FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

(follow-up to 'Inside')

Allie was walking. It helped, somehow. She'd put on some clothes from the dresser in her room- the same slutty cut-off jeans she usually settled for, because the clothes weren't hers and everything else on offer was even sluttier- and wandered off. None of the other whores seemed to care- they'd figured out immediately that she had no idea what she was doing as a straw boss, and they totally ignored her. It was possible that they were already doing things she was supposed to prevent, but Allie couldn't care. She didn't even know what would be considered wrong- not anymore.

She'd been walking for hours. She stuck to the nicer areas, kept moving, hoping she wouldn't be arrested for soliciting. She wasn't, she was just trying to stay out of places where she'd be mugged or attacked. It was fairly obvious she wasn't carrying a lot of money. Her clothing would have shown even a set of keys as a bulge. Allie had nothing at all.

Allie looked up, and realized where her paws had led her. Though she hadn't intended it, she was approaching that expensive cafe- the one where she'd had breakfast with Jennis. It seemed another lifetime ago. Allie's tail drooped even more as she looked in the entrance gate, at the clean tables and cloth tablecoverings. She'd been told not to return. They knew what she was. And Jennis wouldn't be in here- Jennis had flipped out and yelled at the manager, and was even less welcome than Allie was.

Allie turned, slowly, to wander elsewhere.

"psssst!"

Jennis stood, in the shadows, twenty feet away, glancing furtively at the cafe and clearly hoping not to be spotted.

Allie's world tumbled. Her first reaction was panic- Jennis hated her and had abandoned her, and Allie had worried about the painful scene if ever she should meet Jennis again. Yet from the first glance, it didn't seem like Jennis was angry, it was like it had been before they fought- Jennis's ears, her posture, her eyes hinted she was eager, even anxious, to see Allie again.

The two-tone wolf girl hesitated, in a panic that arose from her memory of the fight, her hurt feelings, battling against her desperate need for a friend and someone to trust. She wanted to have the spunk to say, sorry, I'm not hiring- or some catty remark to show that her feelings had indeed been hurt- but she just froze, unable to react for a second. Twenty feet away, Jennis's ears perked more, and the burly shaggy wolf byotch wagged a bit, hopefully, and beckoned with a tiny, nervous gesture.

Allie glanced nervously at the nearby cafe, and took a hesitant step, seeing Jennis draw a breath, seeing Jennis reach out cautiously- and then Allie was walking faster, and then she was rushing towards Jennis, slamming into her embrace, sobbing and crying too hard to see.

"Oh, honey." said Jennis. "That bad?"

"They took Wern away..." managed Allie.

Jennis hugged Allie tighter, muttering faintly. She probably didn't mean it to be heard, but Allie was able to make out just enough- Jennis was muttering, "do not say told you so, do NOT say told you so..."

"It's not like that." said Allie. "It's kinda worse..."

"Tell me. Then I've got things to talk to you about- but tell me."

Allie gulped. "Wern beat a guy to death. Right in front of me. His blood splashed on me, a bit of it anyway."

Jennis regarded Allie critically. "You haven't showered or anything, either- I still see spots of it on your fur, especially against the white."

"Oh, no!"

"No, stay, don't freak out..." said Jennis, holding Allie tight. "There's time for that later. Why did he do it? I didn't think he was that sort. I thought he... you know what I think, I won't repeat it."

"He did it... it was because of me. The guy fucked me super rough, he thought it was the greatest thing ever. He was boasting, telling Wern he could get me noisy the same way..."

"Hmmmm...."

"And he said he would come back and do me again, rougher, and see if I bleed- and bam, Wern punched him."

Jennis blinked. "Hell of a punch. He killed a guy with punching? He did look pretty buff."

"No, no! There was this chair- it all happened so fast- Wern was hitting the guy with a piece of chair, a little longer than his forearm. He hit him twice, so hard that it smashed his head in and he died..."

"Ouch." said Jennis. "I mean, for you. Obviously for the guy it was ouch. Sounds like a real charmer. You know how to deal with those guys?"

"How?" said Allie, tearing up again. She'd thought Jennis was lost to her.

"For starters, you've got to be on it real quick- you object, maybe tactfully or making a joke of it, but firmly. Some of 'em, you can soft-soap about it, you're basically telling them they're too big and too strong, they want to hear that. The rest- demand double or triple pay on the grounds that you're having to do special services. You're not supposed to bleed- union rules. It's one of the few things that can be checked..."

"What if they keep doing it?"

"Enforcers. If they're any good you'll find some hovering around if they hear a note in your voice that sounds too authentic. You should be able to ham it up if you want to make the guy feel a little overwhelming, but the enforcers should be able to tell if you're faking."

"But I don't fake anything."

"When you hear what I've got to say, maybe you'll start."

Allie blinked. "Um. I'm not even sure what I'm doing anymore. That place is ruined now, I should leave..."

"No!" interrupted Jennis. "Maybe there's something you can do there. For the side of good."

"What? What good? I don't understand you, Jennis. I thought you hated Mistress Elistary."

"I never said I considered her the side of good..."

"I'm really not following you." said Allie. "I'm sorry."

"What're you doing for the next couple hours?" said Jennis.

"Um. Wandering around wishing I was dead. No, you've distracted me, how about- wandering around being totally confused?"

"Oh, honey." said Jennis, hugging Allie again. "I shouldn't have left you, I'll never forgive myself for that..."

"I just wish I knew what you knew. How did you know Wern was going to go all wrong? It was like you knew ahead of time something was going to happen. I didn't want to listen, but I'm listening now..."

"Good, because we need to talk. I have some people I want you to meet."

"Better jobs for me?" said Allie. "Don't forget, I'm really worried about trying to say no to Elistary."

"People at my new job- and funny you should mention Elistary. Follow me..."

Allie slunk nervously in Jennis's wake as they worked their way around the surface of Verss, not following the streets that dove within the mountainous city but staying where the sun shone and the property was expensive- and balked when she saw Jennis's destination. It was the Cathouse, which Allie had only read about.

"I can't go in there! How can they have given you a job?"

Jennis laid her ears back. As she couldn't read, she'd had the luxury of ignorance and had gone looking for work with little idea of her chances. The articles Allie had seen, depicting the Cathouse as a strange, insular alien world in the middle of Verss where even the smallest task was done by expatriate Nerre, and Runge were only permitted in to be pleasured... those articles were lines and squiggles to Jennis.

"I got a job as an enforcer, babe. Try-outs were a bitch, too. We're not talking about getting you fucking work in the place, it's about something else, now come on!"

"About what?"

"About getting even with Elistary, that's what!"

As they entered, a fluffy white Nerre bounced over to Jennis and gave her a big hug, with more than a bit of obvious groping and fondling. "Is that your friend, Jennis- the one you talked about?"

"Yeah, still is, thank goodness. Where's Voustrets?"

"I am here!" cried Voustrets, rising from a couch. "Can it be that you have found for us our agent?"

Allie tried to stand her ground, but her tail curled and tucked between her legs, because she was recognizing the people in the room. She was certain the grey Nerre was the famous Faisand she'd grown up hearing about, and even more alarmingly, this Estrai approaching her could only be the famous detective Voustrets Talanstre Laimontre. Allie was struck dumb by sheer nervousness.

Voustrets and Demarle both managed to make it even worse, by studying her attentively. Voustrets looked her up and down, his intelligent eye seemingly missing nothing, catching her gaze and nodding as if to say- yes, you are terrified, and we shall work with that, perhaps it can be turned to my purposes.

Demarle's inspection was less intimidating but even more alarming, for the fluffy white kitty promptly began looking Allie over like she was a proffered toy, petting Allie's fur and pawing at her already skimpy clothing. "Oooo, very nice. I'd like to see that patterning, so pretty! Hey, Jennis, does it..."

"Yeah it does," said Jennis. "She's got the proper two-tone butt. And if you go after that girl and skip over me, it's spanking time..."

"Ooooh." said Demarle. "Sexy. Careful you don't say stuff like that around Rai, okay?"

"How come?" said Jennis.

"It's against protocol, he acts like he's still very bound by it. I don't care, I wouldn't be here if I hadn't rebelled, but ninja-kitty is upset by such things."

"Gotcha." said Jennis.

"It's generally a good idea," said Demarle, "not to irritate someone who could have your throat out in less than a second with razor implanted claws..."

"Wow- I didn't spot that." said Jennis. "Should I be worried that he'll jump me for basically kicking him and Boodins out of my new room?"

"No, he hadn't been given a claim to that room within protocol. He won't be, either- none of us here like returning to that world, and we won't be giving him any official permissions or obligations anytime soon. We don't have to play by those rules anymore. Hey, what's this girl's name?"

"She's Allie. Dunno her last name- she might not want to use it."

"Her butt is cute with the tail tucked along it so tightly, but doesn't that mean she's scared?"

"Yeah." said Jennis. "Allie, lighten up, will you?"

"Yay!" said Demarle. "Ha, I told you I was learning a little bit, Faisand!"

Allie had begun to relax, but her tail tucked between her legs again when the silver-grey feline began primly padding over to join them. This was the famous courtesan, celebrity, most highly paid creature of the night in history. Allie noticed in her panic that Faisand was shorter and slighter than expected, and then noticed that she was old, very old, barely hanging on to the allure she'd once celebrated.

"You all should be ashamed of yourselves! Come this way, dear."

Faisand began very determinedly leading Allie by the hand over to one of the couches, and sat her down.

"What for?" called Demarle. "Did I touch her too much or something?"

"Can't you see the girl's petrified?" said Faisand. "Shush dear, it's going to be all right. Tell me what's alarming you- apart from our Demarle, who could alarm a statue and make it blush and show a peek of scarlet. Apart from that, what on earth is distressing you?"

"...starstruck." admitted Allie, glancing at Faisand sidelong in her nervousness.

"Starstruck? Really?"

"Of you- you're Faisand!"

Faisand purred, and gave Allie a little hug devoid of fondling and groping, and called to Demarle, "I like this girl!"

"I am not, will you say, confident," said Voustrets, "that this girl is of the position we need. The attitude, the demeanor, they do not speak of the floor manager, of being privy to secrets and the inside of things..."

Jennis snorted. "No, they don't, but all the same, Allie's the new straw boss over there. I know she doesn't look experienced. She's not. But Elistary still put her in charge. That bitch is crazy."

"Hey!" said Allie. "I'm not useless! I just don't know anything..."

"Well, that's what makes her crazy." said Jennis dismissively.

"Wait!" said Voustrets. "She has placed you in charge of floor operations, running all things in her name, though you, as you put it, don't know anything?"

"...yes." said Allie warily. The Estrai was practically vibrating with excitement.

"It is perfection! This is what you do..."

"Hold it!" said Jennis. "Don't you want to explain to her what we're proposing?"

She looked around, to see both Demarle and Faisand cringing slightly, ears a bit flattened, and remembered her job involved protecting the kitties- which apparently also included protecting them from Runge-style barking in argument.

"Explain calmly." suggested Jennis.

Voustrets was just as quick to register the truth of a situation. Instantly, his tone changed, becoming softer, perhaps insidious, the only sign of chagrin being the rapid flicking of his vulpine ear.

"Dear one, it is simple. Are you fond of this boss Elistary?"

Allie shuddered. "No. I'm not."

"Would you be upset to learn if she has been engaging in terrible, terrible crimes?"

Allie thought for a moment. "No... I guess not."

"Well then," said Voustrets, "it is decided! Please do."

"What?" said Allie, nonplussed.

"That is just what we suggest- it is your assignment!"

Allie's ears went back. "Jennissss! Make him talk sense!"

The older wolf lady chuckled. "How about I explain what he means? It might be easier."

"Yeah. Do that."

"What he means," said Jennis, "is, he wants YOU to learn if Elistary is up to very bad things. He suspects she is, and I wouldn't be surprised. We want you to spy on Elistary."

Allie stared a bit. "That's... pretty scary."

"We wish to bring her to justice." added Voustrets.

"For what?

"I cannot reveal everything to you..." said Voustrets.

"He's not gonna reveal ANYTHING to you." said Jennis wryly.

"I guess that would follow." said Allie. "I mean, if he is really Voustrets Talanstre Laimontre. He really is?"

"Indeed I am, dear lady." said Voustrets.

Allie looked at him. "You never do tell people your schemes, do you?"

"Certainly I do."

"Really?"

"After they have successfully completed." said Voustrets. "Please do me the honor of assisting me, along with these others."

"What others?" said Allie.

"Nearly everyone here is prepared to help me. Join them!"

Allie looked around, at Jennis, at the exotic pretty Nerre, at the aging superstar courtesan Faisand she thought she'd never meet, but whom she was now sitting next to.

Faisand leaned over, and whispered in her ear. "Please help. Elistary's out to get me, and I'm so tired of fearing her."

Allie thought for a long moment, staring into nothingness as if she could see the future there.

"All right. I don't trust that I'm safe anyway, in that place, might as well go all the way... but can you get me out of there if it all goes wrong? Everything I touch seems to go wrong."

Voustrets considered this. "We cannot have anybody in there with you. It is... not of the good cover story, you understand? If you must flee, you must get out yourself."

Allie looked him in the eye. "If I get out- can you people hide me from her? I haven't told you everything she's done."

Both Voustrets and Faisand immediately replied, "Tell me!" and then looked at each other, discomfited.

"I mean it! Maybe you'll understand when I do tell you. Seriously, can you hide me?"

Faisand hugged Allie again. "If he won't, dear, I will personally hide you. I wish I could start now. It gives me the crawling bristlies that you have to go back and be around Elistary again."

The young wolf girl was showing signs of recovery now that she thought there was a plan somewhere- her ears were more perked, her posture more upright. "Thank you," she said, "but tell me more- I don't understand what I'm supposed to do, just that I'm not on Elistary's side anymore."

"Damn straight." said Jennis.

"Oh, but no!" said Voustrets. "While you are there, believe with all your heart that you are on her side. Just... open your attention, innocently percieve anything you can. Begin with this- Dinsam Industrial Fabrication. They are a sort of chemical plant, which is public knowledge. Open your ears to any mention of them, but do not think about it, simply receive. Return here tomorrow with whatever you have heard..."

Voustrets had also explained quickly- for Allie had to return to Mistress Elistary before her absence was noted.

That had been the last Allie saw of the Cathouse- Voustrets had hurried her out of there, and she'd kept looking over her shoulder, not wanting to leave. Mistress Elistary seemed all the more shabby by comparison. Allie had spent the night earning very poorly- only a couple of the least threatening clients had fucked her, and she had been distracted. One had solicitously asked if she was okay- Allie cried in his arms a bit and explained that a guy had been beaten to death right in front of her, and she got her eighty credits and a half hour of hugging and comforting, but on the whole she couldn't work.

Now, she loitered outside Mistress Elistary's office, heart pounding, listening at the door to the sound of Mistress talking. She was almost certain she'd heard the word Dinsam. She couldn't make anything out, especially with the footst...

The door opened, and nearly hit her in the head. Allie's tail tucked between her legs in complete panic, but the guy coming out didn't notice her. He looked troubled and annoyed and Mistress's voice pursued him, harrying him.

"I'll make him go along, don't you worry! Just have your people ready! And remember, Dinsam's big day is tomorrow, do not slack off on me! Oh, Allie, what do you want now?"

Allie pulled herself together and frantically fell back on her cover story. "I... I just... a guy got beat to death in front of me, and..."

"He paid, right? Fuck him."

"No," said Allie, "I mean... I took over from J... Jennis, and I wanted to know if, if, if there was anything I'm supposed to do when that happens..."

Elistary padded over to her, looking disapproving. "Seriously? You seriously have to ask that?"

"I know I'm not very good." said Allie. "I only want to learn better."

Elistary regarded her with narrowed eyes. "Clean up the mess. You have cleaned up the mess, haven't you?"

"I'll go double-check! What else?"

"Deal with the ambulance people, I don't care about any of that. If there's legal problems, go find a lawyer, fuck him and get free advice. Don't bother me with it."

"Uh-huh... and anything else?"

"Get out of my sight." snapped Elistary, and shut the door in Allie's face.

It only took a few minutes for Allie to stop hyperventilating and freaking out, and later that evening she got a session worth more than a hundred credits, because she seemed so happy and glowing. In her head, the phrase "Dinsam's big day is tomorrow" echoed over and over, and she couldn't wait to bring this new information to her new friends.