A bit of a birthday present for  DreKozar to help bring his business moose to life >:3 WITH an added bonus story from the dragon himself!

It's looking like Reuben's been learning that the best way to deal with a contract between himself and a dragon is a stiff drink.... Or several~

Art © me
Reuben Holt, the story, and any characters mentioned within ©  DreKozar

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Rueben sat behind his immense, ebony and ash wood desk; the over 10’ tall moose comfortably sat in a luxurious executive chair. The air was serene, as dictated by the moose mogul's exact settings for scent additives, background noise, and artificial wind currents throughout the office complex's richly furnished penthouse level, serving as Reuben's personal office suite. It had been quite the productive day, the hint of sunset just starting to dip below the city's skyline, and shining along the numerous stacks of neatly filled out paperwork set in various groups atop the desk. Yet, as Reuben allowed himself a moment to relax, he felt the fur on the back of his neck start to bristle. He was here, or about to be, or maybe already was and Reuben just hadn't yet noticed in his concentration. The moose's eyes scanned the room slowly, but he barely moved otherwise. Finally, Reuben spoke with a hint of exhausted irritation in his tone, “...And just how long have you been hiding in my office, Mr. Kozar?”

There came a soft, amused chuckle from across the room, a pleased churr emanating from one of the large chairs arranged around a large, circular, faux fireplace, “A few hours, I think. I snuck in while you were at a meeting. Passed out here for a little while.” Next came a soft shimmer, the silver dragon's impressively tall form even compared to Reuben, smirking away casually in streetwear attire that looked utterly alien in a bastion of top-class refinement like this. Reuben's expression remained neutral at best, “And to what do I owe the… experience… of your company this evening?” As if the moose mogul didn't already know, but he could at least be hopeful.

Dré stood up slowly, stretching his arms and wings a little, mindful of the latter, with a pleased rumble as he made his way towards Reuben's desk; maned tail swinging rhythmically with the purple and black fur shining in the light of the sunset. The silver dragon grinned as he sank into one of the large, plush chairs opposite the moose, only the desk separating them now. “New week, new upkeep, old contract~” Dré practically purred with enthusiasm. Reuben felt his stomach sink slightly as he gripped the armrests of his chair. If he had known ahead of time that in exchange for the dragon's resources and extensive vault of rentable artifacts Rueben would have to offer up his hooves, of all things, on a regular basis, he might have actually reconsidered signing. But then again, the dragon likely knew of Reuben's fondness for contracts to begin with to stack the deck in his favor.

Dré continued to sit there, just smiling expectantly while leaning forward on the desk and folding his hands, wings idly twitching. Rueben continued to stare flatly before finally reaching down. Not to the fine, black leather of his boots, no, but to one of the shelves of his desk. Opening the door smoothly, the moose reached in and withdrew an ornate, crystal decanter and set it on the desk. Amusingly enough, it was one of the first artifacts Reuben had bargained for; its enchantment purifying the contents of anything put within it of any sort of poison or other malady. Right now, it was about three-quarters full of whiskey, and Rueben very much needed a drink. Or several. The decanter made contact with the desk; its deep amber liquid within jostling around gently, and shortly after a crystal whiskey tumbler joined it.

The silver dragon chuckled as the crystal items were brought into view, “Am I the thing that actually makes the indomitable, unrelenting Reuben Holt nervous?” Reuben couldn't hide his own smirk as he undid the stopper and poured the first glass, “Far from it, Mr. Kozar. This just helps make you more tolerable to have around.” Dré laughed, genuinely, not even mad. The moose wasn't particularly wrong, considering Dré's budding reputation on the scene as of late. His guardian, Kodiak’s, usually surly demeanor never helped, either. “Be that as it may, Reuben, I still sit here waiting for what I'm owed,” the silver dragon said with a sly grin.

Rueben sighed quietly, reaching down once more to his boots this time as he undid the silver clasps holding them on snugly to the broad hooves within. They slipped off smoothly, set aside carefully, before the pair of dress socks followed. Then, slowly, the bulky moose lifted his legs as he leaned back in his chair. The left leg rested on top of the desk first: smooth, light tan heel pressing down onto it firmly. The right leg followed after, crossing over the left's ankle and putting the full, broad sole on display to the dragon. The moose could already feel the intense gaze on them as the hooved toes twitched slightly. Rueben leaned over, picking up his whiskey tumbler and starting to drink it slowly. Gaze mostly averted from the dragon, all the moose said was, “I have an early meeting tomorrow. Let's get this over with.”

Rueben's ears quickly shot up as his entire body tensed, with Dré's claw gliding down the right sole slowly. The moose didn't laugh, but just barely. “I'm over here, Reuben,” Dré chuckled lowly, a half-grin now on his muzzle. Reuben shook the feeling off, giving Dré a perturbed glare before downing his whiskey and immediately refilling his glass. Tonight wasn't going to be quick.