//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Dinner. // Story: Diary of a Store Clerk // by GnollReader //------------------------------// How exactly do you describe dinner? No matter how many times I went over it in my head I always find it hard to decide which details to add and which to leave out. Some things stay in my head; trivial, unimportant details while more important things often elude me until a much later point in time. It is one of the main reasons I write a diary. it's a reflection, a recalling of details that had been memorized unnoticed. The food was plentiful, vegetarian and great. Baked pumpkin with chili flakes always has been a favorite of mine and always will be; granted it shouldn't have suprised me at the time, it was in season and i do have certain stocks. But... it wasn't the food that made an impression on me. "It did suprise me at first," Rarity chimed over a piece of steamed carrot while glancing at me. "What did?" I replied between pieces of baked pumpkin. It was an attempt, one of several at that; the ponies and Silver Blossom were trying to involve me in their dinner conversation as I so far had been sitting quietly and listened to them chat. "Well, uhm..." Rarity blinked a bit in suprise at getting a reaction that wasn't a short 'Yes' or 'No', a quick glance at her friends begging for a topic. In my defense the questions so far had all been 'yes' or 'no' questions. They had been somewhat arbitrary and random, and it took me a moment to realize that they were just as tense as I was. They all had questions, I could see it in their faces... and they were all worried about asking too directly or comming off in the wrong way straight off the bat by asking first; and of course I had been grinding my brains about what questions could come my way, and how to answer them while at the same time trying to sort the questions arising in my own mind. Friendly first meetings and greetings aside, but when you finally do sit down with people... or ponies for the first time it's that you'll soon run out of common ground and start treading new territory. Everyone was nervous about making a misstep, and everyone was looking for a way to relax the atmosphere. "Uhh..." Rainbow Dash tried to offer a topic as Rarity gave her a pleading look "A-about how theres so many more stallions compared to back in Ponyville?" "Well... yes! It does seem there is an opposed spread to what we are used to from Ponyville!" Rarity picked up the topic with a small, nervous smile. "It did certainly suprise me at first," she quieted a little and moved her food around on the plate. I paused my eating and gave them all a studying look; hopeful faces. "Is it that different from Ponyville?" I asked in spite of knowing full well the answer. "Oh, yeah." Rainbow Dash seemed to chirp up a bit as I accepted the topic. "I mean dont get me wrong, Ponyville is a nice place and all, but it's still a small place," she exaplained. "There isn't really much of a selection in the way of entertainment for a young pony..." Rarity commented over a sip of water and explained seeing my questioning look "There is one boutique, one restaurant, one market... and one spa." I listened to them while chewing. "And there is one nightclub," Rainbow Dash added. "Vynil makes great music, but she's got one style and that won't change over night." She paused "Basically, we got one of everything and that since as long as I can remember." "I dont really understand," Luna commented a bit puzzled, "But isn't that a good variety of possible activities?" "Ah'll say," Applejack mouthed over a mouthful of potatoes. "Ah' always have maself a splendid time when Ah' go out." Rainbow Dash and Rarity glanced at each other for a moment. "Well..." they both started, Twilight and Silver Blossom at this point looking equally puzzled. "It's not really much for dating," I commented. Rarity gave a thankful sigh seeing that someone understood while Rainbow Dash just nodded, "Exactly." "You two date?!" Twilight stared between Rarity and Rainbow Dash with big eyes. "What?!" Rainbow Dash blinked and burst out laughing "Oh, nonono! Not each other! I mean don't get me wrong Rarity is nice an' all," she smiled "But she and I play different sides of the field." Rarity huffed with a slight chuckle "Mind you if my friday nights keep being like they have been going I might consider a change of side," she paused. "Or Ill just get another cat." "Is it really that bad?" I asked curiously, inwardly amused by the blush on Twilights face. "There are guys, sure... but most of the ponies in Ponyville are gals." Rainbow Dash explained, "And when you only got one or two places to head to every night the chances of meeting somepony new really aren't that big. For most the rule is you get somepony by the second or third attempt or you're stuck wherever you're at; and for most of us that's the single life." "Ah' don't really understand what ya'all mean," Applejack looked plain confused "Ah'lways meet plenty of nice fellas when-" "How many of them are related to you or your family tree in some way that might make it awkward to date them?" Rarity interrupted her. Applejack opened her mouth, closed it, opened it. "Oh," she paused and leant her chin on one hoof "Ya know Ah' never really considered that, or dating for that matter. Ah'lways thought it'd come when the time was right!" she reached out for a glass of juice. Rainbow Dash smirked "Cobbler's apples..." causing Applejack to choke on her drink. Rarity sighed, handing Applejack a towel, "And thats fine as well... but some of us are actively looking for somepony, be it for long," a careful glance at Silver Blossom "...or short term reasons. And when you're living in a small place like Ponyville..." she sighed "Let us just say; it can be difficult." "What about Canterlot?" I asked, "Isn't it close enough?" Rainbow Dash cringed a little "Well... Canterlot," she pondered "...how to put it?" "Lets leave Canterlot to the Canterlots." Luna suprised everyone with a comment, afterwards sipping her tea and replying our stares with a gentle shrug of her shoulder. "Alicorns publicly dont really get to date at all... by our very nature there's not many of us as is and guards are at least officially not deemed a good idea." she paused "I mean there is cousin Léon but he is four and related... like most alicorns these days." She made a slightly sour face. "But Shiny is a guard and he's married to Cadence!" Twilight interjected. Luna nodded. "He is also captain of the guard so he enjoyed some priviledges others did not along with the fact that we knew him to be dependable enough to handle the responsibility." She smiled at Twilight "And as I noted it is only officially deemed not a good idea. We too can make exceptions." "So wait, you and Princess Celestia ah'ctually do date with the guards sometimes?" Apple Jack asked with a bewildered look. Luna smiled gently, "Not officially." I briefly wondered if Cadence and 'Shiny' started out as 'not officially' as well. Judging by the look on Twilight's face she was wondering the same thing. "Anyway," Rainbow Dash started again "Like Princess Luna hinted, the ponies of Canterlot aren't the type to date, especially not with ponies that are not from Canterlot." "Is it easier for you though?" I asked her, "Considering you're..." I glanced at Silver Blossom, not sure if she understood what we were talking about... not that her expression was much help, she had been eating until now. "You mean since I'm lesbian?" Rainbow Dash asked, lifting a weight off my shoulder as she chuckled seeing me struggle with the word. "Is that actually what playing the other side of the field means?" Silver Blossom finally spoke up while playing with her fork "I mean I thought it, Dash... but I also always thought you had a crush on Soarin'?" Rainbow Dash chuckled, even if seemingly suprised by Silver Blossom's knowledge. "Not really, Silver. I mean the stallion's got the looks... but it's more of a professional admiration type of thing?" "Ah, okay." Silver Blossom nodded, then paused "What about Big Mac?" "What about him?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Is he?" Silver Blossom tried a half shrug, "Well?" Applejack choked on her food, coughing while Twilight patted her back and Silver Blossom blushed slightly. Rainbow Dash tilted her head "Not that I really know of... I mean I get where you see it but I think he's just way more relaxed than others... about everything." "Well I for one wish him good luck whichever he chooses." Rarity poured herself some water "He would certainly be popular if he just went out every now and then instead of always working." Applejack had meanwhile cleared her throat "Ah dont really know how Ah should feel about him bringing home a mare or staying out for the nite... Ah mean granny Smith has been tellin'im he should find himself a gal... but he's..." she paused, her brows working in thought. "Shucks Ah'll have to ask the fella' about it sometime." she then gave Twilight a long look. "What?" Twilight asked. "Are yah dating somepony?" "Me?!" Twilight's eyes went wide as saucers "No! I mean... I never even thought about it!" she blinked and stared "Oh feathers, should I be dating somepony?!" Rarity shrugged "If the desire does not exist there is no reason to make yourself uncomfortable, dear... but you're always welcome to come along for a night out with me and Dash, maybe you'll find it fun," she smiled at Applejack and Luna. "You're welcome too, of course." "Can I come too?" Silver Blossom asked. Silence. That question brought back that awkard moment. And with dread I realized that now they were looking at me for an answer. "Uhm..." I started "Silver Blossom, what do you think happens when ponies go out?" Silver Blossom shrugged "No idea... whenever Dash goes out shes always super groggy and sleepy the next day..." "Thats the hard cider," Rarity commented over a sip of water while Rainbow Dash cringed with a sheepish grin. "Do you drink hard cider, Silver Blossom?" I asked, hoping that I judged the girls taste right. Silver Blossom made a face "No, it's all bitter and tastes like rotten apples." Rarity smiled at Silver Blossom "Then maybe it's better to wait a little longer before you come along, dear. I promise we'll take you with us when you're old enough." Silver Blossom didnt seem too convinced but still nodded "I mean I could still come with you anyway? I dont have to drink do I?" "True, dear.. but there are places you cannot enter unless you are adult." "Oh.." Silver Blossom deflated a little. Rainbow Dash grinned at her "Don't worry about it, Silver. We two will have a cool party of our own." which made Silver Blossom smile again. "Thanks, Dash." And for some reason, they were all back to looking at me. "So..." Luna started. "Soooo..." I followed her with a growing frown. "Never mind," Luna smiled and poured herself another glass of water. "As it is, I think Twilight and the rest of us all had some questions for you specifically... shall we clean up the table so we can get started?" I gave them a look over and sighed inwardly, I had made it this far. "Alright... sure." I started to get up and clean off the table "I'll put on some tea and biscuits," "I'll help!" Silver Blossom jumped up, helping me collect the dishes. "What's so special about those places that only adults get in?" Silver Blossom whispered to me as she handed me the dishes to put in the sink. "I'll explain when the others arent listening." I whispered back, earning a grin from her. I gave Luna a short look over my shoulder and received a smile. For some reason, I took her as a lemon grass type.