever so slightly
>And she whispers to you
>"We should wait until a night when..."
>The wolfess points to Chee's room
>Right, waiting
>Sure
>You can do that
>Your synchronized schedules means you and Rox have the weekend together
>Chee's working, but she'll be free tomorrow to join in
>You almost expect Rox to jump you the moment her roommate leaves for the day
>But she holds off, true to her word
>Still, she can't help herself from taking a quick, discreet sniff of your couch-bed as she reclines on it
>"Until I get things squared away with management, our options are kind of limited."
>That's true
>On a day like today you'd normally be either in the parks for free or running errands
>Now you're living like the anthros do, except maybe even more restricted on where you can go until she gets that “permission"
>She must see a little bit of disappointment or guilt on your face
>"Hey, I didn't mean it like that. Don't ever feel bad about all this. This is MY fault, so just let me set things right."
>She stretches her limbs, showing her full, tall length
>"Welp, no big deal. It's been a while since I've hung around the place all day. Could be a little relaxing."
>You both mill about the apartment for a while doing mundane time wasters
>Tidying up, checking phones, staring at the walls
>When lunch rolls around it's ramen on the menu
>The meal of choice for bachelors and bachelorettes alike
>The pantry is stocked full of the stuff
>Is it speciesist to think it's mostly for Chee?
>"Actually it's mine," Rox grumbles. “She's a little more responsible with her money. If we didn't have our rent automatically taken out of our paychecks I'd probably need her to bail me out of that, too."
>Maybe you could take Rox out for a nice meal?
>Oh, wait...
>Never mind
>You feel bad for the restless wolfess
>You tell her if she wanted to head out and get some fresh air you'd be fine waiting for her to get back
>Especially tomorrow, when it's going to be all three of you
>You don't want to be the one to keep Chee cooped up as well
>...Man, Rox's bad puns have really worn off on you
>"Don't sweat it," she says. “I'd rather spend a slow day with a guy like you than a busy day by myself."
>She gives you a friendly smile
>"Not that I even remember what it's like to work a day without you, Anon. I powered through a few sick days 'cause I didn't want to miss spending time together."
>She chuckles nervously
>"So, you know, this is fine by me. For now, anyway. First thing I'll do when we head back to work is swallow my pride and have a chat with our favorite coordinator. We'll figure this out."
>Sounds like a plan
>Though it doesn't exactly fix how boring today has been
>What is she normally doing when she isn't working?
>"Waiting for my next shift," Rox says glumly
>What about movies, or games?
>"It's all Chee's, so that means it's all Whimsey stuff."
>Not a fan?
>The wolfess sighs
>"Don't really want to get into it much. I guess I'm just sick of the cutesy shit. Don't we get enough of that at work?"
>True
>But there's something about Whimsey that makes it difficult to stay tired of it forever
>The clock ticks away unhurriedly
>Rox is literally beating her head against the wall
>If there's anything you could do to make her happy...
>Right on cue, her phone buzzes
>She checks the message and taps a few responses with her sharp nails
>Those anthro phones gotta have some pretty strong glass
>You think of Chee, and how you've never seen HER use a phone
>Now you're really curious how that works
>Speaking of the bird...
>"She says she's meeting up with some friends. Won't be around until much later."
>Now's your chance
>"Great, now she can't suffer through this with us. Doesn't know what she's missing out on."
>The wolfess glances over to you
>"What're you looking at?"
>A perfect opportunity
>You crack your knuckles and make for her ears
>"Don't think about it, bub. We're taking it slow, remember? Don't burn me out on scratches so soon."
>You get closer
>"No! I don't want them now!"
>She flops onto her back, putting her ears out of your reach
>Now she screwed up
>Her paws are on her head, leaving her entire abdomen exposed
>Even her shirt rides up a bit, showing her furry midriff
>It's just waiting for you
>You dig your hands into her pelt, thumbs on her belly button
>"N—aaahhh!" she gasps
>Her whole body tenses up
>And you're going to make it melt
>You rub your hands up and down her stomach
>First in a line, then in arcs
>Then ending each rub with little swirls
>Rox is completely paralyzed by your touch
>Every inch of this girl's body has to be one big erogenous zone
>Whenever you change directions one of her legs twitches
>Her tail fruitlessly squirms, pinned underneath her rump
>"Y-you..." she tries to say
>Her paws are covering her eyes
>"You don't...hah...play fair..."
>You don't want to push your luck with her, but you also want to tease her a bit
>After her stomach has gotten enough attention, you curve your hands to her hips
>You continue the rubbing up and down her sides, ending just below the breast
>Rox's back arches beyond her control as though she's bucking against gravity itself
>She grabs on to the couch in a death grip, digging her claws into the upholstery
>If she's trying to make intelligible words, they're definitely scrambled by moans and heavy breathing
>Her chest heaves enough to strain her shirt
>Her tongue flops out and saliva dribbles out of her mouth
>Her golden eyes vanish as they roll into her skull
>She doesn't even feel like a wolfess anymore; she's just a lump of putty wearing a furry coat
>But her body starts to feel more rigid before long
>She's desperately fighting to regain her composure
>You redouble your efforts to break her down again
>"N-NO!" she cries out
>She's borderline frothing by now
>"A-A-ANON, S-S-TOAAHHH!"
>Her body convulses, and you feel a spasm work its way down her core
>You go still as she shakes violently
>What have you done?
>You were just out for belly rubs
>Did you really make her...?
>A sudden burst of adrenaline from the wolfess knocks you over as she scrambles to her feet
>Rox darts into the bathroom and slams the door shut
>First the sink kicks on, then the shower, then the fan
>But no matter how much noise she makes, you can hear her guttural whines over the roar of the water
>Rox stays in the bathroom for quite some time
>Eventually, you hear the noises shut off one at a time
>Followed by one last broken exhale
>The door swings open, and the wolfess teeters out into the living room
>Her clothes are splotched and her back is hunched
>Even then she's still a fair bit taller than you
>You haven't left the couch the whole time, so she returns with a glazed look in her eyes
>The wolfess eases herself down with quivering legs and lays her head in your lap
>"Please," she grunts, pointing to her ears. “Just be gentle."
>You stroke her neck and head gingerly
>You're worried you might have killed the poor girl by the way she's so motionless
>So you're relieved when she starts snoring quietly
>She doesn't stir at all when the lock clicks and the apartment door opens
>Fortunately, Chee didn't bring her friends home with her
>"Oh!" she peeps, then lowers her voice
>"She looks zonked out. I was afraid you two would be bored. You must have worked out together, huh?"
>Yeah
>"Worked out"
>The bird tiptoes over to the couch and pats her roommate on the head
>"Goodnight, you two," she breathes. “I'll see you in the morning!"
>Guess you're sleeping on the couch again after all
[[CHAPTER 7: Rox of Ages]]
>It wasn't the most comfortable sleep you've ever had
>Sitting upright on the couch with a heavy wolfess head on your lap
>Whatever you did to Rox last night—and you have a good idea what that was—really took it out of her
>Maybe she doesn't have the tolerance for that kind of roughhousing just yet
>Or your scratches were just so intense and she was just that backed up
>It's going to make the bedroom really interesting someday if she's that hypersensitive to stimulation
>It's hard not to feel a little bad, though
>You took her by surprise and rubbed her belly until, well, you got her off on it
>You can't really beat around the bush about it anymore
>It seemed like she was enjoying herself, at least up until the end
>And she came back to you after it was all done, right?
>Chee comes out of her room looking like she always has the best sleep of her life
>"Morning!" she tweets
>Rox stirs awake, but then locks up
>"Tell me how bad it is," she whispers to you
>She's probably talking about her current condition
>Mostly her clothes
>Any sort of “moisture" that would have stained them is gone now
>Though hopefully Chee doesn't have a better sense of smell than you do...
>You pat Rox's head reassuringly
>She grabs your wrist
>"You stay away from those ears, you perv."
>"Did you say something, Roxie?" Chee says
>"Nothing," the wolfess grumbles
>"Sooo, did you guys have any plans for today?"
>"Not really, no. Can't exactly ALL go out together until we figure out how to make things work with Anon."
>Chee's feathers puff out the way you've seen her do whenever she's about to get excited about something
>"We should all go to the Cast Complex! Anon can still go since it's technically still in the park, right?"
>"Ah geeze, Chee," the wolfess says. “Don't you EVER get sick of work?"
>"But it's not work if we're having fun when we're there!"
>Rox isn't quite at the mental OR physical level to argue with her roommate, so she relents
>"You win. Better than being stuck in here again all day. Just let us get cleaned up first."
>"Roxie, when are you going to stop exercising in your room? I want to go work out with you and Anon, too."
>You're not sure exactly want kind of noise it is, but Rox certainly makes one
>Whimsey has a pretty respectable amount of space set aside for employee recreation and benefits for their “Cast Complexes"
>Apart from sizeable cafeterias, there are a handful of auditoriums for movie nights and other presentations
>Places to get a haircut or your non-costume clothes cleaned
>And several shops for discounted Whimsey merchandise
>So you're more than a little surprised when all these commodities also have anthro counterparts as well, albeit in much more enclosed spaces
>Though you suppose these things need to exist for those who practically live in the park
>One of the only things you see that isn't also on the human side is a station for an underground monorail
>Rox and Chee steer you away as you get too close
>"That's for us to go to and from the park unnoticed," the wolfess says. “Until you're good to go see the rest of our little society, I'm not going to take any chances showing you off to everyone."
>That's not a bad plan
>Technically you're allowed to leave the park by yourself as long as you're not seen in the company of the anthros, but you haven't even attempted that in fear of being watched
>You probably have more freedom than you realize, but you're not going to test your limits just yet
>Besides, isn't this life better than what you had?
>Well, maybe “more unusual" is a better choice of words
>After a late lunch of the typical cafeteria variety, the three of you head toward a small museum of the company's history
>Rox lets out an exaggerated sigh
>"C'mon, Chee. Are we really going to spend the whole day here?"
>"Of course not!" the oriole says. “We need to get to the clearance shop before it closes, after all! But I want to at least see the show while we're here."
>"Chee, you must have seen that thing like a hundred times by now."
>The bird opens her mouth to give an exact number, but backs down with a sheepish look
>You all take a quick stroll through the main exhibits first
>There's a similar one in the park itself for the guests, but it's kind of nice to see it without a mess of kids smearing up the glass cases or leaning against the plaques
>It's also interesting to see the company through the eyes of the anthros
>D. Whimsey has always been an interesting figure to you, but now even more than ever
>Did he know going into the construction of the park he'd be sheltering a bunch of animal people, or were accommodations made after the fact?
>Or was the whole place somehow made for them first, and the amusement park was the afterthought?
>Your gaze wanders to a pretty well known image of Mr. Whimsey and his pet beagle, Chobbo
>It's the only picture of Whimsey and his dog to ever be released publicly
>Both of their goofy faces are pressed together to fit the frame
>The more you look at it, the more you start to realize just how expressive Chobbo is in the photo
>Almost humanly expressive
>"Anon! Come on!" Chee cries out
>"Relax, the movie's not going anywhere," Rox groans
>She's not wrong
>Unlike the perpetual showings of the human version in the park, here there's only a button for the anthros to get the film going when they need it to
>It's just the three of you alone in the tiny theater
>Chee is vibrating as the intro music swells
>Rox just rolls her eyes
>"So, how much riffing you think we can get out of this?" she mutters to you
>"Roxie, shh!"
>The show is a fairly short mix of old footage from the early days of the parks construction, spliced together with some sentimental images of modern-day achievements
>The old stuff gives you a strong feeling of nostalgia, even though D. Whimsey passed away long before you were even born
>His life was cut short due to illness, and seeing him stand on screen so close to his untimely death gives you goose bumps
>He's a very charismatic man, both in looks and personality
>Trim, cleanly shaven except for a well-groomed mustache, and a grin from ear to ear at all times
>{“Greetings, friends!"}, the distorted audio plays. {“Darwin Whimsey here again for another update on Whimsey Park!"}
>According to what you've heard about him, this was the final video he ever shot
>You can see the picture of him and Chobbo right over his shoulder
>D. Whimsey Jr. is playing with some toys on the floor next to his father
>The kid probably has grandchildren of his own by now
>{“We still have a long way to go together, but our journey has been nothing short of fantastical!"}
>A lot of the film is just business talk and projected goals
>And yet, the man talks as though he's fully aware it'll reach his fans someday
>You have to admit, just listening to his voice alone is something you could do all day
>Chee silently recites every word in the film with misty eyes
>You expect Rox to be bored out of her mind, but even as she sits slumped back in her chair you can see her brow arch with...melancholy?
>She hasn't made a noise this whole time
>Even the film goes quiet for a moment as Whimsey gives his closing thoughts
>His face is somber
>Does he know what his fate is soon to be?
>{“We're all deserving of happiness. Every last one of us. There is no emotion we should have to hide from one another. Make each day magical; not just for yourself, but everyone around you as well. This is Darwin Whimsey, wishing you...all the best."}
>He knees down to give his son a pat on the back as the film fades to black
>Chee gives feathery applause and wipes a tear away with her wing
>Rox just hangs her head
>Right before the lights come back on, you can briefly see a flash of orange exit the room
>The clearance shop is easily Chee's most anticipated part of the day
>Discount shirts, stuffed toys, kitchenware, trinkets, anniversary memorabilia...
>Anything discontinued or surplus is available for employees to buy
>Though even with such a markdown it can't be cheap to hoard as much of the stuff as Chee does
>Rox clearly knows this as well
>"Don't you have enough of this crap?" she says, shaking her head
>"They just found a case of Halloween stuff from two years ago!" the bird says ecstatically
>She grabs a little black werewolf plush toy and waggles it front of Rox's face
>"Isn't she cute? Kind of reminds me of a certain roommate..."
>Chee bops the toy on Rox's snout and pulls it to her chest before the wolfess can swipe it away
>"I'm going to name her Wolfa, and she's going right next to the limited edition Trick-or Treat baskets!"
>Even with Chee being the more responsible of the two, her financial priorities are almost as bad
>Not much really interests you, though Rox ends up walking away with one of the hundreds of overprinted shirts stacked to the ceiling in the corner
>Even for a wolfess of her size, it's still too large for her body
>"Guess I could always use another sleep shirt," Rox shrugs
>Both of you have to carry Chee's purchases back to her car
>Not quite done with the Whimsey overload, Chee has their radio station playing as the three of you head back to the apartment
>Her car, her tunes
>Surprisingly, Rox doesn't object
>She doesn't even say anything until Chee stops singing
>"Oh!" the bird says. “We should do waffles for dinner tonight!"
>"You can't be serious," Rox laughs in disbelief
>"But I want to use my new Princess Glacika waffle iron..."
>"You can wait 'til morning. Anon and I are going to need some breakfast before we go in for work anyway."
>"Okay..."
>"Hey, by the way, did you find...THAT picture yesterday?"
>Chee flinches
>"Y-yeah! Right under my uniform in my locker where I left it! I got rid of it, don't worry!"
>The rest of the car ride is silent
>No waffles for dinner, but at least Chee gets to use her Whimsey Christmas spatula to serve lasagna
>She's certainly the best chef of the three of you
>Overall she has very motherly traits, making you all the more worried for her and her naivety
>After the meal, Chee begins to get ready for bed already
>You half expect it's so she can wake up extra early to start making breakfast
>If only you had the drive to wake up looking forward to using a waffle iron
>When the oriole is tucked away for the night, Rox beckons you to her room
>She's wearing the Whimsey shirt she bought today
>You could practically fit yourself inside that thing along with her
>Your heart skips a beat at the thought
>"Do you wanna come in?" Rox whispers to you
>Into her room?
>At last?
>Guess you two really are a couple now
>It's pretty spartan due to her tight budget, but it still has Rox's identity all over it
>A few crooked posters
>A bed that looks hastily made
>A thick joke book being used as a drink coaster
>There's not a shred of Whimsey evidence inside with the exception of the shirt
>That is, until she opens one of her dresser drawers
>"I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie with me tonight. If you're cool with it, I mean."
>Sounds good to you
>"Just...don't judge, alright?"
>She has to dig deep into the drawer to find what she needs
>You catch a glimpse of the DVD case just as she pops in the disk
>[Heir of Dog], digitally remastered
>It's the best example of a G-rated flick you can think of
>No violence, no terror, not even much of an antagonist
>It's probably the most innocent, kiddish movie in the whole Whimsey line
>It's also one of the oldest ones, said to be the personal favorite of D. Whimsey himself
>Rox looks at you expecting rejection
>But you'd watch anything with her
>"H-ha, thanks, Anon. Just let me know if you want to stop."
>She sits back on her bed and pats the spot between her legs
>The Whimsey shirt is so large you can't tell what (if anything) she has under it
>And yet, Rox doesn't seem to be sending you THOSE kinds of messages
>You place yourself against her lap, and the wolfess wraps her arms over your chest
>Her shirt flattens out against your back and you can feel the swell of her chest as she inhales
>Her legs are marginally longer than yours, and when she pulls them in they fold over your own
>Her muzzle extends past your face as she rests her head on your shoulder
>You can feel the fluff of her neck tickle your ear
>You're wearing her as a full-body fur coat
>Toasty and soft
>She can't help but nuzzle your face and rub her paws on your chest
>In the back, you can faintly hear the sound of her tail swishing over the bed sheets
>All this is going on before the opening credits are even finished
>90 minutes of this?
>Perfect
>You start to wonder if there's a sequel you could watch, too...
>You've seen this movie before, and you're not exactly worried about what's going on
>This isn't a movie night so much as an excuse to cuddle
>Rox seems to agree, though she still stares at the TV with rapt attention
>Does she love the movie that much, or is she trying to see your reflection in the screen?
>Maybe a little of both
>If it's the only Whimsey movie she owns, and she kept it hidden from her roommate, it must mean something to her
>She knows all the songs by heart and hums along to them
>Rocking you gently side to side
>You can feel the reverberation of her lungs through your body
>Whenever there's no song, she embraces you even tighter
>You try to move your arms, but she has them pinned to your sides
>"Not tonight," she chuckles. “You keep those hands where I can see them."
>Rox lifts her head off your shoulder and nibbles at your ear
>She plants a quick kiss on your cheek, then resumes leaning on you
>She doesn't play fair
>You're still locked in the hug long after the movie ends
>The wolfess breathes deeply a few times to savor the moment
>Everything's peaceful
>Rox's paws continue rubbing your chest for a while, then move on to your neck and head
>You want to face her and share the compassion, but she's the one in control now
>"It's getting late," she says tiredly, “and your couch is too far away."
>She scoots forward with you still on her lap just far enough to lay back with her head on the pillows
>Still clinging on with one arm, she reaches to the lights and shuts them off
>You're nestled completely inside of her
>She wasn't able to pull the sheets over you, but you don't need them
>Her body heat is enough to soothe you into a peaceful rest
>"Anon..." she murmurs
>When you respond, she only sighs
>A happy sigh
>"Anon...."
>She gives you one last lick on the cheek
>"I...goodnight...."
>To make up for an uncomfortable night of sleep, she gives you one of the best you can ever remember
>You can only hope you never have to sleep on the couch again
>Unless it's with her, right next to you
[[CHAPTER 8: Rox Fall, Everyone Cries]]
>As expected, the smell of waffles greets you and Rox when you wake up
>You're still wrapped up in her arms
>When you stir to get up you're grappled even tighter
>"Not yet," she yawns. “Let her wake us up."
>Rox doesn't have a stellar record of being on time, and now you're going to be cutting things too closely more often
>You want to be responsible about your job, but you also want hugs from your wolfess
>You split the difference and make at least ONE attempt to get her out of bed
>She turns your head closer to her muzzle and gives you a few solid licks over your face
>"There, you're clean. Now can we just have five more minutes?"
>You're not even allowed to answer
>Rox puts her paw to your mouth to muffle any objection
>Whether it's been five minutes or not, the time sails by
>"Roxie? Anon?"
>Oh, crap
>Chee must know by now you've spent the whole night in Rox's room
>The bird probably isn't going to think much of it, but then again that's the problem
>She left a picture of “the kiss" for you and Rox each, and even counting the one she “got rid of" there's still one more hidden in her room somewhere
>Chee definitely seems to take joy in seeing Rox and you as a couple
>And if anyone's going to get you two in trouble for it, wittingly or not, it might be the oriole
>"Roxieee, you guys are gonna be late!"
>"Ugghh, ALRIGHT Chee, we're coming."
>You're practically lifted off the bed under Rox's arm like a stuffed toy
>The two of you trudge to the kitchen, where a hearty stack of waffles is built up
>Each one is stamped with an image of “Princess Glacika", albeit looking a little...deformed
>Guess you know why the waffle irons were so heavily discounted
>"So, what are you up to today?" Rox says to the bird through a mouthful of food
>You get the impression the wolfess isn't all that interested in the answer, but is trying to facilitate conversation to be a good roommate
>You kind of understand why the wolfess would hesitate
>"Hmm, well, I need to run a few errands around the mall, and I should probably hit the bank before I do that. I promised Petch I'd swing by her place for a little while, but I want to come back here and clean up the place a bit, and...."
>This goes on for some time
>"Alright, Chee. Gotta go!" Rox yells over the bird's rambling
>"Have a good day, you two! Stay out of trouble!"
>"Thanks, mom."
>Rox is still picking the sleep out of her eyes as the two of you drive off to work
>"Boy, I'm already looking forward to having a nap," Rox groans
>Didn't she sleep all right?
>"Like a baby," she says. “That's the problem. Now you got me addicted to scratches AND cuddles, ya' jerk."
>You get a firm punch to the shoulder
>"Nah, I'm always like this at the start of the week," she continues. “You just never see it because I...well...."
>She laughs in embarrassment
>"I'm always looking forward to working with you, Anon, even if it's in some ratty old costume. Now you get to see all the ugly parts of me whenever we weren't around each other."
>You can't imagine considering ANY part of Rox ugly
>"You're a real sweet guy, you know that?"
>When the car rolls into the parking lot, Rox locks the doors before you can grab the handle
>She puts an arm around your shoulder and pulls you in
>Her eyes are closed as your cheeks mash together
>This is how you get late for work
>"Just five more minutes," she mumbles
>You dress into your handler's attire
>Another day, another shift with the eyes of the wolfess always on you
>The anxiety of being hidden away among the anthros is almost completely gone at this point
>Any hurdles in getting used to their society seem unintimidating, especially with Rox at your back
>And whenever you're allowed fully access to the anthro world, you're sure things will never go south again
>It's just a matter of getting a hold of D. Whimsey Jr.
>Only the biggest name in the company right now
>So no pressure
>When you meet up with Rox in her usually preparation spot, she's completely out of costume
>Something's not right
>"They wouldn't let me change," she says. “Apparently I got to go see Sherry-K first. We both do."
>No costume AND no witty nickname for the coordinator?
>Even Rox must know something's wrong
>You feel like you're walking to the principal's office with your partner-in-crime
>Neither one of you wants to make a joke about it
>The two of you file into the tigress' office, where she's waiting with her usual slab of wood
>"Anon. Roksa."
>"Yeah?" is all Rox says
>Sherry-K taps away on the clipboard
>Is she trying to find the right words?
>No, she doesn't seem like the type to ever have to rehearse a speech, or a lecture
>This must be really, really bad
>The tigress turns to you
>You've grown accustomed to the frigid indoor temperatures of the backstage buildings, cooled to offset the sweltering heat outside
>But you'll always have a chill run up your spine from her piercing eyes
>"I've already spoken to BOTH of you about a certain rule regarding workplace dating, but I'm disappointed in how soon YOU disregarded my warnings, Anon."
>Your stomach knots
>It's clear what's coming next
>Sherry-K peels a photo off of her clipboard
>You don't even need to see it
>But that tigress is going to make sure you do
>"Can either of you tell me what I'm looking at here?" she says
>"Well, not much. You're holding it backwards."
>Dammit, Rox...
>The tigress' nostrils flare up
>"This is NO joke, Roksa! I'd ask you if you realize just how severe this is, but I know I've never gotten a good answer out of you yet!"
>The wolfess' lip curls up
>Her teeth are bared
>"So what? That was at Cast Night. Big fucking deal. We were off the clock!"
>Sherry-K's claws puncture the picture in neat little holes
>"EVEN SO," the tigress says. “This picture could have wound up in the hands of a human guest! We take care to clean up after ourselves following every Cast Night, but we can't clean up reckless stupidity!"
>"It could have, but it didn't," the wolfess seethes. “So I think you can get off our backs already!"
>"And I think it's time we separated the two of you!" Sherry-K growls
>Rox looks as though she were given the death penalty
>Her mouth gapes, struggling to find the words to argue with
>"It's clear you are a poor influence on Anon," Sherry-K resumes. “He has shown remarkable acclimation to our systems in spite of his predicament, and if we are to allow him to set a good example for the rest of humans, we need to remove the elements that—“
>"Bullshit!" Rox says at long last
>It's a race between you and the tigress to see whose eyes can get the biggest
>The wolfess points her claw at the coordinator
>"You just want to see people miserable! That's all you EVER do! You never believed in Anon like I did; you're just looking for an excuse to drive us apart, because you're just a miserable BITCH!"
>And snap goes the clipboard
>You want to run
>You want to grab something to defend yourself with
>You want to shield Rox from whatever is going to be hurled her way
>Sherry-K's eyes slit to the point of being nonexistent
>"ROKSA!" the tigress roars. “You are SUSPENDED from work immediately, and you are BANNED from this park until further notice!"
>Rox's ears fold back
>She knows how terribly she screwed up this time
>She also knows it's not over yet
>"You will remain suspended until I have a talk with management," the tigress shakes
>Her words are softer, more enunciated
>This feels tenfold worse than her yelling
>“And once we let you back on the park grounds, it'll be to discuss your future here with this company. Now get OUT and go HOME!"
>Rox gives you one last look of shame before turning to leave
>It's a look that's full of apology, possibly even more sincere than the last time she had to make it up to you
>She drags herself out of the office
>Leaving you alone with the tigress
>You're afraid to look at her, but she's waiting patiently until you do
>"I'm no liar, Anon," she says when you work up the courage to face her
>"After you were dumped into our hands by that idiot wolf, I genuinely thought I could make you into a use for our company. I will give you one...last...chance."
>She marches over to the supplies cabinet and takes out three more clipboards
>She stacks them together, trying to fortify them for her anger
>"You will continue to report to me at the beginning and end to every shift, or another coordinator if I'm not available. I'll arrange for someone to pick you up and drop you off at your apartment accordingly. You will miss NO days of work, understand?"
>She scrawls something on her papers in fury as she talks
>"Your vehicle privileges will be once again revoked during your probation, but I will allow you to remain at your current residence along with Chee."
>Along with Chee?
>The way she words that is discomforting
>"Once we resolve the issue with Roksa, we will reevaluate your circumstances. Now, please report to your assigned handler post."
>You don't see Rox anywhere when you leave the office
>The Whirly Barf is piloted by someone different this time
>For the first time in what feels like forever
>You wonder whether it's a human or an anthro, but it's quickly revealed to be the latter
>"Hey, uh, sorry to hear what, uh, happened."
>Baggy, you think
>You haven't been his handler for a while
>After all, Rox has pretty much been inseparable from you right from the beginning
>You've only ever had two others besides her, and you can't even remember who the third was
>You're pretty sure Baggy's just a nickname
>Then again, most of the anthros seem to have unusual names
>When the two of you take a breather in a chill room, he removes his mask
>It's a black panther
>He can't quite look you in the eyes
>Maybe out of fear of “the human"?
>After all, you're likely a bad omen in their eyes right now
>Your shift is brutally long once you get back out there
>Neither you nor Baggy really put in the same kind of energy as you and Rox did
>Every last minute is agonizing without her
>When the punishment finally comes to an end you're called back to Sherry-K's office
>She doesn't have many words from you except from a curt, “Good job today."
>After you change back out of your uniform, you meet up with a familiar hippo coordinator to take you back to your apartment
>He's just as stoic as he was the day he bounced you into the tigress' office the first time
>But when you reach the apartment, he finally speaks
>It's actually kind of squeaky and higher pitched than you were expecting from someone of his size
>"Just let me know if you ever need to talk. To her."
>You nod politely, not entirely sure what he means or why you'd ever want to do what you think he means
>You can hear the wailing before you even open the door
>Though surprisingly, it's not from Rox
>It's from Chee
>The wolfess has her arm around the bird, sitting in the middle of a floor of tissues
>Rox still looks pretty torn up about it herself, but the oriole is the one taking the news the hardest
>From the looks of things, she's been crying for hours
>"Chee, c'mon," Rox says
>You can't miss the break in her voice
>"I haven't been fired yet, don't worry."
>The bird shakes her head violently
>"I-I-it's all my fault!" she sobs. “It's all my fault!"
>You think Chee's just being hard on herself again
>After all, she didn't know Sherry-K would find the photo
>Right?
>She said she knew where it was, and got rid of it
>Right?
>Your heart sinks
>The wolfess looks at your mournfully
>The girls are on the couch with you just standing there for at least an hour
>Nobody eats anything for dinner
>Rox has to lead her roommate to her own bed and tuck her in
>You can still hear the hiccups and the sniffles of the oriole through the door
>The wolfess looks to the battlefield of discarded tissues and brushes a few aside
>"I might be the one on the couch tonight, h-ha," she says hoarsely
>You walk her to her room anyway
>If she'll let you, you'd like to spend the night together
>She just nods
>You guide Rox to the bed and ease her down
>She's in a fetal position until you lower yourself to her
>The wind is squeezed out of you as she pulls you into a death grip
>Your whole body is once again encased by fur
>Only this time, it's not with the gentle lull of her slow breathing, but pitiful trembles
>You can feel the wetness of her nose bleed through your shirt
>"I'm sorry," she sobs
>You want to free your arms to console her
>She won't let go
>Between the pain of her constriction and the heaviness of the day, you know it'll be a poor night's rest
>But before you're finally afforded a small bit of rest, a thought passes through your mind
>Something the hippo said
>About talking with Sherry-K
>You wince, and not just from the wolfess' hug
>If you're going to help Rox this time, you're going to have to do something really stupid
[[CHAPTER 9: Solid as a Rox]]
>As expected, not a good night
>You wake up in the vice of the wolfess
>There's a pained frown on her face; her dreams are plagued with regret
>Why, Rox?
>She's always been brash to a fault, even when under a costume mask
>But this is the first time you have ever seen her explode like that
>Was it the fear of separation?
>Just the thought of being away from you made her snap?
>She's certainly hanging on to you like she never wants to be apart ever again
>There's a rapping at the bedroom door from Chee's beak
>"Roxie?"
>The bird still looks distraught about yesterday
>"Roxie, you need to let Anon go to work."
>The wolfess must hear her, because the grip on you tightens
>"Roxie...."
>The wolfess opens her eyes, full of sorrow
>"Yeah...alright..." she croaks
>Reluctantly, she lets you go
>"Do you want some breakfast?" Chee says
>"No...I'm just going to sleep some more, thanks."
>Getting ready is especially a chore today
>Chee offers to drive you, but you tell her the circumstances of your probation
>This sets her off again
>She wraps you up in her wings and sobs into your chest
>"I-it's all my fault."
>You tell her it isn't
>"Y-yes it is...."
>You pat her on the pat
>Out of morbid curiosity, you ask her why she thinks that
>The bird only shakes her head
>You manage to pry her off when your ride shows up
>It's the hippo again
>Seems he's the muscle when he needs to be and the chauffeur anytime else
>No good mornings from him
>It feels like a prison escort on the way to the park grounds
>Before he drops you off, you bring up what he said yesterday
>He doesn't respond, just waiting for a definitive answer from you
>It's going to take a few deep breaths for this one
>You tell the hippo you plan on talking with the tigress
>"Sherry-K isn't working today," he says
>Now comes the stupid part
>You ask him if there's any way you can meet her anyway
>Even if it means going to her own house
>The hippo looks genuinely afraid for you
>"She lives in the coordinator complex. I can drop you off there later, but you're going to be on your own to find a way back. I'm not hanging around for her to find out I did this for you."
>It'll have to do
>You don't think you'll be able to stand seeing Rox so broken up for one more day
>The hippo gives you a sympathetic look
>"Alright. I hope you know what you're doing."
>The second day of being Baggy's handler isn't any better
>He doesn't hover too close to you while he performs
>Whenever there are no guests around, he keeps his gaze locked on you
>It's a little creepy with that mascot mask's unblinking eyes
>Now it seems the gossip has fully spread throughout the anthros
>So instead of just fearfulness of what you could have done to get Rox suspended, they're all flat out terrified of you
>You sit alone for lunch, though every eye watches you eat
>The only who who's even the least bit subdued about the whole thing is the replacement coordinator
>An older goat checks you in and out for your shift
>He's no Sherry-K, that's for sure
>Though you're still afraid with his old age he might have some pretty frightening tenure with the company
>What he lacks in presence he makes up for in experience
>The strangest part is he doesn't even have the slightest bit of concern he's dealing with a human
>You're treated with the same nonchalance as any delinquent would, if an authority figure had to spend years of putting up with troublemakers like you
>You can handle his attitude, but his speed grates on you
>The hippo is waiting for you, as is the tigress, but the goat is taking his sweet time writing up the report on you for the day
>FINALLY he lets you free, and you race to where your driver is parked
>No talk is shared between the two of you
>He just gives you a look as though reminding you there's still time to back out
>But waiting even a single day more could risk Rox's employment
>With a nod of confirmation, the two of you head off to the coordinator complex
>It's much more than a job position, it seems
>Being a coordinator must net you a few nice perks
>Getting your own place is one of them
>The coordinator complex isn't as spread out as the rest of the employee lodgings, but each unit has the space to house a single resident comfortably
>Having that sort of extra privacy must be nice option
>But you've grown to appreciate the company of Rox and Chee
>The hippo drops you off near the door to Sherry-K's in the late evening
>He gives it a quick point and then speeds off
>There's no turning back now
>You could try, but something tells you if you tried to leave now without resolving anything it could be even worse for you
>Who knows what kind of surveillance this part of the park has?
>You knock on the door
>Nothing
>You try again
>Nothing
>Each knock takes a little more confidence from you, and now you're just standing there in silence
>You don't even have it in you to look at the eyehole
>When the door finally unlocks, your heart leaps
>Sherry-K stands in the doorway, fully clothed in her pinstripe coordinator's outfit
>"Anon?"
>You've fucked up, you know it
>What can you even say to her at this point?
>There was no appointment, no invitation
>You just showed up at her doorstep with no real plan except to beg for Rox to be unsuspended
>That's all you have to go on right now
>So you tell her as much
>Her grassy eyes peel you apart
>Wait
>Speaking of peeling apart, why IS she in her coordinator's outfit?
>When you explain yourself to the tigress, you word your explanation in a way that lets her know you wanted to try and find her at work today
>Your glances at her uniform tip her off to your inquiry
>"If you must know, I'm often 'on call' in the off chance I'm needed for emergencies in the park."
>Something about the way she says it doesn't sound sincere
>The tigress looks around outside, trying to find where you came from
>You can already tell she's not happy about figuring out how to send you away
>But she doesn't, to your enormous surprise
>"Hmph. Would you like to...come in?"
>She speaks like how you feel
>Unsure
>It's a good thing you don't have a tail, because she slams the door shut as soon as you're fully inside her place
>Holy
>Shit
>And you thought CHEE was obsessed....
>Every square inch of Sherry-K's home is adorned with Whimsey
>Knickknacks, paintings, and curtains
>Kitchenware, upholstery, and even the carpet pattern
>There's a quiet ambience of Whimsey music not unlike what plays on endless loop throughout the park
>Not even a Whimsey gift shop looks this chock-the full of stuff
>"It's all from employee discounts. It's just...cheaper to furnish the place this way."
>Yeah, where have you heard THAT before?
>The tigress flattens out her uniform and motions to the couch
>"Please, have a seat and we'll discuss the matter further."
>You sit down and the couch rings out
>Did it just play a jingle?
>Where would you even get a singing couch?
>"Would you like anything to drink?" she says from the kitchen
>It would probably be better not to refuse her offer rather than fear she might poison you
>Either way, you're not in a good place
>You take a peek over at her while she prepares the beverages
>There's a bottle already on the counter, noticeably empty already
>Sherry-K joins you on the couch, giving an uncomfortably short amount of space between the two of you
>"So," she says after a few sips, “about Roksa...."
>You plead with the tigress to show some leniency to the wolfess
>"Roksa has been given countless opportunities to better herself, and—“
>You tell her Rox has already tried to turn herself around, and has shown the effort to be a better performer as a result
>"Yes, I have seen improvement in that particular aspect of her role, however—“
>You tell her you could take part of the blame, if it means lessening the harshness of Rox's punishment
>"That's a noble thought, but the guidelines for disciplinary action—“
>You tell her you can convince Rox to apologize to her, and the two of you will do whatever it takes to make things right
>Sherry-K doesn't speak for a while, even after you stop interjecting
>Like any meeting with her, it's the silence that's the most unnerving
>"Anon," she says at last. “You are still new to this company, even ignoring your recent 'inclusion' to our specific branch. You couldn't possibly imagine the number of times I've had to speak with Roksa about her behavior."
>Sherry-K stops only to drain the rest of her glass
>"You couldn't guess the sheer volume of dossiers I've had to write. Not just about Roksa, but EVERY employee here."
>She sets the glass down on the coffee table, but it rattles from an unsteady paw
>"You have no idea the kind of bureaucracy I have to put up with on a day-to-day basis."
>The tigress sits with her paws folded on her lap and her eyes closed
>"You...."
>Her claws dig into her uniform pants
>She draws in a hasty breath
>Her lip quivers
>"You don't know what it's like to be m-me...."
>The proud tigress breaks into tears
>You seem to have a penchant for being around crying women
>It might be grossly out of line, but you put your hand on Sherry-K's shoulder for support
>Bad idea
>She immediately topples over like a massive tree and slams her head onto your lap
>Paws over eyes, she weeps uncontrollably
>There's not much you can do but gently stroke her head
>"M-management harasses me all the time not to make mistakes," she chokes. “But when I try to do a good job I make everyone else miserable!"
>Her legs bunch up as though she's trying to fit her whole body on the safety of your lap
>"Everyone h-hates me, Anon!"
>You can only let her ride it out
>Fortunately, there's a Whimsey tissue dispenser just within reach
>Like the couch, it makes a little jingle when you tug a tissue out
>She snatches it from your hand and blows her wide nose
>Sitting beside the dispenser is a family photo
>A mother and father tiger with a small kitten in the middle
>The little girl beams with wonderment in her eyes
>They're all standing with a familiar Whimsey castle as the nighttime backdrop
>Probably during a Cast Night, because they're the only ones enjoying the frame space
>"Getting this job was a dream come true," Sherry-K says when she calms down
>Long after the sobbing stops, she keeps her head on you
>"I just wanted to make people happy. I wanted to rise through the ranks so I could start making judgment calls and p-pitching all the ideas I had. But it can get awful, Anon."
>Her tail wraps around and she begins picking at the tip hairs
>"One of the few friends I had starting out was a bunny girl. She was a head coordinator, and one of the sweetest people I've known. The job...they ate her alive, Anon."
>Oh...god...
>"N-not literally!" she cries. “She quit! She couldn't take it. Why would anyone do this to themselves? Why would anyone want to pull back the curtain and see all the ugliness behind it?"
>There have been times you've asked yourself the same thing
>Even before learning about the anthros, there was bitterness to working a theme park you wish everyone could know about
>So many angry, impatient guests who had no clue how unpleasant things could get
>But you've never been the one who has to manage everything
>When an employee screws up, it's the coordinators who hear about it
>It's them who have to set things right
>That's a horrible responsibility, and something you wouldn't wish on anyone
>"I just wanted to help Roksa," Sherry-K says suddenly
>...What?
>"It's true," she hiccups. “You're so lucky, Anon. I wish I could be in your shoes. I've always thought she was a...beautiful wolf."
>Wow
>Guess Rox was right about the tigress
>"She's the only one who really challenges me, who stands up to me. I...I love that. But by the time I got to see that part of her I could tell it's because she already hated me. Every time I gave her a reprimand I hoped she would turn herself around and not get fired. I bent so many rules just so she wouldn't...."
>Yeah, that sounds like Rox
>But maybe this could be a breakthrough
>You tell Sherry-K that if Rox knew what she had to go through to keep her from getting canned, maybe the wolfess would rein it in a bit
>"No! I could never do that! She'd just laugh at me, and the rest would trample over me...."
>You tell the tigress both of you know Rox better than that
>The wolfess may not be the most social butterfly of the employees, but nobody messes with her either
>If Sherry-K could confide in her, and the two became “friends", nobody would dare take advantage of the tigress
>And in your mind, you're already thinking a few steps ahead
>If Sherry-K's clout is on your side, could she really help the two of you meet with D. Whimsey Jr.?
>"Can you really get her to listen to me?" Sherry-K says
>You can do what you can
>Rox needs her job back, but she also needs to give yet another apology
>It would be the perfect time to reconcile with the both of them
>"A-alright...alright," she sniffs. “Please let...Rox...know I would like to speak with her. Tomorrow. Just promise me you won't tell her about what a wreck I was."
>You pat the tigress in reassurance
>"Thank you."
>She sits up and composes herself
>You can faintly see a Whimsey t-shirt underneath her rumpled coordinator's uniform
>"Now then, I assume you'll be needing to be taken back to your apartment? I don't doubt your ride here hasn't gotten very far yet."
>Oh boy, now the hippo's in trouble
>"As long as everyone keeps tonight confidential for now, nobody will be in trouble," Sherry-K promises
>The hippo returns several minutes later, looking rather timid to be so close to his boss again
>But by then Sherry-K has already dismissed you from her home
>When you hop into the vehicle you give the hippo the A-okay
>Mission accomplished?
>Well, you'll have to see what lies in store for you tomorrow
>At the very least, you can't wait to let Rox and Chee know thing's look like they're going to get better
>And maybe they'll stop getting you into more trouble than you deserve
>...
>Not likely
[[CHAPTER 10: Rox Candy]]
>The trip back to the apartment seems like hours
>This wasn't a life-or-death matter, but it sure felt like it for a moment
>When you throw open the door you see your two roommates sitting together on the couch
>Both were looking sullen and teary-eyed, but they leap to their feet at the sight of you
>Rox and Chee rush over, as if expecting to see something wrong with you
>Or expecting to never see you again
>"We thought you were sent away!" Chee cries
>"Don't do that to us, man," Rox sniffs
>"At least call us first!"
>Wow, what a welcome home that was
>"So...why so late?" Rox says
>You lead the girls back to the couch and explain just about everything
>Starting with how you begged Sherry-K to unsuspend Rox
>She was open to the idea, provided she gets a chance to speak with the wolfess
>And gets an apology
>You hint at how frustrated the tigress is at management as well, but leave out the part where she was bawling in your lap
>Sherry-K essentially wants to bury the hatchet with Rox
>Chee looks to the wolfess expectantly
>"You did all that for me?" Rox grimaces
>That's what roommates do, after all
>There's no guarantee things are going to work out exactly how you all want, but at least this is a promising start
>The bird flaps her wings excitedly while the wolfess rubs her neck
>"That means a lot to me," Rox says. “Thanks, Anon."
>She gives you a subtle nod over to her room with a smirk, but soon flares her nostrils
>"Ehh, I'm going to need a shower after moping like a sad sack all day. Don't go anywhere, you two."
>Rox heads into the bathroom while you and Chee chill out by the couch again
>As soon as the water starts, Chee looks extremely bothered by something
>"Did...Sherry-K say anything about me?"
>Not really
>Chee's name didn't even come up once, as far as you remember
>She looks like she's on the verge of tears again
>"Anon, I...I have to confess something. Pleasedontbemad!"
>Yikes
>Something's got her worked up
>You promise not to be mad, whatever it is
>The oriole's chest puffs out as she takes a huge breath
>"That day we first met, at the bar, Sherry-K pulled me aside when we were figuring out what to do with you. She...she asked me to keep an eye on you, a-and report what I saw to her."
>Oh...Chee...
>"I didn't know what to tell her at the time! She'd ask about you and Rox, and I told her the two of you were really close friends!"
>Probably why she was so up in your face about “workplace dating"...
>"A-and then after Cast Night, I dropped one of the pictures I took of you two on the ride. She...she was right there! She took it, and...."
>It's hard to tell if the shower or Chee's eyes are letting out more water
>"It really IS all my fault!" she wails
>"Something wrong?" you can hear Rox call out from the bathroom
>You yell back to Rox that everything's fine
>Chee is clamping her beak shut
>So, Sherry-K had an informant in your very apartment
>Of course Chee would have been too scared to challenge the tigress
>Still, Sherry-K had every opportunity to confront you two about the photo during the weekend
>Especially in the Cast Complex theater, where you're positive she was lurking around the corner
>Was it jealousy she was suppressing?
>And that the concern over humans finding the photo was just an excuse to reprimand you?
>Whatever the case, what's done is done
>It's too soon to say whether the damage is irreparable
>All you know is now you have to calm a sobbing bird sitting beside you
>You pull her in for a hug, and she wraps you up in her wings
>Her feathers are incredibly soft, like heavenly downy
>You tell her this might have worked out in your favor after all
>"R-really? How?"
>If Rox and Sherry-K didn't have a reason for speaking to one another like they're going to do, they might never have swallowed their pride and tried to make amends
>In a way, this helped jumpstart the healing process for both of them
>"It doesn't feel like I helped much..." she hiccups
>You give the bird a pat on the back
>Nobody lost their job yet, so the best you can do is consider this a victory for now
>Chee gives you a hopeful smile
>"Thanks, Anon. You've been a great friend. I'm glad Rox dragged you into all this."
>That's one way to put it...
>Speaking of the wolfess, she exits the bathroom several minutes later
>Her clean fur might actually look even softer than Chee's feathers
>"Well, I guess we'd better call it a night," Rox says
>"Already? But you slept all day!" Chee laughs
>"Well, yeah, but that's different. Besides, if we're going to have to have a chitchat with our favorite coordinator tomorrow we might as well get there early."
>"You? Up early?"
>"Don't think I won't find those pins, Chee."
>"Eep! G-goodnight everyone!"
>The bird dashes into her room and shuts the door
>You're hoisted to your feet by the wolfess and led to her own room
>"I owe you one, Anon. You're really saving my hide here. I know I got you into this mess in the first place, and you never had to stick up for me like that."
>Well, you couldn't exactly run away from all this anyway
>"Is there anything I could do to pay you back?"
>You could probably think of a few ways
>But for tonight, it might be best to bank that favor and instead help Rox relax
>She's likely been worrying about your future together nonstop ever since yesterday
>"C'mon. You have me over a barrel here, and I don't like being in debt. Now, are you going to let me repay you, or are—OOOooohhh...."
>You disarm her with ear scratches
>"No...no, let me make you feel goo~oooaaahhh...."
>Guess her chin works just as well
>The wolfess melts into the sheets with bliss
>You incapacitate her, then bundle her up with the covers
>She sticks her tongue out as you continue to scratch and rub her head
>Rox manages to fight through the ecstasy long enough to roll on top of you
>You're pinned down by her large body and a tired huff
>"Fine," she yawns. “We'll save it for another night."
>You might have missed a great opportunity there
>Then again, it's something you'd rather wait to cap off a day filled with joy with, and not one with tears
>You fall asleep with the wolfess resting heavily on top of you
>True to her word, Rox makes an effort to get up early
>An effort
>But Chee still has to literally drag Rox out of bed, and the wolfess pulls you along with her
>"Roxieee," Chee moans. “You're not going to be allowed to work again if you don't talk to Sherry-K!"
>Rox mumbles something into your back
>She finally gets up after the two of you hit the floor
>Chee already has leftover waffles from the freezer ready to go, pecking at them with proper etiquette while Rox scarfs her stack down
>The bird takes her own car while you ride with Rox
>"You're going to have to be my conscience, bud," she says. “Don't let me say anything that'll get me in trouble again."
>Yeah, like you could stop her from doing that
>It's a tense day as you head in to the anthros' side of the park
>Chee catches up with you and Rox, and the three of you make your way to the coordinators' office
>Sherry-K is waiting patiently, hugging a clipboard
>Nobody says anything for an uncomfortable amount of time
>Rox steps up to the plate first, in her usual way
>"So, you wanted to see me?"
>Off to a good start
>"I did, yes," the tigress responds
>It's clear she's waiting for something
>You and Chee give Rox the same look
>Backed into a corner, the wolfess sighs
>"Look, I...I want to say I'm sorry for how I acted. You didn't deserve that, Sher."
>It's hard to read the tigress' thoughts from her blank look
>You expect Rox to think that's enough of an apology, but she goes on
>"I'd like to come back to work," she says. “I'll do whatever you think I need to so I can make up for it."
>If this were the old Sherry-K, the tigress might have relished seeing her rival grovel before her
>But there's actually a look of relief in her eyes
>"We might have BOTH overreacted the other day, Roksa. Suspending you may have been too hasty of a punishment. After all, I can't deny the two of you work better than any pairing we have here."
>Sherry-K gives you the faintest smile she can muster
>"I only want what's best for the park," she continues, “and separating you now would only make things more difficult for everyone involved."
>"Well, I know it can't be easy for you, Sher," Rox says. “Anon told me how badly management's been riding your ass."
>Now the smile on the tigress' face turns to shock
>It's a “what else did you tell her?" sort of expression
>Dammit, Rox
>"Hey, it's all cool," Rox says. “He didn't need to tell me that. We all know the kind of shit you get put through. It's just...I guess sometimes we get a little petty and let you take it. But that's not right."
>The wolfess walks up to Sherry-K
>The tigress looks taken aback by her approach
>Rox extends a paw
>"We're on the same team, Sher, and I'd like to start acting like it, too. Can we call a truce?"
>Sherry-K takes her paw, and the two shake on it
>Chee lets out a peep of excitement that startles you a bit
>"I haven't technically submitted the paperwork for our little altercation yet," Sherry-K says. “We can put this past us, deal?"
>"You got it!"
>Rox breaks the handshake with a devious grin
>It's the kind of look that you know all too well by now
>One that worries you immensely
>"You know, I'm pretty flattered, Sher. Didn't think you really had the hots for me like that."
>Sherry-K looks at you with a mortified look
>Goddammit, Rox!
>You're on the verge of chewing Rox out yourself before she steps in
>"Relax, Anon didn't say anything too personal, Sher. I already knew you were into me."
>Sherry-K is trying vainly to recompose herself
>"O-oh? Then how did you figure it out?"
>"Well for starters, you just told me."
>The tigress stammers for a response, but the wolfess moves in closer
>Rox gives you a brief apologetic look
>She leans in and gives Sherry-K a quick kiss on the cheek
>Chee gasps loudly
>The tigress drops her clipboard
>And her professional façade as well
>"Don't you DARE say anything about 'workplace dating'," Rox warns with a smirk
>The tigress reaches up to where she was kissed
>Her paw trembles
>"Look," Rox says. “Don't think of it too much, Sher. That was a platonic kiss. I really want us to start being friends after all this, but I'm not really into girls."
>"O-of course," Sherry-K says
>"But, listen. If I WERE, you'd probably be my first choice. Honest. You have a lot going for you, missy. You just gotta open up a little more, alright?"
>Sherry-K has a sincere look of happiness on her face
>"I have an eye for that sort of thing," Rox says. “If relationship issues are bogging you down, I can probably help with that. But, I won't push it. Just know I'm here for you. We all are."
>"Yes, well...I don't know how much I can confide in the rest of the employees," Sherry-K says
>"Then don't," Rox says. “You don't have to yet. Ease up on the scowls and the strictness a bit if you can, but don't let them walk over you. Your secrets are safe with me, Sher, and we'd probably both be better off if they think we still piss each other off."
>Sherry-K nods
>"But do I...would you like me to call you 'Rox', then?"
>She looks genuinely bothered by asking that
>As if she doesn't feel like she's “earned" the permission to call the wolfess by her casual name
>"Hey, Roksa is fine," Rox shrugs. “Can't say I like it as much, but it honestly wouldn't feel right not hearing it come out of your mouth, Sher."
>"I see, very well. Now, I suppose it's time for the three of you to get ready for your shifts."
>"Hang on, Sher. There's something I wanted to ask you."
>Rox isn't really in a position to be making requests so soon, but she has her mind set on something, for sure
>"Anon's been doing a great job getting used to our little secret way of life. I think he's already prepared to see the rest of our world. Outside the park, I mean."
>Sherry-K clears her throat
>"I see. Well, he's only been with us for a week now..."
>Man, it really has been just a week, hasn't it?
>So much as already happened in such a short amount of time
>"Yeah, but this was the plan all along, right? To get connections going with the humans? I think we can trust Anon by now, but I know we're going to need the 'okay' from the big man himself. Can you get us a way to meet him?"
>Sherry-K looks a little nervous
>You're seeing all kinds of sides to her you didn't think she actually had
>"I could look into it, I suppose," the tigress says. “But I can't make any promises. Even the coordinators have to have a good reason for bothering Mr. D. Whimsey Jr."
>Rox nods in agreement
>"Whatever you can do for us, Sher. I'd really appreciate it."
>You, Rox, and Chee celebrate the victory together silently
>Just as you begin to leave, Sherry-K has one more bit of business with the wolfess
>"Roksa, hold on a moment."
>Now the three of you share concerned looks
>The two of them made up already, right?
>What now?
>"Yeah?" Rox says
>"The day you overheard management's plan to integrate us with the humans...how much else did you hear?
>"Probably more than I should be admitting," Rox chuckles weakly
>"Well, then you probably know about the mascot initiative, correct?"
>"Yeah, I have. And...?"
>Rox understands what you and Chee are completely lost about
>She seems to be waiting for a certain answer, yet dreading it at the same time
>"Roksa, I would like to put in a good word for you. To nominate you for the program."
>"Get the fuck out," Rox says in disbelief
>"I'm completely serious. You have shown to be one of our most promising performers here in the park, and it would be disingenuous of me to pass you over just because of our past differences. However...."
>There's a pleading look in Sherry-K's eyes
>"You have some obstacles in your way, specifically your track record here. Reprimands, attendance issues...you need to get better about these things before they can consider you. I want to see you get the position, I truly do. Please, please work on your work ethic more in the meantime."
>It sounds like a request Rox has probably heard hundreds of times by now, with varying degrees of anger and disappointment
>However, this time she actually takes it to heart
>"Yeah, sure. I can do that. Thanks, Sher. You coming to the Booze Cruise tomorrow? We can celebrate Anon's first full week with us!"
>Rox puts her arms around you and Chee
>"I will consider it," Sherry-K says, picking up her clipboard
>The three of you leave her office and head toward your work areas
>Chee asks what you're both thinking
>"Roxie, what's the mascot initiative thing she was talking about?"
>The wolfess grins broadly
>"I'll tell you two later."