//------------------------------// // Questions // Story: Strange Gifts // by Rocinante //------------------------------// Open Page closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he soaked up the orchestral music coming from his gramophone. After a moment, he opened his eyes to pull out the notes Princess Twilight had loaned him. He’d given them a good study last night, but he wanted them at hoof for the session. Personal details were painfully sparse within the notes, but every bit helped. Flipping the folder open, he reread the bit about Mary’s homeworld for a moment, before a knock on his door announced the new client. Reaching over, he turned the music off. “Come in.” Mary entered the room with broad strides, then flopped onto the couch. “Hey, Doc.” Page studied her for a moment. She had a glow to her that was almost contagious. “You seem to be in a good mood,” he said. “Took Lambert to the gym. I needed a good workout.” That would explain the energetic mood. “How’d he like it?” Mary giggled. “He can’t keep his wings from dragging the ground, but he loved it. Already asked about going back with me again.” “Good.” Nodding, Page made a note. “As long as he’s enjoying it. He’s self conscious about his weak wings, regular exercise could help him develop a better self image.” “Yeah, he’s pretty shy about using them.” Mary scratched at her chin in thought, then winced. “He said they had to land after the weather turned. It was because he couldn’t keep up, wasn’t it?” “They hid him in a hollow tree,” Open said bluntly. “Distracted the timberwolves away. He watched as they got picked apart. Ran towards Sweet Apple Acres while the wolfs were distracted: eating.” “I... I could never bring myself to ask him.” Open Page studied Mary for a moment. The tale of Lambert’s parents had hit her hard, and he could sense more than just common sympathy in her. “Your parents, they had passed before you came here?” “Yea.” Mary shifted to sink into the couch, her bubbly mode dissolved. “Would you like to talk about it?” “No,” she said crossing her arms. “They died in a crash, I was sixteen. Lived with my grandparents after that. I was in the back seat, but only got a concussion.” Page didn’t quite follow what she was saying, but nodded anyway. “It seems you two have things in common.” Mary just nodded, staring at some point far behind him. “I think destiny put you two together for a reason. You both have healing to do.” Flipping through some notes Princess Twilight had given him, he read the highlighted information. “The Princess tells me that in your culture, you’re still considered too young to have a foal. Does that bother you?” “Huh?” Mary seemed confused for a moment, before her face brightened with understanding. “Oh! I was kinda lying. We have patient doctor confidentiality here, right?” “Yes. As long as you’re not planning on hurting yourself or others.” “My kind, we’re able to have children by the time we’re thirteen, though it's not considered healthy. I’m twenty-four, that’s pretty much prime years for starting a family.” “Did you not want a family?” Page asked. Mary smiled. “No, I’ve always wanted a family.” Tucking her knees under her chin, she hugged her legs. “I’d meet some guy, we’de hit it off, and eventually have a couple of kids. But then I landed in horse world.” Her smile faded as the last words left her mouth. “You know, nothing is stopping you from starting a family. Adoption is a noble path. Also, pony chimeras are possible with several species, yours may be viable.” A long sigh left Mary. “Except the part where I have sex with a horse.” “Pony,” Page corrected. “But there’s nothing wrong with you not finding us sexually attractive. A minotaur, perhaps?” Mary shivered. “No. Not a minotaur, they’re creepy. And I think stallions are generally attractive. In my world, hors- ponies, they’re kinda sex symbols. Condoms use them as mascots. You call an attractive guy a stud: a horse. But girls... If you suggest a girl has sex with a horse, it’s saying that no guy could satisfy her. She needs a horse to meet her needs. And that’s not even going into the whole bestiality thing.” Page’s mind tried to wrap around everything Mary had said. There was a lot of information there, but he focused on what he didn’t understand. “Explain, bestiality?” “Umm…” Mary looked away from him, eye contact seeming hard for her. “When a human has sex with... not a human.” “Why does that matter?” “How would you feel about a pony having sex with a fish?” Mary asked Scrunching his muzzle, Page pulled back at the question. “That’d be gross. They can’t reciprocate emotion, or even give consent to the act. ” “Exactly.” Open Page understood the hang up now. He’d read about Mary’s world, where hers was the only self-aware species. “Are you suggesting that ponies can’t love or consent to being loved?” “No!” Mary protested, sitting up straight. “Do you feel that being intimate with a stallion would make you less human?” “No.” The statement was far less convincing this time. “So are you afraid that it would make you feel less about yourself, or are you afraid of how other humans would view you?” There was a moment of quiet. Mary shifted as if she needed to study his face. “I guess the latter.” Smiling at her, he nodded. “I’ll let you think on that till our next session. Right now though, I’d like to return to talking about you and Lambert.” Mary seemed eager to change the subject. “I’m a little worried about him starting school. He does great in small groups, but crowds and noise still get him.” “I’m not even going to consider the idea for a month. After that, we’ll take it week by week. After the Hearth's Warming break at the latest.” A grin stretched across Mary’s face, but it quickly faded to a frown. “You think he’ll still be with me by Chr- Hearth's Warming?” “Hard to say. Would you like him to be?” “Maybe.” Mary scratched at her arm, her eyes darting all over the room. “I mean... It’s only been a few days. He hasn’t broken anything or acted out. Hell, I think he only just started noticing girls. What’s a hormonal griffon going to be like?” A bitter laugh rolled out of Mary. “I was a nightmare, without the talons or wings.” Page waited to speak, letting Mary calm for a moment. “Are you afraid of being put in your parents’ position, or Lambert being put in yours?” Mary hugged her legs even tighter. “I don’t know.”