FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Leave the Window Open

Part 1 - A World of Contradictions

As gentle twilight enveloped the city of Parla the fluted street lights began to turn on one by one. They looked like they should be illuminated by gas light but instead those tinted glass boxes that crowned each pole thrummed with electricity. The street outside of the old town hall was serene as it basked in the fluorescent glow, lined either side by vintage cars parked upon the cobbled street. The only observer to this tranquillity fluttered its way around a flickering street lamp, the moth entranced by the light till it eventually landed upon the slanted glass. There was one last moment's silence... then the concert started.

"People of Parla! It's time to ROCK!"

A thunderous rapture pierced through the night air heralded by the youthful cry of the lynx lead singer as he revved up the audience. Inside the Old town hall, the gathered crowd threw up their arms in jubilation as the coloured lights swung down to spotlight the four band members on stage. With the interior stylised in dark woods and regal patterning, it created a stark contrast to the bright lights and colours of the rock band who filled it with the shriek of electric guitars, deep bass, and energetic vocals. In this industrial capital, the cavernous Hall was a premier venue and it demonstrated how distinguished the band wereto have filled it with hundreds of spectators.

It didn't take long before the floor was taken up with people dancing, bodies electrified by the music as they writhed together in a symphonic orgy, tails and arms waving and thrashing in time with the beat. Down by the stage there were those that reached out to the band members, desperate to touch their craven idols. Then there was Diego, the raccoon was stood with his back to the wall, leaning against it with one foot raised and his arms behind his head, the picture of nonchalance. His amber eyes that carefully watched the band were accentuated by the dark black fur archetypal of his species and with his tight sleevelessjacket, he cut the fine figure of a rogue. He nodded his head in time with the music, lips curled into a charming smile, or at least they did until Jake jabbed him in the side with a bony elbow.

"Hey Di, check out the lead singer" Diego frowned, already suspicious of where his friend was going with this. They had worked and lived upon the streets now for years, all since their sudden flight from the orphanage. Diego knew that his weasel friend could rarely resist the temptation to articulate his thoughts "You mean the lynx right, Cas? What of him?" The weasel had that smile that already gave away he was going to say something moronic "The guy wears a long coat but no shirt underneath, he's literally trying to draw attention to his abs" Diego cast his gaze away from the stage "Jake if you had abs like that I swear to god I would never see you with a shirt ever again" a brief pause as the two exchanged mischievous glances "And no that was not an invitation"

Their friendly banter was broken as a lion, having pushed his way clear, emerged from the crowd before them. He stood a head taller than Jake and Diego and while he didn't look angry he wore a stern expression "Ladies" his voice baritone and laced with sarcasm. The weasel Jake just smirks while Diego dips his head respectfully "Sadivir"

The lion was distinctive for the breadth of his chest and the definition in his arms, which he flaunted with rolled up sleeves that strained against his brawn. The leonine mane lay parted heavily to one side to prominently expose an ear which was adorned with three big gold earrings "You boys are aware that you only get paid if you work right?" Diego reluctantly peeled himself from the wall and slid past the lion "Sure thing hoss" he says in passing, while Jake silently walked off and parted with a half-hearted salute.

For any that may have overheard their conversation beyond the din of the concert, it would be easy to mistakenly believe the three worked for the band or attended to the Hall, however in this instance the word 'work' had a very different meaning. With a fluid elegance Diego slipped into the crowd and amidst all the revelry his wondering paws were easily forgiven in the heat of the moment. An 'accidental' bump and someone was missing a wallet, a gentle graze up against another and a watch vanished, a fleeting flirtatious dance and a jewelled necklace is lifted from its owner. He was overjoyed when he caught sight of a bulbous belt pouch, evident by the rapacious smile that crossed his muzzle. He loved that people still wore them, which he expressed with a quick slice of his knife sending the contents down into his waiting paw.

As the band cycled through their repertoire of songs the stripy tailed thief became more laden with ill-gotten gains. Concerts like this were a rare opportunity and he didn't care if his 'cup runneth over', like the hungry predator he was he brought his gaze to bearon his next target. With a shimmer those vibrant amber eyes flashed from the incandescent lighting and come to set upon the throng near the stage. With their arms reaching out to the band they showed such a casual disregard for what was happening around them, it was as if they were begging to be robbed by the raccoon knave. Smoothly he parted way through the crowd towards them.

On stage the band were unaware of the larceny that took place. Cas their lead singer had the microphone gripped in both paws as he delivered his lyrics with passion. His attention lay on the sea of faces before him, admiring how one by one they had fallen in love with his voice. He was backed in soulful chorus by the slim black feline Sarah, whose powerful voice was like satin to the ears. Unlike her band members she was simply dressed, tight jeans and a top she trussed up under her cleavage, she was the embodiment of the 'country girl'. What made her stand out was the purple ribbons she adorned herself with. One on each of her wrists fluttered about from her energetic movements, while another tied around her bass guitar streamed out in time to the shaking of the rhythm. They snaked about in unison with her waist-longbraid and slender feline tail. Wild at heart and empowered by her fans she never missed a beat... that was until she saw him in the crowd.

Diego pressed between people in false mimicry, just enough to pretend to be part of this congregation to the idols of rock and roll, while swiftly he liberated them of their possessions. His paws nimbly picked the bulging pockets of the distracted worshippers until he caught sight of an expensive choker. His imagination took flight on what kind of jewel would be studded into the front of that velvet fabric. He turned slightly to let his svelte frame ease into a seemingly non-existent space, his back and chest pressed between two warm bodies. Slowly he reached up, then all at once froze... colour faded from his world; his blood ran cold; fur stood on end and his tail hiked up... someone had grabbed his wrist. For a pickpocket and a cutpurse there was nothing more terrifying. At best it was the prelude to a good kicking in a dingy alley, at worst it would mark the beginning of a long stint in the dungeon. Slowly he began to look up, his adrenalin sharpened senses were deaf to the monolithic hall of booming music yet were so keenly attuned to the pall of creeping dread and doom that hung over him. He anticipated anger, rage, wrath...

... instead he got passion, sensuality and an enthusiastic lustre for life.

There she was right before his undeserving eyes and still she sangaway sensationally while crouched by the edge of the stage. Her small black paw would not release his captured wrist, a moment masqueraded as an eternity had passed and her delicate fingers were so perfectly placed to feel the swift throb of his pulse. Slowly she drew him closer while holding the microphone between their nearly touching muzzles.

"We will walk through fire!"

Lost in the moment Diego forgot where he was, the crowd faded away to leave only a hall full of music and he the sole recipient. Not for a single moment could he bring himself to look away from her deep amber eyes that gazed back defiantly into his own. Each had those deep amber eyes, but hers were truly striking, such that they captured her untamed spirit. As she delivered the final lines, the Hall was filled with the last chord and the clamour of the audience returned, Diego would have hoped to say something witty or inspiring... at least something that showed confidence or charisma.

"Whoa" was all he managed.

His voice trailed off into nothingness and he prayed to merciful Shambala that no one had heard him, it went without saying he had missed his opportunity to be remembered as a great bard or poet. But Sarah didn't need to hear him, anyone could have read those lips. As the Hall is enveloped in applause Sarah swiftly untied one of those purple ribbons and rebound it around the captive wrist. She smiled when she realised he was dumbstruck and playfully stroked over the tuft of hair between his ears, but the stroking soon became her hand more firmly on his forehead as she gently pushed him back making him stagger back into the crowd.

Even while a dozen paws patted over his shoulder and back, congratulating him on getting singled out like that, for Diego it was as if they weren't there. He just gazed at that purple ribbon tied around his wrist and pushed his way to the edge of the hall. Gone was the grace from before, he didn't swim through the crowd like a sharkbut rather butted and knocked into people recklessly with all the elegance of a beached whale.

Having found a pocket in the storm he took a moment to compose himself and by that time the next song was underway, yet what had happened by the stage hadn't gone unnoticed and the hulking lion comes on over "You need to be more careful" the tone was simultaneously judgemental yet equally concerned. As Sadivir spoke he moved to the wall and leant against it with his elbow and forearm. With his back tactfully turned to the other nearest people it shielded his conversation with Diego.

Diego looked up to the larger lion and with a little more bravado returned to his voice he tried to downplaywhat happened "She just caught me off guard... I don't think she knew what I was doing" His gaze briefly returned to the ribbon before it flinched back up to that maned head which tilted back and forced out a fake laugh.

"I didn't hear her shout for the guards so I think we can be sure of that" his laughter abruptly stopped and his eyes narrowed before pointing at the ribbon "So are you going to go?"

Diego looked around before frowning "Go, go where?" Sadivir sighed and stroked his paw down over his face, it smoothed out his features for a moment. As his arm dropped back down to his side he forced a fake smile "In future when I tell you to do your research before a gig, do your fucking research" he pointed once more at the ribbon "The little Miss likes to hand out her 'favour' during their performance, it lets those lucky few get into the band exclusive 'after party'" he took the ribbon and turned over one end so Diego could see how embroidered into it is the date and the words 'Allow admittance'. Having made his point, he repeated the question "So are you going to go?"

Diego's face became the picture of conflict, his eyes darted from the ribbon to Sarah, to Sadivir then back to Sarah where on the stage the act continued. She wasn't looking at him, already he had her attention and now she belonged once more to the crowd. When finally he looked back to Sadivir the lion'sexpression said it all 'answer now'. With his head dipped the racoon let out a little huff, but then his mind filled with the excitement of where this might go. One side of his muzzle curled back into a smile and he nodded up to the lion "Yeah, I guess I am" The big nostrils of the lion flared for a moment, that clearly had been the wrong answer.

"Then we need to have a word" He grabbed Diego by the shoulder and forcefully marched him through the crowd and out to the entrance. They emerged onto that dimly lit street and the heavy doors of the town hall closed behind them, Diego shrugged off the lion's grasp "Hey, what gives!?" There was enough familiarity between them for him to have gone along with this, but once in private Diego let out the embarrassment he just suffered.

The lion blanked out the question and held out his paw "Your take" he demanded without a hint of hesitation or the vaguest illusion he would take 'no' for an answer. "You think-" Diego didn't get to finish before the lion just snarled "Your take!" The street was filled with the deep muffled bass from inside, Diego looked around to make sure no one was watching then started to take out his ill-gotten gains, putting them into that big paw. When Sadivir felt satisfied he'd got it all he gave a dismissive wave "Fine go" and turned his back on the seething raccoon "So do I get an answer for why you're been a massive dick over this?" The hulking frame of the Lion turned back sharply with a sudden glint from his gold earrings as they caught the light from the thrumming street lamps "We'll talk when you get back, right now I'm still working" It was the tone a parent would use to chastise a child and as he turned to go again the flustered raccoon could only think to shout back "Just remember one third of all that is mine!"

With Sadivir gone he turned to the door of the town hall and spoke with the ticket collector to get the details of the now fabled 'after party'. Having been assured it started at 11 and knowing the concert would soon end he wanted to know just how long he had. Ironically the raccoon never wore a watch, at least not one of his own. He ran down the main street then ducked into an alley and out the other side with the familiarity one could only have by living on the streets. In a deft display of acrobatics, he climbed on up the side of a building, from cart to orning to rooftop. Feet planted firmly on the slanted roof he paused to take a deep breath, then with a sure-footedness confidence he took a few steps toward the red brick chimney stack and steadied himself against it while gazing out over the city.

It was a dangerous place, but he loved it all the same. Ahead of him were row upon row of sharp-angledrooftops that snaked away into a city whose layout was labyrinthian. Smoke rose from myriad homes while in the distance the dying embers from the factories ebbed on out in their evening respite. From above came a mechanical thumping and Diego closed his eyes as he felt the strong breeze that washed over him from the large steam-driven airship that was passing over. For a moment he looked up to see it wreathed in a plume of steam while the port side lanterns flickered as it sailed on by. All was silhouetted by the pale waning moon and in the distance the reason why he was up here, the cities fabled clock, it's face lit up like the streets below. The vast arms of the clock told him it was ten to the tenth hour.

"Looks like I've got some time to get changed"