//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Breakfast Conversation // Story: The First Steps of the Rest of Your Life // by Rhino //------------------------------// ***Day 3, Sunday, morning*** Hmm, to sleep or not to sleep… fairly certain this is the third time I’ve had this conversation this morning and judging by the fact that I can’t remember who won the others I guess it’s time for an intervention before sleep goes three for three. I open the one eye I have that’s not buried in the mattress and get my bearings. I’m still not quite used to waking up in this room yet, but it’s slowly getting that familiar feel to it. I roll my way out the bed, which when you’re still shaking off probably the biggest sugar-filled blur of your life but is apparently a regular thing in this town, results in face planting on the floor. Ow. Floor, you were supposed to be the neutral party in this argument, stop siding with sleep! Hmm? What’s that smell… I make my way downstairs to see one of my top ten most beautiful sites in the morning: breakfast. Scrambled eggs to be exact, with Chef Hydro just taking them off the burner. He turns to me as I announce my presense with a question, “So what’s the occasion for this?” He turns back to the eggs, “Simple, I was hungry and it’s not too much work to throw in a few more eggs to make sure you got up.” I fix myself a plate of eggs along with a glass of milk and sit on one end of the couch, “Well thanks.” He notices the way I flopped down on the couch, “You alright?” I blink slowly and yawn, “Yeah, still waking up a bit from that party last night. Oh one thing though, did I hallucinate that gator swimming in the punch you got me because of the sugar or was that real?” We both munch on the eggs as Hydro swallows before replying, “That was actually all real, turns out he’s Pinkie's pet. I swear he didn’t blink the whole time I was making you drink the punch before I showed you he was swimming in the bowl.” I put on an unamused tone, “Thanks for that by the way. As for the blinking thing, that’s actually normal for small alligators.” The earth pony shivers a moment, “Still creepy.” I shrug and take a drink of milk, “Fair enough, on a different subject though how did the dam go yesterday?” He begins, “Well, first of all I got the job.” I turn to him questioningly, “Just like that? What about interviewing, paperwork, and all the other necessary but mind-numbing preambles for a position?” Hydro simply continues eating, “The interview happened yesterday when I was there, it was just like a normal conversation, as for the paperwork… I had that sent to me back in Canterlot before graduation.” I chuckle lightly, “Wow, sounds like you basically just showed up and went ‘Alright I’m here, what needs doing?’.” He nods, “Pretty much, it’s mostly upkeep and improvements to what’s already there but the first thing he’s having me do is check all the turbines for damage from a break in the dam they had a few months back.” I raise an intrigued eyebrow, “Wouldn’t we have heard if an entire town flooded because of a broken dam?” My friend shakes his head, “It didn’t get that far, some unicorn repaired the cracks in the wall, but the internal damage stayed the way it was.” I put a hoof to my chin in thought before returning to my breakfast, “So what you’re saying is the presentation was impressive but the performance itself left a lot to be desired, good thing they hired you then. You have a lot of experience with those situations.” He reflexively reflects the good-natured jab, “Buck you bro, so how did your trip to the clinic go?” I pick up my empty plate and work my way into he kitchen as I answer, “Well it’s not official yet, but I’m fairly certain I’m hired. The place is really understaffed, and I mean extremely understaffed. All they have is the receptionist and one vet. They were skeptical at first but once I showed them my credentials you’d think it’s was Hearth’s Warming all over again, frankly I think they were just happy to have another doctor on staff.” He remarks as he enters the kitchen as well, “Oh yeah, I forgot that you’re now technically Dr. Rhino.” I slow down for a moment as the thought hits me, “Still not used to that, it’s fine for professionalism and all but in normal conversation it just sounds weird.” He smirks, “Whatever you say Doc.” “Please don’t do that. Anyways Dr. Goodall gave me all the paperwork to fill out, then we’ll just discuss hours and I’m all set.” He nods his approval, “That seems like a pretty good deal to me.” I glance at the large stack of paper next to my bag, “Oh relatively I guess it is, but filling out the paperwork is like writing a novel.” His teasing tone makes itself known, “Well I suppose after reading all those books to get this far it’s good for you to start giving back by writing your own.” I roll my eyes and laugh sarcastically, “Haha, I just hope I can help them with the flow of patients. But if I ever need help with that I suppose I could always ask you for help on dealing with flow.” “Now look who has jokes. So tell me about this receptionist.” I sigh to myself, “Seriously? You’re really going there?” He nods and says in a joking tone, “Cmon new town, new gals, I’ve got to start somewhere.” I mentally go over my brief time at the clinic and try to recall what happened, “Umm her name’s Manila, she’s got a pale peach coat, and light blue mane…” His tone betrays his impatience“Come on dude, how hot was she?” I shake my head in slight exasperation, “I don’t know! I didn’t pay attention to that! Normal I guess.” My red friend follows me in shaking his head in his own exasperation, “Ugh, see this is why you’ve only had that one marefriend in high school.” I respond with a neutral tone, “I prefer quality over quantity, besides in this town if I spent my time chasing every mare I’d never have time for anything else with how many there are.” He concedes, “Alright fair enough.” “Anything else? It seems to me you’re asking all this because you’re bored till you start working.” He smiles in a way that says he is not ashamed of his reasons, “You know it, I’ll probably try doing a little tinkering later but I don’t really have anything in mind to work on yet.” I respond with one of our old jokes, “I’m still waiting on that robot army.” Hydro waves me off, “I’ll get to it, you wanted laser eyes right?” Sarcastically, I answer, “No I wanted laser nostrils, of course I wanted laser eyes!” My sarcasm has no effect, “Didn’t you have to go somewhere today?” I nod, “Yeah, I’m dropping by Fluttershy’s to check on one of her animals. I should probably get going actually.” He smirks and lightly punches me in the shoulder, “Getchu some.” I lightly push back, “Shut up.” I look around and nod approvingly at the clean kitchen before heading back to the living room. I grab my saddlebag with my magic along with my key and head out along the path Fluttershy told me about. At least with her living all the way out here by herself I won’t have any trouble with trying to tell her house from all the others. You know I am in a really good mood today. The sun is shining, I had a nice breakfast, I’ve got a good job lined up, I’m going to see a pretty mare… where did that come from? I suppose it’s true but let’s keep that under wraps for now, don’t want to seem creepy. Whatever, I’m in way too good a mood to worry right now. Today is gonna be good. Hey is that Rainbow Dash yelling over there? Looks important. I trot over to hear the end of what I guess was a public service announcement or something. “… and that’s why we’re gonna have a little bit of rain this evening, just giving you guys a heads up.” She flies away after saying this. Rain? Odd, but a little rain never hurt anypony. Today is still gonna be great.