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Vee is for Velveteen

By Castafae
Created: 2024-05-22 07:37:20
Updated: 2024-06-22 05:31:13
Expiry: Never
oc/neet/neetponevelveteen

  1. >"So how did it go, Mr. Foalnapper?"
  2. "Abysmally. Like usual."
  3. >You let out a drawn out sigh as you flop down on the couch next to your uh... roommate?
  4. >She's actually your hostage, really.
  5. >Not like it ever felt that way to begin with...
  6. >'Red Velvet, daughter of Golden Fleece'
  7. >'Future heiress to the Canterlot Fabric Exchange'
  8. >That is who you were trying to snag.
  9. >Somepony from a family so obscenely wealthy that even a million bits would be nothing more than a drop in the vast bucket that was their coffers.
  10. >But instead of velvet...
  11. >You wearily glance over to the unkempt mess of mare that was taking up space on your couch.
  12. >The cartoonish chain around her hindleg rattles quietly as she wriggles around while staring intently at TV with her half-lidded wine red eyes.
  13. >"Friggin... Buttons..."
  14. >You got Velveteen.
  15. >Red's nigh identical half sister.
  16. >A bastard.
  17. >And the black sheep of the family.
  18. >A black enough sheep that even after a dozen anonymous notes and threats, you never garnered a single response.
  19. >Christ, not even the royal guard had been notified yet...
  20. >It's been at least three months.
  21. >Somepony *has* to care that you have her... right?
  22. >You watch her let out a groan as she loses once more to the same boss she was stuck on this morning.
  23. >"Fah... I knew I should have used my power-up there..."
  24. >As she sinks down onto the couch with a pout, you find yourself staring at her navel for the third time this week.
  25. >That blotchy bit of burgundy fuzz that interrupted her otherwise solid pale pink coat always irked you.
  26. >It looks like someone spilled wine on her belly and never bothered to clean up afterwards.
  27. >What a strange birthmark...
  28. >"Dude... Are you checking me out?"
  29. >You meet her sleepy yet expectant gaze.
  30. "No, just... Thinking."
  31. >She stifles a lazy, drawn out laugh.
  32. >"Thinkin' bout me?"
  33. >You shake your head, ignoring her attempt at teasing.
  34. "Thinking about your family, actually."
  35. >She doesn't look surprised, but you do notice her shoulders sagging slightly.
  36. >"Y-yeah... Them."
  37. >She sits up and sets down your beat up old controller.
  38. >"Have you tried my other uncle? I'm pretty sure he likes me."
  39. >She pauses, her expression souring. "Wait, actually... Don't."
  40. "Another touchy uncle?"
  41. >"My uncles aren't touchy!" She whines. "They're just weird and kinda smelly!"
  42. >Velveteen huffs. "It's just that he's kinda broke last I heard... You wouldn't get much outta him, even if he *did* want to save me."
  43. "I'm going to be honest with you... I don't think we're getting anywhere like this."
  44. >Her ears droop a little. "But... but somepony's gotta! You... Y-you could ask my dad! He hides a shoebox fulla bits under his bed!"
  45. >You get up with a sigh.
  46. "We'll try again tomorrow, Vee."
  47. >You can hear her sniffle as you walk away.
  48. >"W-where are you going?"
  49. "I'm gonna make food."
  50. >You turn to face the mopey hostage behind you.
  51. "You want some more curry?
  52. >She wipes an eye with a hoof. "I... I like curry..."
  53. "I'll make you double tonight."
  54.  
  55.  
  56. ~ ~ ~
  57. >You could see the disappointment in her eyes whenever you tell her another day went by without a response, but she's always bounced back in some way, ready to suggest something, anything that might garner some attention.
  58. >But after last week's string of failed attempts... She's been quiet.
  59. >No awkward teasing, no real appetite or want for sweets...
  60. >Hell, she hasn't even tried that game you 'bought' for yourself.
  61. >It's still in its plastic and everything.
  62. >You think... it's starting to get to her.
  63. >That deafening silence that came from her supposed family.
  64. >And it's hitting her all at once.
  65. >Today you found her where she's most comfortable, sprawled out on the couch and staring up at the white popcorn ceiling.
  66. >She makes no attempt to greet you as you approach, but quickly jerks upwards once you start fiddling with her shackle.
  67. >"W-wait what are you-"
  68. "Relax, this'll only take a second."
  69. >With an unceremonious clatter, her leg is freed and the chain slides off the couch and flops to the carpet with a soft 'thud'.
  70. >Her eyes are wide and her expression...
  71. >You swear she almost looks hurt.
  72. "Vee, I want you to listen to-"
  73. >"Put it back."
  74. >Her voice trembles as she attempts to put on a stern tone.
  75. >"P-put it back this instant!"
  76. "Stop that."
  77. >Further protest dies in her throat. Now she simply stares at you, her lower lip quivering.
  78. "You can pretend to be my prisoner all you want, but let's be honest with ourselves... It's just not working like this."
  79. >"B-but..."
  80. "I'm not telling you to give up. And I'm not giving up either. I just... I just want you to know that you have options."
  81. >You crane your neck to look at the front door.
  82. "You'll find that we're actually not that far from your family. It wouldn't take long to figure out a way home."
  83. >You turn back to her and notice the tears welling up in her eyes.
  84. "But I suppose that's not what you want, right?"
  85. >Her gaze lowers to the ground.
  86. >"I just want somepony to admit it."
  87. "Admit what?"
  88. >Now huddled on one side of the couch, she sniffles.
  89. >"That they despise me, that they are disgusted by the sight of me, that they think I'm better off dead- I don't care!"
  90. >She continues with her head in her hooves.
  91. >"Anything is better than being ignored again and again and again..."
  92. >Her voice cracks. "I-I don't understand... What did I do wrong?"
  93. >Before you can even form a thought, she's upon you.
  94. >Velveteen pushes you down onto the couch, her trembling hooves holding you down.
  95. >Her breathing is frantic.
  96. >"I w-w-worked my *rump* off in high school just to get the faintest *whiff* of praise! I m-made straight A's and was even class *valedictorian* for Celestia's sake! BUT MOM DIDN'T CARE! She didn't even show up! Nopony did! I- I had a speech and made a bunch of homemade graduation invitations for my family who I thought l-liked me but they didn't even have the courtesy to decline!"
  97. >She stares into your soul, tears running down her cheeks. "Why don't they love me?"
  98.  
  99. >The room is quiet for a time, only her labored breathing cutting through the hum of the AC.
  100. "Vee I... You know I can't answer that. All I knew going in is that your family is stupid rich... I didn't even know you... existed."
  101. >Her expression tells you she's trying desperately not to break down further.
  102. >You pull a hand from under her and bring it up to gently caress her tear stained cheek.
  103. "For what it's worth, I... I don't think you deserve it. Any of it."
  104. >You avert your gaze.
  105. "All that hurt and neglect and me just uprooting your life..."
  106. >You let out a sigh.
  107. "I don't think I'm cut out for crime... Foalnapping you was a stupid, desperate idea and it didn't sink in until it was too late.
  108. >A shaky hoof meets the hand you had up to her face.
  109. >Her breathing is slowing.
  110. >"I didn't have a life before. I... I gave up because I thought it would spite her somehow..."
  111. "Dearest mother?"
  112. >She nods a little.
  113. >Consciously or not, her head has begun to slowly lull into your hand as you cup her face.
  114. >"I should have known she wouldn't care either way. For her, it was easier to just throw money at the problem until it stopped being one. And... And it worked. I just sat there, wasting away because I grew... uhm..."
  115. "Comfortably numb?"
  116. >Finally, she flashes some semblance of a smile.
  117. >"Yeah... That's the ticket."
  118. >She chuckles softly.
  119. >"I know it's really pathetic to say this, but the whole foalnapping thing, it... it's kinda the best thing that's happened to me. Since I was a filly, anyways..."
  120. >The lazy look in her eye was returning.
  121. >"For a crook, you're a pretty swell doodle. I can't think of the last time I've had so many conversations... ever?"
  122. "Thanks but I... haven't committed any other crimes besides this one. And I don't really intend to..."
  123. >"Ah... I'm your one and only then? Can I commit a crime too? To even things out?"
  124. "What could you possibly want that requires you to commit a crime?"
  125. >"I heard that you can get old games on the Canternet for free. Is... that a crime?"
  126. "Well it's... You know what? Sure, I'll show you some stuff."
  127. >"R-really?! Faha! Do ya think they got 'Drake's Diction? I hear it's super fun and lets you make some really weird lookin' fellas!"
  128. "We'll see, Vee."
  129. >Having calmed down considerably, Vee finally seems to notice that she's been on top of you this whole time.
  130. >"O-oh geez..." She pulls away from your touch and begins to crawl off you.
  131. >A few hushed sorries later and you're free, with Velveteen once more huddled against her favorite armrest.
  132. >For a young, underweight mare, she was a lot stronger than she appeared...
  133. >Well she's not *that* underweight anymore. Her ribs haven't shown for well over a month now.
  134. >The fact they were showing to begin with was... concerning to say the least.
  135. >"S-so uhm... are we gonna commit crimes now, or later?"
  136. "Depends if you wanna eat first or not."
  137. >"Food first! Uhm... Please."
  138. "Sure thing, roomie."
  139. >"Roomie...?" She gives a wobbly smile. "T-thanks roomie! For… For everything."
  140.  
  141. ~ ~ ~
  142. ".. I sure hope this stuff works."
  143. >You find yourself climbing the stairway of your apartment building, a paper grocery bag clutched in your hand that wasn't currently occupied by railing.
  144. >Vee has been... under the weather.
  145. >And frankly, you're not sure what's wrong.
  146. >She's running a fever and is terribly lethargic.
  147. >Not to mention the constant, subtle trembling...
  148. >She must have been trying to hide her symptoms under her usual antics, but after she collapsed last night...
  149. >You made sure she spilled the beans.
  150. >Or rather, you made her stop squirming long enough for you to give her a once-over.
  151. >Whatever it was, she's just as clueless as you are.
  152. >The best you can do is find something that might help bring her fever down and maybe perk her up a bit.
  153. >After explaining Vee's symptoms to the mare at the pharmacy counter, she 'knew just the thing'.
  154. >Which is... a bag of tea leaves.
  155. >Not exactly what you expected, but she seemed pretty convinced that would help.
  156. >...You grabbed a bottle of Poniprofen while you were at it, just in case.
  157. >Now just a few apartments away, you speed up to a power walk.
  158. >Don't want to keep your damsel in distress waiting, right?
  159. >As you make it to the door, you briefly remember when you brought her here.
  160. >To think you made it all the way from the lobby and up those stairs without getting spotted or questioned as to why you have some wide-eyed mare in your arms...
  161. >You didn't even have to gag her, she just stared at you in stunned silence the entire time.
  162. >But after everything she's told you about her family... you almost understand why she didn't bother resisting.
  163. >And that kind of makes it worse.
  164. >Opening up the door, you let out a relieved sigh.
  165. "Hey... I'm back! Are you still on the couch?"
  166. >"mmn... mmhm..."
  167. >You take the murmuring coming from the pile of blankets as a resounding 'yes'.
  168. >Walking past the couch and its sickly occupant, you set your bag on the kitchen counter and grab your kettle so you can warm it up.
  169. >Luckily for you, you're no stranger to tea.
  170. "I'm making you some tea. It's uh- it's supposed to help."
  171. >"camomile...?"
  172. "I uh..."
  173. >You pick up the bag of tea and squint.
  174. >'Filly-Petals Seasonal Medley.'
  175. >'A soothing blend of peppermint, honeyed hassaflass, and gildermoss to help you go about your day.'
  176. "What do you mean there's moss in this?"
  177. >"whuh?"
  178. "Nothin', Vee."
  179. >"hokay..."
  180. >Well, it's made for ponies, so it makes sense that it... doesn't make sense to you.
  181. "Whatever... At the end of the day, tea is tea."
  182. >You open up the tea bag and scoop some out to put in the warmed kettle.
  183. >It actually... smells pretty good, whatever it is.
  184. >You wonder if it's safe for human consumption?
  185. >Hmm... You'll check later.
  186. >After letting the tea seep, you gently pour her some in a sturdy mug.
  187. >You... don't have actual tea cups.
  188. "It's ready, Vee!"
  189. >You watch as a disheveled little mare pokes her head out of the pile of blankets, her face flush and her mane extra messy.
  190. >"huzzah..."
  191. "Huzzah, indeed."
  192.  
  193. >You take a seat beside a bundled-up Velveteen and offer her the mug.
  194. "Careful, it's still a little hot."
  195. >She murmurs a breathy 'thanks nomny...' as she takes the tea from you.
  196. >It still feels strange to have her outright say your name. Even if it's feverishly slurred.
  197. "No problem, Vee."
  198. >She leans back, sinking further into the couch.
  199. >You watch her give the tea a sniff.
  200. >"Mm?"
  201. >And then take a small sip.
  202. >"...tastes funny."
  203. "It's one of those 'herbal remedy' things."
  204. >She takes another sip.
  205. >"pebbermint."
  206. "Yeah."
  207. >"it's nice."
  208. "But it tastes funny?"
  209. >"yeah."
  210. >She punctuates that by taking a swig.
  211. >With Vee dealt with for the moment... You decide to lounge around as well.
  212. >...
  213. >...Why is it so cold in here?
  214. "Hey, did you... touch the thermostat?"
  215. >"I felt like I was gonna melt."
  216. >She shifts her weight and averts her gaze.
  217. >"But now it's too cold..."
  218. "You see, that's why we practice a thing called 'moderation'. Gotta find that sweet spot where things aren't too much in either direction, you hear?"
  219. >"s-sorry..."
  220. "S'alright. It's been a rough uh- rough couple of days for you."
  221. >You nudge her gently with an elbow.
  222. "At least now you don't gotta hide, right?"
  223. >She nods. "Mmhm..."
  224. >Vee downs the last of her tea and gingerly sets it aside.
  225. >"Are you... gonna change it back?"
  226. "Too tired. I'll do it later..."
  227. >She stifles a quiet laugh. "Fah... Lazybones."
  228. "Could you spare a blanket, oh blanket mare?"
  229. >Vee hugs herself tighter with her cloak of warmth.
  230. >"But they're mine..."
  231. "Just because you've been rolling around in them all day doesn't change the fact *I* bought them! C'mon now..."
  232. >Vee starts to pout.
  233. >...But then her expression changes.
  234. >You're not entirely sure what it conveys now.
  235. >"w-well... I guess we could share? t-there's totally room..."
  236. "What if I catch what you have?"
  237. >"I- I'm sure it's not contagious! Probably..."
  238. "Hmm..."
  239. >You rub your chin, an expectant Vee staring at you.
  240. "Ah, why the heck not?"
  241. >An awkward grin graces her face. "C-cool! I’ll uhm... I'll scoot over."
  242. >A few shimmies and a shake later and you're bundled up beside her.
  243. >Christ, she's warm.
  244. >A part of you wonders if that's due to all the blankets, but you're pretty sure she's just... radiating heat.
  245. >You pull a hand out of your shared cocoon, briefly puzzling Vee before she lets out a squeak as you place it against her forehead.
  246. >"Y-y-your hand's cold!" She stammers.
  247. "And you're burning up."
  248. >It doesn't take long for her to calm down after the sudden touch, now simply staring at you with that same weird expression.
  249. >Were her pupils always so dilated?
  250. "So... did the tea do anything?"
  251. >You can feel her wriggle beside you. "It's... It's a little early to say..."
  252. >At least she's not shaking as much.
  253. "Do you... wanna watch a movie?"
  254. >"Can we watch the one with the moon rabbits again? It's my favorite..."
  255. "On it."
  256. >She leans into you. "Can you hold me? W-while we watch?"
  257. "If it'll help, Vee."
  258. >She lets out a soft sigh as you wrap an arm around her. "T-thank you..."
  259.  
  260. ~ ~ ~
  261. >You awake with your head barely jutting out of the pile of blankets on top of you.
  262. >You feel like... a lead brick.
  263. >You suppose that might have something to do with the fact that you just slept sitting up on the couch...
  264. >You attempt to move, but the foreign presence currently taking up residency on your lap makes that pretty hard to do.
  265. >Lifting the blankets enough to peer into the darkness reveals the culprit to be none other than a conked out Vee draped over your legs.
  266. >You wonder how long she's been sleeping. From the sounds of it, she hasn't had much at all since her fever showed up...
  267. >You feel a little bad as you pull aside the blankets, but there really isn't any other option.
  268. >It's not *cold*, but it's definitely a lot cooler than it was under the blankets.
  269. >You feel her squirm on your lap as she starts to realize that she's bare to the elements once more.
  270. >Actually, she's squirming so much, you're pretty sure she's about to-
  271. >"Whu-bwah!"
  272. >...fall.
  273. >You look down at the drowsy little mare currently laying belly up at your feet.
  274. >"Ow..."
  275. "You alright?"
  276. >Her ears perk slightly. "Dh-dad..."
  277. >Vee's forehooves grope at the air.
  278. >"Can I hab Mr. Hare back? I whan... mmn..."
  279. >Huh, she still seems half-asleep.
  280. >You gently nudge her with a foot, making her groan in protest.
  281. "Up and at 'em, Vee. We've got some things to do."
  282. >"Buh I don whanna..."
  283. >You nudge her once more, resulting in her eyes finally cracking open.
  284. >"You're such a jerk..."
  285. "I haven't even said anything."
  286. >"But you're thinkin' somethin'. You've got a big ol' brainy brain..."
  287. "That might be true, but I really have zero clue what to do from this point onward, so... We need to brainstorm or... whatever."
  288. >Vee musters the strength to sit up, but quickly begins to lean forward until her head plops down into your lap.
  289. >"Bout' me?"
  290. "Yeah."
  291. >"What about me, Nonalongadingdong?"
  292. "Wha- That's a dumb nickname."
  293. >Her ears swivel a bit towards you as a sleepy little smile forms on her face. "Ah know. That's what you get for pokin' me. Dumb mickmanes for a dum-dummy"
  294. "You seem undercooked… Might need more time in the blanket oven."
  295. >She rolls her head to the side with an indignant huff. "Pfft... Just gimme a minute and I'll be in tippy top shape!"
  296. >She's a little loopy, but... at least she's got some energy in her today.
  297. >Velveteen makes it to her hooves and lets out a yawn.
  298. >"Hey... there's still some of that tea left, right?"
  299. "Yeah, you only had a couple cups."
  300. >"Aw sweet! I'm gonna go snag some then."
  301. >You watch as Vee turns around and shuffles towards the kitchen, a surprising amount of pep in her step.
  302. "Be careful, Vee."
  303. >"I will! No need to worry though, I'm a tea pourin' pro!"
  304. "You have literally never poured tea before."
  305. >She picks up the room temperature kettle and gives you a smug look.
  306. >"I come from a long line of good-for-nothin' teasippers! This'll be a-AH!"
  307. >Annnd she's got expensive tea all over herself.
  308. >"E-everything smells like peppermints..."
  309. >What a way to start the day.
  310.  
  311. ~ ~ ~
  312. >One swift shower later and a now significantly more fluffed up Velveteen sits at the dining room table, kicking her hooves together to make little 'click clack' noises while you finish up frying some eggs.
  313. >"Do you think being soaked in tea made me extra better?"
  314. >You turn from your sizzling pan and point your spatula at her.
  315. "I dunno, do you *feel* extra better?"
  316. >"I uh... not really?" She pauses to sniff herself.
  317. >"Mhm... I still smell kinda minty..."
  318. "Well I guess it could be worse, huh?"
  319. >"S'pose so. I could smell like apples."
  320. "Hey now, no need to disrespect the apple shampoo! It keeps me fresh.”
  321. >"Fah~ Like a fresh fruit basket, maybe!"
  322. “It's not *my* fault that ponies adore their fancy soaps! I swear, it took me ten minutes just to find something that sounded like an actual thing in reality. Seriously, what in the world is a ‘Balmroot Butter Bonanza’? I certainly don’t know!”
  323. >”It’s like… the stuff they put in lip balm, but for your body. And uh- and rootier”
  324. >Vee rocks in her chair a little. “My mom had an obsession with the stuff for a while, so I know what I’m saying!”
  325. “But what makes something ‘rootier’?”
  326. >She shrugs. “It’s just rootier dude, I dunno.”
  327. “I… I’ll take your word for it.”
  328. >With a small flourish, you top off Vee's plate of eggs on toast with a pinch of paprika.
  329. "O-kay Vee... Breakfast is officially done!"
  330. >"Woo!"
  331. >You slide over Vee's plate and watch her scoot her chair, an eager look on her face.
  332. >"Thanks Nonny! These look amazmphmrm..."
  333. >Before she can even finish her sentence, she has a mouth full of eggy toast.
  334. "You're quite welcome, Vee! Now stop hoggin' the jam! We're getting low."
  335. >She complies without protest as she continues to munch, sliding over the dwindling jar of grape jam your way.
  336. "Thank ye kindly, miss."
  337. >You ruffle her floofy mane before sitting down.
  338. >Taking a bite of your own toast, you glance over at the clock on the wall.
  339. >7:47
  340. >It's still pretty early...
  341. "Hey Vee... Wanna go out later?"
  342. >Vee looks up from her plate, her eyes wide and crumbs all over her cheeks.
  343. >"C-come again?"
  344. "Well, I was thinking about taking you over to a walk-in clinic down the way. So you can get yourself checked out."
  345. >You pause to take a sip of orange juice.
  346. "I mean, that's not all we'll do. I'm sure you'd want to go out and explore a bit too, since you haven't exactly left the apartment and all."
  347. >Vee continues to stare at you. You can almost hear the gears churning in her head.
  348. >"I uhm... What if somepony who knows who I am sees me?"
  349. "Last I checked, you haven't been reported missing." You clear your throat. "Yet."
  350. >She lets out a sigh. "Nice save..."
  351. "Look, I... I know even before this you didn't exactly have a life. Self admittedly, might I add. So... I think it'd do you some good."
  352. >Instead of responding, Vee simply takes another bite of toast, albeit a rather hesitant one.
  353. >The uneasiness in her eyes is plain to see.
  354. "I... How about this?"
  355. >You loosely point the jam knife at her.
  356. "I've had times where I couldn't go to the doctor, right? So you know what I do? I got one to come here."
  357. >Vee tilts her head a little, chewing slowly.
  358. "Equestria's healthcare is second to none and those ponies go above and beyond for their patients, no questions asked. Getting a nurse to trot over on house call would be a cinch! And if you're uncomfortable? We could uh... make a disguise? To hide the birthmark, I mean."
  359. >Vee swallows and sets down what's left of her toast.
  360. >She takes a deep breath and leans back into her chair.
  361. >"It doesn't sound too bad..."
  362. "But?"
  363. >She fidgets a little. "But I... I don't wanna do it alone."
  364. >You reach over and gently place a hand on her forehoof.
  365. "You won't have to."
  366.  
  367. ~ ~ ~
  368. >Your first mistake was letting Vee shop on the Canternet all by her lonesome.
  369. >"Does it... no, it has to go... this way!"
  370. >Your second mistake was not checking what she bought.
  371. >"Annnd... There!"
  372. >Not because she went overboard and bought too much or anything overly expensive, but because she's a little too eager to roleplay being a bargain hunter...
  373. >"Hey Anon! Check this out!"
  374. >You turn from the TV and peer in the direction of the bathroom, where Vee was cooped up changing.
  375. >You watch in amused silence as Vee struts out of the bathroom wearing what you can only describe as a paper thin ugly Christmas sweater, rainboots and a lop-sided rabbit beanie.
  376. >Her grin tells you she's *very* proud of herself.
  377. >"Hehe... Pretty sweet, right?"
  378. "I mean... the hat's cute."
  379. >"I know, right? Probably my best find if I do say so myself..."
  380. "But uh... It's not much of a disguise, is it?"
  381. >Vee blinks. "Oh! Oh crap I forgot!"
  382. >She turns towards the bathroom once more. "I'll be right back! I thought up a whole theme and everything!"
  383. >She then proceeds to awkwardly waddle away, clearly going too fast for the oversized rain boots on her hooves.
  384. "Good luck!" You yell as she closes the door.
  385. >A muffled 'I don't need luck!' rings out as you begin to hear her begin to rummage around in her 'disguise kit' once more.
  386. >You lean back with a sigh.
  387. >A part of you wonders if this is all necessary.
  388. >She's pretty unremarkable besides the fact that she's still a blank flank at her age.
  389. >Oh, and the belly blotch. Can't forget about that.
  390. >You see it almost every time she sits down, so it *is* pretty noticeable...
  391. >That being said, the average pony probably have enough decency not to stare considering how close it is to her adorable little t-
  392. >"I'm ready, Anon!"
  393. >You blink.
  394. >Well that's a first.
  395. >What brought that on?
  396. >You glance over to the bathroom once more and see her stride out with a hop.
  397. >Vee strikes an incredibly unpracticed pose.
  398. >"Bam!"
  399. >She now wore a reddish ribbon-bound cardigan that was a bit too big for her and a pair of rather convincing fake glasses.
  400. >Wait, what are those on her hindhooves?
  401. >As Vee stops posing and begins to trot up to you, the striped pattern becomes clearer in the light.
  402. "Are you wearing socks?"
  403. >She nods quickly. "Yeah!" She lifts a leg and wiggles a hoof a bit. "They're super cozy and really hammer home the get up!"
  404. >You scratch your head.
  405. "What are you supposed to be, exactly?"
  406. >She puffs out her chest.
  407. >"I'm..." She adjusts her glasses. "Your assistant!"
  408. >She plops down in front of you and stifles a laugh. "It's perfect! From the sweater-thingy to this sweet skirt!"
  409. "...What skirt."
  410. >Vee pauses.
  411. >...And then looks down.
  412. >And you look down too.
  413. >A pair of stripey gray panties now hides most of her birthmark.
  414. >...And the two little mounds just underneath it.
  415. "They match the socks." You say with an air of nonchalance.
  416. >Vee swiftly covers herself with her forehooves, her face reddening rapidly.
  417. >She averts her eyes and lets out a nervous chuckle. "I- I think I might have uhm... f-forgot it..."
  418.  
  419. ~ ~ ~
  420. "You know, you never told me *what* you're supposed to be assisting me with."
  421. >You're currently sitting at the dining room table while Velveteen adjusts her 'disguise'. Now with a long, pleated skirt included.
  422. >As cute as she is prancing around in her undies, you can tell she's much more comfortable with it on.
  423. >It's funny because she only started getting embarrassed *after* she started wearing clothes.
  424. >Ponies have weird priorities.
  425. >"I dunno... Maybe I'm like, your scribe or something?"
  426. "Define scribe."
  427. >Vee pauses her attempt at tugging up her sock. "Uh..."
  428. "Yeah?"
  429. >She shakes her head, her cheeks a little flush. "I- I chronicle your many exploits! Like... that time you made really awesome macaroni!"
  430. "It came from a box, but... thanks."
  431. >She flashes you a smile. "You're very welcome, sir."
  432. >You stifle a laugh.
  433. "You look like some tomcolty assistant librarian..."
  434. >"How do you know that's -mhm- not what I'm trying to be?"
  435. "Because I know you didn't think that far ahead."
  436. >With socks as proper as they can be, Vee gets up from the floor and brushes a bit of fuzz off her cardigan.
  437. >Man, you can barely see her hindlegs anymore.
  438. >You hope she doesn't wind up tripping.
  439. >"Well I did say 'assistant', so I must have thought about it a little!"
  440. "So the story is... you're my live-in assistant who's feeling under the weather and didn't want to go to a clinic due to her... what, social anxiety?"
  441. >You point a lazy finger gun at her.
  442. "Do you even *have* social anxiety?"
  443. >"I... I dunno? Other ponies don't really... talk to me? Or approach me, or want to be my friend..."
  444. >Ouch.
  445. >Despite the admission, she doesn't look like she's dwelling on it.
  446. >Her mind seems elsewhere.
  447. >Vee rubs her foreleg a bit.
  448. >"I'm... pretty nervous right now. Do you... think things'll work out?"
  449. "The nurse was pretty nice when I talked to her on the phone. I think it'll be fine. Just try to relax."
  450. >"Right, right... I'm gonna... go to the bathroom now."
  451. >Vee gives you a nod and then with a deep breath, turns around.
  452. >You notice as she walks away that her short tail, which was poking out of a slit in the skirt, was swishing a bit.
  453. >She's been doing that a lot lately.
  454. >A part of you wishes you knew pony mannerisms.
  455. >Wagging for dogs means... excitement, right?
  456. >Would it be the same with ponies?
  457. >No, no it's probably not.
  458. >You stifle a yawn and pick up your glass.
  459. >You take a sip of your sparkling grape juice and let out a sigh.
  460. >You still have a crick in your neck...
  461. >Maybe you should let Vee sleep in your bed instead of curling up on the couch.
  462. >...But that's weird, isn't it?
  463. "Not unless she's cool with it, I guess..."
  464. >Or maybe you should just get her a futon.
  465. >No, no, get her a bed. A bed her size.
  466. "A dog bed?"
  467. >You chuckle to yourself and shake your head.
  468. "She's not that small."
  469. >She's teeny though.
  470. >Teeny little Velveteen.
  471. >The creak of a door scatters your thoughts.
  472. >"Okay, I'm- I'm ready! For real this time."
  473. >Vee's hoofsteps signal you to look back with a smile.
  474. "Cool."
  475.  
  476. >Vee was about the same, but now wore her fake glasses and held a uh- a clipboard.
  477. "Where did you fish that out?"
  478. >"It came with the outfit! Pretty sweet, huh?"
  479. "So ponies have like... normal librarian costumes? For Nightmare Night?"
  480. >She shrugs. "I dunno. I've never been trick-or-treating."
  481. "Wait, really?"
  482. >Vee shuffles over and sets her clipboard on the dining room table.
  483. >"My mom said it's 'disrespectful' or whatever and wouldn't let me. I don't really get it though, she let *Velvet* go. Why couldn't I?"
  484. "I uh..."
  485. >Vee interrupts with an 'oh!'
  486. >"Oh, wait! I *almost* went one time! My uhm- my dad tried to take me once when I was a filly but mom caught us before we could leave and she kicked him out."
  487. "I'm sorry, she kicked your dad out?"
  488. >She looks up at you with a tilt of the head. "Only for a week!"
  489. >The casual tone tells you that this was a rather common occurrence.
  490. >Now you're curious.
  491. "She... kicked Golden Fleece, one of the richest stallions in Canterlot, out of his own home?"
  492. >Vee blinks. "Whu- No? No, that's silly! She uhm- she kicked out my *real* dad. Not Mr. Fleece."
  493. >Oh right, the whole 'bastard' thing.
  494. "So uh... who's your 'real' dad then?"
  495. >Vee climbs up on the chair next to you and gingerly lays her forehooves in the folds of her skirt as she settles in.
  496. >She certainly knows how to put on an air of politeness.
  497. >Must be that whole 'etiquette' thing.
  498. >"I... Never got to learn his name. He just wanted me to call him dad." Her eyes trail down to her hooves "Even if... Mom didn't want me to."
  499. >She's getting kind of bummed out...
  500. >Probably best to change course.
  501. "How are you feeling, Vee?"
  502. >It takes Vee a moment to snap out of her stupor and lift her gaze. "I feel... A bit better? I'm not shaking anymore, but... I still feel pretty warm and I've been kinda peeing a lot..."
  503. "I... really didn't need to know your bathroom escapades."
  504. >She leans forward, a tinge of red on her pouting face.
  505. >"Y-you asked!"
  506. >You take the opportunity to ruffle her mane, which earns you a bit of stammering from the embarrassed little mare.
  507. "I guess that was on me, huh?"
  508. >"W-whatever dude..."
  509. "Are you feeling up to a round of Total Wombat? Before your visit?"
  510. >She shifts her weight, looking down.
  511. >"I think... I'd rather sit on the couch for a bit."
  512. >Vee turns to you. "Do you wanna watch somethin'? Maybe a movie?"
  513. "You've been wanting to watch a lot of movies lately."
  514. >"You've got a huge movie collection!"
  515. "It's not that big, Vee."
  516. >"It- It's big to *me*! Dude, I like, never got to watch movies as a filly! They're friggin' awesome!"
  517. >You don't doubt her enthusiasm, but you know she has an ulterior motive...
  518. >She wants to be held again, but doesn't want to admit it.
  519. >You give her a knowing smile.
  520. "Alright alright, you made your point... Go snag something that strikes your fancy and we'll see if we can finish it before the nurse pops up."
  521. >"Faha! Movie tiii-Oof!"
  522. >Her skirt caught on the chair, Vee flops forward.
  523. "I knew that'd happen."
  524. >"Sh-shuddup!"
  525.  
  526. ~ ~ ~
  527. >"...Can penguins actually talk? Or do taxes?"
  528. >You scratch your chin.
  529. "I uh... I don't know? Where I come from that'd be a no brainer, but uh- but Equestria's weird and I'm pretty sure I've seen a rat give me a dirty look once..."
  530. >Vee lifts herself up slightly, looking a little spooked.
  531. >"A rat? There- there aren't any rats here, right?"
  532. "At my old place, not here."
  533. >"Oh, good..." Vee sinks back into your embrace, her eyes still transfixed on the business penguins waddling about.
  534. "So why'd you pick this one? Doesn't seem like your style."
  535. >"I have a style?"
  536. "Well... it's just that you usually go for something a little more actiony and dramatic."
  537. >She leans back into your arm and lifts her head to stare up at you.
  538. >"Sometimes I just wanna relax, you hear? Chillin' out with my hooves out or... something?"
  539. "I'm pretty sure your hooves are very much *not* out right now."
  540. >She wiggles her socked up hindhooves in response. "Yeah but I still got my upper hooves!" She demonstrates this by doing a doggy paddle in the air.
  541. "Ah, my mistake."
  542. >Vee lets out a soft sigh. "I... hope it's nothin' serious..."
  543. "Whatever's got you sick, you mean?"
  544. >"Mmhm."
  545. >You give her a gentle squeeze.
  546. "I'm sure it's nothing too major. Not like you're bedridden or coughing up a lung."
  547. >She shudders. "Yeesh... Not a great thing to think about..."
  548. "Ah, sorry."
  549. >"S'okay. I'm... okay."
  550. >Vee takes a deep breath and then nuzzles into the crux of your arm.
  551. "You're gonna miss the movie if you keep doing that."
  552. >She says something in response, but it's too muffled to make out.
  553. >You flex your arm just enough to squish her face a little, making her lift her head up with a wobbly pout.
  554. >"W-what? I didn't do anything!"
  555. "What you're doing..." You swirl a finger around in front of her face and then give her snoot a tap, making her scrunch. "Is cuddling, Vee."
  556. >Her already flush face deepens a shade.
  557. >"Pfft... M-me? I ain't cuddling! *You're* the one that s-started it..."
  558. "Really now?"
  559. >"Y-yeah! You just couldn't resist getting all up close and personal with little ol' mEEP!"
  560. >You lean at her, making her shy away with a squeak.
  561. "Admit it Vee. You're a lil cuddlebug~."
  562. >"B-b-buh I-"
  563. >She begins to stammer as you don't stop your descent.
  564. >Soon enough, Vee loses her balance and flops backwards.
  565. >Finally, you pause. Now simply smiling down at your belly-up 'assistant' as she lays there with her legs crossed and her forehooves covering her beet-red face.
  566. >Seeing as her cardigan got hiked up by her tumble, you give her fuzzy belly a quick pat before scooting back to your spot without another word.
  567. >...Velveteen stays like that a while, murmuring embarrassed nonsense to herself.
  568. >Once she finally calms down, she unceremoniously sits up with a frown as deep as her blush.
  569. "You see Vee, *that's* how you tease."
  570. >She shakily tugs her cardigan down with a huff, averting her gaze. "M-meanie..."
  571. "Language, young lady."
  572. >She bats your shoulder a bit. "J-jerky mcjerkface!"
  573.  
  574. ~ ~ ~
  575. >The nurse should be here any minute now.
  576. >"You got this! D-don't worry, it's fine..."
  577. >And Vee is...
  578. >Well, she's pacing around the living room. Feverishly adjusting and readjusting her getup.
  579. >"Uuu... I *hate* doctors..."
  580. >You think she might be a little anxious.
  581. "She's a nurse, Vee."
  582. >She whips around to face you and gestures dismissively.
  583. >"Nurse, doctor, whatever! They all poke and prod a-and hold you down to stick you fulla needles... A-ah! She- She's not gonna give me a shot, r-right?"
  584. >You give her a reassuring smile.
  585. "Remember, It's just a check-up, Vee. A normal, needle-free check-up... It'll be okay."
  586. >"B-but..." She takes a moment to take a deep breath. "Y-you're right. I... I need to relax. I can't freak out now."
  587. "Maybe don't calm down *too* much... We *really* need to sell that social anxiety!"
  588. >She pouts at you. "Ha ha. Very funny..." Vee tugs at her sweater collar, her breathing hitching slightly. "I- I'm warm... Ugh, why am I so friggin' warm?!"
  589. "Well let's see... You're panicking, your face is flush enough to fry an egg, and you've been trotting circles around the table..."
  590. >You smirk.
  591. "I dunno Vee, why *are* you so warm?"
  592. >A more cute than intimidating growl rises in her throat. "You're awful."
  593. >You raise an eyebrow at the teeny grump.
  594. "An awfully good cook?"
  595. >She lets out a vaguely amused laugh. "Fah... That too."
  596. "See? That just earned you some post-appointment pancakes."
  597. >"Aw dude... don't call it an appointment!"
  598. "My bad, post-*visit* pancakes."
  599. >Vee finally cracks a smile. "That's better."
  600. >She pauses a moment, using a socked up hindleg to scritch herself.
  601. >"I really shouldn't have worn these all day yesterday..."
  602. "Not like you're walking on anything besides carpet."
  603. >"The bathroom certainly ain't carpet!" Vee rubs a foreleg. "The socks aren't very... tile friendly. I almost did a split, dude... A split!"
  604. >You stifle a laugh.
  605. "Kind of wish I got to see that."
  606. >She lets out a soft, theatrical sigh. "I always knew you were a weirdie... A REAL gentlecolt would never want to see a mare suffer such embarrassment..."
  607. "Hey now, I can be a gentlecolt when I want to."
  608. >"Well then, monsieur Nonnington..." Vee flutters her eyelashes with an almost coy smile. "Mind helping a lady tie up her oh so voluptuous mane?"
  609. >You blink.
  610. >Christ, she's actually pretty good at accents...
  611. >Is that really what a prench pony sounds like?
  612. "I uh... sure? Whaddya need?"
  613. >The act drops immediately, her usually lazy demeanor returning the moment her shoulders slump back down.
  614. >"Do me a solid and gimme a quick hair bun! I wanna look profreshional for miss the nurse."
  615. "Profreshional?"
  616. >"I said what I said."
  617. >You shake your head.
  618. "Alright... I can do that."
  619. >You sit yourself on the floor and pat your legs.
  620. "C'mere, little lady."
  621. >She gives an awfully formal bow. "Thank you kindly, boss."
  622. >Vee moseys on over and lightly plops down in your lap.
  623. >She looks up at you with a grin. "Don't worry, I got a scrunchie you can use."
  624. “Far out.”
  625.  
  626. >Vee rummages around in her cardigan pocket and produces a greenish scrunchie that doesn't exactly fit her getup.
  627. >"Here you go! You can probably tell it's not much of a match."
  628. >You take the scrunchie from her hoof and set it to the side.
  629. "Did it come with everything else?"
  630. >"Nope! I had it on when you snatched me up."
  631. "Wait, really?"
  632. >"Mmhm! But I shoved it under the couch when you left for the first time since it was starting to make my tailbone ache..."
  633. "Speaking of aches... The mane bun won't give you a headache, will it?"
  634. >Vee shakes her head. "Nah, I used to wear pigtails as a filly so this ain't nothin' to me!"
  635. "If you say so, Vee…"
  636. >You hesitate a moment as you watch her ears fold down as your hand approaches her head.
  637. >"N-no need to worry. I'm A-okay!"
  638. >You feel her shudder as you gently run a hand through her soft, messy mane.
  639. >Her mane was starting to reach her shoulders now.
  640. >You wonder if she'll ever want it cut?
  641. >As your mind attempts to think of the right way to approach things, you catch a whiff of... something.
  642. >At first you can't pinpoint its origin, but it doesn't take you long to realize it's coming from Vee.
  643. >She smells of... white chocolate and strawberries?
  644. >You haven't the faintest clue why, but it's... pleasant.
  645. >And familiar.
  646. >It reminds you of the little mom and pop shop that you used to go to all the time growing up.
  647. >The scones were pretty good, but their chocolate covered strawberries were *amazing*...
  648. >Man, what you'd give to taste one again...
  649. >"Hey uhm... Anon?"
  650. "...Hm?"
  651. >"I- I really appreciate this but you're kind of... makin' things worse?"
  652. >You focus on your hand and realize that you've been idly ruffling her mane this entire time.
  653. >You pull your hand away and clear your throat.
  654. "Sorry Vee, I... I guess I got distracted."
  655. >"No biggie! Somethin' on your mind?"
  656. "I uh... Nah, just reminiscing at an awkward time."
  657. >She adjusts her weight slightly. "Y-yeah... I do that sometimes too. S'alright big guy."
  658. >You drape your arms over her in a comforting manner.
  659. >In response, she leans back into your chest with a soft sigh.
  660. "Is that why you space out so much? You're thinking bout the good times?"
  661. >Vee wanes in your embrace. "I'm not sure I know what a 'good time' feels like anymore. Everything was so 'blah' for what feels like forever..."
  662. >With Vee like a warm sack of potatoes in your lap, you begin to work with her mane while she continues to mumble.
  663. >"My foalhood was nice I guess... Mom seemed like she still cared and Mr. Fleece didn't correct me when I called him 'Dad'... But then I grew up. And... And then everypony suddenly grew cold. Like they thought that maybe if they ignored me long enough I'd just go away and stop seeking their attention..."
  664. >Her head begins to lull. "I guess they were right."
  665. "Vee..."
  666. >She straightens up and takes a deep breath. "S-sorry... I'm doing it again, aren't I?"
  667. "I really don't mind. It's just-"
  668. >BZZzzt
  669. >"W-what was-"
  670. "That'd be the door."
  671. >"Which means..."
  672. "She's here."
  673.  
  674. >Vee begins to squirm.
  675. >"B-but- but I'm not ready! Luna's FLANK Anon what am I gonna do?!"
  676. "Actually, I finished the bun a second ago. It's... kinda loose, but it'll work."
  677. >Vee raises a hoof to grope at the back of her head.
  678. >She gives the mane bun a few prods and then lets her foreleg fall back to her side.
  679. >"B-but..."
  680. "We can't stall, Vee. Just... take a deep breath and focus. It'll be okay."
  681. >"I-I... Alright." She inhales sharply.
  682. >With a bit more effort than needed, Vee exhales just about every inch of air in her lungs, getting her to cough a little.
  683. >"Buh... Bad idea."
  684. >BzZZZzzt
  685. >She’s breathing too quickly.
  686. "Properly, Vee! Don't freak out."
  687. >"I can't *not* freak out! I-"
  688. >You tuck your arms under her forelegs and pull her in.
  689. >"A-Anon?!"
  690. "Trust me. I'm right here."
  691. >"But I... I-I..."
  692. >With your arms firmly wrapped around her, you can feel her chest's heaving begin to slow.
  693. >Soon enough, she’s simply laying limp in your arms.
  694. "Ready?"
  695. >"I… I think so…."
  696. >Vee wriggles out of your embrace and takes a few steps towards the front door.
  697. >BZZzzt
  698. >She freezes as the door buzzer rings out once more.
  699. >Vee turns to you, her ears flat against head. "C-can you... let her in? I'll... I'll be right back!"
  700. >Before you can respond, Vee bolts for the bathroom and shuts the door behind her.
  701. >She didn't even bother turning on the light.
  702. “I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
  703. >With a deep breath of your own, you get up and stuff your hands into your pockets.
  704. "Coming!"
  705. >You shuffle over to the front door and begin to unlock it.
  706. >You step back and open the door with a creak.
  707. >Before you was about what you expected.
  708. >A wispy young unicorn mare wearing oversized scrubs and a sleepy smile not unlike Vee's.
  709. >Her short, uniform mane bobs slightly as she gives a nod.
  710. >"You're Mister Mousse, correct?"
  711. "That's me! I uh... I'm sorry for the wait."
  712. >A pulse of lavender magic flicks open her saddlebag and she begins to rummage around in there with a hoof.
  713. >"Oh no problem Mr. M! I know these things can be quite nerve wracking..."
  714. "I wouldn't say I'm the one who's a nervous wreck."
  715. >As if on cue, you get nudged in the back by a little snoot.
  716. >Stepping aside, you turn to face the culprit.
  717. >A pouty Velveteen greets you in all her awkward, flushed glory.
  718. >"I-I ain't nervous..."
  719. "Sure you aren't."
  720. >The nurse takes a step forward, a clipboard now in the crux of her foreleg.
  721. >"You must be... Cherry Veneer then?"
  722. >Velveteen glances between you and the nurse and then clears her throat. "Y...yeah! You can call me Vee, though..."
  723. >The nurse gives her a warm smile. "Of course, Vee."
  724. >She lays a hoof on her chest and gives a slight bow. "Wisteria's the name. I'll be giving you your check-up."
  725. >"C-cool..."
  726. >Wisteria looks up at you. "Mind if I come in?"
  727. "Not at all."
  728. >She gives you a nod and then trots further inside, leaving you with Vee by the door.
  729. >"Cherry Veneer...?"
  730. "I couldn't exactly tell them your *real* name, can I?"
  731. >"Whatever, 'Moose'..."
  732.  
  733. ~ ~ ~
  734. >"So... What kind of book are you writing?"
  735. >Oh boy here we go.
  736. >Think Anon, think…
  737. >You clear your throat.
  738. "It's… a little fantasy novel that may or may not borrow from my experiences here in Equestria... It's still a work in progress, so I can't exactly go into detail just yet, but I can say it'll involve crystal ponies and their courtship rituals... They're quite the sight. Especially if you're able to get up close and personal."
  739. >Wisteria ooo's quietly. ”I don’t think I’ve met a crystal pony before… Is it true that you can see right through them?”
  740. “Indeed! Their biology is quite the wonder… Did you know their eyes shine brighter when around the ones they love? And when they’re *really* affectionate… Man, they’re like a kaleidoscope.”
  741. >As curious as Wisteria's expression is, she has the professionalism in her not to press further into your bullshittery and continues to check Vee’s blood pressure.
  742. >"F-fascinating... And Ms. Vee here is your editor?"
  743. >Vee puffs out her chest at the mention, an almost sly smile on her face.
  744. >"I'm a lot more than some silly editor! I'm his assistant, his muse, his adorable little buddy... Why, if it wasn't for me, he'd be sitting on his bum all day without a single thought in that handsome noggin of his! Ain't I right, boss~?"
  745. >She's certainly using this as an opportunity to poke at you without retaliation…
  746. >You match her smile, making her snicker quietly to herself.
  747. "You're absolutely right, Vee! You're an invaluable member of this team..."
  748. >"Mmhm!"
  749. "...But you're still not getting your name on the book."
  750. >"Of cour- Hey!"
  751. >Wisteria stifles a laugh, much to Vee's chagrin.
  752. >"You certainly seem like good friends! Now, Ms. Vee... Would you mind saying 'ah'?"
  753. >"W-we're not done yet?"
  754. >"Almost! We just need to do a few more teensy things while Pendles writes your results! Right, Pendles?"
  755. >The floating fountain pen currently scribbling down on Wisteria’s clipboard pauses to give something akin to a nod before it goes back to work.
  756. >"So... would you kindly?"
  757. >"I uh... S-sure? When do you want me to-"
  758. >Wisteria magics a popsicle stick in front of Vee's snoot, making her lean back slightly.
  759. >"Whenever you're ready!"
  760. >"O-okay..."
  761. >Vee scoots forward and awkwardly opens her mouth in a manner only really reserved for biting down.
  762. >"Great! Now let's just... uh..."
  763. >You watch Wisteria tilt her head.
  764. >"Now what’s this?"
  765. >A concerned look crosses Vee's face, but it's swiftly replaced by mild panic as Wisteria's popsicle stick lifts at her upper lip, revealing a pair of small, pearly white fangs.
  766. >"How odd…”
  767. >”Ah ahnt ahd!”
  768. >Wisteria blinks. “O-oh! My apologies, Ms. Vee.”
  769. >She then proceeds to pull away her stick, letting Vee settle back onto the couch.
  770. >”I didn’t mean to imply such a thing, I just… was rather surprised, is all.”
  771. >Vee rubs her lip a bit. “S’alright… I know I’m a whole heap of surprises.”
  772. “Ain’t that the truth.”
  773. >”Hush.”
  774.  
  775. >You turn to Wisteria and point a thumb at Vee.
  776. “I noticed them pretty early on... What is she, some kind of vampony?”
  777. >Vee pouts. ”I ain't no bloodsucker..."
  778. >Wisteria taps her chin with a hoof. “Hmm… Vamponies? No, that’s silly. Vamponies don’t exist.”
  779. “That’s what everypony said about kirin.”
  780. >Vee adjusts her glasses. “Whatsa kirin?”
  781. “Fire unicorn.”
  782. >Her eyes widened. “Unicorns can be on FIRE?!”
  783. >Wisteria clears her throat. “I… I really can’t tell you *why* she has them. But it’s not uncommon for ponies to have unique little quirks that stem from their great great gramponies and so on.”
  784. >While Vee isn’t exactly paying attention as she tugs at her sock, she pauses to dwell on Wisteria’s last few words.
  785. >”Gramponies? Like... Hm...”
  786. “Figured something out?”
  787. >She lifts her gaze to meet yours. “I-it’s…” Her eyes then darted back down to her skirt. “It’s nothin’ important right now.”
  788. “I… Alright Vee.”
  789. >An awkward quiet hangs in the room up until Wisteria finally hops up with a-
  790. >”Ding!”
  791. >...Yeah. That.
  792. >Wisteria shuffles in place a bit. “Oh I… I said that out loud, didn’t I?.”
  793. >You give her an amused salute.
  794. “At ease, egg timer mare.”
  795. >She stifles a nasally laugh. “I suppose it *was* kind of an egg timer-esque sound…”
  796. >Vee slides off the couch and stretches her little body with a soft groan. “Fah… Does this mean you’re done now?”
  797. >Wisteria beams at her. “Indeedy! You’re all set.”
  798. >Vee’s tension seems to wane slightly, as her stance becomes much more relaxed.
  799. >”Phew…”
  800. “So Ms. Nurse… What’s the verdict?”
  801. >Wisteria’s pen floats back into her saddlebag with a flourish as she looks down at her clipboard.
  802. >”Well…” She turns to Vee, “You seem to have been malnourished at some point, but as long as you continue your trend of a proper diet, I think you’ll bounce back quite swimmingly!”
  803. >She flips a page. “I won’t linger on your small stature, as I’m sure you’re already aware of that.”
  804. >Vee huffs. “Yeah. I am.”
  805. >”Besides that, just remember to get in a good stretch here or there. You have some tension in your lower back which might be due to sitting in an unhealthy position.”
  806. >And sleeping on an unhealthy couch, you’re sure.
  807. >Vee gives you a look which can only indicate she wants you to push a bit.
  808. “Anything… else? Vee’s been sick for a while now…”
  809. >Wisteria stops putting away her clipboard and lifts her head. “Sick? Ms. Vee doesn’t seem sick.”
  810. >Vee frowns. “Well what’s with the fever then? Or the shakes? C’mon now there’s gotta be *something* buggin’ me!”
  811. >Wisteria gives her a bewildered look. “Fever? Shakes? Wait…”
  812. >Vee shies away from the nurse as she sniffs the air.
  813. >”...Ah, I see.”
  814. >”Whuh-”
  815. >Wisteria places a hoof on Vee’s shoulder and gives her a warm, understanding smile.
  816. >”No need to fret, Ms. Vee. Your heat should subside in a couple days.”
  817. >”My… w-what?”
  818.  
  819. >Oh.
  820. >So all that time you've been messing with her, she's been...
  821. >You rub the back of your neck.
  822. >...Well now you feel like a real ass.
  823. >Vee stands there, stunned. "I don't... get it."
  824. >Wisteria tilts her head. "Are you unfamiliar with the term? I can sympathize, my mother always skirted around that word when referring to it."
  825. >Wisteria puts on an accent of some kind. "Now dah-ling, all fillies bloom from time to time! It's nought to be afraid of!"
  826. >She stifles a little laugh. "I hadn't the foggiest clue of what it was *actually* called until university... My roommate kept complaining about her 'heat' and I just assumed the room was too warm, so I kept turning up the AC until we were both shivering! Hah... Fun times."
  827. >Wisteria closes up her saddlebag with her magic. "Did you know the 'proper' term is estrus? Outside of a clinical setting, it's only ever used by high society! Ain't that the darnedest thing?"
  828. >"E-estrus?" Vee squeaks. "Like- like that thing my mom talked about sometimes? You- you're saying... that's what's wrong with me?"
  829. >Wisteria nods. "Its intensity is a tad unusual, but yes."
  830. >Vee nervously fidgets with the ribbon holding her cardigan together. "C-can I... ask a question?"
  831. >"Shoot away!"
  832. >Vee lowers her head a little, her ears drooping. "I-I've never... had it before? Is that normal?"
  833. >Wisteria blinks. "I- You haven't?"
  834. >Vee shakes her head.
  835. >"That... How old are you again?"
  836. >"I'm an adult." Vee says flatly.
  837. "But not old enough to drink."
  838. >Vee huffs. "Yeah, not yet."
  839. >Wisteria scratches her head. "I mean... not having one's cutiemark can delay it for a time, but it's bound to happen eventually..."
  840. >"Wait- I don't have my cutiemark!"
  841. >You watch as Vee begins to hike up her skirt and-
  842. "Vee!"
  843. >She freezes just above where her socks end. "Y-yeah?"
  844. "That's completely unnecessary."
  845. >Vee realizes her mistake and swiftly lets go of her skirt. "R-right... Sorry."
  846. >You turn to a puzzled Wisteria.
  847. "She might be freaking out a bit."
  848. >"It's okay! I'm sure this is all very upsetting..."
  849. >Vee slinks a little closer to Wisteria. "I don't get it... Why now? I went my whole life without it and now all of a sudden it's punching me in the guts!"
  850. "Specifically the uter-"
  851. >"D-don't just SAY it!"
  852. >Wisteria rubs her chin. "Well... The only other thing I can think of that might have suppressed it for so long is a side effect of taking some kind of medication."
  853. >Vee's eyes narrow at the ground. "Medication? ...Oh."
  854. "Oh... what?"
  855. >Vee gives you a timid look. "I kind of forgot to mention that I'm a little... unmedicated right now?"
  856. "...You're supposed to be medicated?"
  857. >"Y-yeah! My uh- my mom made me drink some really bitter stuff every month and I haven't had it for a while..."
  858. >A while being the entire time she's been here, so...
  859. >Half a year, give or take?
  860. >Wisteria’s concern is palpable. "Something you take monthly and that upsets your natural cycle... And you've been taking this since...?"
  861. >"S-since I was like, eleven?"
  862. >"Oh dear..."
  863.  
  864. ~ ~ ~
  865. >You sit beside Vee on the couch, watching Wisteria pace about the living room with her nose deep within a textbook she brought along with her.
  866. >’Of Pills and Placebos’, it was called.
  867. >”...And you don’t remember the name of this drug?”
  868. >Vee wriggles in place, clearly agitated by the barrage of questions she’s had to endure.
  869. >”N-no? She just put it in a cup and I never got to see the bottle…”
  870. >Wisteria squints at her book and flips a few pages. “Do you by chance recall the color of the liquid?”
  871. >”It was like… whitish purple? More white than purple, I mean…”
  872. >”Anything else of note? Like texture and so on?”
  873. >Vee scrunches a bit. “Bleh… How could I forget? It was all warm and bubbly and tasted and smelt like somepony dumped expired cough syrup into a batch of pancake batter and then let it go bad…”
  874. “Jeez.”
  875. >Wisteria stops pacing and lets out a drawn out sigh. “That… doesn’t sound like anything I’m familiar with…”
  876. >She then turns to Vee. “Do you even know what it was for?”
  877. >”Mom said I needed it. That's about all the explanation I got.”
  878. >You give Vee a comforting nudge in the shoulder.
  879. “Are you… feeling some kind of withdrawal? I know it’s been a while but you must have felt something different.”
  880. >Before Vee can open her mouth, Wisteria pipes up.
  881. >”One thing I’m certain of is that her current bout of intense heat-” Wisteria gestures at Vee. “-Is due to an extended withdrawal from her medication.”
  882. >”It’s not *that* intense…” Vee murmurs.
  883. “You don’t need to act tough, Vee. She’s here to help.”
  884. >”I’m not actin’ tough! I just… just…” She bows her head. “Okay so maybe it *was* pretty bad… But at least the worst part is over, right? I feel… better now.”
  885. >You ruffle Vee’s mane and turn back to Wisteria.
  886. “It’s technically her first, right? That must be one of the reasons why it was so debilitating.”
  887. >Wisteria nods. “It’s not uncommon for fillies to feel sick during their first few heats… I’m sure the same can happen to a mare in her situation as well.”
  888. >”This is so friggin’ embarrassing...” Vee whines with her head in her hooves. “C-can’t we just be done already?”
  889. “Wait, what about the medicine?”
  890. >Wisteria lets out another sigh. “I’ve looked through everything I’ve got and I couldn’t find anything remotely close to her description… Maybe it was some kind of potion or tonic? If that’s the case, you might be more inclined to contact an apothecary…”
  891. >Wisteria mutters something along the lines of ‘what kind of mother…’ under her breath.
  892. >Vee’s ears droop. ”I’m- I’m sorry for making things so complicated…”
  893. >Wisteria shakes her head. “Don’t be! It’s really not your fault. If anything, I… I wish I could do more.”
  894. >She pauses. “...But I can at the very least do this.”
  895. >Wisteria opens her saddlebag and pulls out some kind of… goodie bag?
  896. >Wisteria hands Vee the bag with a sympathetic smile.”These are usually for little fillies, but I… I think it might be of assistance.”
  897. >Vee sheepishly smiles back. “T-thanks Ms. Nurse…”
  898.  
  899. ~ ~ ~
  900. "...How'd I do?
  901. >Vee looks up from her fresh plate of blueberry pancakes with a giddy smile. "They look amazing! Thanks Nonny."
  902. "You're welcome as always, Vee. You've earned em’."
  903. >Vee sniffs at her pancakes as you sit down beside her.
  904. >"Is that... chocolate syrup I smell?"
  905. "Yep! Mixed a bit into the batter…"
  906. >She's practically drooling.
  907. >"Fah... Awesome."
  908. >As Vee begins to dig in, you take a small bite of your slightly less decadent stack of flapjacks.
  909. >Unlike her, you don't really need the excessive carbs.
  910. >"Sho...Deh thah nursh-"
  911. "Don't talk with your mouth full, Vee."
  912. >"Ah- Sahwy."
  913. >Vee finishes chewing her mouthful of pancake and swallows.
  914. >"I was trying to ask if the nurse said anything when you two went outside."
  915. >Right, that...
  916. >You roll your fork in your hand a little.
  917. "She was just... a tad curious about your upbringing, is all."
  918. >Vee fidgets at the mention. "D-did you..."
  919. >You shake your head.
  920. "I just told her it wasn't my place to say."
  921. >Vee's tension eases a little. "Cool, cool..."
  922. >You glance over to the goodie bag sitting on the table.
  923. "What'd she give you, anyways?"
  924. >"That thing? I... I dunno."
  925. >Vee pulls the garishly colored bag over and begins to fiddle with its flap.
  926. >"Mmn... It's kinda stuck."
  927. "I can give it a shot if you'd like."
  928. >"Sure! Have at it."
  929. >Vee slides the bag across the table and then takes another quick bite of pancake.
  930. >You pick up the bag and turn it around in your hands.
  931. >It's very... girly.
  932. >It looks like something a little filly would receive as a birthday party.
  933. >The flap has some kind of adhesive keeping it together.
  934. "You'd think they'd make these more earth pony friendly..."
  935. >After pulling apart the flaps with ease, you look up at Vee.
  936. >She looks back at you with crumbs on her face.
  937. "Enjoying yourself?"
  938. >"You know it, chief."
  939. >You chuckle.
  940. "Mind if I dump it out?"
  941. >”Nah."
  942. >You gently shake out the bag's contents and set it aside.
  943. "Hm?"
  944. >A small box of tea, miscellaneous candy, tissues, and some kind of pamphlet...
  945. >You pick up the tea and squint at the front.
  946. "This is... literally the same stuff I got you before."
  947. >"That mint stuff?"
  948. "Yeah."
  949. >'Filly-Petal's Seasonal Medley'
  950. >With the added context... you think you're starting to understand what this stuff is.
  951. "It's a natural heat relieving tea mix."
  952. >"Woah, really?"
  953. >You nod.
  954. "Seems so."
  955. >"Huh, no wonder it helped so much..."
  956. >That pharmacy mare knew *exactly* what was wrong...
  957. "Hey uh... sorry for not realizing sooner."
  958. >Vee parts her mane a little. "I mean... I didn't know what was wrong either."
  959. >She takes a deep breath. "But now that we know what it is... It’ll be smooth sailing from here right?"
  960. "You’re not out of the woods yet, but… I think you’ll be just fine."
  961. >"I sure hope so…"
  962. >You set down the tea box and briefly eye the face down pamphlet.
  963. >The back had a picture of some lanky young mare awkwardly standing beside an equally nervous young stallion.
  964. >You think… you'll leave that for her to look at in private.
  965.  
  966. ~ ~ ~
  967. "God... It's been a day."
  968. >You wonder how Vee is holding up...
  969. >While you didn't bring up the pamphlet, it didn't take her long to notice it.
  970. >She would lazily flip it over with her unused knife, giving you more than enough time to read the title before she finally realizes what it was and scrambles to stuff it back into the goodie bag.
  971. >'Marehood and You! #5: Navigating Heat with Counselor Calla Lily'
  972. >Since then, Vee has been... kind of quiet.
  973. >You can tell she *wanted* to be all jokey about it, but it was clear that things have taken its toll.
  974. >She looked like she needed some space, so once you finished putting the dishes away, you told her that you were going to bed.
  975. >Seeing that she didn’t try to coax you into watching another movie with her or play a game, you guess she was just about ready to retire too.
  976. “And that leads us to now…”
  977. >Laying around in your skivvies, wide awake and staring up at your ceiling fan.
  978. >You tried to get some rest at some point, but sleep has eluded you.
  979. “Maybe I should just give up and do some laundry… I’m running low on pants.”
  980. >Wouldn’t hurt to give Vee’s new collection of clothes a quick run through as well...
  981. >*knock…knock.*
  982. “...Huh?”
  983. >You turn to face the door.
  984. >*Knock*
  985. >That’s either a very polite burglar, or Vee.
  986. “It’s Equestria. I wouldn’t be surprised by that, frankly.”
  987. >As your door suffers another vicious barrage of gentle knocks, you get up and clear your throat.
  988. “Be right there.”
  989. >With a yawn, you shuffle over to the door and grip the knob.
  990. >Opening it up, you find Velveteen staring up at you with half-lidded eyes.
  991. >She had some wicked bedhead and was swaying ever so slightly.
  992. >Considering you heard the shower going earlier, it isn’t surprising to see her bare once more.
  993. >...Mostly bare, anyways. She’s elected to keep the striped undies.
  994. “Couldn’t sleep?”
  995. >She slowly shakes her head. “I had this weird dream…”
  996. “What kind of weird dream?”
  997. >”We were like... beating up my mom? With really big pool noodles and stuff... She was like 'ahm so sowwy Bee!' and I was all like 'Sorry won't cut it!' and then threw a snowball at her face. ...I dunno where I got the snowball, but I was SO cool..."
  998. “Sounds like we had fun.”
  999. >She smiles sleepily. “Yeah... Once we finished blowing up my house, we went out for ice cream a-and we... uhm…”
  1000. >As she begins to trail off, Vee suddenly tips forward, planting her face into your shirt.
  1001. “W-woah! Vee? You alright?”
  1002. >All you get in response is a barely intelligible murmur.
  1003. “Hold on… I got ya.”
  1004. >Picking up the little mare by the middle, you let her rest her head on your shoulder as you turn around and bring her further into your room.
  1005. >Sitting on your bed, you let Vee settle on your lap, intent on letting her crawl off.
  1006. >...But she doesn’t.
  1007. >Instead, the pools of wine that were her eyes are now fixated on you.
  1008. >”we h-hhugged…” She breathes, an almost desperate whine in her voice.
  1009. “I see…”
  1010. >Vee kneads gently at your chest with her hooves. “C-can I… Have a real one? If that’s… okay?”

Testament

by Castafae

Letters for Gray Garden

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Novel Pursuits with Radio Star

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Fae Green Archive

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Fae's Party Adventure

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