GREEN
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2087 11.35 KB 229
2087 11.35 KB 229
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>"Hey, love birds. Get up already, it's past noon."
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>You didn't want to wake up
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>Your lion's yawn is proof of that
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>Motel beds aren't the worst thing in the world
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>The beds are comfy enough
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>There's usually internet
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>And, of course, solid electricity
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"Yeah... it's a Sunday though."
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>"And I'm hungry."
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>Sparking Shine is as greedy as ever
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>When you and Jacky got her, she was quick to go to work
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>"Mmm... I'm hungry too Anon."
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>Even Jack isn't above letting you know that you've done poorly lately
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>Money isn't tight, per say
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>But you've been saving up again
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>Or trying to
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>You finally open your eyes
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>Jack is right on top of you
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>Thankfully the bed sheets have hidden any late night activities
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>There are still handheld games
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>Your laptop
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>All of the movies and things you've downloaded
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>...
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>But some things are just preferable to help stave off boredom and to pass time
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"Where's Prism?"
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>"Where do you think? She's still at that food bank."
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>Another yawn
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"Come on, man. Aren't they fine with paying a talking pony in a few cans of shit?"
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>"It takes time. And it takes more time, the more we move around."
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"Alright... what sounds good?"
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>"Wanna do pancakes?"
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>Jack, no matter the situation, is the brightest light for you
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"Pancakes it is."
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>"You know it costs money to eat out, right?"
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>Jack stretches and slithers off of you
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>"Oh come on Sparky. We always get the best free sides and whenever we leave we have enough to eat for at least another full day."
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>"Yeah, and I can at least cook."
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>It's true
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>She can effectively grill, boil, and even bake with her magic
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>It's mind numbing as all from how much it puts a drain on her mood but it is appreciated
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>But it's because of that, that you want to treat her too
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>At least it means that you don't need a full kitchen, just some of the basic utensils
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>You sit up, stretching your arms out
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>You could never hold a job
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>Between the economy, your lack of a true skillset, and the dorks...
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>Well, at least you have your van
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>You sold your car for what you lovingly call your Mystery Machine
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>Granted, it's a solid dark green and not at all decked out like you want it to be
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>But you do have ambition to turn it into a little mobile home
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>Or, at least, you want to furnish it
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>A pair of mattresses and a pair of cheap old World War II footlockers do not furnish a van
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>But it means that you can all travel and sleep easy
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>That said, a motel is still nice
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"I guess you're right... well, make sure you go return the keys when we head out."
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>You were iffy beforehand but Shine has become a pretty reliable right hand
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>She nods, used to handling some of the smaller details of daily life
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>As much as Jack tried, she just couldn't keep up with everything
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>From what you've been told, even as a filly she was more a follower than a leader
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>Given how curt and lonesome Prism is when it comes to "volunteering", you don't doubt it
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>You take your time in the shower
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>Sometimes, you can take a shower daily
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>Not always
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>A local gym membership helps with that, as do trucker stops
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>As soon as you get out of the shower, Jacky hops in
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>You had the passing temptation to interrupt her with something but decided otherwise
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>With a towel around your waist and your fresh clothes in a plastic bag on the nearby nighstand, you sit at the foot of the bed
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>"Anon... what's our next move?"
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"Well... we have around ten grand. The van's pretty fine. Gas tank is around three quarters. There's a possible gig tomorrow that I-"
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>"No, I mean... what are we doing? I thought we were supposed to find a home."
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>You did say that a while back, didn't you?
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>A permanent home
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>A safe home
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>Consistent work
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>But it never came
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>It hasn't come yet, anyway
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>But it can still be
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"I... I don't know. Between having to get new tires, that cold that went through us and the weather... and the motel stays. We're kinda exactly where we were six months ago."
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>"And we aren't any closer."
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"I know."
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>You run your hand through your hair
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>You could use a bit of a haircut, it's been almost a year since you got snipped
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"I guess... I'm still trying to figure it out. But we are getting better, aren't we? We have three of those solar panel chargers now. The cell and 3DS are always charged up."
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>"...and I guess you have bought more stuff for us too."
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>Grooming items, mostly
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>With how often they're outside, you would rather they get taken care of than yourself
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>A squeaky-clean Jack is also one of the best ways to boost morale
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"Yeah. I don't like that we're treading water. But we're doing good enough."
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>That may be true
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>But for how long?
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>After getting dressed and bidding adieu to the temporary home, you all pile back into the van
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>Shine usually rides shotgun since she's far more eagle-eyed
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>Depending on traffic, Jack will usually hop onto your lap
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>It has led to a few photo opportunities through other drivers so that has been pretty fun
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"Where's that place again?"
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>"Right turn past the light."
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>"Dashie said if she can talk her way into it, she'll get us at least twenty cans!
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>Prism really is the unsung hero of the group
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>One of the footlockers is almost purely food storage
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>You aren't off in a really bad way, through any definition
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>You always have bread
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>You usually have a few dozen cans of various things at any given time
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>Not counting bulk supplies of toilet paper, paper towels, plasticware and more
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>For being a homeless man with three mares... you could be doing worse
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>Her score is less than ideal, only ten cans
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>But after you bring up a few things you secure a dozen on your own
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>Mostly vegetables and fruit but your tolerance levels for the evil healthy greens has improved over the years
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>At least there's that
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>To celebrate, pancakes are on the menu
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>Jack still gets...
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>Squirrely... when it comes to waitresses
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>But you just chalk it up to some sort of territorial thing
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>Personally, you haven't had eyes for anyone or anything else in so long that you don't really feel bad when she gets weird
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>You're all weird in one way or another anyway
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>Because of the "all you can eat" aspect, not a single pony is left feeling less than completely full
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>For a little extra, you have four five-stacks that will easily satisfy the next day
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>The rest of the day is spent... doing largely nothing
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>You parked at a park and just bummed around with the dorks
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>Sometimes their antics and light bickering attracts attention
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>Sometimes you can get a crowd and get a little exhibition going of how awesome talking ponies are
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>Sometimes no one is around and you can just nap in the sun
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>Amazing how a picnic blanket and an ice chest can bring legitimacy to loitering
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>You hate how aimless you are
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>You absolutely hate how every day is more or less it's own adventure
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>You used to be so good at planning things out
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>You used to have a nice apartment
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>Higher job prospects
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>Then the noise complaints and a surprise inspection happened
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>Turns out that three talking ponies both count as occupants and pets
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>Either way, things turn a bit of a low turn
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>You never explained all of it to them
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>A personal sin you can't ever escape from
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>But you get the feeling that they know
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>Maybe that's why they don't complain about the life you've led them into
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>It isn't as bad as what they had to deal with
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>But it isn't nearly as good as you wanted it to be
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>By the time the sun goes down, everyone is comfortable
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>What started as idle conversation and scenario contemplation led to random scheme planning
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>It's not like they steal anymore
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>Mostly
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>Prism sticks with more genuine efforts
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>Shine will sometimes lift things
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>Small things, of course
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>Snacks, drinks, idle pleasantries
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>You aren't criminals
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>That's what you like to tell yourself, anyway
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>"Hey Anon, why don't we just... go out and homestead?"
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>"Jacky, do you even know what homesteading is?"
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>"Do you?"
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>While they bicker, Prism is usually the silent one
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>Homesteading...
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>That sounds nice
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>But it requires land
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>Land requires money
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>Far more than you have
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>And it requires a building
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>What good would it be, to just live out of a tent?
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>...
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>But depending on the land, couldn't you do some sort of old-school log cabin thing?
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>You have Shine and her magic
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>That can handle a lot of things
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>But you don't like asking big things of her
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>You know her price
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>Jack knows her price
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>It's unfair to keep asking things of her with no...
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>Personal reward
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"If we did, it would take a lot of work. And it would mean we'd have to start from pretty much nothing."
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>"How is that different from where we are now?"
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>Finally the pegasus speaks up
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"Well... once we buy land. Or rather, before we do. We'll have to see if it has good dirt. Trees. A river or lake or something. Maybe even animals for hunting."
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>"If we get a river, we can take baths in it!"
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"Yeah, and you can live out your days as a fabled Jackfish."
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>It sounds...
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>It's a possibility
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>Isn't it?
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>"Speaking of rivers... Anon, the food bank manager."
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"Yeah?"
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>"She said that her daughter is having a birthday Tuesday."
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"Congrats to the kid."
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>"She said that she'll give us a thousand dollars to show up and put on a show."
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"A show? What do we know about entertaining others?"
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>Prism sighs
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>"Well, you have three talking ponies. One has wings. One has a horn and can do real magic. And Jacky's by and far the most sociable of us."
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>That's true
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>...
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>That's very true
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"...so a thousand, huh..."
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>"And she may have hinted that if things go well, her friends might also have need of our services."
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>You feel silly for even contemplating the idea
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>But even the Ghostbusters attended birthday parties, right?
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"I guess we have to practice some sort of routine."
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>Shine snorts
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>"And what about that "gig" tomorrow?"
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>Her tone is just annoyed enough
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>Just concerned enough
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"That doesn't pay a grand. And we really need to get some sort of game plan down. If that works, we can really get something going."
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>"Plus we get to eat cake."
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"Exactly. See? Jack gets the big picture."
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>You really do wonder if Jack really doesn't care much about what's going on, or if she just finds the right ways to deflect your woes
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>One day you want to ask her
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"Alright. Welp, I'm ready to head back to the van."
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>You sit up, breaking the ever-present tension that comes with job prospects
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"Gonna put on some music and spread out on the beds. Don't stay out too late, alright?"
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>"Yup."
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>Shine doesn't seem bothered by your leave
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>You've caught her a few times staring up at the sky
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>You wonder what she truly thinks about all of this
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>"Good night, Anon."
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>Prism has her own stoicism
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>You bet that even in the best of times she's just as tightly coiled
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>But you know that she has the best intentions at heart
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>"Right behind ya!"
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>Jack rolls from her side to her hooves and trots behind you
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>Of course, no one says anything about the fact that whenever you go, she tends to go with you
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>Shine will sometimes glare at you
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>Whether out of jealousy or disdain for being so carefree, you don't know
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>Prism doesn't bring anything up about it
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>You once overheard her talking to Jacky about it
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>Back when both of you were still a little more... awkward with each other
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>Apparently she at least used to worry that you were using her
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>You don't know if she still worries about that
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>Maybe that birthday party will go well
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>That homesteading option sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen
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>But it sounds better than anything else
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>Better than chasing short term employment
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>Maybe it could lead to a home
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>Your Home
by BlondieAnon
by BlondieAnon
by BlondieAnon
by BlondieAnon
by BlondieAnon