=BiE 13=

>You stir from your sleep.
>Wait, something's off.
>No Celestia making her sun blind your ass to start off they day? What's the occasion?
>You throw back your curtains and look outside.
>The sky is grey.
>The wind is howling.
>It's also raining.
>Sideways.
>"Oh."
>So that's what's up.
>Wait.
>You still had to walk to work in this.
>"Oh dicks."
No. Don't wanna.
>Fuck you brain, we've been in this fucking room for two days. It's time to get out.
>You ignore your brain and roll off your bed.
>Literally roll off.
>You land on your face.
>"Ow. Fuck." 
>Right, okay. 
>Those painkillers were a bit stronger then you thought.
>You push yourself off the ground and manage to stand.
>You hobble your way over to your door, you get the hang of walking again by the time you make it.
>Hard part's over.

>Step 1: Food.
>Solution: Two rolls of bread and some water.
>Fucks given: None. It was cheap and filling.
>You spy both Rainbow and Anon still asleep on the couch.
>Anon wasn't wearing his shirt.
>You don't want to know.
>You finish eating and make your way to the bathroom.
>You throw your shirt off and start removing the bandages covering your back.
>The scars from the Manticore were noticeable, but Zecora's burning potion thing made them blend well enough.
>You turn on your shower and step in.
>Should you tell Anon about Rainbow? It's been obvious to you since she started showing up to watch movies so often.
>It would be nice to rip this band-aid of awkwardness off fast and just get on with it.
>...No. Anon had to figure this out for himself.
>Anon was the smartest guy you knew, but he could be pretty damned thick at times.
>Even you had to point out how close he was getting to his last girlfriend.
>Uhg. That fucking 200 pound secretary.
>Stupid cunt. Fuck her.
>As you shower, you take a moment to notice that you are covering yourself in water to go outside and get covered in water.
>The irony would be delicious if you weren't going to hate it so much.

>You feel a bit more lucid after your shower.
>More aware.
>That's good, Aloe and Lotus would probably get mad if you came into work stoned.
>A quick peek outside shows you that this rain doesn't seem intent on letting up any time soon.
>You decide to wear some normal clothes while you walk and change when you get to the spa.
>You grab a work outfit from your dresser.
>Matching stark white shirt and pants. Rarity had made them when you started working at the spa.
>You personally thought they were too white when coupled with your pasty skin.
>The only different color on your entire body when you wore them was your hair, you had even started to grow out your beard just to add a little fucking variety.
>But getting these soaked wasn't an option so they went in your bag. You threw on some jeans and a shirt and made for the door.
>Sweatshirt on to block at least some of the rain and bag over your shoulder, you opened the door.
>Yep. Still raining sideways.
>Shit.
>You spot a fluttering grey figure in a yellow poncho by your mailbox.
>"Hey Derpy." you call out over the wind.
>She spots you and gets that big smile of hers.
>"Hey Mous!" she says as she flies up to you.
>It must be hard for her to fly in this weather.
>That was why you were friends with Derpy, she never let stupid shit like a nor'easter stop her.
>"Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor hail, huh Derpy?" you say as you return her smile.
>Her eyes get a bit more skewed, she puts her hoof to her chin.
>"Huh? What's that?" she asks.
>"Heh. Never mind Derpy, just something we say where I come from. You headed my way?"
>You gesture towards town with your thumb and Derpy beams a smile and nods.

>Dude.
>Fuck. This. Rain.
>It was coming down in sheets, the wind making those sheets hit you square in the face.
>You could swear that you were a few steps away from being thrown into Oz.
>Did Equestria have an Oz? Was it weirder then Equestria?
>Your thoughts are interrupted as a fresh burst of rain nails you.
>Even the company of your favorite mailmare can't overcome the hurdle of the blasting wind and rain.
>You had to practically yell to get conversation across.
>From what you could make out; Dinky was doing well in school. Or was going to Hell for the pool, you don't know it was hard to hear.
>Probably the first one though.
>Derpy flew off to finish her rounds as you two entered town, leaving the last few hundred yards a solo endeavor.
>You eventually made it to the spa door and stumbled inside, your cloths were heavy and you were no doubt dripping.
>You flipped back your hood to see Aloe behind the front desk, trying to stifle a laugh, it seems.
>"Welcome back, Rough morning?" she asks.
>"I will never be dry again. I could spend a year in the Appleoosian desert and still be damp."
>"I'll bet. Lotus! Mous just walked in!" she calls back.
>"On my way." you hear your co-boss say.
>Lotus walks in through the door.
>"Mous, welcome back. We're glad tha-"
>She takes a look at your new part man-part water form.
>"Are you sure that you're okay to work? You look like you didn't have a particularly relaxing leave." she says, you think you spot concern in her eyes.
>"I have water in places I didn't know I had, but my wounds are all closed up. Just point me to somewhere I can get changed and dry."
>Lotus gets a small smile. "You can use the steam room, we haven't had many customers today so it's empty."
>Great. The day you bust your ass to come to work is the day nopony shows up.
>"Thanks boss." you say as you make your way back.
>Lotus bumps you as you walk past.
>Ha.
>She hated to be called boss.

>You get to the steam room and grab one of the towels nearby.
>You disrobe and start drying yourself off.
>You'll throw our clothes in the dryer you use for towels, if it's a slow day then Aloe and Lotus won't mind.
>Good thing your boxers didn't get damp.
>It makes sense that business is light today, nopony wanted to be outside in this weather.
>Anon and Rainbow had the right idea, be off work, sleep late, stay indoors and watch movies.
>Perfect recipe for a lazy Saturday.
>Kinda like the day you first showed up here.
>You pull your pants on and grab your shirt, satisfied that you were dry enou-
>You collapse as a liquid magma hot pain runs along your scars.
>"GAH! FUCK!"
>Fucking hell. It felt like the Manticore was dragging it's claws up your back again.
>Slowly. 
>While on fire.

>You get yourself into a seated position and try to relax.
>Too much relaxation, you accidentally lean back on the coal pit in the center of the room.
>"Dammit!" you gasp out as you slam your fist into the coal pit.
>"You must have made a lot of noise because Lotus comes galloping into the room.
>"Mous! What's wrong? Is it your back?" she ask as she bursts in.
>You half double over and put your head in your hand as you grimace.
>"It's nothing..." you say through clenched teeth.
>She wasn't having any of that it seems. "It is not nothing! You're in pain!"
>"Nothing real, just phantom pains. Probably been having them *gak*" 
>Dammit. Not now. 
>"...since I got hurt, painkillers must have made me not notice them."
>"And you're off the painkillers?" Lotus asked.
>"Was taking a few at a time. Can't come to work stoned." you say through gasped breath.
>The pain was starting to fade a bit.
>"Mous...you can't work like this." she says, actual concern in her voice.
>Talking to Lotus was always like a game, you had to distract her to actually get the real her out.
>"I can't sit at home for another day either, I'll go mental."
>You sigh. The pain seemed to have passed, all the was left was a sort of throbbing feeling.
>You could handle that.
>"There. See?" you ask as you rise. "Good as new."
>You throw on your shirt, as proof. It hurts, but nothing major.
>"Mous, you can't work if this is going to happen again. It's not safe." she says as she looks up at you.
>You mull it over.
>Nopony wanted a masseur who was in pain.
>Your boss didn't want you to work if you were in pain.
>But you wanted to work.
>The solution was simple: Don't be in pain.
>"Then it won't happen again." you say as you head for the door.
>"Are you sure?" you hear Lotus call out behind you.
>"Positive." you say.
>"I'll be in my room."
>Okay.
>You could do this.