//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Aftermath // Story: Veins and Arteries // by Rhino //------------------------------// A week passes and Silk finds herself waking and not immediately assaulted by hormones. Such a simple thing comes as a pleasant surprise as she stretches her arms to the ceiling. “Mmmm…. ahh…” She sighs contently at feeling normal. A cobalt blue hand scratches her behind one ear. “Feeling better this morning?” Eyes fluttering open, the thestral coos as she looks down to the blue form sharing her bed. “Mmmhmm…” She darts back down under the covers, snuggling against him. “Good morning, Win…” He nuzzles her. “Good morning to you too. I take it you’re still tired from… everything?” “Only a little… not nearly as drained as a week straight of wanting and not getting…” She kisses his lips. “Thank you.” He happily kisses back before running his hand through her mane. “Anything I can get you? Besides an eighty-second round?” She blushes, resting her head on his chest. “Oh goodness… did I really need that much? And you didn’t dry up from dehydration?” “Yes, you did, and no, I didn’t. You usually gave enough time to refuel, or backed down when I was looking bad. Still, I’m kind of glad that exhaustion is over.” He rubs her back. Humming contently, she kisses him once more. “My big poor stallion… is there anything I can do to make it up to you? I know you didn’t have the hormones to give you boundless energy like I did.” “Maybe stay conscious long enough for us to talk a bit?” he suggests. “Sure, hun.” She fiddles with his mane, straightening out a few locks before she tucks herself in tight against him, feeling a bit of a tingle as his fur rubs hers. “What did you want to talk about?” The unicorn nuzzles her. “For one thing… aside from heat… when are we going to ‘officially’ do this?” “I… don’t really know…” Her hands rub his chest absentmindedly as she nuzzles back. “I honestly think I’m probably set for a bit… is that alright?” “More than alright for me.” He nods. “Frankly, the longer we wait, the better… at least until after college.” She blinks. “...you don’t want to do it of our own volition for years?” “I’m not in a rush,” he says. “Maybe my mind will change, but for now, I’d like to wait. And I meant your college program, not mine.” “Hmm… I guess that’s better than the alternative…” She slides on top of him, laying her body flat on his. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t tell you when I’m ready and try to convince you, Doctor…” She purrs the last word, looking him in the eyes. He blushes. “Doctor…? Are we roleplaying again?” “Not right now, but it is what you are going to be, right?” Her fangs glint in a smile as her wings spread. “Erm… eventually, yeah...” He sighs and nuzzles her. “Please don’t call me that right now, though. It just sounds weird.” Her wings retract a bit as she nuzzles him back. “I can wait to have a doctor as a mate… doesn’t mean I don’t look forward to it.” Her lips meet his in a kiss. “I’m fine with waiting for a little while, but if I can’t convince you to take me when I’m ready, I’ll just wait and keep trying. Sound good, lover boy?” Winter chuckles and rubs the base of her wings. “Sounds good to me.” Leathery wings flare out as she arches her back. “Ah… you know I like that…” She grins down at him slyly. “I think I’ll have to keep you in here a while longer… give you a chance to work and me a chance to reciprocate…” He smirks. “I’m fine with that.” *** A certain pegasus finally begins to feel some sort of sense return to her brain as she regains consciousness. She sniffs the air, wondering about the odd smell, and tries to sit up before collapsing again with an exhausted groan. Finally, she opens her eyes… and realizes she is most definitely not in her apartment. Disturbed by her movement, a green arm reaches up and grabs her around her side, trying to pull her back down and against its still sleeping owner. Her response to this sudden action from a party she was previously unaware of is, rather reasonably, a loud scream. Her bedmate sits up suddenly, looking around with wide bleary eyes, shifting the blanket off both of them. “What? What’s wrong?!” His eyes find her, concerned. She stares up at him, breathing heavily and eyes wide. “R… Rhino…?” She looks down and sees them both naked, prompting her to eep and try to cover with her hands. “Wh-what happened?!” He blinks at this, mind still trying to wrap itself around the situation. “Umm… we went to sleep after a couple rounds?” “...r-rounds…?” Her face goes pale as she realizes the implications, and her breathing speeds up. “Yeah… you haven’t been able to sleep unless we do that.” Noticing her breathing, he raises an eyebrow. “Is it hitting you again? I’m going to need a glass of water before we start again. My throat is not great right now.” He rubs it for emphasis. She goes quiet for a moment, trying to calm her breath. Finally, she speaks. “...was… was I in heat…?” He nods. “For the last week or so.” Leaning over, he gives her a soft kiss on the lips. “Good morning, by the way.” Slowly, now that she knows what happened, she starts calming down. “G-Good morning...” She still tries to keep herself covered. “I… d-don’t really remember that well...” “...I guess I can see that by how your modesty is back to what it was…” He sighs, ears splaying out to the side for a moment before he looks back at her. “Are you okay? Any soreness, feeling dirty… would you rather me leave the room?” She thinks before shaking her head. “I feel… still a little stunned, but… I feel fine other than that...” A small giggle escapes her throat. “Could use my clothes, though… d-do you know where they are?” Looking up, he hums. “Your shirt and skirt are probably still in the laundry basket from the first day you got here… your bra is over there,” he points to where it hangs on a corner of the TV, “and your panties...” he still blushes a bit at the word as his legs shift. “I think you threw them in the corner over there.” She sighs in relief before looking down and, after a second, smirking. “...and where are your clothes?” Chuckling sheepishly, he rubs the back of his head. “Still in the laundry hamper after you pretty much ripped them off me and told me I wouldn’t be needing them for a while. It’s actually been very comfortable.” She blushes. “O-Oh… sorry about that… I remember that part now...” She takes a deep breath to collect her thoughts, starting to remember the rest of the week. He watches patiently, even as a part of him wants to hold her as he’s gotten used to. “Do you… regret any of it?” Immediately, she shakes her head, smiling. “It feels weird to look back on, but… I did enjoy it.” He smiles back at her, pulling the covers off himself and standing up. “Shall I make breakfast while you sort your beautiful mind out?” She blushes. “Y-Yes please… if you don’t mind...” Walking over, he gives her a hug and another kiss. “I don’t. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.” Giggling, she hugs back. “Okay.” Still smiling, he walks out of the room, still not wearing anything. Despite the situation, she can’t help but ogle him as he goes due to this fact. *** Sitting on the end of her bed, Silk hums to herself as she lifts various patterns and colors of fabric up against her mannequin, or womannequin to be accurate. With heat out of the way and her mind once again her own, the seamstress had set to work on what she hoped would be her next piece, maybe even a line of them of she got into the right groove. She cups a light blue swath under the chest of the model, tilting her head. “No… I’ve used that before… hmm…” As if timed perfectly to interrupt her train of thought, a knocking sound comes from her door, followed by a familiar female voice. “Silk! Siiiiiilk!” The fabric falling from her hands in surprise, the thestral shakes her head and gets up, walking over to her door and opening it. “Yes, Limelight?” The cyan mare, dressed in whatever loose clothes she found, grabs her by the shoulders. “I need help and you’re the only one I know who can help me besides Winter and there are very obvious reasons why I can’t ask him!” Hearing the mare’s almost hysterical tone, Silk’s eyes soften even as one glint in them is alarmed. “Oh dear… your heat cycle runs later than most, doesn’t it?” Lime blinks. “...huh? No, mine stopped this morning. It’s something else I need help with… can I come in?” “Sure, hun.” Leaving the door open, the yellow mare walks back to her bed, sitting on the end and waiting. The earth pony walks in and shuts the door behind her, getting right to the point. “How can you tell if somepony likes you?” “That depends on what you mean by ‘like’.” Her gaze becomes a bit more calculating as she observes the younger mare. “Well, I’d say ‘love’, but I don’t know if it’s that serious yet.” She sighs and flops down into a sitting position on the floor. “I got some help from a sort-of-friend during heat and now… I don’t really know, I just feel different. I don’t know what they think, though.” “Sounds like someone did some bonding during a time of extreme stress and trust.” Silk smiles knowingly, her tail swishing behind her like a cat’s. Lime sighs. “Yeah, yeah… usually when friends help me through heat, though, the day it’s over, we say goodbye and go right back to normal next time we see each other. This time, it’s like I don’t want that.” “I see… and can you tell me about this friend?” She listens attentively as one part of her files away ‘therapist’ as something to look into for the shop later. “W-Well...” She pauses. “...what did you want to know, exactly?” She shrugs. “Anything you want to share. Personality, looks, how they were during your heat, what you do for fun, how long you’ve known each other…” Lime squirms uncomfortably. “Well… we’ve been in the same class for a bit, but we didn’t really start hanging out much until the week before heat. They’re nice, kind of silly, helpful, friendly… I don’t know, I kind of have a biased opinion.” “Go on, anything else? Biased is fine, it’s helping me get a feel for how you feel.” Slitted purple eyes still observe keenly. “I like them, okay?” She groans. “I just don’t know how they feel about me. That’s the problem.” “Well… how did they act at the end of your heat? I know you said you were reluctant to part, but what about them?” Lime thinks. “I’m not really sure… I think she seemed a little disappointed… they! They!” She clasps a hand over her mouth, already blushing. Silk tilts her head. “Why so guarded about ‘them’ being a ‘her’? Parents want grandfoals that badly?” “...if that was the problem, I think you and Win would have that sorted,” she grumbles, taking away her hands from her mouth. “It’s just embarrassing.” Ignoring the happy smile and pink cheeks that have appeared on her face, the thestral continues. “I really don’t see why. Have you just never considered a mare before?” “Pretty much...” She nods. “Guys would sometimes help me out during heat, but I only went along with it for the relief, and it was never really enjoyable until the orgasm. I honestly preferred it a lot when mares were doing it… though I never told them. I didn’t think it was because I was attracted to them… just that the guys weren’t doing it right, or something.” “Hmm… well, you might end up still being bi, but for now you seem fairly sure of your mindset.” Shifting around a bit so she is laying on her stomach with her arms crossed under her head, she goes on. “So… a mare. One that was disappointed to leave your side after such intimate times.” “For all I know, her heat cycle was just extended and she was upset I wasn’t going to be around to help her for another day.” The earth mare flicks a bit of lint off her shirt. Silk shakes her head. “...somehow I don’t think ‘disappointment’ would cover that. That would probably fall under ‘desperation’. Quite different.” “I’m still not gonna get my hopes up.” She sighs. “What do you suggest?” “I would suggest spending time with her, maybe studying, having a little fun, doing friend things. Then, ask her out on a date and let things go from there.” She shrugs, patting Lime’s head with a wing. “Nothing too profound or complicated to start with.” “Maybe not for you,” Lime grumbles. “You don’t have to worry about your love interest not swinging your way.” Rolling her eyes, Silk, pats her head a bit harder. “He could have been gay, you know. I just had inside sources to confirm he wasn’t. You have no such luxury, and thus have to either take the chance or never know the answer which will only hurt more in the long run and possibly damage any chance of future relationships you may have.” Despite nodding and thinking about everything she said, Lime can only respond to one part. “It was pretty obvious he wasn’t.” “Okay yes, he ‘pointed’ that out quite nicely.” She grins cheekily. “...you just made me want to drink bleach.” “Now now, you set it up for me.” One last playfully wing pat buffets her head before it retracts. “Besides, can’t have you doing that when you have a potential marefriend waiting.” “I’d have enough time to get my stomach pumped or whatever it is they do.” She shrugs. “I wouldn’t want to go back and ask about this right away anyway. She’d think it’s just the leftover hormones talking.” “Thus why you start off doing friend things.” Pointed teeth glint in a grin once more. “...I’m still gonna wait.” The grin fades as Silk sighs. “I’m really doing my best to keep you from being one of those mares that just stares longingly at their love interests, hun. I really am.” “It’s not that.” She smirks. “If she is still in heat a bit longer after all, I don’t think it’d be easy for me to ask us to go get some food while we’re wrestling in bed.” “So you’d definitely take her up on it?” Silk smirks just as hard. “Why not? Already been a week of it.” Silk giggles. “Fair enough… there’s a bit of argument for either side on staying after heat to pursue a relationship: Either it’s embracing a newly formed bond if she reciprocates, or it’s a little awkward if she doesn’t… hmm… well, I suppose in a few days you’ll know if she’s done with her heat. Will you properly ask her out then?” Limelight nods after a moment. “Yeah… yeah. I will.” “Good girl!” The thestral pounces, landing next to her and slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Just be sure to come to me if you need advice, an ear to listen, pointers, or equipment.” She winks. “You know I can supply.” The earth mare snickers a bit before thinking. “...well, first piece of advice I could use… what are batponies particularly fond of?” Silk blinks. “Oh my… gone for one of my kind have you?” She coyly looks to one side. “Well, Winter might have a better outsider’s perspective…” Lime just shakes her head. “No. I am not asking him about this. I’d probably get brain damage if I had to hear about my brother’s sexual encounters.” “Yeah, I won’t ask you to do that, so… welcome to Thestrals 101, for all your sexy batpony needs.” She sticks out her tongue as she laughs. “First off, affection. We love both physical and emotional kinds, but you’d be hard pressed to find one that doesn’t end up expressing both when exposed to either. I hope you’re a cuddler, because we can and will get grabby, clingy, gropy, huggy, kissy, and all other manner of showing how much we care. We love it even more when it’s reciprocated.” She nods. “That much I was expecting.” “Now, obviously tastes vary by pony, but for us I’d say direct is the best course. Note, I said direct, not blunt.” She holds up a finger. “Give hints, but avoid mixed signals. Tail caressing, compliments, ear rubbing, little things. Then, when the time feels right, make your move, and you’ll find she’s probably just as ready as you. We rarely are satisfied with one kiss.” Limelight nods again. “How will I know when it ‘feels right’? As it is, I’m ready to make my move already, considering we’ve been at it all week.” “True… sort of skews the timing, doesn’t it? All but the shyest ponies will consider your relationship advanced by a few steps by now.” She taps her lip. “Well, if you want to go about setting the mood and letting the feelings flow to create the moment… I suggest a nice fruit basket, maybe a few juices, a few dipping sauces of the sweet kind. You and she, alone for a long amount of time, but calm at first. Preferably a place that doesn’t smell like sex, so… perhaps the living room for you two instead of the bedroom. Turn the lights down a little, she’ll be able to see you just fine. Talk a little, lean on her, let your hands move where they want, and I’m fairly certain nature will take its course.” Her tongue licks her lips as she paints the scene with her words, tail swishing happily behind her. “Mmm… I might need to ask Winter for something like that…” Lime blinks before nodding a third time, mentally filing all this away. “I’ll see what I can figure out… hopefully it isn’t too much all of a sudden for her.” “We’re pretty accepting when it comes to romance.” She giggles. “Bonds go two ways, you know. You saw each other at your most vulnerable; for a week her mind had nothing but you. That leaves a mark, romantic or not. Just let her know that you could always adjust your speed for her. You’ll probably get appreciative puppy eyes or tackled to the couch to make out, depending on what she’s like.” “I’m fine with either of those, so that’s good.” She sighs. “Thanks for all this… sorry for interrupting your work.” “Oh, it’s fine, hun.” She hugs the earth mare. “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t help? Especially when you know how I feel about romance… hmm… and potentially an idea for a young couple’s pair of outfits… reverse exposure perhaps...” She blushes a bit as she hugs back. “I think that’d be good… don’t know which of us would be which, though.” “Hun, I’d know how to balance it to where you’re both just as sexy and embarrassed.” Her grin flashes. “Probably best you go to her house if you get some.” “Will do.” Lime smirks and breaks the hug. “Thanks again.” “Anytime, hun. Anytime.”