(Canterlot) Uptown Mule: Home for the Holidays! (Open)

[MudBug]

 

Ho boy, this was always awkward. Not that she didn't enjoy these times it was just...still very awkward.
 
Bluebelle and her mother always had an...'interesting' relationship, she wasn't a bad mother, just a tad overprotective and had been all of the mule's life. Having homeschooled her and 'protected' her from the world....most likely for the sake of her social circles....but Bluebelle didn't mind. She was a kind mother that loved her in the end and the rest of her family on her mother's side were equally loving. Especially her dear cousin in Ponyville, Bramble Rose - Oh, that reminded her, she'd have to pop by at some point. Or send a card. Whatever was easier during the holidays.
 
Speaking of which, Canterlot was done to the nines as always during this season. Decorations, the warm smell of festive food being flooded out from the cafe's, it was such a different place compared to Appleloosa...she'd almost forgotten what snow looked like with so much time out in the desert. It had its own beauty but this place was practically picturesque! She finally had a reason to wear the thick scarf and booties that her mother had INSISTED upon her when she'd left for her own. 
 
So with breath showing in the air and a slight hop in her step, she made her way down the streets of Canterlot, retracing the steps she took in her mind as her eyes drifted over every shop, every house and every decorated lamplight.
 
Feels so nice to be home. She thought to herself.

[Zeig]

 

What exactly Inkbrand was doing in Canterlot for the holidays, he wasn't exactly sure.

He knew why he was in Canterlot, of course - it was kind of hard to forget the rambunctious little filly he'd momentarily left with another adult, and he could only hope she would find it easy to forget how her family was missing in action for the merriest time of the year. Still, the temporary and only semi-reluctant foalsitter had freed Inkbrand up for a day or two, giving him leave to scour the streets of Canterlot in search of a powerful Unicorn.

If only he could concentrate long enough, but...well. It was the bucking holidays.

The grey Earth Pony knew, off-hoofedly, that he couldn't just abandon Applejack - even he wasn't that much of a tool. Bad enough the filly would be wondering why she was celebrating with her family, but worse still to not have a celebration in the first place. No, Inkbrand would make his way back in due time, just as soon as he was done exhausting and concerning himself with bucking Unicorn magic.

...Still. Still, that faint nagging voice in the back of his head told him to keep searching. Just a little longer, just a little more, and this whole mess would be fixed. Poof! Like magic.

Like...like magic. Because magical inks, and age-reversing spells. Buck, he was funny.

So intent was Inkbrand on applauding his inner wit that he almost missed the flash of pale blue out of the corner of his eye, half-hidden by the vivid red hat that chimed merrily with each step he took, and complimented with the snowpony-dotted scarf wrapped twice 'round his neck. Luckily for him - or unluckily, maybe? - he didn't, and the tattoo-clad pony made a visible double take as his head whipped around towards said flash, just to make sure he wasn't imagining the figure.

He wasn't. Huh. Fancy that.

"Bells?" Inkbrand called out rather incredulously, and no social compulsion to maintain a respectful distance from a veritable stranger had ever stopped the stallion from satiating his curiosity. Yup, even as he moved closer, the figure remained Bluebelle the molly, a gentle mule he'd briefly met and attempted to coerce during his trip into Appleloosa for the Buffalo Stampede. They'd talked for a short while before Inkbrand had turned his coercion onto Flora Bloom for the two of them to leave the veritable paradise in the wastes that was the mule's home, but he'd already so cemented Bluebelle's appearance around sand and tumbleweeds that it was rather shocking to see her surrounded by snow and ice instead.

...Now that he thought about it, it was amazing he could have even mistaken the blue mule for anypony else, most especially because of the, 'ya know. Muleness. Bluebelle was, and still remained, the only mule Inkbrand could ever remember galloping across in his lifetime, which perhaps said something about the influences ponies and donkeys had with each other.

That was to say, none at all.

"Remember me?" Inkbrand questioned with a lilting grin, lest the mule start screaming Stranger Danger! and called the REA down on his flank, "Inkbrand? Best Tattoo Artist in Equestria? I was in town for the Buffalo Stampede." How long ago had that been? A year? A couple months? Timed seemed to sometimes run stagnant, almost as if he'd watched the sun setting over the desert with Flora just yesterday. "Not enough snow in Appleloosa for 'ya, huh?" he teased, though with no real malice behind his words. For all he knew, she was visiting friends and family, the say way he usually traveled back to Manehatten for Hearth's Warming.

...Buck. He needed to send a card or something. Mom was not going to be pleased he was missing out this year.
 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

So engrossed in the Hearth Warming cheer, the decoration, the nuance...not a SUBTLE nuance, but certainly a nuance of the festivities that she barely had time to spot ponies or take the time to recognize any. So colour her surprised as well as blue when a voice nearly made the skittish molly nearly hop out of her booties. Good thing she'd worked that instinct to kick mostly out of her system from a young age, huh? But she did immediately turn to peer at the-...wait she knew this pony.

Blinking her dark brown eyes at him as she tried to recollect her memories whilst he...talked, she also took into account what he was wearing and couldn't help but raise a hoof to daintily stifle any amusement she might've felt, incase she giggle or such, that'd be just plain rude. Besides! He didn't look bad in it, such garb just always brought out her jovial nature and once her memory was fully recollected...the memory of their awkward meeting between himself, herself and that poor mare Flora soon made her offer a semi-lopsided smile.

"Inkbrand! 'Course I remember y'all, I see yer gettin' int' th' festive season with th' rest of the city." She said as she made a gesture to every wreath covered lamplight lining the street...and the windows...and every other building possibly. She could only imagine what the spires of Canterlot's castle looked like. All those light and tinsel.
"And no, I'm jus' visitin' family fer th' holidays, same as mos' everypony 'round this season." The pale blue molly tilted her head at the taller stallion amidst the heavy bustle of the street, keeping that smile she'd had even back in Appleloosa when she'd welcomed him for a glass.


"What brings yerself t'Canterlot? Business or more 'f th' holidays?"

[Zeig]

 

Huh. He should've figured country-bred kindness meant an obligatory memory of every single pony to ever cross her path, he really should have. But it was still a surprise.

But not a bad one, no.

Inkbrand felt his toothy grin stretch wider as the molly spoke, and gave his head a few gratifying flip-flops to chime the bell as it was mentioned. The grey stallion wasn't one of those types that dressed themselves to the tee for holidays - the way Vivid Lights fashioned herself with enchanted threads that mimicked fireworks almost made him seize every time he saw that bucking sweater - but a few pieces here and there, he didn't mind. The hat was new, a recent purchase for his impromptu holiday in Ponyville, but the scarf was old, a relic of his father's, and long passed frayed at the edges.

Contemplations of holiday fashion were brushed off as Bluebelle continued talking however, and Inkbrand was gratified to see he'd been right, to an extent. That didn't change his bewilderment, however, to learn that the blue molly had family in Canterlot, and the tattoo-clad stallion had to wonder how distantly related said family was. Maybe it was a bit ungracious to think, but an Appleloosan mule schmoozing it up with the high-breds of Canterlot made such an odd picture in his mind that Inkbrand almost laughed out loud.

Of course, the follow-up picture of Canterlot high-breds stomping around with boots and cowboy hats was just enough to prompt a light chuckle to leave his mouth, causing all his hard efforts to go to waste.

Still, imagination couldn't forestall his mission in Canterlot, and the mule's question abruptly reminded him of it, causing a grimace to momentarily cross his face. "Eeeh, guess you could call it business," the grey Earth Pony said in answer to Bluebelle's question, with a half-shrug of one shoulder, "but not for long, I either get it done or I don't. Either way, m'heading back to Ponyville for Hearth's Warming. Though between you 'n me," he added in a mock-whisper and a wink, leaning in a bit closer to the molly as if sharing some deep secret, "I doubt Canterlot'll mind my missing much."

Too bucking right, that.

Straightening himself back out, Inkbrand pulled back from the blue mule, a contemplative expression on his face. He really should get back to his search - the Canterlot School of Bucking Unicorn Magic was his best bet - but after all the pressure, surprise, and strain of Applejack's mystifying and seemingly permanent transformation, lazily plodding through the snow with a cute molly was sounding better and better.

Really. Could anypony blame him for caving?

"Hey, where're you headed?" he questioned, with a toss of his head down the street Bluebelle had been traversing before he'd intercepted her, "I'll walk 'ya."
 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

Bluebelle couldn't help but imagine the best of what could've possibly been made of Inkbrand's day, she liked to think the best of most ponies, most creatures in general, that she met on her travels and the cocky inked stallion was no exception. He was obviously a creative mind and that to account for some sense of sensitivity, something she could appreciate with her line of work. Flowers were after all, very delicate...most of them. The giant pony eating ones in the jungle didn't count.

...Mostly.

At the flopping and jingling of his festive cap, the molly couldn't help but let the slightest of giggles pass her by her lips and into the snow dampened bootie that covered her hoof. It was charming...atleast he didn't look full Hearth's Warming shopping cart, with lights and such blinking everywhere like a young unicorn still learning their magic. She'd seen too many frightened pets and blinded sidesteppers fall prey to those confounded twinkling things.

When he chuckled after her explanation however, there was the slightest frown. Not at the chuckling itself, it was more an expression of concern that contrasted the fact she was still smiling, if a touch more subtle than before...what'd tickled him so? Oh well. Maybe it was the spirit of the season. His grimace at her question however did spurr a further concern that she didn't show visibly....that quickly vanished of his mention of Ponyville and the pleasant images it brought up of her visit to that charming town.

"Well, I hope y'all git yer business done toot-sweet, Ponyville is a lovely place." Finally resting all four hooves on the ground she continued with the same chipper tune. "My cousin lives there, flower fiend as big s'myself, name's Bramble Rose, he's a real darlin' that one....showed me 'round when I stopped by on my way t'Appleloosa for th' first time." That was a nice set of days...and everyone was so friendly. She must go back and visit at some point.

The pale blue mule was ofcourse knocked from her revelry by his offer to walk her to her birth-home, honestly she was a bit surprised. From the sound of it, his business sounded urgent, even if she would've enjoyed the company! Raising a hoof again, she gestured down the busy street to the more up-market housing. Where most of the magistrates and gentry lived and from a first glance at all those 'fancy decorations' they had trimming their towers, you could tell.

"Oh well- S'just thatta way....y'sure it won't be takin' th' time out y'day none?" Ah the concern, she was always concerned though. Concerned for being a burden or a bother. In this case both. The stallion did sound like he was here for something important and she didn't want to pull him out of it.

[Zeig]

 

...Was she being serious?

...She was being serious.

It was only thanks to him being a super smooth stud muffin of a stallion that Inkbrand was able to refrain from his second double-take of the day - even if his hoof-jerk reaction had been to make sure the molly was gesturing where he thought she was. As it turned out, the grey Earth Pony didn't really need to take a second look, because as much as Bluebelle probably knew where her foalhood home was located, Inkbrand knew exactly which neighborhood they were bordering the edge of.

Not because he had family or friends to visit there, no. He knew it because he tended to keep track of which neighborhoods to avoid.

Such was the case with the neighborhood veering off the busy street a little bit further down, up towards the towers that were higher than all the other towers and decorations that were more lavish than all the other decorations. They were those types of neighborhoods, where elegant and uptight looking ponies tended to stare if he happened to pass by, some outright hostile, others simply confused, as if wondering what in Equestria sort of business that rap-scallion of a pony could possibly have in these parts.

And Bluebelle was from the same breed.

...Like. Really?

Was it wrong for him to ask the molly was sort of salt she'd been taking before her trip, and could he please have one tiny sliver of the magical quality cube?

Still, despite his disdain for those ponies whose necks seemed permanently bent upwards, he'd already offered, and even a glare from whatever Upper Crust II was wandering the streets could keep him from procrastinating. "Naw," Inkbrand denied, with a cocky toss of his head and obligatory bell tingle, "I've got a couple of days here. Plus, a stallion's always got time to walk a pretty molly home, 'ya know," the tattoo-clad stallion added, with an exaggerated eyebrow waggle that probably came out more ridiculous than flirtatious.

He blamed the cold. Eyebrow waggling was an art. What was he even supposed to do with cold eyebrows?

Mental scrutiny of proper eyebrow waggling techniques would have to wait as the two of them started down the street, and a good thing to, as Inkbrand had much more important things to think about as he threw a contemplative glance down at the blue mule. It would probably be rude to ask...but buck it, he was curious.

And, well.

When had rudeness, on either side, ever stopped him before?

"So your family's pretty loaded, huh," he not-questioned tactlessly, never minding that some ponies considered finances a rather private matter to discuss with close friends and family only. It was an honest question, despite it not really being a question at all. "How's a mule go from," a vague wave of his hoof towards the pristine, glimmering towers in the distance stated all well enough, "to watering flowers in the desert?"
 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

There was definitely a feeling of relief that spread across her facial features as she was assured she wouldn't be eating up any of the stallion's time with something as silly as 'walking her home', as generous as the offer was, a silly little thing like her could've gotten herself home fine. It was the lack of company which role he'd be filling, she knew these streets like the back of her horseshoes....not that you could see them under the heavy purple velvet that made up her booties and scarf. Velvet. Honestly. Her mother had to reign in her gifts at some point, these things were all too lavish.

"Well 'f that's th' case, let's get a trot on!" She piped up cheerfully as she began her journey down the street with the grey stallion. Ofcourse, the questions he asked weren't something she hadn't heard before. 'Molly from the uppercrust', sounded like a Jane Horseten novel at best...not that she let it get under her skin and she couldn't help but let the slightest chuckle escape through her nostrils as she chatted casually amidst their walk. Taking note of how the decorations just got more and more lavish as they moved from the shopping district and further into the upper city living quadrants of Canterlot.

"I suppose y'all could say we were 'loaded', yeah, well, my mama's side 'f th' family is...th' Rose family Unicorns're s'well off as most of th' gentry here..." 'Rose family', by Celestia's ivory horn she sounded like a museum curator. And that though alone provoked an amused little smile on the mule's muzzle. "But not all 'f us stayed here, some moved t'Seaddle, some moved t'Manehattan...an' others like m'self an' Bramble headed t'Appleloosa an' Ponyville, respectably." She really had to find the time to send that cousin of hers a card.

"'Sides, both sides 'f mah family have sort'f a green hoof, daddy's a gardener an', well, don' earn th' name 'Rose' in th' family by sittin' on y'flank half th' time...pardon mah course language."

As they walked, she had to smile at some of the passing houses, the shopping district was something...this part just looked like it was straight from a Hearth's Warming play or storybook. She couldn't imagine how the castle looked...speaking of how things looked. She couldn't help but notice the...stiffness in Inkbrand's waggling brow from earlier, her own arching with a slightly questioning expression as she walked alongside him.

"Y'all sure yer okay...?"

[Zeig]

 

Oh rot. Had she noticed?

Oh, she had so totally noticed.

Inkbrand waved off the molly's concerns with one magnanimous hoof, whipping his head around from where he'd turned it to surreptitiously engage in some frantic eyebrow waggling to loosen up his stiff forehead. Never knew when a stallion would have to lay down some serious waggling, after all.

But in truth, the grey Earth Pony's thought were more filled with Bluebelle's words, causing a thoughtful frown to take over his face. This...Rose family she apparently came from was not a name Inkbrand recognized - but then again, he didn't actually keep a running tab on the upper crust of Canterlot. Or even Manehatten. That sort of stuff was for ponies who actually cared about the "it" names, taking note of which families to associate with and which to avoid. Tch, as if a pony's name carried more weight than their actual pony self.

But still, it was obvious from the way the molly spoke that the Rose family was definitely the sort that wore pearls and sipped champagne at muted and lavish parties, which was why Inkbrand was so surprised to hear how casually Bluebelle talked about family members budding off - ha! Budding, like roses - to venture into different areas, instead of staying with the family. He'd always thought family's like that just passed down their inheritance to foals, who grew up with their silver spoons and subsequently passed them to foals of their own some day. Not spread out and...well. Actually work.

Maybe those upper crust families weren't as hoity toity as he had thought.

'...Then again,' Inkbrand suddenly thought, a slight grin crossing his face, 'I'd have probably bolted from a family that made me wear suits and enforced an 'indoor voice' all the time.'

"Eh? I don't see a green hoof anywhere, here - " the tattoo-clad stallion said slyly, making a show of thoroughly inspecting the molly's hooves, " - or here - " and leaned backwards to ogle Bluebelle's flank where her cutie mark was - before abruptly realizing that hay, she didn't have a cutie mark.

...Huh.

He knew ponies were the only species to get cutie marks, of course, but he'd thought off-shoots did as well. Zecora had one, didn't she? But maybe her being a mule had negated that magic, somehow, diluted it enough.

Bummer.

"So, you get it from the family, huh," he amended smoothly, hoof moving to wave towards her general ponyness instead. "That your special talent too? I mean, gardening and rot?" Judging by her garden back in Appleloosa, Inkbrand could only assume, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He knew some things just ran in a family, and it wasn't uncommon for a foal to find out their talent was distinctly related to their family's general talent - hay, Applejack's family was essentially mired with apple-laden talents - but in all honesty, Inkbrand wasn't sure how he'd feel, if that had been his case. It was uplifting to feel...well.

Unique. Like his talent wasn't just an extension of his father's talent, or mother's.
 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

There was a much more concerned expression on the molly's face from that frantic fluttering of follicles that Inkbrand was attempting at the moment, peering at him silently as she leaned back just a touch to peer at him as he attempted to...apparently free his brow from his eyebrows, from the look of it. Was he...worried about this area? She could understand, nowadays atleast, it was only after leaving her home how much she realized the social status could go to pony's heads...and how they could treat others because of it. It really had no excuse, but that didn't mean she loved her home and the ponies in it any less.
The thought was shouldered however when she noticed him trying to inspect her for a green hoof and...inspecting her flank for a cutie mark, her muzzle briefly scrunched with as she tried to stifle her amusement. Badly. Before it escaped with a slightly snorty giggle, it was almost like a youngster's laugh...but he was being very amusing, she could excuse her embarrassing laugh for this instant.

"Only hinnies git cutie marks." She said with a small smile, catching that fleeting look on his face as she continued to walk and talk. "They take more after their pony parents an' we mules take more after our donkey parents, aint much bothered about it though."

What was a mark in the end? She knew what she liked to do.
Speaking of which, he seemed curious about it too, smiling at his question as her eyes wandered over the snow, the fading sunlight of the day being replaced on the crisp white blanket with the bright colours of the Heart lights. Red, blue, green, yellows, pinks, all of them a myriad of hues cast onto the snow and over them, if in a more subtle shade as they continued their conversing and walking.

"I suppose y'could call it my talent, my mama wanted me t'be a debutante...one 'f them fancy mares an' fillies that 're well bred, quoffed 'n styled an' that marry rich so they're well taken care of...but 't didn't really suit me." The memories of trying to walk about the drawing room with a book balanced on her tiny head still struck her as one of her more amusing memories. "Naw, I got ma interest more from ma daddy, he took me campin' fer a few days out by his ol' home where grammy Gertrude lives...an' she let me help her make apple-blossom butter an' daffodil jam an' jus'...all manner 'f lovely things with flowers..."
She sighed wistfully at the memory, a nostalgic breathlessness to her words as her eyes scanned over the path with a small smile till she looked back up to Inkbrand.
"Suppose all I really wanted t'do was make pony-folk happy...th' way m'grammy did by makin' things that made y'happy on th' inside s'well s'th' outside."

[Zeig]

 

Well, buck him sideways 'til the cows came home.

Bluebelle was actually making him feel nostalgic.

It wasn't a common feeling for Inkbrand, by any stretch of the imagination possible - yet there it was, bubbling and welling up inside as the blue molly shared memories of days past. The obvious fondness in her voice unintentionally brought forth memories of his own, remembering freshly baked bread and campouts in the backyard and lightning storms that weren't nearly as scary as they could have been with Mom and Dad pressed on either side of him.

And he was going to be missing most of that, this year.

"Kudos to your dad, then," Inkbrand finally said, instead of the million other things he could have said, but were way too personal and in-depth for a molly he barely knew, "I've never been one for the 'fancy' mares 'n fillies, either." Another toothy grin and flirtatious wink followed, but Inkbrand couldn't help but wonder what the molly beside him would've been like if her mother had had more of an influence on her, rather than her father. All puffed up and frilled out, probably, with enough makeup to coat a dragon as she pranced the streets of Canterlot. Definitely wouldn't be slumming around with a stallion like him.

Utterly tragic, the number of fine mares bereft of his stallion-y self because of bucking social boundaries. A sheer crime against Equestria.

Before Inkbrand had a chance to lament the fact even more than he already had, however, a sign they were passing under caught his eyes, causing the grey stallion to slow down a bit. The cafe was lit up and shining brightly, but stores like it would probably be disappearing as they made their way into Bluebelle's neighborhood proper, meaning he'd have to double back around. He supposed he could just wait until after the molly had been dropped off at her family home, but...well.

Patience had never been his strong suite.

"Hey, any chance there's a fudge shop 'round here someplace?" the tattoo-clad stallion questioned abruptly, completely off track from their discussion and just at ease with it. "Or candy store? Like one of those high-end, real fancy type confectionary places." So long the prices weren't so high that he'd be charged for simply breathing inside the place, that is. Inkbrand wasn't looking to break the bank, but the sudden thought of bringing some peppermint-ladened fudge to Applejack had just been too delicious a thought to pass up.

Just to surprise the filly though, not for him.

...

Oh buck, who was he kidding.

'Mmm...and some mint 'n holly fudge, too.'
 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

That silly flirtatious wink made her nostalgic little smile a whole lot warmer, watching him, she could tell there was some weight behind that smile. Stallions like Inkbrand usually had a more sensitive side, his was made more obvious by his love of art...or welll...tattoos, but they were a form of art too. She couldn't help but appreciate the intricacy of them.
It made her recsll many members of her family that'd gone on to do art, or atleast something in the art world...performance, fashion, something like that and for that she appreciated the grey pony's company all the more.

Even more so now when he mentioned food, horsefeathers she hadn't even eaten yet since she got off the train! Bluebelle'd been so preoccupied and excited with seeing home, she'd barely paid attention to the plaintive pangs of her stomach attempting to catch her attention. The small rumbling melody of 'feed me' soon becoming apparent as she went quiet at his question. Cheeks going bright pink in embarrassment. Betrayed by her tummy.

"Heh, well, funny you should ask...there's this nice liddle ol' shop jus' round th' corner!" She smiled as she made a small trot to said corner, the glow of the shop she'd mentioned apparent on her face as she gestured Inkbrand over with her hoof. Once he got there, her smile was more than evident, a 'chocolate cafe'. One of those walk in shops and cafes ponies could head into to buy any amount of tooth rotting sugar they wanted to or simply sit and enjoy a hot cup of their apparently famous cocoa.

The name of the shop was the 'Chocolate Drop-In', made more evident as some ponies making the late night shift came in and then stepped swiftly out with their prizes. Some high and fancy ponies simply turning up their nose, some tourists happily trotting out with excited grins on their faces, or a hot chocolate mustache on their upper lips.

"I used t' come here when I was a liddle molly, they're a really nice family from Seaddle an' can make anythin' sweet fer yer tongue."

[Zeig]

 

Seems like he hadn't been the only pony thinking of grabbing a little something.

Well actually, he hadn't been thinking of grabbing anything right at that moment, only picking up something for later. But the barely discernible rumbling that he had nevertheless heard had changed Inkbrand's mind faster than a cat could claw up a scratching post.

"Perfect," the tattoo-clad stallion crowed as the shop's speciality of anything and everything sweet became exceedingly obvious. Just the sight of the warmly lit interior and holiday-themed decorations seemed to enforce exactly how cold it was out on the street - not so cold for him to really need layers of clothing for protection, but chilled enough to keep him just on the edge of comfortable if he stopped moving for long enough.

Which they were doing now, because

"Mind making a detour?" Inkbrand demanded as her turned towards the molly, "I'm thinking I need to validate this claim of 'World's Best Cup 'o Cocoa!' they've got going," he added with exaggerated incredibility, tossing his head towards the colorful sign boasting that very fact in the windowpane. The grey Earth Pony was so certain of her acquiescence, so used to his group of friends that simply demanded and needled and pushed each other around rather than politely ask permission, that his hooves were already moving towards the entrance to the shop, despite the little nagging voice in the back of his head head that was telling him -

' - oh, right. Family.'

He had forgotten the blue molly was in Canterlot for Hearth's Warming to visit her family, not parade around town with a veritable stranger after an undoubtedly long train ride. Huh. Well, her stomach had been growling, so maybe she'd be up for stopping in for a quick bite anyways. Inkbrand didn't really have that much of a sweet tooth, not compared to some ponies he knew, but the holidays were for splurging on seasonal treats that couldn't be gotten any other time of the year.

"What the hay, I'll even treat 'ya to the biggest slice of cake they have," he cajoled, with a sly smirk settled firmly on his face. Chicks loved chocolate - it was just a fact of life. "Spirit of Hearth's Warming and all that, eh?"
 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

"Course I don' mind." She replied with a smile. "Aint had anything but a few nibbles from th' food trolley on the train, be nice to fill my belly a little 'fore I see th' family."

The stark contrast of the warm shop and the cold snowy street certainly caught up with Bluebelle as she shook a touch and stepped inside, almost immediately hit by the wall of thick, almost decadent smell of fresh made chocolate and multiple other sweet things to tantalize the tongue. She could smell hazelnut and cinnamon. Felt like just the smells alone could warm the winter night's air out of her blood...as she walked in beside Inkbrand she leaned in to whisper. An impish little smile on her muzzle.

"Gosh, y'can almost feel y'teeth rottin' it's so sweet in here...feel like I put on several pounds from that smell alone." The molly meant it in the best way possible, because she was obviously very happy to be here.

One of the mares behind the counter, that had MULTITUDES of chocolatey goodness behind the glass display case, greeted them with a smile. Thick dark curls and chocolate brown...yep, this was definitely the owner of the establishment. The fact that she was a unicorn in Canterlot didn't surprise the pastelle blue mule in the slightest, this was practically unicorn central. What delighted her was the reaction as she herself mimicked it once the recognition finally set in.

"Eclaire? That you darlin'? I aint seen you in ages an' here y'are ownin' yer daddy's shop!"

The unicorn smiled as she nattered a bit with the molly and the molly likewise, obviously they must've known each other...that didn't stop said shop owner from overhearing Inkbrand, nor did it stop Bluebelle from hearing as the unicorn gestured to the biggest chocolate cake underneath the glass before asking what the pair of them wanted.

"Oh uh- I'll have some of yer famous hot chocolate please..." Her eyes wandered to the grey stallion in brief concern. "Y'all sure y'wanna waste y'bits on me? Spirit of Hearth's Warmin' an' all but I don' wanna put any pressure on y' purse..."

The ever paranoid mule scrunched her nose slightly in embarrassment as her coco-coloured companion pointed out that a slice of cake only cost about two bits. Holiday special offer.

[Zeig]

 

To be honest, Inkbrand was pleasantly surprised at how easily Bluebelle had acquiesced to his demand.

Although not really, because seriously, he was hot and he knew it.

But actually, yeah he was, because as hungry as the molly was, it was surprising she would wait out reuniting with her family to grab a bite with him. Not that Inkbrand was complaining in the slightest, no sir - but whenever he returned to his parent's home, the grey stallion kind of made it a point to arrive with an empty stomach. Partly because he genuinely enjoyed his mother's cooking, and a much larger part because his mother would practically force feed him her food in an effort to negate all the fast and fatty foods she assumed he ate because he was a full grown stallion who could eat whatever the buck he wanted, buck it.

Still, it was just a slight curiosity, and Inkbrand had gotten what he'd been after in the first place. A toothy and somewhat triumphant smile fixed itself on the Earth Pony's face as he allowed the molly to enter the shop first, before following in after.

Immediately, the scents of chocolate, sugar, chocolate, and oh yeah, more chocolate invade his senses, but what could have been overwhelming was merely inspiring as it mingled with holiday-typical scents, like peppermint and ginger. Inkbrand took a deep whiff, his body already warming up to the cozy temperature inside the shop - though, the sudden pleasing sensations were not enough to distract the grey stallion from the molly's comment, whispered in an almost conspiratorial manner.

"Please," the tattoo-clad stallion snorted as he tugged his scarf a bit looser around his neck, "I think I'd have noticed those extra pounds." Possibly. Or he might not have noticed at all, and Inkbrand dragged his gaze up from the molly's flanks as Bluebelle started jabbering excitedly with a brown Unicorn who was such a deep and delicious shade of brown, she might as well have been made of chocolate herself.

'I'd take a bite outta that.'

It was obvious that the two mares knew each other, and Inkbrand idly tuned them out as he studied the various treats safely stashed away beneath the glass. Just looking at the colorful confections was almost enough to send a toothache ricocheting straight into his nerves, but he was thankfully saved by a break in the conversation, one eyebrow raising as Bluebelle expressed her hesitance.

A hesitance that was quickly put to shame by the brown coated owner.

"Oh yeah, don't want to break the bank or anything," the tattoo-clad stallion said dryly, mirth coating the edges of his voice as he turned to leer at the owner. "Two cups of hot cocoa, and a slice of that cake for Bells here," he began, golden eyes roving over the displayed treats for a moment before abruptly alighting back towards the mare's own red gaze, "and an eclair for me. Need something sweet to sink my teeth into, 'ya know," Inkbrand finished ordering, aiming a flirtatious grin at the brown Unicorn.

Oh right, and fudge. Well, the mounds of fudge were clearly visible now that he taught them out, towards the right side of the display case. He'd just buy some on their way out the store.

'Ya know. When he wasn't busy imagining what some chocolate-covered bluebelles would taste like. Maybe like, chocolate covered blueberries?...

 

 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

The reaction the chocolate mare gave to Inkbrand's flirtations said it all, the soft roll of her eyes, the amused little smile, she was no stranger to stallion wiles...and probably dished out a few herself. After all she was in a sweet business. But she took it in her stride, giving a small wink to Bluebelle for her choice of company...prompting the slightest blush from the molly as she watched her friend go about getting them both their treats.

Embarrassed as she was by the dry humor of the stallion and her friend's gentle chastising for her financial worries, the mule appreciated both ponies and it was obvious in the expression she kept. She wanted to ask if any of her family had stopped by at any point, but she felt that asking might've been a touch rude seeing as she already had company...and would see her family later on. She could ask them then, easily. As she waited for their treats however, it gave her some time to think about the first time she'd met Inkbrand and her head turned to the grey stallion with a curious tilt of her head.

"So...back in Appleloosa, what happened after yerself an' that sweet mare left? Hope y'got a good view of th' town an' such." She was awfully proud of her new home. The rolling desert, the locals, the potential of what could be grown out there, everything to her was wonderful about her home. As she asked, two big mugs were settled infront of them as the rich coated 'Eclaire' went about her business, both mugs topped with thick dollops of whipped cream with thick straws made of chocolate and biscuit, even the cream had shaved chocolate ontop just scarcely starting to melt into the white foamy goodness. Needless to say, quite mouth watering to look at.

Bluebelle's eyes were practically big as a foal's.

"This place excels 'emselves every year."

[Zeig]

 

Well hot butter biscuits on a greasy frying pan. Flirting with a Canterlot Unicorn that didn't result in any reaction ranging from a withering glare to a frying pan upside the face?

There was a first for everything, it seemed.

Inkbrand wasn't about to complain however, just content to revel in the impishness spreading through him, with hints of the surprise that always hit him when he met a new pony who wasn't immediately averse to playing the flirting game. So many ponies took flirts as a personal insult, as if only a stallion concerned with his One True Love should ever throw a wink at a pretty mare, and how dare he try and flirt with her, the gall. Canterlot was one of the worst offenders, but even places like Ponyville showcased the same traits. Maybe it was a simple matter of culture, of upper class courting etiquette and farm-bred innocence.

Or maybe it was just a matter of ponies being far too into themselves to deal with it.

Clearly the owner of the establishment wasn't however, so Inkbrand took the time to sweep his gaze over her fleshed out flanks and legs with an appreciative smile, before turning to settle himself at the table with Bluebelle. She'd just asked him a question, but the grey stallion didn't really have time to answer right away as two mugs filled with steaming hot chocolate were set in front of them, their cream-covered tops mimicking the snow outside. If the warm atmosphere hadn't driven away the vestiges of cold lingering to his frame, just the sight of the steam rising from the mugs was enough to warm him to the very core.

"I'll have to take your word on it," the tattoo-clad stallion commented, considering he had no experience as to what standards the shop had for hot cocoa the previous year. Huh. Maybe they changed up their "famous hot cocoa" every year, gave it a new or different spark? Whatever they did, they were clearly doing right. Asking customers the right questions to get the best result, and rot.

Speaking of questions, Bluebelle had asked him some, hadn't she?

"We sure did," Inkbrand affirmed, using the thick biscuit straw to scoop up some whipped cream and shaved chips, bringing it upwards to idly lick it up and into his mouth. Some ponies liked letting the whipped cream melt and meld with their drinks, but not him. He always started with the whipped cream, always. Even as a colt, according to his mother. "Flo' and I didn't have much time to do a lot of exploring though," he continued after a getting his first taste of the hot cocoa, lips smacking together, "we had a buffalo stampede to watch! And apple pie to eat."

...Had they cleaned up the remains of the apple pie after the stampeded had passed, or was the box still sitting up on that ridge? Huh.

"What about you?" Inkbrand picked up the thread of conversation, "anything exciting happen with you and - " Oh yeah, MFT had been there too. One of her fake as, two-faced attempts at being cordial with him, before she'd shown how much of a raging nag she was on Hearts and Hooves Day. Just the thought of the mare was usually enough to bring a scowl to Inkbrand's face - but it was exceedingly more difficult this time, what with his concentrating on licking up more whipped cream and simultaneously avoiding giving himself a frothy mustache. "- that other mare? After Flo' and I left?"

 

 

 

 

 

[MudBug]

Bluebelle listened to the stallion as her side as she slurped some hot chocolate through the chocolate biscuit straw, the mingle of hot cocoa and melted remnants of the biscuit making the molly smile with a slight flush to her cheeks. Every year it was better than the last and every year she loved it. It made listening to Inkbrand's story of Appleloosa all the more nostalgic, she wondered how her home away from home was doing at this very moment....but the talk of the stampede definitely helped her visualize how it must've been doing.

"Can imagine y'all had a fun time durin' it though, them stampede's mingled with apple pies 're always a great!" She took another sip of her hot cocoa with a smile. "Like a warm hug fer th' belly." Whether she meant the hot cocoa or the notion of apple pie and a stampede was unknown, probably both.

His mention of the other visitor she had gave the molly a slightly shy smile, that mare yes, don't think they shared more than a few conversations before she had to finish her order of apple blossom butter hm? Hard to remember straight off the top of her head.

"Well after y'all left, I had t'get some work done so I said my g'byes and sent her off t'enjoy th' rest of th' town...hope sh' didn' think that was rude 'f me." Celestia she was a worry wart.

Her thoughts tumbled from her however as Eclaire settled their orders down, a slice of cake for the mule and a big old eclaire for the stallion, the baker of both being appraised by the pale blue lady as the unicorn shook her hoof in a fondly dismissive gesture and went back to serve the rest of her customers.

[Zeig]

 

Oh, what'd he except? Seemed pretty typical.

"Huh, maybe," the grey stallion commented, repeating his task of scooping up whipped cream with his straw and licking it away, "though I doubt it. I've run into her a couple times before - she's the, I-love-everyone-and-everything-unless-I-can-make-myself-look-good-by-proving-them-wrong, sort." If, that even was a sort, that'd be MFT. And that Snickerdoodle mare that called all the foals little ones to show off how maternal she was. And that Aurora Sketch who giggled at every little thing to show off how happy and innocent she was.

It was bucking creepy is what it was! It just wasn't healthy for ponies to exhibit one bucking emotion all the rot-eating time, only showing anger or rage or disgust when they were out to prove what a good pony they were. Weird as.

"If you did though," Inkbrand continued bluntly, "you'll probably know it next time you run into her." The tattoo-clad stallion shrugged carelessly, not considering the fact that a pony housing a grudge against her might upset the molly. Ponies will love you, ponies will hate you, ponies will have absolutely no opinion about you either way. That was just a fact of life, and there was no point agonizing over the fact that some random pony out in the world might hold a negative opinion of him, might wish ill of him.

Buck, he could name a few off the top of his head that he wished the same for.

The grey Earth Pony's thoughts were briefly stymied by the re-appearnce of Eclaire just then, settling down their tooth-rottening orders on their table. The sight of his own pastry made Inkbrand immediately rescind thoughts about grabbing an actual meal from a cafe on the way back, because holy rot that eclair was huge. Not that he was complaining. Bluebelle didn't seem to be complaining either, though he doubted a desert molly could complain much in a Canterlot sweet shop.

Actually -

"So, why Appleloosa?" Inkbrand questioned, picking up his eclair for a bite. "I mean, you said your family tends to split off and settle in other cities - but why a desert?" The grey stallion thought Appleloosa had been fine and all - hay, he'd had a much more pleasant time strolling around the town than he had Ponyville his first day there - but he really couldn't imagine picking a desert as his home. Maybe because he was averse to extreme heat, or wanted to be able to frolic through green meadows whenever he felt like it, who knew.

...Eh. Probably the latter.
 

 

 

 

[Zeig]

 

Didn't feel like answering, huh?

 

Eh, maybe it was personal, some sort of terrible, dark secret that had driven the molly to the desert. Still, Inkbrand couldn't help but wonder. It'd be pretty disappointing if Bluebelle's choice had simply been because of family in the area or something like that, but that was real life in a nutshell, wasn't it. Boring. 

 

...Unless you lived in Ponyville. Then real life was boring, followed by equal amounts of sheer terror and hilarity. 

"Whelp, this has been sweet 'n all," Inkbrand shrugged, popping the last bit of eclair into his mouth as he messily brushed off his hooves, "but I've got that business to take care of. You know." Business being a rambunctious little filly who was probably running circles around the foalsitter he'd left behind, and the thought was enough to coax a smirk onto the grey stallion's face. "So I'll catch you later, yeah? Maybe after the holidays are all done with," said carelessly, one hoof thrown up in a final farewell as he winked at both the molly and shop owner in turn, before resettling his scarf and marching back out into the cold.

 

...Huh. Wasn't so cold out, now. Or maybe that was the hot chocolate still coursing its way through his body. Either or, the grey Earth Pony gave a satisfied sigh at a well deserved break, before continuing his way back into Canterlot proper, festive hat jingling every bucking step of the way.

 

[[ Exit ]]