Tinkering Tom

“Here,” The light-brown stallion said, shoving the bag of groceries across the wood counter back at Tom with a disgruntled snort.

Tom put on his best customer service smile as the stallion closed the register, a heavy thunk as it locked. “I hope you have a wonderful day Mr. Shine.”

The stallion only grunted without looking at him in response as Tom took the bag and left the small grocery store. A soft click of a lock sounded behind him, the store closing for the day. Tom sighed as he looked up at the cloudy sky just outside the store, pegasi flying lazily overhead. “Just another day in paradise.”

Shaking his head Tom turned his attention to his task. The sun was about to set and he had a job to finish.

“And you’re telling me that somehow I missed meeting a six foot tall bipedal creature that’s been living here longer than I have!?” Starlight asked, an incredulous eyebrow raised at Trixie.

Trixie nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Trixie was amazed that you didn’t know either! Really Starlight, for being the student of the princess of friendship you really don’t get out all that often, do you?”

Starlight groaned and rolled her eyes at the smug smile on Trixie’s muzzle. “I do have actual job duties you know?”

Trixie blew a raspberry at Starlight as she waived her hoof at her. “Oh please. Trixie knows you’ve been keeping yourself locked up and away from other ponies lately. This will be fun!”

“I suppose you’re right. And it wouldn’t hurt to at least introduce myself to somecreature new.”

“And it’s a stallion,” Trixie said, a sly grin on her muzzle as she winked at Starlight.

“Great.” Starlight deadpanned. “Just what I need, a prissy stallion to introduce myself to. How did I let you convince me to do this again?”

“Because Trixie is amazing and has great intuition!” The mare boasted, puffing her chest out.

Starlight giggle-snorted at Trixie’s antics. “Alright, alright. I guess if it goes sour we can always say we had plans.”

“Exactly!” Trixie exclaimed, throwing her right hoof into the air, smacking a passing mare.

“Hey, watch yourself!” She shouted, glaring angrily at Trixie.

“Oops,” Trixie said, a nervous smile on her muzzle as she urged Starlight along.

Starlight rolled her eyes and walked a little faster, a smile on her muzzle. Well, at least things should be interesting tonight.

“And here you are. Everything as requested,” Tom said, handing off the bag of groceries to Fluttershy.

“Oh, thank you Tom. You’re always a great help. Here, this is for you,” Fluttershy said with a smile as she dropped a bag of bits in Tom’s hand.

Tom frowned as he felt the weight of the coin sack in his hand. “Fluttershy, you know better than this...”

“Tom, please take it,” Fluttershy said, wrapping her hooves around his hand as she looked up at him with wide eyes and a quivering lip.

Tom groaned. There was no resisting Fluttershy when she used the damned puppy-dog eyes. “Fine. But only because it’s you. Don’t you go telling anyone else about this.”

“Of course not,” Fluttershy said with a big smile, dropping down to all fours.

Well, that was quick. Though, it was always quick. Tom sighed as he pocketed the coin sack into his pocket. I swear, this mare... Paying extra. Tom swore she’d feed and house him for free if he let her. Tom snorted, picturing himself in the animal sanctuary along with the various other creatures Fluttershy cares for.

Yeah, no. Fluttershy is a great friend, but living with a mare who has no romantic interest in him would be detrimental towards his aim of having a family someday. Now, the fact that every mare rejects him despite him being the equivalent of a female in this world is another matter entirely…

“That must be him.”

Tom raised an eyebrow at the voice, turning his body so he can look back at the two unicorn mares at the gate to Fluttershy’s cottage. There was a slender light blue mare with an expression of mild interest on the left while the one on the right was a curvy bodied mare who had a light purple coat with eyes that bore holes through Tom’s soul. Tom grasped the lining of his pants nervously. Why is she staring at me like a fresh piece of meat?

“Oh, hi girls,” Fluttershy greeted warmly. “What brings you here?”

“Well, I heard there was somecreature that I had managed to miss meeting despite all the time I’ve lived here,” The purple unicorn said, stepping forward, her gaze never leaving Tom. She smiled, reaching out with a hoof. “The name’s Starlight, by the way. Starlight Glimmer.”

“Tom,” Tom said, staring right back into Starlight’s eyes, grasping Starlight’s hoof and shaking it. Tom’s muscles tense, he forced an awkward smile.

“And I am the Great and Powerful Trixie!” The light blue unicorn announced, rearing up on her back legs, fireworks going off around her as her horn glowed, demanding Tom’s attention.

“The great and powerful, eh?” Tom said, a chuckle escaping his lips. What have I gotten myself into now? Are they trying to put on a show of strength to prove how ‘marely’ they are?

“Trixie is a top-class illusionist,” Starlight explained, a smirk on her face as she glanced at her enthusiastic friend.

“Ah,” Tom said, nodding as he scratched his chin. “That does explain the bombastic introduction.”

“Well, of course Trixie is top-class. She is Trixie after all,” Trixie said, brushing her mane to the side with a boastful smile. Tom snorted. Of course she’d be one of those mares.

“So,” Starlight said, looking at Tom with renewed vigor. Seriously, just what did I do to warrant this kind of attention? “We were on our way to the pool hall. Would either of you like to join us?”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful, but...” Fluttershy said, glancing back at the interior of her cottage. “I really should take care of the animals. It’s been really busy around here lately and I haven’t had as much time with them as I used to with my new teaching responsibilities.”

“Sorry to drop in on you like this Fluttershy. I know how hard it can be for you to get away. Maybe next time, then?” Starlight asked, a warm smile on her lips.

Fluttershy nodded. “Definitely.”

Tom felt the weight of the bits in his pocket. Well, Fluttershy did pay me extra today so it should be fine. But do I really want to? He looked at Starlight who was back to staring at him with those big eyes of hers. Tom pursed his lips. If I don’t do this now, I get the feeling she’ll just come after me later. Might as well get it over with.

“Only if you promise not to cheat with magic,” Tom replied. Wait. Might as well test the waters here. After a moment, he added, “And no going easy on me either. I may be male, but I like an actual challenge.”

“Are you sure you’re up for that?” Starlight asked with a raised eyebrow as she flicked an ear.

“Trixie doesn’t want to hear your crying when the mares reign supreme,” Trixie added as she puffed out her chest, her chest floof on full display.

“Oh, don’t worry. There won’t be any crying from this human,” Tom said with a chuckle.

“Human?” Starlight asked, tilting her head in Tom’s direction.

“Ah, right,” Tom said. “I’ll explain on the way.”

“So you just do odd jobs for ponies? You don’t have a mare to support you?” Starlight asked, looking up at Tom across the pool table.

“That’s right,” Tom said, taking a sip of his beer. Placing his beer down, he picked up his pool stick. Tom was so tall he had to kneel as he lined up his shot. The stick grazed the right edge of the cue ball, sending it gently rolling towards the side, vaguely in the direction of a grouping of striped balls.

Starlight smiled encouragingly towards him. He was a stallion after all. Though, immensely more pleasant to talk to than the regular prissy stallion. Tom seemed much more… down to earth than the average stallion.

“Well… why?” Starlight asked, tilting her head in his direction.

“Well, most mares seem to be interested in… ‘traditional’ stallions,” Tom said, standing up and taking another sip of his beer. “I’m not exactly traditional.”

True. Most mares would prefer a traditional stallion. And a traditional stallion wouldn’t be caught dead drinking beer in a pool hall. Stallions like that were extremely rare. Not entirely unheard of, but rare enough that they stuck out like a sore hoof.

“Do you even like mares?” Trixie asked, an eyebrow raised as she sipped from her glass.

Tom rolled his eyes and sighed. “Yes. I like mares.”

“Coulda fooled me,” Trixie muttered, downing the last of her beer. Slamming the glass down, she stood up. “Alright colt, be prepared for a great and powerful defeat!”

Starlight frowned. That was a bit far. Even for you, Trixie. Tom just watched Trixie line her shot up. If he had heard, he didn’t show it. Starlight exhaled. Well, maybe it’s not a total loss. Besides, he’s not so bad after all. He hasn’t even mentioned fashion or shopping once! And we’ve been at this for at least an hour! A small smile graced Starlight’s muzzle as Trixie let loose her shot, sinking the 8-ball in the corner pocket.

“Yes!” Trixie said, a big smile on her muzzle. Looking over at Tom, she smirked. “Don’t feel too bad, colt. You were up against a mare after all.”

Tom chuckled in response. “Well, how about we make this more interesting then?”

“Trixie has no interest in taking advantage of stallions,” She said, placing her pool stick on the rack behind her.

Tom shook his head, waiving his hand back and forth. “No, no. I’m not talking about money. How about this. Winner gets one favor from the loser. No restrictions.”

“No restrictions?” Trixie asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “As in anything?”

“Yup. Anything,” Tom said with a smile and nodded.

Trixie frowned, scrunching her muzzle. “Trixie smells a scam.”

Tom rolled his eyes and sighed. “Ok, fine. No asking for money as the favor. Or anything that would put the loser at risk of losing their job. How does that sound?”

Trixie hummed as she tapped her hoof on her chin. “Trixie doesn’t really need any favors from a jane-filly, so Trixie will pass.”

Starlight’s eyes bugged out as she stared at Trixie. Trixie! How could you be so crass! He’s right there! Tom shrugged and turned his attention to Starlight, raising an eyebrow at her. Wait, me? But… well, he is nice. And there’s nothing that says the favor has to be sexual anyways. Not that I would ask for that sort of thing...

Starlight shook her head and looked up at Tom with a grin. “I’ll warn you, I usually win against Trixie. I’m not going to go easy on you, just because you’re a stallion.”

Tom grinned widely. “Perfect.”

The table was set and Starlight looked up at Tom. “Do you wanna break? It’s the least I can do, since I’m going to be calling in that favor later anyways.”

“Ohoho! Are you sure you want to do that?” Tom asked, a grin on his face.

Starlight shrugged. “I’ve seen you play. Even if you were faking it, you can’t have faked it that much. Your posture was all over the place.”

Tom nodded and laughed. “Alright then, miss pretty purple unicorn. I’ll take that invitation then.”

Starlight’s cheeks light up as Tom took his place at the end of the pool table. He thinks I’m pretty? Wait no, he’s probably just trying to distract me! Starlight pursed her lips as she watched Tom. That snake! He was faking it! Tom’s posture was entirely different from before. His eyes were focused intensely on the table, completely opposed to the relaxed gaze he had before. He drew back the stick and then… Starlight blinked as she watched the pool balls fly around the table, several of them sinking into holes.

“Guess I’m stripes then,” Tom nonchalantly stated, getting in position for his next shot. Three turns later and it was finally Starlight’s turn. Tom looked at her with a grin. “Guess you’re up, Starlight.”

Starlight pursed her lips and readied her stick. Stallion or not, she was going to have to go all out.

Fifteen minutes later, three balls remained on the table. One solid, one stripe, and the 8-ball. Tom grinned as he readied his stick. “So, are you ready Starlight?”

Starlight laughed, wiping her forehead with a free hoof. “For having such a head start, I still caught up. I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”

“If you say so,” Tom said with a chuckle. He lined up his shot and sank the striped ball. He pointed at the left side pocket with the pool stick. “Side pocket.”

Starlight’s eyes went round as the 8-ball sank into the side pocket. How? I thought I had him. I even caught up to him for buck’s sake!

“Wew,” Tom said, wiping his face with a napkin. “That was a good game. Really had me going there.”

Starlight just looked up at the tall human, muzzle agape. There was no magic involved. Starlight had checked. The human stallion had done all that on his own merit.

“Trixie knew she smelled a scam,” She snarled, slamming down her drink. She trotted up to Tom and stared at him with beady eyes. “You better not break your word.”

Tom held up his hands. “I won’t, I won’t. No money or job threatening favors. Don’t worry.”

Trixie snorted and turned, flicking her tail in frustration as she deposited a sack of bits on the bar counter. “C’mon Starlight. Let’s get out of here.”

Starlight watched as Trixie left the building, slamming the door shut behind her. Sighing, she turned back to Tom. “Sorry, she gets a bit... involved when it comes to things like this.”

“Don’t worry about it. It happens,” Tom said with a shrug.

“Well, anyways, that was still a lot of fun,” Starlight said with a smile. “I guess I’ll see you later then?”

Tom nodded back with a smile. “Yeah, I’ll catch ya later. Go on and catch up to your friend.”

“Ok, then. Bye!” Starlight waved at Tom as she hurried out the door.