//------------------------------// // Ch. 8: Visitors and Date Nights pt.2 // Story: Love (and other things) in Prance // by Phoenix Heart 27 //------------------------------// A few hours later… Rose and Paint were busy at the market when Rose’s phone went off. She excused herself briefly before stepping aside to answer the call. “Bonjour?....Oui, c'est elle ... oh mon dieu ... Qu'est-ce que tu fais en m'appelant maintenant!!! ... Eh bien, je suis occupé pour le moment ... Je suis sorti avec …” She pauses briefly due to not being able to tell the pony on the other end about who she’s with “Un ami ... Qui est ce n'est pas votre préoccupation! ... Indiquez votre entreprise, maintenant! ... Sérieusement. C'est tout ce que vous m'avez appelé ?! Demandez à la mère où elle est! ... Qu'est-ce qui vous fait que je sais où c'est? ... *sigh* C'est dans ma vieille pièce, au-dessus de mon lit, les clés sont sous ma croix ... d'accord ... Bien, mais ne le totalisez pas! Je le ramène plus tard à la gare de train demain ... Parce que mon frère d'ami est venu pour une visite et je souhaite faire une bonne première impression. Pourquoi êtes-vous si curieux aujourd'hui? ... bon ... ok ... dites au père et à la mère que j'ai dit bonjour ... d'accord ... au revoir Jamie”, She finished as she headed back towards Paint. “Everything alright love?”, Paint asked as she appeared slightly annoyed. “*sigh* Yeah I’m alright. Was just my little brother asking where my cart keys were. He said something about wanting to use it to pick up his friend and his fillyfriend up at the balloon port. Honestly, he could just teleport there and back! Don’t see why he’d need to use my cart to pick them up.”, Rose replied with a huff as she paid for her half of items. Paint placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder before giving her a light kiss on the cheek. “Hey, it’ll be fine. Believe me, my brother would always get really anxious whenever I asked to borrow our cart for various reasons. Yet I always remind him not only that I’d be careful but of this one time I covered for him at his job when I was 12 and he had to get it fixed so, in context he owes me for life! Plus all those times I stayed up waiting for him to get home from his marefriend’s house.”, Paint responded with a good-natured chuckle. “Hmm….I didn’t know your brother had a marefriend?”, Rose said. “Oh yeah! Emmaline Playbutton’s her name, but we all call her either ‘EP' or ‘Emma' for short. I have a funny feeling he might bring her along with him since they always travel together! She’s a musician and cinematographer. She’s been with Blue since I was 5 and he was 14. Together those two are some of the most musically gifted ponies I’ve ever seen or heard..y-you know, aside from you darling!”, Paint finished with a nervous brow wipe. Rose laughed at her coltfriend’s sudden flustered state as he paid for his half of the items they purchased. “Well then, I’ve the feeling we’re all going to get along fine. Besides I truly can’t wait to meet your brother. From what you’ve told me, he sounds like a wonderful stallion.”, Rose said as she placed her bags into her saddlebags and quickly gave him a nuzzle. “He is. He really is...of all the ponies to look after me when Aunt Claire died, I’m glad it was him and not some random pony from the Foal Protection Services. Needless to say we’ve had our hard times and there were times when we got on each other’s nerves, but at the end of the day, he’s still my brother for Celestia’s sake. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t missed him in these past almost 2 months…”, Paint’s voice fell off as he started to get a tad bit emotional (quickly hiding the fact that he let a few tears slip from his mare due to...well being a stallion!). “Oh, mon amour don’t be sad. You’ll see him again tomorrow. It's simply the matter of patience.”, Rose reminded him with a hug as they continued their way back to her apartment. 15 minutes later… They finally reached her apartment when Paint’s phone rang but instead of a call tone it was the tone for a video call. Paint, a bit surprised and slightly out of breath answered without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?”, he asked. “Hey baby bro!”, the voice on the screen said. If Paint Smear had turned his head any quicker, he’d swear he’d have gotten whiplash. He was rather shocked to see his brother on the screen. “Blueberry!? What are you doing? Judging by your location I can see that you’re on the train.”, Paint asked. “Well I’d think you’d be happy to hear from me personally that we managed to catch an early train. We’ll be in Paris in about…” he pauses briefly to look at the times on his ticket “...oh 3pm today.”, Blue finished. Paint dropped his phone briefly as he was shocked to hear that his brother was coming early! He didn’t even register that Rose had tapped his shoulder and asked if he was okay. “Today...as in...less than 2 hours, today?”, Paint nervously asked. “Yeah. We’re super excited to see you!”, Blue responded. “Wait--We? What do you mean we?”, Paint asked although he was pretty sure he knew the answer before it was said. “Duh! Me and Emmaline! We’re on our way--oh! That’s the conductor. I gotta go. See you soon Paint!”, Blue said hurriedly before ending the call. Paint hung up on his end before sliding down onto the couch in a semi-shocked state. “Paint? You okay?”, Rose asked again. “S-Sorta...my brother just MuzzleTimed me to say that he and his girl are coming in less than 2 hours! They got an early train and are on their way!”, Paint exclaimed. “Well, what’s so wrong with that? They’ll be here a bit sooner.”, Rose said. “Not only does that give me very little time to prepare my guest room, but that kinda throws a wrench into my plans for later.” he paused to take a deep breath “I had planned on taking you out on a nice dinner date tonight before preparing for tomorrow. Now that my brother and his marefriend are headed here today, I’m going to have to play host to those two.”, he finished as he put his head in his forehooves. Roseblossom thought on this for a moment before getting an idea. She quickly grabbed Paint's saddlebags and levitating them onto him before doing the same with her own. Without explaining herself, she teleported them both back to Paint's apartment. “Rose! Why in Equestria?!-”, Paint started before being shushed by a kiss. “Amour I understand that you’re confused but trust me. We’ll have your apartment ready and plenty of food stocked up before your brother comes.”, Roseblossom said sweetly as she kissed him again. 1 and ½ hours later… After working at speeds that would put a wonderbolt to shame, the pair collapsed onto Paint's bed. “*pant* Remind me to…*pant*...never do that again when I know there’s company coming!”, Paint said through pants. Rose just chuckled before getting up and pulling out her phone. “What are you doing?”, Paint asked curiously. “Getting us a Uber cart. It's almost 2:30.”, Rose replied to which Paint shot up like a Poptart. “Shit! Then we’d better get a move on if we’re gonna get to the train station in time.”, Paint exclaimed as he changed his shirt and slipped into his work boots. “Love, relax. Okay the cart will be here in about 4 minutes and then It's only a 20 minute drive to the train station. We’ll make it in just enough time to greet your brother.”, Roseblossom reassured her coltfriend before grabbing her purse and slipping on her own shoes. By the time they left the apartment and got down to the first floor, their Uber driver was waiting for them patiently. The pair greeted her with smiles before getting in and heading out to the train station. 20 minutes later... The cart stopped right as the train was approaching the station. Roseblossom explained to the driver that they were picking up guests and that she’d get a “big” tip for dropping the 4 of them off back at the apartments (knowing a good bribe when she heard it from a college student, the driver happily accepted). Exiting the cart and entering the station’s platform area, Paint Smear couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about seeing his brother for the first time in nearly 2 months. ‘I hope he doesn't hate my apartment...or What if he dislikes my job choice?...Or even worse! What if he and Roseblossom don’t get along at all! Sweet Celestia, this better go right or so help me, I’ll lose it!’, his internal monologue was cut short by a train whistle and a gush of steam followed by the sound of train doors opening and all around them, the sound of busy ponies either exiting the train or boarding filled the mid-afternoon air. “Love? Everything alright?”, a slightly worried Roseblossom asked her visibly anxious coltfriend. “Hmmm? Oh! Y-Yes. I’m fine darling. Just a...just a bit nervous about seeing my big brother is all.”, Paint responded in a reassuring tone as he scoped the crowd, only to lock his sights on a familiar clean-cut, coffee colored mane and garnet irises. He got out the hastily scribbled sign he wrote that said his brothers’ name and waved him over. “Blueberry Smudge!”, Paint called out, to which the aforementioned earth pony turned and his face broke out into an enormous grin as he lead a white unicorn mare towards the pair. “‘Paintball'! In Luna’s name, I’ve missed you waay too much little bro!”, Blueberry exclaimed as he nearly squished the life out of his baby brother. “Blue...can’t...breathe!!”, Paint wheezed out painfully. To which Blue swiftly released his grip slightly. “Sorry. Just couldn't help myself!”, Blue chuckled. He then finally took a good look at his brother and noticed two things: 1. That his little brother had gotten at least two inches taller since leaving and that he now sported a small amount of stubble on his chin and jaw. And 2. That there was a mare beside him. Noting this, he instantly released his grip on Paint entirely and smiled warmly as the mare cleared her throat and nudged his brother in the side. “Oh! Right...uhh...Blue...t-this is Roseblossom. My marefriend.”, Paint said shakily as he introduced her. Rose’s response was so quick that Paint barely had time to register that she politely shook Blue’s hoof and greeted him warmly. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”, Rose greeted happily. “You’re excited to meet me? I’m elated to meet the mare who’s finally stolen my hard-headed little brother’s heart!”, Blue roared with laughter as he picked up his suitcase. Emmaline on the other hoof nearly crushed Paint in a equally strong hug. “Geeze, EP!...You’re gonna hurt somepony someday with that death-grip you call a hug!”, Paint wheezed out a second time. “You know I couldn't help it! I haven't seen ya since your graduation! Of course I’m gonna squeeze ya!”, EP replied. “Sometimes I tend to wonder how you don’t have a single blood relative that’s an earth pony, yet you have the hug power of a full grown earth stallion!”, Paint admonished gently. Causing the others to laugh. “Well, are we just gonna stand around at the station or are we going to put our bags down someplace?!”, Blue said. “Relax, Let's get to the cart everypony. I hope she doesn't charge waiting fees.”, Rose replied as they all headed back to the cart and headed back towards Paint’s apartment. 40 minutes later (due to traffic)... “Well, everypony Bienvenue chez moi! Welcome to my home.”, Paint said quietly as he lead them all into his recently cleaned apartment (with the exception of one room). “Woah, Paint you really found a nice place here!”, Blue said approvingly. “Thanks, and the best part is that its 10 minutes from my job and 20 minutes from le collège.”, Paint replied in an almost relieved tone. “What job?”, EP asked as she sat in a chair. “Don’t you remember? He wrote me about a month or so ago saying that he’d found a job as a self-defense instructor/swordfighting trainor.”, Blue reminded her. “Oh yes! I remember now. How is that going Paint?”, EP asked. “It’s going fantastic! While the pay for a beginner instructor is kinda suckish, heck it still beats my last job.”, Paint said. Rose made a note to ask on that subject later as she was otherwise busy straightening up a few things that got unnoticed from earlier. As she straightened, Paint took the opportunity to give them a tour of the apartment. “Okay well...this is the kitchen….and over there is the livingroom obviously!...hehe...oh! Here’s the bathroom and...here’s where you you’ll be staying!”, Paint went on giving a tour before stopping in front of the spare room with twin beds in the center of the room. A bedside table next to each with an armour to the far left wall. “This looks just perfect! Considering we’ve been on a train for 14 hours, anything sounds perfect at this point.”, EP sighed as she unceremoniously flopped onto one of the beds. “I see she’s claimed her bed.”, Blue chuckled only to get hit with a pillow. Paint chuckled at his brother and “future sister-in-law’s” random antics as he quickly side-stepped out the room and back out to the hall. “Great, while you guys unpack and settle in I...just have a few things to take care of in here that won’t take long.”, Paint said as he left towards the specifically closed door and unlocked it, revealing his still incredibly messy room. Paint sighed as he began to clean his own room. He soon realised that cleaning to silence felt awkward so he found his phone and scrolled through a playlist before a rather silly song came up that he felt the absolute need to play as he made his bed. He put it on a loop as he started picking up his dirty clothes and lining up his shoes. After all that was done he made sure his dresser was in order and mirror clean before finally re-collapsing onto his bed in an heap of tiredness. Roseblossom, having witnessed him at almost impossible for anypony speeds, cleaning his room simply fell back onto the bed next to him. “I take it the only room we skipped was here?”, Rose asked. “Yep. But I’ve got it covered...even if I’m tired...it did get done.”, Paint sighed as he stretched. “Oh that I can see! We’ve been incredibly busy today…” she turns over onto her side facing him, “...But you still managed to get everything in order even with an...unforeseen factor thrown into the mix prematurely.”, she finished as she briefly pecked him on the lips. “Mmm...thanks mon chaton.”, Paint smiled. “Hmmm...Votre chaton? Why the sudden cute nickname?”, Rose asked. A hint of mischief in her voice. “Why not? You’re soft, sweet and gentle like one. So as I said, mon chaton.”, Paint replied before being pulled into a hug...which ended up turning into more than that as they ended up lying on the bed making out...with Rose ending up underneath Paint. Unknown to them, Rose left the door open and by chance, Emma walked past and saw the ‘heated' scene. Feeling the need to call them out, she wolf whistled and did a few catcalls. Immediately splitting the pair apart (but not having them sit up). “H-how long were you standing there?”, Rose asked as her face lit up bright red. “Long enough to see you too locking lips like it's the end of the world.”, EP chuckled before walking away. Paint snorted in annoyance before looking down and his own face turned red as he realized the...compromising position that they were in. “Uhhh…..”, he uttered. “Yeah…..”, she said before he very awkwardly climbed off her and fell off the bed. “Ouch!...that could’ve ended better.”, Paint said as he got up and rubbed his sore backside. “*giggles* Yes that could’ve ended far different....and honestly...I’m kind of glad it did...I mean...while I was loving what we were doing...I mean...I...uh…”, Rose giggled before stuttering and making nonsense. “...You didn’t want to go too far. Right?”, Paint asked. “Yeah.”, Rose replied. To her surprise, Paint let out a sigh of relief. “Good, because honestly...I don’t think I’d be ready to take our relationship to that level quite yet.”, Paint admitted. “Oh Dieu merci! C'est bon parce que je ... honnêtement, je ne suis pas encore prêt pour le sexe non plus.”, Rose admitted as well. Paint laughed as he scooped her up into a hug and carried into the kitchen. 5 hours later… Paint was woken up from a brief, unintentional nap by a banging on the front door. “Wha-? What the hell?” Paint grumbled as be rolled out of bed and went towards his door “Who is it?”, he shouted to the door. “It’s Ocean! Open up bro!”, Ocean shouted from the other side. Paint snapped out of his sleepy haze instantly as he opened his door. “Ocean! Sweet Celestia, why did you go banging on my door at…” he paused to look at the time “8 o’clock at night?”, Paint finished as he rubbed his eyes. “Paint, did you forget what tonight is?”, Ocean stepped fully into view in a nice white dress shirt with navy dress pants and black horseshoes on his hooves. Paint scratched his head before having an ‘oh' moment. “Damn tonight was when you were going to try and propose...again! I completely forgot!”, Paint said shocked. Ocean face hoofed before gently shook his friend awake. “Oh P. We’ve had this planned out for over 2 weeks, but I get it. Plus whatever we did last night will likely never happen again so I suppose us having a double date is a...no?”, Ocean asked while spouting a ‘puppy dog’ face. “Gah! Fine. Except...would you mind making it a triple date? I...kinda forgot that my brother and his marefriend are in town and I kinda really have to entertain them somehow and I figured I’d show them how we do the nightlife here in Paris! Am I right?”, Paint finished breathlessly. Ocean nodded excitedly as Rose came out of the bedroom looking slightly worse-for-wear but with a content smile on her face. He instantly picked up on this and immediately his mind went graphic fast. “I know that look Ocean, I swear if you’re thinking what I think you are, you’d better stop before I tie you up by your wings and hang you from a ceiling fan!”, Rose snapped at her friend. “And...being that I know you can do that, I...I’ll shut up now.”, Ocean quickly silenced himself after that. “Anyways, I suppose now would be a good enough time to introduce you to my big brother.” Paint started before clearing his throat “Blue! Can you come in here for a sec?”, he finished as his brother soon came into view. “Ocean, I’d like you to meet my older brother, Blueberry Smudge. Blue, this is my best Prench bud, Ocean Storm.”, Paint introduced the two stallions. After some small talk and another introduction between Ocean and EP, they got ready to go only after Paint, Rose, Blue and EP got themselves ready. When they were all ready they headed out on the town.