This week, in "Occupied Equestria":
Wondering through through the Changeling lands at night on the road between Bales and Whinnyapolis, Onyx, Brie, and Spark have stumbled upon a set of farm ponies trying to hide their cattle in the forest, away from their changeling occupiers. While rescuing a cow, Onyx and Brie have taken heavy damage, and so they followed them to the cabin of a local woodspony. But they found the woodspony and a farmer replaced by changelings, and after a skirmish are alone and wounded in the cabin in the woods.
Over in Baltimare, Dark Star has decided to give up his life as Dark Star, the Earth Pony farm colt, to become Tyrel Jackson, or "Gold Chains," a zebra and aspiring rap artist. Through the magic of Valmorification, it is possible. Iron is freaking out after possibly having received a message from God herself. That, and his usual social awkwardness. Silver is cashing out on a long standing set of projects, and is readying himself for the next phase
1274 replies and 81 files omitted.
>>110372Hmm....
What to do without an interpreter....
Spark continues to comfort the changelings as he thinks of a plan.
>>110409Huh, I guess it is worth a try.
>>110372Spark pats his hoof against his chest.
"Spark."
He then points at them.
"You?"
Looks like there will be a part 5
Sweet Boek himself was an absentee landlord, never once seen at the property. He was known, however, for visits to the “Sacred Heart of Celestia and Luna,” the old Orthodox church a block over and a block inland from 33 Hoebuck. The building has long ceased functioning as a church to Harmony, and has been operating as what is presumed to be an unofficial Griffin temple to Boreas. The other big temple to Boreas in Redheart claims the church has no affiliation to the Griffonian Church in Romao. There is certainly non-religious activity going on in that church – the church is used to host dance lessons and even competitions on Wednesdays, and sometimes Mondays by a local organization. The church is known to be visited by a number of creatures, mostly griffins, who congregate there on some days, and also seem to congregate there on certain nights every fourth week, casting glowing light out from the church windows, without the music associated with dancing. Relatives and members of the public concerned about Boek’s associations have asked him the nature of these visits, and he tells of his interest in the various immigrant cultures found in Red Heart, as well as the opportunity for networking provided by such congregations. Sweet Boek explains that as a landlord, he has an interest in finding tenants, especially commercial tenants, and non-pony creatures are often refused business by other business ponies in Baltimare and the Equestrian East Coast. “Why not combine my love of world cultures with business?” Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that the membership of the alleged temple overlaps significantly with what is believed to be the longer-term residents of the Hostel at 33 Hoebuck.
In the years that followed came a number of reports of suspicious activity. A coast guard cutter reported seeing a small boat heading in the direction of 33 Hoebuck, presumably from a freighter docked at the dockyards only a few blocks north, during a moonless night. Customs agents, and even a pair of neighbors have reported much the same done more brazenly even on moon filled nights, with little boats that generally seem to be carrying creatures heading towards the structures. Though its connection to 33 Hoebuck is doubtful, it is known that in this time, and to a great degree before then, a number of often brutal gang turf wars occurred in Redheart between what seem to be immigrant groups forming gangs, and the local crime syndicates of Baltimare. Some creatures have also been seen moved around at night in groups in the Hoebuck area, and these creatures are not known to be local residents. This is, however, a rare sight.
The most important incident came in May, 1009, when a griffin ran crying into the police station in South Redheart. Though she quickly became reticent and unwilling to speak with the police about her experiences after a few questions, the bruises on both of her legs, as well as around other parts of her body, told the story that she could not, showing she had been forcefully restrained and likely beaten. Police went to site to look around and visit the shoe factory. Then, as in the present situation, police suspected that creatures were being smuggled into the city, then kept as slaves in the alleged “hostel” as they were forced to make shoes in the workshop. The police quickly received a warrant to conduct an immigration raid – as immigration law offered the most leniency to that end for police activity – and stormed the entire Hoebuck site.
What they found inside would become the subject of public indignation, as the raid revealed a site both shocking and expected. Zebras, Gnolls of Hyenia, Griffins, and ponies were found in some instances caged, and in some instances chained to work tables, besides numerous other violations. The total number of creatures found on the scene was relatively low, maybe 30 in total, and lead the police to believe that part of the population within the structure became wise to the raid before hoof, and escaped. The raid of course revealed a scheme of false imprisonment, besides a laundry list of more mundane civil workplace violations like too small of a distance between worker’s chairs and machines, or overly long hours. A number of creatures were also found in the Hostel and were subject to interview by the Principality’s law enforcement – a crying pink mare refugee from Skynavia in particular became the picture on the front page of the newspaper – but the results of these interviews were locked away in the Canterlot Archives, and though presumably available to the Blackhooves, were not subpoenaed by the Baltimare Blackhooves.
What was known to the public were the forced labor conditions of the migrants, and there was a search to try to find Storm Feather Maakie, who was found, after investigation, to be the ultimate owner of not only the hostel, but the Shoe Factory as well. The investigators discovered Maakie operating several companies as a front for smuggling of goods and creatures, including elsewhere in the city. He seemed to have connections with other questionable merchants out of the City of Skyfall, where he had more recent residence than he claimed. The shoes produced at the workshop were distributed to a warehouse where they were sold under different names. The city’s efforts to bring Maakie to justice were ultimately futile as Maakie seemed to be out of the country, but the Shoe Factory was closed down, as was the Hostel. Sweet Boek apologized profusely for the situation, and repeated incessantly that he did not know what was actually going on at his site, only that the two organizations renting out the structures paid him on time. The Church of the Sacred Heart was also raided shortly thereafter under a secret warrant, and for reasons not entirely known, but presumably because of its connection to the long-term denizens of the alleged Hostel. No creature was found.
>>110438"That is one slimy griffon..."
>>110438Iron can't help but get the idea he captures air from his nostrils much better than ponies.
Cuz his beak is big and hooked.(Why am I even thinking this?)
He is utterly confused, as if somepony planted that thought on him.
>>110438"That Bird needs to be fried!"
Dark Star says with a scowl on his face.
>>110466I'd say I'm well.
I'm pumped to enter the land of group questing again.
I'd want a six figure pay to spend on both Iron and Cauldron into magic items, but I'll assume I'll only get five figure pay for balance reasons.
I'm worried about the future, and how I could merge into the group while still visiting Cauldron and not stumble into one PC only adventures that potentially could last forever, harming GM's enthusiasm.
The usual.
>>110467You shouldn't have to worry about doing stuff alone. I'm sure Silver and Star would still be happy helping out if Cauldron had something she wanted Iron to help her with.
But yeah, it's pretty exciting how we're going to get to do a mission together again.
>>110468Oh no, I don't mean the lingering questline of stopping Pear Faucet from calling upon the windigoes. You and Star gonna get invited for that.
Perhaps it's only me after the whole Junglequest that puts me on edge after GM admitted he wasn't really fond of it to avoid single-PC quests, but I may need confirmation one way or the other before doing any sort of mission alone.
Still, overall nice to be back into the fold and not straining the storyline over the two long-extending questlines the monthly and daily group have set out for themselves.
It's as if we're playing two different games. >>110478Might as well have some IC dialog while we wait for the green light from the GM."Can you tell me little bit more about you and Cauldron? How did you two meet?"
>>110479Iron looks to the sides, perturbed for his boldness to speak about it in front of two other ponies.
"What?"
>>110481Silver rolls his eyes and asks his question in a quieter voice. "How did you and Cauldron meet?"
>>110481>>110479The resident love master listens intently
>>110484>>110482Sadly, the snooper is eager to swallow all of that juicy information Iron has, making him quite nervous.
(Silver, you old pony!)
"Um... it was nice?"
(I have no idea how much I can say. Think, think!)
"We met at a... bar! Yes! A bar."
>>110485"Eh...okay? Anything else?"
>>110486Iron lightly scratches the top of the table with his hoof.
"We... walked around the city, looking at the sights... and then I got hurt by some... misunderstanding, forcing us to go to a medicine pony, and that was it! Nothing else happened!"
>>110487Silver stares at him for a couple seconds. "...Why are you so nervous, Iron?"
>>110488Iron coughs a little, then puffs out his chest.
"Nervous? Me?"
He waves a hoof in Silver's direction, audibly 'pfft'ing.
"No. You are just imagining things."
>>110484He briefly glances at Skies' direction, wondering what's her current mood.
>>110489Silver's not sure he believes that. "Hmm..."
>>110490Iron is starting to get sweaty, his hindlegs weak and his forelegs are sweaty.
He presents a big, fake smile that is meant to portray some semblance of confidence on the situation.
>>110488Skies is kind of confused by the situation before her
With a whisper she says
“He seems like the type who would brag about any girls he has... best guess, he doesn’t have her”
>>110491Better be rollin' them Bluffs, boah."You act like there is some horrible, terrible secret about her."
[1d20-2 = -7]>>110493Iron's eyes widen.
(He is onto me!)
"What? No! No secrets at all! Who said
anything was a secret? Not me!"
For his sake, rolling bluff.
Poor colt doesn't know if he should come out with Cauldron's gang side job. [1d20+3 = 22]>>110492Silver takes this possibility into account.
>>110494Opposed
>>110494>>110495Iron can't get this one around the perceptive old stallion.
>>110497>>110496(Gods, I am not good with keeping secrets.)
Iron decides that the best course of action is to throw a 180 conversation topic to try to confuse them and poking the subject on crime, particularly to the agent Silver is next to.
"Oh! I heard at the bar that the gang became tense after that boat job that happened a few days ago. I was not expecting that to travel so fast."
>>110498“Is this the same bar where you met this ‘Black Cauldron’?”
>>110498Silver sees straight through that tactic.
"Mhm. You know, you can just come out and say that she is not real, yes? Trust is essential for teams to work well together, and silly lies like that will not help."
>>110499Iron nods with a semblance of normalcy.
>>110500Iron considers Silver's conclusion, actually mulling it over.
(Perhaps I should do the ultimate trick and make them believe she is not real? But Silver would not buy the potions she produces. If only I could know Skies' reaction to admitting Cauldron is a gangster as a side job.)
He remains silent for the time being, wanting to see Skies' line of questioning first before commiting one action or another.
Sorry for double post. >>110502Skies only sits there, silently, with a skeptical look on her face
>>110503Alright. Time to decision.Iron considers his options.
(If I come out with Cauldron's background on Skies, she will definitely want to arrest her due to her background without much hesitation, specially without any sway with her, and I would break my promise with Cauldron. However, Silver seems like he could be a regular customer for her potions from what he says, which would help her get out of the business. What to do, what to do. Take a risk or play it safe?)
With that in mind, he exhales.
"Can you three hold a secret?"
>>110504Silver nods, unsure of what it would be.
>>110500Skies leans over to Silver, and explains the situation as she understands it:
“Alright, now what do we know about Iron? He has a very high opinion of himself, lacks anything resembling humility, and has some kind of primitive ground pony belief about the status of mares that places them on the same level as their favored sticks. So he’s definitely not the kind of pony who would be bashful about a somepony. He’d rather parade her as an object that grants status. So I bet that either she dies not exist at all, she’s not even remotely close to being ‘his,’ or there’s something seriously wrong with her”
>>110505>>110507Iron cocks his head, surprised by the accusation.
"No."
(We did have a talk about them abusing 'excitable' stallions, but she does not need to know that. Last thing she needs is to be reminded of the possibility of having multiple females for each male back at my tribe.)
>>110508He shakes his head.
"Well. Cauldron is..."
He pauses for a bit, last consideration.
"...a grunt... if you know what I mean."
>>110510He shakes his head.
"More like a... guard, but not affiliated with the city."
>>110512"For..."
He sighs.
"...remember how you mentioned the docks job was in conjunction with the gang here?"
(Will she get the hint?)
>>110513"You mean she is member of gang you are member of?"
>>110514"I would not say I am part of it, but yes."
Iron glances at Skies.
"I was partnered with her for my first job."
>>110515Silver looks a little dumbfounded. "
That was what had you worried?"
>>110515Skies has a look something to the effect of
it fucking figures >>110516Iron looks a bit surprised.
"...yes?"
>>110518"I suppose I should ask: what exactly does she do for gang?"
>>110517Iron can't help but get a bit nervous over her expression.
>>110519"I said she was a grunt."
>>110521"Guard stuff and following orders. Basically she is at the bottom of the hierarchy."
Iron is getting a bit suspicious over Silver's questioning.
>>110522Silver nods. "Okay then. If we are willing to give you chance even if you are member of gang, then why would we not give her chance?"
>>110523I expected Skies to be asking this, honestly. I guess she seems to be happy for him.
Or she still believes he's lying.>>110524Iron blinks.
"I did a one time thing with them. She is a little more compromised into doing her 'job' from circumstances."
>>110523I'm back. Last I remember, I was trying to communicate to changelings.
>>110525Now he shakes his head. "Same difference. It is obvious you like her, and I doubt you would if she was member of gang out of malevolent reasons. I am only disappointed that you did not trust us enough to simply tell us truth."
>>110525>>110526The two changelings look at him puzzled, then look st each other. Finally, Blue Eyes responds
With a hole ridden leg places to his wounded torso, he says
“Sieben Uhr einunddreißig”
Then, Blue Green speaks up,
“Fünf Zweiundneunzig”
Then they speak together, slightly delayed and over each other, but nearly simultaneously
“Von Apis und Nackter Fang“
>>110527She shakes her head in a statement that she does not agree with Silver, but otherwise says nothing
>>110528>>110527Iron deadpans at Silver.
"I do not know about you and the other two, but my relationship between you three is not as strong as you think it is, specially with Skies."
He glances at the pegasus pony.
"Am I wrong?"
I am quite surprised. Mayhaps she'll accept Cauldron's services.Hopefully her loyalty to the gang is waning due to the stress of being caged and losing the progress she had. >>110529Skies nods, looking strangely pleased at this statement, and this is the first time she has looked pleased in a while in the conversation
>>110529Silver gives him a dead serious look. "You have said it yourself: you have not made serious attempt to make it so. Dark Star and I have been trying our hardest to get to know you and make attempt to befriend you, even if you yourself appear to not show much of interest in reciprocating. And I imagine even Blue Skies would agree that you two
not getting into petty, foalish fights every time you are in same room would be better than not."
>>110528"Umm... that's a lot of words... and pretty hard to say too..."
Spark thinks for a moment.
"How about you are Seb and Fun Von Fang? Those are good names."
Spark smiles.
>>110532They look a little unsure. Then again, it’s a captive audience, so Spark can do what he wants
>>110530He, understandably, is a bit surprised, but Silver's retort seems to put him off a little.
>>110531Iron seems to be slightly disturbed.
"Forced friendships are not good for anypony, Silver. A pony needs time and experiences with eachother form such a thing. It is not going to magically be established by some speech about the importance of it or trust or anything."
He inhales.
"Sometimes, it is important to be cautious on who to be friends with, no matter how trustworthy they seem."
>>110535The look on Silver's face suggests some criticism he would make, if he were not intimately familar with how such endeavors are futile. Instead, he remains silent.
>>110534Spark knows it isn't the best idea, but he figures it is one of the only ways he can progress the conversion with laguage barrier.
"Spark."
He points to himself.
"Seb, Fun."
He points to them.
"Friends."
He holds a hoof out to them.
>>110535Skies giggles, then says darkly
“Forced Friendships not good for anyone? Hehehe. Ground Pony,
do you know where you are? You are in Equestria. Not your mother’s cooch, not some empty forest, and not the griffin lands.
Equestria. A land where Friendship is so central to society’s conception of its own welfare they appointed a new Czar just to personally intervene into pony’s lives to make sure they had friendship whether they like it or not. Friendship is non-negotiable.”
>>110536Onyx can go interact with them if he likes
>>110538Skies gives a stare
No. Make the losing attack. Did when you attack, you slowly grind down their will to resist>>110539They recoil for a moment. After they realize that Spark is not going to stab them, Blue-Green Fun gets his snout closer to it, and starts sniffing, before pulling away. Then Blue Eyes Seb comes closer, and starts to sniff the hoof
>>110541>Like tooHe would like to leave, but he guessed he can see what's going on.
He gets up and walks into the room.
"How goes it Spark?"
>>110538>>110540Iron can't help but chuckle at how melodramatic Skies is being due to his statements.
"I admit I do not, but from my first experiences it does not sound like what you have described it."
He chuckles some more.
"I did not even hear two ponies doing a big musical number outside."
>>110543“Did you think it would be your
last experience?”
She comes closer to him, and whispers carefully yet menacingly into his ear
”Not even in death, does the ride end”>>110539Onyx comes towards the room, and asks “how’s it going, Spark?”
>>110542 >>110541Why are they always so cute?
>>110542He sees changelings curious about Spark's hoof.
"Ok. How are the ponies?"
>>110541>>110543It doesn't seem like Silver wants to get into an argument about friendship, of all things.
>>110545"Alive, no thanks to them"
He gestures at the bugs.
"Any progress so far?"
>>110547"The bat didn't feel like translating, so I am trying to comuncate the best I can."
>>110547>>110545The insectoid creatures move back a couple steps. They seem to be afraid of Onyx, even with his dulled coat and alcohol smell
>>110544Iron openly laughs after she does this.
"I suppose it never will be. You are the one who lived here longer, so I will not question it."
He decides to go for a big ol' hug on Skies since she took the liberty of getting so close to him preaching about her friendship.
"Alright, alright. I will give you a nice big scoop of friendship for you, since it seems so vital to you, boss."
>>110546Skies shakes her head
“Friendship isn’t always easy. But it is always worth fighting for”
>>110550Oh fuck
Poner is surprise hugged, with more than a little surprise in her expression
She is soft, with varied bone, muscle and feather underneath, and an overly smooth coat and silky mane. She smells like coconut and passion fruit
>>110549Awwwww.
Spark remains there with his hoof out.
"It's ok."
>>110551While true, it doesn't appear to change much about his decision or demeanor.
>>110549Onyx grunts at the bugs
>>110548"Of course he didn't, drag us out here then don't work. Anything I can do?"
>>110551He holds pose for a bit, letting Skies get accostumed to being hugged by the mean stallion after her threat.
"You seem surprised, boss. You were not expecting suddenly getting hugged, were you?"
He chuckles some more.
"But I am staying here for a long time so I might as well get used to expressing affection like this with everypony, since it is the law of the land here and all."
>>110554"Just make sure they don't escape. I might have to feed them later and that will leave me down and you to keep them from the others."
>>110556Onyx looks shocked at Sparks idea
"No, they'll feed off of me. Not you."
>>110553Though still in an Iron grip, skies starts laughing
“Pffft! Fuck Friendship. I
still haven’t figured out why Equestrians value it over more practical things like flying”
>>110555Ever had one of those moment where you just think to yourself “fuck... I actually didn’t have any kind of contingency plan for this eventuality... I was really not expecting it to happen, now I’m kind of just stuck in it”? Because Blue Skies is having one of those moments right now.
Her body feels as if it were made to be like a pillow, or a child’s teddy bear. There is something strangely huggable about her
>>110554>>110552The changelings move away a little fearfully at the grunt, but then creep closer to the extended hoof, leveling and stretching their snouts out until they almost make contact with the foreleg, slightly sniffing it
>>110557The shimmer off of Onyx’s coat is in the belly of the Blue-Green eyed drone Spark has named “Fun”
>>110558The attempt only gets a sad, tired sigh out of the pony.
>>110557"In case you haven't noticed, you are the strong one here. If you go down, they can waltz over me. Besides, I have a soft spot for them, so they will hopefully get a better fill off of me and not kill me in the process. I hope at least."
>>110558Spark remains calm.
>>110560"Fine, but I don't like this plan."
>>110558Onyx glares at that particular bug
>>110559>>110558Iron chuckles some more at her unresponsive nature, huggling some more.
But then he hears Skies' nasty comment, eliciting a big tsk tsk from him.
"Now now, Skies. That is not friendly to do. You are hurting Silver's feelings."
He does a little squeeze on her, just to feel some more of the softness as well as makeshift friendship torture for her transgression.
"Say sorry to Silver, Skies."
He grins some more.
"Or was your speech about friendship being important in Equestria all false?"
>>110562Silver looks over at Iron, his voice sounding a little tired. "I will not force you to be friend. I only ask that you give us fair chance."
>>110559>>110562*Poner is squeezed*
“Gah! I was poking fun at the weird Equestrian system... something something ‘Friendship’ and ‘Kindness,’ blah blah”
>>110560>>110561The burned Blue-Green Eyed “fun” raises his head, nesting Onyx’s eyes with his own giant Aqua ones. He stares back at Onyx for a moment, before breaking away, moving behind the other drone - still inspecting Spark’s leg - and then meets his eyes again. His eyes glow in the dark, almost, looking back
>>110564Iron smiles devilishly.
"Oh~ So you do not mind hurting a fellow pony's feelings even though friendship is
so central to this society, boss? You know how serious his beliefs are, yet you stab his heart with witty remarks that belittles his beliefs?"
He tsks again.
"Boss, be more considerate to Silver. After all he is your fellow pony~"
He does another little squeeze.
"I am expecting an apology for Silver, boss."
>>110565Iron has never been that close to the female form before
Skies is strangely comfortable with it, even with a squeeze
“Oh please. He dismissed it even when he thought I was serious. He doesn’t care. I doubt he believes in it either”
>>110564Spark remains still for the changeling.
>>110561"You may want to leave Onyx. Just make sure the family is safe and I'll be back soon."
>>110566His smug levels are too high for him to notice.>>110567>>110566Seeing Silver's reaction only furthers his smug grin on Skies.
"I told you, boss."
Another squeeze is sent, mainly to feel more softness.
"You are due to send an apology now."
>>110567Uh-uh... Awwwwwwwww
Don’t be sad little floof pone. Let me hug you. Don’t worry, that mean old feathered bitch won’t be hurting you any more
>>110568"Alright... Yell if they try anything..."
Onyx slowly leaves, not taking his good eye off of the changelings before checking on the injured ponies.
>>110569Skies is still soft, especially around the belly where there are no bones to block the squeezing, and her wings spill out from under the enveloping legs. Yet still she remains strong
"
No. Never."
https://youtu.be/cLYHgNEqp2o?t=27>>110568>>110571Um... You know these are the cocooning type of Changeling, right? They don't just bite on you, they wrap you in silk like a spider so they can suck out the rest of your life juices later
>>110571Ruby is close to the door
"What's going on?"
The two little mute pones still sit by the fire place, while nearby, the grey one - Dawson - is moving and breathing. He seems to be starting to wake up. Rose is not far behind
>>110573"I'm not sure yet, help me with the others will ya?"
Onyx walks over and gently shakes Dawson to see if he wakes up.
>>110572Well, I mean the one just bit on Onyx so......
[1d20+8 = 23]>>110572Iron smiles even more devilishly.
"I guess I will have to carry you to the mission like this, then. Tie you on my back, perhaps? We have options, boss."
He chuckles.
"Maybe while I am at it I could put a sign on your neck saying 'All ponies are equal.' I would say that is a powerful message for the passerby ponies could absorb into. After all, friendship does not distinguish between species."
Intimidate tiem
>>110575Nothing, he just shakes, laying there
Then his eyes open.
Then he jumps up, on his feet, legs out and teeth grit, staring angrilly at Onyx, his brown hair drained of any detail
"What the hay is going on here?! Who are you?!"
>>110576"You can trust your back with me!"
>>110577"Who the hay am I? I'm the pony that got you out of the bucking cocoon! Now calm down for a minute, are you hurt?"
>>110572Onyx will just rescue me if that is the case.
Spark remains friendly.
>>110578"Yes... I'm cut along my foreleg, and I had most of the life drained out of me"
>>110579Seb comes a little closer to Spark
>>110577Iron chuckles.
"And you say I am the stubborn one."
He does a little squeeze again.
"Oh well. I gave friendship a chance only for it to crash unceremoniously on the ground. It shows how true your previous statements were, boss, which is none whatsoever. Good job on painting yourself as a hypocrite, boss. Not very honorable of you."
>>110567He looks at Silver knowingly.
"Do you want to switch places? Her coat is soft."
>>110580"No shit? Well you can complain so you obviously aren't dying"
Onyx steps over and gently shakes Rose awake.
>>110581No response from the floof pone.
>>110581"Go fuck yourself with a long, spiny cactus"
She has that malign smile
"And read a dictionary, because verbal irony is not the meaning of the word 'hypocrite'"
>>110582"Huh?"
She wakes up, looking frail and tired. A beige-ish colored mare
>>110580Spark sits there and smiles.
>>110584"Good to see you're alive as well. Do you need anything?"
>>110586Dawson stands up and looks around
“Are they gone? What happened? And who are you?”
Rose tries to pull herself forward with her two hooves
“I need water...”
>>110584>>110583Iron shrugs, moving her along with his movements.
"I have still made my case. Your words are mere fluff and you cannot follow it up with actions. You have what I assumed is a 'friend' but you routinely make fun of the core of his character without worry or empathy for him."
He sets her on her seat as normal with care.
"Imagine if a friend of yours kept on going about how weak the pegasi are, with their 'soft skeletons that break due to mere wind'. Would
you call him or her a friend? Somepony you would hang out with? After all, they think you would not care if they kept bashing you about it and thought of it as mere 'jokes' to share with you."
Iron smiles.
"I bet you would kill them in their sleep if you ever had the chance.
Am I wrong?"
[1d20+2 = 14]>>110585The creature sits down in front of Spark, and looks at him. While the other one moves forward towards him. They speak to each other in their language, back and forth
>>110588Roll opposed grapple
[1d20+3 = 9]>>110590Roll a new opposed grapple
[1d20+10 = 20]>>110593Iron blinks, realizing he's struck a nerve.
"Do you feel how it hurts, boss? That is how Silver is feeling right now."
[1d20+6 = 9]>>110594Skies does not. Roll opposed grapple
[1d20+10 = 27]>>110595Iron sighs.
"I guess you do not care about others. Only yourself."
[1d20+6 = 21]>>110596Skies says nothing. And yet she’s got all night. Roll opposed grapple
>>110594>>110595Silver's mood takes a sudden, likely expected turn. He glares at the two ponies and snaps. "
ENOUGH!"
[1d20+10 = 23]>>110597Opposed.
>>110598Iron silently knows it is time for him to actually expose his beliefs to cement his words.
(I take my part of the blame for this.)
>>110598Skies is stilled for a moment inside of her muscular prison
>>110599>>110600The formerly melancholy air around Silver has evaporated. He no longer cares where they are or who many be listening. "
You absolute foals! Can you not go five minutes without fighting like you are both in kindergarden!?"
>>110602Iron simply looks at him a bit shocked but ultimately undisturbed.
(At least he is not moping.)
>>110603"Let me go, or we are going to have a much bigger issue here"
>>110605Iron shrugs, planting Skies in the same spot he would've done before trying to escape his grasp.
>>110607>>110606Skies is left silent once again. Her eyes bare resentment, which has not dissipated since it formed earlier, before Silver spoke
>>110607Iron looks at Silver confused.
(Were we not doing that just then? Eh, whatever. He is trying to keep some semblance of peace between Skies and I in fear of things escalating, also because he is tired of seeing it happen, of course.)
He turns stoic, awaiting what will happen.
>>110608>>110609The old stallion is left rubbing the bridge of his muzzle while speaking in a hoarse voice. "Селестия, дай мне силы не задушить пони...alright, now that
that is over with, there is something you both need to say to each other." He continues to glare a father-like glare at the two ponies with the unspoken message that apologies to each other are in order...and the unspoken promise of what will happen if they choose not to.
>>110610"Alright..."
>>110609"Fuck you. Do not touch me. Do not try to
restrain me like that. And do not speak to me like that."
>>110611*SLAM*Silver lets out an honest-to-goddess
growl at Skies as his hoof connects with the table in front of her, his voice low and dangerous. "
Wrong. Answer."
[1d2 = 1]>>110612She sinks back in her seat
>>110610Iron nods approvingly
(Now that is some authority! Should have come out before with that attitude instead of being used as a doormat.)
>>110611But Skies' retort is less than stellar in his eyes.
He keeps silent.
>>110612>>110613Iron can't help but start mentally cheering Silver on, maintaining his stoic nature.
(Amazing performance! Now that is the sort of stallion to look up to!)
I wonder if the silence from the GM is a sign that he's sleeping, or if it's continued silence on Blue Skies' part.
>>110615I have no clue. Probably the latter.
>>110612>>110614Skies pulls back, more than a little indignant. Then she rise forth, and starts her own yell
"Alright, this guy" pointing at Silver "Says we should try to become friends or something, and this guy" pointing to Iron " says no, we should keep our distance from each other and just have a business relationship. So I make a joke about Equestrian Friendship political philosophy-whatever about mandatory friendship schooling, and it looks like both of you thought I was serious. And you know what happens? Mr. Friendship over here decides to just keep silent and not get involved. Like how the fuck are you supposed to be arguing that a relationship is supposed to be forced, yet here you are doing anything but. At the exact moment some one is talking about the importance of friendship lessons, you bail, deciding it's not worth talking about. Like what the fuck was your position then? Did you agree with Iron the whole time? And then I say that I was just joking, because the Equestrian culture is alien to me."
Then she turns to Iron and in a gesture that throws both of her hooves forward, she yells to Iron
"
I was fucking agreeing with you. You told Silver that no, you want nothing more than a business relationship, and I insinuated that yeah, that's just fine. Then what do you do? What the fuck do you do? You
fucking restrain me. That is
not how you treat a stranger. That's called "unlawful restraint," it's a crime, and it is inappropriate to do to... well, to anyone who is not either a lover or a smaller sibling, and even then only under certain circumstances. I swear to the Mother I was
this close to unleashing Dark Magic upon you the likes of which your pea brain can scarce fathom. I do not mind being touched, I will not be restrained. And during all of this, what do you do? You become indignant for me
agreeing with you. Somehow, some way, you twist it in your mind that because I made a joke about Equestrian harmony whatever-ism - which was fucking taking your position - that that's a bad thing. Like tie your fucking self down if you believe that, because I advanced nothing that you didn't already. And then I mentioned that obviously Silver didn't believe in trying to force relationships or whatever, because he thought I was serious about the Equestrian nonsense earlier and he just stayed fucking silent like it was the wrong move, or something. Like how the fuck do you feel morally superior when I fucking agree with the position you were arguing for in the first place, and when I call out Silver for apparently agreeing as well? Just... What the
Fuck is wrong with you, you sick fuck? I don't touch or threaten you when you agree with me in a conversation. If you
ever do that again, I will fucking
destroy you, and if you don't believe I can or will, then you simply lack the imagination to comprehend what is coming."
\r
>>110619Iron feels like a godamn retard.
"After all of that, we were fighting on a... misunderstanding?"
He can't handle this newfound revelation he basically endangered both Iron and
Cauldron's life on a big oopsie.
His breathing starts getting ragged.
"I cannot believe I tried to pick up a mare to live with when I
cannot even understand basic language."
He repeatedly faceslams the desk, hoping one of the strikes could end his pathetic existence, also increasing his heart rate.
"Just. End. Me," he says each time he forcefully forces himself on it.
Thus, Iron lies within two choices for being a colossal faggot and not understanding what other ponies say to him, dumbfounded he even has the capacity to fuck himself over this profoundly. Skedaddle from this place forever or end his pitiful yet stupid existence since he basically threw away any sort of honor he had. No reedemable qualities to be found anywhere and basically fucking Cauldron over while he does this stupid shit. What a fag he is, ladies and gentlecolts. Give him a nice clap and place him on a trash pedestal. No way he's actually getting zero consequences from this, so might as well end this pony's story already.Iron wishes to rewind away this stupid set of events up until before 'hugging' her at best or at least before she uttered to Silver the hurtful thing.
>>110619Silver has absolutely
had it with this mare. "
Are you actually daft, Skies!? He was setting you down in your seat, and you attacked him. Not other way around! You literally jumped on him and tried to wrestle him down as he was putting you out of his lap and onto your seat, and then you try to complain when Earth Pony much bigger than you manages to win. For all we know, he was restraining you so you would not try to kill him."No, Skies, I did not
agree with you. I was so tired of trying to argue with all three of you about
friendship of all things because that is all that happens when I try to bring it up. Every time, over and over again, it drives me insane! I have had it up to
here," He motions above his head with a hoof, "with you
belittling my beliefs, my country, and my leaders. I have tried to be as understanding as I can when learning and hearing about
your beliefs, country, and leaders because I know that even if they seem strange or wrong to me, that they are like that for reason, and that even if I do not necessarily agree with them I can respect differences between Equestrians and Nimbusians that produced them.
And do not give me horseshit about it being joke, you and I both know it is not far outside from what you would say."Now,
apologise to Iron for attacking and threatening him over what appears to be misunderstanding, or I swear I will drag you out of tavern all way to Grand Baltimare Hotel by your ear, and let every Black Hoof there know in very precise detail how one of their agents likes to get drunk, get into brawls with locals, then threaten to kill them. I imagine higher-ups would absolutely love that particular piece of publicity."
>>110622Silver also wishes that they could go back to before this mess started.
>>110627>>110622“Bone head, I was trying to
free myself...” she stops then, is silenced, and sits back, presumably contemplating
>>110628Silver maintains his vision on the pegasus mare. "Unless you are trying to insinuate that I am blind, that is
not what happened." Other than that, he leaves her contemplation be.
>>110629>>110622Skies sits silent, a cocktail of indignation frustration, perhaps even fear and whatever else upon her face, but she remains mostly collected for the moment. Silent. Then, she starts to get up, placing her hooves on the floor as she tries to maneuver around the edge of the table. She finally speaks:
“Alright.... I don’t know if the Civilian Governate is well organized enough to send one of their own to act as a liaison to organize voluntary helpers. I just know that
I am not going to do it, I am not cut out to do it, I never asked to do it, and I sure as hell am not going to do it for some damned bullshit for the Governate that they really ought to be doing themselves. Good night, it has
not been a pleasure.”
She gets up, out from under the table, and is finally freed on the floor. Free to move. She spreads her wings. Far and wide, they seem almost as big as the rest of her, and fill the space around her, as if she were trying to take up the space so nothing else could occupy it. She unceremoniously turns to the door, and walks away
>>110630Silver watches her walk for a second before letting out a sigh and following.
Every time I open my Celestia-damned mouth...Чертов идиотский конь... She doesn't even get a chance to fully leave before he calls out to her in a softer voice than before. "Blue Skies."
>>110631She says nothing, but walks towards the door, eventually raising a leg to push it out. Her wings are not fully extended, as there is not enough room to do that, but they are mostly extended around her, hanging down with the top feathers scraping the floor, and causing her slim, cat-like body to more than quadruple its space. They take up an area extending many feet from her, as if to give her the personal space she was previously denied. If another customer were walking it, he’d be irritated by the gesture
>>110632He continues to follow at a faster pace, a hint of pleading in his voice coming to the surface. "Blue Skies!"
>>110633She continues forward, now going through the door and into the street. It is night time. The full moon shines down from a sky that is a little less bespeckled than it was a year before, making her coat look almost like a blue-ish white night gown in the light, close to her body.
Her voice has a hint of finality to it
“No. I am done here. If you want a pony to go along with you, go to the headquarters of the Governate in downtown, and ask if they have anypony available. I doubt they have Antoine who will be willing to do ‘recon,’ but I do not know. What I do know is that I am going back, and I will demand that my supervisor not assign me to any more ‘making friends with the natives’ bullshit, and will put me back on intelligence work where I belong.”
>>110634Silver steps fully outside, letting the door to the tavern close behind him. "That is not why I followed you out here, Blue Skies."
>>110636She turns her body fully around to face him, spinning her open wings about like the dress skirt of a dancing ballerina, and lightly grazing Silver with her tips. She faces him with an angry, teary-eyed expression
“
What”
>>110637Silver's expression is far softer than it was just a minute ago, with hints of fear, sadness, and guilt across its surface. He doesn't flinch back from the wingtips, but her voice does seem to hammer it in further. "I...I am sorry, Blue. For everything. This whole thing is not worth losing you over."
>>110638She looks at him, still angry for a moment, but her mouth hangs open, and she starts to squint her eyes upwards. Tears are definitely coming from her eyes. She is speechless for this moment
>>110639He steps forward to close the distance between them. "I know I am very stupid pony, I know. And I know I do not deserve to have pony like you in my life, to brighting up my day and chase clouds away. And I know it may seem as though I say same things over and over again...but that it because I mean them."
Once the distance is closed, her attempts to pull her into a hug. "I love you, Blue Skies. You have been bright spot in this otherwise dark life, one that I would fight and die for, and you are not at all worth losing over this silliness we all seem to get ourselves wrapped up in."
>>110640Poner is sad, but her neck hangs out, and her wings pull in slightly. Silver May attempt a hug if he dare enter her space (he’d have to come in where her wings are not).
She hangs her head slightly, and looks down to the ground
>>110641Silver does indeed not just attempt the hug, but give his all into it, giving her a friendly, reassuring squeeze and letting her head rest upon his shoulder. His heart damn near breaks upon seeing her sadness continued, especially knowing that he is once again the cause of this.
I really am stupid pony... >>110642Awwwww....
Poner is hugged. She says nothing, but she closes her wings down. She is soft, especially with the fine hairs of her coat. She smells lightly of coconut and passion fruit. Her mane is like silk as it brushes up against him
She speaks, softly, sadly
“I don’t know...”
>>110644"I know." Silver lightly strokes her mane, revelling not just in how it feels but also in just how nice it is to be in her presence, and not arguing or shouting at each other. "I know I can not ask for much, and that I do not deserve much for how I have acted. I just ask that we do not let what has happened tonight impact our relationship negatively. I love you, and I still want to be there to comfort you when you need it, just as I would want you to be there to comfort me. I want us to still be able to sit down together and share friendly drink, to share our exploits with each other without coming to arguments and blows. To be able to have those moments where we may just cuddle together in peace and enjoy being so close that we might as well be one. I do not want to lose my bright Blue Skies..."
>>110645She is again silent in response. But her little hooves clop against the concrete sidewalk, She brushes against him with her body, her wings pulling in, then fully folded, then leans against him. She feels cold, even colder than she did a moment before. She seems better now, and closes her eyes with little tears streaming down
>>110646Silver is fine with lending her his shoulder to cry on. In fact, the shoulder has already been lended to her. He keeps a hold of her for as long as she'll allow it, as he's enjoying being there with her. He smiles a little. "I really like what they did with your mane."
>>110647“Thank you.... I like to look pretty... and feel nice on the outside...”
>>110648"You say that almost like you do not feel nice on inside..." Silver pulls back only enough to give her a concerned look. "...is that right?"
>>110650There are so many connections made in Silver's head with only that one word. This poor mare... "Oh Blue..." He places a hoof on her cheek to steady her head, and look into her jade-colored eyes. "How long has it been like that?"
>>110651“Since I was a filly....”
*more sniffles*
>>110652Silver just wants to hold her for eternity. "Tell me about it, please. I may not be smart, nor silver tongued, but I know how to listen."
>>110654“My father didn’t exactly like that her daughter couldn’t kick clouds... he became kind of distant. My brother was always distant. Hostile, even.”
>>110655He nods, a picture starting to form in his head of the situation she was faced with: a filly, shunned constantly by two of the most influential ponies in her life, all because of something out of her control. It's not a stretch to see how something like that might lead, perhaps, to a feeling of inadequecy, like she would feel as if she could not do good enough. Or, that she felt as if
she was never good enough.
I'll be back in a short bit. My mom's in the hospital post-surgery, gonna visit her. >>110657“.... I didn’t really feel like I got the affection I needed...”
Iron decides to get off the table, aiming to go outside the tavern.
(I have become weak and getting sloppier by every second I am here. I cannot stay here any longer.)
>>110662And....... Silver and Blue Skies are almost blocking the entrance, right outside hugging each other
>>110663Iron merely glances at the both of them before simply attempting to slip past the two, looking grim.
(What good am I?) he ponders to himself, considering all of the events at the bar and with Cauldron.
>>110664He has to move a bit to the side, but it’s possible. Skies does not see him, as she has a face full of floof
\r
>>110665He does so, of course. He needs some time to think, preferrably alone, where he won't sputter even more things to harm others unintentionally.
(I am only good at punching things. A stallion should be good at
all things, from fighting to cunning. How else can I reach stallionhood without those skills?)
Alright, it kind of looks like everypony except possibly Dark Star in the city group is going through some kind of emotional breakdown and crisis of confidence right now
>>110668Basically, yes.
Don't forget the monthly trio. They too aren't having either of those.
Unless you count Onyx and his surprise at Brie's plan. >>110668Not entirely inaccurate description of the situation.>>110660"It would explain why you like to look pretty on outside for compliments..." He smiles at her. "And also why you are ravenous for affection and attention from those you are affectionate with."
>>110670"Uh huh" she says, slightly crying
"It's kind of cold outside, and the ground is icky... I want to sit down, but not out here"
>>110666A pony should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for Changelings.
>>110671Most of these things, Iron agrees he needs to learn. Some seem a bit off, considering his lack of knowledge on tech. This only enforces how much he needs to learn, and after failing so hard recently, he can't seem to catch a break.
So much so that it reinforces his need to go away, to avoid stagnation.
>>110671Silver nods. "We can most certainly head back inside. We could also head back to my room if you want to have some more privacy while we work through this. Or else, we could head anywhere else you would want. I just would not want to leave Dark Star alone if he is serious about doing recon tonight."
>>110672But can he clear out a nest of Griffins?
>>110673She sighs
"I guess we should look for Dark Star"
If he shows up >>110674Silver strokes her cheek with a hoof. He looks reluctant to do so as he looks into her jade-colored eyes.
I do not want to let her go just yet... >>110674Iron stops in his tracks.
(Hm... Perhaps this assignment may help me find that out. I need some venting and those griffins sound like guilt-free punching bags.)
He decides to go back to the table for now, hoping he doesn't cause mental armageddon all over again.
(Maybe I can still get Cauldron some extra money if she is up for it, too.)