private Rhapsody in Blue

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"It's a classic," Blue Note agreed. "It really captures the spirit of the holiday." Hearing it made her feel happy. "So where are we off to next? There's so much going on today I can barely keep it straight." Her holidays were never this eventful, but she was glad if it. It distracted her from unpleasant realities and gave her a little hope going forward. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

It was almost time for lunch... this was the part where Sterling got to take Blue Note to Trot Square and find something to eat! It was too bad the event didn't provide any food at the time. The program did say they would have a one hour break, so it was probably enough time for them to go out for lunch and head back for "The Best of the Musical", a delectable program filled with catchy and timeless tunes and classics! 

 

"Well Blue Note... we've first got a lunch break where we can head to Trot Square, which is trotting distance coincidentally, and then head back here for "The Best of the Musical!" Sterling shouted the name of the program pointedly, excited to sing some Equestrian famous tunes...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Oh, I can't wait to hear those!" Blue Note said. She could get plenty of inspiration from listening to the greatest show tunes in Manehatten. "They're getting the real casts to perform, right?" Was this day even real life?

 

Her stomach growled in reply. "So, what's open in Trot Square today? I'm assuming a lot of places are closed..."

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling beamed happily as he walked out of the Lincoln Centre towards the bustling streets of Manehattan. Manehattan was always busy this time of year, and this year was no exceptions. All the taxis were decorated in red for the occasion, and Trot Square was lighting it up. Sterling noticed a local restaurant that the two friends had never tried before... it was open and it looked very quaint... It was called the "Trottington..." but it looked empty... Could they give that restaurant a try...?

 

"Hey Blue Note... would you like to try the Trottington? I've never been to the place before... but it certainly looks very quaint... if you want to try it." Sterling pointed at the restaurant as he spoke. Hopefully it was a good place to eat... 

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Well, I don't see anything better." Blue Note shrugged. She was apprehensive of the restaurant being empty, but that could be due to all of the ponies staying at home for the holiday. The other restaurants on the street were dark, with signs offering some variation on the word "closed".

 

"It does look like a lovely, little establishment." She walked up to the door and opened it. "After you," she said. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling nodded when Blue Note shrugged. She had a point. There wasn't any other place to go as all the other stores look closed for Hearth's Warming. Sterling trotted there to the door... He could see that the building looked ornate enough... but it sadly wasn't showing any decorations inside... what could possibly be the matter with this place...? Why no decorations, Sterling wondered...

 

When Blue Note offered Sterling to walk in though, Sterling happily complied. He nodded and thanked her as kindly as he could before he walked in... Hopefully there would be a good meal in store for Blue Note and himself...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note followed Sterling in. It was a little odd that there were no decorations. Most stores had been plastered with Hearth's Warming paraphernalia, even the closed ones. Still, she was hungry and the decor was certainly not the most important component of a restaurant. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling was led in to the restaurant by a kind waiter before he sat down on one of the booth tables that were designed for two. He opened up the menu, and noticed that they only had salads for sale today because of the Hearth's Warming Holiday... Might as well just pick the salad then for lunch. Cabbage salad it was. But just as he was about to call over a waitress to order... he saw her...

 

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Chemm didn't want to do this. But she had to. After breaking up with Rocky, she realized she wasted so much time in him that she never got to find a job that would help her pay off her medical school loans... With her family also away for Hearth's Warming, Chemm was all alone... so she decided, to work at the Trottington for the holidays, hoping to get some bang for her buck. Plus, she could get away from all those ponies at Manehattan U... Just her first year, and already things were going wrong. Good to get away from all that, she thought...

 

That was until she saw Sterling and had to serve HIM of all ponies for lunch.. She couldn't believe it actually. When Sterling walked in, she opened her eyes in shock and hid herself away from him. No way was she serving him! But the pony who brought Sterling... and that mare in... gave her no choice... so serve them she did... with a grudge. Giving her sweetest voice possible, which wasn't too sweet... she trotted over and spoke,

 

"Hello and welcome to the Trottington! What would you like for drinks today...?"

 

"Wait, CHEMM?! YOU'RE SERVING US TODAY?!" Sterling jumped with surprise... no way was he expecting Chemm to work here...

 

"Shut it you dweeb, I'm trying to be nice for today... so what drinks would you like?" Chemm replied with a grudge. Sterling pouted briefly before calling for water... Now to see what Blue Note wanted for drinks...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Diet soda," Blue Note said frostily. There was something vaguely familiar about this pony, and Sterling apparently knew her. Her tone was unimpressive. "You know, it's bad business to insult your customers." Blue Note was not about to let this pony get away with calling Sterling a dweeb, whoever she was. The day had been enjoyable thus far, and having a rude waitress put a damper on it was the last thing she wanted to deal with. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

After Chemm got Blue Note's order, she merely gave a scoff before walking away... Having realized that Blue Note would probably want to ask about the waitress Sterling apparently knew, Sterling began to explain,

 

"Blue Note... that was Chemm... she's... the mare from our med school... I don't like her very much..." Sterling then buried his head low, hoping that at least the meal would be good...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"It's no mystery why," Blue Note said, glaring at her as she walked off. "Her customer service skills are terrible. She's certainly not getting a big tip from me. Is she jealous of you or something?" Blue Note was no stranger to irrational dislike, but she had yet to understand it entirely. Some ponies just seemed like they were born disliking everything and everypony.

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling could only shrug after Chemm walked away with a grudging look. It looked like she was preparing their drinks well. But Sterling didn't want to give her more attention than she needed, so he quickly returned to his menu and tried to find that elusive cabbage salad... 

 

"Well, I honestly have no idea... Other than the bump in and Rocky destroying me on that first night of school, I don't know why she'd hate me so much..." Sterling shook his head after his shrugged. He barely talked with Chemm, and he didn't want to know what was on that crazy mind of hers...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Eh, whatever. She's stuck here working, and we're having a good day," Blue Note said. She looked down at the menu. "I wonder if the house salad is any good." She didn't want to think about stuck up ponies; she much preferred thinking about Heath's Warming. However, had she thought a little more about the spirit of the holiday, she may have been perceptive enough to wonder why Chemm was working on Hearth's Warming instead of celebrating. Had the full context of the holiday occurred to her, she may have even questioned if her hostility was the best way to deal with her rude classmates.

[Inactive01 5,299]

Chemm eventually trotted back to the two friends to see what they wanted for their lunches. She still gave a light scowl, but she wanted to hide it as much as she could this time, trying her best to at least get some sort of tip for working on Hearth's Warming... Deep down, she wished things went better with Rocky, but she put the blame on him for ruining their relationship. He was just so anxious about every little thing, especially her business! She couldn't help it! She grunted again before she gave out the best smile she could give...

 

"So are we ready to order for today?" Chemm asked with the sweetest voice she could give... Sterling could see it was fake, but at least she was trying now...

 

"I'd like the cabbage salad." Sterling replied frostily. Chemm didn't appreciate the coldness of his response, but she didn't like him either, so it shouldn't have mattered... Chemm then turned to Blue Note, ready to take down her order for the day...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"House salad," Blue Note said briskly. She did not feel like exchanging pleasantries. At least she didn't make any rude comments; that would have sent Blue Note over the edge. Instead, Blue Note tried to think about the fun that was still in store for the day. Going to see musical numbers would be a highlight for sure. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Chemm got working right away to sending their orders to the chefs and they began working on their salads. Meanwhile, Sterling was left to ask Blue Note about how the day was going...

 

"How's the day been so far Blue Note? I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have!" Sterling asked with a warm smile. He worked hard to making this day the best Hearth's Warming Ever... Hopefully Blue Note loved the day...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Best Hearth's Warming ever!" she said. "The pageant was spectacular. I prefer the Broadhay actors to the celebrity casting of Canterlot." There was a lot about Manehatten she preferred to Canterlot. The company she was able to keep being the most important thing. "And building a snow pony in Central Park was fun. More fun than I've had in awhile."

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling jumped when Blue Note exclaimed about her Hearth's Warming. He wasn't expecting such a response from her with only half a day gone! Feeling a little flustered, he was actually somewhat thankful that Chemm had just come back with the salads, which seemed easy to prepare... Chemm quickly handed them out before she told them to enjoy their meals... Albeit in a more monotone voice than anything...

 

Sterling quickly began to chow down, hoping not to have left off any sign of love to her from his surprised blush that was just beginning to develop after her exclamation...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"You're really hungry, aren't you," Blue Note said. Sterling was devouring his salad. Her stomach was still rumbling, so she couldn't blame him. She leaned down to take several dainty bites. "I'm famished." She continued to eat her salad, and found it to be enjoyable. "The food here isn't so bad."

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling gulped on his whole lunch like it was no pony's business. He was really hungry, so hungry that he made a mess of the plate by the time he was finished eating! Sterling noticed the mess and quickly cleaned as much of it as he could with the napkins that were provided! Luckily, none of it got onto his body or his clothes for that matter!

 

"Mmmm! This is delicious! One thing I certainly can't complain about is the food!" Sterling replied with a delighted and satisfied look on his face. He was really hungry, and he was glad he came here for some delightful cabbage salad, his comfort food!

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note was barely a quarter of the way done with her own salad. "And I thought I was hungry," she said. She continued eating her food, savoring how fantastic the dressing was. "I wish I could afford to eat here more," Blue Note said. "This is delicious." She continued to eating until she felt full. "They're generous with the portions too."

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling happily rubbed on his stomach after having eaten his cabbage salad so quickly... Blue Note was right... he was really hungry... but at the same time, he didn't want to be late for the rest of the festivities that were to come! When Sterling realized that Blue Note was still eating, he quickly gave an apology,

 

"Oh Blue Note, I'm sorry about that... I... I just got really hungry and excited..." Sterling blushed when he noted his mistake. He didn't want to look silly in front of Blue Note, and now he did it...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Don't worry about it," Blue Note said, taking a final bite. A portion of her salad remained unfinished, but she was full. "It certainly was excellent food." She wondered idly how long it would take for Chemm to bring the check. Would she keep them waiting out of spite, or would be she eager to get rid of them?

[Inactive01 5,299]

Chemm eventually noticed that the two ponies were done eating. They ate really quickly for two ponies who wanted to enjoy themselves... but enough of the observations. She wanted them to get out, and he wanted her check as she saw another group of ponies who also came from the Lincoln Center come in for a bite at the Trottington. Chemm trotted quickly to the ponies, and asked briskly,

 

"Are you two done with your meals for today?" Sterling nodded in reply, and Chemm proceeded to place his scrappy plate onto her dish holder before turning to Blue Note to see whether she was ready. Hopefully she'd do it quickly so she could serve more customers...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Yes," Blue Note said. "Will you bring the check, or do we pay at the counter?" Blue Note was eager to move on to the next portion of the day. The sooner she could put this rude waitress behind her, the better. There were far more important things to be attended to.