Author's Note

Warning preachy as shit

Better Left Unasked

A mare of noble birth finds what has to be the ultimate in exotic trophy husbands, but her desire for 2D arm candy is thrown into question when he proves to be far less vapid, and much more real and thought-provoking than expected.

You are Fleur de Lis, Canterlot’s top model for 5 years running. Right now, you’re cuddled with your coltfriend (boyfriend?) Anonymous and watching a movie.

Video cassette players are expensive, but they’re the latest and greatest in home entertainment. Your Anon seemed terribly amused by just their existence, but just waved away your question when asked, piling yet another, though minor, mystery on him.

The artistic animated rendition of one of your favorite stories distracts you from the ever more persistent thoughts about the warm body holding you.

Anon…

Where you expected a pretty lowborn to shamelessly take the silent agreement to remain pretty and act tolerable for a life of luxury, he defied you. Anon kept his job after moving into your home, somehow feels the need to do more than a stallion should, and is slow and wary of marriage, the total opposite of a potential husband.

But he says he loves you with such emotion that your heart flutters.

He’s either genuine, or a world-class actor, and both worry you.

From his spot behind you on the couch, your human lets out a deep hum that you’ve learned signals contentment. ”It’s times like this I enjoy most.”

You flick an ear and look back just enough to see his smiling face. “Why eez zat, ma cherie? Are you a connoisseur of films?”

He chuckles deep in his chest, a rich sound. “The movie is fine, I’m more talking about just being with you.”

Being here with you? But he’s always with you.

“I do not understand?”

His smile lowers. “It’s, ah, not important,” he says, tightening his hold on you just the slightest. “A boring, almost pity-party thing,” he gently buries his face in your mane. “I love you, and you I, and that’s the important part,” he murmurs.

Again, the words “I love you” make you feel lighter than air and send a fluttering feeling up your stomach all the way to your throat, almost robbing you of your voice. “You always say it’z not important when I ask you to explain things, ma cherie,” you say weakly.

He remains silent and disappointment creeps up on you. He’s not going to explain yet again.

”It was an odd time, back on earth,” Anon begins abruptly, making you forget the film to listen.

His voice, though, has a tone you cannot place.

“My generation hit adulthood too late to explore the now mapped world, but too early to explore other worlds since the technology necessary is still in its infancy. There was no conflicts or great goals to work towards. An era of just waiting,” he pauses. “The whole planet was getting stir-crazy with nothing to do sans monotonous life, and so people began inventing problems.”

You’re suddenly not liking where this was going.

”Arbitrary lines began to be drawn in the sand every which way, dividing people over the most asinine things. It became so bad that a single metaphorical step could step on two or three sets of toes and ignite enough conflict to ruin your life, if not end it.”

The fluttering feeling is suddenly replaced with a creeping chill in the center of your stomach, but you dare not interrupt.

Again, Anon pauses, then he takes a breath that ruffles your mane some. “Jesus this is going to sound preachy. One such line was between man and woman, male and female.”

What..?

”Roles and dynamics broke down and working family units became scarce. Power was shifted under a guise of equality when really it was the opposite. Before Equestria, I had resigned myself to, well…” he hesitates and pulls you closer. “Be alone. For good.”

Your breath stops short and physical pain shoots through your chest as if a blunt spike was wedged between your ribs. You have to pat your chest to make sure there isn’t actually anything there.

Anon? Alone?

”There are other men in real relationships, men who are married, who can't even hold their wives like we do with each other because of those power shifts. If they try, then they could face serious social AND legal trouble if something as simple as a touch was considered unsolicited. Some are HAPPY that it’s that way and think that a relationship like that is fulfilling because of hate they have instilled in themselves. They’re small in number, but it does happen. I’m not one of them, but neither did I want to risk myself, so I just removed myself from the equation and waited.”

Waited for what you struggle to say, but the words don’t come.

”He takes a deep breath. “Blech, enough of that,” he says, the tone you can't place gone and a smile back on his face. “Sorry I blabbered so long. So that’s why I love just being with you sometimes,” he punctuates his explanation with a hand run through your cold-sweat dampened chest tuft and a kiss on your neck. “Now, movie time!”

That night, you sleep fitfully.