FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Now that Helen had finally successfully gotten a furry client she simply wanted more. In the coming days her itch grew to be insatiable but fortunately she wouldn't need to wait long.

“Hello! Welcome to Hel-" She paused on her way to the front door and her breath caught in her throat. Clearly the stars were aligning or some deity was finally answering her not-so-secret prayers.

“Yes, you may help me." The arctic fox was completely different from Lily. Even though she was shorter than the Aussie the fox stood taller and her presence in the shop was immediately felt, almost to the point of dominating.

Helen almost trotted to her new client and had to restrain herself from doing a little bow. “May I take your coat?" The new furry paused for a moment before slipping off the garment and cautiously passing to stylist.

Classic service trick. Not only did it allow her to accommodate a client but it also allowed her to quickly gather data about said client. As she walked to the office to hang it up she furrowed her brow. Quality materials, clearly expensive, but no visible brand. Curious.

A mystery to be solved at a later time.

“Thank you for waiting! I'm Helen, what were you looking to get done today?" Helen returned to find the fox leafing through a number of magazines. Her sleeveless dress was also fashionable and no doubt also very expensive, but who made it?

In fact, her hair looked recently done too. As in, styled an hour, maybe half an hour ago. The ends recently trimmed, the hair unnaturally glossy and stiff. All in all, she could have passed for something out of Old Hollywood.

The arctic fox looked up, “Pleasure Helen. Call me…" She paused and then started walking to the sinks in the back, “Call me Charlotte. Let's start with a wash. Give me something lavender."

“Of course, of course!" Even with her longer legs Helen found herself chasing after Charlotte who had promptly seated herself. Bottles in hand Helen began to fuss and took a moment to consider the platinum blond client.

If she was getting her hair styled this frequently there was a potential for drying out. Even moreso given her foxy nature. And given that the weather was getting colder it wouldn't hurt to do an extra bit of conditioning. Helen nodded to herself as she rinsed and worked the floral shampoo into Charlotte's hair.

“Hm! You've got quite strong hands." It was a bit unnerving, most clients closed their eyes during a hair wash but not Charlotte, who insisted on making eye contact during the entire affair. “And yet you're still so gentle, I like that."

Helen flashed a quick smile before resuming the scalp massage. Again, most clients would have relaxed by this point, but it felt as though the fox was even more tense. Contemplating this she began the second rinse and then applying the moisturizing conditioner.

“Spoiling me today aren't we? Is that conditioner?" A short nod while the product worked its way from tip to root, one section of hair at a time. “Not that I mind, it's rather considerate of you. Especially with the weather getting cooler."

After a final rinse Charlotte was seated upright as a light blow dry and soft towel were applied before being escorted to a chair. Curlers and brush in hand, Helen began to circle the furry, “So, what would you like done today?"

“Surprise me." Was that a smirk? Helen swore she could have saw a hint of fang. Perhaps she was being challenged? Uncertain as to what to expect Helen frowned as Charlotte closed her eyes and oddly enough, relaxed.

“Come on, I've heard about your skills from a number of my human clients. Unless, you're uncomfortable working on a furry?" Charlotte's eyes snapped open and connected with Helen's in the mirror.

Helen met the fox's icy glare, “I'm not sure why you would think that. In fact, I just had a very lovely furry client the other day." Charlotte didn't relax but at least she closed her eyes again and let Helen resume working. If she didn't know any better, it was almost as if the furry was ever so slightly disappointed.

The first set of curlers slowly found their way into the bleached hair. At least, probably bleached? Or was her hair naturally coloured like this? Her fur was pure white so maybe she dyed her naturally white hair slightly blond? Already Helen was trying to find answers, or at least, questions that would lead to answers.

“Hmm, no no…" Confused, Charlotte opened her eyes again turned her head around as Helen removed the curlers and rummaged in a bin behind them. “Perhaps… Mmm…"

“Having second thoughts?" Even in the oversized apron the fox still managed to look regal. Finally Helen returned with fistfuls of massive rollers and started anew.

“I thought you wanted a surprise. Not really a surprise if you keep watching everything I do." If Charlotte was caught off-guard by Helen's chiding the only hint was the extra half second that passed before the eyes were closed again. The stylist allowed herself a breath of relief before inserting the first roller.

Anticipating the incoming awkward silence Helen began contemplating how to begin her barrage of questions. The fox was likely quite guarded, even secretive. Small talk would not be enough to get worthwhile information but anything too specific would put her further on edge. It was absolutely critical that the first question be perfect.

“Tell me about yourself."

Helen froze. That was not the right question. It wasn't even her question. And it took another second to realize that the question didn't come from her, but rather the chair.

She stared down at Charlotte who seemed rather pleased with herself. The client had taken initiative, and given her personality she would not be sated by small talk. She was trying to probe and gather information herself, though Helen wasn't sure why.

“Well, what do you want to know?"

The fox stiffened slightly and Helen allowed herself a smug smile. Back to you foxy, let's see what you want to know. As long as you don't call me out for responding to a question with a question.

“That's not really fair, answering my question with a question." Shit.

Charlotte's eyes remained closed as the next set of rollers were gingerly inserted. Helen contemplated her next move. Would it be better to submit? Challenge her? Someone had to budge first, and perhaps she should, given that Charlotte was the client.

“I just find it curious that you're here all by yourself."

Again, the fox took initiative. Not aggressively so, but almost enough to be demanding. Failing to give at least a morsel of information now would be rude, and could be perceived as being cold or uninterested.

“I have a few part-time staff but I like to be a bit more hands on with my clients. Get to know each of them personally." The chair stayed silent as Helen wheeled a dryer over and hovered it over rollers. “Plus, I'm not really alone, I have you with me!"

That at least elicited a response, a small chuckle escaped under the hood as the dryer hummed away. “No thoughts of going bigger? Doing more than owning your own shop?" The questions were becoming more focused now. And Helen paused for a moment before responding.

“Well owning my own place hasn't been easy but I've learned a lot. Plus, what I enjoy most is client satisfaction" She pressed a hand against the dryer and turned the temperature down a notch. “ Besides, I don't know where else I'd even go haha."

Silence. Perhaps it was time to return fire. “Your turn. Tell me about some of your clients."

“My clients are eccentric." Another pause as the temperature was adjusted again. “I may be called a manager but at times I feel more akin to a babysitter." She sighed and sat back in the chair.

Helen switched the dryer off and pulled it away. “Well it sounds like you enjoy your work. You're certainly passionate about it if you can tolerate doing such intensive supervision."

“You don't even know what I do."

“I don't need to."

“Then how can you be so certain?" The rollers were being removed now. Slowly and carefully little bundles of hair popped forth.

“Because a woman like you would have left and done something different by now if she was actually dissatisfied." No response. Or perhaps Helen wanted to hear a hum of agreement as the brush was whipped out and each curl was attended to.

Finally a gentle spritizing of hair spray as Helen mentally counted down and steeled herself. “Alright, you can open your eyes now."

A hint of shock was seen when Charlotte beheld herself in the mirror. Confusion? Bemusement? The fox tilted her head to the side and played with one of the curls. “Well you have certainly surprised me."

“And in a good way."

Charlotte spun around and removed the apron before standing. “Care to tell me how you can be so certain?"

“Oh please." Helen scurried about cleaning, “If you were displeased I would have heard about it immediately."

“That's quite the assumption."

“But am I wrong?"

Charlotte stopped inspecting herself and chuckled, “I suppose you're not." She accepted her coat as they both walked to the front counter. “So, what do you call this hairstyle?"

“Uhhh… It doesn't really have one? It's sort of a modern bouffant but also kind of a uh, wild stylized mane?" The fox stared back blankly as Helen scrambled, “These things don't really have names! And I improvise so often that you know-" She stopped when she heard the chuckling again.

“Well I am glad that even you can be left speechless at times." But Charlotte furrowed her brow as she pulled out a card to pay, “Though you're doing yourself a disservice Helen, you're criminally undercharging."

“I beg your pardon?"

“How do you feel about dinner?"

“Excuse me?"

“Dinner. You. Me. Tonight. My driver will come pick you up. You're dressed just fine. Yes? No?"

They stared at each other again and it felt as though the world only comprised of the two of them at that very moment. Helen was so stunned she barely registered someone else walking in.

“Sure. I'll be closed up by 6."

“Then I'll see you no later than 7."

And Charlotte was gone, leaving Helen with her thoughts and her new guest. Shaking herself back into reality she turned to her next client.

“Hello! What can I d-"

It was Lily.