| D || Forced Intoxication

She narrowed her eyes as the propeller of her plane began to react under the motion of the rapid movements. She turned the engine off, alarmed by the odd sound, the propeller quickly bumped to a stop. "Oh what's the bucking problem now?" she sneered as she got off her seat and checked the spinner. It seemed unstable, which would explain the weird bumping-like motion when it was spinning. That really wasn't a good sign at all. If she didn't take this matter seriously, things could get really ugly. She gritted her teeth. "Great.. the spinner is acting up. Dumb thing," she scuffed, sighing with exasperation as she made her way out the garage and pulled the door shut. She needed oil to work, otherwise, it could get pretty complicated for nothing. With that in mind, she walked back inside and searched her things.

"Now.. where the buck can I find oil? I need lubricating oil... mm maybe a few screws too... mm," and as the thoughts swirled into her mind, her belly growled in protest. It took her a moment before realizing where the sound was coming from. "Oh... right, I didn't eat anything. What time is it... uh.. probably dinner time.. something like that. Well alright then, guess I'm off to eat.. but then, the spinner's gonna get it," she huffed as she quickly grabbed her little bag of bits and shoved it into her red scarf. She swung her tail upwards and onto her head, like she usually did, then headed out. Despite her rough appearance, Blondie looked good enough to be seen in public, not that it really mattered to her or not. "Now where can I find bucking food stall here?"



Ten minutes till the dinner rush, and the Gallant Gait was already behind on the dinner preperations. Charming was running between the kitchen and the hostess table, floating center peice's to their spots on the tables. Four minutes till dinner time. He checked in the the kitchen again, making sure they had all the food supplies ready for the night. One minute till dinner time. He pause at the mirrior, making sure his teeth were clean and fixed his tie. A few deep breaths later he trotted to the door, unlocking it and opened the doors to the ponies waiting outside "The Gallant Gait is open for dinner!!"



Blondie's ears twitched pleasantly. "Open for dinner? The Gallant Gay?" she wrinkled her nose in mild surprise. As she turned to look where the commotion was happening, she noticed a small line of ponies happily entering a restaurant. The label cleared her suspicions. "Oh! The Gallant Gait. That makes more sense," she paused, squinting her eyes for a moment... before finally shrugging. "Oh, what the hay," she huffed, deciding to settle for this restaurant. It seemed popular enough, maybe the food was very good! She galloped towards the restaurant, waiting as the last ponies entered, she followed behind. Like always, she was hidden by the taller ponies, her eyes lazily eyeing the tables as she neared the counter. "....Uh-- do I.. just choose a seat?" she asked out loud.



"Welcome!" A hostess smiled at her "Please follow me to a seat" she grabbed a menu and trotted off to an empty table and set it down "a waiter will be with you shortly"



She jerked a little in surprise, her eyes wide before quickly dropping back to an scowl look. She followed the hostess to her table and took a seat just like she was told. She said nothing, just grabbed the menu and began to scan over each pages... before stopping when she reached the beverages. It made her crack a small smile. "Me likey so far."



Charming was making his rounds, greeting customers and being overall well, charming. He looked over to Blondie's table. A short mare, with her tail on her head. How odd, how unique. He had to speak with her. He trotted over, puffing his chest out, which made him start to strut. Pausing before her table he smiled "Why hello there miss. I couldn't help but notice you came alone"



She was already looking at the wine page when suddenly, hoof-steps softly echoed in her direction. She expected the waiter, but instead she was greeted by a tall handsome unicorn. He looked way too fancy to be working here. She blinked, then quickly scowled as he made his remark. "You noticed this all by yourself? Pretty impressive," she commented with a bit of a scoff. "Not like it was obvious or anything," she added in a whisper, her voice full of sarcasm.



Charming chuckled, fixing his tie "my name is Charming Valet. I own this restauraunt. Ah! I see you've found our wine selection!"



"Yup, you got it champ," she replied flatly as she stared up at him. She narrowed her eyes slightly, inspecting him closely for a moment before looking up at him again. Slowly, she placed the menu back down, not looking too pleased anymore. "You're the owner uh? Great, good for you, but like you can see, I have nothing in front of me. No food, no drinks-- I thought owners only shows up to see if we're satisfied.. yet, I am not. I'm hungry and when I'm hungry, I get snappy. The waiter's not gonna show up with you around, so.. you gonna take my order or what? Cause, if you want to chit chat, we can do that, later, when I'm satisfied, alright?" she spoke steadily, her voice quite neutral though with a glint of annoyance. And just as she finished, her belly rumbled, clearly agreeing with her.



Charming blinked, taken aback from the mares statements. My, was she a snappy one. He pulled out a paper pad and pen "very well. Is there anything in particular that has caught your intrest?"



'About time,' she thought, a few words slipping off her lips as she grabbed the menu again. "Good colt," and with a glance over the dishes, and a long look at the wine selection, Blondie was finally ready to order. "Alright, listen up. I'll get the Golden Squash, pepper and tomato gratin with a bottle of Strong Apple Wine-- oh and get me the wine first, it'll keep me company while I wait for my meal," she added dryly as she handed the menu back, a little smile on her lips.



"excellent choice" Charming took the menu "i'll be back shortly with your wine, and I'll make sure the kitchen gets started on the squash" he nodded shortly, turning on his hoof and trotted merrily towards the kitchens.



"Thank you," she answered flatly, glad to finally get her order in. Not that she was waiting for too long-- hell, it was relatively quite fast since the owner pretty much just came to talk to her the moment she sat down. But, Blondie was impatient, so 5 minutes could very well feel like an hour. She sighed, waiting for her wine glass as she stared around.



The restaurant was big, with a giant chandelier that must of been imported from the Crystal Empire. It lit the dinning area with bright natural light, no part of the building gloomy. Charming had returned with a wine bottle and two glass's.



Blondie was impatiently tapping at her table, her taps quiet, mostly because the noise around her was easily drowning her own noise, though it didn't seem to bother her that much. She was just bothered by the fact that this restaurant was really.. sophisticated looking. The big chandelier, the nice tables, the sparkling clean room and all.. it just.. it just reminded her of Canterlot. It bothered her. "Oh, finally, my wine," she smirked, rubbing her hooves together.



Charming set the two glass's down, popping open the wine bottle"you won't mind if I have a few glasses of wine with you before your food arrives?" He looked at her, hoping she'd at least consider his offer



She watched as the liquid bubbled within the bottle, her mouth watering already at the thought of drinking this sparkling wine. Though at his offer, Blondie blinked, looking up at him with a puzzled look on her face. "You sure you can drink in the middle of work---wait, what am I saying, you're the owner, you can do the buck you want," she shrugged, giving in to his desperate attempt for pony interaction. Not like she was going anywhere soon. Might as well talk with the stallion, it'll make waiting for food less painful. "Bah, sure, whatever," she nodded, giving him the okay to sit down with her.



He smiled and sat down, pouring two glasses and set one in front of her "Are you new in town? I think I'd remember seeing such a unique pony such as you" he took a sip of wine, eying her over the glass



She rolled her eyes. It wasn't the first time she's heard somepony say that. Well, might as well tag along. "Yup, new in this town. I run the Travel Agency in Dappleton..."" Guess.. she'd return the question. "And you what about you, big stallion? You're new?" he asked, sipping her whine hungrily. Oh, she could feel the bubbles. It was delicious.



"Fairly new yes. A few weeks new actually. I'm still looking for employees, but nothing I can't handle" He smiled "Travel agency? That sounds like somthing I'll need. A pony to tell me where all the best vacation spots in Equestria" he winked at her.



She didn't react to his wink and just listened, sipping her wine until the glass was empty. "Funny how you're telling me that you're actually new here. Of course you don't recognize me, I bet you don't know many ponies here either," she scoffed as she poured herself more wine. "But yea, I can help you with your vacations. Wherever you wanna go, I can take ya. By air or on boat, whatever you see fit," she nodded, sipping more of her wine.



He nodded "Sounds rather relaxing. I should take you up on that offer sometime" He too finished his first glass, pouring in more "How do you like the wine?"



"It's just as good as I remember... but considering that I'm not enjoying my wine all by myself, I assume the restaurant owner will see fit to deduct his share off my bill.. right?" she gave him a look, lifting a brow at him.



Charming chuckled "it only seems fair doesn't it? Of course. What kind of stallion would I be if I allowed such a pretty and level headed mare to pay in full?"



"Ain't ya a doll," she murred, boldly pinching the stallion's cheek in a motherly kind of way before returning to her wine drinking. "But you better count the glasses. Wouldn't want to get drunk in the middle of your job, right? I can handle a little alcohol-- I mean, I've drank so much alcohol in my life, I'm pretty good at resisting the after effects," she cackled as she swirled the sparkling wine inside her glass, watching as it created more bubbles.



Charming blinked and rubbed his cheeks, again taken aback. My she had attitude. He cleared his throat "Yes well, I too can hold my alcohol"



"Great." She said flatly, giving in to the stallion's demands. As she finished her second glass of wine, the mare place the glass away, her eyes fixed on the unicorn for a long heartbeat, squinting even.. until she spoke, a hoof resting on the side of the table. "What do you exactly want?" she suddenly asked.



Charming paused. What did he want? That was a question he was going to have a hard time answering "Well.. you and I are fairly new in town and well... I haven't gotten to know anypony. Then you walked in and well, you peaked my interest" he felt his face heat up in embarrassment



She simply kept staring at him, squinting her eyes slightly as he gave her his explanation... which to her was a bit unusual. She huffed. "Peaked you interest? How so? Cause I'm small? Well, sorry to disappoint but I ain't the only one small. Who knows? I might still be growing." She poured herself another glass of wine.



"No size had little to do with it.. I'm not 100% ayre"



"I doubt it has nothing to do with my appearance though," she scoffed, still staring at him.



Charming just smiled "You are quite pretty to look at miss. I won't deny that. But I've never met a mare as strongly opinionated and honest as you. With a great taste in wine" he poured himself another glass



As he began, Blondie could just roll her eyes, taking another gulp of her wine as she let him finish. To be honest, she didn't really care why the stallion had even bothered to talk to her. All she wanted right now was her food. How long was it going to take? Most of the tables around her had been served, and yet, here she was, a glass in her hoof and a stallion in the other. She huffed, feeling herself get more and more annoyed. "Still doesn't explain what you want with me, but hey! I'm kinda tired of waiting for an answer. Actually, I don't even think I cared in the first place. On this note, I'll tell you why I even showed up in your fancy little palace that you call a restaurant.." she downed her glass and wiped her mouth with her hoof. She continued, her eyes glaring deep into his. "I came here to eat. Not to make friends, not to chit chat, not to interesting or to attract the attention. I came here to eat. Amazing, don't you think? But right now, I don't have any food, I'm bucking starving and I don't have any food! You know, if you want to prove me that you're worth my company, then freaking deliver my food and let me eat in peace. Who knows, I might be in a better mood to talk once I do, but right now, I'm not. CHOP, chop!" she snapped, her voice a murmur, yet powerful when it came to deliver her message.



Charming stared at her blankly as she barked orders at him. Taking this as a sign he had been shot down he rose from his chair, coughing slightly "Uh yes of course... I'll a, go get your food right now" He put the chair back in place and trotted towards the kitchens, ears pinned back.



She squinted her eyes at him, watching him leave with a suspicious look on her face before he disappeared from sight. She huffed, rolling her eyes as she finished her glass again, quickly filling it back up. "UGH... Next time, I'll get it delivered," she scoffed as she kept drinking, feeling her frustration rose, causing her to down her drink faster. Without realizing, she was almost finished with her bottle. Amazing how a small pony like her could empty a bottle to herself this fast..

But as best as she was with alcohol, ingesting the amount she was drinking this fast.. really wasn't recommended. She soon began to feel intoxicated, her eyes dilated. She sighed, placing her head down as she patiently waited, a wavy smile on her lips. Guess she wasn't as frustrated no more.



A waiter trotted over with her food, setting it by her head "enjoy your meal miss" he smiled, not at all concerned about her appearance. All he was worried about was getting paid.



She blinked, looking up to see an unfamiliar pony delivering her.. well, her meal. She smiled, nodding. "K-thanks, bye," she chuckled as she pulled her meal closer. Whoa, it looks quite sophisticated and good. She'd normally settle with something easy and plain.. like a veggie pizza.. or a mushroom burger. Oh well. She happily ate her food, giggling to herself as the taste pleased her. Though before the waiter left, she grabbed the fella by the shoulder, stopping them from leaving yet. She swallowed and spoke, her voice giggly. "W-w-wait! Where's the blueberry?" she asked.



The waiter looked at her suddenly alarmed "b blueberry? Your meal didn't come with blueberry's" He finally noticed her dilated eyes and gulped



She blinked slowly.. registering his words before snapping back to reality. "No, idiot, I'm talking about the other blueberry. The big guy with a taste for wine. Where's the fella? He left and never came back? What? Did he realize he was supposed to be working instead of picking up chicks for tonight's twister game? she chuckled.



"o oh you mean the owner? He's in his office" The waiter pulled her hoof off his shoulder



"Oh, alrighty," she smiled, letting him go as she continued to eat her meal. She wondered if it was because of something she said... but the food was so good, she pushed the thought away and continued to eat. She couldn't believe how hungry she was.



The waiter almost ran into Charming, freaking out "o oh sorry boss I didn't see you... I I'm working I swear!" he very quickly ran to the kitchens, leaving Charming very confused



Blondie's ear twitched as she heard the blurted words of the waiter. She turned her head, blinking in surprise before spotting the stallion of the hour. She huffed in amusement. "Oh, cut him some slack, Blueberry. He was working and totally covered for you when I asked him where you were. You should thank him, look," she beamed, pointing to her half eaten plate. "He brought me my food, hehe," she giggled, fidgeting happily on her seat. Is there really the need to point out how reversed Blondie's personality was when she was drunk?



Charming breathed through his nostrils "Drunk are we?"he eyed the empty wine bottle "and it seems your more... nice, drunk" He picked up the bottle, turning to walk away



"I'm always nice, Blueberry. And you, you are more respectful when you're angry. See? We're even now," she pointed out as she continued to eat.



"on the contrary. your rude when your sober" He looked back at her "So no, were not even"



"Aww come on, Blueberry. Are you really pulling the angry teenager on me?" she whined, giving him a sad puppy look as he looked back at her. "I'm an insensitive hay-hole, what else do you want me to say? I've spent my whole morning fixing my plane; got meh some burns on my hooves, what else do you expect from me? I can't even reach the dang thing on my own without risking falling off the stool and breaking my back. I tell you what, if you drop the long face, I'll let you sit down with me and talk. Whaddoya say? You game? Or you lame?"



Charming let out a long sigh, handing off the bottle to a passing waitress. He walked back over to the table, sitting down "Now that your not being snippy this should be more enjoyable"



"I'm glad you reconsidered," she offered him a smile as she continued her meal, the Gratin was simply divine. "Well, I've gotta hand it to you, that meal is delicious. Rich and cheesy just like I love it," she giggled, pulling a long string of cheese off and eating it. "Do you cook or do you just look pretty so that more ponies show up to your restaurant?" she asked quite boldly.



Charming pulled back in offense "Excuse me? I'm the owner! I HAVE to look nice" He snorted in distaste



She blinked, giving him a look. "I would have imagined another reaction from you after being called 'pretty' but sure, that works too..." she shrugged, munching. Was he being.. defensive because of her early behavior towards him? If so, maybe it would've been better to watch him walk off.



Charming grunted, staring at the table "I'm sorry. Being in a buisness can put lots of stress on a pony... I guess I'm feeling it tonight"



She stared at him, tilting her head. "Really? I mean, I can understand that. But your business is successful. Your restaurant looks great and ponies actually go through the trouble to wait in line to get in. The food is yummy and the owner is very-- charming?" she shrugged. It was true, even though she had her own opinion about that, but anyway, it was meant as a compliment. She smiled, patting his hoof with her own as she continued. "You shouldn't be stressed when you're doing good. You should be when you're not-- unless I'm the cause of your stress. In that case, you have all the rights to be." She teased with a light laugh, picking the last pieces of her meal and eating it.



Charming couldn't help but laugh loudly "Yiu are indeed a factor in that stress. Sweet Celestia I've never met a pony as so opinionated as you are, or so... bipolar?"



"Hey now, don't you go calling me a polar-bear, I'll fite you," she huffed, munching the last pieces before pushing her now empty plate away. "I like to speak up my mind.. and I hate to be judged because of my stupid 'cute' size. I'm just as tough as any pony.. so, if being honest makes me.. uhm, interesting, then so be it. But I gotta warn ya, I'm.. well, I'm a piranha. I bite. So you be careful, Blueberry."



Charming drew his hooves closer to him "Oh I don't doubt that" He chuckled nervously "And there's nothing wrong with your size. You've got a fighting spirit, and that's something not a lot of ponies have"



"Yup. I've met more wusses than tough ponies in my school, and just about anywhere too. But hey, who am I to complain? I actually like it. Makes me kinda happy actually," she commented as she drank her water, feeling herself sober up a little already. As she wiped her lips clean, the gold mare reached for her wallet and looked for her bits. Instead, she stumbled on a few gems and other type of jewels. "Mm, can I pay you with gems?"



"Gems?" Charming cocked his head to one side "You have Gems?" He was suddenly interested. He thought maybe he could get more money by selling them "Ahem, sure why not?"



"Great! Cause its a hassle to change them for bits. Alright, so here, one sapphire and a ruby. That'll be about.. a couple of bits for each one," she nodded, placing two glittering gemstones on the table. She smiled. "Oh and give that one for your waiter, he was-- well, working. Got no other comment, really," she shrugged, placing a peridot next to the two other gems.



Charming stared at them, then up at her "Where did you get these?" He asked, now very curious



She blinked. "Where? Can't remember where exactly, but before I came here, I'd travel the whole of Equestria on my plane and visit places I've never been before, only heard of! While searching for metal and other materials for my plane, I might have stumbled on a few gems. I use a metal detector, but it can also detect small minerals; like gemstones.



"thats... Actually quite fasinating" Charming collected the gems



She nodded, grinning. "Yup, it sure is. Well, it was fun once I learned how valuable they were. Anyway, I'll show myself the door. I gotta keep working on my plane. See ya, Blueberry," she waved and got on all four. "Food was good, could be better though," she scoffed teasingly as she walked away, her tail thrown back to cover her head.



Charming snorted "nothing I say will change you from calling me Blueberry huh?"



She smirked, looking over her shoulder before she disappeared. "Nope."