//------------------------------// // 1 - See You Tomorrow? // Story: Beside Myself // by nameundetermined //------------------------------// Anon gave a soft click of his tongue as he headed home from Bon-Bon’s shop. He was all finished prepping all of the ingredients for tomorrow, and it looked like he was all geared up for another exciting night of sitting alone in his apartment with his metaphorical thumb up his ass. He tugged the hood of his green jacket further up over his head with a soft, resigned sigh as he headed his way down the quickest path to his home, the sun glinting off of his emerald tinted shades as he took a look at the sun drifting slowly into the west and tugged his backpack against his shoulder slightly. “Well, howdy there, Anon!” A familiar southern accent rang out cheerfully from his periphery. He turned to see Applejack, waving at him from her stall. Not an unfamiliar sight, considering he always passed by it on his way back from work. He smiled kindly at her, waving back and walking over, only to be a bit confused by her suddenly wincing and stepping back just a tad, looking somewhere between off-put and a little ashamed as she collected herself while he approached. “Hey there A.J., what's...uh, you alright, what gives?” he changed tone from cheerful to somewhat concerned as he saw her reaction. Applejack nodded, waving it off as she swallowed audibly. She adjusted her hat with just a tad of a shake to her hoof, not making eye contact, and not just because of the shades. “Oh, it ain’t nothin too bad, pardner. Just uh..saw somethin’ that didn’t sit right with me.” She said as she, as tastefully as she could, gestured to her mouth with her hoof and did the equivalent of a pointing motion. His eyes lit up with recognition and he gave an embarrassed gasp, reaching around his neck to pull the wrap-around mask hanging around his neck up to cover his mouth. “Ah, shit. Sorry about that, A.J.'' he said apologetically as he patted the fabric. Covering the lower half of his face was now a green tube of fabric, with a large, goofy cartoon smile stretched across the front. Hopefully a bit more approachable. “Get’s awfully hot in the kitchen sometimes, noone’s usually around so i-” She shook it off and shook her head, giving him a warm smile. “Tain’t nothin’ for you to worry about, sugarcube. Nobody's fault but Faust you got such a sharp set on ya. I right appreciate ya keepin em’ under wraps in the first place without bein’ asked.” He nodded and gave a small shrug, smirking slightly behind the mask. “Hey, anything that makes it easier to get by, ya know?” The both of them exchange small noncommittal noises of pleasantry before Applejack gives him her sales pitch. “So, hankerin’ for somethin’ Anon? All that candy makin' sounds like thirsty work, and I got a bottle or two of freshly pressed Golden Delicious cider that wouldn’t mind havin’ your name on em.” He had to admit to himself, the offer was definitely tempting. And it isn’t like he didn't have bits to spare on a well-earned refreshing beverage after a hard day's work. “Heh, alright, what the hell is Bon-Bon paying me so well for if I can’t live a lil, eh?” he asked her rhetorically as he pulled a few bits out of a jacket pocket, handing them over to the mare, who fished out two sizable bottles of the promised cider with her mouth. After she passed them off to him and he stuck them in the deep pockets of his cargo pants, she looked at him a little longer, differently than before with her head tilted at a slight angle, an inscrutable but sincere look on her face. “Say uh, Anon...Have you thought about takin’ me and Big Mac up on our offer to come over for dinner some night? We really would like to see ya around sometime for dinner, and Applebloom always loves seein‘ ya on your way home, I’m sure she’d appreciate gettin’ to pepper you with questions proper-like.” He shrugged noncommittally, looking down at the ground away from her. His voice was still cheerful enough, but his posture, less so. “Oh uh...yeah! I just don’t want to be a bother, ya know? You all already work so hard and I wouldn't want to bother you and poor old Granny Smith with another mouth to feed.” He said softly as he kicked at the ground a bit. “It ain’t no trouble at all really, Anon. We’d all be right happy to see ya around.” She said a tad more firmly. Not demanding, but gently imploring as she gave him a reassuring smile. He looked from the ground back to her for a moment then over towards the direction of his house. “I mean um...yeah, I’ll definitely think about it. Thank’s again for the cider, A.J. I’ll see you tomorrow, same time as always, right?” He asks not unkindly as he inches away before slowly turning to walk towards his house. She gave a resigned sigh, smiling at him gently and nodding, not upset, but a tad disappointed as he walked away. “Yeah, Ah’ll be around, big fella. Don't work too hard now, ya hear?” “Wouldn’t dream of it!” he said with a soft cackle as he raised a hand and waved back at her as he walked down the road. After he got a bit farther away from her he softly muttered to himself. “God damn it, every time with this. You really need to just say yes.” He muttered to himself softly as he approached his small, cozy home. “She’s just trying to help man, no need to give her the cold shoulder.” He gave a small grunt and resigned sigh as he opened the door, tossing his backpack onto the couch sitting in the living room of his spartan, but adequate abode before plopping down alongside it, slipping down his mask again and burying his head in his hands, pushing off his hood to reveal a mid-length bushel of dark, verdant-hued locks nestled about his face. He really had to stop talking to himself. He really had to stop doing a lot of things, but realistically, he probably wouldn't. It wasn’t the first time she had invited him to dinner, and Faust knows that as long as he’s spending his nights cooped up in here like a god damned recluse it wouldn't be the last. She was just trying to help, they all were. Anytime he had a problem, anytime he looked down, or upset, there was always somepony asking him if he was alright, offering help. Oftentimes inviting him to some social event or another. Telling him it would be good for him. He could have some fun, maybe make some friends. He nearly invariably always agreed with the sentiment, and nearly invariably, he would just play it off and smile, maybe joke about it a little bit and tell them it was no big deal before going on about his day. No need to bother them with his problems, it wasn’t that bad really. And he liked having time to himself to relax and think about things. It was easier for him to just figure it out on his own. Or at least that was what he always told himself. But if it wasn’t so bad, why did he keep refusing help, and why did it keep happening? He brushed these thoughts aside for the time being. No need to dwell on it. Focus on the positives, try to relax. The weather was certainly nice, perhaps he could go for a walk in the Everfree Later, clear his head…be alone for a while. He always did seem to want more of that it seemed... He gave a small grunt as he picked himself up off of the couch, grabbing his backpack again and slinging it over one shoulder, pulling his mask back up as he trod towards the door. Then again, maybe now would be better. That cider would probably go down a lot smoother with a little bit of atmosphere and sunshine. Give him something to take his mind off things. He could always use another distraction.