Blueblood

"Well, it's good to know we won't be interrupted by robbers out here."  Spoiled said decisively, before softly smiling, giving the an almost undectable nuzzle to the back of Niil's neck.  "Not that I feel unsafe with you around.  Quite the opposite, in fact."  Niilaavin was certainly the kind of large, strapping male that a mare would crowd against in an uncertain space for comfort; Spoiled hadn't ever let herself get into a situation she felt unequal to, standing strong and independent, commanding her own course and future.  She'd always thought that doing otherwise would make her feel weak and awful, placing herself in the power of another, but the way Niil treated her... respect and deference from one who could easily lord it over her if he wanted to... she liked it.  Perhaps this what some ponies meant when they said she could stand to be a little more feminine.

Though... if she hadn't been acting like that before, was that something Niil would find attractive about her, if she caught his attention before admitting that part of herself?  *Ugh... I do not miss this mind game aspect of courtship, whatever else was exciting and better when I was young.*  Well, if the sphinx didn't give an indication either way, she was a grown up mare who could just straight up ask what he saw in her.  At least clearing up in her own mind that she was thinking about him like that now, that she would allow herself to go down this road, removed some inner ambiguity.

She did have to give a little smirk at the mention of her name, though.  "Honestly, you might ask what kind of mother would name their filly that if their last name was 'Milk'... well, I'm sure you can imagine.  And you'd be right."  Her smile was tight at the lips, and did not reach her eyes.  

The paperwork was simple, perfunctory even.  Mayor Rich had made genuine efforts towards keeping her campaign promise not to tie down Ponyville's entrepreneurs with red tape.  Especially when she was interested in their services.

It was perhaps a negative stereotype that mares of her age and class paid too much attention to astrology, crystal-gazing, and other such 'superstitious' rituals, but Spoiled herself could never articulate the difference between them and legitimate wizardry... other than the fact that they were the sorts of magic non-unicorns could do.  Perhaps that accounted for the stigma, one tribe trying to monopolize non-physical power and the prestige associated with it.  Spoiled could certainly believe that of other ponies, even if most around her seemed too naive for that...

The first part of Tarot's reading confirmed to her that she was either a genuine psychic, or just sufficiently good at observation and deduction to be worth listening to.  "I would hope I hadn't made it too obvious, but... well.  Things certainly haven't been the easiest lately."

The fact that she was in for a rough time no matter which way the chips fell was not exactly shockingly original as an insight, but at least she wasn't being dishonest.  "I wouldn't engage in an exit unless I felt that I had a place to go, at this point..."  From the way Spoiled was talking, Tarot might guess that she was already having someone else in mind.  A new life to start after severing ties to the old one.

The last card, though, that was a surprise, not a pleasant one, but still good to know.  "What?  After all this time, they dare darken my door again-"  The outburst came out suddenly, speaking of bad blood between her and the house she grew up in.  She cut herself off, snorting.  "Huff, all I'll say about that is... I want you to picture in your mind the sort of mother who, having 'Milk' as her last name, decides to call her daughter 'Spoiled.'  I'm not giving their feelings any more consideration now than they gave me while I was growing up."

For anyone who, having problems with Spoiled's attitude or behavior, wondered just how a mare could get that way, that little glimpse into her early home life was about as good an explanation as they were likely to get, straight from the horse's mouth.

As one who by nature and profession wore proverbial masks of moods in public, Spoiled Rich knew and respected fake smiles when she saw them.  She couldn't bring herself to strip the mask off any mare of a certain age; especially not when she felt they could do her some favors.  "Oh?  I might be interested in learning what other little ways you've found to resist the tyrannies of time."  Spoiled would say with a smile and a nod.

Following her down to the library, Spoiled tilted her head ot one side.  "No, now that I think about it, we don't have any historical designation in Ponyville for buildings.  Yet, anyway; it is the sort of thing that we ought to start getting around to, given the number of now famous mares that call this town home.  Not to mention the Palace, and the Friendship school... still, I won't pretend that the lack of any such designation wasn't a an ease to our development over the years.  At the end of the day, sometimes you have to tear down the old to build anything new.  Of course, when one gets older, one is no longer entranced with such revolutionary notions to a large extent..."  She sighed, as they came to the desk where they would be signed.  "Not that such measures ever cease to be necessary.  On that note, actually, I would like a reading once we finish here."

Not that Spoiled would have said she believed any of this mumbo-jumbo.  Of course not.  But there was something she wanted, something that she couldn't quite bring herself to pursue, just because of what she'd have to tear down to get it.  All she needed was just a little push from outside, no matter how silly it might be...

Niilaavin's description of the territory began to invoke Spoiled's land-development mentality, and she keenly honed in on the mental image, asessing it as she would land on the margins of town, open for municipal purchase.  "I daresay the Crystal Empire would be glad enough for a friendly garrison on their border, considering what the alternatives might be if the land remains open.  Frankly, I have to admit I'm a little surprised that there isn't some kind of fronteir settlement there already; more marginal land has been settled before, and the fact it is beyond the current reach of tax collectors is attractive to a certain kind of pony... or griffon.  Or whatever other species might settle in.  Though, isolation might account for why it hasn't been reached yet... or occupied by bandits.  Nothing close by convenient to steal."

Still, she had to admit overall it sounded like a promising start for a settlement, and as for a campsite- "Oh?  A pristine hot spring?  You do know how to treat a mare, I must say~"  The wistful tone in his voice not escaping her notice, and in truth it made her miss the tme when her family was gathered together happily...  But the ache she felt was not the mere pang of a temporary separation, but nostalgia over an unrecoverable past.  When had that barrier between her and Filth arisen?  How many times did she have to come home to an empty manor, or stay in her office late, to drift apart from the father of her daughter?

However many it was, she realized now that she was past that number.  Not a pleasant thought, just as well she wasn't alone when she had it...

"Hm, yes, I can imagine keeping up a house like this would be quite the effort."  Spoiled Rich had to admit, looking around the place.  Impressive as it all was, the manor was still mostly wood, not the most durable of materials.  There had probably been no brick kilns or stone quarries set up, and certainly nopony built their domiciles with concrete in the old days.  Spoiled, for her part, was willing to chalk up a point for modernity internally, but kept the observation to herself.

On beign offered a tour, she gave a shrug and a smile.  "Well, I don't see why not.  I'm not in any hurry to get back."  It wasn't as if returning to the office any earlier would make the end of the workday come any faster.  And even if it had... returning home was less and less an attractive prospect these days.  Sparing a glance up at the portrait, she gave a dutiful chuckle at Tarot's joke about bad mane days, a little too absorbed in her own imagined version of such a picture of herself to note such details as devil horns.  "And that, madam, is why we never should neglect our beauty sleep or self care!  I don't think I should have aged half so well without constant effort to keep up appearances!"  Laughing lightly, she followed her hostess up the hallway.

"Apple Bloom?  Ah, so that little... filly is working on your house's restoration?"  There wasn't exactly the best of feelings between Spoiled and the younger mare, though that was honestly the last of the Apple family that she'd reckon she'd had any bad blood with.  Applejack had proven a staunch political ally, and Spoiled herself had subsidized the poor mare's hospital bill after the sporting accident.  Insurance companies could be so stingy these days...  "As for a good maid, I got mine from a Canterlot placement agency.  There's not much in the way of a market for maids in towns like this, so you have to import them from a city with a good density of servants.  The best are trained in the great houses, and later go into service on their own once the lord or lady of the manor can no longer afford the indefinite extension of their staff.  I have some contacts that I can make inquiries of, but supplies are a little more constrained these days.  Prince Blueblood's staff used to be the one that usually shed excess maids, but not so much these days, now that he's started having foals, not to mention the sphinx that lives with him!"

As the windowlight dispelled her irrational impressions, Spoiled let herself relax, observing the interior.  While her own home was of a significantly more modern style of architecture and furnishing, she could recognize and feel communion with a fellow moneyed mare.  But this money was old money, aged over the generations until it soaked into the bones of the ponies with it, setting them apart in status and comportment...

Or so at least her inner snobbishness would remark.  The rest of her couldn't help but notice that despite the aged grandeur of the manor before her, there was a general ill-kept atmosphere about the place, and Tarot was, in the end, using it as a a shopfront, just like any of the other petit bourgious in town, so the mayor resolved to not be overawed.  She stood to the side, politely listening to Tarot's family history as she took a seat.  "So you've come home... to pick up the family business, it sounds like?"

She pursed her lips as the purpose of her visit was inquired, "Oh, well, I don't want to inconvenience you, but for tax and registry purposes all business operations do need to file with town hall, and we haven't gotten any of your papers, you know.  I suppose you'd not have any way of knowing beforehand, so you're not in trouble or in arrears of fees, but if you intend to keep up shop here, I will need you to fill out and sign a few things..."

Sky Sailing would get up to scoot out a chair for Crystal Rain, like a gentlecolt, smiling a bit at his wife's joke.  "We know perfectly well that, even then, you wouldn't take a bite without syrup!"  Once all were seated again, he'd chime in to the introductions, "And my name's Sky Sailing.  I'm a musician and recording artist; Windy and I work together a lot, as you might guess."  It was a natural complimenting of talents, one of the many reasons they worked so well together.

"We're taking a short vacation up to the Crystal Empire, first to take a break, and then maybe to scout out for a new show here.  Mostly its just to relax and meet new ponies, though!  So what do you do?"

The fact that the sight of the mare opening the door was a frame-for-frame remake of a horror film opening that she remembered from one of her early dates with Filthy was not going to faze Spoiled Rich.  No, she wasn't going to be creeped out or let that bias her in any way.  Nope.

Steeling herself against any remaining foalish fears, Spoiled cleared her throat.  "No, no, I grew up on the Dairy farm down the river; I came up to Ponyville after marrying my husband, Filthy Rich."  She passed this over casually, though it was always a little awkward and painful for her to discuss her agricultural background.  As an earth pony with higher aspirations than getting her hooves dirty making food, her familiar past was a frank embarrassment to her.  There was a reason to this day she had never taken Diamond to visit her grandparents.

As the Mayor of Ponyville, Spoiled Rich would of course keep up on major developments in the town, and the return of Tarot Spell had been one of them.  There were few families in town whose presence and promince equalled that of the Spells; as a matter of fact, the Riches and the Apples may well be the only other two.  Up until recently, however, the old manor had been host to matriarchs rather more reclusive than the current occupant; none of the Spells had weighed in or commented on the last election, for instance.

But now that the house was occupied, and open for business, Spoiled felt it incumbent on herself to pay a visit, establish relations, one prominent mare to another.  Whether or not she believed in such things as fare or fortune telling were besides the point; much like election promises, really: statements about the future meant to secure a result in the present, whether it be the transfer of funds or the casting of votes.  After allowing Tarot time enough to settle in, therefore, Mayor Rich would pay her a visit during her afternoon rounds, stepping up smartly in her mayoral dress, tapping on the front door to indicate her presence.

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Sky's first bite of waffle made him smile so much his cheeks hurt.  Windy would only have seen that expression a few times before, and every time she had been the direct cause of it.  "Wow... I guess with the Crystal heart here... they can literally cook with love..."  He took a few more bites, each a little faster than the last, chewing stickily as he tried to unglue his mouth with another swig of tea.  Following Windy's gaze, he caught sight of Crystal, and waved a wing.

"Ulp, ahh... I don't mind if she joins us, if you want?  We did come to meet the locals."

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Having finished his own part of the sushi boat, Kahz took the lion's share of the pickled ginger, to clear his palate and brighten his breath.  "They do say you never get a chance to make a good first impression... though, given that I'm in it for the long haul with you, maybe starting with a feline yowl's the right move, you know?  Every day I hear you sing you'll just sound better and better to me.  Practicing together would also improve both our perfomance and enjoyment...."  He leered as he leaned in to whisper, "Just like certain other little activities, eh?"

He backed off chuckling, though his compound eyes watched keenly for a reaction.  If this date went well, who knows where it might end up, after all?

As Windy leaned into him, Sky's wings automatically wrapped around her in an instinctive pegasus gesture of affection.  He was still a little zoned out, though when the background music played by the restaurant shifted to the next song, she would feel his grip stiffen a bit, and see his ears perk up at the drum beat.  As the first refrain went into the verse, the pinfeathers on his other wings marked time like a conductor's wand.  His lips moved to match the syllables, even though he didn't know the language, meaning seemed to come to him over the language gap without a need for translation.  It helped that the melody was pretty catchy, too!

He was caught up in the music enough that he almost missed the kirin waitress arrive with the skewers of gyoza, still steaming on the plates.  But once he realized she was here, he took the opportunity to ask, "What's this song?  Who's singing it?"

A little taken aback by the unexpected question, she tilted her head to listen a bit, before recognition dawned.  "Oh, that must be 'RPG' from Sekai no Owari."

"Sekai no owari..."  Sky Sailing softly repeated, straining his knowledge of Neighponese for a translation.  "End of the World?  Interesting name for a band that sings such a happy song..."  Coming back fully to the present, he asked, "What do you all think?  You think it would be worthwhile to see if I can make a translation cover of this one?  It should be interesting, and I really like the tune.  The brightness of it... I think it suits me, though its a bit bombastic in the arrangement.  But I can definitely see it as a big show-closer for you, Windy, perhaps with a background ensemble?"

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Kahz actually blushed a bit as Yù snicked up a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth, and that had to take a little conscious effort and glamor, considering his black chitin.  But it was a fairly novel use of changeling glamour, used to reveal the inner 'ling rather than conceal it under disguise.  "Heh, well, I'm more than happy to leave the lion's share to you.  Your sweet loving's meal enough."  He cooed, returning the kiss.  Sure, it was sappy, but what was the use of being in love if you couldn't be unapologetically cliche?

Still, healthy appetites soon began to strip the sushi boat of its piscene crew, leaving Kahz leaning back against the booth, replete and grinning.  "So... there's karaoke in the back.  I don't think I've ever actually heard you sing, and I have to say I would like to.  I'll buy you a bottle of sake if you don't feel up to it sober!"

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Taking all their orders with a smile, the waitress remarked cheerily, "Well, if that's a double portion for you all, then that's enough to get a few free gyoza skewers as well!"  She was always delighted when she could say that, everypony loved getting free gyoza!  Those chewy, crunchy-bottomed dumplings were just the best!  At least she thought so, since a skewer of them were her cutie mark!

"Oh, thank you!"  Sky replied brightly, returning the menu to her as she brought their orders back to the kitchen.  He was only half following the conversation the others were having, partly because he didn't have much to add as far as emergency wing action went, and partly because he needed a short break to recharge his introverted social energy.  He was usually fine and continuous with just one or two ponies at a time, but he was finding three, even if the three included his wife, surprisingly tiring for him, and he wasn't sure why.  Windy would recognize his attitude, though, and would know he'd be back to full engagement in a few minutes.  Right now, his attention was drifting back towards the music playing in the background of the restaurant, picking out new notes and sounds that might prove fruitful inspirations...

"Well I'm pleased as punch to hear you say that hon!"  Berry Punch grinned and giggled as she shot a final pun across the bow.  Not that, in the words of the more infamous of the town's magical mares, there was ever any doubt.  She was proud of her creation, rightly so she'd say.  "Both the praise for the drink and your returning custom.  I'd return the favor, but little Pinchy hasn't decided what sort of pet she'd like to have yet.  I'll probably go around to Fluttershy for it once she does, its good for a little foal to have something to care for, you know?"

"Sure thing, hon!"  Berry Punch brightened up at the request, her every attitude and accent that of a friendly country bartender or waitress.  She wasn't just a citizen at this point, she was practically a local institution!  "And don't worry too much, it ain't that much stronger."  She gave Verdant a reassuring wink as she pulled up a bottle of red wine from South of the Equestrian border.  Popping the cork with her teeth, she poured it into a large piece of stemware, but only about a third of the way.  The rest was filled with an eye-pleasing arrangement of fruit, juices, and ice, and placed in front of him with a "Ta-da!  My famous Sangria!  It's berry good, in fact, you might say it's grape!"  She gave a little giggle that one does at a joke one has told many times, and yet hasn't grown old to them.