Bibcock often seemed to find going to events with Papyrus a little awkward. The Oubliettes & Ogres meetings, the PTA meetings, and now perhaps the strangest of all... book club.

It wasn't that Bibcock was shy around ponies. I mean, how could he be? He couldn't very well make a living back on Earthquake Island if he were.

But then, this wasn't Earthquake Island. This was Equestria, and he was no longer a hooker. He couldn't act the same way he was used to. Not without embarrassing Papyrus. Then again, Papyrus was a cutie. Embarrassing her juuuust a little might not be such a bad idea.

While a youngish stallion talked about how amazing the protagonist's character arc in "July Rain" was, Bibcock nuzzled Papyrus's neck lightly. She smiled, blushed a little, and gave him a "not now" look. Bibcock sat back in his seat and listened to what he had to say.

"Reading it a second time you really notice what he says in the first chapter, about how the second dance you go to is never the same as the first. That line comes back again much later in the book, when..."

And Bibcock was lost again. He hadn't actually read the book. Instead he rented the movie and fell asleep partway through it. He felt a little dumb sometimes. He guessed it was easy to feel a little dumb, given how educated Papyrus and Ivory were. Ivory knew so much about teeth it kind of make his head hurt. And it *did* make his head hurt, after she'd done some work on it.

Who knew that living in a backwater town and living off of less-than-healthy food and booze would do things to your teeth? Well, good thing it didn't hurt his bod too bad. That would've been a travesty.

What was the guy talking about now? Something about visual symbolism. In a book. Bibcock didn't really get that. His night classes hadn't gotten to that yet. Maybe he'd get it better.

This was all his fault. Papyrus had offered to help him with the book, but he had to go "Papyrus, I *can* read. It's not that hard." She was probably going to make fun of him after this. Ah, well. Bibcock could handle her teasing.