Tarnished Silver - Chapter 4

My apologies to anyone who has been waiting for this. I have put it off for too long.
Chapters 1 & 2: http://pastebin.com/T596v2yK
Chapter 3: http://pastebin.com/rUTXYxL5

>You are in your room.
>Today you bought some painting supplies.
>Maybe it will help you get your mind off things.
>You learned how to paint in prison.
>It was one of few luxuries you were allowed.
>The Warden though it would help reform you.
>How do you reform a dead man?
>You paid extra for the prepared canvases.
>The layers of gesso are much smoother than what you could have done.
>It has been a while.
>You stare at the blank canvas.
>What will you paint? Maybe your mood?
>What do you feel?
>You should be angry, but a few glasses of vodka took care of that.
>An unused syrette sits on your nightstand.
>It’s for later.
“You should be angry.” You repeat to yourself - out loud this time.
>Empty.
>That’s about as close as close as you can get to your emotion.
>Empty like the canvas before you.
>Maybe you should just sign it in red.
>Anon.
>That would be pointless.
>Black.
>Black is a good enough.
>You dab black paint on your palette.
>A bit of thinner gets the oil to the right consistency for a background.
>You start at the corners and work your way in.
>You leave a a blank area in the center for your subject.
>Every stroke reflects the light differently.
>The shimmer of the wet paint intrigues you.
>It reminds you of the past – brighter times.
>But then it comes back to you.
>No. Don’t think about that either.
>Simpler things.
>A flower.
1/7
>You outline a single chamomile.
>Its alone, like you.
>Jesus, just listen to yourself.
>You were never this soft before.
>Life in Equestria has changed you.
>Has it been for the better?
>Give it a friend.
>You make a blue outline for the vase.
>When you are satisfied with the shape, you switch brushes.
>It only takes a few yellow strokes to fill in the flower.
>How will you deal with Diamond Tiara?
>The last time you killed a man, you were thrown in jail.
>Subterfuge isn’t your forte.
>Though, neither is murder – you were caught after all.
>Maybe you can get her hooked on drugs.
>Then she would have to leave you alone.
>You've seen ponies take things to extremes before.
>Its possible that more prone to addiction than humans.
>One of the petals extends too far.
>You correct it with a few brush strokes.
>Chamomile can change a person’s mood.
>There could be plants here in Equestria that are poisonous to ponies.
>That could work…
>What about Silver?
>You think about this as you paint in the vase.
>Diamond said she staged the pictures herself.
>The light was low and you didn’t get a very good look at the photos.
>You could tell makeup or something was applied.
>The black and blue marks on Silvers face – no one could sleep during that application.
>She must be in on this too.
>A knock at the door.
>”Anon? Are you in there?” Shoeshine says.
“Yeah.”
>She opens the door.
>”Oh, that looks nice,” she looks toward your painting.
>She raises a hoof to touch it.
“It’s not dry yet.”
>She quickly retracts her outstretched limb, and looks around
>”I wanted to talk to you about something. You've been acting strangely lately.”
“Oh? How?”
>”I don’t know. I can’t quite put my hoof on it.”
2/7
>She sits on your bed.
>”What’s this?”
>Shit.
>You should have put it away.
“It’s nothing,” you say as you try to take the syrette away from her.
>She’s faster than you, and moves it out of your reach.
>”Are you using drugs?”
>She examines it.
“What? No. I’m – just holding that for a friend.”
>She shakes her head.
>”Anon, I haven’t seen you spending time with ponies.”
“I have friends. I went out with Applejack a week ago.”
>”You just met her. That hardly counts as a friend.”
“I’m going out with her again in a few days.”
>She ignores you.
>”Where did you get this?”
“I found it.”
>She doesn’t believe you.
>”How often do you use these?”
>You sit next to her.
>No point in hiding it now.
“Almost every day. I need them to sleep.”
>”These will kill you one day.”
“I’ve been just fine so far.”
>Shoeshine frowns.
>”My cousin used drugs. He used to be such a good colt.”
>She turns to you.
>”Then drugs took over his life. He lost his job, and had to steal to get his fix. I haven’t heard from him in a while. You haven’t stolen to pay for these have you?”
>If only you stole.
>Then you would have fewer problems.
>She breaks the uncomfortable silence.
>”How silly of me. Of course you don’t do things like that.”
>You want to say, “you don’t know me very well,” but you don’t.
>”Are you going to quit?”
“I’ve been trying.”
>She nods slightly and places the syrette back on the nightstand.
>You think about it for a bit.
”It’s harder than it looks.”
>”We can get you help, Anon.”
>They would probably have to lock you in a room for a few days to get it out of your system.
>You knew a guy who quit once.
>He told you that the first three days are the worst.
3/7
>”There’s something else...”
“Yeah?”
>”I think Silver is having colts over.”
“Why’s that?”
>”I’ve been hearing,” she blushes, “well you know.”
>You do.
>”There’s no easy way to say it, so I’ll just say it. I think she has been sleeping around.”
“She has her cutie mark. Isn’t that when they can start… doing that stuff?”
>”No! She should wait a few more years.”
“It’s not our place to tell the Spoons how to live their lives,” you shrug.
>”We can’t just sit around and do nothing. What if she gets pregnant? How will we explain that to Mr. Spoon?”
“It must be tiring to worry so much.”
>”I can’t help it. Her father is always so busy. He hardly spends any time with her.”
“I’ll handle it.”
>”Thanks, Anon.”
>She gets up to leave, but stops at the door.
>”Think about what I said. It’s never too late to turn your life around.”
”I know.”
>And then the door closes.
>With Shoeshine gone you can return to your thoughts.
>There is a good chance that Silver actually likes you.
>Diamond is just on a power trip.
>Driving a wedge between them is your best option.
>You put down your brush, and let the oil dry.
>
>
>Be Silver Spoon.
>That night.
>Shoeshine has gone to Caramel’s house.
>With her out of the picture, you finally get a chance to speak with Anon.
”I’ve been waiting all day for this, Anon.”
>”Me too,” he smiles.
>You scoot over a bit and invite him to your bed.
>He lays down on his side, facing you.
>His arms don’t wait for permission, and pull you toward him.
>You fit perfectly in his embrace.
>He’s so warm.
>One of his hands plays with your mane.
>The other lightly rests on your flank.
>A finger slowly traces your cutie mark.
>He’s gotten a lot more compliant.
>You didn’t even have to offer him a treat.
>It’s finally started working.
>He cares about you.
4/7
>”You’re very beautiful, Silver.”
>He takes off your glasses.
>His half lidded eyes let you know that he needs this as much as you do.
>You move forward, and his lips meet yours.
>As you pull away his hand gently guides you back to him.
>Again his kisses you.
>It’s a long deep kiss this time.
>He rolls onto his back.
>You are cupped in his arms, and you follow him.
>He stretches a few times before settling down.
>You should tell him how you feel.
>No.
>He’s just doing this for his drugs.
>Anon never cared about you.
>Not really.
>You’re just using each other for a cheap thrill.
”Do you like me, Silver?”
>”I don’t know,” you lie.
>He just smiles at this.
>His hand slowly moves from you crest to your loin.
>Fingernails press into your coat as he moves.
>They make a long tingling sensation down your back..
>”I didn’t at first,” he takes a deep breath, “but now I can’t help but like you.”
>Just like.
>See, he doesn’t love you.
>Not yet, anyway.
>”Do you like me, Silver?”
>Your heart skips a beat.
>Don’t say it.
>Don’t tell him how you feel.
>Then all of your power will be gone.
>But that’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?
>Anon spends time with you, and makes you feel better.
>He’s the only pony who ever cared about you.
>Not like your father, who is never around.
>”That’s alright. You don’t have to answer.”
>You hear a slight sadness in his voice.
>Like your silence has hurt him.
>Here he is bearing himself to you, and you won’t even say anything?
5/7
>No.
>Don’t say it.
”I love you, Anon,” you whisper. “I always have.”
>You inhale sharply as the words leave you.
>This was a mistake.
>He isn’t ready for that.
>His arms squeezes you slightly, and his face moves to meet yours.
>A free hand brushes your mane.
>He moves slowly toward you.
>When his lips touch yours, you feel for the first time… loved.
>A warm feeling spreads throughout your body.
>You try to hold it as long as you can.
>He pulls away.
>His half lidded eyes let you know that he feels the same.
>And in that moment you know that Anon is the only pony you can ever be with.
”Diamond is coming over tomorrow.”
>“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
>You give him a confused look.
>”She didn’t tell you? I thought you two told each other everything.”
”What happened?”
>“I wouldn’t worry about it.”
”Com’n, Anon. Tell me.”
>”After you went to sleep, we went into the guest room, and made love.”
>They couldn’t have.
>Diamond said that you would be the first to have Anon.
>At least she didn’t show him the pictures.
>”I was reluctant at first, but she was very persuasive.”
“Anon, I never said you could do that. You belong to me, not her.”
>He presses his lips together.
>”Unfortunately, Diamond took some pictures of you and I sleeping together. I can’t let those get out.”
>That bitch used you to get to Anon.
>She wanted him for herself.
>”It’s too bad. I prefer you.”
“I gave you a job, Anon. Not her.”
>”But she has those pictures. I’d be thrown in jail if anyone saw them.”
>Diamond only has copies of your pictures.
>You still have the roll of film stashed away.
>She agreed not to show the pictures until you had no choice.
>Why did she use them the first chance she got?
>It was a dumb idea.
6/7
>You should have known that Anon would have come around eventually.
”I don’t want you playing with Diamond anymore.”
>”I have to do what she says. She blackmailed me.”
>”I’ll tell her to bring them tomorrow night.”
>”But, you shouldn’t know they exist. You were asleep in the photos.”
>You can’t tell him that you posed for the pictures.
“I’ll figure something out. Once she shows them I’ll grab them and rip them up.”
>”She could have copies.”
>It’s possible, but you don’t think Diamond thinks that far ahead.
”We’ll worry about that later.”
>Anon nods.
>You have a wrenching feeling in your stomach now.
>You sleep in Anon’s arms.
>
>
>Be Anon.
>The next day.
>She fell for it.
>Silver thinks that you care about her.
>You don’t care what it takes.
>Those pictures have to be destroyed.
>You will not go to prison again.
End of Chapter 4
7/7