{ "submission_id": "2103790", "keywords": [ { "keyword_id": "378", "keyword_name": "bondage", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "74550" }, { "keyword_id": "3", "keyword_name": "dog", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "176116" }, { "keyword_id": "3756", "keyword_name": "erotica", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "579" }, { "keyword_id": "10308", "keyword_name": "male/male", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "128336" }, { "keyword_id": "15199", "keyword_name": "masochism", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "892" }, { "keyword_id": "2838", "keyword_name": "mystery", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "1756" }, { "keyword_id": "152", "keyword_name": "raccoon", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "37474" }, { "keyword_id": "7515", "keyword_name": "sadism", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "963" }, { "keyword_id": "164", "keyword_name": "wolf", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "196445" } ], "hidden": "f", "scraps": "f", "favorite": "f", "favorites_count": "0", "create_datetime": "2020-03-08 13:06:14.777338+00", "create_datetime_usertime": "08 Mar 2020 14:06 CET", "last_file_update_datetime": "2020-03-08 13:04:56.35298+00", "last_file_update_datetime_usertime": "08 Mar 2020 14:04 CET", "username": "Arren", "user_id": "260272", "user_icon_file_name": null, "user_icon_url_large": null, "user_icon_url_medium": null, "user_icon_url_small": null, "file_name": "3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/3045/3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/3045/3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3045/3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "files": [ { "file_id": "3045066", "file_name": "3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/3045/3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/3045/3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3045/3045066_Arren_chapter_two_north.doc", "mimetype": "application/msword", "submission_id": "2103790", "user_id": "260272", "submission_file_order": "0", "full_size_x": null, "full_size_y": null, "screen_size_x": null, "screen_size_y": null, "preview_size_x": null, "preview_size_y": null, "initial_file_md5": "3a6c4a62464724f63aa5248983e7b29a", "full_file_md5": "3a6c4a62464724f63aa5248983e7b29a", "large_file_md5": "", "small_file_md5": "", "thumbnail_md5": "", "deleted": "f", "create_datetime": "2020-03-08 13:04:56.35298+00", "create_datetime_usertime": "08 Mar 2020 14:04 CET" } ], "pools": [], "description": "A story of new beginnings and absolution.\nDreams and a bright future seems to be within Riley's grasp. His new life has him experiencing and sharing the joys and hopes of his lover. Even with the threat of his past looming in the background, Riley believes he can truly be free of it one day.\nHowever, for every beacon of hope lies a cloud of darkness eager to swallow the light.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "A story of new beginnings and absolution.
Dreams and a bright future seems to be within Riley's grasp. His new life has him experiencing and sharing the joys and hopes of his lover. Even with the threat of his past looming in the background, Riley believes he can truly be free of it one day.
However, for every beacon of hope lies a cloud of darkness eager to swallow the light.", "writing": "Chapter Two\n\nThe Northstar operated smoothly with just Riley and Mark running the show. Riley had, in his humble opinion, attained a modest degree in amateur bartending over the course of his budding new career. While the pub was a local favourite in Aurora, the crowds never got too out of hand. If Mark wasn't busy with kitchen orders he would come out front and help Riley, chat up his regulars and otherwise just take it easy. It didn't take Riley long to realize that so long as he kept people's pints topped up his day would go by incident free.\n\nCase and point, today when Shevon, a stag with years of living etched into his face, arrived, Riley placed his usual pint of bitter in front of the stag and he actually said `thank you', albeit in his usual gruff fashion.\n\nAurora was a town with a dense herbivore population, what little carnivores lived there were considered a lower threat to public safety than, much to Riley's chagrin, a grey-wolf was. Though he hadn't seamlessly integrated into the community things were better than when he first arrived when mistrust was prevalent in abundance.\n\nBut, the people of Aurora loved the Northstar and they loved Mark so surely he wouldn't bring on anyone who would spell trouble for the town?\n\nRiley didn't really get this level of apprehension back in Highland, while it wasn't as inclusive as a city was there was at least decent ratio of carnivore to herbivore and he didn't really pay it much attention.\n\nLife in Aurora was another matter, but Riley was fortunate to have someone like Mark to look out for him.\n\nAbout midafternoon a Blue-Jay pulled up outside the pub in a delivery van. Mark's tail wagged merrily as the delivery bird placed a large parcel on the bar which Mark happily signed for. Mark wasted no time tearing open the box, tossed the bubble wrap aside after popping a few bubble for kicks, and pulled out a sleek white tower.\n\nRiley leaned against the Lab as he marvelled at the device and said, ``Well, it's finally\n\nhere.''\n\nMark was already pairing his phone to the device when Shevon huffed down the bar and pointed at Mark's new toy, ``The hell is that?''\n\nA loud melodic chime filled the bar as a green light flashed on the top of the device; Mark's tail was on full-on manic joy mode, he pressed a few buttons on his phone and then country music began to fill the bar from the device, the Lab beamed, ``It's beautiful.''\n\nShevon shook his head, unimpressed he returned to his pint.\n\nRiley put his hand on Mark's, nodded and said, ``Sounds good, but think we need to update your playlist. That is, if you really want to go through with this?''\n\nMark grabbed Riley's hips and started dancing to the music, ``Think this town could use a little livening up, don't you?''\n\nShevon snorted, ``What's gotten into you two?'' His interest returning to the Mark and Riley, he shifted down a few stool towards them.\n\nMark smirked, ``Thinking of turning this place into a dance hall, least once a week.'' Riley chuckled, ``Dance hall?''\n\nThe Lab shrugged, ``I don't want to use the `C' word in front of Shevon.'' ``You mean...club?''\n\nShevon's nostrils flared, ``Club? Did I hear you right, boy?''\n\n\f\n\nMark nudged Riley playfully, then addressed the stag imploringly, ``It's not a bad thing, Shevon. I think people will enjoy it.\n\nThe stag propped his arm on the bar and stared Mark dead in the eye, ``If you're ma' and pa' knew that you were turning your family's pride and joy into a....club,'' The stag seemed to\n\nwretch at the very utterance of the word, ``They would be mighty ashamed. A club, nothing good comes of people frolicking without a damn care and debasing themselves to whatever trash passes for music these days.''\n\nRiley knew that Shevon's words didn't bother Mark in the slightest, in fact, even Riley felt a little burst of excitement in his day whenever Shevon or another patron went off on something for no good reason.\n\nMark resumed the music, ``All right, Shevon, I get your point. You don't need to come by but I would advise you to be home by nine tonight. That is if you want to avoid all the `debase' action.''\n\n``We're doing this tonight?'' Riley wasn't prepared for this.\n\n``Well, ya, I've already posted it on the pub's site,'' Mark held up his phone triumphantly. When did he even do that? Riley was often impressed at the speed in which Mark\n\nconducted himself. ``Think we're ready? I mean, we've talked about this for a while now but just seems like it's happening so fast.''\n\n``I don't see the big deal,'' Mark pulled Riley in close, get in close behind the wolf and faced him towards the dining area. ``All we gotta do it move the tables and chairs to one side and bam, we have a dance floor.''\n\nShevon slammed his pint on the bar, ``Move the tables? Those tables haven't been moved for decades!''\n\nThey had in fact been moved many times for cleaning, but Riley didn't put it past Shevon to notice these things.\n\nMark went over to the stag, took his pint and filled it once more, ``You know, Shevon, change isn't always a scary thing.'' He glanced over at Riley and winked.\n\nThe stag begrudgingly took the pint, ``Still say no good will come of it.'' ``Trust me,'' Mark said cheerfully, ``This is going to be for the best.''\n\nAround eight-thirty, Riley and Mark set to work clearing the space in front the bar. Shevon and a few other patrons left, but the ones that lingered seem genuinely interested in the prospect of the Northstar being a modest dance clue.\n\n``People drink when they dance. It's just common sense, right?'' Mark said and they moved the final table off to the side.\n\n``Are you second guessing yourself now?'' Riley's back was starting to ache from their speedy renovations but he was glad they worked fast.\n\n``No, no, I'm not...but what if I didn't buy the right speaker? What if the music isn't loud enough, I thought that I did my research well enough and all the reviews said this was great for parties and it fit my budget and, fuck, what if no dances-''\n\nRiley kissed him and the Lab calmed down, ``It'll be fine, if no one started dancing then we'll just have to show `em how it's done.''\n\nMark's tail swished to and fro, ``Wouldn't that be a shame?''\n\n``Big time,'' The wolf had to come to love Mark's enthusiasm. He would even go as far to say that he...loved Mark. They had never said the words to one another, but Riley's feelings were surmounting towards vulnerability when it came to Mark.\n\nIt scared him, but also excited the wolf.\n\n\f\n\nMark had assembled what he felt was an all-star song selection that would carry the party well into the morning. A few scatterings of people arrived in small spurts, ordered drinks and waited for the official launch of the Northstar's foray into more vibrant night-life. Mark dimmed the lights and stood beside Riley.\n\n``Ready?'' Riley took Mark's hand in his as the Lab raised his phone, checked the speaker and christened the play-button to launch the evening into its intended purpose.\n\nMusic blared out from the tiny speaker but true to Mark's wishes the pub was filled with upbeat vibes and tunes. Few of the patrons started to sway their hips, some even took to the dance floor and after a few minutes the butterflies in people's stomachs vacated and a decent party had begun.\n\nMark and Riley were kept busy by the influx of drink orders. Every time Riley check in on Mark he could swear there was a sparkle in the Lab's eyes and Riley knew everything was going to be alright.\n\nHe didn't even notice how much the place filled up, the bartenders were far too occupied keeping up with drinks to notice that their capacity had increased exponentially. Riley had notice a few of the younger crowd had been on their phones earlier, maybe they had spread the word throughout town?\n\nPeople were enjoying themselves, and that's all that mattered. Riley had all but forgotten about the text from Max, even his body which ached from time to time seemed lighter than ever surrounded by the positive atmosphere around him.\n\n``Excuse me, bud,'' A raccoon leaned against the bar, his voice cut through the music like a knife, ``Can I guy get a drink round here?''\n\nRiley had never seen this man before. He looked to be about Riley's age, clad in tight black jeans and a leather riding jacket. His V-neck shirt exposed most of his chest and various silver chains dangling from his neck. There was a good portion of his left ear that was totally missing and he had smoky eyes that locked onto Riley.\n\n``What'll it be?'' Riley called out over the music.\n\n``Something bitter, got anything that fits the bill?'' Riley considered and pushed a stout tall-boy towards the raccoon as the new-comer slipped a couple bills towards him, ``Keep the change.''\n\nThe raccoon opened the can and seemed to down most of in one gulp. Riley couldn't help but feel curious about this guy and said, ``Haven't seen you around here. Come out just for the club?''\n\nIn some capacity, Riley recognized most of the faces in pub but this guy stuck out, maybe he was just passing through Aurora?\n\nThe raccoon polished off the can, ``Sounded like a party in here and I do like me a party.'' He passed Riley a few more bills in exchange for another can of the dark beer.\n\n``Well, this is the first time we've done something like this here so you came at a good time,'' Riley went to leave but the raccoon held up another note and tipped the emptied can onto its head.\n\n``Seems I am in need of another drink,'' The raccoon smirked.\n\n``Shit, man, that's pretty strong stuff,'' He hesitantly handed another beer to the raccoon. ``Telling me how to handle my booze?''\n\nRiley leaned in close, ``If you're here to cause trouble then I'll tell you one way or another.''\n\n\f\n\nThe raccoon held up his arms, ``Dude, relax. Listen, scout's honor, I'll nurse this one. I just, well, I was just trying to think up a good way to make you stick around longer.''\n\nFuck, was this guy flirting with him? ``Look, it's pretty busy in here and I'm on the clock so if you're still around later maybe we can chat but I gotta go. You... just drink that one slow, I mean, you're gonna regret it otherwise.''\n\nThe raccoon called after Riley, ``Names Jacob!''\n\n``Riley!'' He called back.\n\nJacob glanced down at his beer and muttered under his breath, ``I know.''\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Chapter Two

The Northstar operated smoothly with just Riley and Mark running the show. Riley had, in his humble opinion, attained a modest degree in amateur bartending over the course of his budding new career. While the pub was a local favourite in Aurora, the crowds never got too out of hand. If Mark wasn't busy with kitchen orders he would come out front and help Riley, chat up his regulars and otherwise just take it easy. It didn't take Riley long to realize that so long as he kept people's pints topped up his day would go by incident free.

Case and point, today when Shevon, a stag with years of living etched into his face, arrived, Riley placed his usual pint of bitter in front of the stag and he actually said `thank you', albeit in his usual gruff fashion.

Aurora was a town with a dense herbivore population, what little carnivores lived there were considered a lower threat to public safety than, much to Riley's chagrin, a grey-wolf was. Though he hadn't seamlessly integrated into the community things were better than when he first arrived when mistrust was prevalent in abundance.

But, the people of Aurora loved the Northstar and they loved Mark so surely he wouldn't bring on anyone who would spell trouble for the town?

Riley didn't really get this level of apprehension back in Highland, while it wasn't as inclusive as a city was there was at least decent ratio of carnivore to herbivore and he didn't really pay it much attention.

Life in Aurora was another matter, but Riley was fortunate to have someone like Mark to look out for him.

About midafternoon a Blue-Jay pulled up outside the pub in a delivery van. Mark's tail wagged merrily as the delivery bird placed a large parcel on the bar which Mark happily signed for. Mark wasted no time tearing open the box, tossed the bubble wrap aside after popping a few bubble for kicks, and pulled out a sleek white tower.

Riley leaned against the Lab as he marvelled at the device and said, ``Well, it's finally

here.''

Mark was already pairing his phone to the device when Shevon huffed down the bar and pointed at Mark's new toy, ``The hell is that?''

A loud melodic chime filled the bar as a green light flashed on the top of the device; Mark's tail was on full-on manic joy mode, he pressed a few buttons on his phone and then country music began to fill the bar from the device, the Lab beamed, ``It's beautiful.''

Shevon shook his head, unimpressed he returned to his pint.

Riley put his hand on Mark's, nodded and said, ``Sounds good, but think we need to update your playlist. That is, if you really want to go through with this?''

Mark grabbed Riley's hips and started dancing to the music, ``Think this town could use a little livening up, don't you?''

Shevon snorted, ``What's gotten into you two?'' His interest returning to the Mark and Riley, he shifted down a few stool towards them.

Mark smirked, ``Thinking of turning this place into a dance hall, least once a week.'' Riley chuckled, ``Dance hall?''

The Lab shrugged, ``I don't want to use the `C' word in front of Shevon.'' ``You mean...club?''

Shevon's nostrils flared, ``Club? Did I hear you right, boy?''

\f

Mark nudged Riley playfully, then addressed the stag imploringly, ``It's not a bad thing, Shevon. I think people will enjoy it.

The stag propped his arm on the bar and stared Mark dead in the eye, ``If you're ma' and pa' knew that you were turning your family's pride and joy into a....club,'' The stag seemed to

wretch at the very utterance of the word, ``They would be mighty ashamed. A club, nothing good comes of people frolicking without a damn care and debasing themselves to whatever trash passes for music these days.''

Riley knew that Shevon's words didn't bother Mark in the slightest, in fact, even Riley felt a little burst of excitement in his day whenever Shevon or another patron went off on something for no good reason.

Mark resumed the music, ``All right, Shevon, I get your point. You don't need to come by but I would advise you to be home by nine tonight. That is if you want to avoid all the `debase' action.''

``We're doing this tonight?'' Riley wasn't prepared for this.

``Well, ya, I've already posted it on the pub's site,'' Mark held up his phone triumphantly. When did he even do that? Riley was often impressed at the speed in which Mark

conducted himself. ``Think we're ready? I mean, we've talked about this for a while now but just seems like it's happening so fast.''

``I don't see the big deal,'' Mark pulled Riley in close, get in close behind the wolf and faced him towards the dining area. ``All we gotta do it move the tables and chairs to one side and bam, we have a dance floor.''

Shevon slammed his pint on the bar, ``Move the tables? Those tables haven't been moved for decades!''

They had in fact been moved many times for cleaning, but Riley didn't put it past Shevon to notice these things.

Mark went over to the stag, took his pint and filled it once more, ``You know, Shevon, change isn't always a scary thing.'' He glanced over at Riley and winked.

The stag begrudgingly took the pint, ``Still say no good will come of it.'' ``Trust me,'' Mark said cheerfully, ``This is going to be for the best.''

Around eight-thirty, Riley and Mark set to work clearing the space in front the bar. Shevon and a few other patrons left, but the ones that lingered seem genuinely interested in the prospect of the Northstar being a modest dance clue.

``People drink when they dance. It's just common sense, right?'' Mark said and they moved the final table off to the side.

``Are you second guessing yourself now?'' Riley's back was starting to ache from their speedy renovations but he was glad they worked fast.

``No, no, I'm not...but what if I didn't buy the right speaker? What if the music isn't loud enough, I thought that I did my research well enough and all the reviews said this was great for parties and it fit my budget and, fuck, what if no dances-''

Riley kissed him and the Lab calmed down, ``It'll be fine, if no one started dancing then we'll just have to show `em how it's done.''

Mark's tail swished to and fro, ``Wouldn't that be a shame?''

``Big time,'' The wolf had to come to love Mark's enthusiasm. He would even go as far to say that he...loved Mark. They had never said the words to one another, but Riley's feelings were surmounting towards vulnerability when it came to Mark.

It scared him, but also excited the wolf.

\f

Mark had assembled what he felt was an all-star song selection that would carry the party well into the morning. A few scatterings of people arrived in small spurts, ordered drinks and waited for the official launch of the Northstar's foray into more vibrant night-life. Mark dimmed the lights and stood beside Riley.

``Ready?'' Riley took Mark's hand in his as the Lab raised his phone, checked the speaker and christened the play-button to launch the evening into its intended purpose.

Music blared out from the tiny speaker but true to Mark's wishes the pub was filled with upbeat vibes and tunes. Few of the patrons started to sway their hips, some even took to the dance floor and after a few minutes the butterflies in people's stomachs vacated and a decent party had begun.

Mark and Riley were kept busy by the influx of drink orders. Every time Riley check in on Mark he could swear there was a sparkle in the Lab's eyes and Riley knew everything was going to be alright.

He didn't even notice how much the place filled up, the bartenders were far too occupied keeping up with drinks to notice that their capacity had increased exponentially. Riley had notice a few of the younger crowd had been on their phones earlier, maybe they had spread the word throughout town?

People were enjoying themselves, and that's all that mattered. Riley had all but forgotten about the text from Max, even his body which ached from time to time seemed lighter than ever surrounded by the positive atmosphere around him.

``Excuse me, bud,'' A raccoon leaned against the bar, his voice cut through the music like a knife, ``Can I guy get a drink round here?''

Riley had never seen this man before. He looked to be about Riley's age, clad in tight black jeans and a leather riding jacket. His V-neck shirt exposed most of his chest and various silver chains dangling from his neck. There was a good portion of his left ear that was totally missing and he had smoky eyes that locked onto Riley.

``What'll it be?'' Riley called out over the music.

``Something bitter, got anything that fits the bill?'' Riley considered and pushed a stout tall-boy towards the raccoon as the new-comer slipped a couple bills towards him, ``Keep the change.''

The raccoon opened the can and seemed to down most of in one gulp. Riley couldn't help but feel curious about this guy and said, ``Haven't seen you around here. Come out just for the club?''

In some capacity, Riley recognized most of the faces in pub but this guy stuck out, maybe he was just passing through Aurora?

The raccoon polished off the can, ``Sounded like a party in here and I do like me a party.'' He passed Riley a few more bills in exchange for another can of the dark beer.

``Well, this is the first time we've done something like this here so you came at a good time,'' Riley went to leave but the raccoon held up another note and tipped the emptied can onto its head.

``Seems I am in need of another drink,'' The raccoon smirked.

``Shit, man, that's pretty strong stuff,'' He hesitantly handed another beer to the raccoon. ``Telling me how to handle my booze?''

Riley leaned in close, ``If you're here to cause trouble then I'll tell you one way or another.''

\f

The raccoon held up his arms, ``Dude, relax. Listen, scout's honor, I'll nurse this one. I just, well, I was just trying to think up a good way to make you stick around longer.''

Fuck, was this guy flirting with him? ``Look, it's pretty busy in here and I'm on the clock so if you're still around later maybe we can chat but I gotta go. You... just drink that one slow, I mean, you're gonna regret it otherwise.''

The raccoon called after Riley, ``Names Jacob!''

``Riley!'' He called back.

Jacob glanced down at his beer and muttered under his breath, ``I know.''

", "pools_count": 0, "title": "A Dark Engagement: The North. Chapter Two", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "4", "name": "Sexual Themes", "description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal", "rating_id": "2" }, { "content_tag_id": "5", "name": "Strong Violence", "description": "Strong violence, blood, serious injury or death", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "0", "views": "8" }