>>156428Silver nods.
"If you do not have sleeping bags or bedding, I can get them for you."
>>156429Marery tells the foals
"Go. Get your things."
And she asks Silver
"Do you not have beds for them to stay in?"
>>156428Amber giggles as her mane is ruffled.
"Music makes ponies happy. I love playing for you, but you're right. I'll keep practicing until I'm as good as I can be, and I'll bring happiness to the world.""Speaking of, no they didn't…they assured me that one day they'd find a husband for me. But many of the best stallions around were sent off, except for some fogeys, so I don't see how they could do that now…. Anyway, from what I've seen it's hard to find good work that'll support a family, and I don't want a stallion to have that kind of burden on his lonesome." Her ears dip down.
>>156431The cohort most affected is the 19-24 male cohort immediately above Amber. As Amber would likely have been expected to be married to a stallion just
slightly older than her, this dearth of single stallions - all of whom would have been of good health and reasonable moral character - affects her more than most.
He smiles at her giggling, and pulls in closer to her.
"They wanted to find a stallion for you? Didn't they tell you to beware of stallions in the city?"
>>156432"No, a country stallion. And what they told me is to not let any strangers touch me. But fortunately, you're not a stranger," she says, nuzzling her forehead against his cheek.
>>156433He has a smile as she nuzzles him, which quickly goes away.
"They told you not to touch anyone? Did they... have somepony
specific in mind?"
>>156434"Um…no?" She looks befuddled by his question.
>>156435"They told you not to touch anyone, come back single, and they'd set you up with someone they know?"
>>156437"Okay..." He looks clearly disturbed.
"Did they give you
any kind of warning about colts or stallions?"
>>156439He looks at her for a moment or so in silence.
"Did they elaborate upon that at all?"
>>156442He shakes his head, and frowns.
"Amber, can we talk?" He looks around the kitchen.
"I think we might want to go outside for this."
>>156443She shrugs.
"Sure, why not?" and follows where he leads.
>>156444He moves out of the kitchen, says hello to his mother (who is in the living room), cautiously looks upstairs, looks out the back door, and then back to his mother. He tells her that he would go on a quick walk around the block with Amber. She asks how long they will be gone, he says only a few minutes and only a block or so, and she says to be careful. Mustard Trim walks with Amber out the front door and onto the sidewalk outside. It is twilight, and it feels rather cold outside. He walks with Amber, looking around, crosses the street, walks a little further, and continues to look around. Then finally, he speaks to Amber:
"Did you parents tell you
anything about sex?"
>>156445She looks confused about what he's trying to get at.
"Uh, yeah. There are two sexes, male and female. Ain't that what you mean?"
>>156446"Did your parents tell you not to have sex before marriage, that you could get pregnant, and to watch out for stallions looking to seduce you?"
He is not wearing his jacket, and must be cold
>>156448She blinks with a blank expression.
"Well, I know I shouldn't kiss without intendin' to marry…you're saying that could have issues?" She looks slightly alarmed by that information.
"Stallions haven't come after me though, and I don't have to worry now that I have you."
>>156449He stands there, looking at her with uncertainty.
It's pretty clear that his mother's paranoia, trust issues, and apprehensions about sexuality have infected Mustard Trim. Unlike Veneer, he doesn't have the finances to simply walk away from it.
"So they did tell you not to kiss anypony without intending to marry them?"
>>156450"Uh…well it's more of an understood thing. If you kiss somepony on the lips, you should marry them.…" She blushes and looks off to the side, painfully aware that it's clear she wants to marry him–or is just breaking the rule.
"Why is this so important again?"
>>156451By contrast, Mustard Trim has a distressed and guilty expression.
"Amber. You know after what we did together, those country stallions are not going to want to marry you. Well, maybe they will. But it's going to be a blemish. Like a bruise on an apple. Your parents certainly will not like it."
A beat
"I'm sorry."
>>156452Painful memories of last night's dream come rushing back, and she looks panicked.
"You're not going to tell them, are you? Nopony has to know. We're good at keeping it secret, right?" she asks with a nervous smile.
>>156453He is not smiling at all
“No. I’m not. And I’ll keep it a secret. Any stallion in the future, at least while you’re young, is going to ask about it. He’ll probably be looking for and expect bloody sheets.”
>>156455He looks slightly relieved. Slightly.
"Okay... I'm sorry Amber."
>>156456Now
she is worried. By bringing up different stallions he was implying that he had no plans of marrying her. Although he never explicitly promised her that, she was hoping he would view their relationship as more than temporary.
"I didn't mean I wanted to marry a country stallion, Mustard. I…I don't know what the future will hold, but I don't regret being with you one bit." She paws the ground anxiously.
>>156457"Okay." He says. "I just needed to be sure. I needed to be sure so that I don't regret it."
>>156459He smiles to her, and holds up a leg so that he is open to place her in a hug.
"How long will you love me?" He asks
>>156460The filly walks right up to him and whispers in his ear.
"Forever."
>>156461He moves his leg up in a beckoning fashion. Clearly her simply walking up next to him isn't good enough.
He has a wider smile.
"But what if you meet somepony while playing music? What if I'm not adventurous enough for you? You say no other stallion has approached you. So what happens if one does, and he can play the guitar, or can go to more places, or is more mysterious, or something?"
>>156462She turns around so they are now side by side, head to head, and snuggles up to him. He can feel her woolen dress, with warmth seeping through, rub against his fur.
"Mustard, there is only one of you. Nopony can match what you've done for me, and you'll always be in my heart."
>>156463He places his leg around her, and rubs his neck against her head
"You're a sweet little filly. No, I do not regret coming back to you at all. Want to talk more about our future plans, and see what we have in common?"
>>156464He can feel his neck being tenderly nuzzled.
"Mhm, let's do that."
>>156279"well see you later."
he walks back over to nadir
>>156465He moves his leg down, and begins to walk with Amber along the sidewalk, besides these lines of rowhouses.
"Well, as I've told you, I am a little conflicted. You see, a part of me thinks that I should go into construction. But another part of me thinks I should work directly for the mills that make these things. And still another part of me thinks I should look at it even more broadly. See if any schooling helps."
>>156466She gives a little wave as Solar Night walks away.
Nadir is already looking at Solar Night, looking slightly angry and with her ears down.
"Who is she?" She asks
>>156467Her familiar smile returns as she walks along with Mustard Trim.
"You're definitely competent enough to work in a mill, but there's a creative spark in you. I saw that with your engineerin' works, and I think you can better express that in construction. Schooling might not be a bad idea but I don't know what you learn in those classes."
>>156467"she said her name was cold morning. i asked her wear we could find some books."
>>156468He smiles, and looks away for a moment, before returning to Amber
"I wouldn't call working in the mill 'uncreative. You see, that's where the decorative trim, moldings, mantels, friezes, and wainscoting are made. You use the machine and with the right move to it, the patterns are cut into the wood, and shaped, ad sent to whoever will buy it. Sometimes a standard pattern, sometimes custom made."
>>156469"Oh... kay..." She says. Her ear twitches, and she looks agitated.
"How will we get books?" She asks. "Already it looks like I will fail. This is too much stuff to memorize. How will I read all of that? How will I get those books?"
>>156470A cute indeed
>>156471"I didn't know it was quite that involved. Your talent is woodworking, ain't it? Sounds like a perfect gig for you." She beams at him encouragingly.
>>156471"well we could study together if you want. and i think i have some money left over."
>>156472"Sort of. Something like that." He does have a wide smile.
"My mother thinks the erector sets are just stupid toys. She thinks they are a waste of money. But you see the creativity in them. I like that..."
>>156473She stops frowning, and her ears move back up.
"I think I would want to study with you. Did you understand most of that lecture?"
She stands up (she sat down in front of him briefly) and moves her side a little closer to him
"You have... money left?"
>>156475"Yes, thank you! I love building the sets. You can follow instructions, and you can try to make your own things. Those are just two of the ones I won. I would like to own more... That's actually some of what I spent my money on before you came."
>>156476"Well, don't spend so much money on mares, save up so you can teach yourself construction," she says with a twinkle in her eye.
"I wish I could work on those with you, but I'm plum awful with technical matters. I'm glad you can fill in my deficiencies, you're smarter than most ponies give you credit for."
>>156477"Heh. I will apply as an apprentice in a mill or in a construction company as soon as I graduate"
He looks back at her, and places his hoof on her neck, and starts rubbing her behind her ear.
"Why don't I tell you another of my goals. I want to get married. I want to do it young. My mom, I think, would like it if I moved out not all that long after I graduate, and I don't really mind that. So long as I have the right filly."
>>156478filly is rubbed"I–I want to get married young too. It's the best time to do it, my ma would say, and I'm getting to the age where most fillies get hitched. There is something that really appeals to me too, being able to face the world with a pony you love more than anypony else." She has a blush on her cheeks.
And being able to kiss and cuddle without any guilt… she thinks.
>>156474"Yea, i did understand most of it. yea a little."
>>156479He rubs the little filly s'more, flopping her ear down.
"And for foals, I want four of them, I think. And early. Fairly young."
>>156481Her ear feels soft and velvety, and she coos as he pets her atop the head.
"Mmm, only four? I think it's possible to raise even more, if the older siblings help out."
>>156480"You should tell me more about it later. When we have to review for the test."
She looks away, and the two presumably start to walk out of the lecture hall. She says to Solar Night
"I don't understand why I am required to study Equestrian History at all. It's not
my history. It's not my herd. I am not Equestrian, and my ancestors were not and would not have been welcome in Equestria."
>>156482"Hehehehe" He giggles, and now furiously rubs her neck while pressing her head into his side
>>156483She brushes her cheek against his coat, inevitably messing up some of his hairs.
>>156483""Yea i will for sure. Yea i can understand. that train of thought. although, learning history is good to not make the same mistakes of the past."
>>156484He doesn't mind at all. He is naked right now, and Amber is in her full dress. He rubs up against her more so, and moves his muzzle back, biting at her ear.
>>156485"So many mistakes" She says
"Yeah, you're right, I think. June says that knowing history and economics is important. All I really know is that all of these stallions who sound like they know what they are talking about know history, and they know it better than me.
I kind of wish I could study bat pony history instead though. Or world history. I would kind of like to know more about the griffins. Or the changelings even. Or the zebras..."
>>156486She is mindful that he might expose himself in public like he mentioned had happened to him several times before. But she doesn't mind what he's doing at all. Giggling, she mentions,
"Mustard, we're in public, teehee."
>>156487"Then let me take you back" He says to her.
"Did you say you start your cycle sometime in the spring? Do you know about when, exactly?"
>>156486"Yea im sure we can next semester. it would be very interesting."
>>156430"Not at moment, but I can fix that."
>>156490She looks at him with a small smile
"Maybe that is what I will study. History. It seems kind of difficult now though. Maybe it will be easier later."
Alright, now Solar Night is off to his next thing
>>156489"I'm trying to guess when you'll have your first foal, Amber."
>>156491"Well... Good. You know we don't usually let foals stay with unmarried males. And these two foals especially we want to keep away from older stallions. But I see they like you, and we know you can keep them safe. So I will trust you with them, at least for the weekend."
>>156493If Amber had hopes of keeping her mane straight, those hopes are now dashed as he ruffles her mane yet again.
"When will you be in heat, Amber?"
>>156495"So it sounds like you have until about... March of next year until your first foal is born. Fourteen more months or so. You'll be... 18? Is that alright with you?"
>>156496"Nineteen, actually. Wait, how do you know I'll have a foal then?" She looks very confused by his prediction.
>>156497"Well, if you get pregnant at the end of that cycle, if it ends around the beginning of May, then it takes 11 months for the foal, you're looking at a due date of around about April of next year, or maybe March."
>>156498"Oh." A blush tinges her cheeks.
"You think I'll get pregnant then?"
>>156499"I can make it happen if you want it to happen." He answers confidently and proudly
>>156500I'm wondering if Solar Night could or should have a break in his classes... But most likely, Political Organization.
>>156502He pulls away, and looks at her with a neutral expression.
"Okay." He says. "That's about where my mind has been at too."
>>156503"I mean," she answers with a furtive smile,
"I arrived in Baltimare just last week and already you're asking to have foals with me. I'm honored, really, and I love you, b-but let's give it some time and see where it takes us."
>>156501Its up to you to break or not.
>>156504A short, curt "Okay." Is all he has to say to Amber's reply
>>156505On to class number 2: Introduction to Political Science: Political Organizations. Solar Night does not share this class with Nadir, although for what its worth, Optic Lens from the party the night before can be seen in the class. This one takes place in comparatively regular class room in the sense that it it's composed of tables of two seats together in rows. The total class size is smaller than the last class, but it's going to be completely full.
Where would Solar Night prefer to sit? In terms of how close to the front, and if any kind of student is preferred to sit next to.
>>156507"No, I just wanted to know what your plans were." He answers indifferently.
>>156509"I understand." He says. "I wasn't particularly keen on getting married, because things change and in this city, you don't really have a set future. I just wanted to see if you were on the same page, and you are." The two arrive outside the door of his house.
>>156510"Uh huh…."Amber feels disappointment that the romantic moment was ruined, and confusion on what seems to be a lie from Mustard. He was so serious earlier. She lets him open the door before entering herself.
>>156511He has nothing to say to her. He just turns around, opens the door, holds it open with his foreleg, and stares at her with blank expression as she enters into the home.
>>156508Dark Star looks for a free seat
>>156513Simply take a free seat. Works well enough. The professor comes in. It's a short grey unicorn stallion with a black mane. He looks to be very young, even younger than the last stallion. Probably not that much older than 30. Solar Night actually missed the first day of class, so the explanation of the class has evidently been missed.
Solar Night does, however, hear the Stallion's thesis of the class. The Stallion claims that the class will cover primarily a conflict that he believes defines the more than thousand year history of the Principality of Equestria, from the coming together at the first Hearthswarming in the time before the Princesses, to its formal dissolution on August 6th of last year. It is a conflict that he claims survives its death, and exists in every other nation on the planet; That conflict is the conflict between local governance, and central governance. This conflict is actually much more obvious in Baltimare than in basically any other region of Equestria, as Baltimare successfully negotiated regional autonomy, and has successfully reached a similar, probably more favorable agreement, with the new government - even though both settlements required the spilling of massive amounts of blood to reach.
[1d2 = 1][1d2 = 2]>>156514"Yes it is."
She says from the bed, looking back to Amber from he couch in the living room. Mustard Trim walks past Amber, towards the stairs.
>>156513>>156515Solar Night sits next to a stallion who smells like cigarettes, and leaves his backpack on the table. He is an earth pony stallion who looks like... well, rather skinny, brown in color, with a short black mane.
>>156514>>156515Not "The bed." Dahlia is on the couch in the living room
>>156515>>156517She would hate to leave it off on a sour note with Mustard, but it is getting late. Amber picks up her green headscarf and starts tying it underneath her chin. She says to Dahlia,
"Thank you, ma'am, for letting me come over. It was a pleasure meeting you, and Mustard is lucky to have you as his ma," with a gentle smile.
Have to sleep. Merry Christmas!
>>156492"I promise I will not let you or them down."
>>156518"Oh, you're welcome, dear." She says with a warm smile. She looks over to the far left, confirming that Mustard Trim has indeed left the first floor of the house. Her smile goes away. She says to Amber,
"Why don't you come a little closer. Come over here."
>>156519She nods. It takes several minutes for the two foals to come down. Each one has a massive bag, almost as big as themselves full of this. Mint Marine especially is laden with a pack that weights him down on his back, while White Orchid is blinded walking with a giant bag in front of him.
>>156520"Sure." Amber approaches to within whispering distance.
>>156522She takes another look over her shoulder, then turns back to Amber with a serious expression. She leans forward towards Amber.
"If he knocks you up... or hits you... or hurts you... tell me. Please, by all means, tell me. I will take care of it."
She looks shocked that Dahlia would think her son is capable of that.
"Mustard would never hurt me," she says confidently. "But…" she looks hesitant. "I would tell you."
>>156524She nods her head.
“He won’t. I’ll make sure of
that.” She gives a smile, though it’s authenticity is questionable. “Thank you, dear. You don’t need to ever feel like you’re taking a risk here.”
>>156525Her words only add to her worries.
"No need to be harsh with him, he's only ever been a gentlecolt," she tries reassuring Dahlia.
>>156526She nods her head firmly.
“Right. That’s how I raised him to be. And that is how he is going to continue being “
>>156520Silver's eyes widen at the sight, remembering all of the stuff he bought for them.
"Did either of you need any help carrying all that?"
>>156527"Okay. Anyway, take care." She makes sure she hasn't forgotten anything, waves goodbye, and leaves.
>>156528Mint Marine:
“I… I think I do.”
He is over burdened.
White Orchid:
“Mhmrhmhm”
White Orchid starts to tip over forward.
>>156529“Oh… aren’t you going to say goodbye to Mustard? Don’t you want him to walk you back? Are you going somewhere?”
Dahlia immediately recognizes that something is wrong, and her facial expressions demonstrate that she is worried. She does not stand up from her seat on the couch.
The time is somewhere between 6 and 6:30 PM. It’s now actually dark outside, with the last gleaming light of astronomical twilight disappearing in the West. Amber’s location is the south-center of the city, just north of the river. It’s kind of cold with a little wind, but there is no rain.
>>156530Silver does his best to lift the burden from the two colts' shoulders, which is hard without putting strain on his bad shoulder.