Kaffein

“Hmmh…”

Rays of light reflected on the necklace’s golden surface as the mare inspected it from many different angles. The precious stones glinted back the aura that kept it suspended in the air.

Kaff idly watched as the unicorn fiddled with his necklace. If he still had fingers, he’d be twiddling them right about now. His expression remained neutral while the minutes passed. The ticks and tocks of the clocks on the wall helped him with his efforts.

The same couldn’t be said with the person accompanying him, however. Jace was all too chirpy as she admired the knick-knacks and seemingly random assortment of items the shop had to offer. She hummed a merry tune Kaff didn’t recognize as the two sat on their stools waiting.

Crossbows, jewellery, and instruments were all just a fraction of what Kaff caught on his peripherals. If the item being appraised wasn’t so valuable he would be browsing the many shelves that caught his fancy. For now, he kept all one hundred and ten percent of his attention on the mare in case anything shrewd were to happen.

He did throw in a few fake glances here and there to make sure he didn’t seem like he was staring. Looking too perceptive was all too suspicious for someone trying to sell something at a pawnshop. Especially jewellery.

Jace had helped him earlier by giving him a rough approximation of how much things were worth here. From the prices visible, it seemed that gold wasn't worth as much as they did in Europe. At least, that was what he gathered after converting those numbers to more familiar European currencies. That, or they were all fakes.

“Yup, it’s real, alright. The spell checks out.” She placed it gently on the counter’s glass surface, numerous gold and silver pieces less ornate were proudly presented underneath. “How much are you hoping to get?”

“Thirty five hundred.”

“Fifteen hundred Bits.” She tapped on the glass. “I already got a lot of these puppies on display waiting for a nice pony to adopt them.”

Kaff scoffed, putting all his acting talent behind it. “It’s worth at least thrice that amount back home. And as you can tell, it’s not exactly light nor minimalist.” A rough approximation, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.

She clicked her tongue. “No receipt, no nothing. It’s worth less if you can’t prove you didn’t steal it. I’m not a fence, I’m a pawnbroker.”

Actual jewellers would’ve paid much more, but Jace had told him ponies weren’t willing to buy such expensive items unless you had the proof of purchase. Pawn shops being the exception.

Kaff nodded. “Yes, I agree that I do not have the corresponding documents with me. I lost them in the voyage. However, I can assure you that you will not find anything remotely similar in both design and quality. I offer you the opportunity to acquire something completely unique from the lineup you have in there.”

She seemed to chew on the idea Kaff had brought to the table. She didn’t vocalise it and had done a good job of hiding it, but Kaff could tell she agreed. Nothing in her stock came close to the level of craftsmanship his necklace had.

“I will happily part with it for three thousand. If not, I am sure there are plenty of people out there willing to purchase it for what it’s actually worth.”

She frowned. “No, I can’t do three thousand.” She wanted it, but she did her damned best to not look like it. His intuition screamed this at him.

“C‘est la vie.” Kaff took his necklace off the table. “I believe we’re done here.”

She was quick to refute. “Two thousand Bits and not a hundreth more!”

Kaff stopped mid-way reaching the door, a sly grin proudly materialising on his snout.

“Deal.”

“Please, I insist. Kind souls are a rarity in my travels.”

The streets were now bustling with ponies milling to and fro. This was even more true for the School Jace attended. Ponies around her age funnelled into the building as she and Kaff stood outside.

“I-I can’t accept, Kaff. I just wanted to help. You don’t need to repay me none.” Her cheeks grew faintly red as they started to attract attention from students passing by.

On Kaff’s hoof was a pouch of Bits worth five times the amount Jace had lended him. He had prioritised using higher denominations so it would not attract attention. When she looked inside however, Jace grimaced and quickly refused.

“Really, it was nothing, Kaff. You should keep it.”

“I will not accept nay for an answer.” And Kaff was having none of it. “And I don’t see any reason for you to deny. From a grateful soul and the bottom of his heart, please accept it.”

Kaff could have given her back only what she lent him, but that simply wouldn’t do. Kaff wanted to show her his gratitude for what it was actually worth. And right now, it was worth around forty Bits, or about two weeks worth of labour from what Jace had told him earlier.

“Come on, Kaff. You know I can’t accept that kinda money.” She looked at him pleadingly. “I’m sure you can find a better use for them somewhere else. Really, I don’t mind.”

He sighed. “If it’s that much of a burden to you, then I concede. But, I will propose a compromise.” He pulled out a ten coin from the pouch and tossed it to Jace.

She handily caught it, not taking long to discern its value. “Alright, I guess that’s a heck of a lot more fair.” A bell rang from inside. “And I guess that’s my cue. Oh! You're still sticking around the inn tonight, right?”

He gave her a smug look. “That’s what I spent your money on, so I sure hope I will.”

She snickered. “Come down to the tavern if you ain’t got nothing to do later tonight. Pa’s heading out, and I’m in charge of the floor. Keep me company then, you hear?”

He tipped his hat to her. “I’ll keep my schedule clear.”

“Good, looking at ponies stuffing their faces ain’t the most fun thing to do on a Friday night. And you look like you’re a fun pony to talk to, so see you then, partner.”

Kaff tipped his hat again and said his goodbye. A few ponies wove around him and some glanced quizzically at his probably foreign-looking hat.

Not seeing much use standing around, he went off in the other direction. He’d seen a map of the town a few blocks away, and wouldn’t mind giving it a closer look. There were a few things he needed to sort out before day’s end to keep him at ease, and thankfully the day was young. A town like this would surely have plenty of services to offer.

But even with his day set, Kaff really wouldn’t mind overhearing what was said behind him. This body was simply better at everything compared to his old one, and listening to what people had to say about him was one of them.

“Dang, who’s the colt with the cute butt, Jace?” It was promptly followed by the sound of many books falling over onto the pavement.

Kaff made sure to lower his tail further than what he had thought was already appropriate.

Like the pawn shop, the bank’s doors closed with a chime as Kaff left the establishment. That had went quicker than expected. Inside his saddlebags was a dossier proving his ownership of a recently opened account. And now, those packs felt considerably lighter.

His rumbling stomach reminded him now that that was done, he could finally sit down and enjoy a good meal. He already made a few notes on where he was going to spend his day, and luckily this next one was nearby.

He kept up a smile that matched the rest of the pony populace he saw out on the street, and thankfully he hasn’t been mugged yet. Hence why he went to the bank before finding a good meal.

Hunger was one of the things he’d grown accustomed to suppress. Simply not thinking about it was the first step. When you’ve reached that goal, the second step should already be forgotten. If not, try harder and/or die of starvation. Personally, he’d pick the first option if at all possible. So far it has worked and he has yet to die.

He really shouldn’t have skipped breakfast, but he didn’t want to keep Jace waiting. She was already giving him plenty of her time. A bit of training in patience wouldn’t have hurt him too terribly.

Not that any of that mattered now. A quick glance at the eatery’s sign, and Kaff had found himself inside the establishment in short order. The guide map had stated the place was good for the budget option, so he stepped in.

The chess-patterned flooring was a bit dizzying, but he found a good table not too far away from the counter. The menu items were worryingly hay-themed and meat wasn’t even an option, but they did serve vegetable soup. It was one of the few things Kaff found palatable enough for his now already low standards.

He made the order, and the waitress was off to shout it into the kitchen for the cook to hear. It was disturbing how greasy the tables' metallic surface was on his arms.

While waiting for his meal, his eyes wandered to a family of four enjoying their lunch on the next table over. Just like him, they were also pegasi. Though, their wings were far more immaculately preened and pristine. A fact which made him shuffle the pair on his back uncomfortably.

It was always a shame whenever he couldn’t meet basic hygiene. The first thing people would recognize and remember you by were your imperfections. Word of mouth could easily make your life harder if you didn’t pay attention to basic norms.

A filly toying and fumbling around with their luggage seemed to notice her neighbour as well. The little girl gave him the sweetest smile and waved to him.

Kaff returned the gesture by giving her a much more subdued smile and a simple nod. Such small interactions were always nice. Especially from people who didn’t have the capability to fake it.

The little colt sitting on an adjacent seat seemed to notice him as well. However, instead of another smile and wave, Kaff was startled to find the boy gasping and pointing a hoof at him.

“Here comes another child letting the world know of my imperfections...” He could feel his prosthetic involuntarily shift below him as the recoil had already become instinctual.

“You’ve got no cutiemark!” the colt bellowed as loud as his tiny little lungs could allow.

The child worryingly pointed at his hindquarters. Kaff didn’t see anything there. If anything, it should be clean from the fact that it had been shielded by his packs all morning. Actually it should be clean in general. Those saddlebags were on him ever since he found them back at the beach.

What came next was a series of profuse apologies from the parents and the promise of a stern scolding for the kid. Kaff told them not to worry so much as the colt was just a curious child, but that did little to dilute the sour look they gave the tyke.

Now that he thought about it, if Kaff had to guess, the colt probably meant those colourful marks all the ponies here seemed to have on their flanks. They seemed to be simple icons of random things from what he’d seen.

If that was the first thing the kid had noticed, then it was safe to assume that not having one was stranger than missing a leg. Well, he supposed that’s another reason to keep his packs close to him at all times.

By the time his food came, the family had finished and apologised for the final time before they took their leave, albeit with a little haste. And again Kaff assured them the faux pas was forgiven.

The food was good enough. Not much else to say other than it was better than hardtack. Kaff hadn’t even concentrated on tasting as his mind went over what needed to be done before day’s end for the umpteenth time. He always found comfort in confronting the day ahead with things already planned.

Kaff only realised the bowl was empty when he didn’t feel anything after putting the spoon into his mouth. The waitress likely thought of Kaff weird as he stared into the bowl with lifeless eyes.

He left shortly after. The door closed behind him as the waitress shouted for him to come again soon. The place was nothing special. He’d probably be back.

Kaff sat down on his bed with a sigh, the aroma of the soap he’d gotten hanging pleasantly in the air. He exhaled a long breath as he let himself fall backwards onto the bed, the ceiling a familiar sight.

The room was dim as shadows danced away behind the candle’s light. The wet towel was fresh on his furred belly. A slight breeze brought fresh air into the room as he had left the window slightly ajar. And the wind whispered sweet nothings into his ears. All was well.

He couldn’t quite remember when he had done this last; laying on his back with an empty mind. There were a few things of note to take care of, but that could wait. He missed having these moments.

He idly swung his prosthetic, gently kicking his new saddlepack resting next to the bed frame. He probably shouldn’t do that, but he didn’t really care. It was supposed to be durable anyways, and he hasn’t packed it with anything yet. His supplies were all still hodgepodge on the table and unsorted. He’d need to double-check in case he forgot anything.

Right. A bed roll.

He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, tossing the damp towel aside. He promised to himself that he’d be on his feet in the next couple of seconds.

At a one, two, and three. The wooden boards creaked at the sudden force of a human-turned-pegasus rising from bed. A yawn escaped his jaw. He stretched and headed out, reminding himself to grab the box before leaving.

Downstairs was fairly alive. A few families at some tables while one or two others dealt cards and jovial tales. He could spot the waiter from yesterday milling about and taking orders; a light pep in his step.

As if knowing he was being watched, the waiter turned his head and made eye contact with Kaff. A sly look on him. With a face like that, no wonder they gave him the job.

The colt gleamed, somehow brighter and pearlier than the fur on his hide. He gestured at a table where Jace was lethargically flipping through the pages of a rather thick book. He winked.

Kaff didn’t quite know how to respond, so he just nodded. It was his default response, but he hoped it was appropriate. Whatever the colt was throwing, he didn’t catch it.

He walked over to Jace’s table while putting on a smile that nowhere near rivaled the one on that colt’s face. He’d have to work on that later.

Jace looked up from her book as Kaff sat down on the cushioned seat. It was surprisingly soft and cozy; unlike the eatery from earlier. He placed the box squarely on the centre of the table.

Jace eyed the item, tilting her head to one side. “What’s tha… -oh! Thanks for swinging by! Almost dozed off there.”

“Glad to be of assistance.” Kaff shuffled in his seat, trying to get his leg into a comfortable position. He pointed to the box. “And that’s the other half of my gratitude.”

She poked it idly, likely noticing it was still warm. “Ain’t we done settling all that?”

“I said no such thing.” He gave her a coy look. “All I said was that I promised a compromise. And if you disagree, take it as a gift rather than recompense. And if you disagree yet again, I already bought it and have thrown away the receipt.”

“Well, thank Celestia you’re not a lawyer.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “What’s in there anyhow?”

His grin grew twice bigger and thrice more coy. “The answer is staring right at you, and yet you choose to ask the messenger.”

Her brow furrowed, but her smile turned playful. She opened the box to find cookies of many differing flavours inside. It was filled to the top, and Kaff could smell it from the other side of the table. Even if high-quality, thirty Bits was still a lot of money to spend on pastries.

She picked one off the top. “Thankful as I am, there’s no more gifts after this, right, Kaff? I ain’t given to putting ponies into bankruptcy over sweets.” She took a bite with a very audible crunch. “Oh, wow. These are good.”

Kaff took the one with purple icing as Jace slid the box to him. “No, no. That’s all. The bakery smelled enticing when I walked by, and I have yet to meet a soul who dislikes chocolate.” He took a polite bite, finding himself agreeing with the price tag.

She started munching on her second cookie. “I ain’t sure if I can finish all of these, or if I even want to.”

“They are yours. Do what you will with them.” Crumbs scattered onto the table as Kaff wiped his mouth and hooves. They fell everywhere, even as he used a napkin to clean himself.

“It’s family night, I think I’ve an idea.” She waved the waiter over.

Kaff looked up to see the colt already at their table with a notepad at the ready. “Jace. Sir. What can I get you two this evening?”

With a mouth full of half-chewed pastry, Jace answered, “An empty plate would do fine for me, Bloom.”

“I think I’ll have the same, but hold the plate,” Kaff added.

Bloom jotted all that down on his notepad. “Would you like to pay for that in cash or would you like to open a tab?”

“You may need to foot the bill for this one, Jace. I’m not sure if I can financially recover from such levels of spending.”

She rolled her eyes, not offering even a chuckle for the joke. But Kaff could see she was suppressing a smile. “When you come back, I want you to go around some of the family tables and offer these to the kids. Feel free to take some if you want to.”

“Ooh, well isn’t that just sweet and tasty. I’ll swing over to the tykes, but don’t hope there'll be anything left on the plate when I get back.” Before heading to the kitchen, Bloom slid the bill over to Jace. Who, in turn, took one look at it, before crumpling it up. She glared at the colt, but he was already off.

Not far away, a roaring fireplace warmed up the cold air, and Kaff could hear children and adults alike laughing. Townspeople and passersby spent the night cozying up inside the tavern. A few tables sat friends together while those patrons shared banter and jovial laughs. The night was lively.

It had been a while since he experienced this. A long time since his derriere sat firmly inside a Prussian tavern, drinking to good health with the few friends he had.

The few friends that he had.

His mind pondered if they would remember him fondly. There were few he ever connected with. And fewer were the times he ever spent with them with alcohol and spirits in tow. It was usually happenstance and work that would bring him and his friends together.

After long nights sorting through documents and envelopes, a tall mug of sunshine easily numbed the mind. Familiar faces helped. And after he left and rejoined the military, that simply couldn’t happen anymore. He couldn’t even write to them. That would defeat the purpose of him leaving Prussia altogether. Then, could he even call them friends if he was so able to leave them behind?

No. Now was not the time. ‘Never’ was more appropriate. He’d perish the thought and burnt it. None of that would matter ever again. That life was dead.

“Say, Jace, I’ve something to ask.”

She looked up from her book, her ears perking up. “Yeah?”

“What’s a cutiemark?”