//------------------------------// // Professional Courtesy // Story: The Human's Guide to Equestria // by Siras-chi //------------------------------// Blank Slate hated his job sometimes. Most of the time it was fulfilling work, helping ponies overcome trauma that they believed had defined them in the past. There were a lot of ponies he helped on a daily basis. Many of those ponies would refer their friends that also needed help to him. It was easy to keep busy in this job. The Crystal Empire had no shortage of psychological trauma, even three years after its return. Of course, therapy is an exceedingly complicated science that is, at times, more of an art than a skill that could be taught. This meant that Blank Slate would often find his office filled with ponies that simply did not understand what the details of his work actually entailed. The pony sitting across from him was one of those ponies. “And honestly, even if he does not stand to gain any inheritance anyway, as he is the youngest, this behavior is shameful and I’ve come to you in order for you to cast your spells and fix him!”  It took every ounce of Blank Slate’s willpower to not repeatedly slam his face into the wall. Truly, it was only professional courtesy that kept Blank Slate from throwing this mare out of the building. At least it seemed her son was more embarrassed by her then anything else. “I must remind you, ma’am, that is not how this works.” The third time in the past forty minutes that she needed to be reminded of that fact. “Miss Finance, may I speak to your son alone for a few minutes?” Please, remove yourself and your gaudy dress from my sight for the rest of my life. Blank Slate wished he could say that aloud; alas, it would not be professional. “If you think it will help you fix him. I don’t see how though, as I’ve already told you all you need to know,” she said, as she managed to pick herself and her massive dress off the couch. Blank Slate may have gone around clothed in some way at all times, but even he thought it was excessive. With the obnoxious mare’s retreat from the room, both of the remaining ponies in the room visibly relaxed. “I’m sorry for my mom’s behavior, Mister doctor Blank Slate, sir,” the colt that now sat alone on the couch stated. He was a light brown pegasus, with a light orange mane. On his flank rested a trio of sunflowers. “She’s been like this for a while now.” Despite his mother’s absence, he was still fidgeting in his seat. Blank Slate thought it had more to do with boredom than nerves; young pegasi tended to be almost hyperactive on average. To be forced to sit down quietly for nearly an hour should be almost impossible for most colts his age. “It’s okay, Wild Flower, she’s not the first pony like that I’ve had to deal with. And I’m positive she won’t be my last,” Blank Slate saw a smile at the use of the colt’s chosen name. “How often does she do this?” He tried to sound as comforting as he could. The colt needed a friend right now more than anything else. Wild Flower sunk in his chair as he took a moment to think, “Rant, or take me to a new therapist? She rants about my cutie mark at least once a day. You’re probably the fourth shrink she’s taken me to since summer started. Any time the other therapists told her I didn’t need fixing, she took me somewhere else.” No kid should have to go through this. Blank Slate risked a quick check at his wall clock. The time for the appointment was almost up. Pretentious mare spent more time talking about herself. “All right, here’s what we’re going to do, Wild Flower,” the kid perked up a bit as Blank Slate started speaking. Good, he’s paying attention. “It seems your mother used up all our time here, so I’m going to go out there and schedule another meeting for us. When that happens, we are going to convince her that we are ‘fixing’ you at each meeting. Every week when you come here, it’s going to be time for you. She won’t even be allowed inside the building, and you can do whatever you want here. Okay?” Wild Flower nodded enthusiastically. Any time away from his mother was time well spent. “Good, let’s go tell her the good news then.” Blank Slate said as he moved to leave the room. “Hey, Crystal,” Blank Slate turned to talk to his secretary as soon as Miss Finance and Wild Flower had escaped hearing range. “Could you find me form CM-452 and a spell to restrict access to my office?” As he got closer to the desk, he noticed that Crystal Shards already had the form filled out and dated, awaiting only his signature. “Would you like for me to take these to the Lunar Guard after work as well, sir?” Before the return of the Crystal Empire, Crystal Shard had been one of Sombra’s handmaids. On one hoof, this made her extremely competent at finding exactly what was needed at any given moment. On the other, well, there was a reason she was still terrified of authority. Though he was not interested in her in such a manner, Blank Slate would admit that Crystal was a beautiful young mare. Unfortunately, beauty and youth are not always desired under a tyrant’s rule. “I can do it myself, Crystal, if you don’t want to.” Blank Slate knew that Crystal was still unable to look at a guardspony without shaking. He wouldn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to. Crystal was silent for a moment. “Thank you, sir,” she replied almost inaudibly. “As there are no more clients for the night, may I be excused?” Blank Slate nodded, to Crystal’s relief. One day she’ll feel comfortable around here. It was hard for some ponies to allow themselves freedom from their pasts. There was an earth pony mare waiting outside the office as he closed up. Her coat was dark orange, and her mane was forest green. Unlike most of the ponies he saw on a daily basis, her face awoke something in the back of his mind. With only her appearance, she had captivated Blank Slate unlike any pony he had seen before. “Excuse me, are you Dr. Blank Slate?” Her voice was familiar to the stallion, despite never having heard it before. It was so similar to the voice that haunted his dreams and graced his nightmares. Blank Slate found he could only nod in confirmation. “My name is Astrid, and I need to talk with you.”