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Bent over, Cresk sucked in air greedily. Checking his watch he frowned and mentally slapped himself. He was getting there but still nowhere near his goal of running a 17 minute three mile. Wiping the sweat from his brow he retrieved his shirt from the back of his shorts and flicked his tail around in aggravation. Cresk was an odd wolf, in his markings and mismatched eyes, but aside from those you really would be hard pressed to find any other difference. Standing 6'4" tall and weighing a lean 185 pounds, one would also be hard pressed to believe that he was one of the most renowned bouncers in the city. That reputation was strictly from rumor, for he never did anything special to gain notice. Mopping his face with his shirt as he walked up the stairs to his third floor apartment he began muttering colorful phrases at himself and his performance. Mistepping as he reached the top he almost fell flat on his muzzle and yelped in surprise. Feeling as if his embarassment couldn't get any worse he heard a soft giggling coming from behind him. Fear lighting his miscolored eyes, Cresk turned to face a gorgeous collie that had been coming up the stairs behind him.
"Careful, that last one always tends to sneak up on ya." She said in a gentle crystaline voice.
Stammering over his own words Cresk's muzzle threatened to match the color of his hellfire red right eye, while his blue eye stood out even more. Staring into her gentle emerald eyes Cresk suddenly became concious of himself as he found her gazing into his own orbs. Throwing his shirt over the top of his head in an attempt to hide his embarrassment he chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I guess I should pay a bit more attention to where I am going, rather than beating myself up."
"Just coming back from the gym or something?" She asked as her tail began to sway gently.
"Huh? Oh, no. I'm just coming back from a run. Helps me clear my head before work. Guess it worked a little to well." Without meaning to Cresk had made his way to his doorway as he spoke to her. "Well, this is me, hope to see you around sometime? Maybe when I'm a bit more decent?"
"Considering I'm your new neighbor. I think thats a good possibility." Disappearing from sight without another sound save for the click of her door closing, the walkway became silent.
"Was a pleasure, trust me." Cresk said as he opened his own door and slammed it shut with a resounding thud behind him." Throwing his sweat soaked shirt into a basket he left by the door he kicked his running shoes next to it. "Way to watch where your going there Cresk. Very smooth." Stripping on his way to the bathroom he continued to berate himself. "Yeah, then lets just freeze up the moment you look at her. Way to act like a pup." Turning the shower on as hot as it would go he turned to look at himself in the mirror. The sound of the spray calming his nerves slightly. Using his claws to trace the lines from his ears to the tip of his muzzle as he had done for years, almost as if he were afraid the water would wash away his most distinguishing feature, he tried his best to smile but only heard his own mocking tone inside his head. Stepping into the shower he let the searing water wash away the voices.
Closing his eyes he faced the nozzle letting the water pelt his face and slipped into a slight daze. He was shaken rudely from it by a loud bleating coming from next to the sink. Thanking himself once again for putting an alarm in the bathroom he stepped out of the shower. It helped him avoid one of the many pitfalls of working a night shift. Stay up all night, sleep most of the day away, wake up to go for his customary run or hit the gym, shower, and go to work. Every day of the week save for sunday, when the club he worked at was closed and he both ran and hit the gym, his life had pretty much remained the same. He had yet to take a vacation or sick day in five years. His boss kept trying to coerce him to take a few days to himself, but Cresk continued to refuse. He had no family, friends were few and far in between, and no real reason to be away from work. He enjoyed his job and didnt really have to worry about anything happening. Most people were too afraid to do anything totally insane. All because of his looks rumors started to pop up all over town. Spitting the wash of flouride into the sink he allowed himself a gentle smile. After all, both of his eyes were transplants from a vicious knife fight two towns over.
Laughing as he finished dressing himself in black jeans, an open necked black shirt and his heavy combat boots he picked up his keys and stepped out of his apartment. Throwing his heavy black leather trench coat over his shoulders Cresk locked the door and gave a smile that was all teeth. Another night at 'Foxxies' was about to begin.

Whisteling tunelessly to himself as he entered the back door of the club, Cresk could hear a band tuning there instruments. Groaning aloud he hung his head as he tossed his heavy coat in the staff room. Live bands always meant a larger, normally more rowdy crowds. At least it would prove to be a more eventful night for him and his crew. A familiar voice calling from behind him stopped his movements and caused him to turn around.
"Cresk me boy. Are you ready for a great night?" The voice belonged to Subat Foxxie, the club owner. He was a well frosted Irish setter in his mid-forties who always seemed to stay in tune with what the public wanted. Rather than his traditional three piece suit however, tonight he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt adorned with a foxes skull clenching a set of bloody brass knuckles in its jaws. "We have a brand new band looking to make its start in the business playing tonight, so rather than being at the door, I'm going to need you on the floor with me tonight. Lot of big names from record companies are going to be showing up and I want my best to be around so they can get a good look."
"Thats not a problem Mr. Foxxie, I can put Dutch and John on the door. Leaving Corbick and Sloan to watch the floor if I get too tied up. Shouldn't be too hard to control the crowd with that kinda presence out there." Massaging his wrists out of habit before a big night he asked his next question already dreading the answer. "So, who's the band and which genre are we going to be listening to tonight?"
"They are called 'Four Clawed Fatal Jab.' And they are in the hard rock and metal sound. My cousin has seen them open for some big bands and spoke very highly of them. This is one of the few remaining rock clubs after all, and just imagine the business oppurtunities should they be discovered here. Finders fee's, more customers looking to hear new bands before they land a deal. Bands paying to play here in hopes of being discovered. The possibilities are endless my boy!"
Nodding as he walked off to meet with his team and let them know exactly what was going on tonight, he decided to call back over his shoulder as not to appear to be ignoring his boss. "Then we have a lot to do before the doors open."
Entering the room set aside just for the bouncers he immediatly spotted Dutch, John and Sloan, but couldnt find his last member. Calling over to the three Cresk flicked his tail around irritantly. "Hey, have you guys seen Corbick? We have a big night and I..." Cutting off his sentance Cresk felt a arge set of arms wrapping around his body. "Well, that makes the whole crew now doesnt it?" Tilting his head backwards he looked up at the largest member of his team. "Corbick, what have I asked you about hugging me?"
Taking a few seconds as if to think carefully about his answer Corbick looked down at his boss and smiled. "You asked me not to do it at work, outside of work, around people, or if it was just us." He finally replied with a look of extreme satisfaction on his face. "But you always look like your so angry and really need a one." Setting his boss back down on the floor the large panda almost laughed. "In this job, I can understand the need to always look mad, but that look never seems to leave your face. And if you do that, then the angry look can manifest into true anger, and at that point they win and have the upper hand over you in every possible way. Once that happens, the proffesional within you dies."
Corbick was the closest thing to a friend that Cresk had and it could be very easily be seen if you understood how Cresk thought. Even being as socially inept as he was, Corick was somebody he could always talk to before or after work. And the wierdest thing about the large panda, was that he was a pacifist. Even with that being the case, he was working as a bouncer, a potentially very violent job. Cresks thoughts were interupted by the sounds of Dutch chuckling. Shooting the St. Bernard an icey glare, he was rewarded with silence.
"Like I was saying, we have a really big night tonight. Lots of big suits, a new band, and as you can guess, your typical crowd that comes with a hard rock band. The boss wants the real heavy hitters on the floor, and he wants me tailing him. Dutch and John, you two are on the door." Cresk said as he pointed at them respectively. Now if the door is as calm as I am hoping, then just one of you will be standing at the door, and the other will be on the floor with Corbick and Sloan. Chances are very high that a mosh will be started by the group, they sound like the type. Let it go, but the moment that somebody gets knocked out, or you see blood stop it and let them simmer. With me and Corbick walking around on the floor I think that people might keep some awareness about themselves but you can never be certain." Turning on his heel Cresk finished the meeting by walking out of the room. "Be on station in five."
Tonight was not going to be a night that he was going to enjoy. It was a feeling deep in his gut that he couldnt ignore. Making his way to the back entrance, Cresk started fishing in his pockets for his pack of cigarettes. Seeing Mr. Foxxie speaking with a heavily pierced and tattooed Lemur he smiled to himself and stepped past them to the exterior of the club. Closing the door behind him he placed a beloved cancer stick between his lips and pulled out a box of matches. Checking his watch as he removed a match from its housing he nodded mentally. He still had plenty of time before he needed to be on the floor. Striking the match on the box seemed to have a connection to the speakers inside. As soon as the flame lept to life, the music started blaring from within. It was the standard pre-recorded tracks they played until the live band took over and he knew the entire rotation by heart. Closing his eyes Cresk took a long drag from his cigarrete.
With his eyes remaining closed Cresk slipped back into the same semi trance he was in before, except this time he began singing along with the band. It was 'Fungusskulls - Save us.' So entranced by his smoking and singing, Cresk failed to hear the door open and close behind him. Finishing his smoke and the song he finally opened his eyes and noticed he had company. It was the lemur that was talking to Mr. Foxxie.
"Oh fuck. I am so sorry. Normally I'm alone out here before the bar opens."
"No need to apologise brotha. Seriously." Taking a pull from his previously lit then ignore cigarette. "Are you from another band thats playing tonight?"
"What? Oh, no. I'm the head bouncer here. My job is your saftey. Speaking of which, I need to head inside. The front doors have opened and I need to get onto the floor." Opening the door Cresk made a motion to distance himself from the other quickly.
"Well, you have an amazing voice. I will admit that much."
"Thanks, I guess." Closing the door behind him, he left the confusing conversation behind him.