The sound of spoons hitting the sides of cups as ponies stirred their coffees and teas filled the Cat's Eye Café. It was an ever-constant ambient noise that brought Crystal Wishes a sense of calm despite her nervous, pounding heart.
The journalist from the Mares Monthly magazine sat across from her and tapped a pen against his notepad to test the ink before he looked up and smiled at her. "I'm ready whenever you are."
Crystal nodded. A hoof raised to tuck a strand of her blonde mane behind one ear, which flicked at the light touch. "Go ahead."
Wrapped in silver magic, the pen hovered just above the waiting paper, poised and ready to strike. "Let's not waste any time and get straight to the point: you are C.W. Step, popular romance novelist beloved by mares and stallions alike."
"Yes, I am," she replied while she folded her hooves neatly in her lap.
The journalist smiled. "It's been four years since you published your first novel, and now you have three under your belt as well as several serials in Mares Monthly. Today, you are ready to drop the guise of your penname and come out from behind the veil. What prompted the change?"
A chime of giggles escaped Crystal. "To put it simply, because I want to expand my horizons. I want to start attending more conventions, traveling to more cities, and meeting more ponies. I could do this while maintaining the anonymity of C.W. Step, but frankly, I don't enjoy feeling like I have to hide myself."
"Well, then, why don't you tell us who you really are?" He chuckled. "Who is the mare behind the books?"
Crystal took a breath in. It was time. Time to accept the good and the bad that would come of this interview. Going public meant staying public; there was no taking it back. "My name is Crystal Wishes. I have recently moved to the Crystal Empire to follow my husband in his changing career, but in my heart, Canterlot will always be my home."
"Your husband? Ah, so somepony has already captured the heart of Mares Monthly's Lady of Romance?"
"Oh, yes. We actually just returned from our honeymoon." Her teacup levitated and she took a quick sip to compose herself. Her agent, Sunset Coffee, had warned her about divulging too much about herself. The only problem with that was she wasn't sure exactly where the line was and when she might cross it.
The journalist bobbed his head. "How wonderful! Do you think your own relationship experience has affected your writing?"
Crystal nearly snorted her tea as laughter tried to overtake her. "I'm sure some of my experiences have bled into my fiction from time to time."
"What about the other way around? Has what you've read and written in the world of romantic fiction prepared you for the reality of love?"
After a startled pause and lowering her teacup back to its saucer, Crystal answered with utmost care, "There are so very many paths of love, in both fantasy and reality, that I don't know if anypony can be truly prepared. For me, it was a winding road with unexpected twists and turns along the way. For a friend, it was a hard fall before a whimsical rise. And for another, it was sunshine and roses after a tentative game of hoofsie.
"Everypony finds love in their own way, and I think it is our right as hopeless romantics to seek out as much hope as we can from stories while we wait for our wishes to come true."
"Mmhm, I see." He winked. "It almost sounds as though you want ponies to read more romance novels. I can't imagine how that would benefit you!"
Crystal laughed politely behind a hoof. "Oh, I have no idea."
"Now, let's return to the important matter at hoof. C.W. Step—is there a story there? Why that specific pseudonym?"
"Oh, yes." She hooked her forehooves together and rested her chin on them. "My fillyhood friend, Velvet Step, was the one who pushed me to get my work published through Mares Monthly. She had submitted my information to them, posing as the agent for a 'C.W.' When it came time to pick an official pseudonym, I chose to add Step to my initials as a way to thank her for everything she's done for me."
"How wonderful! So much meaning behind one word. And finally, what should your fans take away from knowing the mare behind the books?"
"What should they take away?" Crystal lowered her gaze for a moment before nodding after some thought. "I suppose they should take away that I'm a pony, just like them. I'm honored and flattered by some of the fan mail I receive and to hear that I've touched the lives of ponies I've never met. But I don't really want to be an inspiration or an idol."
She smiled, shaking her head as she continued, "I want to actually and truly meet those who read what I write. I hope that by letting everypony know who I am, that will be the first step in getting to know my fans, now that they know the real me."
♡
Crystal sighed as she sat in the middle of the small but serviceable quarters she and Silent Knight now called home. It was free housing provided by the Guard, so she certainly couldn't complain, but there was just something missing. The buildings of the Crystal Empire were, unsurprisingly, composed primarily of crystalline materials. A part of her missed the beautiful hardwood floors and polished hewn stone of Canterlot.
There was also the teensy, tiny issue that she had brought nothing that couldn't fit in a box with her to the Empire. The rest she had left for Velvet to keep in the condo they used to share. That meant they only had a regulation standard bed, locker, footlocker, armor stand, table, and two chairs. The kitchenette was stocked with the bare minimum for home-cooked meals. The rest of their furniture? Boxes.
Three boxes of equal size were side-by-side to serve as their couch. A long but narrow box posed as a coffee table. Other boxes were stacked against the walls in order of descending depth as makeshift shelving for what little had been unpacked.
As much as Crystal was loath to admit it, she was rather accustomed to just... having things. The place felt so barren and empty without pictures on the walls or real bookshelves. She would never mention it to Silent, but 'regulation standard' was not something she was sure she could live with.
Of course, if she could just finish unpacking, then she'd have room to place proper furniture. She levitated the nearest box closer and opened it up to look inside. How many possessions did a mare really need? Certainly not as many as she had!
Her ear flicked. Maybe this would be a good opportunity to pare things down. She'd make three piles: keep, donate, and sell. This would be a breeze! She would have fewer things, they would have more space to buy things together as a couple, and make some bits from the 'sell' pile.
That plan flew right out the window when she realized it was her own box in front of her. Of course, all of the boxes except for two were hers, so that wasn't much of a surprise.
Underneath a protective layer of some scarves and shawls was a picture frame that featured her two closest friends in all of Equestria since foalhood: Velvet and Horsey. It had been taken during their first year at Canterlot Academy, when manes were voluminous, makeup was wild, and colorful clothing was hot. It was also before Horsey had left Canterlot to seek a happier life in Ponyville. So many memories bubbled to the surface of her mind just from looking at Velvet's goofy grin and Horsey's shy smile.
Crystal giggled and levitated the frame over to the makeshift coffee table. That was a keeper for sure. The shawls and scarves that had protected it were also to be kept! They were now living in the Frozen North, after all. She'd need all the bundling materials she owned, and possibly even more than that.
Taking up the rest of the space in the box were countless notebooks, all with numbers on their covers. A soft, wistful sigh escaped her as she picked up #27 and flipped through it. Scenes, short stories, snippets, outlines, and character notes flashed before her eyes until she reached the last page. There was absolutely no way she could get rid of any of them! They were vital. Necessary, even!
It took about two hours, but Crystal had finally made three piles: want to keep, need to keep, and absolutely must keep. She glanced between them and groaned, flopping over to lie on her back. How long would it take before she could make sense of everything and turn the place into a home?
The floor, made of perfectly smooth crystal of a muted, dark blue color, was dreadfully cold and uncomfortable. One of the spare notebooks floated over, wrapped in her light pink magic, with a quill tagging along and she levitated them above her as she started to take notes.
1 — Get a rug.
2 — Move boxes to make room for rug.
Her nose scrunched up and she scratched the lines out to start over.
1 — Clean up before Silent gets home.
2 — Finish unpacking!
3 — Get a rug and don't move any boxes because they're all unpacked.
With a resolute nod, she dropped the notebook back onto the pile of its brethren. "Okay," she muttered and sat upright. It was time to get serious. For real!
Another hour went by and though she didn't make any progress on paring down, she did get the clothing tucked away into the locker that currently served as her dresser and the notebooks stacked in a corner of the bedroom. Just as she started to break down the box to have it sent out for recycling, the front door opened.
"I'm home," Silent called, slipping his helmet off and onto the armor stand.
Crystal hopped to her hooves and trotted over to greet him with a kiss. "Welcome home, husband."
Silent smiled down at her. "Thank you, wife."
They gazed at each other a moment before Crystal bubbled with giggles. "It still doesn't feel real!" She pranced into the kitchen and listened as he started to remove the rest of his armor. "How was work?"
"Still doesn't feel real," he said, chuckling. "It's been a long time since I worked with Shining Armor. I didn't realize how much I missed his mentorship."
"You two are so cute together," she teased. She filled up a kettle with water, then set it on the stove and looked over at him with a grin. "Should I be worried?"
Silent snorted. "No. Unfortunately, I don't think I could tear him away from Lady Cadence. It looks like I'm stuck with you."
Her ears wiggled. "In sickness and in health, my love!"
"Mmhm." He eased himself onto the box-couch and stretched out. "How did your interview go?"
"Oh, well—well. It went well." She leaned against the counter. "I'm a little nervous, but what's the worst that could happen?" A soft laugh escaped her as she rubbed her foreleg. "I mean, aside from everypony who knew me in Canterlot finding out that I write romance novels. And everypony here I try to meet knowing that, too."
He inclined his head to look at her. "That doesn't seem like too bad of a worst case scenario to me."
Crystal sighed. "I suppose not. At least the ponies here are less judgmental about things like this." Her tail flicked with light irritation as she turned back to the stove. "I'm sure my mother is going to have some cross words for me about how my 'tawdry affair' reflects on her."
A tapping sound responded. She looked over to see him sitting upright, one hoof patting the empty spot beside him. After a moment of uncertainty, she walked over to sit down and smiled as he wrapped a wing around her to pull her close.
"You wanted to do this, right?" he asked, nuzzling the spot behind her ear. "This was your choice, wasn't it?"
She tried not to shiver at the sensation that would otherwise be a tempting offer. "Well, yes, I—"
"Then what does it matter?"
She tilted her head and furrowed her brow. "I don't exactly enjoy disappointing her at every turn."
"Oh well." He shrugged, dropping back down onto the box-couch and placing his head in her lap. "I think that's just the destiny of children. We disappoint our parents. Then we have kids and they disappoint us. Now forget about all that and pet me."
Crystal gazed down at him for a moment before giggling and running her hoof through his mane. "I'll be sure to use that line in my next novel. The readers will love such a whimsical sentiment."
He hummed at her touch and closed his eyes. "How is that going? Your next novel?"
"It will be coming along nicely once I get this place in shape." She smiled down at him. "It's hard to focus on writing with so much work to do! I think it might help motivate me to unpack if I buy some things to brighten the place up."
"Brighten the place up?" He gestured vaguely at their crystalline surroundings. "Crystal walls aren't bright enough for you?"
She huffed and swatted at his shoulder. "Oh, you know what I mean!"
"Yes, yes." His hoof dropped to land on the box-couch. "Some real furniture?"
"Yes. And maybe a painting or two. And some new sheets." She scrunched up her nose. "The ones the Guard provided are too itchy."
After a pause, Silent sat upright and dropped down onto the floor to walk over to where his armor rested on its stand. "I know I already gave you your allowance, but let me give you some extra bits for shopping."
"Allowance?" Crystal blinked, her head tilting one way, then the other.
"Yes?" He glanced between his bit pouch and her. "The twenty bits I gave you yesterday as spending money?"
A small sound rose in her throat and she strangled it with a smile. "Oh. Right."
She had an allowance? Of twenty bits? Was that a day? A week? A month?! She had spent those bits on lunch with the journalist! When he had given them to her, all he had said was, "You shouldn't have to worry about bits, so here." He hadn't mentioned it was an allowance!
She watched him with what she hoped was a neutral smile as he walked back over. Did he think that was a lot? Did he expect her to live on twenty bits? She had never considered herself a materialistic mare, but suddenly she wondered otherwise.
He held out two twenty bit pieces. "Here you go." He smiled. "I want you to be comfortable here, so don't be afraid to spend it all."
She tried to take them as graciously as she could. He thought it was a lot. In a way, it was extremely endearing. He never had to pay rent because of the Guard, and his meals were either cheap or free, also thanks to the Guard.
On the other hoof, she was almost terrified to know how much the Guard paid him after taking care of his room, board, and food. Did she make more than him? Would he be offended if he knew how paltry forty bits was to her?
"Thank you, honey," she said, tucking the bits away into her own bit purse before returning to the kitchen as the kettle whistled. One little secret couldn't hurt. After all, if he didn't discuss his finances, then it wasn't lying to do the same. "What kind of brew do you want?"
"Mm, what was the one from yesterday? I liked that." He sat back down and stretched out, yawning.
She smiled and levitated a glass jar off a shelf that contained a mix of tea leaves and spices. "Coming right up. Oh! And don't forget, you're on your own for a few days next week."
After a brief pause, he nodded. "Right. Horsey's foal is due. That's fine. I'll see if Runic wants to come visit." His ears flicked. "Do you think you can make room for the table he got us for our wedding before then?"
"If all goes to plan, I'll have this place ready for anything within the next few days. Living in a box warehouse doesn't feel befitting of a handsome lieutenant and his beautiful wife." She winked at him as she brought over the steeping tea.
He chuckled and accepted the teacup. "I don't know. It is a versatile storage solution, if you think about it. Modular furniture that you can arrange into anything and keep your belongings in. Maybe we should market it, get rich, and retire to live at Colton Head Island for the rest of our days."
Crystal sat down next to him and nestled up against his side. "That's a wonderful idea, but I don't think you would ever be happy in retirement."
"You're probably right, but if I had you with me, I think I could manage." He wrapped a foreleg around her shoulders.
She closed her eyes and smiled, a soft hum rumbling happily in her throat. "I'll start the process right away, then." She raised a hoof. "To our retirement."
He took her hoof in his, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it softly. "To our retirement."
Such forward thinking ponies, Already planning retirement.
This is madness!
...the good kind.
Is it what?
Who?
Slim Shady?
First, SQUEEEEEE! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!
Second, a very nice beginning to your next story, Crystal.
Third...THIS:
THIS was ADORABLE.
Here's to another journey with the knight and his princess!
No words. Should've sent a poet.
Okay, I lied, here's some words.
Way to go CW on finally coming outta the pen name closet! Mommy Dearest can go stuff herself. You know what they say, if you can't get aboard, get a shovel.
SK is so cute about money. Reminds me of way back when he started out in Memoirs with his chow hall meals. I do think he has some idea of what things are worth, but it's interesting to see how his ideas of money differ from Crystal's.
Here's hoping Runic has more sense than to fly all the way to the Crystal Empire with that gaming table. Well, to be honest, let's hope Miley keeps him from doing so in his excitement.
Well, with either the modular furniture idea or her books, here's hoping to see Crystal build her brand up through this story. Heh, by the end, it could very well be Crystal's Empire.
Congratulations on your launch! I loved the first chapter and I'm thrilled with the direction you've got planned. It's going to be great :D
Burn the witch!
How long was that line waiting to be included.
The food gates are open, queue the Jaws theme.
Are wall hanging as incredibly awkward to do as I think they must be?
The roguish stallion's rippling muscles flexed popping the seams of his coincidentally one size to small shirt.
At least half of the early #s are some variation of that.
That was a close one. If there hadn't been at least some kind of scenario after a statement like that, doom, doom, and more doom. Now only possible doom.
I'm going to assume that when you literally have no expenses the perception of money gets distorted a bit.
Whelp it's only chapter one and we already know Crystal's hope. To have them make it to retirement. Which may be a pretty steep order.
This is why ponies need garages.
yay more Crystal and Silent!
now all we need is more Azu and everything will be right in the world
Daaw, its so cute great start to what I'm sure will be another fantastic story!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
It's here! And it's glorious!
I can't imagine hammering a nail into the wall is a good idea. I hope they have things that stick to walls and not to hooves.
W00T!! A new CW story! Lemme just go ahead and thumbs-up, track, and favorite.
Oh Crystal I hope you learn to cope with all the new things and can live happily even as a soldier's wife.
Oh, finances as a couple. Me and my SO keep it simple. He does all of it. He pays the bills, manages our budget, checks the bank accounts. Simple for me
You're just trying to twist the knife as much as possible because you know we know how morbidly depressing this is about to get
Oh, the directions this shall go in...
I am overjoyed to have a story from you to follow actively from the start. Keep up the superb work.
6966030
I tell you, that is not as simple as it really is made look or sound.
Interesting. I can already see this becoming quite a solid work.
Whoa. You have TWO fics featured on the front page. Congrats, Crystal!
i68.tinypic.com/2woyb9d.png
I definitely see a money fight in the next chapter or two. Still nice to see the sequel to Crystal Wishes.
I'm not sure who's more adorable here...
Crystal "want to keep, need to keep, absolutely must keep" Wishes, or Silent "here's $20, use it well, honey" Knight.
This chapter also seems to be before the, um, troubles. I'm scared to read on...
Interesting thing about finances. They're married and never talked about money? I wonder how SK will react.
Welcome to the sequel, Crystal!
Yay! It's finally here!
And... Horsey's foal is due? In a week?! I have so much excitement for this story!
Gosh, I'm going to need to read Crystal's Wishes now, aren't I?
I'll be back!
Though, out of interest; At what point in time is Hopes compared to Memoirs/Secrets of a Royal Guard?
And so, the game of word count 00 continues
6966310
Silent and money
He probably earns all right considering his career and position, but as Crystal herself pointed out, he's used to a very inexpensive living.
Wasn't there a mention somewhere that his whole Glimmer-world, earing delivery and proposal, barely made a noteworthy dent in his savings?
Though I wonder, just how much couch can you get for forty bits
Considering it's worth like, 80 tomatoes.
My theory is that a bit is somewhere between 1 and 0.75 us dollar. (by comparing tomato-prices between Ponyville and my own hometown, and then facturing in valuta exchange)
AND SO IT BEGINS...
That is all.
6966075 That's the joke
i like where this is going
6966398 Chapter 7 or so of this story will catch up to the end of Secrets and the beginning of Trials. Of course, I'm terrible at outlining, so it may end up anywhere between chapter 7 and chapter 15. But my current trajectory is chapter 7.
So great to see familiar faces, and a few new ones, too! Or at least ones I don't recognize, which doesn't mean they're new, just that I'm forgetful.
Thanks for reading, y'all! Looking forward to sharing the adventure here on out! Hopefully there will be some pleasant surprises along the way.
6965819 I know! Jeeze, enjoy the newlywed bliss a little while longer, come on!
6965834 Oh! Well, if it's of the good kind, then okay.
6965840 Only the real Slim Shady may stand up, may stand up!
6965856 *squeal* Thanks!! I had the idea to open with the interview when Crystal started talking about going public in Wishes. Been sitting on it for a while! I thought it would be a good opener for those who are starting here.
6965869 Anzel and I had a good laugh over Silent's perception of bits. It's a fun contrast between Crystal and Silent, for sure. And, come on, this is Runic we're talking about here.
He'll just steal an airship to deliver it.
6965878 Mwuahah... If only these people knew!
6965890 I have to sneak in every "hope" and "wish" line I can! C'mon! It's in the contract.
With nails, I imagine they would be incredibly difficult! But they probably have handy dandy versions of our Command Strips. I love those things. I have to believe somepony came up with the idea! Or maybe instead of hammering nails, they drill holes, insert something like those plastic fastener thingamabobs...
I'm super tool-knowledgeable.
Hahah! I couldn't let y'all panic over a "what's the worst that could happen" bomb. Secrets readers already know to panic over something else.
6965913 Totally! But nooo. No standard regulation garages. Harrumph!
6965919 You'll get a fair amount of Azurite in Mask! I honestly don't know if there is Azurite on the radar for Hopes. There may be. There may not be!
6965922 I sure hope so! Thank you for being a loyal reader!!
6965928 It is! And I'm glad to hear that!
6965944 I'm going with command strips. But probably by a different name so I don't get sued. Secure Strips! YES!
6965986 Aww. You pre-emptive faith in enjoying this is highly appreciated!
6965988 She's said more than once that she's prepared and ready for what life is going to throw her way as Silent's wife. I guess we'll see if she can walk the walk she's talked.
6966030 Hahah! Anzel and my's strategy is that he pays the bills, I pay for food and fun. So far it works great for us!
6966041 It's gonna be fine! They're in the Crystal Empire, he's got a cushy job, it'll be fine.
6966065 Fun to have you along for the ride! It's my hope that the directions I take will satisfy at least half of the readers.
6966148 It's going to be a journey, that much I can guarantee!
6966216 Yeah! Since the bottom three are "featured updates" and the top seven are "featured releases"... publishing the Epilogue for Wishes and publishing this story snagged me a spot for both, thanks to y'all great and wonderful folks. :heart;
6966251 They definitely have different perspectives on "spending money," that's for sure. And nice to share the sequel to Wishes!
6966310 I think they're both adorable, and I loved writing this chapter. And, well, yup. Chapter 7 is my estimated chapter of arrival to the end of Secrets.
6966316 It really varies from couple to couple. Some people keep their finances totally separate and don't know what the other makes. Anzel and I keep separate finances with only one shared account. The rest are invisible to the other! And we have very different perspectives on what "expensive" is. I don't like to spend money... at all...
6966357 It's pretty exciting!! I've got some tricks and surprises up my sleeve.
6966382 eeeeee *shrieking* I'm so excited for Horsey's foal!
6966402 It must! Y'all never let me hear the end of it if I accidentally go off-script with an uneven word count!
We like to imagine a 1960s economy, with a bit equal to a dollar back then. I'm not saying that's 100% accurate or that things are totally equal between ponies and Americans in the 1960s... But just that kind of general idea. We also imagine that there are bit coins that are like, half bit, quarter bit, but the bit is going to be your most common "small" / "base" coin. If that makes any sense!
6966412 It does begin!
6966537 I like where this is going, too!
YAY the new story is up! And Interesting that Crystal decided to cast off the veil of anonymity. It is good to see them doing ok together, But I can already see the signs of culture shock taking hold in her. But atleast she is being up beat and positive about it. This was a good start to the story. I cant wait to read more.
I'm strapped in and ready for a ride.
Ah boxes everywhere after a recent move...I know how that feels Crystal, I know how that feels...Anyway! The awaited sequel has finally arrived and now Crystal will begin to fully understand what being married to a military member will be like. I know for sure it will have its ups and downs, but with Silent Knight there for her, Crystal will surely be able to adapt and overcome!
You no idea how long I've been waiting for the sequel.
Yay! More Crystal stories!
Also, interesting to see that it didn't change all that much from the draft you posted on Q&B's website.
And, for those who don't know, there is a group for Quill and Blade if you'd like to join.
6966758
but shes so cute and cuddly and funsized
and now that shes friends with Velvet and has Sunny and Sorin on her "sports" team
one would fugure she would pop up more in the naritive
6966758
Main issue I see about the money fight is the "allowance". I mean really? Is there any way for that not to go wrong? Poor Silent, probably won't see it comming.
A new quill and blade story. I know I basically said this in the last chapter, but you've basically got a fan here looking forward to every chapter and story.
I'm wondering if I need to comment about this on one of anzel's stories, but I know that's kind of my ego talking
6965890 food gates? Yummy!
6966797 Yup! Seemed like a good sequel opener, Crystal making the big change she's been talking about for a few chapters in Wishes... finally made! So many other changes on the horizon, too.
6966829 Please keep your legs and arms inside the vehicle at all times!
6966854 Aggghh! Boxes!! It feels like there is no end to them after a move. But it's okay. Crystal has to make room for all that furniture she's going to buy with forty bits.
6966994 You have no idea how long I've been waiting to share it!
6967062 There were some small changes, but more or less stayed the same between draft to post! And look at you, being such a diligent group admin. You're better at promoting the group than I am.
6967230 So true! The connection to Velvet would be the strongest link (relatively speaking) between Crystal and Azurite. But thus far Azurite and Crystal haven't interacted much, so although we love Azu and consider her a big part of this universe, she isn't high on Crystal's radar. That and Azurite is in Canterlot while Crystal's in the Empire. We'll see, though! I'm not ruling it out for sure.
6967375 Well, you've got an author here looking forward to your comments. And I'm sure Anzel wouldn't mind such remarks in the comment section of his story, but I don't mind being greedy and taking them all for myself.
6967376
You know what, that actually still works with my Jaws reference.
The food gates will open and the hungry C. W. Step fans will pour through eager to sate their appetites.
6966758
It was! I can't wait to see where this new journey takes us!
6967414 well now that you've gone and become greedy I have to comment on his next chapter
6967414
Crystal Wishes,
DiplomancerAuthor ExtraordinaireLonely AuthorPerfectly Ordinary Mare is ready to step up and send propaganda against all those who would oppose her might. Wielding the missing King Sombra's O&O book she will re-pen fate and the world will unfold as she chooses.Yuss!
*squeals while reading*
Wait... what?
Shit on toast with a cup of blueberry tea colt, I know your a guard and guards get paid dick diddly, but have you know concept how much a household takes to maintaint, never mind the homey touches that go in to it? I mean... I get being a guy, and a military man at that, but come on!
This reminds me of this one story of a comic artist dad whose wife died, and his new wife asked for money to get a new wardrobe, and he took her to his bedroom closet, and opening it revealed all his dead wife's close and said "here you go babe." Well, he didn't say that, but that was what it boiled down to. When my mother heard that, she shrugged and said "What's wrong with that?"
I am now aware what all the people who unwittingly made a jew joke around me were thinking off as they said that crap....
Huzzah! Another story to read! This is going to be a great read, I'm curious to see Crystal's perspective during Trials.
He who stands with me shall be my brother. - Force Commander
6967525 *squeals while writing*
6967557 Hah! Well that's a new phrase to add to the list!
In Silent's case, he's lived in standard regulation housing with standard regulation furniture. Before that I imagine he structured his life the same way, only the bare necessities while in school, to prepare himself. A method taught by his father, I'm sure! He's never really "home"ed up a place, so I imagine he doesn't have a full grasp on the costs. He's also not much of a shopper.
6967594 Perspective, hmm... There will definitely be some overlap. Just not like there was before.