Will Work For Food

>Holy ballsack, it's freakin' cold out today!

>My scarf blows around wildly from the winds and the blowing snow.

>The bit I use as a face mask does absolutely nothing to keep my face warm either.

>The blowing snow keeps my eyes squinting so hard that they're almost shut.

>With my ruck on my back, I make way to town.

>It takes way longer than it's supposed to in this wind, fog, and snow and at one point I think I had lost my way.

>Thankfully, that fear was put to rest when I had accidentally stumbled through the gates of the town.

>I made eye contact with one of the guards, but the amount of warming layers he had on coupled with the low visibility concealed his identity.

>Pushing on, the streets are nearly deserted what with everyone holed up in their warm and toasty homes.

>There is one random pony walking on the street.

>I have a question for him.

"Hey.  Excuse me."

>"What?" they shout back.

"Excuse me!  Can you tell me something?"

>"Sure!"

"Who can I talk to about opening a stall or something around here?"

>"Town hall!"

>He points to the building kiddy corner of the intersection from us.

"Thanks, bud!"

>"Call me Golden!"

"Blue!  Charmed!"

>He nods and then runs past me, turning a right at the end of the block.

>I also hurry up and get inside to get out of this weather.

 

>Kicking open the doors of the building, I quickly rush in and slam them shut behind me.

>A violent shiver comes from deep within my bones.

>Melting snow flings from my coat and the floor becomes soaked and muddy from my hooves.

>That can just be mopped right up.

>Looking around, there's no one else to be seen.

>The Golden guy didn't just lie to me, did he?

>A door at the other end of a room has a placard with the name 'Ikea' on it.

>Best lead I got.

>Walking over, I give it a few kicks.

>"Come in!" calls a voice inside.

>Bingo.

>Lightly pushing the door in, I peer inside.

"Hello?"

>"Yes, yes!  Come in!"

>I push the door open a little more I see a blue unicorn staring very close and intently at his desk.

>A single hoof is ever-so-gently nudging a book towards the corner of the desk.

>The unicorn moves his head to the edge of the desk and slowly starts pushing the book in the opposite direction.

>He looks up and smile.

>"Welcome!  My name is Ikea.  Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

>He came out from behind his desk and extended a hoof towards me.

>I met him halfway and gave him a hoofshake.

"Blue."

>"Good day to you, Blue.  How may I help you?"

"Someone said I can speak to you about possibly opening a stall or something around here?"

>"Of course!  Please have a seat right over there."

>Ikea pointed towards a chair placed before his desk before he trotted back around to take a seat.

 

>I take my seat and watch as he takes a few seconds to position himself just right on the chair.

>He also adjusts several things on his desk for some reason.

>"So what can I help you with?" he finally asks.

"Just a few questions.  First off, I was wondering if I would be able to open a little stall or just take up a street corner to sell some firewood off of."

>Ikea tilts his head quizzically.

>"Sell firewood?  Why?"

"Well, trade really.  I need a job and I'm told that's a resource the town needs right now."

>Ikea shakes his head.

>"No I mean why are you trying to sell it in the first place?  We collect and hand out firewood on a daily basis for free."

"O-Oh..."

>"Yeah.  Everything the community has is collected and distributed evenly amongst the inhabitants."

"What, like Communism?"

>"I'd prefer to call it Collectivism, but yes."

>My eye twitched and the urge to murder this town's Stalin rises.

>But unfortunately I need to play along if I need to get this done.

"Well...  Alright then.  So what, I can just go collect some food and stuff and be on my way?"

>"Only if you're willing to work for it," said Ikea.

>There's always a catch...

 

"So tell me what needs to happen."

>"Well we can put you where we need you and you can earn your upkeep like that, or you can decide where you'd fit best."

>Well there really isn't any area I'd prefer to be in that would be possible at this point in time nor would I have the equipment for.

>I give Ikea a shrug.

"Woodcutting?"

>"Excellent.  Speak with Cherenkov at the sawmill for details on your job.  You can pick up your daily rations from almost anywhere in town provided you actually work."

"Any way I can get a bag of straight flour?"

>"Hmm..."

>Ikea rubber a hoof under his chin.

>"You'll have to check with Rain Drop at the farm on that one.  I can't answer that."

"So that it?"

>Ikea's eye twitched a little.

>"Yes.  That IS everything to my knowledge," he replied with a somewhat irritated tone.  "Is there anything else I can help you with?" he said again but with a significantly more friendly tone.

>My ears flattened and I was feeling just a tad uncomfortable, but a quick shake of my head got the point across just fine.

>"Terrific!" Ikea beamed with a smile.

>He hopped off his chair and walked around his desk once more.

>Offering up a hoof once more, I hop down and give it a shake.

>"If you have anymore questions, feel free to come back."

"Will do.  Thanks a lot."

>As I exited the office, I noticed Ikea was adjusting the position of the chair I was just sitting on.

 

>From the town hall, I followed Ikea's advice and made my way down to the saw mill.

>The wind calmed down a bit but I had forgotten how cold it was today.

>A layer of snow covered the rooftops of the buildings along the street I walked as I headed for the river.

>Crossing the bridge, I looked down into the flowing water below.

>Some ice floes were floating downstream towards the docks.

>Off to the left, just a little ways upstream, was the sawmill with it's water wheel turning in the current.

>Coming off the bridge and taking a left up the road, it only takes a minute before I reach the sawmill.

>The scent of fresh cut pine hit my nostrils as I drew close.

>A familiar-looking unicorn sat outside in the lumber yard.

>Walking up, I ask the question.

"Are you Cherenkov?"

>He looked up from appeared to be him taking stock and faced me.

>"Indeed I am.  Who are you?"

"Blue.  We met several months ago."

>He squinted his eyes and gave you a puzzled look before his face lighting up.

>"Oh right!  I remember you.  I thought you were dead?"

"Nope.  Just went full hermit for a while there.  I'm here about possibly enlisting as a lumberjack."

>"Oh, sure.  We're a little shorthanded at the moment so we could use all the help we can get.  Just come by tomorrow morning and we'll get you started."

"Really?  Just like that?"

>"Yup.  See you later, Blue."

"Yeah.  Later, Cherenkov."

>Hm.  That was easy.

>Onwards to the farm, then.

 

>The farm was just back at the end of the road from whence I just came.

>Unfortunately there were two farms across the street from one another.

>I'll hit the one on the left first.

>I walk through the front gate and up the path to the farmhouse.

>A large red barn sat off to the right and a windmill spun in the breeze on the left.

>I assume they're grinding wheat.

>Coming up to the porch, I knock on the door and take a step back.

>A female pegasus opens the door.

"I assume you're Rain Drop?"

>"No.  You must have the wrong house."

"Oh.  My apologies."

>Turning around to leave, the pegasus laughs and takes a step outside.

>"I'm kidding.  Yes, I'm Rain Drop.  How may I help you?"

"Splendid.  My name's Blue.  I'm here to ask if I can take some flour from you."

>"May I ask why?"

"Rations."

>"I- Uh...  No.  Only those who work are allowed to take from the food stores."

"I do work.  Well, I'm going to.  Tomorrow.  Ikea at the town hall said I might be able to come by to-"

>"Oh, Ikea sent you?  Well if he thinks that's okay then I don't see why not.  You can get 3 bread loaves worth of flour a day to be picked up here.  Is that alright?"

"Yeah, that sounds fine.  Thank you.  Any way I can take some with me now?"

>"No, I'm sorry.  You'll have to come back tomorrow."

"Well that sucks.  Alrighty then.  Tomorrow it is."

>Rain Drop shivers from the wind.

>"Would you like to come in and warm up or something?  That little scarf doesn't seem to be doing you much good."

"I'll be fine.  Just gotta get home.  Thanks again."

>"Bye, Blue."

>I decide to trot home to try to get a little warmer.

>It works.

>Now to kill time until tomorrow morning rolls around.