Words Unspoken
Entering the bar a lone stallion made his way inwards. The music was light and the atmosphere was friendly, popular with the regular patrons but not loud like a club. It was already late into the evening and glancing around he decided to take up a seat by the bar itself. Politely waving a hoof to gather the barkeeps attention he placed some coin on the counter. The barkeep trotted up before realising who the stallion was. “How are you doing? Not bad? What can I get you?” he greeted almost sarcastically. The stallion merely grinned as he eyed the barkeep, a certain smugness to his expression. “Ok fine. The usual it is then.” The barkeep replied before setting off to prepare the stallions beverage of choice.
The drink was served in short time with a pleasant nod from the stallion as the barkeep took his payment “You know, Buddy.” the barkeep began, “One of these days I'll get your voice to pop out. Mark my words.” the stallion flashed the barkeep a grin before shaking his head. He had begun to slowly frequent the bar, but never said a peep. Between tapping the bar for a new drink or flashing his expressions, the barkeep couldn't work out if the stallion was the quiet type, or if he actually couldn't speak. Shaking his head of the thoughts the barkeep went back to polishing his glasses, even as clean as they were, it looked better than standing about waiting for the next order.
Sipping at his drink a glance was cast over the other patrons, ponies of different types enjoying their beverages, drowning their sorrows or staring into space, nothing too far out of the ordinary save for an orange mare with a flowing mane engaged in a heated discussion with a large red stallion further along the bar. “Ah'm just saying, Collect her from the school once in a while, she gets a might handful with those questions and it can't hurt none for you to step up big brother. She's yer sister too!” The large stallion merely shook his head gently and replied plainly “Nope.” Putting her drink down the mare looked up to the stallion and groaned “Well why not? You know Ah'm able to hold up your chores while you're gone, I would of thought you would prefer a good chance to get a break in the day.” The stallion merely shook his head again and repeated his reply, This display caused the observing pony to loose a snort of amusment, but before he could stifle it with a hoof the mare flicked her attention to him.
“Beggin yer pardon there partner but care to share what y'all finding amusing about this family discussion?” The offending pony cocked a curious eyebrow first at the mare before looking up at the large stallion, his expression softened a little as he stared for a moment, the large stallion wasn't entirely sure what to make of the gaze. “Hello, eyes down here friend, Ah'd like an answer.” the orange mare called, but a hoof was raised in defiance as he continued to gaze at the large stallion. At this point the large stallion noticed something in his eyes, there was no aggression, no fear, no lust. For lack of better words he could only describe the smaller stallion as tired. “Let him be AJ” the large red stallion finally spoke up “He didn't mean nothing by it, did ya mister?” The smaller stallion lowered his hoof and solemnly nodded before turning back to the bar, tapping it twice. The bartender wandered up as the other siblings watched for a moment, a look of frustration upon the mares face. Stopping in front of the stranger the barkeep spoke up “What'll it be? No wait, don't tell me...” the stranger cut him off with a rise of his hoof, shaking his head before tapping the bar twice again and gesturing to the siblings. “Another round for them?” The stallion gave single nod with a smile as his reply and he casually placed some bits on the counter, the barkeep turned to the siblings, guessing their drinks of choice “Two ciders coming up.”
In short time the bartender served the beverages and the stranger adjusted his glass, staring into his drink blankly. The orange mare was somewhat confused at the strangers random act of kindness but was lightening up to the cold drink served before her. Taking a large swig she exhaled happily before cocking her head toward her brother “Y'know what. Fine Big Mac. I'll keep up the school run.” The large stallion took another drink from his mug, glancing to the stranger who raised his own drink with a wink, Big Mac could only broaden his smile as thanks. Turning to the stranger AJ raised her mug up with a warm nod “Cheers, Mr.... uhh, didn't catch your name there partner” to which the stranger tapped his own glass against her mug while pretending to zip his lips shut with his spare hoof. In spite of his large grin Applejack tilted her head for a moment, confused by the gesture before shrugging and turning back to her drink.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning Applejack woke with a bit of a hangover, the previous night was mostly a blur in her mind. Raising to her hooves and trudging to the kitchen she set about fixing some breakfast. Afterward she got back to the routine of getting her little sister ready to go to school, AJ left the farmhouse lead by her youthful sibling but a thought nagged at her mind “Who was that stallion? I never seen no pony look at Big Mac like that.. And yet for not humming a single word they sure seemed to have had a big conversation of their own. Must be to do with them being quiet types I suppose.” Shaking her head Applejack called to her sister to be careful crossing the river, white water rafting without a raft was no way to earn a cutie mark.
