Sam stared hard into the mirror, his blue eyes squinted hard in concentration. Thoughts weighed heavily upon him. Should he leave things as they were? Maybe try something new for a change? Change is good. Keeps things fresh. But then, you're already used to the present and it's nice, comfortable. What would Fluttershy think? She said it's fine but Sam wasn't convinced. He knew Fluttershy didn't like it either. Then why lie to him? Because she loves him and doesn't want to hurt his feelings? He needed an honest truth.
"Sam? Honey? " ah, the deceiver, come to speak lies to his face once more. No movement will be wasted on her, only a brief nod to acknowledge her presence "Are you alright? " she asked in concern, what a perfectly rehearsed question.
"I don't like it. " he said bitterly, eyes never leaving his reflection in the mirror. Fluttershy sighed deeply.
"Fine, I'll tell Luna- "
"You don't like it either. " he continued.
"What? No! " Fluttershy said defensively "I like the idea of- " then she realized where he was looking at in the mirror "Oh Sam... " she smiled gently and rubbed his back in a comforting manner.
"I've seen the way you look at it. " he stroked his braided beard "You think it's weird. "
"It's just... Different. " she reassured him and ran one hand through his hair "I do miss your mane though. " Sam didn't respond, only kept inspecting the braid coming from his chin "You can just shave it off if you don't like it. "
"Fluttershy, my people don't just shave off their beards. " Sam straightened up and examined the rest of his facial hair "It's part of our culture! It's a status symbol! " then he looked to the side in shame "And I have no discernible chin to speak of but that's beside the point! " Fluttershy grasped his face between her hands, bringing him to meet her eyes.
"Sam, look at me. " she smiled, her eyes filled with love and understanding "I love you for who you are, not because of your facial hair. I'm fine either way, really. " she kissed him gently and let go of his face "Now, let's go eat some breakfast and decide what to do with our new... Roommates? " she nodded quickly "Yes, roommates. Sounds better than patients. " leaving Sam alone with his thoughts, the human turned to the mirror once more.
"Fine either way... " he scowled at his reflection "She hates it. "
Breakfast was eaten in silence once more. Umbra looked like she actually got some form of sleep last night, despite her escape attempt. For a brief moment she was thinking of making a run for it after Sam left but upon further thinking it was useless. Without her magic she would be caught very easily and then condemned to Tartarus. At least here she was sleeping in a bed as opposed to a cage and had actual meals, not the splatters they served them there. Choose the lesser of two crappy choices, she told herself.
"Do I sense some trouble in paradise? " Chrysalis grinned wickedly upon sensing the turbulent emotions coming from Sam. Fluttershy immediately dropped her spoon, mouth full with cereal, and shook her head furiously "Oooh, struck a nerve did I? "
"Is everything alright? " Luna asked seeing Fluttershy trying to steer the conversation in another direction "If it's about us, then I am sorry that- "
"It's not, Luna. Don't worry. " Sam reassured her and looked at his marefriend who finally managed to swallow "Go ahead, tell them honey. " now even Umbra was curious and decided to quietly observe while eating.
"Um, Sam, I told you it's fine. " Fluttershy said gently and caressed his cheek "Now let's continue- "
"What do you think of this? " Sam looked at Chrysalis and pointed to his braided beard.
"Oh no... " Fluttershy sighed and lowered her head. This will not end well.
"Of what? " Chrysalis looked at his beard "What even is that? "
"It's a beard. " Sam deadpanned.
"I know it's a beard, dimwit, but why is does it look like that? " she examined the braid and the short string that was holding it in place. Before Sam could explain, Luna piped up.
"Human beards represent a status symbol. Depending on the styling they could mean many different things. " Luna explained proudly, secretly happy Sam's foul mood had nothing to do with her talk with Fluttershy.
"So what does your mean? " Chrysalis asked, looking at the beard with a scrutinizing glare.
"What do you think it means? " Sam asked and Fluttershy's eyes shrank to pinpricks. This will definitely not end well.
"Hmmm... " Chrysalis rubbed her chin in thought "Let's see. It's short, which means it won't get in the way. And braided, almost like a tail. I know! " she clapped her hands together "Assface! " Umbra choked on her food and went into a coughing fit, Luna's mouth fell open in shock and Fluttershy buried her face in her hands. Sam's right eye was twitching, his jaw clenched tightly in silent anger.
"That's it! " he sat down his spoon and got up from the chair "I've put up with this long enough! " making his way to the counters he pulled out a knife and Chrysalis's grin was soon replaced with a look of horror. Umbra, finally catching her breath, was ready to jump at a moments notice. Then Sam turned towards the kitchen door "I'm cutting it off! " and stormed off towards the bathroom, leaving both Chrysalis and Umbra very perplexed.
"Did... That just happen? " Umbra asked in disbelief.
"For a moment there... I thought... " Chrysalis still felt her heart pounding in her chest. Fluttershy sighed deeply and got up as well.
"We have scissors for that! " she called after Sam and followed him to the bathroom.
"Did that really just happen? " Umbra repeated her question.
"Humans are sensitive about their beards. " Luna responded "At least, that's what Sam has told me. I don't know many humans apart from him. "
"Really? " Umbra asked with a raised brow "His body looks like a testing ground for blades and he's self-conscious about his beard? " Luna narrowed her gaze at the unicorn.
"And how do you know that? " the alicorn asked through clenched teeth.
"I got thirsty last night, so did he. " Umbra lied and smirked "Apparently he sleeps half naked. Nice abs. " Luna grinned and readied her response.
"Should've seen his- " then a clatter of a spoon got her attention. Both Umbra and Luna followed the sound and found Chrysalis frozen in place, her eyes staring into the distance "You can relax, he won't hurt you. " the changeling didn't respond.
"You there, Chrissy? " Umbra snapped her fingers in front of the changeling who blinked herself back into reality. With a hiss she smacked Umbra's arm away.
"I'm fine, idiot. " she collected her spoon and continued eating.
"Now that that's out of the way... " Sam re-entered the kitchen, his beard now trimmed down to about half an inch, and Fluttershy giggling to herself, they sat down at the table again "I've got another question for you. " Chrysalis raised her head, her brows scrunched in a frown "What do emotions taste like? "
"That is an interesting question. " Luna looked at the former queen who was eyeing Sam curiously.
"Why? " Chrysalis narrowed her eyes at the human.
"I'm curious. I've never heard of anyone feeding on emotions until I've met you changelings. " Sam shrugged and ran a hand over his beard "Yep, much better. "
"Oh Sam... " Fluttershy chuckled and pecked his cheek "Don't ever change. "
"Ugh. " Chrysalis groaned "That right there, tasted awful. " she pointed to the two of them "You might hear these reformed children of mine saying love tastes great but I find it disgusting. "
"You seemed pretty full yesterday. " Luna commented.
"It's the best food source but I hate the taste. " she hissed "It tastes sweet, juicy. Goes straight to my thighs. " Sam actually laughed at this one and Umbra even smirked briefly "If you're done with your questions- "
"How do you do that with your hair? " Sam squinted to have a better look "I mean, it has holes in it. "
"So does the rest of my body. " she put her right arm on display and sure enough there were holes in it. You could see right through them but there wasn't anything like ripped skin or bone showing "It's just how things are. Can I eat in peace now? " she glared at her host, daring him to continue.
"Yeah, yeah, go ahead. " Sam waved her off and the changeling resumed her meal. She didn't like the taste of it either but even changelings had to eat normal food on a regular basis. Silence fell upon the table once more. Until Sam opened his mouth "How come you have so many children? " Chrysalis rolled her eyes before dropping her spoon.
"They're not exactly my children. They're simple drones that hatched from eggs. " she answered and gritted her teeth in anger "Drones that decided to overthrow me and think for themselves, those treacherous, ungrateful- "
"You lay eggs? " Sam raised a brow and then smirked smugly "Like a chicken? " and once again Umbra choked on her food, Luna suppressed a laugh when she imagined Chrysalis roosting like a mother hen and even Fluttershy covered her mouth so she wouldn't laugh.
"You're hilarious. " Chrysalis said sarcastically "When this program is over, I'll have fun sucking you dry. " she said with a menacing glare.
"Fine, but you'll have to get permission from Fluttershy first. She has sucking privileges. " he answered with a grin and waited for the words to register with the changeling. Taking a glance he saw Fluttershy was beet red and even Luna looked a little flustered. Umbra just gagged.
"W-what? No! Eww! That's- " Chrysalis jumped to her hooves "That's not what I meant! " was there a little red on her cheeks too?
"Your words, not mine. " Sam shrugged and Chrysalis pointed a finger at him.
"You! You! " the right words just couldn't come out. She narrowed her eyes and bared her fangs "It is on. " Chrysalis took her bowl of cereal and decided to finish it in her room. Well, if anything else, Umbra thought this house arrest would at least be entertaining.
"Have you two talked about... Us? " and with Luna's question the moment was gone and Umbra decided to make herself scarce.
"We did. " Fluttershy smiled again and looked at Sam who scratched the back of his head sheepishly "And we would love to go on a date with you. "
"Really? " Luna's ears stood straight up, lips wide in a smile and her tail was happily swishing around.
"Calm down Luna. " Sam's words didn't even register "We'll see how it goes and- "
"How about tonight? " the lunar princess was bouncing in her seat.
"Oy. "
"That would be lovely, wouldn't it Sam? " Fluttershy nudged him with her wing "Right, honey? "
"Uh, yeah. Tonight would be fine- " a yellow wing gently slapped him upside the head "I mean, tonight would be perfect. " he smiled awkwardly and Luna squeed in glee.
"Huzzah! What a glorious occasion! " she promptly covered her mouth and laughed sheepishly "Uh, that- That would be fine with me as well. " Luna coughed before looking at Fluttershy "Fluttershy, I am honored that you, as the headmare of this herd, have given me the opportunity to take you and your stallion on a date. " Sam raised a curious brow and Fluttershy blushed slightly at being called the headmare of the herd "I hope that by the end of this date you will consider letting this humble mare join your herd. " then to Sam's surprise, Luna stood up and curtly bowed to Fluttershy, which the yellow pegasus returned. Sam watched the exchange curiously, another Equestrian custom that he was unaware of apparently "I shall go make preparations and come to pick you up come nightfall. Have a pleasant day. " and with that, Luna walked away to her room.
"Headmare of the herd? " Sam asked with a raised brow.
"Well, um you see, every herd consists of mainly one stallion and other mares. But the mare that caught the stallion first is considered the headmare of the herd. " Fluttershy explained and twiddled her thumbs.
"Caught? So I'm like a prize catch? " Sam asked teasingly.
"No! That's not what I meant by that! Oh my, that came out wrong. What I meant was- " she was interrupted by a kiss on the forehead by Sam.
"Relax honey, I know what you meant. " the yellow pegasus smiled bashfully before speaking.
"But to be the headmare of Luna... " she said timidly "I don't know if I can do that. "
"You'll be fine. " Sam hugged her and ran his hand through her pink mane "Besides, you can be quite bossy when you have to. It's kinda hot. " Fluttershy lowered her head to hide behind her mane.
"W-well, would you like New Fluttershy to wait for you in bed tonight? " she was suddenly pulled up and Sam stared hard into her eyes.
"Honey, I would rather face a dragon with nothing but a fork, than see New Fluttershy return. " both chuckled at the memory of the old days.
"Sorry! " Luna re-entered the kitchen and smiled awkwardly "Still have some cereal left. Carry on! " she grabbed her bowl and retreated to her room once more.
"We should really put down a carpet or something. " Sam mused "All these clopping sounds are getting kinda' annoying. "
"I thought you liked clopping sounds. " looking down at his marefriend, Sam saw her smiling smugly at him.
"You're a bad pony. "