//------------------------------// // Ch. 27 - HORSIE JAIL BLUES // Story: Bad Company // by Symphony //------------------------------// Strawberry was not mad. Oh no, she was much more than that. She was jaw-clenching, vein-popping, near aneurysm furious. She waited at the train station for hours. The late midday train from Manehattan came, but no sign of Jay anywhere. She was later told that he, along with her grandfather, the prince and a work colleague had gotten arrested and was put in jail. So no, she was not mad at all. She had called a day off from work, taken the next train to Manehattan and was currently making her way to the station where her idiot boyfriend was being detained. Ponies took one look at her expression then quickly got out of her way, even some downtown thugs had seen the fury written on her face and ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. Her jaw was clenched when she opened the door to the station with her magic and walked inside like she owned the place. Not caring about taking a seat and wait for her turn, she walked straight up to the reception desk. The stallion behind it was turned around and talking to a co-worker, laughing about something she didn't hear. His ear flicked and he turned around with a smile that faltered slightly when he saw her expression. “Hello, I'm here to pick up my boyfriend. I heard he was being held here?” She spoke through gritted teeth. “Uh...” The poor stallion gulped, then looked down and flicked through a few papers. “Is this him?” He held up a paper with a picture of a green unicorn with slanted glasses and an expression as if he had given up on life. “No, not him. The weird, tall one.” "Really?" The stallion flinched as a fire blazed in the small, pudgy unicorn's eyes. He was not a coward by any means and had seen many things in his line of work, but this mare promised pain and suffering deeper than the pits of Tartarus. He quickly flipped through the papers again and brought another paper for her to look at. Jay was staring at the camera, smirking and making a finger gun gesture with both hands. There was a sizeable bruise just underneath his left eye which made him have to close it. The white shirt he was wearing was torn in odd places and his tie was barely hanging on. Her eyes went down to where his charges were. Public intoxication, public indecency, two charges of obstruction, violence against an officer and another two charges of public misdemeanor. She could feel the vein straining against her forehead as her jaw clenched even further, grinding her teeth. Oh, he was going to sleep in the couch for at least three weeks... “He walked into the town zoo and attempted to break into the manticore compound because he, and I quote 'wanted to pet the kitties'.” The stallion behind the desk chuckled. “Can I get him out today on bail?” Strawberry asked, glancing up at him with a sweet smile. “Oooh, that's gonna cost ya...” The stallion retrieved another paper from behind the desk. “To be honest, this case is more of a slap on the wrist on him.” He shook his head. “Equestrian law states that creatures that aren't brought up to speed on our law and rules get a much more lenient punishment or a hefty fine.” He slid the paper over to Strawberry. “Fifty thousand bits?” She confirmed with the stallion, he nodded. She was lucky that before Jay had left, he left her with much more bits than necessary so she could cover this easily. She levitated her saddlebags forward and slid over five ten-thousand bits to him. The stallion retrieved the bits and started doing paperwork. Strawberry sighed and turned her head slightly to the door when she heard it open. “Strawberry, dear! Is that you?!” She whirled around completely and in the first time in the last twelve hours a genuine smile formed on her face. “Grandma!” She trotted over to the older mare. Her mane was a rich, slightly faded with age navy-blue that was curled slightly, running down her neck and a horn poking through on her head. Her teal eyes sparkled, some noticeable wrinkles were under her eyes. Her coat was a pale royal blue. The two joined in a tight hug before the older mare released her and looked her over. “What are you doing here?” Strawberry asked, slightly surprised. “Oh, I'm here to pick up your grandfather...” She said with a rather sour expression. “He's in a world of trouble once I get my hooves on him, I promise you... So what about you?! Here to pick up your half?” “I came here all the way from Ponyville to get Jay out...” Strawberry shook her head. “He can expect to sleep on the couch for at least a month for making me travel all this way...” Azure giggled. “I met him already, Lucky brought him over after work were he joined us for dinner and stayed the night.” She laughed at a memory “He is quite the character. He spent his first hour barely moving and was so nervous he barely spoke...” Azure leaned forward and smirked. In a much quieter voice, she whispered. “He is rather... exotic, isn't he? What's he like?” Strawberry's head jolted back and a furious blush spread on her cheeks. “Grandma! Don't say that...” “Miss?” The stallion from the desk called. She turned around. “The paperwork is ready.” His eyes roamed over to the other mare. “Ah, miss Azure! I already finished your papers as usual!” The stallion rounded the desk and began walking to a heavy, iron door. “Let's go and get them, shall we?” He held a foreleg to the door. The mares followed him and the door creaked open. They walked in silence down a few hallways, then turned left sharply and down a small set of stairs. Strawberry's ears fell a little. Was this where Jay had spent the last day and a half? How was he feeling? What if he had a relapse and was feeling worse than ever? Without noticing it, she sped up her walk. Azure noticed her granddaughter walking faster and smiled. They heard the sound of raised voices and a harmonica. The closer they came, Strawberry was able to pick out that most of the loud talking was done by Jay. A poorly made harmonica solo that was supposed to be blues sounded. “I'm caught in horsie jail!” Jay yelled and another bad solo sounded. “They caught me and put me in a cell!” And another harmonica riff, but this was much louder and way out of tune. “Jay I swear if you do that one more time I will cram it down your God damn throat!” A voice that Strawberry didn't recognize called out. There was silence, then another harmonica solo out of nowhere. “I'm gonna die in horsie...” A very quick harmonica riff. “JAAI-GAHK” They rounded the last corner. Strawberry spotted Jay sitting on a bunk with his shirt off, a hand in his mouth. He pulled out a spit covered harmonica and it clanged to the floor. The same pony that was on the paper she was first shown was glaring daggers at him with his magic flaring. Lucky was reclined in a bunk on the other side, his forehooves underneath his head as he rested his eyes. “Boys, behave...” Strawberry cleared her throat and tapped a forehoof to the ground, glaring absolute death at the human who was coughing. He turned his head and froze. His pupils shrank to barely visible pricks. “Uh... Hi babe?” He laughed nervously. Lucky's eyes shot open and he sat up, staring at Azure glaring at him. “Hello, dear...” Lucky started sweating bullets. “Are you here to get me out..?” Azure fumed. "Oh, I will! And you will wish I left you in there once I get my hooves on you, mister!" Her horn sparked ominously in a dark blue aura. Lucky gulped. Jay wasn't doing much better, Strawberry was still glaring at him. She slowly raised an eyebrow when she stopped tapping a hoof to the floor. “Well?” She said with a huff. “What do you have to say for yourself?” Jay's eyes flicked to Lucky in a snap, then back at her. “I'm so, so sorry that I made you come all the way out here... I fucked up big time, right?” Once his rant finished, he raised a finger slowly and pointed at Lucky. “...Would you believe me if I said he started it?” “We would.” Azure and Strawberry said at the same time in sync. Lucky momentarily turned his glare to the human. “Traitor...” Azure rolled his eyes, then turned to Poindexter. “Dex, dear?” She said softly. “I know you have no part in this and was merely caught on so you are free to go. I talked to the nice officer and it's all set! Same with Prince Blueblood, which is why he left so quickly!” “Really?” He jumped to his hooves and hurried to the cell door. The stallion who had been silently standing next to the mares opened it and left it open. Dex quickly thanked Azure, then left just as fast. Lucky and Jay shared a glance, then turned around, Jay leaned down and whispered. “You know, I think we're safer in here...” Lucky shook his head. “You're right, but as much as I love staying here the prince only excused me for today and my wife looks just about ready to come in here and drag me out by the tail... Or worse...” The two turned back to the mares who were both looking increasingly angry once again. “Alright then... In three?” Jay grabbed his shirt and put it on. Lucky nodded. They turned around and walked out from the cell. Jay rolled up his sleeves, tightened his tie and stopped in front of Strawberry. She was staring up at him, attempting to look mad. Her quivering lower lip only betrayed her feelings. Jay crouched down and grunted. He held out his arms. "I'm really sorry. I mean it. I didn't mean to make you worry and I definitely didn't plan any of this, I swear..." Strawberry walked closer to him, then rested her forehead on the right side of his chest, careful not to poke him with her horn. She sniffled. “...I'm still mad at you.” She rubbed her head to him. He closed his arms around her and gave her a tight hug. “I know...” He sighed. “Let's go home, yeah?” He thumbed toward her grandparents. “I got my stuff stashed in their chariot and I'm sure your grandma took it here?” "That I did. There were a black bag and a rather stylish black suit jacket there." Azure looked up from holding her husband in a headlock, giving the two a sweet smile. "Now go on, get out of here so you don't miss your train! Be sure to grab a bite to eat, though!" Jay and Strawberry separated, then started walking away from the jail cells and back into the main part of the station. “Ow, ow! Uncle! Uncle!” Jay smirked as he heard Lucky's shouts of pain. The sounds were deafened when they came to the giant door and passed through. They made their way to the chariot being guarded by a large earth pony. He nodded to them both and opened the storage compartment. Jay took his things and the two were off to walk to the train station Jay allowed a small smile to grace his features. Finally, he was able to get out of that cell. He couldn't wait to get home and get a good night's sleep on his own bed instead of that shitty bunk bed. “Just so you know, you're sleeping on the couch for a month.” Strawberry said, not looking up at him. His smile faded.