//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14 
// Story: The First Journey:  Feelings of Etherealism 
// by Kaille 
//------------------------------//


~Chapter 14:  Moving In~


We walked over to the hotel talking about various art related things, mainly different mediums we used in the past and subjects studied.  We enjoyed hearing about each others achievements, and by the time we reached the hotel, fifteen minutes went by when it should have been two, but it felt like seconds.
We entered the building and I turned to the desk seeing Bill at work going through papers and money.  "Hey Bill!  How are you?"
He looked up at me and smiled, waving.  "Hey Ink!  I'm doing great, thanks for asking!  I just have a few things I'm working on here, nothing big, thankfully.  Anything I can help you with?  And hello, miss!"  He went to walk around the counter and tripped over a box of files next to the counter, planting his face in the floor.
Chroma and I ran over to him, helping him up.  "Oh no, Mr. Bill!  Are you alright?"  Chroma said, checking his face for any cuts or bruises.
He laughed and pushed us away, brushing himself off and smoothing down his ruffled fur.  "Yes, thank you.  Sorry about that.  Forgot I left that there; meant to put it away, but I got distracted by some pony's paperwork.  A slight underpayment in a letter.  Anyway, like I said, anything I can help with?"
I smiled and shook my head in exasperation.  "No, thank you.  Just came to get my stuff and give you my last payment.  Moving in with this kind mare until I get my own place."  I looked to Chroma and grinned, and she grinned back.
Bill smiled and nodded.  "Alrighty then!  Go ahead and pack up, I will get your stuff in order for when you come back down."  I nodded and gestured for Chroma to follow.
We went down the hall and upstairs to my room.  Chroma looked at me curiously when I flared my wing and started digging into it with my mouth.  "Are you preening?  Why- oh!"  She looked slightly startled when I pulled the key out and unlocked the door.  I grinned at her with the metal instrument in my teeth and laid it on the table inside the door, walking in.
"When I first got the place I realized I needed somewhere to put the key, so I wove it into my feathers."  I started putting my few possessions into my saddlebags, basically just money and books.
Chroma followed me in and looked around.  "That is actually very smart.  But won't it fall out in flight?"
I smiled.  "I had the same worry the first time I flew, but I wove it enough that it stayed.  Even after going for a swim with Rainbow Dash."
Chroma's head snapped to my direction.  "Huh?  What happened?"
I looked up, curious as to her reaction.  "She taught me to fly recently- after I was bedridden for a month.  We went for a swim to cool off.  Why?"
She blushed a little and sheepishly looked away.  "Oh, uh. . .  Nothing.  Sorry.  So. . .  This is were you stayed the past few weeks?"
I resumed packing, still confused.  "Uhh. . .  Yeah.  It''s a good price, I think.  Seventy five bits a night.  Not to expensive, and comfortable enough."  I put the last book in my bag and slid it over my back, shifting my wings around to make it sit more comfortably.
Chroma turned back to me.  "Ready to go?"
I smiled.  "Yep!"
We went back downstairs and I walked up to the desk.  Mr. Ledger looked up and smiled.  "Alright, Ink!  All you owe left is last night and the day before.  One hundred and twenty five bits please!"
I cocked my head slightly.  "Don't you mean one hundred and fifty?"
He laughed.  "I reduced the price 25 bits last night.  I have been doing pretty well, making enough money from tourists and visitors to allow it.  Ponyville is doing better and better; we are growing in population."
I smiled and opened my bag.  "Well, I will give you the extra twenty five anyway.  It isn't much, but it can still help you do something to attract even more people to your establishment, and I will recommend your place if I have the chance."
Bill beamed.  "Thank you!  I really shouldn't accept it, but I really appreciate it.  I will get you a drink sometime as thanks.  Well, that clears things up!  You are free to head out."  He walked around the counter and shook hooves with me, then Chroma.  The three of us walked to the door and he opened it for us.  "It was a pleasure having you here!  I will see you around town perhaps then.  Till next time!"
I thanked him as well and allowed Chroma to leave first and followed suit, making the trek back to her place.  On the way back I noticed a new stand in the market, and glanced at it to see what it sold.
Dear Celestia, she sells drawing supplies there!
I turned to Chroma.  "Hold up.  Quick stop."  She looked at me surprised and confused, and I grinned.  I trotted over to the stall and glanced at the utensils on display.
The mare working at it looked up from her book to me and smiled.  "Hello!  How can I help you?"
I tore my gaze from the pens and pencils after a few seconds, and Chroma walked up to me, also appearing interested in the wares.  "What range of sketch pencils do you have?"
She grinned and closed her book, putting it to the side and coming to the table quickly.  She seemed to be pleased that some pony actually knew what they were talking about here.  "Well, I have the full set; 9H to 8B-"  YES!  They use the same system as on Earth!  My luck is getting better!  "-and I offer a discount for buying it complete.  Each pencil is two bits a piece, but the set of all twenty is thirty bits."
Chroma's jaw dropped at this; she must not draw much, because quality is costly with pencils.  I nodded and asked my next question.  "Alright, now, for pens; do you have a range for them as well?"
The stall pony's grin grew more.  "Yes, I have .1, .3, .5, and .7."  BUCKING BRILLIANT!  Same sizes I used!  "The pens are three bits a piece, ten a set."
My grin threatened to split my face in two.  "Okay, I will get the pencils and pens, plus white, gum, and kneadable erasers, an eraser pen if you have some, a sharpener, and a sheaf of your highest quality paper."  Chroma gapped at me for the sheer size of my order.
The mare in the stall was somewhat shocked as well.  "Oh- uh- okay, so, that means. . .  thirty, ten, four per eraser, six for the pen, ten for the sharpener, and. . .  um. . .  one hundred for the paper?"
I nodded and did some quick mental math.  "Okay, gimme a sec."  I turned to my bag and opened it, counting out the bits needed to pay.  All the while, Chroma was nearly stuttering in shock.  I turned back to the stall with a bag of bits in my mouth.  "Okay, here is your one hundred and sixty eight bits!"  I said and grinned.  Both mares simply balked at the bag, before the mare in the stall pulled it over, counting it out herself.
Chroma turned to me with eyes the size of dinner plates.  "How could you spend so MUCH?!  I only ever spend eighty bits max when restocking my supplies!"
I turned to her, still grinning.  "Yes, but getting my starter kit together?  I need this."
The mare in the stall started gathering supplies from around her, loading it onto a tray.  After filling it she turned back to me and slid it over the counter to me.  "Okay, there you go.  Thank you very much for your business!"  She said, absolutely beaming with happiness at the massive sale.
I beamed right back.  "Your very welcome, miss. . ?"
She nodded.  "Yes, my name is Art Cache."
I quickly glanced at her cutie mark, seeing that it was a chest filled with paint brushes, pencils, and pens.  I smiled again.  "It is great to meet you Art.  My name is Ink.  I am going to be a regular for you, I think."  We both grin and shake hooves, and then Chroma and I started off again for her place.  We reached it and Chroma took the key that she left under the mat on her doorstep after we left, trying to hide it in a different place.  After opening the door she stopped for a second, then lifted her wing and wove the key into her feathers.  She looked at me and smiled, and I smiled back through the rope holding the tray of supplies.  I brushed my hooves on the mat and walked down to my room and deposited my stuff, content to sort it away later.  I turned around and was startled because Chroma was right in the door frame, leaning against it, right in my face.
"So, Ink, what do you want to do now?"
I stopped and thought.  "I honestly have no idea.  How about you?"
She looked up and to the side a bit, squinting and jutting her lower lip a bit in thought.  Jesus.  Thats what I do when I need to think.  These similarities are becoming EERIE.  "Well, we can get you started on drawing again.  It's nearing lunch time now, so we could grab a bite to eat.  We could simply go for a walk through the park.  Your choice."
I pondered the options.  "Hmm. . .  actually, I am content to simply read, if you don't mind.  I have been constantly doing things the past while; haven't had much time to get into my current books."
Chroma nodded.  "Okay, sure.  I have a few errands to run anyway, and you might not want to tag along.  You know, girly stuff, like dress shopping."  She winked and started to walk away.  "I will be back in a few hours.  Try not to ruin my place, hmm?"
We both shared a quick laugh.  "Sure thing.  I will see you later then."  I went back into my room and put my stuff away.  I then grabbed a book and settled into the bed, getting ready to immerse myself in yet another world.