Later, dawg [Open!]

[meat_mooks]

|| Attention, crew. Those who wish to attend the funeral of Matthew O'Connor, please report to the Observation Deck. ||

Another death announcement so soon after the last. It's a sad day.

Once again, the Observation Deck is arranged for the launch. The departed crew member, better known as Punchy in his lifetime, is encased in a central pod. The deck is lit by the starlight pouring in from the open window, a blazing blue star that will soon be Punchy's final resting place.

Another life lost. Time to say farewell once more.

Comments

[elementofloyalty]

That was her job, in this half of the duo.

The cry was unsatisfying, being as forcibly subdued as it was, but nevertheless somewhat cleansing. She shook against Applejack for a little while, till the worst of the stifled sobs worked their way out, then shook her head roughly. "Stupid Punchy," she muttered hoarsely. "I'll never forgive him just for making me get all wimpy."

[appletastic]

"He doesn't have to know about it," Applejack pointed out, trying to get a handle on her own emotions. They'd both need some time out in the fake sun to dry themselves.

"Nopony else will neither. We can just...get back to work. But don't forget him."

[elementofloyalty]

"I know about it," she sniffed. And obviously Applejack knew about it too, though in a certain respect, that was okay.

"You can get back to work. I don't have a job... do you need any help? With anything?" Anything that would take her mind off her thoughts and feelings?

[appletastic]

Ah, a distraction. Applejack knew the need for those well: she was feeling it too. She stepped back and readjusted her hat.

"Want to help make some cider? I promised some more to Mindy over at the diner."

[elementofloyalty]

"Yes!" she said, so literally jumping at the offer that she started hovering a foot off the ground. "Cider! That'd be perfect, let's go!"

Without any sense of patience and with just a little undercurrent of obvious desperation, she grabbed for Applejack to all but drag the poor earth pony to Hydroponics.

[appletastic]

"Whoa there, easy!"

Applejack had to bite back a laugh as she got herself moving. It didn't feel like pure happiness, but this would be close enough.

[elementofloyalty]

It was a fake. Like a coat of paint over rotten wood. It just covered it up.

That was what Rainbow Dash craved. And it was better than violent anger, at least.