The cafe was just like a thousand others speckled throughout Manehattan. It was the same trendy outdoor cast-iron patio furniture, the same faux-battered red-brick style walls, the same industrial decor with exposed pipes and the illusion of crumbling plaster. It always made Tender Taps smile inside to see; Manehattan ponies were some of the toughest in the world, but they still felt the need to advertise the fact with their decor.
“Tender? Over here!” A familiar mare waved him over, her golden locks bouncing around as she waved her red hoof. He smiled, trotting over to the table where Sunflower was waiting for him. “I was worried you’d got lost for a second there.”
“Sorry. Traffic jam over by the theatre. Some pop star’s doing a one-day thing at the Winter Garden, and the whole street from 50th to 52nd is jammed with overexcited teenaged fillies.”
“Ouch,” Sunflower giggled. “No wonder you’re late. I got you coffee.” She pointed at a pair of cups on the table, and Tender leaned over to inhale the coffee steam.
“Thanks.” He slid into the chair and reached for the cup. It was good; he needed something to do with his hooves. It kept him from letting his worries take over. He still shook before auditions, even though he’d been to dozens now.
And wasn’t this just another sort of audition? He’d told Babs as much.
“So,” Sunflower had a knowing smile and a twinkle in her eye. “What’d you wanna talk to me about?”
“Don’t act like you haven’t guessed already,” Tender rolled his eyes, and Sunflower laughed, clapping her hooves together. “Honestly, I don’t even know why I bothered to meet with you. I know what you’re going to say. How’d you figure it out?”
“Would you believe it if I said I was just that perceptive?” Sunflower wiggled her eyebrows, and Tender shook his head, smirking. “Or maybe you’re just not as sneaky as you think you are. I mean, really, Tender? Using the jeweler right across the street from my flower shop?” She giggled again, practically twitching with cheerful energy. “So when are you gonna ask her? And do I get to see the ring?”
“For the second question, no,” Tender sipped at his coffee. She pouted at him. “What? You and Babs do everything together. You’ll let something slip, and she’s way too smart not to notice. Don’t worry, you’ll see soon enough.”
“Fine, be that way. And when?”
“I don’t know for sure.” He shuffled in his seat. “I didn’t want to make too many plans until after I’d talked to you.”
“You know, that whole ‘asking the family for permission to propose’ thing’s a little old fashioned.”
“I’m from Ponyville, old-fashioned is what we do.” Tender polished a hoof on his chest, and Sunflower scoffed. “Besides, you and your sister are from one of the most old-fashioned families in Equestria. It seemed fitting.”
“You got us there, colt,” Sunflower nodded. “And for what it’s worth, you got my blessing to ask her. You’ve been good together.”
“Thanks.” Tender exhaled slowly. He hadn’t expected anything else, but it was still nice to hear it from Babs’ sister. “That means a lot.”
“No problem,” Sunflower waved a dismissive hoof. “The two of you complement one another. You keep her dreaming, and she keeps you grounded. Besides, any idiot can see just how crazy about each other the two of you are.”
“I…” Once again, he was overcome with warmth at her support. “Thanks. Um. You think she’ll say yes?”
“You kidding?” Sunflower snorted. “You got nothing to worry about, Tender. Not from Babs, at least. But you better do it soon.” Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward. “After all, you said I’d let something slip.”
“I think…” he tapped his chin with one hoof. “I think I’d like to do it this afternoon. I’m between shows, and she’s off.”
“This afternoon?” Sunflower pursed her lips. “That’s quick.”
Tender snorted. “You just threatened to spill the beans if I don’t do it soon. Besides, we’re meeting my parents for dinner in a few days, and I’d like to have some good news for them.” He looked at her hopefully. “I just have to come up with something perfect for the moment.”
“A theater kid like you, and you don’t have anything planned yet?”
“Hey,” he pretended to be offended, pressing a hoof against his chest in a pose. Sunflower cackled. “I didn’t say I had nothing planned. I have a great plan. I just haven’t worked out all the details yet!”
“What sort of details?”
“Setting, timing, costumes, blocking, props. You know, the little details.” Sunflower laughed harder, and Tender smirked. “I’m open to any suggestions, though. She is your sister.”
“Hmm… what about something outdoors?” Sunflower mused. “Take her to Centrot Park. Lots of tree coverage. Take her for a picnic. She loves the park, and it’s not too cold yet. Besides, she’d never admit it, but she loves the smell of the blooming chrysanthemums.”
“Yeah.” Tender nodded. “Yeah! I like that. There’s plenty of quiet spots for a nice picnic.”
“Sure, sure,” Sunflower waved a hoof. “But if you screw this up, kid, I reserve the right to punish you forever. She’s my baby sister, ya know. It’s my job.”
This was more what Tender had expected. It made him smile.
“Of course. Thanks.”
While Babs was still safely in the kitchen, Tender slipped the box out of his pocket. Easing the hinged lid open, he glanced at the ring inside. Polished rose gold, with a brilliant white stone sparkling in the middle. Flanking the diamond on either side was a pair of pale emeralds, the same color as Babs’ eyes. Running through the ring was a gold necklace chain, the same rose color as the ring. It had cost him more bits than he could even think about. Literally months of overtime. But it would all be worth it.
“Ya want fennel and watercress sandwiches?” Babs shouted from the kitchen of their apartment. Tender jerked, hurriedly slamming the clamshell box shut as he whipped his head towards the hallway.
She hadn’t come out of the kitchen. His secret was safe.
“Um, that’s fine!” he called back. Really, he would have been fine with something boring, like a daisy sandwich, but Babs had been going to lunch with some of their ‘foodie’ friends, and that meant all sorts of new ideas for weird new recipes.
Before he’d moved to Manehattan, Tender Taps hadn’t even known what fennel and watercress were.
“Just be sure to pack some apples, okay?” he called out, shoving the clamshell jewelry box deep into his saddlebags.
“That some sorta crack at my family?” Babs finally poked her head into their living room, her signature smirk on her face, her emerald eyes sparkling with amusement. He smiled as well, the same dopey, sappy look he always got when she smirked at him.
“Well, we still have some of those honey crisps Bloom brought last time she visited, right? I’m sure they’ll pair well with the sandwiches.” He was sure of no such thing. But it was the kind of thing a foodie said, and it sounded like it made sense. Besides, the honey crisps were yummy.
“Sure,” Babs laughed. “Pull the other one. But yeah, we’ve got some left.” She pointed with her hoof. “You still using those bags? They’re fallin’ apart at the seams. Why don’t you buy new ones?”
Maybe because I’ve been spending every spare bit on a diamond and emerald engagement ring? His silent musings made him want to laugh giddily, but he gulped instead. “Y-yeah, I should. I just don’t like to spend money I don’t have to, you know? Must be my country upbringing.”
“Just don’t complain when it splits, hayseed.”
“Yeah, sure.” He laughed at the affectionate ribbing, picking up the bags and following her back into the kitchen. “They’re probably good enough for at least one more picnic. Let’s load ‘em up.”
Tender Taps carefully made sure to put their picnic blanket in first, covering the box hiding in the bottom. Then he set the bags on the kitchen counter, where Babs was wrapping up a pair of artfully constructed sandwiches in plastic bags.
“So how’d your audition go?” Babs asked casually. Tender’s heart pounded.
“Um, it went well. Really well.” Not that he’d expected anything different, but it was still a nice feeling.
“So you’re in?”
“Well, today’s audition was more of a preliminary thing. A pre-audition audition.”
She screwed up her face, staring at him oddly as she placed the sandwiches into the saddlebags. “Doesn’t sound like any audition I’ve heard of. What’s the show?”
“Um…” He tried to keep his voice even, his breathing calm. “It’s kinda a huge opportunity. Not something I really wanna talk about until it’s a sure thing, you know?”
“You don’t wanna jinx it?” Babs asked knowingly. Tender nodded. “Got ya. But still, you said it went well?”
“Really well.” Tender blushed.
“Of course you did,” Babs said, leaning over to kiss him firmly. “When’s the real deal, then?”
“Uh,” he hated the idea of deceiving her, even if it was for a good cause. “I-I really don’t wanna jinx it, like you said, so…”
Babs rolled her eyes. “You performers. You’re all superstitious, ya know that?” She tossed her head, throwing her mane back behind one ear. “C’mon, we’re wasting daylight. Let’s go have a picnic.”
“Yeah.” Tender’s pulse quickened with anticipation. “I’m excited.”
Babs snorted. “It’s just a picnic, hayseed. Nothin’ to get worked up about.”
Sure, Babs, he inwardly glowed. Just a picnic. Still, he could try harder to reign in his enthusiasm. He was supposed to be a performer. An actor, for Celestia’s sake!
“Right. You ready?”
They stepped outside into the hallway of their shared apartment. It was old, but clean; with fraying carpeted floors and fading paint on the walls. Still, it was the best they could afford on the pay of a Bridleway dancer and a theatre company mane-and-makeup mare, so it was fine for now. They took the elevator down all seven stories and stepped out of the tall brownstone into chilly early autumn air.
“Shoulda brought a scarf,” Babs muttered, and Tender slid up alongside her with a sly grin, until their bodies were pressed together. She chuckled, but leaned into him as they walked down the street.
There were few ponies about, but Tender still smiled and waved at everypony as they passed. He got a few odd looks, but after four months in the neighborhood, most of the locals were getting used to his open friendliness. Babs had tried to explain that real Manehattan ponies didn’t act this way, but Tender Taps didn’t care. If he could bring a ray of Ponyville-style cheerfulness to the burrough, why not? Besides, he liked it when Babs teased him for it.
Centrot Park was a little busier, with foals galloping about playing tag, ponies in exercise clothing going for a jog, even a few bird-watchers with binoculars. Tender gulped as he watched the foals. Foals were often the logical next step from marriage. Foals with Babs. He blinked, once again feeling a glow of warmth in his chest, though he had to shove it deep. First things first.
“Sure is a good day for it, even if it’s chilly,” Babs said, breaking him out of his thoughts. She was glancing about, her mouth curled in a small, peaceful smile. It was a rare change from her usual smirk, and a moment he treasured.
“It is, isn’t it?” He watched the way the sunlight played through the gently wafting leaves, green and gold mixed in the season’s transitional palate. “Let’s find a spot that’s kinda quiet.”
It only took a few moments to locate a nice spot, a small flat area just underneath a leaning willow tree. There were just enough leaves on the ground to provide a dusting of cover, but the green grass was still poking through. It was perfect, idyllic enough to send Tender’s heart to tap dancing again.
“You okay, hayseed?” Babs nudged him affectionately with her hip. “You’ve been acting weird all day.”
“J-just fine!” he nearly yelped, and cursed himself. Babs was already suspecting he was up to something, he didn’t need to add fuel to the fire with nervous acting. He moved forward. “C’mon, let’s set…”
The leaves on the ground were just enough to cover the rock Babs tripped over. With a yelp of pain, she stumbled. Tender Taps reacted with a dancer’s grace, lunging into action without thought to catch his marefriend in his hooves. Unfortunately, the wild motion swung his saddlebags wide with momentum, and the strain finally was too much for the poor battered bags. They split along the seam with a loud tearing sound, spilling their contents wide across the leaf-covered ground.
“Oh, shit,” he muttered, and Babs smirked as he helped her to her hooves.
“Oh, hayseed. I told you this city’d get your mouth corrupted. It’s almost like you’re becoming a native Maneh…” She froze, trailing off, her eyes frozen on something among the wreckage. Something Tender had wanted to find before she did. “Uh, Tender? Wanna tell me what that is?”
Oh please, Celestia, tell me she didn’t…
Babs was pointing right at the clamshell jewelry box. He gulped, swallowing hard at the lump in his throat.
“Um.”
“That’s a jewelry box, isn’t it, Tender?”
He nodded, his throat suddenly painfully dry.
“Fuck.” She looked at him, her eyes guilty. “I, uh…”
“Don’t suppose you could pretend you didn’t see that yet?” he asked hopefully, meeting her eyes with his own. Babs stared at him, her eyes huge, her mane drifting down into her face like it often did when she was distracted. “Look, Babs, don’t feel bad, it wasn’t your fault.” His mind ran a billion miles an hour. There had to be a way to salvage this. “Um, let’s just gather the stuff up. We can still have a picnic.”
“R-right.”
They were silent as they gathered up the picnic supplies, spreading out their ratty old red picnic blanket over the ground. They both reached for the clamshell box at the same time, their hooves touching.
“S-sorry,” she jerked her hoof away, but Tender reached out and grabbed her.
“Babs, you don't need to feel bad about this. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know that, dummy,” she muttered. “Still feel terrible. The moment’s ruined.”
“Is it?” Tender mused. “It doesn’t have to be. We could have a nice picnic, and then… try again another time?”
Babs laughed. “Right. Now that the surprise is gone.”
He picked up the box, holding it close while they laid out the rest of the picnic and sat on the ground. The silence was awkward as they started to eat, but at least the sandwiches and apples were good.
“So…” Babs started, swallowing the last bite of her sandwich. “A pre-audition audition?” There was an amused spark in her eyes. Tender laughed and nodded, even as he blushed.
“Yeah. Probably for the biggest role of my life.”
“Really?”
“For sure. I met with a very important pony to see if she thought I’d be right for it. She seemed to think I’d be a good fit.”
“And who was this very important pony?”
“A local business mare. Owns her own flower shop. It might be a little old-fashioned, but I felt like I had to ask for her blessing before I moved on to the real thing.”
Babs’ eyes went a little wide, and she blew an idle strand of mane out of her face with a puff of air. “Would it jinx things now if I asked when the real audition is?”
“Probably not,” Tender admitted. “It was scheduled for this afternoon, but something might have come up.”
Babs laughed. “Might have?”
“Jury’s still out. I’m still hoping it will happen today even if there’s a few awkward setbacks. Pretty sure it’s going to go great.”
“You know,” Babs laughed. “That naïve, optimistic hayseed act? It’s really cute.”
Tender felt his face heat up. Even months later he was still turned red whenever she complimented him.
“So how would you have done it?”
Tender glanced at her. Babs’ eyes were amused, but she also looked nervous. “Um. Well, I know that improvisation isn’t exactly my strong suit, and I still sometimes get a little paralyzed by stage fright. So I probably would have started with a story.”
“A story?”
“About a v-very special mare. Strong, confident, kind. A mare who helped me out with stage fright, once. When I was a quivering newbie, trembling offstage right before my very first performance as a backup dancer in Les Mareserables. She flirted with me, and was nice, and even gave me a great mane cut.”
“You’re still a newbie,” Babs scoffed, but Tender could see the hints of red on her cheeks.
“I would tell that story, because even thinking about that mare gives me confidence. And even when I’m shaking, even when my throat seizes up and my muscles don’t wanna work and my head gets all spinny, I think of her.” He cleared his throat, looking deep in her emerald eyes. He could barely hear his own voice over the nervous tattoo of his heart. “Of you. And even though I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been before, just thinking about you makes it possible for me to do impossible things.”
“Y-you’re such a sap, hayseed,” Babs muttered, glancing away. Her cheeks were fully crimson, now. Tender leaned forward.
“Sure I am, it’s why you love me,” he said, and she snorted. “You’re not denying it.” She closed her eyes and shook her head, a hint of a sweet smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
It was one of the cutest things he’d ever seen, and he cherished those moments from his otherwise tough-as-nails marefriend.
“So next,” he continued. “I would have reached into my bags and pulled out the box.”
“Are we really doing this?” she whispered. Her eyes were wide as she leaned towards him.
“I would have probably stuttered and stumbled over what I was gonna say,” Tender continued. His nervousness was gone, washed away in the thrill of the moment. It was just like when he was on stage; the lights, the audience, the scenery, all washing away, fading to the background so he could do what he was born to do. “I’d have said something about how I’d been thinking about this moment for weeks. Maybe months. But I couldn’t come up with anything good enough, so I just decided to wing it.”
He pulled out the box, holding it in front of him. Her eyes shot open, locked on the clamshell box between them. He could see her swallowing nervously. Her eyes were liquid. His hooves shook a little as he reached for the lid of the box, but he didn’t feel it.
“I guess without any solid plan, I would just think of the story. And the mare in the story. I would have waited until right before you were going to blow an errant strand of mane out of your eyes, so I could reach up and gently do it with a hoof.” She froze, and he lifted a trembling hoof to slowly push a lock of red and pink mane out of her eyes. “And then as confidently as I could manage, I would have opened the box and said, ‘Babs Seed, would you marry me?’”
With one hoof he lifted the lid of the clamshell box to reveal the jewelry inside. It was a bit jostled from the spill, but everything was still there. Babs’ jaw dropped, and her wet eyes darted between his and the engagement ring. But then, with a teasing smile, he closed the box and set it down.
“Too bad I’ll have to come up with something else, though,” he lamented, over her squawk of protest. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s just as good.”
“You… you… big dummy!” she laughed, tears of joy splashing down her cheeks. She reached out and seized the box from him. Tender didn’t protest, letting her hold the box in front of her. With wondering eyes she opened up the box. He noticed her own hooves were trembling. She lifted the ring by the necklace chain, then glanced at him. “Y-you should put it on.”
“Is that a yes, then?” he took the chain from her, lifted it over her head, letting it settle around her neck.
“What do you think, Tender Taps?”
And then she kissed him.
