Subs and Sandwiches

“And as I was saying darling, if I hadn’t found those tickets, the whole night would have been positively ruined! Luckily, Fluttershy noticed something poking out underneath a spool of ribbon, and there they were! We had such a divine night, she and I. It was fortunate that the show didn’t start for another half an hour, wouldn’t you agree?” The customer smiled over the counter expectantly, primping her purple immaculately-curled mane.

Ghost took a deep breath and held it for a few counts before releasing it. “I, um, of course. But I just wanted to know if you wanted whipped cream on your drink.” She tried not to look too exasperated. Honestly, working in two coffee shops was one of the worst decisions she had ever made, especially since The Coffee Pup brought its own sort of chaos.

You still had chatty or rude customers, and you also had “pets” that mewled, squeaked, barked, twittered, and made quite the mess under the tables as they lapped at their pet drinks. It always took extra mopping to get rid of the various fluids on the floor. Ghost refused to be fired over somepony slipping, after all.

The customer had the grace to look embarrassed. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, darling, no whipped cream, thank you. I’m just so pleased with how last night went, I didn’t mean to take up your time. You do understand, right?”

Ghost bit her lip and nodded. Patience, she reminded herself. All good employees had to be patient. Besides, her payments at Clocktower funded her expensive hobby, and a small private room to crash in when she was too exhausted to portal back to her apartment in San Fransiscolt.

At least this mare seemed to be one of the last customers of the night, Celestia willing. The day had already been long and exhausting. The arrival of the autumn drinks had brought along a flood of ponies eager to enjoy their favorites, and her early-morning shift was nonstop.

As the mare trotted out of The Coffee Pup, sipping her Twittermite Frappuchino, Ghost sighed and grabbed a mop. Time to clean up that one puppy’s latte mess, and then she could close up shop and go relax with one of her friends. She hummed to herself and got to work cleaning. Closing a few minutes early wouldn’t be a crime, right?

A prerecorded chirping sound alerted Ghost to a new customer entering the shop. She sighed and dashed back to the counter. Why oh why did she say she could handle this shift by herself? She beamed at the pegasus stallion that entered, hoping her grin didn’t betray her exhaustion and annoyance. “Welcome to the Coffee Pup, what can I get started for you?”

The pegasus tossed his pale yellow mane, which was artfully piled into a bun, and smiled back. “Oh, I am just doing wonderfully, thank you for asking. You have no idea what sort of day this has been! I just joined this wonderful establishment, you see, and everypony has been simply fabulous!” He winked at Ghost, making her muzzle scrunch up. Oh, how she wished she could tell this pony that she didn’t care about his life story, she just wanted him to order something, anything.

He continued, propping his head up on his hooves and swishing his tail. “You see, I’ve been looking for a pet of my own, and I have got to say, most ponies here have been pretty sweet. Yourself included, sugar!” She cringed. Oh please, no, please don’t let him be actually flirting with me!

The stallion misinterpreted her reaction and held out a hoof to shake. “Where are my manners? I’m Zephyr Breeze, mane stylist extraordinaire, perhaps you’ve heard of me?” He didn’t even wait for her to shake her head before he pressed on, unperturbed that she never shook his hoof back. “I know, it’s a lot to take in, honey, but don’t you worry, I never forget a fan! Now why don’t you just tell me your name and... hm… Here, we can grab this booth and chat a little, what do you say?”

Ghost flinched. “I, ah, actually I can’t do that, sir, as I work here, and we need to be closing up soon, and-”

Zephyr grabbed her hoof and tugging her over the counter towards an empty seat. “Now now, there’s nopony else to worry about. It’s just me and you, and I just want to chat a little. It’s so very nice to meet a friendly pony, and- Hey, what was that for?”

Ghost had yanked her hoof away, and picked herself up from where he had sprawled her across the counter. “Towertop!” He blinked and took a step back at her safeword. “Please stop flirting with me.”

Zephyr visibly winced and opened his mouth, but Ghost held up a hoof and continued. “I, um, I’m sorry sir, but we’re closed, and I need to lock up and go home, and I don’t need you to walk me so please, um, go check out a different shop? ”

The stallion’s smile fell into a pout. “Oh, but sugar, I just… I saw you were a white collar, and thought you might want a bit of company. I was just being nice, honest. There was no need to safeword, I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable. You sure you don’t need somepony to walk you home?” He smiled at her hopefully.

She scowled. “No, I don’t. I’ve got a friend coming over. You don’t get to choose how your actions feel towards others, sir. And, for your information, just because my collar says I’m looking for a permanent dom doesn’t mean that I’m automatically interested.” Ghost stomped her hoof on the counter. “Now, please, if you’re not going to order a drink, get out, because I need to close up!”

Zephyr’s face went through a variety of expressions, ranging from shock to anger to sadness, but he seemed defeated. He sighed and trudged out the door, turning to glance at her one last time before wandering down the path. The mare sighed in relief before trotting up front to turn off the ‘Open’ sign. Her breath came in little huffs as she thought about what happened.

First things first, though, she had to get somepony to walk her home. Her hoof hovered over her Pipsub as she considered who she should message. The only pony she expected would be around Pet Town at this time of night was Misty Step. She quickly sent a request to her friend, before slumping over at the counter.

That was pretty scary, she had to admit. But she did the right thing. So why did she still feel a twinge of guilt? It wasn’t as though he didn’t respect her safeword, so why was she reacting that way? Were those tears? Why was she crying? He barely touched her, and she had stood her ground, and he left. End of story. There was no reason to be upset, these tears were therefore illogical and should go away! The tears, of course, did not obey her logic, and kept trickling down her face. She sniffled, then crumpled against the counter as she tried not to bawl openly.

No, this would not do. She didn’t even have a tissue box or a wad of napkins to wipe away her tears. The coffee shop’s alarm chirped, announcing the arrival of somepony, but Ghost didn’t feel like facing any customer, especially in her current mood. She slouched in front of the counter, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.

A hoof on her shoulder made Ghost look up into the concerned eyes of Misty, who was panting. She must have ran all the way over. “Hey, Ghostie, I came here as soon as I could. You don’t look too good. Wanna talk about it?”

Ghost gasped in relief as she saw her friend, and gave her the bone scrushingest hug she could manage, her tears falling onto smooth chitin. “N-not really, Misty. I just want to forget what happened!”

The changeling frowned and held Ghost close. “You’re safe, right? Did somepony hurt you? Do you need me to get a Den Mother?” Ghost shook her head frantically and hugged tighter. “Okay, okay, easy there! You’ll crack my chitin!”

Ghost sniffled, but let her friend go. Misty smiled and ran a hole-riddled hoof through Ghost’s mane. “ There there, it’s all okay. Hey, you have a room in CTS, right? Why don’t we go over there and continue this. You lock up, and I’ll stand guard outside. If anypony is watching, I’ll bap them in the nose!”

Ghost managed a weak smile and nodded. She wiped her tears away as best she could as her friend marched out to stand guard. Misty was right. She probably should report this to a Den Mother. They’d know what to do. But right now all she wanted was a break from this whole mess. Celestia knew she needed it.

She finished cleaning up and locked the Coffee Pup, then nodded at Misty to follow her.

“Hey, Ghostie, don’t worry. Nopony was waiting outside. That doesn’t make this any less scary, but I’ve got your back.” Misty nuzzled her friend, concern written all over her face. Ghost nodded as she led the changeling out of Pet Town, and towards one of the main roads.

Ghost didn’t say a word until they reached the private chamber area of Clocktower, and were in an elevator going up to her room. “I plan to go to a Den Mother and sort this out, but I really need a bit of a break to clear my head, you know? I feel far too wound up to discuss what happened. I hope you understand.”

Misty nodded, lost in thought as they reached Ghost’s room. Ghost would have commented on the lack of a reply if she had the energy, but all she managed was a weary sigh as she held up her Pipsub to the door handle. The door unlocked with a friendly beep.

“You know,” Misty grinned, her gaze sweeping across the cosy, messy little apartment, “I have an idea on how to make you feel better. You still got those pet supplies stashed here?”

Ghost nodded, a flicker of excitement washing away her fatigue and warming her growing smile. Misty ruffled the unicorn mare’s mane. “Perfect. Put on your kitten ears and meet me in the kitchen in five minutes. I’m gonna set everything up!”

Ghost scampered to her bedroom, which consisted mainly of a bookshelf heaped with novels and clothes, and a nest made of cushions and pillows. She dug out a pair of white cat ear accessories from under the bed, trembling with joy. As an afterthought, she put on a set of pale blue socks with paws printed on them.

She hadn’t done any sort of scene in weeks, she had been too busy. The idea of playing with Misty filled her with fillyish glee. She bounced on her hoof tips, full of nervous energy.

After a few minutes had ticked by, Misty called her back. “Here, kitty, kitty, it’s time for your supper!”

Supper, Ghost realized with a pang, had been the half sandwich a customer had returned, saying they didn’t want it toasted. Not much of a meal. She padded out of her room in her paw booties, flicking her tail.

Misty smiled down at Ghostie. She had set up a fluffy, pony-sized pet bed on the tiled kitchen floor, and set out a bowl of what looked like cream. Swinging from her crooked horn was a keychain with a silver tube with some buttons on it. Ghostie had no idea what it was; she was just a cat after all.

Ghostie mewled happily at the sight of the bowl though. She sashayed towards it and settled down on the fluffy bed in front of it. Misty chuckled and stroked her back gently, earning a purr. The kitten lapped at the drink, and recognised the sweet, smooth qualities of Cuddlebug, and basked in the warmth it stirred within her. As she enjoyed the taste, Misty’s pets pressed harder into her back, until it became a full-on massage, kneading her hooves into the overworked cat’s shoulders and spine.

Ghostie sighed, her breath creating ripples in cream in her bowl. She relaxed, sprawled out on the bed, occasionally lapping at the comforting drink. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so comfortable.

Misty finished her massage, leaving Ghostie’s muscles all tingly and unwound, then levitated a brush over to start working on the kitten’s mane. Ghostie meowed happily and finished her drink, free for the moment from her worries and stress. Those belonged with Ghost Phase the Pony, not Ghostie the Kittycat.

She stretched as she righted herself, mewling up at Misty. Her owner grinned, setting down the brush and pulling the keychain off her horn. “Does the kitty want to play? Hm? How’s this, kitty?” She pressed the button on the tube, and Ghostie cocked her head. Nothing came out of it, but it glowed slightly red at the tip. Misty giggled at the silly cat and pointed at the ground.

Aha! There was a red dot! Ghostie reached paw down tentatively and batted at it. It wavered and darted away, across the room! With a gasp, she crept forward, stalking the dot. Right as she pounced, it zipped around her.

She turned after it, but it kept on moving, and she spun in circles to try to catch it. It stopped, but she kept going, turning around again before stumbling to a stop dizzily. It darted back to her owner’s hooves, and she snuck up on it and pounced! She had it! When she lifted her paw, it was gone.

Misty stroked the kitten’s head. “Good little kitty. Come, curl up with me. I’ll read a book to you. You don’t even need to worry about what it’s saying, because you’re just a cute little pet. I may even pet you, if you’re good!”

Ghostie swished her tail and followed her owner as she sat down on a couch with sunken, worn-out cushions and patted the seat next to her. The cat jumped up and snuggled her way under her owner’s chin, who began to read the first pamphlet she pulled out of her bag.

“Contrary to what most ponies believe, Chrysalis is still at large, and her changelings are still out- wait, this is not a story to read to a cat. Fine, then, I’ll just make up my own! Alright, once upon a time, there was a brave little cat and an evil bad mousie. The cat lived in a far off kingdom called Cat-questria, and- Hey, stop giggling! Cats don’t laugh!” Misty chuckled and pet the giggling Ghostie.

Misty continued with the story once Ghostie had calmed down, but the kitten was hardly listening. She felt happier than she had in a long time, and wished for a fleeting moment that she could stay like this forever, chin resting on her friend’s thigh, careless, worry free. Of course, it wouldn’t last, but until the story ended, she didn’t have to think about Den Mothers and stressful jobs and clueless twats with narcissistic tendencies.

And Ghostie was perfectly fine with that.

Ghost finished telling her story, and reached out to claim a cookie from the bag Sandy ordered for the group. A sniffle drew her attention to the sight of a teary-eyed Misty. “Oh, goodness, I didn’t mean to make you cry!”

Ghost squeaked as the changeling grabbed her in a tight hug. Misty stiffened for a brief second in surprise before returning the hug, embracing the smaller unicorn with both hooves and both wings. They stayed like that for a few minutes before letting go, eyes still watery.

Misty wiped her eyes. “I didn’t realize that meant so much to you. You never did tell me what happened, after we went over to the Den Mothers. You seemed too tired to retell it.”

Ghost blushed. “Well, I was pretty tired. I meant to tell you, though, I swear!”

“You never swear, Ghostie, but yeah, you fell asleep in the elevator that night. I had to tuck you in. Has anypony told you that you snore?” Ghost gasped and gently nudged a mischievous looking Misty away, much to Sandy and Print’s amusement.

Sandy gathered the pages of notes she had made. “Well, that’s all I needed, I really appreciate you girls coming out here to tell your stories, and-”

“Hold on, you don’t think we’re letting you off that easily, do ya?” Print clasped a hoof over Sandy’s. “You should share your favorite Clocktower memory with us!”

Sandy gulped and looked around at the table. Ghost nodded, and Misty smirked. “Hey, it’s only fair. Come on, tell us, and there had better be kinkiness and sexiness! There’s no excuse with a mare as hot as you.”

Sandy rolled her eyes and pulled out a pad of paper. “As it happens, I wrote out my favorite memory beforehand, so it reads perfectly well. My own experience wasn’t enough, though, so I went to you for help. I don’t mind reading it, if you don’t mind listening. It all started in a Cathedral, as one pony made her preparations…”