Sleipnir Colony - A Short Story Collection

“Ah, another lovely day.”

The shutters on the front of Close Shave’s shop rattled open. It was 6:30am in the morning, she got to work at this time every day. There was never a huge amount to do at the beginning of the day but she had to make sure she was ready for the clients.

Close Shave was a mane dresser. Well, one of only three on the entire colony. With all the advances in technology the Empire had produced, many companies had invented automatic devices that kept ponies manes, tails and even chest fluff always looking tidy and trim. However some still preferred the personal touch of a pony who cared for the craft and could use a pair of scissors well. Besides, the devices were never perfect either like so much technology and were not always capable of giving a style or look the customer wanted from them. Close Shave had built up a steady roster of clients over the years since opening, they trusted her hooves.

The mare herself was not massive, weighing just shy of 1000 pounds she was still able to do her duty well, she kept herself from gaining and losing her touch. Her business was important to her. Her weight allowed to her to keep working and indulge herself from time to time.

In her employ, two other ponies. Piecey Cut was a slightly heavier unicorn who was a whizz with achieving rather more complex looks than Close Shave could manage. Beveled Bouffant was an older mare who could more delicately see to her older clients needs. She had an incredible knowledge of hair styles dating back years. In her twilight years she had lost rather a lot of weight, the slimmest of the three. Each had their own strengths that made the three mare run shop work like a well oiled machine.

The other two arrived at 7:30am. The shop opened at 8:00am. The ledger was inspected for appointments, rather archaic to use paper instead of one of them newer point of sale systems that seemed to be everywhere but it was a simple solution that worked and was cheap. The day was mostly booked up with ponies coming in for trim ups. The three had a chat about who had who today and then prepared themselves to begin work.

Close Shave loved her job for another reason, the juicy gossip. Part of the job of being a mane dresser was giving your clients something to talk about. Younger ponies she often noticed would be glued to their personal devices (or pad devices, the shop was big enough to support ponies on their pads if they were of that size) and she had no problem working in silence. It was a bit of a drag though with no talk.

Her first customer of the day was Charity Bell. Always one for gossip, that pony had a good job at the Grav-Pad corporation.

“I heard a rumour.” was the first thing she said as she parked her pad in front of one of the mirrors so Close Shave could get to work on her, starting with her tail.

“Oh do tell dear, I’m just giving your tail a trim. Something good?” she asked as her scissors got to work around her customers tail, poking up from above her fat rear end and out the suit she had on. She never seemed to take that thing off, still it had done her body shape wonders…

“New pad line coming in soon, supposed to be able to support even heavier ponies. They’re being very quiet on where the technology to develop it has come from though, I can’t even find out from my usual friends in the company. A snatch of conversation from elsewhere I heard seemed to indicate it was a little, under the hoof. You might have to expand your shop!” she laughed. “Expect to see even bigger ponies on the colony soon.”

“Bigger? I expect one day we’ll be having mountains of flab that rival Equestrians roaming the streets. Whatever next…” Close Shave replied. She finished up Charity’s tail and did her usual mane cut she seemed pleased with. The pony was already on her pad phone to her friend as she piloted her way out. “Melody! I’ve just finished, about that meal?” she heard her say.

Next in was a pony she didn’t recognise, but upon looking at the ledger it clearly read Vast Knowledge that the client confirmed. A little on the hefty side, but not ridiculously big. Another pad user. She was working her way round her face doing her mane when suddenly the mare started to weep.

“Oh I’m sorry dear, did I nick your cheek?” Close Shave asked, aware she was working around that area.

“N-no it’s not that. I’m a teacher you see, it’s one of my students…” she began to say.

“Ohhhh, is the kid being difficult or something else? Back when I was at school we were just happy when it was lunch time.” the mane dresser joked, but it didn’t seem to go down too well with her new client.

“It’s a bit more than that, she’s gone. Off colony. It was best for her, she wanted to be thin and a lovely ship pilot took her with him. But she was such a nice student, my class feels a little emptier without her in it…” she leaned down and wiped a tear away with her hoof. “It’s just, I’ve had students transfer to other classes and stuff, even some to other schools but I often see them about or know they’re here. This one, it’s like she’s really gone…”

The mare put her hooves around the teacher and gave her a reassuring hug. “I’m sure wherever she is out in the universe she’s thankful she had such a wonderful teacher like you who looked after her. Like you said, it was the best for her, right?” Close Shave said, carrying on cutting her mane as the mare stopped weeping.

“Y-yeah, you’re right. Oh I’m terribly sorry for going to pieces in your shop.”

“Think nothing of it dear, I’ve had customers do much worse believe me.”

The rest of the conversation was pleasant. The teacher talked of how she loved her class and passing on knowledge, her namesake ringing true. After her mane style and cut was done she even left a small tip and hugged Close Shave before leaving, saying she’d be back.

At lunch time the shop shut for one hour. The three mares got together in the back room to eat, relying stories of their customers to one another. Piecey Cut had a rather gruff stallion who had wanted, in her opinion, his tiny goatee styled in a particular way that was far too difficult. She had spent an hour on it alone. Beveled Bouffant had spent her morning doing 3 mares with beehive style cuts that were trying a retro look. She lamented remembering a time when that style was all the rage.

Back to work and Close Shave’s first customer of the afternoon was a young stallion, looked to be in his early 20’s. Already a porker of a pony. When she enquired why he wanted it done by hoof rather than by a machine he just smiled, saying:

“I’m a bit particular about my mane, and they never get it just right, you know?”

The rest of the conversation was rather dry, just talk of how the stallion was aiming to be a world class eater whilst looking absolutely irresistible to the colonies mare’s, seemed he wanted a bit more than just his cake to eat. After this he was heading straight to Blubber King for his daily meal. He paid the exact amount for his cut and left. No tip.

Next in was one of her more hefty customers. Diamond Dozen, or just Di as she often preferred was always nice to chat too. Her extra weight made it a little difficult to cut around her rump however, she always maintained a rather lust tail that often got lost in her excessive rear. Still, it was worth it, she left a generous tip.

“Day off?” Close Shave asked her.

“One of my few.” came the reply.

“Just had one of your regulars.”

“Oh?” Di, no matter when she was off the job, was never really off the job. Close Shave always found it easier to steer the conversation towards her work.

“Young stallion, he was already waddling. Wanted to be a world class eater. Said he spends most of his time eaten at your joint. I think he’s trying to impress the girls.”

“Well, good to know he hasn’t defected to the competition yet. We’re having to put in some real big measures to bring ponies back. You’ll see.”

The rest of the trim went as normal, Di thanking her and asking for the name of the stallion she had mentioned on her way out. Close Shave passed it on, asking why she was interested in one of many customers.

“I think he deserves a little something for staying loyal.” was all Di said as she left.

At 5:30pm, the shop closed and the last customers left. The rest of the day had been uneventful, Piecey Cut got to deal with a number of young school ponies who were notoriously difficult as always and Bevelled Bouffant had some of the older ponies in. They often asked for her.

The register was balanced up, the floor cleaned of all hair from the many manes that had been cut and a final clean done before tomorrow. The two other workers left at 6:00pm and Close Shave finally got out of there and shut the shutters down at 6:30pm. 12 hours was a long day but, she was used to it and never minded that much. Taking one last look at the shop for the day until tomorrow she began to waddle her way home, wondering what tales of the colony she’d hear the next day. Sometimes what she was told was better than the news.