From One to Another [Dead]

[~Silly CC~]

~~~

Cream Puff Café, a corner café in downtown Manehatten. Also Orange Crème de la Crème's home. Shining silver (well, silver-colored) trays of assorted rolls, cakes, pies, fruits, and other treats sparkle and shine in the old-fashioned lamps' light—those of which hang from the ceiling. A glass display box houses the fanciest of the pastries, one of which is a large tray of cinnamon-apple cupcakes for a group of teen ponies celebrating graduation. Pots of assorted coffees sit behind the high table awaiting the luscious drip-and-pour of an awaiting cup. A few jars of stick candy lay beside the cash register, along with a vase of tiger lilies. The crackling of the flames of the gas stoves along with the scents of freshly baked goods make this little café a pair of welcoming hands—er, hooves—to anypony who appreciates.

Outside is a decor to match the owner's pelt and mane: cream and bright orange striped umbrellas protect the outdoor tables from the rain, a creamy orange drapery adorns the wire frames above the doors to keep away rain as well, and tiger lilies can be found at several places both on tables and in patches of soft, moist dirt, freshly watered.

Above the cozy café is the owner's abode. It's not much. But it's just as deliciously smelling as the café itself. No need for an oven up there, need of one is fulfilled downstairs. The sitting room consists of two cream colored couches, with a birch wood coffee table inbetween. A hearth invitingly warms ponies in the back left corner, with a soft orange chair and a bookcase in the other corner. A door to the left leads into the sweet and cheery—yet fancy—bedroom of Orange Crème de la Crème, which matches the rest of the house. A soft cream and orange bed sits to the left, a birch wood bedside table next to it. A crystal chandelier hangs above the orange blossom rug, and dazzling rainbow spots appear due to the light of the crystals. Lacey curtains shield the mid-day sun from heating the room too much, and a large pot of tiger lilies sits below it.

All in all, this café has a lot set into a small space, but it is still open and welcoming.

~~~

The aforementioned owner of the café-house combo sat behind the register, awaiting a customer. It was a slow day, many were probably out celebrating graduations or enjoying the bright summer weather. Sometimes the young mare wished she could be out there as well, but then she brushed off the feeling and looked back to her café. Noticing the tables were just a bit dusty, she decided to shine up the entire café. What else to do but improve he café while she waited?

Orange Crème de la Crème smiled and pulled out a broom with her creamy, pale orange magic, turned on the gramophone to some classical music, and began sweeping up. Now, Miss Crème was usually not one to dance often, but today, there was nopony supposedly around, so she decided to let herself go and dance to the soft music playing. She danced around like a ballerina, or perhaps more like a ballroom dancer with an invisible partner. No, her partner was there. It was the broom. Dust swept up like fog about them, and Miss Crème felt like a fairy tale princess.

She stopped at once, as the bell had rung for somepony entering the room. Her face a bright red, she quickly zipped the broom back to the back room and stood rigidly with a sheepish smile on her face. Bonjour, welcome to the Cream Puff Café. How are you this fine day? Miss Crème really hoped the customer hadn't seen her ridiculous dancing...

[Zazzy]

The sun was scintillating but angry, unleashing it's rage on the city of Manehattan. Streams of light shone over the strutting ponies as they strutted with their heads held high through the bustling streets. One pegasus mare stood out - her wings half unfolded, body slouched, ears back, hair plastered to her body with sweat as thick as glue. The posher ponies glared at Coffea Arabica as she made her slow progress, but for once, she didn't really care. Her water flash was empty and her fur was scorching hot. Groaning, she lifted her head, but let it fall again. It was too much hard work. The pegasus forced her hazel eyes to scan her surroundings and look for somewhere to rest. There were no benches or trees, or anything in Manehattan. 

Coffea hated Manehattan.

She didn't know why. As a filly, she had adored the lush landscape and boiling sun. But now, as a young adult, all of that enthusiasm had been replaced by a regret of travelling to this terrible place. Her ears twitched lazily as she changed direction. Coffea had been looking for a restroom, tea shop or cafe all day and there had been no luck. Her eyes found a taxi driver parked on a pavement, looking bored. Her eyes widened and she reluctantly pulled her head up, wanting to make a good impression. She walked over to the taxi driver, dragging her hooves. Thankfully, he couldn't see her legs, or she would have had to strut. Coffea stopped and examined him warily, before shaking her head, droplets of sweat dripping out of her mane. She looked at him again, "Good morning, fine sir," The pegasus said, hoping her imitation of the Manehattan accent wasn't too exaggerated. She winced, folding her wings carefully, "Would you mind telling me where the nearest cafe or tea shop is?" Her ears pricked up hopefully.

The taxi driver was either not very observant or regarded her Manehattan accent as just fine, for he spoke up, "Carry on straight. Turn left at the first exit. You should see Cream Puff Café on your right." He said those few words with the finality of a judge and the sharpness of a navigator. Coffea was about to thank him, when he abruptly turned away. Rolling her eyes, she turned on her heels and let her body drop back down to it's drooping stance. She plodded along, taking care to go by the rude taxi driver's directions. 

Five minutes later, the pegasus was looking up at an intricately decorated café; Cream Puff Café. Coffea looked up in admiration at the decorations, running a hoof gently across the umbrellas. She turned away, berating herself for losing focus, and put up a hoof to enter, when she hesitated. Would the owner of Cream Puff Café be as rude as the taxi driver was? Coffea reached out to scratch her neck but pulled it back as the tip of her hoof met the sweat collected on her neck. It was then that she saw the pony. The pony that was dancing with the broom. She turned away and took a deep breath, perishing the thought. Coffea opened the door and cringed as the doorbell rung loudly. She turned her head back to it's normal position, blinking as she noticed that the broom had disappeared and the unicorn mare was just...standing there. No doubt hoping that Coffea hadn't seen what she had just done.

The pegasus sucked in her cheeks as she remembered what she had seen, trying to prevent herself from laughing. Coffea put a hoof on her chest and twitched her muzzle until the more overwhelming laughing urges had dispersed. "I-I'm fine," she said, bowing her head - partly because she didn't want the mare to see her suspicious grin, partly out of respect. "Yourself?" Her thirst for water had disappeared with what she had just witnessed; all her concentration was focused on trying to not laugh in this unicorn's face.

[~Silly CC~]

As the pegasus lowered her head and had obvious dry laughs being forced back into the cage of her chest. Oh, mon dieur, she obviously saw me, the embarrassed unicorn thought, puffing out a breath of air, her head down and eyes closed. Be honest, that's the best way to make customers feel at home, she thought, bringing up her head again with a genuine smile this time. Utterly mortified, she says with a small chuckle, sighing again with red-tinged cheeks.

Looking at the mare again, she gasped. It was so hot outside! Oh, oh, oh, madame, you look like you might get heat stroke like that! Come, come, and with that, she took the mare's hoof without any asking and set her down quickly in one of the nearby chairs. Rushing into the kitchen, the only sounds that could be heard were the following: clopping hooves, clinking ice cubes, sloshing cold tea, and the muttering of the mare. She came back out with a glass of iced tea which was only held inside the glass by her magic aura. It was set very carefully on the table, and the panting mare smiled again with a red face. Forgive me, I could not let you pass out. That would be terrible, I'd feel so bad for you. She sheepishly grinned again, this time because she had just about fallen over in the kitchen trying to fix up the iced tea.

She stood across from the pegasus and gave her a more natural smile, breathing out another breath through her nostrils as she tried to relax. It is exhaustingly hot out today, is it not? Is it cool enough in here for you? I could turn on another fan... she always tried to make each customer feel at home and important, especially on those really slow days when only one pony is there.

It was quiet for a moment, as the mare rocked on her hooves back and forth to keep from her clopping a hoof on the ground over and over again, she took a breath again. I do hope you'll forgive me for that rather...embarrassing...number you most definitely saw before you entered...

[Zazzy]

Coffea laughed and rubbed down her sweaty mane self consciously. "There isn't anything to be ashamed of. I once got stuck on a swivel chai-" She shut up and quickly fluttered her wings, but the pegasus wasn't going to apologise for the slip. Under normal circumstances, perhaps, but the orange mare had quite an embarrassed expression on - as an experienced cafe manager, she knew how to read one's feelings, and felt a little sympathy for the mortified unicorn. Coffea scratched her neck, not caring about the now dried up sweat. 

She blinked and flinched as the mare grabbed her hoof and pulled her into a chair, "Uh," Coffea tried to invert, but failed to divert the cafe owner's attention somewhere else. She could feel cool air on her back - no doubt from inside the area, definitely not outside; the air was warm, humid and sticky out there. "Miss," Coffea tried again, ignoring her aching back muscles as the welcome air washed away her sweat. But the mare was long gone and had disappeared into the kitchen. 

The pegasus sighed. She leaned back against the cool chair, taking advantage of the luxury the unicorn had kindly offered her. She started as the mare came back into the dining area once again, magically holding a cup of iced tea in her telekinesis. Coffea bit her lip. The tea was a welcome change and her mouth was watering so as she stared at it, but her bits were low. Even then, she could only manage to scrape up enough bits until there were enough left for the train ticket. If she decided to drink the tea, then there wouldn't be enough equine money left for a taxi. Her hazel eyes switched from the cup of iced tea, then to her saddle bags on her back. "That's fine," she said absent mindedly, mind locked on the dilemma. 

Coffea sighed and lifted the ice tea with her hoof delicately. She didn't particularly care that she'd have to walk to the train station instead of taking a taxi. That said, walking wasn't something she liked, but the pegasus still didn't care. She sipped her tea and raised her eyebrows. "Indeed so," The pegasus agreed, skilfully using her wings to remove the saddle bags from her back. "It is fine in here, don't worry." Coffea assured the unicorn, ruffling her sore wings to back that statement up.

She laughed quietly. "It's fine," she repeated, smiling a little, "An unusual sight it was, but there's nothing to apologise for." Coffea tilted her head, recognising the orange mare's accent. "Are you from Prance?" she asked, a little too curiously for her own good.

[~Silly CC~]

She sighed in relief as the mare sipped the team seeming to enjoy it—or at least not hate it. Nodding her head lightly as the mare assured her comfort, she watched curiously as the creamy mare skillfully removes her saddle pack with her wings. That was quite the talent! Another grin spread across her face with a light washing of red as the mare assured her again that her little "performance" was nothing to apologize for, though Orange Crème still felt it necessary.

She chuckled a bit, Ah, oui, it was quite unusual at that. I honestly didn't realize I was doing it until you rang the bell, which gratefully snapped me out of my daze. That was, er—not usual of me; quite out of it, actually. The red wash on her face became even darker, and her grin became more sheepish, but she soon took a deep breath and reconstituted her peace within herself.

With the question, she nodded with a serene smile. Yes, I am, madame. I moved here a few years ago, and I've enjoyed it fairly well. The weather is quite unpredictable here, even with the pegasi controlling it. I guess that is one of the, ah, lesser liked parts of Manehatten. She chuckled a bit again, bringing a hoof up to her mouth as she did so. Orange Crème then gasped and smiled again, setting down her hoof and looking intently at the pegasus mare. Forgive me, miss, but I've forgotten to introduce myself. I am Orange Crème de la Crème. her warm smile matched the soft orange of her coat, and her emerald eyes twinkled with kindness as she spoke to the mare.

Pulling over a chair and sitting across from the mare, she leaned on her hooves and set her chin upon them. So, you were saying something about a swivel chair?

[Zazzy]

Coffea twirled her hoof on the table, exercising her leg muscles. Now that she was sitting down and had the luxury of some cool air from this orange unicorn's café, her limbs and joints didn't protest as loudly and hardly ached at all. The thought that the other mare had added some sort of secret ingredient to the tea crossed the pegasus's mind, but she shook it away. Why would some pony do that? Anyway, if the unicorn had added something, it was doing her good, so she had no valid reason to complain about.

Dipping her head in understanding empathy, Coffea kept a straight face; her twitching muzzle the only sign that betrayed the fact she was trying to keep the mare at ease by not laughing. She fluttered her wings after finally managing to stop her mouth from smiling. The pegasus scratched her mane awkwardly, regaining her composure, "Ah, are you still on about that? Don't worry about it. We all do things we get ashamed about in the future, no?" She slipped into her Trottingham accent on the second part of the sentence, figuring that using that one would be more suitable that using the Ponyville one.  

Coffea resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the 'lesser liked' part of the sentence - in her opinion, that was a complete understatement, but she was a polite and refined mare. Rolling her eyes in front of a pony she barely knew was a petty action she'd never done. "I noticed," was simply all the pegasus commented on, a tone of dryness in her voice. Coffea's eyes darted to the window, checking how high the sun was. She cringed. The ball of fire was at it's peak of it's climb, and even the posh, snobby citizens of Manehattan had a slight undignified slouch to their bodies. She was honestly quite surprised that no pony had come inside the shop, although a few took a quick rest at the outside tables, the umbrellas protecting them from the sun light but not from the heat.

"Hmm?" The cream coloured pegasus turned back to the café manager - she'd just introduced herself as Orange Cremè de la Cremè. "Orange Cremè de la Cremè? Do ponies call you..." Coffea knitted her brows together, "Orange Cremè?" She guessed tentatively, not wanting to offend this Orange Cremè by calling her something she didn't like or agree to go by. 

Coffea rubbed her forelock a little self consciously, "I'm Coffea Arabica. Ah - ra - bic - ah," she pronounced her surname carefully and slowly. She didn't like her last name at all, only deciding to keep it in her blood because of her family tradition. Plus, it was her only link back home, "I'm from Trottingham," the pegasus explained quickly, not wanting to receive a skeptical look from Orange Cremè, "Trottingham ponies tend to have, ah, rather narcissistic surnames." 

"Uh," Coffea started. She scuffed her hoof on the chair anxiously, "You probably don't want to know," The pegasus considered adding need instead of want, but decided against it, not wanting to sound anti social. 

[~Silly CC~]

Orange Crème smiled as the mare assured her yet again that it was nothing. Madame, feel free to laugh. I'd honestly rather laugh about it, and I can tell you are holding in your laughter. She nodded and closed her eyes, laughing a bit herself of imagining herself dancing and twirling around with a broom. Her small chuckle became louder as she thought more and more about it, but she soon stopped herself in fear of loosing the customer. Ah, I apologize for my sudden outburst, and...I fear I may be apologizing too much... she flushed a little, bringing a hoof to her mouth. The orange unicorn really needed to learn to only apologize once and not dwell on things, but of course, it was in her kind and partially-timid nature.

She looked at the mare again, listening to how she seemed to slip in and out of an accent. Was she trying to fit in, or was she not from Ponyville, as she had first seemed? Miss Crème brushed it off, not wanting to assume when assumptions could hurt. She followed the glance outside, raising her eyebrows at the intensity of the heat. It seemed to roll in waves down the heat, washing over ponies and making them more sluggish every moment. She was glad to offer the shade of her umbrellas to those who passed, but she wished they would come in. Oh well. But, perhaps if she opened the door...no, that would let out too much of the air. Perhaps later she would put up a sign of two around town. Perhaps...

Orange Crème was snapped out of her ideas when the mare asked her of her nickname. She nodded with a smile, accepting the shortened name. Some customers tried Miss Crème, but that was too business-like for her café customers. She used it more often when she was somewhere new, meeting new people at first, but in this situation, she preferred the nicer one that made her sound more friendly than business-like. Yes, that'll do nicely, she said with a smile.

It is very nice to meet you, Miss Arabica, Orange Crème said as the pegasus spoke her name. It was a very dignified name, she thought she'd heard it somewhere before, perhaps back in Prance some dignitary. Of course, she was probably just mistaken, but you never know who you're actually talking to until you've really gotten to know them. Once she said she was from Trottingham, she smiled. It is good to see ponies traveling. Do you still live there? She also remembered that was where that accent was from. She was always glad to meet those from out-of-city, especially when it was one besides Canterlot or Ponyville. She saw a lot of those ponies—not that she ever cared less for them—and always yearned to meet ponies from other places. She also shook a hoof at the comment about how her surname was basically flamboyant; she definitely knew of fancy surnames.

When she saw the pegasus react to her wanting to hear more of the swivel chair, she lowered her hooves and sat more upright. Giving a smiling nod, she decided if the mare didn't want to share, she didn't have to. I completely understand, she said with a wink.

[Zazzy]

Coffea sipped her ice tea again, holding the cup with her strong and skilled feathers - something she had resorted to when she had difficulty reading whilst having dinner. Now, that last resort had turned into a second nature. The mare seldom showed off, why, showing for was an absolutely uncouth and petty action, but she couldn't help but soak in the admiring gazes from other ponies when she ate at restaurants. Then the pegasus immediately felt guilty for liking the spotlight. Coffea banished the thoughts from her mind, focusing on Orange Cremè upon seeing the orange unicorn speak up.

She hesitated, having heard what Orange Cremè had said, and wondering how to respond to her words. The café owner seemed amiable and friendly, not one to judge ponies or hold grudges for a ridiculously long time. But then, Coffea would be a hypocrite to say that,  seeing as she more or less often acted with those actions. Thankfully, the amount of times that happens had considerably reduced, but the pegasus couldn't help but feel a rush of guilt whenever she thought about it. "Very well," Coffea decided carefully, a small hint of humour in her placid voice.

The pegasus could see that Orange Cremè was thinking about something and she didn't press the subject. She knew how it was to lead off into a trance and then get interrupted. Coffea waited patiently, her ears turning from side to side as she examined her surroundings with all her senses: sight, smell, hearing and feel. She knew them well. After all, her elementary teacher back in her state had drilled them into her. Actually, taste was another sense, but it was not something that Coffea particularly wanted to either hear of think about.  She blinked a couple of times, realising Orange Cremè had been talking - and she hadn't been listening. "Uh..."

Coffea waved a hoof a little,  glad that she had heard what the orange café owner had said next. "Please, call me Coffea. Miss Arabica doesn't suit me all that well." She ducked her head to hide the tinge of red from her cheeks. How she hated her surname - she held such a distaste for it that she was half convinced to change it to her mother' maiden name. Then the pegasus immediately changed her mind. Her mother's last name wasn't really all that better. It was so bad that even Arabica, as posh and snobby as Coffea regarded it to be, was better than it.

"No," she shook her head a little, "But I visit it a lot, even though it's far away. I live in Ponyville right now," the pegasus dipped her head wistfully, "I wish I still live there. As charming and quaint Ponyville can be, Trottingham suits me much better." Coffea tailed off and looked at Orange Cremè as the mare changed subject to the swivel chair incident. Her mental defences went up easily, instinct coming forth, ignoring her business side's protests, "Uh, just so you know, I was a filly when...it happened." She averted her eyes, a little mortified. 

[~Silly CC~]

The orange unicorn watched intently as the pegasus sipped her iced tea with her wings, quite amazed at this spectacle. Sure, unicorn magic was wonderful, but it took a toll on the brain if one was not specially studied in such things. She wondered how it might be for one to not have that horn sticking out of their head, how much lighter the head might feel, how different it might be. Of course, she shook away the thoughts, not wanting to miss anything or space off again like earlier. As the pegasus accepted her ramblings, Orange Crème then smiled and nodded slightly, like she often did at times of acceptance or gratefulness.

Then she nodded again as the mare fell hesitant to the more formal name. She too preferred the more casual one, but always assumed the more formal at first so to not insult any ponies with a more formal taste in name. She smiled and gave a single nod, worried she was nodding way too much. I agree, Coffea does suit you quite nicely.

Once the mare mentioned Ponyville, she noted quickly in her mind the disappointment that this mare wasn't still living in Trottingham. But, nonetheless, she did say she visited the city a lot. I've visited Ponyville a few times. The market is quite nice... But, I agree with you. Ponyville is nice and all, but...I prefer a better suited town like this for me. She warmly smiled again at the mare, thinking both of home and this city itself with a loving heart.

As the mare spoke of the incident, she raised her hoof and smiled with a tilt of the head. Really and truly, if you don't want to speak of it, I need no more persuasion. Trust me. She winked again and rested her hoof back on the chair, tracing a floor panel with a back hoof absentmindedly.

Pondering quickly another subject to speak of, her eyes widened quickly and her mouth repeated an "o" shape. Were you around Ponyville when that incident with...Tirek—I think?...occurred? That was quite the fiasco, I've never felt so drained in my life, She hoped this would ween the mare off the subject she so obviously felt uncomfortable about, also hoping to speak of something she hadn't spoken to others about yet, it was still quite current.

[Zazzy]

Orange Cremè was obviously quite impressed with Coffea's use of wings, which was something that the mare was both mortified and pleased about. Her wings had grown steadily and were quite strong - she liked to be taken as a pegasus who could stand up for herself - but on the other hoof, Coffea detested show offs and felt a little self conscious by revealing her talents. Indeed, her strong use of her wings had turned into a habit, one that had been done slowly and often accompanied with grimacing faced from the strain one would have to use to lift up a mug, then gradually turning into something that was as easy for Coffea as it was for a unicorn to pick up something with their telekinesis. 

Returning her attention to Orange Cremè once again upon hearing the earth pony start to speak, she nodded to the statement about her name. 'Arabica' sounded a lot better in the Trottingham accent, so when others said it it made Coffea self conscious, thus she had grown on using only her first name even in the more formal events she went to. 'Coffea' was, after all, a name you couldn't mess up on saying.

She was quick at noticing the hint of disappointment Orange Cremè had after hearing about her residence at Ponyville - it was something most store owners always looked out for - and felt her inward defences going up. Coffea was very defensive about both her place of birth and the town she was currently living in, and didn't like it when others criticised either of them. Orange Cremè evidently held Trottingham higher in her ranks than she did with Ponyville, and the pegasus felt her loyalty being torn in two. 

Deciding that focusing on Trottingham would make her a lot more interesting and would earn her marks on the First Impressions board, Coffea nodded again at Orange Creme's words, "Indeed," she agreed. Most of the orange mare' swords had cleared up her inward questions, so she was a little more relaxed now, knowing that Orange Cremè meant no harm, "Also, not so many ponies from other regions tend to visit the places I stay in. I mostly get acquaintanced with Canterlot and Ponyville ponies..." 

Coffea fell into a small silence as she rustled around in her saddle bags for a moment, checking everything was there - she was quite an organised mare, and, after all, something might have accidentally slipped out. She looked up politely as Orange Cremè spoke again, "Ah, yes," the pegasus ruffled her wings. It was either unfortunate or fortunate that she had witnessed the whole situation with Tirek - it was a catastrophe actually being in Ponyville whilst it happened, but then relating it to others was simply amazing. The looks on their faces were laughable later on, "It was simply dreadful. Ponyville always seems to be the root of all these problems," Coffea smiled, referring to the several different things that had happened to the small town. She wondered briefly if Manehattan had as many fiascos as Ponyville had, "My family actually tried to convince me to move back to Trottingham, but I have an up and running business over there, so..." The pegasus fluttered her wings. She had felt a little sorry for her parents, really. If it were her daughter - should she ever have one - that was in Ponyvilek whilst Coffea was in another city, she'd immediately get worried. Honestly, she was surprised her family hadn't forced her to move out.

"Were you there?" Coffea asked curiously, "When it happened, I mean? You sound like you know the story well." She took another sip of her iced tea, again with her wings; the habit was hard to break, despite her mortification when others found her talent quite...unnatural.  

[Ashti Sandburst]

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Former place : Manehattan