- >Day Sometimes There's a Man. In Equestria.
- >It'd be different if you had another futon.
- >Or room to have him lay down on the ground.
- >He doesn't look at you. Just the ceiling.
- >Your bodies are a mere two inches from touching.
- >Save for the sheets.
- >"Hey Moose?"
- "Yeah Time Turner?"
- >"Don't make this weird."
- >You stop looking at him and look back up at the ceiling.
- "W-why would this be weird?"
- >"I can think of at least ten reasons as to why this is weird."
- >He laughs a little.
- >"It's one-thirty-one in the morning, buddy."
- "It's p-perfectly normal for t-two adult men to s-share a bed. Without anything...without any funny business."
- >"Yep."
- "So..."
- >"You know she's been in the bushes for the past four hours, right?"
- >You shiver a little.
- >Please let him mean Derpy, please let him mean Derpy.
- >Hell, let him mean Minuette.
- >"She's mashing it, buddy. I told you Fluttershy was the worst."
- "You said T-t-Twilight was the worst!"
- >"Yeah, but Fluttershy is also the worst."
- >You get out of bed and look at your compatriot.
- >He looks haggard and dilapidated.
- >His mane is mangled and he just doesn't look fun anymore.
- "I'm going to go talk to her."
- >"Do it up, buddy."
- "...a-and not to pry but are y-y-you okay?
- >"Just peaches, Moose."
- >You go outside your house, and though it's still winter it's warming up a little.
- >Thank you perks of dating a pegasus.
- >You go to the bushes and sure enough there she is.
- >Fluttershy, the yellow menace.
- >Her eyes are just barely glancing into the bottom part of your window.
- >She shouldn't be able to even see through the curtains!
- "Fluttershy...p-please tell me you're not...'mashing it' out here."
- >She immediately flusters and her wings stiffen.
- >She turns to face you and forces the most awkward smile.
- >Her front hooves clearly positioned over her crotch.
- >"n-n-no...I was..just...uhm.."
- "Fluttershy j-just leave. Please? I was enjoying m-myself."
- >She shakes her head.
- >"No you weren't mister."
- >You run your hands through your hair.
- "Well no. I w-wasn't. Not LIKE THAT...sheesh l-lady. Get y-your mind out of the g-g-gutter."
- >She begins to masturbate again.
- >You swallow hard and try to avert your gaze.
- >"..y-you can watch me m-mister...It's only fair."
- "Fluttershy, please go."
- >"What? So you can go make out with -him-?"
- >You slam your palm into your face.
- >From inside you can hear Time Turner shout.
- >"Like he could -handle- it!"
- >You really need to consider getting him a new job.
- >Or a marefriend.
- >Because this roommate thing is not working out like you thought.
- "I'm not...gay. Neither is Time Turner-"
- >"Then how come he gets to sleep in your bed! OUR bed."
- "First of all, it's not o-our bed. It's -my- bed. And s-secondly because...m-mattresses are really expensive."
- >"Go spoon your lover, Anonymous!"
- >She sounds bitter and furious.
- >It's that same hate in her voice that she had during...
- >Much of your "relationship" with her.
- >It chills you still.
- "...Y'know, fl-Fluttershy. You accused me of r-rape publically...just a few weeks ago."
- >She gives you the stare.
- >You close your eyes and grit through it.
- "Do you r-r-really think it's a good idea to be...uhm... 'mashing it' in the bushes?"
- >She sighs.
- >And all that anger drains away.
- >And she looks at you, and she looks sad.
- >"...how come you don't--"
- "We've been over this before."
- >And frankly it's too late at night for you to want to deal with this crap.
- "P-please leave or I'll get the cops or something."
- >You storm back inside and climb back into your futon.
- >Time Turner looks at you with a grin.
- >"She thought we were -doing- it."
- >He stifles a laugh, but it's not hard to tell he wants to laugh loudly.
- "This is how rumors get started, Time."
- >"Yeah but I don't have to work with Minuette anymore so...not really my problem."
- >You steal some of the sheets with a quick tug and lay on your side.
- >"Oh come on buddy, it's just temporary."
- >He huffs.
- >"Moose, talk to me. I'm just having a bit of a goof."
- >You breath in the scent of your pillow.
- >Derpy was here a few days ago.
- >You can still smell her on it.
- >...no that isn't weird, that's normal.
- >You guys are kind of dating.
- >It'd be weird otherwise.
- >Shut up.
- >"Moose. I'm sorry."
- >You give him a little sheet back.
- >"I've made some real steps with my business, man."
- "I'm sure."
- >"I'm serious. Okay? Look, I know this hasn't worked out like we planned."
- >Take a deep breath.
- >"...but, I'm pretty sure I've got this thing figured out. I just need some start up funds."
- "Well don't look at me."
- >You wave your hand towards the sparsely decorated glory of your two room hovel.
- "I'm k-keeping us afloat."
- >"And I appreciate that. Don't worry about it. I'll find a way."
- >You close your eyes.
- >"Do you want a hug?"
- >You open your eyes and feel hooves on your shoulders.
- >Pulling you towards Time Turner.
- "...See this is why Minuette makes those jokes about us."
- >He nuzzles your head with his neck.
- >"Don't make this weird."
- "Yeah, I'm the one m-making this weird."
- >Get up.
- >Poo in silence.
- >Shower while singing a little Bob Crosby.
- >Shave the limp pathetic stubble that's been growing all week.
- >Get dressed. Clean tie. Blue shirt. Comfy slacks.
- >Time Turner's still laying on the futon.
- >Mumbling about marmalade.
- "Time Turner, it's six in the morning. You getting up?"
- >He waves a hoof at you and grumbles about not being part of the system.
- >You take that for a no.
- >Get some cereal out of the cupboard.
- >Wheat Chunks.
- >No milk.
- >Water and wheat chunks.
- >Sit and eat.
- >Go to work.
- >Arrive on time, not early.
- >Mayor Mare gives you an early morning 'how's the life' grumble.
- >You give her the head nod and the smile of 'could be worse'.
- >The language of the morning people is much the same as the night time people.
- >Just with less drunken hooting.
- >Minuette brought the coffee.
- >You gingerly reach for a cup and upon grabbing the one labelled "808" she gets this...
- >Really diabolical grin.
- "...did you s-spit in this?"
- >She mocks your voice.
- "Did I sp-spaz-out all the--No eight-oh-eight, I didn't spit in it."
- >You open the lid and see a big white blotch of a loogie.
- "Y-you spat in it."
- >"Wasn't me. Maybe you ticked off the coffee clerk."
- >Minuette takes a big whiff of you.
- >And then she gets a shit-eating grin.
- >"Well-well-well, what do we have going on here?"
- >You pour your coffee down the breakroom drain and wave her off.
- "No time, got to work."
- >"But I had a whole thing about you being a loser and a total--"
- "T-take it to some c-comedy club, lady."
- >You leave Minuette bothered in the breakroom and set about to doing your work for the day.
- >You of course finish early.
- >Because this job is too damn simple and overly redundant.
- >And life is pretty good. Much like it has been for a bit.
- >You go out for lunch with Derpy, even though it's not technically her break.
- >Nopony really seems to expect deliveries to be on time with her.
- >She knows this and uses the system to her benefit.
- >"How come you smell like Time Turner, Moose?"
- >You put on your straight face.
- "Well we've been sleeping together."
- >She laughs.
- "...b-but seriously. He's saving all his funds for some business plan he won't show me..."
- >You roll your shoulders.
- "And just factoring in my already meager expenses, we're not...he's not able to buy a mattress."
- >Derpy nods a little, though she's clearly off in her own little world.
- >She's watching some butterflies flutter through the crisp air.
- >It would appear spring is coming sooner rather than later.
- >You feel like you might be talking too much about things she might not want to hear about.
- >So you just sort of watch her while you walk and shut up.
- >When you approach the schoolhouse she looks at you with those misaligned beautiful eyes.
- >"Hey Moose...if you were like that, y'know...you could tell me."
- >Her face scrunches a little.
- >"I mean...me and Dinky would still like ya lots and stuff..."
- >You give Derpy a hug and a big kiss on the side of her head.
- >And you notice a few kids playing in the schoolyard are watching.
- >And they are laughing and going "oooooh".
- >And now you're blushing like a fool.
- >Derpy bumps you with her butt and laughs along with them.
- >You shouldn't have made your joke.
- >You always screw something up.
- >Derpy shouts to some schoolteacher.
- >"MISS CHEERILEE! HI! HEY! HI! IT'S ME!"
- >A magenta mare turns and waves to Derpy and by extension you.
- >Derpy approaches the gate to the yard and you follow close behind, running a hand through her mane.
- >Yes, you're trying to establish that you're there for her on a subconcious level.
- >No, it's not just because you fear losing a good thing.
- >You should stop thinking this way.
- >You guys aren't even official.
- >...crap, maybe you need to make it official with her.
- >Going steady with Derpmeister.
- >...people still say going steady. You're not lame.
- >You've missed the opening lines to the conversation.
- >Because you're a spaz.
- >You begin to notice again when Derpy begins drooling in the snow.
- >And Cheerilee is giving you a curious look.
- >You're scratching behind Derpy's ear.
- >Derpy's eyes are almost rolled up in bliss.
- >She keeps kicking a hoof in the snow.
- >You have a feeling this might not be appropriate for the fillies.
- >You stop scratching her.
- "..s-sorry about that."
- >Derpy looks at you with wide eyes and a stunned smile.
- >"You did not tell me you could do that Moose."
- >She blinks and her eyes align to focus on you in amazement.
- >"You need to do that much much more."
- >Miss Cheerilee looks back at her students and coughs.
- >"So you were saying something about bowling, Ms. Hooves?"
- >Derpy is still looking at your hands in amazement, but she nods.
- >Cheerilee laughs a little.
- >"This isn't going to be like last time is it?"
- >Derpy shakes her head from side to side but stays fixated on your hands.
- >You put your hands behind your back and look away.
- >"But you had fun last time!"
- >Derpy turns her attention back to the teacher when she says that.
- >"You were chatting up that stallion and you did really well!"
- >Cheerilee's voice is so deadpan it could break your heart.
- >"He pulled a brander out, made me mark a zero, and I think his friend was...intoxicated."
- >Derpy nods.
- >"But you had fun!"
- >Cheerilee grunts.
- >"All right. FINE. But you're paying for the first round of drinks."
- >Derpy gets a big grin on her face.
- >And then she looks at you.
- >"MOOSE! Wanna go bowling tonight?"
- "T-totally."
- >Derpy does a hoof pump.
- >"YEAH!"
- >As soon as you depart and are a mere five yards from the school house she drags your hand back to her mane.
- >"Do it again Moose. Please."
- >You scratch her ears all the way back to city hall.
- >Evening. At the Bowling Alley. In Equestria.
- >Time Turner is wearing one of your shirts and a tie.
- >He hasn't washed his in a few days.
- >You've rolled up your sleeves, like a real man.
- >Derpy and Cheerilee show up wearing sunglasses and bowling shirts.
- >Team Name "Moxie Mares".
- "Hey Derpy! Cheerilee! O-over here!"
- >You wave.
- >Time Turner looks at you with a bit of nervousness.
- >You've never seen him like this.
- >"Buddy, you didn't tell me there were going to be mares here."
- "..is th-that a bad thing?"
- >He motions to himself, his face red.
- >And that's when you really see it.
- >He does not look good.
- >He's been out of work.
- >His hair is all frazzled.
- >Your shirt is ill-fitting and the tie is too long.
- >..and it's your lucky piano key tie too!
- >"...I want to go home."
- "Uhm...j-just be y-yourself?"
- >You give him a sympathetic smile.
- >He curses under his breath.
- >"Because you're the one to give me ad--"
- >He takes a breath as Derpy and Cheerilee arrive at your bench.
- >"Sorry buddy. I didn't mean that...I'm just out of it."
- >He clears his voice and slicks back his mane. He looks at the team name and grins.
- >"How we doing you foxy moxie mares?"
- >Derpy laughs. Cheerilee gives him a small smile.
- "I'll...go get us a pitcher."
- >Derpy makes you scratch behind her ear before you walk away.
- >You take your time and watch your friends over your shoulder.
- >Time Turner's trying to turn on the charm.
- >Derpy's being less bubbly than usual.
- >Cheerilee seems to think something is funny.
- >When you arrive with some cider in a pitcher and some plastic cups everything seems like it might turn out okay.
- >Cheerilee helps herself to a glass.
- >"Now this is a league night, so who we going up against?"
- >Derpy gets a little smile on her face.
- >Time Turner mouths 'did you know' to you.
- >You shake your head.
- >And that's when you hear her voice.
- >"Anonymous...s-so y-you like bowling too? What a coincidence...we sh-should t-totally bowl t-together."
- >Fluttershy is wearing sweatbands and fluttering next to three earth ponies.
- >A fish-faced fellow in an orange polo.
- >A beatnik looking one in a hoodie.
- >And a portly bearded one with glasses who is giving Cheerilee the darkest grin.
- >"You going to play by the rules this time, Teacher?"
- >Cheerilee gives the bearded one a glare.
- >"Maybe."
- >"This isn't Chrysalis's-Celestia-damned-Kingdom, Cheerilee. There are rules!"
- >"Heard it before, tubby."
- >The beatnik puts a hoof on the fat one's back.
- >"Cool it Walt-"
- >"Dude, there are rules here. What do you have without rules?"
- >Fish-face speaks up.
- >"I thought this was just a cider-and-pretzels fun league---"
- >"Were you listening to the issue, Donnie?"
- >Fishface shakes his head. "I was polishing my ball."
- >"Then you have no frame of reference."
- >"Yeah but-"
- >"Life does not stop and start at your convenience..."
- >"Yeah but-"
- >"YOU ARE OUTTA YER ELEMENT HERE DONNIE."
- >"I'm just sayin'--"
- >Fluttershy clears her voice and siddles up against this "Walter" chap.
- >"We're g-gonna kick y-your flanks, mister."
- "...o-okay?"
- >Fluttershy smiles brightly.
- >"A-and if w-we win...y-you have to l-l-love me."
- >The three compatriots laugh at Fluttershy, who sinks to the floor.
- >"There are like, rules about this stuff Flutterlady. You can't just go and make your own bets. Bad karma."
- >Fluttershy sighs.
- >"...but if I win...still...uhm..."
- >She hops aboard the mumblebus.
- >You look back at your team.
- "So...we're bowling these guys?"
- >Derpy and Cheerilee nod.
- "Okay. Time Turner, you up for this?"
- >Time nurses a cup of cider.
- >"Yeah sure buddy."
- >You bowl for a bit.
- >The "Royal We" as Fluttershy, Walter, Donnie, and Letrotski's team is called do much better.
- >But you're having fun.
- >Cheerilee is carrying the team.
- >Derpy isn't great, yet she seems to make every 7-10 split she creates.
- >Which is in and of itself amazing.
- >Time Turner does better than both you and Derpy combined.
- >"Hey Moose?"
- >Derpy yawns and does her move.
- >She gets a hoof over your shoulders and looks at you.
- >She's warm.
- >You feel nervous.
- "Hey."
- >She rubs her head against yours.
- >"I was...uhm...wondering Moose, if you want to go...steady."
- >You blush.
- >"Just because we've been dating for a few weeks--and I'm not seeing anyone else and you're--"
- >You look at Time Turner who is staring at Cheerilee's ass.
- "I'm n-not s-seeing anyone else, Derpy."
- >She gives you a rather goofy face and she leans in for a kiss.
- >You're not good at kissing.
- >And you're blushing like a fool.
- >Time to put years of romantic comedies to work.
- >You attempt to make out with Derpy.
- >It's a messy, sloppy, after-taste of banana-nut muffins thing.
- >Your tongues dance. Or rather, yours is thrown around like a little kid dancing with a sailor.
- >You can hear Fluttershy stuttering and whimpering, trying to say something.
- >Time Turner throws a strike.
- >"OVER THE LINE!"
- >You hear Walter scream.
- >Time Turner looks at Walter.
- >"What're you talking about?"
- >"You were over the line, mark it zero."
- >"It's just for fun."
- >"THERE ARE CELESTIA DAMNED RULES HERE! THIS ISN'T CHRYSALIS'S CHANGELING KINGDOM. THIS IS BOWLING!"
- >The mood is shot.
- >Derpy pulls away.
- >Your lips are coated in bubbly drool.
- >She smiles.
- >"That was fun Moose. We should do that more."
- "..y-yes p-please."
- >You finish up your game.
- >You bowled a 105.
- >Which is pretty bad.
- >But you didn't use bumpers or anything.
- >And you've never been good at bowling.
- >Cheerilee got a 242.
- >Time Turner got a 198.
- >Derpy got a 120.
- >The "Royal We" did much better.
- >Fluttershy did the worst.
- >You finish up your cider.
- >Time Turner is good and buzzed.
- >Cheerilee seems to be into him.
- >Derpy pulls you aside for kisses and ear scratches.
- >You feel like a major player.
- >Excuse you. "Playah".
- >You'd strike a pose, but you don't know any.
- >Once everything is finished, your group departs.
- >Dinky is being babysat by a neighbor, Derpy doesn't have a curfew.
- >Tonight...tonight might be the night to do...
- >Tonight you might have sex.
- >All that requires is getting Time Turner out of the place.
- >He and Cheerilee seem to be getting on just great.
- >He even does Derpy's move. Gets a hoof over her shoulder.
- >Whispers some sweet nothings.
- >And it's then you see Fluttershy and her team walking quite close by.
- >And Fluttershy has this grin on her face.
- >There's a large slush puddle a few few ahead.
- >She sees it.
- >She sees that you've seen it.
- >She's going to slush you up and make Derpy think you look gross.
- >When you see Fluttershy dash up ahead, you stop Derpy in your best attempt at that Sailor after WWII kiss.
- >She ends up leading because she's a bit stronger than you.
- Splash.
- >Cheerilee groans loud.
- >Time Turner sighs.
- >When you break from the kiss, you can see Fluttershy flying away into the night.
- >And Time Turner and Cheerilee soaked to the bone.
- >"...Every time."
- >She grumbles.
- >"Every time, the guy ends up being just too splashy."
- >Time Turner looks as though he's just been stabbed.
- >"Yeah...but I didn't...I mean, you saw it was Fluttershy right?"
- >Cheerilee huffs and walks off in her own direction.
- >Time Turner twitches and begins kicking at the ground.
- >Which leads to him splashing himself more.
- >He rips your tie off and kicks it into the mud.
- >He starts breathing heavily.
- >And then he runs off.
- >You look at Derpy, who looks at you and smiles knowingly.
- >Jeff Letrotski, Walter and Donnie are on the other side of the street.
- >"Tough luck man! But it was a good game!"
- >Letrotski looks at the tie in the mud.
- >"That really tied the outfit together."
- >You sigh and kiss Derpy good night.
- >You go home.
- >With your muddy tie.
- >And no chance at taking the romance to a new level.
- >Because of fucking Fluttershy.
- >And Time Turner...spazzing out.
- >He's laying on the floor in the bathroom, wearing your shirt.
- >Crying.
- "...y-you okay b-buddy?"
- >"I. Want. To. Go. Home."
- >He's taking deep breaths.
- >You kneel down and look at him.
- >Not with pity.
- >You're in no place to do that.
- >He just holds his head.
- >"I screwed up man. My own business. Crap. I should've stayed being the timekeeper!"
- >He reeks of cider.
- >"I mean, I'm not gonna get the capital I need. Short of doing something stupid."
- "Hey...man, it's okay."
- >"It is not okay. YOU do not GET IT. I -cannot- go back. I can't work for the Mayor again. I need to do this, but I can't go back."
- >You take a breath.
- "Well I can't go back to where I'm from, except I've got freakin' t-t-tempor...universe science magic crap! So I mean..."
- >Your voice cracks a little.
- "I mean...I can relate man."
- >He just sighs.
- >"Fucking Fluttershy. I could've gotten laid!"
- >He gives you a look.
- >"Do you know how long it's been since I got any stimulation?"
- >You don't know.
- >You don't really want to know.
- >"I coped a feel of the Mayor at a company picnic in the autumn. She was drunk. I was drunk."
- >He laughs a little. But then he starts to get blearly-eyed again.
- >"...why am I bitching about this in your bathroom?"
- "..t-there wasn't a-any room e-elsewhere in the house?"
- >He sighs.
- >"I gotta get outta here man."
- "O-out of P-ponyville?
- >"Outta my crap life. I had dreams once, dude!"
- >He rolls on his back and looks up at the flourescent bulb.
- >"Just...g-go to bed. Sorry if I fucked anything up...I'm going to stay in here."
- "I-in the bathroom?"
- >"I'm not big on letting men see me cry...and I might puke, try to sober up, open a vein, y'know."
- >He forces a smile.
- >"Figure my shit out."
- >You go to bed.
- >Though you are reluctant to do so.
- >Day. It is 4:30 in the goddamn morning.
- >You were dreaming about snuggling with Derpy.
- >And talking to Dinky about The Hobbit.
- >Because every kid should read that book.
- >But now you're awake.
- >Why are you awake before your alarm?
- >Why are you hearing laughing.
- >You climb out of your futon and head over to the window.
- >Curtains are down.
- >Nobody can look in.
- >And outside you can hear Time Turner laughing.
- >"...I mean, yeah. I'm all sorts of awesome..."
- >And then you hear Fluttershy laugh.
- >"O..oh mister...are y-you sure."
- >"Please. Do not stutter. Eugh. That's like...brain cancer."
- >She whimpers.
- >"So, you still have those contacts in the modelling field?"
- >You walk away from your window.
- >Lay down in your futon.
- >And put a pillow over your head.
- >Time Turner is outside chatting it up with Fluttershy.
- >Nothing good can come from this.
- >NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS.
- >You can see already what's happening.
- >She's going to use him to get to you.
- >And he's going to...probably use her for her money.
- >If she still has money.
- >And you're going to suffer.
- >That's the predictable thing to do.
- >That -fits- them so well.
- >...but Time Turner hates Fluttershy and her friends.
- >He clearly has more integrity.
- >...please. Let him have integrity.
- >You take in the scent of your pillow.
- >You can barely smell Derpy anymore.
- >It's going to be a long week.
- >Because of Fucking Fluttershy.

