This was the most unsettling moment in Nestore's life. He's had a few up to this point, including that dinner with the barbarian king that had him eating an entire heart, but this one would be the one to take the crown for the worst. Being led through the traditionally styled estate by four goons that all watched him like hawks and feeling like any wrong move would get him killed was bad enough. However, this would soon be topped by his encounter with Kyoko, the kitsune queen. Tales of her were myriad, telling of her having an entire embassy worth of diplomats hung for a perceived slight in a letter, amongst other things. She was said to run a criminal empire operating far beyond her kingdom that was involved in all matter of illicit trade. Suffice it to say that she was bad news, and for an easily scared pushover like Nestore, this was essentially a death trap.

Officially, he was to negotiate over various diplomatic matters. In practice, he was simply going to end up having terms dictated to him and accept those, he was sure of it. The goons led him into a small chamber, barely illuminated by the light of the moon shining, which gave off just enough to make a throne in the middle of the room visible, upon which she sat. A cold, unreadable expression upon her face, she seemed to silently size up the meek man standing in front of her, and Nestore had to summon up what little bravery he had to withstand her steely gaze. Then, with a nod to the goons and a slight wave of her hand, they dispersed, leaving him alone with her. A silence that seemed to last forever followed, with Nestore frequently finding himself forced to break eye contact. What was she thinking? He could not tell.

Slowly, she got up from the throne, sauntering over to a side door and beckoning him along. Still unsure as to what was going on, he followed along obediently. As they entered, the diplomat was astonished as to how different everything suddenly seemed—instead of the dark throne room, he was now in a softly lit bedroom. Candlelight gave the room a warm ambiance, and a sliding door on the other side was open to a balcony with a view of the beautiful night sky. Even Kyoko herself suddenly seemed a lot more approachable, a gentle smile coming across her face as she turned to face him. "Ah jus' hate that darn throne, y'know? This's so much more purdy, ain't it?" she asked, her tone folksy and totally unfitting for the image that he had built up of her. The confusion that was surely written on his face clued her in on that, and she chuckled. "What? Ya scared o' some simple country gal?"

After a few moments of shocked silence, he managed to get a few words out. "W-Well, yes? Y-You're the kitsune kingpin! The fox of fear! The tailed terror! You h-had a bunch of diplomats killed because you didn't like a letter they wrote!"

The kitsune waved those concerns off. "Ya bought that hogwash? C'mon, that's just—how'd they say it—propaganda, if ya pardon mah fancy talk there fer a sec. Makin' me look like a big bad fox girl so people don't try no shit. But that ain't me, ah'm just a sweet lil' honey blossom that loves cuddlin'," she explained as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

But Nestore just could not believe it. This went against everything he thought he knew. "And why are you telling me this? Couldn't I just tell everybody?"

In return, she laughed, her long tails swaying rhythmically as if laughing alongside her. "Pardon me fer noticin', but yer a wimp. Ain't nobody gonna believe ya even if ya did talk. So don'tcha worry yer pretty lil' head 'bout that and jus' hug me!" she then said, spreading her arms wide. Still so confused and mixed up, the diplomat simply acquiesced, slowly walking forwards until he found himself pressed up against her, and she wrapped her arms around him. The kitsune was bigger than the rather diminutive diplomat, and he practically felt himself sink into her ample bosom through her garb, her hands patting his back. "See? Ain't that so much more fun than talkin' 'bout boring ol' diplomacy stuff?" she asked, and he merely let out a muffled agreeing noise. The two stayed that way for a while, quietly drinking in the atmosphere. It felt so good to him to just relax for a moment, to no longer find himself on edge. But eventually, she broke the embrace, holding him at arms' length. "Now, pet me!" she demanded, an eager smile on her face.

This threw him for another loop, and again he stared at her. "W-What?" he stammered.

In response, the kitsune lowered her head. "Ya heard me. Pet me, pet me, pet me! Can't a lil' ol' fox girl get some pets 'round here?" she asked, almost sounding insulted that he was holding this up. Her fox ears were flitting, eagerly awaiting touch.

So Nestore, shifting between unsure fear and the desire to just relax with every moment, timidly reached up and began running his hand through the kitsune's long hair.