Another day, another job

[Fenris]

Fenris was sitting near the counter at the Corner Cafe, the name still almost made him groan, sure it was in the corner of the building, but naming your cafe in such a manner... he shook his head wondering what the owner had been thinking. He actually hoped the name had been chosen on a dare, since then it would at least make some sense. He was keeping his mouth shut about the name though as it also happened to be the place he was currently workig, part-time, to repay for the damages he had caused three days prior.

He had been given the job as a waiter as the owner had thought that somepony with figure like Fenris would be able to draw in more customers. While Fenris had tried to resist he had been quickly reminded about the debt he had and he had relented, which led to him here sitting with a white apron tied to his chest. Though he wasn't entirely comfotable about having to work here, the events of the day that had led to this weren't all bad.

He wondered if he would manage meet Sunset again, he hadn't seen her since leaving her at the lake, but his thoughts had kept returning to her ever since. There was something in that mare that had really caugh his eye, something he wasn't quite able to place...

His thoughts were halted as pair of fillies entered the cafe taking a seat on the terrace. He stood up and approached their table ready to take their order. The fillies gave their order immediately after he had gotten to the table and Fenris simply nodded to them as he went to fetch their order, two vanilla milkshakes, he let a slight smile rise on his face as the memory rose up to his mind. He shook his head as he took the milkshakes and delivered them to the fillies before returning back to his sitting place and placing the payment to the register.

Taking a look at the clock on the wall he realised that his shift would soon be over and he would be able to get back in the air...

[Silver Screen]

Silver was sitting in the very back of the cafe where there was as little light as seemingly possible. He always hated the glare it presented on his fur. The only thing he disliked more was the wealth of unwanted attention it got him, and while there was a faint shimmer coming off his coat he still thought it was better then a massive spurge of light. At least no one seemed to notice him yet.

With a casual hoof wrapped loosely around the warmed porcelain mug and brought it to his silver muzzle. He didn't enjoy using magic... brought back unfortunate memories and the matter using magic was rather difficult to discuss... He shuttered at the idea and put it away; sealing it back in his head as the caffeine chocolate cappuccino slid and danced it's way onto his tongue.

He looked down at the cup, noticing it was near empty. With a shrug he brought it to his lips for another sip and went back to reading the local paper, "The Equestrian Daily." Front page, there was his photograph. Nothing special....to Silver anyways. Just Mayor Mare presiding over some recent event in ponyville. A shameless waste of his....Well I suppose you could call it a "skill" instead of a talent. That mark wasn't made yet, despite the colt's age.

With a sigh he folded the paper back up and sat his head on the table in front of him. He needed a new job... or at least a new way to make some money. Photos weren't he's favorite thing anyway, but for some reason he always liked doing them.

[Sunset Joy]

Sunset had spent her days in her room, doing paperwork that she had brought with her to Ponyville, despite being sent on a 'vacation' by the brigade general. She felt useless when she wasn't doing her duties, and she had now been without a clear purpose for two weeks - what work she had brought with her was all done, and she had little choice but to go roam around Poyville again.

She wore a dark red dress, a very modest, yet striking outfit, one of the many she had for the rare occasions she was required to attend a social gathering or some other event without her uniform. Her mane was on a bun behind her ears, as she preferred it, with a few strands falling down her neck, and on her chest she wore a silver pin marking her rank as a Captain of the 1st Earth Company.

The knightmare made her way across town and towards the small cafe she had been at earlier and where she had met that Pegasus with the curious wings. The place had been very nice, and on a sunny day such as this it'd be nice to sit at the terrace and enjoy a cup of tea.

The mare looked around at the tables for a good spot, and set her eyes on a table that was comfortably in the shade. She sat under the parasol and looked around for a waiter to appear and take her order; a cup of tea, as usual.

[Fenris]

Fenris noticed the new customer coming in and stood up from his place tucking the notepad into a pocked in his apron and observed the new customer. He now recognised the mare despite her change of outfit and he felt the half-forced smile on his face change into a genuine one. He already considered her a friend, even if she didn't.

He stood near the counter waiting for her to settle down before he would head to whatever table she picked. His thoughts wandered back to their first meeting, admittedly not his finest hour, but what had followed had been a rather pleasant time, despite Sunset's rather formal behaviour, which he found rather mysterious as it made him wonder if there was antoher side to her.

He shook his head as he headed for the table she had taken, heading around the table so he was standing opposite of were she was sitting. He pulled the notepad from his pocked and laid in to the edge of the table.

"May I take your order m'lady?" He said smiling widely.

[Sunset Joy]

Sunset turned her head toward Fenris, and nodded, his smile seeming to not reach the overly-serious mare at all. "Fenris, pleasure to meet you again. Please, just call me Sunset Joy", she said in a polite tone, however, which didn't quite match the stern, perpetual stare of her eyes. The look in her eyes made the pony look like she was constantly unimpressed and disappointed with something, or somepony, even though that was the case. The new recruits back in Canterlot avoided her because of that, while those who had spent enough time around her knew that she was quite reasonable and friendly, despite what her manner might make one think.

"I'd like a cup of tea - I do not mind the brand. Just tea", she placed her order. "I see you have found a new job. The apron does not suit you at all." She found the fact that Fenris worked as a waiter, with an apron and all, slightly humorous, but again, it was impossible to tell she was amused by simply observing her. That'd be the first time today - she had something on her mind since the beginning of the week that had pressed on her like a heavy storm cloud, and there was nopony she'd be able to speak about it with. Even if there was, she was far too introvert to talk of her own hardships with even the most close of friends.

"When does your shift end? I'd like company, unless you have other plans", she suggested,

[Fenris]

"Very well Sunset, if you like it better, who am I to argue with a customer." He picked up a pen from one of the apron's pockets and wrote the simple order on the notepad before stashing both the pen and notepad back to his apron.

"My shift is about to end actually and I don't really have nothing planned, so I guess I'll accompany you. I'll be right back with your order." He turned and headed to the counter placing the notepad with the order on a tray that was quickly flipper over and after a few moments the cup of tea was done.

Fenris picked the tray and headed for Sunset's table placing the tray in front of her.

"Enjoy your tea, Sunset." He said before turning and heading back towards the counter, taking another look at the clock as he did so.

Seeing as there was only minutes of his shift left he headed to the employer section of the cafe. Heading into the locker room he noticed that his boss had settled into the apron himself and he greeted him, as he took his off and hung it on the wall.

"You did well for your first days, better than expected really. Grab yourself something on your way out, on me." Fenris looked at the older pegasus and smiled.

"Thanks boss, you do remember I won't be coming tomorrow, full-shift on patrol." Fenris noticed the hoof gesture he was given.

"Of course I do and don't worry too much, I had been looking for an excuse to redecorate anyway and getting part of it paid by somepony else..." Fenris looked at the smiling pegasus and shook his head.

"You're one devious stallion aren't you?" That remark got a short laugh from his boss.

"You'd better believe it, now get going." The last words were said in a mocking anger, but the smile on the older pegasus face was genuine, Fenris replied in kind before heading back to the cafe proper.

He picked up a pair of vanilla milkshakes from the counter and headed for the table Sunset was sitting in. He placed the shakes on the table and pushed the second one towards Sunset.

[Sunset Joy]

"No need to be so formal, Fenris." Well, didn't that sound odd coming from lady Stoneheart herself. "I'd like that, if you won't mind", she said when he agreed to join her company after his shift ended. She watched Fenris return inside and come back briefly after with her tea, for which she thanked courteously. She took a sip and nodded approvingly, quite pleased with her tea, as before when she first visited this café.

Fenris didn't take long until he returned, now without the apron, and sat in the same table with her. She looked at the milkshake, and then offered the Pegasus a curious glance. "Thank you. How much do I owe?" She asked. She hadn't thought about ordering one, but now that the milkshake was presented before the mare, she was quite happy with it. "May I ask you, how did you end up a waiter here?" She inquired, raising the cup of tea to her lips.

Sunset frowned slightly, pondering on if she should ask Fenris about that.. thing. She was quite lost in Ponyville, and Fenris was the only pony she knew here, and seemed trustworthy enough not to spread what he heard around. If she had faced this problem in Canterlot, it would've been a disaster to her carreer. She was lucky to be in Ponyville when it happened.

[Fenris]

"Call it favor from a friend." His smile turning into a grin for a moment.

"And as for how I ended up as a waiter here, well when I got here to further talk about paying back for the damage I caused the boss here just kinda asked if I wanted to work instead of just paying back, after giving it a little thought I thought why not and accepted, I get paid half the usual rate plus the tips I might receive, the other half goes for paying the damages." He shrugged taking a sip of his shake.

He noticed the frown on the mare's face, which he thought was unusual, though he had only met her once before, but during that time she had kept her expression rather unchanged and now seeing this made him wonder...

"Sunset... is something the matter?" He was looking at the mare his head slightly tilted to the side.

[Sunset Joy]

"That is very good of you. Responsible and just", she complimented him. "I do hope you manage with only half a pay, though", she added, nodding as an approval. The mare finished her tea and grabbed the milkshake closer, fiddling with the straw in an absent-minded manner, as if in deep thought.

She raised her head and a faint shadow of something that might have been a smile graced her features. Fenris was indeed a good colt, and Sunset had a feeling she could trust him. "Yes, actually. Is there a hospital in Ponyville, and if there is, are the doctors how learned and proficient in their trade?" The question was a bit.. sudden and odd, considering the scene, but Sunset was never one for idle banter. She preferred to go straight to the business.

She took a drink of her milkshake. Delightful, as ever, she thought and looked at Fenris intently, as if demanding an answer to her question this very moment. She was still a bit unsure about this.. but the black Pegasus had a feel, an aura, she would've described it, of honesty.

[Fenris]

"Well I get half the pay from this job, my real job here is with the Weather Patrol and it's full pay, so I should manage rather well." He took another sip of his shake raising an eyebrow at Sunset's question.

"There is a hospital here, though I can't give yes or no about how proficient they are, but the one I met had dedication for his job." He tapped a hoof against his chin.

"I should say his dedication is on par with the medics amongst the Royal Guard." He drew in the last of the shake through the straw before turning back to Sunset.

"Why do you wanna know?"

[Sunset Joy]

"Ah, working two jobs. Isn't that quite stressing?" She made an attempt at small talk. She herself worked almost eighteen hours a day before she was sent away from Canterlot to 'relax.' The mare took a sip of the milkshake and fixed the hem of her dress. "Good to know. Thank you, Fenris." She looked away for a moment, before her eyes were fixed back again on the stallion. "I will tell you something that is extremely confidential. Not a word must reach anypony else than you and me; you seem like one to be trusted, and though I hate to admit it, I need somepony to speak with at this point in time. Can I trust you?"

The mare sighed and took a deep breath. "This morning when I woke up, I couldn't get out of bed. It was like I was frozen solid.. paralyzed. It lasted for hours until I could get up. Something similar happened to my grandfather; he too, often had periods of complete paralysis. You see why word of this cannot spread? I would most certainly loose my job." The mare raised her head defiantly, her hoof hitting the ground as if in anger, but her expression didn't sway. Her eyes remained an empty, stern stare and face a mask. "This is why I require medical attention. To see if anything can be done."

[Fenris]

Fenris looked at Sunset more than little surprised that she had confided in him with something like that. He thought about what he had just heard in silence.

"I can see how that could affect your job..." His voice trailed away and he lapsed into silence once more.

"This is... quite a lot to take in so suddenly." He fixed his eyes to Sunset.

"I think I could take you to visit the hospital right away... but is that what you want to do?"

[Sunset Joy]

The mare nodded. "Good. I hope I did not judge you wrong, mister Firebrand. You seem to be a dependable and straight sort of colt. I apologize for troubling you with such a matter, even though we have not known for long, but you are.. the only one I can trust this knowledge short of Canterlot, and I cannot return there as of now." She pushed away the empty glass of milkshake and looked Fenris in the eye. "I hope I did not make the wrong decision."

That came out much harsher than she intended, but she wasn't exactly the master of social conduct. She could read ponies well enough, but socializing, talking, with them.. she wasn't good at that. She always ended up upsetting them, or being rude when she simply spoke straight. It wasn't as bad when she worked; there she was expected to be true and straight, but on her free time.. this was one of the reasons she liked working more.

"I believe I should go there as soon as possible. I am, however, quite concerned of what they will tell me. I would not wish to suffer from the same disease as my grandfather." Her expression, if possible, became even more serious. "It is not.. fatal. But suddenly losing all ability to move, or waking up with no sense of your body, lying in darkness for hours while your mind wanders if you can ever get back up again is.. unnerving." She took a long breath. "I do have my worries. I simply hope they are premature."

[Fenris]

"I can relate to that somewhat... I lost the use of my wings after my crash, though I didn't really let it bother me that much, I just focused into other things." He held up his hoof.

"I know it's not quite the same thing..." He finished his own shake and stood up from the table.

"But maybe we should get moving and visit the hospital." He headed for the door of the cafe.

[Sunset Joy]

"Yes, I guess there are similarities", the mare answered with a ponderous nod. He watched Fenris get up and shook her head. "Oh, I am certain you have better things to do than to trouble yourself with my condition. There is no need for you to worry for me", she said, not wanting spoil Fenris' day any more than she already had. Sunset had second thoughts about this.. perhaps she shouldn't have brought this up with the Pegasus. She should have just done what she usually would do in a situation like this; stay calm and carry on with a stiff upper lip.

"I ought to get going, then. Thank you for an ear and the milkshake, Fenris." She stood up herself and gave the Pegasus a nod.