Shadow Play

Testing yawned as he rose out of bed, looking around the small room. It wasn't much to look at, but it was theirs for the time being. Looking to the bed beside him, he smiled towards the still sleeping form of Puppershy, all curled up under the blankets. She was cute in the way she imitated certain animal behaviors. She was pony enough where it counted, but she had a way of knowing how much pony she could do without and have it come off as endearing rather than annoying or burdensome. Curling up cutely when you slept was, after all, far more endearing than forgetting what a toilet was for.

Swinging himself out of bed silently, he stretched, walking over to the bathroom - the only other room in technicality in this tiny little place. The kitchen was a corner with a single cabinet and a stove unit - the mini fridge something they had had to go out and buy themselves. The bedroom was the living room, as well as any other room they might have needed. The bathroom at least had the decency to have a door to it and a shower that was separated by a bit of frosted glass, allowing for two ponies to use it without even seeing anything that the group hadn't already seen a dozen times before.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Testing sighed. He was already getting that 'rough' look that he... Cress hated. Maybe he'd lean into it with being a separate pony? No, even without being Cress, it was already a look he didn't like. He'd need a razor for sure, maybe a set of clippers to manage the mane. That all would have to wait for later. Starting a new life had expenses attached that were more important than looking completely put together. Most places could let you get away with mostly put together anyway. At least, so Testing could hope.

In the end, he just splashed his face with water to help with the waking up process. Neither Cress nor he were morning ponies, that much was a certainty. Unfortunately, the world had been built towards the early birds' convenience, and he had to put in the effort and try to be part of that mystical early race. Besides, he needed a job, otherwise the lot of them were out on the street. Testing could try and call in a favor from some more well off ponies, but no. He didn't want to call Cress for a stipend. After all, he wasn't a leach, nor would he ever let himself be if he could do anything about it.

"You awake already?" Stellar asked as she found her way into the bathroom. Testing just chuckled, throwing his shirt off as he got ready to shower. "I don't know what I hate more, mornings or the ponies who like them."

"Never said I liked 'em, Stella." Testing said while stifling a yawn. It was an unfortunate circumstance that none of the ponies that had shipped out were morning ponies. It also didn't help none of them were trust fund kids. Testing was more than aware that Raven's wealth wasn't why she was loved, but those bits certainly made life easier.

Testing turned on the shower, shivering under the cold onslaught. There were five ponies, and it had long since been discovered that at most four could expect a hot shower before their run down place stopped giving them the desired temperature. The prospect of sexy double or triple baths had been floated, but then only one shower got hot water and then the next couple had cold water. Unfortunately, their shower wasn't large enough for all the ponies and one griffon to get in at once - otherwise they might've tried for a morning orgy shower - but, in the end, singles was the only was to get most ponies happy.

This being the situation, it had been thought that the first ponies to get a shower would be the ones to get a hot shower. Testing, however, didn't care to deprive the last pony up of a comfortable shower. Despite the biting cold water, Testing smiled - happy to know that he could spare Puppershy the cold he could suffer through.

Life wasn't the easiest right now, but it certainly could be worse. There were walls, there was a roof, and everypony had a blanket to sleep under at night - admittedly the same blanket as everypony else, but a blanket just the same. Some meals were smaller than the stomachs that ate them, but each meal still made it on the plate. Testing knew that all they needed to turn their fortunes was a few jobs in the group. Unfortunately, not everypony in the group could work quite as well as the others.

As he lathered his mane he thought over the list he had mentally constructed. Gunther was a definite no go, seeing as his mental capabilities were about enough to clean the apartment and ward off unwanted visitors - so long as they didn't whip out their scholng or pussies... or showed nipples, even by accident... or generally had anything of a domineering disposition. He was the golden retriever of guards - on paper good, but too playful to be a threat to those adequately prepared.

That, of course, wasn't entirely fair. He had made a great deal of progress. He just wasn't in a place where he could be trusted to work in a public environment. His less than advanced mental faculties also unfortunately made private environment jobs where he could be away from those that might take advantage of him usually a bit too above his mental paygrade. It was unfortunate, but it wouldn't do to put him up against what he wasn't quite prepared for. He needed some time, and Testing would buy as much of it as he could on their shoestring budget.

Next up were Sultry Rose and Puppershy. Both of them were capable ponies, very capable indeed. Unfortunately for them seeking actual work, Rose was just a little... impatient was the nice way of saying it. The personality that had been fomented slowly after the division in the mare had been one with propensities towards anger, to say the least of it. Not very helpful for jobs in most areas when one had a boiling fire of anger that could lash out in any direction.

Beyond that, both Sultry and Puppershy had a problem with their name. It wasn't that they didn't like them, quite the opposite. The names they had were the one that they had wanted or had approved of - which was more than what most ponies had - but the names were... a bit too forward. Sultry Rose felt like an invitation - though knowing the pony behind it, it was an invitation to get clobbered - while Puppershy felt demeaning - which maybe it had been when Testing had haphazardly bestowed it, but now it felt more and more like a term of endearment to those in 'the group'.

Endearment, unfortunately, didn't solve the problem with either mare's name. With all this considered, Testing Testing and Stellar Afterglow were the only ponies with names and an ability to get work. Unfortunately, neither of them had been able to find any success to that point. The world was barren of jobs it seemed. Their situation wasn't getting any better, and time was slowly closing in on them for their eventual eviction. At that point... well, they all still had legs to walk with. Perhaps the next place would have some jobs?

Testing stepped out of the shower, toweling off while grabbing the hanger with his clothes, making quick work of getting dressed. Life was on a knife's edge on whether or not it was doing well or going poorly. The next few weeks certainly were going to be a determining factor in that struggle.

"Alright, so I'll be hitting up the local Hayburger and then the Shetland Cafe, whether or not Hayburger works out." Testing said, looking over their notebook of options.

"In that case I'll check out the local mall. There are enough stores there that I should hopefully find something. I'll be sure not to carry any bits on me; just in case. Don't need to be tempted to spend on what we can't afford." Stella nodded with a sigh. "This'll work eventually. Sooner or later we'll have something."

"Yeah, here's hoping." Testing said, stuffing the notebook away. "I'll be sure to check up a few other places after Hayburger and Shetland. It might be killer, but having five jobs at once might be helpful to the rest of the group."

"Having you alive is a tad bit more important, I'd think." Stella mused, throwing on a light jacket. "Mission start?"

"Mission start." Testing confirmed with a smirked, opening the door to the outside. Courteous as always, he let Stella out first while he checked his pockets for his keys one last time, and stepped forward to leave. His progress was halted when he found a hand grabbing his arm, or more specifically his jacket's sleeve. Looking back, he saw Puppershy.

"We'll be okay." She said simply, the proclamation hitting a chord in Testing's heart. The sincerity in the mare's voice, the certainty that honestly had no foundation if Testing was completely honest with himself and the world at large, gave Testing a bit of hope that he had no good reason to have. He hadn't been devoid of hope, but he had been as realistic as possible. Now... well now that realism was tainted with a pleasant note of optimism.

"Of course. We'll get ourselves settled on jobs and then the world will be our oyster." Testing smiled. Puppershy returned the smile, hugging him deeply - making sure to only touch his clothes and not the pony underneath them. Testing could've stayed in that embrace for a long time. It made getting a job feel that much more unimportant compared to what he already had. Puppershy, however, did eventually end the hug for the both of them. Pulling back with a loving smile on her beautiful lips, she gave a small nod, as if signaling their moment was over.

"Be safe." She said barely above a whisper. Testing smiled, feeling emotions that he knew the shadow of from another life. Emotions that had settled on three mares in turn, but for him were focused on but one.

"You bet. I'll be back before you know it - and with a job too."

He hadn't gotten a job. It burned at his soul as he walked the streets, looking over his list of places he might work. He had made an extreme effort and had gone to basically all of them, even ones that Stellar had already checked. None of them had needed a pony of his skills - which admittedly weren't many. He was just another pony off the street, no real, training beyond a high school education.

He was a colt at the age he should be heading off to university. Sure, universities were attracting fewer and fewer ponies to them, but even so his lack of any specific training was really a detriment to him. He needed the work not only for himself, but for the others in the group.

He sighed, flipping through the pages, trying to figure something out; ANYTHING. He had tried fast food, upscale food, department stores, grocers, and even janitorial positions at any number of places. He shook his head, trying to figure out what he had forgotten, what he had missed in his already rapidly diminishing list.

He looked up, realizing he had wandered into the park. The scenic greens had always been a favorite of Cress', and so had a shade of that place in Testing's heart. Manehatten was, after all, a nice enough place, it just seemed devoid of any opportunities for any of their group - or at least for him. The outskirts had nothing, the center had nothing, not even the shadier districts had anything it seemed. Sure, he hadn't looked that hard at the shadier corners, but still! He was up shit creek without a paddle.

He sat down on a bench and just bent over, resting his arms on his legs and his head on his crossed arms. He felt near tears. The world was just beating them down at this point. It wasn't fair - not that the world needed to be fair. He realized he was owed nothing, but even so it was a bitch and a half at the moment and he only needed the half, thank you very much.

"Are you alright?" A concerned sounding voice asked. It was a mare's by sound of it. It was gentle like a... well not a mother, but maybe a particularly caring sister. Testing looked up and saw a unicorn mare. She was petite, easy on the eyes - though not exceptionally lovely - and had an expression of a pony who truly cared. Something else somewhat familiar tickled at Testing's brain - almost as if something else was being brought up but wasn't being to vocal about it. A feeling about the mare maybe, but nothing he could place for certain.

"I'm just tired." Testing replied, not wanting to let an awkward pause get drawn out. The tickling at his brain subsided slowly, but not completely. "I've been having a hard time of it recently." The strange mare gave a nod, sitting down beside him.

"Yeah, I get that. Life's been a bit of a bumpy ride for me, too. Some plans been falling through and just all around a bit of a hectic time. Got some new ones, but even those seem... iffy." The mare commiserated. Testing smirked at this.

"Not from around here, are you?" He asked, stifling a slight chuckle as best he could.

"Yeah. How could you tell?" She seemed genuinely curious. It was funny really. Not 'fall on the floor in laughing fits' funny, but certainly funny in some way to Testing.

"Most ponies around here would've kept walking for one." He said, generally gesturing to the path in front of them, on which several ponies did, in fact, jog right on by. "Manehatten isn't exactly a place of friendship and rainbows. Kind of the opposite of that really."

"Am... am I intruding? I don't mean to be rude." She backed a tad bit off, looking as if she'd stand and walk off just like any other pony would've in the first place.

"No no." He waved her off with a grin. "It's a refreshing change for somepony to actually care for once around here. It's mostly dog eat dog around these parts." Testing admitted, turning his attention out over the park. Filled with ponies, mostly in groups of one or two - the definition of being alone together. "Name's Testing Testing." He offered finally.

"Bitter Sweet." Sweet returned, extending a hand for a shake. Testing accepted it with a chuckle, thankful he had opted for gloves. True, they really should've tried to make it part of the recording that everypony was immune to his arousing touch - but getting Cress, his mares, the Elements, Starlight, and the Princesses immune seemed to have already pushed the bill. Now he made the difference by being careful.

"Name like that, don't suppose you're a baker?" He commented, pushing his thoughts to one side. The mare gave him a wry grin for his words, giving a bit of a warm feeling to Testing. He didn't often make ponies happy these days, but he loved it when he could.

"Nope. Parents were, but I could only make soot and ash on a consistent basis." Both of the ponies shared a laugh at that. It wasn't boisterous laughter at a joke, but the laughter of simple fun. "Are you from around here? I might guess you are since you seem to know what most ponies around here are like."

"Kind of." Testing admitted. It was hard to say really, he had never physically set foot in this body in this city before a few days ago, and yet the shadows of memories still danced about in the vague fog of his entwined life with Crescendo. "I have memories of Manehatten, just not-"

"Frequent visitor then." Sweet offered.

"Something like that." Testing shrugged. "You're obviously not from around here. Just here for some relaxation in the busiest city of Equestria or are you on business?"

"I'm here with some friends for a bit. We have some business elsewhere, but we have things to do all about the place. Manehatten just so happens to be a convenient place to be for the next few weeks." She said, vague gestures showing her mild discomfort with the topic. The tickle came back slightly, but he shrugged it off.

"I get that." Testing nodded. "Well, guess I need to head out, still got things to set up today." He said, standing up from the bench. "You take care. Hope you get your stuff all sorted out." Sweet smiled at that and gave a nod.

"Same to you." Testing tipped an imaginary hat before moving off. His thoughts were a mess as he tried to connect dots. It had happened occasionally ever since he had been separate from Cress that he had had strange feelings. Twinges, twitches, tingles, tickles, or itches - whatever they were - crept up occasionally, and now he had another experience.

It wasn't frequent enough to truly tease out what it actually meant. What didn't help was that the ever so vague recollections from Cress' side were somewhat similar in the feeling they produced. Testing sighed, doing his best to kill the train of thought. If there was something that would explain his situation, he'd have to wait for it to be a tad bit more plain with its meaning. Vague feelings were only so good. Now if those vague feelings started working towards actual solid understandings, then maybe he'd actually pay attention to them. As it was, he'd just move on with his life.

Testing closed the door behind him in sullen silence, not really wanting to announce his presence. It wasn't hard for the others in the room to notice him though. The look on Stella's face seemed to confirm what he had feared. Yet another day of no success. This was getting to be a pain.

"What are we going to do?" Puppershy asked, looking up at Testing like half of her namesake. Testing shook his head and gave a small shrug.

"All I know is that if we measure out our resources carefully we might be able to make a month. Eating small meals and not using lights or the water as much as possible. Heck, if we really hunker down we might make it past the month and kick the ball down the road a tad further." Testing said, not mincing any words over this.

"We could also cut our losses, buy some supplies, and head out to see if someplace with a more affordable living situation also has jobs open in the area." Sultry offered. "If we're lucky we'll get our deposit back and have enough to rent a small shack to give employers an address."

"True enough." Testing admitted, looking over the pathetic excuse for an apartment the five of them were crammed into. "We might even be able to afford a train ticket for all of us alongside the rest of it if we cut back severely. Living on crackers and free water from restaurants severely I mean."

"Doable." Gunther nodded. "I can live off of seeds." Testing shook his head to this.

"Most ponies at the park give seed to slightly less big birds. Plus, it wouldn't be right. I'm not having us cut that far back. No one lives off of seeds so long as we can still afford a loaf of bread."

"We could forgo the bread and just settle for a spot of dumpster diving." Stellar pointed out. "Most dumpsters are actually surprisingly sanitary considering, just a matter of knowing what to look out for. Free food would be cutting back more than bread and water living I'd bet."

"And then we'd need two showers a day." Testing pointed out. "More water to pay for."

"Are we actually going to leave Manehatten?" Puppershy asked, looking between the ponies present. "I'm alright with that if every... one is willing to actually go for that." The group paused for a few moments. The air was thick with contemplation.

"I think that if we are going to leave, the best time would be by the end of the month. If we can't make a choice by then..." Testing's voice sloped downwards as he failed to actually say what was on his mind.

"There won't be enough money to try." Stella finished, sensing the foreboding line of logic. "We could all cut back enough to buy a few weeks past that, but even then." All of the ponies and the griffon nodded to this. "Shorter showers, maybe once every other day. Possibly looking into cheaper options for food. I hear the bakery down the street sells loaves that are a few days past date for real cheap."

"Sounds like we have a decision." Testing nodded. "If we don't have jobs by three weeks from now, we're leaving." The group nodded. The next few days were going to be tough - the circumstances of their entry into the world for one - but they had been through worse. There was no reason to believe they couldn't make it through this as well. The shadows of lives once lived would make it, otherwise...