FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This is a collaboration of sorts with https://twitter.com/Atimist (follow me, too! https://twitter.com/TayuBW )

It's going to involve a lot of audience participation! Every(ish) week I'll be writing the next part, and then you will go to his twitter to vote on what you want to happen next! You can vote below in the comments, as well, but I encourage you all to vote on his twitter.

There will be LOTS of different ways for this to go, and we're both interested to see the places you send him, and things you... do to him!

Comments and tips are always appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/tayubw

Join my writing group if you want to chat about stories, brainstorm ideas, or just hang out! https://t.me/joinchat/CPoeZhclggenrOEh0yYwvg

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Bold, red, stenciled letters on a painted white background listed the building as "The Old West". The sign over the covered porch was weathered from the dust and sand that occasionally whipped through the town, but the worn paint only added to the aesthetic. A few antique rocking chairs sat beneath the awning, swinging gently in the noonday breeze. The only thing that looked like it wasn't from an era countless years ago was the otherworldly vehicles parked where horses might have been hitched back in the day.

The Old West was a favorite haunt of Atimist, and as he swung open the saloon-style doors, hearing the familiar creak of hinges in need of oil, he was assaulted by a multitude of scents that only this old bar could provide. Whiskey, bourbon, a wood-burning grill, cooked meats, mesquite, dirt, and honest-to-god tobacco. After being in the recycled air of space, the saloon smelled like stepping into another century. Like stepping into home.

Atimist might not have been from this town, or even from this region of space, but after running away from fosterage and stowing away on a transport vessel, he found himself on this backwater, dusty planet: Tox. It was in the middle of Non-Aligned space and a known spot for questionable mechanics, smugglers, and bounty hunters alike. The Old West was a great spot to get information if you knew who to ask, and Atimist was well acquainted with all the best sources.

Cassidy was the owner of The Old West after her father passed years before, and ran the saloon with hardly any help. She could grill a pair of steaks, pour drinks, talk shop with her customers, and still have enough attention leftover to gun down anyone in her bar that broke her strict rule of, "Don't fight in my bar." The tigress dressed to fit her establishment, and Atimist knew of at least two guns that were concealed beneath her bodice.

The only thing that stood out in the atmosphere were the patrons that frequented, and Atimist kept track of them while heading straight for the bar; a few locals eating and talking in the corner, a couple more at the bar reading or watching news on their holoscreens. At the far end of the oak bar, though, was a wolf that just didn't fit in. The locals all had the same look about the them, but this wolf wore clothes a bit too nice, sat with his shoulders a bit too tense, and took in too many details of Atimist as he walked in. The fennec took in the details quickly, then turned his attention back to Cassidy as he took a seat at the bar.

"I'm always surprised to see you back in here when you've been gone for so long," Cassidy said, raking the coals beneath the grill before dropping two slabs of meat above.

"You've always had such faith in my abilities. I'm not bad at what I do," Atimist defended, though a smile split his muzzle.

Cassidy laughed and threw some fresh-chopped vegetables on the grill with the steaks. "You're shorter than most men, weaker than most women, and sometimes less bright than puddle of mud. Your biggest ability is luck."

Atimist leaned back on his stool and crossed his arms, pouting. "I'm not that short."

"The ears are cute, darling, but they don't count," the tigress teased.

"Hey, these ears keep me safe! I can hear someone sneaking up on me a mile away," he insisted, straightening up and cupping the back of both ears with his paws.

Cassidy finally turned her attention to the fennec and gave him a soft smile. "Hon, I could pierce those ears from a mile away."

"I would never give you a reason to do that," Atimist said, beaming brightly at her.

"You've certainly tried my patience in the past. I certainly don't trust you as far as I can throw you." Cassidy turned her attention back to the food on the grill, reaching for a couple of glasses and a bottle.

Atimist leaned forward on the bar and leaned on one paw. "Aww, well thank you. I've seen you throw guys out of the bar like those old movies you like."

Cassidy rolled her eyes in exasperation and turned back to the fennec with two plates of food, putting one in front of him while keeping one for herself. "Enough banter, Ati. Let me enjoy my lunch and then we can discuss whatever business it is you're here on."

Cassidy was one the few people that Atimist could sit in relative silence with while eating. No awkward glances or fumbling for conversation, just a shared, delicious meal between two people who had known each other long enough that there were no barriers.

When the tigress had finished off her steak, and only had a few drops of whiskey left in her glass, she stood back with a contented sigh and looked up at the fennec. "Alright, Ati. What is it you're looking for?"

Atimist slumped in his stool and yawned. "Oh, man, Cass. Maybe I just came back for your amazing cooking. Can't find wood-grilled food anywh-"

"Spit it out, Ati. The bar gets busy in about an hour, and I've still got to clean the grill before the crowd shows up."

The fennec nodded. "Alright. I'm just looking for more work. You're usually up to date on new bounties that haven't been made public yet, and I'm just hoping you might have something juicy for me."

Cassidy scoffed and pushed her thick, black curls back from her face. "Still trying to do the whole bounty hunter thing, hm?"

"Hey, it pays the bills. Besides, I've made a name for myself! I can't just stop," Atimist insisted.

"I've got more kills in my bar in the past three years than you've got in your career."

Atimist rolled his eyes and leaned forward onto the countertop. "Give me some credit, I took down Boris when I was fifteen. Got my first ship out of the mess, too."

"Like I said, your best trait is luck. But I'm not your mom, so, if you want info, I can get it for you. Three new ones came in just this morning, actually, so you can get a head start. Same as before, my split is thirty percent." Cassidy pulled out her own holoscreen from beneath the counter and began flicking through screens for what she was looking for.

"Done! Whatcha got for me?" Atimist's big, cream-colored tail wagged back and forth excitedly, eager for another mission to head off on.

"Takizo Aman. Drug smuggler and thief. Stole some money and supplies from his previous boss and decided to go solo. Vargasi's are paying a nice chunk of change for him to be returned to their custody."

Cassidy swiped to the next screen. "Ka... muren? Kamuren Urizo. Official job. Wanted by the Atzirian Federation for murdering a couple guards and bombing a research base. Doesn't pay as well as the others, but hey, getting in good with the government, you know?"

Atimist watched her screen, upside down, as he listened to her explanations. "For all the good it does. What's the last one?"

"Quinten Cassidy; my favorite, naturally," the tiger beamed. "Let's see, says he's wanted for... tech running? Huh. It pays alright, but I don't really see a lot of people paying money to nab a tech runner. Wanted by the Orion Inc."

Atimist frowned in thought and pulled out his own holoscreen, taking some quick notes of the information. "Alright. Well, thanks for the information, Cass."

"Words are cheap, thank me with payment. And come back alive. You might be a pain in the ass at times, but a small part of me would miss you if you ate it," she said, storing her screen and taking both plates to the sink behind the counter.

The fennec stood up and stretched his arms above his head, white underbelly showing just beneath his shirt. "Aww, Cass. I'm touched you care."

"A smaller part. Now clear out. I've got other customers on the way shortly, and their money is actually guaranteed in my pockets." She smoothed her paws down over her bodice and nodded at the fox before walking down the bar to check on a couple of the other patrons.

Atimist gave her a quick salute and stuffed his holoscreen into an inner pocket on his jacket while heading for the door. He'd get a quick bath, with actual water for once, and mull over the new bounty info Cassidy had provided him.

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Who should Atimist look more closely into?

1: Takizo Aman - Drug smuggler and thief.

2: Kamuren Urizo - Murderer

3; Quinten Cassidy - Tech running

Go vote here!! https://twitter.com/Atimist/status/1133870856524972032