>Another summer night
>Things have mellowed greatly, despite the mix-up of having three working mares under you
>You've decided to spend your night in your room with Shiner
>You lay on your side with three pillows under your head while she's trying to play some old RPG with self-imposed challenges rules
>Apparently, only the protagonist and one other character are allowed to fight at all
>Everyone else has to be killed and stay dead
>You never saw the point of playing a game that way but it is entertaining
>The frustrated growls and muttered curses are just a bonus
"You sure it's possible to actually play it this way? It seems like you're getting your shit rocked."
>"Oh, you fu... shut up."
>She's mad
>Actual mad
>She goes from sitting up to flopping to her side, laying opposite of you
>You nearly avoid one of her hind hooves that happened to see your chin as direct opposition
>"How about some moral support for once? At work you're quick to remind me if I make a mistake, Jacky got to choose music for this morning and it sucked, I've been stuck grinding here for an hour and now I'm-"
"You're trying to fight a boss that doesn't actually need to be killed."
>"But it's there!"
"And it doesn't really give you anything special."
>"Screw you!"
>Her argument is pretty solid, all things considered
>By reflex you pat her flank with a lazy, heavy hand
"Yeah... alright."
>You shift so both of your arms are more free
>You rest your other hand on her flank
"So, what would you prefer? I beat on your butt like a bongo drum and act as a bard to buff morale?"
>If one flinch from your pat wasn't enough, her leg reflexively hikes up when she feels both of your hands at the ready
>"...well."
>She sounds nervous
>"...it's so I can beat the boss."
"Sure."
>You clear your throat with the theatrics of a stage performer and gently flex your fingers
"Lord Ochu, your shit is weak. My Shiner ain't even at her peak."
>Rather than actually beating her butt like a bongo drum, you're more patting her like some slam poetry hippy
"You try to make poison her demise but she sees through that lame scheme with her sharp eyes."
>Sudden drum solo that follows up with a sharp spank
>Her only audible reaction is a sharp snort
"Metal, blood, noise and fire... your death. Is her desire."
>You end the drum beating with another solo that leads to your hands working on their own
>Eyes on the screen, one hand goes for the mare's dock and the other goes right below
>You pull up her tail and press your palm against her with genuine pressure behind the gesture
>...
>...
>She's a lot thinner than Jackdown
>Not just her flank but her labia too
>...
>...
>Ah crap
>You weren't supposed to go that far, were you?
"..."
>Expecting some sort of reaction, you hesitantly shift focus to Shiner's face
>You expect some sort of smart reaction
>Instead, she's staring dead ahead with wide eyes
"..."
>"..."
>Her eye flickers over to you and straight back to the screen
>Your hands remain in place and against her
>Sure enough, she actually does perform better
>It's a very slow process but between summoning smarter and turning it into a battle of attrition rather than some reckless bum rush...
>She actually wins
>Barely
>One of her two playable character is dead and the other is on red health
"Woah...nice."
>"...y-yeah."
>The cocky mare sounds breathless
>"...wanna tell me what's going on there?"
"...yeah. Sorry."
>"Don't be."
>The bedroom door shimmers in faint red and closes without a sound
>A pair of stray floor-strewn shirts shimmer and push against the bottom of the bed
>As if that is enough privacy for her, she wiggles in place and exhales
>The force of that exhale is enough to lift some invisible weight off of her shoulders
>"So... has Jacky really been so bad lately?"
>Rather than try to make a story, you decide to own up to your slip
>Your fingers flex and curl, petting in a downward motion