/jacky/ IF Scenario L: Loser's Club


                                            >"Hey, love birds. Get up already, it's past noon."

                                            >You didn't want to wake up

                                            >Your lion's yawn is proof of that

                                            >Motel beds aren't the worst thing in the world

                                            >The beds are comfy enough

                                            >There's usually internet

                                            >And, of course, solid electricity

                                            "Yeah... it's a Sunday though."

                                            >"And I'm hungry."

                                            >Sparking Shine is as greedy as ever

                                            >When you and Jacky got her, she was quick to go to work

                                            >"Mmm... I'm hungry too Anon."

                                            >Even Jack isn't above letting you know that you've done poorly lately

                                            >Money isn't tight, per say

                                            >But you've been saving up again

                                            >Or trying to

                                            >You finally open your eyes

                                            >Jack is right on top of you

                                            >Thankfully the bed sheets have hidden any late night activities

                                            >There are still handheld games

                                            >Your laptop

                                            >All of the movies and things you've downloaded

                                            >...

                                            >But some things are just preferable to help stave off boredom and to pass time

                                            "Where's Prism?"

                                            >"Where do you think? She's still at that food bank."

                                            >Another yawn

                                            "Come on, man. Aren't they fine with paying a talking pony in a few cans of shit?"

                                            >"It takes time. And it takes more time, the more we move around."

                                            "Alright... what sounds good?"

                                            >"Wanna do pancakes?"

                                            >Jack, no matter the situation, is the brightest light for you

                                            "Pancakes it is."

                                            >"You know it costs money to eat out, right?"

                                            >Jack stretches and slithers off of you

                                            >"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."

                                            >"Yeah, and I can at least cook."

                                            >It's true

                                            >She can effectively grill, boil, and even bake with her magic

                                            >It's mind numbing as all from how much it puts a drain on her mood but it is appreciated

                                            >But it's because of that, that you want to treat her too

                                            >At least it means that you don't need a full kitchen, just some of the basic utensils

                                            >You sit up, stretching your arms out

                                            >You could never hold a job

                                            >Between the economy, your lack of a true skillset, and the dorks...

                                            >Well, at least you have your van

                                            >You sold your car for what you lovingly call your Mystery Machine

                                            >Granted, it's a solid dark green and not at all decked out like you want it to be

                                            >But you do have ambition to turn it into a little mobile home

                                            >Or, at least, you want to furnish it

                                            >A pair of mattresses and a pair of cheap old World War II footlockers do not furnish a van

                                            >But it means that you can all travel and sleep easy

                                            >That said, a motel is still nice

                                            "I guess you're right... well, make sure you go return the keys when we head out."

                                            >You were iffy beforehand but Shine has become a pretty reliable right hand

                                            >She nods, used to handling some of the smaller details of daily life

                                            >As much as Jack tried, she just couldn't keep up with everything

                                            >From what you've been told, even as a filly she was more a follower than a leader

                                            >Given how curt and lonesome Prism is when it comes to "volunteering", you don't doubt it

                                            >You take your time in the shower

                                            >Sometimes, you can take a shower daily

                                            >Not always

                                            >A local gym membership helps with that, as do trucker stops

                                            >As soon as you get out of the shower, Jacky hops in

                                            >You had the passing temptation to interrupt her with something but decided otherwise

                                            >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

                                            >"Anon... what's our next move?"

                                            "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-"

                                            >"No, I mean... what are we doing? I thought we were supposed to find a home."

                                            >You did say that a while back, didn't you?

                                            >A permanent home

                                            >A safe home

                                            >Consistent work

                                            >But it never came

                                            >It hasn't come yet, anyway

                                            >But it can still be

                                            "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."

                                            >"And we aren't any closer."

                                            "I know."

                                            >You run your hand through your hair

                                            >You could use a bit of a haircut, it's been almost a year since you got snipped


                                            "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."

                                            >"...and I guess you have bought more stuff for us too."

                                            >Grooming items, mostly

                                            >With how often they're outside, you would rather they get taken care of than yourself

                                            >A squeaky-clean Jack is also one of the best ways to boost morale

                                            "Yeah. I don't like that we're treading water. But we're doing good enough."

                                            >That may be true

                                            >But for how long?

                                            >After getting dressed and bidding adieu to the temporary home, you all pile back into the van

                                            >Shine usually rides shotgun since she's far more eagle-eyed

                                            >Depending on traffic, Jack will usually hop onto your lap

                                            >It has led to a few photo opportunities through other drivers so that has been pretty fun

                                            "Where's that place again?"

                                            >"Right turn past the light."

                                            >"Dashie said if she can talk her way into it, she'll get us at least twenty cans!

                                            >Prism really is the unsung hero of the group

                                            >One of the footlockers is almost purely food storage

                                            >You aren't off in a really bad way, through any definition

                                            >You always have bread

                                            >You usually have a few dozen cans of various things at any given time

                                            >Not counting bulk supplies of toilet paper, paper towels, plasticware and more

                                            >For being a homeless man with three mares... you could be doing worse

                                            >Her score is less than ideal, only ten cans

                                            >But after you bring up a few things you secure a dozen on your own

                                            >Mostly vegetables and fruit but your tolerance levels for the evil healthy greens has improved over the years

                                            >At least there's that

                                            >To celebrate, pancakes are on the menu

                                            >Jack still gets...

                                            >Squirrely... when it comes to waitresses

                                            >But you just chalk it up to some sort of territorial thing

                                            >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

                                            >You're all weird in one way or another anyway

                                            >Because of the "all you can eat" aspect, not a single pony is left feeling less than completely full

                                            >For a little extra, you have four five-stacks that will easily satisfy the next day

                                            >The rest of the day is spent... doing largely nothing

                                            >You parked at a park and just bummed around with the dorks

                                            >Sometimes their antics and light bickering attracts attention

                                            >Sometimes you can get a crowd and get a little exhibition going of how awesome talking ponies are

                                            >Sometimes no one is around and you can just nap in the sun

                                            >Amazing how a picnic blanket and an ice chest can bring legitimacy to loitering

                                            >You hate how aimless you are

                                            >You absolutely hate how every day is more or less it's own adventure

                                            >You used to be so good at planning things out

                                            >You used to have a nice apartment

                                            >Higher job prospects

                                            >Then the noise complaints and a surprise inspection happened

                                            >Turns out that three talking ponies both count as occupants and pets

                                            >Either way, things turn a bit of a low turn

                                            >You never explained all of it to them

                                            >A personal sin you can't ever escape from

                                            >But you get the feeling that they know

                                            >Maybe that's why they don't complain about the life you've led them into

                                            >It isn't as bad as what they had to deal with

                                            >But it isn't nearly as good as you wanted it to be


                                            >By the time the sun goes down, everyone is comfortable

                                            >What started as idle conversation and scenario contemplation led to random scheme planning

                                            >It's not like they steal anymore

                                            >Mostly

                                            >Prism sticks with more genuine efforts

                                            >Shine will sometimes lift things

                                            >Small things, of course

                                            >Snacks, drinks, idle pleasantries

                                            >You aren't criminals

                                            >That's what you like to tell yourself, anyway

                                            >"Hey Anon, why don't we just... go out and homestead?"

                                            >"Jacky, do you even know what homesteading is?"

                                            >"Do you?"

                                            >While they bicker, Prism is usually the silent one

                                            >Homesteading...

                                            >That sounds nice

                                            >But it requires land

                                            >Land requires money

                                            >Far more than you have

                                            >And it requires a building

                                            >What good would it be, to just live out of a tent?

                                            >...

                                            >But depending on the land, couldn't you do some sort of old-school log cabin thing?

                                            >You have Shine and her magic

                                            >That can handle a lot of things

                                            >But you don't like asking big things of her

                                            >You know her price

                                            >Jack knows her price

                                            >It's unfair to keep asking things of her with no...

                                            >Personal reward

                                            "If we did, it would take a lot of work. And it would mean we'd have to start from pretty much nothing."

                                            >"How is that different from where we are now?"

                                            >Finally the pegasus speaks up

                                            "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."

                                            >"If we get a river, we can take baths in it!"

                                            "Yeah, and you can live out your days as a fabled Jackfish."

                                            >It sounds...

                                            >It's a possibility

                                            >Isn't it?

                                            >"Speaking of rivers... Anon, the food bank manager."

                                            "Yeah?"

                                            >"She said that her daughter is having a birthday Tuesday."

                                            "Congrats to the kid."

                                            >"She said that she'll give us a thousand dollars to show up and put on a show."

                                            "A show? What do we know about entertaining others?"

                                            >Prism sighs

                                            >"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."

                                            >That's true

                                            >...

                                            >That's very true

                                            "...so a thousand, huh..."

                                            >"And she may have hinted that if things go well, her friends might also have need of our services."

                                            >You feel silly for even contemplating the idea

                                            >But even the Ghostbusters attended birthday parties, right?

                                            "I guess we have to practice some sort of routine."

                                            >Shine snorts

                                            >"And what about that "gig" tomorrow?"

                                            >Her tone is just annoyed enough

                                            >Just concerned enough

                                            "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."

                                            >"Plus we get to eat cake."

                                            "Exactly. See? Jack gets the big picture."

                                            >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

                                            >One day you want to ask her

                                            "Alright. Welp, I'm ready to head back to the van."

                                            >You sit up, breaking the ever-present tension that comes with job prospects

                                            "Gonna put on some music and spread out on the beds. Don't stay out too late, alright?"

                                            >"Yup."

                                            >Shine doesn't seem bothered by your leave

                                            >You've caught her a few times staring up at the sky

                                            >You wonder what she truly thinks about all of this

                                            >"Good night, Anon."

                                            >Prism has her own stoicism

                                            >You bet that even in the best of times she's just as tightly coiled

                                            >But you know that she has the best intentions at heart

                                            >"Right behind ya!"

                                            >Jack rolls from her side to her hooves and trots behind you

                                            >Of course, no one says anything about the fact that whenever you go, she tends to go with you

                                            >Shine will sometimes glare at you

                                            >Whether out of jealousy or disdain for being so carefree, you don't know

                                            >Prism doesn't bring anything up about it

                                            >You once overheard her talking to Jacky about it

                                            >Back when both of you were still a little more... awkward with each other

                                            >Apparently she at least used to worry that you were using her

                                            >You don't know if she still worries about that

                                            >Maybe that birthday party will go well


                                            >That homesteading option sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen

                                            >But it sounds better than anything else

                                            >Better than chasing short term employment

                                            >Maybe it could lead to a home

                                            >Your Home