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BiE 30: Nosce te ipsum.

By Mandroid
Created: 2020-12-19 12:39:32
Expiry: Never

  1. =BiE 30=
  2.  
  3. >"Just talk to Aloe at the front desk about payment."
  4. >Roseluck hopped off the bed and left the room.
  5. >You started the task of airing this damn room out.
  6. >No easy task with coconut.
  7. >You light some incense candles, they would do it.
  8. >Walking into the lobby you were stopped by Lotus.
  9. >"Mous, I was wondering, did you want to go grab some lunch?" she asks.
  10. >It -was- almost lunch.
  11. >"I'm down, it'll give my room time to air out."
  12. >You step into the lobby proper in order to address both sisters.
  13. >"Where did you two want to go? The diner?"
  14. >Aloe glances off to the side. "Uhh...actually, I'm not hungry! But you guys should go eat, I'll watch the spa."
  15. >You shrug and head for the door, Lotus right behind you.
  16. >The diner was farther away from the cafe, but usually had better food.
  17. >"Nice weather." Lotus says as she keeps pace.
  18. >She was right, the skies were clear and the sun was shining.
  19. >"Yeah, the Weather Patrol must be spoiling us because of the tornado."
  20. >It had been a week and a half since, you didn't hear anyone complaining over the sunny days.
  21. >"You never see weather like this in Stalliongrad." she says.
  22. >If it was anything like home, you're not surprised.
  23. >The two of you continue towards the center of town and spot a group of ponies hustled around a small stage.
  24. >On the stage was a rather loud unicorn.
  25. >"Listen O' citizens of Ponyville! Listen to how your Princesses have failed you!" she shouted.
  26. >You and Lotus walk past without another glance.
  27. >"This stuff happen often?"
  28. >Lotus rolls her eyes. "She sounds like the unicorn who came through last year and almost got the town demolished. I'm not giving her another moment of my time."
  29.  
  30. >The diner was more of a little bistro.
  31. >At least it had outdoor seating.
  32. >Lotus ordered a sandwich, while you opted for soup.
  33. >You needed to cut down on the pasta...
  34. >The biggest thing that this place had over the cafe was that they used actual flavoring.
  35. >The cafe was great for a quick sandwich, but you were SOL if you wanted a good mushroom soup.
  36. >"So...Mous." you heard across the table.
  37. >You tilt your head to the side. Can't talk with soup in your mouth.
  38. >"I uh...wanted to ask you something."
  39. >You nod as you swallow your meal.
  40. >"Shoot."
  41. >She shifts in her seat a bit.
  42. >"You and Anon have known each other for a long time..."
  43. >/nod.
  44. >"And you spend a lot of time together."
  45. >You were bros, that's what you did.
  46. >"Have you ever been...'together'?"
  47. >You sigh and rest your chin in your hand.
  48. >This was not the first time this has happened.
  49. >"No. We have never been together."
  50. >Lotus relaxed a bit. "So, you don't play for the same team?"
  51. >You shake your head and give her a deadpan stare.
  52. >"Not that there's anything wrong with it! It would just be something I didn't know about you"
  53. >Heh. Nice save Lotus.
  54. >You can't imagine somepony who accidentally slept with her sister to have too many social hang-ups.
  55. >Lotus is quiet for the rest of the meal.
  56. >You get up to walk back before you're stopped."Mous."
  57. >Lotus is standing behind you, she's looks really nervous.
  58. >"What's up?"
  59. >She says nothing and keeps looking around.
  60. >You crouch down to eye level. "You okay? What's up?"
  61. >She looks you in the eye for a moment. "Buck it."
  62. >You were about to say something, but find yourself unable.
  63. >You can't get words out with Lotus's mouth pressed up against yours.
  64.  
  65. >What is this.
  66. >What is happening.
  67. >Why is it happening.
  68. >Situational report.
  69. >Brain: askdjbngsdf.
  70. >No help there.
  71. >Jimmies: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
  72. >To be expected.
  73. >Weak organic blood pump: Out to lunch.
  74. >Dammit.
  75. >You don't move for what seems like an eternity.
  76. >Finally, Lotus removes herself.
  77. >She's staring at you
  78. >"Mous, uh...are you okay?"
  79. >No.
  80. >You needed to think.
  81. >Gotta go.
  82. >You don't notice as you stand up and start walking.
  83. >You don't notice as you head over the bridge out of town.
  84. >You don't notice that somepony is shouting behind you the entire time.
  85.  
  86. >Why would she do that?
  87. The most obvious answer was that she liked you.
  88. >Why would she do that?
  89. >Neither girls nor guys ever liked you.
  90. >Ever.
  91. >You were always "that weird guy who always hangs around that other guy."
  92. >It was rare for anyone to even know your name unless you spoke to them.
  93. >So what changed?
  94. You became an alien. Everyp0ny knows who you are.
  95. >Brain, why weren't you this helpful back there?
  96. We all have our reasons.
  97. >Great. Now your brain was screwing with you.
  98. >You didn't need this right now.
  99. >What do you do?
  100. Do you want to kiss Lotus some more?
  101. >...You don't not want to.
  102. What does -that- mean?
  103. >It means that you have no desire to never kiss Lotus again.
  104. That makes no sense.
  105. >It makes perfect sense.
  106. Are you attracted to ponies?
  107. >You know the answer to that.
  108. Right. Big bad Mous isn't attracted to anyone, that why he neve-
  109. >Yes. That's right.
  110. There's more than one kind of attraction, dingus.
  111. >Right...emotional.
  112. >Were you emotionally attracted to Lotus?
  113. >She was funny, she was smart.
  114. >She kept up with your quips and gave as good as she got.
  115. >She watched out for you. Your mind went back to when you had your manticore wounds.
  116. >You guess Lotus is pretty cool.
  117. >But that still didn't answer wh-gak!
  118. >You rub your face.
  119. >You ran into a tree.
  120. Idiot.
  121. >Fuck off brain.
  122. >Wait...
  123. >Why was it night?
  124. Why are we in the Everfree Forest?
  125. >And what's that sound?
  126.  
  127. >You follow the path closer to the mystery sound.
  128. Prepare for Mauling: Round 2.
  129. >Eat shit brain.
  130. >This was pretty close to Zecora's, you think.
  131. >True enough, you spot Zecora's hut after walking some more.
  132. >Zecora was outside sitting and playin-
  133. >That fucking didgeridoo.
  134. >THAT FUCKING DIDGERIDOO.
  135. Calm down, man.
  136. >Stupid thing was haunting you.
  137. >Maybe Zecora has some advice.
  138. >"Zecora."
  139. >Zecora stops blowing your arch-nemesis and turns to you. "Ah... Hello again, dear friend Mous."
  140. >Her face falls as she looks at you closely. "May I ask why you are so morose?"
  141. >You walk up and sit next to Zecora.
  142. >"I have a problem, I need a hand. If you had advice, that would be grand."
  143. Even now?
  144. >All opportunities to rhyme will be used.
  145. Nerd.
  146. >Plebian
  147. >Zecora smiles. "Tell me your problem my good chum, allow me to stop you feeling so glum."
  148. >You lean back a bit.
  149. >"I have a friend, we're kind of close. But I think she wants more from dear ol' Mous."
  150. >Zecora nods.
  151. >"I'm not opposed, that's not what I want to imply. I just can't wrap my head around why"
  152. >Zecora tilts her head. "Why? I do not understand, I feel as if you need to expand."
  153. >"I don't see myself as all that nice, I've been told I have veins that are filled with ice. Why she likes that, I can't say to be precise."
  154. >Zecora gets a smile."Perhaps you are not as cold as you think, perhaps that is not your friends kink."
  155. >You give a disbelieving look.
  156. >"People are often hard on themselves and think they're have no value. They must sometimes take themselves under review."
  157. >Hmm. Review yourself...
  158. I give you a C+.
  159. >Shut up, brain.
  160.  
  161. >You left Zecora's and started back towards town.
  162. >Review yourself...right.
  163. >Well, you thought you were a generally cold person. You had one friend you considered a brother, his girlfriend, two bosses, and an ageless sun goddess.
  164. >Before you came here, you had less than that.
  165. >You always thought you were horrible to people, not that you could figure out why you did it.
  166. >You always thought that they were a minute away from slapping you, or just walking away. Anon had been the only person you could really count on to stay for ages.
  167. >So why would Lotus like that?
  168. >...What if she didn't?
  169. >What if you were wrong?
  170. >What was it they called you that one time? Noble.
  171. Noble: possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals.
  172. >Uh. Thanks Brain.
  173. I got your back.
  174. >So, were you noble?
  175. >What did Lotus say...
  176. >You took them in during estrus, sure. But they might have done something stupid.
  177. >You took a manticore for Anon, but he was your bro and would have died.
  178. >Come on...one thing here.
  179. Derpy.
  180. >Huh?
  181. >What about her?
  182. >You talked to her, sure...
  183. >Wait.
  184. >Hearts and Hooves day.
  185. >You got her to talk the that stallion who may or may not be an alien.
  186. >Is that noble?
  187. Did you do it for personal gain?
  188. >No.
  189. Sounds it to me.
  190. >Okay, so you may be noble just because you helped Derpy that one time...
  191. >Was that enough?
  192. >You stop walking, don't want to hit any more trees.
  193. >You're back in town.
  194. >...was it enough?
  195. >Let's go find out.
  196.  
  197. >You were Lotus and you were an idiot.
  198. >Why did you kiss him? Why in broad daylight?
  199. >Why did he walk off like that?
  200. >You had been laying on your bed for a while trying to figure that out.
  201. >"Are you okay, sis?" Aloe called from the doorway.
  202. >You look up. "I'm fine, just thinking."
  203. >"Don't worry, I'm sure Mous had a good reason to walk away." she says.
  204. >"Yeah, like not wanting to date outside his species. Working with him is going to be great."
  205. >Aloe sulked for a bit before walking away. Not that you could blame her, even you didn't want to be around you when you got like this.
  206. >"Lotus!".
  207. >By Celestia, you were going nuts. You could almost hear him.
  208. >"Lotus!" again.
  209. >Why were you hearing him? It's not like you ever dated enough for him to become important to you.
  210. >You wanted to, but then you cocked it up.
  211. >Why didn't you just wa-
  212. >You were interrupted as something slammed into your window.
  213. >"Lotus!" you looked outside.
  214. >"Mous!?" he was hanging by the window sill.
  215. >"Let me in! I'm slipping!" he called out.
  216. >You rushed over and opened the window so that he could roll in and land on your floor.
  217. >"Mous, what are you doing here?"
  218. >"I figured we should talk." he says.
  219. >You sigh. "Look, if this is about what happened today, I'm sor-"
  220. >"No, not about that."
  221. >You try to talk, but can't get words out with Mous' mouth pressed up against yours.
  222. >"About that."
  223.  
  224. -Mous PoV-
  225. >Heh. That shut her up.
  226. I told you I'd handle it.
  227. >Thank you Weak Organic Blood Pump.
  228. >She looked at you in stunned silence.
  229. >"Sorry about when this happened earlier, I needed to think."
  230. >She meets your eyes.
  231. >"...and...did you?" she asks.
  232. >You reach up and run your hand through her hair, that was allowed at this juncture, right?
  233. >She seemed not to mind.
  234. >"Yeah...I uhh...I don't know why you want this... But, I think I do too, in a way."
  235. >She lights up when you say that.
  236. >"So...do you maybe wanna see where this goes...? Maybe we can go out for lunch again tomorrow? I promise I won't silently walk away again."
  237. >She gets a big warm smile and laughs.
  238. >It makes you happy. "I'd like that..." she says.
  239. >Sweet.
  240. >"Okay, well, uh...I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
  241. >You stand up to walk out.
  242. >"Uhm...can I use the door?"
  243. >She nods.
  244. >You are stopped as you walk out of the bedroom by something grabbing your shirt.
  245. >You turn around. Lotus motions for you to crouch down.
  246. >You get a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
  247. >"Yeah, of course." you say.
  248. >You hope you were still smiling.
  249. >Lotus walks you to the door.
  250. >You wave goodbye as you make your way back to the house.
  251. See what happens when you listen to me?
  252. >Yeah, great, where were you when I needed you earlier today?
  253. I told you, out to lunch.
  254. >Very cute, Weak Organic Blood Pump.
  255. Hey, if today is any indicator; we're going to be seeing each other a lot. Call me by my name.
  256. >No. Heart is a shitty nickname.
  257. >That asshole was beating too fast to get a new name, anyway.
  258. >Brain, what do you think?
  259. I think today was a good day.

BiE 1: Introductions

by Mandroid

BiE 2: Train, pains, and narcissism.

by Mandroid

BiE 3: Exposition and espionage.

by Mandroid

BiE 3.5: More trains, soon to be back pains.

by Mandroid

BiE 4: Home Improvement.

by Mandroid