“No, you go sit down, Mr. Deal.”

“I’ve got it, Mr. D! Thanks, though!”

“Aww, just relax.”

“Done, if you don’t stay put, I’m going to have Parapet hold you in the air. Now go rest!”

And so I sat alone at a table, sulking, while the dancers, Pirouette, Day, Bruises, and even Primavera, as far from Day as possible, set up the stage for The Tall Tail’s annual Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant. Shimmer was backstage, working on some special effect surprise in back. If the girls had been fawning over me, I’d have been a lot happier, but no. I was banned from the stage thanks to Deep Tissue’s fit. Twinges here and there had kept me irritated with her, but when my back popped bucking Day and didn’t get any better, irritation had changed to anger. Pirouette’s teasing about Day being too much mare for me hadn’t helped any. In short, I couldn’t help because I couldn’t help—my back was out, and everything I wanted to do would’ve made it worse. Deep was around, wisely avoiding me, and Jade took regular breaks to rub my back, which were the only things going my way.

So there I sat, staring unhappily out into the blowing snow that’d kept up long after it should’ve dwindled, and threatened to trap everypony at The Tall Tail overnight. The way they were laughing over on the stage, you’d think they were looking forward to the forced sleepover. My ears perked as a pair of dancers placed bets on who’d spend it in my bed, and sank flat as Pirouette scolded them for encouraging me. These parties were one of my favorite parts of running a cabaret, and as I lay my head on the table, ignored, the flare of extra pain in my back reminded me of just why it was ruined this year.

I sighed, just about ready to pick myself up and go lie in bed, where Day and Pirouette insisted I belonged anyway, when I saw snow moving opposite the wind. I squinted to see splashes of red and pink floating on the other side of the street. A unicorn, body nearly invisible against the snow, peered through the glass of the coffee shop opposite The Tall Tail. It was dark inside, closed, of course. The mare slumped and her pink and red mane dropped around her face. Most of this part of town was a little too upscale to open on holidays, and the few that had tried had changed their minds in a hurry when the weather didn’t give up like it was supposed to. I sighed at the ceiling, wondering what the pegasi were thinking with a surprise winter storm on Hearth’s Warming Eve. Wondering wasn’t going to help the mare out there though, so I pushed myself up, cursing softly at my back and headed toward the door. Day trotted over to put me back where I belonged, but saw the mare through the picture window and suddenly smiled.

“Why not take her upstairs, Mr. Deal? You can amuse yourself enough to keep from getting hurt. Maybe the release will help. I’ll talk Pirouette out of fussing.” I opened my mouth, looking past Day at the stage, but she cut me off. “You can’t help anyway, and you’ve been chased off seven—no, eight—times now. Also, it’s a private affair, nopony to spread rumours. Only a handful of Primavera’s staff came, and they’re still over there, working on the snacks and buffet.”

I hadn’t actually been planning on taking the mare across the street upstairs, but it did sound like fun. If it kept kept me from being shooed again… I nodded at Day. “Wandering out there in the snow, she could probably stand to have some fun, too. Just make sure Pirouette really doesn’t fuss. I’m in enough pain already.”

“You’ll be in more if she hears you say that, Mr. Deal. Now go on. I’ll have that witch Primavera quit decorating and make the two of you something nice while you’re up there. She’s much easier to deal with when a frown sends her running.”

I shook my head, chuckling a bit. Nearly two months hadn’t improved Day’s opinion of Primavera, but she’d learned to enjoy the situation without being actively vicious, and it’d taught Primavera to come to me to be praised. It was good boss/bad boss, but using her mouth seemed to have stuck with Primavera, so playing good boss had perks. The mare outside started trotting away, and I pushed aside memories of Primavera’s head bobbing in my lap to rush outside—and nearly screamed between the sudden cold and pain in my back.

Gritting my teeth and making a point of not looking as pitiful as I felt, I picked up my pace, hoping my smile didn’t look like a grimace as I approached the mare, who was peering into another window. “Hey! Are you alright, miss? There’s nothing open for blocks.”

By way of answer, she jumped, shrieked, and landed facing my direction, panting as she tried to calm down. Most ponies would smile and gently admonish me for scaring them. This one, snow starting to stick almost invisibly on her white coat, offered a worried frown, and no greeting at all. “Nothing? What am I going to eat? I was sure a city this big would have things open!”

As if she had no interest in me at all, she looked farther down the street, seemingly expecting me to be wrong, and a nice meal to be just ahead. As close as I was, I could see her shiver now though, warmed only by a scarf as pale as she was. She needed warmth as much as food, even if she was preoccupied. She was cute enough, but looked like she hadn’t smiled in ages. Well, I’d fix that. “That’s right. Head twenty or thirty blocks down and you’ll find something, I’m sure, but this part of town is basically abandoned.”

The mare turned back to me, red eyes surprisingly piercing for such an uncomfortable expression on the rest of her face. “You’re here…”

If she wanted to ask something, she wasn’t letting herself. I didn’t get it. Was I grimacing after all? “Yep. I run the club over there. We’re having a private party, but I can’t just leave you out here cold and hungry. C’mon. Primavera herself is cooking for us. You won’t find better for under a hundred bits a plate today.” Not that Primavera was nearly that pricy, but anything of any quality open on Hearth’s Warming Eve would be.

The mare gasped, shocked, and frowned more deeply. “I don’t have that kind of money!” I couldn’t help but laugh, though I stopped when the shivering lady’s ears dropped in displeasure.

“You don’t need it. Like I said, I can’t leave you out here cold and hungry. You’re a guest. No charge. Let’s get you inside, miss…”

The mare kept her frown and looked back at The Tall Tail without taking the hint at an introduction. A couple of dancers had come to the window to watch their boss in the snow and waved at us as we looked their direction. My chilly companion looked at me, to the window, and back again. “I dunno…”

The cold was not easing the pain in my back any, and the mare was becoming a pain in my neck. “Trust me. Free food, warmth, some company, a nice pageant tonight. It beats standing out here, eating snow. I’m Done Deal. Don’t stay out here shivering, miss…” I really didn’t want to ask point blank what her name was, but I’d do it if I had to.

“Righty Tighty. That’s… a lot of mares.” Righty actually took a half step back. Not a social mare, obviously. While Righty stared, Pirouette shooed my girls from the window, and I sighed with relief. I couldn’t believe it, but I was stuck resorting to drastic measures to get somepony to thaw out and not starve. With nopony at the window and nopony else in the street, I lifted a hoof to Righty’s ear and a slender trickle of smoke slipped in. Righty’s tail and eyes drooped to the position I’d come to find strangely erotic and her ears… well, they hadn’t been up for a while anyway.

“It is a lot of mares. But you’re so hungry, and so cold, it’s worth it. Besides, I’ll take you upstairs, away from the noise. Soft chairs, warm room, nice hot meal. You want all of those things, especially after being out in the cold so long.” I half expected her to resist despite the smoke, but whatever was holding her back, she really did want food and warmth.

Righty nodded slowly. “Hungry…” I released the smoke.

“Right, of course you are. Come on. Let’s see what Primavera made us.” I trotted toward The Tall Tail without waiting—if she was still intent on freezing, she could do it. I heard the snow crunch behind me as Righty fell into line, though, and didn’t risk slowing down and giving her the opportunity to change her mind.

Righty Tighty cooperated as far as just inside the door. Friendly waves from a few of the mares working on the stage caused her to back up a step again and look to me, as if I were supposed to make them go away. I gestured toward the stairs on the far side of the show floor, and as she looked that way and away from me, I rolled my eyes. There was no question I could get what I wanted from her with the smoke, but I didn’t work with a bunch of mares because I disliked them. I was hoping to get to know Righty a bit, not just get her upstairs and stick it in, but the way things were going, it would’ve fit the day if I needed to smoke her to taste whatever Primavera cooked up.

“Head on up. It’ll be quieter there, and you can eat in peace. Primavera will bring it up, or send somepony.” For the first time, Righty didn’t require any encouragement, and headed for the stairs at a fast trot—a bit too fast to be polite to the ponies who watched her leave without so much as a hello. I shrugged at Pirouette, who was frowning at Righty from the stage, and headed after the skittish thing. Following her up the stairs made clear one thing: Righty’s best feature was clearly her plot. Still in view of Pirouette and the dancers, I kept my glance short.

It took Righty a few more seconds to decide that yes, she really would walk through my office, and as I held open the door for her to go up to the next floor, I had enough time to wonder if my back was going to give out before Righty got climbing. Finally she did, with occasional glances the way she’d come. At the top of the stairs, she blinked. “This looks like an apartment.”

It dawned on me that I’d only ever said “upstairs,” and this awkward mare probably wasn’t delighted by the idea of being alone with a strange stallion in his home. I was right. Still at the top of the stairs, Righty turned to head back down, but trapped me halfway up in the process. Stairs were not my back’s favorite thing right then, and I was running out of patience. Alone, I didn’t have to worry so much. It was time to quit beating around the bush. “No?” I asked. “Well, here, let me past so you can get back down, I guess.”

For once, Righty didn’t hesitate and she stepped to the side to allow me past, but as soon as she stepped back toward the stairs, facing away, I had tendrils of smoke wafting to her ears. She got only one hoof down a step before stopping in her tracks, smoke invading each ear and winding its way to her nostrils. Her eyelids sagged, and I smiled. She’d get a good meal and a warm place to wait out the storm, and we’d both have some fun in the process.

I gestured toward a window, visible from the top of the stairs. “Look out there, Righty.” Unable to help herself with smoke still flowing, Righty glanced outside. “That snow is awful. Bitter cold, your coat is already wet, no place to get any food.” Righty’s near constant frown deepened a bit. “You don’t want to be in that. This may be a little uncomfortable for you, but you really do want to stay here, warm and dry, until it’s over. You really want that hot meal I promised you. And I might not be your first choice, but alone on Hearth’s Warming Eve doesn’t sound nice either.” Righty’s brow furrowed, and I increased the smoke flowing into her just a bit, enough to smooth the worry. “However much you might not like strange ponies, you don’t want to be alone today.”

It took a second with the still light touch I was using, but Righty’s head sank and rose in a slow nod. “I don’t want… lonely…” I smiled. I could probably just push as hard as I could and spend a few hours making Righty into a total party mare, but that’d wear me out, she might have local family who’d ask what happened, and it felt like a wasted opportunity. If every little thing was going to be a hill to climb, then I’d just amuse myself nudging her over each one. I wondered if Righty was a blusher. Bright red cheeks on her snow-white coat, against the red of her eyes and streaks in her mane sounded like something I’d like to see.

Right then, though, my poor back had had its fill. I released the smoke and staggered to the sofa, collapsing, stomach up and groaned as I sank into the soft fabric. “Make yourself at home, Righty. My back’s out, so I can’t really host as well as I should.” I suppressed a frown when Righty suddenly looked more comfortable knowing my back was out. Just the barest sliver, and it could’ve been my imagination, but I wasn’t happy to see it. “If you’d like a towel to dry off faster, just head down the hall a bit; there’s a linen closet.

Preferring to stay and preferring my company to solitude hadn’t really made Righty much chattier. She nodded and said, “Okay,” before trotting out of my sight. I took the opportunity to sigh and shut my eyes, remembering Righty’s plot from the stairs. She was cute all around, but her flanks in particular were nice—on par with any of my dancers, to be sure. Quickly, I banished the image again. I didn’t need to be getting stiff when Righty came back; that’d scare her off for certain.

“I hung my scarf with the towel, Done Deal. It was wet.” I craned my neck to see Righty return, upside down from my perspective. She avoided my glance.

“That’s fine, Righty. Have a seat, warm up.” I was taking up most of the space on the couch due to my back, not that I expected Righty to sit with me anyway. As expected, she took a chair on the far side of my coffee table. Just as well; dragging Righty inside had been enough for my back. A table between us when Primavera showed up meant we wouldn’t have to move to eat.

Awkward silence, however, was less to my liking. “So, visiting for the holidays? Most locals wouldn’t have been out in that.”

Righty’s cheeks colored ever so slightly. “Y-yeah. Working though.”

I blinked. Seasonal work would’ve been mostly retail, and not something anypony would visit for. “Working? On what?”

Righty looked out the window, but gestured to a flank. Her coat was white as the snow outside, but a pitch black wrench was there. I’d been a little too focused on shape to notice what the black mark was before. She spoke after a short pause. “I’m helping for the orange drop.”

I blinked. The New Year’s orange drop was a big deal in Manehattan, even if it was entirely Mr. and Mrs. Orange’s marketing money at work. On one of Mr. Orange’s infrequent visits to The Tall Tail, I’d asked him about it, and he’d laughed as merrily as I’d ever seen him. He knew it was all about selling his products, but ponies loved it, and it was too important to him to let amateurs get involved. If Righty was, then she was quite the mechanic. “Nice, Righty! Mr. Orange only hires the best.”

Righty’s glance flickered my direction as she blushed just a bit more, but quickly bounced back to the snow outside. If anything, it’d gotten worse. I sighed at the idea of shoveling the roof after this, then winced at another pang from my back, and decided to treat Bruises to any dish on Primavera’s menu to take care of it for me.

Righty frowned at my sigh, and actually looked at me again. “Is… something wrong?”

I shook my head and smiled at her, happy to finally see something like normal conversation without having to pry it out of her. “Just my back. Shovelling this won’t be fun. I’m probably going to talk my bouncer into it; she could have it done in no time.”

Righty nodded. “Okay.”

…so much for conversation. Mercifully, I heard the door open and hooves on the steps. Food was coming, and Righty would have an excuse for silence. I couldn’t see it yet, but I recognized the smell of pasta primavera wafting up the stairs. Predictable, maybe, but it was her signature dish, and delicious. I wasn’t about to complain. A tray with the plates came floating up moments ahead of Day Planner… and Pirouette.

Day floated the tray to the coffee table. “I suppose this wasn’t something I had to do personally, but her ears drooped when I took the food. I’m sure you’ll cheer her up before too long.” The food delivered, Day planner turned and headed back down the stairs while Pirouette rolled her eyes at Day’s implication.

“I’m sure he will. And you behave yourself, Done Deal. If your back weren’t out, I wouldn’t leave you up here.” Pirouette turned and headed down behind Day Planner, apparently satisfied by the seating that I wasn’t up to anything.

I thanked Celestia that her choice of words hadn’t been more incriminating, but Righty stared after Pirouette, her fork floating halfway between plate and mouth. She obviously wanted an explanation. I sighed and gave it, or my version of it: “She’s the choreographer, manages the dancers, and these days is our star dancer on top of it. She’s also a mother hen, and wouldn’t normally let me sit around while the girls put together the pageant.”

Righty nodded. “Oh.” The fork traveled the rest of the way to her mouth, and Righty’s eyes widened in the first emotion other than worry I’d seen—surprise. The fork found its way back to the plate far faster than it had gone the other direction, and I smiled. When Primavera herself did the cooking, nopony ever complained, but it seemed like I hadn’t needed smoke to convince Righty she was hungry. I even caught a hint of a smile for a moment before she blushed and slowed down, realizing I was watching. My own meal went untouched. I’d leaned to grab the fork, and pain sent me right back. Deep’s attack had left me truly jealous of unicorns for the first time in my life.

Nearly finished with her own plate, Righty frowned at mine. “Not hungry, Done?” I’d have smiled, if my back weren’t forcing me to struggle to keep a straight face. Using my first name was progress.

“I am, but I don’t have the benefit of a horn, and laying down’s left me needing help to get up again for the last week.” I stopped myself from grumbling in front of Righty. Really, Day Planner should’ve realized what would happen and set the plate on the sofa with me; Bruises had actually carried me down from my apartment that morning when I couldn’t sit up without Jade’s help. I was irritated, and my food was getting cold.

Righty looked a bit disappointed, but floated my plate over to me before studying the snow outside again. I guessed she was hoping for a double portion. With her looking away, I smiled a bit. With the fun I had in mind, if she wanted more pasta, she wouldn’t have any trouble talking me into getting it for her. My difficulty had given me an idea, though. While Righty stared out the window, I snaked smoke across the floor, up her back, and once again into her ears. She still stared at the snow out the window, but now she looked as if the swirling flakes were putting her to sleep.

“We’re sharing a classy meal alone together in my apartment on Hearth’s Warming Eve, Righty, sheltering from a storm. It’s romantic, even if it’s accidental. You feel like playing that up. You want to capitalize on the situation.”

Righty’s brow furrowed again, she frowned, and her head slowly turned side to side. I let a bit more smoke go, and gave Righty a few seconds to soak it in. I could see her breathing deeply through her nose; her body wanted the smoke like anypony else’s. She was just stubbornly shy or something. As her furrowed brow smoothed, I pushed again. “You do. A Hearth’s Warming Eve date, just for fun. You want to come over and feed me.”

My guest made a small noise, like a fussy foal. Instead of pouring on more smoke, I tried something else. “Come feed me, Righty.” Nopony had ever rejected a direct command with smoke flowing into them, and Righty was no different. As she floated a fork full of pasta to my mouth, I released the smoke. I wanted to see how she’d handle it, considering that she’d weakened a bit under the smoke, but hadn’t caved.

Righty blinked and the glow around the handle of the fork vanished. Fortunately, it was already in my mouth and didn’t fall. To cover for her odd behavior, she accepted what I’d told her moments before. “I… I thought it might be fun after all…” Her blush was so bright I was surprised I didn’t feel the warmth from it where I sat, but the fork floated away from me and picked up more as I chewed. Righty stared at the floor, confused… but scooted just the tiniest bit closer to her “date.” I smiled. The pasta was cooler than ideal, but having it fed to me by a blushing mare did great things for the flavor.

As I chewed the last bite, I reached forward and stroked Righty’s mane. Unsurprisingly, she jumped a bit and began to pull away, but smoke was in her ears before her head was out from under my hoof. I’d planned on getting her used to that before going any farther, but the pain in my back from holding out a hoof put the kibosh on that in a hurry. I scooted toward the edge of the sofa and rolled to my side, creating room behind me. “Hearth’s Warming Eve dates always have cuddling, Righty. And you’re still kind of chilly from outside.”

I was hardly surprised when Righty didn’t move, but instead of piling on the smoke, I kept it consistent and tried a different tactic. “So cold, Righty. How long were you out there, anyway? You only just missed the blizzard starting in earnest, and all you had on was a snow covered scarf. A hot meal was only the beginning of what you need. You’re so cold that… that’s right.”

I stopped and released the smoke as Righty sluggishly lifted a hoof to climb up with me, even through the smoke. She stepped over me carefully, but it wasn’t hard to see her shiver as she did. I wasn’t sure if the smoke was wearing her down, or if I’d just overdone it convincing her she was cold, but Righty wasn’t being standoffish in the least, this time. She curled up behind me, pressing her length against my back, and trembling with the cold she was sure she felt. I didn’t feel cold, but I did feel a bit bad; I hadn’t actually wanted to make her miserable. I waited for Righty to settle in behind me and leaned back just a bit, so her muzzle was in my mane. The poor thing actually pressed her nose against the back of my neck. I suppose it made sense; noses always do feel the coldest.

For all of her shivering, she wasn’t touching me, not with her hooves. With her muzzle buried in my mane, I formed smoke right at her nose and let it in. The shivering slowed, then stopped. Righty was where I wanted her, and it was time for the shivering to stop. “This is helping a lot, Righty, isn’t it? I’m nice and warm, and you’re getting comfortable. The cuddling on our fun date is nice after all.” There was no sound of objection, and though it was hard to tell with such tiny motions against the back of my neck, I thought I felt a nod. I released the smoke again.

Righty didn’t move, either away or to cuddle more. She did seem to get a bit stiff, though, and I could feel her nose on the back of my neck getting warmer. She was blushing again. I smiled, imagining Righty turning red and trying to figure out what she was supposed to do. I reached back, gritting my teeth at the pain in my back to find one of Righty’s hooves and pull it over my side, holding it against my chest. She seemed to tremble a bit again, though not from the cold. She didn’t pull back her leg. Lying against my back like that, holding me probably seemed reasonable, if scary. Poor thing. I let her lie there in peace for half an hour, just stroking her leg. It took nearly that long for her to quit trembling and get used to it. With all the smoke and cuddling, Righty’s scent was becoming noticeable.

“Having a nice time, Righty?” I honestly was curious. Having trouble coming to terms with a situation and hating it weren’t the same, after all.

“I…” Righty paused. “I don’t know. It’s… weird.” That beat a no, and she didn’t pull her muzzle out of my mane before answering, tickling me and making me smile. It also left her open to the smoke, yet again. It was time to leave the baby steps behind.

With smoke pouring into her nostrils more quickly than she’d had so far, I slid the hoof I was holding down to my still-sheathed stallionhood, stroking from there to my balls and back. “The food was lovely, and the cuddling was sweet. It’s time to move on to the more exciting parts of our “date,” Righty. You want to get me as excited as you are.” Her scent had been in the air for a while at that point. Strange for her or not, nopony took much smoke without getting aroused, and while this was the first time I’d put much effort into smoking Righty Tighty, the frequent trickles had added up. When Righty’s hoof moved lazily on its own, I let the smoke go, and she buried her face in my mane even further—but kept stroking.

“Getting in the mood?” I didn’t bother twisting to face her; it would only hurt my back, and make it harder for her to answer.

“N-no? I… maybe. A little?” Righty’s hoof never stopped moving as my cock began to push from its sheathe, but it did slide up to stroke the newly exposed portion. Between the smoke and Righty’s own arousal, whether she wanted it or not, she was having a hard time even trying to back out. I rolled onto my back again, and smiled at her. She looked away immediately, and sat up on the couch. By this time, her face was as red as her eyes, and my shaft was full length. Moving had put her in an easy position to smoke again. The way she was going, she’d get me off with her hoof, which wasn’t what I wanted. Those flanks of hers floated into my mind’s eye again. That was the destination, but I wanted to enjoy the trip, too.

I heard a sticky sound, and the pleasure stopped. Righty was frowning at her hoof where precum had gotten rubbed. Apparently her own arousal wouldn’t carry her through that. Smoke floated up Righty’s back to her ears, which sank with her eyelids. I went back to the light touch. “You were rubbing me to get me ready for you, weren’t you? You wanted to get me horny. Just lick that off; that’ll help. Stallions like seeing that.” I released the smoke, and Righty raised her hoof to her muzzle, tentatively lapping at the sticky stuff. Her ears drooped a bit without the smoke’s help, but she licked her hoof clean and reached for my balls, away from the precum.

I still didn’t want to get off that way, though. “I’m ready, Righty. What about you? You don’t want to be left out, do you?” I hadn’t used the smoke. I wanted to see how she’d handle it.

Righty swallowed hard and nodded, standing on the sofa and straddling me. I’d expected objection, but when she dripped on me as she moved, it made more sense. However awkward it was for her, she wanted it badly. I reached down and angled my shaft for her to lower herself onto. As her hind lips kissed my flare at last, she halted. “I… I don’t know! M-maybe a little later?”

I had to admit, I was surprised. Even if she could stop though, I needed it, and I had another idea. I quit aiming my shaft and moved my hoof between Righty’s hind legs, gently kneading her puffy, hot sex. Righty gasped with pleasure and her legs wobbled, but stayed up. While she was distracted, I wound smoke from my side up one of her hind legs—but not to her head. This time, the smoke crept into Righty’s pucker unfelt and unnoticed. I kept rubbing at her lips, and Righty’s front legs gave out, bringing us muzzle to muzzle. On her next cute little “Ahn!” I closed my lips over hers, and slid in my tongue.

I was gentle enough, but Righty was right on the edge and didn’t have any resistance left in her. I closed my eyes and concentrated on what I wanted as I aimed my shaft farther back with my free hoof. The smoke flowing in Righty’s ass reacted, changing the walls as it poured into them, making them looser, slicker, and as sensitive as I could imagine. Righty shuddered hard on my chest as she climaxed under the smoke’s effect. Her hind legs collapsed too then, with my hard cock sliding easily into the bud that would never have taken it seconds before. Inches sliding in gave Righty new reasons to climax, and she shook violently on top of me, mindlessly shoving her hindquarters down on both my stallionhood buried impossibly deep inside of her, and the hoof trapped between her pussy and myself.

My other hoof wasn’t needed to aim anymore, and reached to hold Righty in our kiss. The blush reached clear to the tips of her ears now, but she didn’t look embarrassed anymore—she looked lost to the world. With my rod buried in Righty’s ass, her orgasm didn’t stop. Each time she bore down on me, she shuddered again. With my back out, all I could do was let her go, but that turned out not to be a problem. Righty ground and pushed against my shaft over and over, even as her eyes crossed and she moaned into the sofa cushion. I let her, and stroked her soft flanks, breathing shallowly as Righty’s ass pushed me closer and closer to my own orgasm. Pushing in, it was silky smooth the whole length of my shaft, but whenever she managed to inch up, it was as if her walls wanted to hold me inside. The pleasure would’ve been enough on its own, but Righty’s face, cross-eyed and with her mouth hanging open, was what pushed me over the edge. The pleasure she’d been so reluctant to take had left her completely incoherent. As I came in Righty’s ass, she finally dropped, laying flat on top of me and gasping slightly whenever another load splashed inside of her.

When I stroked Righty’s mane then, the worn out mare made no attempt to move away. Minutes passed with no sound but our breath and the wind outside, until the quiet was interrupted by the office door opening. The sound of heavy hooves on the staircase was a relief. Bruises could actually be useful; Pirouette would’ve been a nightmare if she caught me underneath Righty, with Righty’s ass still stretched around my cock. Righty still didn’t react as Bruises cleared the stairwell and looked around, finding us on the sofa. When Bruises did find us, it was her turn to blush and look away.

“Oh, wow… uh, sorry boss! I didn’t mean to, uh, I mean… you probably want to be alone, huh?” I smiled and shook my head.

“Actually, Bruises, you’re just the pony I need right now. I couldn’t get up, even if I didn’t have Righty on me, and Righty’s still… recovering. Think you could draw us a nice warm bath and drop us in? Gently, of course.”

Bruises nodded enthusiastically. “Sure thing, boss!” I stroked Righty’s mane, amused by her still bewildered expression, as Bruises headed off down the hall. Even with Bruises passing through, Righty didn’t stir. In fact, as I stroked, her eyes fluttered closed, and within a few seconds, that mistrustful frown was back on her lips. I twitched my dick inside of her, and watched the frown vanish while she gasped, but she didn’t wake. I wrapped my forelegs around the exhausted thing and waited for Bruises to return.

The wait wasn’t long, but Bruises didn’t actually return, either. Up we went into the air, but Righty remained asleep. As we floated down the hall, toward Bruises’ head, where it stuck out the bathroom door, I hoped that lying in the bath with a mare wasn’t going to hurt more than it was worth, but we did need it, and when the porcelain tub came into view, it looked like we’d be alright.

As we floated over the warm water, I whispered to Bruises. “Easy. She fell asleep. And not a word to Pirouette!”

Bruises nodded, eyes wide and sincere. “She’d get mad. I dunno why. The smoke is nice. And I bet she’s havin’ lots of fun.”

I smiled. Bruises got it. As she lowered me into the water, I gestured her closer and gave the big mare a quick peck on the nose. “That’s what I like to hear. Go on, tell Pirouette we’re okay.” Smiling ear to ear at the little kiss, Bruises trotted away, and the warm water rushed over us. I was just settling in, wincing in pain and trying to find a comfortable way to rest my back and keep Righty’s head above the water when she woke—and did she ever wake.

“Water! Drowning? Pipe rupture? What’s going on, where are my tools, why can’t I mo—” Righty’s panic cut off and wobbled as I pushed my dick deeper into her rear again. She couldn’t move because my legs were holding her in place, but that only kept her from getting up, not from kicking in every possible direction trying to, and bruising me in the process. The sudden pleasure in her ass caused her to splash back down on top of me, and I grunted in pain. I wanted to give the smoke a little rest, honestly, but I didn’t think any explanation for how we got from the sofa to the bath without separating would satisfy a mare who had reservations about coming in out of the snow. Before she could try to push up again, I wound the smoke into her ears, and Righty’s body relaxed on top of me.

“It’s fine, Righty. We’re just in the bath. You want to be nice and clean, and as much as you enjoyed our romp on the couch, it was a bit messy. So let’s wash each other off.”

Righty frowned and I sighed. It was my own fault for doing everything bit by bit, but I was tired of so much resistance, especially after freezing myself to get her fed, hurting my back while she dawdled, and getting kicked in the bath. I wanted to relax. Easing her over things could wait. I poured more smoke into Righty and lay back for a bit, watching her breathe it in. When even her usual frown faded, I tried again. “You’re going to wash me Righty, and you’re going to let me wash you. You can’t quit thinking about how it felt on the couch, and wondering what’s coming.” I specifically didn’t tell her how she felt. I wanted her to cooperate for a bit, but I still wanted to see how she’d handle it.

Righty’s blush returned almost as quickly as the smoke faded. Without a word, she levitated a wash cloth over and dunked it in the water before using it to scrub at my face—the place that least needed cleaning. My face was followed by my neck, and what she could reach of my withers, as she did everything she could to put off where we were actually messy. And, I noticed with a smirk, she was being awfully still. I twitched my dick inside her, and Righty squeaked, dropping the cloth. I gave her my most innocent expression, the one that never worked on Pirouette, and she lifted the wash cloth a second time, studying it awfully closely. No glare or reproachful glance. Unless it was just my imagination though, Righty had started squeezing me inside of her as she went back to work.

Eventually, she worked her way low enough that she had no choice but to pull off of me. I sighed with the pleasure as I slid out, and Righty gasped over and over, pausing inch by inch as she rose until at last I slipped out, mess and all, and Right gasped, dropping back onto me. She turned slowly, laying her ears back against her dripping mane as she lifted shaft magically, keeping her distance as best she could.

Keeping away from it, however, moved her rear closer to me, and I reached for another nearby cloth. Where Righty hesitated each time she touched me, I had no reservations and reached up, ignoring my back, to pull her haunches down over my face. Righty squeaked again at the sudden motion. “Please don’t just jerk me around…”

“Sorry, Righty.” I actually meant it—the squeak was funny, but on the edge as she was, I should’ve been encouraging, not making trouble. Her only response was a disbelieving “Hmm…” as she moved to finally wash my dick itself. She was staring at it with a dreamy look I expect she’d never have admitted, but certainly wasn’t trying to turn me on as she cleaned me up. As she finished, I reached up again, scrubbing gently at Righty’s flanks. When I moved inward and cleaned away our mess, Righty shook and moaned. I couldn’t resist playing a bit, and used a gentler touch, long, slow strokes, circling her pucker. The shaking stopped, but the moans only turned to whimpers. The smoke had left her sensitive to any stimulation in her rear, no matter how gentle. Putting a bit more pressure into the last motion brought the mare to her knees, right over my muzzle.

I wiped Righty’s lips clean of the juices that were still flowing, then braced myself for my back to hurt as I leaned up and ran my tongue along their length. Righty dropped her washcloth again, gasping in more than just surprise, but I didn’t let up. Long licks gave way to kisses, and Righty panted and moaned her body’s approval at the very least. She didn’t join in, but I hadn’t expected her to. While she was looking away, embarrassed, smoke once again trailed its way into Righty’s mind. Her moans got quieter, but didn’t die entirely.

“Return the favor, Righty.”

Sluggishly, with smoke still seeping in, Righty pulled my half erect shaft toward herself, and began to inexpertly run her tongue along its length. I pressed my tongue as deep into Righty as I could, and smoke or not, she gasped aloud, but that just meant hot breath on my cock. With the smoke flowing, she was helplessly obedient. I smiled and nibbled gently at tender flesh, tasting the juices I’d just wiped away moments before. Righty slid her tongue down my stallionhood, nibbling gently at my sack, very literally returning the favor. The beautiful plot in front of me was exactly what I’d wanted most from Righty as I’d brought her in, and I greatly enjoyed running my hooves over it as I lapped between her legs. Righty’s hooves found their way under my flanks, squeezing and kneading almost in time with my own as she offered up the same pleasure she received. I couldn’t hold out long. The dripping mare above me was serving me too well, and having her completely smoked aroused me more than I’d thought. I pressed my tongue deep again, and gently prodded Righty’s bud with a hoof, pushing her over the edge, but as she shook with another orgasm, her mouth never left my shaft.

I pulled my muzzle away just enough to speak. “Take in as much as you can, lick, and use your hooves.”

Righty did as she was told. Her mouth couldn’t compare to Primavera’s, but she was more than adequate, swirling around my flare and prodding at the hole with her tongue. As her hooves slipped up and down my shaft, slick from Righty’s saliva, I had another idea. “Take it in your mouth, Righty—but only swallow if you want me turned on. If you want our ‘date’ to keep going.”

I lay back as Righty continued to work my cock, but I’d been at my limit for a while. Just watching her blankly comply did the job. I released the smoke, and poured into Righty’s mouth. I made sure to keep things under control—mostly—and waited to see how Righty would react. A second passed after the last shot, and Righty’s head stayed unmoving, eyes closed, with her lips on my shaft. Finally, as she sat up, her throat rose and fell several times. Ears laid back, face red, eyes averted: Righty wanted more; she just wasn’t ready to admit it.

I let Righty’s flanks go after one last playful poke at her ass, just to hear her gasp. “My back still hurts. Help me out, and let’s dry off. Then we can see what sort of fun we can have between now and the pageant.”

Righty almost stopped averting her eyes, managing to look at me sidelong. “…okay.”

As Righty toweled off and I waited for a hoof, I smiled. Progress was progress. I rinsed Righty’s juices off of my muzzle before she finished, and managed not to splash back into the bath as she used her magic to help me get back to my hooves. The hot water had helped with the stiffness, as always, but the awkwardness of both of us lying in the tub had left me no better off than I’d started. Righty frowned at me as I hobbled toward the bathroom door, before opening it from behind me.

I sighed. “Thanks. I’m perfectly happy as an earth pony, but telekinesis would help a lot until my back heals.”

Righty nodded, but as when she followed me back out into the hall, she stopped. “Maybe you should rest. I’m warm now, and dinner was nice.” Righty looked back toward the living room and the way out. “I don’t need to… I mean… I’m good.” I smiled at the back of Righty’s head, then reached forward and pushed a bit on her asshole. Righty’s hind legs trembled and went out from under her, dropping her into a sitting position as she bit her lip to stifle a cry. Over her shoulder, she frowned at me again. “Or, I could go in there. I guess…” Righty was looking past me to the bedroom.

I continued to smile as I said, “After you,” and swept a leg toward the bedroom in a grand gesture—ruined by the back pain the motion caused, and nearly sending my front half to the floor as suddenly as Righty’s rear had landed there. Righty kept frowning as she walked past me toward the bedroom. It might’ve been my imagination, but I could’ve sworn that her frown was aimed at my back, not my face.

When I caught up, Righty was sitting beside the bed, staring at it. As I entered, she watched me cross the floor and climb up, but otherwise could’ve been a statue. I got myself onto the bed with some difficulty, piled the pillows against the headboard and leaned back, almost sitting up straight. I spread my hind legs, and patted the bed between them, smiling encouragingly at Righty. “Come on up. We can’t do anything if you’re down there.”

Once again, Righty glanced back toward the living room, but this time she turned back toward me on her own and climbed up far more easily than I had. Sitting herself between my legs seemed to be a real challenge for her, but she did it, turning to lean back on me—even if her ears did lay back at the same time. I gently ran my tongue along her ear, causing them to spring right back up again, and wrapped a leg around her. Righty didn’t tremble the way she had on the sofa, but she was unbelievably tense, even after everything we’d already done.

I wriggled up a little more snugly and started planting little kisses on Righty’s neck. Both an “ah” and a more plaintive noise came together, and I gave her a little squeeze. It fit what I’d learned about her perfectly: she had wants like anypony else, but just didn’t want to get close. When she couldn’t help but get close, her enjoyment and frustration came hoof in hoof. I was sorely tempted to just force her to forget about her inhibitions, but I didn’t want the possible complications—or the likely back strain. I could just imagine an uninhibited Righty pinning me like Bruises had.

The mental image made me snicker a bit, and Righty’s ears laid back again. “What’s funny?”

I nibbled her ear and whispered, “Nothing’s funny. You’re cute.” Cliché, but as flustered as Righty was, she didn’t think to question it.

“No I’m naaah!” When Righty began to protest, I moved the nibbling to her neck, and to my surprise, the most fidgety mare I’d ever met just melted. I’d found her weak spot! Well, the one I hadn’t created myself.

Righty tried to lean forward, but I leaned with her, ignoring the sharp pain in my back to pepper the side of Righty’s pale neck with tiny kisses. One after another, with just the tiniest little tug on her skin, and she slumped back against me with a sigh, and a tiny hint of a smile on her muzzle. I ran just the tip of my tongue up her neck, and my hoof down her torso as Righty’s breathing became shallow, and I smiled myself. Righty came off as chilly as the snow from which I’d pulled her, but if you could keep her still, she melted almost as easily.

I squeezed Righty with one hoof and continued running my lips over her neck, and Righty leaned back her head in spite of herself, cooing when I stroked her just right. With her eyes shut and her mind miles away, she was completely unprepared when my other hoof began to toy with her sex again. She gasped softly, but didn’t even try to stop me as I toyed with her moistening lips. Righty panted feebly as I kissed my way up her jaw, and my rod stiffened, pushing aside her tail between us. When my lips brushed the side of her muzzle, Righty turned enough to press her lips to mine, self-control and inhibition lost in the moment. Between her legs, Righty was slick and wet. Tweaks at her clit made Righty shake and moan in my mouth before I broke the kiss.

“Ready this time?” Righty bit her lip apprehensively, but she nodded. I smiled and caressed her cheek encouragingly. “Go ahead. However you want it. I’ll do as much as I can.” For the millionth time that day, I cursed my back. Righty lifted herself up, and her horn lit as she grasped my cock, lining it up and turning to face me before slowly pressing herself against it. She hesitated again and swallowed hard—then pushed my dick backwards and sank down, sliding my cock into the wonderful heat of her ass again at the last second. Righty lowered herself slowly, either savoring it or scared—or both. Her tight ring squeezed lower and lower, finally coming to rest just above my balls, and Righty leaned forward onto me and let out a deep sigh, her strength gone. Whether it was pleasure or resignation I couldn’t tell; Righty’s chin was on my shoulder. Either way, she didn’t take long before she began to rock, sliding up and down my stiff member just a bit as she ground the head of it against her depths.

Breaths came shallowly for both of us, and Righty shook unsteadily after only a few moments. As long as it had taken claim her, though, I wasn’t ready for her to finish so soon. With her chin still on my shoulder, using the smoke unnoticed was simple, and her slowed movement on my cock was all the proof I needed that it had worked. I opened my mouth to speak, but Bright Jade’s head poked into the room, camera on its tripod in her mouth. Righty couldn’t see, but I raised a hoof to my lips for silence, and nodded. Jade quickly moved to the side of the bed and set up while I stroked Righty’s mane and she slowly rubbed against me.

I darkened the smoke as much as I could. Righty would push herself over this cliff; going step by step now was a waste of time. “You want your picture taken, Righty. Each shot makes you come that much closer, but the real climax comes when you hear the word ‘cheese!’ All the pleasure from all day, balled up at once! Jade won’t say it until you give her a good, happy photo!” Jade nodded in understanding, and I flashed her a smile before releasing the smoke.

Righty didn’t seem to react at all; she just kept rocking, her head hidden from Jade on the far side of mine. The shutter snapped, and Righty gasped, dropping down faster suddenly. Jade moved the tripod a bit and the shutter flashed again. Righty wrapped her forelegs tightly around me, burying her face in my neck, but the grinding had changed to bucking, her legs working to move inches of me in and out with each pump. Jade snatched up the tripod and moved to the foot of the bed, taking a shot of Righty from behind where the penetration was obvious, and in spite of herself, Righty pulled her head free, practically mashing her lips against mine as her bucking sped up more. I slid my tongue into her mouth, and held her head in the kiss, and Righty returned it with just as much energy, whimpering a bit as the kiss broke accidentally.

With Righty’s face in the open, Jade came back to the side of the bed and dropped the camera into place, snapping two photos in quick succession. Righty’s hips moved roughly now, nearly hurting my back each time she slammed them down, and the forelegs she’d wrapped around me were trembling—but no orgasm.

At last, Righty looked sideways, facing Jade, and offered a broad smile. Jade snapped one shot, adjusted for another, and cheerfully called out, “Cheese!”

Righty slammed down one last time, her walls holding my stallionhood tightly inside as her eyes rolled back and she shuddered hard in my lap. Each shudder was a tease on my sensitive flare, pushing me closer and closer to my own limit. Panting, I pulled her into a sloppy, open mouthed kiss as she shook, finally letting myself go with both my tongue and cock pushed into Righty. Seed poured from Righty’s rear as I overfilled her, but I kept things calm, at least by my standards.

* * * * *

Righty had been a little reluctant to go back down for the pageant when she came to her senses, but after cleaning up again (which she seemed more than a little relieved I suggested we do separately), she’d reluctantly agreed to head back downstairs. That was nearly spoiled by the dancers who’d been placing bets earlier—each wanted to know precisely what we’d done, where we’d sat, what I had talked with her about. Pirouette, of all ponies, had saved the day, chasing them back to the stage and insisting that I’d behaved myself for once. As grateful as I was for the reprieve, I could’ve done without the “for once,” and for that matter, without the girls laughing hysterically at the idea that I’d behaved.

Righty stuck close to me as we took our seats, though the way she kept shooting glances around the room, rather than enjoying company, I suspected that I was just the evil she knew. I passed the time waiting for the pageant looking at the decorations instead of talking with Righty, and there was no question Shimmer’s touch had put things a cut above last year’s pageant, but it was still the same story I’d heard every year since I was a foal, and despite myself, my mind wandered. My eyes were on the ceiling, wondering about the pattern of tinsel, why it was braided so thickly, and why it ran to the door, when the pageant reached its climax.

“Windigoes!” cried a sackcloth covered unicorn from the stage—and then everypony not in the pageant that year screamed. The twisted tinsel running overhead had pulled open the front and back doors of both The Tall Tail and Primavera, as well as the door between, blasting everypony in the audience with very real icy wind! Staff with dates huddled together, and not even Righty refused to scoot close while we waited for the show on stage to conclude.

“And together,” read a visibly embarrassed Bruises, “They named their new land: Equestria!” Though the doors had closed several lines before, applause was somewhat muted as ponies shivered. I had to wonder just how Shimmer had sold Pirouette on the trick, but I had to agree that anything shaking up the tired old pageant was welcome.

As Righty moved back to claim a little space, Primavera walked over with a tray of hors d'oeuvres. “Done, would you and your date care for a treat? I got in some wonderful cheese, and—”

Primavera’s jaw dropped as Righty began to gasp and blush. I blinked. There was no way! It hit me, then: …when you hear the word ‘cheese!’

It took me the rest of the night to talk Righty out of my apartment.

Author's Note

Phew. With my December mood, getting this done nearly killed me (I finished by pulling an all nighter), but here she is, finally, Datte's OC, Righty! The trigger word isn't something I'll be doing a lot of in Smoke, as it leaves a loose end, but I'm a little less strict with OC chapters. As long as it doesn't wreck the story, a character, or just plain not fit in Smoke, I like to accommodate the OC owner's requests. And besides, it was an accident!

Poor, poor Righty.

Art of Righty in this chapter is by Datte himself.