//------------------------------//
// Suspicious Glances 
// Story: No Sharing 
// by Grey Faerie 
//------------------------------//

	Pinkie was so excited today! She had a new party client. She skipped down the road with bags full of papers and swatches and confetti samples. She had a book with a whole verity of party themes and loved coming up with new ones.
Ooo, I wonder what it's going to be? Maybe a birthday party or a surprise party? I can't wait!
She made it to the restaurant that she was meeting her client at. He was told to have a pink place card on his table so she could find him. He was a yellow unicorn with spiky, two-hued blue and violet hair. His cutie mark was a beer mug on a clover leaf. He worked at The Capall Hoof as a bartender.
He waved at Pinkie. She grinned her widest smile.
"Hello! I'm Pinkie Pie. Party Planning expert. I'm happy to meet you."
"I'm Quick Shot*. And I'm very happy to meet you too. Pinkie Pie! The Element of Laughter, savior of Equestria. No one told me you were so pretty in real life."
"Haha, you flatter me. Now, let's get to business. Just what type of party are you looking for? I've got a few suggestions in my Theme Book." Pinkie said.
She pulled out the book from her bag. He leafed through it. Pinkie waited patiently. Well, as patient as she could be.
"What type of party is it? That could help eliminate choices. Some are more garnered toward children or couples."
"I'm just having a regular party party."
"Ooo! The best kind. How many people are going to be there?" Pinkie pulled out a notepad and pen from her hair. He stared a little when she did that.
"Around 30-40. Mostly close friends and their friends."
"And their friend's friends. Hehe, I know how that is. So it's a, about medium party with the potential for more. Is it going to be at your house or do you need a venue?"
"At my house. Wow, didn't expect so many questions. Are you going to be there the entire time?"
"Only if I'm needed. Somethings I do entertainment or help with kids." She smiled.
"Entertainment? Like, what?" He leaned on his hoof and looked at her from across the table.
"Oh, like jokes or dancing or story telling. Sometimes I'm just there to help get ponies break out of their shell and hit the dance floor."
"I bet you have a lot of good moves. Can you be at my party?"
"If you really need me there, but that's an extra fee. Mostly I'm set up and clean up. The before and after. That way the partiers can just have fun without worry and I'm not standing in the background somewhere."
"Oh, well, I guess I'll pay. Haha, I've never bought anypony before." he winked.
"Haha! That's funny. I guess if you look at it that way. So, what else?" she grinned. Pinkie was used to Grey and her love of puns or stupid jokes.
"Well, I think I might need to look through this book a little more. There's so many choices! And prices to consider. What about food or DJs?"
"It depends on what theme you're doing. If it's really just a party party, it'll be what ever you want. Is it a sit down meal.."
"No, no. Haha, a buffet or a table with food on it is more like it."
"Okay! Did you want a DJ? Or a band. Or simply to rent a sound system."
"I can do that?"
"Yep. If all you need is a music player and some sick speakers, I can get it."
"Chuckle, sure. I think that might be good."
"Awesome." Pinkie wrote down a few things on her notepad. "I'll give you some time then to go over the book and decide what you want. Call me tomorrow for a meeting time." Pinkie held out her hoof for him to shake.
He took it and smiled. Pinkie blushed a little.





Pinkie bounced into her room through the window. Don't know how she did it, seeing as her room's on the second story. Discord was lounging on her bed with a suspicious magazine. He turned page as she bounced around the room.
"I'm so excited, I'm so excited. I've got a new client and he's funny too."
"How so, sweetie?"
"He made a funny joke about 'buying me' to entertain at the party. Then he winked." Pinkie was bouncing on the bed but Discord wasn't bothered.
"He winked?" Discord looked up from the page.
"Yeah, but it was just to make the joke clear."
"Hmm. When are you going to see him next?"
"I don't know. I've got to wait until he calls tomorrow to set up a meeting. I left him to look through the Theme Book and think about what he wants."
"Okay."
"Hey, what are you looking at?" Pinkie put her hoof on the top of the page to look over. He snapped it to himself.
"Just Writer's Weekly. For my hobby."
"Not your sewing magazine?"
"No, I just steal Rarity's."
Pinkie glared at him.
"Kidding! My love, the new one just hasn't come yet."
"Okey dokey." she said suspicious, "I've got to go downstairs. The Cakes are training a new pony to take over for me."
"Finally?"
"Yep!" She gave him a quick kiss then left the room. He went back at his magazine.
"Don't make a mess!" Pinkie called out from the hall. His face flushed and he glared at the door.





The next day, Pinkie was watching the counter. The new baker, Golden Sun*, was in the back. He was a yellow earth pony with orange hair. His cutie mark was a cake with a sun on it. Golden was a cousin of Mr. Cake.
"Pinkie! Phone for you." He called out.
"Okay! Thank you."
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Quick Shot."
"Oh, hey, you're calling for a meeting time right?"
"Yeah, how about lunch? Around noon?"
"Hmm, can you do one?"
"Sure."
"Okay, see you then."
Pinkie hung up and looked at the clock. It was only 10 o'clock now and she had the lunch rush to get ready for. She walked into the back.
"Hey, Golden. I need to clock out before one. Do you think you can handle the end of the lunch rush?"
"Yeah, where are you going?" he asked.
"I have a client to meet about his party. Also, I've got to tell Discord, watch the counter for me?"
"Okay."
Pinkie walked out and to her room. Discord was playing with Gummy on the floor.
"Hey Dissy-doodle-dear!"
"What are you calling me now?"
"I'm going to have to skip lunch with you."
"Why?" He looked at her. Gummy took the opportunity to clamp on his beard.
"I have to meet Quicky."
"Snort, Quicky? Yeah, I bet." he snickered.
"Discord! Anyway, I've got to meet him at one and I'm working the lunch rush, so no lunch with you." She booped his nose. He pulled Gummy off his beard and put him down. Gummy went after his tail.
"Ahhhhh."
"I've got to go back down now."
"Fine." He pouted.
"See you later!" Pinkie left the room.
Discord stared after her. The gears turning in his head. They squeaked and groaned. A few need to be oiled. Others completely replaced.
"Hmm, I don't like this Gummy. I have a bad feeling."
Gummy looked at him and each of his eyes moved independently.
"You're right. But I'm still going. Do you want to come?"
Gummy stared.
"Great! Come along Detective Gummy. We're going on a stakeout."





Pinkie left a little before one. She had a few of her supplies from yesterday. Quick Shot was waiting for her at the same restaurant.
"Hey Pinkie!"
"Hey Quick Shot. Have you looked through the book and made your choice?" Pinkie sat down at the table.
"Yes, but I think we should eat first. Have you had lunch yet?"
"Nope, I'm starved."
Quick Shot called over the waitress. He and Pinkie looked through the menu.
"Ooo, they've got chili. Ooo, Pappardelle with Mushrooms, fancy." Pinkie remarked.
Quick chuckled, "That's cute."
Pinkie blushed, "What? It's a little fancy. So, what are you going to have?"
"I don't know, this lasagne looks good. Hey! Browned Butter Gnocchi with Broccoli and Nuts. That sounds good."
The waitress came by and took their orders.
"So you work as a bartender?"
"Yeah, I like it. I like the social interaction. I really like making up new drinks. It can really be an art form."
"I bet! I like to drink every now and again."
"You should come by then. I'll make you a special drink."
"Hehe, how special?"
"I'll make you the best we have, on the house."
"I'd rather drink it in the house."
"Bahahaha! You're so funny Pinkie."





Discord had snuck out through the window with Gummy firmly attached to his mane. He could of used the front door but why be boring? He darted around in the bushes and behind carts. There was a cafe across from the restaurant Pinkie was at.
Discord dove under a table, disturbing a cop and his gryphon wife*. The Cop raised an eyebrow.
"I'm spying on my girlfriend. A client thinks she's single."
The cop looked around and spied Pinkie with the offending stallion, "Carry on."
Discord saluted. He pulled out a pair of binoculars. Gummy jumped on to the table and stared at the couple.
"Um, I'm Officer Steel. This is my wife, Aya."
"I'm Discord as you should already know. He's Gummy. He likes your mustache." Discord said.
Steel nodded and rubbed his mustache. He was a brown unicorn with black mane and tail. He wore a dark blue with black-and-white squares banded police cap. His cutie mark is a nightstick over a doughnut. His wife was cream white and brown feathers with green eyes.
Discord peered across the street to Pinkie and Quick Shot.
"Oh sweetie, you're so cute. Hey! That's what I said. An art form, phh. You serve to a bunch of drunks. Like she'll ever want your awful drinks. You just want to get her drunk. You're so funny." Discord mocked.
"Having troubles?"
"Huh? No I can see them clearly."
"That isn't what I meant. Are you and your gal having troubles?"
"No! Of course not. I'm just keeping tabs on her, for safety."
"It's not a sign of a healthy relationship for you to be spying on her. You do this often?"
"No, I just don't like the way she talked about him. He winked at her." Discord put down the binoculars and turned on his back.
"Did she seem to like it?" the gryphon asked.
"I'm..not sure. She did like the joke he made. And she's laughing now, and blushing. He's flattering her."
"If you're jealous, you should talk to her. Without trust, there's no relationship."
"I'm not jealous! How could I be jealous? He's some bartender from Ponyville and not even that good looking. I, on the other hand, have too numerous aspects of greatness to myself." Discord said.
"If you're so great, why is your gal having lunch with another guy? Sometimes it's how you treat your gal that matters. It doesn't matter how great you think you are if she's happier with another guy."
Discord had a thoughtful look on his face. He looked back over to Pinkie who was happily eating her pasta. She looked so cute trying to slurp her noodles. He got up and sat on the ground by the table. Gummy wandered over and climbed on his head.
"You're right Gummy. We should leave. I'm not the biggest fan of the popo so I'm going to be mad if you're wrong. I'll..trust her."
"Okay, and just to let you know the popo don't much like you either. And staking is a crime in Ponyville."
"Aye, aye officer." Discord saluted before sneaking away.
"They're cute together." Aya remarked.
"They are. I hope they make it." Steel replied.