FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Underneath the potion maker's store, the potion maker herself was toiling away at beakers and vials near a cauldron in a lab of her own design. The lab itself was lit by wisp flowers planted along the stone walls and at the far corner of a lab, a teleportation circle sat. The black furred potion making feline stood near the cauldron adding a few herbs to the mix and humming to herself. She felt a bit dizzy from her ragtag teleportation circle, but at the very least it helped her hide the fact she had a lab full of things that most would get in trouble for. Usually, she would be down here working on something involving poison or perhaps something a bit too illegal for the tastes of those that govern, but today she simply worked on something different. She wasn't even sure it was going to work let alone interest anyone, but magical cosmetics were something she had always wanted to tinker with. Now, all she had to do was let the mixture sit and eventually she should have herself a dye for fur, at least, that was what she thought she was making. As she turned from the cauldron, her ears perked as the muffled sound of glass shattering rung out through the ceiling. Above her was her store, but she had closed shop so no one should be in there and nothing should be there to break any glass, whether or not she had an intruder, it seemed she had some cleaning to do.

In the potion maker's shop, a nervous looking fellow wandered about looking around the shelves while heading towards the front counter. He was a rabbit with black fur and one notched ear, a bit of cream on his chin going down his neck. He wore a tattered cloak and tunic underneath with a belt holding a knife. Through the shop, he made his way and once behind the counter he kneeled there with twitching nose to see if he could find some coin. He searched and searched some more, but couldn't seem to find where the potion maker kept her coin. Suddenly, the thief heard a crack coming from the back, both of his ears standing on end as he got up from where he had been kneeling.

Layne stepped out into her shop just in time to see her esteemed guest with perked ears holding a knife and backed up against her front counter as if she were ready to blast him. She looked him up and down for a moment with a quirked brow and saw that his cloak was a tattered mess and he looked fairly dusty.

"H-hey. I don't want any trouble, just tell me where the coin is and I'll be on my way. No trouble right? Just need some for a meal and a place to stay."

Layne tilted her head and answered the vagabond with a smile, "So, you're mugging me? Y'know, you're pretty far away from me...How many steps would it take you to get over here and poke me with that bunny boy?"

The thief huffed, "And what? You're unarmed!"

Layne brought a paw up to show a shard of ice forming just above her palm, "Unarmed hm? I make potions darling, of course, I know a bit of magic too...But you, you said you're hungry right?"

"What of it? If you're going to blast me, then go ahead or I'll make my move."

Layne spoke just as he began to step forward, "So what if I feed you instead of giving you coin, and give you a place to stay for the night and just a bit to see you on your feet?"

The rabbit paused in place, his ears drooping for a bit and his expression weakening before he shook his head and returned to his intense gaze, "You're bluffing! I'm a thief here, you're just going to pop me with a spell as soon as I let my guard down."

Layne smiled, "A simple reason is, I've been hungry before too."

The potion making feline stared down the thief with an unwavering gaze and smile. Whether he believed it or not, Layne had a soft spot for strays because she herself knew what it meant to be hungry and alone. She hadn't been proud of everything she had done to get to where she was and it really did tug at her heart strings to see someone suffering as she had once before, though, she had never tried to stab someone.

After a moment of silence, the thief dropped his hand holding the knife and hooked it onto his belt, his eyes looking misty as he stared down at the floor with his ears drooping. In response, Layne lowered her paw and let the spell fade as she spoke, "Tell me...How does honey and bread sound to start you off? I can even warm you a bath if you'd like."

"Why?" The rabbit said in a low whisper.

Layne again repeated, "Because, I've been hungry before too darling...Trust me, I wasn't always happy in this little home of mine, now come on...I'll even see about getting you something new to wear."

The rabbit nodded and stepped to Layne as she reached out to take his hand gently in her paw. With that done, Layne introduced herself, "My name is Layne Luness friend...What is your name?"

The thief answered with his eyes still averted from the potion maker's, "My name is Jun..."

Layne giggled and gave his hand a squeeze, "Well, Jun. Let's be good friends and...Please, keep that knife in your belt. I'd rather not have to punish you, sweetie."

Jun mumbled, "I'm so sorry."

Layne blinked and saw the poor thing hang his head low. She knew that feeling, she knew the shame in doing something wrong for the sake of security and comfort. With a small smile, she purred and grabbed Jun's cheeks softly, "Enough of that...You're a guest here now, not a thief. Let's go around back."

Once he nodded his agreement, Layne took Jun to the back of her store to feed the poor thing and run a hot bath for him. Hopefully, she'd make a good friend out of this.

She had decided a warm bath would do the rabbit some good first. She left him to it while preparing a meal and something to drink, well, it wasn't really a meal. While on an empty stomach it was best not to overstuff, so a simple snack of honey and bread would do for now before she made something a bit heavier later. Perhaps she would make him a vegetable stew of some sort. It would fill his stomach and keep him warm.

Layne couldn't help but feel for the rabbit. She had seen his eyes, the desperation in them, that desperation she had shared once in her own life. She knew what it meant to need to steal for a living, to take what wasn't owned simply because it meant surviving another day. She also knew too well what it meant to sacrifice body in order to have a roof over her head. With a sigh, she set a small basket of bread on the table and a jar of honey. That should keep him nice and satisfied once he was out of the bath. Speaking of which, she hoped that he liked the cloak he had lent him. She hadn't worn it many times and she was more than glad to give it away to someone in need. Besides, she liked seeing other's wearing her clothes.

The rabbit soon came out from the bathroom and into the dining room with nervous twitching ears. He wore the black cloak she had given him that matched his fur and went well with his eyes. At his belt, he still had his knife, but at the very least he looked clean and much cuter for it! His fur was no longer matted and instead looked fairly pleasant to the touch. Of course, she'd save the touching for later if he felt like it. For now, she propped back a seat for him and smiled to show that she was still being cordial.

He rubbed at his arm and stepped to take the seat he had offered, but didn't reach for the bread or honey. Layne urged him on and pushed the bread and honey towards him, "Go on, go on."

Jun tentatively took the bread and broke off a piece before dipping it in the honey and bringing it to his mouth to munch. He ate slowly at first, wanting to be polite most likely, but soon his hunger took him and he was eating fine. Layne, with a small smile, soon brought out something sweet for the rabbit to drink, setting it in a small mug next to him before simply sitting across from him.

Once he had eaten his fill he planted both hands on the table and lowered his head to her in a bow, "Thank you, ma'am. Thank you so much. I...I didn't think that I would run into someone so kind. Let alone while I was trying to steal from this place."

Layne giggled, "It isn't a problem, it isn't a problem. Now come, we'll clear the air between us and start anew. I'm a miss by the way, not old enough to be ma'am yet, but just call me Layne."

Jun smiled nervously and sighed, "I'm sorry miss...rather, I'm sorry Layne. I just...I've been traveling for quite some time."

Layne brought her paws together. That much she could tell from his old tattered cloak but from where? That was a question she would certainly ask, "And where did you travel from darling? If you don't mind me asking."

Jun perked at this for a moment, before his eyes and body drooped, "Ah...Well, you see. I escaped from a place I'd rather not talk too much of."

Layne blinked, "I see...Well, you can rest easy here with me and know that I won't pry too much Jun. If you'd like, you could even stay here until you got off your feet. I could always use an assistant."

Jun tilted his head, "Really? You'd really let me stay here after I threatened you?"

"Of course! I said we were starting a new right? Either way, it would also benefit me having such a cute assistant running the storefront! You see, I'm going to be moving soon and I have to take care of business often in the back of the shop with plenty of paperwork being sent to here and from where I'm moving."

Jun smiled, "I see...Well, thank you, for the compliment and for your kindness...I...I can't pretend to have the ability to pay you, but I promise you I'll protect this store."

Layne giggled, "Oh, will you be my brave knight in shining armor?"

Jun puffed his chest, "I would be glad to! If only had armor."

Layne felt her cheeks fluster as she watched the rabbit puff himself up and pronounce himself the protector of her store and herself, she couldn't help but giggle in glee, "Well, if you're actually good with a sword I have two friends that can help you out with getting one."

Jun smiled happily, "Oh! That would be wonderful. It has been so long since I've had solid steel in my hands...This dagger just won't do."

Layne tilted her head, "Oh? So you are a knight?"

Jun cleared his throat as he realized he had let on too much, "Well...At another time, somewhat. But uh, if you would please. N-not now."

Layne again nodded and moved to stand from where she had been sitting, "All right, well, I was working on an experiment down in the lab, but I think preparing a proper meal would be better, so, want to help me cut some veggies up for a stew?"

Jun bristled and smiled happily, "I would love to!"

With Jun's help, Layne gathered enough vegetables for the two of them and set about to cooking. During their time in the kitchen, she occasionally brushed against her guest with tail and hip for a bit of flirting to see how he responded. She hadn't expected him to be so jumpy. Once or twice he had nearly cut a digit and he seemed fairly flustered by her touch in any way. In fact, even touching his shoulders to grab his attention seemed to make him hop a bit. It was more than just a little cute. At some point, she stopped torturing the poor thing in favor of setting the table.

When they had finished their meal, Layne took their bowls to the kitchen. A plant rested over a sink where she placed the bowls. She urged the water from the plant with a whisper of magic and scrubbed the bowls clean before tapping the water closed with a digit and drying her paws off. When she turned back her guest was sitting there at the table looking at her.

"Something you find interesting Jun?"

Jun simply cleared his throat, "Oh, I'm just...I'm just wondering where would you have me sleep. Sorry, I didn't mean to stare."

Layne gave his head a pat while she stepped around him, "Well, there is a guest room. But you know, sometimes it gets chilly at night. Covers just don't do." She then leaned to one of his ears, "But perhaps a warm body might."

His ears raised high and she could see his nose making nervous little twitches here and there as he responded, "Oh! I...I don't know if I should impose. But...If you want me to I guess I can."

Layne giggled and gave his cheek a small kiss, "Only if you're comfortable Jun. This is an invite. You get that right?"

"Of course! I mean. I am comfortable, but...Just seems strange. We've only just met and I really don't want to..."

Layne stopped him right there with her paw on his cheek, "C'mon...You must be tired. You're so jumpy and it isn't just from being nervous around a pretty lady is it?"

Jun's ears fell as he leaned to her touch and closed his eyes to give his response. Gingerly, Layne took his hand in her paw and brought him out of the seat. She took him to her room and placed him in bed with her. She slipped out of her dress but made no move to disturb him as she slipped into bed with him. Carefully, softly, she wrapped her arms and tail around him, purring as she shut her eyes. She hadn't even needed to urge him that much and he was already gone like a light. Something had happened to the poor rabbit that he wasn't letting on, but Layne wouldn't press him, instead, she would care for the poor stray until he felt like talking, or until he felt safe enough to leave on his own. For now, she would rest with him.