Brunch at Harry's Cafe & Shakes (Therapy)

[titledrop]

(Red said our characters were approved in a private chat so I'm going to get this show on the road.)

It was technically still morning, although rather late in the morning, and Harry's Cafe & Shakes was starting to pick up business. They'd picked up a reputation for a good brunch, so ponies who had the time generally came in around 11 or so rather than right when they opened. Every once in a while a new customer came in, but right now it was the regular fare.

Just as the rest of the crowd had begun to thin out, the door opened one last time with a ring, and a disheveled coffee-colored stallion slid in. He seemed a little rushed, which tended to be the case for Title Drop; he always had a places to be and things to do, and even this was something he scheduled in advance. He moved to sit down and ran a hoof through his mane, looking around.

"She's not here yet," Harry said, coming over to pour him a cup of coffee. "You're early again." Title turned towards him when he spoke, a little surprised before he nodded. "I know that," he said with a light Manehattan worker's class accent; he could eliminate it, but he tended not to unless he was with the upper crust, and even then if they were friends he didn't bother. "You know my order; omelette with gruyere & rye toast," he said, nodding in thanks and sipping the coffee.

"Already cooking," Harry said, and left the unicorn to his coffee. It was an advantage to actually showing up once a month at a specific time, especially when you knew the owner of the restaurant; you could put your order in advance and have it ready for you a few minutes earlier. Title preferred not to do that when he was actually here for food, on the off-chance he had time to stop at a cafe for brunch, but this was different. He was here to chat with an old friend, not just to enjoy the meal.

He'd barely made it back to the area in time to show up at the cafe; he'd been exploring the recent rumors about the Grey Shadow down near the dock area (where his contact preferred to meet). It hadn't taken him very long to decide that the entire thing was a bunch of nonsense, but he'd wanted to investigate it thoroughly before he gave it up as a lost cause, so his meeting had run long.

Nonetheless, he was still here on time (which was to say a little early) and from the sound of things his omelette hadn't burned, so he was free to relax. He leaned back slightly and sipped his coffee, enjoying the taste and waiting. This was one of the few times he relaxed; when you ran your own business and had no employees you ended up doing a lot of legwork, not that he minded.

A serving mare came back with his omelette; it was warm and just a little soft, just like he enjoyed it, and he thanked her and started munching the cheesy eggs casually. "Can I get a refill?" he asked, waving the coffee cup around with her magic. "And another one without the sugar," he added as an afterthought; his buildingmate would be here soon and he thought it might be nice if he had her coffee ready when she came in.

He cocked his head when he heard the door open again, wondering whether or not that'd be Therapy. He had a lot to talk about, and this was the time where he usually did more conversation at, rather than listening for info. Besides, this time around his angle might mean he'd miss her next month, and if that was the case he wanted to make sure that they talked about where he was beforehand so someone knew.

[therapy]

"I am glad to see, we are making great progresses, Ms P. Keep up the goals you set for yourself and you will see how the pressure to perform outstanding deeds all the time slowly fades away, as it did before." Therapy put on her most content smile, without losing any of her carefully managed distance to her clients, especially this overly excitingly mare, it was just too difficult not to get infected by her laughter! Whenever she felt like losing her countenance though, she just looked at the painting of Siegmane Fraud, looking seriously over her therapy room and deep into her mind, as silly as that feeling was, of course.

The rose quarts pelted Unicorn mare put her note-book and pencil aside, to accompany her client to the door, "I'll be seeing you again in a month then, Ms P, take much care and work at your goals", she wished her client good-by, and went afterward to directly to the next window to get the sugary smell out of her office. This particular client somehow just insisted to add baked goods to any payment. With a soft sigh, she put them in a paper bag, just knowing who would be in the mood for them.

Out on the streets, of course with all four hoof-shoes on - you never knew how dirty those cobble stone way were! - she got right into the early noon rush, as ponies paused at work for a little meal here and there, between shifts. All this stress could hardly be healthy, but who was she to complain, after all a good percentage of her clients suffered form symptoms of distress, often with a workaholic background and with little intent to change their state. Therapy groaned with mild disgust, she was no pill-seller, but a professional analyst.

The Unicorn mare was really looking forward to her monthly brunch with her old friend, as it wasn't the only time they met, after all they lived in the same building, but both were very busy ponies most of the time. The more she enjoyed those rare times they could intensely talk about all that was on their minds and Title Drop was quite a good listener, somepony she could talk about her worries, too, without getting a weird look about her profession or questions about her clients she just could not answer. Somepony would have expected else from an information gatherer, yet Title knew where work ended and were friendship started.

It was 11:29 sharp as she arrived at the usual establishment, Harry's Café and Shakes - hmpf, he didn't replace the lost accent over the é in the sign yet? - cleaned her shoes at the doormat and slowly pushed open the door. A little bell rang, giving away her entering the dinner and she could tell a few ponies looked up and in her direction. Some of them were your usual guests that just were curious about who might be at the door. Some could be artists, looking for inspiration, while others were expecting somepony, just as Title Drop and Harry did.

"Ah, hello, Title, dear, and hello, Harry, too", Therapy just greeted the two stallions as she got aware of a mare starring at her in utter surprise. Of course, one of her clients, sitting at a table, with a friend probably, what more embarrassing could it be to have ones therapist talk to one outside an appointment. Therapy just did her best to act as of she would look another way and could hear the other mare sigh in relief.

"Morning, Miss Therapy. The usual for you?" The mare nodded, while passing by, "Yes, the usual, please, Harry, coffee, black, no sugar, no milk, crème brûlée, crackers with bocconcini, thank you", she lilted in her normal modern Canterlot accent, she kept up at her best even after spending most of her time in Manehatten. It was just a part of who she was, and ponies complaining could be happy she did not use the traditional Canterlot voice. She wasn't quite sure why she just listed her usual order again, but it just made her even more hungry. What better to combine that with a nice conversation between friends.

The moment she sat down at their table, 11:30 sharp, Title was already waiting for a while and busy with a giant omelet - he was early as usual, as she noticed with a fine smirk - and a serving mare just had poured in a coffee for her, no sugar, no milk, as should tell by the fine bitter smell. Now, that was really kind and thoughtful of her building-mate.

Therapy took off her green front hoof-shoes and placed them neatly next to her sitting pillow. "I must say, I really have been looking forward to this, Title. Oh, and thank you for the coffee, that was quite kind of you", she took a sip of the still hot brew and looked up again, getting the feeling the stallion had something on his mind, or was her job already getting the better of her, "How have you been doing lately?"

[titledrop]

"Well if it isn't Therapy," Title said, chuckling lightly and putting his fork down. His omelette could wait while he chatted with his friend; he had a good hour or more set aside for this usually, so that he didn't have to rush his meal or chat with his mouth full. He leaned forward again and gave her a winsome smile. "It's no trouble at all; if I'm gonna show up early I might as well make my good friend's wait less too." He sipped his coffee idly and ran another hoof over his mane, knowing how Therapy preferred things to be a little tidy.

He'd have ordered her food too but he tended to think that would be an insult to his friend, to assume that he knew what she would order; Who was he to say that she didn't get something different? Of course that didn't stop him from smirking a little when she ordered the crème brûlée again. "Of course by now I'm sure by now Harry pre-makes your order too," he commented idly, glancing over to the restaurant owner who was doing his best to look innocent and mind the place. He leaned back again and relaxed a little, prepping himself for the real conversation.

"Things have been slow, really slow, locally," he said, shrugging philosophically. "I just spent this morning finding out what I could about the Grey Shadow rumours; it may sound exciting but as far as I've been able to tell that's pretty much all they are, rumours." he shook his head and sighed. "That's all well and good but you an' I both know that my business doesn't thrive on rumours, Ther. It's ridiculous." He took a bite of his omelette while he sunk a little.

"There might be a little more going on outside of the Big Apple, though," he added, coming back down to earth almost instantly. "But enough about me f'r now - how about you? Business been good?" he turned to her, giving her a slightly tired smile. He didn't want to talk about himself too long, they had plenty of time for more chat on him later. He was planning a few things and it was better if he introduced his ideas along with the details, so he'd wait.

He was starting to plan to spend a long period of time looking into some of the more recent events and the people supposedly behind it; there was a chance he'd be away for a few months while he did that. With any luck he'd come across something really good for his business - exclusive info. He was sure that someone would want to know more about some of the stuff that had been going on recently, because he was sure that there was something connecting a lot of recent events tied up in it.

But before that he wanted to hear about his friend's past month or so; there was always something fun to hear from Therapy. Even if she didn't break her various patient's trust it was still interesting to see how exasperated or happy she was with her patients and why, and it always made his own issues feel a lot less big to hear how it was like having to deal with someone else's issues, and to hear how big they felt their own issues were.

The serving mare returned to refill his coffee and give Therapy her crème brûlée & crackers - It was clear thanks to the wait time they'd been pretty close to being done back when Therapy had arrived. Title nodded to the waitress gratefully and did his best not to laugh - his hunch had been right, as usual, and it wasn't Title who was jumping to conclusions so he didn't have to deal with the guilt involved. He supposed it was good for now, since it meant that brunch could proceed without Therapy getting impatient. He took another bite of his omelette and washed it down with the fresh coffee.

[therapy]

Therapy noticed, quiet gladly, that her friend had brought enough time, as she could tell by him pausing his meal. Of course there was as well her sudden impression that he wanted to tell her something, but he didn't seem to be rushed at all. The ponies met more than once a month, technically, as they lived at the same building, but it was usually with a door frame and with both galloping in the other direction, with only moments to spend for some words being exchanged.

"If it wouldn't be, I would have quite the persuasive doppelganger", she replied and joined in the chuckle. Sometimes she just couldn't resist the one or other witty humorous comment. The Unicorn mare relaxed on her pillow, knowing her shoes and the paper bad she had been carrying with herself since a while, next to her, and her coffee just right as she liked it. My, we are not getting too predictable now, are we?, she analyzed her own habits in thoughts.

"Still, thank you, dear, that was quite kind of you and seriously, a good strong coffee was what I needed most now. I know, it's not the best habit, yet,", she levitated the cup in front of her muzzle and breathed in the delicious aroma, "Between us, it's the best bad habit." She actually smiled.

"I'm certain he does so, and I would be tempted to test this theory, by changing my order, but - we just talked about habits already didn't we-" She threw a witty smirk at the most nonchalant acting Harry. Of course he should know he could not hide a thing from a sharp mind as hers, but he didn't even try. This was just a playful adjusted mask in front of a mask. Just as ponies were.

Ponies. What was it again she wanted to tell Title Drop, but, oh, that was more interesting now, "Of course I know you are working very serious and know how to tell a - good story from rumors of yellow press level-" She made a vague gesture, indicating both ponies already knew very well who she meant, as there were indeed the one or other pony they met before earning far more with shallow and loud news, than Title Drop did with his hard worked for research.

"Yes, that Grey Shadow phenomena is quite much filled with panic. I have encountered in several conversations, and it did not need to be my clients to have a pony get paranoid about that . . . Although it would be rather interesting to analyze the reactions to the phenomena, mass hysteria, virulent rumors, maybe an article for you once the smoke has settled and your colleagues", he knew who she meant, "are out of material. Interview with a psychoanalyst?" She left the idea in the room as it was.

Oh, there it was! Something outside Manehattan? Was this what Title meant to tell her all the time now? She just knew he was holding something back and yet knew how to keep the fire of her interest burning. "A little bit more? The one great Ponlitzer price worthy story?", she teased him a bit to see if he'd give away some more details, but then decided to give in for now and take the bait as it was.

"I had quite the most interesting clients, which is as much as I can tell-", she noticed one of her clients, still there, at another table, did not look her way anymore. "Still, there had been a rising number of clients from outside, you know", she smirked and had some more of her coffee. "Having an article published in Equestrian Psychologist did quite the trick; I just had no idea that magazine is read as well in, hm villages as Ponyville or Hoofington."

Eventually she got her ordered meal and with a pleased, yet a bit distant smile, just as she was, she nodded and said "Thank you" to the serving mare. Crème brûlée, crackers with bocconcini, sometimes a habit had something really comforting. Carefully she looked to her right, then her left, before she levitated her spoon, and with a content, a bit playful smile cracked the crust of the crème - this was just too much fun and her very own guilty pleasure, to be a bit childish here and now.

Of course, there was still that! The neutral looking paper bag next to her got levitated as well, and softly landed next to Title Drop, "One of my clients, they, er, demand to add baked goods to the treatment's pay- They are more your taste though, so you can have them." And another thing, "I might- That is, I am looking forward to it- Likely- I try to get a teaching position at the Coltumbia University, in Manehattan. It will not be easy though, as they really just accept the best of the best- I might need just one really meaningful publication somewhere, maybe in EP again... A book perhaps? Now, dear, about your little more outside of Manehattan?"

[titledrop]

Title Drop smiled at his friend's dry sense of humour; this was one of the things he looked forward to the most about these meetings, the way she acted about the entire procedure. It was always balanced between her joking as though it were a chore and the real meat of the conversation where they swapped stories and what they were feeling. If he hadn't known her for as long as he had he'd probably find her off-putting.

"You know I always have a pot of coffee running in my office, Ther," he said, smiling and take a sip. "And I swap it out for a fresh one whenever I'm back in. Feel free to stop by." He knew she probably wouldn't ever stop by, and also probably knew about the coffee already, but there was a certain amount of courtesy he considered absolutely necessary. "Besides, I'm pretty sure your job needs it as much as I do." He chuckled lightly.

He did his best not to comment on those press groups who reported on rumors, although he couldn't help himself from rolling his eyes. He was amazed with how much they got away with passing off as news, and how often they printed retractions without losing readers; he'd made it a habit of telling off anyone who used those particular papers as reliable source.

However, slander wasn't fun for anyone, and he'd caught them enough times that his reputation had gone up, and slowly truth was winning out, so he'd rather not discuss it, especially not here. "Ugh, don't tell me they've been bothering you again," he said, putting a hoof to his forehead. "Next time they do that, Ther, just tell me and I'll shut them up again. It's good for my business if they're discredited anyway." He took a bite of his omelette angrily.

He played it coy when she mentioned the Ponlitzer Prize, however; he had a lot to say on the matter, and he had yet to hear anything from her, so it would be better if he waited. She'd figure it out... and did, almost immediately, as she continued her conversation. He sipped his coffee and listened intently.

"Yea, the publisher was sort of bragging about how far-reaching the magazine was," he said casually between bites. "I had no idea that ponies would go so far just to get therapy when he said that, though," he chuckled. It had been interesting when Ther's name had come up during that conversation; he was just glad it was after the fact and not looking for his opinion.

He cocked his eyebrow when she mentioned publishing a book, doing his best not to laugh. "I'll recommend a publisher if ya want," he said casually to the other pony. "Just hope that you don't make a habit out of it," he added with a laugh.

He took the cookies from the other pony, finishing his laugh with a sigh. He wasn't that much of a fan of sweets, but he'd found it went well with coffee so he didn't really complain.

"Uhhh yes, outside," he said, taking the last bite of his omelette and setting the plate aside for a server to pick up. He leaned forward, his hooves on the table. "You know the Hoofington event? That monster?" He continued, tapping a spoon against his coffee cup a little nervously. "One of my contacts out there said that he'd seen other lights out there, lanterns. This was before the militia was sent in. There were other ponies out there, and the colt with this info isn't the kind who sees things that aren't there.

"That's not it though," he added. "You heard about the Whitetail Wood lights? I've heard around that there were some of the same ponies there as from the Hoofington event, on one side. Nopony saw the specifics though, but I have a hunch... I think there's another group involved here." He shook his head.

"I'm sure the info's out there somewhere. But none of my usual sources have it... I'm going to have to go out and gather." He sighed a little, sipping his coffee. He always followed his hunches, usually they served him well, but it meant he wouldn't be home for a while, so this time he was a little apprehensive about the proceeding.