...Bored. So very very bored. Crooked Bill kept on droning, sleazy words rolling off in waves, assaulting his ears. What a load of tripe. Normally, the likes of that seedy peddler would not be even allowed into the palace, much less granted an audience, but... His eyes shifted at the other pony present. Oak Staff, the count of Trottingham. Old buzzard kept silent, letting his protege fill the air with filthy sound. No doubt, he was well aware what Blueblood thought on the matter. If it were a private audience, Blueblood would`ve ordered Crooked Bill out a while ago. But this was public hearing.
"...And so, with regard to pricing and mining expense, I propose arenite as a..." - Blueblood yawned. To an unfamiliar observer, like Crooked Bill, it was just a sigh of polite boredom. No doubt that he expected a lukewarm "Yeah, yeah, wonderful presentation, send the papers to my secretary." kind of response. For those few ponies that knew him well, this yawn was an alert of highest urgency. He shuddered, curling tongue involuntarily as he let that humongous yawn out. Time to get nasty.
"...Are the state matters too boring for the honorable prince?" - inquired Oak Staff in that annoying squeaky voice of his. It`s been a long while since Blueblood heard that voice last. Old fool could not be bothered to visit Canterlot in dog`s age, since before prince`s cutie mark appeared. Blueblood`s jaw snapped shut. That... was a BIG mistake. No pony dared to snob the prince without repercussions.
"Frankly? I was thinking of something else." - prince replied offhoofedly, stretching out and sitting straighter, - "I was thinking about the mare that came to my chambers last week. Lascivious lass, if a bit uncouth." Judging by the scandalised face of count and filth-filled approving grin of Crooked Bill, he hit the spot just right. Time to rip the flesh off the old fool and the sleaze.
"Prince Blueblood, this is an outrage, I..." - Blueblood was waiting for those words, and he brought his hoof down on the table with a loud bang, silencing the count with unexpected clamor. "Outrage, my good sir, is that you dared to show up with this ludicrous proposition." - he offered, smiling thinly, - "The Long Road is the most used and lucrative landbound trading route in Equestria, and your proposition is to pave it with sandstone? And you expect the court to compensate you for this sabotage? Really, Oak Staff? Do you take me for a foal?"
If count`s face held scandalised expression before, right now his grimace was flat-out shocked, as he turned to face his compatriot. "...What is the meaning of this, Crooked Bill? You said your stone is..." - Blueblood stood up, pushing the chair back with a loud scraping sound. Everypony turned to face him again. "I`m done with this circus." - he announced tersely, - "Count, your proposition had been rejected. My suggestion is not to request our most enlightened council on the matters that could be resolved by a town librarian. As for you..." Blueblood paused, making it rather obvious he forgot the name of businesspony before him - "...don`t show your face here again."
With that, he turned around and walked out of the council hall, ignoring the buzz of erupting conversation behind his back. Oak Staff deserved the humiliation. Old nobles sometimes happened to forget that they were just as fallible as other ponies. Just as prone to be duped by con artists. Of course, he could show some respect to the old stallion, resolve the matter candidly... but buck that. Showing respect to those old farts just reinforced their belief that they could do no wrong. No, the cure was the humble pie. Large, crumbly slices of humble pie dripping with rancid thick humiliation. Now, Oak Staff would take his duties as a count literally for a couple years. Granted, the old timer would not forgive such a public slap, but that didn`t bother Blueblood. He long ago stopped being bothered by the fact ponies hated him.
He trotted down the corridor briskly, ripping his collar open with magic. The button popped off, zinging against the armor of some unlucky guard, who did his best to pretend nothing happened. Good. Blueblood walked into his chambers, tossing the ripped shirt on the futon. He needed a drink. All that nonsense left a bitter taste on his tongue. Grabbing a bottle of wine off the rack, he took a long sip right out of the bottle. "INPENEM! Idiotae et meretrices!" - he growled, corking the bottle and setting it down. No doubt, Crooked Bill will be around for round two now. Blueblood knew the sort.
He allowed himself a smug grin as he heard the knocking on his door. "Come in!" - he hollered, throwing his ripped shirt back on. Better be... "presentable". He knew what to expect. From the viewpoint of Crooked Bill, Blueblood was simply cutting out the middlepony. Prince had no doubt that sleazy businesspony interpreted the opening mare remark as "send me a whorse and then we`ll talk". Distasteful to the extreme, but those were the ways of nouveau rich.
...Oh yeah. A whorse, alright. A knockout pegasus, if Blueblood ever saw one. Obviously, quite aware of her own sex appeal and wielding it as a weapon. "What do you want, mare?" - he grumbled, snapping the door behind her shut. Judging by the little smirk the floozy allowed herself, she took it as a good sign. Think again, doxy.
...OOkay, professional whorse, even. He was slightly impressed how nonchalantly and casually she directed the initially awkward "what do you want" into an impending sex. He looked at the pony kneeling in front of him, ready to lean between his legs. "...You`re a good whorse. Now get the buck out." - he suggested flatly, giving her a light shove on the nose. Shock and surprise on her face pleased Blueblood more then orgasm would. "What, you seriously thought you had it bagged?" - he quipped mockingly - "Get the buck out and tell Crooked Bill I was not kidding. His business is not welcome in Canterlot. It may come as a shock to you, but I`m not interested in the bits he`s trying to bilk out of court via yours truly."
She recoiled, her lips pursed. "Really... Maybe I should go to newspapers instead. Tell them how our beloved prince bangs whorses." - she offered. No, really? Blackmail? Hah. Blueblood winced. "Seriously?" - he quipped, levitating the newspaper off the table and tossing it into her face. The photo on front page looked as if if was taken just five minutes ago - except the mare in picture was unicorn. "Last Tuesday issue. It`s old news, babycakes. I love to buck mares. That`s a fact. Yellow rags are running me and a fresh floozy article once a week. Hey, if you want your shot in the spotlight, come back on Friday. It`s been a while since I had a pegasus on the yellow rag. Wouldn`t want anypony think I`ve gone tribalist, you know?" - he sneered.
"And what if I scream rape right bucking now?" - she spat out, glaring at the prince with open hatred now. Blueblood grinned - "Go ahead, slut. Make my day." Slowly, and deliberately, he glanced to the corner. She traced his gaze and cringed. A camera, with rather obvious microphone. "Welcome to the palace. Where every second of your life is on the record." - he offered, his smile thin and tight - "But hey, maybe you like that too, who knows. I just might make a job of royal fluffer official again. Interested?" With a string of expletives that would make a sailor blush, mare run out of his chambers.
Blueblood sighed. He never changed the tape in the camera. Not that anypony knew that. Not that anypony cared to verify his claims, either. But hey, the rumors, the rumors. If Prince Blueblood himself would tell everypony he bangs a new mare every night, what other proof do we need? He pulled off the ripped shirt once again and tossed it in the trash bucket. A second later, deadbolt slid in, locking his door securely. With a weary sigh, Blueblood walked over to his table. An inconspicuous photo smiled at him from under the glass. A young unicorn mare with lavender coat and striped mane.
"I miss you, Twilight." - he whispered in the empty room. It`s been over two years since Celestia sent the only mare he could get along with out to Ponyville. He hoped she would come back, but.. she`d have to be insane to come back to this asp nest. He hoped he could leave. But not right now, his aunt said. Equestria needs you, Blueblood. Equestria needs somepony who can keep it on the right direction. What about his own directions, though? His aunt promised him to let him go soon enough. He hoped it was not merely a comforting lie.
One day.... One day, he would be granted the divine clemency to leave the palace behind him. One day.
A different take on Blueblood. I like it.
Your structure is odd, but it is entertaining to read.
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Not so different. I`ve tried my best to hammer down the point that he is genuinely crass, cynical and bitter towards most everypony. The only difference is that this attitude is less due to self-importance and more due to blatant sociopathy.
Interesting. Prince Blueblood in your story reminds me of the Prince Blueblood in mine. I don't know if your Blueblood wants to get disowned, but they seem to generally inclined to believe that they need the freedom the Castle doesn't seem to provide. I like that.
I wonder how many people wonder if they ever thought that Prince Blueblood was stuck in a job without almost zero chance of promotion (as the only way he'll actually be a ruler is if the two immortal powerful alicorns up and die), and how that would make an ambitious, if not very smart pony feel - trapped.
Watching this.
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No, in this story, Blueblood has genuine respect for Celestia - it`s the only reason why he even bothers with palace. He`s there to keep at least a part of workload off Celestia. That does not preclude him from having a genuine loathing for most of Canterlot "elite".
Also, let`s not forget that prince is not necessarily a "heir to throne" kind of job. If he were explicitly named crownprince, that would have some grounds, but simply prince? In a lot of countries, prince was not just for sons of kings, but also for dukes who could claim the throne if the ruling dynasty failed to produce heir apparent.
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Never said he disrespected Celestia, just that he craves the freedom outside the castle.
As for the prince situation, considering the fact that the defacto leaders are two immortal alicorns, I don't think there's much a difference if he was crown prince or not. I guess it depends on how ambitious he'd be portrayed.
Still, like I said, watching this.
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The difference is that being called a crownprince with full understanding that he is likely to die a crownprince as well would be an elaborate act of mockery.
Now, being prince? It`s just a title. It does not presume Blueblood is just a figurehead - in fact, in my story he is most decisively not, and de-facto, he is the one ruling Equestria. Celestia would call the shots if something grand went on, like war or end of the world as they know it or whatever, but the rest of time? Blueblood is the pony to go to. In this interpretation, prince is not interpreted as the heir of king, but as princips, as in, "the first". Which, among the mortal ponies, he ostensibly is - the only ones who outrank him are physical deities.
P.S. Disowned usually means rejected from family. Given he`s presented as Celestia`s nephew, the first thing that comes to mind is that Blueblood wants to be rid of Celestia.
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Very interesting. I like that. I could use those tidbits on mine. Uh, hope you don't mind.
I can see some difference between our Bluebloods. I'm not gonna shamelessly plug mine, but now I can understand him more. I guess the difference is the universe settings. Now I am really really really looking forward to the update. Any reasonable guess when? lol.
I guess it comes down to interpretation and why the reason one wants to be disowned. But just to clarify, I don't think our Bluebloods hate Celestia. God knows I've read a few of those stories. . . kinda made Prince Blueblood a jerk in the worst possible ways (betrayal and etc).
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Please do. Free exchange of ideas is what moves humanity forward, after all. If there`s anything I find distasteful it`s people who want to hoard the ideas. So yeah, feel free to pluck anything that seems interesting. Just don`t forget to mention where you got it from, if you`re lifting a straight carbon copy.
As for update... Uh, there`s a good reason why I marked this story as complete, y`know. If I`ll get a hit of inspiration to continue, I`ll amend that, but for now, I don`t know where to go with this.
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*notices the tag*
Okay. I think I've embarrassed myself enough for one day.
Now this: definitely giving credit where its due. And it was nice talking to you. ^_^
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...It`s all your fault, you know.
Now I have a grand plot on my mind... Bah. Oh well, have a second chapter.
I love where this story could go. Anywhere.
You could really benefit from a pre-reader. Other then that, good story do far.
since before the prince`s cutie mark appeared
dared to snub the prince
If the count`s face held
The prince had no doubt that the sleazy businesspony
good sign.
sailor blush, the mare
A second later, the deadbolt
Well, now that's done... I like this Blueblood, and want to have his foals. What do you mean I can't? So what if I don't have the right organs, I'm having his foals dammit!