FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Over the course of a few weeks, many of Arya's concerns over Jay vanished. Even though she has not shed her human disguise for the dashing rat, she finally feels comfortable ditching her true self to be this facade for him. Not only that, but the job she originally was sent out to do went off without a hitch. The intelligence her Uncle wanted her to get is now safely in his hands, and Jay and Uma are none the wiser. Now, she's free to pursue her relationship with him without having to worry anymore about corporate espionage. She's free to enjoy herself and to enjoy him.

So, with some of the money she made trading the secrets to her uncle, Arya buys herself a nice black dress for the date she and Jay are going on tonight. It's an upscale club, quite swanky, yet still fun. They call it “Casa del Cockatoo," and she's excited to get there. She takes one last look in the mirror and smiles at the woman she sees on the other side. For the first time, she puts care and attention to her human self not for tricking anyone, but for enjoying herself.

It isn't long before Jay calls her, saying that he's in front of her apartment. She meets him outside, only to have the rat wrap his arms around her in a hug. Her heart speeds up, but she embraces him back, her tongue flicking out where he can't see so she may catch his scent. He's so warm, so inviting, so lovely.

“Hope you're ready to have a good time. Great drinks, great dancing, and a great view of the city," he says, opening the door for her.

As she slides in and buckles up, she can't help but ask. “How in the world did you manage to get us a pass? This place is really exclusive."

He shrugs. “When you're a jack of all trades like I am, you get to know people. The manager and I are old business buds, actually, so he was able to squeeze us in."

“Really? What sort of business?" Arya asks, just making small talk while they get to their destination.

“Eh, a little of this and a little of that. Mostly boring details. Nothing nearly as exciting as our ventures," he says, giving her a wink.

Arya titters at that. “Oh yes, because we're only the most clandestine and action-packed of businesspeople," she muses.

“One persons's drudgery is another person's high octane adventure," Jay says. “You never know until you try it yourself." He pulls off, leaving them to speak of other minor things as they approach the club.

“How's everything been since our last meeting?" Arya asks, brushing a hand over her hair.

“Oh, since our last date, you mean?" Jay says. “Can't complain, but really we're talking too much about me now, don't ya think? What's with the spring in your step? I don't think I've ever seen you this excited. You got something sneaky planned for me tonight?"

“What, me? Sneak? Certainly not. I'm just here to have a good time with a fun guy is all. Nothing sneaky about that, nope!"

“Heh, fine, fine, but don't get too surprised if I have something up my sleeve. Can't give a girl a good time without the unexpected, that's what I think."

“Oh, you think every trick is going to work on every girl? What have I told you about that chauvinism?"

He slows the car in front of the club. The name is penned in bright pink neon lights and the line leading in travels around the block. The boisterous music of a live band leaks out through the doors behind a large avian bouncer. Jay stops right in front of a uniformed valet and puts the car into park. “No chauvinism to it, Arya," he says, his voice getting quiet. “Each person has something they like, and what I do is find out what that is to make sure they're having fun. It ain't got nothing to do with playing ya. I'm doing this because I think it will be the best for both of us, alright?"

Her lip twitches, and she tries to find something to say in mresponse, but the valet opens the door, snapping her attention away. “Uh, ye-yes." She wonders if maybe she wasn't being just a bit too guarded.

He smiles and slips out of the car himself, tossing the keys to

the valet. “Hey, don't sweat it. All work and no play makes Arya a dull, yet respectable, lady."

She slides out of her seat and joins him on the sidewalk, wrapping her arms around one of his. “Sounds like you don't want me to be respectable."

“It'll take something astronomic to make me like you less. Come on. Time waits for no one!"

The two easily make it through the bouncer, who gives Jay a hardy and friendly “how do you do?" The line of potential guests grumble and scoff at the privilege, yet others look to Arya with admiration or even jealousy. She turns from them, placing a hand upon her chest. This isn't some big con game. This is her life, and she's moved up the rungs to get here. But how did she do that? Through deceit? Is it worth it?

Jay immediately brings her to the dance floor, where the upbeat tempo and the salsa tunes pull her worries away. He works his magic upon her, leading her around the floor, spinning and dipping, swaying and gyrating. It's like her body is an instrument and he is a master musician.

'Come on!" he chirps. “You gonna let me lead the whole night? Surely, you got some good moves yourself!"

“Oh, I dunno," she responds, arms wrapped over his shoulders.

“It's really not my style, the music, I mean."

“Yeah, I can tell you're having trouble keeping up with the foot work. What's the matter, got two left feet?"

She actually looks down. Did she actually mess up her disguise that badly today?