/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>128998 →
>>128996 →
She smiles
"He sleeps all day, yes? That is a good life for a cat. I wish I had that." She comes a little closer
"He's your familiar, you say? I figured you did not come here just to talk about cats"

>>128999 →
"Oh, yes. I am okay now" She says, sitting there

>>129001
"Hmm...if I may, I have noticed you have been trying to keep your emotions almost muted. Does it have to do with your transformation?"

>>129003
Her eyes widen
"We follow The Great Vehicle, which teaches us that relief from all suffering comes from complete control of self, and minimization of worldly desires. To follow the virtues of giving, discipline, patience, meditation, and transcendent wisdom"
She looks down
"But yes. I suppose it is ultimately because of the transformation"

>>129004
Silver covers his mouth, mortified.

"Oh! Khoi, I am so sorry, I did not mean to offend."

>>129001
"Yes, that's right. I have to buy material components for my spells. I'm looking for these things specifically," then Fantasy proceeded by telling the catlady that she needed these things:
A small square of silk.
A parchment rolled up into a small cone.
A bit of fleece.
A clear crystal or mineral prism.
A short piece of copper wire.
A bit of wool or a small lump of wax.
An eyelash encased in a bit of gum arabic.

Also, should I get two or more sets of these things or are they are they not used up when using a spell?

>>129005
"It is no offense. It must be strange to you ponies, I am sure"

>>129006
She smiles
"Why yes. We have those things in stock"
She smiles even more widely, showing her teeth, and picking a crystal off the shelf
"We have those things and more"

Multiple sets. They are consumed

>>129007
"Little bit, I suppose...what is it like? To transform, I mean. Does it hurt or burn you?"

>>129007
"More you say? Mmm. Well, remind me after we have bought these. How much will these materials cost?"

>>129008
She looks down at the floor. She must have cleaned it while Silver was gone, because the tile is spotless

"It can... sometimes. But normally no. Not physically. You do not feel the fire. It is like you are the fire. You lose control of yourself, and are fluttered about. It is a feeling of power. And of powerlessness."

>>129009
She raises what would be her eye brows
"For these? For you? I can do 60 bits for a young mare like you"

>>129011
Silver nods slowly.

"This, I understand...if not in exact same way."

>>129012
She looks up slowly
"It is a real danger, to lose oneself. And to bring danger to others"

>>129013
"Yes. It is something my father taught me, when I showed interest in ways of warrior. To be in control of your emotions, to wield them as surely as you wield your weapon, lest they be one to wield you. I do not always succeed."

>>129011
"Thanks," fantasy smiles and nods. "Can I buy three sets of them?"

>>129015
"Got something planned, do you?"
The smile widens
"You may"

>>129014
She looks directly up at him. Just a hint of purple is all that makes her iris's distinct from naked blood.
"There were varied thoughts on warriors..."
She looks down
"There are not many who do succeed"

>>129016
"Perhaps," she gives the catlady a sideways smriky look.
"Thank you, I assume that will be 180 bits."

Fanatasy digs through her saddlebag.

>>129017
It's a sizable amount of bits, but Fantasy is able to produce it

>>129016
Silver puts a hoof on Khoi's shoulder.

"We will not always succeed. What is important is that we do not give up or give in when we do fail."

>>129018
Will call it quits here. Goodnight.

Is anypony here tonight?

It looks like everypony is away.
(I'm a lurker)

>>129027
Is mlemmed

>>129019
“I guess that is true....” she says, and looks down again for a moment, before looking back up

>>129028
Hello!

>>129029
Silver smiles at her.

"I am glad you survived, Khoi. You are good person. World needs more people like you."

>>129031
She smiles
“Thank you. And it could use more like you as well”

>>129032
The unicorn looks off to the side, slightly embarassed.

"Oh I am not certain about that, but I appreciate it. Thank you."

He looks back to her.

"You mentioned 'Great Vehicle'. What is it?"

>>129033
“It is....” she looks up, around the room, and towards the ceiling, and eventually back towards Silver
“It is the spiritual path. The path to awakening. To the quenching of desire and emotion, and to helping others towards this awakening”

>>129034
Silver nods, feeling he gets the idea behind it.

"I assume it is like religion in Ngua Nam?"

>>129035
She nods
“Yes. And parts of the Empire”

>>129036
"What is Ngua Nam like? I know you said there was civil war."

I prod

>>129041
Iron could not remember anything of his dreams the night before. Though he awoke with vague emotions of apprehension and terror and a vague feeling of needing to run while not being able, these were still far from him, and any associated mental images, if they ever existed at all, were erased from memory upon waking, as they so often are.

Not so this night. Iron finds himself under a full moon sky bespeckled with stars, though far more than he can remember ever seeing in the city sky. Before him is a campfire, with flame that rises higher than than the diameter and amount of wood on the fire would imply. From the fire emanates a smell of burning diesel, cloth, and feathers, and beyond it are the silhouettes of tall trees and undergrowth, that further away still morphs into the outlines of tenement buildings and stone apartment blocks.

Close to Iron, and shadowed from the moonlight by a tall tree, is what Iron perceives as White Sands. A little further down, and more visible in the fire and moonlight, is Black Cauldron

>>129042
Iron stared at the fire, almost in a trance. His snout scrunched lightly at the familiar and disgusting stench, but nonetheless his face remained neutral, vacant from any expression as the flames flicker its warmth to him.
He remained seated, foreleg lightly hovering near it, as he glanced at both Cauldron and Sands, softly biting his lip as his body was still.
What to do was all he could think at the moment, echoing along the skeletal walls of his cranium, taunting him.

>>129043
Stretching his hoof towards it, the fire appears almost distant, though it burns with greater heat and intensity than the fuel would imply. For a moment, he almost sees a phantom. A small yellow pony prancing about the fire. But the phantom vanishes the moment he moves his eyes.

White Sands must be behind Iron relative to the fire. She must be, because there is no other way she would be so covered in shadow. Cauldron turns towards him, smiling as if ready to talk to him. Then Iron hears a loud sound. A gun shot. Then ringing. Neither Cauldron nor Sands react to it. Indeed the sound seems isolated to Iron himself. But Iron can hear it. Iron can hear it several times over.

>>129045
Iron's ears immediately fold as his eyes widened and breathing is cut short from the phantom before trying to follow it with his vision, only to disappear from his eyes. His breathing becomes ragged as he glances around in what he thinks is an inconspicuous fashion before letting a quick sigh of relief.
He glances towards Cauldron, offering her a soft, apprehensive smile before his ears shoot up from the familiar sound of metal bits flying and his eyes shoot open even further, glancing around the area.
Where are they, his mind demanded in a mix of shocked and confused rage as the shots continue, where are the ones that are threatening my group. I will [i][annihilate/i] them!

>>129046
No more gunshot sounds, and no more tricks of the mind. For a moment it's almost peaceful there, under the stars. Nothing but rocky outcropping in front of him around the fire, then undergrowth and trees beyond that, and behind him, then brick covered buildings beyond that.

>>129047
Although the perceived danger is gone, Iron stands there, battle ready as he forcefully grinds his teeth together. He stares straight into the tree hiding Sands with self-righteous contempt as steam flows out of his nostrils.
What are you hiding, he violently thinks to himself, face clearly expressing a seething hatred towards the massive log separating the fluffy mare from him. Why do you keep her hostage. Keep me hostage after what we did, huh?! Tell me!

>>129048
He sees a thin white snout turn somewhat towards him, though not much else besides. He can smell champagne and cigarettes about her

>>129049
Iron pressed his teeth even harder at the lack of a response from the log trapping the mare he wishes to fully see. You think I am a joke to you, huh?! he thought, laser focused on that wooden prison. I am nothing to you?! Some loser that cannot do anything?! Is that it?!
The enraged stallion started to grind his hoof against the soil, ready to smash that provocative tree out of his sight. I am not a toy, you hear me?!

>>129050
No response, and not much visible. Just a blackish-green veil that looks almost like a swimmer covered in algae.

>>129051
Iron gritted his teeth, staring daggers at the tree for a few tense seconds as his eyes began to turn slightly red, starting to slowly resemble his irises. I'll show you what for! he aggressively thought before slamming his head against the tree in futile desperation.

>>129052
Iron can feel his head going through something soft, then something hard. There is a loud "Yelp" and then silence, as the form falls down to the ground.

>>129053
Iron snapped his eyes open, shocked to hear a yelp in the first place, as he quickly spun his head towards the falling form to look at it more clearly as his pent up rage slowly sizzled out.

>>129054
Much of her is still covered in black and dark green. Some of her is now exposed, white fur. Iron can see her outline, and in particular, a big bulge in her normally thin, white belly. Blood seeps out of her head and mouth as she lays there, sprawled out and unmoving.

>>129055
Iron remains unmoving, staring at the bloodied pony in disbelief. He slowly shakes his head, mouth hanging open in astonishment at what he's done.
Unable to bear the consequence of his actions after a few harsh, painful seconds, the stallion averted his gaze from the scene, bititng his lip harsh enough to spill blood. "I-I did not want it to end like this," he utters, voice wavering after each word as he found it difficult to see ahead of him with the forming tears in hie eyes. "I failed you."

>>129056
She tries to say something back to Iron. It comes out as an incoherent whine. "Oh-way-seen-ah," is the best he can understand through a whining and barely breathing throat before she gags.

>>129057
Iron shuts his eyes at Sands' pained sounds, paralyzed in place after what he did. "I'm not good enough for you," he mutters mostly to himself as he breathes erratically between sporadic sobs. "I-I... d-don't..." he trails off, too embroiled in his own loathing.

>>129058
Her appearance varies. Soft white fur over a suspicious bulge in her belly. Black plant matter - looks most like seaweed, but he can't tell - that covers her eyes and keeps them from looking at Iron. And on her legs... naked pink flesh with terrible black scars. She moves her legs about in evident pain.

She makes a strange sound, like she's trying to speak while inhaling. A "wrap" noise.

>>129059
Iron breathes erratically once more, trying to step in to maybe try to help, but stops midway out of either fear or physical limitations as he watches her writhe in pain. "I-I can't help you if I don't know what's happening," he stutters out, clearly hurt at seeing Sands being so horrifyingly and unnaturally writhing in pain "I-I cannot do anything for you. I..." he felt a a little water train separate from his eye and into his cheek, watching in pained horror.

>>129060
Iron can see fairly clearly what has happened to her. She has a fractured skull and a broken jaw. She is either choking on blood or has suffered some damage to her neck. She is horribly scared and burned underneath, on her legs from injuries that had nothing to do with Iron. And she’s pregnant. What Iron cannot do, is help her in any meaningful way.

>>129061
Iron's legs start to waver at the scene, body falling over to the floor belly down. "No..." he breathes out as his forelegs cover the top of his head as his ears folded, burying his snout slightly on the floor, where he whimpered to the soil as his actions hit his conscience even further.

>>129062
The ground feels like tile.

"Iron?"
He hears his name called by a voice he recognizes as belonging to Black Cauldron. She sounds strangely jovial

>>129063
Iron's ears instantly perk up, whipping his head towards the familiar, comforting voice he knows and loves.

>>129064
It's definitely Black Cauldron, sitting there with a smile on her face, looking back to Iron

"Iron? There you are" she says

>>129065
Iron weakly smiles back, seeing the one pony he could properly rely on for anything. He sniffles once before shakily standing up. "H-hello," he greets in apprehensive excitement, surprised at her statement "W-were you... looking for me?"

>>129066
"Oh yes" She says, smiling. "I wanted to tell you something. Or maybe I should keep it a secret..." she says, looking away, but still smiling. Almost giggling

>>129067
Iron, eyes still red from his crying, lazily tilts his head, folding one of his ears. "W-what is it?" he tentatively inquired, heart beating strongly in anticipation.

>>129068
"Well, I don't know..." She giggles, and looks away. Then she turns back to Iron
"Alright, I can't keep it a secret anymore. I have a Coltfriend. He's been in the gang for a long time now. He's a Zebra, like me." She smiles to Iron

>>129069
Iron's pupils rapidly contract from sheer astonishment, mouth hanging open once more, bitten lower lip quivering as it slowly dripped a line of blood. "W-what?" he asks in further disbelief. "A-are you pulling my leg?" His breathing starts to act up once again, not wanting to believe what he was hearing.

>>129070
"Hehe, no. Why would I joke about that? He's sweet, and kind. I think he's as strong as you are. Might be even stronger, maybe"

>>129071
Iron blankly stared at Cauldron for a few second, flabbergasted. This cannot be happening, he thought It must be a nightmare. The stallion was paralyzed for the second time in this disastrous series of events, his only response was to look at the flame that guided him got snuffed out.

>>129072
Black Cauldron continues talking
"And he's going to take me all of these places and" She giggles "And then there's what happened when we got back to my apartment... I won't tell you much detail on that"

From behind Iron, a soft and sad whimper

>>129073
Iron, not baring to experience all these events happening around him, recoils back into a sitting position, snout pointing straight down as his body trembled. No more, he pleads in thought. Stop this. I cannot deal with this.
The stallion whimpers as he dared once more to look behind him to see whatever made that noise with tired, vacant eyes.

>>129074
>>129074
It's White Sands on her side, still moving slightly. She does not try to speak from her broken jaw. Iron can see wraps of bandages coming off to show burned and scarred flesh, and even worse underneath. Her chest moves up and down as she cries softly

>>129075
Iron immediately shifts his head away, closing his eyes as he finally drops down yet again in the fetal position, trembling softly. "Stop," he mutters, pain clear in his tone. "I-I cannot... take this."

>>129076
Black Cauldron:
"Iron? Is something wrong? You don't look as happy as I imagined"

>>129077
"This is not happening," Iron whimpers as a sniffle pulls out "This is not happening. This is not happening." His red, puffy eyes are now vacant as his mouth hangs open, repeating that same line over and over as his body trembles on.

>>129078
“Iron? Iron? What are you doing?”
Iron can heat a voice behind him. A voice he has not heard in a while

>>129079
Iron, amist both of his failings, can only weakly turns his head towards the mysterious yet familiar voice, sniffing softly.

>>129080
Iron looks back to see an earth pony stallion standing there in front of the brush. His white fur almost glows in moonlight, and his body is smaller and less muscular than Iron’s. Iron would recognize the form as his younger brother, Tortoise, from his voice and from the long scar that runs down the left side of his face, a remnant from having fallen down a ravine when he was a colt.

“Iron?” He asks again. “What are you doing?”

>>129081
Iron simply stared at Tortoise blankly, red puffy eyes already signalling what he was doing, before frowning as he looked back down into the ground. "Have you come here to gloat?" he asks, tired, bitter tone still present.

>>129082
With no emotion besides a tinge forcefulness
“I came here to ask, ‘what are you doing?’l

>>129083
"What does it look like?" Iron spat out angrily as he glances back at his brother, ears fully drooped "or have you already forgotten your ponyhood by that twig merchant you call master?"

>>129084
He blinks, and plainly tells him
"If you are too afraid to answer, then I will tell you. You are building sandcastles on the beach, and then are surprised when the waves come and wash them away. You should be out being kind to others. Helping them in their problems and being on your way. Instead... look at you now"

>>129085
Iron can't help but look down at the floor, the faintest pout starting to form. He breathes softly as all that transpired came crashing back down in his head, mind flooded with regretful, tragic images flashing through his head.
In a melancholic path, he mentally wandered along all he did, from acting spiteful to Sands so many times, breaking Cauldron's heart for the first time back at the bar, failing to connect to anypony he met since he got here...

No, he thought to himself. That is not true. There is one.

Cauldron's excitement back after the gangster beatdown. Her generous hospitality to give him a place to live, to cook for him, to dance with, to be with. Her grateful hug for all that he did after his repayment. All this snuffed out whatever feelings of failure he had suffered.
Shakingly standing up, he stares straight into Tortoise's eyes, breathing deeply. "Whatever pain comes from trying to bond with others is nothing compared to the joy that it provides," he proclaims, starting to regain his poise "It is what reminds us we are alive."

>>129037
She blinks and exhales, then she answers
"It is not so developed as Equestria. Not so rich or modern. It is very old place, covered in mountains, jungles, rivers and seashore. Most of us live in small villages and grow food. Rice and other crops. We live in straw and bamboo houses. The towns have buildings of stone. There are cities. Some of them have cars and factories like Equestria, and great buildings of stone and mortar, and older buildings left behind by Kirin Empire. We respect our families and each other. We do not control weather, but plant by the rainy and dry seasons."

She blinks again
"Not many houses like this there.... If there were... they would be made of stone"

>>129087
"It sounds like nice place. Peaceful, even."

>>129017
>>129020
Fantasy Play pays the 180 bits, and has three copies of each.

>>129086
Tortoise looks over to his left and Iron's right. Towards White Sands.
"A lot of good it did her"
He nods, then looks back to Iron
"Do good to others. Do no harm. And be on your way"

Then she looks to his right, Iron's left. Towards Black Cauldron
"A lot of good it's doing you right now"
Then he looks back to Iron
"Do right, enjoy the moment, and don't be surprised when your larger plans fall to nothing"

>>129088
She does a small nod
"For a time, it was"

>>129089
Iron exhales from his nostrils, staring into his brother's eyes. "I may be an absolute, good for nothing idiot, but I at least am alive," he shoots back, albeit with considerably less steam when once again reminded of his failures "I do not pretend I am a high and mighty noble stallion that thinks is too good for socializing and leaves everypony behind. This is the only option I will ever get to feel happy and you will realize it whether you want it or not."

>>129091
He blinks
"Do you feel happy?"

>>129092
"No," Iron admits, having calmed down slightly "but I will. No matter how much I have to try, even if I screw up 9 times out of ten at it, I know it will."
The stallion by this point is standing straight, breathing deeply as he stared his brother down with a bullheaded mindset and the taste he strongly remembers.
"Even if my destiny is to fail at it, it will strengthen me in a way you will never achieve."

>>129093
"How will your failures affect those around you? Those you purport to love"
He looks over towards White Sands
"How will it affect you?"
He looks over towards Black Cauldron

He comes a little closer
"You always thought you were strong, brother. But do you really have the strength of will for patience?"

>>129094
Iron stared his brother for a few, tense seconds, breathing softly as he mulled it over.
"This is what I have chosen," he replies, keeping steadfast "and I intend to see through any consequence that stems from it. If I have to suffer, then I can take it. If I make the ones I care about suffer, then I will correct them."

>>129095
He pauses for a moment
"You always were stubborn, brother. But I do not think you understand what you have gotten yourself into. It is one thing to plant a seed, water it, weed it, and watch it grow. A pony is a wholly different thing. Something much more complex, and harder to maintain. You're better off grazing than farming, Brother. And abstaining from certain planting."
But he starts to move back, and walk away

>>129096
Iron simply stands there with conviction, staring at Tortoise starting to leave as his body slowly to relax while he breathes steadily.
"We will see what happens," The bulky native says to the slender one.

>>129097
He shakes his head
"You will see what happens. They will feel it"
He walks off, into the underbrush

>>129098
Iron remains still, breathing softly as he disappears from his vision, having chosen his path.

>>129099
From behind, a creature dances, casting a long shadow over the ground

>>129100
Iron steels himself for the impending scene, slowly turning around for yet another catastrophic event, he guessed in his mind.

>>129101
Nothing catastrophic. Just a small, yellow earth pony mare with long flowing red-orange mane that is tied at the end, staring back at Iron with green eyes that reflect and nearly glow in the dim light

>>129090
"...what happened? What caused civil war to break out."

>>129102
Iron looks at the mare, blinking softly. "I see what made you do what you will do," he says "and I hope I will find an answer to calm your aching soul."

>>129103
She looks down and shakes her head
"Some Kirin thought we were not modern enough. Need to force modernization. Force a modern nation. Reduce foreign investment. And some Kirin wanted to be like those in the Grove, embracing the more emotional side, rather than suppressing. They were based in the inland. From the forces who fought the Storm King in his furthest advances East. But they did not stop fighting. Instead, they turned against the Monarchy. And the monasteries."

>>129104
She looks to him, and tilts her head. For a moment, it looks like she will nod. But instead, she moves around behind the fire, jumping almost like a fox, until she is on the left side of the fire, looking back to Iron

A flash of light. Now Iron sees a black, green eyed creature. What he knows is a Changeling

>>129105
Iron tilts his head, now actually curious what's this about. "Do you wish for me to come to you?" he asks

>>129106
The creature blinks with eye lids that close diagonally, looking back to Iron in silence

>>129107
Seeing no response, Iron takes one small step forwards to see how it'd react before leaning his front down a bit, extending a foreleg. "I will not hurt you," he reassures it.

>>129108
It's still a ways away, moving its legs together in a "chirp" sound

Then a flash of green. And now it appears in the form of a specific bluish white pegasus, who looking back to Iron with blue-green eyes and a malign smile

>>129109
Iron can't help but tilt his head even further, mouth pouting slightly as he watched the now pegasus mare.
Does it want me to seek it? he thinks before taking another cautious step.

>>129110
The wings open up, part way, staring back at Iron

>>129111
Iron blinks softly as the pegasus partly opens her wings before taking a step back instead.
Does it want to play a game? was his thought.

>>129112
She shakes her head, and gives an expression of displeasure. Then she starts to simply walk away

>>129113
Iron now gets the hint, trotting towards the pegasus, anticipating either a chase or something else.

>>129114
When Iron follows her, she turns and looks to him

>>129115
Iron, by this point, figures it wants to be close to him, meaning he continues his trot in order to stand as closely to the pegasus as possible.

>>129116
She talks
"Oh now you want to be around me?"

>>129117
Iron tilts his head. "If you are really the pony you are disguising as, then you would know why I am hesitant," he informs the pegasus "if you are not, then why would you stick around and risk getting overpowered by somepony stronger than you?"

>>129118
"You have a point" She says, closing her eyes and rolling her head to the side. Then she spreads her wings, and takes flight

>>129119
Iron pouts softly. "H-hey, I did not say you had to take off," he hurriedly adds in an attempt to keep it around.

>>129120
The wings collapse, ad she falls down to the ground, turning her head around
"Then what?"

>>129121
Iron twiddles with the tips of his hooves, resting his body on his rump and hindlegs. "W-well, I do wish to know what it is like to... you know," he sheepishly suggests "be a changeling."

>>129122
She blinks and opens her mouth
"They don't want you to know they are Changelings. Think about that. It will tell you a lot. But why do you come to me for this?"
She spreads her wings again, and jumps into the air

>>129123
"W-wait!" Iron pleads "H-how would I ever find one like you? They would never simply reveal themselves to me without some sort of method to let them know they can without being threatened."

>>129124
"You can start by being more respectful, nicer, and less threatening."
She says almost derisively as she flies away

>>129125
Iron pouts, shaking his head and letting go of the changeling. "Like that would magically make me the equivalent of sweet fruit for flies," he mutters to himself disappointedly before waving the bug as she goes.

>>129126
"Feed on love" he thinks he hears her say, as she flies away

>>129127
Iron's mind stops at the words he thought he had heard.
'Feed on love', huh? he thinks to himself. Does that mean... that vial.
He scratched his head in confusion but inhales deeply, knowing this may as well be the end.

>>129128
Clouds drift in over the horizon as the stars fade, one by one

>>129129
In response, Iron closes his eyes, waiting for whatever will come for him.

>>129130
Iron opens his eyes to see the hotel room he went to sleep in. There is one lamp on, no other lights, and it's dark outside

>>129131
"Huh?" Iron lets out, blinking softly as the scenery changed before him.

>>129132
A mostly dark room save for the lamp. Iron is alone in the bed

>>129133
Iron sighs softly, rubbing one of his tired eyes.
(I should look for Sands,) he thinks to himself (see if she would want to go to a bar now that it is the appropriate hour.)

>>129134
It's definitely night, and she isn't in the room

>>129135
"Sands?" Iron tentatively asks out loud. "Are you in here?"

>>129136
There's no reply

>>129137
Iron sighs, having no idea where she could be. He groggily gets off from the bed and checks his bit pouch in case she took some money.

>>129138
It does indeed look as if some bits are missing

>>129139
"I guess it is time to go exploring," Iron utters out loud, stretching softly "maybe she will spot me and beckon me over."
With that, the native basically drags her semi-limp body towards the exit door, opening it.

[1d4 = 2]
>>129140
The hallway is somewhat lit, actually more so than the room. It is empty

>>129141
"Where do I go from here..." Iron ponders aloud as he jaggedly walks out the room, closing the door behind him. "...probably a bar, but which one..."
Having said that, the native trudges on in a hazy mood.

>>129142
Roll a d20

>>129143
[1d20 = 16]<I think that's how dice works.

>>129144
Iron manages his way down the several levels, to the lobby. As he moves to the door, he sees her. She stumbles over towards him
"Iron?" she says

>>129145
"Yes, that is me," Iron replies in a mix between amusement and tiredness. "How is your day going?"

>>129146
"Oh I went out to the club and had no luck" she says, slurring her words

>>129147
Iron tilts his head, scratching his foreleg with his other hoof. "You... went to the club?" he asks, confused and tired "What is that?"

>>129148
"Oh yeah. They play music and dance to it. Sell alcohol. Mostly they have that damn jazz music, but it is what they play so whatever"
She is unambiguously intoxicated

>>129149
Iron had to wonder what sort of thing would be there for starters, potentially linking it back to Cauldron's boombox but louder as he slowly blinks.
"What made your trip have no luck going to the club?" he proceeds to ask.

>>129150
"Oh, I mean there was" She stops, and her eyes open, and stare right at Iron
"It wasn't a good night"

>>129151
Iron's ears droop, pouting softly. "What happened?" he asks once again, concerned tone quite apparent.

>>129152
"Oh, just... no groove, you know"

>>129153
Iron tilts his head once again. "You seem to have drunk a lot of alcohol," he comments aloud to Sands "yet you did not find the groove?" The stallion promptly nuzzles the mare's neck lazily, "I am sorry I did not come along to help you out," he adds, guilt apparent on his tone "I keep feeling extremely tired and I have no idea why."

>>129154
She raises a hoof, and slowly lowers it
"Oh, it happens like that. You don't always get the groove. It's luck as much as skill"

>>129155
Iron sighs softly, shaking his head. "Do you not have another idea on how to make up for the bad groove?" he asks worriedly.

>>129156
Her face forms a grumpier expression, and she breaks ey contact to look away
"I'll get it next time"

>>129157
"I do not think they will play anything other than jazz anytime soon, Sands," Iron comments dejectedly, ears folding "but maybe there is something else we can do to cheer you up."

>>129158
"That's what I'm here doing. Drinking" She says
"You can meet a lot of interesting ponies in hotels. Or ponies who think they are interesting."
She looks back to him
"What? You got something? She asks

>>129159
Iron unfortunately shakes his head.
"I am basically as lost as you currently, with my sudden awakening after some perturbing dreams," he answers tiredly "I figured you had an idea on what to do to pass time."

>>129160
"Oh yeah"
She waves with a hoof
"At night the picture shows stay open till maybe ten. Bars until 2, and clubs sometimes even later til 4. There can be private parties at houses and such that can last all night."
She sways a little more
"You also cuddle with the opposite sex, you know"

>>129161
Iron's mouth contorts into a tired smile at the last suggestion. "I suppose there is always that," he admits knowingly "but I am not much of a bed talker, as you know."
Iron exhales softly, looking up at the ceiling. "...what would you prefer out of the options you have said?"

>>129162
She closes her eyes, and then opens them slowly
"The picture shows are closed now, the clubs play jazz, no one rich has invited me to their party here, so that leaves the bar, and cuddling"

>>129163
"Cuddling it is, then," Iron concludes with a tired smile, blinking slowly.

>>129164
She almost jumps on him
"Why don't you carry me?"

>>129165
Iron chuckles as he lays down in order for the mare to hop on. "Let us go to our room, love," he proclaims.

>>129166
She essentially mounts him, finding an awkward position ontop of him that she nearly falls off of, holding onto him with her left foreleg

"So do you like, have a house?"

>>129167
Iron chuckles softly as he stands up. "I am pretty sure we talked about this already," he responds amusedly "but no, I do not."
Having said that, the native starts walking a bit to see if Sands can actually stay perched or not.

>>129168
She is a bit wobbly on him, but she wraps her foreleg around him, and more of less keeps balance

"Oh... Cause I've got like, no house. And no job anymore"

>>129169
"Yes, I know," Iron replies as he rubs one of his eyes "but you will always have a roof and something to do with me."
Iron tentatively tries going up the stairs in a slow fashion to see if she can adapt.

>>129170
She has to hold on tighter, and then wraps her hind legs around him
"And uh, do you have a job?"

>>129171
"I do have ponies I can talk to in order to do jobs for them," Iron offers as a response, breathing softly "mainly shady ones. There is also my side project to start a potion selling business."

>>129171
>>129172
The native proceeds to start climbing the stairs in a careful fashion.

>>129173
>>129172
Up the stairs, up another flight, and another

"Oh I see. That's a living, hey?"

>>129174
"Mhm," Iron agrees as his ascension continues before he blankly stares forwards, realizing he's drained his topics already and ensuring he doesn't fuck up in this delicate endeavor.

>>129175
A silent ride upstairs, and to the room. Inside, and to the bed

>>129176
Iron couldn't help but stare at the bed for a few seconds before shaking his head and hopping on it with Sands in tow to ease her descent.

>>129177
She pushes herself off and rolls over onto the bed, on her back and with her hooves up in the air in a semi-curled position

>>129178
Iron lets out a single chuckle at seeing her flop down to the bed, gently wrapping his hooves along her barrel as he rests his head near her shoulder.

>>129179
"Iron" she says, looking up
"Why won't you open your heart to me?"

>>129180
Iron's ears perk up, eyes focusing on hers as he lays next to her. "What do you mean?" he asks, lightly surprised this question popped up.

>>129181
Her eyes seem to go up towards the ceiling
"What I said. Why won't you open up your heart to me?"

>>129182
Iron looks at Sands with a small tilt of the head to the side. "I..." he utters "I do not know what you mean by 'opening my heart', Sands."

>>129184
"You know. Love me like you love that zebra. Instead you get bored with me"

>>129185
"Oh," Iron lets out, awkwardly looking at the bedsheets as his ears droop "I... I suppose we have not fully explored eachother."

>>129186
"Fully explored each other?"
She tilts her head
"You mean like anal?"

>>129187
Now he'll be waking up at 1 AM every night

>>129189
"No," Iron replies "I do not even know what anal is. It feels..." He pouts softly, trailing off in his sentence as his ears droop once again "It feels like I still don't even know you, even after all we have been through, you know?"
>>129188
Yeah, the whole physical thing, he got it covered.
>>129187
Oh crap. I hope this isn't going to affect things mechanically.

>>129190
She sighs
"It's been a long year. More than a year. In captivity...."
She turns over to him
"I'm like you in a lot of ways. I'm not from here. I'm far away from my family. I don't have a home right now, I don't have a traditional job, and most of what I do do is a bit on the, well, it's with the 'non-traditional economy.'"

>>129191
"Yes," Iron answers, tone steadily declining further into regret "you already told me all about you back at Hoebuck. Even with that huge amount of information, I am still a lost lamb." Iron's vision soon snaps into the wall facing him "Is sex really all that you want with me?"

>>129192
She touches him. Or at least, she seems to try to
"I want you to love me" She says

>>129193
Iron sighs, now back at looking at the bedsheets. "I cannot love from sex alone," he confesses, voice starting to quiver "and so far I cannot seem to connect to you through anything." He snaps his vision to Sands. "I know it has been a single day since we met and you may have something you have yet to reveal that may spark such a thing, but... we consumated already." He takes away his hooves from her to the sides of his head. "We should know eachother from fur to heart by now."

>>129194
She blinks, with her mouth partly open in concern
"What do you want to know?"

>>129195
"That is the thing," Iron replies dejectedly "I do not know what would even do it. I can only guess." He sighs, slumping his head into the pillow. "Foolish stallion that I am, making you go through my ramblings..."

>>129196
"What do you want?" She asks him. "I don't mean from me. Out of life"

>>129197
"I..." Iron starts "I suppose it is a mix between discovery, companionship, wealth and..." The stallion stops, glancing at Sands for a few seconds, ears drooped and self-judging look apparent in his eyes. "...validation." he spills out, ears drooped and glancing away in shame.

>>129198
She nods her head
"Tell me. Who is it? Your mother?"

>>129199
"...who is what?" Iron asks, a smidge of confusion inbetween his depressing mood.

>>129200
"Who is it you need to validate you?" She asks

>>129201
"I want to feel like I help the ponies I care about," Iron continues to confess "ponies like you, or Cauldron."

>>129202
"So what is it that makes you care about a pony?" She asks

>>129203
"I..." Iron stammers as he closes his eyes "I do not know. Maybe all I need to care is to... feel like I could be the one to save them out of their troubles. Maybe it is something stupid like having a particular thing they do that endears me, or maybe it is because... I know I matter to them."

>>129204
She nods
"And you need these ponies to validate yourself?"

>>129205
Iron nods once, having opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling.

>>129206
"Now tell me. What, to you, is 'companionship'?"

>>129207
Iron inhales deeply, ears drooped and gaze firmly stuck to the ceiling.
"W-well, I cannot say I know for sure," Iron replies "but being with a companion just makes me feel all... fuzzy and happy by spending time with them."

>>129208
"And that isn't me, is it?"

>>129209
"...n-no," Iron replies, rubbing his foreleg with his other "I am not sure why that is."