//------------------------------// // 31. Tough Negotiations // Story: Sunny's Days // by Anzel //------------------------------// Dolly and my mother chatted idly as they inspected the condo I was hoping to buy. They had been inseparable and insufferable. It was tough to listen to the realtor and keep an eye on the two of them at the same time. “Now, Lieutenant, your housing allowance isn’t going to be enough to cover your mortgage here. This is turning into one of the hottest neighborhoods for young adults. Which is odd, because typically the Canterlot market is not kind to ponies that age. Although you all seem to be working it out! “What I’m getting at is that the prices keep climbing even if the taxes are staying relatively flat. The longer you wait, the more expensive this place will be. Now if you’d like, I have several lovely condos on the lower perimeter.” Lovely rump… What did Dolly just say to my mother? “Lieutenant Day?” the golden earth pony mare prompted, waving a hoof in front of my face. “Huh? Oh, sorry. I know my HA isn’t enough but I’m going to make a very large down payment…” I raised my voice. “Right, Dolly?” Dolly wagged a dismissive hoof at us, watching Mom while she poked her head into the lower cabinets of the kitchen. “Yeah, yeah. At least half down or more. She’s rich.” Ms. Abode’s ears shot up and wiggled. She sputtered, “Half down? In Canterlot? Oh… well in that case, Lieutenant, I’ve got some amazing houses in Canterlot Heights—“ You tease! Giggle, giggle, giggle. Mom, no! I glared at them as they trotted out of the kitchen, through the living room, and into the back bedroom. “I like this one. How much is this condo? Canterlot Heights is too far from where I want to be.” The realtor’s ears wilted a bit. I heard more giggling off in the other room. Gah! “Well, the asking price is thirty thousand bits. Though I know there is some room to negotiate. Although probably not for long. Again, this neighborhood is hot, hot, hot!” Thirty thousand bits. That was a lot of bits. I’d never had that many bits. Where were Dolly and my mom? “Okay, stay here, I’m going to go discuss it with the two nut-jobs I brought.” When I trotted into the bedroom they weren’t there. More giggles came out of the bathroom so I followed them. That just lead me to discover that Dolly and mom were in the tub together. “Look how huge this tub is, Sunny! You can fit three ponies in it! Who needs a tub this big?” Mom asked. My eyes narrowed so I trotted over, slipped into the tub, and wedged myself between them. “Oh, you’re right. It does fit three ponies. Anyway, they want thirty thousand bits.” Dolly’s ears flicked. “That is pretty low for a condo in Canterlot. Did she say anything was wrong with it?” “If that is low, how did you expect me to pay half down? How many bits do I have?” “A lot. Remember when I told you a few months ago that I invested in Eminence Enterprizes and Jet Ventures for you?” I nodded. “You said I’d made a lot of money with them.” “I did, and it just so happens that they won a contract to develop, design, and build the largest airship ever dreamed of. Apparently it is so large it is going to take years to complete! Anyway, the stock doubled when rumors about it leaked and then tripled when it was confirmed. So you’re rich now. You didn’t seem to care, so I didn’t bring it up.” Mom happily clapped her hooves. “How lovely! My wild daughter is a rich Canterlot debutant. Now I bet she’ll have even less time for me.” My nose wiggled. Doubled, tripled? Rich? “Thanks, Mom… really appreciate that. Dolly, when you say rich do you mean, like… quit my job and lounge around with servants rich?” Dolly shook her head. “Nah. Like… buy a nice house and retire early rich. Still, you’re going to be fine. If you want this place, it is easily within your means. Now shoo, Cheerful and I are having fun.” My mother lightly pushed me. “Yes, go find out why the place is so cheap. Then come back. Not a moment sooner… and knock first.” What! “What? No! You’re supposed to help me. Come help me!” I squeaked while they both pushed me up. “We are. We’re teaching you to negotiate. We’ll be right here… but do knock first,” Dolly replied. “Fine!” I grumped before climbing out of the tub and trotting back out to the living room. Dolly and Mom just giggled the whole time. It was wrong. So very, very wrong. How dare they! “Ms. Abode, you said this place would go fast but the price is pretty low. What gives?” I asked. The realtor’s ears shot up. “Oh! I mean… yes. That might sound pretty contradictory. Real estate is actually quite complicated. You see, this place is in a prime location. The whole area is hot right now. So I think it’ll go quite fast.” “But the price is low.” “That’s true. You see, this condo is older and smaller than a lot of comparable units in the area. Ponies here expect bigger! That means somepony may just buy it and add its space to another unit if they can get two…” She trailed a little before adding, “Plus, it is on the second floor right over that vacant commercial space below.” My eyes narrowed. “Which means?” The realtor idly clapped her hooves together. “They’re going to be building a night club in that space. So there is a noise concern. Ponies don’t tend to want to live directly over a dance floor.” A night club with a dance floor? Right under my condo? How amazing! I mean bad! Lieutenants didn’t spend all night in night clubs. I put a frown on my face. “I see. I want to negotiate then.” “You still want the condo?” “I do. I really like it, but it sounds like it might need some work.” That was something I’d read in a magazine. Old places needed work. Whatever that meant. “And, of course, the noise concern. Who would want to live over a night club? Of course, that also means opportunity for the thrifty pony, right?” Ms. Abode nodded. “Well, of course. So I can write an offer. What were you thinking?” “Uh… just a minute.” I turned and trotted back into the bedroom and into the bathroom. I didn’t knock either! Dolly and my mother were wedged together in the stand-up shower. It was pretty small and somehow the two of them had ended up stuck back to back. “Oh, hi, Sunny. You probably shouldn’t try to take a shower with another adult,” Dolly said. “Yup,” Mom agreed. “Be a dear and pull us out of here please?” “Uh… no? Maybe. Are you two going to behave?” Mom glared at me. “And what does that mean, little girl?” I opened the glass door and idly poked her with a hoof. “You and Dolly being all over each other. It’s a travesty! Especially when your sweet little filly is just trying to buy herself a safe place to live.” Dolly snorted. My mother started laughing. “Oh my gosh, you’re upset!” She looked over her shoulder and said, “Dolly, she’s actually upset!” “I see that. Not even a day, either.” “Yes, I’m upset! Dolly you shouldn’t be hitting on mom. That’s just not right.” Dolly’s ears wiggled. “Big words coming from Little Miss Threesome, Foursome, and such.” “Oh my,” Mom said, her cheeks flushing red. I sputtered. It was all I could do. Coherent thoughts weren’t coming together for me. I don’t know why this bothered me so much, but it did. Finally, Mom grinned and shook her head. “I can’t do this anymore, Dolly. She’s really upset.” “Aww… we could have held on a little longer?” “What? Do what!” I huffed. Mom giggled. “Sunny Day, you know better than anypony I like stallions. Dolly and I were just pretending to bother you. Now, help us out of this shower this instant or so help me I’ll find an experimental side.” I grabbed my mother’s hoof and yanked her out of the shower without a second of hesitation. The thought of an experimental side made me a bit queasy. “Why would you two tease me like that!” Dolly patted me on the head. “Because you’re normally very difficult to upset. This just seemed too easy.” Mom nodded. My eyes narrowed. “So in three seconds of meeting you two created this elaborate scheme?” With a snort, my mother shook her head. “Goodness, no! Dolly actually writes me to tell me about you, Sunny. Every month I get a letter and I always reply. She knew I was visiting, so we concocted this little ruse in advance.” Dolly grinned widely and pointed a hoof. “Gotchya!” “Wha… I—you… you… Augh!” My mind was blown. They knew each other? They’d been coordinating? Mom hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek. “Write your mother more and she won’t pretend to be a fillyfooler with your best friend. Come on, Dolly, let’s go buy this condo.” “You’ve got it, Cheerful,” Dolly replied as the two of them trotted out of the bathroom, leaving me there in shock. It took a few minutes to wrap my head around their little plan, but I guess Mom had her reasons. I really didn’t write much. I followed along behind them and watched as Dolly fiercely haggled with Ms. Abode for the next half hour. We had to have the place inspected, when did the club open, what was the plan for sound dampening, was there mold, when was the last appraisal, why was the tub so big, and other things of that nature. I just stood there trying to take it all in. There was a lot to buying a condo! “Now, Lieutenant Day, if you’ll just sign here. I’ll take your offer right over to the seller. This is pretty tough, but I think it is fair.” I snagged the quill in my magic and went to sign the paperwork… then I set it down. Dolly looked at me. “Go on, it’s fine.” “I know. I should read it, though. I’m an adult.” Mom clapped her hooves. “My little wild filly.” Dolly sat down on the floor and patted the spot next to her. “Smart girl. Come on, we’ll all read it together and explain what everything means. Then you can sign it.” “Sounds good!” I chirped before doing just that.