1835 replies and 44 files omitted.
>>129927"I just arrived here and…and I want to know if you would like some help in the store. I think I can do a good job here." Amber gives a shy smile and she has been tapping the tip of her left front hoof on the floor.
>>129928She looks at her and squints her eyes slightly, Noe looking at amber with the same, inspecting look that she gave the coat
“And what kind of job
can you do?”
>>129930“Mhmm”
She now moves closer, circling around, looking at the free. At one point, she grabs a portion with pink aura, examining it
>>129931free what?The dress is of a coarse but soft common wool died a midnight blue. Details like four-sided stars are of a lighter blue and are evidently stitched in by hoof; the work is not terribly complex but is quite decent for an earth pony without a sewing machine. A faint lingering musty odor as well as its decades-old style in terms of length and frills at various locations including the cannons indicate that the dress is quite possibly older than the mare wearing it.
>>129932Something like >pic related, except of higher and sturdier quality, the stars being embroidered rather than shiny, and of the aforementioned winter style
>>129932>>129933Reee, it's supposed to be "dress""Hmmm..." She continues looking at the dress, and starts to talk to Amber without eye contact
"It's harder and harder to find that shade of dye anymore. Certainly not for country earthponies. Not any more."
Now she makes eye contact
"Tell me, what is it you imagine an a salespony does? Add up sales in the cash register? Is that why you mentioned 'arithmetic'?"
>>129934Amber rubs her pastern against her chin in a thinking pose for a few moments.
"I think…a salespony's job is to convince customers that getting clothes here is a really good idea, answer their questions, take inventory, and of course count items sold." She smiles nervously.
>>129935She raises both eyebrows towards Amber
"I suppose if you abstract from the process, that is what a salespony does, yes. But business is never conducted in the abstract, always in the particular. And it's these particulars that make or break a business, and that anypony must know to be even passable at that business. Before I continue, I should add that I do indeed expect every salespony to 'know arithmetic.' How else could I trust them with a cash register and money? But I will continue by rephrasing my same question: why is it, you believe, ponies buy clothing?"
>>129936Amber widens her eyes in surprise at this new question. She opens her mouth to speak, reconsiders, and then hesitantly starts talking.
"I would say, well, it's not always about getting use out of clothing, but, mmm, more to do with how it reflects oneself? How a piece of clothing fits or matches a particular pony can change how she views herself and what others think of her at that particular moment. Maybe some ponies like to look pretty in front of others, too." She anxiously watches for the older mare's reaction.
>>129937She nods
"I suppose that's better than I expected from a countryside earth pony. Clothing is a representation of oneself to others. Who they think they are, who they want to be, and who they want other ponies to think they are. Sometimes, it serves as a visual expression of those aspects of a pony that makes her unique and standout. More often, ponies simply want to blend in and be a part of the herd, with the qualification that the herd to which they wish to belong is 'professional,' or 'high class,' or a part of the accepted in-group of the place and time. And sometimes, just sometimes, a stallion wants a coat because he is cold in the winter.
But really, the question I asked you is a question that must not be considered 'answered,' but must be asked anew in each individual case. Why is
this mare buying an article of clothing, and for whom? What do they seek to accomplish with their purchase? Moreover, what are they able and willing to spend? Answering these questions with any great success requires both an innate talent for understanding others, and wisdom that can only be built with experience."
>>129939"And such is the limitation of a limited range of life experience."
>>129941"I suppose I can't expect much better at market wages... Perhaps on a trial basis. So long as you don't cause me to lose customers..."
>>129943"And why is that, young mare?"
>>129945I think it's time for another cuteness roll
>>129947She places a hoof to her chin looking at Amber
"We all have to start somewhere, I suppose. And you can start here if you can demonstrate how to use a cash register and how to hang up product."
Amber vigorously nods. "I can do that."
The old unicorn slowly wakes up as morning arrives...
>>129951Light makes its way into the room from the large glass doors and the windows to the right, though the morning sun shines through neither. Silver finds himself in a big, fluffy bed with a griffin sleeping next to him
>>129952He smiles, feeling wonderful from last night and from getting to wake up next to this wonderful sight. He cuddles up with her while trying to keep from waking her.
>>129953Her body and head face away from him and she at least seems to be asleep. Silver has unimpeded access to her back fur, the feathers, and her right wing. Her chest rises and falls slowly and softly as she sleeps, with more or less silent breathing.
>>129954He spoons the griffon and buries his snout in her soft neck feathers. He is content to stay like that for as long as she remains asleep.
>>129955She lays there, evidently sleeping, for some minutes more. There's no need to keep track of the passage of time, and Silver may even fall back into sleep before waking again. After some time, the breathing skips a beat, and Jubilosa's head moves slightly, followed by her whole body which starts to pull away until it comes in tension with Silver's legs and stops. She tilts her head back to look over to Silver.
>>129956Silver opens an eye to peak at the griffin. He's currently got his warm smile on as he sees her stir.
"Good morning Jubilosa. Sleep well?"
>>129957"Huh?"
Jubilosa places a foreleg down to prop part of her forebody up, and allow her head to look around the room. For just a moment, she looks almost confused
"... Yes"
>>129958Silver lets his griffon go to bring his head up as well.
"Something wrong?"
>>129959She is silent for a moment. Then for another moment, and Silver may think she is ignoring his question. Then she answers
"I am just sober, that is all"
>>129960The unicorn is silent in response, unsure precisely how to take that. His ears droop slightly.
"Ah...alright."
He scoots over to the edge of the bed, then off of it to stretch his limbs out and take a look outside out on the balcony.
>>129961There's a glass swinging door. It's locked, but it's locked from Silver's side. Beyond this, Silver can see that the deck is wooden, with a wooden railing, and has a small table and a couple chairs. Jubilosa sits up silently
>>129962Silver unlocks it, and sits down in one of the chairs.
>>129963Exiting to the outside, Silver can see the sun rising over the bay entrance, and a few boats, mostly fishing boats, moving along the bay. A thick plank of wood protrudes from the balcony, with a part of the railing in front of it on hinges, evidently a door
>>129964"Must be for fliers."
Silver sits down and watches the sunrise. He realizes that it might be a good idea to buy an ashtray for the balcony so he can smoke on it.
>>129965At least there is a small gap in the balcony that would allow water or cigarette ash through, though it would fall onto the lower porch.
After some time, Jubilosa slowly walks out, sitting in the chair next to Silver
>>129966Silver looks over to her.
"I am glad to hear you slept well."
>>129967“No bad dreams this time.” She says plainly. She does not look over to Silver, but instead to the water
>>129968Silver waits a few moments before asking his next question, dreading the answer.
"You were not so fond of last night, huh?"
>>129971"In the hallway. Did I kill that griffin? There were many hallways and many griffins, I know. The one with the colt I mean. Where I was stabbed."
>>129972"Hmm...I cannot recall if that was one of those we healed or not."
After looking down while thinking, Silver looks back at her.
"So that is what has your mind preoccupied...would you like to talk about it?"
>>129973She is silent for a moment, then blinks
"I didn't join the militia to be with Corazón, or when my country was attacked. I was fine flying milk around. I didn't want to fight for that... but when you all showed up... I wanted to show what griffins were. So I fought and got stabbed. I helped to save a
pony against griffins... damned Imperials, but they weren't threatening my country, my town, my love. I just wanted to show I wasn't an Imperial, that not all griffins are Imperials. To show how wrong you all are about us. I mean... some of us... But I couldn't be like this when it mattered..."
She hangs her head down
>>129974Silver leans over and takes her claw in his hoof. He looks at her with an old pain in his eyes.
"I understand this, Jubilosa. Do not blame yourself. You are too good of person to do so."
>>129975Silver takes her claw, and she neither pulls away or grips back. She turns her head further away from Silver
"Do you.... Do you know how much power you all have over me, how much
you have over me? I mean... I just bowed out of fighting for Corazón, but my fear of what you all would think got me to fight for you. Even what you were saying about last night... I'e had sex with you three times, that's as many as I ever had with the love of my life......"
She started to cry somewhere around "I mean"
>>129976"Oh Jubilosa..."
His heart breaks seeing her like this.
"I...I did not know you were suffering like this..."
>>129977"That's why I like the wine so much. And... Well, and you... It helps to keep my mind off things. But even the wine is a reminder..."
Now, she grips his hoof
>>129978Silver holds her claw as best as best as he can with his hoof.
"Whatever you decide to do, whatever you need, I will be there for you."
>>129979"I don't... I don't, I don't mean to be ungrateful...You and Khoi have been so nice... So supportive"
>>129980"No no, it is fine, Jubilosa. I am just sorry that we...that I, have made you feel that way. I do not want to have power over you, or to make you unhappy."
>>129981"You are nice to me... very nice... Nice in a way I am not sure any creature has ever been..."
>>129982"I have come to care about you, Jubilosa, in the time we have known each other. I want to see you happy."
>>129983"Can you tell me why?"
She turns slowly to him, looking at Silver with her big, yellow eyes
>>129984"You are kind, you are funny, smart. You have been through much in your life, have experienced so much hardship in small timespan and you still go on. You are not just good griffon but good person with kind heart. And I will not even get into how your exquisit external beauty matches what you have in your heart. You are just so..."
He looks into her eyes.
"...amazing!"
>>129985Her teary eyes gleam at Silver, as her lips slowly form up into a smile
"Thanks.... It means a lot to me."
She opens her wings
>>129985>>129986"Just... you don't think I'm a slut, do you? Not that there would be anything wrong with that, but I'm not... you're not..."
Either she doesn't know where she was going with that, she doesn't want to say it, or she doesn't know how to say it
>>129986He smiles back, gripping and shaking her claw slightly with his hoof.
"Thank you for being here with me. You matter to me Jubilosa."
>>129988She looks down at the shaking action, opening her mouth. The action seems to leave her speechless
"oh..."
>>129989His expression quickly turns into that of worry.
"Is something wrong? Did I say something?"
>>129990"Just... It's not... It's not like a business transaction, is it? Is it?"
>>129991"What...
His look turns to confusion, then to mortification.
"Oh no, no! Nothing like that, no! I did not...I am so sorry, I was just trying to make my appreciation of you known."
>>129992"It's okay... I appreciate you too"
>>129993He takes a deep breath, calming his expression down and smiling at Jubilosa once again.
"Thank you. It means lot."
He returns to looking out at the bay, while still holding her claw.
"Do you think Khoi knows about us, now?"
>>129994She gives him a sly look, tilting her head
"What do you mean by 'us'?"
>>129995He looks back.
"Well, you and I, now that we are performing some of that 'special pony friendship'."
>>129996She tilts her head back in a small action upon receiving this
"I
may have told her a few things while you were gone yesterday..."
>>129997"I suppose that would explain why she was so giggly."
He raises an eyebrow in curiosity and amusment.
"So...how much did you tell her? Go into detail at all?"
>>129018Fantasy Play starts jumping up and down on the spot. It is all very endearing and cute.
>>129998"Well, I may have given her a
few details... At first she acted like she was disgusted, then she wanted more information, had more questions, then she wanted more detail. She was curious about how it was done. I really don't think anyone had ever talked to her before about sex, or that she had ever seen any kind of illustration about how it's done."
>>129999"The tasks of a junior-most associate. Mare the cash register, place coats on the store racks
delicately, and tell mares that yes, their daughter would look lovely at the spring dance in that outfit."
>>130001D'awww!
It's a strange set of items, but not at all strange to the black cat, who wraps them in thin paper, and hands them over to Fantasy Play
"And there you have your items, little sorceress"
She smiles at her with a white, toothy smile
>>130004She lifts a claw up to wave at Silver
"Oh, beyond any doubt. A bit of a prude too. A curious prude, but they all are."
>>130003"Thank you," she says with a chirp.
She packs the things down her saddlebag.
She walks towards the door but stops. She turns around.
"Say," she says as looks away. "Is there anything I can get you?"
>>130005"Huh. I figured her culture was not very fond of extramartial relations, but I am honestly surprised she did not catch any kirin's eye. She is very nice mare, if that is applicable term for kirin females. Very pretty."
>>130006Her mouth opens up slightly to reveal a rough tongue behind the rows of white teeth
"Anything
you can get
me?"
>>130007"Splendid." She says, refraining from further speech
>>130009"So when do I start?" Amber asks.
"I just need to find a place to stay. Are there any apartments nearby?" She opens her mouth, presumably to ask more questions, but sheepishly closes it.
Don't get ahead of myself, I need to give a good impression… >>130009She nods with the force of one of those dolls with spring necks while reciveing a flick to the head.
"Yes. Is there anything I could get you for a night with you," she says but lifts up a hoof to stop any incoming comment. "I'm not talking about sexual favours. I just wanna snuggle and hug a nice and cosy catlady such as yourself. It would be like a dream come true."
Her eyes sparkle when she says the last words.
>>130008"I know, it seems strange to me. But she is younger than me, and her country has a dearth of males in her age group. That's part of why she wanted to emigrate, to look for husbands elsewhere. She had a chance when she was a nurse or something to catch a male in the army but she was too shy. That's what I could read from her, anyway."
>>130010"Oh, there are many apartments, even if there are far fewer openings than there used to be. But I'm not a real estate agent. As for you timing, after you've had basic training on our product, stocking, and the cash register."
>>130011Her eyes almost glow, big and focused on her. She bares her teeth wider in an awkward smile.
"Well, I am a business
kitty. And there are some items that are, shall we say, hard to come by. Tell me, are you an illusionist?"
>>130012"Yes, I remember her saying that was part of reason for coming here. I hope she finds someone she likes and that she learns more about sex before then. It can be embarrassing, being inexperienced with a more experienced partner."
>>130013She turns her head while looking at Silver, giving him an inquisitive smile
"Well that's an
odd thing of you to say"
>>130014He scrunches his snout and blushes.
"Well...it is not as if I started out being able to rut like I do now..."
>>130015"Is there some experience in particular you were thinking of?"
>>130016"Just when I first had 'special friendship' with my wife, Storm Warning. She had to guide us since I had no real experience with sex, while she had multiple sexual partners before we met."
>>130012Amber breathes a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad that I'll get some training. You see, I've never used a cash register before…" She looks a bit nervous in waiting for the older mare's response.
>>130018Silver gives Jubilosa a concerned look.
"Is something wrong?"
>>130019"Well it isn't too complicated to use, so long as you can count. Come this way"
>>130020"No, nothing is wrong." She turns and looks away
>>130021Amber trots after the manager. Their difference in age and dress must appeal peculiar to any onlookers.
Wonders where Fantasy went off to>>130022She walks up to the counter, which at the moment has no pony behind it
"Alright, make sure it is unlocked,
do not lose the key, make sure there is paper in the feeder. You'll find it in the till. Type in the amount of the sale here... now, you must understand that there are usually two prices, the nominal sales price, and the real one. Go with the lower number. We do that to make them think they are getting a deal. Sometimes there is a sale, but no number stated. That is where you will have to do math. Take that number, type it in here... take the money, put it in the drawer..."
She continues describing the details of the cash register operation
>>130023This seems sort of like a retcon"Did you feel hurt that she had partners before you?" She asks
>>130012"Yes, I am. A rogue one," she says with smile.
One of the three pieces of fleece fly up to the tip of Fantasy's horn. Pink energies emerges from her horn and envelopes the piece.
With a cocky grin, Fantasy brings up a her right hoof to the tip of her horn. Then in a quick smooth motions, she sweeps her hoof and draws a pink loop in the air before he hoof ends up extened to the side of her body.
Pop! Suddenly the piece of fleece and the pink arcane energies are gone and replaced by black cat with white spots standing on her extened hoof.
It likes its paw for a moment before it lays down sprawled out on the hoof.
"This is how may cat Slogo looks."