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>>152066She picks out one that costs around fifty bits, rationalizing that it's worth not sleeping on the floor. How about sheets, blankets and pillows?
>>1520675-7 bits per set of bedsheets, pillows from 4 to 7 bits per pair. Blankets are about 3 bits or higher.
>>152068Amber selects two sets of bedsheets, a pair of pillows and two blankets, all plain with a matching light maroon color.
>>152070Amber frowns at the waning amount of money she has, though it's all a one-time expense. She decides against getting chairs or a table. Does her apartment have a stove?
>>152071Yes. It only has two burners, however.
>>152072Good enough. She tells the store clerk what she wants, but the question remains: how is she going to get it home? Maybe she can rent a cart and pull it behind her, and she brings up this possibility.
>>152073"Oh yeah, we can have ponies deliver it for you" She answers
>>152074Amber grins.
"That's wonderful! Thank you!" After paying for everything, her remaining cash should now be a mere 61 bits.
I have to sleep now...>>152075Except delivery isn't free, but another 5 bits
>>152076She pays for delivery, and her shopping spree is done.
>>152083An older earth pony stallion, and a young earth pony colt follow Amber to her apartment, and help move the bed in. They even set it up for her.
Amber is down to 56 bits of last night's gain
>>152086Amber thanks the two. She props the old mattress up against the wall, needing to find a way to get rid of it later. She spends much of the afternoon doing a thorough cleaning of the room and puts away the household supplies.
>>152087Someone left a can of lard in the cabinet in the kitchen, It is, fortunately, empty. Also, the bathroom (fortunately) came with (used) shower curtains.
Amber is able to slowly clean up much of the dirt, dust, cigarette ash, cat hair, soot, glass fragments, and other debris in the apartment.
>>152088It's hard, but it's honest work. It's probably late in the afternoon by the time she finishes.
>>151824He uses a hoof to lift her beak, facing her towards his eyes full of worry for his beloved dove.
"Tell me about these other things."
>>152090Even as her face is lifted, the rest of her body droops down. Her wings in particular become loose, and the ends touch the floor.
"Well... I've been thinking... I sent one note to my parents saying I was leaving Midora and I would not see them for a while. I never said I was leaving the country. Not that it would have mattered much if I had told them where I was going, because I didn't end up there anyways. If I had... if, if, if, if you all had not been there... that would have been the last they had ever heard from me, and they would have no idea where I went. Like the kid down the street."
>>152091He does his best to hold his griffon up as she sags to the ground.
"What happened to kid down street?"
>>152092"He went out to meet with other griffins one night. And then he wasn't there the next morning. We don't know if he ever came home. It looks like he did. The door and windows were unlocked, and there was clothing on the floor of his room... but that isn't really uncommon for young males. We think the Anti-Partisans got him. He was known to sympathize with the partisans, and we think he would go to the mountains and meet with them. So we think the Blackhooves came that night, and took him away. But he may have fled to live up in the mountains. He might be there to this day. He might have died in a raid. He might have fled the country. He might have hit a bird or a branch while flying, tumbled and fell into the ground and hit his head. We don't know."
>>152093Silver hugs her tight.
"You are alive, and you are here. Of that I am immensely grateful for. It is no use to dwell on what could have happened, other than to give yourself nightmares."
He looks up at her.
"Would you like to write message to your parents, telling them where you are and that you are okay? I am not certain when it will arrive, but..."
>>152094Griffu is huggedFluffy feathers in some parts, and a slender, bony cat-body in others.
"I... I think I would. But it isn't so simple. Messages in and out of the country are monitored. There is a reason I did not tell them I was leaving to Aquelia the first time. If the Blackhooves know I left the country, it may cast suspicion on my parents."
>>152095"Perhaps, but...well, both Eastern Equestria and Sicameon have been annexed by New Mareland. It could be seen as sending message from one part of country to another."
>>152096"True... That's less suspicious than anything coming from, well, Aquileia."
>>152097"And I very seriously doubt any potential resistance movements or partisan groups are going to be communicating across entire ocean rather than other groups closer by."
>>152098She moves her violet eyes up towards Silver
"Maybe..."
>>152099A hoof comes up to gently stroke one of her cheeks.
"If we do not have pen and paper here, I will go get some for you."
>>152100"Okay..." She says, attempting a smile
>>152101He kisses the tip of her beak.
"I love you."
>>152102She moves her body up, and closer to Silver. She presses her head to his, so that her beak rests against his muzzle, and then crosses it, placing her beak above his muzzle
“I think I love you… love you too.” She says
>>152103His muzzle is firm and muscular, and the fur is much shorter here and in other parts, but it's not uncomfortable. He holds his griffon like this, content to be there with her. He only breaks the silence after a few seconds.
"Will you tell your parents about me?"
>>152104"Heh" This provokes a firmer, more genuine smile
"I hadn't thought about that."
>>152105He smiles at that.
"I do not know what they think of ponies, but I hope I would be worthy of approval. If we could get access to camera, we could even send them picture."
>>152106"Maybe. I don't know. I think they'd prefer I settle down and have chicks with a griffin. Maybe they'd be fine with it. I don't know. I'm still young, I don't think I should have to worry too much about what they think about it."
>>152107He nuzzles into the soft feathers around her neck.
"That makes sense. You do not have to tell them about me if you do not want to."
>>152108She is nuzzled"What am I to you?" she asks
>>152109"At very least, marefriend. Or whatever griffon version of that is."
>>152110"And what is more?" she asks
>>152111He looks up at her.
"Are you saying you want to take this relationship...further?"
>>152112"No. Well, I mean... I don't know what I want..."
>>152113Silver smiles at her, places a hoof on her cheek, and swoops in to kiss her deeply.
>>152114She moves her head back in reaction, opens her eyes wide, and then forms a broader smile across her face. She leans in, closes her eyes, and kisses him back in kind.
>>152115"Mmm..."
The kiss lasts for some seconds before Silver pulls back, looking lovingly into his dove's violet eyes.
"I love you, and you love me. Whatever we are, whatever you want us to be, that will not change. And it fills my heart with such warmth to know that."
>>152116"... Okay..." she says, as if with a little hesitation
"Are you sure?"
>>152117He nods with conviction.
"I will never leave you, I will always love you, as long as you want me. You are my everything, my beautiful dove."
>>152118"But you don't want to be exclusive?" She asks
>>152120She blinks
"I mean... I don't know... Theoretically I guess it's okay to not be. It's just, you know, it's not, well, it's not traditional. I mean, it kind of is, but it's not traditional to be open about it. And, well, you were saying something like 'marefriend at least' and I don't know what you want."
>>152121"There is one thing you know I want."
He returns to stroking her cheek.
"I want you."
>>152122She leans, and presses herself into him