[FM: Shimmer Light / Hexferry / Actias ] [MM: Pepper Dust] [SFW]
 
>You are Shimmer Light.
>... You're currently... just sitting.
>Hexferry thought it would be a brilliant idea to introduce you to at least one of the stallions of the moth village.
>After crossing off most of them as "absolutely not!", she chose Pepper Dust.
>As you sit in his completely-silent house, you don't know why she thought that was wise.
>He's sneezed more often than he's spoken.
>Hexferry has said way more than he has.
>... Basic conversation-starter comments like "What do you two have in common?", "Uh, what things do you like?" and "So... Anything interesting at all...?"
>Things along those lines.
>Most of them were met with either silence or a quick, one-line answer.
>You've been here a while.
>Pepper Dust seems nervous, but he also seems... incredibly calm.
>It's an odd mixture.
>He's jittery yet he can just sigh away nerves.
>He isn't doing anything about the stagnation of the visit, but he's making sure he feels as little of the tension as he can.
>... His home is odd.
>There are plants growing out of... everything.
>Hexferry asked about them, but Pepper Dust just said something about it being his job.
>...
>Hexferry rises to her hooves.
>She... looks quite annoyed.
>Rightfully so, everything seems to be falling apart.
>"Fine, if you won't talk, maybe I'll get someone who can get you to talk, like Acteus, or Virgo, or maybe Caramel!"
>"No!"
>Pepper Dust looks... almost angry.
>"Bringing in Virgo or Caramel would do more bad than good. They can hardly even control themselves."
>... A good description of them, from what you've heard.
>Still, you give him a quizzical look.
>He turns his attention back toward you and sighs.
>"They live off their own enjoyment while hardly caring about who they're a jerk to along the way."
>He scoffs and turns away.
>Hexferry moves closer to him.
>"Virgo might be like that but Caramel is nice! She can be a little difficult to handle at times, but she isn't that mean!"
 
>"Are you kidding me? You, of everyone, should know I'm right! She lives off embarrassing you and everyone else!"
>"Well, Virgo just asks everyone he can for a lay!"
>"So does Caramel!"
>... Hexferry backs down.
>Pepper Dust stands his ground.
>"The only difference between them is Virgo is male and Caramel is female!"
>With that, Pepper Dust seems to have won the stand-off.
>You feel a little sorry for Hexferry, but her point was too flawed to hold.
>... You agree with Pepper Dust.
>He's more cynical about the moths around him than you thought he was.
>Maybe you do have something in common.
>Hexferry's views of the moths in the village seem to be based more on opinion, where Pepper Dust's are made of facts and logic.
>... You wonder what differences you can hear from the two of them.
"What..."
>Both turn to you as though they'd forgotten you were there.
>... Maybe they did.
"What do you think of Meisa?"
>Pepper Dust blinks and sneezes before stammering out an answer.
>"Sh-she's very kind. She's probably the nicest moth in this whole village. Meisa genuinely cares about everyone."
>... Maybe you were wrong.
>That's about the same answer Hexferry gave you.
>You'll just have to try a different moth.
"And Acteus?"
>His face gains a tint of red.
>"A-A-A-Actia..."
>He keels forward with a powerful sneeze.
>"Sh-she's really n-nice."
>She?
>"And her voice is beautiful..."
>... Right. Acteus and Actias are siblings.
>Siblings whose names are pronounced exactly the same.
>Absolute genius on their parents' part.
>"... Beautiful..."
>Well, he certainly let out more than he meant to.
>He recoils back and covers his mouth.
>Hexferry must not have been paying full-attention to him, because she looks somewhat confused.
>He's incredibly lucky you aren't the type to speak about others.
>The rest of the visit is a great learning experience of the moths you coexist with.
>... It wasn't that bad.