Blue Robin 3

>You are Robin
>It's been a few days since the... club incident
>To keep your mind off it, you've been more absorbed in your work than usual
>But how long will you keep it up?
>You know you'll have to face each of them again eventually
>You sigh as you bring the molten glass from the furnace
>The work order was asking for a kind of twisted vase
>Not too much of a bother
>You lose yourself to your craft as you give form to the heated blob
>Forming various objects from simple shapeless masses has always fascinated you
>The possibilities of what you could make were practically endless
>Back home, it was more of a niche craft
>Nothing to really be proud of
>Here, you had work
>Ponies liked the stuff you made
>Orders just kept coming
>Lamps, vases, glasses, statues, oh the list went on
>It was one of the things in your life you could truly say you loved
>With the new vase formed, you set in gently aside as it rapidly cooled down
>Another order down

>A quick glance to your wall clock tells you it's nearly closing time
>But, you suppose you can do one more order with the left-over supplies
>You trot to your orders box, organized by deadline, and pull the one due to expire the soonest
>Sure it was a bit unorthodox and over-done, but it worked well for you
>Mom always did say you were a bit of a neat-freak, rest her soul
>You open the paper and begin reading the request form
>...
>You turn your gaze away from the page as your face heats up like a wildfire
>The order...
>It's for a glass... dildo?
>Not a small one either
>You look back at the paper and find the customer's name
>'Caramel'
>You set the page down on your desk, hang your head, and sigh deeply
>You... you got to do it
>You made a promise
>A vow
>6 years gone already and you aren't about to fail now

>That's when you notice the 'special request' box on the form is checked
>With a small whimper, your eyes scroll down to the 'comments' section
>You have a terribly bad feeling about this
>'Replica model of...'
>Oh no
>Nonononononono
>'... Anon's dick.'
>You have to sit down after reading that
>There's no way you can pull this off now!
>You haven't the faintest idea of what Anon's... thing looks like
>And it's due in only five days!
>Maybe you can talk to Caramel about this one
>Maybe she even knows what it looks li- uh, not that you're assuming...
"Ughhhh..."
>You lay your head down on your desk for a while
>
>
>

>Whatever it takes
>Whatever it takes, you cannot fail
>Not after all the years of practice, all your sacrifices
>You've come too far
>And you can't let one little project like this break you
>You know you're not exactly an expert in these... objects
>But that can't stop you
>You take a deep breath and look around your little glassblower's shop
>Various completed orders and miscellaneous glass works strewn about the place
>You can pull it off... but not today
>You need time to think about this
>And you could really use some coffee right about now

>It's a bit of a cloudy evening
>Nice and cool, but not cold
>Maybe it'll rain
>You'd like that
>The sound of rain always calmed your nerves
>In practically no time at all, you reach a small cafe a block down the street
>You've come here every day after work to just sit and unwind
>It was the closest place to both work and home
>Well, considering your 'home' is upstairs from 'work...'
>You start to relax the second you walk in the little shop
>An older stallion by the name of French Press greets you
>"Good evening, Ms. Robin. I trust work went well today?"
"Good evening, Mr. Press. Quite, I managed to tackle more than I thought I would. How are you?"
>He chuckles
>Reminds you of those classic bartender-type stallions in the movies
>"Since yesterday? Hardly any different, fortunately. Let me guess, you're after a medium roast coffee with three shot of white nectar?"
>You smile a bit
>You've never gone to a place so many times that you've had a 'usual' order
>At your smile, French pulls out a cup
>"Thought so. Have a seat, your beverage will be ready in a few minutes."
>As you head towards your favorite spot by the shop's front window, you hear the door open
>Another mare you haven't met before walks in
>And she's rather pretty
>Dark coat, gold mane, and sky blue eyes
>You'll admit, you might have seen her around before

>"Ah, good evening Ms. Hexferry."
>"Hello French. Hey, you have any honey-nectar left today?"
>"Sure do, what size would ya like?"
>"Large, definitely."
>"Coming right up."
Hexferry turns to you after a second
>"Ah, hi. I don't think I've met you before."
>Oh no
>Small talk with strangers was never your strong suit
>But...
>She does seem nice enough
"I, uh... just moved here."
>Hm
>Maybe you're starting to get a hang of this
>"Oh that makes sense. My name's Hexferry. Nice to meet you."
>Her pleasant tone and politely-casual vocabulary puts you at ease
"I'm Robin. It's nice to meet you too."
>Wow
>You didn't even stutter that time
>"Ms. Robin, your drink is ready. Be careful, it's hot."
>You carefully retrieve your beverage and pay the stallion
>You turn back to Hexferry
"Would you... care to sit with me?"
>"Sure, I'm in no rush so why not?"
>You smile and sit at your favorite spot, Hexferry following soon after getting her order
>"So do you work nearby?"
"I do, just down the street."
>"Oh so you work at that new glassblower shop?"
"I, well, own it."
>"Really? I was curious about that place..."
>You take a sip from your drink and feel the warmth flow through you like a rolling wave
>Simply divine

>"A few years ago, it used to be an old antique shop."
"Oh I didn't know that. It was empty when I moved in."
>You hardly realize how unusually calm you are
>Especially someone you just met
>"Well, it's been closed since I was just a filly. Seven or eight years gone by the time you moved in."
>Wow, eight whole years
>So much has changed for you in just eight years
"You still look so young and cute too."
>You immediately cover your mouth
>...
>You didn't just say that
>You look and notice Hexferry lightly blushing, scanning your face
>Before either of you can say anything, you hear the door open again
>You turn and-
>Oh, it's Caramel
>...
>..
>.
>
>Caramel!?
>Oh no this is too soon, you still need to think about this
>"Evening, Ms. Caramel."
>Good feelings gone, and hello anxiety
>"Hey French. How's it- Hex! Oh and Robin too? You two seeing each other behind my back now?"
>Hexferry's blush goes into overdrive
>You are no different
>"Y-you know damn well that's not what this is!"
>She's even cute when she's mad
>Astonishing
>Caramel leans her fluffy chest against Hexferry's back and whispers in her ear
>"I underestimated you, you naughty little moth."
>You slowly take a sip of your coffee, pretending not to hear what Caramel is telling her
>"We just met! How-"
>Caramel slowly licks the length of Hexferry's ear, effectively silencing the poor mare
>You shudder
>That easily could've been you
>"Calm down Hex, I'm just playin' around."
>Caramel returns to the counter to order something
>Hexferry takes a deep breath and regains her composure
>"She's like that with just about everyone, but... she means well."
>Hexferry continues to drink her nectar as Caramel comes back with her order and sits down

>"So Robin,"
>Your ears twitch
>"Did you get my order?"
>You nearly spit your drink out
>Hexferry looks confused
>Caramel gives you the most intense flirtatious grin you've ever seen
>You clear your throat
>'It's just business, Robin. Just business.'
"A-about that, I do have a few questions."
>"As close to the real as possible. Texture and all."
>You nearly die
>Caramel notices you freeze and snickers
>'Damn Robin, you got this'
"Do you... know what it looks like?"
>"I've only seen it once or twice, so not in detail."
>What
"T-then how do you suppos-"
>"Oh I'm sure he'd be willing to... model."
>For a moment, time feels like it stops
>This request
>This job
>This whole ordeal
>It... it might just kill you
>But you can't turn it down
>You don't have a choice
>"You okay, Robin?"
>Hexferry prods your hoof, breaking you from your daze
"I-I'm okay. I think."
>You look Caramel right in the eye
"Ms. Caramel, I'll do what I can."
>You've definitely changed in just the last few days
>But the question is... why?

[End chapter 3]