FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The night goes on as the atmosphere stays healthy and lively throughout the beer garden, despite half of the Monsters taking residence before have moved on. The place is always packed while the groups who use The Hounds of Tyre as their "First stop of the night" are present, but now only the regulars remain. Not a tiny amount of patrons by any stretch, just comfortably busy at this point. Fluu, Chord and Lousid have since been joined on the table, by other staple Monsters of the night. Chloe takes this opportunity to drag Butters to a corner of the beer garden to share another cigarette. Both Monsters illuminated further as they stand directly under the glow of the heater. Sweltering, but both electing to ignore the heat to present the excuse of needing to keep close for the warmth.

-So now we`re away from the others, how are you doing, really? Asks Chloe.

Butters looks down at their feet with a huge sigh, timed perfectly with an exhale of smoke.

-Yeah, yeah. I mean, I meant what I said back there if that's what you meant. Replies Butters. Like today was just a relapse.

-Yeah? You can be honest with me, you know, about what's going on.

Butters looks up, committing to being vulnerable for Chloe at this moment. Easy to say, but how does one distill the complexities of plurality, to someone who doesn't use this framework to comprehend their complexities?

-Bare with me as I try and put this into words. Prefaces Butters. It's like over the years, this bit of me that gravitates towards whatever world Humans offer, I only had the other part of myself to steer the course of them. But now i've developed a network, in real life and like in myself like, that can stop that bit of me every time they gravitate. If they think Humans are safer, I remind them of the community Monsters have built. If they think it's desirable, I remind them if those thoughts are real, or if Humans have put them there. If they start to hate themselves, I remind them if they've ever actually asked us what we think of us. More of me is... This, right here and now, then what I was then. But that person is still there and... Yeah.

Butters lowers their head again, not being sure if the politics of their headmate committee was translating at all into normie language. They feel the finger of Chloe's paw on the bottom of their chin, raising their head up to face her.

-Hey, you're making complete sense, I get it. Assures Chloe. I'm glad you're letting your love for Monsters win out.

Chloe gazes at Butters with an intense affection, which The Squirrel cannot help but revel in the familiarity of this comfort. However, they suddenly find themselves in this scene, batting Chloe's paw away with a smile as they grab the sides of their head.

-Excuse you, who said you were allowed to take charge?

As Butters asks this they balance on their hind paws, to meet Chloe's height. They bit their bottom lip, as they close the distance between them and kisses Chloe softly on the lips. Ever since last year's Valentines, Butters and Chloe had hit it off every now and then, but nothing was ever made official, in the sense they never put a name on it nor was there a pattern to when Horny Brain would take over one of them. But even in the context of this chaotic pattern, this kiss felt like it was putting a seal on something. Butters couldn't explain it, perhaps it's cos Chloe caught them when they were feeling better about themselves. For once, the options of those who see them and their own opinion of themselves synced up. Maybe Butters deserves this, happiness, maybe? Gosh! But on the tail end of that realisation, doubt began to claw back into Butters mind and as if to ask for help stamping out it's advance; Butters asks Chloe:

-So, hey, did you mean what you were saying earlier?

-Uuhhh, like what specifically?

-Like how you thought I was gonna get better? Like I'm on the upswing or whatever.

Chloe gives a small sigh, but never breaking eye contact with Butters.

-Look your uuh, little plan didn't work fyi. Chloe begins. Like as soon as you left I just told Ell to shut up and she immediately complied.

Butters looks to the side with a little sense of guilt, but more "Shit I got caught."

-Then we got talking and I asked if she knew if you were okay, cos I knew about the 'Sapian date and that. She said she wondered if it's cos she didn't give you your daily pep talk? I asked what's that about and she told me like after that Valentine's Day you had an agreement that she'd tell you a nice thing everyday?

Butter shuffles slightly annoyed Ell told Chloe about that.

-So I mean I'm giving it a go to, cos to answer your quesh like: Yeah genuinely I ment it, like look I know this stuff is gonna be slow for you. Like I'm the only one who would know! We've known each other since we were kids and that, like I know the stuff that happened with your mum and that...

Butters puts their paw up, signalling not needing to go into that right now.

-So I know it'll be slow. Chloe continues. But I know you'll get there, even if everyone else is making digs and that. Like I believe in you.

Something about the wording of being believed in sends Butters over the edge. They swing their head back and forth to disguise the moisture building in their eyes. Jesus this feels so precise somehow, every fear and insecurity inside Butters is being targeted. All Butters can muster up between quiet sobs is:

-Fuck you

-Haha yeah?

-Yeah, your knowing hearing basic kindness is my weakness ass..

-And your turn on if I recall too?

Butters places their paw over Chloe's mouth, just for long enough so they stop talking, before going in for another kiss. This time placing their entire weight on the cat as she slams into the wall behind her. The Squirrel loses their place in this world, in this moment they are reduced to nerves and impulses and they are transfixed on the little sensations they feel. The feeling of heat rushing up and down their body. The more they push against Chloe's chest the hotter they begin to feel, actually it's more concentrated to one area. It feels like it's coming from Chloe's thigh? Maybe a pocket even? Ow that's now uncomfortably hot, ow ow ow, FUCK AARRGGHH.

Taken completely out of their trance, Butters backs off rubbing the side of their thigh. Chloe looks a little puzzled, perhaps still operating under Horny Brain, before putting two and two together.

-Oh right! Sorry, I had this in my pocket.

Chloe then, to the surprise of Butters, takes from their trouser pocket what looks to be a wisp. A circulating flame with a purple aura surrounding a fuchsia flame, hovering just above Chloe's paw, enabling them to hold it like they do.

-Geez you could've given me a heads-up about the fireball like! Butters protests. Why do you need that anyways?

-I dunno it was a gift, some big guy in the bar overheard me trying to like...Gear myself up to come out here and tell you a nice thing and he leans over to me and Ell and gave us both one of these things.

Butters starts to gaze at the wisp in Chloe's paw, as a purple glow starts to reflect back in their iris. It's somehow familiar to them.

-So what does it do? Butters asks.

-Well I thought nothing but, I mean i'm here telling you things now arn't I? Chloe explains. Gosh just being honest with your feelings, what a concept! This is the most I've spoken to anyone about anything ever. So I guess it worked?

-Man I gotta get me one of these. So wait you said both of you got one? So does that mean E-

Just then a pair of pale pink arms come around from behind Butters as they slap the Squirrel on the side of their face, slapping their cheeks in time to their chant:

-Oooohhh. Who's. The best? Who's. The best? Who's great. And Cool. And smart. And everyone looooovveeesss them (music note).

Then sliding from behind Butters to the side of both Monsters comes an Axolotl, who appears with arms held in the air as if accompanied by a fanfare. Ell (She/Her) comes with their signature unkempt hair and only wearing a vibrant green parka with a fluffy cream coloured collar.

-Buuutteerrsss, I'm so sorry we forgot our pep talk today! I sent you out there with that stinky 'Sapian without any pep in your step! Ell apologises.

-No no it's fine! No amount of pep pep would've salvaged that date Ell. Butters clarifies, grasping Ell's hands with their paws.

-No no no we made a promise! Right.

Ell pushes herself between Chloe and Butters, as she puts her hands on Butters faces, pushing up her cheeks as high as they go.

-You are the best. People LIKE you. You deserve happiness. You deserve nice things. You deserve biscuits. You deserve it looking like it's gonna rain when you pop to the shops, but it turns out it just rains while you're inside and you come out and it's sunny but everywhere has the good rain smell. Ell decrees.

Butters grabs and puts down Ells hands, but can't hold back a huge smirk climbing on their face.

-Thank you Ell, you're a great friend too.

They then grab Ells head and lowers it enough to give her a kiss on the top of her head.

-So Chloe tells me you got some magic xanny flame thing? Asks Butters. Can I have some of yours?

-Oh noooooo, sorry but I can't! Explains Ell. I did ask the big guy if I could take one back for you while I was getting drinks for us, bbuutt he said you'd get yours when you need it the most. Whatever that means! So no touchy my hotty!

-Wait, what drinks? Asks Chloe.

Ell looks at their very empty hands, before swing their head all around them glancing at every possible surface in the room.

-Oh whoops sorry! I had to remember new additional information which means whatever I was doing is bye bye! Explains Ell. Sit down without me I'll just got get our drinks now!

Ell dashes off without any chance to reply, as Chloe returns the flame to her pocket, was just kind of holding it for the world to see for an awkward amount of time there, as both Monsters return to the big table.