FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Brooke wiped down her last table for the day after the customer she’d waited on paid and left, pocketing the tip and dragging over to the front counter to clock out, where Tay stood while using the kiosk.

Today had been gloomy due to the unexpected gray weather plaguing Hau’oli that had crept in over the island overnight. A thick overcast loomed, bringing heavy rain and thunder with it.

She saw Malia on her way out the door while waving with fluttering fingers, which Brooke returned, then glanced off to the side at the gothitelle wiping down a booth. “Why don’t I know her name?” No one ever talked about them. Maybe they kept to themself.

Brooke approached the counter and formed a slight grin after Tay looked over at her. “Hey, Tay.”

“Brooke, sorry. Just clocking out.” Following a few screen taps, he moved aside and let her squeeze past.

“No rush. I am tired, though.” She tapped to input her pin and clocked out. When she looked up, she saw more employees entering to relieve morning shift. “Here they come.”

“Let’s get outta here, then,” he said.

Brooke walked from behind the counter with Tay and passed them. “You going home?” she asked as they approached the front door, which he went ahead, pushed, and held open for her.

“Yeah, nothing to do tonight, but you’ve got that interview, huh?”

“Thanks.” She went through the door onto the drying pavement that gave off the distinct earthy scent of recent rain. Both she and Tay walked toward the lot, avoiding stepping into stagnant puddles. “And I do. Nervous since I’ve never done anything like it.”

“What mon would you be sitting, anyway?”

“Two eevee, an umbreon, a glaceon, and a vaporeon.”

“Huh, okay.” Tay slowly nodded. “More than I could do. That’ll be quite the responsibility.”

“Totally, but I’m a natural…” She tilted her head from side to side. “I hope.”

They entered the half-packed lot; people exited parked vehicles, the air littered with laughter and murmured conversation.

A lingering silence sat between Brooke and Tay, interjected only by a couple of flashes in the sky with deep rumbling following until Brooke broke it. “You have any pokémon at home?”

“Nah, it’s just me," Tay said. "But sitting has been making me want one. Fills the void.”

“Hmm?” She looked at him. “Where does this void come from, if I can ask?”

“Getting personal?” He stopped at a compact car and leaned against it. “I just always kept to myself and failed to join to the point where I didn’t keep any friends I had, and it landed me here. Kind of slipped through the cracks.”

“Do you get lonely, then?”

He stuck his hands in his pocket. “I kind of got used to it, but I should change it for my health eventually. Maybe Malia’s right.”

“Having someone by your side could make a difference.”

“Oh yeah... you’ve got a pokémon, but you got a boyfriend too?”

“I do.” Brooke grinned. “Bliss through and through.”

A brighter flash lit up at least a mile of clouds overhead, which they both glanced up at.

“That one’ll sting,” Tay said.

Brooke braced for the coming strike, and even still, she flinched when it snapped and crackled like an echoing whip across the sky.

Which Tay laughed at.

“Stop.” She giggled and pushed his arm. “I didn’t expect that.”

“You even braced.” The laughter and her conjoined giggles lasted for a few more moments before they came down. “But, uh, I’m assuming you weren’t antisocial?”

“Me? Nah.” Brooke would spare him the details. “I was allll over the place.”

He chuckled. “You and Malia are great.”

She sucked her teeth. “My days’ve passed. Malia is like, twice wilder. I’m a bore when you compare us.”

“I don’t think so.” Tay shrugged. “Before I forget, what's your future looking like? Want to wait tables forever, school? Where do you think you'll go?"

"No clue. Not that interested in school, but maybe. I like waitressing, and if I start sitting pokémon, it can always lead to more. You?"

"I'm probably gonna apply to school and see where that goes soon. I'll meet a lot of people that way. I don't know what I'll major in or where I'll go, though. I've gotta research."

"Sounds promising."

"...But, uh, I’m holding you up, aren’t I? You’ve got to get home and prep.”

“I do, but good talk.” Brooke took a sidestep. “See you tomorrow, Tay.”

“Of course, and good luck.”

---

After a long drive home through heavy rush hour traffic and off-and-on rain, Brooke got home at a quarter to six and had immediately jumped into the shower for no longer than ten minutes.

She currently stood before her open closet in a tee and panties while sifting through hanging outfits.

Parker sat on the bed's edge, mainly using his phone except for the glances he took at Brooke. He’d worked morning shift today, so he was free. “You don’t need a whole dress, you know?”

She grumbled while pulling apart hangers and considering options. “I just don’t look good in things.”

“Lying doesn’t look good on you either. Just throw on a skirt and a long-sleeved shirt or something.” He set his phone down. “Did you even eat yet?”

Brooke now started looking at skirts and her assortment of long-sleeved shirts. “I’ll get something at Blux.” She grabbed a red and white pleated skirt and a matching shirt, then turned and held it up to Parker.

“There, throw that on.”

She did with some haste, pulling the skirt up her legs and the shirt over her head, afterward smoothing her outfit out and again looking at Parker with expectant eyes.

“I like it, and it’s simple. Cute, too.” He stood and walked to her, reaching for her hips.

Brooke moved away and smacked his hand. “Noo, I need to go bundle my hair.” She snagged a hair tie from her top drawer and paced to the restroom, standing before the mirror and bringing her hands behind her head to gather and tie her hair. “Should I bring Lulu?”

She tugged and secured the tie. “No, you’ve gotta focus, Paloke.” She left and paced back down the hall, entering the bedroom. Parker was back on the bed. “Time check?”

He grabbed and unlocked his phone. “Close to 6:30.”

“I’ll go now. Gonna walk and get my head straight.” Brooke went up and leaned before him; he held her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers.

He kissed her twice more, which she returned. “Don’t stress too much. Imagine it being like watching five boltund.”

"Thanks." Brooke rolled her eyes and stood, snagging her purse from off the dresser. “I’m sure they’ll be chill. I’ll call you when I’m done.”

“Sure, love you.”

Brooke left the room and saw Pyro and Luma snuggled up as usual, who she crouched before while running her palm over their furry heads. “You two comfy?”

“Vul,” Luma said; Pyro replied with a murr and a nuzzle.

“Stay that way. I’ll be back soon.” She stood, went to the door, slipped into her shoes, and was outside walking to the District in seconds.

She strolled down the sunless pavement and caught sight of a couple of wild pichu by a bunch of bushes, a rockruff and an eevee frolicking in a yard, and the usual flocks of pikipek and toucannon residing on roofs and wires.

The climate was tepid with a pinch of humidity; breezes flowed with cool warmth that struck one with serenity.

A part of Brooke was enjoying it, minus the lightning that led to thunder varying in volume. Another part of her was full of nerves, another wondered if her outfit was appropriate or adequate since she wasn’t well-versed in professionalism, and the last part of her wondered what she’d get at Wikiblux.

Life was crazy sometimes.

“And what if I do get the gig? I should be able to figure everything out. Just… know what you’re talking about.” She felt there was a bigger chance that she wouldn’t secure it, but going in with such an attitude would show. “I’ve fed Pyro, Luma, and Vix, I’ve groomed Luma a lot…” And Brooke still recalled a lot she’d done during her daycare days.

She had this.

Because she’d gone through a slew of thoughts and emotions throughout most of the walk, time seemed to pass faster. Brooke had started strolling the strip’s outset and was approaching the ever-busy District with a secure-ish mind. Many people had umbrellas on standby in case rain started to fall again, and stands were out selling them for twice more than an umbrella should cost.

She took out her phone for a moment to check the time. “Fifteen to seven. Still on good time.” Even so, Brooke half-paced down the District walkways and ignored any delicious aromas gracing her nose, exaggerated by her hunger.

Fortunately, she spotted the round Wikiblux logo sticking out from the building over the pavement ahead, which was a light purple logo outlining a half-filled cup with a wiki and bluk berry floating atop the dark purple liquid.

Brooke pushed open the door upon arrival to a bright and busy house. If Wikiblux did anything better than the other cafés, it was presentation.

Lamps hung from the ceiling over every table, and framed posters advertising the sweetest of new and popular drinks adorned the glossy wooden walls.

The line before the front counter ahead that wrapped around a belt stanchion had standing baskets of Wikiblux-themed tumblers, pokémon plushies wearing Wikiblux aprons and caps, and bagged coffee options in various colors.

Shelved on a designated section of the wall were rows of Wikiblux-themed pokéballs; upbeat pop tunes played at a moderate volume throughout the café.

Brooke took a few steps inside, struck with the pervading aroma of sugar and coffee, and looked around at people and pokémon galore.

Customers filled the seating lining the windows and walls. They waited by the pickup counter for orders that busy, purple-aproned baristas rushed to make in noisy blenders and shakers.

“Not one table free.” She scanned every row and in between, from couples and friends talking over macarons and berry loaves to others locked into reading or their studies with coffee by their side.

The present pokémon were well-behaved. They sat in chairs with their owners, grooming themselves, watching the surrounding activity, or eating at pastries over napkins.

Brooke got a spot in line, watching an ivysaur wearing a tie in a chair feeding itself a cake pop while holding it with its vine. Its owner was on a phone call across from it.

She took her phone out of her pocket after feeling it vibrate and saw a ‘W’ on her notification bar. She took a step as the line inched up and unlocked her phone to scroll it down. The previewed message from Kent read:

‘So sorry. I’ll be there in ten.’

Brooke opened it and replied with: ‘You’re fine. I’m waiting inside’, before closing the app. “Hopefully a table clears up…” she mumbled while eyeing the labeled menu on the wall behind the counter. It was posted above decorative shelves of assorted sweet syrups in plastic containers.

“I always get the wikibluk frap, so not that.” It was advertised as their sweetest option, and that it was, but she wanted something new. Her eyes ran over various berry teas, lattés, and cold brews, before landing on an option with ‘NEW’ beside it. “Caramon iced latté. Hmm.”

“That one’s actually really good. I’ve gotten it like three times this week.” The young woman in front of Brooke in a casual dress slightly turned to face her.

“Is it? I haven’t been here in a while. What’s it like?” Brooke asked.

“It’s umm…” The woman brought her hand up and cycled it. “Caramel and brown sugar infused with hints of cinnamon. They also top it with milk foam.”

“Sold. Sounds sweet.” Brooke grinned. “Thanks.”

After five minutes of waiting and keeping her mind from freaking out, she ordered at the front, scanned using her Wikiblux app to get points, and now waited by the pickup area off to the side, where baristas set drinks and warmed-up pastries while calling customer names.

She hadn’t been on her phone. She’d been watching every table for a sign that someone might pack up and leave. “Been standing all day,” Brooke groaned to herself.

“Brooke!”

She turned to the counter after her name was called and grabbed her small drink and baggie containing a grilled cheese. “Thank you,” she said to the barista who’d placed it down and took a straw from the nearby holder.

Not a single soul had budged from a chair, so Brooke was left standing by the wall, studying her drink. The liquid was dark brown with caramel sauce drizzled all around the cup’s sides. The milk foam was a thick white layer topping the drink with more caramel drizzle and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

She took the straw into her mouth and sipped a few times. “Wow, toothache.” A mouthful of brown sugar, caramel, traces of cinnamon, espresso, and more sugar.

After her next sip, Brooke shot her eyes to someone sliding their laptop inside their bag and standing. Their houndor dropped down from the chair next to them.

“Finally.” She paced to the table as they left and snagged it, sitting in the chair and setting her drink and bag down with a sigh of relief as the tension left her calves.

She leaned back and crossed one leg over the other, opening her bag; as she did, a young man in a casual suit and slicked-back hair came through the door, along with a flood of customers behind him.

“Is that?...” Brooke peered a little and watched him scan everyone inside until finding her. Their eyes locked for several seconds before he approached with a formal grin.

He stopped at a slight distance. “Sorry, are you Brooke?”

“I am,” she said while looking up, a friendly grin spreading across her face.

“Kent.” He extended his arm, which she took with a delicate grip and shook. “Again, I apologize for being late. My job kept me late, then traffic…” He sighed.

“No, it’s fine, really.” Brooke shook her head. “It was too packed before you got here anyway.”

Kent sat. “Thank you for coming. I’ve been hoping to find an adequate sitter before Saturday. It’s now last-minute.”

“Has literally everyone backed out that applied?” Brooke felt her stomach rumble. She glanced at her bag.

“Recently, I’ve had no luck. After my sitter of three years left the business, I’ve been scrambling for stability.”

“Aw, that sucks.” She placed a palm on her thigh under the table.

He followed her eyes as they again glanced at her baggie. “That it does. I’m seeking reliability, but it isn’t easy to come by…” He eyed the table, then shifted up to her. “Anyway, I wouldn’t want to keep you long. You have solid experience working with pokémon as shown on your resume, correct?”

Brooke nodded, running her hand down her thigh for some reassurance. “From my early teens up until around seventeen.” A tiny lie. “I volunteered almost daily at my local daycare, and the owner taught me a lot. I learned on my own too.”

“So, you were around various personalities and behaviors for hours at a time. That’s solid.” He looked at her baggie. “You can eat if you’d like, by the way.”

With a slight grin, she grabbed and pulled out the sandwich. “Sorry, I haven’t eaten for a while. Did you want to order anything?”

He looked over at a full line, then back at Brooke, who was biting into her sandwich. “I may have to pass, and you recently got off of work, correct? I recall you bringing that up.”

She brought her hand to cover her mouth while finishing up chewing. “I did. I work as a waitress deeper in the city."

"Excellent. I'm at a law firm, and I'll have to stay from morning 'till night this Saturday... but go on."

"So, yes, I worked with countless personalities and pokémon. I also helped often with grooming, feeding, and exercising, all of which I remember.” She rubbed her thigh with her thumb.

He leaned in a little. “And it was all fairly recent... Let me go into more detail about my five, then. Kassi and Kinsi, the two eevee, are your average playful furballs. My umbreon, Dimmy, and his mate, Glissa, are generally laid back, Glissa more so. They had the litter last year. The vaporeon is close to half of the work.”

Brooke sipped her drink. “The rescue?”

“Ditz. I pulled him from a Doption center across the world years ago. He’s sweeter than rare candy, but the loose cannon kind. Has an unstable past.”

“It’s sweet that you housed a rescue. Honestly, they all sound adorable, and I’m perfectly fine with everything. I’ve always had great chemistry with pokémon from all types of backgrounds,” she said.

Kent’s jowls rose as he grew a broad grin. “Well, Miss Brooke, I can’t say I’m not impressed.”

“Wait—” no, not wait. “Thank you.” She returned a shy grin, giving her thigh a slight squeeze.

“Again, I set this up simply to meet who would potentially be caring for my pokémon; I see a kind individual confident in her abilities, and I’m sure my pokémon would love you.” He sat upright. “So, on short notice, I would like to officially offer you the gig.”

Brooke’s grin parted to a smile with sparkling eyes. Her legs tensed and her knees rose, bumping the table’s underside. “Y-Yes– of course.”

Kent raised an arm over the table, again extending a hand.

Brooke pulled her hand from under the table and did the same, grasping it.

---

After Kent gave her his address and the time to arrive so he could walk her through everything for the ten hours she’d be there, he left.

Brooke immediately phoned Parker while sipping her too-sweet latté and biting into her sandwich, grinning in anticipation while it rang.

“You get it?” he asked the moment he picked up.

“Fucking ye–” she cut herself short and looked around the interior. Fortunately, the constant buzzing meant her words had drowned in the sea of commotion. “Yes, babe! What the fuckk,” she said on the quiet end while smiling.

“Overjoyed!” Parker said. “I knew you had it, though. When do you start again?”

“Saturday... ugh, it feels so amazing.”

“I bet. You’ve got a job you love and get to work on your passion on the side. When are you coming back so I can squeeze you?”

She leaned against her chair. “I’ll be back in like an hour. I’m gonna finish what I bought and…” She looked out the window at a steady drizzle that hit the windows, covering it in droplets that eventually broke and ran down the glass in appealing rivulets. “Wait the rain out. I don’t wanna get soaked, but I’ll be there soon.”

“Enjoy yourself, then. Take your time.”

“I will. Bye for now.” Brooke ended the call and shut her eyes. Her smile hadn’t yet considered fading.

But then it did. "He had to be desperate to fill..." There were zero possibilities that she deserved such a position, but she got it, right? She got it.