The Slups A Night to Remember

[Silvertongue Songfox]

"I don't like to take advantage of other beasts." Silvertongue said flatly. "And if they want to take advantage of me, that's their choice."

He looked Falun in the eyes. "At the end of the day, they're the ones who have to sleep with the weight of their actions on their souls. Not me."

Silvertongue knew his words fell on deaf ears. He was saying it more to himself than to Falun. He could tell that the golden furred fox was trying to tempt him, and he needed to hold firm in his beliefs.

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

Falun shrugged at Silvertongue's adamant reply. "Suit yerself. Y' can lead a crab t' water bu' can't make it jump in, an' all 'at." He puffed on his cigar for a few seconds, considering Silvertongue carefully. "If'n ya 'ad yer way, wha' would ya do wiv' yerself? Wha's yer 'I've made it' momen' look like?"

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue sighed, and he sat back in the chair. His brow furrowed. "You know... I've never thought of that. Like, if I had all the money I could ever want? Well... I'd make sure my friends are taken care of. Anything they need, I would pay for. Then, I'd buy a big house. Big enough that I could have a family of my own one day."

He leaned forward. "I'd still do street performances, of course. It would be nice to do it without having to subtly beg for money for once."

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

Falun nodded along with Silvertongue's narrative of his ambition, toying with the cigar in his paw, tilting it this way and that. "It's a good ambition," he allowed. "It's wha' my ol' man did fer th' Tazzis, back in th' day. 'E gave 'em a home, took care of 'em. 'E gave me a purpose, t' do the same fer a new Family." He shrugged as he added, "I ain' a villain, Silv. I see 'ow ya look at me, bu' jus' cause I chase th' dream rough-like don' mean ih' ain' th' same dream. I'd really like ta take care a' ya too, if ye'd let me."

The waiter and a colleague arrived with their meals, setting down the house salad, as well as a small dish of Alkamarian dressing and a bottle of oil and vinegar, in front of Silvertongue, followed by the white wine spritzer. Falun licked his lips as a plate of roast pheasant was set down before him, sprigs of parsley and oregano delicately framing it on a bed of thin lemon slices. "Excellent as always, Clive," he addressed the waiter as the latter topped up his wine.

He picked up his fork and knife and began to dig in, glancing across the table at Silvertongue's salad. "How is it?" he inquired, raising a piece of bird to his mouth.

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue was admittedly impressed by the presentation of the salad. He took of hos gloves, something Falun had rarely see him do before, and drizzled some of the oil and vinegar onto the lettuce and tomatoes. Taking his fork, he took a tenative bite of the salad, nodding in approval. "It's... good. Hold on." He took the bowl of dressing and spread it over the salad, before trying another bite. "The dressing really sells it. I haven't had a decent salad in ages."

Silvertongue pulled out an embroidered pawkerchief to wipe his lips.

"Falun, you say that you want to take care of me. Do you mean just financially, or do you want me as a romantic partner? You know, I've seen the way you look at me, as well."

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

It was hard to say exactly how Falun managed to draw on his cigar incorrectly; after all, the smoke was meant to be drawn into the lungs, and he was clearly well-practiced at it. Nonetheless, his eyes widened as Silvertongue asked the question, and he fell to coughing for a few moments, ash drifting from the lit end of the cigar and onto his gull. He thumped his chest twice, getting his breathing back in order before addressing the question.

"Well naw," he remarked, his voice still wheezing a bit, "I suppose 'at depends a bit on wha' ya want, naw don' ih'? I mean," he waved his cigar, "I seen ya wiv' Greeneye, an' I don' mean t' disparage, bu'... well, ih' don' seem like 'e treats ya righ', dozzit? 'E shouldn' be mockin' ya all th' time, draggin' ya int' 'is debts, takin' ya fer gran'ed. A real male takes care a' 'is lovers, sees 'em dressed well, wantin' fer nothin'." He smiled at Silvertongue as he remarked, "I think I can do 'at fer ya much be'er 'an 'e can. Ya deserve t' be pampered, adored, nah dragged through th' muck on accoun' a' one ungrateful rat."