“Hey Berry. Can I get the usual?”
“Sure.”
The bartender reached over and pulled on a tap, pouring cinnamon cider in a mug and sliding it over. Roseluck took the mug and took a small sip.
“Haven’t seen you for a while.” The bar wasn’t really busy per-say. It was kind of quiet. There was a small murmur running through the bar patrons as they chatted up their neighbors. Even then, she could still here Berry’s question clearly.
“I went to visit my mom n’ pop up in Trottingham.” Roseluck took a gulp now, letting the spice settle deep in her core. It had been an ungodly type of cold outside.
“How’d that go?” Berry finished sliding over another drink for a patron three chairs down from where Rose was sitting and walked over, setting her front hooves on the heavy and smooth oakwood bartop. Roseluck gave a noncommittal shrug before swallowing another sip and setting the mug down.
“Welp, dad only threatened to have my brother arrested twice, and my brother didn’t show up piss-drunk like he usually does. Heck, I’d take it as a plus, at least they managed to keep the fighting civil.” Berry whistled and walked away. Somepony else had ordered a mug of fermented apple cider. When she got back, she found Roseluck staring into her drink.
“I’m sorry to hear that. How’s that better than last time though?” Berry asked. The bar had been emptying as they talked. Patrons were gathering their hats and coats and venturing home before heavy snowfall made hoof-travel all but impossible. After a dozen or so minutes, it was only Berry, Roseluck, and a few stragglers downing the last jug before stumbling to the coat and hat peg and out the door.
“Last time, they got physical and the neighbors had to call the cops to break it up.” Roseluck replied plainly before finishing her cider. “Good stuff.” She commented, and headed to the rack where her hat, wool coat, and pink scarf lay.
“You sure you don’t want to stay the night? I still got a room-”
“Nah. It’s fine. I’ll be okay, snow’s not too bad and I’ll be home before it piles up too bad.”
“It’s not the snow I’m worried about. I know you, Rosie. You ain’t okay right now.” Berry stated, an unintentional mixture of pity and concern coming to her eyes as she moved to the door-flap of the oak bar top. “Look, I know the past couple of days have been pretty brutal, and take it from me, an empty house is not something you want to come back to after going through hell and back.”
Roseluck simply raised her eyes in acknowledgement, pursed her lips, and sighed. “ Thanks, but no thanks Berry. All I need right now’s my own bed and a cup of tea.” She replied, already throwing on her pink scarf.
“Alright. I trust you, but just remember, I always have a room open.” With those words in her ear, Roseluck left the bar and headed home.
She lived in the hilly-er part of the town with a pretty average community. A a couple good neighbors here , a couple bad neighbors there, and a couple indifferent ones scattered throughout. Still, the houses were affordable, since they were made by the ponies that lived there, and could be sold or bought for a favor or a couple bits. It was ten minutes from The Hills to the main part of town where the bar was.
She got home, took off her coat, hat, and scarf. She set them down on her small couch and went upstairs, going straight into her bed and laying her head on the pillow.
She didn’t sleep for a long time after that.
~~
It's that feeling you get when you're up in the middle of the night, pouring yourself a scotch on the rocks. Redheart looked down at the floating ice-cubes in her shot cup.
