Cuddles' Journey!

Chapter 3: Small Talk

"Did you know an Omeocoon and a Panthorian are dating somewhere in the second ring?" Maxion excitedly informed Tommy as they rode the elevator together.

"For real?" Tommy scoffed with a smile; gossip was commonplace (as it was with any other species)even outside teatime. 

"Mmhm!" Maxion rocked back and forth on his heels as he watched Tommy squirm.

"And I'm assuming you don't know who it is?"

Maxion side-eyed Tommy with a smirk; the silence was only broken by the mechanics of the lift churning in the background. He obviously knew.

"Wait? You do know who it is?"

Maxion remained silent, suspenseful.

"Sooo you know, but you're not gonna tell me?"

Maxion leaned up against the wall and crossed his arms. "I don't think that's such a good idea, Tom."

"Wh—why not!?"

"Because if I do that, then half the ship would know by the time I get to where I'm going—you'll tell Chancellor Bodi, and he'll tell Kai, and then Kai will tell Cam, then—"

"Okay. I get it." Tommy stopped him, putting his hand up. "I don't talk that much. I can keep some secrets. I know Patrol things that you don't know!"

"The couple would like to respect their privacy at this time. Y'know—since they're the first of what hopefully won't be the last of a kind."

"Gah! That's sooo cute! I wish you'd just tell me! I like that our people are getting along and such...But I gotta admit it's a little weird to date a pet."

"Panthorians aren't pets?" Maxion corrected, scoffing, "You assume they're pets because they only walk around with rich people. But calling a Panthorian a pet is like saying a Mercedes is a golf cart."

"What's a Mercedes?"

"The point is they're not pets. They're partners."

"Ah. Then why the collars?"

"Nobody knows." Maxion waved his hands in front of Tommy's face. Speaking of Panthorians, the most famous one stood just outside the door as it opened at Tommy's destination.

The Kori's elevator system was one of this ship's most advanced features—given that it was dozens of decks tall, the lifts were plenty, and they were more than able to travel the length of this colossal starship quickly—they had cargo lifts and shuttle lifts that ensured the respective materials made it to their destination safely, the personnel lifts could travel up and down and left and right, creating an omnidirectional transport system. Small droid service lifts could get into individual nooks where robot work crews could perform repairs or maintenance—a marvel of engineering, but as advanced as they were, the Kori turbolifts were not without flaws—most of them were designed for smaller and more compact personnel, which was not Cuddles.

"I'll see you later." Tommy smiled at Maxion again before he evacuated the lift. He brushed his tail against Cuddles' leg as he passed by him—a silent greeting of the Omeocoon way.

Cuddles sighed as he stuffed himself into the elevator. It barely sustained his 8-foot-tall, semi-wide frame. He had to hunch over slightly—and it was especially tricky when other people were on board. Maxion, Russell's mate, occupied it with him; he wanted to avoid smothering the smaller goo raccoon, but it might've been impossible. He grunted as he curled his tail close to his legs to try and fit it into the lift—just another large part of him that needed to be managed. He let his eyes gravitate toward the ceiling as the doors closed. "Maxion...son of Larren."