Midnight oil
Jamie, local human, couldn’t sleep. He did not know why.
Not being in his house might not have been the issues, as it sometimes was. He was instead in the house of some friends of his, having gone over there to engage in an evening and a night of low-level revelry vis snacks, tabletop gaming and slightly stale anecdotes.
(His friends - Stop It and Tidy Up - were not local humans, they were instead local ponies, local ponies being a lot less thin on the ground in these particular parts than local humans - Jamie himself being something of a novelty. A unique novelty, in fact. The most novel of novelties, by default.)
So perhaps it was that, the unfamiliar environment? Probably not, given that it wasn’t actually that unfamiliar and he had slept over there numerous times before without any problems. The last time, for example, had been totally fine and he’d slept like a proverbial baby. And the time before that.
So perhaps it was something else. Perhaps the heat? Perhaps the humidity? Perhaps the weight of the world playing on his mind? The state of the economy? Favourite sporting team not sporting enough? Indigestion? Poor tabletop performance? Any of the above? All of the above?
Ultimately, the reasons why didn’t matter. What mattered was that he couldn’t sleep.
What mattered was that he was the only one in the house that appeared to be awake, and this didn’t appear to be about to change. And so after a fruitless hour (or more, he wasn’t keeping track) of staring at the ceiling and listening to Tidy Up snoring loud enough to make the windows rattle (or not, he wasn’t sure) Jamie finally gave in, got up, and went downstairs.
Milk was the answer. Or milk was an answer. Or milk was what he was going to try. Warm milk. They said that did the trick, didn’t they? So he filled a glass and spent a minute or so faffing around with the magic-powered microwave-substitute. It took him a try or two, but before too long he had milk that was warm, and all was was.
And he was standing there, staring into middle distance, holding his glass of warm-ish milk, when down from above swung a pointy-earned, pointy-toothed, beaming face.
“Heya, cutie!”
“Holy crap!”
By some miracle he did not spill his milk, even if the surprise appearance did see him stumbling back across the kitchen and falling into a chair that, entirely coincidentally, happened to be position in such a way he could fall into it. The pointy-toothed face let out a pointy-toothed giggle.
Jamie’s immediate, gut-level response to having someone appear out of thin air in front of him was to rouse the household to the fact there was an intruder, but then his rational mind intervened and reminded him that he had in fact been informed by both Stop It and Tidy Up that they had another housemate - one he just-so happened to have never seen on account of the hours they kept.
Nocturnal hours, evidently.
So no, not an intruder, no. The other housemate, the illusive one. Pink. Fluffy ears. Big eyes. Bat wings. The batpony they’d mentioned. The one he’d only ever heard of and never actually met in person or so much as glimpsed. Jamie’s brain fumbled in the back-drawers for her name, as they had told it to him on more than one occasion.
“...Foxglove, isn’t it?” He ventured. The batpony’s already enormous smile got even more enormouser.
“And he knows my name! What a gentlecolt,” she said, a hoof to her bosom as she continued to be there, upside-down.
“There’s a hanging around joke here but - oh man - my heart’s racing too much to make it yet,” Jamie said, wincing and clutching his chest and setting his glass of milk on a handy kitchen counter.
“Aww, going a mile a minute? We only just met!”
Before Jamie could say anything to this - before he could even digest it sufficiently to think of anything to say to this - Foxglove dismounted the ceiling, swung, flapped, and flitted through the air to land perfectly on the table beside Jamie’s chair, there to sit with folded legs, leaning on one hoof to keep the distance between them to a minimum.
“Whatcha doin’ anyway, cutie?” She asked.
This was all very forward, but Jamie was too fuzzy in the head from tiredness - and too fluffy in the head from tufty ears and big eyes - to be all that put out. Did take him a second to gather his wits though, and when he did he vaguely pointed to his nearby glass.
“Trying to get to sleep. Not doing very well. Was staring at the ceiling for a bit and that wasn’t working so I came down for warm milk. Warm milk has never actually worked before but whatever. Worth another shot, right?” He asked, raising a glass.
“True, true, warm milk is always an idea if you want to get to sleep,” she said, nodding. Then: “Ooorrrr…”
“Oooorrr?” Jamie repeated.
With a grace and elegance Jamie had only ever seen ponies master, Foxglove pivoted in place so she was no longer sitting but was instead on her belly, hindlegs kicking behind her and forelegs in front, chin rest on her hooves, eyelashes fluttering at him.
“Oorrr maybe you could make yourself some coffee instead and stay up and keep me company. How does that sound?” She asked.
“That an option?”
“Oh, with a - what are you again?”
“Human.”
“With a human as cute as you that’s always an option.”
Eyelashes continued to be fluttered.
“Laying it on a little thick there, aren’t you?” Jamie asked, and Foxglove heaved herself up so their faces were level and their noses would - with a little effort - have touched.
“I haven’t even started yet. So what do you say?”
Jamie had to look away. He was smiling and couldn’t help from smiling, but he did have to look away. It was far too late (or early, maybe?) for this, for him.
“You did hear the part where I was trying to get to sleep, didn’t you?” He asked, glancing back at her, grinning. She was grinning too, though hers was pointier, and she was back to resting her chin on her hooves.
“Yes, but since you aren’t asleep and since you are here talking to me, why not make the most of that instead?”
“You want to talk?”
In yet another dazzlingly smooth pivot Foxglove twisted herself back around so she was sitting, this time though right on the edge so far forward her dangling legs were very nearly touching his.
“We are talking, I’d just like to keep talking. Get to know you better, darling. I’ve heard so much about you from the others,” she said.
This was news to him.
“Really?”
Here Foxglove’s demeanour wilted, albeit only for a split-second.
“Well, no,” she said, before immediately perking right back up again: “But I heard you mentioned and it intrigued me - and, seeing you, I can see it wasn’t for nothing.”
“And I heard you mentioned, too. Never thought I’d actually see you, though.”
“Lucky colt, then, and lucky me. Lucky us, hmm?”
“Do feel pretty lucky,” Jamie said, unable to suppress a smile or, a moment later, a yawn, having to gnaw on his fist to stifle to worst of it. “Oh, sorry. Coffee, then? Uh, I don’t actually know where it is.”
Foxglove helped him out and in short order he had something hot and black clutched in his hand and was sitting back at the kitchen table. Foxglove was still as close to sitting in his lap as could be managed without actually just being in his lap.
“So, I don’t see many, ah, humans, so what’s your story, hmm?”
This again. Jamie took a deep breath.
“Well…”
And so, between tentative sips of scalding coffee, he laid out the sequence of events that had led to his being there and not being where he was ostensibly supposed to be. It was a story he’d had to reiterate a good few times at this point and he, frankly, was sick of it, but the locals were not yet sick of asking it.
As far as he was concerned it was a bit of a boring story anyway. How do you wind up in another dimension, exactly? The normal way. What other way is there?
“-and so that’s-” he said, having to stop to yawn again. A lifetime of caffeine abuse had meant the coffee had had exactly zero impact on his tiredness. He had been a little worried that’d happen. “I’m having issues here,” he said, blinking blearily at Foxglove, who went ‘Aww’ again and patted him on the cheek before saying:
“If you are going to insist on going to sleep, I may be able to help you out.”
Jamie tried and failed to open his eyes fully.
“That sounds a bit worrying,” he said. Foxglove giggled.
“Not worrying at all! I just had another idea,” she said.
“You’re full of ideas, aren’t you?” Jamie said, taken aback a second later when Foxglove leaned in close to again bring their faces more-or-less into contact.
“Oh cutie, I look at you and I can’t help but get all sorts of ideas.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jamie said, sitting back and shaking his head. “You always like this?” He asked. Foxglove also sat up, stretching up her forelegs over head and shifting her weight on the table, wiggling about.
(Someone was going to have to give that a wipe, later, Jamie thought, certainly before anyone ate off it.)
“I know what I like, and I don’t much mind if anyone else knows, either.”
Jamie couldn’t really argue with that. Had he found the whole situation unpleasant or an imposition he might have felt the need or desire to argue with it, but since he didn’t he didn’t, so he didn’t. Fortunate, really. Would have put the length and breadth of their conversation into a very uncomfortable light if he hadn’t been a willing and content participant. Context really was something else. Magical, you might say. Furthermore-
“You still with me, darling?” Foxglove asked, waving a hoof in front of Jamie’s face. He blinked and brought his focus in from a million miles distant to the batpony in directly ahead of him.
“Hmm? Sorry, drifting. Idea? You had an idea?”
“Yes. If you insist on falling asleep - you are very cute when you’re sleepy, by the way - then I know a nice, warm, comfortable place where you can do it,” said Foxglove. Jamie’s mind chugged on this for a second or two.
“Is that - are you - is that a bed? Your bed?”
“My! So forward! No, not my bed. Not tonight, at least. No, it’s just that my original plan for the evening was a nice hour or so on the sofa watching something. If you wanted to join me I wouldn’t mind, and if you wanted to just lie down and lay your head in my lap and doze off, well, then I wouldn’t mind that, either.”
Jamie’s mind chugged a bit more, working on this fresh information.
“...that sounds alright,” he said.
Another very pointy grin from Foxglove.
“I thought so, too.”
All of which was why, about fifteen minutes later, Jamie was sprawled flat on the sofa, legs dangling over one arm, head in a batpony’s lap, snoring quietly and sleeping peacefully.
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Nice. Gotta love your everyday totally innocent batpony am I right?
Damned, lovable mares!
This drives me nuts. I legitimately can't tell whether she's flirting with an end goal in mind, or just being flirty.
Very cute and adorable.
btw
pointy
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64.media.tumblr.com/a52473c62e98a81572e1d2069728199b/5505f64271ed7f83-d0/s400x600/a67629cc215dcebb5bfbd6b3786f8e28d3264ace.jpg
So when does he start writing his memoirs?
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I find it's less tantalizing when I experience it in real life.
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This one time a dude bought me a drink and touched my butt and it was only later when I found he'd slipped his number into my jacket pocket that I realised he'd been hitting on me. I was just so happy someone had bought me a drink. Free drink!
Point is I'm not good at picking up on these things. Or wasn't. Back then I was just oblivious, nowadays I'm actively unpleasant.
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Yeah, my ex was constantly bemused at the number of people around me that I thought were "just being nice". I also got a free drink once, and it's like finding a twenty on the ground. As with you, my response is pleased surprise - and nothing else.
Reading this would have induced consternation and confusion if I hadn't watch the video in your author's note. Altogether, I think I must compliment you on your mastery of the tagging system.
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Is... is it really that hard?
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I’m inclined to agree! Once I watched the video and reread it in her voice it helped set the tone much better I think. Very quirky way of writing not just with how foxglove talks but also with the back and forth banter between the two.
Can’t say I didn’t love it on both reads though and I am a sucker for it, the banter I mean.
eared
elusive [maybe?]
Everybody loves Gadget (rightly so, to be fair), but Foxglove deserves some love, too.
I'm delighted that you seem to agree.
dude, seriously? FOXGLOVE!?! you are AWESOME!
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'illusive' means 'deceptory', i.e. one who is deceptive
'elusive' means 'difficult to find or catch'
Author's choice, I guess. Both uses are valid here.
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Author is dyslexic and lazy.
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I'd never seen Foxglove before and the episode came on and POW, DAT BAT.
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Yeah I know, that's why I put that maybe ^^;;;
Good story.
Absolutely everything you put in parenthesis should be removed because it offers nothing to the story.
But this was a good story.
Batpon makes best Batpillow.
Stop It and Tidy Up!? But how can I do that to my totally only slightly below average cleanliness standards room when you keep giving us the bats!
Flirty nocturnal ponies drive me batty.
I honestly love SoL stories that don't really need to have a point to them. Could use an editing pass, but other than that, great job!
Thanks for that I didn't feel tired but had to go to sleep, now I feel sleepy thanks that worked.
Sounds like a Huniepop encounter.
I just got serious Imogen Kanouse vibes.
(The Superego Podcast)
Very cute, would love to see more of Foxglove.
The narration in the first few paragraphs is a bit clunky, but other than that, nice story!
I must say, I wasn't expecting to come across a Foxglove-inspired pony fic. Than again, she is pretty inspiring, isn't she?
Heh... Well while we are on the subject of children's television series...
*snarf* *snarf* snarf*
*gulp*
*snarf* *snarf*
Jamie, local human, still couldn’t sleep. This time though, he knew exactly why.
Ever since that unfortunate incident with the parasprites and baked bads,he had been sharing a room with Foxglove while his own room was being repaired. All in all, she was as perfect a roommate Jamie could ask for given the situation.
She just had a few... peculiarities...
Like eating in bed at—Jamie glanced blearily over at the "Best Princess Luna" alarm clock on the night stand between their beds—2 o'clock in the morning.
"Foxglove?"
Said mare had her cheeks comically stuffed full with something from an open "Pinkie's Party Pastry Package" box on her bed. Crumbs spewed everywhere as she replied.
"Yeff?"
"Foxglove, what are you doing with that box of pastries in bed?"
*gulp*
"Oh these? They are mango creme beetle cruffins. I was hungry, Jams, so I though I would have a few before I took a nap."
She held out a cruffin to Jamie and gave it a little shake. "Want one? There are plenty more where that came from."
Jamie stared at the proffered cruffin and went decidedly green about the gills when he saw the spindly beetle legs and glossy elytra enbedded within. "Foxglove, Foxglove, don't eat those cruffins while you are in bed, yeah?"
"Oh? Why not Jams?"
"Because you will get crumbs, and wings, and legs in the sheets, that is why."
Foxglove pawed at the sheets . "Gosh, crumbs in the sheets?"
"Yeah, yeah, Foxglove, and if there are crumbs in the sheets, they will get in your pyjamas."
Oooohhh... Crumbs in my pyjamas, Jams?" Foxglove splayed her ears back in concern and plucked nervously at her rather cute lilac cami.
"Yeah, yeah, Foxglove, and if you get crumbs in your pyjamas, they will make you itch. You know that."
Foxglove shivered, coat rippling from withers to dock. "Oh, I don't like to itch Jams!"
"No, and if you itch, you will not be able to sleep, Foxglove. So don't do it yeah? Good night."
Jamie rolled over and found a deliciously cool spot on his pillow and prepared to go back to sleep. He hoped Luna would send him that dream where he met his old Alsatian, Spud, as Diamond Dog ambassador attaché. That was his favourite. He missed Spud.
Behind him Foxglove nibbled on a hoof and contemplated the crumb covered duvet cover in consternation. You could practically see the gears and cogs beginning to turn in her head.
"Gosh, if I eat cruffins in bed, I will get crumbs in my sheets. And if I get crumbs in the sheets, I will get crumbs in my pyjamas."
Foxglove paused to brush some crumbs off her chest floof.
"And If I get crumbs in my pyjamas, I will itch! And I will not be able to sleep! Oh Jams, thanks so much for stopping me from eating cruffins in my bed!"
"Alright, Foxglove. Just... just go to bed, though, yeah?"
"Ok! And I am never going to eat cruffins in my bed again!"
"Okay, good. Goodnight Foxglove."
Jamie only had a brief *flappy flappy flap* of leathery wings as a warning before a heavy weight dropped on top of him.
"Oooff..! Foxglove? What are you doing?!"
"I'mma eat cruffins in your bed Jams! Scoot over."
Well off the top of my head I can think of the loud way, the sticky way, the two blue ways, CLASSIFIED - [FAINT LADDER] clearance required , the bright way, and if you are especially unfortunate, the itchy way.
I love it!
"Please sir, my I have another?"
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I'm in my mid 30's and I STILL miss when girls flirt with me... oddly I pick up on it easier when the guys do.
My dude, your prose is amazing. The characterization, the awareness, the dialogue- it's all gold. Damn, dude. Good stuff.
Ah, young love.
Truly a match made not in Heaven but in Snark.
I'm a little disappointed that this isn't a clopfic.
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I don't know how I feel about this...
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Somewhat amused perhaps?
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That'll work
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I love it