Pastebin launched a little side project called HostCabi.net, check it out ;-)Don't like ads? PRO users don't see any ads ;-)

Untitled0 sec ago
Untitled1 sec ago
Untitled1 sec ago
Untitled1 sec ago
UntitledJavaScript | 21 sec ago
Untitled25 sec ago
Untitled56 sec ago
UntitledC | 28 sec ago

Table for Two 10: Intermezzo

By: Fillydelphian on Jul 5th, 2012 | syntax: None | size: 41.09 KB | hits: 330 | expires: Never

download | raw | embed | report abuse | print

Text below is selected. Please press Ctrl+C to copy to your clipboard. (⌘+C on Mac)

>The alarm clock starts ringing at 8:00
>For fifteen minutes it wails and shakes before falling off the nightstand, the impact with the floor shutting it off
>You're not there to see it
>Sleep was fleeting last night
>You got home at 11:30 having blown up at work and blown off Pinkie Pie as you left
>Getting to sleep was almost impossible. You drifted off for a little while after lying in bed staring at the ceiling, but it didn't last
>By 5:00, you gave up on trying to sleep
>You sat in the kitchen for an hour before deciding to go for an early-morning walk to clear your head
>Thick gray clouds cover the sun and a cool morning fog still hangs in the air
>You walk through Ponyville's streets, trying to get a handle on your situation
>The stress got the better of you last night
>It shouldn't have been an issue
>Doubt creeps back into your mind as you think about your relationship with Em
>You should be able to separate work and your social life
>Fleur's words leap out at you
>”Sometimes these things happen faster then we'd like”
>You stop in the middle of the road and look towards Em's house
>With a sigh you kick a rock down the road, frustrated with yourself for your outburst the last time you saw the tan mare
>That look of pain as she yelled at you to leave is burned into your mind
>A knot in your stomach forms and tightens, reminding you that it's your fault she was like that
>Plus there's Rarity to deal with...
>You ball your fist and turn back to Em's house
Dammit, Fleur, why are you always right about me?
>The town clock strikes 7:30
1/x
>As you walk down the road, you hear the sound of a door creaking open and timid hoof falls
>You turn to find the source of the noise and see a tall, slender unicorn descending the steps down from Sugar Cube Corner
>Your train of thought derails catastrophically, sending thousands of tons of contemplation-cargo flying across the landscape
>By now the morning fog has begun to burn off, revealing the sheepish smile on Fleur's face as she glances back at the upstairs window before setting off to the inn
>She doesn't notice you standing agape in the middle of the road, watching as she walks away from the bakery
>Well now, that's certainly...new...?
>You walk towards the bakery, half-focused on wondering what Fleur was doing there
>Your questions are answered somewhat when you spot a very ruffled-looking Pinkie Pie stick her head out the window
>Forgetting yourself, you walk to within earshot, a grin forming on your face despite your previous mood
Morning, Pinkie. Sleep well?
>Her eyes go wide when she hears you, her pupils constricting to pinpoints
>”A-Anon! I, er, we, last night- uh...”
>She stammers, flustered. You decide now's as good a time as ever to apologize for last night
>This little episode has put you, however temporarily, in good spirits
It's okay, Pinkie. You don't have to explain anything
>You wink and tap your nose knowingly
>She turns bright red
>”No, no, i-it's not like that, Anon! We just talked last night! Talked and ate cookies! ...And maybe she hugged me and maybe I liked it...”
>Your grin grows wider
Alright, alright, I believe you. I let you get back to basking in the “after-hug” then
>You turn to go
Oh, and Pinkie?
2/x
>”...Yeah?”
Sorry about last night. I was out of line
>”It's alright, Anon. I know you didn't mean it. And besides, I ran into Fleur because of it-”
>She realizes how excited she sounds and puts her hoof to her mouth, blushing hard again
>You laugh and walk back towards Em's house, calling back to the pink pony
I'll see you later, Pinkie
>The fog has lifted, but the sky is still overcast
>Your mood, elevated by the exchange with Pinkie Pie, drives you even more to go and set everything right
>If you could apologize to Pinkie, you can apologize to Em
>Just a question of if she'll accept your apology...
>The wind starts to pick up as you reach Em's house
>You stop at her door and look up at the bedroom window
>It's still sort of early; you hope she's up
>The left-over good cheer from talking to Pinkie Pie quickly deteriorates when your knocks on Em's door are met with a resounding silence
>Is she still asleep?
>You look through the window
>There aren't any lights on downstairs
>Then again, it's morning. Why would there be?
>You knock again, louder this time
>...
>Nervousness starts to set in when there comes no response
>A third time you knock, your strikes on the door echoing through the house
>...
>You think you hear a noise upstairs and quickly put an ear to the door
>After hearing nothing more, you pace for a few minutes before looking up at the window again
>You can't help but imagine Em sitting in bed, ignoring your knocks
>It's paranoid, you know, but it kills you to picture it
>...And part of you wouldn't blame her
>You turn and walk, dejected, back home
>Maybe some breakfast will lift your spirits
3/x
>At 8:30 you finally get home, having slowed your walking pace to a crawl, not really wanting to go there
>After staring into your refrigerator for a minute, you finally pull out some eggs and vegetables to make an omelette
>You put a pan on the burner and turn on the heat after dropping some oil in
>Turning to the counter, you start chopping onions and peppers finely
>As you run the knife along the board, cutting the vegetables into small pieces, your mind wanders to your fight with Em
>The look on her face when she told you to leave, the way her voice shook...
>The tears streaking her-
FUCK!
>Your hand flies up, blood dripping from where you ran the blade over it
>The burner knob makes a loud click as you angrily turn it off and quickly walk to the bathroom to bandage the finger
>After tightly wrapping the cut, you walk back to the kitchen and scrape the chopped vegetables into the trash, tossing the cutting board into the sink when you're done
>You sit in the living room and read in order to take your mind off of the morning's events
>The clock strikes 10:00 and you look up, groaning, as you remember you still have work at 5:00...
>And nothing to do until then...
>You can't just walk into Em's office to talk to her, that would destroy any semblance of secrecy still left in your relationship
>Plus, you don't want to cause a potential scene at work for her
>You think for a minute before coming up with an idea
>If you can't find Em, or she's ignoring you, or avoiding you, then you'll just go through Rose
>You go to the study and grab a quill and paper
4/x
>...Though Rose is so close to Em that anything you tell her will go straight to the tan mare...
>You consider not going to her as that thought crosses your mind, but decide to go through with it anyway
>Now's not the time to get hung up on details like that
>Not if you want to patch things up here
>Besides, you can always leave things out talking to Rose
>You fold the letter and put it in your pocket before heading out the door again
>The clouds are starting to clear as you walk to the florist's shop, the sun breaking through now and again
>The wind has died down a little bit, aside from the occasional gust or two
>You get to Rose's shop a little after 10:15
>Through the front window you can see her turn and walk to the back storeroom just as you come to the door
>If you didn't know better, you'd swear she looked at you before she went
>You walk up to the counter and wait
>...And wait
>...And wait...
>Rose finally saunters out from the back after five minutes, by which time you're making for the door in your impatience
>”Can I help you, stranger?”
>Always with that half-mocking tone of voice
Not in the mood, Rose. I need a favor
>She looks at you condescendingly
>”And you start off asking like that? Come on, Anon”
>You really don't need this right now
>She looks on as you produce the letter from your pocket
I need you to get this to Em at her office. I'd bring it myself, but...you know
>”You two and your secrets. Tsk tsk, Chef”
>She takes the letter from you
>”One of these days you'll learn not to keep so many”
5/x
>Rose has a point
>But you're not about to show it
...Has she said anything about us?
>”You're going to want to ask her that yourself, Anon”
>She starts walking back to the storeroom
>”I'll bring her your note, but it's up to you what happens after that”
>You walk out of Rose's shop feeling confused
>The florist is impossible to read. You're not sure if she's helping you or fucking with you
>Just once you'd like to deal with somep0ny who has clear motives
>...But that's a pretty unrealistic wish, you realize
>You just hope Em gets your message
>Walking home from the florist's shop, you hear your stomach growl
>You remember that you haven't eaten yet today, much to your frustration given your accident at breakfast
>Not in the mood to cook anything, you decide to head to the cafe for an early lunch
>The waiter seats you outside and you look over the short fence at Mane Street
>Rose's words to you earlier have not sat well
>She didn't let anything on about how Em is doing, either because Em hasn't told her or because the red-maned mare is keeping it from you
>Either way, you're uneasy about it
>Your thoughts are interrupted when the waiter comes for your order
>After hastily ordering a sandwich and fries, you turn your attention to fiddling with the silverware
>A clopping off to the side tells you somep0ny is coming
>Turning your head, you see Rarity walking over to your table
>You stifle a groan and put on a smile for the white mare
>”Good morning, Anon. Care for some company?”
>Her tone is genial but masks some bitterness
>Makes sense, given the circumstances
Sure, Rarity. Something to eat?
>”Why didn't you tell me about The Mayor?”
6/x
>So she's skipping pleasantries and getting right to it?
>...Great
>Exactly what you needed right now
>You let out an exasperated sigh and look at the unicorn as she sits down and waves a waiter over to order a drink for herself
>”Well? You waited weeks to tell me about you and your Mayoral paramour. Now you're going to tell me why you couldn't just say it when it mattered”
I didn't think it di-
>”Don't give me that, Anon. I spent three days wondering if it was because of something I did, or how I looked, or how I acted... You could have just done the mature thing and told me you had another mare already, but you didn't and I want to know why”
>She isn't yelling, but you can almost feel the indignation and anger behind her words
Can we not do this her-
>She plants a hoof firmly down on the table
>”No. You tell me right now, Anon. I'm not waiting any longer for the explanation I should have had a month ago”
>You rub your forehead as the waiter brings out your food
Fine. You want the truth? Here it is
>After taking a gulp of water your look Rarity in the eye
I didn't tell you about The Mayor because she and I agreed that we'd keep our relationship under wraps for the time being. Not only that, I don't think either of us were sure of what we were doing back then. Neither of us planned for it to happen, it just did
>”So you kept it secret from everyp0ny because you didn't want it out in the open?”
>She seems unimpressed
No, not just that
>”Then by all means. Continue”
7/x
>You take a bite of sandwich before going on
>Her talk of maturity and her patronizing line of questioning has you on edge
I also didn't want you to freak out when you came to me that night
>She blinks blankly
You caught me by surprise, showing up at my house like that but I knew it was going to happen sooner or later
>Rarity's voice drops and she asks weakly
>”You...you knew?”
What, did you think you're the first mare to have feelings for me? You think you're the first one to try something like that?
>Her advantage is gone. She's looking at you in confusion as you turn the conversation on her
>”How long did you know...?”
A few months ago when you started hesitating before talking to me, like you were trying to choose your words more carefully
>A blush appears on her face and she furrows her brow
>”Why didn't you say anything?”
>You're being more harsh than you should, but you figure it can't get any worse
I don't see you that way. Confronting you about it would have gone badly, especially if you were in denial about it, which you were up until a few weeks ago
>You cast your gaze out the window as Rarity recovers from what you've said
>”I...”
>She stops and looks at the table
Anyway, I didn't tell you then because I thought I could spare you the drama of me choosing somep0ny else over you
>”What, you didn't think I could take it?”
Honestly? No
>She looks genuinely hurt by that statement
You came to me impassioned and earnest, Rarity. I could tell how much it meant to you when you kissed me and I didn't want to hurt you any more than I had to...
8/x
>”Well you certainly did a fine job, Anon”
>You catch a subtle quaking in Rarity's voice and realize you've taken this a bit far
>After looking back at the mare, you take a deep breath and reign in the vitriol
Look, Rarity, I'm sorry. About everything. I should have told you about the Mayor and I when it started. It wasn't fair of me to keep it from you
>You put your hand out and lay it on her hoof
>”I suppose you DID have some extenuating circumstances to deal with, Anon...”
>She's obviously still hurting from what you've said to her
>Your heart sinks a little knowing that
>The mare's still young and inexperienced. You can't really hold that against her
>...Even if it would make you feel a little better having been so callous
It's been a hectic few weeks
>You look up and meet her eyes
For all of us, I think
>You finish your sandwich in silence and drop a few bits on the table before getting up
I'll see you later, Rarity. Sorry if my explanation left something to be desired
>She looks up at you and just nods
>That could have gone better
>As you walk towards the door, you spy a familiar pink mane bobbing up and down in front of the entrance
>You turn to the host as you pass
Excuse me, what number table was I seated at? I like to sit at the same one when I come back to restaurants
>”Oh! Table Eleven, sir. Did you enjoy your meal?”
Very much so, thank you
>You walk out and pass by Pinkie Pie
>This is either going to be really good or a real dick move, depending on how it pans out
Ask for Eleven. Great conversation starter
9/x
>You spent the greater part of the afternoon taking care of your knives
>Making sure everything is sharp, honed, and in good condition helps to take your mind off the...
>...Well, you're not really sure HOW you're feeling
>But the slow and methodical way in which you draw each blade across the steel has a calming effect
>It's simple; mechanical
>The same motion, over and over again
>You lose track of time while you do it
>Each hour, as the clock strikes, you're briefly shaken out of your concentration
>But after a minute or two each time, you're back into it
>When you finally get to the Kitchen Knife, you stop
>You turn the tool over in your hands, looking at it
>The patterns in the steel catch the light brilliantly, contrasting the ebony handle's smoky black grain
>You run a finger over the inscription
>”A true chef's heart, his very being, is held in his knives.”
>It's the first time in a long time that reading those words that they don't fill you with pride
>You draw the blade along the steel like all the others, making sure the edge is true and razor-like
>The clock strikes 4:30
>You stop what you're doing and look up
>Time for work. Hopefully tonight won't be as much of a shit-show as last night was...
>You put all of your knives in their carry-case and change into your work clothes
>Before leaving for work, you look out the window and wonder if Em got your message
>She never did come to talk today
>Then again, it's just now 4:30. She's probably still at work
>A sense of anxiety crawls over you
>Good service or no, it's going to be a long night
10/x
>You get to the restaurant a few minutes before your shift starts
>When you walk into the kitchen, you aren't met with the usual greeting from the kitchen staff
>Instead, there's a manager talking with your Sous
>The cooks are looking on in curiosity, not noticing that you've entered
>After a second or two, the manager looks up and sees you
>The cooks turn and look at you as the manager walks over, glaring with a knotted brow
>”Follow me. Boss wants a word”
Now? I've got to start getting ready for servic-
>”Now...Chef”
Alright
>You follow the manager out of the kitchen and into the owner's office
>The stallion motions for you to take a seat before sending the manager out of the room
>He slowly gets up and walks around the desk as he speaks
>”How are you, Anon?”
I'm well. And you?
>He looks at you sidelong
>”I've been better, Anon. I heard about last night's service from the night managers. It sounded rough”
It wasn't our best performance, I know-
>He cuts you off tersely
>”I know. It happens. What I need is for you and your team to pull together and work through any rough patches”
We wi-
>”What I DON'T need...”
>His tone becomes harsh and reprimanding
>”...Is a Head Chef who pitches a twice-damned FIT in the kitchen with a full house!”
When you hired me you said I could run the kitchen my way-
>”When I hired you, I thought I was getting a Head Chef who could keep a level head”
>He sits back down
>”I'm suspending you for the time being, until you sort out whatever in Tartarus is making you act so unprofessionally”
Bu-
>”Starting now. You're excused.”
11/x
>The kitchen is muted
>You walk through the door, ignoring the gazes of the kitchen staff as you pass towards the exit
>Ginger Gold says something, but it doesn't register. You just go by, giving no response
>The Sous catches you at the door as you're about to leave
>”Chef, what's going on?”
You're in charge of the kitchen until I get back. Consider it a temporary promotion
>The acid in your words makes the Sous edge away a little
>”Wh-”
>You're out the door before he can finish the word
>With a suddenly free evening, you walk home slowly
>It sinks in that you've really let this situation get out of hand
>Maybe it's overexposure?
>Maybe you need to take a break from all of this?
>You look South, in the direction of Fillydelphia
>Maybe your boss is right. You do need to sort yourself out...
>And since you're on suspension, you've got time to do it without the stress of work...
>Might be good to get back to your roots too...
>The train station is still open, thankfully, when you get there
>You walk up to the counter, having been overtaken by a sudden feeling of urgency
>A need to get away; for a change of location so that you can get yourself together...
One to Fillydelphia in the morning
>”What time?”
Ten...
>You pause for a second
One way
12/x
>Em's stomach growls
>It's been hours since lunch, but she can't take a break
>Too much Tartarus-sent paperwork...
>She looks up at the clock and rests her head on a hoof, exasperated
>5:00
>After looking back at the pile of papers on her desk, she decides that enough is enough for one day
>The letter from Anon sits unopened on her desk and she takes it with her as she leaves her office
>Rose had brought it to her that morning, saying it seemed important, but Em had been too busy with work to sit down and read it
>The florist seemed a little off though, Em thought
>Like she was in a bad mood or something
>Em brushed it off as something happening at work
>On the way home, the letter starts feeling like it's burning a hole in her bag
>She picks up the pace, wanting to get home to read it as soon as she can and hopefully be rid of this sudden anxiety
>Finally she gets home and goes to the living room
>After taking a seat, she pulls the letter out of her bag and opens it
>Having not heard from Anon in the last couple days, Em is filled with anxious curiosity as she reads...
>The restaurant is less crowded than usual when Em arrives
>A host seats her at Table Four and gives her a menu before walking back to the desk, leaving the tan mare alone with her thoughts
>She sits and thinks about how she can tell Anon that she's here without raising any suspicion
>As she looks through the menu, an idea strikes her
>The waiter comes to take her order
I'll have the risotto
>She sits back and waits for the food to come out
13/x
>While Em sits at her table, she looks around idly at all the other patrons
>She munches on some bread, nervousness mounting as the minutes drag on
>The atmosphere of the restaurant doesn't help. It's busy and she can hear every conversation going on around her
>Waiters scurry to and fro, bringing plates out, carrying platters to tables, checking on customers, and bustling about the dining room
>Maybe it was a mistake coming here
>She briefly considers leaving, but is interrupted by the arrival of her dinner
>The aroma of the mushroom risotto brings a flash of memory with it, taking her back to her visit almost a month ago when she impulsively gave Anon her invitation to lunch
>She chuckles to herself as the waiter walks off
>Passing notes like a schoolfilly, secret meetings, secret lessons...
>Thinking about earlier weeks makes her almost giddy, but it's tempered by her and Anon's recent...issues...
>She takes a bite of risotto
>After a second she stops, knotting her brow
>Something isn't quite right
>She swallows, trying to place what's different
>Not enough salt? No, that's not it...
>More thyme than usual? Maybe...
>She gives up after a minute and flags down a waiter
>Whatever is different, it doesn't taste like Anon's cooking
>If he's is in the kitchen, he'll know she's here
I'd like a new risotto. This one has too much thyme
>The waiter nods and takes the plate back to the kitchen
>Em sighs and leans back, looking blankly up at the ceiling
>If that WAS Anon's risotto, she can tease him about it when he inevitably comes out to the table
>He gets flustered when she makes jabs at his cooking
>She smiles to herself a little at the thought
14/x
>A few minutes later the new risotto comes out to the table, carried by the waiter
>Em looks behind him, hoping to see Anon following, but the stallion is alone
>”Here you are, ma'am. Let me know if you need anything else”
Thank you
>She takes a bite, disappointed
>The risotto still tastes off. She can't place what it is, but it's different
>After eating a little more of the dish, she again flags down the waiter
>”What can I do for you, ma'am?”
I'd like to speak with the Chef, if you don't mind
>”Of course. I'll bring him out, Madam Mayor”
>The stallion trots off towards the kitchen
>Em watches him go and thinks of what she's going to say to Anon when he comes out
>Was he back there but ignoring her? Did he understand that she was sending a message with the return? Was he still ma- Who is that?
>The waiter returns with an unfamiliar unicorn in tow
>”Madam Mayor, our Sous Chef”
Sous Chef?
>The Sous pipes up
>”Yes, Head Chef Anonymous has taken an... extended leave of absence. I'm filling in while he's away”
I see...
>”Did you have a question about the meal?”
>Em looks up at the Sous, a little confusion and more than a little worry crossing her face
No, I just wanted to know who prepared this wonderful risotto
>She gives a superficial smile as the Sous nods
>”Thank you, ma'am”
That's all. Sorry to take up your time
>”Not at all, ma'am”
>A knot forms in Em's stomach, which she tries to bury in risotto
>Did he go somewhere?
>He didn't mention this in his note...
>Suddenly she's not so hungry...
>She puts her fork down and waves the waiter over one last time
Check, please
15/x
>Em walks out of the restaurant, a sense of dread crawling over her
>The clock strikes 7:00 and she looks towards Anon's house, the knot in her stomach growing ever tighter
>Why didn't he say anything about this?
>Was he keeping it from her?
>She stops in the middle of the street as an idea strikes her
>If he's not at the restaurant, where is he?
>An anxious chill rushes down her spine as her mind races to different possibilities
>She looks all around before trotting towards the house
>It's been days since she's seen him
>Days without hearing from him
>And now this happens?
>A letter and then news that he's taking a leave?
>What is going through his head?
>She ignores the ponies who turn their heads as she rushes by them
>The knot in her stomach tightens painfully when she sees all the lights turned off at Anon's house
No, no... don't jump to conclusions...
>She walks to the door, talking to herself to keep from panicking
Calm down, Em. He wouldn't just leave. He couldn't. There's a perfectly reasonable explanation...
>She knocks on the door, hoof shaking
...Celestia, I hope there is...
>There's a great silence as she waits in front of the door
>She can hear her heart pounding wondering if he's really gone somewhere without saying anything
>There's a click
>Em's heart skips a beat
>The door opens
>”Em?”
>She launches herself into him, clutching his waist as relief washes over her, lighting up her eyes
>Her mane falls in her face as Anon puts his arms around her and pulls her in
>”I was afraid you didn't get my letter”
>She can feel his heart beating through his chest
>It's racing almost as fast as hers
We should talk
16/x
>Your heart is racing
>The knock at the door had nearly made you jump out of your skin
>So focused were you on packing that you hadn't even realized it was getting dark out
>It took some fumbling to get downstairs, seeing as you'd forgotten to turn any lights on in your hazy state of mind
>And now you open your door and this tan, bespectacled, grey-maned mare is standing there looking like she's about to have a panic attack
Em?
>She practically rockets into you, taking you by surprise
>You lean down and return her embrace
I was afraid you didn't get my letter
>She grips you tighter before looking up at your face, her mane askew
>”We should talk”
>You look out at the town
>The sun has nearly set and the wind is starting to pick up
Well we should go inside, then. It's getting cold out
>The two of you head inside and you turn on some lights
>The train ticket lies on the coffee table. You palm and slip it into your pocket before Em can see
>She takes a seat on the couch across from you as you sit in your chair
>There's an awkward pause before either of you speak
Em, I'm sorry I freaked out a-
>”I'm sorry I freaked out a-”
>Seriously?
>...At the same time?
>That just happened?
>”You first”
>She's blushing
>You think you see traces of a smile at what just happened
Alright. I shouldn't have flipped out when you told me you slept with Hickory. He's just a sore spot for me
>”Why?”
I'd rather not get into it right now...
>Her smile fades
>”Anon, we need to be open with each other. The secrets game is clearly not going to work”
17/x
>You lean forward and rest your arms on your knees, looking at the floor
>This was a story you'd been hoping to avoid
>But there doesn't seem to be any avoiding it now
I moved to Canterlot four years ago. I'd just come off a job as a Sous Chef in Manehattan and de Selle had contacted me to work as a part time professor for a semester. I taught a class about working in a real-life kitchen and ran a practice-restaurant on campus that the students in my class staffed. I met Hickory Smoke about a month in. He was old and experienced and he came into my kitchen once to see how it was running. Spent the first twenty minutes after I'd met him critiquing the way I was doing things. He said I reminded him of himself when he was younger and decided to give me a job at a restaurant he was opening later that year.
>Thinking back, it was a good time in your life. Canterlot was full of fond memories. Em sits across from you, listening intently
Of course, I accepted. Who wouldn't? I finished the semester and took a position in his kitchen as a Sous. Hickory and I got to be close friends in that time. He was a hard-working stallion. Taught part time at de Selle and ran the business side of the restaurant on top of that. Anyway, I worked for Hickory like that for about a year before I met Fleur.
>”What does that have to do-”
Em, if you're going to understand this, you need the whole story. Bear with me
>She nods, clearly uncomfortable at the mention of Fleur's name
18/x
She was just getting into modeling then. We met when some big-shot decided he needed restaurant-quality catering for a photo shoot and hired my restaurant to do it. We wouldn't have been introduced if not for Fleur's taste for sweets and my unfortunate positioning between her and a tray of baklava. It was like coming between an Ursa Major and her cub. We were an item within a month and dated for two years after that
>Em giggles a little, picturing the event, before readopting her somber face
So while that was going on, I was working my way up in Hickory's restaurant. Two years in and he actually put me in charge of catering the Grand Galloping Gala
>Em's jaw drops
Right? Hickory put so much trust in me and helped me as a Chef more than anyp0ny ever had before. After the Gala he gave me these
>You motion to the knife set lying on the table. After that evening's events you'd put them down in a hurry and rushed upstairs
>Em looks at the knives, then back to you
>”It sounds like you had a very good time in Canterlot, Anon. But I fail to see how-”
I'm getting to that. Canterlot was where I spent four of the best years of my life, Em. You need to hear about them before I can tell you the rest. Alright?
>”Alright”
He had those knives custom made for me. They're my pride and joy, as it were. But that aside, catering the Gala was the greatest thing I'd ever done. I was on top of the world. I had the best job in Equestria, I was dating Fleur de Lis, who'd gotten a high-profile job modeling for Fancypants...I was living the dream...
>You trail off somberly
19/x
...But you have to wake up sometime, I suppose
>Em knots her brow
It happened so fast I barely remember most of it. Just seems like a blur...
>Your tone falls as you recall your last two months in Canterlot
It was the three-year anniversary of Hickory's restaurant. We were all out at the pub having drinks when Hickory started slurring his words
>A knot forms in your throat
At first we thought it was from the booze, but he'd only had a couple drinks. He got up to go to the bathroom and we saw his face droop...
>Em puts a hoof to her mouth
He fell over just after that. We tried to wake him up, someone called for help...By the time we got him to the hospital he was gone. Stroke. Just like that
>You snap your fingers and get up to walk to the kitchen for a glass of water, talking as you go
I fell apart. Couldn't cook, couldn't work...I left the restaurant a week later. I still don't know if I quit or got fired. I broke things off with Fleur a week after that. Nothing dramatic, mind you. No huge fight or anything like that...I just...shut down and we stopped seeing one another.
>You return to your seat across from Em
I moved back to Manehattan for a little while after that before I was contacted about the restaurant opening here that needed a Head Chef. At that point it had been three or four months and I'd gotten past most of my depression, so I decided a change of scenery would be good for me. When you mentioned Hickory back then it brought back some memories I'd wanted to keep buried. More so when we were arguing.
20/x
>”Anon, I'm so sorry...I didn't know...”
It's alright. You couldn't have. Besides, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did when you told me about you and him. He'd told the story of how he'd gotten suspended for sleeping with a student, but hearing you tell it hit a little too close to home. He was like a father to me in some respects
>She sits silently for a minute, processing everything you've told her
>”Sorry...It's just a lot to take in”
>She looks at the floor, pausing for another minute before looking up at you again
>”...I shouldn't have gotten so upset at you about Fleur. I just see her and how gorgeous she is and I get so insecure...jealous...”
Hey, I nearly kicked Fancypants in the face first time I saw him on location with Fleur. You don't have to apologize for getting a little jealous
>Em gives a half-hearted smile
>”Thank you for telling me about Hickory...”
You're right. If this is going to happen we can't have any more secrets. It'll only end badly
>”Okay. Full disclosure then?”
Full disclosure
>She takes a deep breath
>”I'm not actually as old as everyp0ny thinks. I'm 35...”
I'm 34
>She smiles, then looks askance
Something else?
>...
Em...
>”Th.. isn.. my n...l m... c....r....”
What?
>”Th.. isn.. my n...l m...c....r....”
Speak up
>”THIS ISN'T MY NATURAL MANE COLOR”
Wha...
>She realizes she's shouting and sits back down, blushing sheepishly
Not your...You got that embarrassed over something like that? What color is it really? Neon pink?
>She turns a new shade of red and looks at you wide-eyed
>”How did you know that?”
>There's a pause
>Then you burst out laughing, the sheer absurdity overcoming the otherwise dark atmosphere
21/x
>Em looks at you, stone-faced
>”Are you done?”
Hold...on...
>You let out another ten seconds of laughter before pulling yourself together
You've got to be joking. No way that's yo-
>She gets up and walks over to you, parting her mane as she leans in close
>You look at the base of the gray mane and see, just peaking out at the bottom of the hairs, bright pink
Huh. Really don't like it, do you?
>You flop back, her demonstration shutting you up
>”It uh...I don't like the natural color. I've been dyeing it since I was a filly”
>She's blushing
Sorry. I wasn't expecting that to be on the list of revelations tonight
>You look at her and smile before you remember something else
>Em sees your face fall ever so slightly
>”Something wrong?”
>You sigh
I should tell you, just for clarity's sake...
>”What?”
About Rarity. The unicorn with the purple mane?
>”Yes, the Element of...Generosity. I know the one”
Right. Well, we're close. Her parents rented me a room when I first moved here
>Em sits silently again, insecurity coming over her face once more
>”Did you da-”
No. She's like a little sister to me. But she's young and naive. A little impulsive...
>You're not sure how to phrase what you're about to say, so you just wing it and hope for the best
So she...maybe kind of...kissed me the day after my demo with you...
>She winces
>You start to panic, scrambling to do damage-control
She caught me by surprise, Em. And besides, I told her straight that I wasn't interested. I've got you
>You realize as you speak that you've got to tell her
There's more...
>A breathless pause
She knows about us
>”...What?”
I had to tell her
>Em looks displeased
22/x
>”You HAD to tell her?”
Em, she's trustworthy
>The mare looks seriously concerned
I couldn't keep it from her. Not after how I put down her feelings. Besides, she's a close friend. Rose knows about us. Think of it that way
>She sighs and acquiesces
>”I suppose so. Does anyp0ny else know?”
>You hesitate for a moment
...Pinkie Pie does...
>Em's hoof flies to her face as she squints
>”...The baker? How did SHE find out?”
She's intuitive. I guess she put two and two together? That one seriously knows how to read ponies
>She's rubbing her temples now
>”It's alright. I had a slip-up or two of my own, to tell the truth. A couple colleagues have been getting suspicious...”
>You get up and go to the kitchen again
Want something to drink?
>Em returns to the couch and sits down
>”Do you have any wine?”
>You look through your cupboards until you find a bottle
Merlot?
>”Perfect”
>You grab two glasses and a corkscrew before coming back and taking a seat next to her on the couch
>As you pour the wine out, you feel a sense of relief at being able to open up more to this mare
>She takes the glass as you raise yours
Here's to terrible secret-keeping?
>”Cheers to that”
>The two of you take a drink and Em edges closer to you on the couch
>You're near enough to her that you can put your arm over her shoulder
>She leans on you softly
>After a short pause, she speaks up again, quietly
>”I'm sorry for everything, Anon. I really am...”
I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have held what happened in my past against you
>You both sit silently for a minute
>Then you feel her snuggle up to your chest
23/x
>”I forgive you...”
>You can feel her breathing against you
>It's a pleasant feeling, having her here like this. You lean over her and run a hand through her gray mane
I don't know why you're so embarrassed by that pink hair of yours, Em
>She looks up, her face showing a slow-mounting annoyance at your bringing it up again
>”I told you, I-”
>You smile and lean even closer so you can whisper to her
It suits you. I think it might make you even cuter if you let it
>Her ear flutters from your speaking so closely into it
>As you pull back you can see she's blushing deep red
>It's too much to ignore
>After a beat, you've pushed yourself on top of her, your lips locked tightly against hers
>You break the kiss and stare at the mare under you
>A tiny bit of drool trails from her tongue as she stares hazily right back at you
>You missed this feeling
>Her coat is warm and soft, like velvet against your skin
>You lift her glasses off of her and set them on the table before leaning in again and planting your lips on her neck, eliciting a contented sigh
>Her forelegs encircle you, pulling you even closer, so that you're pressed up against her
>You coax another sigh from the mare as you brush your fingers along her ear while pushing her mane out of her face
>”Those damnable hands of yours....”
>She gasps when you start drawing light circles around her cutie mark with your finger
You were saying?
>”You're infuriating”
So I'm told
>You catch her in another kiss, more aggressive this time
>It's only been a few days since the fight, but it felt like weeks; months
24/x
>Any remaining thoughts go out the window when she nips your lower lip lightly with her teeth as you pull up for a breath of air
>The look in her eyes isn't hazy anymore
>It's more...hungry
>You take an end of the cravat around her neck and tug to unravel it
>The ribbon-like cloth slowly pulls away, leaving her completely bare
>As you toss the cravat aside, you feel her fumbling with your shirt
>With a chuckle you pin her forehooves down and ask in a low whisper
What do you think you're doing?
>She doesn't answer, simply looking at you, her eyes flitting alternately to your chest and belt
>Her blush is steadily deepening as you let her go so you can sit upright and pull off the shirt
>She takes the opportunity to leap up and take the lead
>Em's marshmallow hoof traces along your abdomen as she puts her lips to yours, her tongue desperately seeking yours
>You happily oblige her, letting your hands wander about her back
>She shivers heavily as you trail a finger along her spine
>After a couple of minutes she breaks away and whispers in your ear, her breath heavy and hot
>”Shall we head upstairs, Chef?”
Think you can make it that long, Mayor?
>”I'll manage...”
>There is no sleep to be had for either of you tonight
>Nor for your neighbors
>The house will need to be re-shingled due to what the contractor later describes as “Earthquake-like shaking damage”
>A passing pegasus falls out of the sky upon hearing the sounds coming from your bedroom
>Luna, watching over Equestria during the night, spends four hours trying to get her wings down
25/x
>Morning comes bearing news reports of an unexplainable early estrus sweeping across Equestria
>You slowly wake up with Em nestled snugly against you
>She's still sound asleep, her breathing slow and calm
>You lay a light kiss on her neck and try to wriggle out of bed without waking her up
>It doesn't work
>You somehow manage to tangle yourself in the sheets and as you swing your legs over the edge of the bed you flip yourself over, pulling Em down with you
>A loud yelp lets you know that she's awake now
>”...Good morning...?”
Sorry. So much for letting you sleep in
>”Oh, it's not so bad”
>She crawls on top of you and lays herself on your chest
>”I heard you were on a leave of absence, but I've got a weird feeling that's not quite true”
>You look away
>She kisses your cheek
>”You know, I don't even mind”
>You gaze up at her before motioning for her to get off you
Wait here
>You walk downstairs and pick up your kitchen knife and putting it in its individual carrying case before returning to the bedroom
>Part of you can't believe you're doing this
>The rest of you can't think of anything more appropriate
>”What have you got behind your ba-”
>She stops when you produce the knife
>”Anon, what's-”
>Her eyes go wide
I want you to have this
>You place the knife in her hooves
You mean more to me than I originally thought. I really thought I was going to lose you...
>She sits paralyzed on the floor
>After a beat, she's wrapped her hooves around you
>”I guess I'll really have to learn how to cook now, so I can use it?”
I guess I'll have to get teaching
End

create a new version of this paste RAW Paste Data

>The alarm clock starts ringing at 8:00
>For fifteen minutes it wails and shakes before falling off the nightstand, the impact with the floor shutting it off
>You're not there to see it
>Sleep was fleeting last night
>You got home at 11:30 having blown up at work and blown off Pinkie Pie as you left
>Getting to sleep was almost impossible. You drifted off for a little while after lying in bed staring at the ceiling, but it didn't last
>By 5:00, you gave up on trying to sleep
>You sat in the kitchen for an hour before deciding to go for an early-morning walk to clear your head
>Thick gray clouds cover the sun and a cool morning fog still hangs in the air
>You walk through Ponyville's streets, trying to get a handle on your situation
>The stress got the better of you last night
>It shouldn't have been an issue
>Doubt creeps back into your mind as you think about your relationship with Em
>You should be able to separate work and your social life
>Fleur's words leap out at you
>”Sometimes these things happen faster then we'd like”
>You stop in the middle of the road and look towards Em's house
>With a sigh you kick a rock down the road, frustrated with yourself for your outburst the last time you saw the tan mare
>That look of pain as she yelled at you to leave is burned into your mind
>A knot in your stomach forms and tightens, reminding you that it's your fault she was like that
>Plus there's Rarity to deal with...
>You ball your fist and turn back to Em's house
Dammit, Fleur, why are you always right about me?
>The town clock strikes 7:30
1/x

>As you walk down the road, you hear the sound of a door creaking open and timid hoof falls
>You turn to find the source of the noise and see a tall, slender unicorn descending the steps down from Sugar Cube Corner
>Your train of thought derails catastrophically, sending thousands of tons of contemplation-cargo flying across the landscape
>By now the morning fog has begun to burn off, revealing the sheepish smile on Fleur's face as she glances back at the upstairs window before setting off to the inn
>She doesn't notice you standing agape in the middle of the road, watching as she walks away from the bakery
>Well now, that's certainly...new...?
>You walk towards the bakery, half-focused on wondering what Fleur was doing there
>Your questions are answered somewhat when you spot a very ruffled-looking Pinkie Pie stick her head out the window
>Forgetting yourself, you walk to within earshot, a grin forming on your face despite your previous mood
Morning, Pinkie. Sleep well?
>Her eyes go wide when she hears you, her pupils constricting to pinpoints
>”A-Anon! I, er, we, last night- uh...”
>She stammers, flustered. You decide now's as good a time as ever to apologize for last night
>This little episode has put you, however temporarily, in good spirits
It's okay, Pinkie. You don't have to explain anything
>You wink and tap your nose knowingly
>She turns bright red
>”No, no, i-it's not like that, Anon! We just talked last night! Talked and ate cookies! ...And maybe she hugged me and maybe I liked it...”
>Your grin grows wider
Alright, alright, I believe you. I let you get back to basking in the “after-hug” then
>You turn to go
Oh, and Pinkie?
2/x

>”...Yeah?”
Sorry about last night. I was out of line
>”It's alright, Anon. I know you didn't mean it. And besides, I ran into Fleur because of it-”
>She realizes how excited she sounds and puts her hoof to her mouth, blushing hard again
>You laugh and walk back towards Em's house, calling back to the pink pony
I'll see you later, Pinkie
>The fog has lifted, but the sky is still overcast
>Your mood, elevated by the exchange with Pinkie Pie, drives you even more to go and set everything right
>If you could apologize to Pinkie, you can apologize to Em
>Just a question of if she'll accept your apology...

>The wind starts to pick up as you reach Em's house
>You stop at her door and look up at the bedroom window
>It's still sort of early; you hope she's up
>The left-over good cheer from talking to Pinkie Pie quickly deteriorates when your knocks on Em's door are met with a resounding silence
>Is she still asleep?
>You look through the window
>There aren't any lights on downstairs
>Then again, it's morning. Why would there be?
>You knock again, louder this time
>...
>Nervousness starts to set in when there comes no response
>A third time you knock, your strikes on the door echoing through the house
>...
>You think you hear a noise upstairs and quickly put an ear to the door
>After hearing nothing more, you pace for a few minutes before looking up at the window again
>You can't help but imagine Em sitting in bed, ignoring your knocks
>It's paranoid, you know, but it kills you to picture it
>...And part of you wouldn't blame her
>You turn and walk, dejected, back home
>Maybe some breakfast will lift your spirits
3/x

>At 8:30 you finally get home, having slowed your walking pace to a crawl, not really wanting to go there
>After staring into your refrigerator for a minute, you finally pull out some eggs and vegetables to make an omelette
>You put a pan on the burner and turn on the heat after dropping some oil in
>Turning to the counter, you start chopping onions and peppers finely
>As you run the knife along the board, cutting the vegetables into small pieces, your mind wanders to your fight with Em
>The look on her face when she told you to leave, the way her voice shook...
>The tears streaking her-
FUCK!
>Your hand flies up, blood dripping from where you ran the blade over it
>The burner knob makes a loud click as you angrily turn it off and quickly walk to the bathroom to bandage the finger
>After tightly wrapping the cut, you walk back to the kitchen and scrape the chopped vegetables into the trash, tossing the cutting board into the sink when you're done
>You sit in the living room and read in order to take your mind off of the morning's events
>The clock strikes 10:00 and you look up, groaning, as you remember you still have work at 5:00...
>And nothing to do until then...
>You can't just walk into Em's office to talk to her, that would destroy any semblance of secrecy still left in your relationship
>Plus, you don't want to cause a potential scene at work for her
>You think for a minute before coming up with an idea
>If you can't find Em, or she's ignoring you, or avoiding you, then you'll just go through Rose
>You go to the study and grab a quill and paper
4/x

>...Though Rose is so close to Em that anything you tell her will go straight to the tan mare...
>You consider not going to her as that thought crosses your mind, but decide to go through with it anyway
>Now's not the time to get hung up on details like that
>Not if you want to patch things up here
>Besides, you can always leave things out talking to Rose
>You fold the letter and put it in your pocket before heading out the door again
>The clouds are starting to clear as you walk to the florist's shop, the sun breaking through now and again
>The wind has died down a little bit, aside from the occasional gust or two
>You get to Rose's shop a little after 10:15
>Through the front window you can see her turn and walk to the back storeroom just as you come to the door
>If you didn't know better, you'd swear she looked at you before she went
>You walk up to the counter and wait
>...And wait
>...And wait...
>Rose finally saunters out from the back after five minutes, by which time you're making for the door in your impatience
>”Can I help you, stranger?”
>Always with that half-mocking tone of voice
Not in the mood, Rose. I need a favor
>She looks at you condescendingly
>”And you start off asking like that? Come on, Anon”
>You really don't need this right now
>She looks on as you produce the letter from your pocket
I need you to get this to Em at her office. I'd bring it myself, but...you know
>”You two and your secrets. Tsk tsk, Chef”
>She takes the letter from you
>”One of these days you'll learn not to keep so many”
5/x

>Rose has a point
>But you're not about to show it
...Has she said anything about us?
>”You're going to want to ask her that yourself, Anon”
>She starts walking back to the storeroom
>”I'll bring her your note, but it's up to you what happens after that”
>You walk out of Rose's shop feeling confused
>The florist is impossible to read. You're not sure if she's helping you or fucking with you
>Just once you'd like to deal with somep0ny who has clear motives
>...But that's a pretty unrealistic wish, you realize
>You just hope Em gets your message

>Walking home from the florist's shop, you hear your stomach growl
>You remember that you haven't eaten yet today, much to your frustration given your accident at breakfast
>Not in the mood to cook anything, you decide to head to the cafe for an early lunch
>The waiter seats you outside and you look over the short fence at Mane Street
>Rose's words to you earlier have not sat well
>She didn't let anything on about how Em is doing, either because Em hasn't told her or because the red-maned mare is keeping it from you
>Either way, you're uneasy about it
>Your thoughts are interrupted when the waiter comes for your order
>After hastily ordering a sandwich and fries, you turn your attention to fiddling with the silverware
>A clopping off to the side tells you somep0ny is coming
>Turning your head, you see Rarity walking over to your table
>You stifle a groan and put on a smile for the white mare
>”Good morning, Anon. Care for some company?”
>Her tone is genial but masks some bitterness
>Makes sense, given the circumstances
Sure, Rarity. Something to eat?
>”Why didn't you tell me about The Mayor?”
6/x

>So she's skipping pleasantries and getting right to it?
>...Great
>Exactly what you needed right now
>You let out an exasperated sigh and look at the unicorn as she sits down and waves a waiter over to order a drink for herself
>”Well? You waited weeks to tell me about you and your Mayoral paramour. Now you're going to tell me why you couldn't just say it when it mattered”
I didn't think it di-
>”Don't give me that, Anon. I spent three days wondering if it was because of something I did, or how I looked, or how I acted... You could have just done the mature thing and told me you had another mare already, but you didn't and I want to know why”
>She isn't yelling, but you can almost feel the indignation and anger behind her words
Can we not do this her-
>She plants a hoof firmly down on the table
>”No. You tell me right now, Anon. I'm not waiting any longer for the explanation I should have had a month ago”
>You rub your forehead as the waiter brings out your food
Fine. You want the truth? Here it is
>After taking a gulp of water your look Rarity in the eye
I didn't tell you about The Mayor because she and I agreed that we'd keep our relationship under wraps for the time being. Not only that, I don't think either of us were sure of what we were doing back then. Neither of us planned for it to happen, it just did
>”So you kept it secret from everyp0ny because you didn't want it out in the open?”
>She seems unimpressed
No, not just that
>”Then by all means. Continue”
7/x

>You take a bite of sandwich before going on
>Her talk of maturity and her patronizing line of questioning has you on edge
I also didn't want you to freak out when you came to me that night
>She blinks blankly
You caught me by surprise, showing up at my house like that but I knew it was going to happen sooner or later
>Rarity's voice drops and she asks weakly
>”You...you knew?”
What, did you think you're the first mare to have feelings for me? You think you're the first one to try something like that?
>Her advantage is gone. She's looking at you in confusion as you turn the conversation on her
>”How long did you know...?”
A few months ago when you started hesitating before talking to me, like you were trying to choose your words more carefully
>A blush appears on her face and she furrows her brow
>”Why didn't you say anything?”
>You're being more harsh than you should, but you figure it can't get any worse
I don't see you that way. Confronting you about it would have gone badly, especially if you were in denial about it, which you were up until a few weeks ago
>You cast your gaze out the window as Rarity recovers from what you've said
>”I...”
>She stops and looks at the table
Anyway, I didn't tell you then because I thought I could spare you the drama of me choosing somep0ny else over you
>”What, you didn't think I could take it?”
Honestly? No
>She looks genuinely hurt by that statement
You came to me impassioned and earnest, Rarity. I could tell how much it meant to you when you kissed me and I didn't want to hurt you any more than I had to...
8/x

>”Well you certainly did a fine job, Anon”
>You catch a subtle quaking in Rarity's voice and realize you've taken this a bit far
>After looking back at the mare, you take a deep breath and reign in the vitriol
Look, Rarity, I'm sorry. About everything. I should have told you about the Mayor and I when it started. It wasn't fair of me to keep it from you
>You put your hand out and lay it on her hoof
>”I suppose you DID have some extenuating circumstances to deal with, Anon...”
>She's obviously still hurting from what you've said to her
>Your heart sinks a little knowing that 
>The mare's still young and inexperienced. You can't really hold that against her
>...Even if it would make you feel a little better having been so callous
It's been a hectic few weeks
>You look up and meet her eyes
For all of us, I think
>You finish your sandwich in silence and drop a few bits on the table before getting up
I'll see you later, Rarity. Sorry if my explanation left something to be desired
>She looks up at you and just nods
>That could have gone better
>As you walk towards the door, you spy a familiar pink mane bobbing up and down in front of the entrance
>You turn to the host as you pass
Excuse me, what number table was I seated at? I like to sit at the same one when I come back to restaurants
>”Oh! Table Eleven, sir. Did you enjoy your meal?”
Very much so, thank you
>You walk out and pass by Pinkie Pie
>This is either going to be really good or a real dick move, depending on how it pans out
Ask for Eleven. Great conversation starter
9/x

>You spent the greater part of the afternoon taking care of your knives
>Making sure everything is sharp, honed, and in good condition helps to take your mind off the...
>...Well, you're not really sure HOW you're feeling
>But the slow and methodical way in which you draw each blade across the steel has a calming effect
>It's simple; mechanical
>The same motion, over and over again
>You lose track of time while you do it
>Each hour, as the clock strikes, you're briefly shaken out of your concentration
>But after a minute or two each time, you're back into it
>When you finally get to the Kitchen Knife, you stop
>You turn the tool over in your hands, looking at it
>The patterns in the steel catch the light brilliantly, contrasting the ebony handle's smoky black grain
>You run a finger over the inscription
>”A true chef's heart, his very being, is held in his knives.”
>It's the first time in a long time that reading those words that they don't fill you with pride
>You draw the blade along the steel like all the others, making sure the edge is true and razor-like
>The clock strikes 4:30
>You stop what you're doing and look up
>Time for work. Hopefully tonight won't be as much of a shit-show as last night was...
>You put all of your knives in their carry-case and change into your work clothes
>Before leaving for work, you look out the window and wonder if Em got your message
>She never did come to talk today
>Then again, it's just now 4:30. She's probably still at work
>A sense of anxiety crawls over you
>Good service or no, it's going to be a long night
10/x

>You get to the restaurant a few minutes before your shift starts
>When you walk into the kitchen, you aren't met with the usual greeting from the kitchen staff
>Instead, there's a manager talking with your Sous
>The cooks are looking on in curiosity, not noticing that you've entered
>After a second or two, the manager looks up and sees you
>The cooks turn and look at you as the manager walks over, glaring with a knotted brow
>”Follow me. Boss wants a word”
Now? I've got to start getting ready for servic-
>”Now...Chef”
Alright
>You follow the manager out of the kitchen and into the owner's office
>The stallion motions for you to take a seat before sending the manager out of the room
>He slowly gets up and walks around the desk as he speaks
>”How are you, Anon?”
I'm well. And you?
>He looks at you sidelong
>”I've been better, Anon. I heard about last night's service from the night managers. It sounded rough”
It wasn't our best performance, I know-
>He cuts you off tersely
>”I know. It happens. What I need is for you and your team to pull together and work through any rough patches”
We wi-
>”What I DON'T need...”
>His tone becomes harsh and reprimanding
>”...Is a Head Chef who pitches a twice-damned FIT in the kitchen with a full house!”
When you hired me you said I could run the kitchen my way-
>”When I hired you, I thought I was getting a Head Chef who could keep a level head”
>He sits back down
>”I'm suspending you for the time being, until you sort out whatever in Tartarus is making you act so unprofessionally”
Bu-
>”Starting now. You're excused.”
11/x

>The kitchen is muted
>You walk through the door, ignoring the gazes of the kitchen staff as you pass towards the exit
>Ginger Gold says something, but it doesn't register. You just go by, giving no response
>The Sous catches you at the door as you're about to leave
>”Chef, what's going on?”
You're in charge of the kitchen until I get back. Consider it a temporary promotion
>The acid in your words makes the Sous edge away a little
>”Wh-”
>You're out the door before he can finish the word
>With a suddenly free evening, you walk home slowly
>It sinks in that you've really let this situation get out of hand
>Maybe it's overexposure?
>Maybe you need to take a break from all of this?
>You look South, in the direction of Fillydelphia
>Maybe your boss is right. You do need to sort yourself out...
>And since you're on suspension, you've got time to do it without the stress of work...
>Might be good to get back to your roots too...

>The train station is still open, thankfully, when you get there
>You walk up to the counter, having been overtaken by a sudden feeling of urgency
>A need to get away; for a change of location so that you can get yourself together...
One to Fillydelphia in the morning
>”What time?”
Ten...
>You pause for a second
One way
12/x

>Em's stomach growls
>It's been hours since lunch, but she can't take a break
>Too much Tartarus-sent paperwork...
>She looks up at the clock and rests her head on a hoof, exasperated
>5:00
>After looking back at the pile of papers on her desk, she decides that enough is enough for one day
>The letter from Anon sits unopened on her desk and she takes it with her as she leaves her office
>Rose had brought it to her that morning, saying it seemed important, but Em had been too busy with work to sit down and read it
>The florist seemed a little off though, Em thought
>Like she was in a bad mood or something
>Em brushed it off as something happening at work
>On the way home, the letter starts feeling like it's burning a hole in her bag
>She picks up the pace, wanting to get home to read it as soon as she can and hopefully be rid of this sudden anxiety
>Finally she gets home and goes to the living room
>After taking a seat, she pulls the letter out of her bag and opens it
>Having not heard from Anon in the last couple days, Em is filled with anxious curiosity as she reads...

>The restaurant is less crowded than usual when Em arrives
>A host seats her at Table Four and gives her a menu before walking back to the desk, leaving the tan mare alone with her thoughts
>She sits and thinks about how she can tell Anon that she's here without raising any suspicion
>As she looks through the menu, an idea strikes her
>The waiter comes to take her order
I'll have the risotto
>She sits back and waits for the food to come out
13/x

>While Em sits at her table, she looks around idly at all the other patrons
>She munches on some bread, nervousness mounting as the minutes drag on
>The atmosphere of the restaurant doesn't help. It's busy and she can hear every conversation going on around her
>Waiters scurry to and fro, bringing plates out, carrying platters to tables, checking on customers, and bustling about the dining room
>Maybe it was a mistake coming here
>She briefly considers leaving, but is interrupted by the arrival of her dinner
>The aroma of the mushroom risotto brings a flash of memory with it, taking her back to her visit almost a month ago when she impulsively gave Anon her invitation to lunch
>She chuckles to herself as the waiter walks off
>Passing notes like a schoolfilly, secret meetings, secret lessons...
>Thinking about earlier weeks makes her almost giddy, but it's tempered by her and Anon's recent...issues...
>She takes a bite of risotto
>After a second she stops, knotting her brow
>Something isn't quite right
>She swallows, trying to place what's different
>Not enough salt? No, that's not it...
>More thyme than usual? Maybe...
>She gives up after a minute and flags down a waiter
>Whatever is different, it doesn't taste like Anon's cooking
>If he's is in the kitchen, he'll know she's here
I'd like a new risotto. This one has too much thyme
>The waiter nods and takes the plate back to the kitchen
>Em sighs and leans back, looking blankly up at the ceiling
>If that WAS Anon's risotto, she can tease him about it when he inevitably comes out to the table
>He gets flustered when she makes jabs at his cooking
>She smiles to herself a little at the thought
14/x

>A few minutes later the new risotto comes out to the table, carried by the waiter
>Em looks behind him, hoping to see Anon following, but the stallion is alone
>”Here you are, ma'am. Let me know if you need anything else”
Thank you
>She takes a bite, disappointed 
>The risotto still tastes off. She can't place what it is, but it's different
>After eating a little more of the dish, she again flags down the waiter
>”What can I do for you, ma'am?”
I'd like to speak with the Chef, if you don't mind
>”Of course. I'll bring him out, Madam Mayor”
>The stallion trots off towards the kitchen
>Em watches him go and thinks of what she's going to say to Anon when he comes out
>Was he back there but ignoring her? Did he understand that she was sending a message with the return? Was he still ma- Who is that?
>The waiter returns with an unfamiliar unicorn in tow
>”Madam Mayor, our Sous Chef”
Sous Chef?
>The Sous pipes up
>”Yes, Head Chef Anonymous has taken an... extended leave of absence. I'm filling in while he's away”
I see...
>”Did you have a question about the meal?”
>Em looks up at the Sous, a little confusion and more than a little worry crossing her face
No, I just wanted to know who prepared this wonderful risotto
>She gives a superficial smile as the Sous nods
>”Thank you, ma'am”
That's all. Sorry to take up your time
>”Not at all, ma'am”
>A knot forms in Em's stomach, which she tries to bury in risotto
>Did he go somewhere?
>He didn't mention this in his note...
>Suddenly she's not so hungry...
>She puts her fork down and waves the waiter over one last time
Check, please
15/x

>Em walks out of the restaurant, a sense of dread crawling over her
>The clock strikes 7:00 and she looks towards Anon's house, the knot in her stomach growing ever tighter
>Why didn't he say anything about this?
>Was he keeping it from her?
>She stops in the middle of the street as an idea strikes her
>If he's not at the restaurant, where is he?
>An anxious chill rushes down her spine as her mind races to different possibilities
>She looks all around before trotting towards the house
>It's been days since she's seen him
>Days without hearing from him
>And now this happens?
>A letter and then news that he's taking a leave?
>What is going through his head?
>She ignores the ponies who turn their heads as she rushes by them 
>The knot in her stomach tightens painfully when she sees all the lights turned off at Anon's house
No, no... don't jump to conclusions...
>She walks to the door, talking to herself to keep from panicking 
Calm down, Em. He wouldn't just leave. He couldn't. There's a perfectly reasonable explanation...
>She knocks on the door, hoof shaking
...Celestia, I hope there is...
>There's a great silence as she waits in front of the door
>She can hear her heart pounding wondering if he's really gone somewhere without saying anything
>There's a click
>Em's heart skips a beat
>The door opens
>”Em?”
>She launches herself into him, clutching his waist as relief washes over her, lighting up her eyes
>Her mane falls in her face as Anon puts his arms around her and pulls her in
>”I was afraid you didn't get my letter”
>She can feel his heart beating through his chest
>It's racing almost as fast as hers
We should talk
16/x

>Your heart is racing
>The knock at the door had nearly made you jump out of your skin
>So focused were you on packing that you hadn't even realized it was getting dark out
>It took some fumbling to get downstairs, seeing as you'd forgotten to turn any lights on in your hazy state of mind
>And now you open your door and this tan, bespectacled, grey-maned mare is standing there looking like she's about to have a panic attack
Em?
>She practically rockets into you, taking you by surprise
>You lean down and return her embrace
I was afraid you didn't get my letter
>She grips you tighter before looking up at your face, her mane askew
>”We should talk”
>You look out at the town
>The sun has nearly set and the wind is starting to pick up
Well we should go inside, then. It's getting cold out
>The two of you head inside and you turn on some lights
>The train ticket lies on the coffee table. You palm and slip it into your pocket before Em can see
>She takes a seat on the couch across from you as you sit in your chair
>There's an awkward pause before either of you speak
Em, I'm sorry I freaked out a-
>”I'm sorry I freaked out a-”
>Seriously?
>...At the same time?
>That just happened?
>”You first”
>She's blushing
>You think you see traces of a smile at what just happened
Alright. I shouldn't have flipped out when you told me you slept with Hickory. He's just a sore spot for me
>”Why?”
I'd rather not get into it right now... 
>Her smile fades
>”Anon, we need to be open with each other. The secrets game is clearly not going to work”
17/x

>You lean forward and rest your arms on your knees, looking at the floor
>This was a story you'd been hoping to avoid
>But there doesn't seem to be any avoiding it now
I moved to Canterlot four years ago. I'd just come off a job as a Sous Chef in Manehattan and de Selle had contacted me to work as a part time professor for a semester. I taught a class about working in a real-life kitchen and ran a practice-restaurant on campus that the students in my class staffed. I met Hickory Smoke about a month in. He was old and experienced and he came into my kitchen once to see how it was running. Spent the first twenty minutes after I'd met him critiquing the way I was doing things. He said I reminded him of himself when he was younger and decided to give me a job at a restaurant he was opening later that year.
>Thinking back, it was a good time in your life. Canterlot was full of fond memories. Em sits across from you, listening intently
Of course, I accepted. Who wouldn't? I finished the semester and took a position in his kitchen as a Sous. Hickory and I got to be close friends in that time. He was a hard-working stallion. Taught part time at de Selle and ran the business side of the restaurant on top of that. Anyway, I worked for Hickory like that for about a year before I met Fleur.
>”What does that have to do-”
Em, if you're going to understand this, you need the whole story. Bear with me
>She nods, clearly uncomfortable at the mention of Fleur's name
18/x

She was just getting into modeling then. We met when some big-shot decided he needed restaurant-quality catering for a photo shoot and hired my restaurant to do it. We wouldn't have been introduced if not for Fleur's taste for sweets and my unfortunate positioning between her and a tray of baklava. It was like coming between an Ursa Major and her cub. We were an item within a month and dated for two years after that
>Em giggles a little, picturing the event, before readopting her somber face
So while that was going on, I was working my way up in Hickory's restaurant. Two years in and he actually put me in charge of catering the Grand Galloping Gala
>Em's jaw drops
Right? Hickory put so much trust in me and helped me as a Chef more than anyp0ny ever had before. After the Gala he gave me these
>You motion to the knife set lying on the table. After that evening's events you'd put them down in a hurry and rushed upstairs
>Em looks at the knives, then back to you
>”It sounds like you had a very good time in Canterlot, Anon. But I fail to see how-”
I'm getting to that. Canterlot was where I spent four of the best years of my life, Em. You need to hear about them before I can tell you the rest. Alright?
>”Alright”
He had those knives custom made for me. They're my pride and joy, as it were. But that aside, catering the Gala was the greatest thing I'd ever done. I was on top of the world. I had the best job in Equestria, I was dating Fleur de Lis, who'd gotten a high-profile job modeling for Fancypants...I was living the dream...
>You trail off somberly
19/x

...But you have to wake up sometime, I suppose
>Em knots her brow
It happened so fast I barely remember most of it. Just seems like a blur...
>Your tone falls as you recall your last two months in Canterlot
It was the three-year anniversary of Hickory's restaurant. We were all out at the pub having drinks when Hickory started slurring his words
>A knot forms in your throat
At first we thought it was from the booze, but he'd only had a couple drinks. He got up to go to the bathroom and we saw his face droop...
>Em puts a hoof to her mouth
He fell over just after that. We tried to wake him up, someone called for help...By the time we got him to the hospital he was gone. Stroke. Just like that
>You snap your fingers and get up to walk to the kitchen for a glass of water, talking as you go
I fell apart. Couldn't cook, couldn't work...I left the restaurant a week later. I still don't know if I quit or got fired. I broke things off with Fleur a week after that. Nothing dramatic, mind you. No huge fight or anything like that...I just...shut down and we stopped seeing one another.
>You return to your seat across from Em
I moved back to Manehattan for a little while after that before I was contacted about the restaurant opening here that needed a Head Chef. At that point it had been three or four months and I'd gotten past most of my depression, so I decided a change of scenery would be good for me. When you mentioned Hickory back then it brought back some memories I'd wanted to keep buried. More so when we were arguing.
20/x

>”Anon, I'm so sorry...I didn't know...”
It's alright. You couldn't have. Besides, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did when you told me about you and him. He'd told the story of how he'd gotten suspended for sleeping with a student, but hearing you tell it hit a little too close to home. He was like a father to me in some respects
>She sits silently for a minute, processing everything you've told her
>”Sorry...It's just a lot to take in”
>She looks at the floor, pausing for another minute before looking up at you again
>”...I shouldn't have gotten so upset at you about Fleur. I just see her and how gorgeous she is and I get so insecure...jealous...”
Hey, I nearly kicked Fancypants in the face first time I saw him on location with Fleur. You don't have to apologize for getting a little jealous
>Em gives a half-hearted smile
>”Thank you for telling me about Hickory...”
You're right. If this is going to happen we can't have any more secrets. It'll only end badly
>”Okay. Full disclosure then?”
Full disclosure
>She takes a deep breath
>”I'm not actually as old as everyp0ny thinks. I'm 35...”
I'm 34
>She smiles, then looks askance
Something else?
>...
Em...
>”Th.. isn.. my n...l m... c....r....”
What?
>”Th.. isn.. my n...l m...c....r....”
Speak up
>”THIS ISN'T MY NATURAL MANE COLOR”
Wha...
>She realizes she's shouting and sits back down, blushing sheepishly
Not your...You got that embarrassed over something like that? What color is it really? Neon pink?
>She turns a new shade of red and looks at you wide-eyed
>”How did you know that?”
>There's a pause
>Then you burst out laughing, the sheer absurdity overcoming the otherwise dark atmosphere
21/x

>Em looks at you, stone-faced
>”Are you done?”
Hold...on...
>You let out another ten seconds of laughter before pulling yourself together
You've got to be joking. No way that's yo-
>She gets up and walks over to you, parting her mane as she leans in close
>You look at the base of the gray mane and see, just peaking out at the bottom of the hairs, bright pink
Huh. Really don't like it, do you?
>You flop back, her demonstration shutting you up
>”It uh...I don't like the natural color. I've been dyeing it since I was a filly”
>She's blushing
Sorry. I wasn't expecting that to be on the list of revelations tonight
>You look at her and smile before you remember something else
>Em sees your face fall ever so slightly
>”Something wrong?”
>You sigh
I should tell you, just for clarity's sake...
>”What?”
About Rarity. The unicorn with the purple mane?
>”Yes, the Element of...Generosity. I know the one”
Right. Well, we're close. Her parents rented me a room when I first moved here
>Em sits silently again, insecurity coming over her face once more
>”Did you da-”
No. She's like a little sister to me. But she's young and naive. A little impulsive...
>You're not sure how to phrase what you're about to say, so you just wing it and hope for the best
So she...maybe kind of...kissed me the day after my demo with you...
>She winces
>You start to panic, scrambling to do damage-control
She caught me by surprise, Em. And besides, I told her straight that I wasn't interested. I've got you
>You realize as you speak that you've got to tell her
There's more...
>A breathless pause
She knows about us
>”...What?”
I had to tell her
>Em looks displeased
22/x

>”You HAD to tell her?”
Em, she's trustworthy
>The mare looks seriously concerned
I couldn't keep it from her. Not after how I put down her feelings. Besides, she's a close friend. Rose knows about us. Think of it that way
>She sighs and acquiesces
>”I suppose so. Does anyp0ny else know?”
>You hesitate for a moment
...Pinkie Pie does...
>Em's hoof flies to her face as she squints
>”...The baker? How did SHE find out?”
She's intuitive. I guess she put two and two together? That one seriously knows how to read ponies
>She's rubbing her temples now
>”It's alright. I had a slip-up or two of my own, to tell the truth. A couple colleagues have been getting suspicious...”
>You get up and go to the kitchen again
Want something to drink?
>Em returns to the couch and sits down
>”Do you have any wine?”
>You look through your cupboards until you find a bottle
Merlot?
>”Perfect”
>You grab two glasses and a corkscrew before coming back and taking a seat next to her on the couch
>As you pour the wine out, you feel a sense of relief at being able to open up more to this mare
>She takes the glass as you raise yours
Here's to terrible secret-keeping?
>”Cheers to that”
>The two of you take a drink and Em edges closer to you on the couch
>You're near enough to her that you can put your arm over her shoulder
>She leans on you softly
>After a short pause, she speaks up again, quietly
>”I'm sorry for everything, Anon. I really am...”
I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have held what happened in my past against you
>You both sit silently for a minute
>Then you feel her snuggle up to your chest
23/x

>”I forgive you...”
>You can feel her breathing against you
>It's a pleasant feeling, having her here like this. You lean over her and run a hand through her gray mane
I don't know why you're so embarrassed by that pink hair of yours, Em
>She looks up, her face showing a slow-mounting annoyance at your bringing it up again
>”I told you, I-”
>You smile and lean even closer so you can whisper to her
It suits you. I think it might make you even cuter if you let it
>Her ear flutters from your speaking so closely into it
>As you pull back you can see she's blushing deep red
>It's too much to ignore
>After a beat, you've pushed yourself on top of her, your lips locked tightly against hers
>You break the kiss and stare at the mare under you
>A tiny bit of drool trails from her tongue as she stares hazily right back at you
>You missed this feeling
>Her coat is warm and soft, like velvet against your skin
>You lift her glasses off of her and set them on the table before leaning in again and planting your lips on her neck, eliciting a contented sigh 
>Her forelegs encircle you, pulling you even closer, so that you're pressed up against her 
>You coax another sigh from the mare as you brush your fingers along her ear while pushing her mane out of her face
>”Those damnable hands of yours....”
>She gasps when you start drawing light circles around her cutie mark with your finger
You were saying?
>”You're infuriating”
So I'm told
>You catch her in another kiss, more aggressive this time
>It's only been a few days since the fight, but it felt like weeks; months
24/x

>Any remaining thoughts go out the window when she nips your lower lip lightly with her teeth as you pull up for a breath of air
>The look in her eyes isn't hazy anymore
>It's more...hungry
>You take an end of the cravat around her neck and tug to unravel it
>The ribbon-like cloth slowly pulls away, leaving her completely bare
>As you toss the cravat aside, you feel her fumbling with your shirt
>With a chuckle you pin her forehooves down and ask in a low whisper
What do you think you're doing?
>She doesn't answer, simply looking at you, her eyes flitting alternately to your chest and belt
>Her blush is steadily deepening as you let her go so you can sit upright and pull off the shirt
>She takes the opportunity to leap up and take the lead
>Em's marshmallow hoof traces along your abdomen as she puts her lips to yours, her tongue desperately seeking yours
>You happily oblige her, letting your hands wander about her back
>She shivers heavily as you trail a finger along her spine
>After a couple of minutes she breaks away and whispers in your ear, her breath heavy and hot
>”Shall we head upstairs, Chef?”
Think you can make it that long, Mayor?
>”I'll manage...”
>There is no sleep to be had for either of you tonight
>Nor for your neighbors
>The house will need to be re-shingled due to what the contractor later describes as “Earthquake-like shaking damage”
>A passing pegasus falls out of the sky upon hearing the sounds coming from your bedroom
>Luna, watching over Equestria during the night, spends four hours trying to get her wings down
25/x

>Morning comes bearing news reports of an unexplainable early estrus sweeping across Equestria
>You slowly wake up with Em nestled snugly against you
>She's still sound asleep, her breathing slow and calm
>You lay a light kiss on her neck and try to wriggle out of bed without waking her up
>It doesn't work
>You somehow manage to tangle yourself in the sheets and as you swing your legs over the edge of the bed you flip yourself over, pulling Em down with you
>A loud yelp lets you know that she's awake now
>”...Good morning...?”
Sorry. So much for letting you sleep in
>”Oh, it's not so bad”
>She crawls on top of you and lays herself on your chest
>”I heard you were on a leave of absence, but I've got a weird feeling that's not quite true”
>You look away
>She kisses your cheek
>”You know, I don't even mind”
>You gaze up at her before motioning for her to get off you
Wait here
>You walk downstairs and pick up your kitchen knife and putting it in its individual carrying case before returning to the bedroom
>Part of you can't believe you're doing this
>The rest of you can't think of anything more appropriate
>”What have you got behind your ba-”
>She stops when you produce the knife
>”Anon, what's-”
>Her eyes go wide
I want you to have this
>You place the knife in her hooves
You mean more to me than I originally thought. I really thought I was going to lose you...
>She sits paralyzed on the floor
>After a beat, she's wrapped her hooves around you
>”I guess I'll really have to learn how to cook now, so I can use it?”
I guess I'll have to get teaching
End

Pastebin.com Tools & Applications

iPhone/iPad

Windows

Firefox

Chrome

WebOS

Android

Mac

Opera

Click.to

UNIX

WinPhone