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/yandere/ Sally

By BlondieAnon
Created: 2026-07-02 07:06:22
/yandere/anonymous/pie/maredomtags

  1. 1.
    "...And that's why you do it."
  2. 2.
    >Bingo
  3. 3.
    >That's what you say to cap it off
  4. 4.
    >That is how, Anon, you win the crowd
  5. 5.
    >You shake your head and empty the shot glass into your mouth
  6. 6.
    >You don't swallow it
  7. 7.
    >Not yet
  8. 8.
    >The taste is decent
  9. 9.
    >The burning sensation along your tongue, while not pleasant, wakes you up
  10. 10.
    >Bit by bit you gulp down the alcohol
  11. 11.
    >You can taste it while exhaling through your nose
  12. 12.
    >It roots you
  13. 13.
    >It's a sign of another show completed
  14. 14.
    >You used to give them for free
  15. 15.
    >You used to talk to anyone who'd give you the time of day, to the point of coming across as pushy
  16. 16.
    >Who knew that the "right" way was to charge people per seat?
  17. 17.
    >That now gave you legitimacy
  18. 18.
    >Made you an authority on the matter and not just some dipshit spouting positive words and avoiding vague platitudes
  19. 19.
    >What a disgusting thing
  20. 20.
    >"OHHH-EM-GEE, Anon?! You drink here too?"
  21. 21.
    >You don't even get a chance to bristle
  22. 22.
    >A mare scampers up to the booth seat opposite of you
  23. 23.
    >Cute girl
  24. 24.
    >Big yellow eyes
  25. 25.
    >Dark purple coat
  26. 26.
    >A bobcut mane dyed black
  27. 27.
    >You can tell because the roots are starting to show
  28. 28.
    >Deep blue
  29. 29.
    "Ah... yeah. Today I do, yeah."
  30. 30.
    >She recognized your name so she must've been a part of the crowd
  31. 31.
    >You used to be able to remember everyone you spoke to by name
  32. 32.
    >You don't feel all too happy about losing track of that
  33. 33.
    >"That's awesome. I hope you don't mind, I wanted to talk to you after the show but you wandered off so quickly and I was still taking notes and then I had to call my mom and then I realized I hadn't even hydrated for the day and..."
  34. 34.
    >She trails off
  35. 35.
    >You aren't looking away or focusing on anything like your phone
  36. 36.
    >She's cute
  37. 37.
    >That's all that really comes to mind
  38. 38.
    >"...That look really is showing me that you know what you talk about..."
  39. 39.
    >She scrunches up into herself
  40. 40.
    >She seems self-conscious
  41. 41.
    "I'm not driving anywhere and my flight's tomorrow morning. Would you like me to buy you something to drink or snack on...?"
  42. 42.
    >You really don't mind doing stuff like that
  43. 43.
    >Doesn't matter that she's a mare, you'd order dinner or a snack for anyone if they asked
  44. 44.
    >She seems to take it a particular way though
  45. 45.
    >She scrunches up further, grinning like she's going to end up a ticking time bomb of glee and dark sprinkles
  46. 46.
    >"Oh... I couldn't!"
  47. 47.
    >She throws her head to one side
  48. 48.
    >"I shouldn't!"
  49. 49.
    >She throws her head to the other side
  50. 50.
    >"...Can I?"
  51. 51.
    >Her front hooves end up on the edge of the table
  52. 52.
    >Even if you were the tight-fisted sort, that would've won you over
  53. 53.
    "Yeah, go for it. I haven't ordered grub yet either so it'd be nice to have someone to eat with."
  54. 54.
    >If you were the sort to be flirtatious, you'd call that a kill shot
  55. 55.
    >She seems so happy
  56. 56.
    >You don't really have the heart to tell her that you don't really care either way
  57. 57.
    >She doesn't seem the sort to flirt with either
  58. 58.
    >You left the door open for her to introduce herself and instead she's just going with it
  59. 59.
    >"You really do practice what you preach... that's so cool."
  60. 60.
    >There are a lot of scam artists out there, aren't there?
  61. 61.
     
  62. 62.
    >It sickens you to think that, even for a moment, you could share the same space as those types
  63. 63.
    "Well, it's as I said earlier. I don't think I really try anymore. I just do it. It's like ha-"
  64. 64.
    >"Having to drink while walking, it's a learned skill!"
  65. 65.
    >She has such joy saying that
  66. 66.
    >Have you said that so much it's now some sort of catchphrase?
  67. 67.
    >What a lame thing to be tied to
  68. 68.
    >Orders are taken in short order, once a waitress realizes you aren't getting up or flagging down someone
  69. 69.
    >Decent dinner for you
  70. 70.
    >Doubles as brunch
  71. 71.
    >She ends up ordering almost the same things, plus or minus some greens added
  72. 72.
    >"I've been to a few of your shows now. I even listened to that one podcast you were on. I hope I'm not fangirling out too hard."
  73. 73.
    "I wouldn't call them "shows"... but. Yeah. Thank you. Hopefully it means they were entertaining."
  74. 74.
    >"Oh they were far more than merely entertaining! I didn't even know how to get used to Earth until I found your stuff! It sounds so... Equestrian!"
  75. 75.
    >That explains the friendliness, Anon
  76. 76.
    >Like before, it's not like she likes you personally
  77. 77.
    >She's just friendly
  78. 78.
    >Lot of mares are like that
  79. 79.
    >The ones that speak up are
  80. 80.
    >You didn't really pay attention at the time but once you started putting a price tag on your talks, you gained more Equestrian audiences
  81. 81.
    >Families, loners, stallions, mares
  82. 82.
    >Humans too, no doubt
  83. 83.
    >Maybe it's just something to do with how things have been socially shifting
  84. 84.
    >You want another shot but you don't really want to drink in front of someone you view as impressionable
  85. 85.
    >"That was alcohol you had, right?"
  86. 86.
    "Yeah."
  87. 87.
    >"What kind?"
  88. 88.
    "Ah? That's... a good question. I forgot what brand they said they had on the shelf."
  89. 89.
    >"No, not the brand. What kind was it?"
  90. 90.
    >Her inflection gives you a bit of a pause
  91. 91.
    >You haven't noticed it until now but her expression hadn't really mellowed out since you offered to buy dinner for her
  92. 92.
    >You're unsure of if that's the norm
  93. 93.
    >They seem to always experience emotions so much more strongly than humans
  94. 94.
    "I. Asked for whiskey. I'd rather buy my own vodka."
  95. 95.
    >"Woah... whiskey..."
  96. 96.
    >Is that not something they have back in horse world?
  97. 97.
    >You want to ask that but Ms. Glee seems to be having too much fun
  98. 98.
    >Who are you to ruin it?
  99. 99.
    "Tell me about it. I guess I prefer to feel it if I'm going to drink. Otherwise, soda, juice and water for me. Real high roller."
  100. 100.
    >"Alcohol's something I never touched back home. I think it came down to how weird it makes others act. Does it make you act weird too?"
  101. 101.
    >What kind of immature question is that?
  102. 102.
    >You stifle a chuckle and shake your head
  103. 103.
    "Me? Oh no. I'm weird enough sober. I suppose I do it as a way to connect to memories. I might not remember this show, or even what I said. I might not remember being here. But, I'll remember that drink."
  104. 104.
    >You're sure that makes you come across as mysterious
  105. 105.
    >Or pretentious
  106. 106.
    >Doesn't make it any less true
  107. 107.
    >"So will you remember talking-having dinner-with me?"
  108. 108.
    >This one doesn't really know how to put the brakes on, does she
  109. 109.
     
  110. 110.
    "Oh yeah, easily. Even if it feels like those guys in the kitchen are taking their sweet time."
  111. 111.
    >As much as that makes her turn all giggles, you aren't really saying it to be funny
  112. 112.
    >You're hungry and you don't like alcohol to sit on an empty stomach
  113. 113.
    >She takes a moment to calm down but her baseline is still that sort of doe-eyed stare and smile
  114. 114.
    >You people watch for a while, unsure of how to fill the air
  115. 115.
    >Lot of people traveling around, even if it's later in the evening
  116. 116.
    >Growing number of pairs or groups that are a mix of equine and human
  117. 117.
    >Was it like this a few years ago?
  118. 118.
    >Did you even care?
  119. 119.
    >A few years ago...
  120. 120.
    >You wish you could remember even that far back
  121. 121.
    >"Anon! Can I ask you about your next show?"
  122. 122.
    "Eh, sure."
  123. 123.
    >You respond on pure auto-pilot
  124. 124.
    >Crap
  125. 125.
    >You shake your head to clear the fog and return focus on her
  126. 126.
    "Got a plane up north tomorrow. After that, going to do I think... either two things in one place, or one thing in two places. They're both close by so it won't take much time."
  127. 127.
    >"What about after?"
  128. 128.
    "After?"
  129. 129.
    >You go home, rot, try to not be a hypocrite by actually doing things you enjoy
  130. 130.
    >Or try to
  131. 131.
    "I... don't know. Back to my usual I suppose."
  132. 132.
    >"What is your usual?"
  133. 133.
    >She came with that one already in the chamber
  134. 134.
    "You know, you're asking some hard hitting questions for some mystery mare."
  135. 135.
    >Her smile falters for less than a second
  136. 136.
    >Some sort of micro expression
  137. 137.
    >That smile curling up further
  138. 138.
    >Eyes squinting by a fraction
  139. 139.
    >If you were focused on something else you wouldn't have caught it
  140. 140.
    >"I know. You said it's sometimes better to open up to complete strangers than friends and family. Do you like me being a stranger?"
  141. 141.
    >Oh boy
  142. 142.
    >Has this been some sort of scheme to mess with you?
  143. 143.
    >Is this being recorded?
  144. 144.
    "Yeah, it sometimes is. But given we're not in some questionable chatroom or nefarious website, it's hard to pull that off without being a goofball."
  145. 145.
    >That seemed like the right answer
  146. 146.
    >It wasn't like it was an exciting choice of words but it seemed to click with her somehow
  147. 147.
    >"You're right. My name's Sally."
  148. 148.
    >What kind of Equest--
  149. 149.
    >Oh
  150. 150.
    >Right
  151. 151.
    >Some of them have adopted more human names to fit in better
  152. 152.
    >Like some Chinese woman calling herself Cherelle instead of Chun Li
  153. 153.
    "Well, nice to meet you, Sally. Nice name."
  154. 154.
    >"I picked it out myself."
  155. 155.
    "I bet, that's the way to do it."
  156. 156.
    >This was kinda cute but it's already starting to wear just a tiny bit thin to you
  157. 157.
    >"I'm sorry if I seem a little direct. I used to be really quiet."
  158. 158.
    "Yeah?"
  159. 159.
    >"Yeah. Super quiet. I liked reading because you can give yourself any voice you want while reading. You can have your characters played by the most famous people you know, or make them into whatever else fits."
  160. 160.
    "That's a pretty creative way to put it."
  161. 161.
    >"Yeah. It's not like they're voices in your head, they're just you doing... a really good impression."
  162. 162.
    "Pretty well put."
  163. 163.
    >What an odd way to put it
  164. 164.
     
  165. 165.
    >Dinner finally came
  166. 166.
    >Along with a second shot
  167. 167.
    "There we go, that's the good stuff."
  168. 168.
    >You leave the shot untouched and go for the fries first
  169. 169.
    >You've been dying for something salty for days now
  170. 170.
    >She digs in as you do
  171. 171.
    >She was really hungry
  172. 172.
    >You're glad you offered to buy for her
  173. 173.
    >Speaking of
  174. 174.
    "I noticed you don't really have any bags or stuff with you. Staying with someone?"
  175. 175.
    >"Me? Oh, no."
  176. 176.
    >That's not a great answer
  177. 177.
    >You could ask more
  178. 178.
    >Do you care?
  179. 179.
    >She's probably a local
  180. 180.
    "You seem well acclimated to dealing with manimals and how things work over here."
  181. 181.
    >"I'm trying."
  182. 182.
    "Been around long?"
  183. 183.
    >"Yeah."
  184. 184.
    >You shouldn't be bothered by her short answers
  185. 185.
    >Both of you are eating
  186. 186.
    >But she has to know that these curt answers aren't really helping to carry the conversation
  187. 187.
    >"I used to think motivational speakers were all lame or just speaking from some sort of higher plane and looking down at the rest of us. But the way you speak about things. You've really lived it."
  188. 188.
    >She only said that after she polished off her plate
  189. 189.
    >You have maybe half left
  190. 190.
    >You haven't really spoken about that sort of stuff in a long while
  191. 191.
    >Guess she found some old sources
  192. 192.
    "...Yeah."
  193. 193.
    >That might explain why she was so hungry
  194. 194.
    >She watches you eat, shot glass untouched
  195. 195.
    >"I really appreciate dinner, Anon. You really are who you try to be."
  196. 196.
    >You nod, as if you have any better way to respond while focusing on your plate
  197. 197.
    >"I really didn't think you were a human at first, first time I listened to you."
  198. 198.
    "Yeah? Why's that?"
  199. 199.
    >"I didn't know a human could be so low."
  200. 200.
    >That makes you stop
  201. 201.
    >Your eyes raise from your plate to her
  202. 202.
    >Her gleeful smile was finally gone
  203. 203.
    >The smile that replaced it is neutral
  204. 204.
    >Worn
  205. 205.
    >That look in her eye
  206. 206.
    >You don't like that look
  207. 207.
    "...You're really comfortable pressing on me like this out of nowhere."
  208. 208.
    >"Not really. If I weren't so tired I'd be terrified."
  209. 209.
    >Why terrified?
  210. 210.
    >It's like she can tell you thought about asking that
  211. 211.
    >"The human world is really scary sometimes. Lot of people are violent. Or they'll try to kick you. Everyone lives in a big building and anyone who doesn't, they have so much it feels like you're intruding on their space just by walking near them."
  212. 212.
    "Why not just go back to Equestria?"
  213. 213.
    >"I can't."
  214. 214.
    >Can't or won't?
  215. 215.
    >She doesn't answer your thought
  216. 216.
    >You aren't really sure where to go with that
  217. 217.
    >You've had some people spend hours telling you about their lives
  218. 218.
    >Their faults
  219. 219.
    >Their sorrows
  220. 220.
    >A lot of them come from objectively better backgrounds than you
  221. 221.
    >A lot of them only really need someone to talk to before they loop back around and start bragging about what they have to look forward to
  222. 222.
    >If you were younger that'd bother you
  223. 223.
    "It sounds like you're still on your path."
  224. 224.
    >That's a good answer to placate someone
  225. 225.
    >It isn't really an answer
  226. 226.
    >It feels like a bitter copout that says "I sure don't care but you do so you'll feel heard"
  227. 227.
    >"Yeah. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you."
  228. 228.
    "No, it's alright. Would I be here if I weren't?"
  229. 229.
     
  230. 230.
    >You cap off your meal with the second shot
  231. 231.
    >The way it tingles on the tongue and the roof of your mouth is nice
  232. 232.
    >Numbing
  233. 233.
    >A slight burn
  234. 234.
    >But nice
  235. 235.
    >You drink so rarely now, every drop feels like a reason to celebrate
  236. 236.
    >Sally watches you hold the liquid in your mouth
  237. 237.
    >"You look like you're unsure if you like it..."
  238. 238.
    >A short swallow leads to a sharp shiver
  239. 239.
    >Then a few more short swallows
  240. 240.
    >Nothing says satisfactory like an unprovoked "eugha guhg"
  241. 241.
    >She giggles at your show
  242. 242.
    "Yeah... I think I do. It's just a little."
  243. 243.
    >"Thank you for buying dinner for me."
  244. 244.
    >She has no outfit or purse on her
  245. 245.
    >She likely knows that you'd just buy a stranger a meal
  246. 246.
    >She likely knows that you'd be fine with being spoken to so directly
  247. 247.
    "Yeah, not a problem. I hope things continue to get better for you."
  248. 248.
    >Another non-sentence that feels like a platitude
  249. 249.
    >You mean it
  250. 250.
    >Of course you mean it
  251. 251.
    >But does that nicety matter if you say it to so many people who have their own levels of issues?
  252. 252.
    >The check comes and you let your card handle it
  253. 253.
    >You could ask if she wanted something to eat to go
  254. 254.
    >But you don't
  255. 255.
    "I think I'm gonna head up to my room, call it a night. Flight's early which is good because I have a lot of time to unwind after."
  256. 256.
    >"And your show!"
  257. 257.
    "Yup. And my show too."
  258. 258.
    >It won't even be a grand in profit, but it's getting your name out there, building up momentum
  259. 259.
    >You stand up, stretching and at the exact level of intoxicated to know you'll get a nice, full rest
  260. 260.
    >Sally still sits there
  261. 261.
    >"Thank you for talking to me Anon."
  262. 262.
    "You too, Sally. I'll see you later."
  263. 263.
    >That's how you usually end things
  264. 264.
    >It isn't as definitive and, who knows, you may see whoever again
  265. 265.
    >The trip to your hotel room is uneventful
  266. 266.
    >More couples
  267. 267.
    >Families on a vacation
  268. 268.
    >The business transplant with what looks like someone who's too happy to see them
  269. 269.
    >And then there's you
  270. 270.
    >Only when you get back to your room do you feel like you can relax
  271. 271.
    >You refused to turn around but you're sure someone was watching you
  272. 272.
    >Maybe it was just your imagination, mixed with ego
  273. 273.
    >You're a motivational speaker making a profit off of sad sacks and others who were as lonesome and as aimless as you
  274. 274.
    >You're a few Dr. Phil interviews away from being anyone worth keeping tabs on
  275. 275.
     
  276. 276.
     
  277. 277.
    >You've been staring at your shot ever since you ordered it
  278. 278.
    >It isn't a lot
  279. 279.
    >It isn't like you have a drinking problem
  280. 280.
    >You started doing it just as a way to celebrate selling seats
  281. 281.
    >It wasn't anything to do with the money but more the fact people will willing to see you in person and listen
  282. 282.
    >But this time was rough
  283. 283.
    >It didn't matter that you only sold ten seats out of the entire room
  284. 284.
    >It didn't matter that of those ten seats, only four showed up
  285. 285.
    >It was that two of them, a pair of siblings, were completely distraught
  286. 286.
    >Cancer on one relative
  287. 287.
    >Another died only a year back
  288. 288.
    >You have your own share of losses but back-to-back like that?
  289. 289.
    >Nevermind that they were way too close for a family
  290. 290.
    >Closer than you ever were with your own
  291. 291.
    >It effectively turned into a Q&A just for them
  292. 292.
    >It turned into the five of you just sitting in a close circle and talking
  293. 293.
    >They didn't deserve to have to pay for this
  294. 294.
    >You already forgot their names, to top it off
  295. 295.
    >Should you try to find a way to refund them?
  296. 296.
    >You take hold of the shot glass
  297. 297.
    >What is there to celebrate in this?
  298. 298.
    "...Fuck it."
  299. 299.
    >You inhale the liquid
  300. 300.
    >It sits in your mouth again
  301. 301.
    >You remember being told when you were younger to just gun it
  302. 302.
    >Don't let it get a chance to burn
  303. 303.
    >Barely notice the flavor
  304. 304.
    >"Hey! Anon, hey!"
  305. 305.
    >That voice is familiar
  306. 306.
    >You're three short swallows in when you see a dark purple mare clamber up the chair opposite of you
  307. 307.
    >You carefully swallow the fourth and fifth time while staring
  308. 308.
    >It's that mare
  309. 309.
    "...You're a long way from home, Sally."
  310. 310.
    >You stifle the urge to shake and vocally interpret what your throat must be thinking
  311. 311.
    >"Ha ha, yeah I am..."
  312. 312.
    >Those yellow eyes are trained on you from the second she sat down
  313. 313.
    "Are you stalking me?"
  314. 314.
    >You don't know how else to say it
  315. 315.
    >"What, me? Oh no... no no. I was talking with my mom while I was getting my flight booked. Equestrian passport means I just gotta talk to someone official later and then they pay it. So, I don't get to fly for free but it's almost free!"
  316. 316.
    >That didn't answer your question
  317. 317.
    >Good to know at least
  318. 318.
    >You rub your forehead with your hand
  319. 319.
    >"I couldn't afford entry this time but I listened in near the back. The doors weren't locked... or closed..."
  320. 320.
    >If only you could put up a sign saying that anyone was free to just walk in
  321. 321.
    "Yeah."
  322. 322.
    >"Those two really sounded like they had a rough time of things."
  323. 323.
    "...Yeah."
  324. 324.
    >Sally dips her head down
  325. 325.
    >Her eyes glue themselves to yours despite your attempt to remain distant
  326. 326.
    >"You handled that really well, I think. You really shouldn't feel bad about their situation."
  327. 327.
    "What kind of thing is that to say? Of course I feel bad about it. Who wouldn't?"
  328. 328.
    >"But shouldn't you care about your own situations more?"
  329. 329.
    >She isn't smiling like before
  330. 330.
    >She really seems to be taking this seriously
  331. 331.
    >It would be weird if she wasn't
  332. 332.
     
  333. 333.
    >"I love listening to you going through these things but you make so many problems your own. You can't handle it. Not all of it."
  334. 334.
    >Who said you were looking to shoulder all of these?
  335. 335.
    "I think you're getting a little too familiar with me."
  336. 336.
    >Sally nods
  337. 337.
    >"I just listened to all of your stuff. Remember, a few years ago, you mentioned that you wanted to help everyone. That's really nice of you but I don't know if you should keep doing that."
  338. 338.
    >She's a fan
  339. 339.
    >That much is apparent
  340. 340.
    >It doesn't mean she gets free reign to armchair psychologist you
  341. 341.
    >Like you do to others who bring up their own problems
  342. 342.
    >The irony is unappealing
  343. 343.
    "Listen, why are you here? Really. I got you dinner last time. I'm not buying you dinner this time."
  344. 344.
    >"I would like to keep talking to you. In person. I don't like using computers unless I can just listen."
  345. 345.
    >Is the alcohol keeping you from being more aggressive, or is it what's making you feel more disgusted with her?
  346. 346.
    >Should you feel disgust with someone who wants to talk to you?
  347. 347.
    "So that means following me through multiple states, with multiple flights, just so you can find me after I do my thing."
  348. 348.
    >She finally perks up
  349. 349.
    >"Nail on the head! Should I not?"
  350. 350.
    >You aren't sure if you're looking at her with disgust, or pity, or something else entirely.
  351. 351.
    "Correct. You should not."
  352. 352.
    >You lean forward, working yourself up to a state of proper irate
  353. 353.
    "I'd dare say that you shouldn't invite yourself to this sort of thing unless I invited you explicitly. Which I don't recall doing at any point in time while we were talking."
  354. 354.
    >Sally squints and beams like you were giving her some sort of worldly, sage secret
  355. 355.
    >You expect her to come out with some sort of retort
  356. 356.
    >That this is some fan ritual in Equestria
  357. 357.
    >That personal boundaries don't exist there like they do here
  358. 358.
    >"My mom said you sounded like a decent guy. She likes that you're human."
  359. 359.
    "...Okay. Then bring her out here and I'll tell her the same thing."
  360. 360.
    >"Well she's not here, silly."
  361. 361.
    "Yeah, I see that."
  362. 362.
    >The water assigned to you seems hesitant to take your order given the friction but you o--
  363. 363.
    >She orders for you
  364. 364.
    >Exact same thing that you got
  365. 365.
    >And then something for herself
  366. 366.
    >Similar to yours
  367. 367.
    >The audacity on this pony
  368. 368.
    "What are you doing?"
  369. 369.
    >You can only speak with that level of fatigue that comes from the slight buzz of strong alcohol infecting your body
  370. 370.
    >"I'm buying you dinner! I gave the bar some money before I sat down and told them that they can keep the change after."
  371. 371.
    >Whether or not it should, your body relaxes
  372. 372.
    >That's actually half decent of her
  373. 373.
    "...Well thanks. Still doesn't make up for you showing up out of the blue. That's still weird."
  374. 374.
    >"Yeah... I know it is. It probably seems crazy, huh."
  375. 375.
    >She pushes her mouth into the side of her cheek, eyes finally breaking contact to look down
  376. 376.
    >"I don't really know what else I can do... so I can at least do this, right?"
  377. 377.
    >Do "this"?
  378. 378.
    >Why?
  379. 379.
    "Why would you ever buy someone you don't know dinner?"
  380. 380.
    >"Well... why do you?"
  381. 381.
     
  382. 382.
    >Christ, you walked right into that
  383. 383.
    "Yeah well I don't look for people to randomly help out."
  384. 384.
    >"What do you call tonight? And last night?"
  385. 385.
    >While speaking her eyes trail up and focus on your face
  386. 386.
    >Her expression drops to something neutral
  387. 387.
    >A sharp neutral, if such a thing exists
  388. 388.
    >"You were planning on buying dinner tonight. You could have given them their money back then and there. You could be sitting here with them, and offer to at least give them your direct contact info if they wanted to talk to you again personally."
  389. 389.
    >Her head tilts
  390. 390.
    >"Why didn't you?"
  391. 391.
    >What inquisition is this and who hired her?
  392. 392.
    "Because they didn't need me inserting myself into their life."
  393. 393.
    >"But taking their money and pretending to be their friend is?"
  394. 394.
    >You would be more angry if you weren't more...
  395. 395.
    >Caught in the act?
  396. 396.
    "I'm not pretending anything. Sally. I never said I was anyone's friend. I've never tried to be a friend."
  397. 397.
    >"So if they called you a friend, you would correct them."
  398. 398.
    >Your hand goes to your brow again
  399. 399.
    >This is not the right time to deal with this line of interrogation
  400. 400.
    "What do you want? Why are you trying to poke holes in my stuff?"
  401. 401.
    >Sally sinks her head down again
  402. 402.
    >Low enough that she's resting her chin on the table
  403. 403.
    >Still somehow able to find your eyes with laser precision
  404. 404.
    >"I'm not. I think you're doing a great thing. I mean it."
  405. 405.
    >Her head bobs up and down while she's talking
  406. 406.
    >"But I don't see anyone wanting to see you after. I haven't heard of any time that anyone's shown their appreciation."
  407. 407.
    >Her face doesn't change but she does blink
  408. 408.
    >Have you never seen her blink before?
  409. 409.
    >Maybe you're noticing now because it seems long and drawn out
  410. 410.
    >"I appreciate you, Anon. You've lived your life in a way others can't. And you're using that experience to try to make them do half as good."
  411. 411.
    >Her head tilts until the side of her head is on the table
  412. 412.
    >"They'll never do it as well as you. I bet a lot of them won't even remember you after a month. They'll be right where they always were, forget your experiences, and go back to looking for 𝘢nyone or 𝘢nything to blame but their own ineptitude."
  413. 413.
    "What gives you the right to say that? Who are you?"
  414. 414.
    >"I'm someone who understands your experiences. I really understand them, really well. And it's twice now I see that you're just floating over these lost causes, trying to teach them how to stand up when they can't even sit up straight."
  415. 415.
    >When did her stare get so intense?
  416. 416.
    >It often isn't difficult for you but right now it is requiring a very strong effort to maintain eye contact
  417. 417.
    >"When's the last time anyone ever bought you dinner, Anon? Do you hope that someone will ever remember those random acts of kindness you do, when not even you like talking about it?"
  418. 418.
    >As if on cue, the waiter speaks up
  419. 419.
    >He sets down two large plates and Sally perks up with a downright cartoonish cheer
  420. 420.
    >"Yay! Thank you Mr. Waiter! He'll have a second shot, too, the same whiskey as before."
  421. 421.
     
  422. 422.
    >The waiter, whether or not he can read the situation, responds and quickly departs
  423. 423.
    >Lucky him
  424. 424.
    >"You've given me a lot to be grateful, Anon. Even if it is buying a complete stranger dinner."
  425. 425.
    >She carefully appraises her plate
  426. 426.
    >And then yours
  427. 427.
    >As carefully as she can without getting on the table
  428. 428.
    >"It sure looks good enough..."
  429. 429.
    >You focus on the plate
  430. 430.
    >Enough for lunch and dinner
  431. 431.
    >"I hope I don't remain just a stranger to you, Anon."
  432. 432.
    "Is that right."
  433. 433.
    >Your wit is fried
  434. 434.
    >Blame the alcohol
  435. 435.
    >You sure will continue to do just that
  436. 436.
    >"I hope I don't become only a friend, either."
  437. 437.
    >You close your eyes and grind your palm into your squishy ocular orbs
  438. 438.
    >You do it just hard enough that it only begins to hurt
  439. 439.
    >Enough that when you release, your vision isn't just normal
  440. 440.
    "You speak pretty frankly when you want to, don't you Sal."
  441. 441.
    >"Yeah. I've listened to you a lot. You like speaking that way. I remember one time you said you like to be upfront and honest because a lot of people don't know how to handle it."
  442. 442.
    >She giggles
  443. 443.
    >"And like a lot of other things, you're right. Even you aren't used to it."
  444. 444.
    >No, you're used to it
  445. 445.
    >You're just not used to...
  446. 446.
    "...Thank you. For the dinner."
  447. 447.
    >"And the second shot?"
  448. 448.
    "And the second shot."
  449. 449.
    >There's no real winning this, is there?
  450. 450.
    >Whether it's alcohol or you feeling worn down, or something about her being so persistent
  451. 451.
    >Even someone like you can wave a white flag
  452. 452.
    >As if you're anyone special
  453. 453.
    "Listen, I'm not trying to be a dick. But that sort of stuff... I'm just doing what I can. Alright?"
  454. 454.
    >"I know, Anon. It doesn't seem like you think you can change the world."
  455. 455.
    >She crunches into something fresh and crisp
  456. 456.
    >"But you keep anchoring yourself to the ground and walking against the sky."
  457. 457.
    >Another crunch
  458. 458.
    >She really wasn't this loud yesterday
  459. 459.
    >"I want you to know... I see what you're doing. I love that you're doing it."
  460. 460.
    >She licks her lips and clears her throat
  461. 461.
    >You've been staring at your plate, unsure of where to start
  462. 462.
    >Or if you should touch it
  463. 463.
    >"And I think I'm really starting to hate seeing everyone when they don't take what you say to heart."
  464. 464.
    >Even ponies can hate, huh?
  465. 465.
    "Yeah. Well."
  466. 466.
    >You exhale a ten pound sigh and straighten up
  467. 467.
    "I can't control their lives for them. Doesn't work anyway. You can throw someone drowning a live preserver and they may grab it. May not. Go out there and they'll ensure you drown with them."
  468. 468.
    >"Sounds like you're still waterlogged."
  469. 469.
    >She erupts in a giggle
  470. 470.
    >It stops prematurely when your eyes rise to meet her
  471. 471.
    >She actually looks sorry
  472. 472.
    >Not just the sheepish smile but even her eyes actually show that she didn't mean it the way she did
  473. 473.
    >"Sorry... that's... not stuff to joke over."
  474. 474.
    "Nah. You're not wrong."
  475. 475.
    >The water stops by, almost doing a drive-by with the shot glass
  476. 476.
    >Apparently he doesn't seem comfortable with you talking to a purple talking equine with such a feminine voice
  477. 477.
    >Add a few squiggly lines and you'd be convinced Toon Town was taking over too
  478. 478.
     
  479. 479.
    >You take advantage of the renewed silence and eat in relative peace
  480. 480.
    >Even if it is with some... one like her, it sure feels better to eat with someone
  481. 481.
    >When alone, you scarf it down and try to vacate the area as if your mere presence is an upset
  482. 482.
    >You're looking at the shot
  483. 483.
    >You really don't want to drink more right now
  484. 484.
    >With her around
  485. 485.
    >Do you?
  486. 486.
    >"I know tonight was bad... but sometimes alcohol isn't that bad a thing, right?"
  487. 487.
    >In mid-chew, Sally gasps
  488. 488.
    >"Wait, the second gig! You said last night you had something like that, right?"
  489. 489.
    "Hm?"
  490. 490.
    >That question thrown out at the last second stops you from imbibing
  491. 491.
    "Oh. Nah, that one took place earlier today. Maybe the third thing I did after waking up."
  492. 492.
    >You shake your head
  493. 493.
    >She looks like she wants to pry but she's staring at the alcohol
  494. 494.
    >You are, after all, in mind swig
  495. 495.
    >Your animation frames have started but the liquid hit box hasn't yet made contact with your hurt box
  496. 496.
    >You hang, suspended, for at least ten seconds
  497. 497.
    >She isn't saying anything
  498. 498.
    >She isn't eating anything
  499. 499.
    >You've seen her blink so you know she can do it
  500. 500.
    >She isn't blinking
  501. 501.
    >Despite the weird feeling you're getting about this...
  502. 502.
    >You tilt the shot in the back of your mouth
  503. 503.
    >You shiver while the fumes and flavor comes out of your nostrils like dragon vapors
  504. 504.
    >"Wow, you really do just let it sit in your mouth..."
  505. 505.
    >You shrug, avoiding the urge to swallow
  506. 506.
    >Once upon a time you wouldn't think twice about chugging it
  507. 507.
    >Your tongue feels raw already
  508. 508.
    >Three short swallows and she smiles
  509. 509.
    >Five short swallows and there's still somehow some left in your mouth, mixing with your saliva
  510. 510.
    >Two more methodical swallows and it's all down
  511. 511.
    >You don't have much of a reaction outside of a growing tingle that spreads from the roof of your mouth, up to your nose, and down your throat
  512. 512.
    >"Yay! There you go, Anon! It's to celebrate tonight!"
  513. 513.
    "I'm glad my continued intoxication excites you so."
  514. 514.
    >Drinking that felt wrong
  515. 515.
    >It felt like that was the last thing you should have done in this situation
  516. 516.
    >You reach for your water--ice having long since melted since you ordered the first shot--and take a strong swig
  517. 517.
    >You take the chance to swirl it in your mouth to rinse out the vague blackberry taste and built up caustic nature
  518. 518.
    >"Do you drink often? Outside of what you told me last time."
  519. 519.
    "No. Not really. Maybe once, but it was something I'd do on weekends. With friends."
  520. 520.
    >"With real friends?"
  521. 521.
    "Friends online."
  522. 522.
    >"Not real friends."
  523. 523.
    >Your expression isn't pleased
  524. 524.
    "You don't even have an online where you're from, you found me on there."
  525. 525.
    >"And then I went out of my way to find you in person and buy you dinner. No one you know online would ever do that for you, right?"
  526. 526.
    >No one would also give you such a rough time at every pass either
  527. 527.
    "You're really starting to grate on me. You know that?"
  528. 528.
     
  529. 529.
    >She giggles
  530. 530.
    >It's such a strange, melodic thing
  531. 531.
    >Like she's doing it on purpose to call back to a tune rather than something she just does of her own accord
  532. 532.
    >"But I think you like it. You haven't asked me to go away."
  533. 533.
    >Well shit
  534. 534.
    "Well shit."
  535. 535.
    >You raise your hands a few inches from the table in defeat
  536. 536.
    "I guess you got me there."
  537. 537.
    >You finish your plate roughly the time she does
  538. 538.
    >"Where are you going now? After this?"
  539. 539.
    "There's a shuttle that's going to take me to my hotel."
  540. 540.
    >"And then?"
  541. 541.
    "And then I'm going to go to my room."
  542. 542.
    >"And what next?"
  543. 543.
    "Likely get undressed, either take a shower, or think really hard about taking a shower and not until the morning to help wake up."
  544. 544.
    >"What's after that?"
  545. 545.
    "Then I got another short flight home."
  546. 546.
    >"When are you heading out again to meet more people?"
  547. 547.
    "Don't know yet. Since yesterday I've sold maybe thirty seats. I've probably come out even on all of this."
  548. 548.
    >"Was it worth it?"
  549. 549.
    >You were expecting that creepy neutral face
  550. 550.
    >Instead she looks sad
  551. 551.
    >"You spent days doing this. Who knows how long preparing it, and I'm sure renting out those rooms took time and effort..."
  552. 552.
    >The pricing actually wasn't that bad
  553. 553.
    >It was the tickets that ate up most of the money
  554. 554.
    >"Did you really help anyone?"
  555. 555.
    "I don't know."
  556. 556.
    >It's the only answer you can give
  557. 557.
    "Does it matter? Sure, let them forget. Sure, let them twist my words and how they remember what I said into some fuel for their further spiraling. Sure, let them look at my minor successes in life and then see that as proof that they should give up because they haven't yet made that same progress."
  558. 558.
    >The sigh you give isn't enough to ease the weight on the back of your head but it is at least an acknowledgement that your neck is feeling the strain
  559. 559.
    "And yeah. Sure. Let's pretend that past me was around to listen to me now. He wouldn't have listened. Why would he? He wasn't me, even if I was him."
  560. 560.
    >You tap your mostly empty plate
  561. 561.
    "But I'm trying. Alright?"
  562. 562.
    >You lean back in your chair
  563. 563.
    >You cross one arm, letting the other trail up so you can cup your chin and grind your thumb against the hardened short hairs on your face
  564. 564.
    "I can't not try. It doesn't matter if I succeed or fail. I'm not doing this like I'm going to stop if it doesn't work. That just means I never did it honestly."
  565. 565.
    >Sally nudges her plate out of the side with her chin
  566. 566.
    >She sets her head down on the table, cheek first
  567. 567.
    >"That's why you're the real deal, Anon. You sound so majestic. So pure. Your way with words."
  568. 568.
    >You're not sure you like the gravity in her voice
  569. 569.
    >The growing weight behind her words
  570. 570.
    >It's not like a mare can purr but you're getting the feeling she's pulling it off
  571. 571.
    >"I want to scream at everyone who sees you wrong. You don't deserve to be put up against these impossible odds. They are what makes it so impossible for you."
  572. 572.
    >You really have nothing else to say about this
  573. 573.
    >"...Can I at least help you back to your room? You drank a lot."
  574. 574.
    >Don't do it Anon
  575. 575.
    >You smell danger
  576. 576.
    >Don't do it
  577. 577.
    "...Sure."
  578. 578.
    >Crap
  579. 579.
     
  580. 580.
    >Apparently Sally really did give the bar money first
  581. 581.
    >She reassured the waiter that it could all be a tip, which surprised him
  582. 582.
    >Didn't surprise him enough to the point he didn't turn his nose up at us leaving together
  583. 583.
    >Like she knew the way better than I did, she led me to the pair of stone benches outside the hotel
  584. 584.
    >The cool air felt nice
  585. 585.
    >Dry
  586. 586.
    >Not cool enough to restore sobriety
  587. 587.
    >Not that you had trouble walking or anything like that
  588. 588.
    >You know how to gauge yourself
  589. 589.
    >You're right at the area where you're too yourself
  590. 590.
    >Too loose-lipped and honest
  591. 591.
    >You don't have what it takes to be a sad drunk
  592. 592.
    >Or a happy drunk
  593. 593.
    >Melancholic maybe
  594. 594.
    >It isn't like you drink to forget, after all
  595. 595.
    >"Is this the one?"
  596. 596.
    >The first two shuttles were ignored
  597. 597.
    >You must've twitched or stood up on reflex after seeing the garish advertisements on the side
  598. 598.
    "Yup. That's the one."
  599. 599.
    >With no bags to haul around, you take a seat after waving to the driver
  600. 600.
    >Sally sits her happy self right beside you
  601. 601.
    >"Empty bus, huh."
  602. 602.
    >"Sure is, missy. Time like this? Everyone's still out or already in for the night. Now you don't worry, traffic ain't bad so we're gonna zip right on over before you know it."
  603. 603.
    >At least the driver is a happy chappy
  604. 604.
    >Must pay decently, to drive around in circles in a big shuttle or a short bus
  605. 605.
    >Not like anyone's unhappy to see you if you're their only lifeline
  606. 606.
    >Sally presses herself up against your arm quite firmly
  607. 607.
    >There are a few turns that the driver decides he should take without slowing down so it makes sense that she doesn't want to go flying
  608. 608.
    >Not like talking equine can brace themselves any other way
  609. 609.
    >"Y'know, I ain't seen many couples like you out. First time visiting?"
  610. 610.
    >"Yes! First time we've been here. He does some really important stuff and rents out entire conference rooms!"
  611. 611.
    >What a glowing way to put talking to a bunch of losers who lack support systems in their lives
  612. 612.
    >You don't have the energy to try to set any record straight
  613. 613.
    >You bought her dinner, now she bought you dinner
  614. 614.
    >And you're agreeing to let her somehow walk you back to your room
  615. 615.
    >You really think you can save this by calling it something else?
  616. 616.
    >She's a fan which means she's been in a low point too
  617. 617.
    >Or various low points
  618. 618.
    >And you're letting this happen
  619. 619.
    >You vaguely hear them chattering back and forth like it's the most exciting thing he's heard all day and--
  620. 620.
    >"Bam! What'd I say? Right before you know it, ah ha!"
  621. 621.
    >He's way too pleased with himself
  622. 622.
    >"Thanks Reggie! That was the best driving I've ever felt!"
  623. 623.
    >"Well now don't be tellin' anyone that in the morning. I got a reputation for stealing thunder and I don't want anyone to slash my tires on my way in, got me?"
  624. 624.
    >This guy could drive for NASCAR if he swapped vehicles
  625. 625.
    >On the way out, I give him a wave
  626. 626.
    >"Now you two enjoy your time here! Got great weather these next two days!"
  627. 627.
    >Ten steps away and a trio enters
  628. 628.
    >You can hear him carry all of that energy into new conversations
  629. 629.
    >You're a little jealous, you can admit it
  630. 630.
     
  631. 631.
    >Without any effort to wait for her, you wave at the evening staff and mash the elevator button
  632. 632.
    >Then to the appropriate floor
  633. 633.
    >High enough that your vertigo takes a vacation and allows you to glance outside without feeling sick
  634. 634.
    >Every step of the way, Sally is just trotting along like it's nothing unnatural
  635. 635.
    >By the time you reach your door, you're looking down at her
  636. 636.
    >The height difference is pretty significant
  637. 637.
    >What do you expect?
  638. 638.
    >"So this is your room..."
  639. 639.
    "Yup."
  640. 640.
    >Sally looks up at you
  641. 641.
    >You're looking down on her
  642. 642.
    >"...Booked the room alone?"
  643. 643.
    "Yup."
  644. 644.
    >"...Traveling alone too."
  645. 645.
    "Yup."
  646. 646.
    >You are an impenetrable wall of willpower
  647. 647.
    >Even if you are just too tired to argue
  648. 648.
    >"...Did you get one of the rooms that has a second bed or one of those sofas?"
  649. 649.
    >Of course
  650. 650.
    "...Yup."
  651. 651.
    >You haven't yet pulled out your keycard from your pocket
  652. 652.
    "Let me guess."
  653. 653.
    >"..."
  654. 654.
    "Don't have a room to sleep in."
  655. 655.
    >"...Yup."
  656. 656.
    >Of course
  657. 657.
    "Alright, you little..."
  658. 658.
    >That isn't even said out of annoyance or frustration
  659. 659.
    "There's a sofa, and a chair. Got about six pillows on it. You sleep on it, or you're gone."
  660. 660.
    >Sally's head tilts and the widest smile spreads
  661. 661.
    >Is it better or worse that you see teeth?
  662. 662.
    >"I can do that."
  663. 663.
    >Whatever man
  664. 664.
    >You pull out the keycard and swipe it a good four or ten times before it actually reads
  665. 665.
    >As soon as it does, you push the door open
  666. 666.
    >Those things like to immediately lock
  667. 667.
    >Surprisingly, she waits until you enter before following behind
  668. 668.
    >She pounces onto the sofa, content with the fact you haven't even turned on the lights
  669. 669.
    >The yellow eyes that seem to glow in the dark are not what you'd appreciate seeing in the dark
  670. 670.
    >Two, five lights come on and you start by kicking off your shoes, undoing your shirt and pulling down your pants
  671. 671.
    >You still have your underwear and undershirt on
  672. 672.
    >Isn't like you particularly care
  673. 673.
    "Remote's on the table, feel free to watch whatever."
  674. 674.
    >The bed
  675. 675.
    >It's calling to you
  676. 676.
    >It sucks as a bed but as a place to lay down, it works
  677. 677.
    >Cheap sheets means it'll be as frigid as a coastal tidal wave
  678. 678.
    >Frigid, with alcohol in the blood, means soothing
  679. 679.
    >You fall face first on the mattress
  680. 680.
    >Your legs don't even clear the edge and end up dangling over
  681. 681.
    >Christ alive, you really didn't not want to deal with this weirdo
  682. 682.
    >At least after a few minutes of dead silence, the TV comes on
  683. 683.
    >Boomerang, it sounds like
  684. 684.
    >Good
  685. 685.
    >Scooby and the gang can...
  686. 686.
    >Freaking Old Man Jackoff and Adam West guesting again...
  687. 687.
     
  688. 688.
     
  689. 689.
    >Enticing darkness
  690. 690.
    >"Sweet Anonymous, you look like a painting..."
  691. 691.
    >Something flat and wet drags itself over the side of your neck
  692. 692.
    >It tickles
  693. 693.
    >"Let me taste you. Let me in."
  694. 694.
    >It feels like you're being spoken to
  695. 695.
    >Like how they were before
  696. 696.
    >How you were before
  697. 697.
    >"Sweet Anonymous. So sweet."
  698. 698.
    >The icy slab of a bed melts into something warm
  699. 699.
    >Your face is wrapped in Heaven
  700. 700.
    >It's so warm
  701. 701.
    >It smells so nice
  702. 702.
    >"No matter what you remember, your body won't forget me. Sweet hero of the helpless."
  703. 703.
    >Too much talking
  704. 704.
    >You stir
  705. 705.
    >Something sits itself on the back of your head
  706. 706.
    >You calm after breathing in more of the source of warmth
  707. 707.
    >When is the last time you've ever felt this warmth?
  708. 708.
    >Why aren't you allowed it?
  709. 709.
     
  710. 710.
     
  711. 711.
    "Hey, Anon. Thanks for getting me on this crap."
  712. 712.
    >You're a few steps out of the building
  713. 713.
    "Hey, Lou. Nah, it's fine."
  714. 714.
    >You're still walking to your car but you slow your pace so he can catch up
  715. 715.
    >You haven't known him for all that long but he's been pretty alright
  716. 716.
    >Not the sort you'd prefer to keep around for company
  717. 717.
    >"I mean it. Thanks. I thought this eh-eh shit was just that, shit."
  718. 718.
    "To be fair, it is. You see that one chick who came in and got miffed no one pat her on the back for not upgrading to hard liquor?"
  719. 719.
    >That's the thing about alcoholic groups
  720. 720.
    >Full of attention grabbers, teetotalers and druggies that think no longer kicking back with a drink makes them better than everyone else
  721. 721.
    >"Yeah... dat ass though."
  722. 722.
    "Hey man, you wanna go for that, go for it. Get your chip, show off how solid you are, then show her how hard you are. Think she wasn't looking around for someone to cling onto, anyway?"
  723. 723.
    >"Ha! Yeah, maybe. Takes what, another ten months?"
  724. 724.
    "At your rate? Give it twenty."
  725. 725.
    >"Yeah yeah yeah yeah... I'm ten days, alright? That's better progress than most."
  726. 726.
    >You know that isn't the case
  727. 727.
    >But you nod along anyway
  728. 728.
    "Ain't just better progress than most, it's better progress than the you that got me a free brake job."
  729. 729.
    >You hold your arm out
  730. 730.
    >The crusty mechanic gives your hand a displeased look
  731. 731.
    >"Yeah well."
  732. 732.
    >He takes your hand
  733. 733.
    >"I broke four bits that week, so."
  734. 734.
    "Yeah..."
  735. 735.
    >You share a firm shake
  736. 736.
    "I might be out of town another two or three weeks from now so I might not make next meeting. Got my number if you gotta talk. Didn't wanna mention it and steal the spotlight."
  737. 737.
    >"Got it."
  738. 738.
    >You release from the shake
  739. 739.
    >With how hard he was grabbing your hand, you can tell this hasn't been easy on him
  740. 740.
    >At least he still has his job
  741. 741.
    "See you later, Lou."
  742. 742.
    >You fiddle with your phone after getting into your car
  743. 743.
    >Just long enough to watch him get in his own ride and meander off
  744. 744.
    >It's been a few weeks since your... encounter with that one mare
  745. 745.
    >Nothing was stolen and she was already gone by the time you woke up
  746. 746.
    >Must've been pretty skillful to pull open a hotel door
  747. 747.
    >Your videos and other things haven't been getting more traffic than usual
  748. 748.
    >No new comments either of "thanks for that night"
  749. 749.
    >Maybe that's for the best
  750. 750.
    >You've heard of weird sorts that tend to get emotionally attached to sources of help
  751. 751.
    >They made a few movies about that
  752. 752.
    >Not that you're necessarily helpful
  753. 753.
    >Maybe you're just being hard on yourself
  754. 754.
    >You end up parking where you usually do
  755. 755.
    >Remembering the wrong key at the wrong time
  756. 756.
    >Kicking off your shoes in your entryway
  757. 757.
    >You almost do these things the exact same way whenever you come back
  758. 758.
    >If you act surprised that you did something wrong, that's a little bit of a something to make your day stand out
  759. 759.
    "Home... well, home."
  760. 760.
    >Nothing sweet about it
  761. 761.
    >You drop yourself on the living room sofa
  762. 762.
    >It was cheap
  763. 763.
    >It has some goose feathers poking out of it due to the "natural" stuffing
  764. 764.
    >It's good enough to sleep on
  765. 765.
    >Now you're stuck with it
  766. 766.
     
  767. 767.
    >Without the TV on, or any other lights, you sit in silence
  768. 768.
    >You really don't have much going for yourself, if you're truthful
  769. 769.
    >Talking to people and helping them out
  770. 770.
    >The faint thrill of taking your belt off at the TSA checkpoint
  771. 771.
    >Talking to someone over the phone with your confident, official voice to schedule a room for a few hours
  772. 772.
    >Would you be more popular if you had more to show off?
  773. 773.
    >A McMansion, sports car, some cultish pictures of dozens of people crowding you
  774. 774.
    >Merch
  775. 775.
    >Christ, you would be a lost cause if you ever got to the point of selling your mug on a mug
  776. 776.
    >Just add a comic text bubble and it'd be pure cheese
  777. 777.
    >The rotten kind
  778. 778.
    "I need more hobbies."
  779. 779.
    >You aggressively wipe your face and fall over
  780. 780.
    >You do have a bed
  781. 781.
    >Which is to say, you have a mattress on the floor
  782. 782.
    >Sofa's better
  783. 783.
    >You're thinking too hard is what it is
  784. 784.
    >It isn't about the money
  785. 785.
    >It never was
  786. 786.
    >You can't just do nothing
  787. 787.
    >You aren't doing nothing
  788. 788.
    >It just isn't enough
  789. 789.
    >It isn't much
  790. 790.
    >How do you know if your words meant anything?
  791. 791.
    >Like she said, what was it
  792. 792.
    "Twice now you see that I'm just floating over lost causes? Trying to teach them how to stand when they can't even sit up straight..."
  793. 793.
    >You grunt with satisfied defiance
  794. 794.
    "Who's floating?"
  795. 795.
    >That is all it takes before you blink out of the waking world
  796. 796.
    >You feel something warm on your face
  797. 797.
    >Almost every time you've fallen asleep since that night, your mind has wandered back
  798. 798.
    >Something warm against your face
  799. 799.
    >Such soft, sweet whispering
  800. 800.
    >Were you even asleep then?
  801. 801.
    >Could you honestly sleep at all if you had a stranger in your room?
  802. 802.
    >You can remember something nudging you
  803. 803.
    >Testing your consciousness
  804. 804.
    >You remember the words
  805. 805.
    >Not so much what the words were
  806. 806.
    >Whether or not you're sleeping or just hoping this counts as sleep, you end up with a cushion over your head
  807. 807.
    >It isn't the same
  808. 808.
    >It isn't anything remotely the same
  809. 809.
    >You aren't starved for affection, you're starved for attention
  810. 810.
    >Even if the attention comes from some little purple freak
  811. 811.
    >What a life you lead, Anonymous
  812. 812.
    >What an enviable conquest of continued competence
  813. 813.
    >No wonder you sell gangbusters
  814. 814.
    >Your eyes open after... long enough
  815. 815.
    >It's far darker out now than it was before
  816. 816.
    >A hand goes to your phone
  817. 817.
    >Few new notifications
  818. 818.
    >A text advertisement
  819. 819.
    >Voicemail too?
  820. 820.
    "Aren't I popular."
  821. 821.
    >You poke at your phone so it starts and let it fall near your head
  822. 822.
    >"Good evening, Anon! I hope you're doing well!"
  823. 823.
    >What
  824. 824.
    >"I really am thankful that you let me sleep over in your room that one time!"
  825. 825.
    >How did she get your number?
  826. 826.
     
  827. 827.
    >"Oh, and please don't get mad, but I have a friend that joined the local Alcoholics Anonymous and she told me she found YOUR number! That's so cool! And I'm sorry, I didn't know me buying you that drink was against your code and stuff!"
  828. 828.
    >No
  829. 829.
    >"Anyway I'm moving somewhere new. I talked to my mom about it and she agreed that I should just take that first step. It's an apartment complex I'm moving to! Kinda silly because it seems like a really simple building."
  830. 830.
    >The rest of the voicemail is her giggling to herself over the joke
  831. 831.
    >She tried to continue on with the conversation but it ended as soon as she tried to say something
  832. 832.
    "..."
  833. 833.
    >Well now
  834. 834.
    >You're only a part of one association
  835. 835.
    >Groups don't share information like that so openly to others, do they?
  836. 836.
    >There's no chance you left your plane ticket out for her to read when you were in the hotel room
  837. 837.
    >They don't even make you print those out anymore either
  838. 838.
    >But it was on your phone
  839. 839.
    >Fingerprint locked
  840. 840.
    "..."
  841. 841.
    >Are you overthinking this?
  842. 842.
    >You gotta be
  843. 843.
    >There is a 0% chance
  844. 844.
    >This amount of growing discomfort is getting to the point it feels like you're trying to remain stoic while someone set your legs on fire
  845. 845.
    "No. Nope."
  846. 846.
    >You stand up
  847. 847.
    "No, that's not how this is going to go."
  848. 848.
    >You get your shoes on
  849. 849.
    "Too fucking unreal."
  850. 850.
    >You lock your door
  851. 851.
    "That's not a real thing."
  852. 852.
    >With your phone left behind, you barge outside
  853. 853.
    >Maybe a walk around will help
  854. 854.
    >It'll be an assertation
  855. 855.
    >Not only is someone not tracking you down to where you live, but you can openly walk around and no one will recognize you
  856. 856.
    >No one will ever need to recognize you
  857. 857.
    >The chill air adds more cold to your cold sweating
  858. 858.
    >One lap
  859. 859.
    >Nothing
  860. 860.
    >Two laps
  861. 861.
    >No one
  862. 862.
    >Four laps
  863. 863.
    >Zero signs of any Equestrians
  864. 864.
    >Eight laps
  865. 865.
    >You aren't going to find any evidence of any Equestrians
  866. 866.
    >Twenty laps
  867. 867.
    >You live too far away from any important area to warrant foreigners of such extravagant difference
  868. 868.
    >Twenty one laps
  869. 869.
    >You're outside the front of your building
  870. 870.
    >Even if the other half of the post and street lights were busted, you'd be able to walk the same path without tripping
  871. 871.
    >No signs of anyone
  872. 872.
    >No signs of any dark mare
  873. 873.
    >No nothing
  874. 874.
    >Your legs feel like jelly
  875. 875.
    >You were so wrapped up in your own thoughts that you only now realize how dreadful it is to be outside and to have nothing to listen to
  876. 876.
    >"Is that you?"
  877. 877.
    >No
  878. 878.
    >You turn behind yourself
  879. 879.
    >Nothing
  880. 880.
    >"...Over here."
  881. 881.
    >You overturned
  882. 882.
    >You try your best but fail to avoid sounding like an Irish cartoonist through the fine art of short, barking screams
  883. 883.
    >It's her
  884. 884.
    >It's been weeks and it's her
  885. 885.
    >Neither of you are close to a light
  886. 886.
    >But the eyes
  887. 887.
    >How did you fail to notice them?
  888. 888.
    >Were they there for...
  889. 889.
    "...How long were you there?"
  890. 890.
    >"Oh. Well... not long. But I did catch you talking a big walk! That must do really well to clear your head."
  891. 891.
    "How'd you find out where I lived?"
  892. 892.
    >The dark mare smiled
  893. 893.
    >It's lit just enough that you can see her teeth
  894. 894.
    >Ponies have canines?
  895. 895.
    >"You live here? Oh, wow! Did you get my voicemail?"
  896. 896.
     
  897. 897.
    >She didn't send that to you just on a whim
  898. 898.
    >It was a tip-off
  899. 899.
    >A hint
  900. 900.
    >You want to dash but where to?
  901. 901.
    >You go to your car, she has your license plates
  902. 902.
    >You go inside, you confirm this is your building
  903. 903.
    >As if walking around it isn't already proof enough
  904. 904.
    "...What are you doing here?"
  905. 905.
    >Your only choice is resignation
  906. 906.
    >"This is where I'm moving into! Well, it's almost finalized anyway. I thought I would check out the building before, see how much crime is going around."
  907. 907.
    >How much crime is going around
  908. 908.
    "You know how lame that excuse is, right?"
  909. 909.
    >"Is it?"
  910. 910.
    "It is."
  911. 911.
    >You shake your head and just
  912. 912.
    >Disengage
  913. 913.
    >It's late
  914. 914.
    >You don't have the energy to deal with this
  915. 915.
    >You head inside to the ground floor common room
  916. 916.
    >It has a few chairs so you can at least sit down for a bit
  917. 917.
    >You aren't surprised that she's following you in
  918. 918.
    >She looks the same as before
  919. 919.
    >You can see more of her natural color at the roots
  920. 920.
    >Why would an Equestrian dye their hair since they already have such fancy colors?
  921. 921.
    >Rather than take a seat, she opts to sit in front of you
  922. 922.
    "...Did you plant someone in my AA group?"
  923. 923.
    >"I didn't know you were in AA, Anon."
  924. 924.
    "Yeah well I'm working on it."
  925. 925.
    >"You sure shouldn't be drinking if you're working on it. I even paid for a drink too. And you didn't stop me."
  926. 926.
    "I'm not talking about this with you."
  927. 927.
    >Sally leaned forward and lowered her head
  928. 928.
    >She looks displeased
  929. 929.
    >"Why would you pretend to be an alcoholic? I grew up with one. I know what they're like."
  930. 930.
    "Good night, Sally."
  931. 931.
    >"Do you practice your material with them too?"
  932. 932.
    "I said good night. Sally."
  933. 933.
    >"It's ok if you're using them for practice. How many of them will even honestly get better?"
  934. 934.
    >You stand up at the cost of a wobbly knee
  935. 935.
    "I said, get the hell away from me."
  936. 936.
    >She doesn't move
  937. 937.
    >The stare she has upward at you makes you feel smaller than her somehow
  938. 938.
    "You're freaking me out, alright? You show up at two shows, ok, weird, cool. You show up where I live, you leave a voicemail, you have someone infiltrate my thing. Why? What are you hoping to get? What do you think I have to give you to extort?"
  939. 939.
    >Silence
  940. 940.
    >You aren't the sort to get upset
  941. 941.
    >This is starting to really get you to that point
  942. 942.
    "What do you want?"
  943. 943.
    >Sally doesn't move
  944. 944.
    >Her glare feels more intense
  945. 945.
    >"I want you."
  946. 946.
    >What?
  947. 947.
    "...What?"
  948. 948.
    >"Every sign I have points to the fact that I love you, Anon."
  949. 949.
    >What signs?
  950. 950.
    >"That night, where you let me stay in your room... do you know how much sleep I got?"
  951. 951.
    >You don't want to hear this
  952. 952.
    >"Almost none."
  953. 953.
    >And you just invited her in
  954. 954.
     
  955. 955.
    >"You knew it could have been a trick or a trap and you just allowed me to spring it on you anyway. I could have done anything to you. You allowed me to see your throat. To know that I could have bit down until you bled, and that you wouldn't have any possible chance to react in time."
  956. 956.
    >What is this little psycho saying?
  957. 957.
    >"Instead, I spoke to you. I said the things I said to my screen all the time while listening to you. I said the things I felt while seeing you slept so calmly in the face of infinite danger. I cherished every moment we shared."
  958. 958.
    >Sally stands up
  959. 959.
    >She takes a step closer to you
  960. 960.
    >"Sit down."
  961. 961.
    >It isn't because she said to
  962. 962.
    >It's more that your legs are weak
  963. 963.
    >You're tired
  964. 964.
    >That stare is terrifying
  965. 965.
    >Sally climbs onto the chair
  966. 966.
    >Onto you
  967. 967.
    >Standing on your thighs and knees and glaring down at you
  968. 968.
    >"I love you, Anon. It doesn't matter that you prey on the hapless. It doesn't matter that you surround yourself with others who need a savior. Do you know why?"
  969. 969.
    >Her weight isn't so severe that your legs are going to break but you feel this piercing sensation
  970. 970.
    >It's threatening to kill you outright
  971. 971.
    >It's promising to rip you open with everything spilt onto the cheap carpet
  972. 972.
    >"It's because you still saved me. I understand where you come from. I don't know how you could speak to something so clearly to make me believe you know me so well already..."
  973. 973.
    >She lowers her head again to your eye level
  974. 974.
    >You hate that movement
  975. 975.
    >It's a slow, robotic motion that allows her eyes to bore into you
  976. 976.
    >"Someone like you. If you know me so well. It means I know you, too. It means I know you already well enough to confirm some things I didn't know."
  977. 977.
    "Get off me."
  978. 978.
    >"You hero of unwanted trash. Paragon of organized, poignant scum."
  979. 979.
    >There is a growing intensity to her voice
  980. 980.
    >"You have sacrificed so much."
  981. 981.
    >Do you scream?
  982. 982.
    >"You need an angel. One who will hold all of your secrets. Relish all of your ways. Cherish your essence. A chain to pull you out of the abyss you've turned into your toxic homestead."
  983. 983.
    >What do you say to this?
  984. 984.
    >"My name is Obscure Embrace. I will do nothing short of put my life on the line to prove to you that you are, most of all, deserving of salvation. Nothing will stop me. No one will come between us. Everything that has led me up to this moment has been worth it. Every sin I've endured and trial I've suffered will have been worth my continued existence."
  985. 985.
    >She isn't shouting
  986. 986.
    >She isn't barking at you
  987. 987.
    >The fervor in her voice is something that sounds...
  988. 988.
    >Impossible
  989. 989.
    >Countless military movies try to emulate that voice
  990. 990.
    >Even more video games always have at least one religious figure that speaks with something approaching zeal
  991. 991.
    >That's the word
  992. 992.
    >It's zeal
  993. 993.
    >She's a zealot
  994. 994.
    >Nothing describes her tone
  995. 995.
    >Her stance
  996. 996.
    >Her stare
  997. 997.
    "..."
  998. 998.
    >"..."
  999. 999.
    "..."
  1000. 1000.
    >She finally steps off of you with considerable care
  1001. 1001.
    >Like all of that emptied her energy reserves
  1002. 1002.
    >"...My hotel is a few streets away. Could you please walk me back?"
  1003. 1003.
    >She's kidding
  1004. 1004.
     
  1005. 1005.
    "You're..."
  1006. 1006.
    >Do you dare be snide with her now?
  1007. 1007.
    >You can't
  1008. 1008.
    >You can't bring yourself to do anything but nod
  1009. 1009.
    "...Ok."
  1010. 1010.
    >Like a switch, Obscure Embrace
  1011. 1011.
    >What a name
  1012. 1012.
    >She hops in place and smiles with such glee
  1013. 1013.
    >"Yay! Having you escort me once was great, second time means you just really are who you are."
  1014. 1014.
    >What sort of snap caused this, is what you want to ask
  1015. 1015.
    >Of course, you can't help but think on what she says
  1016. 1016.
    >"Such a gentleman. Thank you for getting the door, Anon. I'm glad you don't look down on me because I'm an Equestrian."
  1017. 1017.
    >That is another aspect of this, isn't it?
  1018. 1018.
    >Borderline bestiality if the wrong word got out
  1019. 1019.
    >Is this even borderline?
  1020. 1020.
    >"To be honest, I think I found out where you lived a long while. You mentioned a local brand of soda that you liked and you mentioned time so of course it meant I had a time zone and regional brand to look up."
  1021. 1021.
    >What you would give for a speeding truck to turn you to paste
  1022. 1022.
    >You don't quite mean it but this situation is so out of pocket that you don't know how to deal with it
  1023. 1023.
    >Out of everything in the world, this intense "positivity" has left you stunned to your core
  1024. 1024.
    >"You mentioned bad weather too in one video, so, of course, I had to look up when that was. Not to mention so many hotels and convention centers are just happy to forward over your information if you call and act all official. Could you believe how easy it is to act like an assistant?"
  1025. 1025.
    >Obscure gasps with delight
  1026. 1026.
    >"In fact, I could be your assistant! Equestrians get some money monthly to help cover expenses if they live among humans, at least for a while. How about we share resources? And it would go so much further if we eventually even live together!"
  1027. 1027.
    >The dark mare giggles and turns from her walk into some sort of skip-dance to a song only she can hear
  1028. 1028.
    >"And then my mom will be so proud to hear that I'm better and then..."
  1029. 1029.
    >She turns her head back to glare at you
  1030. 1030.
    >It's so intense you freeze in your tracks
  1031. 1031.
    >It lasts for maybe a second before she returns to her dance
  1032. 1032.
    >"Ohhh, I bet you're the sort that would like five foals... you can't fool me with those innocent tourmalines. You've never thought about an Equestrian before, I can tell. But I promise I can be better than any human woman. You mentioned how epidemic loneliness is, and that it's contagious. I've talked to a lot. They seem even worse about being lonely. You wouldn't like them either, I don't think."
  1033. 1033.
    >Why are you not running away?
  1034. 1034.
    >You aren't even scared
  1035. 1035.
    >Or freaked out
  1036. 1036.
    >Why don't you just leave?
  1037. 1037.
    >Nothing is stopping you
  1038. 1038.
    >She certainly isn't
  1039. 1039.
    >She's leading the way by maybe being two steps ahead of you
  1040. 1040.
    >In reality, she's likely more than just two steps ahead, isn't she?
  1041. 1041.
    >Why would she do that?
  1042. 1042.
    >"I tried showing them the things you did but they said it was boring. I told them further illumination on their own paths would lead to answers they never considered and... well. You can't save everyone, right?"
  1043. 1043.
     
  1044. 1044.
    "You're..."
  1045. 1045.
    >"A little excited? Yeah, you could say that."
  1046. 1046.
    >What what would you call it?
  1047. 1047.
    >You've focused on her so much you don't even know where you are when you first look up
  1048. 1048.
    >You only stopped focusing on her because she stopped
  1049. 1049.
    >"Ta-da! Nice place, right?"
  1050. 1050.
    >It's the commie block looking hotel next to the local trucker watering hole
  1051. 1051.
    >From where you're standing you see a number of cabs lined up at the far end of the parking lot
  1052. 1052.
    "...Yeah..."
  1053. 1053.
    >Do you tell her that she got shafted with a seedy room?
  1054. 1054.
    >Obscure looks at you
  1055. 1055.
    >She's watching you
  1056. 1056.
    >Like she knows that this is a moral dilemma
  1057. 1057.
    >Like she knows where she is isn't a place for a lone girl
  1058. 1058.
    >Equestrian or otherwise
  1059. 1059.
    "...You got an entourage or help at a nearby room?"
  1060. 1060.
    >"Nope!"
  1061. 1061.
    >Despite the cheerful chirp she doesn't emote
  1062. 1062.
    >"It's just me. With heavy doors that are hard to operate with hooves. Sharing a building with who knows how many nutjobs and surely predatory humans that could kidnap me and whisk me away to some sort of dungeon a thousand miles away."
  1063. 1063.
    >Her tone has gone dead flat
  1064. 1064.
    >"This really is a perfect chance to be rid of me, Anon. I don't need to know you to know I've probably been out of line. If you really want, we can part ways tonight and I'll possibly never be seen again. So it means you'll never have to worry about me. After all, bad things happen to us all. Don't they. It doesn't matter how much they've already endured. Sometimes the weight will increase anyway and it'll only end when we die."
  1065. 1065.
    >Is this even a choice?
  1066. 1066.
    >With the sight of a building she's effectively holding herself hostage
  1067. 1067.
    >God damn it
  1068. 1068.
    >God damn her
  1069. 1069.
    >You can't just walk away from this
  1070. 1070.
    >This is a trap
  1071. 1071.
    >A test
  1072. 1072.
    >A sob story
  1073. 1073.
    >All in one
  1074. 1074.
    "..."
  1075. 1075.
    >"..."
  1076. 1076.
    "..."
  1077. 1077.
    >"Anon... will you please come inside?"
  1078. 1078.
    "..."
  1079. 1079.
    >You look at her with
  1080. 1080.
    >With what?
  1081. 1081.
    >You don't know what to feel
  1082. 1082.
    >You don't know how to react to any of this
  1083. 1083.
    "...What?"
  1084. 1084.
    >"Come inside, Anon. Protect me from the phantoms. Keep me safe."
  1085. 1085.
    >Her phrasing isn't worth noting compared to the emphasis
  1086. 1086.
    >"Keep me safe, and I'll keep you safe from your phantoms too. I swear it."
  1087. 1087.
    >You've been defeated at every pass with her
  1088. 1088.
    >Wits matched, if not exceeded
  1089. 1089.
    >Such oral fencing to pair with aural wounds
  1090. 1090.
    "...Yeah. Ok. Fine. Just..."
  1091. 1091.
    >This has been so exhausting
  1092. 1092.
    "You have your keycard?"
  1093. 1093.
    >"Nope. But you will. The first time I was in I had someone who worked here open the door for me. Then I had to call hospitality for them to open the door again. They're really heavy for someone like me."
  1094. 1094.
    >Of course
  1095. 1095.
    >You follow her in, to the reception desk
  1096. 1096.
    >A nice girl in far too many tattoos smiles at you
  1097. 1097.
    >"Good evening sir."
  1098. 1098.
    "He--"
  1099. 1099.
    >"Good evening, ma'am! I'm under room 202, Ms. Sally? This is my human guardian, please bequeath him the security tablet!"
  1100. 1100.
    >Who the hell speaks li-bequeath?
  1101. 1101.
    >Seriously?
  1102. 1102.
     
  1103. 1103.
    >The desk lady leans over and jolts back at the sight of the talking horse
  1104. 1104.
    >"Oh o-of course!"
  1105. 1105.
    >She slips out a keycard from under her keyboard
  1106. 1106.
    >"Have a pleasant evening! Elevators to the left, right side and opposite the vending machines."
  1107. 1107.
    "Y-thanks."
  1108. 1108.
    >You leave with Obscure and keep silent until the elevator
  1109. 1109.
    >She likely had to take the stairs
  1110. 1110.
    >The doors close and you boop the 2
  1111. 1111.
    "Bequeath? You're serious with that?"
  1112. 1112.
    >The mare grins
  1113. 1113.
    >"A lot of humans still don't even know anything about us. Do you know how easy it is to pretend to be some sort of princess or esteemed official figure?"
  1114. 1114.
    "Yeah, instead security detail is some chump in some pre-sleep getup."
  1115. 1115.
    >"I know... it's almost as if we look closer like a couple. How scandalous...!"
  1116. 1116.
    >She puts a hoof up to her mouth in a mock gasp
  1117. 1117.
    >She just has too much fun with this, doesn't she
  1118. 1118.
    >You exit after her and flash the card at the right door
  1119. 1119.
    >The hallway is free and clear
  1120. 1120.
    >No molesters or horsenappers anywhere
  1121. 1121.
    >Of course there wouldn't be
  1122. 1122.
    >Why would there be?
  1123. 1123.
    >Outside of the distant sound of what you choose to believe isn't rough sex, you enter the door after Obscure
  1124. 1124.
    >The lights are still all on
  1125. 1125.
    >TV has been on
  1126. 1126.
    "Boomerang... nice."
  1127. 1127.
    >"Your favorite, right?"
  1128. 1128.
    >Large bed, the fabled cuck chair, TV anchored to the wall opposite of the bed
  1129. 1129.
    >Minifridge and bathroom
  1130. 1130.
    "Looks nice."
  1131. 1131.
    >"It does. Want to share a snack?"
  1132. 1132.
    >She opens the minifridge to reveal a dizzying array of colorful fruits
  1133. 1133.
    "Big fruit fan?"
  1134. 1134.
    >"They're cheap and some old man saw me and gave me the grapes and bananas. Said that he bought too much and he didn't want them to go bad."
  1135. 1135.
    "That right..."
  1136. 1136.
    >"That is right. They could be poisonous. So we should eat them together."
  1137. 1137.
    >Oh for...
  1138. 1138.
    >Does everything need to feel like it'll be the end if you refuse?
  1139. 1139.
    >For better or worse it isn't like you've refused a single thing yet
  1140. 1140.
    "Ok. Sit down and I guess I'll get us set up."
  1141. 1141.
    >"You're the best, Anon."
  1142. 1142.
    >She bounces up with ease to the bed
  1143. 1143.
    >Guess that makes sense given the lack of couch
  1144. 1144.
    >You bring over a fresh vine of curved grapes
  1145. 1145.
    >Bananas
  1146. 1146.
    >A plastic container of pineapple chunks
  1147. 1147.
    >A cup of some sort of mystery fruit cocktail
  1148. 1148.
    >All the best, most fresh things a gas station can provide
  1149. 1149.
    >"This isn't the same as your post-show dinners but... it's still nice."
  1150. 1150.
    >You aren't one to turn your nose up at a modest meal
  1151. 1151.
    >You long stopped focusing on bringing up your own experiences but you sure do remember when you had less than this to stretch out a week
  1152. 1152.
    'Yeah it does..."
  1153. 1153.
    >"Mind feeding me?"
  1154. 1154.
    "Fee-what?"
  1155. 1155.
    >She's laying on her side, eyes on you
  1156. 1156.
    >"Please? I've invited a stranger into my room. I may not wake up again. Or I may end up needing the energy...?"
  1157. 1157.
    "Ok, that's over the line."
  1158. 1158.
    >Somehow that's the one thing that snaps you back to life
  1159. 1159.
    >All of this
  1160. 1160.
    >It's just so stupid
  1161. 1161.
    >"Aw, that is?"
  1162. 1162.
    "Yeah, it is."
  1163. 1163.
    >It isn't like this could actually insult you
  1164. 1164.
    >But still
  1165. 1165.
     
  1166. 1166.
    "You should've gone with something like "I'm so weak, this trip has cost me so much vigor, if only some paladin of goodly advice could sustain me with not just nutrients but nourishment of the heart" or something."
  1167. 1167.
    >You say her parts with just enough pompous energy to match "bequeath"
  1168. 1168.
    >She lays in silence to reflect on your comments
  1169. 1169.
    >"Oh I'm in such a state of peril, all--"
  1170. 1170.
    "Can it!"
  1171. 1171.
    >What a mess
  1172. 1172.
    "Alright, what first."
  1173. 1173.
    >"A banana, please."
  1174. 1174.
    "I am not feeding you a banana."
  1175. 1175.
    >"Why? Are you afraid I would do something other than eat it while making eye contact?"
  1176. 1176.
    "I'm afraid I'll try to choke you with it."
  1177. 1177.
    >"So you wanna test my gag reflex?"
  1178. 1178.
    >What the hell is this girl's deal?
  1179. 1179.
    >You want to be angry at her
  1180. 1180.
    >You want to be deeply concerned
  1181. 1181.
    >You want to be... impressed
  1182. 1182.
    >She has such a forward way that you can't help but see the charm in it
  1183. 1183.
    >So much of what she said has been so extreme
  1184. 1184.
    >So gonzo
  1185. 1185.
    >And now, even now, she's giving you this same level of borderline red lining effort
  1186. 1186.
    >It is it's own form of charm
  1187. 1187.
    >Isn't it?
  1188. 1188.
    "... I can feed you a few, grapes. Then I'm going to eat."
  1189. 1189.
    >"Do I get to watch you swallow a banana?"
  1190. 1190.
    "One more banana comment and I'm walking out with the grapes and complimentary bottles of shampoo."
  1191. 1191.
    >"I'm sorry."
  1192. 1192.
    >This is pure insanity
  1193. 1193.
    >You're feeding moon grapes to a mare who moved her head onto your lap
  1194. 1194.
    >It's past midnight and you're watching old cartoons with some psycho stalker that openly admitted to scamming others and social engineering her way into learning key personal details
  1195. 1195.
    >You're keenly aware that she has been overwhelming to think about
  1196. 1196.
    >And you haven't had this sort of fun in...
  1197. 1197.
    >You don't remember when
  1198. 1198.
    >Why?
  1199. 1199.
     
  1200. 1200.
     
  1201. 1201.
    >You bolt upright
  1202. 1202.
    >A hotel room?
  1203. 1203.
    >Wait
  1204. 1204.
    >Your hands go wild before you can tell where you are
  1205. 1205.
    >You've been kidnapped
  1206. 1206.
    >Handcuffed
  1207. 1207.
    >Someone put a foley in
  1208. 1208.
    >"Awh--whyyyyy..."
  1209. 1209.
    >You nearly fall out of bed in your panic
  1210. 1210.
    >Sally lays splayed out across the bed on her side
  1211. 1211.
    >She repeatedly adjusts her jaw
  1212. 1212.
    >Her mane is a mess and she's squinting so hard you're not sure she can even see you
  1213. 1213.
    >Perfect time to run, right?
  1214. 1214.
    "What happened here?"
  1215. 1215.
    >"Why'd you do that? Did you actually punch me?"
  1216. 1216.
    "Wha-no! I woke up an-"
  1217. 1217.
    >"And you thought you'd just hit me? What'd I do to you?"
  1218. 1218.
    "All of this! You lured me in here and..."
  1219. 1219.
    >You check your pockets
  1220. 1220.
    >Keys are there
  1221. 1221.
    >Wallet is there
  1222. 1222.
    >Phone is there
  1223. 1223.
    >...
  1224. 1224.
    >Everything is still zipped up and secure
  1225. 1225.
    >Minus a bit of excitement-borne morning glory
  1226. 1226.
    >Is it even morning out?
  1227. 1227.
    >The TV is still on
  1228. 1228.
    >One lamp is on
  1229. 1229.
    >Sally, shifts until she's laying on her stomach
  1230. 1230.
    >She doesn't look like she's happy
  1231. 1231.
    >She looks rather upset actually
  1232. 1232.
    "..."
  1233. 1233.
    >"..."
  1234. 1234.
    >She looks like you really hurt her
  1235. 1235.
    >Even if you are sorry, this feels like a perfect out
  1236. 1236.
    >Don't you dare forget that, Anon
  1237. 1237.
    >Don't forget that she tracked you down from nothing to conning you into her room
  1238. 1238.
    "...I'm sorry."
  1239. 1239.
    >Get out of there!
  1240. 1240.
    "I fell asleep and I guess..."
  1241. 1241.
    >Get out or so help you
  1242. 1242.
    "...You didn't plan on keeping me around until help showed up to harvest any organs?"
  1243. 1243.
    >Sally just
  1244. 1244.
    >She's just watching at you
  1245. 1245.
    >"...You thought all of this was just to harvest your organs."
  1246. 1246.
    >Compared to all of the wit and sharp jabs she weakened you up with, she sounds stupefied
  1247. 1247.
    >Like there's no way you would be this stupid
  1248. 1248.
    >Are you?
  1249. 1249.
    "I."
  1250. 1250.
    >Stop talking
  1251. 1251.
    >Walk out
  1252. 1252.
    >Be a lazy college student and C your way on out of that class
  1253. 1253.
    "I don't know. Why else would you bring me here?"
  1254. 1254.
    >Not your proudest moment
  1255. 1255.
    >You wouldn't call this a fumble but more an open, festering wound that shows what you really are
  1256. 1256.
    >The dark mare watches you without comment
  1257. 1257.
    >Walk out
  1258. 1258.
    >Do it
  1259. 1259.
    >You can feel your center of gravity pivot backward until you're sure you're going to fall backward if you don't lunge forward
  1260. 1260.
    >That was all the time she needed
  1261. 1261.
    >Her voice comes out
  1262. 1262.
    >Different than when she first woke up
  1263. 1263.
    >You recognize this trick
  1264. 1264.
    >You've done this trick
  1265. 1265.
    >You speak with a little more bass, more bravado, confident articulation
  1266. 1266.
    >"I brought you here so I could sleep with you. I don't care how. I'm not like some human, I'm not going to go around and hump just every leg I see because I have wild urges."
  1267. 1267.
    >It sounds imperfect
  1268. 1268.
    >Similar to when she was speaking to you last night but flimsy
  1269. 1269.
    >So it's a battle then, is it?
  1270. 1270.
    >She's being honest but she's doing it selectively
  1271. 1271.
    >Speaking in such a bold way without any way for you to attack her without coming across as the worse party
  1272. 1272.
    "Why?"
  1273. 1273.
    >You woke up without the awareness to arm yourself
  1274. 1274.
     
  1275. 1275.
    >She opens her mouth to speak but erupts in a loud, unprofessional yawn
  1276. 1276.
    >No matter the situation, she's as flatfooted as you
  1277. 1277.
    >"Did you really forget everything I said to you?"
  1278. 1278.
    "..."
  1279. 1279.
    >Guilty
  1280. 1280.
    >"I guess that's still a quality to being honest, huh... even in the worst of times, you can at least remain true and consistent."
  1281. 1281.
    >She lays her head on the edge of the bed
  1282. 1282.
    >Her tone relaxes
  1283. 1283.
    >More in control of herself
  1284. 1284.
    >"Come back to bed, Anon. I'm not done sleeping. We don't have to be a couple. You're single so no one is waiting for you."
  1285. 1285.
    >She brings her front legs up, along with her head
  1286. 1286.
    >She crosses them and sets her head back down
  1287. 1287.
    >You can see her hind legs kick out and her tail flicker
  1288. 1288.
    >"Don't think of it as a honeymoon trial. Think of it as helping me with my insomnia brought on by anxiety and depression brought on by repeated isolation and long-lived abandonment fears."
  1289. 1289.
    >For that being as serious as it is, she's talking about it like it's just seasoning for a late night dinner
  1290. 1290.
    >"You can help me a whole lot by doing that. Even if it's just until the sun comes up."
  1291. 1291.
    >You can help her?
  1292. 1292.
    >She's just listing off things to build up a sob story and get you to feel bad for her
  1293. 1293.
    >You already do, but that's because the slapchop to the gob hurt you more than it hurt her
  1294. 1294.
    "What time is it?"
  1295. 1295.
    >"You tell me, Anon. You can explore the room if you want. Walk around and look at whatever you please. Why would I stop you? How could I stop you?"
  1296. 1296.
    >You notice your balance isn't so off by stepping to the side
  1297. 1297.
    >Her eyes follow you even if she lays as solid as a statue
  1298. 1298.
    >Cheapo nightstand clock says...
  1299. 1299.
    "Looks like a little after three."
  1300. 1300.
    >"Do you work today, Anon?"
  1301. 1301.
    "I have some editing and uploading to do, that's about it."
  1302. 1302.
    >"Can you send it to me directly?"
  1303. 1303.
    "Don't have your email."
  1304. 1304.
    >You have not yet seen her with a phone or a laptop
  1305. 1305.
    >Nothing about the room shows she's even used it or set anything up
  1306. 1306.
    >"I'll comment on your last video with it."
  1307. 1307.
    "...Ok."
  1308. 1308.
    >You don't walk around the bed to see anything else
  1309. 1309.
    >A quick glance to the bathroom shows that no one is waiting
  1310. 1310.
    >"Please stay with me, Anonymous. Until the sun comes up."
  1311. 1311.
    >No, you're not doing that
  1312. 1312.
    >You're going home
  1313. 1313.
    >Going to sleep after bolting the door
  1314. 1314.
    >Scrubbing your entire online existence
  1315. 1315.
    >Moving and finding a new job
  1316. 1316.
    >...
  1317. 1317.
    >...
  1318. 1318.
    >...
  1319. 1319.
    >You sit on the edge of the bed, not close to her
  1320. 1320.
    >You're fucking scum, you know that?
  1321. 1321.
    >You pathetic, spineless cretin
  1322. 1322.
    >How much does it take for you to stop playing in traffic before you get struck?
  1323. 1323.
    "Until morning."
  1324. 1324.
    >"Thank you."
  1325. 1325.
    >You sit there for a few minutes
  1326. 1326.
    >She doesn't move
  1327. 1327.
    >"Can you lay near me at least? You don't have to be up against me. I just want you to face me so I can see you."
  1328. 1328.
    >This does not sound good in any way
  1329. 1329.
    >This feels like what Buffalo Bill would do if he were stuck to a wheelchair and took a few extra points in charisma
  1330. 1330.
    >But you do it
  1331. 1331.
    >Feckless creature that you are
  1332. 1332.
    >You end up laying the same way as her, though you're on your side
  1333. 1333.
    >"Better?"
  1334. 1334.
     
  1335. 1335.
    "Not particularly."
  1336. 1336.
    >Despite the tension, you close your eyes almost immediately
  1337. 1337.
    >Maybe it's the fatigued settling back in
  1338. 1338.
    >Maybe it's just shame that you've been talked into sleeping with someone yet again
  1339. 1339.
    >The room isn't as warm as you'd like but the covers haven't been touched
  1340. 1340.
    >You're not in much of a position to do anything about it
  1341. 1341.
    >"You know, you don't have to lay on your side... I over-reacted. You can lay on your back if you're more comfortable."
  1342. 1342.
    >Well that's mighty decent of her
  1343. 1343.
    >You end up doing just that, scooting along to make sure you don't end up on a corner
  1344. 1344.
    >The bed is rather sizable
  1345. 1345.
    >You feel her weight shift a little
  1346. 1346.
    >"Let me get the remote... kinda loud."
  1347. 1347.
    >You don't mind it
  1348. 1348.
    >Whatever
  1349. 1349.
    >You can maybe just time travel to the future and then get out
  1350. 1350.
    >Then it'll all be fi-
  1351. 1351.
    >A hoof crashes down from above, right on your nose
  1352. 1352.
    >Unimaginable pain bursts through your everything, going down your body
  1353. 1353.
    >You scream out something, blinded by blood and raw pain
  1354. 1354.
    >"You think I'm going to let you just hit me? You think I'm your punching bag too?!"
  1355. 1355.
    >You lash out and another stomp to your face multiplies the pain tenfold
  1356. 1356.
    >Before you know what's going on, a full weight falls down on you
  1357. 1357.
    >Nowhere near as tall as you, but enough that you can't just roll off to escape
  1358. 1358.
    >Something goes to your throat
  1359. 1359.
    >Multiple somethings
  1360. 1360.
    >Somehow, she has your throat in her mouth
  1361. 1361.
    >You can feel her teeth, those canines
  1362. 1362.
    >They're digging into your flesh to the point you're almost certainly going to bleed
  1363. 1363.
    >Is this how you die?
  1364. 1364.
    >Sputtering for air, trying to wipe away bloody tears and get your artery punctured by some psycho?
  1365. 1365.
    >Despite your heart beating ten miles a minute and the blood going down your nostrils to almost drown you, you remain there
  1366. 1366.
    >You hold your hands up, shaky as they are
  1367. 1367.
    >All you can do is gasp and wheeze for air
  1368. 1368.
    >The grip on your throat remains
  1369. 1369.
    >You can feel hot, intense panting over your wind pipe
  1370. 1370.
    >That's still proof that she has your life in her jaws
  1371. 1371.
    >You fucking nimrod
  1372. 1372.
    >You knew this was going to turn out badly
  1373. 1373.
    >You didn't know how
  1374. 1374.
    >But you knew
  1375. 1375.
    >You don't try to speak
  1376. 1376.
    >The taste of blood entering your mouth from the back of your throat, resting there rather than naturally going down
  1377. 1377.
    >It's almost enough to make you gag
  1378. 1378.
    >Breathing is the top priority for now
  1379. 1379.
    >Even if the clamp doesn't relax, it doesn't feel as intense
  1380. 1380.
    >Maybe it's more that if she wanted you dead, she would have done it
  1381. 1381.
    >The breathing continues against your skin
  1382. 1382.
    >Then a lash of the tongue
  1383. 1383.
    >A hot, slimy thing that slithers over your throat
  1384. 1384.
    >The only noise she makes, after long enough, is something close to a purr
  1385. 1385.
    >Satisfaction in raw, language-free noise
  1386. 1386.
    >You don't know how much time has passed but the somehow the tongue is dragging itself over the sides of your throat
  1387. 1387.
    >Did she let go of you?
  1388. 1388.
    >You swear you can still feel that it's only a few pounds of pressure between now and death
  1389. 1389.
    >She has her two front hooves on either side of your head
  1390. 1390.
    >"I didn't think you'd taste so good..."
  1391. 1391.
     
  1392. 1392.
    >The slow licking turns more hungry
  1393. 1393.
    >Focused licks to the sides where she had you pinned
  1394. 1394.
    >"...They'll leave their marks... but you wouldn't have died. Not unless I bit hard enough."
  1395. 1395.
    >Cold satisfaction
  1396. 1396.
    >A test lick goes across your face
  1397. 1397.
    >It's hot
  1398. 1398.
    >It feels like someone slapped a hot rag over your face and dragged it away
  1399. 1399.
    >Then more
  1400. 1400.
    >You make something resembling a whimper as her tongue goes over your face
  1401. 1401.
    >Your nose
  1402. 1402.
    >Your eyes
  1403. 1403.
    >"I didn't think you'd taste like this at all, Anon..."
  1404. 1404.
    >You don't know what the situation is
  1405. 1405.
    >Did the bleeding stop?
  1406. 1406.
    >Was she causing it to bleed more?
  1407. 1407.
    >You could only breathe through your mouth
  1408. 1408.
    >Taking in some form of her taste in turn, even if it's just her own breath
  1409. 1409.
    >You don't have the capacity to know what it is
  1410. 1410.
    >"...I hit back too hard, didn't I..."
  1411. 1411.
    >Only now does she notice
  1412. 1412.
    >"I'm sorry. When you got me, it... didn't send me to a happy place. It's good to set boundaries, isn't it?"
  1413. 1413.
    >Is that what that is?!
  1414. 1414.
    >Only after the fact does she mention that tidbit
  1415. 1415.
    >If you hit her again, it better be on purpose this time
  1416. 1416.
    >You say something and end up just sputtering out blood
  1417. 1417.
    >You can taste it
  1418. 1418.
    >Being on your back like this can't be the right move
  1419. 1419.
    >Or did she just do that bad a number on you?
  1420. 1420.
    >You should feel more panicked but you feel like you couldn't open your eyes if you tried
  1421. 1421.
    >"...You'll be fine. But let me make it up to you. Ok?"
  1422. 1422.
    >You aren't in a position to deny her
  1423. 1423.
    >In one motion, she opens her mouth, tilts her head and envelops your mouth inside of hers
  1424. 1424.
    >You can feel two canines resting along your jawline
  1425. 1425.
    >Her tongue lashes over your lips
  1426. 1426.
    >Teasing them as if she wants in
  1427. 1427.
    >You put up a novel effort but can't stop her from doing worse
  1428. 1428.
    >The "worse" in question is that she shoots her tongue into your mouth
  1429. 1429.
    >She spears it down your throat with a fierce level of animal hunger
  1430. 1430.
    >You can feel her slither and coil her tongue against the back of your throat
  1431. 1431.
    >That taste
  1432. 1432.
    >That's what she's chasing
  1433. 1433.
    >You nearly gag
  1434. 1434.
    >You have no understanding of what she's doing, the sensation is so alien to you
  1435. 1435.
    >It's like your first kiss all over again
  1436. 1436.
    >Minus the blood
  1437. 1437.
    >It continues on long enough that you start to lose willpower
  1438. 1438.
    >You're focusing on breathing, as much as you can
  1439. 1439.
    >Even if that means breathing through her
  1440. 1440.
    >She knows it too
  1441. 1441.
    >Her tongue doesn't retreat but you can hear her inhaling through her nostrils
  1442. 1442.
    >A breathy, heavy exhale pushes enough into you to subsist off of
  1443. 1443.
    >This is humiliating
  1444. 1444.
    >This is worse than humiliating
  1445. 1445.
    >This is horrifying
  1446. 1446.
    >What's to stop her from ripping off your jaw now?
  1447. 1447.
    >Or caving in your head and calling it a day?
  1448. 1448.
    >All you can do is lay there
  1449. 1449.
    >Eventually you don't even taste blood
  1450. 1450.
    >Or maybe all you do is taste blood
  1451. 1451.
    >Blood mixed with her saliva
  1452. 1452.
    >Slimy, slick, light
  1453. 1453.
    >If she has a flavor, you can't tell
  1454. 1454.
    >The kiss continues for at least two episodes of The Amazing World of Gumball
  1455. 1455.
    >It isn't like you've ever watched that show in detail but you know the ending song
  1456. 1456.
    >It played twice so far
  1457. 1457.
    >She hasn't stopped once
  1458. 1458.
     
  1459. 1459.
    >In a way, the breathing assistance and cleanup makes it easier for you
  1460. 1460.
    >The tongue, after a time, has ceased to be an intimate organ
  1461. 1461.
    >It's not just... something that wrestles against your tongue
  1462. 1462.
    >Coils and tries to strangle it
  1463. 1463.
    >Washes over every angle of every tooth and prods against the back of your throat to test where your gag reflex is active
  1464. 1464.
    >It's so methodical and repeated that the complete darkness turns it into an alien abduction situation
  1465. 1465.
    >Just surgical testing and repeat experimentation
  1466. 1466.
    >You've even found that you relaxed
  1467. 1467.
    >You don't know where your hands went but each one is weighed down with something heavy
  1468. 1468.
    >Her hooves?
  1469. 1469.
    >After another episode ends, she pulls herself back finally
  1470. 1470.
    >Your first breath of fresh air is near freezing in comparison to what you've been forcefed for at least an hour
  1471. 1471.
    >"...I'm sorry I overreacted, Anon..."
  1472. 1472.
    >She sounds
  1473. 1473.
    >Sultry
  1474. 1474.
    >Satisfied
  1475. 1475.
    >The kind of worked up that you've heard precisely twice in your life
  1476. 1476.
    >Once was online
  1477. 1477.
    >"...I knew you weren't the abusive sort. You spoke so clearly about them, and how to avoid them without letting lingering emotions tether you to them."
  1478. 1478.
    >Her head lays next to yours
  1479. 1479.
    >You had no way to know but her body has been an effective blanket
  1480. 1480.
    >At the very least of this situation
  1481. 1481.
    >"...I know that you didn't mean to hit me. You were just... I mean. I would have been scared. And you were. I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again. You wouldn't hold it against me, right?"
  1482. 1482.
    >What are you even supposed to say to that?
  1483. 1483.
    >It's only the dulled pain that is keeping you conscious
  1484. 1484.
    >That and the fear that if you fall asleep on her, you won't wake up
  1485. 1485.
    >"My dad... he's human. Like you. He used to drink a lot. And my mom. They actually met in Equestria. I don't remember how they met, but my mom said it was the best day of her life. Things were nice but I think the stigma got to him and he drank more. I think that's why she started drinking too."
  1486. 1486.
    >She nuzzles the side of your face
  1487. 1487.
    >"So... one day. I come back. And they're just... fighting. His hand was broken. He smashed a bottle over her head. One of the heavy ones. I never saw either of them so... full of hatred. So I screamed. I ran. I don't know how far I went back. A friend of my mom's, my aunt, she watched over me for a week and when I went back they just... they acted like everything was fine. They made up like nothing happened. But I saw it. I saw the scars. I saw the dried blood."
  1488. 1488.
    >Another nuzzle
  1489. 1489.
    >Is this supposed to make all of this ok?
  1490. 1490.
    >Depending on how severe your injuries are, you'll never look like yourself again
  1491. 1491.
    >You aren't a vain man but the scars and pains you have, you've earned through stupidity and work-related near misses
  1492. 1492.
    >No one has ever physically destroyed a part of you
  1493. 1493.
     
  1494. 1494.
    >"It happened again. And over something so... stupid. It was so stupid. I tried to stop them and they both turned on me. I, somehow, became an acceptable target. I didn't even do anything to start it. Why did I become their outlet? Did they love each other so much? Or did they simply hate me more?"
  1495. 1495.
    >Despite the gravity of this, you can hear how hollow it rings
  1496. 1496.
    >It isn't like she's lying
  1497. 1497.
    >She's not
  1498. 1498.
    >You know the tone
  1499. 1499.
    >It's more she's left the present
  1500. 1500.
    >She's seeing everything in front of her again
  1501. 1501.
    >You can't tell but you wouldn't be surprised if something happened to make her feel tense
  1502. 1502.
    >As if she's the one you should care about right now
  1503. 1503.
    >"A few years later... dad died. They said it was an accident. Something got him. He was wearing one of those yellow human helmets but I think mom did it. I think she hit him once and it had some sort of delayed effect."
  1504. 1504.
    >Her voice lowers to a whisper
  1505. 1505.
    >She doesn't move herself to ensure you can hear you
  1506. 1506.
    >You're just a cushion for her to lay on while she's in this
  1507. 1507.
    >"She killed my dad, Anon... and then she blamed everything. Anything. Drinking. Work. Stress. She turned inward on herself. She didn't love him enough. She wasn't a unicorn so she couldn't use magic to heal him. She had a daughter and she lost sight of what was important."
  1508. 1508.
    >That hollow whisper
  1509. 1509.
    >Where is she right now?
  1510. 1510.
    >"She loved her husband, Anon... and he loved his wife. Having a foal. Having me. I killed my dad by existing. Their biggest mistake in their relationship was me."
  1511. 1511.
    >Even if you refuse to try to open your eyes
  1512. 1512.
    >Even if you're breathing through your mouth with what feels like half of your skull crunched to dust
  1513. 1513.
    >One of your arms finds it's way up, and around her
  1514. 1514.
    >A hug
  1515. 1515.
    >A wheezing sputter spills out
  1516. 1516.
    >You need to find your voice
  1517. 1517.
    >It isn't as bad as it feels
  1518. 1518.
    >It can't be
  1519. 1519.
    >Nothing feels like it's freely flapping
  1520. 1520.
    >You can feel by the way she licked your face that you aren't meat jelly
  1521. 1521.
    "Thasts."
  1522. 1522.
    >You want to vomit so much
  1523. 1523.
    "Nout thrue. T-th-truoe."
  1524. 1524.
    >That's it
  1525. 1525.
    >That's as much as you can stomach
  1526. 1526.
    >You need an ER
  1527. 1527.
    >The violations on top of violations and pain have taken everything out of you
  1528. 1528.
    >Everything except those three words
  1529. 1529.
    >The mare doesn't say anything
  1530. 1530.
    >Breathing isn't getting any easier but it isn't getting harder
  1531. 1531.
    >"...You really accept me. Even after I almost killed you..."
  1532. 1532.
    >She WHAT?!
  1533. 1533.
    >This means she actually could have killed you
  1534. 1534.
    >This means that second hit was done with purpose
  1535. 1535.
    >"I'm sorry, Anon. I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me."
  1536. 1536.
    >Her hooves slide off of your shaking hands and curl around your neck
  1537. 1537.
    >She repeats herself repeatedly
  1538. 1538.
    >Those three sentences
  1539. 1539.
    >Different order every other cycle but it doesn't stop
  1540. 1540.
    >You've tried to do your best
  1541. 1541.
    >You can't hang on any further
  1542. 1542.
    >The last words you hear are "I love you."
  1543. 1543.
     
  1544. 1544.
     
  1545. 1545.
    >No work
  1546. 1546.
    >No videos
  1547. 1547.
    >You had to cancel one online "class" that was undoubtedly scumming but it was income
  1548. 1548.
    >All because of that night
  1549. 1549.
    >When you woke up, you were in the ER
  1550. 1550.
    >Apparently your nose was broken, your upper lip was busted, your teeth got loosened, and apparently if you weren't so lucky, you would've had a broken orbital socket
  1551. 1551.
    >The official story, you found out, was that someone hit your face with a bat while you were protecting your horse girlfriend
  1552. 1552.
    >She tried to help but couldn't and then called EMS
  1553. 1553.
    >You were in such a state that you couldn't say otherwise
  1554. 1554.
    >Apparently it made local news too
  1555. 1555.
    >Now everyone thinks you're a horsefucker
  1556. 1556.
    >Most likely anyway
  1557. 1557.
    >"Hey honey, are you awake?"
  1558. 1558.
    >To top it off
  1559. 1559.
    >The cherry to bring this all together
  1560. 1560.
    >Her
  1561. 1561.
    >She took your keys when you were discharged and invited herself to stay in your place
  1562. 1562.
    >Your fortress of chillitude
  1563. 1563.
    >You've been sleeping in bed for days, plus or minus getting up to shower or go to the toilet
  1564. 1564.
    >She has
  1565. 1565.
    >Insisted
  1566. 1566.
    >On helping with that
  1567. 1567.
    >At least when it comes to the shower
  1568. 1568.
    >"Anon? You there?"
  1569. 1569.
    >You refuse to acknowledge her and instead stare straight up at the ceiling
  1570. 1570.
    >"Anon."
  1571. 1571.
    >You've heard her rummaging through every nook and cranny for days now
  1572. 1572.
    >"Look at me Anon."
  1573. 1573.
    >You haven't gotten out of bed because you know that if you somehow got onto your computer, she'd figure out how to do it too
  1574. 1574.
    >She already has gotten into your phone, or has accepted some sort of call
  1575. 1575.
    >Apparently you have an appointment to help get your face unfucked
  1576. 1576.
    >To "help"
  1577. 1577.
    >"Look at me."
  1578. 1578.
    >A steely hard tone
  1579. 1579.
    >As cold as abandoned machinery on the north pole
  1580. 1580.
    >You look at her
  1581. 1581.
    >Sally's expression changes so fast you almost missed that she was devolving from a leer to a broiling fury
  1582. 1582.
    >Now she's all smiles
  1583. 1583.
    >"How are you feeling?"
  1584. 1584.
    >How do you think?
  1585. 1585.
    >You haven't been told to not talk, just to not eat hard stuff
  1586. 1586.
    >Still haven't felt the energy to speak one word to her
  1587. 1587.
    >You grunt when she climbs on top of bed and lays on you
  1588. 1588.
    >Just like before
  1589. 1589.
    >"I'll say it... I'm surprised you didn't at least have one lady friend here."
  1590. 1590.
    >Is it time for your next painkiller?
  1591. 1591.
    >"I really thought things would turn out differently... but this is fine too, isn't it?"
  1592. 1592.
    >Of course it isn't
  1593. 1593.
    >Sally isn't satisfied with your lack of a response
  1594. 1594.
    >"Hey. I'm talking to you."
  1595. 1595.
    >She sure is trying
  1596. 1596.
    >"Speak to me, Anon... the silence is deafening in here."
  1597. 1597.
    >Nothing stopping her from turning on the TV
  1598. 1598.
    >Not that you have cable
  1599. 1599.
    >You think Netflix is connected on it
  1600. 1600.
    >"Anon!?"
  1601. 1601.
    >Your eyes go to her again
  1602. 1602.
    >She looks distressed
  1603. 1603.
    >If you've noticed anything, it's that she isn't doing so well when she can't bounce off of you
  1604. 1604.
    >Maybe it's just guilt
  1605. 1605.
    >Maybe she's a sociopath that lost her radar
  1606. 1606.
    >"...I'm sorry. I really am. I can see why you were worried, and I might have led you in under... not genuine circumstances."
  1607. 1607.
    >Good girl
  1608. 1608.
    >Maybe she'll learn next that stealing is wrong, and bad
  1609. 1609.
    >"...I know you didn't hit me on purpose. I think I was looking for an excuse."
  1610. 1610.
     
  1611. 1611.
    >Shocking
  1612. 1612.
    >Truly
  1613. 1613.
    >"You really spoke to me so well, so deeply despite having never known me. And then, in person... I felt it. That tie. That bond. The one I know my mom and dad had."
  1614. 1614.
    >This again
  1615. 1615.
    >"But... you don't know me that well at all, do you? If I never told you how I had a hoof in killing my dad, you wouldn't know. You wouldn't believe me and just call it guilt."
  1616. 1616.
    >Maybe she is to blame for some of it
  1617. 1617.
    >"And you fought every step of the way. It... it didn't feel like how their relationship went. They loved each other. They had a lot of love for one another."
  1618. 1618.
    >You could go without this sort of love
  1619. 1619.
    >"You don't love me, Anon. I thought you knew me so well. I thought I knew you too. I read and listened to everything you put out. It's all real. It's all still so real. But... I never knew you kept shredded and sliced cheese separate."
  1620. 1620.
    >What does that matter?
  1621. 1621.
    >"I didn't know you looked at women getting semen sprayed on their faces. Or that there were so many of them. You don't seem to have a real type you go back to."
  1622. 1622.
    >You knew she found a way to get into your phone
  1623. 1623.
    >You're not even mad
  1624. 1624.
    >"I didn't know you looked at those things... like you don't even want someone special."
  1625. 1625.
    >Does this have a point?
  1626. 1626.
    >She's laying on you with her legs so stretched out that you're half sure she's doing it just because you can't stop her
  1627. 1627.
    >"...Do you? If you had the chance, would you take it?"
  1628. 1628.
    "You b r o k e my face and nearly cracked my skull."
  1629. 1629.
    >Your slow words cause her to recoil
  1630. 1630.
    >"...But you..."
  1631. 1631.
    "I fell asleep somewhere not safe."
  1632. 1632.
    >Your eyes fall on her dumbstruck face
  1633. 1633.
    "And it wasn't safe at all."
  1634. 1634.
    >You look away from her
  1635. 1635.
    >Anywhere but her
  1636. 1636.
    "And now you've invaded my home, ransacked the place, my nose may not heal right, and acting like this is the start of something magical."
  1637. 1637.
    >What a mess
  1638. 1638.
    >This is what you get for speaking up in the world without the money to appropriately boost and protect yourself
  1639. 1639.
    >Sally off of you
  1640. 1640.
    >Thank Christ for that
  1641. 1641.
    >"It is, Anon. I just need to figure out how."
  1642. 1642.
    >That ship has sailed, sunk, and become a sanctuary for endangered sea snails
  1643. 1643.
    >Time passes while you just stare at the ceiling
  1644. 1644.
    >Nothing but a fan on your desk is blowing
  1645. 1645.
    >It's the only thing you've had to listen to without having to echolocate her through the cabinets and drawers opening and closing
  1646. 1646.
    >She comes back with something
  1647. 1647.
    >It's cold
  1648. 1648.
    >"I got one of your sodas. Drink it, please."
  1649. 1649.
    >You haven't had much to drink in around two days now, save for gulping down some shower water
  1650. 1650.
    >You don't trust having anything near her now
  1651. 1651.
    >"Please drink it, Anon, or you'll waste away."
  1652. 1652.
    >Why shouldn't you?
  1653. 1653.
    >The culmination of everything you've worked toward is this
  1654. 1654.
    >She walks away without another comment
  1655. 1655.
    >Finally
  1656. 1656.
    >You close your eyes
  1657. 1657.
    >You've slept for so much of the day
  1658. 1658.
    >Maybe if you go to sleep again, you'll wake up better
  1659. 1659.
    >Maybe she'll get bored and wander off to someone else
  1660. 1660.
     
  1661. 1661.
    >Another day
  1662. 1662.
    >Sally has been using your phone to talk to someone
  1663. 1663.
    >You don't recognize the number and you haven't bothered to look up where it could be
  1664. 1664.
    >Doesn't matter
  1665. 1665.
    >The dull pain has gotten to be bearable without needing to pop something
  1666. 1666.
    >Gotta love prescription-level meds
  1667. 1667.
    >You take a shower while she's sleeping on the couch
  1668. 1668.
    >She has helped herself to your bread, your potatoes, your cheese and your cherry preserves
  1669. 1669.
    >You aren't even sure how good potatoes are if you bake them in the microwave
  1670. 1670.
    >You're dressed now
  1671. 1671.
    >Most dressed you've been in days
  1672. 1672.
    >You feel more like yourself
  1673. 1673.
    "Hey. Get up."
  1674. 1674.
    >Despite your strongest urge to slap her awake
  1675. 1675.
    >Or to just bring your foot down on her head
  1676. 1676.
    >You settle for a firm nudge to her chest
  1677. 1677.
    "Get up. I'm heading out. That means you're gone too."
  1678. 1678.
    >Sally takes a few moments to wake up
  1679. 1679.
    >When she does, she gives you the warmest, broadest smile
  1680. 1680.
    >"You're alive...!"
  1681. 1681.
    "Yeah. I was."
  1682. 1682.
    >"I'm so glad, I was ta-"
  1683. 1683.
    "Right now, that's not necessary. I'm going to a followup with the GP. You're not staying in here to eat the rest of my food."
  1684. 1684.
    >"...Oh."
  1685. 1685.
    >The smile melts down
  1686. 1686.
    >She gets up from a self-made nest that seems to consist of your towels, a few spare blankets and at least one shirt
  1687. 1687.
    >The sofa is right there
  1688. 1688.
    >Whatever
  1689. 1689.
    "Yup. Come on."
  1690. 1690.
    >You ignore her and whatever waking ritual she's trying to entice you with
  1691. 1691.
    >You get your shoes on near the door and watch her meander around
  1692. 1692.
    >"...I'm sorry for the mess. I kinda just camped out while waiting for you to feel better."
  1693. 1693.
    "I see that."
  1694. 1694.
    >"I can put everything back."
  1695. 1695.
    "No, it'll be fine."
  1696. 1696.
    >"I can help with the trash."
  1697. 1697.
    "I think you've helped enough."
  1698. 1698.
    >"I..."
  1699. 1699.
    >You can tell she's searching for something to grab onto
  1700. 1700.
    >You are a smooth bulwark of contempt
  1701. 1701.
    >Maybe that's a strong word
  1702. 1702.
    >Maybe it's not strong enough
  1703. 1703.
    >"If you get me s-"
  1704. 1704.
    "Time to go Sally."
  1705. 1705.
    >Shot down as soon as she tried again
  1706. 1706.
    >Now that you're standing
  1707. 1707.
    >Towering over her
  1708. 1708.
    >She has no real way to force her way
  1709. 1709.
    >No way to do much of anything
  1710. 1710.
    >She follows you outside the apartment
  1711. 1711.
    >Door gets locked the second she's out and keys go in your chest pocket
  1712. 1712.
    "And that's that. You're not going in there again."
  1713. 1713.
    >You start walking off
  1714. 1714.
    >She's following you
  1715. 1715.
    >Of course she is
  1716. 1716.
    >"I got good news! Tomorrow I should be clear to move in. If you want, I c-"
  1717. 1717.
    "No thanks, I have something going on."
  1718. 1718.
    >"That's ok, it can be any time you like."
  1719. 1719.
    "I'm going to be pretty busy tomorrow."
  1720. 1720.
    >Feels good to put your foot down like this
  1721. 1721.
    >If you were like this before, none of this would have happened
  1722. 1722.
    >You've learned now, haven't you
  1723. 1723.
    >All it cost you was your face
  1724. 1724.
    >She's still following you even if you go out to your car
  1725. 1725.
    >She's already gone through your phone, who cares if she knows your license plate?
  1726. 1726.
    >You get in and close the door too fast for her to also try to force herself inside
  1727. 1727.
    >"Anon!"
  1728. 1728.
    >She screams in pure panic the second you start your car
  1729. 1729.
     
  1730. 1730.
    >You think
  1731. 1731.
    >You think hard
  1732. 1732.
    >She's tried so many angles since you first spoke to her
  1733. 1733.
    >She won when she was talking the way she was
  1734. 1734.
    >She isn't being real with you
  1735. 1735.
    >She's probing
  1736. 1736.
    >She's figuring out which approach has the most effect
  1737. 1737.
    >It's some sort of trick
  1738. 1738.
    >You can feel whatever you want
  1739. 1739.
    >You can feel regret when you pull out, before she has the idea to get behind you to block you in
  1740. 1740.
    >You can feel jubilation when you drive off to her trying to run after you while screaming
  1741. 1741.
    >You can feel peace when she's not even a blip in your rearview mirror
  1742. 1742.
    >You can feel...
  1743. 1743.
    >Regret
  1744. 1744.
    >Like you've genuinely hurt her by doing this
  1745. 1745.
    >But does that matter?
  1746. 1746.
    >Is that really what you've done?
  1747. 1747.
    >If she was telling you the truth of her path, what little you remember of it, she came from a drastically abusive family
  1748. 1748.
    >She doesn't know what it looks like to attract someone
  1749. 1749.
    >She can emulate what she's seen, or tweak it
  1750. 1750.
    >In the end, it's just not healthy
  1751. 1751.
    >Not healthy at all
  1752. 1752.
    >"Wow, that's not healthy."
  1753. 1753.
    "...What?"
  1754. 1754.
    >"Your sinuses. You grew up holding in your sneezes?"
  1755. 1755.
    "Yeah, why?"
  1756. 1756.
    >"Well."
  1757. 1757.
    >The old Yankee doc slides on his ever-gliding stool next to you
  1758. 1758.
    >He's holding up two images
  1759. 1759.
    >"The right-"
  1760. 1760.
    >He waggles his right hand
  1761. 1761.
    >"Shows the x-ray scan. Shows your bones and nothing else."
  1762. 1762.
    >He waggles his left hand
  1763. 1763.
    >"This one, is our CT scan. And that knock aggravated some damage that seems to have been there already."
  1764. 1764.
    "You're kidding."
  1765. 1765.
    >"No, not this time. I heard what happened, bully for you on going to bat for your romantic interests. But, this means recovery is going to not be as easy."
  1766. 1766.
    >He's not trying to hide how amused he is by his pun
  1767. 1767.
    >No one appreciates a doctor with a wit
  1768. 1768.
    >"So. I'm going to prescribe you a very nice nasal spray. Should help clear up all that dried blood, mucus, swelling and might help those passages. Been mouth breathing?"
  1769. 1769.
    "Sure."
  1770. 1770.
    >"Good. Keep doing that, just don't do it too hard or passing women will get the wrong idea."
  1771. 1771.
    >He scoots away after giving one last waggle of the sheets
  1772. 1772.
    >"Going to send the prescription out right away, you can go to any pharmacy and pick it up. Really not the worst stuff in the world. But."
  1773. 1773.
    >He points up to a sign while he's scribbling on a sheet
  1774. 1774.
    >The computer is not even five inches from where he is
  1775. 1775.
    >The sign itself is a focus on liver failure
  1776. 1776.
    >"There are some active ingredients, they do not play well with alcohol, I humbly ask that you do not drink while using this. That means nothing for the next... thirty days. Not a problem I'm sure but if you do, it may cause issues with the bleeding and last thing we need is for you to turn into an old harem anime protagonist."
  1777. 1777.
    >Who is this guy and why couldn't you get someone more normal?
  1778. 1778.
    >With that, he gets up and holds his hand out for a shake
  1779. 1779.
    >"Standard co-pay will likely be twenty bucks. Good luck on the recovery."
  1780. 1780.
    "Yeah... thanks, doc."
  1781. 1781.
    >Thirty days of no drinking, huh?
  1782. 1782.
    >Sure
  1783. 1783.
    >Not like you have anything lined up right now anyway
  1784. 1784.
     
  1785. 1785.
    >It's been hours since you got back home
  1786. 1786.
    >Dark out
  1787. 1787.
    >Living room mess untouched
  1788. 1788.
    >Painkiller pill status: taken with peanut butter
  1789. 1789.
    >Nasal spray status: one up each nostril
  1790. 1790.
    >Drink status: Vodka mixed with coke, equal portions mixed together with a cheap plastic straw
  1791. 1791.
    >You've ignored all calls since you got back
  1792. 1792.
    >All email notifications
  1793. 1793.
    >Half of them are idle spam anyway
  1794. 1794.
    >You thought about calling up anyone but you really don't have anyone to talk to
  1795. 1795.
    >That AA group, you keep them at arm's length and for good reason
  1796. 1796.
    >A lot of them are far worse than you
  1797. 1797.
    >Last thing you'd want is someone below you trying to tell you how the world works and how you can just make it kneel
  1798. 1798.
    >Last thing you'd want is to lower yourself by needing someone's advice
  1799. 1799.
    >There's a hypocrite inside of you, Anon
  1800. 1800.
    >But it's ok
  1801. 1801.
    >Others deserve the help
  1802. 1802.
    >You like giving help
  1803. 1803.
    >Others helping you?
  1804. 1804.
    >Now that's a dead end
  1805. 1805.
    >When's the last time that ever worked out for you, anyway?
  1806. 1806.
    >Whenever anyone ever thought about it, or said they would, they wouldn't
  1807. 1807.
    >Or they'd give you a vague lead and leave you to do the legwork
  1808. 1808.
    >Everyone loves their excuses
  1809. 1809.
    >You gulp down more of your drink
  1810. 1810.
    >There's something you recall about not mixing painkillers with alcohol
  1811. 1811.
    >Downers with downers or something like that
  1812. 1812.
    >Whatever
  1813. 1813.
    >You've already lost whatever steadiness you had
  1814. 1814.
    >You refuse to say that it's to her
  1815. 1815.
    >Even if it's empirically true
  1816. 1816.
    >You gulp down more again
  1817. 1817.
    >You don't have a drinking problem
  1818. 1818.
    >Never did, in earnest
  1819. 1819.
    >But you just really can't look at yourself in the mirror
  1820. 1820.
    >You're a mess
  1821. 1821.
    >Sure, it's just a nose but it's your nose
  1822. 1822.
    >You don't even have any reason to feel disgust at the other things she did
  1823. 1823.
    >That was all just part of the experience
  1824. 1824.
    >Not anything that stood out
  1825. 1825.
    >Probably because it was all just overwhelming
  1826. 1826.
    >It was a violation on top of a violation
  1827. 1827.
    >Another big gulp
  1828. 1828.
    >Maybe that's why you've felt so down too
  1829. 1829.
    >You were violated, Anon
  1830. 1830.
    >You weren't a pure lad before that night but it really did something
  1831. 1831.
    >You don't know what it did
  1832. 1832.
    >That's why it bothers you so much
  1833. 1833.
    >Another gulp
  1834. 1834.
    >Almost empty
  1835. 1835.
    >You poured in as much vodka as a can of soda
  1836. 1836.
    >Maybe it was a little too much
  1837. 1837.
    >You go for the nasal spray and take another huff in each nostril
  1838. 1838.
    >"...Hey... Anon...?"
  1839. 1839.
    >Out of the corner of your eye you see a pair of yellow eyes
  1840. 1840.
    >That's not real
  1841. 1841.
    >That's just your mind playing tricks
  1842. 1842.
    "Yur... norreea..."
  1843. 1843.
    >You mumble out something
  1844. 1844.
    >Why do you feel lightheaded?
  1845. 1845.
    >You watch the mare pounce up onto the flat patio railing
  1846. 1846.
    >Not living on the top of the building sucks
  1847. 1847.
    >Sally manages to stick the landing next to you
  1848. 1848.
    >"I'm sorry... I don't want to stay long. I just want to explain myself. I just need a few minutes."
  1849. 1849.
    >Sure
  1850. 1850.
    >A few minutes
  1851. 1851.
    >That's all it takes to...
  1852. 1852.
    >...
  1853. 1853.
    >...?
  1854. 1854.
    >You gasp for air
  1855. 1855.
    >You can't breathe
  1856. 1856.
    >You try to inhale through your nose
  1857. 1857.
    >Of course that doesn't help
  1858. 1858.
    >"...Anon?"
  1859. 1859.
    >You're outside, right?
  1860. 1860.
    >Why is it so hard to breathe outside?
  1861. 1861.
    >It must be her
  1862. 1862.
    >You try to reach for her and fall
  1863. 1863.
    >All's dark

/bootleg/ Jacky Part One

by BlondieAnon

/bootleg/ Jacky Part Two

by BlondieAnon

/bootleg/ Jacky Part Three

by BlondieAnon

/bootleg/ Jacky Part Four

by BlondieAnon

/bootleg/ Jacky Part Five

by BlondieAnon