//------------------------------// // The Daily Grind // Story: Integration Is Pointless // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// "Y-you asked for me Mr. Mayor?" "Yep, I need you to give this packet to Clean Sheets, the owner of Sheet's Bed Emporium, this to the front desk of the hospital, and this one goes to the Main Street Bakery. Just follow your nose to that one." "Is that all?" "Mhm, get going." I nodded sullenly and turned to walk away. "Oh, and try not to take so long YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF FILTH!" I flinched and whimpered, "O-okay." The mayor went back to his work as I made my way to the front desk. "More deliveries?" I nodded. "Well don't have too much fun." I wordlessly exited the building. Brooke giggled before going back to her magazine. He's such a cutie. That's it, I'm asking him out tonight. ------------------------- Ledger fidgeted as she and Talion sorted the various papers they were in charge of. She finally worked up the courage to speak and said, "Uh... congratulations Talion." He cocked an eyebrow as he looked at her. "About what?" "Um, on you and Jack. You make a cute couple." He blushed and cleared his throat while rubbing his shoulder. "Uh... we're not a couple. I mean... I definitely wouldn't mind if he asked me out." He grinned and ruffled his feathers a bit before continuing. "I mean, he is really cute, and he is really funny and easy to talk to. We have a lot in common... maybe it would work out between us... but... I don't know if he's... you know... gay." Ledger nodded before resuming her filing. "Well, I still think you'd make a cute couple." ---------------------------- I kept my head lowered as I hurried through the town. Everyone was staring, why did they have to stare? I know I'm a freak and really ugly, but it's rude to gawk. Why do I have to keep doing this? And why do I feel so miserable. I just... I can't figure out how to be happy. I shuddered and flinched away when a group of young foals ran right through me, parting like a river around a rock. Stop touching me! You're all shapes! Meaningless shapes! "Shapes, all shapes." I mumbled as I reached the bed store. Upon entering I saw an older mare standing near a display. "Oh hello dear, need something." "A-are you Clean Sheets?" "Mhm, sure am." I handed over the envelope before turning and walking out the door. "Have a nice day, sweetie." D-don't call me sweetie! I'm not your sweetie! I'm... I'm nobody's sweetie. Nobody loves me, nobody ever will. The hospital was easier given I didn't have to talk, but unfortunately many of the nurses insisted on greeting me or talking to me. I hurriedly excused myself from each confrontation before dropping off the packet and leaving. I then trotted towards Main Street, doing my best to avoid attention. I soon found the bakery, thank goodness, and ducked inside. "Hiya! How's it going?" "F-fine." "Need something sugar, or you just window shopping?" She winked as she said that. I recognized her, she talked to me last week. Wait... why would she bother seeking me out!? W-what does she want!? I shivered before holding out the envelope that the mayor had given me. She walked over and picked it up before giving me an odd look. "Well, thanks for this." She bumped her flank against mine before walking away. "Don't be a stranger. I'm happy to help you any time. For anything at all." I nodded before rushing out the door, glad to be leaving. Honestly, this job just got worse and worse, just like my life. ------------------- I grabbed the cleaning bucket and started rummaging through its contents in search of a rag to dust with. Honestly the building wasn't even dusty, but I needed something to do. This is such a waste of time. "Hey, Jack. Cleaning up the building?" Ugh... why is she bugging me. "Mhm." "Nice. So, I was wondering if you wanted to go get some dinner tonight. We could go out or you could drop by my house." I really don't want to do either of those. I just want to go home. "Uh... I don't know if I'm up to a friendly visit today." She frowned before nodding. "O-okay, maybe some other time?" "Yeah." Why the heck does she want to meet me one on one? What's her plan? As she was walking away, she stopped before turning around and walking back over. "Actually, I'm going to be honest with you. I like you. I want to go on a date with you." I froze. A d-date? Like... for a committed couple? "A d-date?" "Yeah. You know, see if something's there. I like you a lot and... want to date you." "Uh... uh..." She rolled her eyes before bumping my shoulder. "You don't have to tell me now, I know I kind of sprung it on you. Just... think it over." I sat on the couch in the break room as she left, stunned. What... what was I supposed to do? Was... was I supposed to go along with it? I barely even registered as Legible Ledger walked in. "Oh, uh, hey Jackknife. What's going on?" "I... I don't know." She looked at me curiously as she got a water out of the small fridge. "What does that mean?" "B-Brooke just asked me out. I... I don't know what to do." "Well... do you like her like that?" "I... don't know." "Well, um, you don't have to if you don't want to." "I... I can do that?" "Well... yeah. You can date anypony you want. Whether it's a mare like Brooke, or, if you're so inclined, a male... like, oh, Talion, or something." Oh smooth Ledger. Casual bring a relationship with Talion to mind. I so ship them. "Wait, what? You... you can... date... a guy?" "Phff, yeah. Nopony's gonna judge. Well, at first they might, but they'll get used to it." "I... I..." I could date a dude? Like Talion? I... did I like him like that? I mean, he made me feel so warm and safe and he's adorable and snuggle-able and... But Brooke is sweet too, and cute, and soft and likes me... I... I.... I held my hooves to my head and grimaced. Why... why did everything have to be so complicated! I jumped up and ran for the door. I... I needed to think! Why! Why was I so much of a disappointment! Why couldn't everyone just leave me alone! But... I don't want to be alone. But... they're all just shapes and... no one matters! Nothing matters! I can't... they're all shapes! Meaningless just like me! I didn't realize I'd run into the woods, but I found myself standing in the middle of a clearing with a tree with a large hollow in the base beside me. I crawled in and did something I hadn't done in years. I cried. ------------------------- "Jack?! Jack!? Where are you?" Talion sighed as he looked for his friend. He had no idea where he could have gone. Soon he saw Ledger and Brooke talked frantically to eachother. He ran over and asked, "What happened?" Ledger turned and shook her head. "He... he asked me about dating after Brooke asked him out and he just... ran off. He looked so... panicked, and scared." Talion blanched when he heard this. "Oh no." "What? What's going on with him?" He turned to Brooke and grimaced. "He's been going through a bit of a rough patch and must have panicked. We need to find him before he does something he'll regret." Ledger sniffed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hinted at the possibility of you two dating." Brooke looked confused before scowling at Ledger. "You can't just assume that Jack's gay! Or that Talion's gay either! I mean, he can choose if he wants to but that's up to Talion too." "Actually, I am gay. But that's beside the point! We've gotta find him!" The three nodded before running out the door. The mayors door opened and Mayor Bureau looked around in confusion. "Where the hay is everyone?!"