Jaxler was making his way to Flux's house with a lute that he had bought the other day. Jaxler needed to talk to the him about Granite's music training because he was honestly quite skeptical that Granite would agree to Flux's training unless he was there to endorse it, and also he needed to talk to him about trying to help the foal with his many problems. so as the Jaxler finally got close to Flux's door he extended his hoof and knocked "HAY FLUX, ARE YA THERE?"
Flux sits on his bed, simply relaxing and thinking. Jaxler's pounding on the door, though, shakes him from his thoughts, and he slowly get off the bed and go to answer him.
"Yes, I'm here, Jaxler. I'll get the door."
Opening the door, Flux smiles when he notices the lute.
"Ah, nice lute! I guess you want to go talk to Granite, then?"
"Yeah, I do, but I'd also like it if you could help me with something other than giving him music lessons."
Flux steps outside with him, assuming we'll talk on the way.
"Something else?"
"I'd like it if you could um... talk to him about his drinking problems... seeing how I'm not really one to give advice on such things."
'Maybe he'd be some decent practice to prepare for you...'
"Um, I'll try, Jaxler."
"Good then" Jaxler then turns around and starts walking towards Granite's house.
Flux follows Jaxler, trying to think of something to say to Granite to get him to stop drinking... and stealing...
Once the two got to Granite's house Jaxler knocked on it's door. "HAY GRANITE, IT'S JAXLER!"
Granite hears Jaxler yell from outside the house. "Don't worry guys, I'll get the door! It's fine mom, I'll be fine! No ones going to kidnap me Glaze, jeeze!"
He open the door. "Hey Jaxler, what's up?"
Jaxler was happy to see that Granite came to the door as apposed to another member of his family. "Aye there Granite, me and Flux got ya a gift!"
"Um, heya Granite. How are you doing?"
"What is it? Is it a piano?" I look at Jaxler with anticipation and excitement. Hey, there's Flux in the background! "Hey Flux!"
"Your pretty close" Jaxler then shows Granite the ≡bloodthorn*1 Lute≡*2.
"Holy buck! It's a ukulele guitar thingy... what is it exactly?" I look to Flux. "Hey mentor, sorry about the alcohol incident with the forge a couple days back..."
"It's a lute. Um, the alcohol..."
"A lute? Like loot right? Anyway why are the two ponies that might have the most influence on my decisions standing on my doorstep?"
"Well ya see, Flux here wanted teach you how to play this lute and I bought this instrument so I figured it would only be fair if I came along when he told you about the free lessons."
"Okay then, hey Jaxler do you think Friesden will dig my soon to be epic lute skills?"
"Who knows, but some mares are really in to music."
"Cool I guess, so is there anything you want to talk about?"
Jaxler tensed up slightly when he realized that now was the time to bring up the drinking problems
"Well there was one thing that Me and Flux wanted to talk to you about"
"Okay, what is it?"
Jaxler looked over to Flux. "Well Em... Flux is kinda the pony who needs to talk to you about this."
Flux shifts his hooves, trying to think of a way to put this.
"It's, um... your drinking, Granite. It's, uh, not healthy to drink like you do. We're both worried about you."
Jaxler didn't want to sound like this was his idea. he knew that Granite could get defensive and assault his own drinking problem. So, Jaxler just nodded.
"Drinking problem? Are you bucking kidding me?! What the hell else can I drink? Water? Fat chance! I need to drink something, so what are the alternatives? And Jaxler, what the buck? This was your fault! You made me drink! Well more so than I used to... Flux, is drinking really an issue here, or is there something else?"
"Um... the drinking is becoming an issue, Granite. Well, it's, um, been an issue for a while now, actually. Furnace work is dangerous even while sober, and you'll, um, never get very far if you're always... disappearing into the bottom of a barrel."
Jaxler looked down at his hooves, knowing that there was some truth to Granite's words.
"Damn right your ashamed Jaxler! Friggin' bad influence... and Flux, why can't I show up drunk to a smelter, what's the worst that could happen?"
Jaxler snapped out of it and went on the defensive.
"IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN WHY DO YOU CHOSE TO LET ME INFLUENCE YOU!?!"
"BECAUSE YOU SAVED MY ASS FROM A KIDNAPPER!!!"
Flux looks Granite in the eyes, deadly serious.
"You could trip into the furnace. You could char any or all of your limbs. The molten ore is hot enough to set things of fire without even touching them. If... if you show up drunk again... I may have to... to release you from my apprenticeship."
"Like I was even worthy of being your apprentice in the first place Flux!"
"You have so much potential, Granite. Don't drown it in alcohol."
"FINE!!! I'll stop drinking a lot, and only drink a little! Happy?!"
'Well, it's a start at least...'
"Um, yes. Uh, speaking of potential... want to start learning how to play the lute?"
Granite hears Flux's request, "...only if I get a cool hat..."
Jaxler's eyes widened at the mention of the hat.
"Hay, when I was haggling with a merchant yesterday trying to buy this lute I kinda was able to get a cool plumed hat out of the deal."
"Give it here and I'll consider the offer."
"Oh then I'll go get it"
Jaxler then starts walking off to his house.
Flux smiles and starts to follow Jaxler, motioning for Granite to follow.
"I think you'll like the lute, Granite. It takes a lot of dexterity to play, which is why I think it'll be perfect for you."
"What the hell does dexterity have to do with me?"
Flux chuckles at Granite a bit.
"I think you know exactly what it has to do with you, Granite. But we should hurry up, you have a hat to collect. And then you can put your hooves to work making music."
"Alright then Flux. What are we waiting for? Let me just say my goodbye's and I'll be off."