Strong Talons

by Ambizar

Chapter 5: Pretty White Feathers

The sound of my talons hitting the sidewalk of the city was somewhere between a clack and a scratch. My Equestrians hoodie was hood-up, concealing almost the entirety of my head, forelegs, upper body, and wings. Sure, my beak still poked out and my flank was as exposed as a quarterbuck with no o-line, not to mention the hoodie added another level of stuffiness and heat to the already warm summer morning, but it was pretty much necessary.
A single garment of clothing may not seem like it would conceal an identity very well initially, but when you're in a city full of ponies that are always in a rush even in the earliest hours of the morning, it usually suffices. Practice was in forty-five minutes, and I was content on getting a morning jog in to stretch the legs before I waltzed into my home stadium and proceeded to run my body ragged for the next several hours.
Ever since our win over Filly, my fame in Manehattan had gone from crazy to absolutely insane. It was extremely unwise for me to walk anywhere in the city exposed right now, unless I'd start a mob. Even with concealment, my cover had been blown a few times. And every time it was, it was a real chore to get away, even with the advantage of wings.
After I made it through the crosswalk, I kept a steady pace as I jogged towards downtown. I passed a few ponies, but none of them paid me much attention. They were too busy getting to work, the early morning markets, or with completing their jogs like me. Eventually, I came to a stop at a street corner and rested while ponies and cab carriages rushed past me.
After the game, my life had gotten even busier than before. It seemed like every radio host in Equestria wanted an interview with me, and the Equestrians' PR team was getting bombarded with requests for my presence. And not just from local hosts like Amped Mic, either. From what I'd heard, even Scout Combine and Perfect Catch had displayed interest in having me. The single biggest hoofball broadcast in Equestria wanted me! Either that, or Hoofrocket was pulling my leg. Both were easily possible.
As I rested by the street post lost in my own thoughts, foolishly out in the open. I felt a single tug on my hoodie, right underneath my right shoulder. I jerked, then turned to see a dark yellow colt standing on the sidewalk next to me. The first thing I noticed about him were his eyes, both in the fact that one of them seemed to have a shiner that only a good, poor-meaning hoof to the face could provide, and the fact that they both were staring at me in an expression that I could only describe as pure awe.
The second thing I noticed was what he was wearing. It was an Equestrians jersey, and not just the cheap replicas sold at every hoofball merch shop. This was one of the expensive perfect-replica jerseys that were only available at licensed Equestrians merchandise outlets, sold in all sizes from mare to stallion to colt. Not only that, but the jersey the foal was wearing happened to have the number 11 on it. My number.
"Uh," I started. But before I could get anything else out, the colt started shaking, almost as if he was being reduced to a trembling spell. Then he started bouncing up and down.
"I KNEW IT, YOU'RE GAIUS STRONGTA-" I quickly shushed him. Thankfully, nopony around seemed to notice. I leaned down and whispered to him.
"Quiet, please, alright?" I asked. He nodded, but continued bouncing with unbridled excitement.
"I knew it was you! I was there at the game last week, I saw you! You're the greatest hoofball player ever!" His eyes went wide and he used a hoof to pull at his fan jersey. "My dad got me this after we left the game! I'm your biggest fan! When I grow up, I want to be a Manehattan Equestrian just like you!"
I couldn't stop the heartfelt smile from spreading across my beak. This was hardly the first young fan to freak out in my presence, but it always felt so heartfelt coming from them.
"Thanks, buddy. If you work hard and give it your best, you can make it. Just don't give up." I went to ruffle his mane, but stopped, suddenly perplexed with a question. "Hey, what happened to your eye, kid? Looks like you got in a fight."
Surprisingly, he lit up like a Heart's Warming Tree. "Oh, I did! There are these mean guys across from where I live that like to make fun of me. Yesterday, they saw my new shirt and told me that you shouldn't even be playing for the Equestrians since you're a griffon! So I told them they were full of Crabapples! Then..." His voice trailed off as his expression and tone switched more to that of... disappointment. He didn't notice, but the color was draining from my facial feathers.
"Then we fought and I lost. But it was two-on-one! That's not fair, right? I'm sorry I lost, mister Strongtalon, but I couldn't let them just get away with saying that!"
I just stood there for a second while traffic continued to go by, unaware of our presence. I reached out a talon and put it on his shoulder. "Listen, kid. Don't feel like you have to defend me, okay? Don't go getting yourself hurt over that."
He looked up at me again, seemingly on the verge of tears.
"But they're wrong! They shouldn't get to say that! Who cares if you're a griffon?"
"Hey, hey," I said gently as he calmed down. "Don't worry about that. I promise that what two bullies think won't affect me getting to play hoofball, alright?"
"I know, but..." He started.
"But nothing. Now do me a favor and try not to get into any more fights, okay? Especially when you're outnumbered." I winked, but he still didn't look satisfied.
"I guess..."
I scratched my chin, then smiled. "Tell you what, if you promise not to get in any more fights, I'll sign your jersey."
That did it. He was suddenly reanimated with the same excited, bouncy energy as before. "Really? Okay, I promise!"
Luckily, getting hounded for autographs was something I was used to, so I kept a pen in my hoodie pocket. I signed his jersey right on the eleven sewn onto the side, much to his delight.
"By the way, kid, what's your name?"
"Sunflower Stalk!" He said excitedly. "This is so cool! I'm gonna show Dad as soon as I get home! Thank you Mr. Strongtalon!"
"Call me Gaius." I balled up my talon and gave him a hoof-bump. As I did so, I caught the gaze of a pony on the opposite side of the intersection, staring at us. As we made eye contact, his face lit up with realization.
"Whoops. Gotta go, kid! Listen to your Dad and stay out of fights for me, okay?" But before he could respond, my wings had popped out of the allotted holes for them in my hoodie and I had taken off, already headed to the stadium. I was glad to meet Sunflower Stalk, but something in the pit of my stomach made me uneasy about the encounter. I silently hoped that he wouldn't encounter the same bullies on the way home with his newly-signed jersey.

I slung my wing harness off and threw into my locker, the whole motion seemingly laze due to the aching in my body. Once again, practice had been brutal. My temporary soreness made me wonder how I used to able to hang with my old friends for hours after Academy practice. All I could think of right now was a shower and an eventual nap. As I stretched my wings out, I heard somepony walking up behind me.
"What's up, Gaius?" Said a familiar voice. Hoofrocket. I turned to see my quarterbuck with a towel draped around his neck, coat still damp from his recent shower.
"Not much. Brutal day."
He laughed while I took off my pads. "Nah, surely not for you." He slung his towel in an empty bin and trotted over to his locker, which was relatively close to mine. "It sure was fun to watch you juke Fleahopper out of his horseshoes today."
I chuckled. Fleahopper was our strong safety, the direct counterpart to Endgame. He'd been covering me during a drill today and, well, let's just say it didn't end that well for him.
"Yeah, he tried, Celestia preserve him." I stood up off of the bench and stretched the rest of my body, alarmed when my back cracked from the strain. "Phew. That's probably healthy, right?"
"If it's not, I'm in trouble," said Hoofrocket. He swatted his locker closed. "So, we've decided that even if it's a few days late, we want to celebrate Thursday's win."
So that's what this was about. "Yeah, I heard. Claspwing's, was it?"
He grinned. "Yup, that's the place. Tonight at eight. You coming?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I don't know. I don't really... drink, you know?" Claspwing's was a well-known restaurant in the city, but it was also a notorious bar and social club. Nothing like Le Merveilleux.
He clopped me on the shoulder. "You don't have to. And if anyone on the team tries to pressure you into it, I'll tell 'em to lay off. Promise."
"Well, hate to give into peer pressure, but since it's from my quarterbuck..."
"Great. Remember, eight o' clock. And I'm not paying this time." With that, he walked out of the locker room. I sighed and made my way to the shower room. Partying was in store for later tonight, but all I cared about at the moment was hot water. And a nap.

Did the team go out to a restaurant every time they wanted to celebrate something? Granted, this was a far step below a fancy Prench restaurant, highlighted by the fact that I literally wasn't wearing anything, but the similarities were still very present. And why was I always only notified the day of? I got stopped a few times on my way to the restaurant, but still managed to make it on time.
It was already getting dark when I arrived. When I landed by the front door, Hightower and Snowfall were out front taking pictures with two tourist-looking ponies decked out in floral pattern shirts. Hightower, like me, was wearing nothing while Snowfall was sporting a simple but expensive-looking black jacket. As I approached them, the tourists suddenly turned their attention to me.
"Ooh, honey! That's the griffon that plays wide receiver!" said the pink mare with the giant bouffant-styled yellow mane. her husband, a middle-aged stallion with a white shirt, red visor and goofy mustache trotted up to me excitedly with his camera hanging by a strap around his neck.
"Excuse me, sir, would you allow us to take a photo with you? Some pictures of us with professional athletes such as yourself would do wonders for our vacation scrapbook!"
I was well equipped to deal with ponies asking for pictures at this point. I smiled politely and nodded. "Sure."
They trotted to either side of me and wrapped their forelegs around my neck. The husband pressed his face so close to mine that he practically buried it in my feathers. He held his camera out in front of us and smiled widely.
"Three...two...one...smile!"
The flash went off blindingly and the camera spit out the picture, which was developed within seconds.
"Thank you very much mister..." He stared at me awkwardly in a silent cry for help.
"Gaius," I responded as politely as I could.
"Oh, of course!" He laughed awkwardly while his wife tucked away the photo in a pocket on her saddlebag. "It's just, we're not the biggest buckball fans this side of Equestria. But we still recognize talent when we see it, by Celestia!"
"Hoofball, dear."
"Oh, right honey, hoofball! Well, uh, anyways, good luck in your next game, gentlecolts!" With that, they were off, and Snowfall was by my side.
"Ah, tourists. They're a special breed, I tell ya."
"Yeah," I replied sullenly. "They don't even know who you are. All it takes for them to care is to know that you're famous."
"Well, welcome to the high life." He wrapped a wing around me and ushered me to the door. "Come on. Most of the others are already inside."
Claspwing's was no Le Merveilleux, but it definitely had an atmosphere. Most of the inside was dominated by the restaurant, a big collection of booths and tables, and a large wraparound bar that could easily sit twenty ponies. The leftmost area of the building contained an open floor for dancing and a section of small tables for socializing. It also contained a DJ booth, where a coltish stallion wearing a shirt and tie and designer sunglasses (a bit odd in the dark lighting of the restaurant/club) slaved over his pegboard and speakers droning out upbeat music at an acceptable volume.
Most of the restaurant used mahogany similar to the last team restaurant experience I'd had, but this venue traded out stunning white marble and gold accents for stark black paneling, creating a more cozy, hangout sort of vibe. I whistled softly.
"Not bad, right?" Snowfall grinned. "Just wait. At 9:00 it's gonna get crazy!"
"What happens at nine?" I asked.
"Duh," Snowfall scoffed. "The club opens and happy hour starts!"
Upon a second look, I noticed aside from the DJ working in the booth, there wasn't anypony else in the dancing area or open seating. A few of my teammates, including Hightower, were stationed at the bar apparently getting an early start on the night. But aside from them, the rest of the team was nowhere to be found. Right before I could ask Snowfall where our table was, he turned and began steering me towards the back of the restaurant.
Half of the team must have been in there that night, from both the offense and the defense. The staff had pushed three tables together in an effort to sit everypony, and there were more than a few restaurant goers that were staring at the mass of muscles and mane products sat in between their booths. Hoofrocket was naturally the first one I noticed, flanked by High Impact and Fleahopper. The latter looked up at me and gave me a grin. He was tall and lanky with a gray coat and a long, deep brown mane.
"What's up, Strongtalon? Didn't know if you'd make it."
"Hey, Hop. No hard feelings about today?"
"Nah." He waved a hoof. "Sometimes a facemask full of turf is just what you need to keep your ego in check. No blood, no foul. Besides, I'll get you back by drinking you under the table tonight!"
"Cool," I said as non-awkwardly as I could. By this point, Tremor Blitz had noticed me from the other side of the table and was waving me over. As I approached, I noticed a pretty deep violet mare sitting between him and Halberd Flash, the left tackle. I also noticed that Tremor had his foreleg around her. Now that I looked, there were a few mares present at the table; Blockbuster, Metalmane, and Stalagmite all had girls seated next to them as well.
"Well if it isn't the kid wonder himself! Good to see you again!" Tremor gave me a hoof bump as I took my seat. He then gestured to the mare sitting beside him. "I'd like to introduce you to my marefriend, Blackberry Rose."
She reached across and held out her hoof. I shook it as casually as I could.
"It's nice to meet you. Any friend of Tremor's is a friend of mine." Her voice was very attractive. Honestly, she was very attractive. I had to fight the urge to stare at her. While I tried and failed, she continued. "I was at the game last Thursday. You're a very exciting player to watch."
"Uh, thanks." I said. Tremor seemed to catch me staring, but thankfully misinterpreted.
"Does she seem familiar? She's a model. Worked with the best designers in the city! Flashy Frills, Coco Pommel, Diz-"
"Oh, he exaggerates," she said, cutting him off. "I highly doubt I'm the well-known face around here. After all, nopony stopped me on my way to the restaurant."
"I'm not the one who's exaggerating here, babe," he said with a challenging smile. But, he let it drop. "Anyways, nice practice today, Gaius. You killed it."
"Thanks, you too. 'Rocket better watch his step, the offense may need a new face."
"Don't let Hoofrocket hear you say that," Snowfall said as he took the empty chair next to me. "You've got a good thing going as his favorite, don't ruin it for yourself."
"What?" I asked. Tremor Blitz shook his head.
"Eh, just ignore him. He's just jealous."
"At least I see the field, Tremble." Snowfall replied.
"Oh, those are fightin' words, Snowdrop!' Tremor replied. Before long, the two were leaned over play-scrapping directly in my personal space. While I tried to avoid stray hooves, Blackberry Rose just lightly laughed and rolled her eyes. Hoofrocket eventually reminding them that they had to order sometime tonight finally made them laugh it off and bury their heads in their menus. Right when I opened mine, I heard somepony clear their throat from across the table. I turned to see Searing Shock looking at me.
Our star cornerbuck was a pony of smaller stature with a light green coat and a shocking (no pun intended) turquoise and yellow mane. I raised an eyebrow.
"Just letting you know, Strongtalon, tomorrow you're showing me how you made Hop eat the turf today. If that ever happens to me during a game I'll be too embarrassed to ever step hoof on a field again."
"I'm right here, you know," Fleahopper said with mild irritation. I could tell both Hoofrocket and High Impact were doing their best not to laugh. Unlike me, they actually held it in. As I finally got to look at my menu, I came to a realization. My team was full of total goofballs. Even so, they were all pretty cool.

The food was more than serviceable, and for the next hour we all sat, ate, and socialized as more teammates showed up from the bar to the table. More than a few times, the conversations were broken by fans approaching and asking for pictures and autographs, which we readily provided. Throughout the whole affair, the music continued to play from speakers stowed all around the restaurant, not too loudly but not quiet enough to fade to background noise, either. As the night drove on a buzz in the air began to settle in, palpable energy and excitement for the restaurant's closing and the night club's opening; from everypony there aside from me.
"Tell you what, Gaius," Snowfall said as he wrapped a wing around me just a couple of minutes before nine. "Your first drink is on me! What're you getting?"
"Oh, uh..." I carefully grabbed his wing and placed it back against his side. "Thanks for the offer, man, but... I don't drink."
"Really?" He asked, seemingly dumbstruck. I felt a few more teammates' gazes turn to me, but nopony said anything. After a few seconds of pondering my answer, the fellow receiver shrugged. "Alright man, whatever. If you change your mind at some point tonight, let me know."
"Thanks," I said. And I meant it. I caught Hoofrocket dutifully watching us, ready to interject at any moment. I made a mental note to thank him as well.
My teammates slowly rose up and walked away from the dining area towards the club as the seconds to opening ticked away, gaining more attention on the way as guests that hadn't been seated in our area realized that there were celebrity personnel in attendance. Eventually, Tremor, Snowfall, and I rose up and joined the crowd.
The opening of the night club section was signaled by the DJ dropping a new track and kicking up the volume. On cue, everypony hit the bar for happy hour until you couldn't see the poor bartenders anymore. From the frequent camera flashes, I got the impression that several more of my teammates were getting recognized. Hoofrocket and Marathon Iron especially seemed to be having a hard time trying to order drinks between pictures and autographs. Turned out, I wasn't immune either, as shown by two mares about my age in showy clubbing outfits having their eyes go wide after seeing me at my remote table.
The next hour and a half was filled with loud electronic music, flashing lights, cheap drinks, and a lot of dancing. Several of my teammates hit the floor after getting their fill from the bar, some with their dates and some with mares they'd met just sitting around. Tremor Blitz and Blackberry Rose were especially fun to watch on the floor; their dancing was an elegant yet energetic mix of swoops, leaps, and twirls. At one point, Tremor began break dancing right at the beginning of a beat drop and cleared a circle on the floor for him to spin repeatedly upside-down on his head. When the music switched to a more mellow bridge, the whole floor gave him applause for his efforts while he made a big deal of swooping Blackberry off her hooves to signal the resuming of casual dancing.
Eventually, Hoofrocket, drink in hoof, walked over to my table to sit next to me in comfortable silence. While both of us sitting together meant a steady number of ponies coming over to meet us, it was nice to have somepony to talk to while my other friends were busy dancing with their marefriends or pounding down drinks.
"Hmm..." 'Rocket said after a sip. "You know, I'd figure you for a dancer, considering how nimble you are. Why haven't you cut up the floor yet?"
"I'm alright," I said, my talon absentmindedly tracing the rim of my sparkling cider glass, which was completely underwhelming after my last night out. "I guess I'm just not feeling it tonight."
"Well, maybe getting some blood pumping would get you feeling better, but it's your call."
I nodded, taking another sip. Tremor and Blackberry were still dancing, and Snowfall was still sitting at the bar. I'd lost count of how many drinks I'd seen him put away. I started wondering what he would look like hungover at practice tomorrow. A few tables down from us, Marathon Iron had the attention of three attractive mares that were hanging on his every word. It gave me flashbacks to our night out that was almost ruined by Periwinkle and her entourage. Tremor and Blackberry dancing together suddenly reminded me of something.
"Hey, 'Rocket?" I asked.
"What's up?"
"Why didn't you invite your wife here tonight? Not trying to pry or anything, but..."
"Eh," He swirled his glass. "Dazzle Jewel's a pretty quiet pony, this isn't her scene. It's not mine either, to be honest. I just go because I know the boys want me to."
"Fair enough," I said, satisfied. Any further conversation was cut off by an approaching mare with a red and white-striped mane wearing a daring club dress. She looked a few years older than me, and had a different aura than the rest of the ponies that had approached us tonight. She had an almost predatory look in her eye, and she was staring right at Hoofrocket.
"Hello, boys. I'm Peppermint Swirl," she said in a mature, sultry voice. While the color drained from my face, Hoofrocket casually responded.
"Good evening, Peppermint Swirl."
"Mmm, the hoofball darling of Manehattan himself. It's a pleasure to meet you." The tone of her voice alone made my entire face heat up, but Hoofrocket didn't even flinch. Impressively, though, she was undeterred. "So, handsome, care for a dance?" She held out her hoof, but Hoofrocket didn't move.
"Sorry, miss, but I'm a married stallion. I'm flattered, though."
The mare's expression and voice shifted to that of indifference. "Oh, my mistake then." She turned to me, and her gaze seemed to turn to something akin to light consideration, but after a couple of seconds she turned away. "Well then, have a good night."
After she left and I put a considerable amount of effort into not eyeing the flank retreating to my left, I turned to Hoofrocket, who had just nonchalantly gone back to his drink.
"You alright?" He asked, his eyes slightly amused. "For a second it looked like you were gonna pass out."
I gave a light nod. "You handled that fairly well. You get a lot of that or something?"
"A fair amount. I mean, I make a living playing a sport where I'm lined up against a bunch of stallions twice my size that get paid to try and bulldoze me. Compared to that, mares are pretty easy."
While he spoke, I noticed the mare had moved herself to Marathon Iron's table, much to the apparent distaste of the mares he was conversing with. However, unlike Hoofrocket, M. I. seemed very interested by the current...erm, situation.
As the music pumped on, Hoofrocket clicked his tongue. "So, rookie, you just gonna hang out at this table alone all night?"
"I might," I said indifferently. Honestly, at that point I was considering just heading home.
"Not gonna be a very memorable night if you just sit here."
"I could say the same for you," I challenged.
He shrugged. "I told you why I'm here. Why are you here?" He took a drink while he waited for my answer.
Why was I here? I was an okay dancer, sure, but I hadn't touched the dance floor so far tonight. I didn't drink, I'd already eaten, and Hoofrocket was the only one paying any attention to me right now. Was he telling me to leave? Wasn't he the one who invited me in the first place?
Seemingly reading my expression, he put his glass down. "Hey, I'm not telling you to get out, I'm just saying you might want to have some fun while you still can."
"I don't know." While I debated just heading out, I saw Tremor Blitz and Blackberry Rose heading towards our table. I could tell they were tired after all of that dancing; both of their coats were sheened with sweat. Blackberry's black and purple mane, which had been carefully and elegantly fixed, was now loose and showing light hints of frazzles.
"Whew!" said Tremor, wiping off his forehead. "That was fun, wasn't it?"
Blackberry nodded. "It's been a little while since we danced like that. We should do it more often."
They both took a seat next to Hoofrocket. Blackberry looked at her coltfriend sheepishly.
"Darling, would you mind getting me a drink? I need to cool off."
"Coming right up," he said enthusiastically. As he got up, he looked at me and 'Rocket in turn. "You guys want anything?" After we shook our heads, he took off for the bar. Blackberry sent a hoof through her mane to try and soothe it back down.
"Are you alright, Gaius?" She asked. "Pardon my prying, but you look a bit lonely over here. You and your quarterbuck, both."
"I'm just here for moral support. I'll be fine. But, I think my friend here is sad that he doesn't have a dancing partner."
While I turned glare daggers at him, Blackberry's eyes got bright. "Ooh. I'd love to see you dance, Gaius, but I'm afraid I'm a bit worn out at the moment. Maybe give me five minutes and a drink and get back to me."
"No, it's fine. Quarterbucks are natural liars." I gave said quarterbuck another quick glare. "Actually, I'm thinking about heading out. Thanks, guys, this was fun."
"Are you sure?" Blackberry asked sadly. "Well, alright then, goodnight. Maybe we'll see you some other time."
"Yeah, sure." I got up and began walking away. As I did, I saw Snowfall and Halberd Flash heading for the table I'd just left, High Impact seemingly in tow.
My mind wandered while I walked away from the dance floor. When it came time to turn and head for the doors, I instead found myself turning in the opposite direction and heading for the bar. I couldn't really explain why, maybe I didn't really feel like leaving after all? Maybe I just felt too lame for trying to leave while all my teammates were having a good time? With a light sigh, I took a seat at one of the barstools. A bartender pony saw me and trotted up dutifully.
"Can I get you anything, sir?"
I took a brief look at the menu. My curiosity glimmered and I considered trying something alcoholic, but I just wasn't in the mood for experimentation.
"I'll just take a virgin sparkling cider if you don't mind." I said.
"Certainly." All he had to do was reach below the counter and slide a door to grab a cold bottle. Then he grabbed a glass and poured me a gracious portion.
"Thanks," I mumbled as he set it down in front of me. He nodded and turned back around to continue washing the used glasses.
I wasn't sure what I had expected from that night, but it sure hadn't been much so far. The only one I'd gotten to talk to past dinner was Hoofrocket, and he'd seemed as out of place as I was. I didn't even know why I was still in the building. I started regretting not just leaving as soon as the dining area closed down. Even from where I was sitting, I could hear some of my teammates talking loudly at the table I vacated over the music. I was really starting to miss Bronze and the gang, letter just weren't the same as them being here. As it always did when I got to feeling low or bored, my mind was suddenly fixated on the letter and necklace I'd been trying hard to forget. I angrily rubbed my temples. I started to give trying alcohol a second thought.
I heard a seat pull out to my right. Looks like Snowfall caught a glimpse of me and felt sorry for my lonely, feathery hide. Unfortunately for him, I wasn't really in the mood for socializing. Plus, he was probably drunk. The bartender turned around and approached him with the same practiced smile he'd given me.
"What'll you have tonight, miss?" He said politely. Miss?
"Canterlot sunset, please," said a satiny-smooth feminine voice. I turned slightly to see the mare sitting beside me.
It wasn't a mare. Instead, it was the most gorgeous griffon I'd ever seen in my life. The number wasn't all that high, sure, but still. Her plumage was white with the ends tinged in black, and her head feathers fell down the side of her face reminiscent of a flowing mane. Her beak and talons were a muted yellow, her body white and dotted with black leopard spots. She was dressed in a simple but beautiful black dressed that wrapped around her body and then cascaded down the barstool. Most notably, her eyes were the brightest, clearest blue I'd ever seen. Bluer than the Vanhoover sky on the nicest, clearest day.
As the bartender made her drink, I realized I was blatantly staring. Thankfully, she didn't seem to realize, and I turned away before she looked at me. The heavy, bass-driven song that was playing ended, replaced by a more soft and instrumental track. The bartender handed her her drink, and she began stirring it with the decorative umbrella it came with. The drink was deep orange, and it reminded me of a concentrated fruit juice that I used to drink as a cub. As I watched her stir, she turned those beautiful blue eyes onto me.
"So," she said teasingly. "You're the superstar griffon that everypony's been talking about."
My heart was a jackhammer in my chest. I cleared my throat.
"Uh, yeah," I said as calmly as I could manage. "I guess you could say that."
"I think I expected someone taller," She said passively. I almost spit out my cider. When I turned to her, there was distinct humor in her expression. I swallowed.
"Haha," I said wryly. "So, what brings you here tonight?"
Well that sounded lame.
"I'm here with friends. They've been trying to get me out for a while now, and I finally gave in." She motioned behind us, and I turned to see a table near the back seating two other griffon girls. It was dark, but from what I could see it looked like they were looking at us and giggling among themselves. She continued.
"They also told me that I needed to go talk to the famous griffon hoofball player sitting at the bar looking all lonely. So, here I am."
I cleared my throat again. At this rate I would start trembling. "Sorry, but I haven't even asked your name. You are?"
"Giselle," she said with a light smile, which I returned.
"I assume I don't have to introduce myself," I said slyly. Uh-oh, did that sound egotistical? Probably.
She laughed. "Oh, I don't think so, Mr. Strongtalon. Although I might ask why you're all alone? It looks like you came here with your whole team."
Great, I thought. She thinks I'm a loser. A famous loser, but a loser nonetheless. "Well, everypony needs some peace and quiet every once in a while, you know?" Yeah, everypony looks for peace and quiet in a raging nightclub.
Her expression grew the slightest bit concerned. "So, am I intruding?"
My eyes went wide. "No, no! You're fine. Promise." I took a peek back at Hoofrocket's table, and saw everyone conveniently looking every in direction but mine. Irritation buzzed in the back of my head. Unless Snowfall broke something on the dance floor, I was going to be the talk of the locker room tomorrow.
I cleared my throat. "I uh... really like your dress." Really, that's all I had? Talking to girls had never really been a strong point of mine, which was probably why I'd never really had a marefriend. I tried to push the thought aside, that most likely wasn't a healthy thing to be thinking about when talking to a drop-dead gorgeous griffon.
"This old thing?" She chuckled. "Thank you. I like those muscles you're carrying around. You're lucky you don't have to take those off at the end of the night."
My face was suddenly on fire. She giggled.
"Aw, I made you blush. That's flattering." She took a drink. I, in all of my dignity, bowed my head and sighed.
"You're messing with me," I said. I slowly pushed my glass away and started to get up to leave.
"Hey, wait," She said. I turned and raised an eyebrow. She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm not just messing with you, you're just fun to tease. I'll stop, promise."
I contemplated for a second, then sat back down. "Okay, Giselle, may I ask what you do for work?"
"You may," she said thoughtfully. "Right now I'm a model. Nothing major, mostly minor fashion magazines, but I manage."
"Model," I said with a light chuckle. "I believe it."
The song switched again. My stomach sunk. I really just said that.
She laughed appreciatively. "Aw, well aren't you the charmer?" After I blushed again, she continued. "I'm a model right now, but I'm also an aspiring actress." She ran a talon through her plumage. "Admittedly I haven't found much so far. But I've dreamed of Bridleway since I was a chick. That's the biggest reason I moved to this city."
"Wow, really?" I asked. She looked at her drink sheepishly.
"I know, it's not very realistic. Griffons aren't in high demand when it comes to-"
"What? No, no, I think that's great. That's an awesome dream!"
She looked at me with genuine surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah, sure! Why not?"
She gave a wide smile and turned back to her Canterlot Sunset. "I don't hear that very often. Thank you."
I gave a sly grin. "You should show me."
"Huh? Show you what?"
"Your acting," I said enthusiastically. "Do a monologue or something."
She seemed genuinely surprised. "Right now?"
"Why not?" I said. She sat there for a while, then sighed and brushed a feather away.
"Alright, fine." She cleared her throat, checked to make sure there wasn't a bartender or customer nearby, then took a long drink. Afterwards, her eyes were fixated on the drink in front of her as if it was something of profound interest.
"Oh, Hayhock! I thought you loved me, I thought you were doing this for us! Now look at us, enstranged! Our children have never been in more danger, and you tell me to be quiet! What happened to our family, what happened to your priorities? Mama Bell is gone, and you act like you don't even care! I'd even say you wouldn't care if something happened to our children! So tell me nothing's wrong, tell me I'm wrong! Lie to me again, see if I won't take our children and go back to Trottington! No, don't touch me! Leave me alone! When we're gone tomorrow maybe you'll finally wake up and see how wrong your priorities really are!"
She had to talk loudly since the DJ had mixed into a ferocious new track at the beginning of her monologue. But even so, her voice poured out emotion. By the end of it, I could even see a tear beginning to form in her eye. As she gently wiped it away, I slowly and politely clapped in response.
"Wow," I said, dumbstruck. "That was amazing!"
She took another sip. "Oh, shut up."
"No, I'm serious! That was amazing! You're amazing!"
She coyly raised an eyebrow at my wording. I gave a fake cough and tried to fight off the new blush creeping up my facial feathers.
"Uh, that was Hinny of the Hills, right? Orchid Belle?"
She looked surprised again. "Yes, it was. That's always been my favorite play. My dream is to play Orchid Belle in Carneighgie Hall." She gave a small, disheartened laugh. "I know it's a longshot, though. Can you imagine a griffon Orchid Belle? There would be riots in the streets."
"What? Why not?" I said, a slight hint of anger in my voice. She gave me a soft look.
"It's fine. Anyways, it's your turn now."
"What?" I said, confused? "My turn for what?"
She agilely hopped out of her seat. "Your turn to show me what you can do! Surely, anypony who can play hoofball like you knows how to dance." She held a talon out to me. "So show me."
I stared for a few moments longer, then got out of my seat. What the heck, why not? I took her talon and we were soon making our way to the dance floor.

An hour later and we were both thoroughly exhausted. I had met both of Giselle's friends, Gemma and Gwendolyn. There was a fair amount of teasing when Giselle had lead me to their table to meet them, but now we were once again relatively alone. I wasn't oblivious to the fact that my entire team had been watching me the whole time we were dancing. I was in for a rough next week at the stadium.
"Well, Gaius, I have to say, you dance almost as well as you play." She laughed again as she tried to fix her plumage back in place. The sound made me happy.
"And you're as good of a dancer as you are an actress," I said fondly. "You were born for the big stage."
"Thank you, Gaius. This has been fun." She turned to look sadly at her two friends waiting at the door, giggling among themselves. "Unfortunately, it looks like it's time for me to go."
"Well, uh..." I clacked my talons against the ground nervously. "Would it be alright if we met up again sometime this week? You can pick the place."
"That sounds wonderful," she said sullenly. "But I have a photoshoot in Baltimare this week. I get on a train tomorrow."
"Oh." I scratched the back of my head, hoping she wasn't trying to let me off easy. "Maybe... next week?"
"Hm," she brought a talon up to her beak in thought. "I think that'll work. If you have time."
"Oh, I have time. We have an away game at Tall Tale this weekend, but I'll be back on Tuesday. We can go any night after that."
"Sounds good." She gave a smile. "Well, I have to go, but it was a pleasure meeting you, Gaius. Don't be a stranger."
"Hey, wait!" I said right as she turned away. "Uh, would you mind giving me your address? So I can mail you?"
She gave me a teasing look, but turned around to the barkeeper. "Excuse me, do you have a pen somewhere?" When she handed me the napkin with her address on it, the letter back at my apartment was probably the very furthest thing from my mind.