1835 replies and 45 files omitted.
>>130231She marvels at these grand old buildings and takes note of them.
I don't think there are any apartments here… She continues on eastward.
>>130243He raises an eyebrow at her.
"Uh...alright? How do oats sound?"
>>130245She nods slowly
>>130245More brick buildings, some with shops on the first levels, and some row houses. But the further and further east she goes, the buildings become closer together. Smaller. In some instances, less well maintained. She passes the first large brick building she can assume is a factory, with massive smoke stacks, and past tenement buildings. She sees a zebra and a griffin, and then more of them. Diamond Dogs as well, and the ponies do not wear fancy clothing. The air has a smell in it, one that was not present in the west side.
>>130246Amber snorts at the additional irritants in the air and tries not to step in anything on the sidewalk. She hurries past diamond dogs in particular and tries to spot a general store.
Spot:
[1d20+2 = 16] >>130246Silver gets her a bowl of oats, and offers it to her.
"It is not much, but I think they are tasty."
>>130248She goes in and looks around at whoever's inside, not so much what's on sale.
>>130250One griffin at the counter, hard to tell if male or female, with noticeably white feathers and golden eyes
>>130249She is still kind of curled up. It takes her a moment, but she takes the bowl with magenta magic aura, and then in her split hooves. She places her muzzle directly in the bowl and slowly eats
nibble nibble nibble >>130251I've never met a griffin before! How exciting! Amber smiles and trots up.
"Hello, errr…" She seems perplexed for a moment but quickly recovers.
"I'm new to town and was wondering if you could point me where to go." >>130253It squints its eyes
"Bathrooms are for paying customers only"
Sounds more female
>>130252He can't help but smile at the sight. So cute!
He looks up at the stairs, wondering when Mala is getting up.
>>130255Silver can see him sprawled out on the bed, sleeping. The worn-out blanket covers only most of his body
>>130257"Do I look like a clock or a real estate agent? It's 10 AM"
>>130258Amber blinks and her smile fades a bit.
"Thank you for the time. I just want to find a place to stay around here. Do you know someone I could ask?" >>130256Once he goes to Mala's room, Silver gently tries to shake the gnoll awake.
>>130261"Wah" He opens an eye
"Huh?" Then he sees Silver, and stands up
"Silver!"
>>130259"Yeah. Guido in the tenements over there has rooms, if you're looking for rooms"
>>130262Amber flashes a friendly smile.
"Thank you, miss!" She trots out of the shop and toward the general direction of where the griffon was pointing.
>>130263It's a brown set of buildings, dirty and covered in soot from the air.
>>130264Despite the unattractiveness of the tenements Amber did not set out with high expectations for lodging.
As long as it's close enough to work, I'm happy, she reminds herself. With this mind she looks for an entrance of sorts.
Also to recap, how long did she have to trot from her new workplace to get here?
>>130262Silver smiles at him.
"Sorry to wake you, Mala, but I was wondering if you want to help me today."
>>13026520 minutes at least. he enters into a hallway with a door to the left, stairs going up, a hallway along the left, and a row of mailboxes
>>130266He sits up and smiles excitedly
"I can help!"
>>130267Is there anypony there? She looks down the hallways, and will knock on the door if she can't find anypony. Should I roll spot?
>>130268No one is immediately visible, but from the door on the side
"What is it? I am a reading my magazine"
It's another griffin. Large, mostly brown colors. Definitely male. He looks down at her, not saying anything yet
>>130267He chuckles, and pats Mala on the shoulder.
"I would be happy to have you. Go ahead and get ready for day, then."
>>130269"Hello, are you Mr. Guido? I'm looking for a place to stay." Amber curiously looks at the cover of the magazine to see what it is.
>>130271"Oh, yes. I am Guido" He has a strange accent
"I thought you may be a lost"
While there does appear to be a female pony in a seductive position on the front page of the magazine, no other detail, save the sliver of a blue sky is visible
"I have units available"
>>130270"Yes!"
He jumps off the bed
"Let me just wash up..."
>>130272Silver nods.
"Good idea. I still have yet to brush my teeth, so I will do that, too."
>>130273"Price for my cheapest room is 150 a month, studio apartment. You can fit as many beds in it as you want, and I will not report if you are sharing beds with not your husband"
>>130274He runs off, to the door and into the bathroom
>>130275Silver goes into the other to brush his teeth, meeting up with Mala in the living room when they're both done.
>>130275Amber tries not to scrunch as she thinks to herself.
That's thirty hours of work a month just to live here!
Then again, I can share the cost…I hope it's not too small, being so cramped that you have to share a bed would be annoying."Does it have a bathroom, kitchen, and a window? What about a fireplace for heating?" >>130276It takes Mala a little longer. A lot longer actually. But he can hear the almost crashing sound of the large creature running across hall upstairs, then down the stairs
Mala arrives in the living room, tongue partly out, and kind of still wet . He has his sword, and a (now partly wet) robe over him
>>130277"Yeah, sort of. Not the fireplace though"
>>130279"Yeah, sure. Follow me"
The griffin walks out, in front of Amber. He's like a large stallion almost, kind of fat though.
He goes up, takes out a key ring, takes a moment to find the key, and unlocks a room
>>130280The leonine form with all its strange qualities–compared with ponies–perplexes Amber. This one does not resemble the lean and fiercely efficient heroes and anti-heroes she's read about, nor even the plump kings and emperors resting amidst their domains.
Although she is eager enough to want to squeeze into the room, she knows better than to try to get in the landlord's way. She waits either for him to go in first or for him to usher her in.
>>130278In that time, Silver managed to get equipment ready. Mala can see him wearing his tattered armor, and his sword strapped to his side.
"Heheh, someone is ready to go!"
>>130281>heroes and anti-heroes she's read aboutWithout inquiring into what revisionist histories Amber has been reading, he's certainly something different
He opens the door, moves through it, and signals for Amber to come through. carpet floors, grated air vents, tan-ish colored walls, a single room and a kitchen that connects with it. Not very big at all. At least there is a stove in the kitchen, and a separate bathroom. The walls could really use a new coat of paint
>>130282"Yes! Do I just wear this robe over the sword?"
>>130283Amber grins. Compared to some of the unromantic stories from a century back this is practically luxury. It not quite like home but it will certainly do.
"I think I'll stay here." She goes to see what kind of view the room has.
Are there signs of any current occupants?
>>130284"Excellent! Just pay a deposit and we can get the paperwork done quickly"
No signs of a current occupant, though there are stains on the carpet
>>130283Silver takes a look at Mala's robe.
"Depends on what you want to prioritize. Wearing sword over makes it easier to access for battle, while wearing it under makes it concealed."
>>130288"I would rather hide it..."
>>130289Well, she knows what she has to do
>>130290Silver nods.
"Alright, wear it under."
>>130291He taps his side, to show that he indeed has the sword under the roe, although the robe looks strange on him
>>130292"I... I could go lower"
>>130294Another roll for the negotiations
>>130293"Alright. Go ahead and head outside if you are ready. I have one last thing to do before we leave."
>>130295[1d20+3 = 6](when does diplomacy skill come into play?)
>>130297Now would be a very good time
>>130296He scurries on outside
>>130298Silver goes to find Jubilosa to tell her goodbye before he leaves.
>>130294>>130297"70 bits is the best I can do" He says
>>130302"Where are you going?" She asks
>>130303She shuffles her hooves, looking at the carpet. She's no longer smiling but has an expression midway between disappointment and embarrassment.
"Fifty bits is all I have on me…" >>130304"I'm stretching it even to lower to 50 bits. I need some insurance if the apartment is damaged" He answers
>>130303"There is quarry near outskirts of city where I did mission before one at Hoebuck which connected to old undead catacombs. Now that undead are cleared, I am going back to help in making sure remains are properly buried."
>>130306"Uh....." Her beak is partly open
"Alright then. I'll see you. Sometime..."
At first, I though he was talking to Mala. I was oing to have a line of dialogue where Mala gleefully answers "I've handled remains be-" and cuts himself off when he realizes what he is saying >>130305"Sir, I swear that I won't damage the apartment one bit. I'll leave it even better than it is now!" She tries to smile encouragingly.
"I won't have any spending money, but at least I brought some food with me…" >>130308"By all means, come back when you have the bits"
>>130307The unicorn gives the griffon a hug and a kiss goodbye.
>>130310She's almost surprised by this, but she's hugged and kissed goodbye
>>130309She bends her head beneath her cloak and unfastens a jingling pouch.
"Hmmre!" She sets it down on the floor.
"There's fifty bits…" >>130311Silver smiles at her as he releases her.
"I will see you later Jubilosa."
>>130312"There we go" He smiles almost triumphantly as he examines the bits
"I should mention now that rent is paid upfront"
>>130313"Bye!" She smiles back at him
>>130314She looks quite jittery now.
"I don't have the bits! Can I pay you in a week?" >>130314Silver bids her goodbye, and joins Mala outside.
"Okay, I am now ready."
>>130315He looks away from Amber
"I am not in the business of providing free accommodation to creatures I have no guarantee will not fail to make payment later"
Then he looks back to her. There's something strange in his smile.
"But... I do know creatures who are, if all you need is a small loan, and you're just going to pay it back in a couple weeks"
>>130316Mala joins besides him
"Off on our first venture togeher!" he says
>>130317Amber ponders her choices.
"Why don't I go find another apartment? I'm sure that the owner will be much more obliging. And even if he isn't, I don't mind sleeping outside a couple of nights.To herself:
A loan?! I just got here, I can't go into debt already. What would my parents think? >>130319"Haha,
No one in this city will let you into an apartment without payment upfront, and most wouldn't even lower the down payment. Not without securities. Not for 50 bits. And the police are only so tolerant of the homeless loitering in public places. If I were you, a young mare, I would be
afraid to be on the streets at night, especially asleep."
>>130318Silver nods, and joins Mala in heading for the quarry.
"You know what we are doing, yes? We are going to help recover bodies left over from my last mission."
Amber sits back, defeated. The police would arrest me even while sleeping? That's just mean. I can't believe that everypony would be as nasty as this griffin. Dare I wander around all day to find out?
She sighs. "Fiiiine. Where can I get a decent short-term loan?"
>>130321His eyes go wide, and both ears twitch
"Last... Mission? Back at the place?"
>>130322"Well, you see, it can be hard for a little filly like you to get a loan from a 'reputable' lender because they want securities, and credit history, and all sorts of things you couldn't possibly have, otherwise you wouldn't need to borrow the money in the first place. And they can't even make it worth their while because of ridiculous 'usury' laws. But not to worry, little filly. You see, I work with creatures who are willing to stick their necks out to help little creatures like you. Just go down the street, take a right, then another right at the next street on the corner, go into the place there, and say you're lookin' for a seaweed beer, 200 miligrams. They'll get it to you. You do gotta tell them who you are, where you're stayin'. But they'll get it to you, won't ask what you want if for, what you got for them to take if you can't pay it back, or nothin'"
>>130323"Back at quarry I was telling you about."
>>130323Amber blinks incredulously,
"Seaweed beer? Pardon my asking, but is this a practical joke waiting for me?
It wouldn't be the first time something like this happened…" >>130324"Ohhhh. With the zombies. Yes! Let's go!"
>>130325"Hahaha, they just like discretion. Make sure who they're dealing with. It's code, but for you, how innocent you look, they might not care."
>>130326"Alright…,", she says reluctantly. She follows his directions to the place as the griffin said, keeping an eye on her surroundings.
I'm pretty sure I read a story about a colt who went to a place like this, and it didn't work out very well… >>130327Well... She goes down the street, takes a right, takes another right... Well, she's there alright. It's a bar, it seems like. A bit odd, not really one Amber would normally patronize
>>130326Silver nods at him.
"Yes. We are going to help give dead proper burial they were denied. If that sounds good with you."
>>130328>implying Amber's patronized a bar beforeShe swallows before she heads in. She's read of such rowdy, chaotic places before, drowned in cigar smoke and thronged with burly stallions who'd beat each other up over a slight. She cautiously walks in, hoping nopony notices her.
>>130329"I don't know if I much see the point of it. My brother didn't get a marked grave, neither did mother. Seems like a waste when the living don't-" He looks over to Silver, and his left ear goes down
"Oh, yes. Yes, that sounds good. Very good. Let's do the thing!"
>>130330Looking in it's... Empty. Almost empty. There's a couple ponies at a table, just one, and a diamond dog at the bar, cleaning a glass. It's a big, tall grey diamond dog. There is a lingering cigar smell though...
>>130331She breathes a sigh of relief and walks to the bar. Rather than looking at the intimidatingly large canine directly, she stares at the bottles behind him as she states,
"Um…howdy. I want a glass of 'seaweed beer.' I think maybe two hundred milligrams, however many ounces that is." >>130332The Diamond dog suddenly stops rubbing the glass, and freezes in place, looking up at Amber. He has a sort of smile, almost malign. His lips are almost too long.
"Sure thing. Just let me confirm with the manager" He moves over to the side, and through a doorway
He comes out with a Zebra mare. Her mane is combed to fall down towards the right, and the bottom of her muzzle is black, sort of like Amber's coloration. She looks to Amber, and has a kind of warmer smile
"Can I get some ID from you?"
>>130333Amber could swear the hairs on her back are standing on end from the Diamond Dog. This eases a bit when she sees the zebra.
"Of course…" She digs out the spent train ticket that she would still have with her and sets it down on the counter with her mouth.
>>130334"Excellent." She moves her hoof to pull over the ticket and starts to write something down
"And where are you staying, Amber?"
>>130336"And you answered my next question as well. Only 150?"
>>130338She nods, still smiling, and pulls out a number of bits in her hooves. She counts them out them beneath the counter top, so that Amber can see them from where she sits, but no one not sitting at the bar could. She moves one hundred and fifty bits over to Amber.
"Come back to us in a week with 165 bits. If you can come back before then, that's fine too. Two weeks, make it 180 bits. We'll come to you if we lose touch."
>>130339She smiles gratefully at the zebra.
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll be back as soon as possible." She puts the bits into her pouch, a few at a time to prevent accidentally spilling any. As soon as this is done she turns to go back.
>>130340"Have a good day!" She smiles, closing her eyes and showing surprisingly white teeth. Amber can simply leave and go back
>>130341She goes back and meets Guido. Before she hoofs him the money she makes sure to read whatever contract he presents carefully.
>>130342Liability waivers, month to month rent that allows changes in prices, rules for eviction and so forth. A whole page on bed bugs... Guido further tells her that if a team of armed creatures come for her, he'd rather unlock the door than have them bust it down.