Tinkering Tom

Loud, out of tune singing to a popular hip-hop song met Starlight’s ears as she entered the karaoke bar with Tom by her side. Well, at least I got him to stop dragging me across Ponyville halfway here. Celestia, that was embarrassing. A stallion leading a mare… A light blush adorned Starlight’s cheeks. Grinning, Tom walked to a table at the far-right of the bar, Starlight hot on his heels. The two took their seats as a mare came to their table.

“What’ll it be?” The mare asked as she flipped a notepad, holding a pencil in her mouth.

“I’ll have a pint of cider,” Starlight replied.

“I’ll take a long-island,” Tom said.

The waitress nodded, scribbling down their orders. “One pint of cider and a long-island. Will that be all?”

Starlight nodded and the waitress walked to a table a few feet away.

“I thought you liked beer,” Starlight said, raising an eyebrow at Tom.

“I do. I just felt like cocktails tonight. One of the perks of being a male in Equestria is I can drink those and no one bats an eye,” Tom said with a cocky grin.

“Was it different where you’re from?” Starlight asked, her right ear flicking.

“You could say that,” Tom said with a chuckle.” Let’s just say that, for the most part, guys didn’t drink cocktails in bars where I was from in a traditional setting. There are always exceptions, but for the most part it wasn’t a thing that men did.”

“Really?” Starlight asked, tilting her head to the side as she gazed at him. “You didn’t mention anything like that a few days ago when we met.”

“It’s kinda hard to put too many details into an hour or so speech about what you are and why there aren’t any more of you in Equestria,” Tom said with a chuckle.

“I guess that’s true,” Starlight said, an awkward laugh emanating from her lips. C’mon, Starlight! Don’t be so dense! Of course there’s going to be lots of things you don’t know about him. He came from a whole different world, after all.

“And here you are,” the waitress from before interrupted, placing a mug of cider in front of Starlight and a glass in front of Tom. “Let me know if you need anything else, ya hear?”

The two nodded and took a sip of their respective drinks as the mare walked away with her tray balanced on her back.

“Sorry,” Starlight said, after a moment of silence. “I should’ve figured that there’d be some differences between your world’s culture and ours. I just assumed-“

“That it was a replica of Equestria but with humans instead of ponies, griffons, minotaurs, and whatever other magical creatures reside here?” Tom asked with a wry grin.

“Uh, yeah…” Starlight replied sheepishly. Look at what you did! He probably gets this all the time!

“Don’t worry about it. Happens all the time,” Tom said with a chuckle as he grabbed his glass, taking a long sip of it. “Mmm, that’s tasty. I like it.”

Wonderful. Great impression, Starlight. Starlight sighed, taking a sip of her cider. Now how are you going to recover? C’mon, Starlight. Think. You learned from the princess of friendship for Celestia’s sake. You’ve got this.

“So, do you come here often?” Tom asked, interrupting Starlight’s musings.

“Sometimes,” Starlight replied. “Mostly I come here for with my friends every once in a while.”

“Oh? What else do you and your friends do?” Tom asked.

“Eh, sometimes we play poker, sometimes we go to the arcade. You know, mare stuff,” Starlight said with a shrug.

“Lucky,” Tom grumbled. “I have a hard enough time to get Thunderlane to agree to do something other than shopping, going to the spa, or going to bed with random mares.”

“Wait. You’re friends with Thunderlane?” Starlight snorted. “Is he really as bad as the mares make him out to be?”

“Oh, if they make him out to be a huge slut, then yes. He is,” Tom said with a chuckle. “Love the guy, but I swear he’s gonna have a ton of baby-mama’s someday.”

“I can’t believe you’d be so cruel to your own friend!” Starlight said with a snort, playfully punching Tom on his arm.

“Ow!” Tom said rubbing his arm, looking at her with a glossy-eyed stare. “I d-didn’t know you were the type to hit stallions…”

“Wha!?” Starlight’s eye’s went wide, her ears perked up and pivoted towards Tom. “I-I didn’t! It was just-“

Starlight breathed in sharply as Tom leaned in with a hand extended. Closing her eyes, she flinched as she felt a sharp pain on her forehead. Grunting, she rubbed the aching spot, looking up at Tom who had a smug grin on his face.

“Naughty ponies get forehead flicks. Unless you like getting forehead flicks for some reason. Then I’ll have to think of something you hate,” Tom said, scratching his chin.

“Bastard,” Starlight said, frowning. I can’t believe I was worried about him.

“Oh c’mon, lighten up,” Tom said. “Don’t be miss grumpy pants now.”

“I don’t even wear pants…” Starlight grumbled.

Tom rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes. You don’t wear pants. Very astute observation.”

Starlight’s deepened frown only elicited a chuckle from Tom. “Well, miss grumpy pants. Let’s go cheer you up then.”

“How are you-“

Starlight yelped as Tom grabbed her by the hoof and dragged her through the bar, past the staring and most certainly giggling mares and stallions, leading them both onstage. What is with this stallion? Starlight squinted her eyes as she looked up at Tom scrolling through the song-book. He really likes to take the initiative, doesn’t he?

“No way…” Tom stopped as he stared at the page before him, a large grin creeping onto his face.

“What?” Starlight asked, edging closer and peering over his hands.

“If this is what I think it is, then it’ll be perfect,” Tom said, pushing the buttons on the karaoke machine.

Starlight raised an eyebrow at Tom, grabbing a microphone in her magic as Tom took his in his hand. “What are we-“

The music started with some simple guitar cords, a few seconds in revealed the lyrics on the screen. Starlight face-hooved. Stallions. She looked up at Tom who had a big grin on his face, looking like a foal in a candy shop. Sighing, she rolled her eyes and pulled the microphone close to her muzzle with a slight grin. As long as he’s enjoying it, I guess. I’ll figure out later why he wanted this song so bad.

“Just a small town filly. Livin’ in a lonely world…” Starlight sang.

“I can’t believe they have that song,” Tom said chuckling as he leaned back in his chair. “Brings back memories of home.”

“I thought you said you were from a whole different world though,” Starlight said, raising an eyebrow as she sipped her cider.

“That’s exactly why I was so surprised,” Tom said, looking over at Starlight. “The band name is even the same.”

“Weird,” Starlight mused, sipping on her cider. “Do ponies, er, I mean humans light up their magic when it plays?”

“Close,” Tom snorted. “We didn’t have magic in our world, so we use lighters. But yes, we light up and sway our hands to it all the same.”

“Wait. Did you just say you didn’t have magic in your world?” Starlight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yup,” Tom replied as he took a sip of his drink.

“How did you raise your sun and moon then?” Starlight asked, a smug grin on her muzzle.

“They don’t raise. The earth just rotates creating the illusion of the sun rising and falling. Duh,” Tom said with a snort.

“Sure,” Starlight said, rolling her eyes. “And I’m the tooth-fairy.”

“You owe me for that molar, you cheapskate!” Tom said, a playful grin on his face.

Starlight burst into giggles, punching Tom lightly. “You’re alright Tom. I like you.”

“I like you too,” Tom replied, downing the last of his second… no, third? Drink. “C’mon. Let’s go get some more karaoke in. You pick this time.”

“Hmmmm,” Starlight hummed, looking at Tom with a curious expression. “Do you know any songs from Equestria.”

“A few,” Tom said with a shrug. “Just pick one and we’ll run with it. Don’t worry about me.”

“Alright then,” Starlight said, downing her cider and slamming it on the table. “Let’s go.”

“And I said, HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA, HEYYEYAAEYAAAE. I said, hey! What’s going on!?” The drunk human sang swinging his right arm as he leaned against Starlight, holding her with his left for support.

Starlight giggled at Tom’s antics as they strolled through the dimly light streets of Ponyville. “So that’s what they called music back in your world?”

“No, that’s what they called legendary music!” Tom proclaimed to the entirety of the empty streets of Ponyville.

“I’m starting to question your taste in music,” Starlight mused, looking up at Tom’s form as she guided him along to his apartment.

“Shhh!” Tom said, clasping his hand around Starlight’s muzzle, bringing his face closer to hers.

Starlight scrunched her muzzled, looking up at her drunken companion. His eyes glistened with mirth. What do you think you’re doing? Just grabbing a mare’s muzzle like that in the middle of a dark street. You’re lucky you’re cute... Starlight fought the rising heat on her cheeks as she mentally face-hoofed. Not helping, brain.

“This coming from someone from a race that randomly bursts into song?” Tom asked, letting go of Starlight’s muzzle. “I’m wondering if maybe you are the one with the taste!”

Starlight just raised an eyebrow at Tom as he laughed, resuming his previous posture. He must be more drunk than I thought. Starlight sighed, her horn lighting up as she gently pushed Tom along as she walked. Best get him to bed before he passes out in the street.

Time passed by quickly as Starlight guided Tom through the night to his apartment. As she started to help Tom up the stairs, the door to the apartment across the way to Tom opened up and an old gray stallion looked at Starlight and Tom with a raised eyebrow.

“And what do we have here? You alright there, boy?” The gruff stallion asked.

“Oh! Hi, mister Shoe! I’m good, yeah,” Tom said with a wide grin. “Just getting back from karaoke with my friend.”

Starlight smiled awkwardly as she braced herself, Tom leaning on her for balance.

“Oh?” The stallion turned from Tom to Starlight, studying her muzzle.

Starlight started to sweat under his intense gaze. Oh, c’mon, Starlight. You’re fine! You have nothing to worry about. It’s not like you’re one of those type of mares.

The stallion snorted and smiled at Tom. “She’s a pretty one.”

“Yup!” Tom said with a laugh. “She’s pretty and my friend!”

The gray stallion chuckled, his smile twisting into a bemused grin. “Is that so?”

“Uhuh!” Tom said, hugging Starlight tighter.

“Sorry, he’s pretty drunk. I’m just trying to get him home,” Starlight said, looking up at Tom. “I’m sure he’s exaggerating. He should be fine in the morning though.”

“Am I not your friend!?” Tom gasped, staring into Starlight’s eyes.

“What? No!” Starlight barked. Tom recoiled slightly, a frown forming on his face. Wait! “I mean- of course you are! I meant the other part!”

Tom tilted his head. “What other part?”

Starlight sighed, rubbing a hoof on her temples. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s just get you to bed.”

“Alrighty then!” Tom said, his drunken grin back on his face. “Have a good night, mister Shoe!”

“Aye,” The gray stallion said with a chuckle as he turned and closed the door behind him.

Starlight turned and guided Tom into his apartment. Well, crisis averted at least. As she helped him traverse the path to his bed, he slumped down into the mattress, a light snore coming from his mouth. Starlight snorted and shook her head as she watched him for a moment. Next time, I’ll make him go easy on the drinks…

Starlight turned and walked out the door, making sure it locked behind her. Hope he doesn’t have to do anything early in the morning…