An Old Fashioned Romance
A Furside Tale By Misterebony

Chelsea figeted nervously in front of the mirror. The Hume was very nervous about tonight, everything had to look just right.

Nearby, her daughter was smiling. "Oh mom, you look pretty." And she did too. Her dark hair was dun up in a fancy bun, a silver comb holding it together. She wore a blue satin dress and a pearl necklace, the same color as her fingernails. Her skin was lightly tanned, her form delicate like a princess. Her lips were red from lipstick, and she wore a purple eyeshadow that enhanced her blue eyes. She was 29, and she was lovely.

"Looks are not everything." She said. "Tonight is a blind date with a Fur I never saw before, and he may want just a food slave or a..."

"Mom relax! You rmeeting in a public place right?"

"Yeah..." She said, taking a deep breath. "Well, here I go. Be nice for the sitter."

"I will!" the daughter waved goodbye, watching as her mom got in the gravcar and sped off.

*********

"Oh I can never get this right." Across town, the Fox Fur was trying to tie a bow tie, and was failing miserably. His fur was neatly combed and silver, and he had on a deep blue suit with a white dress shirt. He was 24, and was set up on this date by a mutual friend.

'You'll just eat her up!' He had been told. 'She's older but very pretty, and she has a little girl about 5. You always wanted a family and were turned off by the bunny girls last time who just wanted sex.'

Now here he was, unable to do his tie. He would look like a fool he was certain. His green eyes looked back at him in the mirror, telling him to go without it.

"Guess I have to." He said, setting the tie aside. He picked up the pink carnation bouquet he purchased, and headed out for the meeting place. 

**********

She sat there on the bench by the park. She though his would be a public meeting, but the park was near empty. Couples walked here and there along the lamplight paths, cameras everywhere to discourage rapes. She figeted nervously. All she would hae to identify her date was his name.

And he had hers and knew to look for the blue dress.

Suddenly, a voice behind her spoke. "Tifa?"

She turned to see who had spoke. "Cloud?"

It was a silver fox, handsome, maybe a little younger and he had no tie, but a real knockout. He was looking at her with the same speechless reaction. Did she look that good to the fox?

And if so, in what way?

Neither spoke, fantasies playing out in their minds, more than a few erotic and a few romantic. FInally, he handed her the flowers.

"Why... thank you." She managed to say, unable to say they were her favorites. 

They held back no more, suddenly embracing right there. Now there are fairy tales that talk about love at first sight, but few ever experience it. This was it.

********

They walked from that bench down to a dance parlor, where soft music played. As they walked, they told about themselves.

Tifa was a single mother, the father divorcing her before little Anna was born. She worked at an orphanage/cuddle center*, and was a favorite among the staff and orphans.

"I wish I culd adopt them all, but I am not very rich." She admitted. "In fact, this is a rental from a friend. I make enough to get by and that is about it."

Cloud told his story. He was a writer for a local magazine, the TekDek Monthly**. He loved his work, but it bothered him always having to watch out for bunny Furs.

"Being a fox I find them everywhere, always eager for me to eat them or... well you know. But they are not my type. I'm kind of an old fashioned romantic, beliving in no sex until marriage, first kiss, that kind of thing." He smiled as, just then, he opened the door to the dance hall for her.

They danced to soft music, holding each other tight as they danced. He wound up licking his lips a couple times, his date looked so tasty. She chuckled when she pointed it out and made him blush like mad.

After the time at the dance hall, Cloud went to find a place for them to eat. THey eventually found a nice little cafe that offered private booths.

"Order anything you want." Cloud said. "Everything if you want it."

"You trying to fatten me up?" Tifa teased, making him blush. "Why are you so nervous about that? I am a Hume and you are a Fur. It's only natural you want to eat me."

"Yes, but as kids it is a game, and when we get older... well I kind of rate it like sex."

She paused. "Is that so?"

"Yes. See... how do I explain it... the whole concept of a relationship like this... if it becomes one I mean..."

She giggled. "Go on."

"Well... I want to make it a memorable experience, yet if I do it right away, it's kinda rude in my opinion. I rather wait, get to know you and all about you, and wait until after..."

"After..." She said curiously, but he let it hang.

Dinner turned out to be very delicious in spite of that embarassing moment, the conversation wonderful and thecompany divine.

*********

At the park, they returned to their cars and hugged once.

"I had a wonderful time." Tifa said. "We must do this again."

"I would be honored if I may call on you tomorrow." Cloud said, kissing her hand.

She tasted of sweet cakes and blueberries, and he blushed as he moaned at the taste.

"Sure you don't want some dessert? It would not be a rape or anything, it would be a gift from me to you."

"I am tempted," Cloud said,"but I just want to take it slow. I hope you don't mind."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, loving the soft feel of his fur. "I don't mind."

She handed him her address, written on a card. it also had her vidphone number. "Call me."

"I will Tifa." He gently stroked her cheek, moving his left paw down her face to her chin. Their eyes closed as their lips locked for a brief kiss.

"Godd night TIfa." He whispered.

"Good night Cloud." She replied.

*************

When Tifa got home, her daughter was waiting. She tapped her foot.

"SOOOOOO?" She said.

"So.... what?" Tifa said, still glowing and smiling. That kiss...

"Come on mom!" Anna said. "You were gone LATE! the sitter feel asleep an hour ago but I stayed up to find out the whole story. How was he?"

Tifa smiled. "Wonderful. He said we will take this slow... he wants to romance me he said."

Anna blinked. "So... he didn't eat you?"

She chuckled. "No... not yet."

"Dump him." Anna said, making her mom laugh. 

"Oh dear, when will you learn adults are different about it. Besides, I can wait for him." She sighed and went off humming. Anna watched and blinked.

"Adults are so weird. He didn't even eat her? And what's with the flowers?" He sighed and went to bed, a little dissapointed.

She would lose that when Cloud arrived the next day. And she would see why he was worht waiting for.

THE END

*A cuddle center is a place for homeless children, usually Hume, to be cared for. Most of the residents are fatter Furs, or ones with thick fur on them, so they can snuggle the little ones. Payment is only that they are eaten by their caretakers.

**TekDek Monthly is an electronics magazine focused on the newest gadgets and items.