FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The largest cities are always the best places to fit in. No matter how strange a person might be, they'll always go relatively unnoticed in the metropolises of the world. Assuming they mind their own business, of course.

Martina thought this would be easy. It always seems that way. Once the fears are gone and optimism settles in, everything seems possible.

This includes not accidentally destroying the entire city.

She had not been bothering anybody. People weren't used to seeing a human-sized emperor like her in such a climate, but she was one of the city's anomalies, nothing more. Everyone had seen stranger people than her, in the past. She could have been dancing a polka in the street, and people still wouldn't care.

It was this kind of indifference which led her to her current situation.

In a metropolis, the best way to get around is often mass transit. In that particular case, it was the underground train system. She figured it was a metro like any other. People enter, people look at the map, and people ride patiently, in their own isolated sphere of reality until they reach their destination.

The problem was the crowds. During the rush hour, each train car can become filled to capacity, leaving people to press against each other in order to fit everyone inside.

Knowing herself, Martina should have tried harder to find another way around the city, but she had figured nothing bad would happen. She assumed nobody would have to squeeze against her to exit the train. She had imagined taking this form of transport during rush hour would allow her to get by without her rubbing her body on anyone or anything, which would trigger her pleasure to grow.

It happened.

Stepping out from that train car was one of the most exciting casual activities she had ever experienced at such a size. People would simply move out of the way, she had to slide against them, squeezing in between them to get past.

By the time she set food on the platform at her station, she was full of excitement, her heart palpitating rapidly. Some of the more curious people on the train even raised an eyebrow at her. The fact that she had grown tall enough to nearly bump her head against the ceiling of the train had been enough of a unique phenomenon to make people curious. That alone was quite an achievement.

The way outside the underground station was paved with bricks and problems. This little growth spurt, while insignificant in comparison to her potential, was enough to set things in motion. Everything was too small. Getting past the turnstiles involved squeezing each leg through, one at a time. Being a penguin made it a little harder, as those short legs couldn't just walk over. The tight fit resulted in her growing a little, once again.

Stepping up the stairs leading to fresh air was also quite an ordeal. The steps were not meant for someone her size, forcing her to proceed on her toes. A single step would likely cause her to tumble down and create a small dent in the floor. The people around realized this. These were the same people who could walk into each other without a worry. They all stood to the side, giving her plenty of room. She knew they weren't being nice to her because they were polite. Their safety was at risk, and an emperor penguin twice their size was not something to be trifled with.

Crawling out of the double doors to step outside was somewhat embarrassing. She knew people would wait, and nobody would dare laugh at her, but she didn't want to attract (more) attention. Out of fear, the transit company would likely not make her pay for the damages if she had simply burst through the doors, but she had enough class to avoid needless destruction.

The air outside was refreshing. Martina smiled and closed her eyes as she stretched, letting the warm sun hit her face. The relaxing feeling had made her forget where she stood. While she was not quite blocking the entrance to the metro, the fact that she was the size of a lamppost meant people had to walk around. Most kept their distance, in case she was to start moving again, but some brushed against her. Even the cars passing on the road switched lanes, as her size meant the sidewalk was not quite wide enough for her body.

She had started walking. Cracks would form in the concrete below her feet as she walked, whether it was the sidewalk or the road. She would hardly notice her gradual growth, as people somehow just slid against her on the sidewalk, not seeming to realize the massive penguin. Some looked back, wondering what the soft texture they had just walked against was, but most walked on indifferently.

For Martina, however, there was no indifference. She loved the feeling that came from friction between her body and some other surface. Each person to slide against her made her grow that much more. The cracks in the ground became gradually larger and deeper. Cars began to avoid the street she was on completely. People were finally beginning to slip out from their inner world, paying attention to the world around them. More specifically, all eyes in the vicinity were drawn to the penguin.

Her own eyes were closed. She was beginning to enjoy this a little too much. She had reached the point where she simply wanted to keep growing. A gentle slide of her hips against a building, sliding her wing along the tops of trees, everything was an option, but she made sure not to break anything. Which became increasingly more difficult, as the simple act of walking had become threatening to the buildings around.

Some of the office workers were worried about an earthquake. Others looked out the window, to be greeted by a passing black beak. Some even wonder what this unannounced parade was, with such a lifelike balloon reaching the top of skyscrapers.

There was no need to call emergency services. By this point, most people had realized it was safer to leave the city for a little while. There was very little destruction per se; this was not Tokyo, even at the size Martina had gotten. The streets would simply need repairs later on.

The penguin got down on all fours, trying to look inside the top floor of one of the largest skyscrapers in the city. She had been told to wait at the elevator, on the 108th floor, but she assumed they would understand if she went directly to the office. Very carefully, she tapped her beak against the window.

"I'm here for the job interview. I'm not late, I hope?"