Leave Room For Anon

Anon E. Muss, Toilet Sprinkles, Princess Cadance, Prince Shining | 1 Week Later | The Crystal Throne Room

Anon paces back and forth, hands firmly clasped behind his back. His fingers wiggle as he rummages through his brain for a better explanation.

They're in the Throne Room. Currently, it's entirely empty, devoid of any that isn't aware of their little game of secrets. Cadance and Shining sit on their respective thrones, mostly confused as to the whole situation that Anon had concocted here. Twilight is off to the side, wearing her little nerd glasses and scribbling in a notepad.

Cadance glances between them, curious as to why he called this little morning meeting. It's been about a week since Anon arrived, and they've slowly been chipping through the numerous issues plaguing the Empire. Progress was slow, but promising, the effect on his presence quite noticeable between the two rulers.

Shining looks very content, and well-rested. A soft smile tends to continually sit on his face, likely from repeatedly sharing Anon's room while they figure a good way to slip in and explain a second bed in the royal chambers. Anon's current idea for it, was to just get a "fuckhuge bigass bed" they could both sleep on and not even come close to bumping each other. Both were alright with this idea, but getting it made and delivered would take time. So in the meantime, Shining would continue to bunk with Anon.

Cadance was quite good at holding her regal stoicism, but having Anon to talk to and work ideas through had helped her mood significantly. Near-daily little tea breaks, and the odd massage, helped keep her from tensing up, and kept her spry for her days tasks.

Twilight had been assisting the record keepers with processing the curse. While they haven't found a way to dispell it yet, identifying has taken a huge surge in speed with her help.

Preparations for the Crystal Faire are underway, projected to be hosted in two months time.

The future was hopeful, even as the treasury continues to empty to make things happen.

"You two... need to act like a couple." Anon suddenly states, stopping to spin in place, pointing his hands at them.

Cadance and Shining share a curious glance. Not exactly what they expected him to bring up.

"We... do?" Shining mumbles, confused. Cadance shares this sentiment, nodding.

"Anon, please. I'm Princess-Trained by Auntie Tia herself. I think we manage that, at the least." Cadance retorts, a touch incredulous. Telling the Princess of Love she didn't look like she was in love? A bold claim.

Shining hums in a agreement, not quite sure of the point Anon is trying to make, nor eager to question the Princess.

Both are surprised by how resolute Anon is against their retorts, as he wiggles a defiant little finger.

"Right. Trained by Princess Celestia, the most notable of relationship havers." Anon jokes dryly. Anon simply points at Twilight, and snaps his fingers.

The communal gaze flits to Twilight, as she clears her throat.
"After following and recording the interactions between Cadance and Shining for one full week, I've counted each of your intimate, and friendly interactions, compiled into one list."

"...That's why you were trailing after us like that?" Shining questions.

That gets an ear-flick from Cadance, who leans forward, at least curious. This had the potential to tickle her same-brand of data-loving 'tism that she shared with Twilight. Shining just looks lost, moreso weirded out that his sister had been tracking stuff about him. Though he was pretty familiar with her antics, experiencing them never got more pleasant.

"Alright, Twibunkle -- how many times did they longingly stare at the other, unnoticed?" Anon starts, striking a pose.

"Zero."

"Turbulent--How many times did a mutual gaze occur, where it was either held confidently, or broken off in a bashful glance-away?" Anon shouts, striking another.

"Also zero."

"Toblerone! Wistful sighs? Audible remarks in public about missing their partner, followed by an apology for slipping up professional decorum? Roping staff or others into minor, loving schemes aimed at the other?" Anon rambles, striking a new, fresher stance with every question.

"Zero, Zero, and one -- but that doesn't count, as it was when we had discussed a 'megabed' to be stealthily handled into the Royal Chambers for Shining and Cadance, at your behest, Anon." Twilight concludes, tapping her quill to the clipboard.

"ZERO!" Anon throws his hands up in the air dramatically, putting it all in one, final funky pose.

Cadance and Shining stare at his antics, before sharing a glance.

"That's... Anon, that kind of thing doesn't matter." Shining sighs, shifting uncomfortably in the throne. Couldn't make it any clearer that Shining preferred to be posted beside a throne, not stuck on one as a royal-by-marriage. "Sure, the Crystal ponies hinge on emotion, but they don't read that deep -- "

Anon promptly stomps over beside Twilight, and plucks her glasses off her face. He slaps them on his own, crossing his arms.
"Who looks like a nerd?" He states firmly.

Twilight squints at him, rubbing her nose from the yankage.

"...What?" Shining was getting more and more confused.

"The glasses? Blunt. Obvious. But look at demeanor. Whose slouching? Whose carrying books? Who looks like they'd stay up for three consecutive days mapping out the trajectory of toast coming out of the toaster?" Anon continues, pointing between himself and Twilight.

"I..." Twilight goes to start, but realizes she might not win a rebuttal about toast charts, instead huffing. Anon had called her a nerd so many times, she'd stopped retorting it a while ago.

"No... no, hang on. He has a point." Cadance mutters, cutting Shining off. She's surprisingly invested, tapping her chin with a hoof. Seems the whole Princess of Love thing gave her a keen interest in these more subtle, behind-the-scenes love games.

"...He does? How?" Shining tilts his head, still lost. Captain of the Guard. Beyond poking out people who looked suspicious, keeping guards in line, and being a most dutiful husband to the Princess, Shining's skillset didn't seem particularly... vast. Narrowly but heavily skilled, might be a good term for it.

Anon cuts in, though he's done with posing for now.
"Crystal Ponies are the lifeblood of this nation, true, and their feelings keep them happy. So, they need to BELIEVE you two love each other, just as much as your inspirational little crush-to-lovers story demands it. But feeling secure in something goes beyond the face value. So even the subtle underlayment of this facade needs to be believable, or the lack of which will leave only room for doubt. If there's no rumors of how you dote on each other in public, that only leaves room for whispers of the opposite." Anon continues his tirade, waggling a finger as he paces. The more he speaks, the more Cadance seems to be getting invested, leaning more and more out of her throne.

"Right, so those subtleties are what help seal the deal, when they doubt. It reassures them without us needing to step in!" Cadance nods, patting the thrones arm rest. Or... hoof rest. "It's like in Princess training. You can't break your noble posture for a second, since you don't know when someone might be watching from an angle you didn't expect. If we're feeding them positive signals casually, making it our norm, they interpret them as such, no matter what we're actually up to!"

"Exactly. Here, come stand beside me Cadance -- I think you get the idea better, and Shining could use the example." Anon explains, slapping Twilight's glasses back on her face (gently this time) before stopping in the middle of the room, pointing to the spot beside himself. "We just need to build a believable behavior, that you both get used to."

Cadance hops down off her throne, trotting to join him. The simplicity of his request, and how easily she follows it, despite the disparity of their positions does cross her mind for a moment -- but she enjoys the rather casual atmosphere that Anon seems to constantly radiate.

She spins around as she slides in beside him, looking up at him expectantly.

"Positioned like we were simply walking down the halls. I'm Shining on stilts, you're you. Alright?" Anon instructs.

Shining snorts.

Cadance plays along, taking her more regal posturing. Head tilted up and back, chest, wings fluffed up but still furled -- how she would walk if she was to present herself in public. Then, she glances out of the corner of her eye at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Perfect. Now... say Shining outpaces you. Walk with me, but go slow." Anon continues, taking a step forward. Cadance follows, but trails behind, Anon quickly outpacing her. Anon puffs up his chest, widens his shoulders -- and slowly glances behind himself.
"A stern face, softening for but a moment in concern for minor worry for the mare he loves... then, once its affirmed she hasn't fallen too far behind, Shining slows his pace... smiles softly when Cadance catches up, and resumes walking only once she has returned to his side." Anon explains, acting it out in-motion as he says it. He has them repeat it from the other direction, turning so Shining can see it from the other angle.

Slow pace, softly worried turn... smile, wait for them to catch up, repeat.

Cadance isn't quite sure how to feel about that smile Anon throws her way each time, quickly glancing away each time they make eye contact.

"See what I'm talking about here? Wistful. You're thinking about the other pony, even in passing moments. If you're together, you're acknowledging their presence -- it brings you joy to know they're there." Anon explains -- suddenly reaching down, using a hand to angle a confused Cadance's face.
"And did you see that bashful glance-away? Perfection. Realizing that Shining is still thinking about his darling wife, and getting bashful about it. That's Princess training for you." Anon concludes, tilting and aiming Cadance's chin around, before meeting her gaze for a long, wistful stare.

Cadance swallows quietly, struggling to maintain the stare.

"Get it Shining?" Anon chirps.

Shining scratches the back of his head, nodding after a moments hesitation.
"Uh... yeah, I think I do. It's like... breaking my attention stance, but only when it's related to Cadance?"

Anon snaps his fingers together, pulling from the stare with Cadance. She audibly exhales, taking a moment.
"Bingo! Alright, get down here, we'll run a few with you as well. Cadance, back up you go."

Twilight, across the room, silently scrawls down on the clipboard the 'experiments', and the general results.

Shining hops down, Cadance hops up -- she slumps into it like she'd just done something exhausting, staring up at the tall, rounded ceiling.

"Alright Shining. Stay put." Anon points straight beside himself. Head tilted curiously, Shining sits in his haunches beside Anon. The moment he does, Anon goes striding across the room, to one of the walls.

"...So how do you know all this?" Shining asks, plodding his front hooves in place.

"Soap dramas! And L.A Noire, that one was fun." Anon shouts back without looking, before placing a hand on the wall -- and strikes a pose, leg partially bent, back arched. Fierce. No X, no Doubt.
"Alright. I'm Cadance, you're you without stilts. Scene -- we're passing each other in a hall or large room, while we're both distracted with guests or other tasks. But, we notice each other. Show me the look you make."

"I don't stand like that... wait, do I?" Cadance mumbles, glancing down at herself, lifting a hoof.

"Uh... sure." Shining clears his throat, trying to... playing pretend didn't come as easy to Shining, a machine of standing at an attentive guard-ready pose for hours. He tries his best to imagine he's... meeting dignitaries, or anything that isn't just staring at Anon's suggestive posing.

Twilight scribbles down just how attentive the pair are at paying attention to Anon. Their eyes just won't leave him. Studious. Respectable. Their investment into this task is commendable.

Anon starts striding across the room, hips swinging, while Shining... does his best to make a mock conversation. It's mostly Yeahs and Uhuhs, but it works for now. Then... Anon side-eyes, and double takes into a full stare. Slow head tilt down, staring up through half lidded eyes... warm, surprisingly sultry smile. Wink, a soft giggle, and look forward again.

Shining just stared the moment they shared a look.

Anon reaches the end of the room, spinning, clapping his hands. Both Cadance and Shining startle at the sound, fidgeting.
"Good eye contact! I was expecting you to try a more playful, saucy return stare -- but being slackjawed is a solid, endearing approach. Letting your eyes roam the body like that, because why wouldn't you? She's the Princess of Love. She's sensual. Shapely. And she's your wife. Other ponies seeing that she can still sweep you off your feet -- or, hooves, as resolute as you are as Captain of the Guard? Flawless." Anon explains, crossing back to the middle of the room, back to Shining. Pausing beside him, he ruffles Shining's mane, before clasping his hands again.

Cadance glances away at the descriptors used about her, ears pinning back.

"Alright!" Anon calls out, turning to face them both, while Shining tries to measure his breathing to stop the hammering heart in his chest. Cadance is staring at one of the distant walls, only offering quick side-glances. "You two seem to get the idea. Let's do a few more runs of a few different scenarios. Cadance, join us? Easier now if I handle both of you at the same time." Anon motions beside himself, hands sweeping out.

Shining and Cadance both quietly stifle a cough, looking away as Cadance trots over to join them in the middle of the room.

Twilight quietly notes that they may need to adjust the heating in the castle, as both Shining and Cadance are looking pretty flush, and fidgety. Odd, she was just fine. Anon looked his usual too, and all he had was clothes. Did Shining acclimatize to the North already, and the temperature inside was simply too high for them both?

Twilight also keeps meticulous notes of how the ensuing practices play out, quill scribbling away as she notes their posture attempts, and reactions. She finds a few interesting behaviors tend to surface.

They seem to find it easiest to first make the face at Anon, and then at each-other. Any scenario involving the pair, like for example, smiling sweetly at each-other after referencing the other, they first seem to practice the smile at Anon, before trying it on the other.

They're both extra attentive when Anon seems to speak to a specific one -- both Cadance and Shining respectively perking up, ears flicking when Anon singles one of them out. Under his specific attention, they seem almost antsy, plodding their hooves in place. Shining seems to be perspiring an abnormal amount, and Cadance is biting her lip.

Twilight dutifully notes these down.

These behaviors seem to primarily stem from Anon's very hands-on approach to instructing these examples. He'll often directly touch or maneuver them as needed, and insert himself as an example, before pairing them off again. Nudging their hips, faces, even leaning down to move their hooves.

After nearly half an hour of various scenarios, ranging from quiet pass-by's, subtle behaviors during conversations, purposeful slips in demeanor, and a hefty amount of physical movements and subtleties to draw the eye properly, Shining and Cadance are both breathing heavy, faces flushed, both sweating.

Anon looks entirely fine, smiling with contentment.
"You guys are really catching on to this -- couple of naturals. Alright... Twoop Loop, how long have we been at this?"

"...About half an hour, Anon." Twilight calls back, folding her little glasses.

"Right... court is about to start soon, right? Perfect time for a little break, and I'll get out of your manes. Good work, you two." Anon nods approvingly, giving the tired pair a thumbs up. He wonders if it has a dumb name like Day Court... Crystal Court. Eugh.

Twilight starts packing her supplies, floating them beside herself.

"...Anon, how are you not tired?" Shining mumbles, sitting back, huffing. Sure, they didn't physically go crazy or anything... but that took a lot of concentration and focus. "You're so animated with all this."

"I bet you couldn't go for much while longer, huh? The kind that doesn't show it until you're exhausted." Cadance teases, setting herself down softer than Shining does.

"Huh? Oh, I could do this stuff for hours -- just ask Twibidi. Humans are all about long-term endurance. Back in ye-old hunting days, we'd trail game for days." Anon nods, doing a little stretch to stay limber.

Twilight nods.
"I once watched him hang off one of the branches of my Tree-Library for five hours to avoid Rainbow Dash. Why was she after you again?" Twilight asks, tilting her head curiously.

"... No comment." Anon goes quiet, crossing his arms.

Definitely not related to trying to find a way to get up to her cloud-house to sleep on it for his napping checklist, and causing it to plummet. No sir.

Neither Shining or Cadance bother to verbalize anything off of that comment, both finding their words stuck in their throat, and instead taking a slow, calming breath.

Shining closed his eyes, and Cadance pursed her lips, kneading the floor.

"Ready?" Twilight asks, trotting up to Anon. "We've got an inspection with Farbrook up soon, to try and gauge the Mines status a little better, now that records is making progress."

"Right. Alright, you two have... as much fun as court allows." Anon pats them both on the head, throws them a thumbs up, and trails after Twilight, who is already rambling statistics about the Mine.

In a few short moments, Twilight and Anon are gone, leaving Shining and Cadance in the throne room. With their private discussion over, staff are slowly filtering into the room to begin preparing it for the next few hours. Unlike Day Court in Canterlot, they didn't have to entertain Nobles for hours, so it was a fairly concise event that happened every few days.

"Sweet Auntie Celestia, he is... he is such a tease." Cadance mumbles the moment Anon is out of sight, rubbing her temples with her hooves.

"Right? Tell me about it..." Shining affirms with a huff, equally quiet, drawing her surprised glance as he slumps back into the throne. Cadance trails after him, haunches thumping against the cushion of her own.

Both share an awkward glance of realization about their not so subtle verbal comments. They share another, more awkward cough, trying to put it past them as they try their best to look presentable for court.

Seems they were in agreement, at least.

Time for court.

They fidget, sharing a glance.

Which would take hours.

Cadance bites her lip, as Shining stifles a groan.

Yep, just... time for court. They could handle that. After being man-handled by Anon, verbally and literally, for the last half an hour.

Staring up at him... sharing longing looks with him... wistful sighs, warm smiles...

...

... They basically just role-played for the last half an hour with him.

And now its time for court.

... Nope. Cadance folds first, Shining sighing in relief as she calls one of the staff over, requesting a fifteen minute delay to the start of the proceedings. Shining is eager to accept the notion, and while the staff pony trots off to deliver the news to the awaiting ponies about the delay, both Cadance and Shining excuse themselves for a few moments, heading in different directions.

One of the bathrooms, and one of the guest rooms, find themselves firmly locked for the next little bit.

They return later, both looking much better, and tired, sharing an amicable nod. Each having handled their own... issue.

A few of the staff whisper about their little disappearance, assuming a supposedly not-so-subtle romp, under the idea they re-linked up further in the castle for some private time before court. Anon's teachings are already at work, apparently.

Twilight and Anon enjoy a thorough discussion about the Crystal Empires progress, sat in front of that Amore painting, killing time for the carriage to set up for their trip. It was becoming his favorite little pause-spot... the couch was comfy, now that it wasn't poking him, and the painting just felt comforting to sit near.

Twilight has yet to understand the numerous Stronghold references he makes after she lists statistics, like placing quarry's and how full the granary is.

She does show him the notes she took, though. Anon studies them for a little bit.

"...How does this place handle heating, anyway?" Anon mumbles.

"Oh, Fire Stones in the furnace room, with ventilation through the entire building." Twilight helpfully answers.

"I want one." Anon decides.

...

They find a spare in the furnace storage.

...

This was soon revealed to be a bad idea, as both discover you can in fact, throw Fire Stones, crystals charged with Fire-Based magics, for an impromptu fireball. They explode quite forcefully on hard impact, and tend to scare the absolute shit out of the nearby staff ponies.

Twilight isn't sure what a grenade is, but Anon won't stop calling them that now. He's taken her notes, and is drawing some kind of belt to go across his chest, with numerous Fire Stones strapped across it.