Barrel Rat

a/n: these are just my hcs so feel free to agree or disagree !

hope you enjoy! 𐔌^. .^𐦯 ~

xavier

Valko’s curious about what Xavier's like as a Hunter, since he's so soft and sweet looking. So they spar for fun.

Xavier agrees because he likes to keep himself sharp.

Valko's impressed by how skilled Xavier is. Even more so at how strong he is. (Valko’s delighted to find that Xavier is strong enough to carry him, and even more so when Xavier actually picked him up and spun him around to demonstrate.) 

Xavier teaches him how to duel for fun.

Valko finds Xavier’s evol super fascinating. (When/if he eventually finds out about Xavier’s past and Traceback ii he’d totally geek out).

Valko freaks out when he learns that Xaviere's actually Lumiere but learns quickly not to bring him up in front of Xavier...

Gaming: Xavier’s basically a pro gamer and Valko’s pretty good himself. They like playing co-op games together. It’s fun to imagine all the Lis and MC playing games like gang beasts and mario kart world together. When Valko’s stuck on a level of any game, now he has someone to call and help him out. Xavier gives him tips on how to play better and uses them to beat his younger cousins.

Xavier’s got an extensive archive of retro games so they play those too.

Despite how he looks, Valko's a bit of a scaredy cat and Xavier finally feels the satisfaction of actually spooking someone with his creepy stories and urban legends. 

Bach volleyball teammates.

They have movie nights watching Star Wars, LOTR etc. Xaxier buys matching pjs for them.

Cuddle buddies (Xavier likes hugging Valko's tail and petting his fur when he's in wolf form since it's super soft). 

Valko can put away just as much as Xavier, so they go out to eat a lot. They're demolishing any all you can eat buffet.

Whenever they get bbq Xavier insists on grilling for Valko since he’s (so much) older. 

Valko teaches Xavier how to cook basic recipes. They turn out not only edible but also really tasty, which is a huge improvement and one step closer to Xavier putting Charlie out of business.

sylus

Sylus senses that Valko’s not entirely human straight away. He’s heard of EonCore and looked into the company before.

EonCore are of course aware of Onychinus but the funnier thing is that Valko’s aware of Skye the fruit vendor. Had considered contacting produce businesses about supply for new desserts for the company, (e.g. strawberry pretzel dark chocolate bars ???), but didn’t go through with it.

Anyway. The two of them have proper business meetings and become trusted business partners.

Although, most of their very important meetings are just time blocked out for them to gossip and nerd out about weapons and tech.

They also play chess. 

Luke and Kieran love Valko so so so much. He’s big bro. They rope him into all sorts of shenanigans.

He lets them play with him when he’s in wolf form and they tire him out more than the pups do. Sylus finds them passed out, curled up around him at the end of the night.

Valko begrudgingly let’s the twins sign him up for a pet competition. They insist he’s a husky, german shepherd mix. The N109 zone residents don’t question it, (though they’re confused what Onychinus has to do with dog shows). The twins win with Valko fair and square, he’s the best groomed, most obedient and can do the most tricks.

They treat him to the best, most prestigious, award winning dessert establishment in the N109 zone as a reward, but he puts his card down before they get the chance to pay. Sylus holds a grudge about this. It starts a back and forth of buying each other extravagant gifts and doing each other more and more ridiculous favours. Sylus wins. Valko doesn’t mind. It’s fun.

Sylus makes sure to let him know that if he ever needs a place to crash there’s always a  warm meal and soft bed waiting for him.

rafayel

Valko's read everything he's found about the Lemurians when he was younger and looking into other hybrid species.

Rafayel expected friction, their kinds aren't exactly similar, but Valko was really more awed than wary and more sympathetic than spiteful. They bond over the mistreatment that they’ve experienced. They’re both young leaders and they bond over that too.

Valko’s eager to learn more about Lemuria. Rafayel’s a bit hesitant naturally, but over time finds that he enjoys sharing his culture and past. He barely has anyone he can talk to about Lemuria. Valko shares about his pack, their traditions, and Rafayel soaks it up. It makes him see things differently and gives him fresh inspiration.

Valko takes him out to the forest on a hike. Rafayel complains about the cardio until they find rare minerals that he can crush up and use for his paints.

Now whenever Valko goes out and spots things Rafayel might find interesting he collects them and sends them over.

Valko doesn’t often find himself around beaches or the ocean in general so he’s tripping over himself running around. Rafayel's instantly endeared. He shrugs off his faux pretentiousness after a few minutes and joins his friend. They hang out by the beach, go for a swim, and get ice cream together often. Rafayel doesn’t have many friends (as far as I know) so it’s fun. These two very important professionals people act really childish together.

Valko has a testy relationship with Raf’s seagull choir but over time he wins them over and they develop an understanding.

Valko develops custom specialised glasses to help Rafayel with the issues he has with his eyesight and drops them off like it’s no big deal. Rafayel cries about it for a couple of hours after Valko leaves.

Valko loves the sound of Rafayel's voice when he hums and sings absentmindedly while working. Sometimes when Valko comes over to keep Rafayel company he ends up fallen asleep to the sound of it.

Rafayel mutters about having adopted a dog but refuses to wake him and ends up draping a blanket over him. He now has his own dedicated spot on Rafayel's couch.

Valko loves seafood and Rafayel treats him to his best when they hang out.

For Valko's birthday Rafayel paints a beautiful dreamy landscape of the forest where they’d gone for hikes, lit by the full moon. Valko hangs it up in his office immediately.

zayne

Once they learn about each other's sweet tooths, Zayne takes it upon himself to introduce Valko to all his favourite spots. Valko's new to Linkon afterall so it's basically his duty to show him around the neighbourhood.

Zayne gets a tour of Valko's factories and get's to be one of the first to taste their new creations.

Of course Zayne is curious about Valko's physiology, being a wolf and all. Valko's very good about letting Zayne poke and prod, he patiently answers all his questions to the best of his ability. It's a privilege he doesn't grant many humans or human doctors so Zayne makes sure to honour his trust.

The first few times they hang out Valko insists on calling his friend “Doctor Zayne”, or just “Doctor” and it takes far too long for Valko to drop the title. “You worked hard to earn it and I respect that.” 

He still calls Zayne “Doc” on occasion because he likes watching the tips of his ears redden.

If Zayne’s got long shifts and can’t be there for cafe openings or special events, trust and believe Valko will make sure he doesn’t miss out. He'll line up himself or send his men there to secure the goods.

MC shows up to bring him his lunch, Valko shows up with dessert at the same time and they look at each other like :0 Especially if he’s on a sweets ban…

Enablers. They’re seriously bad for each other. - “Hey Doc, guess what? That cafe's got a new cake with your name all over it.” - “Are you free next week? We should go back and try the menu items we missed.” - “How many should we get?” “It wouldn’t make sense not to try them all. I’m sure the pastry chefs worked hard to create this selection.”  

They bond over emo and hardcore music. Valko had an emo phase when he was younger :P and he's suprised that Zayne doesn't listen to classical music like he thought he would.

They go to concerts together.

Zayne teaches Valko how to play pool. He hustles his cousins when he goes back home and get's in trouble with his Aunties for it.

caleb

Bros bros bros. They're long lost brothers.

Along with Gideon, Valko's one of the only people who Caleb can really let loose and be a regular guy with.

Since Valko's a Chairman and his schedule's flexible he comes up to Skyhaven often just to hang out and keep Caleb company. He figures even though Caleb wouldn't admit to it, he's probably pretty lonely up there.

Caleb tries to take Valko flying but he gets really air sick. He threw up as soon as he landed and Caleb felt so so bad.

But theme park rides are fine. As soon as they get in they're immediately booking it to the craziest rides in the park.

Work out buddies. But regular weight training isn't enough. They're doing the most ridiculous exercises for the hell of it.

Competing for fun. Who can plank the longest? Who can do the most push ups?

They go bouldering and climbing together.

The type of friends to call each other up in the morning and casually decide to run a marathon.

Caleb insists on cooking for Valko whenever he's over.

Caleb joins movie nights Valko's movie nights with Xavier and suggests they all watch Twilight together.

They play pick up basketball together and also 2 v 2 random strangers.

They also really like playing ultimate frisbee. Both when Valko's shifted and also not.

Speaking of wolf!Valko, Caleb loooooves Valko as a wolf probably the most out of the Lis. He gets cuteness agression. He loves rough housing. Caleb's just a dog person in general but he's never had one as a kid and these days with his schedule it would be impossible. So he's thrilled his friend humours him this way.

Valko loves it too obviously. He's an affectionate guy and Caleb gives him infinite pets.

Sleeping next to wolf!Valko also gives Caleb the best sleep he's had in so long. He wakes so well rested. It feels a little embarrassing for him to ask but he doesn't need to, Valko gets it. So whenever he's staying over for the night he shifts and lets his friend curl around him.