Tinkering Tom

“Damn!” Tom shouted, dropping his tools as he lifted the dull crystal out of it’s metal casing. Tom sighed, rolling the crystal in his hands. “Damn things are expensive and I can’t afford to get this charged right now.”

Tom wiped his sweaty forehead, the summer heat in full force. “Worst time for the air conditioning to go out.”

And I’m talking to myself again. Tom sighed, taking a seat in a dining room chair. Tom glanced around the room, the light filtering through the open window over his sparsely furnished apartment, a pile of broken machinery in the corner of the room. One day, you’ll be fixed. A day when I can afford the parts.

Tom turned his head, looking out the window, bright sunlight permeating through to his apartment. It had been a slow few days, and Tom’s bit stash was rapidly depleting. At least I have my ramen stash. Tom snorted. It’s like I’m in college all over again. Maybe it’s time to apply for jobs again. See if there’s anything out there...

I’m already hating the idea. Tom groaned, grasping his temples. Fuck it. Maybe I’ll just break down and work some ‘colty’ job. It’s not like I’m not doing customer service already.

Tom shook his head. For another time. Right now, I need to figure out how to charge this crystal. At the bare minimum I need a unicorn. Preferably a unicorn who’s willing to help me...

Tom sat in silence for several minutes, going over the names of every unicorn he knew. There’s Lyra, but she’s out of town. Doctor Horse is always busy with his patients. Princess Twilight is… a princess, so no. Rarity is… no, let’s not go there. Tom clenched his arms tight around his body as a shiver ran up his spine. I don’t know many unicorns, do I? Are there even that many in Ponyville?

Wait. There is Starlight. She was pretty nice when we met. Maybe... Tom got up, placing the crystal in his front pocket. Well, it’s worth a shot anyways. The only problem is I have no idea where she is. Oh! I could ask Fluttershy.

Tom nodded to himself, locking the door on his way out. Tom glanced at the town clock, which read ten o’clock. He nodded to himself and headed towards the newest building in town, Twilight’s school of friendship.

Tom stopped at the path, looking up at the monolithic building in awe. I think I’ve only been to this place once. When was that? Back when it first opened? Tom scratched his chin, staring at the school’s front doors, a slight cold sweat beading on his brow. What if someone thinks I’m here for some weird reason? I do not want some rumor going around about how the big tall human is chasing after children. I have enough problems as it is, thank you very much.

Tom took a deep breath. It’ll be fine. Remember, you’re basically a female here. No one will care. It’ll be fine. Tom stepped forward across the path to the door after slapping his face. Swinging the door open forcefully, Tom stopped just inside as he took in his surroundings. An empty corridor with various hallways to choose from. Right. There’s no reception. Wonderful. I guess I’ll just pick one then. Mentally groaning, Tom turned left and started walking.

After a few minutes of wandering and several turns ensuring there was no way out without a guide, Tom heard some hoof-steps from behind him. Here we go. A bead of sweat formed on his brow. Calm down, idiot. You’re just here to meet with Fluttershy, not kidnap some foal.

“Tom?” A familiar female voice called out.

Wait a second. Is that? Tom turned around to find Starlight standing in the hallway, a clipboard floating in her magic. Her mane was slightly disheveled, a few strands poking out from the sides. Her bright purple eyes looking at him with curiosity.

“Starlight!” Tom said with a smile. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

“Oh! Yeah, I guess I didn’t really mention it last night,” Starlight said with a nervous chuckle as she scratched the back of her neck with a fore-hoof. “So, uh, didn’t expect to see you again so soon. Not that it’s a bad thing! I just wasn’t expecting it y’know? And well, uh. Wait.”

Starlight stopped and tapped her fore-hoof to her muzzle. “If you didn’t know I worked here, why are you here?”

“I was trying to find Fluttershy so I could ask her where to find you,” Tom said with a chuckle as he fingered the crystal in his pocket. “I was hoping to cash in that favor later when you’re free.”

“Oh,” Starlight said, her eyes noticeably larger. “Uh, yeah. S-sure. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, I got this crystal and I was hoping you could charge it for me. My air conditioning went out and I don’t exactly have the bits to pay an enchanter to charge it,” Tom said, pulling out the crystal from his pocket and showing it to Starlight. “I understand if you can’t though. From what I hear, it’s a pretty specialized practice.”

“Oh? That?” Starlight asked, grasping the crystal in her magic and bringing it close to her muzzle as she studied it. “That shouldn’t be a problem. All I have to do is a little research to make sure I don’t overload the gem.”

Tom sighed. “That’d be a great help. I’d appreciate it.”

“Is that all?” Starlight asked, tilting her head at Tom. “Nothing else?”

“That’s all for the favor. Though, if you want, I wouldn’t mind doing something together again. I wasn’t lying when I said I had a lot of fun a few days ago. I uh, don’t exactly have anything planned out yet. This was kind of a spur of the moment thing, but...” Tom said, gripping his left arm with his right hand. What is this? Why do I feel nervous? I’m not even asking her on a date right now, for Celestia’s sake!

Tom exhaled, closing his eyes for a moment. Oh. Right. I barely have any friends. And this is one of the few nice ponies I’ve come across lately. Shit. I hope she says yes. Tom opened his eyes, looking back at Starlight’s eager expression.

“I’d love to,” Starlight said, a bright smile on her muzzle. “Tell you what. Why don’t you leave this with me and I’ll bring it back to you fully charged.”

“Sure. That works,” Tom said. “Just bring it to 689 Saddle Road. I’m the upstairs unit, second on the left.”

“689 Saddle Road, upstairs, second on the left. Got it,” Starlight said, nodding as she wrote something on her clipboard. “I should be able to finish this and be there after I’m done with work. How does seven in the evening sound? I don’t think it will take too long to find the references I need in the library.”

“Sounds good to me,” Tom said. “Oh, and uh- right. I may have gotten just a little lost while I was here.”

Starlight giggled, placing a hoof to her mouth as she looked up at him. “Well then, I better show you out. Follow me.”

Tom followed as Starlight led him down the halls, swaying her hips slightly. Her tail swishing from side to side across her ample rear. Her cutie mark wonderfully accenting the view while- OK! And that’s enough of that! Tom turned his attention to her muzzle, moving a bit faster to walk beside her. “So, are you a teacher here like Fluttershy?”

“Actually, I’m a guidance counselor,” Starlight replied. A small smile formed on her muzzle. “It took some getting used to, but I’m enjoying it a lot now. I love the feeling you get when you help a pony with what’s bothering them.”

“That’s pretty neat,” Tom replied with a smile. “Did you always want to be a guidance counselor?”

“Oh no, not at all,” Starlight said with a laugh. “Twilight just came to me when she opened the school and gave me the role.”

“Wow,” Tom replied, an eyebrow raised. “Princess Twilight must trust you a lot then. Especially if she trusts you to help guide her little ponies.”

Starlight giggle-snorted into a hoof. “Her little ponies…”

“Am I wrong?” Tom asked.

“Oh no, it’s just so weird to hear somepo-, somecreature, talk about Twilight like that. It sounds more like something Princess Celestia would say than Twilight,” Starlight replied.

“Really? I wouldn’t know,” Tom said with a shrug. “I’m not really close to either one so you’d be a better judge than I would be. Though, since you’re apparently her friend, or at least someone she trusts, you probably know her in a much more casual manner.”

Starlight snorted. “Twilight is casual with everycreature. She doesn’t really care too much for the whole ‘princess’ title if it keeps her away from other ponies.”

“Well, it’s clear she’s on your good side at least,” Tom said, glancing back at Starlight as her mane bounced lightly as she walked. “If you didn’t originally want to be a guidance counselor though, what did you want to do?”

“Well…” Starlight said, looking off into the distance with a pensive look on her muzzle. She looked up at Tom with a small smile. “I’ve always loved magic and studying magic, so that’s been the focus of my life so far.”

“Were you a scholar or something?” Tom asked.

“Sure. You could say that,” Starlight said with a nervous chuckle.

Tom came to a halt as Starlight stopped. “Here we are,” she said as she waive her hoof out with a flourish towards the entrance doors.

“Right. You were leading me out. Sorry, I got a little side-tracked. Well, I guess I’ll see you later then?” Tom asked.

Starlight nodded with a smile. “Definitely.”

“So what do you think?” Tom asked Thunderlane as they sat on the park bench.

Thunderlane munched on his sandwich, humming to himself. Luckily, Tom had secured a bench in the shade, away from the oppressive sun and it’s constant attempts to burn him alive. Tom sighed as his own stomach pained him. Later. We need to figure out money right now. Food later.

“Why don’t you just shack up with some mare then?” Thunderlane asked, nudging Tom’s shoulder. “You’d get both of what you want. A mare to warm you at night and bits.”

“And look how well that’s worked out for me so far,” Tom said, rolling his eyes. “Besides, I’m not looking for a sugar-momma. I just want to have my own stable source of income for now. I can work on the mare problem later.”

“I’m telling you that you could work on both at the same time!” Thunderlane said, exasperated. “And I know a mare who might be interested. I could totally set you two up on a blind date!”

Tom cringed. “No thank you. Last time you set me up on a blind date, she shrieked in horror when she found out I wasn’t a pony and literally ran away screaming.”

“Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad,” Thunderlane replied.

Tom deadpanned.

“Alright, alright!” Thunderlane exclaimed, throwing his fore-hooves up in the air. “Look, how was I supposed to know she was a shallow cunt?”

“What I’m saying is,” Tom said, taking a deep breath. “Is that you don’t exactly have the best track record with picking mares. I mean, I could name any one of your exes and-“

“Alright, alright! I get it! Sheesh!” Thunderlane replied with a sigh. “No blind dates.”

“Good. Glad you’re finally on board,” Tom said. “Now, do you have any idea where I could find a job?”

“Hmm…” Thunderlane leaned back in the bench, the sounds of the birds chirping in the nearby trees. “I heard the spa is looking for someone right now.”

Tom let loose a long, deep sigh as he rubbed his temples. “It just had to be the spa. Is there anywhere else?”

“There’s always the strip club I guess?” Thunderlane said with a shrug.

“I’m starting to consider it,” Tom said.

“Oh, c’mon. It won’t be that bad. It’s a receptionist position, so you won’t have to get intimate with the clients,” Thunderlane said, nudging Tom while waggling his eyebrows.

“Alright, alright. Fine. I’ll check it out. But I blame you if shit goes side-ways,” Tom said, nudging Thunderlane back.

“Sure, sure,” Thunderlane said with a chuckle. “Maybe it’ll get you to act like a proper stallion for once.”

“Dream on,” Tom said, rising from his seat. Turning, he made his way towards the one building he hates the most. I almost hope they don’t take me…

’You’re hired’ they said. ‘When can you start?’ they said. Where was this when I was applying to literally any other job? Tom sighed heavily, laying back against his pillow. I looked for months when I got here. And another couple of months once everyone figured out I wasn’t going to eat them!

Tom groaned, flipping himself over and burying his face in his pillow. I really hope they’re not just desperate. That would imply a whole other set of problems…

Tom’s musings were interrupted as a knock sounded on the door.

“Tom?” A familiar voice called out.

“Oh Shit!” Tom called out, stubbing his toe on a misplaced toaster as he rushed out of his bed. “Fuck!”

“Is everything ok?” Starlight asked, concern flowing from her voice.

“Don’t worry, I’m coming!” Tom said, bouncing over to the front door as he held his aching foot.

Tom set his foot down, ignoring the stinging pain as he opened the door, revealing a wide-eyed Starlight. Her muzzle was pointed up at him with her ears pivoted forward. There was a slight swish of her tail as she looked him up and down. Tom grinned sheepishly. “Sorry about that. I just stubbed my toe on something. Nothing to worry about.”

Starlight frowned, her right ear flicking to the side momentarily. “Are you sure? I can take a look if you want.”

“I’m fine. Seriously.” Tom chuckled as he shook his head. “Come on in. Sorry the place is a bit of a mess.”

“Oh please, I’m sure a colt’s room is much more organized than my…” Starlight said, stopping as she stepped into the studio apartment, her left eyebrow twitching. “…room?”

The two stood in the center of the chaos that somewhat resembled a livable place. Or, it would resemble a place where someone could live were it not for the mechanical parts and tools strewn about everywhere. A small path formed walkways across the apartment.

“Ah, sorry. I was a bit stressed when I got home today so I may have tinkered around a bit with some of my projects to relieve some stress,” Tom said with an awkward smile.

“So… you ‘tinker’ to relieve stress?” Starlight asked, looking away from the tornado swept room and back to Tom.

“Yeah. I mostly do it for fun, but when I have a hard day I like to crack open something. It helps keep my mind off of whatever’s bothering me,” Tom said with a shrug.

Starlight chuckled, levitating a shining crystal over to Tom. “Then I guess its perfect timing for me to show up with this then, right?”

Tom grinned, taking the crystal from her magical grasp. “Sweet air conditioning, you shall be mine once more!”

Starlight giggled as she watched Tom rush over to the wall unit a/c and place the crystal inside. A few turns of a screw-driver later and a flip of the switch had the air conditioning flowing once more. Tom sighed satisfactorily as he took a seat on a chair, grinning as he watched the a/c work.

“Thanks a bunch, Starlight. You really saved my hide there. Without that, the summer would have been horrible,” Tom said, turning to face Starlight. She was looking at him with a curious gaze.

“Is this just a ‘you’ thing or are all colts secretly mechanics in their free time?” She asked, hopping onto the seat across from him.

“Definitely a ‘me’ thing. I did warn you I wasn’t exactly a traditional stallion didn’t I?” Tom said with a laugh, looking over to match Starlight’s gaze.

“You did, but I certainly wasn’t expecting…” Starlight tore her gaze away to look around the messy room. “Well, any of this, that’s for sure.”

“Well, you haven’t run away screaming yet, so I’ll take that as a good sign,” Tom said.

“True. Though, aren’t I supposed to be the one to say that? I think you have our roles reversed mister,” Starlight said with a grin as she turned her muzzle back towards Tom.

“If you say so,” Tom said with a grin. “What’s the plan for tonight?”

“Do you like karaoke?” Starlight asked, her right ear flicking slightly.

“Will there be alcohol involved?” Tom asked, his face falling to a cold neutral.

Starlight’s eyes widened as her ears fell flat against her head. “Uh, well, only if you want to-“

“Let’s go,” Tom said, dragging Starlight out the door with him by her hoof as he walked.

“Huh? W-wait!” Starlight exclaimed. “I can walk on my own!”