"Game night started out the same as any other night" is what Jax wished he could say as Dre opened the door and greeted the Ethiopian prince, Ras Tafari Menelik Selassie Markonnen II, and his close friend and general of the Tafari army, Dezamatch Emoc, with his usual carefree grin.
"Selam dudes. How's it going?"
The normally resolute wolf's stern expression jumped quickly to one of warmth with a smile as he in turn greeted the tiger.
"Selam, Dre. I'm excited to meet this friend of yours you say can best me."
The colossal mouflon, Emoc bowed with one fist cupped in the palm of his other from behind his prince.
"Selam, Dre. I hear you have quite the warrior to show off tonight."
Jax gazed up at the newcomers attempting to process the meeting. Dre had joked earlier to him that one of their guests was "basically" royalty from another country. Judging by their guttural accents the two of them definitely weren't from Soaktown, or anywhere he'd ever been. Which one is the prince, he thought to himself fully taking in their stature. The wolf with the awesome hair stood almost as tall as Dre, and displayed a warrior’s physique from the television shows he'd enjoyed as a cub. Did Dre tell this guy he'd fight him?! The 8-foot-tall mouflon was pretty intimidating even with the witty smirk on his lips. Was he a bodyguard? Maybe the other one really was a prince. How did Dre know these guys, and what in the world did he tell them?
The big tiger, smiled knowingly as he moved aside so that the Tafari warriors had an easier time seeing his vertically challenged friend. Knowing Jax would be too stunned to say much for himself, Dre started the introductions swiftly. He gestures with one hand to the shocked red panda.
"This is Jax, the dude I was telling you about." Then gestures with his other hand at the pair while he introduces them.
"And these dudes are Prince Menelik and General Emoc. They're from Ethiopia!"
Both Tafari stare down at the much smaller red panda for a brief period of time in surprise before Emoc ambled forward and crouched down, one hand cupping his chin. He looks Jax over quizzically before responding.
"Is Jax this child here?"
Menelik scowls good-naturedly at Dre in mock disbelief.
"Ah, so you think so little of my skill that I'd lose to children? You wound me friend."
At their responses, Dre stifles laughter behind a hastily raised paw. His eyes were glued on Jax as Emoc ruffled the fur on his head, amused. From that day forward, Dre would always brag to friends that he'd never seen a red panda as red as Jax was at the moment.
The condescending attitude of the two foreign strangers had Jax's fur bristling with indignity. He wanted to shove the hand off his head, but just the weight of Emoc's large hand threatened to knock him off-balance. So, he waited until the warrior was done emasculating him, and glared fiercely at the two of them. He barely kept his temper in check.
"Actually, I'm the same age as Dre." He spoke through gritted teeth.
Emoc flinched back, his eyes widening as if he was only just now seeing the smaller male clearly. He straightened up, and cleared his throat with a cough before apologizing to Jax.
"I hope you see it was an honest mistake. Don't be short with us, now. Hahahaha!!!"
He belts out the laugh. His good cheer buffets Jax like a gust of wind almost as hard as the ill-advised joke.
Dre reaches down and slapped Jax on the back to break him out of whatever mood was beginning to crease the red panda's brow, and to get his attention.
"…and dude, Menelik here is only 19 years old. Can you believe that?"
Now it was Jax's turn to stare in shock. The Ethiopian wolf looked like he could easily be in his 30's. The indignant frown he wore under Jax’s scrutiny suddenly had more meaning.
“So, you’re basically just a big kid.”
Jax doesn’t laugh, but his grin was enough to touch a nerve in the prince. He testily bites back with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“In my country, such a remark would have consequences.”
Menelik had meant for the treat to remain an idle one to remind him of his place, but something in the red panda’s manner suggested that maybe the little creature had more guts than he thought. Was Jax standing a bit taller? Their eyes stayed locked for another second before Menelik remembered courtesy was still due. He doesn’t break eye contact, but he shows respect to the friend of his new friend.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Jax. As Dre has told you I am Ras Tafari Menelik Selassie Markonnen II, prince of Ethiopia. and this is Emoc, the Dezamatch of our army.
The shift in character catches Jax off-guard. He’d forgotten his manners somewhere between being called a child and getting his head fur manhandled. He immediately breaks eye contact in a rush to not appear any ruder.
“It’s nice to meet you both, but how in the world do you know Dre?”
Menelik gestures to Dre with one hand, and answers as if it was obvious. More surprised that Dre hadn’t told him all of this already than anything else.
“When I come to Soaktown on business I happen to enjoy patronizing Cooper Fitness. I met Dre only yesterday. He says you enjoy many of the same video games that I do.”
Jax gapes at the young wolf. He looks and carries himself like a king, but he plays video games too? He couldn’t make heads or tails of this guy. A certain proverb about books and their covers came to mind as well, and he left it at that.
A single glance at Dre’s almost permanent grin made everything fit into place. Dre had told them he was pretty good at some game, and now dread head wanted to see how good. While making a mental note to kick Dre later, Jax followed the group as they made their way to the den- it was more like a man cave. Especially with the snacks and drinks arranged on the small table to the side of the couch. Jax keeps the conversation going as he deliberates what they were going to do about seating. That little sofa wouldn’t survive all of them, much less Emoc’s weight.
“I probably do. I play all kinds of games… Especially... fighter- What the hell are you doing?!”
Jax had barely started speaking once the other three males started stripping down to their shorts. Emoc, feeling liberated, plopped down on the couch and reclined a bit while he replied. Much to the couch’s distress.
“Dre told us that this is how men bond where you come from. He also said you would be reluctant to force your practice on us, but we would never want to disrespect the culture of your people.”
He said this, though, with a smirk. It was almost as if he knew Dre made up the lie just to get them shirtless.
Jax shot a glare at Dre. The tiger had perched himself on the arm of the sofa opposite Emoc, struggling to balance the weight difference. His grin was even wider now as he gave Jax a discrete thumbs up.
Menelik flexed his arms a bit. His proud nature palpable as he grinned down at Jax.
“As if I would shy from exposing the body of a true Tafari warrior. I don’t mind this tradition of yours.”
He says this as he glances sidelong at Emoc’s own well-developed physique.
Jax sighs as he strips down too. It wasn’t as if he didn’t enjoy the eye candy, but he wished Dre had warned him of all this ahead of time. Well, it was almost game time, and it looked like he was going to need to put up or shut up. Menelik’s expectant gaze stayed on him as he found a spot left for him on the couch between the wolf and Dre. That told him all he needed to know. His competitive spirit ignited just then, and he thought he’d make things interesting.
“So, let’s see if the Prince of the Tafari can best the King of Games.”
Menelik’s calm frown broke as the comment caught him by surprise. He barks out a laugh. He knew he’d detected a bit of insolence earlier. Fine, he’d teach the runt a hard lesson.
“Hahaha, so, you think you’re a king now? The crown would be much too big for you.”
Menelik’s sneer was all Jax needed. He was going to teach this guy a lesson. So, he answers with a sneer of his own, and a challenge.
“Okay, how about this? If I win you have to call me “my lord” whenever you address me until I say you can stop.
The room pauses for a moment as Dre, Menelik and Emoc stare at Jax in shock. Dre liked the idea, however, and attempts to egg Menelik on.
“I told you Jax was the real deal dude. It’s okay if you don’t want to do it though.”
Menelik didn’t need any encouragement, however. This was the perfect opportunity to teach the red panda some respect, and he’d already spied his favorite fighting game sitting on top of the game console near the television.
“Alright, Jax, I accept your wager, but I am already a lord. So, if I win you call me “master” instead. Also, the loser is the winner’s slave for the night.”
Menelik’s manner had shifted to something predatory as he laid out his terms. Emoc flashed Jax an apologetic smile. Now, if Menelik won, he’d leave the poor guy begging for mercy by the end of the night. He was going to voice his misgivings with the wager, but the defiant spirit in the red panda’s eyes gave him pause. He definitely wanted this. So, the mouflon just shrugs his massive shoulders and silently wishes him luck.
Dre turns on the console and hands out the controllers. He loved how this was turning out. The bet was a surprise, but that’s what he loved about Jax. The guy always rose to the occasion. He’d probably get some games in after the two of them fought it out, or not. Either way this was definitely going to be the best game night ever.


Another commission from  Nexus . I am especially happy, because I think this is the longest story I've ever typed for a commission before, and can you blame me? this picture is just full of context. I couldn't help trying to bring out more of it myself. I hope you all enjoyed reading my little add-on story as much as you enjoyed the picture itself. I tried to be worthy of it. Looks like Menelik's about to have a long night.

Menelik and Emoc are both owned by Nexus. So, head his way if you want to see more of these two in action.