Considering Animalia's notoriety for lower modesty when it came to nudity and sex, it's not much of a surprise that one part of the Joyous Bounty would be converted into a strip club. There wasn't really much room for one on any of the islands, which were considered to be more of a family resort and there was no space on the clothing-optional Anka Islet for any permanent building. Of course, the new strip club would be kept off-limits to minors.
There was a bit of a question of Lexia counted as a minor or not. She only got a single dose and sometimes it was hard to determine how animal age transition to human age. Still, Lexia was given an exception especially as she was visiting the club before it opened.
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"Hey there and welcome to Animalia Ambassadoria. I'm Lexia and I'm here to give you guys a sneak peek of the new club..." Lexia paused when she saw the sign for the club, which was shaped like a large treasure chest that appeared to be full of gold cannonballs. The writing on the sign wasn't really much better. "Chest 'n Booty? Please tell me that's not the final name for the club," said Lexia. (Vlad facedesks and Dmitiri scratches off another name.)
"Well, we can change the sign, but we'd have to do a cover charge to pay for that." The camera turned to a female rat Animalian who definitely dressed in the sexier version of a pirate wench, including a tight corset with a plunging neckline, thigh-high boots, and a tricorn hat.
"So, are you running this club?" asked Lexia.
The rat pirate shrugged and said, "I guess I'm filling in until a proper manager comes. We're still getting things set up."
"Well, I'm Lexia and your name is..." prompted Lexia.
"Ratlyne Piper, at your service," said the rat wench, doffing her hat with a flourish.
"Piper? As in the Piper clan?" asked Lexia.
"Aye, there were too many of us to keep at home, so some of us has to move to the colonies," said Ratlyne before she led Lexia inside. Even if the name didn't stick, the strip club was obviously going to have a pirate theme. For one thing, the stage and poles looked like they were part of an old sailing ship, though the poles were probably not as wooden as they looked. Splinters could get very painful in particular parts of the body. The bar definitely looked like something out of a pirate tavern, with plenty of skulls and crossbones on the really hard stuff. Speaking of which, there were also various Jolly Rogers hanging from the ceiling from real pirates, though the skeletons were replaced scantily-clad women.
"So, Ratlyne, why come work here?" asked Lexia.
"Well, me and my brothers, Nips and Rigger, had this entertainment group called the Jolly Pye-Rats. We dressed up like pirates, told pirate stories, sang shanties. It was a living."
"What happened?" asked Lexia.
"The pandemic happened," said Ratlyne bitterly, "No more tourists were coming to Mieni. And even after it ended, they didn't seem as interested in our performances. I'm not sure if we were just rusty or we weren't really that good, but we were dead in the water. At least we didn't have to pay for food and lodgings. This new club is a godsend. Though until we can get some more shipmates, we're pretty shorthanded. Though that probably won't last long."
"So where are Nips and Rigger?" asked Lexia.
"Learning how to mix drinks," said Ratlyne, "Hopefully they're not trying too many of their concoctions themselves."
"Oh, so they won't be on the stage," said Lexia.
"They might if we don't get other male performers," said Ratlyne.
"Uh, well, I'm hoping your business venture succeeds," said Lexia.
"I'm sure it will," said Ratlyne, "We just need the right wind in our sails and we'll be loaded with booty."
"Do always talk like that?" asked Lexia.
"It's become second-nature," said Ratlyne.