FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 01

The soft clicks of nails against tile filled the modest bedroom, mixing with bird songs from beyond Tach's window. Soft morning light filtered through open curtains and reached across the carpet, warming the floor for the lynx's bare pads. His toes sank and curled into the plush fibers as he walked to his desk, still dripping from his wake-up shower. His chair softly creaked as he sat down, tipping the corners of his muzzle in a slight frown. His paws drifted to his stomach and gently squeezed his paunch after he turned his computer on, and he toyed with the idea of exercising as it booted. Artificial light flashed across his face as his OS welcomed him, and a steady rhythm of clacks poured from his fingers as he logged in. Several tabs tabs sprung open as he picked up where he left off the night before, searching for a simple way to supplement his income. The cat's remote IT job paid well enough to keep a roof over his head and food on his table, as evidenced by his modest belly, though his savings account remained slimmer than he would have liked. He scanned a table of odd-job listings as he found his place, then settled in for the mind-numbing task of scanning headings.

Only a few minutes passed before Tach grew weary of such mindless work, however. The seventh page of listings proved every bit as uninteresting as the first, and his thoughts wandered as morning grogginess overcame his enthusiasm. The weight of his eyelids easily convinced him it was time for a break, and he pushed away from his desk and padded to his kitchen. He prepared a cup of coffee as he delved into his refrigerator, then fixed himself a modest breakfast while his drink brewed. His small platter of eggs and sausages was ready to eat by the time his favorite mug filled, and a content smile spread across his muzzle as he sampled their scents. His belly let out a low grumble of approval, spurring him to pop the first morsel in his mouth before he brought his meal to his bedroom. A soft hum of approval resonated in his chest, and a pair of quiet clinks broke his room's silence when he set the dishes beside his keyboard. The lynx settled back into place and resumed his endless scrolling while he idly munched, rolling his eyes at particularly absurd requests until he found one too outlandish to ignore. The need for a "surrogate food baby" grabbed his gaze and curiosity like nothing else, and his growing fascination demanded an investigation. With nothing better offers, he clicked the link.

A grin parted Tach's muzzle as the headline restated itself at the top of the page, followed by the details of the offer. His mirth faded as he read through the terms of the job, then returned when he realized it wasn't a joke. The description spoke of cutting edge technology, a pair of collars that linked the wearers in a strangely intimate way. Everything one ate was wirelessly transfered to the other, easing the challenging of dieting for one partner at the expense of the other. The lynx's intrigue deepened as he read. He had no reason to doubt the safety of the science, and the benefits of being paid to save on food proved uniquely enticing. Still, apprehension welled in his chest. The offer seemed too good to be true, and he decided a little extra research into the collars would be wise. Tach bookmarked the page and opened up a new tab, then dove into a world he had no idea existed. A cursory search revealed the widespread praise of the system, easing his worries of malfunction or fraud. The price associated with a pair of collars nearly made him spit his drink however, though it also removed any worries of getting stiffed. A search for criticisms revealed only problems with vendors and customer support, finally tipping his decision in favor of the listing. He returned to it and quietly hoped it still stood, then let out a sigh of relief and submitted his contact information. The lynx checked several boxes and agreed to the terms, then leaned back in his seat, brimming with satisfaction.

The ping of an incoming email opened his eyes, and he tabbed to his inbox with cautious optimism. He blinked his shock away and stared at the owner's reply, received not ten seconds later. Tach skimmed the email and noted its important points, and adrenaline trickled into his nerves at the request to meet for lunch. He glanced to his clock and mentally crunched some numbers, then rushed to his closet to get dressed. It would be close, but if he got ready and left right away, he could make their improvised meeting. The lynx hopped into a pair of shorts and threw on a shirt, then slipped into his shoes and dashed out of his door. The bright jingle of keys announced his departure, and he stepped into the sun's blazing heat. With any luck, the offer would be worth leaving his cool abode.

***

The ring of a bell cut through murmuring conversations and announced Tach's arrival to the cafe. A pinch of dread twinged in his chest as he scanned the crowd, noting the complete lack of tables. He could only hope his client had already arrived and reserved a place, and his anxiety dissolved when he spotted someone matching the invitation's description. Another glance about revealed no one remotely approaching her likeness, and he carefully wove his way between filled furniture to greet her. The corpulent dragon met his gaze with a hopeful glint as he approached, and a fang-laced grin parted her snout when he sat down. A pang of fight-or-flight sparked in the lynx's chest while she appraised him, sizing him up as a cat would a mouse. The perceived tension dissipated with a melodic chuckle however, and the gilded dragon extended a large claw in greeting and shook his hand.

"You're cuter in person," she smiled. "You're Tach, yes?"

The lynx nodded. "I am. And that means you must be Eda"

"I am," she returned. "Come, sit. Let's talk over lunch."

Tach agreed and took the seat across from her.

"Thanks for coming on such short notice. I was already on my way over for lunch, and I really appreciate you meeting me here."

"It's no trouble at all. I don't live too far away from here, so it worked out well."

The sound of jingling jewelery filled the air when she motioned in understanding. "This probably won't come as a surprise to you, but I've decided I need to go on a diet." She pat her belly to back up her assessment. "I've tried before, honestly, but I haven't had much luck with it. I've heard these collars can help with that, but I haven't been able to find anyone else willing to wear them."

Tach tilted his head. "That's strange. Everything I've seen online says they work great."

"Most of my friends are in a situation similar to mine," Eda admitted. "So they're too interested in losing their own weight to help me out."

The lynx nodded. "I might be getting to that point soon, but I think I can help you out in the meantime. How does this work?"

The dragon beamed with his willingness to continue. "It's almost scary simple," she began. "The collars are tied to an app, so you just need to download it on your phone, and then we can set up the contract. It handles the payments and everything, so you don't have to worry about me disappearing and stiffing you, and I don't have to worry about you running off with my gear."

The cat nodded as he searched through his phone, finding the program on it's app store with ease. The reviews were every bit as glowing as the others he'd researched, erasing his concerns of buggy software. He started the installation without a thought, then set his phone down while it downloaded and installed the program. "If you don't mind me asking, have you used these before?"

"Only for a day or two at a time. Mostly when I absolutely needed a cheat day." The dragoness chuckled. "Though, I did manage to find a 'surrogate' for a three day weekend a while back."

"Does it feel weird or hurt?"

"On my end, not at all. It's just like eating as normal until it's time to swallow, and it just doesn't hit your belly. I've never been on the other side of the equation, but no one ever complained about it," she shrugged. "Worried I might break your limits~?"

The lynx blushed and raised his paws. "Not at all, I'm just trying to figure out what I'm getting myself into. Is there any sort of safety measure or override?"

"Probably, but I've never seen the emergency measures trip. It'll calibrate to your body after you put it on, and that will make sure it doesn't try to pack you too full of food. Once it decides you're at capacity, it'll stop shifting calories and fill my belly instead."

The cat decided it best not to question if the dragon knew that from experience or not, and while he paused to consider his next question, his phone dinged and announced a successful install. Eda grinned with knowing anticipation as Tach opened the app and set up his account, then walked him through the contracting process.

"First, select 'feedee' and tap your phone to the collar. That'll make sure you get the right one. I'll send you the contract after that, and once you accept, we'll be ready to go."

Tach's head rocked in affirmation and he skimmed the document, and the corners of his muzzle curled in a slight frown as he got into it. "This is a lot of paperwork. Do you mind if I take some time to look it over?"

"Not at all," the dragon offered. "It doesn't expire for a week, so I'll need an answer before then, but take as much time as you need otherwise." Eda finished her snack and drink in a single bite and slurp respectively, then excused herself from the table. "I hate to eat and run like this, but I have a meeting I need to get to. My contact info is buried somewhere in there, so feel free to call me if you have any questions." She pushed her chair under the table with a bump of her substantial hips, then wadded out of the shop and into her car.

Tach ordered a modest sandwich and medium drink once alone, then ate his meal and reviewed the novel of a contract. He hardly delved a few pages in before he cleaned his plate, and his eyes stayed glued to his phone while he cleared his place and returned to his apartment.

***

The low glow of Tach's monitor reflected of his glasses as he scanned the last paragraphs of the endless terms and conditions, highlighting the exhaustion in his eyes. The vast majority of it was dedicated to protecting the collar's company, absolving them of responsibility should something go wrong, but the lynx had little reason to fear a malfunction. The lines that worried him most pertained to his arrangement with the dragoness. Due to the dangers of an unexpected removal, the collars could not be unlatched until the contract was broken, and the documents drawn up by the corpulent reptile had no expiration date. Tach's brow furrowed as he slurped his noodles, and he continued searching for what exactly that meant. His eyes scanned line after line of dense text, sifting through pages until he found an explanation. Ending the agreement required the consent of both parties, a fact that introduced a tinge of apprehension into the cat's chest. It dissipated as he read on however, discovering that each failed attempt to reach a severance agreement would result in a rise in fees. The lynx leaned back in his seat and reflected on the details. On the off chance he found himself stuck with the collar for longer than intended, he would be handsomely rewarded for the inconvenience. Coupled with the device's over-stuffing prevention, he had difficulty finding a downside to the deal. His gaze drifted to the quantum accessory as his reservations fell away, and after a moment of hesitation, he lifted it to his neck and fastened it in place. His phone vibrated in acknowledgment as the device connected to its servers, and he waited for the dragoness to don her counterpart.

Mere seconds later, Tach's phone shook across his desk again, and a wave of tingling static raced through his pelt. His fur bristled and he squirmed in his chair while the collar scanned him, generating a report of his gastric capabilities. The data played across the screen of his phone as it filled in, though his metrics hardly concerned him in that moment. His mind fogged as electric sparks tugged at his thoughts, and his appetite rose and fell like waves upon a beach. The cat clutched his belly in his arms and doubled over, unable to handle the unnatural shifts. Fortunately, the analyzing pulses declined as quickly as they began, and a soft ding announced the diagnostic completion. A list of green check-marks confirmed the collar passed its self tests, and a spinning icon denoted the forming connection. Lights flashed from the accessory and bounced of his monitor as it reached out across the city, seeking its partner's signal. A soft vibration announced the discovery of its target, and without fanfare, linked him to the rotund reptile. A notification on his phone was the only indication of the successful tunnel, and Tach hesitantly prodded the device for a reaction. Its inert state lined up with his expectations, and with his worries abated, returned to his meal. Shameless slurps filled the air as he resumed clearing his bowl, until one of his many mouthfuls caught in his throat. An almost painful swallow relieved the discomfort, and his head tilted while he pondered what happened. A notification reading "transmission in progress" answered his nonverbal question, and mixed feeling rose in his chest as his stomach crept over his waistband and into his lap.

It seemed the dragoness ate just as much as her stature implied, and second thoughts filtered into his head. Tach dismissed them quickly, however. He could simply meet with her again and end the contract, and even if he only lasted a few days, he'd be much wealthier for the experience.

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