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1.
>Pipp comes into the room sobbing, stumbling over coils of wire and lumps of half-forgotten machinery in varying states of repair as she does.
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2.
>"I screwed up! I've really, totally screwed up!"
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3.
>You glance up from your work and watch her close in, only managing a confused grunt in the face of her tear-streaked mascara.
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4.
>"Look! Look on Clopper! They're cancelling me!"
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5.
>Pipp thrusts her phone into your grime-streaked face. You go cross-eyed trying to focus on the rapidly scrolling feed, saturated in angry emojis and all-caps broken sentences.
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6.
"Uh, is that bad? I'm... trying to fix this, it's related to the power outages, not sure if you noticed," you tap the generator with your screwdriver.
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7.
>"What? Did you not hear me? I'm being *cancelled*!"
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8.
"I have no idea what that is. Weren't you promoting a thing last week? Did it not work out?"
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9.
>She snorts contemptuously.
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10.
>"That was last week, Zipp, that was ages ago."
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11.
"Uhh--"
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12.
>"I launched my new perfume line, 'pIpp'—that’s with an upper-case ‘I’—but some FILLY found out that we've been sourcing ethanol from chemicals instead of corn! The entire internet is blowing up, and I literally cannot right now!"
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13.
"Cannot...?"
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14.
>"Exactly! I can't!"
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15.
"Wha...? Are you looking for advice on ethanol production, or something?"
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16.
>You rub your fuzzy ear, your eyes wandering off to one side.
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17.
"I suppose corn would be better for the environment, but Zephyr Heights is better fitted for petrochemicals. I'd have to speak to the engineers about--"
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18.
>"Zipp!"
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19.
>You flinch, your little sister's face an inch from yours.
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20.
>"You. Don't. GET IT!”
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21.
"I... don't?"
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22.
>"Right now, everyone in Zephyr Heights knows that my newest perfume isn't green, and they are totally freaking out."
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23.
"I thought it was kind of a reddish-pink? This is the one that smells like burnt toast, right?"
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24.
>Pipp stares at you. She sticks a frustrated hoof in her mouth, bites down just about as hard as she can, and lets out a scream.
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25.
>"You're so… slow! How are you our chief engineer!?"
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26.
"Look, Pipp, I never really got this social media thing, what exactly is the problem?"
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27.
>"This! This is the problem!"
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28.
>Once more her phone is thrust at you. Once more you stare in bewilderment at comments like:
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29.
>'Pipp confirmed for exploitation #PippPetalsIsOverParty’
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30.
>'Never buying anything from her again. I’m literally shaking right now.’
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31.
>'Helo beautiful Pipp please send nude bitch lasagna’
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32.
"Uh, have you tried blocking them? Is that still a thing?"
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33.
>"Block them?! That would send completely the wrong impression. Influencers are supposed to *engage* with the userbase, like it bolsters mental market-share and indirectly promotes the brand if my posts are seen by as many ponies as possible, and if I respond to as many ponies as possible—even the bad ones."
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34.
>You cock your head, brow furrowed.
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35.
"So it's... good that they're mad, then?"
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36.
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37.
>Pipp's snout wrinkles.
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38.
"I mean, if they're all angry about something you're doing, doesn't that mean you've got a ton of ponies at least talking about you and your product? So isn't this all a win for you since you're the center of attention?"
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39.
>Pipp stares, and stares some more.
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40.
>A smile slowly blossoms on her face.
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41.
>Suddenly, she gives a shout and flings her hooves around your neck.
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42.
>"You're a genius! Ohmygosh, Zipp you're the most amazing sister ever!"
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43.
"I-I'm so confused, I'm sorry--"
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44.
>"I've gotta go, I need to capitalize on this right now! Ohh, Maudaline will be so psyched about this!"
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45.
"Who is... Maudaline...?"
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46.
>"My brand and marketing manager-- gotta go! Love you forever, sis!"
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47.
>A peck on the cheek, another squeeze-hug, and in a pink and purple blur, she's gone.
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48.
>You stare at the spot she just was, then turn back to the generator in disquiet.
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49.
>You scratch behind your ear with your screwdriver, then shrug and shake your head, returning to your work with a grumble.
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50.
"Zoomers..."
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