Welcome to Dobutsu Town! (okintsukoro/spincycle)

[okintsukoro]

Dobutsu Town: a small population of animal villagers who are known for their welcoming, neighborly behavior. While most of the town seemed to be surrounded by nature, with trees dotting the landscape and a pond here or there, there was also a downtown area that was sectioned of from the town by the train track. It was off on the coast, so there was a small bit of beach area that could be accessed to the south end of town.

Max was a young adult who had been looking for the right opportunity to finally move out and away from home. No more badgering from family who always criticized them for being 'too quiet'. No more nagging questions about what they planned to do with their life. This was their chance to make a new start!

"Excuse me? Is this seat taken?"

The human jumped a little at the voice, silvery eyes gazing up to see a grey cat with red eyes offering a friendly smile, motioning to the seat across from her. Max was quick to shake their head, quickly motioning with a hand to offer the seat before returning to looking down at their map, their body a little scrunched up inside their black coat.

"Thanks! You know, you're a real nice person," the cat concluded, taking a seat across from them. Max's eyes darted out towards the window when the stranger spoke up again.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Rover. What's yours?"

Conversation? With a stranger? This early? Max was quick to fumble around in their bag, finding their train pass and showing it to Rover. It had their picture and name on it.

"Max, huh? Well, you don't need to be so jittery, Max! I'm just a travelling cat, on his way to nowhere in particular. But what about you? Where you headed?"

Upon Max quickly showing Rover the map, nearly shoving it in the cat's face, his eyes seemed to widen in recognition, before his eyelids lowered into an almost pensive look.

"Dobutsu Town, huh..." he muttered to himself. He glanced up from the map to see Max's curious and slightly concerned look, as if wondered what was so special about the small town they were going to.

"Oh! It's nothing. Don't worry about it," he assured her, the two of them glancing up slightly when they heard the intercom.

"Attention passengers. We're now approaching Dobutsu Station. Please be sure to collect any articles, bags, or packages before leaving the train. Thank you."

"Sounds like this is your stop kid. And... thank you," was all Rover said, moving to another car in the train.

A shiver ran down Max's back as they collected their luggage back in the overhead compartment before quickly heading out the open door of the car. What was that all about? They didn't have time to think about it for long. After all, they were about to turn over a new leaf, start a new life in a brand new town. It was scary, it was exciting, it was --

"WELCOME!" shouted and overly friendly voice accompanied by the jingles of bells and the sound of a confetti popper. Max nearly dropped the handle on their luggage bag in surprise, taking a step back to see the blonde shih tzu with a kind smile on her face.

"Oh! Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Isabelle! Welcome to Dobutsu Town! I'm so glad you're here! In fact, we all are! Starting today, we've finally got our new mayor!"

Max gave Isabelle a bewildered look, glancing past, around, and behind them. Who was the new mayor? Was the confetti and welcome perhaps meant for them?

Isabelle tilted her head slightly, bells jingling against her tuft of a ponytail. "Um... that's you. You're our new mayor, right?"

[spincycle]

Citrus's ear twitched at the sound of a confetti popper. A familiar sound for Dobutsu citizens who had ever partaken in a festival or party. But as far as she knew, this was just an average summer day. She sat up and stopped leaning back against a shady tree- looking to her left to see her closest companion- Bob. Citrus interrupted his yawn by nudging his shoulder.

"What's all that about?" she questioned, gesturing vaguely to the small gathering in front of the train station. Citrus was familiar with those who stopped by to sell things occasionally. She knew Ol' Joan as a friend of her mother. But an unrecognizable figure was staring at Isabelle. Even more than this, a human was staring at Isabelle. Citrus knew humans existed, naturally she'd heard of them. But this was her first encounter with one in person.

"Hey-!" Bob huffed, "huh? Maybe it's a tourist. I knew word would get out about my latest creation. Fudge-covered pizza..."

Citrus grimaced while Bob practically drooled himself into a daydream. She stood and dusted herself off, then turning to pull Bob into a standing position. She was very accustomed to his whining about having to do anything that didn't involve a nice snack as a reward.

"We'd better get to them first," Citrus insisted. "Just to make sure nobody else in this town creeps them out, y'know?" She added that last part to cover her interest. She typically put on a casual facade and rarely acted excited in front of others. She pulled Bob along in a jog over the station. She crossed her arms to appear standoffish as she stepped between the stranger and Isabelle. Their noses were too close for the stranger's comfort as Citrus examined their face. "What's your deal?"

[okintsukoro]

Max's wide eyes eventually turned to the approaching villagers: a purple cat and a yellow bunny. Admittedly, Max had heard of the animal villages, but have never really got to interact until now, having been raised in a town of humans. But, they didn't seem all that happy to see her in her eyes. The purple cat seemed only vaguely interested at most, but the yellow bunny was walking with purpose, and getting closer.

And closer.

Max's face flushed a bit as she leaned back when Citrus got all up in their face, simply from the proximity. They nearly stumbled over their own luggage bag, but quickly caught themselves as the dog spoke up again.

"Oh, Citrus! This is our new mayor! Mayor... um..."

Isabelle tilted her head slightly as she glanced over at the human. "Um... I'm sorry, but what's your name?"

Just like with Rover, Max was trying to reach for their train pass. But with how utterly flabbergasted they were with being confused for their mayor and this bunny who seemed to have no concept of personal space, they ended up fumbling around in their pockets until they finally broke eye contact with Citrus so they could properly locate their train pass, showing it to everyone close enough to see.

"Oh! So your name is Max! Well, Mayor Max, welcome to Dobutsu Town! I know it's a lot to take in, new place and all, but I assure you you'll love it here! We have lovely people, some nice stores downtown, and beautiful natural scenery. It may seem a little small and empty, but that'll only make your job easier right? Well, once you get everyone's approval that is. And to do that, you should probably get to know everyone first! Er, well, after you get settled in your new home. Can't have you pulling around your luggage everywhere."

Isabelle turned to glance over at Citrus, looking slightly sheepish at the bunny's disposition. "Citrus? If you're not too busy, would you be so kind as to show Max around? It'll probably help her feel more at ease in being in a new place."

[spincycle]

Citrus stepped back a bit to give Max a bit of breathing room. But she maintained her energy by crossing her arms and turning her nose upward. Bob maintained his signature smirk as he crossed his own arms to mock the bunny's attitude.

"I suppose if you're absolutely demanding it..."

Isabelle's face grew hot as she started to assure Citrus that the job wasn't mandatory. But before she could speak Citrus had already taken Max by the wrist.

"No need for anymore pleasantries, 'Belle. I'll show 'em where all the cool stuff is, then send her back your way to do all the boring stuff later."

Citrus pulled Max away from the station exit and Bob followed behind. She let go of Max's wrist shortly after and started her impromptu tour. The trio headed southward into the heart of the village where the rest of its citizens resided. The houses were sporadic and their exteriors reflective of each unique homeowner. As they walked, Citrus babbled about each home they passed.

"That's where Lily lives, she always waters the flowers for us... I've never spoken to the guy in that house over there, but he's always exercising..."

Bob nodded, half listening and half daydreaming about taking a nap. He snapped back into the moment and interrupted Citrus's spiel about the apple trees that grew in Dobutsu.

"Ci, I just thought of something. Max gets to put their house wherever they want. She can probably, like, have a mansion too 'cause she's famous." Bob stopped to gesture towards the western side of the village. "You can build a huge castle over there. That's where we live, and it's super close to your job." In the western corner to the left of the town's forum board was two houses, and south of those was Dobutsu's town hall. Citrus's home stood out with its (naturally) orange exterior and matching green roof. The left side of the island was also on a cliff overlooking an underwhelming beach.

Citrus took the opportunity to brag about her turf.

"Yeah, you should totally consider. That's where I find all the coolest fossils," she said confidently.

[okintsukoro]

Max wasn't sure what to think of Citrus's attitude. It wasn't quite matching up with her actions. Nothing about the way Isabelle spoke sounded like being 'demanding'. But before she could even think about trying to rectify the situation and explain that they weren't meant to be a mayor of a town they had just moved to for the first time, she felt her wrist being grabbed by a lemon-hued paw. Once again, Max was getting first-hand proof that this bunny really didn't have any sort of care for personal boundaries.

It was a bit difficult dragging their luggage over where the stone path turned into grass, but Max came to realize that the grass was surprisingly well kept all around the town, save for a few areas where weeds would sprout. Other than that, they could pull their luggage around behind them with hardly any resistance, which made them think that the town was very serious about keeping an even path to allow its residents an easier time walking to and from their homes.

As she nervously followed after Citrus, her grey eyes glanced about at the sporadic placement of the houses, a light pink hue creeping up on their cheeks with a small look of awe when they saw just how adorable each exterior was. Each and every house they walked past was filled with character, and it only made her even more curious. As Citrus mentioned a villager named Lily, Max managed to spot the pretty frog in a spring-appropriate dress watering a nearby red tulip. The frog's big eyes with long eyelashes caught sight of her neighbors and the newcomer, and was quick to give them all a friendly wave before resuming their gardening duties.

Max timidly waved back at Lily, smiling sheepishly.

She seems adorable... definitely seems to be the type who enjoys gardening... I'll have to keep that in mind.

She nearly bumped into Bob while she was waving, quickly stepping away from the purple cat and giving an apologetic shrug and nervous smile. She wasn't quite sure what to make of this cat. He seemed chill enough, though he really hadn't said much. His face was oddly squished-looking, in her opinion, like he was always up to something. But, she tried not to judge too harshly. After all, all these people thought she was mayor material, and she certainly wasn't that.

Max's attention snapped to the nearest apple tree as Citrus had pointed it out. They nearly dropped their luggage as they quickly ran over to it, eyes sparkling. They were about the juiciest apples they'd ever seen, and her stomach was already growling. She quickly put an embarrassed hand on her stomach. She hadn't eaten since she first got on the train hours ago, and it was nearing about lunch time.

But just as she was placing her hand on the tree, about to turn around to ask if it was okay to shake one down, she heard Bob speak up about where they were going to get their house. They had to get a new house built? There weren't any vacant ones? That was very inconvenient. Who was she going to have to speak to about that?

Her entire face was turning red in embarrassment as Bob called her 'famous'. Already? She had just gotten here! She wanted to faint. She was now holding herself up against the nearby apple tree, trying not to panic. In doing so, however, she ended up shaking it, causing three apples to fall. Two of them landed in the cushy grass below. The third ended up bonking Max on her head, causing her to let out the first thing she's said since she got here.

"Ow!" She quickly rubbed the top of her head, whimpering a bit. The apples were definitely very ripe. Very ripe, and very big.

Through teary eyes, Max glanced up towards Citrus, who brought up yet another interesting tidbit about this town.

"F-fossils...?" Her voice came out quiet, but not inaudible. Well, now that she was speaking, she figured it'd be a decent time to ask.

"W-where do I go to get a house...?" Her stomach growled again, and once again her eyes drifted to the now fallen apples.

[spincycle]

Citrus snapped back into the moment when she realized she was rambling to herself. Bob had turned to look at the human on the ground. She decided to practice self control by not telling the newcomer about her latest addition to her collection, a trilobite fossil found near the beach. Her yellow cheeks looked orange as her fact burned with embarrassment. She looked down at Max to read her face for a moment. The human's eyes were shining and her face glowing pink. Although Max was an unfamiliar creature, these expressions were recognizable.

"I guess this is a lot at once..." Citrus mumbled.

Bob took the opportunity to have a seat (a chance he was always hoping for). He grabbed the apple that had bounced from Max's head, polishing it on his shirt before offering it to her.

"This one was meant to be yours, like destiny or something. That's good luck! Food never rains on me. I'm a little jealous." Bob lightened the mood by taking a bite from the second apple to hit the ground. Citrus sighed before also having a seat on the ground. She sat across from the two and formed a triangle in the shade. Leaning back on one palm, she used the other to grab the final apple for herself.

"I'm sorry," Citrus said as she idly played with the apple's stem. "It's just that...we never get new people around here. Got a little excited there. Let's start over. This is Dobutsu. A little town where nothing exciting ever happens. I was born here, so I'm allowed to say that," the bunny giggled. "There's really nothing to be worked up about. Literally nothing. We don't bite too hard. But there really are no vacant houses. Our old mayor never thought we needed any. It's just us, and the shopkeepers don't even live here. They go home by train every day...But that's not important."

Citrus took a bite of her apple and tried to focus on what point she wanted to make.

"Isabelle knows everything. It's almost creepy. If we ask her for help, she'll find you someplace to sleep," she assured Max.

"Maybe once you have a house you can use your mayor powers to make cool stuff happen here. I've always thought we could use a nice ferris wheel," Bob smiled over at Max, hoping the gesture would ease her nerves.

"If you want to go talk to her about it, she'll be over there in that brick building I pointed out earlier. But don't pick a spot to build until you've consulted your trusty tour guides first. I won't let you build a house beside anyone too weird."

[okintsukoro]

By the time Max realized the two had stopped talking, her silver eyes glanced over to see the two looking over and coming towards her. She inwardly panicked. Did she upset them? Did they think she wasn't listening?

But upon seeing Bob take a seat next to her and offering the apple that bonked her on the head, a light tinge of pink graced their cheeks, mostly out of gratitude and embarrassment at the same time. She couldn't help but giggle a little at Bob's little comment as they nodded and gratefully accepted the apple. She'd never heard of any sort of superstitions like that, but it certainly was a nice one that she'd take note of. With a little once over, they took a big bite out of it, sparkles filling their eyes. It was just as juicy and delicious as she had hoped it would be.

"...thank you," she told Bob. Admittedly, she hadn't caught the purple cat's name yet, but she was still too shy to ask just yet. She glanced back over at Citrus, who seemed a little disheartened. A slightly guilty look crossed Max's face as they listened to the bunny, up until she answered Max's question about how they go about getting a home.

"Oh... I see. I'll be sure to ask. And um... there's no need to be sorry. I'm just... really grateful." She kept her words succinct for now. She didn't want to accidentally ramble about how their kindness may be misplaced. After all, she wasn't supposed to be a mayor. She didn't even know the first thing about being a mayor. But, like Citrus explained previously, Isabelle probably had all the answers. She'd simply have to ask her later.

But, miscommunications notwithstanding, Max was finding that she was quickly loving the quiet beauty of this small town.

When Bob spoke up about possibly setting up a random ferris wheel somewhere in town, she couldn't help but give him a sheepish smile and a weak laugh. Where would a ferris wheel even go in this place? Would that even be allowed?

She glanced back over at Citrus who pointed out that they wanted to be consulted before Max settled on a plot for her new home. She supposed that was only fair. After all, this was their home first. They'd know the best places to set up, especially if she was supposed to take on this 'mayor' role. Even if they planned to try and clear it up with Isabelle, they already trusted these two a lot, giving them both a grateful smile and nod.

"I will... thank you so much... Citrus? And... um..." She slowly glanced over at Bob before eventually partially hiding behind Citrus out of embarrassment.

"Sorry...what's your name again...?" She fidgeted, glancing down at the partially eaten apple in her hands. "Sorry...better writer than talker..."

[spincycle]

As usual, Bob was first to finish his snack. He chomped into the fruit before tossing the core aside and wiping his mouth with his forearm. He justified throwing the remains because surely they would decompose and, like, be good for the Earth and stuff. He was glancing around for another tree to shake before his thoughts were interrupted by Max's meek voice.

"Huh? Oh- I'm Bob. Easily Dobutsu's best video game player. I practice every night; so, you've probably heard about me in...wherever it is you're from." The cat gave his signature smirk before deciding to lay on his back. His upper body was now in the sun, and he closed his eyes. He didn't need his eyes to be open to see the expression Citrus was giving him. It was like clockwork, and had become second nature for the pair.

Citrus rolled her eyes at the kitten's self bragging and made a hand gesture to assure Max that he wasn't worth listening to. The swatting motion was common for the two, as Citrus often showed her love in unconventional ways. Telling Bob to shut up or giving him a shove on his arm was her way of expressing loyalty. Citrus and Bob had been inseparable for years, and she never ceased to feign embarrassment on his behalf. Before Max could speak up again, Citrus turned her head to the side and leaned forward. She didn't get in the new mayor's face like before, although her curiosity was still high.

"Don't pay him any mind. But...writer?" Like books?" Citrus's jewelry jingled as her left ear twitched, a habit she had when overly curious. She leaned back again, opting instead to fidget with the sleeve of her sweater. Seasonally inappropriate, but a comforting piece.

[okintsukoro]

Bob. An unassuming name for an unassuming cat. More giggles erupted from the human's throat at Bob's bragging about his video gaming skill set. But one look at Citrus told her that this was something he did regularly. Just from looking at the two of them, she could tell they were close.

When Citrus asked about their writing, Max's eyes glanced up at her ear, admiring the piercings on it for a moment before flustering and looking down at their partially-eaten apple.

"W-well...yes? I mean... not professional. I want to be one day. Mostly just... have had written a lot of letters..."

She took a moment to cool herself down, taking a few more bites of the juicy apple before sighing. They shut their eyes, took a deep inhale through their nose, then exhaled through their mouth.

She's nice. You can trust her. It's okay.

She repeated this reassurance in her head as she slowly opened her eyes to look back up at Citrus, as if taking a moment to properly see the bunny before her. Despite her bluntness at times, she really had been kind to her from the very beginning, even showing a bit of her softer side. She smiled as she attempted to maintain eye contact, only to shyly glance away towards the upper branched of the apple tree they sat under.

"...I'm from a city called Bogstead. Really crowded. All my old friends moved away long before I did. I kept in touch writing them letters. Kept writing and writing... even when they stopped writing back." They gave a wry smile towards Citrus. "They just got busy. It happens."

She shifted a bit in her seat in the grass, looking out at where the town hall was, as well as the other homes not too far off.

"...I came here 'cause... I don't mind the idea of a small town. I thought maybe the quiet would give me time to think. No more having to think about all the pushing and shoving of the big city. Maybe... I can write something worthwhile out here..."

She let the silence take over for a moment as she finished off her apple, lying the core next to the tree for now before looking up at Citrus.

"...I heard you mention that... you can dig up fossils here? I didn't know the ground here was that old... What kind of fossils have you found?" she asked softly, settling herself in her seat as she pulled up her luggage bag to lie down flat in front of her crossed legs.

[spincycle]

Bob half-opened his eyes (or fully opened them, who's to say?) and began watching the clouds in the sky. It was a mostly clear day, so there were few shapes worth noting. A question mark here. Maybe a top hat there.

"You could, like, write the coolest stories about space and stuff. Like an astronaut who goes to another planet and finds aliens who want to conquer Earth for all its ice cream. Or something about pirates." Bob suggested, eyes never leaving the leaf-shaped cloud above him. Once drifting caused the cloud to deform, Bob instead turned his head to look at a nearby ladybug. He was more of a listener than a looker. He had years of experience in the no eye contact department. He could maintain conversations while playing his favorite games and watching movies while Citrus babbled on about her newest obsession.

The two were day and night. Citrus loved to talk. Something about being a bunny made her want to talk quickly when excited and thump her foot to contain the energy. Bob rarely moved around in ways that didn't serve some sort of purpose. Citrus was quick. Bob was happiest when slow. Citrus loved to teach about her favorite things. Bob was her willing student. Citrus was vegan. Bob could eat anything three times his stomach's size. Their fur is even complementary colors. The hare and the house cat were attached at the hip regardless.

So it was only natural when Citrus took the opportunity to tease Bob. But is it really teasing if Bob doesn't mind?

"Bob doesn't know how to read anything other than fiction. Not like me though. I'm Dobutsu's smartest bunny," she bragged, excluding the fact she was Dobutsu's only bunny. "You're looking at the town's biggest contributor to the museum. You're looking at the proud discoverer of three small pieces of a plesiosaur skull," Citrus paused to remind herself to stay focused.

"But that's not the point," she added quickly. "We don't really know how old Dobutsu is, but a few years ago Blathers moved here and set up shop. Before then, none of us had even seen a fossil. He just knew where to look. He's the smartest guy I know. He owns our museum, but it's a little...sparse. Not a lot of folks here are interested in fossils. But if you ever wanna see what we do have, the building is across the train tracks."

"Post office is that way too," Bob added.

"Right. That too. Do you have a museum in Bogstead?"

[okintsukoro]

Admittedly, Max still wasn't quite sure what sort of story they wanted to write just yet. A romance? A mystery? An adventure? Bob's ideas sounded just about as good as any to her. But, they had to admit, it was very impressive that Citrus could call themself the 'smartest bunny' in town. After all, Max was still new and didn't know she was the only bunny just yet.

She was absolutely taken by the idea that Citrus could find pieces of a dinosaur skull all on her own, even if it had been with the help of this 'Blathers'. It made her wonder just how easy it could be for just about anyone to go looking for them. Her sparkling eyes were filled with wonder as she listened to Citrus, looking at the yellow bunny as if she was just about the coolest person in town.

But, her thoughts were halted when Citrus asked about the museum in Bogstead. They realized just how much they had leaned in towards Citrus out of sheer awe and quickly straightened themself up, clearing their throat.

"U-um... yeah. Mostly just an art gallery though. They also charge a huge admission fee to get in, too. So... I haven't been inside a whole lot. Don't think I'd like it in there anyways. Mostly rich art snobs who go there anyways..." They let out a loud yawn, rubbing their eyes a bit before looking a bit shocked.

"Oh, geez... I can't relax... I still haven't gotten a home yet..." She hurriedly got onto her feet, dusting off the grass from the backside of her black coat before taking a moment to bow respectfully.

"Thank you so much for showing me around you two. But... I think I should finally get to talking to... Isabelle? Yeah, Isabelle... about getting a place set up. If I see you around, hopefully I can ask for your opinion again before I get settled in?"

Once they said their good-byes, Max would quickly make her way towards the town hall, where Isabelle was already inside ready to help her out. But not before spotting a dark figure walking along the grass just as they went inside the door.

The dark horse was making his way across his usual walking path. He didn't mean anything by it, but usually his glaring red eyes and black coat were enough to keep people at arm's length. Said crimson eyes managed to catch a glimpse of the human that just walked into town hall. That couldn't be...

A visibly snort flared through his large nostrils. He didn't have high hopes for this person. They could tell they were from the city, an old life he used to live before he moved to Dobutsu himself. The small town life wasn't for everyone. Some were driven mad by the lack of convenience, or the need to socialize. They gave this new person a week, if not less.

His intense stare eventually landed on Bob and Citrus, seeing them supposedly lazing about under an apple tree. As his walking path ended up going around that tree, he'd eventually speak up once he was in close enough range, never really stopping his slow, purposeful stride.

"Too nice of a day for you youngins to be lazing about. Your legs are gonna turn to jello if you don't use 'em," came his gruff voice, shaking his head. "Pft...nay."

[spincycle]

As Dobutsu citizens, Citrus and Bob were well accustomed to comments from neighbors strolling through. But that didn't stop them from rolling their eyes and snickering to each other when Roscoe spoke towards them.

"Our legs are exhausted, Mr. Roscoe..." Bob whined, throwing his arms to his sides dramatically. "We've been playing tour guides for the new mayor. That's really important work...pthhpth." Bob stuck his tongue out to blow a raspberry as he closed his eyes to play dead.

"Yeah, we're just taking a breather. We're basically as busy as Isabelle now with this job." Citrus decided to join Bob in his joke by wiping imaginary sweat from her brow. The two giggled at each other, peering up at the steed.

Roscoe slowly halted, turning to look over his shoulder at the stranger he passed near the town hall.

"So it's true then? That one over there is taking old Tortimer's place..." Roscoe shook his head with another huff through his nose. He looked up at the sky and muttered, "Don't you kids think that one's a little far from home?"

The question was rhetorical. But that didn't stop Bob from chiming in.

"Super far. From some place like...Bombsworth...Bumblestep..."

"Bogstead. She's from Bogstead. They said it's really big." Citrus corrected her pal as she pushed her glasses up to sit more comfortably on her button nose.

Roscoe's crimson eyes rolled before landing on the rabbit.

"Doesn't sound like the name of an urban place. Do you kids even know what a bog is?"

"The name doesn't really matter, pthhpth. If you want to meet the new mayor, they're with Isabelle sorting out living arrangements."
Bob sat up to avoid anymore comments about his productivity, but still opted for sitting against the tall tree. The offer of meeting the mayor was vague. Bob knew Roscoe would never take suggestions from himself. The stallion often forgot the cat's name, usually calling him 'the purple one' or 'that lazy tomcat.' The names were true, but it was the principle of things.

[okintsukoro]

Roscoe waved a dismissive hoof at the cat. "Nay... if they're here to be mayor, they'll get around to meeting all of us eventually. Assuming they're any sort of decent. As for you two, the only sort of work I've ever seen you do is either digging up rocks..." He glances over at Citrus. "...or..." His words trailed off as he looked at Bob.

"...come to think of it, I'm not sure I've seen you lift a paw if it ain't heading for that gob of yours," he noted much more quietly, tilting his head in thought. It was just then that his horse ears picked up the sound of front doors of the town hall opening, revealing that Isabelle seemed to be leading the new mayor towards the downtown district.

Max was closely following behind Isabelle, this time without their luggage back in tow. Isabelle insisted that their belongings would be safe in the town hall behind the desk while they went to go visit Tom Nook about getting her set up with a new housing spot. The way Isabelle talked so positively about him, Max was more than intrigued about what sort of person this Tom Nook was. And as she followed Isabelle, she saw that her 'tour guides' were still sitting by the same apple tree, so they offered them a friendly smile and small wave, as if to quietly assure them that everything was going alright so far.

But as soon as their grey eyes landed on Roscoe they were quick to drop their arm. Roscoe's glare, while not inherently full of animosity, was still an unsettling sight for anyone who wasn't familiar with his naturally gruff and spooky looking demeanor. As Max quickly looked away and kept close to Isabelle's side, the dark horse shook his head, glancing back over at Bob and Citrus.

"...seems a bit skittish. You sure they're up to fill ol' Tortimer's shoes?" he asked. It wasn't that he already had a dislike for Max, but he was concerned that such a young person might make more mistakes if they weren't at least confident in their decisions. If they weren't confident in approaching all the citizens of this town, could they be trusted to be confident when making decisions that would affect everyone?

Meanwhile, Max's meeting with Tom Nook was going fairly smoothly, although Max couldn't help but think that there was something off about the tanuki's calm demeanor. It was as if he knew things that most weren't privy to. Still, he was very kind and friendly, offering to follow Isabelle and Max back to town.

"Yes, yes... a beautiful day to pick a picturesque spot in Dobutsu! So, Max, was it? Do you have a spot in mind?" Tom Nook asked, glancing over at the human who simply shyly nodded and began to head back over towards the Town Hall. When Tom Nook realized where they were headed, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Ho ho! You want to build your house close to the Town Hall? To be closer to your work? You're secretly the go-getter type, aren't you? I like that! Very admirable! Just don't work too hard!" he laughed with a swish of his tail.

Upon seeing Isabelle, Tom Nook, and Max heading back this way, Roscoe sighed and shook his head. "Getting too crowded. Still got some walking to do. You kids stay out of trouble, nay."

[spincycle]

While he had Max's attention, Bob gestured vaguely towards Roscoe before mimicking the horse's face. He frowned, pressing his paws downward against his forehead to simulate angered eyebrows. When Citrus caught on to what he was doing, she snorted and swiped Bob's paws away from his face. She glanced up at Roscoe to make sure he didn't notice Bob's joke.

"Y-yes, sir-!" Citrus replied to Roscoe's demand. Her face warmed as she tried to stifle a giggle.

"Aye, aye, captain," Bob chimed in.

Citrus watched as Isabelle and Tom Nook led the newcomer back towards their direction. She knew Isabelle as the one she turned to when she had an issue around Dobutsu. Although that rarely was the case. The shih tzu was almost too polite, to the point she stumbled over words when flustered and stayed overtime every night. Come to think of it, Citrus only ever saw the secretary out and about on holidays. But she admired the golden pup regardless, and always made sure to smile in her direction when they crossed paths.

Tom Nook was a different story. Both Citrus and Bob had only spoken to the tanuki once in their lives. That was when they both moved into their own homes and away from their parents. He was kind, but very business-oriented in a way Isabelle wasn't. He always had his eyes set on the money aspect of business. But, the two villagers couldn't complain. Paying 10,000 bells one time for a forever home was a bargain.

"You think they'll pick somewhere cool? Like living on the beach? Maybe they'll put their house right in the middle of the apple orchard," Bob drooled.

"Not everyone is crazy about food the way you are," the bunny corrected. "They have better taste than that, y'know? A house by that little pond over there," she suggested.

When Bob heard the remark about his love for snacks, he stuck his tongue out at the hare to make another 'pthhpth' sound.

Citrus ignored him.

[okintsukoro]

Max put a hand over her mouth as she saw Bob making faces, mocking Roscoe. She was trying very hard not to giggle, though it did make her feel a bit better that Bob felt safe enough to do that while just barely out of sight of the old horse.

She let out a small sigh of relief when they saw the dark horse walking away, off to be on his own again. They knew that, most likely, they'd have to speak with him at least once. But for now, they'd prefer not to. He was far too intimidating to approach at the moment.

But upon glancing back to see that Isabelle and Tom were patiently waiting for them to pick a spot, they quickly jogged over to a place south of the town hall, facing the river, and very much in view of the single stone bridge that connected the two sections of the town. On the way they glanced over at Bob and Citrus, wondering if maybe they should've made a motion for them to come over, or if maybe they could see from where they sat the place she picked.

"Hmm... very intriguing spot, yes yes..." Tom mused, already picturing in his head what it might be like to wake up and open the front door to see this exact picture every morning.

"I think I can see it. Do you maybe like fishing, Max? You've got a nice view of the river from here. Plenty of people here like to make it their job to collect fish to make bells. There's also those who like bug catching to sell to those who might collect them... Oh! And of course, there's always our main export: apples!" Isabelle giggled.

Tom nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes... there are many ways to earn a living. For you though, that might be more of a side hustle, as your main task is to ensure the safety and happiness of the good folk here." He looked over at Max. While his eyes remained lax, there was a sort of gravitas to his words. "I've been around to see this town change a lot. People come and go, but there are a few things that stay the same. I've never heard anyone speak an ill word of this place. I think... the inherent peace and serenity that comes from enjoying both the beauty of nature coupled with the joy of being amongst a caring community is what helps people of all types enjoy their time here, whether they stay or not. So I hope... you too will also make the most of your time here, yes?"

Max's eyes went a bit wide, hearing Tom speak in an almost philosophical manner. The way he spoke made this town seem almost magical in a way. And maybe it was? It was hard to say. But, they quickly shook their head from their stupor before feverishly nodding in agreement.

"Excellent! So, is this where you'd like your new home?" he asked. But upon seeing Max glancing over past him Tom blinked and turned around. "Hm?"

It was then that he noticed that Max was looking over at the rabbit and cat, as if hoping to hear their input.

"Ah, made friends already, did you? That's a very good sign for a would-be mayor!" he laughed quietly, motioning for the two villagers to come over if they so chose.

[spincycle]

Bob and Citrus halfheartedly tried to keep their stares hidden, trying to act casual as they trailed Max's path with their eyes. The ongoing discussions were muted by distance, but the body language was decipherable. Max, nodding along enthusiastically. Tom Nook, swishing his long tail as he worked to earn his deal. Isabelle, always happy to be included.

Citrus swiveled her head back and forth to appear busy. As if her incredibly familiar surroundings were foreign and exciting. But the moment she gave up the act to check on Max, she was met with Tom Nook's heavy eyes. Citrus admired both Tom's and Bob's eyes for the same reason. They always looked casual and a bit tired, but that look suited them both well. It was almost uncomfortable to imagine them both wide-eyed. She supposed the same could be said about her own beady eyes, though.The tanuki gestured to them. An unexpected invitation. But somehow still unsurprising considering Nook's usual generosity.

Bob started to get distracted by a nearby ladybug. He was about to offer his paw to the insect before Citrus patted his shoulder and gestured to stand. The duo dusted themselves off before trotting along to accept their invitation.

The villagers gave a short- though still respectful- bow upon arrival. The gesture didn't need to be returned, but it was out of politeness anyway.

"So, this is where you're setting up camp?" Bob spoke up. He took a moment to look around, paw on his chin as he hummed.

"I suppose this is a pretty good spot, pthhpth," the cat added.

Citrus nodded in agreement.

"Not too far from the town hall. Close to the river is good too. _{Lots of good fossils can be found near water, y'know...} Also close to yours truly."

The bunny pointed to a nearby house, with a fitting orange exterior and green roof. Bob nodded, turning the focus towards his own nearby house.

"That one over there is my house. It's the coolest color," he remarked about his purple residence.

[okintsukoro]

At first, Max was a little worried that they had picked poorly, Tom and Isabelle looking at the trio with approval and interest. But upon hearing that they both approved of the placement, Max put on probably the proudest smile she had since she's arrived. She was finally going to get a home! Her own home! And she already had neighbors who liked her!

Tom nodded as he took a moment to glance over where Citrus and Bob have pointed out their own homes. "Mm...yes, yes, very beautiful homes indeed. And that's not just me tooting my own horn; the vision of the homeowner is just as important as having the tools and know-how to build." He turned his attention back to Max, who was very eager to finally have somewhere to rest.

"And while I can't set you up with your own house just yet, we can provide you with a tent. All you'd need for housing is a down payment of 10,000 bells, and you'd be set to have a nice sturdy house just like everyone else!" he told the human, whose eyes seemed to light up in recognition and motioned for Tom to stay put before bolting into the town hall. Once they returned with their luggage, they unzipped the front pocket to reveal their cutesy frog-shaped purse, opening it up to pull out ten 1,000 bell notes with money bag symbols in the center of each note. Even though Max hadn't come to this town expecting to be mayor, they had done some limited research on this town, such as the average cost of living and how much they should have saved up that should be able to last them until they could find a way to earn more bells on their own.

"Oho! Came prepared to invest I see! Very smart! Very punctual! Perfect. That just means we can expedite the process. I can have your house set up as soon as tomorrow morning. Don't worry, you won't be woken up in the middle of the night with a ruckus. I promise you that," he chuckled, accepting the money as Isabelle too also came back from town hall with some camping supplies. With a little help from Tom, the two had set up a tent, a ramshackle mailbox, as well a neat little lantern.

"If you have any extra bells to spend, a trip to Re-Tail might be your best best for some discounted used items. That is, unless you don't mind sleeping on the floor of the tent," Tom chuckled.

Max nodded in understanding. With final preparations complete, they informed Max of where to find them, and that Isabelle will speak to them about their mayoring duties tomorrow. As they watched the two walk off, their attention was brought back to Citrus and Bob, the two who had helped her the most throughout this hectic and stressful day. They really were both so very kind, even with their own little quirks. They had heard Citrus's little muttering earlier, but they couldn't address it just yet. They knew they would eventually. It wouldn't be long.

But as tears of gratitude welled up in the human's eyes, they were quick to wrap their arms around Citrus first in a tight, thankful hug. Keeping it brief, they then let go to hug Bob as well. Both of them were very comfortable to hug, in their opinion. But, they had to get going. With their luggage stashed away in their tent, they'd be off shopping for the rest of the day.

First stop was Re-Tail, which Max quickly learned was run by an alpaca couple named Reese and Cyrus. Cyrus, however, was currently asleep, and Max was all too happy to let him. They did manage to find a cheap bed that Lily had apparently put up for sale recently, and was quick to learn that the furniture here had some interesting properties.

Each item of furniture, somewhere on its outside, had an engraving of a leaf, much like the leaf symbol that was at the Nooklings shop. If one attempted to pick up the item while touching the symbol, the furniture would turn into a light, portable leaf with a picture of the item drawn into it, as if made from the veins of the leaf. But once that leaf was placed on the ground inside a building, it would return into its usable state.

It was absolutely incredible, and Max had never seen anything like this. Was this just normal for the animal people of this town?

Next stop was the Nooklings. There they learned they could grab tools, more furniture, wrapping paper, and most importantly, stationary sets. Today's was a floral themed paper, as it was in the middle of spring. She'd probably grabbed at least a dozen stationary sets, as she knew she would be writing many letters. She'd also grabbed the few tools that were up for sale that day: a fishing rod and a shovel. She had no idea what she was going to use it for, but Citrus's talk of fossils really had her intrigued.

She had stopped by the Able Sisters, finding a cute little overall denim dress that she could probably change into for tomorrow. But, once she left, she immediately started to write up two letters: one for Bob, and one for Citrus. One letter ended up turning into two, as she ran out of room on the tiny sheets of paper. But soon enough, she'd have them done and happily gave them to the sour pelican who seemed to be taking care of the post office during the evening shift.

"To the coolest gamer in Dobutsu,

Hi Bob. I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to help me find my way today. You probably could tell, but I was really scared of messing up everything. A lot of times, things seemed to be going wrong. But, you were super friendly and chill and I am very grateful that you took the time to hang out with me and Citrus. How long have you two been friends? What's your favorite type of ice cream? What sort of book have you read? Space? Pirates? Space pirates? I'm still trying to figure out ideas. Maybe I'll just make a bunch of short story novellas and see what sticks.

Hopefully I see you soon!
Max

PS: Who was that horse guy?"

Citrus's letter would end up being just as lengthy, if not moreso.

"Dear Citrus (I hope I spelled that right),

I can't thank you enough for acting as a tour guide today. I'm gonna be honest... I wasn't planning for today to end up like this. I might talk about it later in person. But just know that even though I was super scared and nervous, I was really grateful to meet someone like you. I heard that the people around here are known for being super nice. I guess I just wasn't prepared for just how hospitable everyone could be. Even if you mentioned it could get boring here sometimes, I hope at least my letters can add a little spice to your days while I live here. I'll always find time to write. It's... sort of a stress reliever for me. I can get my thoughts out a lot easier like this. Speaking of thoughts, I've heard what you said about fossils, and it's got me really curious. I've never really seen fossils up close before, so I'm wondering how you go about finding them? Do you have a collection yourself, or did you donate all your findings to the museum? Can I come with you next time you go fossil hunting? If not, it's okay.

To be honest, I'm still a little nervous about what I'm expected to do as mayor. I've never held a position like that before. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want people to hate me for messing up. But... I will promise that I'll try my best. If living here means I also gotta have this responsibility then... I think you and Bob have proven that it's worth it to face my fears and make the most of it.

Hope to make all your future days just a little better,
Max

PS: It's gonna take me a while to get up the nerve to approach that scary horse guy. I hope I don't need to talk to him for a while."

With all that settled, they eventually would collapse on their newly bought 'common bed', falling asleep instantly on impact.

----------------------------------------------

The next morning, they would sit up with a stretch of their arms, only to gasp when they quickly realized something was different. The tent had suddenly become a small house with two windows. Sure the wallpaper and flooring was the bare minimum, but it was obviously solid and intact. Was this real? They hadn't heard anything, felt anything. How had Tom Nook managed this? Had they been relocated in their sleep?

They were quick to put on their new denim dress, practically bursting out the new front door so that they could get a good first look at their new house.

Her mouth completely went slack in awe. It was an adorable house, nearly twice the size of the tent they slept in, with an adorable blue roof on top a white exterior. Just on the outside of it was their mailbox and their name engraved on it: Max.

She was so confused, excited, she wanted to keep staring, circling around the house in disbelief. However, it was in the midst of circling around her house that she nearly bumped into a familiar, scary dark horse.

Roscoe had been just out and about on his usual morning walk. Walks were good exercise for an aging horse like him. He usually took one three times a day: morning, noon, and night time patrols. But, this walk had been different.

He was standing barely a few feet from the left-hand wall of Max's new home, glaring irritably at it as his eyes narrowed.

"...right in my walking path..." he grumbled to himself before his red eyes glanced over to see the new mayor, looking absolutely terrified. It was a first reaction he was used to. He knew it took a long while for the locals here to warm up to him, with Isabelle being the only one to put up with his ornery tail. Well, her and sometimes Apollo and Amelia. Apollo was the only one in town who he could at least have decent chats with, while Amelia had been around Apollo long enough to know how to handle folks his age.

He turned to look over at Max, shaking his head.

"Well, can't be helped. Nay... it can't." He walked a few steps closer, watching carefully as Max took a step back. " 'Ey. I ain't gonna bite, kid. Just wanted to say my hellos, meet an' greet an' all that." He held out a hoof. "Name's Roscoe. What do they call ya?"

Max tentatively reached out to gently shake Roscoe's hand just before he asked her name. Her first instinct was to look for her train pass, only to realize they left it inside their house.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Roscoe scoffed, not at all impressed with how this supposed new mayor couldn't even get past a simple greeting.

[spincycle]

Between Citrus and Bob, the bunny was always the early bird. It was almost impressive that Bob could nap so much and still sleep in more than the average Dobutsu citizen. Citrus always began her day with the same routine. Stand, streeeetch, replace her pajamas with her familiar knitted sweater, begin making a cup of tea. She usually took her time with this routine, since she wouldn't be able to see Bob for a while. Knocking on his door was always done in vain if he was asleep. But today was different.

Citrus was eager to see Max's new house. She was familiar with the way Tom Nook could quickly whip up an entire house while the rest of the town slept. The details on how exactly he could do that were a little vague, however. Part of her wanted to ask, to ask to tag along one night and observe his work. Being nosy was just her nature. But she never worked up the courage to ask the tanuki about his ways. It seemed useless to ask anyway. If Citrus had to guess, Tom would probably just cheerfully dismiss her with a "ho ho! Telling you my secrets is bad for business!"

But the hare remained impressed by his seemingly magic ways. She nearly tripped over her own feet on her way out the door this morning. She finished patting the fur on the top of her head down into a neater look as she stumbled onto the damp grass. The morning dew made her shake a bit, as she didn't enjoy having wet fur. She was about to go prancing towards the mayor's house, but was stopped by a jingle. Citrus stopped in her tracks, turning to see her mailbox flashing it's small notifying light.

Typically, only her family wrote to Citrus. Usually her mother or one of her many siblings. But these occurrences were still a little rare, so her heart fluttered a bit when she opened the tiny door. She didn't recognize the penmanship of her name on the envelope. She opened the letter hastily, skipping to the end to see who had signed it.

Seeing Max's name in the bottom corner made her right foot thump with excitement. She was giddy as she read the rest of the letter, grateful that her new friend wasn't too put off by her nosy ways. Mentioning fossils made Citrus even more excited. She hugged the letter to her chest before placing it in her pocket. She decided to write out a response after finishing her quest to look at Max's new house. This would still give her plenty of time before Bob ever groggily left his own house for the day.

Before the Bunny could redirect her attention to Max's home, something made her ears twitch. It was coming from Max's direction, but didn't sound like the human. The distance warped the words being spoken beyond recognition, but Citrus's exemplary hearing still caught on to a voice that was familiar. Her ears twitched again as she looked up to squint in that direction. She pushed her glass further up her button nose as she leaned forward. What she had in auditory skills was subtracted from her vision. Her eyes finally focused onto a tall steed she knew a little too well.

Upon seeing Roscoe, Citrus's face burned hot as she began skipping in the two's direction. The bunny had a unique skip in her step that other animals in Dobutsu didn't quite seem to possess. She tried to hurry over, thinking about Max's letter describing the human's lack of words and discomfort around Roscoe. She nearly knocked Max over as she hugged her tightly. She knew the human was likely uncomfortable with the affection, but hoped Max knew to play along for the moment being.

"There you are! I was looking for you everywhere!" she exclaimed as she let go of Max.

She tried to imitate Amelia's conversational patterns as she turned her attention towards Roscoe.

"Good morning, Mr. Roscoe! It's a lovely day for a walk, y'know?" A nervous giggle left Citrus as she scratched the back of her neck.

"My good friend Max here wrote me a letter! They're really kind. Not much of a talker," she added.

[okintsukoro]

Before Max could respond to Roscoe's snide remark, they barely managed to look in Citrus's direction before being tackled into a hug, letting out a small yelp in the process as they tried to understand what this hug was all about. Her arms flailed a little, but eventually ended up returning the hug a bit before letting go just as Citrus did.

Max tilted their head slightly in confusion, big silver eyes still wide from the sudden tackle hug. She'd been looking for her? She only just woke up, and as far as she could tell, it was still morning. How long could she have been looking for her?

But when she saw Citrus turning her attention to Roscoe, that's when it clicked when the bunny was trying to do: she was trying to get the heat of the conversation off of her. After giving Citrus a sort of grateful look, she simply nodded along with the yellow bunny's words, confirming that what she said was the truth.

Roscoe just about nearly had a heart attack from the sudden yelling, taking a step back when Citrus had first made her presence known. He pressed the flat portion of his hoof to his chest, taking some deep breaths before shaking his head.

"Tarnation, kid... you can't just go spookin' folks like that." He eventually let it go with a deep sigh, shutting his eyes for a moment before looking back over at the wall of Max's house.

"Well, it was... Seems our new mayor decided that the best place for their new home is right in my usual walkin' route. But... what's done is done. Can't exactly pester Isabelle and ol' Nook to get their house moved about a few feet north..." His red eyes slowly turned back to Max, whose shoulders stiffened a bit.

"Max, huh? Well since you seem to be more the letter-writin' sort, I'll expect a proper greetin' in writing. Better make it a good one," he chuckled a bit to himself, knowing all too well the poor mayor-to-be was already having a time of it. "Anyways... S'pose I'll let you two be on your way. Probably off to see Isabelle about your mayoral duties and whatnot. Well, don't let me stand in your way. I'll see ya both around. And uh...Sidney? No, Citrus. Right, like the fruit..." Roscoe shook his head; he'd never been good at remembering people's names that weren't either important or within his inner circle. "...I guess you got a solid job as the mayor's mouthpiece ahead of ya if this kid refuses to talk to folk. Good luck with that."

With that, Roscoe waved them off with his left hoof before begrudgingly walking around Max's house; he'd just have to get used to the new walking path. Symbolic, probably.

As Max watched Roscoe leave they quickly turned to Citrus and quickly squeezed them in a tight hug. They may have only met just yesterday, but Citrus was quickly becoming Max's favorite person in town.

"Thank you," came Max's muffled words against Citrus's fur before reluctantly pulling away. They gave Citrus a big grateful smile, wiping away some of their tears before their eyes landed on the town hall. Roscoe was probably right; she should head inside to see what exactly being a mayor entailed, and that meant talking with Isabelle.

[spincycle]

Citrus gave a crooked and nervous smile in Roscoe's direction as he parted ways. On the few instances they had spoken before, Citrus had been called every half-correct name under the sun. Sidney, Circus, even Circle on one occasion. But she decided letting it slide was more comfortable than correcting the sullen steed. Luckily, he caught himself this time. Citrus was half-expecting some remark about how Bob liked her so much because of her food association.

She returned the hug Max gave when they were left alone, but then decided to give the new human some space. If Max wanted a hug, the bunny wouldn't turn them down. But she didn't want to be too touchy with someone so shy.

But her mind then snapped over to the new white house that had appeared overnight. Her foot thumped with excitement again as she put her paws to her chest. She did a little skip around the tiny fence circling the premises. When she circled around and ended up atMax's other side, she examined the blue roof.

"The houses always get here so fast! I've always wondered how they do it; but, it happens when we're all asleep," she explained with her gaze still on the blue tiles. "Really makes 10,000 bells seem like a bargain."

Citrus found herself ready to ramble about Tom Nook and his mysterious ways, but decided there were other things to be done at the moment.

"Roscoe was right. There's mayor-y things to do with Isabelle. How about you go talk to her, and meet up with me later. Bob should be awake soon-ish. _{Depends how late he stayed up watching TV...}" the bunny proposed. "I'll be in my house writing you the coolest letter you've ever read," she promised with a determined nod.

"Come find me after you talk to Isabelle, and then tell me all about your new job! Oh-! And don't forget to write Roscoe a letter tonight before bed. He'll be expecting something in his mailbox tomorrow morning."

[okintsukoro]

Max certainly didn't mind the hug. There was just something super comforting about Citrus's presence that they've never really felt with any other person before. But before they could even ask about what Citrus wanted, she watched as the bunny skipped around, ogling Max's new house. Her silver eyes widened slightly, a little flustered as they quietly followed after the rabbit, wondering what they were looking at. Was it as good as they'd hoped?

When they mentioned how the house got here overnight for just 10,000 bells, Max slowly nodded in agreement, looking up at the house as well.

"...yeah. It's... I still don't get it. I was asleep. It seems almost like magic. This spot isn't next to where the tent was... I'm pretty sure it was the exact spot we picked yesterday..." But she quickly shook her head. "But... you're right. For 10,000 bells, it really is a bargain for that kind of service. At least I won't have to worry about when it rains, and I have a proper bed now. A very...strange bed... but apparently all the furniture here is like that? I have so many questions but at the same time... I'm excited."

They felt a little out of breath from how much they word-vomited, but they always did wear their emotions on their sleeve. But upon hearing that Citrus would take this time to write her a letter, Max stared at her with wide, sparkling eyes, as if she said the magic words that would solidify the bunny as being their new best friend in town. After all, even if they were neighbors, having a new pen pal in town was as much a thrill as it was a relief. As she had mentioned to Citrus before, writing was something of a getaway for her, an escape. Maybe they really could make a new life here in Dobutsu?

They nodded in understanding, both at the future plans to come find Citrus, as well as the reminder to write Roscoe a letter. With one last tight hug, Max waved good-bye to Citrus for now before jogging their way to the Town Hall.

There, Isabelle would be awaiting them already pepped up and ready to give all the basic information Max would need.

To summarize, Max needed a few things before they could start acting as mayor: they needed to be a citizen with an address, but they also needed the approval of all the villagers on a written petition. Usually this would be a quick process, even if their mayorship required a 100% approval rating. Even if there was one or two people who refused to sign, usually some acts of good will on the mayor-to-be's part were enough to get them to change their tune. Isabelle couldn't ever recall a time when a person looking to become acting mayor would be kept from their station for long.

"But, once you get all that done, you'll officially be mayor! We'll call everyone for a ceremony to welcome you in officially, and you'll get to plant your own sapling in the town square. Whenever we get a new mayor, we always start anew, to show how far along the town has grown since you've been in office! Got all that?" Isabelle asked. When Max nodded, the happy secretary, jingled over to hand them the petition.

"Good luck! Just hand it back to me once you've gotten everyone's signatures!" Isabelle nodded.

Well, she certainly makes it sound like an easy task, Max thought as she made her way out of the Town Hall to start walking over to Citrus' house. After taking a moment to look over the bright exterior, she firmly knocked on the door, still holding the clipboard with the petition in one hand.

[spincycle]

Citrus watched Max head towards the town hall before also parting ways from the new home. The bunny returned to her own unique house and began searching for some stationary. Surely there was some around here somewhere... She had to check every nook and cranny of her home first, but she did eventually find the remnants of an old set. It had admittedly been a while since she last wrote to her family.

With her old Buttercup themed paper in hand, Citrus took a seat on the floor to write upon her low-sitting tea table. Much of the furniture in her house was from the 'ranch' theme, with the occasional citrus themed item here and there. It was only natural. Bob found it funny, but Citrus knew his teasing was never serious. The only non-furniture items in her house were things she was most proud of. She displayed a few small fossils and fish here and there. She loved to show them off because it gave her a chance to talk to her interests to visitors.

"Dear Mayor Max," the letter began.

"I love getting letters in the mail! So it's a good thing you love to write. It's only natural that you're nervous. Being mayor is a big deal. No pressure though! I'm sure anybody would be nervous if they were you. But I think you'll do a good job. Don't let ol' Roscoe scare you out of it. He'll come around- he's just grumpy. But there's lots of other nice people in Dobutsu, y'know? Lily and Amelia live here too, they're super nice. But you should totally come with me next time I go fossil hunting! I have lots of books under my bed you can borrow that'll teach you everything there is to know. I would love the company, Bob gets bored of digging and goes inside to watch TV every time. Let me know when you're free to dig!

You can do anything! - Citrus"

She ended the letter and placed it in her pocket, she'd make sure to ship it today so it could reach Max tomorrow morning.

--

Bob rolled out of bed with an exaggerated yawn. The cat rubbed his eyes before stretching and beginning to change out of his pajamas for the day. As much as he'd love to keep them on forever, Citrus didn't let him play outside like that. He could eat his own breakfast at home before starting his day. But he opted for knocking on Citrus's door and asking what she had to eat. In his defense, Citrus was a better cook. At least, that's what he told her every time he asked her for a meal. He started to head out the door, but was stopped in his tracks by his mailbox's jingle. He tomcat opened the small door and examined the spring-themed card.

Bob quickly scanned over it before taking it back inside. Breakfast couldn't wait and neither could this very important delivery. So Bob opted to eat (excessively) sugary cereal while he started writing a letter of his own. He smudged the corners of his firework themed stationery- but assumed Max wouldn't mind.

"To Dobutsu's Best Letter Writer,

I'm so excited about getting a letter that I'm writing back to you while I eat my cereal for the day. I'll answer your super important interview questions, I know it must be exciting to talk to a professional video game player.
1. Citrus and I have been besties since I moved here when I was just a little kid. She's lived here her whole life though. Her family moved away, but she stuck around just for me! She's super loyal, so you've probably made a friend for life.
2. The best kind of ice cream is rocky road. So chocolaty and delicious. Citrus can't stand the stuff, but brings it to my birthday party every year anyway! Have you ever tried it with potato chips?
3. I love to read superhero comics? Can you draw well? I definitely can't.

See ya around, -Bob

P.S. That's Roscoe. Only scary on the outside. I think. We're not very close, he thinks I'm lazy. I am, but he doesn't have to say it the way he does."

Bob signed his letter before flipping it over to scribble on the backside of the letter. He crudely added a drawing of the three amigos as space pirates. He quickly finished drinking the sugary milk of his cereal before putting the letter away. He made a quick trip to the post office, giving his usual greetings to the pelican behind the counter. Upon leaving, he headed towards Citrus's house instead of his own. He realized Max was standing outside holding something. As he drew closer, he heard Citrus open the door and jokingly ask "Trying to sell me something?"

[okintsukoro]

Max put on a sheepish smile when Citrus joked that they looked like some sort of door-to-door salesman. They were about to open their mouth when they heard another pair of footsteps approaching, crunching the grass. With a quick and slightly tense glance, she managed to relax upon realizing it was just Bob. She exhaled, smiling and waving lightly in their direction before looking back to Citrus and handing the rabbit the petition.

"Um... Isabelle says I need everyone's approval before I can be officially mayor. So... I think I need to go around and ask everyone to sign this so I can bring it back to her. Then she said something about a tree planting ceremony? Is that really a thing? Do I need to prepare a speech...? Oh geez..."

The idea of being up front and center among even a few people was a bit nerve-wracking for the would-be mayor. But, she wasn't going to let this get in the way of her dream to live here. She knew, at any point, she could've told them this was all a mistake, that she wasn't meant to be the new mayor. But at this point, she almost felt like she was too deep into it now. What would they think if they realized she wasn't supposed to be mayor, and the person who was supposed to show up never really did?

[spincycle]

Citrus nodded along as she casually took the clipboard from Max’s hands. Before Max could finish talking Citrus had already printed her curly signature at the top of the blank list. She passed the clipboard along to Bob, who silently printed his own name in large sloppy letters.
The contrast of his “signature” below Citrus’s was almost comical.

“Isabelle probably just wants people to know your face so they don’t feel like they’re taking orders from a stranger,” Citrus jokingly assured Max. “Which won’t be too hard. There aren’t many of us living here anyway.”

“I don’t know anything about the tree thing though,” Bob chimed in.

Citrus waved her hand vaguely to a small plaza to the right of their houses. Though it wasn’t easily visible from this distance, there was a patch of stone pathway with a square planter in the middle.

“I’ve never seen a tree planting ceremony myself. Old mayor planted his tree before I was even born. But that’s the big tree they took down when he left, remember, Bob?”

Citrus paused, took the clipboard from her friend, and passed it back to Max before continuing.

“Mayors plant a tree in that little plaza over there. It’s symbolic or something, y’know? It grows with the town and stuff. But I wouldn’t worry too much about a speech or anything. As long as people here like you before you plant it, they won’t mind what you say. Which is great, because Bob and I get to play tour guide again! You lead the way, and we’ll follow.”

Bob gave a lazy nod followed by a salute.

“Aye, aye, Captain Max!”

[okintsukoro]

The nervous human felt a bit more at ease as, almost immediately, she watched Citrus and Bob sign their names without a second thought. Maybe it would be that easy? Maybe they were just blowing it out of proportion and the path to becoming mayor would be a simple one?

In truth, even with the tour, she wasn't quite sure what the total number of villagers were. But, hopefully, Citrus and Bob would be able to let them know if they were missing anyone.

"The old mayor must've been really old, huh...? Where did he go, anyways...?" Max asked softly as she accepted the clipboard back from Citrus.

To see Citrus so excited to tour the town with them, as well as Bob being silent but dutiful, had Max smiling softly and even giggling a little. "...thank you. Both of you."

Maybe...this could be fun?

With an encouraging nod in return, Max puffed up their chest a bit, as if trying to gain their courage to start going door to door asking for signatures.

The first stop she made was at a turquoise, almost cone-shaped house with a dark blue roof. The sign outside noted that this was Lily's place. It wasn't until Max tentatively knocked on the door and a cute little frog answered that they recalled who Lily was.

"Oh! It's you! Hi there! I'm Lily! I see you've already met Citrus and Bob," she noted, glancing past Max to wave back at them. "Come in, come in! I was just finishing baking an apple pie. I was trying out a new recipe, and I'd really love it if you gave it a try."

Max was quick to pick up on the strong, warm scent of apple and cinnamon. Admittedly, she kind of rushed out of her home without eating, so trying a slice of apple pie sounded right, so they gave a sheepish smile and nod as they put one hand over their stomach.

"Great! Come in, come in, toady! Feel free to take a seat," the rosy-cheeked frog insisted, keeping the door open while she rushed over to her oven, putting on some cute little frog-mouthed oven mitts.

As Max walked in, they were becomingly increasingly aware of all the green, naturalistic looking furniture. It made the place so comforting, so home-y. Oddly enough, though, there was also a shower right by the window, which had Max slightly flustered. Perhaps the blinds were closed whenever Lily used it.

Luckily, there was a large green wooden table to sit at, and Max could look around in awe at the home while she was sat down and Lily hummed a little to herself while platting a generous slice of apple pie for all three of them, as well as a glass of their preferred beverage. Max chose to have milk, usually their go-to drink for matching with baked goods like pie.

When Max took their first bite of pie, they were practically seeing stars, eyes so sparkly. They'd never tasted anything so delicious! Was it because it was made from the apples of this town? Or was Lily just that great of a baker?

"I hope you like it... This is honestly my seventh attempt at coming up with a decent recipe that I was happy with, toady," Lily admitted, smiling at her guests before looking over at the petition that Max had set upon the table.

"Oh? What's that, toady?" the frog politely asked, trying to peer over at what was written on the paper on the clipboard.