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"description": "Finally, the second story in the Harvey Lahlis saga. Harvey is still feeling pretty bad about what he did with Mercedes weeks ago. He has found himself a nice girl in the avian dancer Eve, but he finds himself at the bottom of a bottle more often than he should. But he is still trying to move on. Unfortunately, the past has a way of catching up to you in ways you really just don't expect. And it can be a real pain in the neck.\n\nDue to InkBunny rules, part 2 will not be posted here.\nInstead, [url=https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44469568/]Part 2 can be found here on FurAffinity[/url]",
"description_bbcode_parsed": "Finally, the second story in the Harvey Lahlis saga. Harvey is still feeling pretty bad about what he did with Mercedes weeks ago. He has found himself a nice girl in the avian dancer Eve, but he finds himself at the bottom of a bottle more often than he should. But he is still trying to move on. Unfortunately, the past has a way of catching up to you in ways you really just don't expect. And it can be a real pain in the neck.
Due to InkBunny rules, part 2 will not be posted here. Instead, Part 2 can be found here on FurAffinity",
"writing": "[center][b]Harvey Lahlis and the Dancing Girls[/b][/center]\n[center]By XP Author[/center]\n\nI stared at her, laying there on what passed for a bed in my office. More of a cot than actual bed. Canvas stretched between a pair of poles attached to the wall, able to fold out whenever I was too tired or, more frequently of late, too drunk to stumble my way back home. It was sturdy enough to hold my weight, so I had no worry the light avian laying upon it now would fall. Her bright blue feathers clashed horribly with the rest of my drab office, like an invader in another world. A welcome one.\n\nThe blue jay's name was Eve. Told me it was short for Evening Rain. That was her stage name at the local cabaret, though it was more of a strip bar than anything classy. I still suspected Eve was her real name. Not that it really mattered if I knew her real name or not. Our relationship was not exactly one that would go down in history. A stripper that got extra money as a hooker on the side, and a disgraced ex-cop playing detective while drinking his life away.\n\nI was a regular at the cabaret, even more lately. They had cheep booze and cheaper women. Everything a man trying to drown his past away would want. After everything that had happened with Mercedes, I had found myself at the bottom of a bottle more often. I pulled open a drawer to my desk, pulling out a particular necklace. A blood red ruby in the shape of a heart, set into rose-gold, on a gold chain. It was the Heart of Blood, an heirloom of the Vatrelli mafia family. It had been stolen by a low ranking thug working for them, in the hopes he could run away with a classy dame he met.\n\nUnfortunately, that dame was Mercedes Caruso, daughter to Maximilian Caruso, head of a rival mafia family. Things went badly, and Mercedes came to me under a false name to find the man and, more importantly, the necklace. Things went even more badly after that, and I was the only one left to walk away, now in possession of the necklace... and the memories of some despicable things I had done that evening nearly 5 weeks ago. I had expected to be killed by now, taken out by either a Vatrelli thug looking for the necklace, or a Caruso hitman for what I did to Mercedes. Neither had happened. I had been allowed instead to drink myself into oblivion.\n\nThat is where Eve came into my life. One particularly heavy night of binge drinking left me in the saddest state I had been in so far. I had been so drunk that I could barely stand. Eve had brought me back to my office after I apparently had offered her money for the night. Instead of a night of drunken humping that would barely qualify as sex, I had just started to break down and sob before passing out on the floor. Eve told me when I woke up. She had stayed with me the night, not wanting to leave me alone in that state. She did not say it, but I knew I must have nearly eaten a bullet for her to be so concerned.\n\nI had been seeing Eve ever since. Near two weeks now. It was hardly like I expected anything to come of it. The girl was young enough to be my daughter. I don't know what she saw in a shlub like me. Maybe she had a thing for humans, or for older men. Maybe it was just because I never slapped her around like other men would... and have. I'm sure it wasn't just the sex, even if she told me it was great... as long as I'm mostly sober at the time. For my part, she is the first avian I had ever been with. It is a unique feeling, feathers on skin. She was also a ray of hope, some little kindness in my life. She was too good for me.\n\nMy thoughts were brought back to the present as Eve stirred on the cot. She let out a soft groan as she pushed herself up, yawning as she pushed the haze of sleep away. \"Morning, Harv.\"\n\nI chuckled, glancing over my shoulder at the window behind me. \"Such as it is. The sun is setting, not rising.\"\n\nShe nodded slowly, still somewhat groggy. She stretched her arms up and legs out. She had a slim figure, with all the right curves. Legs were slender, ending in sharp little talons. The bright blue feathers on her arms were longer than the rest, folding back neatly along each other. In place of hair, she had a lovely crest of feathers, swooping back along her scalp. There was a little black mixed in to trace her face and down her neck. In place of a nose or mouth and lips, she had a short, gray beak. Her chest was covered in soft, white down, leaving shapely breasts exposed. She was a very pretty young woman, and deserved a better life than she had. And a better man than me in it.\n\nShe let out a soft trill as she yawned again. \"What time is it?\"\n\nI looked at my watch. \"Half passed 6.\"\n\nShe sighed, sliding off of the cot. \"Oh... I've got to get going then. I have to be on stage in an hour.\"\n\n\"I know.\" I watched as she slid herself back into her dress. \"I was about to wake you.\" That was a lie. I would have let her lay there asleep and just stared for hours.\n\nShe looked at me, giving me a smile. It was odd to see an avian smile, the corners of their beak shifting upwards a little while the rest remained rigid. I was still learning her facial expressions, but her body language was easy to read. \"Will you be coming again tonight?\" She was looking forward to me being there, but also apprehensive. She knew I would be drinking again. \"We've got this new girl that's really good. Goes by Ivy. I'm doing a show with her tonight.\"\n\nI nodded slowly as I watched her slip some shoes on... or what passed for shoes. More coverings over her talons to keep them clean on the street. \"Yes. I'll be there.\" I looked up at her face. \"Good luck.\"\n\nShe gave a soft chirp at me. \"Thanks.\" She stepped closer and leaned over my desk, nuzzling her beak against my face. I gave her a soft kiss in return. \"I'll see you tonight.\" With that, she turned and walked out into the hall. I watched her tail fan out behind her before the door closed again.\n\nI leaned back in my chair. I still had the necklace in my hands. If only I could sell the thing and be rid of it. Then I could get some money, maybe offer to give the girl a better life... No. No buyer in the city would want something belonging to a mafia family. And there was no way I could offer anything of value to Eve. It would seem like I was just taking pity on the girl. Despite everything, she was far too sweet and kind-hearted to accept something like that. Still, she was the one good thing I had going for me in the mess my life had become.\n\nI let out a sigh, stuffing the necklace into a pocket before standing up again. I turned to look out my window, in time to see Eve stepping out of the building and walking off down the street. Even through the dirty window and dimming light, she shown out there. A splash of bright color against gray and brown. I would wait a half hour, close up my office and head out then. At least it did not look like it was going to rain tonight.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\nThe place smelled of cigar smoke and cheap whiskey. Dim lights filtered through the floor, to draw the attention to the more well lit stage running out into the middle of the room. The sign out front called it a cabaret. A cabaret had singers and shows, dancers and good music. The Loving Dove was not so classy. The fact that the girls could be 'rented' by the seedy clientele said enough about what this place really was. A brothel, pretending to be a strip joint, pretending to be something with culture. In truth, it was just a place where drunk men could drink cheep booze and watch pretty girls get naked on stage, all while bad music was played from records. With a few dollars thrown around, a 'private show' could be arranged.\n\nOf course it was a place I was familiar with, even before my fall from grace. I used to wonder just which one of the mafia families actually ran the joint. Now, I was just glad it was not the Vatrelli or Caruso families. Whoever it was that really ran the dive, they did not care that I existed, as long as I had money to spend. And spend it I did. I sat in what had become my usual spot, a few tables away from the stage. I sipped from the third glass of scotch of the night.\n\nThe lights on the stage shifted, being tinted in yellows as someone changed the filters on the spotlights shining down from above. A man walked out on stage, dressed like some circus announcer, complete with top hat. He threw his arms wide and gave the drunkards a big smile. \"Ladies and gentleman!\" As if either of those things were in the audience. \"Welcome to our show tonight! We have a special treat for you all. Not one, but two lovely ladies will grace us with their sultry dance and sensuous show.\" The horny men in the crowd cheered. I just sat back and watched. \"For your viewing enjoyment of the night, I present to you all: Evening Rain and Poison Ivy!\"\n\nEve was the first to emerge from backstage. She sauntered out into the lights, to the sounds of cat calls and cheers. No longer was she dressed in plain clothes, but instead in what could loosely be called her work attire. A floor length robe hung over her shoulders, covered in feathers almost as colorful as her own. Reds and greens ran down the length of the thing, accentuated by her natural blues. Her head now had the addition of more red and green feathers thanks to a headdress. Long stockings clung to her hips, colored in red to contrast her natural blues, and equally long gloves ran up her arms, green feathers hanging from them to emulate wings. It all made her look like a bird of paradise.\n\nAs she stepped down the stage, the robe fell away to the floor, revealing a snug outfit under, clinging to her chest and hips. Her tail fanned out behind her to accentuate the sway of her hips. More feathers covered her than her own, most of them purposefully frayed to give a fluffy plume look to her. She winked at someone in the crowd as she turned, her tail twitching up to raise the skirt and flash the men a quick view of her shapely rear.\n\nEve motioned to the back, to signal the entrance of her partner for her 'dance' to night. I turned to look, and my jaw must have hit the table. She was gorgeous, tall and shapely as one would expect. White fur stood out against the leaf-like design of her outfit, giving her something of a 'sexy savage' look. Vines clung around her chest, weaving over her shoulders and down her torso. The stockings along her legs had the same vine-like design, leaves sticking off here and there. She had long gloves to match, with vines weaving their way up her arms to mingle into those at her shoulders. Her hips were covered, barely, by a dress of leaves that ended just above the top of her stockings. Her fluffy white tail swayed seductively behind her. Long, wavy hair of gold spilled down from the crown of leaves atop her head.\n\nIt was not her beauty that had me sitting up straight. It was everything about her. She looked almost exactly like Mercedes. It was like watching a ghost walk out in front of me. I sat, transfixed, as the mink walked to Eve. The two started to paw at each other playfully, all done to show as much to the crowd. Hands ran down backs, along sides, through hair and feathers. Before long, clothing was removed with a flourish, shirts being pulled open to reveal shapely breasts before being covered by the hands of the other partner. The crowd was eating up the show, cheering loud for more. It was very strange to watch for me. The ghost of the past pawing sensually at my girl of today. I swore I saw the mink lock eyes with me and give me a toothy grin, more than any other man so far.\n\nThe show went on, more clothing being removed and tossed aside with a flourish and a spin. A pair of feather fans had been pulled from Eve's outfit, cleverly hidden among it. When her clothing was removed, she was left with the fans to cover herself just enough to keep titillating the audience. One was handed to the mink, Ivy, just as her own clothing was slid off. The two moved in mirror to one another to the music. Shapely legs brushed each other as they passed, hands brushed chests and bellies. It was as if the two could barely keep their hands off each other, wanting to grab and feel and touch.\n\nThe fans were covering less and less, flashing more of each woman at the onlookers. Breasts, legs, ass, even uncovered sexes were flashed in brief moments. It concluded with the two women turning to one another, arms sliding around the other and drawing close. Both bodies pressed close together, mouth close to beak. The fans were brought up and covered their faces from the crowd as the leaned in for a kiss, leaving everything else totally open to view. A moment later, the lights on the stage went out, leaving both women in the dark. Cheers burst from the audience, rowdy men hooting and hollering for more.\n\nBy the time the lights came back on, the two women had vacated the stage, taking their clothing with them. A few feathers remained behind. The next show would start soon, some other dancing girls coming out to entertain. I did not care about them. I had to find out who that mink was. At the same time, I did not want to. Everything about Mercedes came flashing back into my head more vividly than I had imagined. How she came into my office, the night at the hotel, what happened at Wally's apartment... the alleyway afterwards. Everything.\n\nI needed another drink.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\nI knew my way into the backstage. The benefit of dating one of the girls. Some of the other girls flashed me a smile as I made my way to where they got themselves ready for their turn on the stage. There were more than a few pairs of tits hanging out when I got there. None made any haste to hide themselves. I wish I could say I did not stare, but I did. I also wish I could say I could see most of them clearly, but being as drunk as I was made focusing difficult. Thankfully, Eve was not hard to pick out among the rest.\n\nEve turned to look at me, and her shoulders drooped. She still tried to put on a smile, but even in my state, I could see the disappointment in her eyes. \"Harvey, you know you shouldn't be back here...\"\n\nI waved a hand dismissively, almost accidentally swatting at some costume beside me. \"I know... but I wanted to...\" I was suddenly aware I had no idea what I wanted to come back here for. \"You're... done for tonight, right?\"\n\nEve nodded. \"Yes, Harvey. Just finished my last show of the night. You know that.\" She spoke to me like she might to a child. That should hurt more than it did. Maybe once I was sober... if I ever let myself get sober.\n\nI smiled down at her. \"Can I offer to walk you home? Yours... or mine...\"\n\nShe sighed, closing her eyes as she stood up. \"Harvey...\" She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. \"Not tonight, Harvey. Maybe if you were a little less drunk.\" She still gave me a gentle hug, but did not let it linger. \"Go home and sleep it off. Then we can spend some time together.\" I watched her walk passed me, unable to come up with anything to say to try and stop her, to follow, to stay in her presence. She was getting sick of me. It was only a matter of time. I stood there like an idiot, watching her walk out and away.\n\nI let out a sigh and was about to stumble my way out as well when fingers suddenly draped themselves on my shoulder. I turned to look at the hand, then followed the arm back to its owner. \"Seems you've struck out tonight.\" My eyes went wide as I stared into the face of Mercedes. No... no, Ivy. That was her stage name. \"If you're just looking for a girl to spend the night with, though... I'm also just getting off.\" She leaned in closer, her voice low. \"I'm sure we could arrange something...\" She smelled so nice. She always smelled so nice. Just like Mercedes. Just like the night I...\n\nI pushed myself away, nearly stumbling back into another girl. \"You... I...\" I shook my head, turning to the girl I had bumped into. \"Sorry...\" I turned and started to walk away without another word.\n\n\"It's Harvey, right?\" I stopped dead when she said my name. \"Eve mentioned you. Said you're sweet, but have some problems.\" She was suddenly beside me again. \"I could help you forget all about those problems...\"\n\nI closed my eyes, trying everything I could to force my mind to focus. \"I'm sorry...\" I started to walk away again. \"I can't.\"\n\n\"You're loss, Harvey.\" I walked out as fast as I could. Before I knew it, I was out of the joint entirely and back on the street. The fresh air... as fresh as city air could get anyway... helped a little to clear my mind. At least enough to keep walking. I had nowhere in mind as a destination, but I had to get out of there, away from the woman. Some thought was nagging at the back of my mind, just out of reach. I ignored it, wanting to forget, not remember.\n\nThe next thing I was aware of was being in my office, standing in the middle of the room and staring at my desk. I did not remember climbing the steps, or even walking into the building. Why had I come here? I leaned against my desk, taking deep breaths. I needed something here. I moved around to open the drawers. I knew what I came here for once I opened the bottom drawer. I stared at the contents, shoulders sagging. I reached in and took hold of the cloth, hiding under empty bottles and hastily stashed papers.\n\nI withdrew the pair of silk panties, staring at them. They were Mercedes'. I had kept them from the night in the alley. I did not know why then or now I had taken them. I clutched at them tight. I had used these in private to pleasure myself, rubbing myself with them. A part of me debated doing that now, right here in my office. Instead, I turned to walk away, back out into the hall. I hastily stuffed the panties into my pocket. \n\nSomething was wrong. There was nothing in my pocket when I stuffed the panties in there. It took me several seconds to remember I had taken the necklace with me, but now it was not in my pocket. Panic rose in my chest. I must have dropped it somewhere. If I dropped it at the strip joint... no, calm down. I probably just left it in my office, probably threw it into the drawer by habit. I should still double check.\n\nI turned around to go back into my office again. My hand reached out and grasped the handle to the door. Pain exploded in the back of my skull, then my face as it struck the door. Darkness followed quickly afterwards.\n\n[center]* * *[/center]\n\n[center]This is only half of this story. The rest is not allowed by InkBunny rules.\nIf you wish to read part 2, it can be found on FurAffinity\n(Link in the description)\n\n[center]* * *[/center]",
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Harvey Lahlis and the Dancing Girls
By XP Author
I stared at her, laying there on what passed for a bed in my office. More of a cot than actual bed. Canvas stretched between a pair of poles attached to the wall, able to fold out whenever I was too tired or, more frequently of late, too drunk to stumble my way back home. It was sturdy enough to hold my weight, so I had no worry the light avian laying upon it now would fall. Her bright blue feathers clashed horribly with the rest of my drab office, like an invader in another world. A welcome one.
The blue jay's name was Eve. Told me it was short for Evening Rain. That was her stage name at the local cabaret, though it was more of a strip bar than anything classy. I still suspected Eve was her real name. Not that it really mattered if I knew her real name or not. Our relationship was not exactly one that would go down in history. A stripper that got extra money as a hooker on the side, and a disgraced ex-cop playing detective while drinking his life away.
I was a regular at the cabaret, even more lately. They had cheep booze and cheaper women. Everything a man trying to drown his past away would want. After everything that had happened with Mercedes, I had found myself at the bottom of a bottle more often. I pulled open a drawer to my desk, pulling out a particular necklace. A blood red ruby in the shape of a heart, set into rose-gold, on a gold chain. It was the Heart of Blood, an heirloom of the Vatrelli mafia family. It had been stolen by a low ranking thug working for them, in the hopes he could run away with a classy dame he met.
Unfortunately, that dame was Mercedes Caruso, daughter to Maximilian Caruso, head of a rival mafia family. Things went badly, and Mercedes came to me under a false name to find the man and, more importantly, the necklace. Things went even more badly after that, and I was the only one left to walk away, now in possession of the necklace... and the memories of some despicable things I had done that evening nearly 5 weeks ago. I had expected to be killed by now, taken out by either a Vatrelli thug looking for the necklace, or a Caruso hitman for what I did to Mercedes. Neither had happened. I had been allowed instead to drink myself into oblivion.
That is where Eve came into my life. One particularly heavy night of binge drinking left me in the saddest state I had been in so far. I had been so drunk that I could barely stand. Eve had brought me back to my office after I apparently had offered her money for the night. Instead of a night of drunken humping that would barely qualify as sex, I had just started to break down and sob before passing out on the floor. Eve told me when I woke up. She had stayed with me the night, not wanting to leave me alone in that state. She did not say it, but I knew I must have nearly eaten a bullet for her to be so concerned.
I had been seeing Eve ever since. Near two weeks now. It was hardly like I expected anything to come of it. The girl was young enough to be my daughter. I don't know what she saw in a shlub like me. Maybe she had a thing for humans, or for older men. Maybe it was just because I never slapped her around like other men would... and have. I'm sure it wasn't just the sex, even if she told me it was great... as long as I'm mostly sober at the time. For my part, she is the first avian I had ever been with. It is a unique feeling, feathers on skin. She was also a ray of hope, some little kindness in my life. She was too good for me.
My thoughts were brought back to the present as Eve stirred on the cot. She let out a soft groan as she pushed herself up, yawning as she pushed the haze of sleep away. "Morning, Harv."
I chuckled, glancing over my shoulder at the window behind me. "Such as it is. The sun is setting, not rising."
She nodded slowly, still somewhat groggy. She stretched her arms up and legs out. She had a slim figure, with all the right curves. Legs were slender, ending in sharp little talons. The bright blue feathers on her arms were longer than the rest, folding back neatly along each other. In place of hair, she had a lovely crest of feathers, swooping back along her scalp. There was a little black mixed in to trace her face and down her neck. In place of a nose or mouth and lips, she had a short, gray beak. Her chest was covered in soft, white down, leaving shapely breasts exposed. She was a very pretty young woman, and deserved a better life than she had. And a better man than me in it.
She let out a soft trill as she yawned again. "What time is it?"
I looked at my watch. "Half passed 6."
She sighed, sliding off of the cot. "Oh... I've got to get going then. I have to be on stage in an hour."
"I know." I watched as she slid herself back into her dress. "I was about to wake you." That was a lie. I would have let her lay there asleep and just stared for hours.
She looked at me, giving me a smile. It was odd to see an avian smile, the corners of their beak shifting upwards a little while the rest remained rigid. I was still learning her facial expressions, but her body language was easy to read. "Will you be coming again tonight?" She was looking forward to me being there, but also apprehensive. She knew I would be drinking again. "We've got this new girl that's really good. Goes by Ivy. I'm doing a show with her tonight."
I nodded slowly as I watched her slip some shoes on... or what passed for shoes. More coverings over her talons to keep them clean on the street. "Yes. I'll be there." I looked up at her face. "Good luck."
She gave a soft chirp at me. "Thanks." She stepped closer and leaned over my desk, nuzzling her beak against my face. I gave her a soft kiss in return. "I'll see you tonight." With that, she turned and walked out into the hall. I watched her tail fan out behind her before the door closed again.
I leaned back in my chair. I still had the necklace in my hands. If only I could sell the thing and be rid of it. Then I could get some money, maybe offer to give the girl a better life... No. No buyer in the city would want something belonging to a mafia family. And there was no way I could offer anything of value to Eve. It would seem like I was just taking pity on the girl. Despite everything, she was far too sweet and kind-hearted to accept something like that. Still, she was the one good thing I had going for me in the mess my life had become.
I let out a sigh, stuffing the necklace into a pocket before standing up again. I turned to look out my window, in time to see Eve stepping out of the building and walking off down the street. Even through the dirty window and dimming light, she shown out there. A splash of bright color against gray and brown. I would wait a half hour, close up my office and head out then. At least it did not look like it was going to rain tonight.
* * *
The place smelled of cigar smoke and cheap whiskey. Dim lights filtered through the floor, to draw the attention to the more well lit stage running out into the middle of the room. The sign out front called it a cabaret. A cabaret had singers and shows, dancers and good music. The Loving Dove was not so classy. The fact that the girls could be 'rented' by the seedy clientele said enough about what this place really was. A brothel, pretending to be a strip joint, pretending to be something with culture. In truth, it was just a place where drunk men could drink cheep booze and watch pretty girls get naked on stage, all while bad music was played from records. With a few dollars thrown around, a 'private show' could be arranged.
Of course it was a place I was familiar with, even before my fall from grace. I used to wonder just which one of the mafia families actually ran the joint. Now, I was just glad it was not the Vatrelli or Caruso families. Whoever it was that really ran the dive, they did not care that I existed, as long as I had money to spend. And spend it I did. I sat in what had become my usual spot, a few tables away from the stage. I sipped from the third glass of scotch of the night.
The lights on the stage shifted, being tinted in yellows as someone changed the filters on the spotlights shining down from above. A man walked out on stage, dressed like some circus announcer, complete with top hat. He threw his arms wide and gave the drunkards a big smile. "Ladies and gentleman!" As if either of those things were in the audience. "Welcome to our show tonight! We have a special treat for you all. Not one, but two lovely ladies will grace us with their sultry dance and sensuous show." The horny men in the crowd cheered. I just sat back and watched. "For your viewing enjoyment of the night, I present to you all: Evening Rain and Poison Ivy!"
Eve was the first to emerge from backstage. She sauntered out into the lights, to the sounds of cat calls and cheers. No longer was she dressed in plain clothes, but instead in what could loosely be called her work attire. A floor length robe hung over her shoulders, covered in feathers almost as colorful as her own. Reds and greens ran down the length of the thing, accentuated by her natural blues. Her head now had the addition of more red and green feathers thanks to a headdress. Long stockings clung to her hips, colored in red to contrast her natural blues, and equally long gloves ran up her arms, green feathers hanging from them to emulate wings. It all made her look like a bird of paradise.
As she stepped down the stage, the robe fell away to the floor, revealing a snug outfit under, clinging to her chest and hips. Her tail fanned out behind her to accentuate the sway of her hips. More feathers covered her than her own, most of them purposefully frayed to give a fluffy plume look to her. She winked at someone in the crowd as she turned, her tail twitching up to raise the skirt and flash the men a quick view of her shapely rear.
Eve motioned to the back, to signal the entrance of her partner for her 'dance' to night. I turned to look, and my jaw must have hit the table. She was gorgeous, tall and shapely as one would expect. White fur stood out against the leaf-like design of her outfit, giving her something of a 'sexy savage' look. Vines clung around her chest, weaving over her shoulders and down her torso. The stockings along her legs had the same vine-like design, leaves sticking off here and there. She had long gloves to match, with vines weaving their way up her arms to mingle into those at her shoulders. Her hips were covered, barely, by a dress of leaves that ended just above the top of her stockings. Her fluffy white tail swayed seductively behind her. Long, wavy hair of gold spilled down from the crown of leaves atop her head.
It was not her beauty that had me sitting up straight. It was everything about her. She looked almost exactly like Mercedes. It was like watching a ghost walk out in front of me. I sat, transfixed, as the mink walked to Eve. The two started to paw at each other playfully, all done to show as much to the crowd. Hands ran down backs, along sides, through hair and feathers. Before long, clothing was removed with a flourish, shirts being pulled open to reveal shapely breasts before being covered by the hands of the other partner. The crowd was eating up the show, cheering loud for more. It was very strange to watch for me. The ghost of the past pawing sensually at my girl of today. I swore I saw the mink lock eyes with me and give me a toothy grin, more than any other man so far.
The show went on, more clothing being removed and tossed aside with a flourish and a spin. A pair of feather fans had been pulled from Eve's outfit, cleverly hidden among it. When her clothing was removed, she was left with the fans to cover herself just enough to keep titillating the audience. One was handed to the mink, Ivy, just as her own clothing was slid off. The two moved in mirror to one another to the music. Shapely legs brushed each other as they passed, hands brushed chests and bellies. It was as if the two could barely keep their hands off each other, wanting to grab and feel and touch.
The fans were covering less and less, flashing more of each woman at the onlookers. Breasts, legs, ass, even uncovered sexes were flashed in brief moments. It concluded with the two women turning to one another, arms sliding around the other and drawing close. Both bodies pressed close together, mouth close to beak. The fans were brought up and covered their faces from the crowd as the leaned in for a kiss, leaving everything else totally open to view. A moment later, the lights on the stage went out, leaving both women in the dark. Cheers burst from the audience, rowdy men hooting and hollering for more.
By the time the lights came back on, the two women had vacated the stage, taking their clothing with them. A few feathers remained behind. The next show would start soon, some other dancing girls coming out to entertain. I did not care about them. I had to find out who that mink was. At the same time, I did not want to. Everything about Mercedes came flashing back into my head more vividly than I had imagined. How she came into my office, the night at the hotel, what happened at Wally's apartment... the alleyway afterwards. Everything.
I needed another drink.
* * *
I knew my way into the backstage. The benefit of dating one of the girls. Some of the other girls flashed me a smile as I made my way to where they got themselves ready for their turn on the stage. There were more than a few pairs of tits hanging out when I got there. None made any haste to hide themselves. I wish I could say I did not stare, but I did. I also wish I could say I could see most of them clearly, but being as drunk as I was made focusing difficult. Thankfully, Eve was not hard to pick out among the rest.
Eve turned to look at me, and her shoulders drooped. She still tried to put on a smile, but even in my state, I could see the disappointment in her eyes. "Harvey, you know you shouldn't be back here..."
I waved a hand dismissively, almost accidentally swatting at some costume beside me. "I know... but I wanted to..." I was suddenly aware I had no idea what I wanted to come back here for. "You're... done for tonight, right?"
Eve nodded. "Yes, Harvey. Just finished my last show of the night. You know that." She spoke to me like she might to a child. That should hurt more than it did. Maybe once I was sober... if I ever let myself get sober.
I smiled down at her. "Can I offer to walk you home? Yours... or mine..."
She sighed, closing her eyes as she stood up. "Harvey..." She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Not tonight, Harvey. Maybe if you were a little less drunk." She still gave me a gentle hug, but did not let it linger. "Go home and sleep it off. Then we can spend some time together." I watched her walk passed me, unable to come up with anything to say to try and stop her, to follow, to stay in her presence. She was getting sick of me. It was only a matter of time. I stood there like an idiot, watching her walk out and away.
I let out a sigh and was about to stumble my way out as well when fingers suddenly draped themselves on my shoulder. I turned to look at the hand, then followed the arm back to its owner. "Seems you've struck out tonight." My eyes went wide as I stared into the face of Mercedes. No... no, Ivy. That was her stage name. "If you're just looking for a girl to spend the night with, though... I'm also just getting off." She leaned in closer, her voice low. "I'm sure we could arrange something..." She smelled so nice. She always smelled so nice. Just like Mercedes. Just like the night I...
I pushed myself away, nearly stumbling back into another girl. "You... I..." I shook my head, turning to the girl I had bumped into. "Sorry..." I turned and started to walk away without another word.
"It's Harvey, right?" I stopped dead when she said my name. "Eve mentioned you. Said you're sweet, but have some problems." She was suddenly beside me again. "I could help you forget all about those problems..."
I closed my eyes, trying everything I could to force my mind to focus. "I'm sorry..." I started to walk away again. "I can't."
"You're loss, Harvey." I walked out as fast as I could. Before I knew it, I was out of the joint entirely and back on the street. The fresh air... as fresh as city air could get anyway... helped a little to clear my mind. At least enough to keep walking. I had nowhere in mind as a destination, but I had to get out of there, away from the woman. Some thought was nagging at the back of my mind, just out of reach. I ignored it, wanting to forget, not remember.
The next thing I was aware of was being in my office, standing in the middle of the room and staring at my desk. I did not remember climbing the steps, or even walking into the building. Why had I come here? I leaned against my desk, taking deep breaths. I needed something here. I moved around to open the drawers. I knew what I came here for once I opened the bottom drawer. I stared at the contents, shoulders sagging. I reached in and took hold of the cloth, hiding under empty bottles and hastily stashed papers.
I withdrew the pair of silk panties, staring at them. They were Mercedes'. I had kept them from the night in the alley. I did not know why then or now I had taken them. I clutched at them tight. I had used these in private to pleasure myself, rubbing myself with them. A part of me debated doing that now, right here in my office. Instead, I turned to walk away, back out into the hall. I hastily stuffed the panties into my pocket.
Something was wrong. There was nothing in my pocket when I stuffed the panties in there. It took me several seconds to remember I had taken the necklace with me, but now it was not in my pocket. Panic rose in my chest. I must have dropped it somewhere. If I dropped it at the strip joint... no, calm down. I probably just left it in my office, probably threw it into the drawer by habit. I should still double check.
I turned around to go back into my office again. My hand reached out and grasped the handle to the door. Pain exploded in the back of my skull, then my face as it struck the door. Darkness followed quickly afterwards.
* * *
This is only half of this story. The rest is not allowed by InkBunny rules. If you wish to read part 2, it can be found on FurAffinity (Link in the description)