//------------------------------// // 124. Hygiene by Knight of Cerebus // Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// by Knight of Cerebus *** Soak, gargle, rinse, repeat. Soak, gargle, rinse, repeat. Twilight let the water in her mouth switch between her right and left cheeks with a soft squelching sound, savouring the rush of cold she got as she did so. "Twilight?" And all at once she had to jump. "You've cleaned your teeth seventeen times now. I imagine they would be fresh by now." Fresh. Fresh like packed earth, still moist, fresh like bouquets and soft words and empty promises and--. Twilight stopped. Those were the bad thoughts. She thought of rinsing just one more time, then weighed that against the risk of exacerbating Celestia's suspicions. She set the brush to her teeth one more time. "Twilight." She cringed. "Twilight, what's wrong?" A set of hoofsteps indicated she was not going to be alone in the bathroom for much longer. "The table cloth downstairs is symmetrical to within a millimeter. Spike said you've checked the door lock on the door twelve times now, and I heard in a friendship letter from Applejack that you missed helping her with her family--" Celestia noticed Twilight's ear twitch violently. "...appreciation day because you were reshelving the entire weekend." "It's fine! Really, really, it's fine!" Twilight noticed Celestia's skeptical look. "I...she...Tia, please, can I have this date? Please?" Celestia gave a bittersweet smile. "Of course, Twilight." ---- The dinner was stilted. Celestia ate in silence, watching as Twilight glared at her plate. The food had been some of the best Twilight had cooked in a while, save for some peas, which she had salted into an early grave. Celestia, of course, hadn't minded, but Twilight had been horribly frustrated by it. Currently she was chewing her lip, glancing between Celestia and the plate. Celestia gave her best smile. "You know, I bumped into Shining the other day. He was all up in arms because of something Cadance had done about reducing the guard shift time in the Empire to only sentries in the early morning hours. I must say, Twilight, I hadn't imagined your penchant for management ran in the fami--" Celestia noticed that Twilight's face was a tableau of forced cheer. She decided to start again. "When was the last time we visited your family, Twilight? Stars know you and I visit Luna enough to--" "Could we change the subject please?" Celestia winced at the way Twilight's tone changed from polite and personable to a dull crawl. She pursed her lips. "Of course, Twilight." She pushed her plate aside and sat down on the couch, looking meaningfully at a certain spot underneath her wing that a former unicorn was known to enjoy. Twilight gave a bittersweet smile and shuffled to the sofa. With a dull thud, she dragged herself under the wing and leaned against the larger pony. "I was wondering if you could help me with something. I've been trying to make a decision among four applicants for a position in the field of magic and sciences. I received word rather abruptly that there was a job opening at the royal astronomy institute yesterday, you see." "So did I." Twilight gave a joyless laugh. "Twilight, please, I--" "The previous occupant passed away. Cause of death uncertain." "Twilight?" "I just...I just wanted tonight to be perfect. I always l-look forward to our d-date nights." Twilight gave a hard swallow, her voice trembling against her words. "I just wanted a moment today to not be bad and I tried and t-tried but I couldn't and I'm sorry because you shouldn't have a bad evening because of me and I--" Celestia tightened her wing's hold on Twilight. Her mind searched for a reason for Twilight's behaviour, before the answer came to her. A memory of a family dinner with Twilight came rushing back to her. A memory of a friendly banter between her and Twilight Velvet over the telescope maintenance in the astronomy department. The pieces fell into place. "I understand, Twilight." Twilight sagged. "I don't know what to do, Tia." She squeaked. "I keep trying to act like nothing's wrong. I keep trying to find something, but--but my mum is gone. My momma's gone and all I can do is sit here and fold napkins and--" "Twilight." Celestia cut in. "If you had hidden something of this magnitude from me for the sake of my evening, it would in no way have been perfect. It would never have been enjoyable. Even if you had hidden it perfectly, if I had found out at any point the thought of you being in such grief while I was so happy would have tainted the memory of the night permanently." Celestia faced Twilight, eyes prying deep into her thoughts and heart. "Please, Twilight. Grieve with me, if you wish for me to be here. I would rather my love be genuine than be pleasing to me." Celestia hugged Twilight, and the library echoed with sobs long overdue.