[center][url=https://i.ibb.co/d5jZw5B/Blacklion.jpg][img]https://i.ibb.co/Z165K82/vancebar.jpg[/img][/url]
[color=8d8d8d][b]Location:[/b] Ebonlock Enterprises > Eukary Quad[/color] | [color=8d8d8d][b]Interactions:[/b] Open[/color][/center]

"[color=8d8d8d]Whatup, Big B![/color]"  Vance had burst into the grizzled bear's office with a spoiled rotten child's sense of entitlement, giving no thought to politely announcing himself before entering or even scheduling an appointment ahead of time.

"Vance," came the low rumble of the gravelly voice. That goosebump-inducing statement came from none other than [url=https://i.ibb.co/5rdhBCB/Butch.jpg]Butch Carbine[/url], an intimidating, towering figure and Magnus Ebonlock's Number Two.  The massive bear remained seated behind his marble desk in attire not quite fitting the business formal motif of the rest of the office.  With a leather jacket covering his shoulders and donning worn, dark jeans for his lower half, the hulking beast emanated his obvious apathy for societal expectations.  He was going to dress as he was going to dress, do as he was going to do, and if the world didn't like it, he'd be happy to sort the world out.

"[color=8d8d8d]I've got this month's fee from the Cranes' Dry Cleaning shop,[/color]" Vance said as he pulled out a clip of money and held it up with pride.  The black furred lion was eager to please and even moreso to prove his own competence.  Dressed nearly as casually as Butch, Vance was very much a t-shirt and jeans type of guy which was a stark contrast from his father who likely even slept in custom tailored business suits.  "[color=8d8d8d]I'm just gonna head on in and drop it off with the ol' cat,[/color]" Vance continued as he walked toward the next, far more ornate office door.  It was closed.  Vance squinted a moment as he tried to discern if there was any light peaking through the bottom of it. 

"Negative," rumbled Butch.  "The Boss is out.  Leave the money with me and get back to school, kid."

"[color=8d8d8d]Well, where is he? I-[/color]"

"The Boss. Is. Out."  Each word sounded like its own individual threat.  Then, in a very animated fashion, Butch took his pointer finger and tapped it three times, quite hard, on an empty part of his desk.  Frustrated, Vance let a small growl escape his throat before surrendering to Butch's demand and dropping the billfold as instructed.  As he was heading toward the office's exit, Butch rumbled on.  "And Vance.  Next time knock before coming in here."  The young lion shot the bear a look before slamming the door shut behind him.

[i][color=8d8d8d]Come at me, old timer.  See what happens[/color][/i], Vance thought with a sense of false bravery.

[center] * * * * * [/center]

[b][i]Later that Evening, Eukary Quad[/i][/b]

The sun had fled the sky.  Vance found himself on a bench with a cigarette between his lips, trying to make sense of the day and shaking off the feeling that he was being looked at as just some punk by his father and his associates.

"[color=8d8d8d]Whatever[/color]" he said out loud, trying to console himself.  "[color=8d8d8d]Just be cool and do what you do.[/color]"  The cool weather was refreshing and brought with it an eventual sense of calm.  With classes done for the day and his work responsibilities fulfilled, all that was left was to wind down and do it all over again tomorrow.  He watched the other students walk by and chit chat between puffs of smoke.  That was a pasttime he would never tire of; watching and studying others.  He could looked on as a skunk and her canine friend left the cafeteria and headed toward the dorms.  He watched as other students performed their exercise rituals.  And he even listened in to the gossip surrounding the upcoming Winter Carnival.

Vance wasn't sure if he'd be attending.  Hadn't even given it much thought, really.  But if the right kind of motivation came along, who's to say?  When all that remained of his cigarette was just the filter, he flicked it between his claws into the nearby bin before pulling himself to his feet and heading toward the dorms.  His stomach sounded off in protest.  It clearly preferred to go to the cafeteria first.

Vance stopped, looked down at his stomach and rolled his eyes.  "[color=8d8d8d]Fine! You win![/color]" he declared before pivoting.  "[color=8d8d8d]The cafeteria, it is.[/color]"  And with that, he headed toward the eatery.  As soon as he stepped in and the beams of florescent lights touched his ebony fur, he made his presence known, shouting to no one in particular: "[color=8d8d8d]What's on the menu tonight?![/color]"