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(808) Four-Oh-Four (FR) (3)

By: Fagdude on Dec 30th, 2012  |  syntax: None  |  size: 19.06 KB  |  hits: 286  |  expires: Never
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  1. >Day Not Like It Used To Be. In Equestria.
  2. >Your home is little more than a futon and tattered clothing.
  3. >You can shower all you want
  4. >But you'll never be clean again.
  5. >She slimed you.
  6. >It's the only way you can describe it
  7. >And now a movie you liked as a kid is tarnished.
  8. >Because of Fluttershy and her...
  9. >Love Juices.
  10. >You just sit in the shower now.
  11. >The water on full blast.
  12. >Pounding your flesh as you hold your head in between your knees.
  13. >You had a friend back in grad school.
  14. >He was a bit of a psycho, but he never would've let this happen.
  15. >At least not to him.
  16. >And you're not him.
  17. >You're not even a man.
  18. >You're a number.
  19. >Eight-zero-eight.
  20. >And she's wrapping her hooves over your shoulders.
  21. >And she's running her tongue across the edge of your face.
  22. >"Mmm..."
  23. >You haven't eaten since a bad Holiday party.
  24. >And you have work in four hours.
  25. >You haven't slept.
  26. >You don't have any other clothing.
  27. >You can't dress for success.
  28. >"Anonymous, kiss me."
  29. >Please don't do that thing she does.
  30. >She bites on your hair and your eyes water up at the stinging pain.
  31. >You look back at her, shivering and shuddering, blearyeyed.
  32. >She opens her mouth.
  33. >You gaze into it.
  34. >"A good -boyfriend- would initiate a kiss."
  35. >You're better than this.
  36. >She kicks you in the spine and you wince.
  37. >No.
  38. >You lean in and open your mouth.
  39. >You're not.
  40.  
  41. >You're not a good kisser.
  42. >You've kissed a girl. Once.
  43. >Ever. And she was a human.
  44. >And she was nice.
  45. >Close your eyes, it'll all be over soon.
  46. >You lean in for the kiss and you feel her hooves force your mouth into hers.
  47. >Her tongue goes down your throat.
  48. >You start to gag.
  49. >You open your eyes.
  50. >She's giving you the stare.
  51. >You feel smaller.
  52. >Weaker.
  53. >Is that...even possible.
  54. >Maybe...maybe she'll just keep it down there long enough.
  55. >And you'll die.
  56. >And wake up back home.
  57. >She slides her tongue back into her own mouth.
  58. >Before exiting the kiss, she bites your lower lip.
  59. >She pulls it a little distance away from your face.
  60. >She's grinning.
  61. >Oh no.
  62. >Please.
  63. >She bites, just a little pinch.
  64. >And pulls away quick.
  65. >You put your hands over your lips.
  66. >A little red spills on to the shower floor.
  67. >"Those lips are for me only, mister. That's my signature."
  68. >Time Turner was right--he's cool and popular, of course he was right.
  69. >This mare is absolutely crazy.
  70.  
  71. >You're wearing the same clothes as the last two days in a row.
  72. >You have the coffee, the doughnuts, the fritters.
  73. >You arrive at the office at 6:30.
  74. >Anything to just...get out of your home.
  75. >You put everything in its proper place. Coffee in the Mayor's office.
  76. >She isn't even here yet.
  77. >Food in the breakroom.
  78. >You sit at your desk and eat your icingless doughnut.
  79. >And look at your word-a-day calendar.
  80. >Vacuous.
  81. >"Hey...Eight-zero-eight, you okay buddy?"
  82. >It's Time Turner.
  83. >You look at the clock on the wall.
  84. >It's 7:15.
  85. >"You...are just kind of...hugging yourself there, man?"
  86. >You look at yourself.
  87. >Your arms are wrapped around you in an embrace of much-needed support.
  88. >"Gotta...lil something on your face too."
  89. >You quickly stop hugging yourself and run your hands over your face.
  90. >You wipe the tears that were falling...and a crumb from your lips.
  91. >Please.
  92. >PLEASE.
  93. >Please let him mean the crumbs.
  94. >"Uh...other eye too."
  95. >At least he's not being a jerk.
  96. >Wipe the other eye.
  97. "I-I-I-i-i...uhm...hi."
  98. >He looks around.
  99. >"Hey. You sick or something?"
  100. >Take a breath.
  101. >Don't spaz out.
  102. "I-I...I...am f-f-f-fine...j-just...uhm.."
  103. >"Those the same clothes as yesterday? You know you've got a huge stain on your...everything."
  104. >"Don't let Mayor Mare see it, she's sort of a freak when it comes to public images."
  105. "...M-m-mister T-t-Turner...how come everybody h-hates me?"
  106.  
  107. >He stifles a laugh.
  108. >It cuts you.
  109. >"I don't think anyone here hates you."
  110. >You look at your desk.
  111. >"Maybe stand-up for yourself once in awhile?"
  112. "B-b-but I'm t-trying..."
  113. >"Well, the crackling voice doesn't help either."
  114. "Oh..."
  115. >You rub the back of your neck.
  116. >"Eight-zero-eight, go tell the Mayor you need a personal day."
  117. "Oh no, I couldn't...I have to have perfect attendance."
  118. >"Eight-zero-eight, no-nopony cares. I mean, this isn't Canterlot or Manehattan."
  119. >"You can take a day off and...do the laundry-"
  120. >He mumbles "...maybe grow a pair--"
  121. >"And just relax. What makes you relax?"
  122. "I...used to think of Dungeon Mastering for some friends."
  123. >He gives you a look.
  124. >"--Whoa, buddy. I mean, I know it's always the quiet ones but I do not need to know about--"
  125. >He looks at you again.
  126. >"Oh. You mean like...not a--"
  127. >He makes a bouncy hoof motion.
  128. >"What's that, like a--Y'know, I don't really even care. Go do that. Just, get the day off, bud."
  129. "...are w-we r-really buddies?"
  130. >He sighs and bites his lip.
  131. >He notices you noticed that.
  132. >You noticed that he noticed that.
  133. >You notice he was looking at your cut lip.
  134. >"...Yeah. Sure. Just uh... why don't we keep that on the down low? So nopony has to know."
  135. >You made a friend today.
  136. >Maybe he'll let you crash on his couch if things get worse.
  137.  
  138. >You gather up your courage.
  139. >It takes you until 9:00 to do that.
  140. >Including two trips to the bathroom for a psych-up speech.
  141. "Y-you're a-awesome. Y-you've got f-friends. You k-know advanced b-budgeting measures and z-zoning law.."
  142. >You subconsciously chew on your lip.
  143. >It hurts a lot.
  144. >You make sure your hair is sort of neat.
  145. >You run a hand over your scalp.
  146. >It hurts from where she pulled it earlier.
  147. >You try to clear your mind of all...bad...thoughts.
  148. >And you barge into the Mayor's Office!
  149. >...No.
  150. >You walk to the door, knock three times.
  151. >"Come in."
  152. >You slowly open the door and peek in.
  153. >"Eight-oh-eight, you got the coffee again. You don't have to do that everyday you know?"
  154. >You do.
  155. >Otherwise nopony will have any reason to talk to you.
  156. "C-c-c-could I t-t-talk to y-y-you?"
  157. >You take several sharp breaths.
  158. >Mayor Mare looks at you like you're a few steps short of a seizure.
  159. "I mean...can I talk to you sir?"
  160. >You step into the room.
  161. >She looks you over.
  162. >She sips her coffee.
  163. >"Eight-oh-eight, why're you dressed like that again?"
  164. >You look down at your shoes and mumble.
  165. >"I couldn't hear that."
  166. "I'm...s-sorry sir..."
  167. >She rolls her eyes.
  168. "I...wan---nee--...uhm..."
  169. >You swallow hard.
  170. "D-do y-you have anything you n-need d-done outside the o-office today?"
  171.  
  172. >"You're not just trying to skip out on work are you? For shame!"
  173. >She laughs.
  174. >You cringe.
  175. >"Anonymous, I was...I was joking."
  176. >She smiles awkwardly.
  177. >You've made a mess of things
  178. >Again.
  179. >"You need some fresh air, is that it?"
  180. >You look around and expect to see Her.
  181. >You're getting a little traumatized.
  182. >Try to keep it together.
  183. "Uhm...y-y--well m-m-may--"
  184. >You just nod.
  185. >Mayor Mare looks at you, a little concerned.
  186. >"I've got Civil Employee Four-Oh-Four showing up to pick up census questionnaires, you can take those to her if you want. Maybe even help her out."
  187. "Oh....y-yes p-please sir."
  188. >Mayor Mare goes over to a file cabinet and pulls out a large black case file.
  189. >She tosses it on her desk.
  190. >"I cannot stress to you the importance of a census, Eight-zero-eight. We need accurate numbers."
  191. >You nod.
  192. >"You're a hard worker and I'm sure you'll do a good job."
  193. >"And"
  194. >"Not"
  195. >"Let me down."
  196. >You take the file.
  197. >It's heavier than it looks.
  198. "W-won't l-let you d-down sir."
  199. >You begin to head out of the office.
  200. >Time Turner gives you a head-nod.
  201. >"Day off?"
  202. "Oh...uhm...h-helping out F-f-four-oh-f-four."
  203. >He shakes his head and laughs.
  204. >"She's pretty fun. Just uh...don't spaz out."
  205. "S-s-s-sp-spa--"
  206. >"Yeah, just don't do that."
  207.  
  208. >You step outside.
  209. >Heaving the heavy file.
  210. >The crisp winter air of day.
  211. >It's less repugnant and vacuous than the crisp winter air of night.
  212. >That word-a-day calendar is paying for itself.
  213. >Set the file down on the steps of the Town Hall.
  214. >You straighten your tie.
  215. >Try to ignore the huge red blotches on a good white shirt.
  216. >You force a smile.
  217. "T-t-today is g-g-gonna be a g-good d-d-day."
  218. >You feel an immediate sense of dread upon saying that.
  219. "Today...is going to be...a g-g-good day."
  220. >You take a breath.
  221. "P-p-please?"
  222. >A large carrier's satchel drops down next to you.
  223. THUD
  224. >You look up and see a grey pony looking at you with buggy yellow eyes.
  225. >She's got a bubbly little smile on her face.
  226. >"Hullo."
  227. >She's directly above you.
  228. "...oh...h-h-h-hi."
  229. >She swirls about and lands on the before you.
  230. >"What'cha doin'?"
  231. "Uhm...w-w-waiting for F-four-oh-f-four."
  232. >She presses her hooves against her face and makes an overjoyed look.
  233. >"Oh. Well that's me! That's great! That's great that you'd wait for me!"
  234. >She smiles again.
  235. >"I like you."
  236. "Oh...t-t-thank you."
  237. >"Who're you?"
  238. "I'm...uhm... Eight-zero-eight."
  239. >She gasps loudly.
  240. >"That's double of four-oh-four!"
  241. >You nod a little.
  242. "...yeah it is."
  243. >"That's so cooooool."
  244. >She laughs a little.
  245. >Then she serious's up.
  246. >Or tries to. Her eyes keep going googly eyed.
  247. >"Why're you waiting for me double-oh-four-oh-four?"
  248. "Uhm...I'm supposed to take the census with you?"
  249. >"Yay! It's so-so-so boring to do by yourself."
  250. >She looks at the file.
  251. >"Didya fill one out for yourself?"
  252.  
  253. "Oh...uhm, no not yet."
  254. >"But it's fun!"
  255. "I'll do one, yeah."
  256. >"Your shirt smells like goof juice."
  257. >Awkward. Moment.
  258. >You let out a laugh.
  259. >It's more awkward than you meant.
  260. "I h-had a spill."
  261. >She doesn't mind.
  262. >"You fill one out for me, I'll fill one out for you; double-plus-four-oh-four."
  263. >She splutters her tongue.
  264. >"Because that's a mwyouthflul to say."
  265. "What?"
  266. >She makes a fart noise and picks up the file in her hooves.
  267. "Oh, the..uhm...forms."
  268. >She sits her butt on the stairs.
  269. >She slicks her mangy yellow hair back with her wings, emulating Mayor Mare's hair as best she can.
  270. >"ACKHCHEM...okay, so...what's your name?"
  271. "Oh...uhm...Anonymous. A-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s."
  272. >She pulls a pencil from her carrier bag, puts it in her mouth, and scribbles it on the page.
  273. >"Are you...or wait...Sorry. Sorry everypony!"
  274. >She clears her throat.
  275. >"Are you now, or have you ever been a Unicorn, Earth Pony, Pegasus Pony or Alicorn?"
  276. "Uhm...none of the above."
  277. >She looks at you and her eyes shift awkward positions and shrink.
  278. >"Whoa...are you magic?"
  279. "Oh, no. I'm...not."
  280. >She checks something.
  281. >"Earth pony it is! It's okay, some of my best friends are Earth Ponies."
  282. >She looks down the list and mumbles and goes "blahblahblahblyblah".
  283. >"Oooh! Are you married?"
  284. "N-no."
  285. >"Do you have any kids?"
  286. "N-no..."
  287. >"Are you...in..a...ta...ta..."
  288. >She shows you the form.
  289. >"What's that say?"
  290. "Taxable union of any sort with which you need to declare within the coming fiscal quarter?"
  291. >"Blegh. That's boring sounding."
  292. "No, I'm...not anyway."
  293. >"Checkarooski dooski, Mr. Anony-mooski."
  294.  
  295. >Your turn.
  296. "Name?"
  297. >"Derpy Hooves. No wait! Ditzy Doo...wait...uhm..."
  298. "Oh. I have room for both t-t-they sound..."
  299. >She's giving you a big smile.
  300. >Don't say...insulting...
  301. "B-b-b-bubbly."
  302. >She laughs and slaps her flank.
  303. >She then shakes it in your face.
  304. >Bubbles for a cutie mark.
  305. >Well, that's sort of funny.
  306. "Pegasus pony?"
  307. >She nods enthusiastically.
  308. "Married?"
  309. >She shakes her head in circles enthusiastically.
  310. "Is that...a yes...or a...no?"
  311. >She laughs.
  312. "All right...a-any kids?"
  313. >"I like Dinky."
  314. "Is...t-t-t-that a daughter or...son?"
  315. >"Oh, no. She's a lil'filly girl."
  316. >You just check off daughter.
  317. >You set the file back down on the steps.
  318. "Well, Derpy; where should we go first?"
  319. >She makes another sputtering fart noise with her tongue.
  320. >"Oh, the Mayor Lady never reads those anyway."
  321. >She loads the big file up in her carrier bag and flaps back up into the air.
  322. >Awkwardly.
  323. >But it's an endearing character trait you can appreciated.
  324.  
  325. >Ponies in town don't seem to appreciate being bothered.
  326. >It doesn't help that you look so disheveled.
  327. >Well, maybe just a mess.
  328. >You probably need to be able to grow facial hair to look disheveled.
  329. >And Derpy making jokes and talking about her life-
  330. >--while entertaining and funny--
  331. >Does sorta get in the way of proper census taking.
  332. >"How come you look so sad, Anonymoose?"
  333. >And here you thought you were keeping it together.
  334. "The Mayor t-t-t-told me to not disappoint her...with them..uhm.."
  335. >You trail off in mumbling.
  336. >You try to straighten out your shirt and tie.
  337. >They're stained and worn.
  338. >You sigh.
  339. >"I'm being super dooper serious when I say she doesn't read'em, double-plus-Anonymous."
  340. >You try to think of something to say.
  341. >You close your eyes.
  342. >And take a breath.
  343. "J'ai une âme solitaire...if I conjugated that right."
  344. >Derpy swoons.
  345. >"You speak FANCY! I thought only big city people spoke FANCY! Wait--"
  346. >She tilts her head a little bit too much to the side.
  347. >"...are you from Canterlot? Yeah! That's why you're magic-looking!"
  348. "Uhm...w-w-well, it's something like that..."
  349. >You attempt to take census until the mid-afternoon.
  350. >All the while the topic of conversation being you.
  351. >And while it makes you happy to see somebody take interest in you.
  352. >You're still worried about how poor a job you're doing.
  353. >And you're a little worried that you're starting not to care.
  354. >You're being allowed to focus on yourself.
  355. >That's g--no that's selfish.
  356. >You're going to get yelled at by the Mayor for doing a poor job.
  357. >"Do you want to get some muffins?"
  358. >She says that in the middle of speaking to the couple who owns Sugarcube Corner.
  359. "...How about we finish this up first?"
  360.  
  361. >You finish up taking as much census as Derpy deems necessary by 3:00 PM.
  362. >She has a nice enough house.
  363. >It's lived-in.
  364. >It's a home.
  365. >Maybe, at least recently, you just have a house.
  366. >"Hope you like muffins, Moose."
  367. >Well, you're now an animal.
  368. >Rather than a number.
  369. >That's a step up, but you're still not a man.
  370. >She opens a cabinet and it's literally filled to the brim.
  371. >With muffins of various shapes and colors.
  372. >Individually wrapped with little freshness tags in them.
  373. >You enjoy your lunch.
  374. "H-hey...t-thanks."
  375. >"Schnoprahblrum."
  376. >She talks with her mouth full.
  377. "I think I might go back around...r-redo the census."
  378. >She swallows a load of bran muffin and blueberries.
  379. >"Why?"
  380. "..b-b-because Mayor Mare might get upset."
  381. >"Why?"
  382. "..because I'm b-b-bad at my job."
  383. >"Why?"
  384. "I'm...just..."
  385. >Just enjoy the muffin.
  386. "Y-y-y-you ever...uhm..."
  387. >You take in the scent of the muffin.
  388. "...b-b-been in a b-bad relationship?"
  389. >You bite into the muffin.
  390. >Stop talking.
  391. >"I dunno, Double-plus-Moose."
  392. "...she scares me...and I d-don't even know her."
  393. >You take a breath.
  394. >Let the anger out.
  395. "She just...I...I..uhm..."
  396. >Stop it now when someone is willing to listen.
  397. "..m-maybe I just...don't know her well enough."
  398. >Derpy slumps back in her seat and pops another muffin in her mouth.
  399. >She just swallows it.
  400. >"Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Communication is important, Moose."
  401. >It really is.
  402. >But you're just too scared to speak.
  403. >And that's on you.
  404.  
  405. >You make the rounds back around town.
  406. >Nopony is happy to see you again.
  407. >J'ai une âme solitaire.
  408. >But you're able to fill in most of the information by just looking at them.
  409. >No need to ask them what they are.
  410. >Visual indicators are sort of...obvious.
  411. >It gets dark out early.
  412. >You finish up another third of the file with corrected forms and new ones.
  413. >You return to Town Hall.
  414. >Nobody is around.
  415. >Set the big file on your desk.
  416. >Peel off the word-a-day calendar and sneak a peek at what tomorrow might bring.
  417. >"Ugsome - Dreadful, loathsome."
  418. >The good news is your word-a-day-calendar may be magical.
  419. >Or topical and appropriate.
  420. >The clock on the wall says it's only 5:35 PM.
  421. >You can cut out early--which is still later than everyone else--without too much guilt.
  422. >Maybe you'll go home and have a good night.
  423. >And maybe if you comb your hair the sun won't come up.
  424. >Maybes aren't useful.
  425. >You do some extra work and leave at 6:00.
  426. >You stop by Carousel Boutique.
  427. >You need new clothes, and while it's a little late..
  428. >Well, it's well past working hours.
  429. >Maybe if you apologize she'll try something in the morning.
  430. >You knock on the door.
  431. >It magic's open.
  432. >It's the purple unicorn.
  433. >She's talking to the tailor...seamstress?
  434. >You don't know the term.
  435. >Her voice is like ice cream on a hot summer day.
  436. >You can't pay attention to the words.
  437. >Sort of like how she's not paying attention to where she's going.
  438.  
  439. >Oof.
  440. >Ouch.
  441. "..ow."
  442. >You got hit with some books as well it seems.
  443. >And you're on your back in the snow by the doorstep.
  444. >She's on your chest.
  445. >She gasps and looks down at you.
  446. >You wheeze and try to smile up at her.
  447. >You hope it doesn't come out too creepy.
  448. >Or awkward.
  449. "...h-h-hi there...f-fancy b-bumping into y-you."
  450. >WHAT
  451. >WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?
  452. >Wait. No.
  453. >Maybe she'll think it was cool.
  454. >Suave.
  455. >"Oh my gosh, I'm so-so-so-so Sorry!"
  456. >She pops out of existence and reappears back in the doorway.
  457. >You begin to get up.
  458. >You start gathering up the books she dropped.
  459. >She lifts you off the ground,
  460. >Magic.
  461. >It feels tingly.
  462. >"I'm so sorry, I was just not paying attention and uhm...are you all right?"
  463. >Play it cool.
  464. "I'm...f-..I mean, yeah. Just a fall."
  465. >You brush off your butt.
  466. "These things happen."
  467. >"Uhm...sorry, I'm kind of in a hurry."
  468. >She levitates her books away from you and smiles.
  469. >"Sorry!"
  470. >She leaves.
  471. >The White Unicorn sticks her head out of the doorframe and grins at you.
  472. >"She's a busy body."
  473. "I'll say."
  474. >You cup a hand over your mouth.
  475. "I meant that...in..t-t-t-the uhm....I need new clothing."
  476. >She's got a big grin on her face.
  477. >"Of course Darling, I still have an order you never picked up."
  478. >Oh yeah.
  479. >Scatterbrain.
  480. >No wait.
  481. >Positive thoughts.
  482. >You saw Twilight...
  483. >And Turner and 404 are your friends.
  484. >See, not creepy torch-holding, positive thoughts.
  485.  
  486. >You go home with a few hangers of clothing over your shoulder.
  487. >Maybe things are looking up for you.
  488. >You unlock the door.
  489. >You jiggle the handle.
  490. >Stupid cold weather.
  491. >Must've frozen the lock.
  492. >You try it again.
  493. >Nope.
  494. >The creeping dread of your reality comes back.
  495. >You knock on the door.
  496. "F-f-flut...Fluttershy?"
  497. >The door opens.
  498. >She's there.
  499. >She looks at your face.
  500. >You had a smile.
  501. >Hers grows in malice
  502. >As yours shrinks in contemplation of future abuse.
  503. >"Anonymous, you're late. AGAIN."
  504. >She looks at what you're carrying.
  505. "Please...Fluttershy t-t-t-those are f-for w-w-work..."
  506. >"Why are you talking?"
  507. >She sneers at you.
  508. >You feel cold all over.
  509. >She bites your tie and pulls you down to eye-level.
  510. >"You're a disappointment, Anonymous."
  511. >Grow a pair.
  512. >You can feel the shivering in your spine.
  513. >GROW A PAIR.
  514. "..w-w-why's t-that?"
  515. >She releases your tie and smirks.
  516. >"You didn't apologize. And you didn't kiss me at the door!"
  517. >This psychotic charade is wearing thin.
  518. >Now is the time to strike!
  519. >She turns her ass at you and lifts her tail.
  520. >"N-now kiss these lips, mister."
  521. >Something in your back tightens.
  522. >Egads, a spine?
  523. >You walk away.
  524. >She pounces on you from behind.
  525. >Your clothing falls into a snow bank.
  526. >She slams your face into the cobblestone and black ice.
  527. >"You're GOING TO LOVE ME, Anonymous. YOU JUST HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME!"
  528. >Your head hurts.
  529. >You're getting dizzy.
  530. >Maybe if you weren't so weak.
  531. >Pathetic.
  532. >Worthless.
  533. >...man.
  534. >Fluttershy's a jerk.