[b]Modern Marketing[/b]


"Frumpy? What's frumpy about a computer?" Zyair asked, inspecting the blueprint ad once more. In the marketing director's estimation, the poster showed exactly what was required: A digital interface to attract younger customers for a new online experience to easy and secure money management. "Kids love computers!"

Perry had to suppress a laugh. "Yeah, but this one has a CRT monitor! We're not in the nineties anymore. I thought this ad was supposed to address a younger audience."

The old, longfaced gnu scratched his horned head, then pushed the poster aside. Perry was the generation they were trying to target here, so he probably knew better than him. "What would you suggest?"

Well prepared, Perry brought up a few reference graphics on his screen for his taskmaster to see. "I was thinking more of a tablet, or phone as the connecting factor. Stylized to look simple and modern. The coins give a financial reference and the ascending graph a sense of profit. Based on what the IT people eventually come up with, we can adapt the backdrop accordingly. The blue stuff is just an idea for now. I thought it might fit well to indicate a digital component."

Keen to the general idea, Zyair fumbled with his shaggy beard while he took the colorful graphics in. "You did that all by yourself?"

"Ah, well. I used some stock art for this," the tabby cat admitted flustered. "But the concept is mine, yes."

"Why don't you compose a few samples for the team to review? And print them out for me, would you?"

"Yes, I can do that. No problem, sir!" Perry said with a smile.





[b]Striped Taxi[/b]


"You didn't perchance order a striped taxi, did you?" the tiger asked as he came to a stop in front of the tiny, yellow fox that waited  leaned to a wall, phone in hand.

With a laugh, Limon looked up. "What gave it away?"

"Oh, I've had an idea when I saw those big, yellow radar dishes. Also, gorillas aren't all that common around here, even though they are a suggestion in the app's weight limit table."

"Must have misclicked," the fox shrugged innocently.

Though this hadn't been the first time Limon came up with a lousy excuse for calling the carrier tiger. "Say, didn't you mention that you had a carrier in-house? Some cat boy? Why don't you call him?"

"Josha! Why should I content myself with a scrawny kitten, when I can ride on this?!" he asked, stroking his tiny, white paw over the big cat's buff, unclad flank, just between the straps of his saddle. "The boy's reserved for the executive floor, besides."

"Ey, ey! Touching costs extra," the feline warned with a lighthearted sneer.

"You know I tip well," he said and pulled the strap down. "Now go a bit lower, so your customer can mount you!"





[b]Alex the Sugar Glider[/b]


It was just after lunch break, though quite dutifully, Alex was already back to work, typing some e-mails on Mr. Hollard's keyboard that looked like a tool for giants under his tiny hands. When the big boss eventually returned, he held a cup of coffee in hand, went straight for his desk to flop down and opened the newspaper. He often disregarded his new personal assistant like this. Being small and silent, when his boss was in a bad mood, was kinda part of the job, so Alex didn't mind at all. By now he'd (mostly) learned what his employer expected of him.

"Uh...? Hrmmg!" The expression of surprise when a big hand encircled him from behind, was swiftly replaced by a twisted face when said hand began to crush the petite sugar glider. The Rottweiler's thick fingers were easily able to reach around Alex' entire body, trapping him completely in his strong palm. His arms were pressed to his sides, his hip twisted and his chest crushed to the point where breathing became a burden. "Uhrgh... Sir? Wh-what did I, hrmm... do wrong...?" he asked, already apologetically even though he couldn't remember to have slipped up somehow.

The big dog chuckled. "Do I need a reason to squeeze you now?"

"Urgh, no... Of course not, Sir..." the tiny guy wheezed as he tried to pull his arms out of the canine's fist to have more space to breath. He probably shouldn't have done that, though, because now he couldn't press against his boss's hand anymore and felt his ribs popping. "Aurgh!"

"Did you update my schedule?" Mr. Hollard asked, casually sipping on his coffee, while he tortured the little guy.

It was hard to suck in enough breath to answer. "Y-yes, Sir...!" Alex squeaked with bulging eyes.

"And the meeting with Paul?"

"C-cancled, as, hugh... r-requested, Sir..." he stammered on the brink of chocking, though then felt the fist around him ease enough to let him draw in some air. Alex had no doubt that this man could literally break his bones 'single-handedly' if he just wanted. To his luck, Mr. Hollard was rather experienced, though.

"Did you seek out the Middleton address already?" the boss wanted to know next.

"Not yet, Sir. I was going to do that once I--" he trailed off when the hand around him shifted. The Rottweiler held him loosely now, though Alex already knew this position and gulped. "Aourgh!" A little shriek echoed through Hollard's office, when he squeezed his thump into the sugar glider's tiny belly. The dog's thick, dull claw drilled itself deep into his abdomen and squeezed all organs out of its way. Alex gasped and nearly lost it when the sudden pain kicked in.

"What am I even paying you for?" Mr. Hollard asked calmly, as if he wasn't agonizing his smallest assistant.

"Ourgh... I'm inc-credibly sorry, Sir" Hrrrgh... I'll, hff... get to it right... uhrgway..." Alex groaned with a haggard voice.

"Leave it," the dog said, though, before he released him again. "I've got something else for you to do. Under the desk!"

Caughin, Alex dropped to his knees, clutching his midsection. Though he allowed himself only a few seconds to pull himself together before he executed his boss command. Wearily he dragged himself to the edge of the desk and jumped off. With his gliding membranes stretched, he circled around his boss's chair and landed beneath the man's desk, where he found his boss already slipped out of his shoes.

"You know what you have to do, Alex!"