En:hT Jesters

A Proposal

“Come again?" Rutherford sputtered, his lunch forgotten as he stared incredulously. The fox had been in the middle of his meal when the coyote approached–someone he had seen, recognized, and worked with occasionally. The tan, black, and strawberry blond-furred coyote grinned wider. His whiskers stood laidback along with his black-tipped ears. 

Both teens wore the standard uniform. A white button-down shirt, a pair of dark blue slacks, and a tie to match. However, the fox had his sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows. While the coyote tied his shirt to his waist and sported a t-shirt, his tie was completely missing. Oh, it was a neat ribbon on his tail. 

“Be my partner when we're Eireilta!" The coyote repeated, his tail swaying idly. His mint eyes drank the bewildered fox's appearance properly. With those snout marks, he thought at the fox's muzzle, probably a swift fox. The colors were off. It reminded him of a silver fox, melanism, and all that jazz. But he'd never seen someone with that shade of white for a fur patch.

“But why?" Rutherford gestured awkwardly. “I know we shared some classes, yote. And we barely talked during them. I can't see why thou want that." The coyote paused, scratching his chin. The little scar across his lips probably had a story. Rutherford waited, watching his gears turn. But the break was about to be over. So he resumed shoveling the brick-tasting food down his throat. He'd give to have his Dad or Mhamo's cooking again.

“Well," The coyote began, “because I know ya. Kinda? Sorta?" The canines' ears twitched towards a falling tray before they focused on each other again. The pair ignored the clutters and conversations of the university's cafeteria. “We only did some stuff together, yea. But c'mon, you gotta admit. We worked well together." The coyote grinned, charming and expectant.

“That's all? I kinda expected more." The fox covered his chuckle with his teacup. The coyote nodded with an enthusiastic hum.

“Am not hearing a No," That got him a playful eyeroll. “Also, because I don't wanna work with new strangers. It's just," The blonde made a face, “so awkward, ya know what I mean?"  The fox reciprocated with a wince and hunched shoulders. Those were always painful.

The coyote had a point. Rutherford mulled, gazing back at the taller male. The fox squinted his eyes at the hopeful sparkle in those mint eyes. He'd be free of awkward pitfalls when assigned to someone he never interacted with. But on the other paw, he'd had to deal with this coyote. Reckless might've well been written across that pointy muzzle. The fox weighed the decisions as the teacup clinked onto the tray.

“I have an issue," Rutherford began. And the coyote winced, his ears drooping. “I don't know thy name, yote." The immediate shift from slightly disappointed to excited gave the vulpine some whiplash. He could hear the male's swishing tail.

“I'm Lachlan! A pleasure to meet you," the coyote trailed off with an extended paw.

“It's Rutherford. And the pleasure's all mine." He shook the offered paw.

“Bit of a mouthful," Hughes wet his lips. “You're Ruther from now on."

The fox snorted as he finished his lunch.