Future Tripping


                                            1.
                                            
                                                For those not in the know...

                                            2.
                                            
                                                This is HorseTV: https://files.catbox.moe/gotqnx.png

                                            3.
                                            
                                                This is Team Player: https://files.catbox.moe/nzpmn7.png

                                            4.
                                            
                                                ------

                                            5.
                                            
                                                >"They can't do this to me! I-I've worked here for years, I've d-done everything they w-wanted a-and they s-still-"

                                            6.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV paused her rambling to make an attempt to compose herself, closing her eyes and sitting straight, she tried to stop the quivering lip, the knot in her throat

                                            7.
                                            
                                                >Ignore the sting in her eyes.

                                            8.
                                            
                                                >She focused on whatever was around her instead; the empty warehouse she was in.

                                            9.
                                            
                                                >She turned to stare at the giant containers that surround them, the gigantic gas tank that shielded her from view. She tried to ground herself with everything that surrounded her.

                                            10.
                                            
                                                >Well, not everything.

                                            11.
                                            
                                                >She dared not glance at Team Player, sitting next to her, listening; as she poured her heart out.

                                            12.
                                            
                                                >Player was her closest friend she'd made whilst working here.

                                            13.
                                            
                                                >Their friendship had somewhat of a rocky start, but they've been really close ever since they made amends.

                                            14.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV took another steadying breath, she didn't want to cry, at least not in front of her friend. She was a big filly now, and big fillies didn't cry.

                                            15.
                                            
                                                >No, big fillies didn’t cry. Not even when things were going so well up until now, not when they might lose the only place where they feel a sense of belonging, not even when they were about to get kicked out from-

                                            16.
                                            
                                                >And just like that, her eyes were misty again.

                                            17.
                                            
                                                >She couldn't let Player see her cry, so she shakily swallowed the sob that threatened to burst out of her throat

                                            18.
                                            
                                                >Team Player, ever the socialite, awkwardly pat her friend's back, trying to not stare as HorseTV visibly tried to stop herself from breaking down

                                            19.
                                            
                                                "I'm... Sure it's not that bad TV. So they asked you to step out for a bit, so what? They're not just going to fire you out of the blue like that"

                                            20.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV stood up and spun to face her friend head-on, snout to snout

                                            21.
                                            
                                                >"You weren't there!”

                                            22.
                                            
                                                >She then stood up to pace

                                            23.
                                            
                                                "They threw me out like garbage! What else could it mean?! You don't just kick out your camera mare, which you specifically hired to record every match, mid-match!"

                                            24.
                                            
                                                >She stopped pacing to sit and nervously rub the sides of her head, staring at the far wall

                                            25.
                                            
                                                "You don't know how it's been, I KNOW they're canning me; they’ve been building up to it"

                                            26.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV whispered, as if there could be anyone spying on two ponies alone in the empty warehouse

                                            27.
                                            
                                                >"Sometimes they only have me come for an hour or two, or make me follow soldier around for hours while he does tricks with his ‘rocket jumper’".

                                            28.
                                            
                                                >Raising her voice, the camera mare gestured to the outside with her hooves

                                            29.
                                            
                                                >”There's even been a couple of times when they've told me to not even bother showing up! But they’ve never tossed me out of a match!"

                                            30.
                                            
                                                >She sat back down, almost out of breath. Using her hooves to cover her face as if hiding her shame

                                            31.
                                            
                                                >”It’s over, I’m finished! Next they’ll give me the pink slip!”

                                            32.
                                            
                                                >Raising her head from her hooves, she once again turned to her friend

                                            33.
                                            
                                                >"And then - And THEN! They'll try to take the camera too!"

                                            34.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV hugged the ancient looking camera tight to her chest, placing her shin on top of it

                                            35.
                                            
                                                >She held it tight, as if it could be taken away from her at any moment

                                            36.
                                            
                                                >"And then what will I be? Nopony! No longer HorseTV, just... Horse! Freaking Horse!"

                                            37.
                                            
                                                >Her voice trembled again as she spat out the word as if it were something rotten. She swallowed another urge to hiccup

                                            38.
                                            
                                                >"I-I don't w-want to b-be horse"

                                            39.
                                            
                                                "I've got an uncle named ho-”

                                            40.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV interrupted Team Player as if she wasn't even speaking; standing up to her hooves and raising her voice

                                            41.
                                            
                                                >"Well buck 'em, I don't need them! They can't fire me because I quit! That's right!"

                                            42.
                                            
                                                >She jumped and hovered in place just a few feet off the ground, cupping her hooves over her snout

                                            43.
                                            
                                                >"Did you hear me?! I QUIT!"

                                            44.
                                            
                                                >She screamed at the top of her lungs

                                            45.
                                            
                                                >To the empty warehouse

                                            46.
                                            
                                                "... TV there's nopony here, I specifically took you here so nopony would see you cry"

                                            47.
                                            
                                                >"I-I'm not crying!"

                                            48.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV said as she sniffed and hastily landed on the ground and turned to wipe away a few stray tears

                                            49.
                                            
                                                >Team player scooted closer to her friend, giving her a side hug as she spoke

                                            50.
                                            
                                                "You know as well as I that there's some days where there's little to no fighting, it always picks up later, it happens every other month. I think you're exaggerating"

                                            51.
                                            
                                                >Logically, HorseTV knew it was true, sometimes the mercs just had a hole in their schedule, or even took time off, so the fighting wasn't every day.

                                            52.
                                            
                                                >Emotionally however...

                                            53.
                                            
                                                >"I just... I really like this job, I don't want to lose it"

                                            54.
                                            
                                                >She said, once again grabbing her camera and hugging it.

                                            55.
                                            
                                                >This time her grip was softer, merely caressing it as her eyes started to get misty again.

                                            56.
                                            
                                                >"Yeah, it doesn't pay much, but I've met and befriended so many so many cool ponies. It feels like the first time that I've made real friends"

                                            57.
                                            
                                                >At that she stayed silent for a second, thinking something over and slowly turning to Team Player.

                                            58.
                                            
                                                >"We're... Friends right?"

                                            59.
                                            
                                                >She asked, as if considering the alternative for the first time.

                                            60.
                                            
                                                >Player chuckled, amused by the obvious question, but as she turned around, she noticed the slightly desperate expression on her friend’s face.

                                            61.
                                            
                                                >It only took the mare a second to respond.

                                            62.
                                            
                                                "Of course we're friends dummy"

                                            63.
                                            
                                                >Team Player hugged HorseTV tighter, brushing her friend's cheek with her own

                                            64.
                                            
                                                "And nothing will change that, don’t you forget it TV!"

                                            65.
                                            
                                                >TV enjoyed the hug for a few seconds longer before speaking up again, in a low voice

                                            66.
                                            
                                                >Almost a whisper

                                            67.
                                            
                                                >"That's not even my real name..."

                                            68.
                                            
                                                "Huh?"

                                            69.
                                            
                                                >"HorseTV isn't my real name, more like a job title"

                                            70.
                                            
                                                Team player stared at her friend, now slightly confused

                                            71.
                                            
                                                "Then why do you go around telling everypony to call you that?"

                                            72.
                                            
                                                >"It's a callsign, like how the mercs go by their specialty... I think."

                                            73.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV said, she'd assume that to be the case for the mercs too, at least she didn't think 'demolitions man' was a human name

                                            74.
                                            
                                                >"I don't know, Miss Pauling told me to not tell anyone my real name, one of the caveats that came with the job"

                                            75.
                                            
                                                >TV turned to Team Player with a slight smirk, her eyes still a bit puffy from before

                                            76.
                                            
                                                >"Did you really think my name was 'horse'?"

                                            77.
                                            
                                                >The brown mare chuckled sheepishly

                                            78.
                                            
                                                "Hehe, maybe. Ponies aren't all that creative these days, I actually know a couple ponies named 'horse'"

                                            79.
                                            
                                                >"Isn't horse a slur?"

                                            80.
                                            
                                                "Uh, no? Maybe you're thinking of whorse? Thought it's less of a slur and more like an insult."

                                            81.
                                            
                                                >"Oh"

                                            82.
                                            
                                                >A moment of silence

                                            83.
                                            
                                                >"Are we going to keep being friends after I'm fired?"

                                            84.
                                            
                                                "Mare, they're not going to fire you"

                                            85.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV said nothing as she stared at Player, her eyes getting mistier as the seconds passed, her heart aching every second Player didn't respond.

                                            86.
                                            
                                                >Player sighed as she looked away, pulling TV close gain as she nuzzled the top of her head.

                                            87.
                                            
                                                "Yeah, no matter what we'll keep in touch. I promise"

                                            88.
                                            
                                                >Player whispered to her friend

                                            89.
                                            
                                                >"I mean, when they fire me I can still hang around here, right? There's plenty of ponies lazying around, I'm sure they wouldn't mind one that actually puts in some work"

                                            90.
                                            
                                                >She said, motioning all round, as if said ponies were with them.

                                            91.
                                            
                                                >Team Player raised an eyebrow at her.

                                            92.
                                            
                                                "I didn't take you for the mercenary type, do you even know how to throw a punch?"

                                            93.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV scoffed

                                            94.
                                            
                                                >"Yeah, I can fight. But that wasn't what I meant! I can be like... the water mare, just hanging off to the side, offering the odd drink when they 'respawn'... Or something"

                                            95.
                                            
                                                >With a sigh, she fell back to her haunches

                                            96.
                                            
                                                >"I need to come up with a better pitch, Miss Pauling will never re-hire me at this rate"

                                            97.
                                            
                                                >Team Player fell back next to her, leaning on her. Player's heavier frame prompting a sligth "oof" out of HorseTV

                                            98.
                                            
                                                "I still think you're over reacting, if they wanted to fire you I think they would've just 'gotten rid' of you, y'know?"

                                            99.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV grimmaced at the thought

                                            100.
                                            
                                                >"Uh, maybe they don't 'get rid' of ponies. With Celestia and Luna here with us, it'd be more trouble than it's worth, for them. I'm sure they can deal with 9 humans... Maybe"

                                            101.
                                            
                                                >Another moment of silence

                                            102.
                                            
                                                "What were you doing before they asked you to leave?"

                                            103.
                                            
                                                >Said Player, in an attempt to not let the silence linger, and therefore, TV’s thoughts

                                            104.
                                            
                                                >"Before they kicked me out?"

                                            105.
                                            
                                                >Said TV, still a little sore about it

                                            106.
                                            
                                                >"I was setting up in dustbowl, I need more time when they fight there because battles either last five minutes, or hours. I need to be ready for either scenario"

                                            107.
                                            
                                                >Player furrowed her brow

                                            108.
                                            
                                                "Wait, dustbowl? Aren't there like 40 dudes in there? Plus the ponies that stay and watch?"

                                            109.
                                            
                                                >"Ugh, don't remind me! And I'm missing all the action!"

                                            110.
                                            
                                                "Horse you idiot, they're not going to fire you, they're trying to minimize the clutter!"

                                            111.
                                            
                                                >"Who're you calling clutter you unemployed slob?!"

                                            112.
                                            
                                                >Player rolled her eyes at the jab

                                            113.
                                            
                                                "I'm not..."

                                            114.
                                            
                                                >She let out a breath

                                            115.
                                            
                                                "You're the only non-combatant that's moving around. You’re distracting. It isn’t as bad most of the time, but with that many people fighting, they’re gonna be shooting at you instead of shooting at the opposite team, by reflex"

                                            116.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV frowned at the slob and crossed her forelegs

                                            117.
                                            
                                                >"That’s a stupid conclusion, you’re being stupid "

                                            118.
                                            
                                                "TV, come on you know I'm right. And you know they need the airspace, I'm sure they'll call you back when it's not as crowded"

                                            119.
                                            
                                                >"Wait, why don't they kick out the other ponies too if it's 'oh so crowded'"

                                            120.
                                            
                                                >Team Player shrugged

                                            121.
                                            
                                                "I dunno. Maybe because they normally just stay in one place the whole match, it helps that we're so damn cute to humans!"

                                            122.
                                            
                                                >Player said giving a wink to the camera mare

                                            123.
                                            
                                                >HorseTV processed her friend's words for a couple seconds before turning to her friend, a renewed scowl on her face

                                            124.
                                            
                                                "Are you calling me ugly?!"

                                            125.
                                            
                                                >Before Team Player could answer, a familiar voice sounded through the warehouse speakers

                                            126.
                                            
                                                >"Miss TV, report and set up on steel immediately. You have three minutes to be ready."

                                            127.
                                            
                                                >"FUCK!"

                                            128.
                                            
                                                >Adrenaline rushed to HorseTV as lunged to grab her camera and whatever equipment she could carry, hastily flapping to fly off, but losing a few feathers in the process

                                            129.
                                            
                                                "How'd they know we were here? I didn't see any cameras"

                                            130.
                                            
                                                >Player said whilst looking around

                                            131.
                                            
                                                >As she did, she caught the sight of her friend trying to open the nearest window to exit through it, eventually deciding to just break it with the back of her camera and dashing out of the building

                                            132.
                                            
                                                "I told you they weren't gonna fire you!"

                                            133.
                                            
                                                >Player shouted at her retreating friend, unsure if she heard her

                                            134.
                                            
                                                >Remembering her friend's earlier comment, she looked down at her wife beater and noticed it was slightly stained

                                            135.
                                            
                                                >The stain did look a couple of days old

                                            136.
                                            
                                                “...”

                                            137.
                                            
                                                >Maybe she was a bit of a slob

                                            138.
                                            
                                                "Eh, screw it. I hear some stallions like a little bit of mare musk"

                                            139.
                                            
                                                >She grinned to herself, self-satisfied at the excuse

                                            140.
                                            
                                                >As she got up to leave now that her friend was gone and her job situation seemed to be fixed at the moment, she stretched

                                            141.
                                            
                                                >And as she did, she caught a wiff of her 'musk'

                                            142.
                                            
                                                >She gagged

                                            143.
                                            
                                                "Okay... Maybe that’s a bit too much. A shower once in a while would do me good"

                                            144.
                                            
                                                ------

                                            145.
                                            
                                                This whole thing is in reference of HorseTV getting kicked out of the game when 32+ players join the tf2 server, I wondered: how would that make her feel? At least the first time it happened.

                                            146.
                                            
                                                In my head canon, HorseTV takes every screen cap posted in the thread, every clip shared and every recording, it's all her doing. She's the only one with a camera after all. Also, in case it wasn't clear, I think it fits her to have an alias just like the mercenaries! TVs have yet to be invented in equestria after all

                                            147.
                                            
                                                BTW, they were hiding in dm_warehouse

                                            148.
                                            
                                                HorseTV isn't a cry baby, she's just very artistic. And as most artistic types, she's a bit melodramatic, sometimes overly emotional. This isn’t a critique towards anybody, it’s just my real life experience talking.

                                            149.
                                            
                                                As always, if you have any observations feel free to let me know. This one felt weird to write, maybe because I couldn’t fall back on TLU because I don't feel like everyone knows HorseTV's colors that I didn't want to describe her using clothes and coat color.