//------------------------------// // Rising Tension // Story: What I Would Have Done // by applezombi //------------------------------// While Babs was still safely in the kitchen, Tender slipped the box out of his pocket.  Easing the hinged lid open, he glanced at the ring inside.  Polished rose gold, with a brilliant white stone sparkling in the middle.  Flanking the diamond on either side was a pair of pale emeralds, the same color as Babs’ eyes.  Running through the ring was a gold necklace chain, the same rose color as the ring. It had cost him more bits than he could even think about.  Literally months of overtime.  But it would all be worth it. “Ya want fennel and watercress sandwiches?” Babs shouted from the kitchen of their apartment.  Tender jerked, hurriedly slamming the clamshell box shut as he whipped his head towards the hallway. She hadn’t come out of the kitchen.  His secret was safe. “Um, that’s fine!” he called back.  Really, he would have been fine with something boring, like a daisy sandwich, but Babs had been going to lunch with some of their ‘foodie’ friends, and that meant all sorts of new ideas for weird new recipes. Before he’d moved to Manehattan, Tender Taps hadn’t even known what fennel and watercress were.   “Just be sure to pack some apples, okay?” he called out, shoving the clamshell jewelry box deep into his saddlebags. “That some sorta crack at my family?” Babs finally poked her head into their living room, her signature smirk on her face, her emerald eyes sparkling with amusement.  He smiled as well, the same dopey, sappy look he always got when she smirked at him. “Well, we still have some of those honey crisps Bloom brought last time she visited, right?  I’m sure they’ll pair well with the sandwiches.”  He was sure of no such thing.  But it was the kind of thing a foodie said, and it sounded like it made sense.  Besides, the honey crisps were yummy. “Sure,” Babs laughed. “Pull the other one.  But yeah, we’ve got some left.”  She pointed with her hoof.  “You still using those bags?  They’re fallin’ apart at the seams.  Why don’t you buy new ones?” Maybe because I’ve been spending every spare bit on a diamond and emerald engagement ring?  His silent musings made him want to laugh giddily, but he gulped instead.  “Y-yeah, I should.  I just don’t like to spend money I don’t have to, you know?  Must be my country upbringing.” “Just don’t complain when it splits, hayseed.” “Yeah, sure.”  He laughed at the affectionate ribbing, picking up the bags and following her back into the kitchen.  “They’re probably good enough for at least one more picnic.  Let’s load ‘em up.” Tender Taps carefully made sure to put their picnic blanket in first, covering the box hiding in the bottom.  Then he set the bags on the kitchen counter, where Babs was wrapping up a pair of artfully constructed sandwiches in plastic bags. “So how’d your audition go?” Babs asked casually.  Tender’s heart pounded. “Um, it went well.  Really well.”  Not that he’d expected anything different, but it was still a nice feeling. “So you’re in?” “Well, today’s audition was more of a preliminary thing.  A pre-audition audition.” She screwed up her face, staring at him oddly as she placed the sandwiches into the saddlebags.  “Doesn’t sound like any audition I’ve heard of.  What’s the show?” “Um…”  He tried to keep his voice even, his breathing calm.  “It’s kinda a huge opportunity.  Not something I really wanna talk about until it’s a sure thing, you know?” “You don’t wanna jinx it?” Babs asked knowingly.  Tender nodded.  “Got ya.  But still, you said it went well?” “Really well.”  Tender blushed. “Of course you did,” Babs said, leaning over to kiss him firmly.  “When’s the real deal, then?” “Uh,” he hated the idea of deceiving her, even if it was for a good cause.  “I-I really don’t wanna jinx it, like you said, so…” Babs rolled her eyes.  “You performers.  You’re all superstitious, ya know that?”  She tossed her head, throwing her mane back behind one ear.  “C’mon, we’re wasting daylight.  Let’s go have a picnic.” “Yeah.”  Tender’s pulse quickened with anticipation.  “I’m excited.” Babs snorted.  “It’s just a picnic, hayseed.  Nothin’ to get worked up about.” Sure, Babs, he inwardly glowed.  Just a picnic.  Still, he could try harder to reign in his enthusiasm.  He was supposed to be a performer.  An actor, for Celestia’s sake! “Right.  You ready?” They stepped outside into the hallway of their shared apartment.  It was old, but clean; with fraying carpeted floors and fading paint on the walls.  Still, it was the best they could afford on the pay of a Bridleway dancer and a theatre company mane-and-makeup mare, so it was fine for now.  They took the elevator down all seven stories and stepped out of the tall brownstone into chilly early autumn air. “Shoulda brought a scarf,” Babs muttered, and Tender slid up alongside her with a sly grin, until their bodies were pressed together.  She chuckled, but leaned into him as they walked down the street.