Curtis slowly stopped pushing his mug around as Lamplight addressed him, the donkey looking up with a small smile on his face, clearly glad that the topic had moved towards something he could actually talk about, as he drew himself up a little on his seat, actually managing to meet the orange mare's eye with his own dark green.

"A-actually, yes, Miss Lamplight. A little while after I left Canterlot; I spent a few years travelling around Equestria, seeing the sights, and whether or not there was anyplace I could call home. Manehatten was one place I stopped on the way, albeit not for too long. Just didn't seem the kind of place I could settle down and be successful." Curtis explained, his best attempt at an easy smile on his face, as he recalled the few years of travel he had experienced before his arrival and decision to stay in Ponyville.

Following in silently behind Dais, Curtis took in the sights of the cozy tavern with a small smile, his green eyes flickering over the comfortable, and comfortingly familiar furnishings, before they found their way to the bar, and a moment later, the mare who stood behind it.

As he had done many times before, Curtis tore his eyes away as subtly as possible, before they could linger too long, instead focusing on the smooth, clean wooden surface of the bartop, as he moved towards it in Dais' wake, quickly and quietly taking a seat at the bar, beside his new friend.

Looking up again as Lamplight asked for their orders, Curtis replied automatically, his tone calm and positive, as it always was within the walls of the warm tavern.
"I'll have a cider please, Miss Lamplight.." The donkey started, giving his customary response to the orange mare, before he paused, and then decided to make an attempt at proper introductions, his voice just a touch more uncertain than it ordinarily was.

"Well, this is Dais Clash, he's Mayor Mare's assistant. He just arrived in town a little while ago. Dais, this is L-lamplight, she runs the Guiding Light, the best tavern and inn in Ponyville." Curtis explained, gesturing in an introductory manner between the two ponies, a calm smile on his face, which wavered just a little at the momentary stutter in his ordinarily calm demeanour, as he attempted to introduce the mare with the burnt orange mane and eyes.

With his towel left at home, and a small pouch of bits secured around his shoulders, Curtis waited patiently by the entrance to the Guiding Light, despite the occasional drop of sweat that rolled off of his grey body.

The trip from the pool to his home on the edge of town had been a long one, but by running for all he was worth, Curtis had been able to make it there and back with time to spare, so for now he simply rested in the shade by the side of the inn, his eyes fixed on the gigantic glass lantern that hung over the entrance, a small smile on his face as he watched it swing a little in the cooling breeze.

Showing no offense at Dais' switch in wording, Curtis only chuckled a little, speaking to Dais over his shoulder as they departed, a small smile on his face.

"Well, I can point out where to find it, but I've got to drop off my towel and pick up my bit pouch before I can head there." The grey donkey commented, pausing for a moment to think, before he replied, smile returning. "What would you say to meeting at The Guiding Light in, say, ten minutes?"

As the conversation once again returned to Canterlot, Curtis sighed a little, but didn't speak up, just hoping that they would change topic soon, his smile quickly returning as his wish was granted, the grey donkey slowing his laps to allow Dais to keep pace in his flotation ring.

"I think what you're referring to is community spirit, and a welcoming and accepting town, Dais. I moved here a good few years ago, and I've never once considered leaving. The lakes are pretty great too, oh, and might I say, Welcome to Ponyville?" Curtis responded, smile widening a little as they discussed the intangible nature of Ponyville's particular charm.

"Hmm.. Dais Clash for mayor.. Well, I wouldn't envy your chances for at least a few years. Mayor Mare's pretty popular around here." Curtis responded, chuckling at Dais' reference to her rather accurate name, as he swam to the edge of the pool and slowly clambered out, shaking the water from his mane and tail as he stretched and yawned, a little tired out by his swimming, eager for a break, and something calm to cap the evening off.

"You said you arrived a few weeks ago, correct? You been to any of the taverns in town, yet? Not that there's many." Curtis questioned, quickly rubbing himself down with the towel he had brought, having paused to think for a few minutes, of a good way to cap off the peaceful evening, a quiet drink coming up as probably the best idea.

Curtis chuckled a little in response to Dais' words, his smile widening a little at the blue stallion's compliment of his swimming abilities, prompting him to reply, voice calm and friendly, hooves still slowly treading water.

"Thanks. I guess you just get better at it over time, I usually go swimming a couple of times a week. It's relaxing, and if you push yourself, makes pretty good exercise." Curtis commented, with a smile, slowly beginning to swim a few laps back and forth across the pool, as he spoke.

Chuckling and grinning happily, Curtis listened over his shoulder, long ears perked up in interest as the blue stallion spoke, a faintly proud look on his face, at Dais' mention of his success with the taxation system.

"Oh, really? Well, I'll be sure to give you a few pointers on it, sometime soon. For now though, I'm gonna take a dip, although I'll try my best to keep it quiet." The donkey responded, turning his head to reply and shoot Dais an easy grin, before he turned back to the water, and hopped in with a small splash, quickly diving down towards the bottom, luxuriating in the cool, still waters.

Calm whistling preceded the arrival of a contented looking grey donkey, a colourful towel slung over his shoulders, as he trotted towards the clean pool of cool, refreshing water, exactly the thing for a donkey who'd just finished work for the day.

Spotting another visitor to the pool, slumped on a beach chair with a hoof-full of paperwork and a bored looking frown, Curtis raised an eyebrow before shooting the blue stallion a wave, and friendly call of greeting.
 
"Afternoon. Odd spot to do paperwork." The donkey commented, voice friendly, an easy smile on his face as he moved past Dais, laying his towel down near the water's edge, as he began to stretch a little, readying himself for a dive.