Sherlock Hooves - A Study in Pinkie

A bag containing a body was unzipped by a unicorn. The unicorn had a grey coat, a short, black, curly mane and a blue scarf. "How fresh?" the unicorn asked an earth pony, whose name was Marely Hooper, that was in the the room.
"Just came in!" she replied. "67 natural causes. Used to work here. I knew him. He was nice!". The unicorn zipped the bag back up.

"Fine" he said with a smile. "We'll start with the whip".

The unicorn continuously whipped the dead body, while Marely just watched with a blank expression. The unicorn stopped whipping. "Bad day was it?" she asked with a chuckle. "Listen, I was wondering, maybe later-".

"You wearing lipstick? You weren't wearing lipstick before" he interrupted.

"I uh... re-freshened it a bit!" Marely said with a blush. The unicorn didn't buy it, but let her continue. "I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee?" she asked.

"Black, two sugars please! I'll be upstairs" the unicorn walked away, not know what she was really asking. Marely just stood there.

"Okay" she said.

The unicorn was doing some experiments when he heard a knock on the door. The door opened and two stallions came walking in: Mike Stanhoof and John Trotson. The unicorn looked at the two. "Well" Trotson started. "Bit different from my day".

"Mike can I borrow your instant sender? I've lost mine" the unicorn asked.

"Sorry, it's in my jacket" Mike replied.

"Use mine" Trotson said as he handed the instant letter sender to the unicorn.

"Um... thank you" the unicorn thanked him as he took the IS.

"Old friend of mine. John Trotson" Mike told the unicorn. The unicorn started writing the letter.

"How was the battle?" the unicorn asked. Trotson's eyes widened. Mike grinned.

"Sorry?" Trotson said, seeing if he asked what he think he asked.

"How was the changeling battle?" the unicorn repeated himself. Trotson looked at Mike, still grinning.

"Uh... like any other battle" he answered. "How did you-"

"Ah, Marely, coffee!" the unicorn interrupted Trotson as he took his coffee. "What happened to the lipstick?" he asked.

"It wasn't working for me" Marely replied.

"Really? I thought it was a big improvement!" the unicorn stated. "Now it's to... small".

"Okay" she said bluntly. The unicorn walked over to the microscope.

"How do you feel about the violin?" he asked Trotson.

"Sorry, what?" Trotson replied without an answer.

"I play the violin when I'm thinking, or I talk to days on end. Would that bother you?" the unicorn asked. "Potential flatmate, need preferences". Trotson looked at Mike.

"You told him about me" he said.

"Not a word" Mike replied.

"Then who said anything about flatmates?" Trotson asked.

"I did. Told Mike this morning I must be a difficult man to find a flatmate for, now here he is!" the unicorn replied. "An old friend who returned from the changeling battle, I think it's perfect". Trotson looked down, then back at the unicorn, wanting some answers.

"How did you know about me in the changeling battle?" he asked.

"Nice little place in central Trotdon. Together we might be able to afford it" the unicorn said without giving an answer, once again. "Be there tomorrow, 7 o'clock. Sorry, gotta dash". He started for the door

"Is that it then" Trotson said.

"Is that what?" the unicorn asked.

"We've only just met, and we're going to look at a flat"

"...Problem?"

"We don't know a thing about each other, I don't know where we're meeting, and I don't even know your name" Trotson made a point. The unicorn stared at him.

"I know you're a a military doctor who had just come home from the changeling war. I know you have a brother who you worry about but you don't go to him, possibly because he's an alcoholic, and he recently walked out on his wife" the grey unicorn basically told Trotson the events of the past 3 months in a nutshell. "That's enough to go on with, don't you think?". Trotson just stood there, dumbfounded. The unicorn opened the door and turn to Trotson. "The name's Sherlock Hooves and the address is 221B Baker Street. Afternoon". Trotson turned to Mike.

"Yep, he's always like that" he said.