Smoke

Stroking Shimmer’s mane as she swallowed the last of my seed was the most peace I got that morning. Redheart had eaten my breakfast as offered, and even if she hadn’t, there were two hungry ponies left in my bed that morning, not one. We needed the kitchen. Without wings, Shimmer wasn’t about to fly off to find food without heading down, and Jade hadn’t taken to dresses, so there was nothing to cover that bright new coat. There were no two ways about it. If Strawberry Frosting was still in the apartment, I was going to have to “fix” the situation, since I’d never explained to her what I was capable of. I’d hoped to take Smoke 101 slowly with Shimmer, but something told me learning that her new favorite “villain” had “special powers” would delight her, not scare her. Convenient, but it hurt my head.

I still didn’t really want to explain to Strawberry. If the smoke frightened her, I could fix that, too, but she wasn’t part of any of my big plans. Her life was still simple: cook, clean, occasionally get very, very messy. Somehow I liked that one of my girls didn’t have anything to hide. I wanted to keep it that way. As we left the bedroom, I told Shimmer to just wait and watch instead of coming into the kitchen with me. Her eyes lit up, and I rubbed mine. It seemed like the slightest hint of subterfuge or misbehavior got her worked up. Had I ever been so excitable?

I’d used up all of my luck the night before, having Shimmer show up to the party: Strawberry was still in the kitchen, working on another breakfast for me. No way around it. Beating around the bush really didn’t suit me anyway. I stepped in to get it over with, heading past Strawberry so she’d turn away from the door. Shimmer’s head wasn’t as hidden as I’d have liked.

Strawberry Frosting was back in one of her maid uniforms. Except when she left to run errands, I hadn’t seen her wear anything else since I hired her. Something to think about at some point. “Morning, Strawberry. Sorry for having you feed my breakfast to somepony else, but she’d have had nothing today otherwise.”

Strawberry smiled, clearly far less bothered than I would’ve been to have to prepare a second breakfast. I hoped she’d still be as chipper when she started work on a third. “It’s alright, sir! She was polite, but in an awful hurry. I didn’t get to talk with her at all! Is she going to be working for you too?”

I stepped close to Strawberry and gave her a friendly peck on the lips. “Not every pretty mare who spends the night ends up staying. And I’m glad she was polite with you. That’s two differences from Exposé, huh?”

Strawberry nodded and huffed slightly. “She didn’t have to be so rude. I’d have made her lighter toast! The yelling was worth it though, when you just frowned, then Bruises frowned and she seemed to shrink even smaller! Oh, don’t tell her I said that!”

I couldn’t help but laugh; it had been hilarious seeing ill-tempered Exposé clam up at a single glance from Bruises. Strawberry nuzzled my jaw and popped a wedge of orange into my mouth from the plate where she’d been arranging my replacement breakfast. As much as I’d have liked to enjoy it, I chewed and swallowed quickly. Strawberry was nice and close. I raised a hoof and brushed a strand of her mane away from an ear, and let the smoke seep in. No sooner had it entered the pretty maid’s head than her smile vanished, and she stood blankly where a moment before she’d been busily working. She was ready.

It was a good thing, too. She couldn’t possibly have seen the smoke from where she was hidden, but the sudden change in Strawberry’s demeanor at my touch was enough to cause Shimmer to give herself away with a loud gasp. I jerked my head to signal her to come in, but hushed her as she opened her mouth to speak. Nopony else had ever spoken while I had somepony smoked. I made a mental note to look into that. Later. Right then I just wanted to ensure Shimmer’s coat wasn’t going to cause a fuss. Oh, and my breakfast.

Shimmer’s jaw was nearly on the floor as she came to stand next to me. The scale pattern on her coat really did look nice, I had to admit. So did Strawberry. “Strawberry, Shimmer here does theater work. One of her specialties is make up. This trick she did with her coat looks great, doesn’t it?”

Strawberry Frosting nodded absently. “Great…” Shimmer looked like she was about three seconds from dancing in place with excitement, and I shot her a stern glare. She forced herself to settle, and I nodded.

“It’s nothing to get excited about. She just likes to look like this. It doesn’t mean anything beyond that.” If I hadn’t just had Shimmer all over me in bed, I’d have been tempted to give Strawberry a very different opinion of Shimmer’s coat. Right then, though, all I wanted was calm. I released the smoke.

Strawberry blinked at my hoof near her ear. “Oh. Thank you, sir. I hate it when my mane slips out from under the little bonnet.”

I smiled and set my hoof down. “No problem. I know how you hate when things are out of place. I don’t suppose I could impose on you for a third breakfast this morning, could I? Shimmering Scales here needs food too, and she is going to be working here. No sense sending her away just to have her double back, right?”

Strawberry nodded and moved the plate she’d been working on from the counter to the table. “This one’s almost done. I’ll just put two pieces of grapefruit on the next plate, and you can both have one from there!” Morning people usually frustrated me, but Strawberry somehow always got away with it.

“Sounds good to me. We’ll just wait for you.” I gestured Shimmer to the table, ignoring that she was practically vibrating.

Completely calm, Strawberry turned back to the counter, cutting another grapefruit and talking around the handle of the knife in her mouth. “That’s a neat look, Ms. Scales! I bet it makes introductions really stand out, with your name matching your coat like that.”

Shimmer wasn’t nearly as calm. Getting an awkward reply out of her took a nudge under the table. “Uh, yeah! I’m sure it wi—does! I mean, it does.”

Strawberry only blinked once at the slip up before getting back to breakfast. With the second plate on the table, she slid dishes into the sink for later, and trotted over to nuzzle my cheek with hers. “I’ll head down and make sure cleanup after the party was good enough, sir. Enjoy! And nice meeting you, Ms. Scales!”

I nodded, and Strawberry saw herself out. Shimmer immediately bounced to her hooves. “Not just my coat! You. Did. That. Powers! You have more powers! I—” Before Shimmer could start on another breathless rush, I pushed a bit of grapefruit into her mouth a little less gently than Strawberry had popped orange into mine.

The sour fruit puckered Shimmer’s lips long enough for me to cut her off. She’d been too excited over her coat to think past it, I guessed, but I had too much to do. “I’ll explain later. But yeah. And you can thank that for last night’s fun, too.”

Shimmer’s jaw dropped. “You’re not just a villain! You’re a supervillain! This is so exciting!” I sighed. Shimmer’s enthusiasm would be much more welcome if it didn’t include calling me a villain.

“I’m not! Everypony had fun. Redheart wanted to come back next year! All I did was tell her to let loose, and you that you could be one hundred percent in character.” I took half my piece of toast in one bite, frustrated.

“Um… I’m sorry.” Shimmering Scales’ ears drooped. I’d said too much, or said it too harshly; her face made that obvious. “I’m just so excited, and… is that what’s bugging you, or…?”

I groaned. I was fairly sure Shimmer wasn’t aiming for my weak spots, but she was sure hitting them. Sad mares are the worst things in all of Equestria. “No. That’s cute, though maybe not at breakfast. The problem is, I’m not a villain! I don’t mind you thinking that way if it makes you happy, but stop calling me one already! I’m mostly a pretty good guy!” I drank my orange juice guiltily, if that’s even possible, but that excited look was back in Shimmer’s eyes. I don’t know what I’d just said, but I’d made things even worse. I pretended not to notice. If she was going to keep it to herself, that was good enough.

At last, Shimmer started on her breakfast quietly, but she was all smiles again. I took the opportunity to calm down and enjoy my own, glad for peace at last. Everything was just as I liked it; no matter how she varied the meal, Strawberry always made sure the eggs were just cooked enough, the toast was just dark enough, and the fruit was fresh and tart. With Shimmer keeping her excitement to herself, I could relax and start my day properly. Having skipped out on the whole party to spend the evening with two of the guests, there was no doubt in my mind that I’d need what little peace I could get. Once Pirouette set into me, peace would be done for the day.

Breakfast and grooming behind us, Shimmer and I headed down the stairs. I stopped at the bottom, door still closed, and looked back at my new hire. “If an orange pony with a red mane starts in on me, let her go. That’s Pirouette. She’s the floor manager, choreographer, and about three other things I forget. As far as I’m concerned, if it’s not the business end of the club, she runs it; I don’t really worry about the titles so much. She’s also your partner in making these shows great, and my best friend. She can get away with stuff I don’t allow from anypony else, so keep that in mind. She’s not your boss, though. You answer to me, even for the show stuff, but I need you two working together. Don’t let it be a her or you situation, because she’s gonna win. Got it?”

Shimmering Scales nodded sharply.

“Good. Now, let’s get started. And expect some fussing. Disappearing like we did was… well, worth it since I have a new scenographer, but still rude. None of the girls are going to be very happy. Except maybe Bruises, since there’s a pretty new mare around to be her friend.”

I pushed open the door to my office and stepped to my desk, as if the snake scaled beauty behind me were a perfectly ordinary thing. For all the more Day Planner reacted, it could’ve been. Paperwork covered my desk, and Day sat at her own, glancing back only once, out of the corner of her eye. The slightest hint of a sigh escaped her lips.

“New hire, Mr. Deal?” It was almost impossible to tell the difference between sarcasm and sincerity with Day Planner, sometimes, so I usually assumed her questions were meant to be answered. It tended to net me fewer responses that were much more clearly sarcastic.

But before I could even answer, Day had a drawer open and a small stack of papers floating from it, wrapped in the glow of her horn. “Yes. Did you offer Redheart a job too, or is that only when a mare comes down with me?”

Day Planner turned, and the papers floated to my desk, facing away from me. I gestured Shimmer toward them as Day answered. “Of course not. What use do you have for a nurse? Well, besides the obvious. She was strangely interested in one spot on the floor before she rushed out.” I stole a glance at the floor where Redheart had leaked the night before, and decided not to imagine how it’d gotten so clean. “I just keep a new hire packet prepared so I don’t have to interrupt what I’m doing to make one if you do take on somepony new. Speaking of interruptions, Mr. Deal, Pirouette’s been up here twice now. She said next time she was just going to stomp into your apartment. I’ll handle any of this mare’s questions; you should go deal with Pirouette.”

I shook my head. “Normally I’d agree, but Shimmer here is a sceneographer. She’s going to be working hoof in hoof with with Pirouette, so I might as well take her with me. Pirouette will yell no matter what; I might as well have Shimmer’s paperwork out of the way first.”

Shimmer’s boundless excitement from moments before had completely vanished before Day and the new hire paperwork. “Um… pleased to meet you, miss…”

Day faced Shimmer, finally acknowledging the scale pattern in Shimmer’s fur. This sigh was a fair bit heavier. “Day Planner. I’m Mr. Deal’s secretary. If you need anything that doesn’t relate to the shows themselves, come to me.” Shimmer was halfway through a nod when Day Planner turned to me. “Honestly, sir, scales? Pirouette will shout you deaf. How do you expect to keep that hidden? Put her in a dress all day every day?”

To my relief, Shimmer interjected before I could say that that was exactly what I’d had in mind. “Makeup is one of my specialties, Ms. Planner. I’ve got some powder used on stage for making ponies’ coats different colors for different roles. Not many popular actors with very dark coats. Sort of like dye, but it washes out far more easily! This… won’t be a problem at all.” Shimmer’s assertiveness had lasted most of the way through that. I’d have to ask her about that later.

Day Planner nodded, apparently satisfied. “If that gets the job done. And please call me Day. I realize I’m a little… terse, but I’m not your boss, so there’s no need for the formality.” Day cracked a smile at last, and Shimmer seemed to relax.

“See, Day? You can smile if you try. Your face won’t crack.” Pirouette was going to give me hell in a few minutes. I wanted to have a little fun first.

Day’s smile vanished and she turned to me. “Perhaps if you didn’t give me so many reasons to scowl, Mr. Deal, I’d smile more often.”

I winced. Again, Day’s deadpan made it hard to tell if she was joking or not. I added “Talk to Deep Tissue” to my list. If Day was unhappy, her sister would know best how to smooth things over. And I suspected Pirouette was going to leave me in need of a massage.

Day floated a quill over to Shimmer and got out the ledger. “Facial expressions aside, Mr. Deal, what do you have in mind for Shimmering’s salary?”

I leaned back in my seat and thought for a moment. Shimmer wouldn’t have to manage anypony, but costumes, scenery, lighting, effects, makeup… she was in for a lot of work. “Take Pirouette’s pay, and knock off all the raises for time with us, good work, that kind of thing. Shimmer and Pirouette are going to be roughly equal I think.”

Day Planner nodded. “Seems a little high, but not so much that it’s unfair. That said, sir, we’re going to be running into issues with funds. Last night’s party didn’t help matters. You can do this, but you need the shows to start bringing in more money, or find a new revenue stream in the short term if you’re going to keep making investments in…”

Day trailed off, glancing at Shimmer. Of course she’d hesitate. “It’s fine, Day. Shimmer doesn’t have all the details yet, but she’s… ‘inner circle’ sounds so corny, but you get the idea.” Day Planner just nodded, but Shimmering Scales got that look in her eye again, and I could’ve sworn she bounced in place for just a second.

“Alright, then. Well, your investments in the Trotties’ honest businesses are doing better since you had the meeting with Desert Rose and refocused a bit, but they’re still not bringing anything in. It’s too soon, but—”

I cut Day off. I didn’t need an explanation of business itself. “It’s too soon for returns; they’re still establishing themselves, but with the club’s expenses, new hires, and trying to rebuild the theater, I’m overextending. I know. How long?”

Day frowned at a graph she’d apparently made without being asked, and floated that over to me. “Months at most, sir. Shimmering Scales’ pay will shave off a little more. After that, you’re either taking a loan to make payroll, or laying somepony off.”

It was my turn to frown. As long as I’d run The Tall Tail, nopony had ever been laid off. Transferred behind the bar if they got a little old for the stage, maybe, but that’d only happened once, and she’d been ready to go part time anyway. Nopony was losing her job if I could help it.

“Got it, Day. Bring in more money. I’ll take care of it.” Day Planner simply nodded, and collected the paperwork Shimmer had completed.

“No doubt you will, Mr. Deal.” She turned to Shimmer and smiled again. “Despite his shortcomings, Mr. Deal really is a reliable employer, Shimmer. At least, when I keep him sufficiently busy.”

I sighed. “Don’t go filling her head with horror stories, Day, please? Pirouette will take care of that.”

Day scoffed and turned back to her work. “You’d be surprised, Mr. Deal. Speaking of Pirouette, now that Shimmering Scales is formally hired, you’d best go introduce them. And do be ready for a lecture. Pirouette had to make excuses for your absence no fewer than seven times last night.”

I winced again. “Come on, Shimmer. Your first day might be a little rough thanks to our first night.”

Her expression nervous again, Shimmer followed me from the office to the show floor, looking around at The Tall Tail in its more normal state as we headed down. That exploring eye saved my face from a flying ballet shoe, as she caught it just an inch or two from my face. Pirouette was yelling before we even reached the bottom of the stairs.

“You have got an awful lot of nerve, Done Deal! If you want to date, that’s your business. If you want to sleep around, you could at least try to be more subtle about it! But if you’re going to leave me holding the bag when you do, you have got another thing coming!” Pirouette’s ears were flat against her head, and her eyes were wet. Strawberry was nowhere to be seen. Pirouette’s mood had probably convinced her to clean in the back first.

This wasn’t going to be a quick fix. I hadn’t really planned on spending the whole night, or even the whole evening upstairs, but telling Pirouette I’d only meant to have a couple of quickies really wasn’t going to do the job. Even if it would’ve, I hated seeing her on the verge of tears. My own ears sank.

“Done, on the way in this morning, that shrew who runs the restaurant next door stopped me. She went on and on about how The Tall Tail was a horrible place, how she’d love to see it knocked down, and you and me out on the street! She’d heard about the party. Done, if you ruin my girls’ reputations… I don’t know what I’ll do!” And there were the tears. Still, she hadn’t threatened to quit. It was fixable, and I was starting to get an idea of how.

“Are the girls upset too, Pirouette?” I wanted to hug her, but it seemed early for that. Better to learn where everything lay. I took the ballet shoe from Shimmer’s magical grip and climbed down the last few stairs to Pirouette. She snatched the shoe back angrily before continuing.

“Oh, they thought it was funny!” Pirouette’s hurt turned to frustration. “The big boss pony who’s always a perfect gentlecolt with them, heading upstairs for a night with two mares he’d never met before! One of them actually thinks you just took them up to look like you’re interested in ladies! I’d laugh if I weren’t so angry!”

Somewhere in the back of my head, I frowned that some of my girls thought I wasn’t interested in the mares, but that was just confusing, not a problem. The problem was in front of me. And still going.

Pirouette jabbed a hoof at Shimmering Scales, who sidled behind me. “And what’s she still doing here? The other had the decency to scoot when I glared at—Done Deal! What did you do to her fur?”

I hoped Redheart wouldn’t take Pirouette’s temper as a cancellation of her invitation for next year. It was honestly a little impressive that Pirouette was so angry she hadn’t noticed Shimmering Scales’ coat. I wished she’d taken a bit longer, though. Noticing now meant I had to deal with that, and not Pirouette’s anger. “She can’t very well go anywhere right now. This is her first day on the job. Pirouette, meet Shimmering Scales.” I sighed in anticipation of what would come after what I was about to say. “She’s your new partner down here. She’s a scenographer.”

Pirouette stepped up an inch from my muzzle, glaring. “Done Deal, have you lost your mind? You sleep with some mare and give her the second most important job on the floor? She’ll ruin the whole damn show!”

Shouting in my face was close to crossing the line, even for Pirouette, but I forced the smoke back down and kept my calm, reminding myself that I’d probably feel the same in Pirouette’s place, at least about the hiring. I didn’t give an inch, though. Chatting with Shimmer in bed was about to pay off.

“Pirouette, do you remember the musical I took you to for your birthday last year? ‘Wretched,’ it was called. You said the stage was amazing. You said you wished we could afford costumes like that for our girls.”

In spite of herself, Pirouette backed off a step and looked between Shimmering Scales and myself. “She worked on that?” The tears slowed way down, to my relief.

I shook my head. “No, she worked on the performance of ‘A Gentlecolt’s Guide to Doves and Girders.’ That musical about romance on a construction site. The one that you wanted to see, but was sold out.”

Pirouette’s eyes widened. “That won a Pony Award!”

Shimmer poked her head forward and timidly offered, “It… actually won several. Including best costumes. That was me.”

Pirouette stared. Step one accomplished: distraction. “She’s a great addition, Pirouette. I’m not going to demand she work for us alone, so she won’t even be here all the time, but think of the shows you could put on with her handling the stage for you!”

Before Pirouette could reply, Shimmer poked my side. “I’d actually like to just work for you. The things you’re into… I’ll just tell offers that I’m taking some time to work on lower key things. My pranks got a little out of hoof on a few shows, so some will probably be relieved, and the ones that aren’t will get it. Working on Pony nominee acts burns a lot of us out.”

Uh-oh. Pirouette wasn’t as star struck as I’d thought; an eyebrow went up the instant Shimmer said “pranks.”

“I won’t have pranks ruining any of my shows, Done!” Pirouette glared at me, but at least the topic was still Shimmer, and not the party. Why was I the one being glared at though? Shimmering Scales was the one mentioning pranks!

She was also the one with an incredibly sincere expression of horror on her face at the mention of ruining a show. “Oh, no, no Pirouette! I’d never! It’s backstage stuff, or a little fun at rehearsal when ponies are getting cranky. I’d never risk the show itself!”

Shimmer sidled closer to me again as Pirouette stared at her appraisingly.

“What about pranks on Done? He’s earned a few.” Pirouette’s tone was icy enough that I suspected what she had in mind would not be the “everypony has a good laugh” type of prank, but if it got me credit toward forgiveness…

Shimmer was looking at me nervously, not sure she wanted to risk my bad side. I sighed. “I have earned a few, and I do have a sense of humor. Usually. Just not in front of customers, or when Day’s riding me to get paperwork done, alright?”

Pirouette wiped at her soaked eyes and muzzle, while Shimmer looked between us, confused. I gestured at Pirouette. “I told you, Shimmer. She’s my best friend. She can afford to pick on me, and when I buck up, she’s the only pony in the world who’s allowed to make me pay for it. If a little revenge is going to smooth things over, you two have your fun. I’ll live.”

Pirouette poked me in the chest, hard. “It might help smooth things over, Done, but I still had to deal with the humiliation from that lousy restaurateur next door. I’m just glad she kept her voice down. Imagine if word got out!”

“What if I got her to apologize to you, Pirouette? Profusely.” I think on some level, Pirouette knew what I had in mind, and wasn’t letting herself think about it.

“You’re going to have to apologize too, Done.” She sat and folded her forelegs, but the discussion was over; the first dancer had just slipped in for rehearsal. I decided showing Shimmer around could wait, and led her back upstairs to plan, sighing at the sound of the dancer below consoling Pirouette over my having made her cry.

Day Planner read my face as soon as Shimmer and I stepped back into the office. “Honestly, Mr. Deal, the time you’d save by not upsetting Pirouette would let you finish your work and take twice as many breaks as you do now.” She wasn’t letting up either. Nothing she said or did implied it, really, but I was pretty convinced that riding me was her way of taking Pirouette’s side.

“Maybe, but she’s an awful lot of fun to harass. This is different. She’s not bothered, she’s angry, and maybe hurt, too. This wasn’t on purpose.” I felt guilty, still. Pirouette in tears was on a short list of things I really couldn’t take.

Day Planner finished scribbling something on a sheet of paper and came to stand beside me, actually pushing away my paperwork. “I should hope not. What are you going to do about it, Mr. Deal? As little as I want delays in the paperwork, particularly with payroll in front of you, I honestly believe allowing this problem to stand is worse.”

Shimmer had been quietly waiting for me to address her since I’d had her wait, and I was grateful for her patience. Anypony not against me felt comforting. When she broke her silence to take my side, though, I wished she hadn’t. “I think he smoothed over a lot of it already, agreeing to have pranks played on him.”

Poor Shimmer, trying to defend her boss from the soft-spoken dragon of the office. Day turned to her, utterly calm, and started advancing on my new hire step by step. “Do you? How many of those pranks have you pulled? Has Pirouette laughed at any of them? Has Pirouette even smiled? Has she received an apology from Primavera yet? Has she even gotten Mr. Deal’s apology?”

I blinked. Nopony had said anything about Primavera or her restaurant. “Day, did Pirouette—”

“Tell me all about it, in full, on both of her trips up here?” Day Planner hadn’t even turned to look at me; her eyes were still on Shimmering Scales, who had begun to back away from Day Planner’s menacing-but-not behavior. If Day wanted to take Pirouette’s side, that was fine, but Pirouette was angry with me, not Shimmer.

“Easy, Day. Don’t scare her off.” This was turning into an extraordinarily tiring day.

Day Planner blinked at me, then looked back at Shimmering Scales, where she sat wide-eyed. “My point is, Mr. Deal’s word is good, but it’s still just talk until he does something. And right now, nopony has done anything.” Day turned back to me. “Mr. Deal, how do you plan on getting an apology out of Primavera? I’m more than familiar with her. Whatever it takes, she deserves, but she won’t apologize easily.”

I pulled back the paper Day had pushed away, and signed off on the dancers’ pay as I spoke, hiding my surprise at Day’s reaction. “The same way I intend to add a revenue stream. She’s refused to sell more than once, and always acted sweet as you please until I was alone with her to talk business, and then the fangs come out. She’s a snake, and now she’s gone and hurt Pirouette.” I thanked my lucky stars that Day chose to ignore the elephant in the room. “She doesn’t get a say anymore. Tonight, she’s going to have a major change of heart.”

Day nodded. “I see. A second revenue stream, at a bargain.”

I shook my head. “More than that. A merger. We’ll cut a door in the wall, and our patrons get access to dining; hers get the attraction of live entertainment if they choose to sit on this side, and a better wine list if they don’t. I’ve seen hers; the mare probably thinks hard water is too strong for drinking.”

Day Planner finally smiled. “Very good. Not only a new revenue stream, but a synergy. And I have no doubt she’ll be willing to apologize by morning.” Day took the payroll authorization from my desk, and scooped up the rest of the day’s work as well. “I’ll stay late and get this boiled down for you for tomorrow, Mr. Deal. You have other planning to do.”

I scratched my ear. “You never stay late, barring emergencies.”

Day’s smile got wider—the widest I’d seen since she introduced Deep Tissue as her little sister. “Pirouette aside, Mr. Deal, I have a personal interest in this. Consider it my amusement for tonight.”

I stared a moment. “What’d she do to you?”

Day’s toothy grin remained as she shook her head. “You weren’t my first employer, Mr. Deal. There are other places in town I could’ve tried to become a dancer. I chose here because it made Primavera so angry when you tried to buy her out. She’s awful to her staff. If I may, sir… I want to see her writhe.”

I blinked, openly startled. “That’s… honest.”

Day just shrugged. “Sugar coating it wastes time.”

* * * * *

I’d brought Shimmer back up to my apartment to plot with me. She’d looked over her shoulder toward the office more than once on the way up the stairs. “She’s… scary.”

I couldn’t help but agree. “She’s an amazing secretary, though, and I’ve never seen her like that. Maybe Primavera has this coming. What do you think of scaring her straight before the smoke?”

Shimmering’s head snapped up. “It’s all about the outfit, and how you’re grouped up! If you do it right, you can play vil—uh… gangster? And she won’t even want to put up a fight! Will your bouncer from last night be around? She’s perfect in her tux, and you in yours… might want to bring a few more ponies. After hours, right? When she’s locking up? Witnesses would be terrible. Oh, and I’ll need an evening gown—a normal one. Think I can borrow one from your outfits? Something’s bound to fit! I’ll just—”

I cut Shimmer off, shaking my head in disbelief. “You’ve got this all planned out already?”

Shimmer nodded so hard she’d have cracked her horn if it’d caught on anything. “Of course! It’s not that different from a Ponysher comic I once read! Well, mixed with Power Ponies, thanks to your smoke stuff. Anyway, I’ve got it all figured out! You just leave it to me!”

That was not what I’d had in mind for “planning,” but hey. I was never one to complain when things worked in my favor. I grabbed myself a snack, and headed back down to the office where, to my amazement, Day Planner was smiling.

I stood in the door and gave Day a suspicious stare. “Either Tartarus has frozen over, or you just won a lifetime supply of three ring binders.”

My blood ran cold when Day actually laughed. Not just her usual snicker, either: a sincere, happy laugh. “Oh, you have no idea, Mr. Deal. Shimmering Scales promised me a front row seat to putting Primavera in her place, and all I have to do is act chilly. Be honest. Is there any way I could fail?”

I shook my head, still staring in disbelief. “Not unless you’re still giddy like this. What in Equestria has gotten into you, Day?”

Day Planner just kept smiling as she moved to return to her work. “Primavera was awful, Mr. Deal. Tartarus is too good for her. I really don’t want to say any more, but I am going to enjoy this.”

I needed to find Shimmering Scales and make sure this plan of hers was going to fly. The mare was getting way ahead of herself. Before I could leave the office though, Day had all the paperwork she’d reclaimed earlier floating back to my desk.

“Since the plans are made, and Shimmering Scales is taking care of them, Mr. Deal, why not get this out of the way? It shouldn’t take as long; I already trimmed it down a fair bit.”

I gave the office door a concerned glance, hoping Shimmer wasn’t making a huge mess of things, but I sat down. Day wasn’t an idiot, and if she was this happy, I didn’t want to change plans for nothing. I just wished I felt as comfortable. There was an easy fix for stress, though. “Day? It’s a bit of a favor, since you wanted to stay, but when you wrap up today’s work, would you mind heading over to your sister’s parlor and telling her I could use a massage over here?”

Day slid papers off to the side and rose immediately. “I’m already working on tomorrow’s while I wait for this evening, and I need to get Deep over here for tonight anyway. She and Shimmer will be escorting you.”

I blinked and opened my mouth to ask just what the the plan was that it called for a masseuse, but Day Planner was already halfway out the door. With a sigh, I turned back my unfinished work, praying to Celestia, Luna, and anypony else who might listen that it wasn’t a huge mistake to trust Shimmering Scales with this when I barely knew her.

* * * * *

I was starting on the next to last pile of paperwork Day had given back when she came back, Deep Tissue in tow, with that sashay she always seemed to use if she knew I was watching. I couldn’t help but smile. Say what you will about modesty and propriety, having a mare show off for you is always a mood lifter—and not many mares could show off like Deep Tissue.

Not even all the way to her desk, Day Planner swept the paperwork from mine, her horn glowing. “I’ll take these back, sir. Why don’t you go with Deep Tissue to your apartment and destress. If you look nervous tonight, it’ll ruin Shimmer’s plan. By the time you’re done, I should have it down to a few signatures needed.”

Day was really looking forward to whatever the plan was, if she was taking that much work off of my plate. “You sure, Day? Efficient or not, you always insist I handle budgetary decisions.”

Day Planner nodded. “Those are your responsibility, sir. Keeping you efficient and taking your responsibilities aren’t the same thing. This is a special circumstance, and I’m sure I can handle it.”

I was sure too, but the farther from normal things shifted in the name of Shimmer’s great plan, the more nervous I got. As I rose and opened the door to my apartment, Day added one more thing.

“Sir, I explained the smoke to Deep. In case you need to use it tonight.”

I actually tripped following Deep up the first stairs, my muzzle squishing a flank before I caught myself. Deep, lascivious as always, cooed as if I’d copped a feel, but I didn’t share her amusement. I turned and stuck my head back into the office. “She’s your sister, and I trust her, but we’ll talk about this later, Day. I decide who knows about that!”

To my surprise, Day Planner actually looked cowed. I’d never seen that from her before, and had no idea how to handle it. Her response was as uncharacteristic. “Of course sir. It seemed unavoidable tonight, and I wanted to save you the time, that’s all.”

I sighed. My thunder was completely stolen. “We’ll discuss it later, Day. And don’t worry too much. Right idea, wrong execution. It’s not a disaster.” Dear Celestia, did I ever need that massage. I shut the door and turned back toward Deep Tissue and her seductive smile.

Deep’s sashay was full on seduction, moving her tail just enough to put on a show as we headed up the stairs. It was laid on thick even for her. I supposed having my muzzle pressed against her rear had gotten her going, and did my best to concentrate on the way up as she chatted out how much more she enjoyed kneading at my body than anypony else’s. By the time I was laying on my bed though, I’d begun to get stiff, concentration or not, and having Deep start by straddling my back led my mind in the wrong direction.

My mind was yanked violently back into the right direction when after a couple of cursory rubs, Deep pushed hard near my spine, and I nearly screamed in pain. I tried to turn to face her, and the pain came again, worse. I bit into my pillow and roared in agony, my hind legs thrashing.

“You’re why. You’re why, aren’t you?” Deep Tissue’s voice was cracking. “Why Day comes home at night and spends even more time planning out tomorrow. Why when I suggested she call in sick and we go have fun, just once, she acted like I’d confessed to murder. Why she says she has sex with you almost every day, but ‘it’s nothing exciting, just keeping Mr. Deal on track!’” Deep pushed on both sides of my spine, hard, and I thrashed, screaming into my pillow.

She already knew. Day’s big mouth had given Deep everything she needed to play judge and jury, and for all the agony she was causing knowing just where to push, I was certain she was up to executioner. Arguing would only make it worse. I gasped for breath, and managed to spit out, “Yes.”

I could’ve sworn I heard a sob and felt a teardrop on my back before the pain started again. I didn’t bother muffling it anymore; I needed help. Any move I made just resulted in more pain than I could take.

“I hate this. Oh, Celestia, I’ve never hated anything so much in my life!” That time I was sure I felt tears falling on me. “I love making you feel good; this is horrible!”

I opened my mouth to try to talk Deep down, but she just pushed again, and all that came out was another scream. When my door burst open and Day Planner rushed in, I’d never been so relieved in my life. Her sister’s appearance seemed to spur Deep Tissue on, though, and she pushed with both hooves, causing me to thrash underneath her again.

Day rushed over and shoved her sister off of my back, leaving me gasping and wiping away a tear or two of my own. Her ears were laid flat against her head, and she was shouting far louder than she ever had at me. “Deep Tissue have you lost your mind? What in Tartarus are you doing?”

Deep Tissue was still in tears, and now that I could turn to look without being tortured, Deep was a mess. Soaked eyes, tears dripping from her muzzle, mane tousled, I guessed from hanging her head while she was making me scream. I had no idea how she’d managed to hide all of that long enough to get me alone, but I definitely didn’t like where this was going.

“No! You’ve lost yours, because of him!” Deep Tissue thrust a hoof at me accusingly, and Day Planner sighed. I took the opportunity to roll onto my back and step onto the floor, wincing at the hurt spots on my back.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Deal. You were right; I shouldn’t have told her about it, obviously. She seemed to handle it awfully well. I suppose you’ll have to smoke her, now.” Day Planner’s tone was purely apologetic. She wasn’t bothered by the idea of my filling her little sister with smoke; she was bothered that she’d messed up and caused me an inconvenience.

Deep Tissue looked at Day Planner in horror. Apparently that was a line she didn’t believe that Day would cross. Smoking Deep was efficient, though; of course Day Planner would suggest it. I was grateful she mentioned it though. It let me play the nice pony.

“It doesn’t have to be like that. Day, you’re not unhappy, are you? You only complain when I give you a reason, not about the work itself.” Despite lingering pain in my back, I sat down and did my best to seem like the reasonable one in the room.

Day Planner didn’t take her eyes off of Deep Tissue. I was grateful for that, too. I needed to come off as still trusting, but frankly, I’d have been a lot more comfortable with Bruises sitting on Deep Tissue just then.

Focused on her sister or not, Day did at least sound surprised. “Why would I be? I’ve got my work, you pay me well, you respect my opinions and my advice, you—”

Deep Tissue angrily cut Day off. “You ride her and she never even feels it! All she thinks about is work!”

“Neither of those is true. I feel every thrust, I just don’t climax. I need to keep focused so he can get back to work. And I think about work quite a bit, but not all the time. We go out every weekend, Deep! And often during the week as well!”

Deep kept frowning, but her tone softened a sliver. Not enough for me to be comfortable, to be sure. She righted herself on the bed from where Day had shoved her, but didn’t pursue me. “Whatever he did messed you up so badly you can’t even come, Day! How is that okay?”

Day Planner and Deep argued back and forth at each other while wheels turned in my head. What had I actually done to Day? I didn’t actually say she couldn’t ever climax. Just that she couldn’t enjoy it while trying to keep me working. If my goal was her pleasure, instead of mine…

“She can come.”

Both mares stared at me, and Day was just as astonished as her sister. If I blew this, I could still smoke Deep. I knew that was the safer choice anyway, but up until Day had spoiled it, Deep was in the same situation as Strawberry. I guess I was trying to keep her halfway there.

“I said she can come. The only reason she can’t is because it’d slow us down in the office. If she wants to, all she has to do is say so. Efficient when the goal is getting her off would mean enjoying it way more. Efficient when the goal is a long, slow, gentle ride would be keeping it at a simmer until the end. Efficient all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, doesn’t it, Day?”

Was that a trickle I saw running down Day’s thigh? Both mares were staring again, though this time it was a different look in their eyes—Deep looked conflicted, and Day Planner looked more than a little eager.

Deep Tissue sounded dubious. “Just like that? Just because it’s not for you, she’ll finally come?

I sighed. “Deep, I’m not trying to torture anypony. Day’s an amazing secretary.”

“Thanks to you! Maybe you’ll make me a secretary next!” Deep Tissue had certainly overcome her surprise quickly.

Day Planner moved to stand between Deep Tissue and me. “Deep, look at my flank. You’re the one who always told me I needed to be realistic! That dancing was barely a chance before… before.” Day had hesitated there, gotten quieter. “All Mr. Deal did was keep me from quitting and wasting my life breaking my own heart. You even said so, when I had you come back to town! You were thrilled that I was finally going to do what I was best at!”

I rubbed at a still sore spot on my back. “Look, Deep. Yes, I kept her from going. I also made you love massaging me.” Deep Tissue’s eyes bulged. It hadn’t even occurred to her. “For the record, I didn’t make you mount me. The only time I’ve ever touched you with the smoke was to make you enjoy making me feel good. You took that your way. If Day’s really not happy, I’ll find a way to fix that. Some crazy power landed in my lap, but I’m not out to make ponies suffer. Think how happy you’ve been.”

Deep tried to march past Day, who stepped into her way. Blocked, she glared past her sister at me. “You’re messing with our heads! You made my sister like this, Done! You took away her free will!”

Day Planner had had enough. “Are you even listening to yourself, Deep? You know how much I hound him! I’m nopony’s puppet! Like I said just seconds ago, you were thrilled I was finally happy with what I’m best at! He’s given me the best salary, the most trust, the most respect of anypony who’s ever employed me! I don’t even think of dancing anymore! Do you have any idea how much better I sleep at night, not dreaming of things I’ll never be able to do? If anypony short of Celestia can be trusted with this, it’s him!”

Deep Tissue recoiled at Day’s anger. Her brow furrowed, she looked between Day Planner and myself and bit her lip. The uncertain, cute look played just as well with her features as the smoking siren look she wore most of the time. “You can really let her come again?”

I blinked, and Day seemed to rub her hind legs together. “You’re really hung up on that, aren’t you?” Not what I should’ve said, I’m sure.

“You’ve met me right?” Deep Tissue’s tone was exasperated. “I love my work, even when it’s not you, because I get to touch. It’s no different from you; you spend all day looking at beautiful mares. How would you feel if your little sister never got off?”

I damn near said “Relieved,” considering my sister’s coltfriends in school, but managed to bite my tongue. “That’s fair. So, what? I prove that Day can enjoy it anytime, and we forget this ever happened?”

Pacing back and forth, Deep was still conflicted. “You’re really going to get Primavera for her?”

I was losing my patience. Deep Tissue was all over the map. “What does that have to do with—”

Deep stamped a petite hoof as hard as she could. “Just answer!”

“Yes. Nopony’s let me in on the plans, and I don’t know what the grudge is, but I’ll make sure Primavera’s put in her place.”

Deep sighed, and rubbed at her still damp muzzle. “That… would be a very good use of that kind of power.”

I sighed, relieved. “Finally. Forget about the massage; whatever you did is going to need time to heal.” Turning to leave, I said, “C’mon, Day, let’s—”

“Hey! You didn’t keep your promise!” I turned back and saw Deep glaring and pointing at Day Planner. I couldn’t believe it.

“Now?”

Day Planner still had her hind legs pressed together. “I… would very much appreciate it, Mr. Deal.” I don’t think I’d ever seen Day look quite so mousy. From such a stern mare, it was cute, despite the angrily glaring sister.

I walked back over to Day and patted her mane, trying to ignore Deep. “What’s got you so worked up, Day?”

Day Planner looked annoyed at having to explain. “It’s as she says. I haven’t gotten off for months. The very idea of it! I wasn’t interested in other stallions after you.”

Deep Tissue sighed, “I understand that…” I continued to ignore her.

“Sorry, Day. I really didn’t mean to make life hard on you li—” again I was cut off in my own bedroom.

“With all due respect, Mr. Deal… apologize while you’re bucking me.” Day’s expression was all business again. I stifled a snicker.

I gestured for Day to hop up onto the bed, and followed her as she lowered her front and raised her rear, lifting her tail for me. As a warning, I told both mares, “I may need to use the smoke again. I don’t know.”

Day simply nodded, but Deep Tissue marched closer to the bed. “I’m watching you.”

Wonderful. An audience. I stroked Day’s mane as I mounted her, and nibbled on her ear. “We’ve never done it your way, Day. Let me know what you—woah!”

I was out of the sheathe, but still barely stiffening, and Day just slid the whole of me in, her horn shining brightly in front of me as she clamped her insides around my shaft.

“After all this time, Mr. Deal? As rough as you can be!” Deep Tissue staggering forward in shock was a satisfying sight from the corner of my eye. Already inside, and with Day more than ready, I was stiff in no time at all.

Despite Day’s request, I started slowly, not wanting to risk hurting her. A nibble at her ear got it yanked away, though. Day Planner slammed her hindquarters backward, staggering me a bit on the bed. She was in charge, underneath or not, and each word was punctuated by the slam of her body against mine. “That’s! Not! What! I! Want!”

Thoroughly convinced, and not wanting to be bucked off completely, I took hold and began thrusting back, pounding the slender mare far harder than I’d imagined—and she loved it. Day Planner tilted her head back, biting at my neck just barely shy of painfully, and we rocked the bed back and forth hard enough to make it squeak in protest. Smoke swirled as I got rougher in return, and I pressed it down, not wanting an accident.

Day pressed her face against my throat, more scraping than nuzzling. I tried nibbling again, but bit just a tad harder than I’d imagine enjoying. Day Planner didn’t pull away this time, but reached back, clutching the back of my head, and pulling us both down as she let her other leg out from under her. She was driven into the mattress by my weight, and I was driven into her, my cock slamming hard against her depths.

Before I could even worry that she was hurt, Day Planner screamed, “Yes!” and pushed back hard enough to lift me. I scrambled to stand so I could thrust again, and drove her into the bed, hard. Day Planner moaned into the mattress and pushed up again, clamping tightly around my cock, and grinding herself against me, her slit inching closer and closer to my balls, causing me to gasp and moan myself.

That moment of weakness was all Day Planner needed. Holding me tight inside, she rolled us, landing me on my back and her on top, riding. From below, I could see Day’s expression—the tidy, fastidious secretary was completely wanton, her mouth hanging open as she bounced hard on my shaft, wet noises and squeaks from the bed competing to be heard. I bucked up, gripping Day’s flanks to pull her down, and Day threw back her head, short mane sticking to sweat in front as she gasped out an “ahhh” interrupted by our bodies colliding. The smoke was harder and harder to manage as it whirled in response to the rough bucking. I struggled to keep it controlled.

Day threw herself forward, kissing so roughly I winced as her horn poked my forehead. Her tongue pushed through my lips almost as roughly, and muffled “mmm”s joined the squeaking and the sounds of our bodies. Kissing stopped the rough slamming, but Day ground against my shaft the entire time, until at last she broke the kiss, gasping, “It’s not enough! So close, Mr. Deal! Like Jade! Like Strawberry! Tha-that’s what I want!”

I blanked for a second, looked up at her confused, but the instant I made the connection, I let the smoke go and rolled us over again, Day pinned beneath me, and thrust harder still. Day grunted with every thrust, but the smile on her face was unmistakable. I clamped my own mouth over hers, and blew a little of the churning smoke in as I reached my climax, spurting over and over into Day’s squirming, twitching body pinned below. She bulged and overflowed, my cum pouring over her ass and onto her tail below as I broke the kiss and we gasped in each other’s grasp, panting as the seed kept flowing.

Day Planner struggled to speak, half addled by sex and half by the puff of smoke. “Sh… so gud…” I smiled a little at Day’s poor diction, and stroked her cheek before turning my head to Deep Tissue, whose eyes were the size of saucers, and whose jaw was on the floor.

“I… uh…”

I finally quit squirting into Deep Tissue’s sister, and as Day’s head rolled her direction, eyes glassy, expression halfway between elated and ridiculous, Deep managed to speak.

“I… you didn’t do that to her! I was watching! No wispy smoke, no magic sparkles, nothing! That’s what my big sister likes?”

I struggled to catch my breath, still pinning Day Planner, who seemed perfectly content with it. I’d much rather be enjoying the after glow than talking to anypony. “You heard her ask for it. You saw her love it.”

Day Planner obviously still wasn’t thinking clearly as she nuzzled at my leg and murmured, “Ohhh, loved it…”

I laughed and brushed some of Day’s stuck on mane away from her face. “Satisfied now, Deep? Yeah, I’ve got this power. I’m not shy about using it. But I want my girls happy. If Day had said anything, this would’ve happened long ago. Instead, you tried to kill me in my bedroom.” I couldn’t help but scowl at Deep Tissue, remembering the pain she’d had me in.

Deep hung her head. “I really thought you were doing something awful…”

Day was starting to squirm underneath me. I pushed all the way in once more, and with a high pitched noise, she curled her front half around a leg and started nibbling. That didn’t make lecturing Deep Tissue any easier.

“I kept my secretary. Yeah, she works harder now, but have you ever heard her complain? I take care of my girls, Deep. That means you, too. Have you ever had a better job? Better pay? Better boss?”

Deep Tissue sighed. “I’m sorry. I guess if you’re taking care of your girls, and fixing Primavera’s wagon… I trust you.”

That was what I’d wanted to hear, but after the pain, it wasn’t quite enough. None of my girls had ever actually turned on me before. “We’ll figure it out. I’m not happy right now, Deep.” I finally eased out of and off of Day Planner, and headed toward the door. “You two know more about what’s going on tonight than I do. You’re in the know now, Deep. I need to rely on you. Take care of your sister while I clean up.”

I walked out of the room, carefully balancing calm and angry in my stride. Deep’s behavior had been uncalled for, and it had me on edge. I was grateful for Day’s libido and even her tastes; they were the stress relievers Deep Tissue hadn’t been.

* * * * *

“Done, Shimmering is going to work out after all. I didn’t like her recommendation for the show’s scenery, so she explained it. I still didn’t like it, so she tried again. I still didn’t like it, so she just did it while I wasn’t looking! When I finished yelling at her… she was right. The left side of the stage doesn’t look so bright now, but she didn’t touch the lighting! Just a little paint in the right spot!”

I’d managed to get cleaned up and back to looking busy in my office before Shimmer returned from whatever her preparations were. It turned out that she’d found time to impress Pirouette as well.

Shimmer looked quite pleased with herself, and I had to admit, if she’d gotten Pirouette into a better mood she deserved to be. I smiled at her. “Great work, Shimmer.” I made a mental note to praise her better later, but for once, my show was my number two concern. “Did you tell her about tonight?”

Pirouette answered for Shimmer, shaking her head. “I stopped her. When she told me how much Day hates Primavera, I decided to let you do what you want… but let’s just keep me out of it, okay? Except for the apology. I still want that.”

I nodded. “You’ll get it. Better head down and get ready for the show, though. Shimmer still needs to explain the plan to me.” Pirouette nodded and turned to head down. As soon as she was out the door, Shimmer began to explain.

Just what I was afraid of: it was straight out of a comic book.