Farmers and Fashionistas: The Fuck-Off

"Ah can't believe that mare! Ya think with her bein' element of generosity an' all that she'd think of others before hersel...especially with romance like this! That's her thing, innit? She's always goin' on about bein' a lady and romancin' colts an' all. Ah don't know why she'd think it'd be okay to go do somethin' like this!" Applejack ranted over a mug of cider, sitting on a bale of hay besides Anonymous and his own mug. The barrel sat beside them, tapped and ready to refill the wooden cups held together in the same way the barrel was.

"Yeah...you say you can't believe it, but really, it seems just like something she'd do when she wants something badly enough. I'm flattered, really, I am! It's nice to know there's a couple of wonderful mares who share an interest in me, but...really? At least have the decency to let me have a choice in the matter. 'Rude' doesn't even begin to describe how messed up it was for her to go and ruin things like that for me and Rose," Anon answered, taking a long draw of his cider, emptying it entirely and gaining a side-eyed look from AJ.

She took the cup, refilling it before handing it back to him. "Careful now, partner. Drinkin' might help ya out fer now, but it won't do much ta help in the long run and this is some strong stuff. Yer gonna feel it in the mornin', an' Ah don't wanna be held responsible. 'Sides, ya got no way home tonight if ya get too loaded, an' I don't think Mac would appreciate me havin' ya over when he's outta town with Granny, an Applebloom is with her friends." The moment she said that, realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, her epiphany coming to her suddenly and without warning. "Actually, ya know what? Unless they ask, which Ah have no reason to believe they will, they won't know you were ever here. Still don't think Ah wantcha drunk off yer ass, cause in the mornin' Ah'm gonna have ya help me out on the farm to pay for whatchyer drinkin' there. Think ya can handle a bit of apple pickin' for me, Sugarcube?" she asked him, taking a swig of her own drink, feeling her heart beat a tad faster as she looked him over. Now was her chance. Rarity had her turn, it seemed, and the apple-based mare was gonna take a crack at cracking Anon's lonely shell.

Anon, for his part, had no idea what was going on. He just took another long swig of his drink, but left most of it in the mug now, pacing himself while she spoke. If he had work in the morning, then he wasn't get sauced like he planned. He waved his hand in her direction, dismissing her concerns for the moment. "AJ, I'll be fine. I know my limits with your cider, and I know how drunk I can get before I can't get myself to work in the morning," he said with yet another drink. This time, he reached across her lap to the barrel, helping himself.

AJ, meanwhile, just looked at him sideways. Mmhmm. Sure ya do, sugarcube. She brought an orange hand up to pat him gently on the back, and on the way back up, she slung it around his shoulder and leaned into him. "Say, Anon...Ah know yer a lil tipsy, an' so am Ah...an' Ah know ya aren't particularly happy with the situation goin' on right now...but what if Ah told ya there's another mare that'd like yer attention? Somepony...ya know, real close to ya? Someone who wants ta get...closer..." she said, stepping carefully through her words as though the wrong one would set him off in an instant. She'd seen him rant about what had gone down. However, she figured that, if things got worse, she could at least blame it on the cider. She decided to push her luck a bit further, leaning her muzzle towards his face.

"AJ?" he started, looking at her, a tad cross-eyed due to her proximity.

"Yeah, Anon?"

"I'm going home. You and Rarity are both nuts. You both think you can get what you want just cause I'm not seeing Roseluck. Truth is, if both of you are going to act this way, I'm not sure I can be around you two. Also I'm kinda drunk and that isn't helping right now. I'm gonna go home, sleep it off, and tomorrow, I wanna talk to you and Rarity about what's been going on. Seem fair?"

Applejack pulled back, a heavy and ashamed blush crossing her orange cheeks. She gave a nod, set her mug on top of the barrel, and stood. "Yeah...yeah, okay Anon. Ah'll be seein' ya tomorrow after mah work is done and Ah can gather Rarity. Wanna meet at yer place? Would be easier fer me to head into town, grab her, and head over instead of comin' back here and havin' you come by, too."

Anon nodded in return, stretching a bit and finishing off what was left of his drink. There was a bit of as tumble in his step, a side effect of drinking, but he managed to make it to the barn door with a wave and a quick goodbye. Applejack looked on in shame, knowing that she'd betrayed her friend's trust by trying to get at him while the both of them had been drinking. With a heavy sigh, she stood to move the barrel back to where it belonged, grabbing the mugs after, and heading inside.

Anon, meanwhile, picked his way home rather carefully. The cider addled his mind, making it fuzzy, his thoughts not entirely clear as he sauntered on down the path. It was getting late, and the sun was setting, but he figured he had enough time to make it home before dark.

Anon's walk home was rather uneventful. A few ponies bid him a good evening, but not much beyond that in terms of close interaction. It was when he got to his doorstep that he noticed things might be getting better. Taped to his door was a rose and a note, the latter being cream colored and adorned with a certain flower-based cutie mark he assumed was from one of the few ponies who would know what that would look like. Ya know...maybe it won't be so hard making it up to her. Taking the note and the rose, he managed to get inside his house, the lights coming on and the door locking by his own doing, all while he had his nose buried in the note.

Anon, it began, the print as flowery as the mark on the page's front fold. I have come to understand that our dinner was not ruined by you being a total ass. It seems a dear friend of yours thought it would be a great joke and did not consider the consequences of said joke. I'd like to meet with you and try again. Say, next Friday? I'll meet you at the marketplace at seven. Dress nicely. Love, Roseluck.

Well. then. Guess Rarity can think about other people after all, even if she was still a liar. Anon, a tad soused still though less so from the brisk walk in the cool evening air, stumbled to his room with rose and note in hand. He collapsed firmly into his bed, passing out in moments.