FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"This is Diamond's Heart?" Rye asked confused.

"Yes," Cloud answered. The car idled, waiting in a line for the valet parking. "Same principles and food, but it's all local so it's fresher and a tad bit more expensive."

The building was lit with lights that resembled moonlight, showing its expert landscaping. Streams and ponds wove in and out of the plants, while waterfalls came down from the exterior of the second floor. The second story had a balcony where diners ate, with each table having two lit candles. The glass railing was all that separated the diners from the edge.

Rye was still looking at the details, when Cloud was finally in front of the building.

"Come on Rye," Cloud said getting out of the car.

Rye also got out of the car and went to the carpet that led into the building. Waiting, Rye watched Cloud talk quietly with a valet attendant. With a nod, Cloud handed the keys over, along with a fifty dollar bill. Cloud joined Rye, and they put their arms around each other.

"You know, we're not millionaires," Rye said.

"Almost," Cloud laughed. "Since millionaires are based off their assets, we probably only a hundred thousand dollars short."

"Smart ass, you know what I mean," Rye laughed. "You don't need to get so technical with me."

"I know," Cloud admitted, still smiling. "This is the last time we'll spend this much money in a while, I promise."

Rye opened the door for Cloud and they both walked in going to the hostess, arm-in-arm again.

"Reservation for two under the name 'Waters,'" Cloud told the hostess.

"Yes, Mr. Waters," she said looking down the list. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to your table."

"Thank you."

Holding on to one another, the two otters followed the feline up a flight of stairs and out onto the back balcony. Even though it faced toward the road, the balcony was quiet with the sounds of the waterfall and night creatures. Rye and Cloud were led to a table in the corner, which overlooked the landscaping and a small pond. The hostess seated them at the table, which had two fresh candles already burning, and handed the otters two menus.

"Is there anything I can get you two to drink?" asked the hostess looking at Cloud.

"Ice water."

"I'll have the same."

"Okay, your server will be right with you."

The hostess left them to be alone. Rye looked over the edge and stared at the pond where fish swam around, sometimes going up and down the stream that fed the pond. The cars and guests leaving or entering the building were expertly hidden behind large, shady trees.

"We couldn't have gotten a better table," Rye said still looking over the edge.

Cloud was also looking down at the landscaping. "We sure couldn't. It has an excellent view."

A well-groomed arctic fox in a waiter's outfit came over to the table with two glasses of water. "Good evening," the fox greeted the otters, while he set the glasses in front of them. "Welcome to Diamond's Heart. My name is Kevin, and I'll be your waiter for the night. Do you know what you'd like for tonight?"

"Not yet, thank you," Cloud answered.

"Okay then, I'll give you two a few minutes. I'll be back when you're ready to order."

"Thank you."

Now looking at the menu, Rye skimmed through the food listed. He didn't notice any posted prices, but he knew it'd be like that.

"I think I'll get the North Alaskan White Halibut," Rye told Cloud.

"Okay, get whatever you'd like," Cloud said, still scanning his own menu. "I wonder why they call it 'North Alaskan.' What is 'Alaskan' anyway?"

"I don't know," Rye admitted with a laugh. He set his menu down. "You've got to give credit to whoever comes up with these names though. They're completely odd."

"I'm going to get the Clearwater Trout," Cloud said after a moment's silence. He also set down his menu.

The waiter came over before either of them could say anything more.

"Are you ready to order?" Kevin asked.

"Yes we are," Cloud said. "I'll have the Clearwater Trout. Can I replace the chips with some fresh fruit?"

"Yes you can," the waiter said writing the order down. "And what would your handsome boyfriend like?" He turned to Rye.

"The North Alaskan White Halibut will be all for me," Rye told the waiter.

"Fish for the two otters," the waiter finished writing the order. He took the menus and held them in his arms. "Is there anything else you would like?"

"No, we're good," Cloud said. "Thank you."

The waiter turned and left.

Cloud took a sip from his water and stared at Rye, who was again looking around at the new restaurant. Cloud smiled, basking in Rye's beautiful aura and his innocence since he was still unaware of Cloud's stare. Finally Rye noticed and stared back at Cloud for a moment before he laughed.

"What?" Rye asked still laughing.

"Nothing," Cloud replied innocently.

"Then stop staring at me," Rye complained playfully.

"I can't help it," Cloud said.

Seconds went by with silence with them staring at each other.

"While you were away," Cloud began finally looking away from Rye and taking another sip of water. "I was thinking."

"Thinking?" Rye asked suddenly scared. Does he want to break-up with me? Is that why he brought me here? So I wouldn't make a scene? What did I do wrong? Why would he--

"About your family," Cloud answered. "You haven't told me much about them, and I want to know more about your childhood Rye."

"Oh," Rye chuckled with relief. "My family. I forget that you've never met them. I guess we really haven't talked about them much either. Well, what do you want to know?"

"I don't know," Cloud honestly answered. He laughed. "Well, if you don't mind, why did your parents get divorced?"

"Well, my parents have always been very young for their age," Rye began. "They always went to dinner, went swimming of course, and did all these things that we do now. Only difference is that they didn't love each other the way I love you, or you love me. They never showed any problems in their marriage even though I learned that it started when I was just a youngling.

"They started to date other people but they remained married for my, and my sister's, sake. My dad started to date this crazy vixen when I was fourteen. I liked her, she was a lot of fun to hang around with but she always tried to get me a girlfriend. But that's another story. Anyway, around the same time my mom found another otter who she's been dating for a while now. He's never really come to terms with me being gay but my mom is very protective of me and keeps him in line.

"With both of them finding their new spouses, they decided to get divorced to allow them to live happily. My parents are still good friends, and they've never argued or fought in front of me or my sister. They care about us more than anything so they'd never make things difficult for us. We still get together on the holidays usually, except for this year obviously. My sister went off to college and I've been out here so it was too difficult."

Rye took a sip from his glass.

"You're family sounds really nice," Cloud said smiling at Rye's story. "You still talk to them often?"

"I exchange emails with them every now and then," Rye admitted. "I told them a bit about you and they want to meet you."

Cloud laughed. "Thinking about it, I'd be nervous to meet your family."

"Don't worry about it," Rye comforted Cloud. "If anyone does anything to make you feel uncomfortable, I'll make sure they'll pay for it."

The waiter came and delivered the food, but since Rye and Cloud were in a conversation, he didn't interrupt.

"Thank you," Cloud thanked the waiter then turned back to Rye. "Don't have a feud with your family because of me." They both picked at their dinners.

"I'd fight heaven and earth for you Cloud," said Rye confidently with a smile. Then he turned serious. "I know you don't like to talk about it, but can you tell me what your family is like?"

Cloud froze for a moment, surprised to be asked the question. "Um, I guess I can. I have to ask that you don't show sympathy towards me though." Rye nodded. "Well, I was born in a large family of four, then my parents had another daughter after I was born which gave me two brothers and two sisters. We played like normal children but I was never really all that close with them. There were often fights among us, usually involving me versus my two older brothers.

"My parents are divorced also but years before they finally got divorced, they yelled at each other so loud, it prevented us to do anything else because as young as we were, we were scared until they were finished fighting. When they got divorced, my mom took the five of us younglings with her and we moved to a different province. For three years, we struggled to get money, moved from home to home and transferred from school to school.

"The result left me socially withdrawn from everyone. I didn't think I was smart, didn't think I was attractive, didn't think I was good at anything. I blame my parents for failing to raise me properly because I thought so modestly that it nearly ruined me, nearly killed me. When I was fifteen, I came out to my mom. I spoke to other gay guys online, and they put the concept in my head that it had to be this huge dramatic ordeal to come out. I regret and repress the day I came out to my mom. I won't talk about that though.

"Past my sixteenth birthday, I had a teacher who changed my whole outlook. She did things that weren't really fair but I learned from those things. Don't get me wrong, she was a great teacher. In the following year, I realized so many things wrong with my childhood, so many things wrong with my family, so many things wrong with my parents and how they raised me. In one of my journals, I discovered that I wrote that I grew twice as intelligent as I was a few weeks before. And I believe I did, because I thought of solutions for things that no one else could and I thought differently than everyone else.

"I changed how I was dramatically, by no longer dressing like a slob, taking care of myself, and trying at school. But my family problems didn't get any better, and I grew angrier with them. Thanks to how the world is today, I was able to move out with the little money that I had and, well, you know the rest from there." Cloud finished, looking down at his plate. He no longer ate any of it, but simply poked at the meat.

Rye didn't know what to say. He felt a strong sense of pity for Cloud but he said he wouldn't show sympathy. Cloud didn't want it. "I. . . I don't know what to say."

Cloud laughed and looked up at Rye. "It's alright. It's over now. And besides, if I didn't move, I wouldn't have met you. You make it all worth it Rye."

Rye smiled. "Thanks Cloud."

"No, thank you Rye," said Cloud. "So did you ever have any pets?"

"Not for a very long time," Rye answered, nibbling on a strawberry. "You?"

"Not for a while either."

"How did you learn of this place?" Rye asked.

"Well, I knew you loved eating at the Diamond Heart in Ab Amor, so I was planning on taking you there," explained Cloud. "But Ariel heard about them building this one and she told me about it so I decided to take you here instead."

"I must admit, I am impressed with this place."

"So am I."

The waiter came up to the couple when their glasses were empty and he refilled them. "How's is everything?"

"Great," Rye answered.

"Good," Kevin said, finishing filling the glasses. He then noticed that both plates were almost gone. "Would either of you be interested in a complimentary ice cream sundae?"

"It couldn't hurt," Cloud said. "Thank you."

"Okay, I'll be right back with that then," the waiter replied, then left the table.

"Complimentary?" Rye asked once the waiter was gone.

Cloud shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it's some grand opening special."

"Maybe. I like this waiter though, he's earning his tip."

"Mhmm," Cloud nodded.

The waiter soon came back with the dessert and offered it to the otters. They both shared it and it was soon gone, since it was a one-person serving. After that they ordered a dessert that they could enjoy more which they also quickly devoured. Not long afterwards, they paid for the meal, leaving a very healthy tip, and left the restaurant.