The screeching alarm clock sings the song of its people, and you weakly open your eyes. You turn to the thorn in your side and hit the snooze button. Rolling back over, you pull the covers over your head and close your eyes.

It's not like you have a job to go to. You only have 20 bits left to your name. You have two chores to do today. Go find a job and go to the pawnshop.

You think to the pile by your door. A box filled with books, a few old keepsakes from when you first arrived in Equestria, a painting, and holiday decorations. You have no idea how much money they'll fetch you, but they're things you can live without. You've always wanted to be less materialistic anyway, right?

Then, you hear the knocks on the door. They may be quiet. They may be down stairs. Nevertheless, you hear them. You hear them every day. You know who it is. You know what she wants.

You lay in bed, hoping she'll go away. However, she knocks again. Then again. Again.

You pull the covers off your head and stare at the ceiling.

"I guess it's that time."

Rising from your bed, you throw on a robe and head downstairs. Your eyes alternate from the door, to the box, and then back to the door. You pull it open, and Fluttershy stands on the other side.

"Good Morning, Anon!" she says bright and cheerfully. "Having a bit of a late start?"

"You could say that," you reply, leaning against the doorframe.

"How's the job search going?" she asks. "I-I'm really sorry about everything that's been happening lately. It's not intentional, I swear."

You open your mouth to say something, but you pause. Honestly, the thought never occured to you before. Was all of this a plan by Fluttershy? Has she been purposefully breaking down your career options as a way to corner you?

Is this a way of building into is homelessness your fetish?

"It's not intentional, huh?" you ask.

"It's not. I swear."

"Homelessness isn't my fetish, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy opens her mouth, and then takes a step back. An expression of pain flashes across her face. She looks to the ground, silent.

"You... really think I'd do that to you. Don't you?" she asks.

You open your mouth to speak, and then place a hand over your forehead.

"I dunno. Just. I've been in a bad place. I'm sorry. I had to tell you that. For me," you respond.

The air grows still with silence between the two of you.

"It's fine, Anon. I understand," she says quietly.

"Listen. I think we got off on the wrong track this morning. Do you have a fetish guess?"

Fluttershy lightly kicks the ground.

"Maybe," she says.

"Come ooon. Do you have a fetish guess?"

"Y-yeah," she says. "But you promise not to be mad?"

You do your best to put on a smile and kneel down to be on eye level.

"I promise to be furious."

She looks up at you hopefully.

"You mean it?" she asks.

"I really mean it."

She smiles a little and stands up straight.

"Well. I-I was wondering if belly rubs were your fetish?"

You remain silent, staring at the horse in front of you. After a moment, she raises a hoof, places it on your belly, and rubs in a clock-wise circle.

"Nonny-nonny-nooonnnyy" she gently sings.

"Fluttershy?" you say to her.

"Yes, Anon?"

"This is fucking weird."

"N-no it's not. Lots of ponies like their bellies being rubbed," she says.

"Go home, or I will end you."

She stands in place and pauses. Then she rubs in a counter-clockwise direction.

"What about this way?"

"That doesn't change anything!" you say.

"A-are you sure?"

"YES!"

"W-well think of it as un-rubbing you," she says.

"YOU CAN'T UNRUB ME! NOBODY CAN UNRUB ME!"

You pick up Fluttershy and toss her into the air. Her wings spread and she wears a wide smile.

"D-did that help?" she asks.

You slam the door behind you as you go back inside.

"Fuck. Well, since I'm up, might as well shower and go to the pawn shop."