>Night We're Going to Have to Work At This Everyday on Earth
>Be Anonymous the Usher
>You sweep the isle in your usual diligent manner as the sound of hooves stomping about begins to fade
>The film projection disappears from the large screen before you and the lights slowly glow brighter
>By the time you clean the topmost row of seats, the theatre is empty
>You make your way through the seats as you pick up candy wrappers, discarded soft drink cups, and mop up questionable white stains
>It is a thankless job, but you do your damnedest to make sure it is accomplished
>Within the 30 minute window, you see the previews begin to roll on screen again
>The standard commercials roll by that you have seen a million times before
>You finish up as some awful ad featuring talking confectioneries begins playing
>"When your sweet-tooth starts to ache, fix it quick with a malted shake! If your tummy's getting rumbly, grab some crunchy popcorn munchies!"
>You sigh at the very sight of this terrible animation and begin to pack away your cleaning kit
>Stashing all your equipment in a corner, you check the time to see that there is only one more screening for a late night movie
>It is some kind of drama or perhaps a romance movie from the title, but neither one interests you
>The beauty of a late night movie is that no one, pony or person, in this sleepy town ever comes in
>You reserve yourself to sitting in the upper rows and relaxing your feet on the opposite chair
>Tilting your hat downward, you cover your face and attempt to get in a quick nap
>It is easy to filter out the surrounding noise these days as you snore lightly to yourself
>The theatre becomes silent for the moment as the commercials end and you hear the faintest sound of hoof beats in the air
>You quickly look up to see a grey mare trotting up the isle
>There are 109 seats in this movie theatre, but she decides to sit beside you
>For a moment, you just look to the mare with a pleasant smile
>The lights dim and the projector begins rolling again as the movie starts
>You turn your head casually towards the mare to get a better look at her features without attracting too much attention
>She is grey in coat with a sugarplum coloured mane and tail
>Her mane is long and wild as is her tail and her fetlocks are unshorn
>As you continue to study her, the mare shifts her gaze in your direction
>You pull back out of some part fear and another part respect, but you think she still saw you
>"Oh, um, hey? You need something?"
"Hmm, me? No, no, nothing, thanks."
>You take a deep breath and relax as you try to watch the movie
>As the opening credits roll, the name, "The Notebook" appears on screen and the pony beside you wiggles excited
>She whispers aloud to herself as her eyes focus
>"Damn it..."
"I'm sorry, what?"
>The mare looks to you with a little blush on her cheeks
>"Sorry, said that out loud again, sorry."
"No, no, you're fine. Something happen?"
>The mare snaps her attention to you again
>"Hmm? No, everything's fine. I just have to watch this movie -again- for class."
"You're a student?"
>"Yes, at the University of Manehattan. Film student."
>You nod as the pony speaks quickly to you
>Turning back to the movie, you watch what transpires
"So... You've seen this already, but why did you come all the way out here to watch it again?"
>"I like this movie theatre."
>Fair enough, you think, but the travelling alone is not worth the price of admission
>You return to your upright position as you begin to watch the movie
>Events play by of an old man telling a story of a young couple
>It is not too long before the mare beside you starts whispering again
>"This shot's framed weird..."
"What's that?"
>She looks to you as if you were the one to start the conversation
>"What's what?"
"You just said the shot is framed weird, right?"
>"Oh, did I? Sorry, thought bubble."
>She chuckles nervously and fidgets a bit to get comfortable
>The movie plays on as you try to study the mare again
>Her face smirks and frowns at the movie and she occasionally chuckles, but you hardly see her looking at the movie itself
>It is as if her focus is everywhere, but the movie!
>"The lighting's all wrong..."
>You try and see what she is looking at, but finally give up and ask
"Where?"
>She points with a hoof at a corner between a shot of some trees and a house
>"There... It's just too dark."
>You look carefully and finally catch the spot before the scene changes
>The couple begins talking again, or fighting as it were, and you look to the commotion
>"Dialogue's OK... Ryan Gosling at least knows how to act..."
>You stare at the movie for a second and think about it
>For a moment, you see the movie in a new light
>Instead of seeing what the movie presents, you think about how the movie presents it
"Film student, right? That's what you said earlier, yeah?"
>"Hmm? Oh, yes, why?"
"So, can you like watch movies or is it all just sets and lights and cameras for you?"
>"I suppose I might be thinking about the production a bit... I've seen this movie already too, so it's not like the stories gripping me."
"Makes sense. And, hey, I didn't get your name?"
>The pony is silent for a moment before she looks away from you
>"M-me? Heh, my name's Telecast."
>You chuckle at pony naming conventions
"Good name. I'm Anonymous, but everyone just calls me 'Anon'."
>"Oh, yeah, I know."
>You look about in confusion for the moment
"You know? How?"
>Telecast giggles at you for a second before pointing at your vest
>"You're wearing a nametag, silly."
>You are overcome with embarrassment for a brief moment before you let go your own laugh
"I forgot all about that. Nice to meet you still."
>The movie rolls on as Telecast pokes a million or so holes into the film
>Her interpretation of the film leaves you smiling for the first time in a while
>"It's not a bad film, it's just so obvious and predictable. They want the tear-jerker audience."
"Hah, whatever makes money, right?"
>"Eh, they had the star power for it. This movie got really good reviews and it was free for me anyways."
>You grade this for a moment
"Film students get to see movies for free?"
>"Pfft, I wish. My dad owns this movie theatre, so I usually come here when I have an assignment like this."
>She smiles with you as your face turns into panic
>"Hey, Anon, you OK?"
"Your father is Mr. Big Screen?!"
>"Oh, yeah, why?"
>You try to chuckle the fear away with little success
"No reason..."
>You thought this mare was too cute to be true
>"Don't worry, I won't tell him you were slacking off and watching a movie with me."
>A hoof slides over your hand as a pair of big blue eyes looks up at you in the dim light
>"Thanks for letting me complain. It was a fun... date?"
>With a swift motion, Telecast stands and pecks you on the cheek
>She quickly nods to herself and makes haste out of the theatre
>You hold a cool hand to your now warm face and watch the mare disappear into the hallway
>A smile creeps along your mouth until your face begins to hurt
"Yeah, good date."
>You stand in your stupor a while longer until the projector falls silent
>With a weak, barely audible voice, you whisper into the darkness
"S-same time next w-week?"
>Anon, you sly dog, you!
 
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>Day Source Material on Earth
>Be Anonymous
>It has been nearly a month since you last saw Telecast, but your head still rings with her voice
>Your encounter was short, but you are sure she would be fun to hang out with in the long term
>It helps that she was the first girl to ever kiss you, even if it was just on the cheek!
>You daydream while balancing yourself on your mop before a gruff voice splits the air
>”Anonymous!”
>You turn quickly to see your employer, Mr. Big Screen, standing behind you
>”Get those floors clean before the next screening! I don’t pay you to nap!”
>With a carefully frightened step, you vigorously begin to scrub at the floor
>Mr. Big Screen stands behind you for the moment and you can feel his eyes boring into you
>Before too long, he walks off and you calm down enough to work
>Saturday is always busy at the theatre and your boss hangs around all day to make sure the place runs like clockwork
>You do not care for his micromanaging ways
>The time wanes on, people come and go and, as always, the mess piles up
>It is about 11 o’clock when the final rush of movie-goers ends and you move into the late night crowd
>Nighttime is a strange time for a movie theatre
>The crowds are made up of more relaxed people, be it by virtue of tiredness or drinking, and you enjoy seeing the lot of them amble about
>You wheel your janitorial supplies out into the hallway before opening the doors for the guests
>Being Saturday, certain pony films from their confusing land of Equestria get screened
>While you have never really watched one yourself, you find at least 20% of any crowd is regular people
>A fifth of any viewing population is pretty good, you think, as most Americans hardly find foreign films from other cultures as tolerable
>You can relate; who wants to -read- a movie!?
>As the crowd shuffles in, you notice a grey pony with a large straw hat on her head
>Your heart thumps for the moment and you can already feel your mouth getting dry
>As she approaches, your dreams are realized
>Telecast stands before you in all her glory before proceeding on by without so much as a greeting
>You turn and watch her walk into the dim theatre before the last few ponies enter
>Closing the door, you step inside and see everyone taking their seats and settling in
>A terrible idea crosses your mind to find Telecast and say, “Hello” at the very least
>The previews roll as you begin to creep around the outskirt of the seating
>Looking to the seats, you scan for the straw hat as best you can
>It appears your almost-friend took it off, which is kind of her to other people, but leaves you guessing
>You continue to search as the theatre darkens and the film begins
>If anyone were to find you interrupting guests…
>You shudder at the very thought of it
>Pressing on in your desperation, you try to swiftly move through the aisles
>The sound of music and an introduction emanate from the powerful speakers
>”O’ Masters, O’ Noble Ponies, O’ Brothers! Know you that in the time of Lofty Hooves the Upright, there lived on the golden shore a pony of adventure called Sing Bad the Sailor…”
>You listen only long enough to feel that you recognize this snippet when a pony whispers angrily to you
>”Down in front, we’re trying to watch a movie!”
>You duck out of the way and nearly crawl towards the exit
>Defeated, you take your position outside the door and wait for the movie to end
>Time seems to drag on as you sweep the halls and generally loaf about
>As your watch strikes 12, you hear commotion from the inner chambers
>You open the door and await the flood of guests into the hallway
>Ponies of every colour and size stagger out as their large eyes adjust to the light
>One particular pony stumbles about with their eyes twisted to either side until she knocks over a trash bin
>”Oops, my bad!”
>You sigh lightly and quickly pick it up
>When you look back up, a grey face is set before you
>Blue eyes swirl in the light and widen as they stare at you
>”Hey, Anon.”
>You can hardly move as Telecast holds you in her mesmerizing grip
“Oh, hey! Hey, you…”
>Summoning up your courage, you squeeze out the next line
“What’s happening?”
>Telecast backs up a bit and stands smartly
>Her wide brimmed, straw hat sits to one side of her head as her ear twitches
>”Oh, just watching this movie tonight. I was in town and thought you’d be here.”
“Yeah, hah, I’m always working. Oh, earlier, did you hear me?”
>”Hmm, yes, I did. I just didn’t want you to get in trouble. Dad always tells me not to hassle his employees while they’re working.”
“Hassle? No, never, not you. So, um…”
>You stutter as you try to come up with the right thing to say, but Telecast reads your mind
>”So, you want to do something when you get off?”
 “Of course!”
>Telecast cocks her eyebrow at your sudden blast of enthusiasm
“I mean, ahem… Of course, I would.”
>You James Bond impressions are certainly getting better
>A wide grin spreads over Telecast’s face
>”I don’t really have anything in mind. Want to grab some dinner?”
>You have never wanted dinner so badly in your life
>A quick nod and a few minutes later, you find yourself out of work and smelling of chemical cleaners
>The warm night air caresses you as you emerge from the theatre for the first time in hours
>Telecast trots happily beside you and the rhythmic clop of her hooves on concrete rise lightly in the stillness
"So, uh... What do you guys like to eat?"
>Telecast looks up at you for the moment
>"Us -guys-?"
"Sorry, I mean ponies! I mean, I just don't really know what ponies eat. I don't have any friends who are ponies... That's not a bad thing though! I mean, you know? Ponies, they're great! I..."
>Telecast slashes her hoof in front of her mouth before smiling
>"It's OK, I was only joking."
>You chuckle into a downward sigh at your awkwardness
>"I prefer a good salad. Not really a big eater."
>You nod happily, despite having no idea what a "good" salad entitles
>As you cross the parking lot, you reach in your pocket and pull out a single silvery key
>The car before you is a dull orange colour, with a spot of rust or two, mismatched hubcaps, and a crack on the windshield
>"Honda Civic... Nice car."
"I'm saving up for a Maserati someday."
>You know that someday is too distant to pinpoint on your current salary
>You open the door for Telecast and she climbs in quickly
"Do you... Do you ride in cars often?"
>"Hmm? Oh, I suppose not in the front like this. Dad has a driver usually."
>A driver, you think, must be a nice car to need to pay someone else to drive it
>"This is kind of cozy though."
>Your heart flutters for a moment at the compliment as you buckle your friend in
>Ponies look really uncomfortable in seatbelts
>The car starts with only minor coaxing from you and you begin to drive off
>It does not take long until you pass a small pizzeria with their lights on
>Pizza places sell salads and real food, you ponder
>You pull up and free Telecast from your clunker
>"The roads are pretty bumpy down here, yeah?"
>You could blame the roads or the suspension as you shrug silently
>The pizzeria smells heavenly as your empty stomach begins to grumble
>"Oh, I didn't even think about pizza. Do I want a salad or pizza?"
"Why not both?"
>"Would you eat the salad with me? I don't want to waste food."
>You nod at this seemingly reasonable request
>The food comes in short order and you grab drinks for both Telecast and yourself
>Coke, of course, for you, but Telecast requests water
>Salad, water; A cheap date if ever you have heard of one!
"So, um, what's college like?"
>"Hmm? It's OK. A little boring some days."
>Telecast takes a bite of some leafy green thing and chews modestly
>"Whaf about 'oo?"
>You stumble about your words for the moment
"Oh, I'm still applying for college. Haven't found just the right one."
>"Bummer... I'm sure you'll figure it out. I know how hard it can be for humans."
>Instantly, you have your attention focused
"Hard for humans? What does that mean?"
>Telecast clears her mouth with a sip of water before sighing contently
>"Oh, like, it is harder for humans to figure things out. Like what they are good at or even what they should do."
"What's so different for ponies?"
>Telecast glances back and forth for the moment, grading your reaction
>"You are kind of clueless. It's cute."
>You are certainly not cute and perhaps only a little clueless
>The pony stands up on the cushioned seat and proudly displays her rear for you
>"See my cutie mark? Humans don't get these, right?"
>Her butt wags in the air and you turn your face to one side in embarrassment
 "Um, no, can't say we do."
>Telecast sits down again and smirks at you from across the table
>"Our cutie marks tell us what we are destined for... In a round about way."
>You sober up and find yourself curious about this
"So, like, you can only be whatever your cutie mark tells you to be?"
>"More or less, but it works well for equinity."
>You recognize that word from Equestria History class
>It suddenly begins to dawn on you why that is mandatory in high school after all
"I suppose I need to do my research better if we're going to keep hanging out."
>You take a nibble at your pizza slice and look across to the intriguing pony before you
>Everything is off about this situation, you think, until you get caught up in her eyes again
>They are so full and vibrant that you can hardly avert your gaze
>Never having grown up around ponies, it seems strange to be so comfortable around this one
>"Eh, I don't really mind. Not like it matters between friends, right?"
>A lump forms in your throat at the word
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. To friends."
>You slide your glass forward
>Telecast response in kind as you toast your new found friendship
>"You're kind of off from most humans I've met."
"Well, I guess..."
>With a sly grin, Telecast interrupts
>"... I kind of like it."
>You do not hesitate to take the compliment from her
>A limousine pulls up outside the shop and you see a wide, tall, and generally unfriendly looking brute step out
>He quickly enters the pizzeria and spots his target
>"Miss Telecast, your father has sent me to take you home... It is -late-."
>She sighs lightly with the chauffer and turns to you
>"I had a good time even if it was short."
>Telecast climbs partway over the table and presses her face into yours
>A warm, fuzzy muzzle pecks your cheek before Telecast pulls back enough to see her eyes
>Like the most marvelous sapphires, her wide eyes shine in the pale lighting
>"Thanks for dinner."
>You stumble in your trance as she separates from you
"Y-you too..."
>Telecast disappears into the night as you sit before a half-eaten bit of cold dough and sauce
>The bliss of Telecast's affection radiates across your face until the bill is brought to you
>"That'll be 8.50 plus tip."
>If you were not so blindly infatuated, you would certainly have something to say
>Instead, you pay the man and head off for home
>As you walk to your car, you phone vibrates in your pocket
>You discover a text message with a smiley face and phone number signed with "TC"
"Do ponies even use phones?"
>Shaking your head, you realize you need to get some professional advice
>Considering the network you have, the most reasonable source for information on both the opposite gender and different species would have to be your father
>This is going to suck