Derecho unlocked the door and entered the condominium, dropping his keys onto the table. Aunt Rainbow Jade was in the kitchen. She probably was making dinner.

“Derecho, is that you?”

“Yes, it is,” Derecho said back.

“Don’t forget, you have a date tonight.”

“Thanks. I did forget.”

“Money is on the key table.”

They kept their keys and other stuff they typically needed when they left the house on a small table near the door. Jackets were hung up on the hooks besides the table.

“I see it. Thanks. I am going to shower.”

“Toss me your work clothes and I will throw them in the wash.”

Derecho entered the kitchen to get some water and clean out his lunch box. “Where is Sun and the Twins?”

Rainbow Jade gave him a peck on the cheek. “Out, with some classmates doing some project. And I got you a new shirt and tie for tonight. It will match your blue coat and orange hair. A complimenting color is what the sales rep said. Its on the bed in the master bedroom. Shower in there.”

“Thanks,” Derecho smiled. “I look forward to wearing it.”

“It will only make that blue coat of yours stand out more brilliantly. Even though I know it doesn’t need too.”

“Thanks,” Derecho replied setting his glass down on his blue circle.

To save water and time, they all had their color circles where they put their water glasses on the counter. Safe and out of the way, they didn’t need to be washed after every use since it was just water. Glasses were in short supply in the house with six of them around and several apple juice addicts.

Derecho wasn’t dirty, but he felt it many of the days after sifting through bottles, glasses, dishes and other things made from glass. Not all were as clean as they were supposed to be. The shower was thorough, but quick, making sure to get the skin under the coat nice and clean.

Derecho could hear that Uncle Arching Gale was home as he dried off and changed into the new shirt and tie. Derecho believed in looking your best whenever possible. There was never a reason to not put something nice on when you were not working. Too many stallions forgot or gave up on style. First appearances mattered. Appearances always mattered.

Derecho greeted his uncle and then went into his room to grab the rest of his coveralls. He kept them in a pile, amongst the piles. He swept them up into the empty hamper and moved it to the laundry room.

Derecho had problems keeping his room clean. Add on top working full time, he just never could manage it. If it wasn’t for little things his Aunt and Uncle held him to, like where his keys had to be, he would lose so much stuff in the chaos.

Derecho bid them farewell and left. He came back in five minutes later to grab the envelope of bits he had forgotten to grab. He exited the building and headed to the address he had. It was the first time dating her.

Derecho knocked on the apartment door and it was opened up by what had to be a roommate of Ruby Crystal.

“She is almost ready,” She said as she let Derecho in.

Derecho leaned against the wall by the door, content to not go any further in. A minute later Ruby Crystal came out, her perfect ruby hair blown out in one giant curl around the right side of her head. Her tail made several fancy twirls and she was in a simple black dress.

Derecho let out a long whistle as he pushed himself off the wall. “My my my,” He smiled. “The pegasus I asked to take out tonight was pretty, but you, you are gorgeous. A real gem.”

Ruby Snow blushed. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Derecho held up his hoof. “Stop right there, I want to soak it all in. Get a real memory stored because I have never seen somepegasus like you before.”

She stopped and pulled her left hoof in shyly. She was trying to hide her cheeks that now matched her mane.

Derecho opened the door. “Shall we head out to dinner? I am not sure if the place I had in mind is ready for you, but being the prettiest lady in the room isn’t a bad thing at all.”

Derecho lead her down the hallway. “How do you get your mane and tall to curl in such a way?”

Derecho kept her talking as they walked to the restaurant. It wasn’t far, being nothing too fancy. Derecho knew how to pick just the right spot. They had good food, good prices, but their cloth napkins were solid quality. You could always judge a place by it’s napkins. And if they would let you set up a table. Their’s had the single rose Derecho had arranged before picking her up.

Derecho loved this. He loved charming the ladies. He loved making them smile, making them feel special, making them see themselves as the only one that mattered. He had that special touch to make their lives all the better.

It was cliché, but they headed to Cloudsdale Tower, the highest point of the city. The rooftop was a popular place to watch the sunset and make out. Derecho was prepared with a good blanket and some wine.

“Wine,” She smiled. “Fancy.”

“Well,” Derecho shrugged. “Its cliché being here. So, I do want to make it more special.”

She blushed. “I have never been here before.”

“Oh,” Derecho said, taken aback. “Well then you are in for a real treat. This isn’t just the highest point in the city, its got one of the best, unobstructed views of the sunset in the inhabited Enclave. The sun gets really big.”

Derecho leaned in and whispered in her ear. “It doesn’t actually get bigger, it just looks like it does. Its called a Ponzo Illusion. But don’t tell anypegasus that secret. Let the others here think the sun is actually getting closer. Its cute.”

Ruby Snow giggled softly.

They laid back and relaxed. Others were arriving for the sunset. Plenty already had their lips locked. Derecho didn’t push anything. Ruby Christal was the first to gently lean in to him and kiss him on the cheek. Derecho blushed as he slowly turned his head to look her in the eyes. She moved in before he made the full rotation. Derecho pulled her in and rolled her onto his chest, so that their legs were side by side.

Derecho broke it off right before the sunset hit it’s zenith. It took his breath away every time, and she needed to experience it as well. She was done early, preferring to lock lips. Derecho happily complied.

After another minute he shifted into a better position. He broke contact.

“Hey!” She said annoyed when she realized he was preoccupied. “What’s the deal?”

“Look at the sun,” Derecho smiled to himself. “I have never seen a cloudship sail into it.”

She was shocked. “A cloudship has your attention over me?”

“But it’s sailing into the sun!” Derecho objected.

“You like Cloudships?” Ruby Crystal said annoyed.

“Who doesn’t?” Derecho asked. “I mean, you are flying a giant ball of water that can shoot lightning!”

She raised her eyebrow. “You know they don’t shoot lightning, right?”

“I know that. But that is what I imagine it must feel like being on the bridge. Even something like piloting that Sky-Tank.”

Ruby Crystal wiggled away a bit. “What do you do again?”

“I help provide for my little sister by working full type at the recycling plant.”

“You work with the trash?”

Derecho grinned. “I picked up the job in school, for after. My parents died when I was young. We live my aunt and uncle, but I swore to protect and care for my sister, so I got a job without them knowing. And four foals to care for really is a strain. It was needed and appreciated. And I was caring for my sister, and family.”

“I graduated and went fully time. I am already a master sorter, something that takes most a decade. Its a lot harder than it sounds. And I run a line for the sorting, so I am the head of that, controlling it. I’m not just some trash guy, I got skills. And I got them because I care.”

“The job doesn’t matter so long as you can support your family and make good memories with them. I can. I do. But I still have advancements. I can still get raises. I have a great chance to make not just Area Manager, but Floor Director. Both are very strong and important management positions. I have been awarded the employee of the month out of the whole facility multiple times, four times this year, and am up for Employee of the year.”

“But like I said, what matters is that I am able to provide for a family and making good memories with them. And I can do that right now, if I were to separate from my aunt and uncle…”

Ruby Crystal leaned in a bit more, enticed by the strong appeal of a generous provider. “What do you mean separate?”

“They had to get a large condominium. Only four bedrooms because of my twin nephews. I still live there and they get all I earn to use it as needed. My sister hasn’t graduated yet. I am still providing for her as much as possible. Rent is expensive, so I stay to help out. And homework. Can’t forget about homework.”

“All you earn, so tonight?”

“Oh, they take good care of me,” Derecho sighed contently. “They knew I was going out. Typically I am around in the evenings to help with homework, if they need it. So, my aunt surprised me with this new shirt and tie, and the money was on the table. I have a lot of shirts and ties. If you are going out, look nice. But they do cost bits. Its not tight anymore, now that I am working full time. But for now, it stays because it works. I have to care for my family and they care for us all in return.”

Ruby Crystal was satisfied with the answer and moved back to lock lips with Derecho.

“You really care about your sister.”

“I am her brother. Her protector. Her caregiver since our parents passed. She never knew them. But I did, some. I have always been there for her. I always will be.”

Ruby Crystal stopped Derecho from saying anymore by putting her hoof on his mouth. “I get it,” She said softy. “You are a good provider. How are you at providing for a mare personally?”

Derecho smile softly at her in the fading light. “All that matters is that I can provide for the mare in front of me, nopegasus else. To make a good memory with her.”

“Shit,” Ruby Crystal swore. “You live with your family and my roommate is having a party. Not a party we can sneak past or want to. One she throws when the rest of us are out. And its already gotten too public here.”

Derecho sighed. “I know. That is the one downside about here after dark. The couples who don’t get the privacy thing.”

Derecho perked up as he though of the perfect spot. “Its still out in the open, but I think I know where a safe spot is.”

Ruby Crystal leaned in so he could whisper into her ear. “The area around the weather factory is a low fly zone. Nothing above the roof tops so the clouds are free to move and such. The recycling roof top is almost as tall as the weather factory. We can slip up by using an alley right by the building. Nopegasus will see us up there.”

Ruby Crystal planted a kiss on Derecho’s cheek. “Let’s go.”

They got up and Derecho expertly packed everything up in the small basket. He led her off the rooftop and down to the street. Derecho kept them moving a bit chaotically, building the suspense of sneaking off across town to there. They slipped into the alley and flew up to the roof.

“You come up here often?” Ruby Crystal asked Derecho.

“Everyday for lunch. I love to watch the Weather Factory crank out the clouds. Weather fascinates me.”

“Why not work there?” Ruby Crystal asked. “Its much more prestigious to work there than the recycling plant.”

“Because it’s the same thing,” Derecho sighed, laying out the blanket. “Its just a job. Prestige is determined by others, not the skills you have. Most see trash and believe it takes nothing to do that job. That you can’t do anything else. Its a dead end in most of their eyes. The only job you could get. But you look inside, talk with master of their fields, and its not like that. And without us, the Weather Factory couldn’t function because they require a lot of recyclables.”

“But there is no point in arguing about it. The paycheck is the same. And I see, we see, how we can take care of our families comfortably. I also see I have plenty of advancement opportunities and a good career ahead of me. A prestigious career in management if I do things right. No greater or better than what I could be doing at the Weather Factory. I’m already pulling in 3000 bits a month. And I still am not close to the peak wage for my current position.”

“To switch now would drop my income and set me back so I would never be able to achieve management goals. I am confident in who I am and in what job I do. I know the truth. What else matters?”

“But,” Derecho said pulling her in close. “We are here for a reason.”

Ruby Crystal giggled and plopped down on the blanket. Derecho dropped down next to her and pulled her in tight, finding just the right place to tickle her. She snorted a laugh as she tried to stay quiet and they found that rhythm as they synced themselves into one.

Next Chapter: Story 2 - Growing Up Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 8 Minutes