//------------------------------// // Calling Vanhoover // Story: EaW: From Front to Front - The Great War // by Warpony72 //------------------------------// January 1st, 1010 Vanhoover, Equestria “Mmmf...hello?” “Sweet Static?” “Yeah, that’s me.  Who’s this?” “Operator, TR&T telephone services.  I have a long distance call incoming from Hoofington.  Would you like to accept and agree to the fees associated with this call?” “It’s one in the morning, lady.  Who in Tartarus is calling from Hoofington at one AM?” “I believe the name of the caller is one Paige Turner, from Hoofington University.” “...yeah, go ahead.” “One moment please…” “Uh huh…” …… “*click* Static?” “Turner, sweetie, as much as I love hearing from you, don’t you think you’re pushing it?  I seriously came in from a pretty big bender at the Vet’s Hall over here. It’s gotta be about the same time for...are you crying?” “*snff* Static...I bucked up.” “...okay.  Like in a money sort of way, or a-” “I don’t even know what the hay happened!  Okay, so I went out for dinner with Solid a few weeks back because we’d been working hard on my project and Winter Break was coming up, so we decided to celebrate because we didn’t know when we’d get another chance!  Well, I don’t know how, but we went from the diner to a bar and we started knocking back cider and beer, and he starts coming on to me and I don’t know what the bloody buck is happening but the longer it goes, the more he starts to make sense-” “Turner.” “And he says how I haven’t seen Cyril in -years- and why should it be wrong that I try to find some comfort close to home, and it's not even like he’s -really- my coltfriend because we don’t know when we’re going to see each other again!  And I know I shouldn’t have done it but I just kept drinking and drinking and Solid starts making all kinds of sense and I got angry and hurt and more alone than ever-” “Turner!” “And then Solid recommends we go back to the dorms and he can help me not feel alone anymore and-” “PAIGE!” “...yes?” “Okay, one.  Slow down. I’m still a bit drunk and you literally woke me up.  Two, I got most of what you’re saying, so don’t repeat it. Did you sleep with him?” “...Cyril or Solid?” “What?  Why would I-” “I don’t know, I’m freaking out over here!” “Okay, uh...either one?” “No.” “No what?” “I mean yes.” “I’m gonna fly down there and strangle you with the phone cable if you don’t start making sense, Paige.” “Sorry Static...no to Cyril.  Yes to Solid.” “Okay, Paige.  Yeah, you bucked up.” “I know.” “Then why are you calling me at 1 am on New Years’ long distance?” “Well, after I send Solid away, I felt so guilty...I stewed in it a few days, tried to reason it all out, get back to my studies.  But I couldn’t focus, I couldn’t think. Then Cyril’s latest letter came in and I couldn’t even open it for a while. But then I did, and he was telling me about this blizzard that blew in where he’s stationed, and how he was part of this rescue effort.  You know...just being Him. He-” “Yeah, I get it.  You’ve already told me, he’s an amazing griff.  Trust me, you’ve been over how wonderful he is. Go on.” “Oh, right.  Well. Anyway.  I thought about leaving it be and just acting like nothing happened.  Playing it off. Handling it.” “Okay, yeah.  You could. Probably wouldn’t ever...wait, thought?  You tell him already?” “I sent a reply…” “Okay. And what did you tell him?” “Everything.” “...when did you send the letter?” “Two weeks ago...I thought about just telling him everything was fine.  But Static...he almost mentioned kids.” “...wow.  Wait, how do you -almost- mention kids in letter form?” “He scratched it out and tried to act like he never said anything, but it doesn’t take an idiot to see where he was going.  He can’t just rewrite a whole letter over there, no time or money. You know how it was.” “If it was anything like what we went through, he would have had nothing -but- time.” “Well he’s a tanker, it's different.  Anyway...I started thinking, and getting emotional and feeling like I betrayed him...so I wrote him back.  And I told the truth.” “Okay.  When did you do this, again?” “About two weeks ago, I said.” “Then why the buck are you calling me at 1 am on New Years’!  I remind you, you -still- haven’t answered that!” “...” “Paige?  Shit, look hon.  I never...I didn’t meant to snap.” “...I’m just...so lonely.  He’s not here. And I’m all by myself here.” “Paige...look, you want the truth?” “...yeah?” “Until something changes, you’re gonna -be- alone here.  You two went in separate directions, and circumstances drove you apart.  So there’s a choice you gotta make here; either you hold out, accept you won’t see him until this whole war and chaos thing on Griffonia blows over and take the consequences.  Or, give up and move on to closer opportunities.” “That’s a really shitty choice.” “Yeah, well unless you wanna apply to Griffenheim’s education system where they can’t teach you jack about magic, that’s what you got.  You either sleep in the bed you made, or you go get a new one.” “...gods, you’re awful at peptalks.” “Might be why my show doesn’t get many listeners.” “...should I call back later?” “Yes.  Please.  Do that. And next time, -you’re- picking up the bill, sweetie.” “Heh.  Okay. Deal.”