"Did you guys know the blue whale penis is between 8 to 9 feet long?" Fletcher asked as they all sat in the break room, "like...that guy's dick is taller than most NBA players."
"Why do you know that?" Harvey asked as he stood by the counter, pouring himself some coffee and sipping it.
"It's in this book about sea creatures," Fletcher said, slightly raising the book up.
"Right, that's why," Robin said, making Sophie chuckle.
"Frankly, I don't think overcompensation is even possible in this instance," Casper said, "I mean, when you've got a schlong that size what can you possibly feel inferior about? Course you can only fuck other whales, but."
"No, he could fuck other animals, it'd just kill them," Fletcher said, making everyone laugh; he added, "like if he fucked a dolphin, it'd probably explode for instance."
"Dolphins are so rapey as it is that they'd probably be into that," Robin remarked. Just then the door to the break room opened and Nelly walked in. She was wearing an ash grey suit, shiny black loafers and a collared button down shirt, her hair pulled back into a messy bun. She stopped and smiled at everyone, and this made everyone immediately tense.
"Good morning all," she said brightly.
"Oh no," Fletcher whispered.
"Oh yes," she said, "do you all want to know what I walked into this morning? I got into my office, played my answering machine messages, and was greeted with a woman who was upset because, yesterday, her daughter saw a pair of animals copulating. She went on to say this was inappropriate behavior for children to be witnessing, and that she had to answer a whole slew of uncomfortable questions once they left the zoo. And now? Well, now I have to try to make sense of a society that doesn't understand animalistic rituals."
"Could just ignore them," Harvey said, leaning against the counter, sipping coffee and shrugging.
"Harvey I swear to god, if you-"
"Excuse me," a voice said, a hand knocking on the door as Kacie entered, "Um...there's a group of protestors outside."
Everyone stared at Kacie in surprise, uncertain exactly of how to react. Nelly furrowed her brow and turned on her heel, heading out, Harvey and everyone else following quickly behind her, except Fletcher who continued being seated at the table, reading. Kacie sidled up beside him and glanced down.
"What are you reading about?" she asked.
"Blue whale dicks," Fletcher said, "god, it must be like a firehose when they climax."
"Those lucky female whales," Kacie said, making Fletcher look up at her, raising an eyebrow, the both of them laughing. Meanwhile, the group reached the outer area of the zoo and saw, from outside the gates, the large group of people with signs, and someone with a bullhorn shouting about inappropriate behavior being shown to their children. Nelly stood there, hands on her hips, chewing her lips. Robin stood by her side, Harvey on her other side, and Robin cleared her throat.
"Should we call the cops?" she asked.
"They're perfectly within their right to protest," Harvey replied, shrugging, "the real issue is how their actions will be perceived by the public, will it convince people coming to the zoo to instead take their business elsewhere."
"You know," Nelly said, "If I'd known, when I got this job, that I was going to have to deal with such ridiculous bullshit every single day, I don't think I'd have accepted it. There's something to be said about refusing to listen to inane ideologies. Let 'em protest. I have other work to be done. Maybe if we just ignore them, they'll go away."
Nelly turned and started to walk away.
"Uh, Nell," Harvey said, "a news van just rolled up."
Nelly stopped, shut her eyes tight and grimaced, gritting her teeth.
"I fucking hate my life," she muttered.
***
After Robin gave her tour, the only one scheduled for the day, likely due to the ongoing protests outside, Robin and Sophie found themselves eating lunch at one of the tables at the Hippo Campus. Sophie was eating just a sleeve of saltines with a bottle of water while Robin bit into a Reuben sandwich she'd purchased at one of the zoos many eateries. Neither one was saying a word, opting instead to just sit in silence, and Robin found this kind of intimacy nicer than filling the void with pointless dialogue like she always felt compelled to do with Kyle. After a few minutes, Robin put her sandwich down and picked up her can of soda, taking a long drink and wiping her mouth on her shirt sleeve.
"It's a little ridiculous what people get upset over," Robin said, "like...sex is natural moreso in nature than I think human based society. How do these people think the world gets populated?"
"I don't think they don't know that's how, I think they're ashamed of it," Sophie replied, "and they think the kids should be protected from it. I'm not saying kids should be exposed to stuff that's meant for adults, but the basic idea of life, and conception of said life, yeah...that's kinda weird to shield a child from. Especially children who are, say, 10 or older."
"What's worse is that I guarantee you protesting animals mating isn't the only time they've protested the concept of mating, and have very likely protested humans doing the same. Like those weirdos who stand outside, say, a Planned Parenthood and yell at people who are just simply trying to do what's best for their lives. What gives these people the audacity to think they have any right to comment on things that have absolutely no bearing on them? I bet they have the most unfullfilling sex life."
"I wouldn't know," Sophie said, shrugging, finishing the end of her saltines and adding, "I've never done it."
Robin felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
"Excuse me?" she whispered, leaning across the table a little, "you...did you say...you've never had sex?"
"No, I haven't," Sophie said, "I've always been somewhat on the asexual spectrum. I mean, if someone liked me enough, I would be favorable to do it with them, but it's just never really happened and I don't really have the drive nor the interest to initiate such a thing."
Robin nodded, understanding her stance, but still shocked. She began to wonder if Sophie had grown up in a sheltered home, because she seemed so innocent, so naive, so completely locked away from things of the world that everyone either knew about or partook in. Robin picked her sandwich up and continued eating, chewing, as Sophie checked her work buzzer and sighed.
"What?" Robin asked.
"Casper said a protestor just climbed over the wall and into the zoo," Sophie said.
"Alright, let's get the cart," Robin replied.
***
Harvey opened the door to Nelly's office, but he didn't see her. He glanced around the room before he entered further and heard some groaning. Harvey headed towards the desk and arched over it, his gaze landing on Nelly laying on her back on the floor behind the desk and he smirked.
"Comfy or can I get you something?" Harvey asked.
"Yeah, bring me someone who won't approach me with snark," Nelly said, "and a new job. And a frozen yogurt."
Harvey walked around the desk, spun her desk chair and plopped himself down in it. Nelly leaned up on her elbows and the two looked at one another. Nelly's eyes looked red, like she'd been crying hard, and now Harvey got, admittedly, a bit concerned. Now was not the time for jokes, he decided. Now was the time to listen.
"I hate this," Nelly continued, "this...this isn't fair. This job has turned me into a stress filled bitch and that's not who I am at all. But in order to run a business effectively, you have to be cutthroat, especially when it comes to dealing with the public and their inane bullshit."
"You know what they say help with stress? Sex. Heard that from the Flamingos," Harvey said, "actually, it's kind of the talk of the zoo amongst the animals right now."
Nelly laughed, which made Harvey feel relieved. He couldn't help himself but crack wise, and so he was glad she appreciated it.
"You'd think," Nelly said, "but that isn't really my decision, because it's not like I'm allowed to have a social life outside of this place. This zoo keeps me so busy...I...I just don't have the time to do anything at all and it sucks. I'm either balancing budgets, working out new arrival placements or something else of the sort. It sucks up all my time, and it sucks all the potential out of my life. That being said, I can't imagine working anywhere else."
Nelly sat up fully and looked down at her hands in her lap, Harvey listening intently.
"You know..." she continued, "I am literally living my dream. All I wanted since I was a little girl was to run a zoo, and...and here I am, I'm doing it, and it's amazing, but it's also so much harder than I ever could've anticipated, but not really because of the zoo, but because of the idiocy of society. Everyone takes stuff as such a direct attack on their person or belief system that something as naturalistic as procreation, even if it doesn't lead to the result one might expect, is frowned upon. I just don't know what to do with that. Sometimes I think about quitting, but I could never."
"Sounds like you need a hobby," Harvey said.
"As if I have the time," Nelly said.
Harvey smiled and thought for a moment.
"Come with me, Nell," he said.
***
Robin pulled the cart up at the location Casper had given Sophie, and parked. Casper was there with security, who were holding a woman around Robin's age in zip cuffs in a chair. She was just right outside of the Anteater exhibit, and her long hair was covering her face as she looked at the ground, perhaps trying not to be easily identified? Robin and Sophie climbed out of the cart and approached Casper, who looked happy to see them.
"This is insane," Casper said, "this lady came right over the gate, brazenly. If we can't even keep people out of the zoo, then we have no guarantee for the animals safety, and that could lead to them being taken away from us."
Robin past Casper and approached the woman, kneeling in front of her. The woman looked up and Robin audibly gasped. She knew this woman. This was Ashley Plotter. Robin glanced back over her shoulder at the others, then back at Ashley, only to realize, by the look on Ashley's face now, that she recognized Robin right back.
"Ashley?" Robin asked, her voice low, "what are you doing here?"
"Gotta do something with my time," Ashley said, shrugging, "especially after failing everything else."
"Are you not acting anymore?" Robin asked, and Ashley chuckled almost condascendingly.
"Was I ever?" she replied, "were any of us, really? I mean, let's be honest, the chance you actually make it is so slim that it just becomes a waste of time. I gave up months ago, Robin. I was sick of lying to myself."
"So now you're just dedicating yourself to causes like this?"
"Something to do," Ashley remarked, making Robin glare at her.
"You mean you don't even believe in what it is you're defending?" Robin asked, "you mean to tell me that you're just here cause you're fuckin' bored? You're jeopardizing not just my job but our entire fucking facility, Ashley, and for what? A fun way to pass the afternoon? What the hell?"
Ashley looked back down at the ground and Robin noticed tears falling and hitting the cement.
"I can't go home," Ashley said, "I left college to do acting, left behind being a lawyer, everything. My parents were so pissed that they cut me off entirely, and now I'm struggling just to not be homeless. I don't know what to do with myself, or even what it is I am doing with myself on a day to day basis, Robin."
Robin felt a pang of sadness in her heart for Ashley and she reached out, putting a hand on Ashley's shoulder...only for Ashley to glance up, grinning.
"Look at that range, and they still won't hire me to act in anything," Ashley said, causing Robin to make a disgusted face and immediately recoil, pulling her hand back.
"You know what," Robin said, "I'm glad I'm done with acting, if this is the kind of person it makes you into."
With that, Robin stood up and walked angrily back to the cart, passing Casper, whom she didn't even speak to. Sophie quickly jogged up behind Robin, climbing into the cart as well as Robin started it up, backed angrily away and drove off in the opposite direction. Robin, once far enough away, off in the rainforest themed section of the zoo, parked and bit her lip, trying not to cry. Sophie put a hand on Robin's thigh gently.
"Are you okay?" Sophie asked.
"You know what I like about you?" Robin asked, "you're not fucking fake. You say exactly how you are, are very upfront about it all, you don't hide anything. That's such an attractive and admirable quality to have. Everyone else around me always feels as though they're putting on a facade, a mask, being a character of sorts. I'm so sick of all the fake shit and people."
Sophie ran her hand up to Robin's face and gently stroked her cheek with her thumb, causing Robin to turn her head to face her, their eyes meeting. Sophie reached up more and wiped the tears away from her eyes with such a softness that it made Robin's heart skip a beat. Sophie leaned in and kissed Robin, who happily kissed her back. If there was one certainty Robin had, she thought, it was that this at least wasn't fake.
***
"You brought me to see tigers?" Nelly asked, and Harvey shrugged.
"Tigers are cool, especially white tigers," he replied, "besides, you like tigers, don't act like you don't. The point is, Nelly, you need to start focusing on yourself or you're gonna burn out. You can't be all work. You need to find ways to relax or you're gonna snap. Sometimes, when I'm feeling at my worst, I'll come out here and look at the tigers cause they make me feel relaxed. You're surrounded by all the beauty of the natural world, albeit in a fake way, so you might as well take advantage of it."
Nelly sighed and let her hair down, running a hand through her dark bushy hair. Harvey smiled at seeing her at least try to calm down.
"I've always had trouble 'living in the moment', as it were," Nelly said, "even when I was growing up, I was always so laser focused on the future, that I had trouble seeing what was going on around me or partaking in any of it. I missed out on a lot because of that."
"There's nothing wrong with being goal oriented, and that isn't really the problem here either. You're a problem solver, that's a good thing, but you need to learn when to let your guard down and just let things be. Those weirdos outside? There's no stopping them. There's certainly no convincing them. So sometimes, Nell, you just gotta shrug it all off and just...do what's best for you. Find ways to calm down. Look at the tigers."
Nelly glanced at Harvey, and his wavy brown hair, his small glasses, his light stubble. She bit her lip and glanced around, then grabbed him by the shirt collar and led him away into a nearby alcove designated solely for reptiles of various nature, of which there were many like it scattered throughout the zoo, before locking the doors and pushing him against the wall, kissing him. Harvey, surprised but not disinterested, grabbed one of her thighs as she lifted her leg up around his waist and bit his lip, pulling on it, whispering.
"Fuck me please," she said.
"Right here? In front of all the scorpions?" he asked, and Nelly giggled.
"They can't tell anyone, so it's okay," Nelly replied as Harvey pulled her closer and kissed her again.
"Well then, my pleasure boss," he said.
Nelly had wanted this for so long, and she finally decided, thanks to the kindness and understanding he'd shown her today, that she didn't care anymore and she was going to do what he suggested, and take what she need. So Harvey pinned her against the glass cases full of scorpions and other various creatures, lifted her legs up until they were wrapped tightly around his waist and fucked her until she was satisfied. Turns out he was right, she thought. She really did need to relax.
***
"Do you think you'd ever be interested?" Robin asked.
The cart was parked outside in a deserted area of the zoo, near the Giraffes, while Robin and Sophie sat inside, looking up at the sky, holding hands in the cramped little vehicle.
"Elaborate," Sophie said.
"I mean, in, you know, that kind of intimacy," Robin said, "because, I mean, I don't want to pressure you into anything. I don't. And I don't want you to feel some kind of obligation to keep this relationship going and thinking that providing me with sexual gratification is the only way to do so, because that couldn't be further from the truth. But I am curious."
"...I would sleep with you, yes," Sophie said, surprising Robin as she added, "and it wouldn't be out of obligation or anything of the sort, it would be because you're nice to me and you're pretty and I like being close to you. It doesn't matter one way or the other to me whether we do it, but if it makes you happy-"
"No, I don't want it like that, that isn't-"
"It is, it's exactly the way it should be," Sophie said, "you're not taking advantage of me, because that's the way I like it. You have to understand, I've never really been in a relationship before, but I have done a lot of imagining about it, and I know what I'd like and how I'd like it. I always kind of thought I couldn't romantically love another person, so...so to be proven wrong by meeting you, I guess it's made me rethink other things too, and yes, I would sleep with you. Because I love you."
Robin felt her heart jump in her chest. Robin rolled onto her side in the cart, best she could, and laid her head on Sophie's chest, as Sophie ran her fingers through Robin's hair.
"I love you too," Robin replied softly.
And nothing more had to be said.
"Why do you know that?" Harvey asked as he stood by the counter, pouring himself some coffee and sipping it.
"It's in this book about sea creatures," Fletcher said, slightly raising the book up.
"Right, that's why," Robin said, making Sophie chuckle.
"Frankly, I don't think overcompensation is even possible in this instance," Casper said, "I mean, when you've got a schlong that size what can you possibly feel inferior about? Course you can only fuck other whales, but."
"No, he could fuck other animals, it'd just kill them," Fletcher said, making everyone laugh; he added, "like if he fucked a dolphin, it'd probably explode for instance."
"Dolphins are so rapey as it is that they'd probably be into that," Robin remarked. Just then the door to the break room opened and Nelly walked in. She was wearing an ash grey suit, shiny black loafers and a collared button down shirt, her hair pulled back into a messy bun. She stopped and smiled at everyone, and this made everyone immediately tense.
"Good morning all," she said brightly.
"Oh no," Fletcher whispered.
"Oh yes," she said, "do you all want to know what I walked into this morning? I got into my office, played my answering machine messages, and was greeted with a woman who was upset because, yesterday, her daughter saw a pair of animals copulating. She went on to say this was inappropriate behavior for children to be witnessing, and that she had to answer a whole slew of uncomfortable questions once they left the zoo. And now? Well, now I have to try to make sense of a society that doesn't understand animalistic rituals."
"Could just ignore them," Harvey said, leaning against the counter, sipping coffee and shrugging.
"Harvey I swear to god, if you-"
"Excuse me," a voice said, a hand knocking on the door as Kacie entered, "Um...there's a group of protestors outside."
Everyone stared at Kacie in surprise, uncertain exactly of how to react. Nelly furrowed her brow and turned on her heel, heading out, Harvey and everyone else following quickly behind her, except Fletcher who continued being seated at the table, reading. Kacie sidled up beside him and glanced down.
"What are you reading about?" she asked.
"Blue whale dicks," Fletcher said, "god, it must be like a firehose when they climax."
"Those lucky female whales," Kacie said, making Fletcher look up at her, raising an eyebrow, the both of them laughing. Meanwhile, the group reached the outer area of the zoo and saw, from outside the gates, the large group of people with signs, and someone with a bullhorn shouting about inappropriate behavior being shown to their children. Nelly stood there, hands on her hips, chewing her lips. Robin stood by her side, Harvey on her other side, and Robin cleared her throat.
"Should we call the cops?" she asked.
"They're perfectly within their right to protest," Harvey replied, shrugging, "the real issue is how their actions will be perceived by the public, will it convince people coming to the zoo to instead take their business elsewhere."
"You know," Nelly said, "If I'd known, when I got this job, that I was going to have to deal with such ridiculous bullshit every single day, I don't think I'd have accepted it. There's something to be said about refusing to listen to inane ideologies. Let 'em protest. I have other work to be done. Maybe if we just ignore them, they'll go away."
Nelly turned and started to walk away.
"Uh, Nell," Harvey said, "a news van just rolled up."
Nelly stopped, shut her eyes tight and grimaced, gritting her teeth.
"I fucking hate my life," she muttered.
***
After Robin gave her tour, the only one scheduled for the day, likely due to the ongoing protests outside, Robin and Sophie found themselves eating lunch at one of the tables at the Hippo Campus. Sophie was eating just a sleeve of saltines with a bottle of water while Robin bit into a Reuben sandwich she'd purchased at one of the zoos many eateries. Neither one was saying a word, opting instead to just sit in silence, and Robin found this kind of intimacy nicer than filling the void with pointless dialogue like she always felt compelled to do with Kyle. After a few minutes, Robin put her sandwich down and picked up her can of soda, taking a long drink and wiping her mouth on her shirt sleeve.
"It's a little ridiculous what people get upset over," Robin said, "like...sex is natural moreso in nature than I think human based society. How do these people think the world gets populated?"
"I don't think they don't know that's how, I think they're ashamed of it," Sophie replied, "and they think the kids should be protected from it. I'm not saying kids should be exposed to stuff that's meant for adults, but the basic idea of life, and conception of said life, yeah...that's kinda weird to shield a child from. Especially children who are, say, 10 or older."
"What's worse is that I guarantee you protesting animals mating isn't the only time they've protested the concept of mating, and have very likely protested humans doing the same. Like those weirdos who stand outside, say, a Planned Parenthood and yell at people who are just simply trying to do what's best for their lives. What gives these people the audacity to think they have any right to comment on things that have absolutely no bearing on them? I bet they have the most unfullfilling sex life."
"I wouldn't know," Sophie said, shrugging, finishing the end of her saltines and adding, "I've never done it."
Robin felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
"Excuse me?" she whispered, leaning across the table a little, "you...did you say...you've never had sex?"
"No, I haven't," Sophie said, "I've always been somewhat on the asexual spectrum. I mean, if someone liked me enough, I would be favorable to do it with them, but it's just never really happened and I don't really have the drive nor the interest to initiate such a thing."
Robin nodded, understanding her stance, but still shocked. She began to wonder if Sophie had grown up in a sheltered home, because she seemed so innocent, so naive, so completely locked away from things of the world that everyone either knew about or partook in. Robin picked her sandwich up and continued eating, chewing, as Sophie checked her work buzzer and sighed.
"What?" Robin asked.
"Casper said a protestor just climbed over the wall and into the zoo," Sophie said.
"Alright, let's get the cart," Robin replied.
***
Harvey opened the door to Nelly's office, but he didn't see her. He glanced around the room before he entered further and heard some groaning. Harvey headed towards the desk and arched over it, his gaze landing on Nelly laying on her back on the floor behind the desk and he smirked.
"Comfy or can I get you something?" Harvey asked.
"Yeah, bring me someone who won't approach me with snark," Nelly said, "and a new job. And a frozen yogurt."
Harvey walked around the desk, spun her desk chair and plopped himself down in it. Nelly leaned up on her elbows and the two looked at one another. Nelly's eyes looked red, like she'd been crying hard, and now Harvey got, admittedly, a bit concerned. Now was not the time for jokes, he decided. Now was the time to listen.
"I hate this," Nelly continued, "this...this isn't fair. This job has turned me into a stress filled bitch and that's not who I am at all. But in order to run a business effectively, you have to be cutthroat, especially when it comes to dealing with the public and their inane bullshit."
"You know what they say help with stress? Sex. Heard that from the Flamingos," Harvey said, "actually, it's kind of the talk of the zoo amongst the animals right now."
Nelly laughed, which made Harvey feel relieved. He couldn't help himself but crack wise, and so he was glad she appreciated it.
"You'd think," Nelly said, "but that isn't really my decision, because it's not like I'm allowed to have a social life outside of this place. This zoo keeps me so busy...I...I just don't have the time to do anything at all and it sucks. I'm either balancing budgets, working out new arrival placements or something else of the sort. It sucks up all my time, and it sucks all the potential out of my life. That being said, I can't imagine working anywhere else."
Nelly sat up fully and looked down at her hands in her lap, Harvey listening intently.
"You know..." she continued, "I am literally living my dream. All I wanted since I was a little girl was to run a zoo, and...and here I am, I'm doing it, and it's amazing, but it's also so much harder than I ever could've anticipated, but not really because of the zoo, but because of the idiocy of society. Everyone takes stuff as such a direct attack on their person or belief system that something as naturalistic as procreation, even if it doesn't lead to the result one might expect, is frowned upon. I just don't know what to do with that. Sometimes I think about quitting, but I could never."
"Sounds like you need a hobby," Harvey said.
"As if I have the time," Nelly said.
Harvey smiled and thought for a moment.
"Come with me, Nell," he said.
***
Robin pulled the cart up at the location Casper had given Sophie, and parked. Casper was there with security, who were holding a woman around Robin's age in zip cuffs in a chair. She was just right outside of the Anteater exhibit, and her long hair was covering her face as she looked at the ground, perhaps trying not to be easily identified? Robin and Sophie climbed out of the cart and approached Casper, who looked happy to see them.
"This is insane," Casper said, "this lady came right over the gate, brazenly. If we can't even keep people out of the zoo, then we have no guarantee for the animals safety, and that could lead to them being taken away from us."
Robin past Casper and approached the woman, kneeling in front of her. The woman looked up and Robin audibly gasped. She knew this woman. This was Ashley Plotter. Robin glanced back over her shoulder at the others, then back at Ashley, only to realize, by the look on Ashley's face now, that she recognized Robin right back.
"Ashley?" Robin asked, her voice low, "what are you doing here?"
"Gotta do something with my time," Ashley said, shrugging, "especially after failing everything else."
"Are you not acting anymore?" Robin asked, and Ashley chuckled almost condascendingly.
"Was I ever?" she replied, "were any of us, really? I mean, let's be honest, the chance you actually make it is so slim that it just becomes a waste of time. I gave up months ago, Robin. I was sick of lying to myself."
"So now you're just dedicating yourself to causes like this?"
"Something to do," Ashley remarked, making Robin glare at her.
"You mean you don't even believe in what it is you're defending?" Robin asked, "you mean to tell me that you're just here cause you're fuckin' bored? You're jeopardizing not just my job but our entire fucking facility, Ashley, and for what? A fun way to pass the afternoon? What the hell?"
Ashley looked back down at the ground and Robin noticed tears falling and hitting the cement.
"I can't go home," Ashley said, "I left college to do acting, left behind being a lawyer, everything. My parents were so pissed that they cut me off entirely, and now I'm struggling just to not be homeless. I don't know what to do with myself, or even what it is I am doing with myself on a day to day basis, Robin."
Robin felt a pang of sadness in her heart for Ashley and she reached out, putting a hand on Ashley's shoulder...only for Ashley to glance up, grinning.
"Look at that range, and they still won't hire me to act in anything," Ashley said, causing Robin to make a disgusted face and immediately recoil, pulling her hand back.
"You know what," Robin said, "I'm glad I'm done with acting, if this is the kind of person it makes you into."
With that, Robin stood up and walked angrily back to the cart, passing Casper, whom she didn't even speak to. Sophie quickly jogged up behind Robin, climbing into the cart as well as Robin started it up, backed angrily away and drove off in the opposite direction. Robin, once far enough away, off in the rainforest themed section of the zoo, parked and bit her lip, trying not to cry. Sophie put a hand on Robin's thigh gently.
"Are you okay?" Sophie asked.
"You know what I like about you?" Robin asked, "you're not fucking fake. You say exactly how you are, are very upfront about it all, you don't hide anything. That's such an attractive and admirable quality to have. Everyone else around me always feels as though they're putting on a facade, a mask, being a character of sorts. I'm so sick of all the fake shit and people."
Sophie ran her hand up to Robin's face and gently stroked her cheek with her thumb, causing Robin to turn her head to face her, their eyes meeting. Sophie reached up more and wiped the tears away from her eyes with such a softness that it made Robin's heart skip a beat. Sophie leaned in and kissed Robin, who happily kissed her back. If there was one certainty Robin had, she thought, it was that this at least wasn't fake.
***
"You brought me to see tigers?" Nelly asked, and Harvey shrugged.
"Tigers are cool, especially white tigers," he replied, "besides, you like tigers, don't act like you don't. The point is, Nelly, you need to start focusing on yourself or you're gonna burn out. You can't be all work. You need to find ways to relax or you're gonna snap. Sometimes, when I'm feeling at my worst, I'll come out here and look at the tigers cause they make me feel relaxed. You're surrounded by all the beauty of the natural world, albeit in a fake way, so you might as well take advantage of it."
Nelly sighed and let her hair down, running a hand through her dark bushy hair. Harvey smiled at seeing her at least try to calm down.
"I've always had trouble 'living in the moment', as it were," Nelly said, "even when I was growing up, I was always so laser focused on the future, that I had trouble seeing what was going on around me or partaking in any of it. I missed out on a lot because of that."
"There's nothing wrong with being goal oriented, and that isn't really the problem here either. You're a problem solver, that's a good thing, but you need to learn when to let your guard down and just let things be. Those weirdos outside? There's no stopping them. There's certainly no convincing them. So sometimes, Nell, you just gotta shrug it all off and just...do what's best for you. Find ways to calm down. Look at the tigers."
Nelly glanced at Harvey, and his wavy brown hair, his small glasses, his light stubble. She bit her lip and glanced around, then grabbed him by the shirt collar and led him away into a nearby alcove designated solely for reptiles of various nature, of which there were many like it scattered throughout the zoo, before locking the doors and pushing him against the wall, kissing him. Harvey, surprised but not disinterested, grabbed one of her thighs as she lifted her leg up around his waist and bit his lip, pulling on it, whispering.
"Fuck me please," she said.
"Right here? In front of all the scorpions?" he asked, and Nelly giggled.
"They can't tell anyone, so it's okay," Nelly replied as Harvey pulled her closer and kissed her again.
"Well then, my pleasure boss," he said.
Nelly had wanted this for so long, and she finally decided, thanks to the kindness and understanding he'd shown her today, that she didn't care anymore and she was going to do what he suggested, and take what she need. So Harvey pinned her against the glass cases full of scorpions and other various creatures, lifted her legs up until they were wrapped tightly around his waist and fucked her until she was satisfied. Turns out he was right, she thought. She really did need to relax.
***
"Do you think you'd ever be interested?" Robin asked.
The cart was parked outside in a deserted area of the zoo, near the Giraffes, while Robin and Sophie sat inside, looking up at the sky, holding hands in the cramped little vehicle.
"Elaborate," Sophie said.
"I mean, in, you know, that kind of intimacy," Robin said, "because, I mean, I don't want to pressure you into anything. I don't. And I don't want you to feel some kind of obligation to keep this relationship going and thinking that providing me with sexual gratification is the only way to do so, because that couldn't be further from the truth. But I am curious."
"...I would sleep with you, yes," Sophie said, surprising Robin as she added, "and it wouldn't be out of obligation or anything of the sort, it would be because you're nice to me and you're pretty and I like being close to you. It doesn't matter one way or the other to me whether we do it, but if it makes you happy-"
"No, I don't want it like that, that isn't-"
"It is, it's exactly the way it should be," Sophie said, "you're not taking advantage of me, because that's the way I like it. You have to understand, I've never really been in a relationship before, but I have done a lot of imagining about it, and I know what I'd like and how I'd like it. I always kind of thought I couldn't romantically love another person, so...so to be proven wrong by meeting you, I guess it's made me rethink other things too, and yes, I would sleep with you. Because I love you."
Robin felt her heart jump in her chest. Robin rolled onto her side in the cart, best she could, and laid her head on Sophie's chest, as Sophie ran her fingers through Robin's hair.
"I love you too," Robin replied softly.
And nothing more had to be said.