Figuring out what role would best fit Rho in a fantasy setting, and for now I'm testing him out as a tavern keeper! Of course a voracious zebra like Rho is going to deal with troublemakers in a gluttonous fashion :3

Rho finally collects on a town guard's massive unpaid drink tab by turning him into a filling meal...

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Closing the Tab
By: Indi

Rho looked around the Bottomless Barrel, and couldn’t help but smile. Running the tavern had always brought the orange-striped zebra great joy, especially on busy nights like now. There were laughs and good conversation all around. The liquor was flowing. Barely any complaints and none major.

By the hearth the hefty owl bard was still playing a tune for an enthralled audience. Of course probably half of them were more interested in the bard’s bulging middle than the music. Continuing with the show even after gulping down the drunk heckler was rather impressive. Rho hoped he wouldn’t make a habit of it, of course.

Rho took a casual stroll around the tavern, making sure everyone’s needs were being taken care of—and that none of his staff had been eaten. As he made his way back he passed a lion sitting at the bar, still in armor. They were Troy, a member of the city guard and frequent customer. They also had a history of being belligerent towards patrons while running up a large unpaid tab.

Excuses had ranged from forgetting his coin pouch to being urgently needed elsewhere. Rho had been exceptionally lenient with Troy, to a degree he was beginning to regret. The last thing he needed was for others to start abusing his generosity.

Making his way around to the other side of the bar, Rho leaned on the counter across from Troy, putting on a friendly smile. “Always a pleasure to see you here Troy. How’d the day treat you?”

Troy merely shrugged in response, more interested in finishing off his latest unpaid drink.

“I was wondering if you’d be able to pay off some of your tab? It’s getting quite big, and I’d hate for it to get out of control.” Rho was speaking as politely as he could, still smiling.

Unfortunately the reminder appeared to instantly sour Troy’s mood. He slammed down his empty mug and scowled. “I spend all day keeping the city and you safe, and you’re gonna—hic—harass me about a couple drinks as thanks!”

“Closer to a couple dozen at this point.”

“Whatever!” Troy’s outburst was drawing the attention of other patrons nearby. “I’ll bring it to ya next time. For now bring me another drink!”

Rho was disappointed in the guard’s behavior, but not particularly surprised. He’d let Troy get away with not paying for far too long, so of course they’d assumed he was a pushover. Oh well, Rho had given him enough chances. Now it was time to show Troy the error of his ways and have some fun in the process.

“I think I know just the right thing.” Rho grabbed a fresh mug and brought it over to a smaller keg on the wall behind him. The one marked “Heftweizen”. He filled it up until the foam rolled over the top. Rather than drop it on the counter he walked around the bar to where Troy was sitting.

The drunk lion didn’t have time to question the act before he found the mug forced against his lips and his head tilted back. He thrashed about, but Rho had no trouble keeping him in place until every last drop of the heftweizen had been emptied into him. When he finally stepped away Troy was left coughing and gagging.

Furious, the lion leapt out of his stool, nearly falling over onto his face. “Is this how you treat loyal customers! You’re lucky I don’t knock your—urrrrrrp—head in right now—and I’d have every right to!”

The string of threats continued on and on and on, but Rho barely heard them. He was too focused on how much rounder Troy’s face had gotten since he finished drinking.

Troy was steadily fattening up all over. A little on the chubby side before, the lion was now just plain plump, and the gains showed no signs of slowing. Due to either the liquor or rage Troy himself hadn’t noticed the changes yet.

The straps of Troy’s armor were creaking faintly, struggling to handle his new girth. Suddenly Troy realized just how tight it all felt. He looked down, and as soon as he saw how much he was bulging out of his armor he stumbled backwards in shock.

“Impressive, isn’t it? How fast heftweizen gets to work,” Rho said. “Worked with an alchemist friend on it, mainly meant for special occasions or patrons with specific preferences. It’s both obscenely and instantly fattening! Though I’m sure you’ve figured that out on your own.”

Troy grit his teeth as the armor straps dug into his rapidly expanding pudge. He sucked in his gut as best he could but there was only so much he could do. With a series of snaps the straps tore one after another, Troy’s armor falling to the floor in a clatter. His tunic underneath was already a bit ripped, his soft gut hanging out.

A mix of fury and concern raced across the lion’s face. He was speechless, managing only the occasional growl or whimper. In the end Troy was left looking decidedly doughy with a round ball gut.

“I’m huge!” the lion cried out.

“Oh you’re just a bit plump, not even as fat as I am.”

“I...I can’t do my job looking like this! I’m too fat for my armor—no one will take me seriously anymore!” Troy gave his belly a cautious poke and recoiled when it jiggle slightly. “You’d better have an antidote to slim me back down or else...or else you’ll be living in a cell!”

Rho almost laughed. “Don’t worry Troy, I happen to know a quick and easy way to shed all those pounds! You’ll be the leanest you’ve ever been!”

Troy’s anger subsided a little, and he sat back down on his stool as Rho returned to the bar.

Rho pulled out a brand new mug and without hesitation he brought it down on the lion’s head. Troy fell forwards onto the counter, dazed. He didn’t feel his shoulders grabbed or see Rho opening his maw wide. When everything abruptly went dark he knew something was wrong, though.

Rho’s cheeks bulged as his mouth filled with delicious lion. By coincidence lions happened to be one of his favorite foods, and the freshly plumped up Troy was only reinforcing his tastes. Powerful swallows pulled Troy in deeper and deeper, sending him down into the zebra’s gullet before he could even start to struggle.

On the outside the patrons who’d spotted the meal in progress reacted with support and amusement. A few cheered while others urged Rho on. Better Troy than them after all.

Drunk and confused, Troy never stood a chance. His flailing did little more than tickle Rho’s throat, and it wasn’t long before the lion’s belly was sliding past the zebra’s lips and filling his maw and then gullet. It was wonderfully soft and squishy, enough to make Rho moan.

With care Rho plucked Troy’s gold pouch off his belt just before he gulped down his rump. He lifted the kicking legs of his meal into the air, letting gravity hasten Troy’s descent.

The lion practically fell into Rho’s stomach, his belly ballooning outward rapidly. There was an assertive bounce once Troy was sealed away completely. Rho gave his bulging gut a triumphant slap, jostling his meal and provoking a thunderous buh-urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp.

Being stuffed—especially with a rowdy prey—always made Rho euphoric, and his joy was there for all to see. He toyed and wobbled his middle for a bit, before slipping his hooves under it and lifting it up and onto the counter. The bloated zebra belly slammed down with a heavy thud! that rattled mugs along the length of the bar.

“I do hope you’re all enjoying the night! Just please remember to never neglect your tabs—unless you’re that desperate to see me stay well-fed~” Rho squeezed the sides of his wobbling gut and smiled.

The whole tavern got a good laugh out of that, but Rho knew his statement would be more than a funny joke to some. He could already see a few others with unpaid tabs searching for coin, not eager to end up like poor, stupid Troy. What a shame—he wouldn’t have minded eating one or two of them as well...