The Finest Little Honky Tonk on Skalga [5]

Thank you to u/SpacePaladin15 for the universe and thanks to the other fanfic writers for giving me the inspiration for this little masterpiece of nonsense I have cooked up.

Intro: No cheesy statement about Country today, but I think it’s time we found out what happened with Ray Oakley and the attack.

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Memory Transcription Subject: Tiltva, Unemployed Venlil

Date: [Standardized Human time] December 20, 2137

Oh wow the video did not look good. Halin and I had shared a grimace when we watched the video of Ray Oakley attacking that man. The shaky holopad video on the newly renamed ‘Skalga Enquirer’ showed Ray nearly tackle the Venlil at the restaurant before it quickly cut to them both fighting in the water of the lake. A short video, but it got the point across. 

I try to down my nerves as the bus comes to a halt in front of the early quiet ‘Little Branson’ complex. We step off the bus and make our way past the front gates and towards the barn. Walking past the empty hat and boot shed, we peer into the mostly empty barn. A few small herds mill about the bar and upper tables as a song belts from the barn’s PA. A new addition to the previous decorations are multicolored string lights across the ceiling and a heavily decorated evergreen tree in the corner. Across the barn, I spot Ray Oakley and a few bandmates adjusting equipment on stage. Now, now is the time to go confront the Venlil attacker and ask for… for a job? Stars what are doing!

Halin notices my hesitation and drags me further into the barn, reasonably annoyed that I had made him come this far just to falter at the door. Halin’s mobility aid quickly made our presence known to what I assume were the resilient pawly regulars. The same bartender as before glances up and gives a concerned look before sending a weak wave in our direction. We soon find ourselves at the edge of the stage, but neither Ray Oakley or his bandmates have noticed us in their fervent work on stage. Halin gives me a nudge and then a squeeze with his tail before intertwining it with my own, a not very subtle cue to speak up.

I muster my courage and rest my paws upon the stage before addressing the human in the boots and big hat. “Uhhhh, Mr. Oakley?” His head whips around to find the source of the voice calling him before his piercing eyes land on me. Eyes that before today I would have had no problem with, but now sent a chill up my spine. Eyes that now have creepy purple half-circles beneath them. 

My fears are quickly stifled as his eyes light up in surprise and a large, toothy, human smile erupts across his face. I quickly finish my address, “If you remember, a herd of paws ago we were here and you uh… had me sing on stage. Then you offered a job to Halin and I.” His smile seems to somehow grow even larger as he walks down the stage stairs then across the floor towards us.

“Well well well, if it ain’t Tanya and her very well dressed friend! I was beginning to think I had lost my negotiatin’ charm when you two didn’t come back. Though the recent event likely didn’t help much, did it?” A little sadness creeps into his voice towards the end. 

Halin limps a bit towards him and defensively steps in front of me before speaking up. “To be very clear, we almost didn’t come here because of the video, and I speak for both of us that you’ll need to give us a good reason for what we saw if we are to stay and work for you. Also her name is Tiltva, not Tanya.” 

Ray’s attitude falters for a second before going back to bright and happy. “I know what name I said, it wasn’t a mistake! But of course, I’ll explain the incident IF you tell me which video you saw.”

I speak up this time. “We watched the one on the ‘Skalga Enquirer’ on the bus ride over here from Mirror Lake. It was kind of…scary to tell the truth.” Ray’s happiness ceases upon hearing the name of the publication and a hint of anger boils behind his eyes causing my fur to stand on end. 

He squeezes his eyes shut and the anger fades as he pulls his holopad out of his lower pelt and motions us over. Looking from the holopad to his arms I notice long red scrapes run from elbow to wrists on both sides. Well duh, he got in a fight with a clawed Venlil, he’s going to have a few scrapes.

“Now I had a feelin’ you’d mention those little smooth brains. They couldn’t’ve edited it any worse than what was published! You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to show this here unedited footage to folks because-” a red light flashes and alarm-like chime sounds on his pad followed by a look of small panic across his face. “I’m needed at the house. In the meantime consider yourselves employed. Talk with the members of the band and the bartender and we’ll discuss your employment terms and this video when I get back in just a bit.” With that he quickly shoves his holopad back into his pelt and hurriedly takes off towards the exit.

Speh what can scare a human like that? Should we start running now? My instinctual panic process is interrupted by thwump and smack as one of the members of the band drops to their hindquarters on the stage edge and the heels of their boots slam into the stage wall. A short human woman not much taller than the average Venlil with bright blonde hair reaches out a hand towards Halin and I as a big smile crosses her face.

“Hello, I am Hilda! Nice to see you again!” I reach out my paw and give her a human handshake and say my own name and greeting back, Halin quickly does the same. I try my best to remember her from nearly a full herd of paws ago, but she continues before I can ask her role.

“Well Tiltva and Halin, I don’t expect you’ll have too long to wait till Ray gets back. That’s the third time today he’s run out like that.” She says as her face drops “Amazing to see how big of an impact one terrible person can have on our little community. If I had my way I’d-” Before she can finish, Ray jogs back in through the barn doors.

Hilda shakes her head and mutters under her breath as Ray approaches. “Well, good luck you two. Keep an open mind.” 

A dejected looking Ray beckons us over with a hand wave and leads us up the loft stairs to an empty booth overlooking the dance floor below. Silently he retrieves his holopad, pulls up a video and slides it across the table to Halin and I. As the video starts, Ray rests an elbow on the table and presses his face into his hand.

{Begin Embedded Video No. 1}

{Video Source: Table Rock Grill, Entrance Security Cam 1}

Date: [Standardized Human time] December 14, 2137

The video feed aims across the reception area of the split-themed restaurant. A Farsul girl stands alone in frame, back facing the front door. She happily dances back and forth in front of a recording holopad propped on top of the hostess stand. Tinny pop music can be heard playing from the device. The door behind the girl opens and a Venlil man stumbles in. The girl startles in a blue bloom and runs to turn off the device before taking her place behind the stand. The girl quickly forces a face change from embarrassment to indifference.

“Just you today sir?”

The man’s wavering eyes focus on the girl. “Protector help me, of course the humans employ a-a damned knee breaker, crippler.”

The girl's eyes go wide before a quick head and tail shake refocuses her vision.

“So that will b-be a table for one?” She voices followed by a nervous chuckle.

The man stumbles further forwards towards the girl. “Don’t you deflect pup! You-you know what you did! What you all did!” He points a claw before taking another few steps towards the stand.

The girl’s eyes start to dart back and forth before pushing a button on her holopad. As the man creeps further forward she backs into the wall behind her, repeatedly pushing the button and breathing erratically.

{Begin Embedded Video No. 2}

{Video Source: Personal Holopad, Retrieved from MyHerd}

Date: [Standardized Human time] December 14, 2137

A Yotul man in a cowboy hat and boots stands in front of the camera practicing line dances in a semi-busy dance hall. In the background, Ray Oakley can be seen conversing on stage with members of his band. A red light and alarm sound from the pocket of Ray Oakley’s jeans, which stops the conversation and quiets the chatter within the barn. The pad begins to flash and alarm at an increasing rate.

A loud “Fuck” emits from Ray Oakley as he leaps off the stage and runs past the camera towards the exit. The Yotul man runs back to the camera, turns it around, and takes off after Ray Oakley. The video is lightly stabilized as it follows a running Ray Oakley from the dance hall to the restaurant. Mr. Oakley sprints to the door and the cameraman barely makes it in behind him. The figure of Ray Oakley stands behind a stumbling Venlil man as he yells at a cowering Farsul girl.

“Too scared to apologize to a knock-knee like me? Huh? Well say something!” the Venlil yells as the Farsul girl’s darting eyes find Ray Oakley standing tall and slowly walking across the reception area. Ray Oakley raises and widens his posture as a visible rage takes over.

Nearly on top of the girl, the Venlil’s ears and eyes briefly glance back at the advancing singer before resuming his tirade. “Well I’ll teach you a lesson! I’ll teach a lesson for all of you!” Lifting his paw to strike the girl, her piercing scream nearly maxes the recording microphone.

A quick lurching grab from Ray Oakley finds hold on the scruff of the Venlil’s neck. The Venlil instinctually goes nearly limp in the human’s grasp. The human’s rage instantly fades into disappointment as he looks at the whimpering man in his clutches. Giggling can be heard from the group now gathered behind the camera. The Farsul girl quickly stands and slinks off further into the restaurant as Ray Oakley watches.

After she disappears from view, Ray Oakley turns his focus to and shakes his head down at the mewling mess in his hands. “Buddy, I think you need to cool off and get out of here. And I know just the way.”

The camera again follows Ray Oakley as he drags the now silent Venlil out of the restaurant, past the buildings of the compound, and to the lakeshore.

At the edge of the water, Ray Oakley grabs the Venlil’s scruff with both hands and swings him back and forth before performing an imitation of an olympic hammer throw.  The Venlil man soars through the air and into the shallows of the lake, receiving an eruption of cheers and whistles from the crowd now gathered around the commotion. A series of weak splashes catches the attention of the camera and Ray Oakley and the crowd gasps to the now drowning Venlil in the lake.

Ray Oakley hangs his head before taking off his boots and throwing his electronics to the ground. He then wades out into the chest deep water near the man. The struggling Venlil tries to find grip on the arms of Ray Oakley before being scruffed once more. The pair come back up to the lake’s edge and Ray Oakley sets the Venlil on the ground as his red blood drips down his forearms. “Of course you can’t swim you son of a -”

{Resume Memory Transcription}

I look to Halin to see his ears tucked back and his mouth agape at the horror we had just witnessed. That man was just going to beat a small girl for the crime of being Farsul?! Also humans can just throw us?! Wait, Halin yelled at that girl. Would Ray have- A snort from Ray catches both of our attentions as we skittishly whip our focus back towards the human. His eyes are gently closed and his shoulders slowly rise and fall. Did he fall asleep that quick? 

I give a curt cough to try and rouse the human to no avail. Halin then elects to poke Ray with his tail. To this, Ray’s eyelids pop open and his head springs back from his hand. His eyes wildly scan in front of him before settling on us and the finished video on the holopad. He then puts his hat on the table, his hands on his lap, and bends over to rest his forehead down on the table leaving us to only look at the fur on top of his head.

His muffled voice speaks to us from mostly under the table. “You know, it’s been really difficult to like you Venlil.” Oh no, where is this going? “Instinctually, I wanted to protect you guys the moment I saw your pictures and heard your voices. This changed when Mrs. Oakley and I moved here. I had never met any group of people so rude and hateful besides maybe Arkansans.” To this he had a small chuckle. Who are Arkansans? A rival Earth tribe?

Taking a ragged breath he continued. “Then after spending some time with you guys, I came to really like you again. This time for your quirks and hospitality hidden under the surface of fear. But I relapsed in my anger when I found Thyla living underneath a bridge in the Canal District. I couldn’t and still can’t get any information out of her but I know it was your society that left a little girl to rot on purpose because of simply what she is. Despite all that I eventually forgave you all again after running this place and seeing your reactions to my food and music.”

Following another rough breath he finishes his rant. “Yet, here I am relapsing again after what happened in that video. I understand if you two will never feel safe around me after watching it but I will not apologize for protecting my daughter. I don’t know why I’m even confessing this to you two, but I think I need to come clean to build trust. I know it’s not all Venlil but it's just tough. Eh whatever, feel free to leave if you want…” That Farsul girl is his daughter? Oh, oh my stars…

Halin and I share a glance before standing up on opposite ends of the bench and moving to the bench Ray sits at. Sensing us stand up, Ray silently shakes his head back and forth, his eyes still pointed at the floor beneath the table. Halin and I slide in next to Ray before simultaneously wrapping the human in a hug. Ray starts with a small giggle before evolving into a deep laugh. Halin meets my eye in a worried near-panic before Ray suddenly sits up straight and wraps us both in a tight hug.

His squeeze pushes Halin and I’s snouts together causing us both to bloom. We look up at Ray as a small tear slowly glides from his closed eyes. “You two… you two are good folk. I’m sorry for lumping you in with that demon. I’m just scared of watching my girl get hurt. I never wanted her to work the restaurant, but she’s been trying so hard to get over her fear of Venlil.” 

Through crushed breaths I can barely respond to Mr. Oakley. “Trust me when I say I understand how a dad will protect his daughter. I’m sorry you two have been through so much. Halin and I would still love to talk about employment.” This raises a large smile from the human before he releases us, takes his pad, loads some documents, and gestures for Halin and I to hand over our own devices for a transfer.

Pulling up the contract my stomach drops and my heart nearly stops. An errant ear flick from Halin reveals his own shock to the terms of employment. Halin breaks his stupor before I can think of speaking up.

“Mr. Oakley, you can’t be serious with this offer right? I think we’re a bit smarter than this, no?”

A smile has never fallen faster than Ray Oakley’s did at that moment. “I’m sorry, but that’s the best I can offer at the moment. I thought it was competitive for the current economy and it includes additional benefits.”

I can’t help but let a bewildered chuckle escape me. “Competitive? Ray, each of these salaries is almost what Halin and I made combined! And you’re offering lodging, onsite food, and transport!?”

Ray raises a small rectangle of fur above his eye before smiling. “Made? Well, now you just showed your hand. That’s my offer and it’s final.” My face blooms in slight embarrassment as he slaps the table at the end of his statement.

Halin, with his tail in a full wag of excitement, starts furiously signing his document and turns an eye towards me. “Tiltva, I think it’s best you sign this while it’s still on the table, literally. But before I finish this last signature, what exactly are our jobs Boss?” Good point. What are we going to be doing?

Ray only gives a cryptic answer. “No Boss, stick with Ray and don’t you two worry about that for now, we can talk about that on your first day tomorrow. Until then, why don’t you two get back to the bus stop and I’ll send the hovercar to get y’all home, just use your pad to operate it. Sound good?” 

With a shared ear flick of annoyance, Halin and I finish signing the contract and send it back to our new boss and then exit the booth. Ray then stands up, reaches out his hand and shakes both of ours before putting his hat back on and tilting it down to us. He then briskly exits the loft and rejoins the crew on stage.

Walking back to the bus stop, we spot a very luxurious blacked-out hovercar unlike any I have ever seen. Swooping lines and a much too long hood accentuate a vehicle that can only be described as stylish. A small crowd looks enviously at the epitome of status before them. Sure enough, we walk up and with a swipe of Halin’s pad, it unlocks and automatically extends rear-opening doors revealing a beautiful interior of metal trim and plush seats. Halin holds my paw as I enter first and sit upon an extremely comfortable seat made of wool?! A bit of bile rises in my throat as Halin notices what I only found out too late.

“Tiltva, is that made of wool?” I give a sad ear flick of confirmation. “Whose wool could it be? Why?” He strokes his paw against the surface. “Oh right, that feels awesome.” He takes a seat next to me and inputs his parents' house into the nav system.

I lay my ears flat in a bit of confusion. “Why are we going to your parents house? Shouldn’t we be doing something about our apartments?”

A small bloom makes his snout and ears glow. “Oh uh… I just thought it’d be nice to tell them about our success today, that's all.” Terrible liar, I’m guessing this has to do with his “problem solving” from earlier. Whatever, it’ll be nice to see Harvid and Kerila.

{Advance time 30 stdm}

A very rapid and unbelievably smooth ride comforts us as we quickly pull up to a familiar house in Foggy Cove. As we exit the car, a worn out looking Harvid and Kerila rush outside to greet us.

Harvid calls out as we converge. “Halin messaged us on the way over, congratulations to you two on the jobs! We are so proud!” A small hint of anxiousness presides in his tail, likely due to the fact that we are both ‘predator’ employees now.

Anger flashes across Kerila’s eyes, ears, and tail before worry takes over and she pulls me into a tight hug. “Oh Tiltva honey, we’ve been so worried about you. Halin has been sickly anxious about you.” She then lowers her voice into a sharp whisper in my ear. “You know I think of you as a daughter of my own, but don’t make my boy feel like that again, ever.” Wow, I deserve that but I forgot how scary Kerila can be.

She pulls away and starts walking back into the house and gives a tail flick asking us to follow. After a short walk down the hallway she stops in front of my old room and slides open the door. Catching up, I peek inside and tears overtake my vision as I see my moving boxes now mostly empty and my room decorated to its former renown. 

Harvid closes in behind me and gives a hug of his own. “Surprise Tiltva, Halin gave a call about your old job and the apartment so we hired some short notice labor to get you back here and situated. We were hesitant to move you back in but Halin insisted you’d like it. However you feel, let us know and we’ll take care of it.”

I twist around in his arms to give the man a deep hug. “Thank you Harvid, you guys remembered just how I had it set up.”

I release him and step into the room to gaze in disbelief at the kind gesture. Harvid and Kerila both sign “Joy” and “Safe” to me before stepping out leaving Halin standing alone in the door.

He only takes a few steps before I rush to pull him into a hug. A small sob and giggle shudders his frame as he whispers to me. “Please don’t leave without me again.”

I give a laugh-cry of my own as I answer him. “Trust me, I won’t.”

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