"Some people call me Steve." His tail gives an energetic flicking behind him. "Some call me Bob. What do they call you?"

You give your name, seeing little reason not to. Hard to work for someone without them knowing your name, right?

"That's a good one. Some people get all nervous, giving fae their name. Good thing for you there aren't any of those around, not the old ones." He reaches up, playing with an ear, still looking around at everything in the area. "You were saying?"

You hadn't been saying anything, but he had asked... You give the extremely condensed version of things, skipping over the specifics in large, except the guy you're hoping to help.

"A pony! Show it." He looks so excited, practically bouncing in place. "Please. I already showed you my tail, it's fair, totally fair." He turned in a twist, basically just showing his butt at you, tail wagging like an excited dog, which horses were not really made for, but he was making it work.

Now, you had been told not to show off your pony'ness, but that was in general. He was already on the strange side of things, also you'd already told him. What would the harm be? Besides, you hadn't had a chance to be on all hooves in a while, and that sounded fun. With a clop of hooves on wood, you fell forward with a little equine snort. Thanks to your efforts, your clothing still fit you, making you a prettily dressed pony.

"Look at you!" He didn't know what personal space was. He grabbed your round equine cheeks and rubbed vigorously. "Adorable! Oooo." He worked a hand up to your horn, tracing its curving spiral. "A magic pony, the best kind. Is that why you can see things?"

The worst part? It's actually kind of nice to be touched there. You were not that close to Steve, or Bob? You back up a step. "Pretty sure that's involved. I'm a unicorn, as you can see. What are you?"

"There are tales, legends!" He throws his hands wide. "From the bonny lands of Ireland, of mischievous sprites that are quite good at shapeshifting. Most often seen as horses, they loved to gallop through the countryside. But they love to talk too. You could be talking to one, right now, and you wouldn't even know! Well, unless they forgot to turn back into a person. You'd probably notice if you were chatting with a horse." He laughs at the mental image of his own making. "Bringers of fortune, good or bad, of visions, and of time lost, you may not even believe they were real at all. Pooka are a strange thing."

"So you're a Pooka?" you ask bluntly.

"What? Me?! I doubt it." He waves that right off despite having just described himself pretty well. He even was a horse. Was he joking around? "You must be one." He pats you right on the head, your horn going through two of his fingers. "Horse, check. Shapeshifter, check! Are you mischeveous? I bet you are!"

You incline your head faintly, carrying his hand along with the motion. "I was pretty... standard before. Then this happened. So, about that job? I've got a whole new ticket on youth, and I don't want to waste it."

"They say youth is wasted on the young." He pulls his hand back, but just to tap your large snoot. "They were wrong! Young with the wisdom of the old? Now that's a trick! I'm jealous... You look quite healthy and young as a pony. A pity you can't go clip-clopping down the sidewalk like that."

Brightly colored unicorn? People would ask questions, at the least... "That job?" Steve needed prodding to keep on track it seemed, but he didn't seem like an awful person.

"Right right!" He twirled away so fast, his tail slapped you across the fuzzy snoot. Rude. "We could use warm bodies. With their eyes open? Even better! That bleed happy vibes? We're getting better!" He clapped his hands. "You being around, doing what you like to do, is a good thing for some people. You're like a, what, an engine, being all warm and purring. Put you in a cold room and watch it warm up. And you don't even make smoke!" He turns back towards you, all grins. "So we're going to help you be happy. You'll help us be happy. Everyone wins."

You try to parse all that out. "When I... get harmony, that helps you somehow?"

"Not me. No... Not specifically." He shrugs helplessly at that. "But I know this place? A candy store. You like candy?"

"Candy's alright?" You peer at him skeptically. "You want me to work in a candy store?"

"I don't, no. Not my kind of thing... But I know people! Sound fun? Front desk, smile, help people feel good." He leaned in, hands clasped together. "So much fun!"

Fun, sure... "How does that help though, besides sharing tooth decay?"

"The people who go there?" He waves off vaguely. "They don't need candy." He had just said it was a candy store! "They need help, and you'll help them get it. As little as an open door, as large as an open ear. For some, a lifesaver, for others, a convenience. Either way, you'll be helping."

That was all kind of... nonspecific. You were starting to get the idea that was what you could expect from Bob. "I'm going to assume you wouldn't be giving the new employee rundown?"

"Me?! Wow, no." A straight answer. "They'd never trust me. But do you wanna?! You have to be good at keeping secrets." He put out a finger, tapping them with the other hand. "Remembering where things are." Another finger joined. "And not making a mess." A third and fourth joined. "And cleaning other people's messes." He spread his entire hand. "Oh, and there'll be people who really think big of themselves, and you shouldn't try to correct them. Let them live the dream!"

"Right..." You quirk an ear at him. "And they're alright with me?"

"Oh, no... no no, not even a little." He held up two fingers close together. "They'll love you! Maybe too much. Don't give any of them your name. Thanks for trusting me." He put a hand on his chest. "Such trust! I'll keep it somewhere cozy. But them, maybe not so safe a place... Trust us! But only so much."

He leans in suddenly. "Say, horse to horse... You looking for a strapping stallion?"

That was sudden! "I have one."

"You do?! I always wanted to see one of those." He has a look of a fond dream. Wasn't he the stallion? "Hook me up?"

"Aren't... you a stallion?" you ask, hoping to put that to rest.

"Me?! You flatterer." He waves you right off. "Pooka, remember? Oh, right. Also horse." He gives his tail a wag, and yours swishes sympathetically. "A male horse though. You didn't even ask! Gender identities are so complicated these days... Can I meet the stallion?"

"I'll check." Promising for him felt off. "They don't see like I see."

"Aw, poo. Oh well, who's perfect?" He shrugged softly. "Now, since you said yes, expect an invitation. It'll probably be on a fancy letter, scented, with one of those wax seals. You know the kind? Expect it!"

You grab his tail on a lark, seizing it with your magic. He squeals like a stuck pig, swatting at your hand, but there was no hand, just formless magic, making that a futile task. "That's not polite. They say one way to get a favor from a pooka is to catch it by the tail." He crosses his arms. "Are you aiming for a favor? Well, too bad! I already gave you one. One a day is already doing pretty well. Don't be greedy." With that, he went for the door, or tried. You're still holding his tail, so he doesn't get far.

You had forgotten a moment you were holding it. You let him go with a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

"Maybe, one day, I'll be able to forgive." With a hand to his chest and a faked sniff, he slips out the door, clicking it shut behind himself.

The fancy letter arrived in just a day.

You break the wax seal, allowing you to open the envelope and see what's inside.

Hail and Well Met,

It has come to our attention through a mutual acquaintance that you are interested in joining the workforce of the Kountry Candy Store. This is an exclusive opportunity. We simply deny most who apply, but you come with high recommendations. The management is not familiar with you personally, which means the only positions available to you are in the front room.

Perhaps with dedication and having proven yourself, that can change. If you accept, use the key enclosed to enter the store at precisely 8:32 pm. Not a minute sooner or later. Your ability to follow directions is part of the process.

Or throw it away,
Baron Klathon Potoulie

Hm. You have a choice to make.

Author's Note

Finally, time for a new poll. Hey, you met a new face, and they seem friendly. And they have a horse tail too. Can't be all bad then. Horse sense.

New poll! https://forms.gle/xd9qUsziPmwDCTEx7

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