//------------------------------// // Beginning from the Bottom // Story: Books, Bats, and Bad Mojo // by Yuri Petrovitch //------------------------------// There were certainly worse ways to spend an evening, though going though Craigslist and other job sites looking for entry level spots to work all the way back from the bottom certainly wasn't Desmond's favorite. His eyes started to itch and feel the heavy weight of the day, reaching up behind his glasses he gently rubbed the tiredness from them with the back of a sleeve. The cot beside the desk beckoned like a siren, promising a temporary solution for a permanent situation. Des held off as best he could, the numbness of sleep would only be a band aid fix, in the morning he'd still be jobless and almost due on his debts. Bloodshot eyes kept glazing over as he skimmed each listing, none of them seemed to be what he needed. Not like Desmond expected to earn a decent salary on the first day, but if he crunched the numbers hard enough it would never be enough to meet the minimum for the payment by the end of November. This shit sucks... Des flopped back down on the cot in resignation. He had sent out a few emails with a resume attached, but he didn't hold out much hope I'd get him many responses back. I'll have to go out in person to see if I can jump the hiring queue that way. I'll have to burn up my bus money doing it, but I don't see much of an option. Tired green eyes stared out into the tiny room, barely large enough to fit the few possessions and furniture Desmond still owned. There was only a thin strip of bare wood flooring to walk to the door and back. The room must have been a walk in closet at some point in time, but it had been renovated for students and other low income tenants. Shared kitchen laundry, as well as a "living room", but none of the other tenants bothered to use it. Most of the other boarders had kept to themselves for as long as Des had stayed here, but he didn't mind too much. Desmond scanned the wall at his feet, admiring the small collection of posters as well as other bits and bobs. The range of poster art ranged from Rolling Stones to Metallica, with even a few more modern synthwave bands in the mix. Some were just from old magazines or dollar store quality. There were a few newspaper clippings posted together with mementos of the past, some were from 'mystical' magazines with leads into how to cure misfortune or just latest horoscopes. None of them had worked out too well, as each time something bad had happen the rabbits foot, pennies, or horse shoes never made a difference. None of those remedies seemed to prevent buckets of paint falling on his head or being chased by dogs, none except for the rosary. Pulling it out from his pocket a practiced hand thumbed the amber beads, giving the Hail Mary prayer as he went along. Desmond wasn't exactly Catholic, though he was raised with it on his Mother's side, but keeping her Rosary and praying each night with it was about as far as he went. The rosary gave him a sense of calm that couldn't be explained, maybe it was just because it was one of the few possessions he still had from his family. I'll try again in the morning, I know you guys are looking out for me somewhere, so I hope I don't disappoint any of you. Des gently tucked the cross back into his desk beside the cot and felt the exhaustion from the day finally grab hold. Without realizing it Des had grabbed ahold of the business card still inside pants pocket. As he drifted off to sleep a feint glimmer of a shooting star crossed the dusty window pane. Melody never understood why everypony was in such a rush to go nowhere. Perhaps it was because of how recently she had moved to the big city, or how wings meant she didn't need to stick it out in the roadway clogged full of carriages. Hard to imagine back home getting this populated, maybe in a few hundred years, doubt I'd live to see it, though the Princesses might. Celestia had started setting the sun over the horizon, turning the vast ocean to the West into a dazzling spectrum of oranges and pinks. Melody loved one thing about the cities, it was that their tallest buildings offered some spectacular views! Might have to take some parchment and a quill next time, I'm sure I can get some great inspiration up here! It wasn't long before the last rays of the sun vanished below the ocean waves, leaving a glowing purple sky in its wake. I should head to work soon, before I get docked bits for being late. Melody stretched herself out atop the marble banister she had claimed as her personal relaxing spot, looking much like a cat waking up from it's afternoon nap. A powerful yawn flashed two elongated canines not typical of the Pegasi tribe. In the growing darkness her yellow irises narrowed as she adapted to the time of evening. A quick flare of two leathery wings told her enough that she was ready to take off in a moment if she wished. From the ground most ponies couldn't spot her, after all she was nearly at the peak of the stone and glass skyscraper, one of the many that had sprung up in recent years. It would take a passing pegasi to notice her spot, which made it quite valuable since it offered just about the only place to get away from all the noisy distractions of city life. With a leap the Testral dived down between the massive walls of steel and glass, the hot air and smells of the city rushing past her. Many of Vanhoover's lamps were lit along the streets, making it seem like the whole place was one giant landing strip to Melody, not that she had any intention of putting her hooves on solid ground, not if she could help it! Flying wasn't exactly her talent, but it was instinctual to feel at home aloft, even if Thestral wings couldn't keep up with a Pegasi's, they couldn't be matched in their element: Night flying. The lower light and massive glass obstacles never phased anyone who used echo location to mark out the safest route to soar through the maretropolis. Pegasi would often complain about the amount of glass, as there were many stories of them crashing into their reflective surfaces, but a solid object still bounced sound waves just as much as anything. In fact, that was actually one of the main reasons not many Thestrals had moved into the big cities, there was too much noise pollution for their sensitive ears; Melody didn't mind that as much, to her the noise of so many living together had it's own rhythm, as if the harmony between everything was enhanced into a crescendo the likes she had never heard before! A shiver of excitement rushed down her spine as she glided above jam packed restaurants and movie theaters, the heavy beat of some far distant club echoed through the lower level, the rhythm was familiar enough that she could guess it was that DJ from Ponyville, Vinyl Scratch if she had guessed right. There were so many conversations from the crowd on the sidewalk that it could have been mistaken for the gentle hum of raindrops hitting soft ground. The smells too were an intoxicating mix of spices from far off ports and culinary dishes the mare had no name for. Even the worst smells of the city had been taken care of by the city's diligent cleaning services, leaving only the aroma of baked asphalt as it steadily cooled off in the night. I'll take this to living out in the sticks any night! Though, all the sensations of a crowded port city brought excitement to the batpony she had never once gone down into the fray and mingled with any crowd. Truth be told it was one of the reasons she had made the move, to get over her social anxiety. It might sound a bit oxymoronic for somepony to love being in the middle of a city, while at the same time being afraid of interacting with anypony, but that's just how it went. Sure, she wasn't necessarily afraid of being around so many others, it was more like it felt like there was a barrier between herself and making connections with those she didn't already know. Part of growing up in a rural hamlet deep in the forest near Hollow Shades, you didn't get to interact with many outsiders often. That's why you gotta work on your interponyal skills, so that you can go out there and actually meet new ponies and make some actual friends! The bat pony grimaced slightly as she recalled some of her past attempts ...Just gotta work on actually saying more than a syllable at a time first. Within a few more blocks the familiar signage of a little known store caught Melody's eye. The sign was relatively miniscule compared to the giant neon lights all over the street, but that was what had given the shop it's charm, it was humble and never bragged about its merchandise or services. The perfect spot to start, quiet enough that I can work and with just enough customers to get me started on being sociable! The wooden placard outside displayed an elongated dragon holding open a thick tome. The Dragon's Keep written in Equis beneath it. Melody took a moment brush down her midnight blue mane into it's normal straight cut, making sure she looked as presentable as she could. With everything in place she pushed in the ancient looking door and stepped inside. "Ms. Bluebell, you're late, again," came the unamused stony voice from the back of the bookstore. Melody winced, Welp, better face my own music. And with that the solid wood door closed behind her.