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>>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..."