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*Bwooodoodoodoodoodoodoodooo* CALL FROM ERIK COSTELLA: ACCEPT "Ben here".

"Ben we have some complications." The mage sounded ragged.

Ben jumped out of his seat, startling his roommate who had been reading from a tablet in bed. "How complicated?!" Ben barked, pacing into the living room.

"Physically, the situation is under control but PR is stressed. Alex just found Keith and I in a questionable position and now he thinks all three of us are on heroin." Erik relayed, confused that he said all this with a straight face.

"What?" The knight asked, puzzled "How in the world did that happen? What were you two doing?"

Erik thought it best to ignore the question and answer around it. "Keith just blurted it out so his boyfriend would believe he wasn't being cheated on. You got dragged into it since all three of us went camping."

"You've got to be kidding me." The lion took a hand to his face in disbelief. "Didn't you hear about what being with him did to Alex? He's bad news. I don't really care what you want to do but if he does anything to you that's more of a mess for me to clean up. And why am I suddenly a heroin addict?!" His suite mates stopped in their tracks for a moment, listening.

"We were a tired mess, I don't know what goes through Keith's head he just started going on about how you ration him drugs and have been getting high together for years." Erik started gathering his supplies off the ground. "You still have time to think of a story, they just left. I just wanted to give you the heads up so you could be prepared in case Alex comes looking for you."

"Thanks I guess. Did he uh, you know?" Ben asked quietly, he felt super awkward with people listening in.

"Yeah a little, we got it under control pretty well. No singed sheets or anything. I think he'll be ok with that going forward as long as his partner knows what's going on. As far as Alex goes, at least he doesn't know what's going on."

"Ok. I'll have an intervention, nip this in the bud." Ben determined, massaging his temple. "Come over at 9 tonight. I'll be quick about it." END CALL.

Ben spoke up "Alright I know you all heard that. I need the living room from 9 to 10. Freshie drama from a family friend. Sorry guys."

DIAL > RECENT > KEITH ******* "Ring, Ring...Hi Ben" Keith answered slyly as though expecting to get an ear full.

"Erik gave me a briefing, you and Alex are to be at my place at 9. That's an order."

"Ok. Alex, Ben wants to talk to us tonight at 9, his place. He sounds serious can you come with me?" a moment passed. "We'll be there."

"Good. And Keith keep it in your pants for god's sake. I don't need another person in the hospital because of you." CALL ENDED.

Keith raised an eyebrow, impressed that Erik covered things up so well.

---

Alex assisted Keith back to his room where they found a familiar looking wolf in hyper-baggy black pants, a tight leather jacket, and denim vest with fluffy lining. The stranger was sitting in front of his door, vigorously bobbing his head to whatever was playing in his headphones. He looked up and stood as he removed the headphones while they approached, silencing the mp3 player concealed in his hand. "Oh, is this a bad time?"

"Who are you?" Alex asked accusingly.

"I'm Dexter, I left you a message. Oh you might know me as Stripper." He responded to the ocelot. They didn't recognize either name.

"Yeah it's a bad time. Do you mind?" He said shoving himself and Keith into the doorway.

Keith stood up straighter against the wall and handed Alex his keys. "Why were you waiting for me?" he asked trying to sound less sickly.

"I've been trying to get in touch with you for a while. I wanted to talk about some private things. Regarding our heredity." The wolf said with shifty eyes.

Alex got the door open and was trying to maneuver Keith through it. The lizard struggled against his cat, trying to figure out the strange wolf. 'He doesn't look native, he looks like a younger techno Viking from that internet video'.

"I'm sorry, It is a bad time." The skink relented, nodding at Alex. "I'll let you know when I get a chance to talk. Uh, email me. P-H-I-L-L-I-K-S."

Alex got his boyfriend in the door and into his chair then guarded the doorway, trying to broaden his chest in vain. "Keith doesn't need a bombshell right now. Watch yourself." *Slam!* The feline turned back to the exhausted spirit with a sigh.

"Let's get you cleaned up a little, you're filthy. C'mon, shirt off." He helped Keith get his shirt off over his head. It was stained with dirt and ash, leaves and debris clung to the fabric. "Oh god" He gasped. "What's happened to you!?" Keith had always been very lean but in this state he could pass as a mummy. Even his white scales were clumping off in patches. "Keith, you're. There's nothing left of you. How could it be so bad?" Alex had broken into a cry.

"I'm sorry Alex. I was weak. Ben'll get this all sorted out. I shouldn't have disobeyed him. Please hear him out. This is hard to deal with and you don't deserve to be burned by me after tonight.

Alex took Keith's head to his chest and hugged the dirty lizard sobbing "I'm here for you. Just keep opening up, keep being honest. We'll see this through." Keith felt like a tool for making up so many lies to keep Alex in the dark.

They ate another candy bar each with some water and, slinking into the communal bathroom, began showering. The shower stalls were two chambers with a curtain before each. The first chamber contained a bench made of wooden slats while the second was a 5'x5' square with a stationary showerhead that spat water in no useful direction. Keith managed to get his pants off with help and hung them from a hook across from him along with towels and Alex's clothes. He sat naked on the bench next to his toiletries. Alex started the water and gently scrubbed the dirt, ash, and dead skin/scale off of his boyfriend with a wash cloth that required constant rinsing from the showerhead.

Keith spoke quietly although the other two stalls were empty. "I can do this." He pleaded.

"You'll take too long. Besides you need to save your energy. I don't know exactly what you're going through but you washed me when I was unwell, I'll do the same for you. Left leg."

Keith raised his leg with more effort than he expected. He was filthy, how was Alex not questioning all of this shiny black residue that was under his clothes? He hadn't become as manifested as he did while camping, but the thin patchy layer of soot would startle most. He had to admit it was nice getting bathed by the cute kitty who he was just now realizing had gone from lean to twigish.

When finished, Keith got up with assistance and they spent some time under the water leaning on each other. Keith recalled the last time they embraced so passionately, thinking 'who could possibly deserve this kind of unconditional love? I should be grateful, he saved me as much as he might think and then some.'

Dustin was back with the door open when they returned to the room with towels on and clothes in hand. "Thanks I guess for doing it out of the room...holy fuck dude what happened to you?"

Alex answered "He's really sick, can we have a moment to get dressed? We'll be out for a little while once that's done."

"Yeah, sure. I'll just stay at Natalie's tonight. I'm not catching whatever you have you both look like hell." He grabbed his back pack, some clothes, and toothbrush and scrammed as fast as he could.

"You're right Keith, he isn't the most cultured guy on campus."

___

Everyone arrived at Ben's suite roughly on time with Keith and Alex bringing up the rear. Ben's suitemates agreed to stay in their rooms for however long it took. The invited trio sat on an old brown loveseat against the back wall, Ben stood facing them.

"I understand you two had a relapse, and Alex here saved your sorry asses. Alex I'm sorry you had to see that but thank you for everything. We have some explaining to do. Keith, how much have you told him so far?"

"I mentioned that we grew up together as kids when I was in foster care, that we stayed in touch on and off, that we got into...our predicament together, and that you've been keeping me in check ever sense."

This was all news to Ben. 'Wow I'm glad I didn't say anything, why didn't he tell me any of this crazy fantasy he's been spreading?' "And now you'll tell him that you're going to quit by next semester. I'm going to see to it."

"That didn't go so well the last two times." Keith replied with fear in his voice.

'How does he bullshit so well?' "Last time you didn't have anything to lose. Now you've seen what this does to people, this is our wake up call. Alex's pain won't be for nothing. You love him don't you?" 'That'll get his attention'.

Keith shed a few tears without having to try. "I do, you're right."

"And Erik, I know you didn't start this but I won't let you drag us down. Are you in? You owe this man your life, you might not be so lucky next time."

"I'm in." Erik said, feeling awkward for a lack of acting experience.

"Alright then. We'll finish the semester taking it extra slow, then work through it all summer. We've got each other for support lets be strong together for our own good and for everyone that's ever cared about us. Dismissed"

Erik walked out pretty quickly, not wanting to get dragged deeper into this twisted fantasy. Alex stood up and asked Ben "Why do you go along with this? You seem to know better."

'Shit is my acting that bad?' Ben wondered. "People do some pretty terrible things when they're desperate. As far as I know this is the first time he acted up, because I've made sure he's not desperate or totally dependent. It's a hell of a thing to quit though. Like he said, we tried, but never had a good enough reason to stick with it."

Alex gave him a hug. "You're fucked up but thanks for having his back. I wish you all the best of luck. Come on Keith, let's get you to bed."

On their way out Ben mouthed a "What the fuck dude?" and Keith replied with a bug eyed shrug that read 'sorry this is totally over my head'. Keith was at least beginning to respect Alex's strength of endurance and faith.

Back at Keith's room he asked "Are you mad at me? If you are, you can go ahead and take out all your frustration on me here and now. However you want. I deserve anything you throw at me and more." In part this was to make a grand gesture to bring Alex closer, in part this was to see how the kitty functioned.

"I am really mad at you. But I'm proud that you'll get better for me, and hopefully for you too. It's been a long day, but yeah I'll take out some frustration on you. No take backs. Now get to bed" Keith was a bit shocked and very curious.

With the lights off and the duo in bed Alex lay Keith on his back and straddled his scaly love. "I've had this idea and didn't think you'd like it. But you said I can take my frustration out on you. This is my retribution so you're not allowed to like it." Alex whispered with a heavy wink.

Keith was getting nervous; Alex had always been a time bomb of sorts, that was obvious. He was also known, at least by Keith, as a size queen so whatever was about to happen could be worse than fisting which would have been enough to make the skink sweat.

Alex lay over his boy toy and shoved his arms under Keith's, grabbing his shoulders firmly. He started low and pulled himself up the lizards bony body, admiring the sleek scales brushing against his fur and genital skin. He stopped when his plump penis aligned with Keith's withdrawn members and pushed his hips down, grinding forward slightly. His soft but filling cock wedged itself part way into the skink's slit. The top half of his shaft and most of his always exposed glans pushed through the slit's lips. He humped a few times, forcing the entire thing where it was not meant to fit.

Keith made some sounds but couldn't quite tell how he felt about it. Alex let out a quiet, satisfied "Oooh" and tightened his grip. "get your tail up here". Keith complied, waiving his slender tail between their faces. Alex caught it in his mouth with a bite, then angled it towards him and went down on the tip.

Keith stifled a giggle, the tail fellatio was hilariously futile to him since his tail had very few nerve endings, many of which were dull from having been stepped on, slammed against, or otherwise bludgeoned. "Now please me with it."

Keith was familiar with that, he tried it once on himself but got too squeamish to finish. He brought his dripping wet tail to the feline's hole and gently applied pressure with as much control as he could manage. All the effort was keeping him distracted enough to stay soft for his captor.

The tail wiggled in with slight rotations. Alex resumed humping both onto the tail and into the slit. He could feel Keith's emasculated members framing his own, rubbing against and nearly embracing him. The fit was getting very tight, Alex's penis was bigger than either of Keith's and the slit wasn't meant to house them while erect in the least. Occasionally Keith's dicks would throb and send some lubricant into the crowded cavern making it feel slick, warm, and alive.

The tail had found a good spot prompting Alex to shout "There, yeah work that." and start purring. The feline's cock strained to push upwards, the tip was pointing towards the bottom of the slit but usually hovered hear the kitty's belly button. It was fully engorged and pulsed with each hump, trying to hold it's ground. Alex decided to take a different approach that he rarely used. He changed from squeezing in on the tail to pushing out. The tail against his prostate changed feeling immediately; from urging an orgasm to confronting an intensity without clear purpose. His penis no longer strained to push up, instead exploring the crevice with slightly more flexibility. Keith was worried he lost the ocelot's attention.

Alex kept humping, feeling his defenses breaking down against the pleasure barrage of Keith's tail and invigorating exoticism of his slit. A few more rounds put him over; each thrust in of the tail forced his prostate to send a wave of hot slick liquid which had barely anywhere to go. Each wave felt phenomenal, and on the highest point of each hump liquids would gush into the soaking wet ravine. As the tide of his euphoria subsided he pulled in again, clenching hard on the tiring tail right where he needed it. His dick flipped upright and out of the slit, soaking his balls.

Alex dipped his belly into the pit that was once Keith's and hooked his penis back into the hot mess housing the twin dicks which had rapidly gained soft volume. He pushed in hard, to Keith's discomfort, but the spirit bit his lip to keep from protest. Alex came at once, plunging his seed into Keith, the three cocks mingling in a sea of semen. The ocelot let out a high pitched roar as his whole body shook and eyes twitched to the intensity of his orgasm which kept throbbing and spurting for a few long moments.

Exhausted, Alex fell onto his captive and shuffled his arms from a grip to a hug, leaving his waning member to sleep cozily in its new, very wet, home. Keith withdrew his tail shortly after Alex had released his grip, and noticed the kitty to be thoroughly asleep. He didn't exactly want to sleep with a cauldron of semen and ... 'was that all pre or urine?' between his legs but he accepted that this and the intense cleanup would be his punishment. 'At least we'll have the room to ourselves in the morning. And that was kinda hot in a really dirty way. If I need to do that again tough it's definitely going to be over a drain with running water. Who knew that something so basic would be this kinky for somebody else? Well I guess Alex has been without anything like it. I wonder what Erik thinks.'

In the morning they would open the windows and lay down a lot of vinegar and deodorant. Alex was embarrassed to think that this might have been the worst the school mattress had ever seen but so glad to have had the opportunity. They showered briefly, and playfully, before getting breakfast to-go.

---

Erik attended his classes as usual, pondering how he would test his theoretical spell to cast Keith's energy out in a meaningful way. The science building was essentially a bunker made of extra thick concrete and could work well if it contained any unsupervised space devoid of expensive machinery or flammable chemicals; which of course it didn't. He was done with woodland excursions, still reeling from the last encounter which left him feeling frail. Over lunch, sausage and pasta, he came up with a solution. He would rent a storage container through a third party, probably a local business with a rear lot. Then it dawned on him 'that'll make me look even more like a druggie, damnit. If anyone finds out, which they won't...right?'

He journeyed away from campus that evening to scout for potential participants. Most of the nearby shops were in the town proper which meant they were small sections of long buildings on either side of mainstreet. They had little space in or around them if any save for some alley space for the upstairs residents to maneuver through. The first place to catch his eye was a local pizza franchise that stopped at 2 stores, probably because he couldn't recall having ever seen anybody inside eating. He went in.

The place was shabby but comfy. It had couches around coffee tables and bar seating on the left wall. They certainly understood that this was a college town and had set up for students to 'hang' here nibbling their goods. He ordered a calzone and took a seat on a couch. About ten minutes later his order was up, the elderly calico at the counter called it out. It looked crispy and smelled good. Digging in he had no complaints, the pepperoni was spicy, the sauce was rich, and the crust was flaky. So, if the food and atmosphere are good and the staff isn't rude why does this place feel like a money laundering front? 'Maybe I was wrong and this is a legit business. Well no reason to have come for nothing.' He walked up to the counter in a huff. 'sorry lady' he thought, putting on an angry face.

The old calico waded around to the counter when she saw him approaching. He rang the little brass bell next to the register anyways. "This is absurd, I want to talk to the owner!" Erik shouted, glad nobody else was in the restaurant.

"I am the owner, what seems to be the issue my dear?" she asked, not flinching in the slightest. He gave her a harsh look. "Yes really," she assured him. "Me and the memory of my husband." Erik felt like even more of an ass, as he was sure was her intent.

"Sorry to bother you, and for your loss. I wanted to be sure I was speaking to the owner, rather than a manager. I have a business proposal."

"Oh James would have had some hard words for you young man, harassing his wife like that. He'd cut you a hard deal too. What are you getting at?"

'HAHA granny is an old school gangster! Called it!' "I need somebody to order a storage pod for me and let it stay on their lot for about a week. Nothing in it, just need a durable place to maybe make some noise."

"Am I supposed to believe you're a drummer then?" She asked dryly, resting her elbows on the counter.

"Not that much noise, and not after dark when it might disturb anybody. Just in and out a few times to have myself and perhaps a close friend some privacy." He said with a wink.

"Two grand up front plus the cost of your stuff. You can have 500 back if you're a good tenant at the end of a week. That means no rancid smells, vermin, or snoops. I take cash."

Erik was prepared for worse and counted himself very lucky to have gotten a straightforward deal. He thought about trying the thai restaurant first since it had no neighboring buildings but the manager, probably owner now that he thought about it, was a lady who would have more likely taken a bamboo rod to him than an offer.

Erik paused to look as though he might reconsider. "I see how the inconvenience would be worth that much to you. I accept. Do you want the money now?"

"That'd be lovely dear, I'll even throw in a free soda and call it a clerical error." She mused, dispensing a soda from the fountain. He gave her three packets of ten $100 bills that he pre-arranged.

"That should take care of the material cost, I'll recover the change with the deposit. By the way, the calzone was really good." He gave her an innocent smile and walked out, taking his food with him.

CONVERSATIONS > KEITH We can resume next week, I got us a place in town.

---

Keith opened his email between classes with his back to a corner, laptop on a small cylindrical table while he sat in a stiff short armchair in an alcove meant for resting students. The title read "Stript3453: Common ancestry" he opened the content, finding it difficult to take anything seriously from somebody with that screen name. "I don't mean to imply that we are related by blood, it seems pretty obvious that we aren't. But I sense a kinship between us, if I'm not mistaken, one that is passed down each generation with a new twist. I did not expect to find it in your breed, hence the delay, but have recently been affirmed that it's possible. So if you ever find yourself in need of a friend who knows what it's like to venture out into a world filled with people to hide from come find me. I will be your comrade. We can discuss this less discretely in person.

Regards, Dexter"

'He knows.' Keith was afraid of that. 'I guess I should tell Ben. But then I'd already be violating this guy's trust. It's not like I need to know more spirits there's dozens of us back home, but that's back home. It would be cool to get a different take on things. Alright I'll go and only tell Ben where I'll be in case I need him.'

RE: Common ancestry "Hi, sorry I didn't have time for you last night. Thank you for your offer and discretion, I would like to meet soon. I am available tomorrow at 6, let's meet in the student center for dinner and chew it over if that works for you."

Keith minimized the email browser and brought up his online chemistry homework. The web based work infuriated him for its strictness. On a handful of items he was right but didn't enter the answer exactly as it wanted him too. Like that time he typed 0 instead of 0 or none instead of N/A. Four questions later the email browser flashed from the start menu, stript3453 replied RE: RE: Common ancestry. "I can do that, might be a few minutes late. It takes a while to walk to your school." 'What, he doesn't even go here?' Keith wondered then continued with his assignment. Every so often he would get hung up on the mysterious visitor.

---

Alex stopped by after class asking about dinner plans. Keith had noticed the ocelot keeping tabs on him very consistently. He had been nothing more than a student so it didn't worry him but worried it might be bad for Alex's mental health to be on such high alert. "Let's do pasta, after we get you in nicer clothes." Since Erik was prompt to settle debts the spirit had cash burning a hole in his pocket. He rarely had an excess of spending money and didn't know where to begin spending it. Most days he would charge necessities to the credit card the knights provided him and expect a justification request to be made for anything not obviously important. They also gave a spending stipend that he took very cautiously last semester and still managed to go over.

Alex was wearing jeans with non-designer holes and a band t-shirt he didn't recognize, to no surprise. "What's wrong with this? Don't tell me you don't like 5 finger death punch."

"I don't dislike them, but I was thinking something semi-formal for that nice family style place where the train station used to be. The one with romantic two person booths on the balcony and meatballs bigger than my fist."

"Oh, I haven't been actually. When did you go?" The kitty replied with a blush.

"I haven't but a little birdie told me you'd like it." Keith said, getting a little handsy.

"A little birdie or a big lion?" Alex questioned.

"A big lion, he said it worked wonders for him and Claire. Apparently the bistro isn't private enough for them." Alex nearly choked on a laugh trying to imagine the pretty boy doing a passion heavy charm.

Keith already had black slacks and a dark violate button down. Even the fitted cut made him look empty underneath, though he was regaining mass steadily. Alex didn't need to tell him to eat. He donned a vest and jacket on their way to his boyfriend's room up the hill. Alex accused him of being a fancy pants, whatever that means. Alex would settle for cargo pants and a red polo shirt, though he had to admit, Keith looked suave.

---

Keith and Ben met up at the gym the next morning to lift weights. The lion was kind enough to minimally mock his ward for his extreme weakness. It didn't take all of one session to understand how Ben looked so ruggedly handsome and ripped. Keith was hoping to work his way out of the scrawny classification, annoyed that an act of self defense could send him weeks back in terms of muscle progress.

He had looked through the gym before and used the pool in the early fall but otherwise didn't feel like it was necessary with his natural physique. Now however he expected to be fluctuating from skeletal to pot bellied and really wanted to even that out. Alex for example was starting to put on weight that so far was really comfy but he preferred the aesthetics of the kitty's tight flat belly.

While spotting for Ben, likely with total futility, he decided to put the bonding time to functional use. "I met a guy, who I think could be very interesting." He began.

"I don't want to cramp your style but don't you have enough on your plate between Alex and Erik and the situation that spawned from Alex meeting Erik?" The lion argued putting the weights on their rack to talk, taking a few breaths then resuming.

"I see your point, and this guy has his own set of challenges. Which is why I wanted to let you know that I'm meeting him tonight at the pasta bar. Alex knows he has been trying to reach me and he had a strange excuse that I need to look into. I would really appreciate it if you could keep a distant eye on things in case any drama breaks out. I don't want to have a repeat of the other night. Oh and speaking of pasta, you were right the restaurant under the bridge was great for getting the romance on with Alex, he totally swooned. The meatballs were pretty bad though, I guess size isn't everything."

Ben had finished his set and lay on his back, listening. When Keith finished he shook his head. "Keith, I know that this whole getting away from home thing is a journey of self discovery, including sexuality, but if you could not hump everything in sight on my time that'd be great."

"Ok, sorry you don't have to come. If I go anywhere I'll let you know though. I have some concerns about this dude but at the same time he looks really promising."

Ben got up and moved to the treadmill. Keith let him go and brought out his phone.

CONVERSATIONS > ALEX Grab lunch to go, we can eat it at my place as desert.

'That should keep him from getting too worried and me from getting too frisky.'

___

It was 6:15 and the wolf was nowhere to be found. Sure, there were a few wolves around, two of which kept making him double take to make sure they weren't the one he was waiting for, but none fit the description fully. Stripper was white chinned and bellied like Keith, with toasty brown nose and ears around grey face and back. The other two were more of a wild mix of greys and browns.

Having nearly given up the spirit got in line. He hoped he wouldn't regret back to back pasta but he needed the carbs. Last night was marinara with giant bland meatballs so tonight we was going chicken and bacon alfredo with extra mozzarella. 'oh right, I should get some veggies too. Onions...peas are ok...ugh skip the shrooms...yeah I guess peppers will be alright.' He stepped up to the order line but got a tap on his right shoulder. He turned to see if it was stripper but behind him was a bobcat rolling her eyes.

"Stripper!" The skink gasped, suddenly noticing the wolf was nearly nose to nose. 'The ass must have went around my left. Who does that!?' A doe a few furs ahead turned with angry swagger as if having been accused then made a tch noise and went back to her place, presumably familiar with the moniker. The rest of the line looked on with gaining curiosity. "I mean, you're late Dexter."

"Ooh lighten up on the name, not even my parents call me that anymore. Though I guess I deserve it for being so formal earlier. I'll catch up with you when I'm through the line. Thanks for coming out." The wise guy wolf said quickly, getting in line a few furs back.

Keith placed his order and acknowledged that yes he knew it would cost extra for double meat and cheese and bread, no he didn't want to order two separate dishes, yes he could pay cash instead of swiping his student card twice. He also pre-paid for stripper, assuming he got a standard one meat two veg meal with soda. The skink took his strained to-go box and drink to a less populated table to wait out the line. It didn't take long for Stripper to catch up.

"Thanks man, I appreciate it. Is there someplace little more private though? If not crowd chatter is fine for drowning things out but I don't always trust it ya know?"

"Yeah, we can go upstairs and around the corner. Nobody's ever up there." He replied taking his now soggy and very hot box with care. As expected the mid floor was nearing capacity as groups struggled to fit on couches around two big central tables. Upstairs were offices, the piano, and general overlook of the foyer which had a vast collection of national flags hanging in rows all down the hall. From here the flags were just above eye level. They took a seat near the far right offices that were already closed.

"So" Keith started, "can you just come out and say it so I know we're on the same page here? I mean it seems clear but if you're talking about being gay or being from a specific tribe I think I misread you."

"Well, we are from different tribes or clans or sects or whatever you call it. I don't know which you're from but I'm from a small community of people who don't like to admit their age, have some rather unusual obsessions, and don't get out much. Sound familiar?" Stripper opened his box and started swirling spaghetti.

Keith flipped open his bowtie pasta wherever it may be under the pile of toppings. Steam jumped out to greet him. "It does, it really does. Maybe we do have some common experience, like convergent evolution."

"I don't know about that, I'm a music major at SUNY. It fits my specialty." He winked at specialty. "What's yours?"

"My major is biochemistry. I don't know if it fits mine or not. I've only just this month started scratching the surface of it."

"Ok I'll say it." Stripper looked around and bent to put his muzzle to Keith's ear hole. "We're spirits". He whispered, almost giddy.

"It's a relief to hear that. Yes, we are. What brings you to school up here?" Keith asked taking a forkful of stringy cheesy goodness and feeling at ease now that the risk of outing himself was over.

"I wanted to study music, and our schools have a credit exchange so I'm going to take electrical engineering courses here to get a deeper look at audio equipment. I have some innate sense for it but technology is getting ahead of what I can figure out on my own." Stripper was taking his time eating, hoping to have a long conversation.

"I meant how are you out here in public, do you have a sponsor?" Keith asked, hoping he wasn't being too rude while sponging cheese and sauce onto a piece of garlic bread. A few peas tagged along.

"Oh, wow sounds like you've got it worse than I do. No I'm here on my lonesome, which is why I was so eager to meet you." His tone fell a notch. "Do you have one? What's the deal with that?"

"I have a guardian that makes sure I don't use my powers dangerously." Stripper got excited again.

"There's another spirit with you!? Why didn't you bring 'em?"

"He's not a spirit." Keith said trying to keep quiet. "He's a knight. My tribe is overseen by them. Is that not normal?"

"No way," The wolf went solemn. His sudden mood changes were getting on Keith's nerves. "The knights hunt spirits, out of line mages, fey that get too ambitious, anything they think is a threat to" air quotes "normal" end quote. "What've they got planned for you?"

"I'm not sure," he said between bites. "There are a few of us that work with them directly but they don't talk about work or stay home all that much. I know they want to see how well I can integrate, which is tough. My knight gave me a lot of advice and things to look into for the adjustment. Lots of research was involved but luckily I like anthropology." Keith sponged more food with the extra bread.

"So, does that mean he knows about me too now?" Stripper asked with narrowing eyes.

"No, I've got him on call but didn't want to get on your bad side." Keith scooted closer to the wolf. "But if I were naughty, what would you do about it?"

"Uh, I didn't really think about it. I'm used to our kind being tight. I guess if you made a scene I'd try to keep it covered up." The wolf held his ground but was obviously caught off guard.

"I meant what kind of spirit are you? And maybe some innuendo." Keith explained.

"Oh thunder." He said, cheering back up and 'coincidentally' leaving a hand on Keith's leg. "What about you?"

"Ember. Do people in your clan practice their powers?" The skink asked, moving the misplaced hand higher.

"Not really. They're cool but most aren't necessary day to day. Besides; triggers aren't often convenient." Stripper explained while rolling to straddle Keith's lap.

"And how do spirits generally feel about mages?" Keith probed, massaging Strippers thighs which were now on either side of him.

"It's similar to cold water and boiling oil. Why, do you know of one?"

"Yeah, he's not the most inviting guy but has been helpful. I think he's using the knights to get paid though. He has been helping me figure this whole trigger and powers thing out."

It wasn't obvious who started it but Keith was rhythmically pushing up on Stripper with his crotch while Stripper was grinding forward and back. The wolf asked "Shouldn't you be concerned about being caught like this?"

"After the party what little reputation I have isn't very good anyways."

The wolf stopped and dismounted. "Well that's about all I've got for gay chicken anyways. Here's my number, don't be shy. It sounds like there's plenty more to discuss. Are you going to the next party?" He asked on his way back to the stairs with food box in hand.

"No I'm not necessarily invited back. And Yeah I'll talk to you later." 'Maybe much later, who could stand that much emotion in one person?'