FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Another work week, long since put behind me. The city streets at sunset, a perfect view from the buses. It's Friday night, and there's only one thing that means to me: Ladies' Night, of course~

Really, how can any of us be expected to work at the grind every day of the week without this? Several rounds of design options, sending our best off to the clients only to get some baffling edit requests back, all to come out the other end with a fried brain and an aching wrist? Such a pipeline makes me jealous at times of the more keyboard-glued drudgery a certain Harlequin rabbit's team is stuck with... though, the efforts of the ebony canine in the seat next to me have made things go oh so much smoother for our department. And in return... my own efforts for her have borne fruit. Far more than I'd expected at first, I must say.

When I'd first gotten Jill and Kylie to give each other a fair shake, I thought that'd be the end of it. A happy pairing, tied up in a neat little bow. Kylie, however... that girl had far more baggage than I could've ever anticipated. Enough to spoil the pot of my predictions, throwing me a curveball in the form of her repressed yearning for our bubbly project manager. I do wish I could've nudged this along faster, but Kylie hiding at every turn and Bonnie being... dense, to put it lightly, meant all I could do was give general advice, call the bunny out, and let Jill handle the rest. Should I consider her a protégé of mine at this point? Maybe. Just maybe. Somehow I doubt she'll be using those skills for others now that she's got more girls in her orbit than she knows what to do with. ...oh, who am I kidding, she knows exactly what to do with them. For several hours, even, considering the pair she's staring at~

"So Jill, dear... feeling good about tonight? Work behind us, and all that?"

"O-Oh! Yes, Charlotte. Sorry, I got a bit... c-caught up in things. Were you saying anything else?"

"Not at all, not at all! Still, dear, no need to be so skittish. The team's made breakthroughs with some of our more stubborn clients because of you, I'm sure you're aware. I think you're going places around here!"

"Oh, please, like I'm the only one. It still takes the others... building on it, refining the ideas, you know? I'm j-just a part of it, hehee..." Oh, Jill... you've come a long way from being that meek artist crawling the pub on Friday nights, with no clue where to go in her life. I daresay finding the graphic design opening at our workplace was one of the best things to happen to you. Careful nudges and hints can do more than matchmake, it seems! Still, I wonder...

"That little spark is a valuable thing, Jill. We all need a place to start, and you've consistently given us an initial design to work from. I'd say that turn of phrase applies to you, too, considering your humble beginnings."

"Ah... r-right. I'd rather not... think about that much more. It's behind me now."

"Then... stop me if this is too far, dear, but what exactly... happened, before I ran into you at the pub?"

"Charlotte, I... t-that was- well, aside from the dry well of job-hunting, I'd just gotten out of a certain... l-living situation, that was... um..." ...perhaps I'll not be so lucky. I've not seen her clench up and let panic wash over her this badly since her first week on the job. It was worth a try, but I'll not press further on this.

"Alright, that's plenty, dear... don't push yourself to say something that'd tear open old wounds. You've got much better to look forward to, anyways. I hear your bunny rabbit's moving in with Bonnie and her new flame, yes~?" There we go. A warm smile, eyes clear and glimmering again, glancing over at the pair across the aisle from us. Fast to get used to the new arrangement, those two, if the bun making herself comfy with Bonnie's arm wrapped around her is any indicator.

"Oh, yes! It'll be a longer trip to visit on days I head straight home, b-but... hehee, ohhh, it does me a world of good to see her so happy! Bonnie, too... even Clover. I didn't expect to get to know them that well besides Kylie, but... all of them, they're just wonderful!"

"...hm? You're not going to join them? I would've thought that situation to be perfect for your... tastes, shall we say. Exquisite, refined tastes~"

"It would be, that's true, b-but I just... I don't feel ready for that. I trust them, it's... it's just me. I need time, Charlotte. To think, and prepare myself to try that again."

"Well then... you know where to go if you need someone to sort through this with, right? I'll always be here, dear..."

"I know, and thank you for that. I'll never forget it... but who knows when I'll be ready to talk about it, and with who. I hope you'll be here by my side until then, though..."

"Oh, of course, dear! Never a dull moment with you around, but I don't think you'll need me along for the ride tonight. I'd only get in the way of the buffet you'll be sampling later~"

"...hm? Is the pub having a special tonight, or...?" ...oh good lord, child. You, of all people, missing that one? Alright then, I can nudge this along. A gesture towards the happy couple across from us, making me look like an old game show assistant. My little contestant looks over, then looks back, still confused. And for the final blow... both eyebrows raised repeatedly, with a subtle lick of the lips. She doesn't need anywhere near as long to spin the gears as the night I nudged her towards Kylie, it seems, as she takes on the same crimson glow she sported back then.

"Ah! R-Right... that'll be... more private, to say the least. Oh my..."

"See? Don't fret over me tonight, just enjoy yourself! Can you do that for me, dear?"

"...I think I can, Charlotte. Thank you so much, for everything."

"It was never any trouble, really. And I think you ought to join your newfound gal pals, dear... our stop's in view."

At last, the bustling nightlife awaits! A swift disembarkment, being sure to let the happy trio form their own little group on the way out, and I've found myself amidst the crowd of other ladies from the office, eager to throw back a drink or two and unwind over dinner. It's not long until I've settled in with them, two smaller tables pushed together to make a group of eight. It's all light-hearted jabs and gossip from there, with cocktails and beers all around, though I vastly prefer the latter of those drinks. Simple and effective for a comfy buzz, I say.

Of course, even with my present company being far from a bore, it's hard not to let my gaze wander to the booth against the near wall. The booth where our happy trio has met up with their final member, making a quartet of amorous reverie. Bonnie and Jill on one side, Kylie and Clover on the other. The four of them just look... perfect, together. Everyone bouncing off each other, Clover getting her jabs in at the flustered bunny as she's no doubt making suggestions for what's to come later, and Jill's practically swooning over the attentions of the bubbly canine next to her. Perhaps that's not surprising considering her reaction to Bonnie's... motherly figure, let's say, back when they first met. It's hard not to wonder what the two's chemistry entails, though. Office talk? Jill's artwork, both personal and professional? I've no doubt they share some common ground on their preference in partners at this point, but I'd wager Jill's saving talk of that nature for when her actions can stand in for her words tonight. Perhaps I'll just have to prod her for the information like usual.

...indeed, it's such an idyllic situation that it's hard not to remember those feelings have been gone for a while now. How long has it been since Connor, something like five or six years? I suppose I just don't have a vested interest in the passage of time beyond what it means to the people around me, looking for a partner to call their own. A growing track record of personal failures in that regard doesn't inspire confidence. At least I can be thankful for what time we had together, up until the end we knew was coming. Perhaps that basketcase of a wolf is doing a bit better nowadays, hopefully with a therapist. As for my own lot in life, I guess nothing's changed...

...or has it?

As I find myself glancing towards their booth again, taking in the joy they all share together, a thought's pushed itself to the forefront of my mind: I don't think I've ever really... considered the ladies among my options. Burning through the guys around the office and pub like no one's business, yet there's a gusher of a well right there, untapped. Seeing as my most recent matches are one great big ball of sapphic energy, perhaps I could take a cue from that. I could try, at least. But who to try with...? There's a fair few ladies from the office who I can tell would be more than happy to experiment, but... I don't know, something feels odd about barging in on what they understand as a work relationship, warping it whether or not they say yes. ...why didn't this feel so odd with the boys? Why do I feel so... self-conscious, I guess is the term? Hm.

Ohhhh, I should hush up, leave that to be unpacked another day, whatever it means. All that matters is that I need to set my sights beyond our table, and it IS Ladies' Night, so I'll not be starved for choice. A few friendly groups, the occasional loner on the prowl or just looking to be left alone, the world's my oyster and all I need to do is make a decision! Who to try first, though... the squirrel and mouse pair would be an inviting opportunity, but with their eyes fluttering and their hands intertwining, it's clear they only have eyes for each other at the moment. The wolven biker on one end of the bar is less occupied, yet it's hard to ignore her utter disinterest in the crowd. Whether her preference just isn't compatible or she's looking for a quiet night, I can't say; either way, not my best move. So who do we have at the other end of the bar...?

Oh. Well, then. A young ferret woman, with a rather standard fur pattern and colors contrasted against her shoulder-length curly hair, in a striking azure. I can't say I'd have expected a style like that to be sporting plain, professional office attire, and she looks out of place in it. Came here straight from work, perhaps, despite the discomfort? If so, I'd hazard a guess she wouldn't miss a minute of this night for the world. I could swear I've seen those blue locks around here plenty of times before, now that I think about it. Perhaps I'll keep my eye on her, try to gauge whether that guess holds up.

A bit of idle chatter to pass the time along with my drink, and I've got what I need. Some coyote boy, probably looking to take advantage of the event, made an approach. What followed wasn't what I'd call graceful. The girl looked peeved mere seconds after he opened his mouth, and an encroaching hand of his was slapped away quite deftly with a glare. Read the mood, silly boy, or you'll get nowhere fast. He's since found a seat next to the wolf, where he's seemed to be welcome, despite the attitude. Couple that with the fact that the ferret's eyes, matching her hair's radiant blue, have been wandering the whole place and lingering on the tables with groups of girls, and I think I've got the gist of it. You're about as subtle as a brick when you panic and blush at the realization that I'm staring right back, dear, I must say~

That settles it, then. She'll be my attempt at company for the evening. I excuse myself from our table, bidding the girls a lovely night, as I carry what remains of my beer with me in my approach. Hard to believe, honestly. Me, breaking new ground after all these years? Maybe 42 isn't considered the most advanced of ages, but it feels longer with all I've experienced. And yet, here I am, about to go chat up a girl just over half my age, by my guess. One who's clearly interested, too... what a turn this night has taken! Still, I'll see it through to the end, no matter what nerves may bubble up.

After all, why keep these talents of mine reserved only for others? This matchmaker could do with a match of her own, after all this time~