‘I sent the letter to Luna.’
‘I thought you’d tell me first!’ Alex said.
‘A big colt gotta make his own decisions, Dad.’
‘The big colt has advisers.’
‘Oh well, I’m sure you won’t mind. I said yes.’
‘I hope you’ll flourish with her. She’ll know what she’s doing.’
‘She said she could do it easily, but I’m a bit skeptical.’
‘Why’s that?’ Alex asked as he redealt yet another lost game of cards.
‘Because she also said that she has no idea what kind of potential it is, that it’s unknown.’
‘She must know something. She’s only lived for who knows how long. And she obviously knows it’s worth the offer.’
‘She might.’
Sombra looked above the book he was reading, and examined the state of the latest game of solitaire Alex was playing.
‘Can I help you with that, or is that against the rules?’
‘I just want to win at the moment. But I never taught you how to play.’
‘Well I learnt, somewhere. Can’t remember where.’
They didn’t have any more luck.
Tinker was extremely anxious, but he didn’t quite know why. School had finished just yesterday and he’d invited Sombra over in celebration. This had been the first time Sombra would have visited since they’d fallen out, and Tinker’s father had made sure not to be out this time. Tinker didn’t expected anything remotely similar would happen again, though.
With a knock on a door came Sombra, wearing a tattered cloak. Tinker answered the door.
‘What hobo, stupid cape thing is that?’
‘The kind that hides things I shouldn’t be carrying.’
They scampered into Tinker’s room.
‘Take a look at it.’
‘Fucking hell, mate, where did you get this!? I can’t get bloody beer by myself you got this shit? And you don’t even like it!’
Sombra had brought several bottles of various spirits, and a single, lonely beer can.
‘I have my sources y’know. And I tried a bit of this one and I liked it.’
As astounded as Tinker was, the curiosity at trying the enticing liquids overcame most of his questions. He’d already taken a mouthful of one before Sombra could have warned him that the drink was an earth pony's buck stronger than beer. Tinker was writhing on the couch in seconds.
‘Everything okay in there?’ Tinker’s father asked from beyond the door.
‘We’re fine! Everything is fine! Shut up already, he’s gonna see the stash we’ve got here, Tink!’
Tinker pushed himself deeper into the couch, while Sombra desperately shoved the alcohol under the same couch in preparation. Sombra could hear Tinker’s father getting closer and closer to the door.
‘Are you sure I can’t get you colts anything?’
Tinker’s father opened the door to find Tinker twitching face down, and Sombra sitting in front of the couch in what looked like a very uncomfortable position.
‘No thank you! We’re fine thanks, aren’t we Tinker?’
Tinker waved a hoof, and Tinker’s father smirked before he closed the door.
‘Lucky your father’s such a softy. He totally realised something was up.’
‘Did you call me Tink?’
‘In my panic I think I might have.’
‘Beer, please.’ Tinker said, voice hoarse.
Sombra handed him a can.
‘I told you at school that I sent Luna a letter yeah?’
‘You did.’
‘She sent one back. Apparently I get a fancy carriage to take me there next week.’
‘Lucky you.’
Tinker kept away from the other drinks for the evening, so Sombra was left to get drunk by himself. He got too drunk.
‘Arrre you shure you don’t want any?’ Sombra asked for the fifth time.
‘Sombra.’
‘Okay.’
‘Sombra you’re not making it home.’
‘I can make it home.’
‘Catch this and I’ll let you go home.’
Tinker threw an empty beer can behind him.
‘You didn’t catch it. You’re sleeping here tonight.’
Instead of complaining, Sombra stared at the floor, looking very sad.
‘I should be the one piss drunk.’
The house wasn’t accommodated for overnight guests, so Tinker insisted on sleeping on the sofa, letting Sombra take the bed. Tinker wasn’t surprised that his neck was as stiff as a flagpole when he woke up. In the night he contemplated just how he considered Sombra, while his gaze guiltily flicked between the ceiling, and his friend. That it is to say, though he’d been calling Sombra a friend almost since they’d first met, he was feeling certain things he shouldn’t be as a friend. He wanted to sit closer than Sombra would be comfortable with, and Tinker wanted to impress the other unicorn in the smallest of ways. He’d make an extra quip there, add some bravado here... So what is it, Tinker? I’m scared it’s love.
Maybe that would explain his undeniably erratic behaviour.One minute he’d been asking if Luna was hot, the next he’d be saying horrible things. Tinker wasn’t deluded enough to genuinely believe it was the beer, that was just something he said for his own amusement. You like to repeat that often, Tinker.
Tinker awoke first. He muttered something about ponies sleeping on sofas, and left the room to go do whatever Tinker did in mornings like this. When Sombra got up, he speculated he’d probably gone to take a shower, or something. How much of the damn stuff had he drunk? He’d drunk more than enough to give him a killer hangover, and with it he realised why they were recounted with grimaces.
‘Morin’ said Tinker, closing the door behind him.
‘I didn’t make it home did I?’
‘You were that drunk?’
‘No, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t do anything too unreasonable.’
‘You’re a cooperative kind of drunk apparently. You were fine.’
Sombra had already stood up, and done some stretches.
‘You going already?’
‘Yeah, my dad’ll be worried if I’m not back by like, twelve.’
‘It’s already eleven.’
‘All the more reason. Wouldn’t want cops coming round to your place.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Maybe. I don’t know.’
Sombra gathered the bottles and cape, but stopped right at the door.
‘Wasn’t there something else? I think you said there was something else along with your apology.’
‘Oh, that.’
Tinker’s mind cast back to his thoughts to last night. When he’d apologised, Tinker had thought he’d have the bravery to tell Sombra about it, but that clearly wasn’t the case.
‘It’s nothing.’
‘Are you sure? You seemed very–’
‘Earnest.’ Tinker finished off for him.
Sombra stared at him for a few seconds, bewildered, before he wished Tinker goodbye. There was no need for a hug this time.