About a week or so later, I, along with the entire serving staff stood once again on the sidewalk of my home when the carriage drove up. My father stepped out with his cat following closely behind. The cat took notice of Cleo on Acrylic’s back. Although I couldn’t see it, I could tell our feline gave a rather cold welcoming by the low hissing she made.
“Fancy,” my father came up to me, embracing me in a hug, “I came as soon as I heard the news.”
“Hello old timer,” I said, “how was the trip over here?”
“Oh, I’m fine of course,” he looked up to the artist, still in his Valet uniform. “I actually came to see you, Mr. Brush.”
“So I’m aware,” Acrylic told him with a gulp.
My father craned his neck over to see the Coltyptian Mao on his back, he smiled. “My, what a fine creature you have there. Is it yours?”
“Yes, sir. Please forgive the blessed Cleocatra, she isn’t the one to be welcoming of strangers.” Another hiss, this time I could see that it was aimed at Saaya who stayed close to the white stallion.
“Oh, I understand how cats can be overprotective of their territory. Though for the time being, we just to make sure to keep my Saaya and little Cleo apart for a while, just to be sure no one gets hurt.”
“Agreed,” Acrylic nodded.
“But back on topic,” he poked a hoof at his withers, “A little white birdy told me that you’re now my colt’s latest romantic interest. Is this true?”
He hesitated, “Uh… yes, sir.”
Father looked up and down at him, “Last time I saw you, you were in a hoofcolt uniform. But by the looks of things, you’ve really climbed the ladder in status to… Under-Butler, isn’t it?”
“It is,” I added.
“Ah,” father nodded before turning to me. “Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“Of course, we already have tea prepared for your arrival.” My coltfriend answered.
“Since it’ a beautiful day, let’s have it in the garden.” I quickly pushed in, gesturing towards the front door.
I turned to the other hoofcolts and instructed to take my father’s things to the guestroom and to bring the tea out into the garden courtyard. Even before we stepped out into the early autumn green, before we sat down and the tea was placed on the table, I already knew what was coming. Or rather, I knew what father was going to say before he could open his mouth.
“So, how long has this been going on?” he asked.
“Father, I already-”
“I wanted to hear it from him,” he interrupted before turning to my coltfriend, “How long?”
“You mean how long Fancy decided to call me his special somepony?” Father nodded, “I think it was… What was it? About two months and a couple weeks now isn’t it? I think something like that.”
“Ah, I see,” Father nodded. “Also, when did you become a Valet again?”
“Oh that was several weeks before that, and before you say anything, it was Fancy’s idea to do this so that I have more time to do my paintings.”
“On the topic, I’ve heard that they’re selling very well,” he then poured himself a cup of tea. “Although, do try to pace yourself when you do sell them, just to be sure that they keep their value.”
“That’s what Fancy said because he’s the one that maintains all the buying and selling of my art.”
“So, just to be clear, coming from you,” the old stallion sat back. “You came here as an immigrant, did poorly for a while, even ending up homeless at one stage until my son came along. He took interest in your paintings, he gave you a job, a place to sleep and eat while encouraging you to create your masterpieces. Then you somehow learned that Fancy can be attracted to stallions as well as mares and before you know it, the two of you are dating. Going up the social ladder, earning his trust, you get to showcase your art, getting paid a good amount of bits, and even got the chance to travel to a new country for a while.”
“Mr. Tweedy Pants,” Acrylic said, “I fail to see where you’re going with this.”
But I did. With a calm sip of tea, he looked directly into Acrylic’s eyes and asked the same question that he asked all those that I had called my coltfriend or marefriend: “Why Fancy?”
The red stallion blinked, “Sorry?”
“I mean,” father put his cup down. “Out of all the ponies in Canterlot alone, where you might bump into a bloke that might have some… common interests as you and has an overstuffed moneybag, why my son? Is it because he’s rich?”
And here we go.
“Well… not really,” Acrylic said, “He was just helping me getting me back on my hooves again.”
Father snorted, “By the looks of things, I think you’ve achieved that months ago. Yet, with the high price paintings that I've been putting out, I’d say that you’ve already become quite rich yourself in literal rags to riches story. So why are you still sticking around him for?”
“Because he’s my coltfriend,” he answered.
“No. That’s not what I mean,” Father shook his head. “For what reason that you’re no longer poor, have a job and Celestia-knows-how-much-you-have-in-the-bank, that you still live with Fancy? Is it because he so happens to be the richest pony in this town?”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Because you’re not the first coltfriend that my son deems worthy to use his affection for the sake of their own paychecks, that’s why.” He said coldly, “Do you have, even the slightest idea, how much bits that he had spent on not just stallions, but mares too that flirt their way into his heart while the only thing they want is some gold bullion to put in their bank accounts? Considering that all that Fancy has done for you all summer, I do hope that your answer is anything other than money.”
“Do you really think that’s why I fell in love with him?” Acrylic questioned him. “Look, I get where you’re coming from, but, really? You’re accusing me of being a gold-digger, after all the things your son has done for me? I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Fancy here had saved my life. Twice! At this point, I don’t care if the stallion has over a trillion bits or none at all, or even if he’s handsome! He could be ugly for all I care! But after showing me his generosity, his kindness, his willingness to actually listen to me when nopony would. Those things were just the tip of the iceberg of why I fell in love with him! He’s intelligent, accepting, patient, open-minded, loving, and has introduced me to a world of music, art, cultures, food that I couldn’t begin to imagine! He showed me what it is to be happy, even when my thoughts and emotions refused to be anything but. He’s the only thing that prevented me from jumping off the side of a building, or drinking that thing of bleach because I don’t want him to be alone again.” Here, he wiped the tears from his eyes, “I don’t love him because he happens to be rich, but because of the stallion that he is. Really, how dare you accuse me of all that I’m concerned about is my paycheck! I thought that you had much more faith in your son’s choice of companionship.”
Acrylic got up and started to head towards the house. I was about to run after him when father did something that I never heard him say; “Mr. Brush, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
“What?” I and my coltfriend asked in surprise.
“If you’re not too angry at me,” he said, “Could I interest you with some tea and an explanation?” Both of us looked at one another before Acrylic sat back down, no doubt he was skeptical about Father’s sudden change in mood. “Tea Mr. Brush?” the old stallion offered the pot to him.
Looking between him and the pot, he poured some for me and a little for him. “Father, what’s going on?” I asked him.
“What just happened,” he said, taking a sip. “Is something that hasn’t happened before compared to the other relationships I’ve questioned.”
“That being?” I raised an eyebrow.
“He held his ground,” then he looked over at my coltfriend. “Not many ponies nowadays would do what you’ve just done sir. Considering all the charlatans that come in with polished smiles and fragile façades, I have to be sure that the ponies my son dates do not end up ruining him. You ought to congratulate yourself for being the first who was sincere in what you’ve just said. I could tell that you’ve never once lied in the slightest in how you see Fancy.”
“You could tell when somepony is lying?” he asked.
“It’s a very helpful skill to learn from all the books I’ve read,” he put his cup down, “particularly in business. All I can say in the simplest of terms is that it all involves the sound of the voice, eye contact, body language, and checking the littlest of details about the face to tell if somepony is lying or not. That’s why I asked you that question, for I was trying to get you upset because you can easily tell who a pony really is when they’re anything but calm.”
“How would you know all that?”
I rolled my eyes, before realizing, “I don’t think I’ve ever told you that father is a retired psychiatrist, have I?” Acrylic shook his head.
“That’s was a part-time job,” father corrected. “But my son is right; I was a psychiatrist for a time apart from my other job as a CEO of a company. I know it’s odd, but a stallion has to have a hobby of some sort. How did you think I’ve met his mother?”
My coltfriend paused for a moment, “Oh,” his ears folded back, “in that case, please forgive me for yelling Mr. Tweedy Pants.”
He waved a dismissive hoof, “You’re already forgiven old sport. I’m just relieved that you really do care for my son for who he is.”
“So you’re okay with this?” I asked.
With a thoughtful smirk, he said, “With me here to spend more time with your coltfriend… we’ll see. But he’s off to a good start, I can tell you that. I think I might give you two my blessing – on one condition.” We both looked up, inquiring what he meant. “Mr. Brush, I’ve heard that you’re very good at painting portraits, is the truth?” he nodded. “How about that I pay you twenty-five thousand bits to paint my picture?”
Acrylic thought for a moment, “I don’t think that would be necessary.”
“Oh?” father raised an eyebrow, “Why not?”
“Friends, and family of my coltfriend of mine get their portraits for free.”
Father smiled before looking over to me, “Fantastic! Fancy, I think that you’ve got yourself a good Stallion after all.”
_*_
“Do you have your notebooks and pencils with you?” I asked my coltfriend as he started to head towards the front door.
“And the books, and the completed assignments,” he said before pausing to adjust his saddlebag. “Yes Fancy, I’ve got everything.”
“Good,” I kissed him on the cheek, “I expect you to come back by at least eleven.”
He rolled his eyes, “Oh come on Fancy, it was only that one time.”
I chuckled, “I know that your tutors kept you, but please do pay attention to the time.”
“Don’t worry,” he kissed my cheek, “I’ll be back for work in time. See you soon.”
After we said our goodbyes, my coltfriend was out the door.
“Where is he going?” I turned to see father exiting from the dining room, “Especially at this time of night?”
“Remember when I said that Acrylic needed tutors to help him earn that High School degree in order for him to go to college?” he nodded. “Well, I guess you can say that Princess Luna had offered him to be her ‘study buddy’ before she has to do her own duties.”
“Really? The Night Princess had done just that?”
I nodded sadly, “After news got out of his second suicide attempt.”
“Ah,” he walked over to me. “Have you found him somepony to help him mentally?”
“Not yet, I’m afraid,” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Acrylic seems fine for now, but I just don’t quite know where to start looking for a therapist that won’t just listen to his problems and end up saying, ‘By Jove, you really are mental, here’s the receipt, you win!’ No, what he needs is somepony that not only would help but knows what they’re doing.”
“I know how it can be,” he said before we started to head up the staircase. “One should always do their research first. It is very important to find the doctors who really have studied psychology and mental illness to give any practical assistance. Trust me; I know where you’re coming from on the issue.”
“Except mother never attempted suicide,” I retorted. “I could handle him when he’s down on himself, but when his emotions get so low that he would end it all is downright frightening.”
“Understandable,” he nodded. “You’re deeply concerned about his well-being. To be sure he doesn’t do anything to harm himself. May I remind you that I have dealt with ponies like him before? I may be retired, but I do know how the mental business works.”
At the top of the stairs, an idea came to me, “Father, I know that you’re just visiting, but would you help him?”
He stopped to look at me, “How so?”
“Well, outside from his mental health, there’s also the problem of his own family back in Lightning Falls. You see, he wants to come clean and tell them that he’s gay. The major obstacle is that they’re very… homophobic; going off the last time I’ve met them. In fact, he’s been feeling guilty of disowning them after they insulted me. However, we’ve both agreed that if this is going to happen, we might need you.”
“Me?”
“To act as a middle pony for us if or when things go wrong, I mean, considering what our relationship used to be like, you can relate to them. In that, if they won’t listen to us when they know the truth, perhaps they will to you.”
Father hummed in thought as he went to the guestroom door. “I’ll have to think it over. But for now, we need to focus on priorities first. You’ll need to pay attention to that summit coming up while I focus on figuring out how your coltfriend ticks and why. Understood?” I nodded as he opened his door. “I’ll be heading off to bed, goodnight son.”
I smiled and nodded, “Goodnight father.”