After the hefty HWI-TXS game on December 21st, Julian takes some time to talk to fellas, both leisure, life and must-says...

Thanks to Tazel, Mitch and PaulShep for the help! Characters belong to their respective owners.

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The Salt Lick was indeed a sight to behold. Once you barely opened the doors, the medley of dishes and barbecued goodness hit all your senses. Wesley just knew this was the best the city offered. The two Canadian friends opted for bar seats and sat one next to other. "Man... This place just hits all the right stuff for me..." commented the French canine, smelling the site's air.

"Well, it is quite a delicious-smelling place. Though as an athlete, ya can't really have too much of it either." the salmon grinned as the bar tender recognized the Lone Stars logo on Wesley's track suit. "The usual brew, good sir?" the warthog bartender looked to Wesley as he nodded. "Yeppers. Make that two actually." he said as he took off the money, as the two guys established: Loser paid first round.

"I heard that before... thought would it really apply to me, Wes?" He asked, mockingly refering to his notable build. "It's truly good to see you again, man. How's Texas treating you?"

Wesley grinned, turning a bit on his chair to face the saluki beside him. "It's been pretty good so far. I've had my rough patches, especially when I wasn't playing despite having been cleared by the doctors, but I got back out and I feel like I've been a good contributor." the salmon says as at the beers get served to them. "Hawaii treating you well, I hope?"

"Who knows what coaches think man? Who knows if they want to try others or really want you to be on top shape?" He smiled. "It's indeed a paradise, now sans Trent like that camp is way better..." He smirked. "That was indeed a scandal if I ever saw one..."

"Eh, I know. But I ain't letting that get to me." Wesley shrugged. "I have better teammates here. I'm playing with someone who has earned a few rings, plus someone that gives tiredlessly to the community. Playing with Ahti on a team alone is a blessing by itself, since I was so sure we would go our separate ways from Prince George. But no, we were drafted to the same team...Still can't believe it"

"I bet. Not everyone gets drafted on their same team with their buddies. I would've loved to get in with Adam or Seb, as Ahti would've also liked to get with 'Rora if Texas had a third pick, but c'est la vie..."

"Yeah... Aurora." he sighs as he grabs his brew and holds it towards the saluki's. "Cheers."

"Santé" they clinked glasses. Julian did pick the slight mood change. "All good?"

"It's fine. Not everything will be perfect, I guess." Wesley says before he takes a drink.

"It's fine dude. If you want to talk about it or not, go ahead." He also took a sip, browsing the menu.

"It's a stupid thought, really." the salmon sighed, rubbing his head.

Julian nodded, and although he read the salmon as guarding up, he pictured a scenario clear enough. Why not ask? "...Girl stuff?"

Wesley takes a deep breath before speaking. "I'm jealous of him, alright? He's dating another freaking pro athlete, while I'm just rotting away with nothing left to do other than work. And I'm the extrovert between the both of us."

Julian nodded knowingly. "Love is a bitch, no?" He chuckled, trying to add some levity. "It may feel like a ball to the crotch, but it's something that... happens, man. Ahti's a silent natureman, Aurora's a treehugger that just happened to go into the same draft in the same league. Could have happened anywhere. Naturale, non?"

"I give you that much. Seems like a good match at least." he nods. "Though I'm not sure about the whole 'dating another player' thing. Seems like a few in the league are doing it. But it just feels weird, playing with or against your own significant other. I just can't get into that."

"Honestly... me neither. I don't know the GM's take, but seems Mr. Grehr and Mr. Louis are pretty benevolent, but would it be the same with Mr. Arango? Or Miss Soros? Or Mr. Tomasi?" He patted the salmon on the shoulder. "Just wait and let it happen. Hit the town, do something out of the court, you may find her one day... Or take the Scoonie-Slade route and go out and have fun..." he laughed. "Can't forget how that otter snitched on me." Julian facepalmed a bit.

"Heh, that was quite a bummer wasn't it?" he chuckled a bit. "Either way, I don't know. I feel like I've grown out of party hook-ups, the flirting, that kind of shit, you know? Maybe I'll find someone here, but I can't get too settled here either. Who knows where my career is going to lead me."

"Point. It's hard to predict with this league, but don't sweat it, it's alright. And, if anything, my buds are a phone call away you ever need..." They were both ready to order, but the saluki recognized two figures who entered the establishment. "Wait... aren't thos-Wesley, aren't those Buckner and Burgh?"

The salmon looked at the figures. "Crap man, they are! At least that's Buckner from a mile away. Can-should we greet 'em?"

"Worth a shot..." the sentence barely finished, Wesley sprang up of his seat to where the pair was seating, telling the saluki to wait a while. The greeting seemed cheery enough to confirm them as their bears. Wesley waved for Julian to come over, as the salmon told them it would be good to free the bar for other furs on queue and getting together to talk. The four hit it up nicely, was it the place? The people? Whatever, the mood was great and Chuck was right, the brisket was to die for. The conversation was pretty one sided between the rookies and the bears, with only an occasional comment going between them; Julian thinking it was fair, since Travis and Chuck are good friends after all, and let them catch up. Great food was had, furs were caught up on recent past and present, and the party of athletes disbanded... But the night was not yet over.

"Hey, Travis, have a minute?"

Even though Julian felt the koala had a pretty palpable tension towards him, everlasting on the rendez-vous, there was something he needed to say to him, and, if anything, the saluki was an affronter; he'd attack any rough edges that could be encountered.

Travis regarded the Kahuna rookie for a moment, deciding. He turned to his teammate. "Catch you tomorrow at practice, Wes..." said the marsupial, who then proceeded to sit on the bar stool next to the canine. The expression on his face was critical and pretty cold; the saluki avoiding much eye contact on this phase. "What do you want?" he flatly asked. There was many scenarios on the koala's mind, surely something about the Burgh incident or something freaky that his kind would normally sa-

"What you're doing is amazing..."

Unexpected reply; the koala raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Julian's tone was pretty honest and deep in his notable accent. Oddly, it always got stronger depending on emotions or situations. "I mean... going through what you went through and bouncing back just speaks volumes to me, and all that giving back you do to those needy... I admit you're a larger man than many others in this league...larger than me"

Travis still had his signature skepticism even after a polite, seemingly sincere nod. "...I do believe actions are way more worth than words and what you do dictates who you truly are..." a heavy emphasis on "dictates", didn't take a rocket scientist to know what was he referring to.

"Yeah... Burgh always has something nice to say about you. I know you're good friends with him and...well, Burgh is a hard one to impress"

Travis leaned back in the stool, his arms crossed. "Chuck always speaks his mind. And he doesn't need to resort to shock value to get his point across."

Julian twitched a bit. He knew this was coming. Just not this soon. "Travis, I..."

"What you did was wrong, unprofessional, and childish..."

Again with this. Thank god he didn't refer to it on the dinner. "Heard that enough times..."

"And did it stick?"

He heard of the koala's apparent mouthpiece and demeanor, now experiencing them first hand. "Travis, I really don't want to get into that again..."

Wrong answer. "You're a pro-athlete, you should know better than making petty jokes and endangering teammates, especially veterans. If that was your true self or a constant habit, then the FBA isn't for you!"

"Stop..." The motive of the conversation made a 180 turn, a frustrated sigh escaping Julian's muzzle. It was a big gamble, but he'd try to speak on the koala's language: hard, serious, direct. "...Yes. I'm freaky, I have odd interests and a daft sense of humor all nutured and encouraged by my circle of friends.... but I'll say this." he coughed, his tone as firm as possible, but not attacking. "You can shake my hand, I'll leave this place, and I'll be exactly as you see me in your face. I can be many things, but fake is certainly not one of them. If I hate, I hate, if I like, I like, and if I respect, good goddamn well I'll respect. And, in a world full of fakers and people with hidden agendas like that terrible incident at the 19th, I know you of all furs will appreciate that. I understand how you feel about the thing in the preseason, but if we all get judged over a bad thing in our pasts, we'll always get stranded... You should know..."

Travis' eyes narrowed. That last statement certainly grabbed his attention. Was the rookie REALLY going there?

"Of course I know about your harsh encounter, once even referred in one of my PR classes, but I also know how shitty that should've felt..." The saluki's tone mellowed a bit. "Karmic taught me there is way more to others than just their bad experiences. And as I said... man, I respect your work, why would I tick you off if I know that was a low point in your life? And what you went though... I can relate..."

"Relate?"

Julian knew there was so much to relate, and little time tonight. Best to give the skinny. "Kind of... A very close relative of mine also had cancer, ovarian... and didn't make it. It hurt all of us, so what you do, your volunteering, helping those in similar situations, going in that environment of pain that almost broke me down - it just speaks a lot to me, and to others around me. And it was something I wanted to say to your face rather than just an ambiguous tweet."

Travis regarded the saluki. He didn't like Julian. He'd made that clear to Jack in the locker room after the 'Bucket' incident with Chuck. But it took a lot of guts to come out to someone you know doesn't like you and bare your soul. Travis nodded, more sincerely. "First of all, I'm sorry to hear that. You have my condolences. Secondly, I HAVE to give back. Those kids mean a lot to me. Some of them remind me of myself, and I want to make sure they have the chances that not every child could have. Every kind of support is welcome... not necessarily accompanied by swearwords and going against a commisioner"

Julian shrugged. He was one of those fined by the new directive lead by Sterne Davids, and found a way to get 3,000 of the 5,000 fine towards a cancer center... 6,000 of 10,000 after an additional, but on purpose, opinion of the new measures to the commissioner's face. "I just took advantage of a lousy situation of mine. Voiced an opinion and detoured some of that money for others that DO need it. It was how my relative did her business: Open, honest and big and memorable. Vivre la vie, say always what you want to say and be yourself, since we only have so many days to do so..."

"I think you need to get a bigger grip on the FBA and solidify your game before you make all the waves you might not be able to quell. Having said that..." a smile began to form on the marsupial's face. "You are a good player. I appreciate the honesty and the story. It is good to know we have similar views on crucial issues, despite the differences of delivery."

"Hey, marketing majors need us artistic advert kinds at some points. I'd say two sides of one coin..." Julian chuckled. There was only so much time to continue speaking until it was fairly late; the encounter mellow and civil, speaking of different topics, from their University careers to a little of their lives. "I gotta get going. Until our next game, man..." Julian smiled, but looked caught off guard and impressed for a second as Travis extended his hand for a handshake. "Whoa..."

Travis blinked. "What's wrong?"

"That's neat..." Julian pointed at his double thumbs, distinct on his species, prompting a laugh.

"Admittedly, I've not heard that compliment much. But thank you. Until next game, Julian." Travis got up to leave.

"Oh wait! I almost forgot!" the saluki dug in his jacket pockets, getting out a small card, decorated mostly in black and red, with golden undertones. "Karmic Tattoo's number. Most charitable guys I know. Any needs of art or donations to events, they'll do so in a heartbeat. Help can come from everywhere you know..."

He smiled. "It can. Thanks, I'll keep them in mind..."