/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

"What's your favorite part of the house?" she asks the guide.

>>132425
And Silver trots along it, hoping against hope that they come across someone driving a truck.

>>132428
"For me..." She looks down. "Probably the conservatory... but that's not really part of the house. If not the library or stateroom, then the dining hall. Or perhaps the master bedroom upstairs, or the long gallery. The south-side drawing room has its charms as well"

>>132429
Roll die

>>132432
She takes her further down the hall to the far end, opening into a room. This one has a high ceiling, wooden floors, a grand piano, and a fireplace a phonograph and a radio. Part of the floor is lower than the remainder, accessed by a small stairs, and this large open area is covered in wood and looks like it is intended as a dance floor. It's maybe half the width of the stateroom, but the same length. Likewise, it has a view out to the bay, especially of a small boat house.
"Here is the south side drawing room"

Amber looks around. "I can only imagine the functions that took place here."

>>132434
“Well, mostly it’s for dancing an casual music playing. Guests can be entertained here as well though.”

>>132436
Sure enough, a stallion observes the two from the end of what must be a private driveway as they walk past

>>132438
“Well, yes. It’s all a part of being a socialite; you often receive guests from elsewhere in Baltimare or all around Equestria. However, generally guests would first come into the parlor room, or the great state room. They wouldn’t generally make their way to this room until they had been... loosen up with wine, or gin. Once they are here, that is when musical revelry begins.”

>>132437
"Oh! Excuse me, do you happen to have truck?"

>>132440
He blinks, and doesn’t immediately address the question
“What are you folks doin’ out here? You seem kind of lost”

>>132441
"Not really lost...we went out hunting crocogators and forgot to bring transportation out of swamp. We could use ride back home if you did not mind. We are willing to pay you."

Okay... I has to sleep now

>>132444
The last post for Spark was >>132166

>>132445
"I don't suppose that one of the Spirits around here are know for healing?"

>>132446
"Of course. All of the spirits may help in healing through the inter-connectivity of nature. Believe me, we've tried."
She closes her eyes, and lowers her head. She remains silent in that position for some seconds, and then opens her eyes and resumes speaking. Her eyes look down, and her head remains down.

"We've done every ritual. Prayer, dance. We've burned the tobacco, the sage, cedar, and sweetgrass. Breathed in the fumes, and nothing has healed him so far."
She looks up to spark now, with a couple small tears coming from her golden eyes
"I don't think anything in nature can help him because I do not believe his illness came from nature. That's the thing. I don't think his illness is natural. Wolves can get swelling late in life but... this is different."

>>132447
"Do you have any idea of what it might be if it isn't natural? Is it a magical curse?"

>>132448
She blinks, then quickly shakes her head
"No. I think either the digging did it, or it was when he was working in the town, but... I don't know... Is the digging not magical? I don't think it was intentional. I think the ponies do not understand what they are messing with when they deviate from nature's course. That, or they do not care. I think it is a rot brought on by this deviation. But I do not know. It may be a curse. If it is, our spells have not healed it."

>>132449
"Perhaps it is something in the ground... do you remember what they were digging for and where?"

>>132450
"South of here. I think it was for metal. They would pick up the dirt and put it into piles, and sometimes that would wash into the river and the lakes."

>>132451
Would ponies know about radioactive materials? Their nukes are made of crystal magic tech, so would they have Geiger counters or anything?
"Do you mind if I take a look there?"

>>132452
"It's in the Pony territory. They don't consider it to be open, free land any more."

>>132453
"Not too many ponies to enforce that right now, are there?"

>>132454
"The Doubles own it now" she answers

>>132455
"Well then, all the more reason to find out what is going on over there."

>>132456
She shakes her head
“I think we are better off leaving them to themselves”

>>132457
"But what if it is the key to learning the cure?"

>>132458
She blinks
"Maybe"

>>132459
"If you can point me in the right direction, I can give it a quick look for you."

>>132460
She tilts her head
“I thought you came from there?”

>>132461
"Maybe. Perhaps there is something I have overlooked there."

>>132463
She again tilts her head, with her left ear coming down horizontally, while her right ear remains vertical
“What can you do?” She asks

>>132464
"Well, if there is a poison in the ground, then maybe there is a specific cure for it."

>>132466
She pauses for a moment, placing her right paw up, bending her foreleg
"Maybe. I can show you where the dirt was piled. That should not be too close to the doubles."

>>132442
He comes a little closer, and inspects the two
"Looks like you got a nice hide there" He comes closer
"Ain't an elegant way of carrying meat" He has a slight disgust at this
"And what's up with your dog here?"

>>132467
"Oh, Mala? He's my hunting partner."

>>132468
"Huh" He looks over to Silver
"You look like you got yourselves a good aligator there.... might even be a saltwater crocodile. Hard to tell when it's all cut up. Yeah, I can give y'all a ride"

>>132469
Silver smiles at the stallion.

"Thank you. I realize we have not given each other our names. I am Silver Sword."

>>132470
“Nice to meet ya” the stallion - light brown, earth pony, wearing a cap - extends a hoof. “I’m Chipper Will”

>>132467
"That sounds good."

>>132472
“Then it may be worth a try. Do you need an escort?”

>>132292
>>132293
The shuttle shakes and tremble. Fantasy Play's hooves hold the steering wheel firmly as her eyes stare at the black hole in space sucking everything towards her.

The buzzing of static is heard and then a voice.

"Fantasy! Fantasy! Fantasy! Do you copy?" a feminine voice.

Fantasy's lips turn downwards adn her eyebrows form a roof.

"I'm here, Amber," she whisper back.

"Where are you? Are you still at the station? The reality breaker is gone. Y-you don't have it do you? Please, say you don't," the voiced quaked on the other end.

A tear ran down Fantasy's eye and made her cheek glistened and she smiled.

"Heh, nothing goes by you unotice, does it, Amber?"

"This is no laughing matter? Where are you right now?"

"Well, near our great galaxy's center. Andromeda's black hole."

"What?! No. Please... W-we can still fix this. I'm sure there's something else we can do about the reality breaker. Just- Just- Just. Come back."

Fantasy grinned.

"Tell the others that I regret not spending more time with them. I'm sure we would have lots of fun and I'm sure we will in ponyheaven."

"Please, Fantasy!"

"Thanks you for your support Amber. Your enthusiastic autistic ramblings about dnd in ponyland always managed to cheer me up." She wiped away one of her tears with her hoof.

"Don't-"

Amber's vocie was cut off as Fantasy turn the volume wheel down on the radio.

"This is Sargent Fantasy Play signing off one last time," she said and shut off the radio.

Warning! Incomming special reductions. Level:Deadly.

She brought together her hooves in a paryer.

GM, I'm sorry about not playing when you took so much effort in including me.

The shuttle boomed and Fantasy was shaken in her cockpit like there was an earthquake. She saw how the tip of her space shuttle got elongated into a line straight into the blackness ahead of her.

She grinned a melancholic smile.

"Oy vey." she could feel her face and hoof getting pulled towards the abyss in fornt of her. "It's like another shoah."

Then her ship disappeared in the darkness.

One of these days I'll play again.

>>132473
"That might help. I think I might wind up lost in the woods again." Spark chuckles.

>>132471
Silver extends his own and gives him a firm hoof shake.

"Likewise!"

>>132474
Awwww. That was a good story.

>>132474
https://youtu.be/iYYRH4apXDo

Aww. Well I hope you join us again soon. Feel free to jump in any time

>>132476
Fairly firm. He breaks away a little early though. Like Parade Pass, he wears nailed-in iron shoes. “Alright, just uh.. come on back here

>>132475
She smiles
“I can guide you. Perhaps Makade may want to come along if you need more serious protection.”

>>132478
"That would be nice. Think you can convince him to join us?"

>>132477
>>132478
Thanks :)

>>132478
Silver nods, and follows Chipper Will.

>>132480
Have a pony

>>132479
"I think you have more of a way with him..."

>>132481
Chipperwill takes Silver down the dirt driveway, past a barren limbed tree, around grass, and to a pickup truck parked in the dirt and gravel next to a raised 1 story tin-roofed ranch house. The truck's red paint is starting to chip and is covered in dirt; the wheels in mud. These are the only blemishes on an otherwise excellent looking pick up truck.

>>132482
"Hmm... if you say so."
Spark goes over to Makade.

>>132483
Makade watches Spark as he approaches, with his rifle slung across his back

>>132482
"Automobiles have come long way since they were first invented. So, you want us in pickup bed, I assume?"

>>132487
"Sure. Toss your skin, your lunch box, your... 'partner,' and your uh... meat into the bed." He pauses "Should probably get a cooler or something to put all that it."

>>132488
Silver rubs the back of his neck.

"Yes, we, uh...forgot to bring one. Something to remember for next time. Think we can make quick stop at store to get one?"

>>132485
Spark waves.
"I don't suppose you have time to help me out?"

>>132489
"Well uh, sure. There's a general store just up yonder that sells containers."

>>132490
"I have to patrol" He answers

>>132491
"Thank you, Chipper."

Silver helps Mala get everything in the truck bed, then gets in the truck himself.

>>132492
Mala hops up into the bed, evidently having done this before. Keeping the meat on a clean surface is a little challenging, but at least it can be washed off later. There's some dirt and especially dead leaves in the bed. Chipper Will pulls the choke, and starts up the engine.

"Alright. I'll take you up towards the general store" he says

>>132493
Silver nods at Chipper once he's fully in.

>>132494
He starts up the truck and backs out, and they start on their way down the road. Mala sits quietly towards the center, as the truck pulls them around and up Sicamore street

>>132495
"So, Chipper, how long have you lived here in Baltimare?"

>>132496
The rear window opens up
"Better question is, how long has Baltimare been over me? I've been in these parts all my life." he answers

>>132497
"Impressive that you have lived all way out here for long time, right next to gator-infested swamps."

>>132498
"Oh you don't go in the water, they don't come to you." He answers

>>132499
"That makes sense. Hard to do with so much water and so little land though. I think I will have to buy boat."

>>132500
"There's plenty of ponies with boats. Know what you want to do with your boat first. If you want to go into rivers and marshes, you want a flat bottomed boat with a motor close to the waterline. If you want to go out into the bay, get something with a deeper draft it will be more stable in the waves."

>>132501
"That much I knew, but thank you."

>>132502
He nods, and drives on

>>132503
Silver remains silent for the rest of the journey, if no one else says anything.

>>132504
>>132504
It isn't long at all before they come to a small store. He parks on the side of the road, by the side walk, and says to Silver
"Alright, they should sell containers of some kind here"

>>132505
"Thank you, I will be right back."

Silver gets out of the truck and into the store, looking for a cooler large enough to hold all of their meat.

>>132506
It's a bit larger than a general store, and seems to focus on fishing supplies. Silver seems a metal cooler, evidently designed to carry fish in

>>132507
"That will work."

Silver buys it at the counter, and takes it back to the truck to put the meat in.

>>132508
It's kind of expensive - 30 bits - but Silver gets it. It looks to be non-corrosive, at least. Mala helps to place the meat into the cooler, until the container is overflowing

>>132509
Silver tries to pack it in there.

>>132510
Well... the lid won't close, but at least it's clean

>>132511
"Damn...hang on just sec..."

Silver, silently cursing to himself, goes in, buys another, and splits the meat between the two containers.

>>132512
Chipper Will is a little confused, but Silver does end up with two that are able to close

>>132513
Once finished, Silver gets back in the truck, and lets out a sigh.

"There we go. Alright, we are ready to head home now."

He gives Chipper the home address.

>>132514
He takes it
"Oh, you live all the way on the North side of the bay" he says

>>132515
Silver nods.

"Apologies if it is too far. As I said, I will pay."

>>132516
He looks back to Silver for a moment. Then he turns around and says, “well, onto Cherry Hill then” and pulls out onto the street, on their way

>>132517
Silver looks out the window at the buildings pass as they drive.

>>132518
Well, Silver is presumably in the bed with Mala (he could sit in the front passenger seat, though, if he wants). The remainder of this trip is fairly familiar by now. They go back along the avenue across the bridge, then onto a an avenue that takes them to Horseman avenue in Red Heart, then through Red Heart, Cowtown, and Cherry Hill along the water back to the beach house

>>132519
When they stop, Silver gives Chipper 20 Bits.

"Thank you for ride, Chipper."

>>132520
“Oh, thanks” he looks at the bits, then back to Silver, and smiles
“Take care!”

>>132521
"You too!"

Silver waves goodbye at him before Mala and him take the meat containers, hide, and the lockbox of jewelry and head inside the house.

>>132522
Mala asks Silver:
“So are we just going to plop this in the kitchen?”

>>132523
"Well, no. We are going to see if these fit in refrigerator, first. If not, we will need to remember to buy bags for after we clean meat."

>>132524
"Uh, okay"

When Silver goes up the stairs through the front door, he can see Jubilosa is in the living room

>>132525
Silver greets her on his way to the kitchen.

"Hello! We are back, if temporarily."

>>132526
The griffin jumps up, across the floor, and hugs him
"Hi Silver!"

>>132527
Silver drops what he's carrying so he can hug her back, though he's careful to not dirty her too much in the process.

"It feels good to return home to this."

>>132528
D'aww

He's muddy and covered in blood though, so only so much can be helped in that regard. She pulls away, and loos up to Silver, smiling

>>132529
He smiles back warmly at the griffon in front of him.

"I am sorry about mud and blood. We got attacked by crocogator while checking out rumor of buried treasure in swamp. On bright side, we now have some meat after we clean it, and we actually found treasure."

He levitates the lockbox up, and opens it to show the jewelry to Jubilosa.

>>132530
"Crocogator?" She's kind of confused. Then she looks down at the jewelry in the box
"What is this." She says, astonished