Champ

“She does, she likes them but I don’t think she’d want to touch one yet - if you two end up adopting a skunk, you’d be the only doing all the petting and shit. I had one hedgehog when I was a kid, he was one-eye blind and I named him Ferocious Turbo Engine. Some pricks ran over him,” she sighed, shrugged. “Don’t think so, you can, but illegally. And I wouldn’t wanna do that. Baby otters belong with their otter mamas and papas out there.”

“Well, maybe one day then, she and I can bond over pretty skunks. Until then I’ll just have to settle for looking at pictures of them online. Um, Ferocious Turbo Engine sounds like a badass. Aw, that’s too bad. Maybe one day there will be a Ferocious Turbo Engine 2.” Winry shrugged, smiling “Aw, darn. That’s a good point. But having a whole little family of otter would be so cute.”

Natalie just smiled happily as they walked back to the car, sliding into the seat and putting her dance bag in the backseat to get it out of the way. “Yeah dance was nice. Tiring but it always is, so it’s mostly just satisfying to be finished for the day. And my day off is tomorrow so I’ll probably relax a little.”

“Yeah, no, I get that. It just seems unnecessary. Why not have have a pet you don’t need to alter in order to keep it indoors? Again, don’t know much about skunks. They’re pretty cute, though.” Noor shrugged.  “I don’t know, I’m in no position to own a pet just now. Ah, no, I’m a nurse. Need a fair bit of people skills for that.” 

“...Dang, you’re so right. Hm...I guess I won’t get a sunk for a pet. Maybe I’ll stick to a kitty or a puppy.” She pouted slightly, sad that she wasn’t going to have a skunk but happy that a skunk wouldn’t lose its natural defense. “Aw, that’s too bad. Oh, that sounds awesome!”

“Riiiiiight. That sounds like an incredibly bad idea. What makes you think they can’t spray you? Because I assure you, they can..”

“Skunks in the wild can spray you. But you have to go through certain people to get pet skunks and they take it so that they can’t spray.”

“Wait, what? Really, I mean that sounds awesome but I’m not sure if my neighbors appreciate that.“

“Well, when they’re pets they can’t spray you because people take out the gland that lets them, so I don’t think they’d really mind. Unless they’re just mean.”

“No because that sounds like a ridiculous idea. We live in one of the noisiest cities in the world; that thing gets scared and it sprays your entire apartment.”

“Nope, because domesticated skunks can’t spray you because they have the little gland taken out. So they’ll just be cute little babbies!”

“Oh well. Not every animal I hope. I know a few remain in the wild and would rather be left that way so they can adapt to their habitat. Some people have domesticated the wrong bunch of animals and they became nearly extinct. They are. I had one come to my house when I was a kid. I was too scared to touch it but it was cool still.”

“Well, no, not every animal. But that’d be cool, wouldn’t it? Like, a pet rhino? Oh, yeah, I guess so...” She pouted softly. “Aw, you got to touch it? That’s so rad! I want to pet a fox! What was the fox like? Was it cute?”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense. Isn’t that a bit cruel, though, altering an animal in that sort of way? I don’t know, perhaps it’s painless. No, I don’t think that sort of thing would suit me very well. Figuring out people and their behavior is quite enough for me.” 

“I mean, I was kind of thinking that too, since it’s a skunks only defense, but if you’re domesticating a skunk there isn’t a real reason for it. I sure hope its painless. No? What kind of animal does? Oh, are you a psychologist?”

“I didn’t know you could do that. My sister used to be fascinated with skunks until one day she saw me getting sprayed by one while I was trying to - inspect it. They are cute, though - you know what’s even cuter? Hedgehogs and baby otters.”

“Me either until today! Oh no! If she still likes them then maybe she and I could adopt a skunk together. That’d be a fun way to get to know someone. Oh, yes! Hedgehogs are so cute! My friend back home has one named Ethan and he never lets her play with him. And baby otters are adorable. Can you have baby otters as pets?”

“To each their own, I guess. Do you know how they stop them from spraying? I mean, it sounds a bit strange since it’s something they obviously do in the wild. I don’t know, I’m not a skunk expert. Hopefully you’ll figure it out.”

“When you have a skunk for a pet you have to go through certain places and when the skunks are itty bitty they take out the gland that lets them spray you. It’d be awesome if you were. Maybe I should become a skunk expert.”

“So, domestication pretty much? It’s like having a new breed of dog. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone own a skunk as a pet before but the idea doesn’t sound that bad. I’d rather have a fox though.”

“Exactly. Every pet goes through domestication. Neither have I, they’re pretty rare apparently, but having one would be so fun. Just curling up with a cute little baby skunk and not having to worry. Oh, yes! Foxes are so cute! Their little yips are so adorable.”

Summer grinned “I always think that art is what a person makes of it, it’s fun an’ very unique to tha individual” she smiled back at her, glad the other could at least try and see from her point of view. “Ooh, monogamist! I mean, I ain’t gonna hold nothin’ against ya, it’s sweet that ya found your lobster for tha time bein’..” she reassured. 

“I like that take on t. Hearing different takes on this stuff is always interesting. I’m not into art myself, but people who don’t carry an opinion on it kind of make me sad.” She shrugged sheepishly. Winry had a positive opinion of almost everything, so it was always strange when people were neutral on things. “It’s definitely harder than it’s ever been to be a monogamist, but yup. I’m glad I found a lobster, she’s the coolest.”

“I didn’t know that, no, Would you like to have a skunk as pet? How would you go about taking care of one?”

“I would love to have a skunk as a pet! They’re so cute and I think that when they can’t spray you it’s even better. I’m not really sure, but you can bet I’m gonna look into that.”

“Always good ta hear” Summer flirted, she couldn’t help it. Some may have seen her as a ‘slut’ but if anything she just liked the company of others intimately. “Well, art can be anythin’ if it’s got a point an’ I like seein ’tha bodies of others, because thats when people let ya see their soul” she explained. “Oh come now, you wouldn’t even try it?” she teased.

Summer’s flirting wasn’t disguised and that really flattered Winry, almost making her blush. She liked women that did what they wanted, be it flirting or sleeping around. It was Summer’s life and her body, she wasn’t going to judge her, Winry was basically the same anyway. “I like to think so too, art is subjective, right? Isn’t that what they say? I think bodies are art on their own, that’s probably why there are so many naked statues. Oh wow, that’s a lovely way of thinking about it.” She smiled brightly. “I mean, I would try it, but right now. I’ve got a pretty lady I’ve been taking out, and I’m kind of a one-lady-gal. Nothing against you, baby.”

“Precisely, ain’t ever gonna pass up an opportunity like that” Summer mused “Oh yeah, was somethin’ about desires of physical art, love…Ya know, that whole concept” She explained, talking with her hands as she spoke. “Oh you should, you could even be part of it some time” she offered.

“You’re my kinda lady.” She joked though Winry had always enjoyed the company of women like her. “I don’t usually hear about women doing those types of exhibitions, usually it’s all men so they can see ladies naked. But then again, I don’t know much about art.” She chuckled. Winry had always been more into the physical ways of expressing herself, like punching. “That’s a sweet offer, but art isn’t really my scene.”

“It’s tha best! Plus ya get the real sexy time of showerin’ together after” Summer mused with a wink “I made an exhibition out of it once, was a real good turn out..” she said proudly “Plus was real fun makin’ it”

“I will admit that showering with others is amazing, always gets super sexy.” She giggled, shrugging slightly. “Wait, a whole exhibition? Sounds like it must have been way fun. But I bet it got exhausting. I’d love to see your art sometime.”