As morning dawned over Ft. Trotterdale in my Equestria dreamscape the aftermath previous evening's events continued to play out.
Ft. Trotterdale in the summer was a place that got progressively hotter and more humid. Every afternoon bands of thunderstorms and periods of torrential rain would come ashore and drench the city. The weather ponies assigned to the area did what they could, but the best they could do is deflect the worst away from the area.
Due to the increasingly hot, humid weather a routine had started to form for Scratch and her crew at Silver Mirror. Most work and rehearsals either took place very early in the morning or late in the evening. Now due to some ponies habits, lifestyles, preferences, and work schedules these times would sometimes blur and merge into each, but the end goal was the same. Try to work during the coolest parts of the day and night.
Still there were times when there was no other choice but to work during day. Even then ponies tried to wrap up things before 10am. However for Steel Strut, myself, and two of her design team those plans were wrecked, literally, when the night before somepony succeeded in demolishing one of the steam engines used to lift prop backgrounds.
Steel Strut was lying on her back underneath the broken engine. Only her back half stuck out from beneath the machinery. "This!" Roared the mare was followed by the sounds of something hard banging against metal . "This is why. I wanted you two!" Referring to the two other stallions standing with me in the workshop. "To design or get me that damn gearboxes! Horseapples!"
To punctuate the last statement a spanner came sailing out from beneath the engine. It hit the back wall and clattered to the floor. Everypony in the workshop remained silent as Steel Strut extracted herself from beneath the machine. Finally she got back on her hooves. Anger and disgust was written across her face.
Silver Solder spoke first. "Soooo. How bad is it? Can it be fixed?"
The blue-grey mare laughed bitterly. "Fixed?!" She bucked the engine in frustration. Sparks flew from the mare's steel shod hooves "The only thing this is good for now is either as a really big boat anchor, or as a fucking piece of crappy modern art!"
"That bad." Other stallion was named Wood Grain spoke up. "Is it really not salvageable?"
He had to wait for his answer as Steel Strut gulped down some lemonade. The interior of the workshop was stifling hot which wasn't helping anypony's mood. The mare finished her glass before replying.
"Yeah Grain it's totally fucked!" She growled. "When the gearbox seized the engine was running at almost max rpm. The backlash fucking destroyed the bearings and twisted the crankshaft so badly its punched through the engine housing and cracked it in multiple places. I can't tell at the moment what's happened to the pistons and connecting rods but it really doesn't matter. Might as well melt this thing down and make pots and pans out of it!"
Steel Strut looked over at me. "Brick." She'd adopted my nickname as well. "You won't be much help here. So get fuck out of here for the day." She glared at Silver Solder and Wood Grain. "Besides I need to talk some ponies about why a gearbox I asked for isn't here."
I'm not the smartest pony, but I could read the room. "Right. If you need me you know how to find me."
Steel Strut just waved a dismissive front hoof . "Yeah thanks. By the way. Even though its hot make sure you close the door on your way out. Alright."
I nodded and made my way out of the shop. As I closed the door the mare's voice suddenly thundered from the back of the shop.
"WHY IN FUCKING TARTARUS SHOULD YOU TWO DIPSHITS BE GETTING A DAMN PAYCH–"
I didn't stick around to hear the rest.
Having been released from duties I went in search of lunch and something cold to drink. Not just for hydration purposes. I needed something to help me unwind. Fortunately unwinding material was obtained under the shade of the northern veranda where the kitchen staff was serving lunch. Soon I had acquired a tossed a nicely chilled salad of mixed greens, avocado slices, sliced olives, and little cooked shrimp. The mixture was tossed with a tangy and spicy lime and chili dressing. I also scored some cornbread to have with it. To wash it all down I procured a big, icy mug of pineapple rum punch, and it was so good at helping me unwind I decided to have another. And another. And…
Sometime around 3pm. I think. I was sauntering up to our room. The rum punch had definitely done its job and the events of last night and earlier today were some other pony's problem. Yeeaaahhh, I had had a bit too much to drink, but I wasn't worried. The earliest I would be needed was around 11pm tonight. I'd be fine by then. So I figured I'd go back to our room and take a cold shower to cool off. Then kick back there for awhile. Not like I was going flying. In the last hour the regular afternoon downpour had come rumbling ashore. One could hear the rain drumming on the roof and hissing as it splattered against the windows. Randomly mixed in was the crack and rumble of thunder.
Yeah. I wasn't flying in that shit.
Now with my household we've established some basic rules and guidelines when it came to what Petina euphemistically called grazing.
1. Always ask all parties if they're okay with it.
2. Never keep it a secret from any other pony in your herd.
3. Never be gone for more than a day without confirming it with everypony.
4. Always come back to the herd.
5. Be smart about it, and be safe.
As a result there had been a few occasions when I had arrived at our room to find it in use. Fortunately our host Scratch had thoughtfully planned for this contingency. On the front door of every bedroom there was a carved, wooden horseshoe attached to a pivot. If the room was being used you turned the horseshoe up. If not then you left it facing downward. Sort of like hanging a sock on the doorknob.
So I wasn't to surprised find the horseshoe facing up on the door to our room. I myself hadn't felt any need or urge to go grazing. I mean I had Petina and Carousel and that kept me plenty happy, but I will admit there had been quite a few mares at Silver Mirror that were very easy on the eyes.
I paused at the door and listened for a few seconds. Not hearing any obvious sounds of bed wrestling or bedroom gymnastics I figured whoever was in there was either wrapping up or asleep. Besides I was still very sweaty from my time in the workshop and I needed a shower, so I opened the door.
Entering our room several things were immediately obvious. First the bed had seen recent use. Fortunately somepony had laid some towels down and had done their business on them. Second somepony was currently using our shower. Figuring it was either Petina or Carousel cleaning up I just opened up the door and stepped into the room.
"Hey there how much longer will you be in–"
The shower curtains slowly swung aside and the pony in the shower stared back at me. It wasn't Petina or Carousel. With one eye covered by her wet mane draped across it Scratch's entertainment coordinator Fantasy stared back at me with a gaze that sent a tiny electrical shiver through me. After a second or two she spoke.
"Oh. Hello there. Your mare Petina said it was okay to use your shower. We had, a little get together awhile ago. Hopefully this isn't a problem or an inconvenience?"
"No! No! No problem!" I blurted out. For some reason I was starting to sweat again. "I was just going to use the shower, but I can wait until y–"
"Oh! Do you need to take a shower? You definitely had a rough evening. I heard about the steam engine last night." She left the shower running as she slowly and gracefully stepped out of it. Still peering with one eye from beneath her mane she sauntered toward me. "You do look tired. Hmmm, would you like some assistance? I'm very knowledgeable in wing care."
"Um well. Uh. I don't know what my mares would think of that. Normally we like to let each other know if–"
"That's not a problem." She purred. "Your mares have discussed it with me already." Fantasy was now standing right in front of me now. Her coat and mane were naturally a glossy black but with her coat drenched she glistened like black lacquered wood. "They see no problem." She grinned. "Just remember to comeback to your herd. Right?"
Only with great effort did I keep my wings stowed tight to my sides. "Well, um. I was just planning to take a quick shower to cool off, but if you want help with my wings. Uh, the shower is big enough for 2 ponies. If it's not a problem I guess…"
"Sky Brush remember my job." She purred. "I'm in charge of making sure ponies wants and needs are taken care of."The unicorn leaned forward until she filled my vision. Her one fire orange-red eye staring intently at me. "Whatever that need is."
Then she leaned further forward and gave a long, deep kiss. The wings didn't stay stowed.

To be continued.