[u][b]Fancy Boys Only[/b][/u]
 
It had been an eventful first date; each time you thought about calling it an evening the Ninetales had begun walking you to the next spot on your night out on the town. Jubilife was different under moonlight; the skyscrapers felt taller, the light from their windows like blinding squares hanging in the dark. Looking up further you could only see the orange haze of light pollution blocking the stars above, not that you needed them with the company you were keeping tonight.
 
Spice Blaise was a Pokemon who knew people; despite walking on four paws every bouncer he had passed on this hotspot tour had given him the utmost respect. There wasn’t a club in town the fox couldn’t trot into; not a cocktail bar or lounge that wouldn’t have his usual waiting for him. The Ninetales took pride in that, given the way his tails arched neatly behind him, swaying as he walked. You felt lucky to be seen with such a figure, despite some of the past deeds you had heard about.
 
“I’ve managed to maintain some of the perks from my Contest Hall days,” he said, his tails lowering enough that he could meet your gaze with his deep purple eyes. “I take it you don’t mind being my plus one? I promise, this is the last place I wanted to show you tonight.”
 
You agreed, and he smiles like he knew you would. He canted his head to an alleyway to the left which seemed to fade into shadows after a few feet. As you hesitated he moved to your side, his nine beautiful tails curling around you in a comforting hug. Warmed by his touch you pressed on into the shadows, walking side by side with the Beauty Contest Champion of Sinnoh.
 
The walk seemed much longer in the dark; but Spice kept his tails pressed against your back protectively, reminding you of his presence even though you couldn’t see him. You could still hear his gentle paws as they walked though; the sound of his perfectly trimmed claws clacking against the concrete. As you inhaled you could smell something up ahead: cigarette smoke, and the sweet scent of cherry-flavoured vapour… There was a hidden bar in this alleyway.
 
‘Bzzt.’ A neon sign gradually faded in from the shadows, illuminating the area around it in a red glow. As your eyes adjusted to the light you could see Spice standing next to it, a gentle smile on his muzzle as he allowed you a moment to read the words: ‘Fancy Boys Only.’
 
“The most exclusive lounge in Sinnoh,” The Ninetales explained with a courteous nod of his head before gazing over his shoulder at the red glowing words. “I don’t take just anyone here… I’ve really enjoyed our time together, and I wanted to pay you back for it.”
 
You weren’t sure what to say, up until just now you had no idea this bar even existed. The Ninetales continued on past the sign and gave the door beside it a rhythmic tap of his paw. After a moment of silence it gently opened, filling your nostrils with the scent of incense and your ears with the dulcet tones of soft jazz music. It was coming from the door at the other end of the hallway; lit with red paper lanterns that hung from the ceiling. The Ninetales took the lead, breathing out a sigh as though he had returned home for the first time in decades, his tails dropped their rigid arc and slipped into a relaxed bend; it was good to be back.
 
As you followed him down the hallway the door at the other end opened, revealing a tall Lopunny in a red silk shirt and a smart black vest. He stood up straight, one arm behind his back while the other held a clipboard to his chest. “Monsieur Blaise,” he bowed his head solemnly to the Ninetales, taking no mind of you. “How good it is to see you again.”
 
“Bonsoir, I have a guest tonight, I trust that won’t be an issue?” The Ninetales replied, picking up his pace to meet the Lopunny before you did.
 
“A friend of yours is a friend of ours, Monsieur Blaise,” The Lopunny smiled, finally acknowledging you with a softer nod of his head as he held his pen in preparation to your details from Spice. With the Ninetales busy filling out the form you took a moment to admire your surroundings. Oil paintings of red poppies in bloom hung off every wall, and the hallway was lined with plush red velvet couches that looked far too tempting after a long night of exploring the city. If you sat down you’d probably never be able to bring yourself to get back up. As you looked back at the Ninetales you could see him giving you that smile that let you know it was time to move on, this would make the eighth time you had seen it tonight… and yet you were always filled with excitement about what he would show you next.
 
You made your way back to his side and the Lopunny opened the door for you, allowing you to see the extravagant lounge in its full glory. Pokemon and anthros walked too and fro, sipping cocktails and gossiping. Some sat at the bar, ordering drinks and idly chatting while others played pool, filling the room with the sound of balls clacking off one another. In the corner you could see shisha smoke rising from various booths, leaving the sweet-scented smoke hanging in the air like a cloud above them. You felt Spice’s tail curl around your side, guiding you along as you stared at the patrons… they were all so fancy, and they were all so handsome.
 
You found yourself being ushered into a private booth on the upper balcony, allowing you to see over the lounge below. There was a bar across from your table, lit up in red lights that shone from its golden pillars; other than the back of the bar which was white to show off the various colourful bottles of alcohol on the top shelf. They were practically sparkling, dazzling greens, blues and reds shining like fresh cut jewels. And all the while your ears were filled with the soft jazz coming from the live band below; the gentle thrum of the double bass, the hypnotic melody from the saxophone. As you leaned back in your seat, you couldn’t believe how soft the booth was… and then the softness curled around your side, revealing itself to be a bundle of warm Ninetales tails.
 
“Glad I kept you up?” The Ninetales asked, a dreamy smile on his muzzle as his tails began to brush gently over your side. You nodded sleepily, your heart pounding in your chest at the sudden closeness. “I’m sorry if I’ve been cold tonight, I had to get out of the eye of the public before I could do this… cameras are everywhere these days, you know?”
 
The fox waited for your response for a moment, then smiled reassuringly as he leaned over and nuzzled over your head, then down to your neck. “But now we don’t have to worry about them, and I can finally be myself around you,” he breathed out a chuckling sigh as you closed your eyes, lost in the warmth of his tails as he held you to his fluffy chest. “I hope it’s not too much of a change, it’s just exhausting to keep up that charade all the time… the whole…” he gestured vaguely with his paw, “...’Beauty Contest’ business.”
 
“Still, it does have its advantages,” The Ninetales said as he shuffled back up into his seat, causing you to awaken from your near slumber. As you looked up you realised a waiter in the same uniform as the Lopunny was standing next to your booth, holding a tray with two wine glasses filled with a bright purple cocktail, and a vase of flowers. He placed one before you and the other before the Ninetales, and then finally placed the poppy vase on the table. Spice gave him a thankful nod before turning to his drink, “The Hypnotic Gaze,” he introduced the cocktail as he picked it up, allowing you to see the silver glitter swirling inside like a galaxy of stars. “Purple Viniq, Passion Fruit Liqueur and splash of vodka… a drink created in my honour, if you’d believe it.”
 
You would believe it, though only because it seemed that everyone in the bar was drinking a cocktail that looked like them. On the floor below you could see a Lucario drinking a bright blue cocktail that seemed to glow like aura, and an Espeon sipping on a sparkling pink cocktail garnished with a bright red cherry. Still, as you picked up your glass and stared into the swirling purple stars below, you couldn’t help but compare the colour to the Ninetales’ beautiful amethyst eyes. Even under the red lighting of the lounge, you could see them sparkling with barely withdrawn hypnosis.
 
“Cheers,” The Ninetales smiled, clinking his glass to yours before taking a long sip, his eyes closing as he explored the cocktail’s flavour. You followed his lead, taking a small tasting sip at first before taking a much longer sip as the sweet drink enticed you. He pulled the flask away from his muzzle and licked his lips. “Palatable, isn’t it? I always go through my first glass so quickly,” he chuckled, putting the drink to one side as he wrapped his tails around you once more.
 
The fox stayed quiet for a while after that, allowing you to take in the atmosphere of the exclusive club at your leisure. Your eyes wandered from spectacle to spectacle; the beautiful patrons who moved gracefully through the lounge below, the scent of shisha as it filled your nostrils, the gentle music of the band. You chatted for what felt like hours, though as usual he would take the lead and do most of the talking while you listened to his stories. The contests he had won, the Pokemon he had met, the places he had been. He assured you that you could have that life too if you wanted, you were already enjoying a complimentary drink at the most exclusive lounge in Jubilife, after all.
 
“But only if you want to, of course,” The Ninetales insisted as he finished his drink. “Sometimes I wish I had a quieter life, less watched by the public eye. Of course I adore the admiration, but there are so few places I can go in this city to be myself…” he gave you a sincere smile, “I’m glad I’ve at least found one more person I can be myself around tonight.”
 
You hadn’t even noticed how quickly your glass had emptied, but seeing as it had, the Ninetales curled his tails up around your sides and slid you down the couch until you were laying down with your head resting on his chest.
 
In that perfect moment you finally found the will to resist sleep; unfortunately just as your tiredness was hitting you hardest. The Ninetales kept you awake with idle conversation about his contest days, but his soothing voice was like ASMR to your tired body. You could feel the alcohol tingling through your body as his tails brushed delicately over you, so delicately they barely made contact at all. Finally they rested over you like a blanket, allowing you to sleep if you wished to. You could feel his breath on your ears as he curled around you, the inner heat of his Fire-type fur warming you in his snug embrace.
 
“You know, there’s another cocktail named after me here; the Blaise of Glory…” he said, letting out a yawn as the night finally caught up to him. “...We should try that one next.”
 
At some point the two of you fell asleep in the booth, holding each other closely as the crowd gradually filtered out. The Lopunny woke you both from your slumber, letting you know that the lounge was closing and that Spice’s driver was waiting for you outside. In a half-awake daze you were ushered from the lounge to the hallway, then past the lanterns and back out into the chilly alleyway. The whole time the Ninetales kept his tails wrapped around your side, warming you as you walked to the car waiting for you on the street at the other end.
 
“Late night tonight, Master Spice,” The driver, a Zangoose said as he opened the passenger door of the car to allow the Ninetales in.
 
“I had to show my new friend my favourite haunt,” The Ninetales replied as he looked over at you, uncurling his tails to allow you to step into the car before climbing in after you. “We ended up falling asleep after one drink, I suppose we’ll have to try again another night.”
 
“Wouldn’t mind an invite if you’re going back,” The Zangoose chuckled as he closed Spice’s door before getting into the driver’s seat and starting the engine.
 
“Sorry dear,” Spice replied, his tails curling around you to usher you back to his side as the car pulled away from the curb and began its long drive back towards the residential area of the city. “...Fancy boys only.”
 
And as the city lights passed overhead in waves you began to find yourself falling asleep again, the warmth of the Ninetales beckoning you back into dreaming after the momentary break. He placed a gentle kiss on your forehead, offering to either drop you back at your place, or let you stay in the guest room… or if you felt like you wanted to cuddle even more, his bed was big enough for two.
 
No rush, you had the whole ride home to decide.
 
The End