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Friday - Afternoon.

Another week passed in almost painful mundanity, with the wonderful weekend and its big revelations behind them, and the excitement of the RFC meet-up ahead of them, Rowan and Jacinto did their best to ensure the week didn't slow to a crawl.

But finally, Friday came, and after taking a half-day off to give them time to drive out, the pair were finally on the road again, making their way to the hotel.

If Rowan had expected something to magically change over the week after finally admitting to him... her? self his feelings about his gender, nothing much had changed. They weren't even sure about it when being Rowan, and had mostly avoided the topic, uncertain how to even move forward with this kind of revelation, unless they just wanted to be Akari all the time outside of work, and they weren't sure that was the right direction for this... it mostly just left him feeling bad about himself... though proximity to Jac' had certainly taking his mind off a lot of that during the evening.

"I really don't know what to expect about all this. A bunch of fur folks and... I don't know, maybe a snack table? Knowing our appetites in fur at least, but maybe that's just us."

Jacinto has been trying to avoid dwelling in his confused thoughts about Rowan's expressions of gender thoughts last week, or when he... she, seemed to be stuck as Akari. He even somewhat succeeded in avoiding the topic, spending the week more reading about the upcoming meet and other furs' experiences. Learning among other things that RFCs are a relatively new thing, the magic first manifesting only sixteen years ago. As to why, no one knows, but most have opted to not really complain about such a gift of magic either.

Besides, if he's reading others' experiences and dealings with the fur, he can avoid thinking about his own.

"They noted that they'll have a pretty good snack buffet, and encouraged everyone to bring some. Apparently we are not all that unique in that regard - being in fur, and especially going back and forth a lot, eats a lot of energy. We can stop on the way to get some relevant stuff, like nachos." He smiles at his friend: "For reasons."

Rowan grins, having been listening to Jac' make the discoveries throughout the week, "Nachos are good. I'd hate to be the new guys and be the only ones not bringing something to the party. Really does kinda feel like a little party too... Except no booze. Probably? Actually I don't know how Akari would handle getting drunk..." Or himself... Rowan has never been a big drinker beyond a single 'social beer' that he would nurse through the night around others.

Jacinto nods: "Yeah, better bring something. Besides, we want to snack on something we like, anyway." He hums: "And yeah, probably better to not drink anyway. When I find out how I react to alcohol as Cindi, I want to be home."

Rowan chuckles, "We're not exactly going to party and get drunk anyways. This is more... a meet-up with... new friends, I suppose? New friends while getting to be in fur... gosh I'm actually still a little nervous about introducing myself like that."

Jacinto smiles: "Yeah, me too. But should be good... after all, even if we are the only newbies I think, everyone there shares one considerable secret that's also a source of joy. What reason would there be to not embrace anyone joining, considering?"

Rowan shrugs, but ultimately laughs, "We're the only newbies, hm? Guess that makes sense... I hope they don't focus too hard on us or make a big deal about it... But, yeah, I guess everyone there is there because we share that same love for suiting that we do."

Jacinto smiles: "Yeah, I would imagine so. Suiting, and now... well, all this. Can't exactly be very picky with options who you confide with this, right?"

Rowan hums, frowning slightly. "I still don't exactly how to feel about the whole 'secret society' part of it all, but I admit I'm really excited to meet other folks like Rowena who we can actually gush about all this with. We weren't exactly in the best place when we talked about it before at the convention."

Jacinto nods: "Yeah, now we're... well, I won't dare say 'adjusted', but at least considerably less feeling that immediate panic." He looks outside the side window for a second: "And... suppose it is a kind of secret society, but really it would be pretty hard to prove to anyone what we are, right?"

Rowan laughs, "If there's one thing I don't feel right now, it's 'adjusted'. But that's more a 'me' problem even before we fell into this whole thing."

He hums, thinking, "Come to think of it, we just look like we're in suits to people who don't know. It could be hard to prove, if we actually wanted to."

Jacinto nods: "Yeah, pretty much. Let's be fair... we pretty much have magic in our lives, Rowan. Anyone in this has an interest in keeping as few people in the know as possible." He frowns. "...although, imagine keeping this sort of thing from the person you're in a relationship with."

Rowan glances at Jac', "I... have no idea how you could. I guess we lucked out with that, finding our relationship because of this? I mean... because of a lot of things along the way but... well, you know what I mean."

Jacinto nods with a slight blush: "...yeah. It's kinda hard to say how much of it is us finding each other because of furselves... or us ending with furselves because we have each other."

Rowan looks back to the road, humming slightly, "Bit of both? Yeah, there's... no easy to say if one led to the other, huh?"

He smiles regardless, "Glad for both things though."

Jacinto smiles: "Yup. Definitely. Whatever this all ends up being for us... wouldn't change it for anything." He gives a soft chuckle: "...is it lame to say that I feel like my life has gained a lot of meaning in last few weeks?"

Rowan nods, "I know exactly what you mean. It's only been two weeks... but everything feels different. I don't just mean falling asleep cuddled up with you every night. Or, maybe I do mean that."

Jacinto laughs softly: "It's at least that, put it that way. But it's also the fur, and the showers, and... having darn tail and antennae and wings, and craf-" He blinks. "...well, maybe still crafting together, just not fursuits. Probably."

Rowan giggles, "The glowing scales and antlers too. And... other parts." She blushes, still having tried not get too deep into that subject with Jac', knowing it seems to make him uncomfortable. "And yeah, crafting. We need to get things set up for that again."

Jacinto just nods to the first part. "Once we figure out what exactly we are doing. I admit that I have no idea where I would start with creating a dress..." He gives a small smile: "...though I certainly have more motivation for such, now."

Rowan nods, "I'll trust your research instincts there. But you can count on me to help you work on whatever you find. I just like doing that stuff together. I mean, I can't say I didn't enjoy making and wearing the suits, obviously. But for me, there was a part of it that always was more about doing something with you. Anything, really."

Jacinto hums, nodding along for a bit. He then thinks of something and glances back at Rowan: "...so let's put it this way, what would you want to do? I don't always want to be the one calling the shots." He smirks slightly.

Rowan hums, focusing on the road for a moment as he thinks, "I... don't really want to call the shots. I guess maybe my answer would have been different years ago, before we really started making suits. But now, I really enjoy making stuff with you. I just... kinda need your drive, or I end up doing nothing but playing phone games all day."

Jacinto frowns slightly, but then nods: "...fair enough, I guess. But you know I want to know the instant you do get some idea on what you want to do, in fur or out of it."

Rowan chuckles, "Our suits have been a project for a Long time... and bore unanticipated fruit. Sewing new outfits for Cindi and Akari does sound great. But maybe I'll try to think of some other things to do. I used to like building model kits as a kid."

Jacinto nods, smiling: "Reckon the answer will come in time, whatever it is." He looks at the road for a moment: "And well, I guess we are heading to a meet where others have had one their, sort of, primary hobbies changed and then some."

Rowan chuckles, "Hobbies in-fur is an interesting thought, though. Akari's hooves wouldn't exactly be all that good for sewing. Or model building. We've spent most of our time in fur snuggling, but... that's not 'quite' a hobby, is it?" He shrugs slightly, smirking.

Jacinto nods... then thinks of something as his expression brightens. "True... but there is something to be said about us having a lot more mobility in fur, now. Maybe there is a more physical activity that might be fun in-fur?"

Rowan raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Oo-oh um... I'm guessing you don't mean more... um... y-you know."

Jacinto blinks: "Er, no. Thanks for reminding me of... good times, but I was actually thinking of like those dance pad games that are always popular in cons. Or other such activities."

Rowan blushes a bit, but ultimately nods, "Oh yeah... everytime I see folks in fursuits at a convention rave, or in the arcade room doing DDR, I wonder how the heck they can stand to do any of that in a suit..." They smirk, "Guess we might know, now, huh?"

Jacinto smirks: "Maaaybe. But yeah, that could be a thing to look into..."

Rowan nods, "Could be fun... I've always sorta wished I could be good at that kind of stuff, but, eh... you know..." They shrug slightly, certainly their own body image issues often stopping them from doing things like that.

Jacinto hums: "Well... I certainly have the space for it at home, if we want to slightly invest..."

Rowan thinks a moment, "Maybe we see if we can't try it out a little first, then we can invest in some of those heavy duty dance boards? I like the idea for sure."

Jacinto smiles: "If nothing else, the idea fascinates me. And regardless of literal magic... Probably still a decent idea to exercise in one's free time, yeah?"

Rowan nods with a giggle, "I have no idea if we are able to like... 'get in shape' in suit? Or out of shape even. But it does sound fun."

Jacinto laughs: "Things to ask about in the meeting, I guess."

Rowan hums, "Add it to the list, hm? I uh, I do hope the meeting isn't all just us asking questions. I do sorta hate being the center of attention like that..."

Jacinto smiles: "I'm sure it's more than that. Let's also just have fun."

Rowan smiles at Jac', "I'm sure we will. I'm just a little nervous. You know how I get right before these kinda things... and I guess it's only been a few weeks since our last con, but... well, as you said. All feels different now."

Jacinto nods: "You're not wrong. This is pretty exciting in all sorts of ways. Not just because of the meet, but..." He looks at his boyfriend with a smile: "... First time 'out' together in fur, too."

Rowan takes a hand off the wheel for a moment to offer Jac a quick squeeze, "I guess it is, huh? Almost like a first date all over again. Though not quite. But still, kinda fun to think of it like that."

Jacinto smiles: "Yup. It's... Akari and Cindi's first date, so to say. So it's ours, but we're doing things we could never ever do out of fur." Or as guys, but that one he files away to 'don't think about it' folder.

Rowan slips his hand back to the wheel and nods, "Almost a shame we can only really 'go out' at meet-ups like this. I don't really mind that much, but I wish we could go out like that just as a matter of course."

Jacinto hums: "Perhaps something we can ask about."

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