//------------------------------// // Track 3: I Want Out // Story: Heavy Rock // by CoffeeMinion //------------------------------// Limestone blocked-out most of Pinkie’s litany of questions on their drive home, preferring to wait until the morning to go on the warpath. Consequently, she slept poorly, and had dreams involving far too much of herself and a shirtless blue-haired idiot. In those dreams, Maud invariably watched the goings-on from a less-seen vantage point, but Limestone somehow knew where she was every time. The net result was that, when morning made itself known by the high-pitched chirping of her alarm clock, Limestone was both tired and angry. The feeling made her smile, as she had long since learned that this could be an even more incendiary combination than just being angry by itself. She started by pounding on Maud’s door, which was next to hers; but Maud had clearly anticipated this and wasn’t there. She then thumped down the stairs, wondering belatedly if she should’ve put something else on other than her black tank top and red flannel jammy pants. “Daughter,” Igneous Rock said from the dining room. “Surely thou art not going out wearing that.” Limestone sighed, then turned and headed toward him. She found a large skillet full of eggs and potatoes on the table, along with a small stack of plates and utensils, and a half-empty pitcher of water with some glasses. Someone had clearly put a dent in the food, but there still looked to be enough left for at least one person. “Maud did this,” she said, pointing an accusing finger at it. “And why wouldst thou say that, daughter?” Limestone scowled at him, but plopped down in a chair, grabbed a plate and a fork, and started scooping. “Maud’s not exactly subtle, Dad.” She paused, then gestured at her face. “Well, except for the whole… you know, Maud thing.” Igneous gave her a small, amused grin, and took a sip of his coffee. “No, she clearly set this up for us to talk about the boy she wants me to go out with for her. And before you get started on me, I want you to know that this whole thing is Maud’s idea. I want no part of it, and I wouldn’t have agreed at all if she hadn’t practically had me at gunpoint.” Igneous’ eyebrows quirked upward. “Gunpoint, daughter? I heard thou wert the one who nearly smashed the boy’s guitar.” She frowned deeper, then took a bite of eggs. “Figuratively speaking. You know how Maud is.” “Verily, I do. And I know how thou art, as well.” He reached across the distance between them, and set his hand on hers. “And I would encourage thee to date this boy in good faith, for thy sister Pinkamena speaks well of his character.” Limestone choked on her food, started coughing, quickly filled a glass for herself, and downed it. She came out spluttering a single, forceful word: “Date?!” Igneous looked around nervously, then leaned closer and dropped his volume. “Now, let us not excite thy mother… but yes, daughter, I have long felt thou wert holding thyself back unhealthily. Recall that, by thine age, thy mother and I had met each other, married, and had brought forth both thyself and Maud.” Limestone sat back in her chair. “Oh my… Dad, come on! I’m twenty, not eight hundred! I’ve got time!” She shook her head. “Not that I care, anyway. I’m busy! Who do you think’s gonna keep this place running if I’m out running around with… boys.” She scowled, and took another sip of water. “Besides, this is a high schooler. It would be weird.” “Pinkamena says he is eighteen and-a-half,” Igneous said, giving a quick waggle of his eyebrows. “Do not forget, thy birthday was just two months past…” “Dad. Stop. I don’t care if you’re my flesh and blood; I’m going to hurt you if this doesn’t end. Now.” He broke into a huge grin. “Daughter, I would like to see thee try. Although, perhaps sometime after thy date, out of deference both to thyself and to thy man-friend.” She shook her fists in front of her. “Dad, do you know how messed-up this all is? It’s Maud who really likes this kid, and… somehow I guess he kinda has a thing for me? Tell me how that’s going to end well.” Igneous’ look became serious. “Limestone, thou art well aware of thy sister’s great anxiety. She and I have long discussed her fears about dating, and I judge that doing it even vicariously is a step for her.” Limestone gestured indistinctly toward the hall. “Why can’t it be Pinkie or Marble who go set some big example for…” She paused. “Well, okay, I know it won’t be Marble…” “Pinkamena has not found ‘the one,’ or so she tells me. But I have every confidence in her. Thou knowest Pinkamena; wild horses could not hold her back once she has set her heart to loving something.” “Yeah, but… I don’t know, aren’t I just going to let this kid down in the end? How’s that fair to him?” “Well, well. Good heavens. Look at that.” Limestone scowled, and looked down at her shirt. “What, did I spill or something?” “No, daughter.” Igneous’ eyes twinkled. “Thou hadst a charitable thought about someone, and placed their feelings before thine own.” She stared daggers at him. “Dad, you make me sound all heartless and terrible.” He shrugged, and took another pull of coffee. “I don’t think thou art half as heartless as thou pretends to be, daughter.” He chuckled. “Nor am I half the invalid thou seems to think I am. I can run the quarry perfectly well if it means my eldest daughter has a chance to go be young for once.” Limestone gave him a low growl, then set about eating again, venting her frustration through the sheer force of her chewing. “Lousy Maud,” she grumbled. “The boy will be fine,” Igneous said. “Though Pinkamena tells me he has been somewhat unlucky of late. If thou dost not click with him, try to make thyself known gently.” He smiled. “Or, take it as a challenge to get him and Maud together, if thou hast the guile to do so.” The two sat looking at each other in silence for a long moment. Eventually, Limestone sighed, looked away, and scooped more food onto her plate. “This is actually kinda good,” she said.