Cold Snow and Warm Hearts
Tincture yawned a bit as her and Tinned Syrup walked into the cool night air, their hooves lightly crunching in the snow.
“It’s nice of Bottle and the others to watch the fillies for us tonight,” She expressed, “Though I’m surprised Angel didn’t want to come.”
Tinned Syrup gave an awkward smile, “I’m sure she’s just excited to interact with the foals. She’s quite the ball of energy,” She commented.
Tincture nodded a bit, “I guess you’re right,” She supposed, “Usually she brings Hazy along when she takes me out for the night; Hazy tends to be the medium between us,” She chuckles.
Tinned Syrup smiled, walking a bit closer to Tincture, “Well, tonight it’s just you and I; no medium needed,” She said contently, looking up at the taller mare. Some might have said Tincture was freakishly tall, but Tinned Syrup didn’t mind; Tincture’s soft tone and sheepish mannerisms more than accounted for any physical oversizing.
Tincture nodded a bit, “I was surprised when you asked me of all ponies to go out drinking,” She admitted.
Tinned Syrup smiled, “Well, I asked Bottle if she wanted to join us on our mothers’ night out, but she insisted she take care of the young ones while we spend a night out instead,” She explained.
Tincture seemed satisfied by this explanation and nodded. Tinned sighed slightly in relief.
Tincture shook herself off as they got to the bar, readjusting herself before taking a seat. Tinned sidled in next to her, smiling up at Tincture.
Tincture smiled back, “Do you know what you want to drink while we’re here?” She asked, “Usually Angel and Haze order for me, hah…” She admitted.
Tinned Syrup smiled, “I was thinking I’d get us a bottle of wine,” She said.
Tincture’s ear twitched, “I’ve never had wine,” She admitted, “Usually I get mixed drinks. Though Haze made me try beer once…” She sticks out her tongue, “And never again.”
Tinned Syrup laughed a little, “Don’t worry, I’ll get us something more palatable,” She promised gently, leaning into Tincture’s side.
Tincture blushed faintly, but gently wrapped her leg around the pegasus next to her. Tinned Syrup smiled softly, her eyes closing.
“Uh… Tinned?” Tincture questioned.
“I’m cold,” Tinned Syrup excused gently, nestling herself closer.
Tincture nodded, still faintly blushing.
Tinned Syrup smiled at the waiter as they came over, ordering a bottle of red wine and two glasses, snuggled close to Tincture. Tinned Syrup wasn’t actually that cold, but she enjoyed Tincture’s company.
Tincture smiled awkwardly down at her, “Hah… You’re cuddly all of a sudden,” She commented quietly, looking away bashfully.
Tinned Syrup smiled, “We call this ‘savouring the moment’,” She educated.
Tincture chuckled softly, allowing the other mare to “savour” as she desired. She was still a little surprised by the proximity, but Tinned seemed good-natured, so she didn’t feel a need to say anything.
Tincture watched as the waiter brought over a bottle of wine and two large glasses, observing as he removed the cork and poured each of them roughly half a glass. She took one glass carefully in her hoof and swirled it lightly, taking a sip. It was a strong flavour; Tincture had become more accustomed to harsher flavours in her time in town, but the intensity of the wine made her cough slightly.
Tinned Syrup chuckled gently, sitting up straight to take her own wine glass, “Don’t worry, it’s a bit of acquired taste,” She said warmly, nipping her glass as she took a fair swig of the crimson liquid.
Tincture watched with wide eyes as Tinned down some fourth of her glass in a single gulp. “How do you handle it so well?” She asked.
Tinned smiled, “Years of practice,” She chuckled softly.
Tincture took another careful sip of her own glass. The second sip went down easier than the first; the third and fourth yet easier than that.
Tinned was already pouring herself a second glass, “It’s been too long since I had a chance to enjoy a glass of wine with a marefriend,” She expressed.
“Aren’t you worried about intoxication?” Tincture asked cautiously.
Tinned let out a hearty chuckle, “Worried? Oh, dear, that’s the fun part,” She retorted warmly, “‘A few sips to loosen the lips’, as my mother always said.”
Tincture bit her tongue. Tinned already had a lot more than “a few sips”, she was pretty sure, but the mare seemed content.
Tinned Syrup was already starting to feel the alcohol’s warmth. Apparently, it had been too long since her last drink. She didn’t care.
“So… Your life’s changed a lot in the past few months, hm?” Tinned Syrup said with the lightest of slurs.
Tincture nodded, “Vastly,” She admitted, “I ran away from home, threw my abusive instructor in prison, met wonderful friends, had a lovely little filly… I can’t pretend I was ready for any of it, but I’m glad it’s all happened,” She rattled off.
Tinned Syrup leaned on her again, still drinking. “Life does have a habit of giving us things we’re not ready to take,” She supposed, “It’s taken me two ex-husbands to realize I don’t think a ‘typical family dynamic’ is right for me.”
Tincture tilted her head slightly, “What do you mean?” She asked.
Tinned chuckled softly, “I think I’m done playing for the other team, dear,” She said gently.
This did not answer Tincture’s question. Well, it did, but Tincture didn’t know it. She could see that Tinned was a bit inebriated, though, and rubbed her side gently, just nodding along.
Tinned giggled, “No, I think I’m in the market for somepony who’s tall… A little shy, maybe… Oh, and somepony who can relate to being a single mother,” She listed.
Tincture blinked, “Is that why you asked Bottle out?” She asked, despite the fact that Bottle was average height at most.
Tinned laughed at Tincture’s guess, finishing her second glass of wine and pouring a third. “No, it’s not Bottle…” She trailed off, nuzzling into Tincture’s shoulder.
Tincture chuckled awkwardly. “Oh. I’m sorry, I don’t know many ponies around town. It’s basically you, my housemates, and a couple of my regulars,” She admitted.
Tinned giggled. “You know who it is,” She remarked, “Keep guessing, love.”
Tincture blushed lightly at the affectionate name she had been given. “What about Ms. Writ? She’s a bit taller than most,” Tincture reasoned.
Tinned Syrup scoffed slightly, “No, not her. She’s the reason Honey and Murky ran off…”
Tincture’s ears flattened slightly at the memory, “I… Right,” She replied gently, “I’m not sure who else with would be. Hazy and Angel are both pretty short, not shy, and not mothers,” She admitted.
Tinned laughed a little, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually~” She trawled.
Tincture allowed Tinned to ramble on about whatever crossed her intoxicated mind, watching the bottle slowly drain as Tinned continued to drink. Tincture barely finished her own glass, sipping it conservatively. She did feel the warmth, however; a warm blush grazed her face. Tincture noticed how cuddly Tinned Syrup had become, one leg wrapped around her and the other on her glass. Tinned Syrup was still remarkably coherent, despite how much alcohol she had consumed.
Tinned gently nuzzled into Tincture’s shoulder. “Oooops…” She trawled, “I think I drank most of it. Did you want another glass?” She asked.
Tincture shook her head, “I’m okay with just the one,” She said softly, her head slightly hazy despite her moderation.
“Aww… Alright, keep being the responsssible one,” Tinned murmured, giggling as she buried her face in Tincture’s shoulder.
Tincture smiled softly, “You’re very silly when you’re drunk,” She commented, “I see where Honey gets it from.”
Tinned laughed, “From me? Oh, no, she got that from her father,” She retorted, “Know what his name was?”
Tincture shook her head, “I’m not familiar, you’ve never told me about either of your husbands,” She replied softly.
“Peanut Butter Crackers!” Tinned shouts abruptly, before falling back into a fit of laughter.
Tincture chuckled softly. It was an odd name, for sure, but not that weird, all things considered. Pony names occasionally seemed… Prophetic, in odd ways. Not that she knew of any context where "Peanut Butter Crackers" would have been prophetic.
“So Syrup is your maiden name, then?” She asked softly, helping the mare back up to a sitting posture.
“Oh, no, I got it from my second husband,” Tinned replied, still giggling, “My maiden name is Rations; my father was in the airforce.”
Tincture nodded slowly. She was still unfamiliar as to how names were decided upon being wedded. “Why’d you keep the name?” She asked softly.
“I suppose I never bothered to change it,” Tinned replied, “Inheriting names is largely a preference thing, you know.”
Tincture simply nodded, “Ah… I’m not sure what would happen if I were to get married. I don’t even have a surname, as far as I’m aware,” She admitted.
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that, love. I can always walk you through it if you need help,” Tinned said. Tincture was pretty sure she winked as well, but couldn’t tell why.
“Should we… Head back?” Tincture asked softly after a few quiet moments.
Tinned yawned, “We’ll go back to my place… It’s closer, and I’d rather Honey not see me in such a state,” She expressed.
Tincture nodded, helping her drunk friend out of the booth. Tinned wobbled on her hooves and giggled. “Oh dear… Walking seems to be quite challenging all of a sudden,” She admitted.
Tincture smiled gently, her horn illuminating, a warm scarlet aura wrapping around Tinned to help her steady herself, “I can’t lift you, but I can hold you steady,” Tincture said.
With Tincture’s help, Tinned would stagger out into the snow, staying close to the unicorn.
“Do all unicorns have warm magic like this?” Tinned asked softly, leaning against Tincture as they walked.
Tincture shook her head, “You said you were cold, so I mixed the warmth spell I know with levitation,” She expressed.
Tinned giggled, “You’re so thoughtful, Tincture…” She trawled somewhat dreamily.
Tincture blushed a little, “I don’t want you getting hurt like this,” She replied stoically.
Tinned gently reached up, batting Tincture’s muzzle towards her. “Hey,” Tinned greeted softly.
Tincture blinked, “What’s up?” She asked, looking down at Tinned.
Tinned giggled, “Have you figured out who the mare of my eye is?” She asked.
Tincture shook her head, “I forgot about that…” She admitted.
Tinned smirked, “Come here, I’ll give you a hint,” She said.
Tincture leaned down a bit more, freezing as Tinned planted a gentle kiss on the base of her ear.
“Got you good~” Tinned chimed, giggling drunkenly.
Tincture flushed, standing up straight. “I-I, er… Think we should get inside,” She expressed softly.
Tinned giggled and shakily led the way to her home, unlocking the door. “C’mon in…” She trawled.
Tincture looked around. She’d never actually seen Tinned Syrup’s house; it was a nice, two story home, part of a larger housing complex. It was quite warm inside, and the decor was very homey. It reminded her a bit of her own home in Bottle’s house, though there were substantially fewer blankets.
Tincture lightly kicked the door closed behind her, allowing Tinned to weakly drag her towards the stairs.
“Uh… Tinned?” Tincture questioned gently.
Tinned giggled, “Shh… The couch is too small for both of us,” She said in a whisper.
Tincture was a little confused, but just decided to humour the drunk mare. She had seen how some of her other friends got when they were inebriated. Hazy was similar; very cuddly, a little intimate. Tincture still didn’t understand what was with this town and cheek kisses, though.
Tinned dragged her upstairs with a surprising amount of strength, pushing Tincture towards a surprisingly unmade bed. Tincture simply watched the influenced mare carefully, squeaking as she was shoved into the bed, falling back-first. Before she could fully process the impact, Tinned pounced on top of her, cuddling tightly to Tincture’s body.
“...Warm…” Tinned murmured drunkenly, her eyes closed as she nuzzled into Tincture’s chest.
“Are you still cold?” Tincture asked.
Tinned nodded, now acting somewhat like a cat. Her hooves were planted flat on Tincture’s body, as if trying to grip her.
Tincture shuffled a bit so they were more on the bed, her horn illuminating to draw the heavy quilt up over them.
Tinned smiled gently, “Warm,” She repeated, more lucidly this time.
Tincture gently stroked her mane, “You’re one of those ponies who’s always cold, aren’t you?” She asked gently.
Tinned shook her head, still smiling.
Tincture paused for a moment. She thought about the kiss, the fact that everyone had insisted they went alone, how cuddly Tinned was being. Tincture’s eyes widened.
“This… Wasn’t ever about being a mother’s night out, was it?” She asked softly.
Tincture’s face became red; redder than could be explained just by the alcohol, at least.
Tinned smiled gently, “You figured it out now, hm?” She asked softly, her head lifting as she drew little circles on Tincture’s chest with her hoof.
Tincture blinked, “Me? Why me?” She asked softly; not in a whiny way, of course. She was just surprised.
“I told you already,” Tinned giggled, pushing herself up a bit so she was looking down on Tincture’s confused eyes, “I want somepony tall, a little shy, can relate to being a mother… Someone who’ll make me feel like I’m loved…” She trailed off, “And that’s you, Tincture… Every time I see you, I get these little flittery feelings in my chest. Every time you drop Murky off at the school, I just want to come over and give you a, a…” Tinned cut herself off and leaned down, pressing her lips to Tincture's.
Tincture’s eyes went wide in surprise, but she didn’t fight it. She didn’t want to fight it. Her eyes relaxed, and eventually closed. The taste of wine still clung to Tinned’s lips; somehow, Tincture didn’t mind it as much in this context.
Tinned Syrup panted gently as she pulled away, looking away dejectedly, “Goodness, I’m a mess,” She muttered.
Tincture hugged the mare close, “You’re not a mess… You’re just drunk,” She corrected softly.
Tinned Syrup shook her head, “No, I mean… I had planned this out so meticulously, and now it all feels so stupid in hindsight,” She scoffed.
Tincture blinked, “How long have you had this planned?” She asked.
Tinned Syrup shrugged, “A… A few months,” She admitted.
“You waited months for this?” Tincture asked.
Tinned Syrup nodded, “I was hoping the feelings would go away… After all, I could’ve dismissed the feelings as you being new and exotic at first. But then we saw each other more and more as Murky and Honey got closer, a-and now I just…” Her eyes slammed shut, “I can’t take it any more. I need to know if you love me back,” She whined.
Tincture thought for a long moment, gently stroking Tinned’s auburn mane. She had felt some of the feelings Tinned Syrup had described; those light, fluttery sensations in her chest. Then again, she had felt those sensations around most of her friends; Bottle, Angel, and Hazy had all elicited them at some point; albeit, Tinned Syrup tended to provoke them more often than the others. She just assumed it was how friends felt around one another. This “love” thing did complicate things, but it wasn’t entirely bad…
Tinned Syrup froze as she heard Tincture speak, “I do,” The unicorn replied, still stroking Tinned’s mane gently.
“Y-you do?” Tinned stammered.
Tincture nodded, “I feel the exact same way. The flittery feeling, wanting to stay close to you…” She trailed off, “I was just too stupid to know what those things meant.”
“Not having learned something doesn’t make you stupid, Tincture,” Tinned dismissed, “It just means you need a little guidance…”
Tinned pushed herself to a sitting position so she could look Tincture in the eyes. She froze, however, as Tincture lightly pecked her nose, accompanied by a soft chu~
Tincture smiled sheepishly, “H-hah… Got you good,” She stammered softly, suddenly feeling quite self conscious.
Tinned stared at her for a long moment, before beginning to giggle, “Get over here, you!” She giggles, pulling Tincture into a now fully-reciprocated kiss.
Tincture yawned gently as she awoke. Tinned Syrup was curled up on her chest as if she were a pet. Tincture gently stroked the sleeping mare's mane… It really was an unusual colour combination. Auburn mane contrasting with a silvery gray coat. Then again, Tincture's dark fuschia coat didn't particularly go with her lavender mane. Perhaps it was one more of those things the could bond over.
Tincture then realized what had happened last night. Tinned Syrup had drank an entire bottle of wine last night; she'd have a killer hangover when she woke up. Tincture's single, carefully-moderated glass had spared her from such a fate. Tincture gently slid out from under Tinned Syrup and onto the floor. The mare whined gently. Tincture gently tucked a pillow between the mare's front legs, which seemed to appease her. Tincture smiled and slunk downstairs.
It took some rummaging to find the things she needed. Cooking fat, flour, sugar, milk, eggs, baking powder. Salt wasn't hard to find in anypony's home. She then grabbed a bowl and began working, hoping she'd remembered what Bottle had taught her well.
Tinned Syrup sniffed the air as she awoke, noting a tall figure before her somewhat hazy eyes. She blinked them a few times to steady them; her eyes loved to defocus early in the morning, after drinking or not. She rubbed her sore head and groaned. Thankfully, she'd been spared from the typical nausea a hangover entailed.
"Good morning," Tincture greeted in a low, warm voice, rubbing Tinned's head.
Tinned nuzzled into the warm hoof. "Good morning…" She mumbled back.
She felt the blankets lift up, and a warm body slid in bed next to her. "Hope I didn't wake you getting out of bed earlier," Tincture expressed sheepishly.
Tinned's eyes were finally cooperating with her, and she smiled up at the now clearly visible tall unicorn. She tilted her head at Tincture's glowing horn. "What do you have…?" She asked softly.
Tincture gently rolled her onto her back, and set a large tray over her lap. Upon it was a large tray of pancakes and syrup. "Cure for what ails you," Tincture said with a small smirk.
"This doesn't look like a potion," Tinned replied smugly.
"Bottle's been helping me practice cooking," Tincture explained, nuzzling Tinned Syrup's head gingerly.
Tinned reached out, carefully pouring some syrup over the still hot pancakes and cutting a piece free, taking a bite and humming a content, "Mmm…"
They were a bit salty, but Tinned didn't mind too much. The feeling of warm food in her belly more than made up for the slightly amateurish quality; some small burnt spots, the aforementioned saltiness, and the somewhat mangled shapes.
Tinned leaned gently into Tincture's side, "Too much salt," She critiqued.
Tincture huffed a little, and looked away, "Damn it…" She murmured. She perked up as Tinned Syrup's lips landed on her cheek.
"I'm just teasing, dear. Bottle taught you well," She expressed gently, "You just need a little more practice."
Bottle sighed softly and chuckled, "I wanted to make sure they were cooked properly," She admitted, "Hence why they're so dark."
Tinned Syrup giggled. "Lower heat next time," She advised.
Tincture sighed softly and nuzzled Tinned softly, "Okay, okay, you've been a mother longer than I have, I get it," She snorted, chuckling gently.
Tinned Syrup smiled, "And a marefriend~" She added softly.
Tincture blushed slightly, "Is that what we are now?" She asked shyly.
"Well, you brought me home, snuggled me in bed all night, and now you've woken up to make my breakfast," Tinned commented.
Tincture smirked a little, "We call that 'pending judgment'," She joked, chuckling softly.
Tinned laughed, "Well then, let's judge, shall we~?" She giggled, tilting her head up.
Tincture leaned down and kissed Tinned Syrup on the lips, nuzzling her gently.
"I love you," Tincture proclaimed softly.
"And I, you," Tinned replied, returning the nuzzle before returning to her breakfast.
Angel perked up at the knock on on the door, most of the household had only just woken up; Bottled Lightning, Hazy Stupor, Nymph, and Honey Syrup were still asleep in other rooms of the house.
"Who'd be knocking on the door so early?" Angel asked herself, darting over to the door and opening it.
Angel gawked at the two mares who were standing next to each other, holding hooves.
"May we come in?" Asked Tinned Syrup, leaning into Tincture a bit.
"Tincture lives here, you didn't have to knock," Angel snorts, opening the door wide to allow the two in.
Tincture chuckled, "It was more dramatic to have you answer the door," She joked.
Angel rolled her eyes, "Oh Celestia, she's rubbing off on you already," She giggled.
Murky peered over the couch as Tincture and Tinned Syrup walked in.
“Good morning, Murky,” Tincture said gently, breaking her grip on her marefriend to walk forward, pulling her daughter into a hug, “Were you good for Angel and the others?”
Murky looked at Angel for a brief second. Angel giggled, “She’s always the best; you know that, Tincture. We kept them up super late, fed them a bunch of sugar…” She trailed off as she saw Tinned Syrup’s face get more and more horrified, “I’m kidding, Ms. S. They played like two games of Coltan and then passed out in front of the fire,” Angel comments.
Tinned Syrup let out a sigh of relief and wiped her brow.
“Mom, why were you holding hooves with Miss Syrup?” Murky asked.
Tincture smiled a bit. “Well… Tinned Syrup and I have decided to be marefriends,” She explained, slightly sheepishly.
Murky’s head simply tilted.
“Your mother and I love each other very much, Murky,” Tinned Syrup explained as she paced forward, gently kissing Tincture on the cheek, “We’ve decided to be a couple.”
Murky blinked. “Oh… Oh!” She chirped, “Does this mean that Honey’s my sister now?” She asked, an uncertain smile on her face.
Tincture smiled a bit, “I suppose it does,” She said gently, “It also means that Ms. Syrup is your stepmother, so you’d best behave in school from now on,” She teased, ruffling her daughter’s mane. Murky squeaked and giggled a little.
Tinned Syrup huffed, “As if she ever doesn’t behave,” She snorted, bumping her head lightly into Tincture’s.
Tincture chuckled a little.
Honey would stumble out of the guest room with Nymph, yawning a bit, “Good morning…” Honey murmured softly.
Tincture, now sat on the couch with Murky on one side of her and Tinned Syrup on the other, smiled at her, “Good morning, you two,” She greeted gently.
Murky hopped off the couch and hugged Honey, surprisingly excitedly (for Murky, at least). “Morning sister!” She greets.
Honey would nuzzle sleepily into Murky’s embrace, blinking a few times, “Sister?” She asked.
“Your mom and my mom are marefriends now,” Murky explained, “That means we’re sisters,” She says with a smile on her face.
“Oh,” Honey replies, still sleepily clinging to Murky, “Okay!” She says, a bit of excitement poking through her grogginess as she’s sort of dragged over to the couch.
Nymph looked at the two marefriends with wide eyes for a long moment, “I think you two will have a very long, happy relationship,” She stated quietly.
“Hm? What do you mean?” Tinned Syrup asked.
“Changelings can sense love because we feed on it,” Nymph explained, “And you two love each other very much.”
Tincture smiled. She was a little caught off-guard by how forward the small changeling was being, but she simply ruffled Nymph’s mane, “Thank you, Nymph. I hope you’re right,” She replied.
Angel giggled a little, “Does this mean you’re moving out?” She joked, sticking her tongue out.
Tincture rolled her eyes. “Fat chance, Angel. Have you seen my apothecary lately?” She asked with a soft snort, “You’ll have to wait a while to steal my room.”
The mares would light up with laughter as the fillies sat on the floor, having their own little conversation.
Tinned Syrup smiled and kissed Tincture on the cheek, “So, am I still ‘very silly’?” She asked smugly.
Tincture smirked a little and chuckled, “Even sillier now that you’re sober,” She retorted, hugging her marefriend tightly.