Trix of the Trade - Chapter 15

>You are The Great and Powerful Trixie.
>And you aren’t feeling so Great and Powerful any more.
>Hah. If you had a bit every time you said that…
>Tonight, you and Anonymous had a wonderful time. It started out a little rocky, but he was able to remedy it. You were hoping for something that was fitting of a mare like you, yet he pulled you into a shoddy family restaurant. And it worked! Such a simple night made fun by good company and a little drink. Afterwards, the two of you had a peaceful walk back. What was going to happen when the two of you arrived back at the wagon?
>Well, you planned to crack open a bottle of red wine to celebrate, and see where things went from there. You’re not necessarily saying the two of you would have done… that. But, your curiosity is slightly piqued.
>It’s not as if that matters now, because one particularly annoying mare was waiting for you. Or Anonymous, rather.
>That Scratch filly gave Anonymous those puppy dog eyes from behind those glasses and that stupid human couldn’t resist it.
>So instead of Anonymous sipping on quality red wine with you, he’s out in the main room, wrapping Scratch in blankets while brewing her coffee.
>And you’re actually pretty upset about this.
>Upset enough to drink that wine alone while you mope inside you room.
>You let out a quiet sigh as you take your first sip.
>The wine is excellent.

>Yes.
>You, The Blah Blah and Blah Trixie
>Are lying in your bed alone, drinking.
>And what hurts even more is the fact that you can hear Anonymous and Scratch giggling over a joke or a funny story from just outside your room.
>You told yourself to go out there and stop being a recluse multiple time, but…
>You don’t like her!
>She’s annoying and pompous and fat and stupid and loud and has horrible taste in music!
>You have great taste in music! Why would anyone even like her music!? You may own only three records, but they’re the best records ever made!
>You bite your bottom lip for a moment before whispering, “Idiot.” Under your breath. Were you calling Anonymous or yourself an idiot? Perhaps both. After all, you’re the one arguing with yourself. Anonymous is just naturally an idiot, sometimes.
>Like with this Vinyl character. She was almost a complete stranger when Anonymous invited her into the wagon the first time. And once again, she’s abusing Anonymous so she may have a roof over her head tonight.
>And as a responsible friend, you reserve the right to kick her out to save Anonymous from her.
>But that’ll just make him mad, and you don’t want that.
>Ugh, maybe you’ll just wait until Scratch goes to sleep. Then you’ll invite Anonymous in for a couple drinks. No funny business, either. You’ve decided it’s weird because he’s him.
>As you take the final sip from your glass, you float it over to the bedside table for a refill.

>The bottle sits next to your removed earrings and an extra empty glass.
>…
>Ugh, Trixie. You’re… Ugh.
>Why would you put that out there? It sounded like a good idea at the time. You know, just in case. But if he’s so eager to attend to another mare, why would he even think about…
>You give yourself a firm hoof to the head.
>Maybe it’ll knock some sense into you.
>Yeah, time for another drink.
>Your magic levitates the wine up, and tilts it over the glass. The dark maroon liquid slowly fills the glass until it fills, before you put the bottle back in its place.
>And before you take the full glass once more, you put the spare one in a place where you can’t see it.
>As you bring the wine to your lips, you spill the bitter liquid down your throat, and you don’t stop until it’s all gone.
>Yeah, now you’re getting there.
>You set the glass down for a moment to turn your record player in the corner of the room. You’re sure to turn the volume down low enough so you can’t even properly hear it. But you know the song well enough so only the very faint melody is enough to unwind you. It’s your favorite song. It’s one you’ve listened to countless times.
>It’s the last thing your mother sang before you left home.
>Oh how you miss her. Both her and your sister. Despite how terrible they were to you, they’re family. It’s been so long since you’ve visited.

>You hear the music begin as you start mouthing the inaudible lyrics.
>’Cigarette ashes burn red,’
>You lift the wine bottle once more.
>’But they fall like snow,’
>The bottle slowly tips, and pours wine into the glass once more.
>’I can hear the window calling my name,’
>You suddenly stop pouring as the glass gets nearly half full.
>’And the world’s got to end someday soon.’
>You quickly turn the music off. You’re not in the mood for all of this tonight.
>And Anonymous would get upset, or maybe even openly mock you again for getting inebriated while in such a sour mood. Normally, you would quickly drown yourself in poison to numb the mood, but you can’t do it anymore. It’s not just Anonymous. After spending some time away from the drink, the realize how stupid it is to drink while upset. It doesn’t help. It never did. Why would you or anyone ever do this?
>…
>You quickly down the half glass of wine and firmly set the glass down.
>Done! No more.
>A shiver runs down your back as you feel the drink go down your throat. On top of that, you feel that first glass of wine taking effect. That, stacked on top of the drinks from earlier this evening is about to push you past tipsy.
>The smartest thing to do right now is close your eyes and go to sleep.
>But you’re not going to do the smartest thing. Nor the best thing.
>You have to talk to Anonymous tonight. Not tomorrow where doubt can further cloud your mind. This has to happen now.

>You ungracefully roll out of bed, check to make sure your mane is presentable, and trot towards the exit to your room.
>The gleeful noises from Anonymous and Vinyl have stopped a couple minutes ago. If you didn’t take this opportunity to talk to Anonymous, you’d hate yourself in the morning.
>You take one deep breath and open the door. You see Anonymous closing the door to his room without Vinyl in sight.
>Did he really…
“Anon-“ You stop yourself due to your voice resembling one of a Minotaur. Celestia… After letting out a fake cough and clearing your throat, you try once again. “Anonymous? Are you letting… her sleep in your room again?”
>He looks down at you with an exhausted expression and shrugs.
>”Yeah. She’s actually pretty beat up and deserves a good night’s sleep.”
>You don’t want to look at Anonymous like he’s an idiot, but you can’t help it.
>”I know, I know. But she’s in a rough financial situation right now. You can at least sympathize with that, right?”
>You only scoff in response.
>”I’m sorry… That did put a damper on the evening, didn’t?” He gingerly twiddles his thumbs. “We could still go out and maybe… I dunno, we could find something to do in a city like this.”
“No. No… Trixie would prefer if we could…” You have no idea what you want to do. You wanted this night to go better, but the two of you can’t really go back in time, can you?
>Well, you probably could if you tried. You just don’t want to go through all the effort.
“Talk!” Yes! That’s it! Talking is a good thing to do between friends. Or whatever twisted bond you have with Anonymous is called.

“Trixie would very much like to talk.”
>”Alright.” Anonymous casually slides his hands into his pockets. “What about?”
“Do you expect Trixie to talk on her hooves when there are seats right over there?”
>You nod your head in the direction of the round table. In all honesty, you’re only suggesting this because the rest of that wine is getting to you, and you’re afraid you won’t be able to stand straight for much longer.
>You and Anonymous takes seats across from each other at the table. Anonymous steches his back before sliding down in his seat and getting comfortable.
>You’re going through a mess of decisions right now. Act cool? No, you don’t ‘act cool’ around anyp0ny. Sulty? Ha. Who’re you trying to seduce? You just want to talk. Confident. Yeah, a confident look is always a great fallback for you. Why don’t you always choose this one first?
>You strike a pose that says you’re going to say something important even though you have no intention to do so.
>”So, what did you want to talk about?”
>… Oh, shoot.
>What did you want to talk about? You don’t know! You just want to talk. Make up a subject!
“I… wanted to know more about you.”
>”… Really?”
>Hey, it’s better than talking about the weather, isn’t it?!
“Yes! If Trixie is supposed to be travelling with one such as you, wouldn’t it make sense to know at least a little about her companion?”
>Your ‘Great and Powerful’ side leaked a little there by accident, but it will at least let him know you’re serious. Is asking about someone else so uncommon for you?

>”Alright,” Anonymous adjusts himself a little higher in his chair. “There isn’t much to tell. I hung out in Ponyville, doing what I could to get by ever since Twilight kicked me out of the library. You remember Twi-“
“Of course.”
>”Right, right. The duel thing. Anyway, after that I did some favors for Rarity, the local tailor. You rememb-“
“Yes.”
>”Yes, of course you do.  Well, I helped her out and she let me stay with her for a while. Other than that, there’s not much to tell.”
>You’re disappointed by the answers he gave. Is he really this boring?
“… What about special somep0nys? Surely you’ve had your fair share. The mares of Equestria seem to adore you for some reason.”
>”I guess there’s a reason for that, but it’s pretty weird.”
“Mmm, tell me.”
>”You sure?”
“Yes.”
>He averts his gaze away, as if he’s embarrassed or ashamed.
>”Have you… read the research notes Twilight Sparkle wrote about me? She said copies spread like wildfire.
“I have not.”
>”Thought so. Well, there’s a part in the biology section that bluntly states…” He pauses for a moment and raps his fingers on the table. “I… pretty much outlast stallions in stamina in every way. By… By a lot.”
>You raise an inquisitive eyebrow. Why would that have anything to do with meeting mares?
>”Yeah… every way.”
>He puts extra emphasis on those two words for some reason. You wrack your brain for what he’s getting at, but you simply don’t see i-
>Oh…
>Oooooohh.
>Hot.
>That’s all you’re going to say on the matter. Nothing more.

>”But no. No special somep0ny’s.” He eagerly brings you back to the original subject after seeing your eyes widen in realization. “I had a few girlfriends back on Earth. Never got too far though.”
>You open your mouth to pry further, but he leans forward and stops you.
>”So, tell me about you, Trixie. I don’t know much about you, either.”
>Did…
>Did he just give you the go-ahead on talking about yourself?
>Aha!
>You waste no time into jumping into overblown stories of adversity and triumph. You threw in a few upsetting stories to make it all seem more believable. You wove marvelous tales of your adventures through Stalliongrad. Of how you once won the heart of Prince Blueblood. You don’t think Anonymous has heard that one yet. And of course, the time you beat an Ursa Major. Halfway through that last one, you remember that Anonymous knows the truth about that one. Still, the show must go on. For added effect, you add some extra height on the size of the beast. Anonymous surprisingly doesn’t call you out, instead he looks… happy. He’s not enjoying these stories because he believes them to be true. He’s enjoying your storytelling. What can you say? You’ve gotten good at it over the years.
>Eventually, your stories come a conclusion. You leave off right before you arrive in Ponyville once more.
>Anonymous even applauds once you finish. What a doll.

>”I have a feeling you’d be great at telling campfire stories, Trixie. But, I’m curious about something.”
>You’re definitely on an ego trip. You can feel it. And it feels good.
>With your eyes closed and snout pointed in the air, you give Anonymous a small nod.
>”What about your family? Mother, father? And siblings?”
>Ego trip: Demolished
“Trixiedoesn’twanttotalkaboutit!”
>He’s silent for a moment as he tries to decipher your gibberish.
>”I’m sorry, what?”
“Trixie… I would prefer if we didn’t have to talk about that.” You say as you tap your front hooves together.
>It’s not that bad of a subject, you suppose. You’ve heard people talk about much worse families. But… You really don’t like feelings insignificant. Especially not in front of him.
>”That’s fine.” He leans back in his chair. “I’m actually feeling pretty tired, Trixie. I think I’m gonna get some shuteye.”
>You get ready to say otherwise, but you’re feeling tired as well. You do have one last question, though.
”One more thing. What do you plan on doing with…” You point towards his door.
>He shrugs.
>”We’ll figure it out in the morning.”
“… Fine.”
>You slide off your seat as Anonymous lays his head down on the table. Wait. You forgot… Ugh.
>That’s what gets you the most. He gives up his own bed for a mare he hardly knows. It’s like he actually cares for her.
>… Ahaha… No.
>But it’s completely unfair. He deserves to at least sleep in a bed. It’s one of the wonderful perks of working under you.
>…
>Your bed is awfully big. Maybe you could…
>Eugh… how do you even ask without sounding like… Eugh!
>’Hey, Anonymous. You can sleep with me, tonight. But if you touch me, I’ll break your arms.’

>Before you can decide, you hear him lightly snoring.
>Is he already… Huh.
>Well, what kind of mare would you be if you woke somep0ny who was peacefully sleeping? A terrible one. And you’re a great one.
>You’re still a little reluctant to leave Anonymous in such a state.
>Maybe you could just quietly replace Anonymous and Vinyl… Yes. If you’re careful enough, that can be arranged.
>But Vinyl has to be asleep for this to work.
>You quietly trot over to Anonymous’ door and put an ear to it. You hear some breathing, but it’s stuttered.
>Your curiosity gets the better of you, forcing you to crack the door open just enough to get a brief glance at Vinyl.
>Oh yes, she’s awake. Awake and shivering like mad. After all this time she’s spent in this room, she’s still freezing.
>”Hello… ?”
>Sweet Celestia. Maybe you should just close-
>”Anonymous, is that you, dude?”
“Erm… It is… Trixie.”
>You let a quiet grunt. You hate yourself for actually responding to her.
>”Oh, Trixie. Hey, can you come in for a sec?”
>You say nothing as you open the door completely. You get a better look at Vinyl. He condition isn’t too bad, but she somehow looks noticeable more pale, and you can see a little mucus shining in the light, just under her nostrils.
>”Thanks for letting me chill here. I-I know you don’t like me… but maybe we can start over or something, you know?”

>You roll your eyes and sigh.
“Very well. Trixie sees no harm in a… do over.”
>”Haha, sweet.” She sits up on her flank and extends a hoof to you.
>… A hoof bump? Is she a child?
>Ugh. You lightly tap it with your own anyhow. You’re not in the mood for more conflict tonight.
>”Heh, alriiiiiight.” She withdraws the hoof back into Anonymous’ blanket and wraps it around herself even tighter. “You have any more blankets I could borrow?”
>You shake your head silently.
>”Ah, bummer. I’m buckin’ freezing. Gotta make the best of it, or whatever.” She lies back down and balls up a little, hoping just for that little extra warmth. “Night, Trix.”
>You stand there awkwardly for a few seconds before closing the door. Wishing her a goodnight felt… off. So you didn’t.
>Anonymous, on the other hoof…
>You trot over to him once more.
>The big oaf has begun snoring louder since you talked to Vinyl. But the way he sleeps so carelessly in his fancy suit… it’s pretty comical, and a little cute.
>You lean up against him and lightly nuzzle his arm.
“Good night, Anonymous.”
>You quickly step away, worrying whether if that was too much affection or not. But… Actually, it was nice. It felt appropriate. Tonight was a fun night, and you simply showed your appreciation for Anonymous and all that he does.
>And with those thoughts peacefully tucked away, you make your way back to your own bed for the night, quickly dozing off into a peaceful slumber.
>And while this night may have been derailed by Vinyl, you’re somewhat thankful she stopped you from doing something you may have regretted.