Tender Hooves

Story by BeauxSang on SoFurry

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Max Lande attends the finest Herd school in Cliffton County. His smarts land him tutoring the school jock which leads to a most interesting bet. The results make Max realize that maybe females aren't the only pleasure out there, and all it takes is roughin' up the hooves a little. (picture not owned by me!)


Tender Hooves

Lakely Private Herd Academy was the finest school in the Cliffton County area. Anthros from seven towns over fought fur and teeth to be accepted at Lakely. Everyone wanted into Lakely. Every anthro but one. Max Lande was an eighteen year old buck and a senior. He wanted nothing more than to get out of Cliffton County. Max was smart and breezed through his classes with ease, coming out at the top of his class every year. Everyone knew that he was sure to be valedictorian at graduation. But even with his brains, he wasn't popular. He would never be Prom King, or head of the football team. He ran track, because it was required to be proficient in one sport to qualify for valedictorian. Max was a loner at Lakely. He had one friend who stuck by him through it all. Eli Wray was in the same class as Max but failed at nearly everything he tried to do. He barely squeaked by in his classes though he tried just as hard as anyone else.

Max and Eli had been there for each other since grade school. There mothers had often exchanged recipes and left Eli and Max to play together when the boys were younger. There mothers enrolled them into the same school and continued there cooking dates up until mid December two years previous. The news was sudden as was the death of Max's mother because of an icy road and a semi that was too tall to travel under the bridge. She saw the semi too late and the ice made the car slide with the brakes floored. The car was crushed beneath the semi and Max's mom died nearly instantly. Eli's mom took it hard and started using and drinking again. Max's dad now never left his office at Benzelite Corp. Max and Eli spent nearly all of there spare time together as there parents were often too preoccupied to care. They were both seniors now and in only one semester they would graduate and they both planned on going to college together. They planned out there entire futures, because best friends are supposed to stick together forever.

Tutor

Max finished scratching out the end of his essay and flipped the notebook shut. He leaned back in his desk and quietly chewed on the end of his eraser, listening to the tick of the clock and the hurried scratching of pencils around him. Fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine, and three-O'clock. The bell rang and chairs scraped and papers crumpled as students hurriedly gathered up there things.

"Students! Put your finished essays in the basket by the door and have a good weekend!" Max stood up and stretched, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and headed towards the door. "Oh, Mr. Lande and Mr. Valance, Can I speak to you both for a minute?" Max paused at the door and dropped his notebook into the basket. Someone shouldered past him, slapping there notebook in the basket angrily.

"Out of the way Tender Hooves. Better not be late for practice."

"Mr. Valance, you both will be late for practice If you walk out that door. Now, I need to speak to both of you." The teacher barked. Max noticed Eli standing in the hallway, give a questionable look. Max rolled his eyes and jerked a thumb towards the classroom. Eli nodded and Max smiled at his best friend. Ashton groaned beside him and spun around, arms crossed. Ashton Valance was a big shot at Lakely. He was head of the football team and on the track team with Max. He was also a huge jerk and picked on Max any chance he could along with his group of idiot cronies who were also on the football team. Max turned around slowly and walked over to the teacher Mr. Lanes.

"Yes, Mr. Lanes?" Max asked.

"Yes, well, it has come to my attention Mr. Valance that if you do not pass the English final exam in two weeks that you will fail my class. Which, as you should be aware would mean that you wont be making it to any practices next semester if you fail. So, I have deemed it necessary for you to be assigned a tutor. Which..."

"What?! Come on Lanes!" Mr. Lanes held up his hand for silence.

"Which, as I was saying, is why Max will be tutoring you. Mr. Lande has the highest grade of all my students in this class and would be the perfect one to tutor you Mr. Valance. Now, if you two will put aside your differences, I'm sure you'll find all of this to be quite acceptable. Here is all of the missing assignments that you need to make up as well Mr. Valance." Mr. Land placed a large stack of papers on the edge of his desk. Max gaped.

"Sir, no offense, but there is no way i'm tutoring this idiot box of rocks." Ashton turned on Max and grabbed the front of his shirt, making a fist.

"Is that so Tender Hooves? Well why don't I just..."

"That is enough!" Mr. Lanes shouted as he yanked them both apart. "You two will be working together for the next two weeks and that's final! Now, if you want to fight about it, do it in the school yard, not in my classroom. Now, good day, both of you!" Ashton glared angrily and snatched up the pile of papers and stalked out of the classroom. Mr. Land shrugged at Max.

"Well, I suggest you work out with him when to start. He has tons of homework that needs turned in as well as a test to prepare for. Good day." Max shook his head and left the classroom, shutting the door quietly behind him. Ashton was standing in the hallway. He shoved the papers into Max's hands.

"Better get started Tender Hooves. This is the last thing I need is to have to study with you nerd brain! You better get me that good grade on that test or you can be sure I'll pummel you dead!" Max was seething and he threw the papers on the floor.

"No, Ashton. You better meet me in the library every day at lunch period to do this shit yourself! Because if you don't then you won't be captain of the football team or lead in track this year. Oh, and I bet Victoria Mire won't even consider going with you for Prom Queen, considering the fact that if you lose your position, no one will even consider voting for you. So, you think on that before you go ordering me around." Ashton opened his mouth to retort and shut it again.

"I'll get you for this Tender Hooves. You just fucking wait." He stormed away grumbling angrily to himself. Max shook his head and leaned back against a locker.

"Wow, I haven't seen Ashton that pissed off in a while. So, you get to tutor his idiot brain eh?" Max shook his head and smiled as Eli sauntered over to him.

"Yeah. I guess so. But unfortunatly, from the sound of it, he cares too much about his precious popularity status that I think he might actually go through with it." Eli smiled and wrapped an arm around Max's shoulders.

"He's totally afraid you'll make him fail. Damn, you finely have advantage over that jerk. You could so play this up. I mean, how many years have you wanted to get back at that asshole?" Max chuckled.

"Ever since grade school when he poured milk on my head."

"So see, this is a golden opportunity my friend. You got this in the bag! Now, lets get onto the field before Coach has our hooves on a silver platter." Max smiled.

"Race you?"

"Your on." Eli cracked his neck and kissed his fingers pressing them to his antlers for luck. They looked at each other and took off down the hallway. Max bolted ahead and shoved open the school doors and blinked away the bright sunlight as he and Eli pounded on towards the track field.

The Bet

Max groaned and flopped his head down on the lunch table. The two weeks of tutoring Ashton was nearly up. The Semester English exam was after lunch and there was just no way Ashton would be able to pass.

"Well, look at it this way Max, at least after today you'll be done with his stupid ass. And, you won't have to deal with him in track anymore." Eli said.

"Yeah, Gods, these two weeks have been fucking hell. He is literally as stupid as a fucking box of rocks. Do you know what he said yesterday? He had the audacity to say that he knew he would pass the exam today! I told him straight up that even with all of the homework he turned in he would still need to score an eighty or higher to pass the class. He got all pissy and bet me that he would pass. So, what did my dumb ass do? I took the bet..."

"Well, there's absolutely no way he's going to win the bet. So, you don't have to worry there. But, just out of curiosity what did he bet?" Eli asked curiously.

"Well, If I win, he admits I'm smarter than him and he stops calling me tender hooves all the time, and will leave me alone at track." Max sighed and Eli raised his eyebrows.

"And, if he were to somehow win?"

"If he wins, I have to prove I'm not a tender hoof and go into Club Buckland and get one of the strippers to give me one of there famous leather collars." Eli blanched.

"Dude... that's fucking crazy. Why would he ask for something so steep? He's gotta know he has no hope of passing, right. Or is his head that full of rocks that he's way overconfident?"

"I don't know man. But anyways, I gotta get to English and take that stupid test. Results come back Monday so we'll see."

"It'll be fine Max. You've got this in the bag remember? I'll see you at track, kay? And if that dumb ass does somehow pull this off at least you'll get an awesome night checking out hot girls stripping for you." Max smirked at his friends cheek.

"Yeah I guess there's that, later." Max dumped his tray and made his way to classroom 12A.

He sat down at his usual desk near the front of the classroom and pulled out his pencils and scratch paper. Mr. Lane walked in with a stack of papers and set them on his desk.

"Alright students, today is the semester exam as you all should be aware. Please don't flip them over until I say so." He walked in between the rows of desks and glanced up as Ashton sauntered into the classroom.

"Nice of you to join us Mr. Lande. Take your seat." Ashton blew a kiss to a girl in the hallway and winked at her as he headed to his desk. Max rolled his eyes and picked up his pencil as Mr. Land placed a test in front of him face down. He stole a glance at Ashton who was looking smug and twirling his pencil between his fingers.

"Alright, you may flip over your tests and begin. You have until the bell to finish. When you are done, sit quietly and place them in the basket beside the door on your way out. Good luck." Max flipped over his test and hunkered down over it. His eyes scanned every question and a slight giddy feeling bubbled in his chest as he realized that by this time tomorrow Ashton would stop calling him tender hooves and finely leave him alone at track.

Max's pencil flew across the pages and as the hour ticked by and he neared the end he grew even more confidant. He glanced at the clock, only five minutes to go. He breezed through the last page and half and shut the booklet with a satisfied smile. "And, fifty-eight, fifty-nine...." Max smiled as the bell rang and he rose from his seat. He grabbed his bag and walked to the door and dropped his test in the basket.

The hallways were crowded as students rushed towards there lockers to grab there things and leave. Max weaved around students as he made his way to his locker. He spun his combination and put away his books and took out his track outfit.

Max walked out of the male locker room and his eyes were instantly drawn to Casey Clark who was stretching on the green. Her white t-shirt hugged her D-cup breasts perfectly and her red shorts emphasized her perfect round ass. Casey Clark was a junior at Lakely and was like a super model dropped into a teenagers frame. She was probably the most sought after girl at Lakely but she was apparently too good for anyone.

"Damn, Casey's lookin' smokin' today." Eli commented as he walked out of the locker room and stood beside Max.

"Hell yeah she is."

"God, she would be so hot as a stripper. Those tits man, I tell ya. I could so eat that little doe up! Whoop whoop!" Max rolled his eyes at his friend.

"You know she thinks she's too good for anyone at Lakely right? You'd totally be wasting your time."

"Yeah, I know. But can you just imagine that ass bouncing in front of you on a stripper pole. Heh, heh. Bet you want her all over a different pole though. I know how hot you are for her man." Max grinned and punched Eli in the arm.

"Shut up man! And don't you deny your hot for her to. Better get running to get that major hard on to go down." Eli's eyes widened and he looked down at his shorts.

"Oh, fuck off, dick." He griped playfully and then jogged towards the green to stretch. Max shook his head and watched as Ashton sauntered over to Casey and the other cheerleaders and strutted around. Max rolled his eyes and followed Eli towards the green. He had to admit, she would be the sexiest stripper alive.

After track, Max caught a ride with Eli home. Eli said he couldn't stay because his mom would be mad if chores didn't get done. So Max entered his house alone. He walked into the kitchen and pulled a not off of the refrigerator.

Had to stay late at the office again.

Pizza in the freezer.

Hope the test went well.

Dad

Max sighed and crumpled the note, tossing it in the trash. "Thanks dad." He said glumly and opened the freezer. "Well, looks like its mac n' cheese again." Max glared at the empty freezer and slammed it shut.

A while later Max walked into his room with a bowl of mac n' cheese and set it down on the side table. He flopped onto the bed with a groan. He thought about tomorrow and he couldn't wait to see the look on Ashton's face when he got his test back and he failed. It would be such sweet victory to hear him say the words you're smarter than me Max, afterwards.

"That's gonna be so sweet." He mumbled. His mind drifted to track and Casey floated into his head. "But she would be sweeter..." He smirked at what Eli had said about what she would look like on a stripper pole. The image danced tantalizingly in his mind and he found himself getting aroused at the thought of those soft breasts and sweet round ass dancing for him. He let his hand slide into his shorts and he grasped his erection, moaning slightly as his fingers felt the thick veins grow more prominent the harder he got. He pumped his hand slowly imagining her luscious breast bouncing in that sexy tight t-shirt. He watched behind closed eyes as her hands gripped the edges and she pulled it off her body; her nipples erect like sensitive little rosebuds. She traced a manicured pink fingernail down his chest and dragged her sexy black panties down her legs. Her smooth ass bounced to some distant song and she spread her legs, dipping those pretty little manicured fingers into her slick wet pussy. Max pressed his head back into his pillow and he groaned as his hot seed spilled out onto his hand and down his cock. He pulled his hand out of his shorts and licked his slick fingers, fantasizing about how her succulent juices would taste. He let his hand drop to the comforter and her image went fuzzy as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Club Buckland

After having studied his history notes for nearly two hours Max looked up in surprise as a horn honked outside. He went to his bedroom window and pulled back the curtain and saw Eli's Rampage parked in front of his house. Max sighed and headed out of the house towards his friends car. He opened the door and flopped down on the seat.

"Are you really going to hold me to this Eli?" Max asked. Eli nodded and pulled away from the curb.

"Yep, this is your chance to prove Ashton wrong and show him your no tender hoof. He doesn't think your brave enough to walk into Club Buckland. That's why he chose it for the bet. I overheard him bragging about it in the bathroom after school. Look, its just a strip club. Lots of pretty ladies. Whoop!" Max smiled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Actually, its not a girls strip club... its a gay strip club." Eli flipped out slamming on the breaks hard at a stop sign.

"WHAT!? Its a gay strip club... shit, your kidding me?" Max shook his head.

"No, Ashton bombed it on me after the stupid test. God, I never should've taken that stupid bet."

"Man, ok, I know it will be even more humiliation from Ashton and his cronies, but don't go through with it. Dude, a gay strip club. That's just.... unnatural."

"Eli, you know I've got to. Ashton will terrorize me for the rest of my life if I don't man!" Eli shook his head and pulled into a parking spot.

"I wouldn't do it for a million bucks Max. But, its your honor. I support you either way bro." Max smiled.

"Thanks man. Well, here goes." They got out of the car and walked into Prowlers Diner. Neon lights and signs flickered with age on nearly every wall. And what wall space wasnt glowing eerily pink or green was plastered with old fifties and sixties posters and signs boasting about the good ol' days. Max and Eli slid into their usual booth and the waitress Sadi sauntered over to them.

"Hello boys, the usual?" Eli nodded to her and she walked off hollering towards the kitchen.

"Eugene! Couple of root beers and sloppy fries!" The grizzled old lion poked his head out from the order window.

"Comin' up Sadi!"

The bell over the door rang and Max watched with unease as Ashton and his friends sidled into the diner. Ashton smiled wickedly as he spotted Max and Eli across the room and they made there way towards them.

"Well, well, consider me surprised. Max actually decided to show." Ashton taunted. Max glared at him.

"Yeah, I did. Now lets get this shit over with." Ashton smirked and pulled out his phone.

"Buckland opens in six minutes at ten o'clock. Your going to walk over there and go in. Stay for an hour and bring me back a collar."

"So what if he does?! What does it prove? Yeah you passed the stupid test but come on Ashton?" Eli raged at him. Ashton smirked.

"Okay, fine. You do this, it proves you aren't a tender hoof and I'll stop calling you it. Deal?" Eli and Max exchanged surprised looks. Max glared at Ashton.

"Deal. I'll get your stupid collar." Sadi walked over and placed two plates of chili-cheese fries and two glasses of root beer in front of them. Ashton reached over and snatched away Max's plate.

"Its two minutes till. Better get going. I'll just watch these for you while your gone." Max sighed and stood. He took a sip of his rootbeer and then headed towards the door. He looked out across the street at the flashing red sign boasting Club Buckland, The Hottest Hooves in Cliffton County!

Max groaned and pushed open the door and headed across the dimly lit street. He glanced back towards Prowlers and could see Ashton and his cronies watching him with arms crossed and smirks on their muzzles. It will be worth it, he kept telling himself as he came ever closer to the club. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. Instantly he was assaulted by a wave of pounding, throbbing music. He walked up to the counter and an aged Reindeer glanced up at him.

"Evening, I.D." Max pulled out his walled and handed his over his I.D. The deer looked it over and handed it back. "What'll ya have?"

"Uh just a coke. How much?" Max asked, thumbing through the cash in his wallet.

"I'll run ya a tab. Five bucks per every hundred spent. Pick it up when ya leave."

"Uh, okay." The deer handed him a glass of coke and then turned away.

Max looked around the club and spotted a secluded table near the wall and fairly close to the stage. Several male bucks walked around clad only in black speedos. To his disappointment none of them wore the black leather collars. He took a seat at the small wooden table and sipped his coke. The stage was dark and there were only a handful of men sitting at neighboring tables.

The lights above the stage suddenly came on and swirled the dim room with vibrant colors. A voice arose over the intercom.

"Goodevening all, the time has come for tonight's entertainment! Better wet those throats with a drink from the bar because you are gunna get parched with our first number of the evening. Now, coming on stage for your pleasure and entertainment, the dreamy Rutter!" A well muscled elk wearing a black leather vest and shiny dark blue shorts stepped on stage. A sexy rhythmic song began and the elk began to dance. Max's cheeks flared, this was so embarrassing! God, what was he even doing here? He wasn't fucking gay! He swallowed hard and took a drink of coke. "Just be cool Max." He said under his breath. "You've gotta stick this through." He desperately wanted to leave but remained resolute in his seat. "You've just gotta stay for an hour, that's all. Just figure out how to get a collar and get out of here, then you never have to set hoof in here again." He scanned the stage and watched as Rutter sidled up to a male ram and bucked his hips in the ram's face. He crouched down and the ram and tucked a dollar into the leather band on Rutter's thigh. Rutter rubbed his hands on the ram's neck seductively pushing his muzzle into his crotch. He rubbed his shorts against the ram's cheek. Max's face was on fire and he had to look away. He sipped at his coke willing the floor to just swallow him. The song changed and Max stole a glance at the stage. To his horror, the elk had discarded his vest and was sexily pulling down the skin tight shorts, revealing a large, very erect dick.

Max wanted to run, he had never seen another man's penis in his life! He got up and headed towards the bar. He placed both hands on the counter and stared at the door, fighting with himself.

"What can I getcha?"

"What?" Max asked, distracted by the turmoil raging inside his mind.

"What do you want to drink?" The bartender asked again. Max looked up at him.

"Oh, uh, well..." Max stammered slightly and sighed as the loud speaker announced the next dancer. He couldn't allow himself to leave without a collar.

"Another coke." He told the bartender glumly and grudgingly made his way back to the table and sat down.

"And coming to the stage is our favorite famous hottie, Prince!" Several whoops and hollers arose from the crowd. Max looked towards the stage as a huge toned buck walked on stage. His rack was even more impressive than Max's dads. He wore studded leather arm and thigh bands and a tight black thong that barely contained a massive bulge. The stage lights glinted off of the silver studs and Max's eye was drawn to the sparkling at the bucks thick throat. He wore a thick black collar with a silver antler insignia pinned to the front. Max was sweating, how the hell was he supposed to get a stripper to give him a collar. He couldn't just walk up and say hi, my names Max and a bully from school pressured me into coming here just to get one of your collars. So, can I have one please?

Max shook his head at the hilarity of it all. How was he even supposed to get close to one? He gulped, eyeing the seats around the stage where Prince was now starting to dance. He eyed the muscular stag and mused over the strippers name, Prince. He couldn't deny that the stag was an incredibly sexy and almost elegant dancer, so perhaps Prince did suit him. Max found himself transfixed by Prince's dancing. He felt something he never had before, true envy. Max lifted his chin defiantly and stood. He sauntered up to the stage as casually as he could and sat down in a chair. The Ram from earlier gave him a once over and winked. Max blinked, uncertain how to respond and decided with a wary smile. He turned his attention to the stage where Prince was faced away from him, grinding against the pole and gyrating his bare ass sexily. He turned around and his eyes instantly locked with Max. He smiled sultrily and crouched down directly in front of him.

"Well, here's a new face I haven't seen. Got a name Tender Hooves?" Prince asked in silky tone. Max swallowed, he was sure he looked terrified.

"Uh... It's Max." He stammered uneasily. Prince smiled.

"Max, eh? Well, I'm Prince and I am honored to make your aquaintance Max." He reached down and pulled Max's hand to his muzzle and kissed it. Max jumped and jerked his back. Prince pursed his lips and gently placed his hands on Max's shoulders.

"You are way to tense tender hooves." He massaged gently, never leaving Max's gaze. "Just relax and enjoy the sensations around you." He gently caressed Max's cheek and Max was too shell shocked to react. This man... this stripper was touching him so intimatly. The music... the thrumming atmosphere... it was all so... so sexy. Prince released his hold on Max and began to sway and gyrate slowly while crouched in front of him. Max swallowed, thinking he should probably pay Prince since he was stupid enough to come up to the stage.

Max pulled a dollar out of his wallet and reached towards Prince, sliding the dollar into the leather thigh strap. Prince's fur was incredibly soft against Max's fingertips and he allowed them to linger. Prince smiled and leaned in close to Max's ear.

"You are incredibly handsome tender hooves. Thanks." He placed a kiss on Max's cheek and was gone in the blink of an eye. Max's hand fell to his lap and his stared at where Prince had been just moments earlier. He let his eyes refocus and watched as Prince danced against the pole again. His long graceful fingers hooked the edges of his black thong and he began sliding it down his thighs. Max's eyes widened and he realized how parched he was. He quickly averted his eyes from the dancer and slipped back to his table, taking a long drink from his glass of coke. He stared down at the wood grain of the table, not looking up at the stage as he really didn't want to see what the muscular stag looked like without his thong. He eyed his glass and considered getting up for another when the urge to urinate pushed at his bladder. He glanced around the room and saw the restroom sign near the back of the club. He stood and headed towards the doors. He pushed it open and let it fall closed behind him and was grateful for the muffled semi-quiet room. He walked over to the urinal and unzipped his fly to relieve himself. He sighed as he finished and washed his hands at the sink, staring into the mirror.

"How the fuck are you gunna pull this off?" He pulled his phone out of his pocket and peeked at the time. It was 11:30. Max groaned and hung his head. This was hopeless.

The Dressing Room

Max pushed open the door to the bathroom and was nearly plowed over by a large reindeer opening the door at the end of the hall.

"Hey!" Max hollered as the reindeer careened into him. The reindeer turned around in surprise.

"God, sorry man!" He apologized. Max grimaced and nodded, rubbing his shoulder.

"Its all good. Don't sweat it." The reindeer nodded and then walked off down the hall, his tail bouncing slightly in the thong he wore. Max's face heated up again as he watched the deer walk off towards the stage and he glanced back to the door the deer had come out of. The sign on it read Private. An idea sparked in Max's head and he glanced around and approached the door. He quietly opened it and peered into the room beyond. He slipped in and shut the door behind him. There was an open doorway across the hall that looked like it might be a dressing room and several rooms side by side closed off with curtains. Max made his way cautiously down the hall and listened intently as he neared the dressing room. He didn't hear anything and peeked into the room. Empty. Good. He walked in and scanned around. There were sparkly sequins thongs, leather ass-less chaps, vests, white button down shirts and a multitude of other sexy clothing items. He hurried over to the clothing racks and began sifting through them looking for a black collar. Outfits were piled on chairs around the room and the vanities looked disastrous with makeup and other accessories scattered everywhere. Max sighed and his fingers itched to start cleaning. It was a nervous habit he had picked up from his mother. His ears twitched as the door at the other end of the hall suddenly opened.

"Yeah yeah Rut, don't get your antlers in a twist, I'll get it!"

"Oh fuck!" Max hissed and quickly scanned the room for a place to hide. He darted last minute behind an overstuffed clothes rack. A large buck entered the room and to Max's horror he realized it was Prince. Prince sifted through the mess on a vanity and picked up a small container of gold glitter, unscrewing the lid and dusting it on his neck and chest. He shoved aside several costumes and flopped down on a chair directly in Max's line of site. Max silently cursed himself and hoped Prince would leave soon.

Prince reached around his neck and took off the black leather collar setting it on the vanity beside him. He reached down and slid his hand into the tight black thong pulling it down to reveal his thick member. Max's eyes widened and his heart thundered in his ears. Fuck, what the hell was he supposed to do now. He tried to avert his eyes but his head was locked in place. He just couldn't tear his eyes away. Max watched as Prince slid a nearly invisible cock ring over his dick and balls. He began stroking his thick cock in a steady rhythm getting faster and harder with each passing second. Max's heart hammered relentlessly and he tried unsuccessfully to quell the feelings of arousal that were starting to emerge. Prince let out a small groan and sucked in a breath as he stopped masturbating. He managed to tuck his swelled member back into the tight black thong and stood. Max held his breath, his eyes wide as prince left the dressing room. "Now's my chance" Max thought and slowly crept out from behind the rack of clothing. He eyed the black choker and quickly grabbed a thigh strap from a nearby pile. He picked up the black choker and put the thigh strap in its place and turned to leave.

"Damn it, I always forget that fucking thing." Max froze in place as Prince walked back into the room. Prince stopped in his tracks, confusion written all over his face.He eyed Max and then glanced down at the choker in his hand.

"I think you have something that belongs to me kid." Prince approuched him and held out his hand. Max handed him the collar. "Now, I don't have time to hear your explanation because I was supposed to be on stage two minutes ago. You are going to stay in this room until I'm done with my next number. And don't even think about leaving." Max nodded numbly and Prince turned and left.

Max began to shake. "Shit, shit, shit, shit! Oh man, what the fuck am I going to do?!" His mouth felt dry and he felt queasy. He began pacing around the room, picking up clothing, rearranging the vanities, cleaning up spilled makeup, and clearing off all the chairs and couches at lightning speed.He was terrified out of his mind and nervous as hell. He felt so stupid for even thinking it was a good idea to come back here. He was sweeping a pile of glitter and rouge into his hand when Prince came back into the room. Max spun around.

"I am so sorry! Please don't arrest me!" Prince crossed his arms and pointed to a chair.

"Shut up and sit." Max closed his mouth and said down in a chair. Prince pulled a chair over and plopped down across from him. "Okay Max, this is just as awkward for me as it is for you. You realize that I could call the cops and get you arrested for trespassing and theft, right?" Max's throat went dry. Shit, he was in so much trouble.

"Y-yes sir."

"Okay. Now, I am not going to do that as long as you can answer me three questions." Max nodded mutely. "First, what are you doing in a strip club dressing room?" Max took a deep breath.

"I guess I should just be honest about all of this."

"Yeah, honesty would be a good thing." Max swallowed.

"Well, You see I go to Lakely Private Herd school. Um, there's this guy in my class, Ashton whose a huge bully and he was super pissed because I got assighned as his tudor and he made this bet you see. The bet was that he could pass the upcoming test and I didn't believe him because he's stupider than a box of rocks so I took it, and if he won I had to come here and... and convince a stripper to give me a black collar to prove that I wasn't a tender hoof to him and all his friends. So, yeah, um." Prince nodded.

"You are one stupid kid." Max glared at him.

"I am not a fucking kid! I'm nineteen years old damnit!" Prince threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Woah, woah chill out man! Now, you gotta admit that it was a pretty stupid idea. For one thing: I can tell you are terrified of the idea of being in a male strip club. For another: sneaking into a private dressing room to steal said collar was bound to get you in trouble. So, why the hell did you think any of it was a good idea? I mean, you could've just backed out of the bet entirely." Max shook his head.

"No! I am sick and tired of Ashton calling me tender hooves all the time! I have been his doormat for years! I'm sick and tired of his shit! I just wanted it to be over. Fuck, I don't know." his ears drooped and he hung his head in defeat.

"Ok, ok. I get it, the whole revenge thing. But, this was a really stupid way to go about it. But, you answered my question. So, next question: did you clean this dressing room all by yourself in only the half an hour I was on stage?" Max looked up, confused by the question.

"Well, yeah. I clean when I'm anxious or nervous." Prince scratched his chin and nodded.

"Ok then, its decided." Max looked worried.

"W-what is?"

"Since you seem to like bets, i've got a deal for you if you think your man enough to handle it."

"Yeah, I'll do anything. Just please don't call the cops." Prince smirked.

"I wont tender hooves." Max grimaced as he called him that again. Even here he was considered soft. "So, this dressing room is cleaner than i've seen it in years and you did it in half a fucking hour. So, here's my deal: Club Buckland could use someone to help with the upkeep around here. You would get paid to work and three fourths of that would go towards fixing up the club. Now, to pay for this little stunt tonight, I am going to give beers to every patron here tonight and run it on your tab which you will also pay off by working here. You attend Lakely so I assume you're available by five each night? The club opens at ten every night. You would work from five to eleven every day of the week except Sunday when we're closed. Does that sound fair to you?" Max couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Wait a minute. You want to give me a job? A-after I trespassed? What? Why?"

"Because you honestly don't look like the sort of Anthro I see hanging around in strip clubs. Plus your still young. You make stupid mistakes when your young and I'm willing to give you a chance."

"Uh... ok. Yeah, I'll do it." Prince nodded and smiled extending his hand which Max took.

"Good. I'll let Carson, my co-manager know that we have a new employee. I'll see you here at five o'clock Monday. And here." He tossed Max the black collar he had been wearing. "Tell that show-offy asshole to fuck off, compliments of Prince O'Dare. And I expect that collar back on Monday by the way. I has my name on it." Max glanced at the inside of the collar and sure enough, Prince O'Dare was signed on the inside.

Prince stood and escorted Max to the front of the club. He pulled the older reindeer bartender to the side and they whispered in conversation for a while before approaching Max. "Max, this is Carson Tames, co-manager of Club Buckland." Max extended his hand and Carson shook it.

"Your one lucky son of a bitch kid. I'll put you to work on Monday at five sharp. Don't be late or we may reconsider that phone call." He gave Max a severe eye and Max nodded rapidly.

"Yes of course sir, I won't be late sir."

"And stop with that sir shit. Just call me Carson. Now get outta here kid." Max nodded and quickly left the strip club hurrying across the street towards Prowlers. Eli was not going to believe this.