1891 replies | 29 files | 49 UUIDs | Page 18
>>143003D'aww
pet pet petIt looks as if two of Larkhaven's high tables inside and one on the patio, one of Melon Mangrove's tables, and two of Mustard Trim's tables(?) are unoccupied
>>143002 →She closes her eyes and moves her long neck over Silver, rubbing back
>>143004Amber tries to bring them out onto the patio to one of Mustard's tables.
>>143005>>143006"Are there tables inside?"
The older mare asks
>>143007Amber uneasily answers,
"We're short on tables for four…"
>>143008She then asks
"Is that a yes?"
>>143009She struggles not to grimace.
"There is one…"
>>143010The younger mare has a bit of a frown, but leans down to contain the colt, who seems ready to spring with his long legs.
"That will do." The older mare says
[1d4 = 3]
>>143012Direct them to the lone table, and... hello, there are four adults waiting and a foal. Looks like a mare and stallion of relatively youngish age, a much older stallion and mare, and a filly.
>>143013"Hello, how can I help you today?"
>>143013The younger stallion looks to the older stallion, who nods to the former. The younger stallion approaches.
"Hello, can we get a table for five?"
>>143015"There's space, but only on the patio," Amber says with a reassuring smile.
>>143016The older mare scrunches. The younger stallion has an awkward smile
[1d20 = 18]
>>143017>>143016"Sure. Let's do it!" He says
>>143018With relief she says,
"It's nice, you'll like it."
>>143019The young stallion turns back to the older mare
"See? You'll like it."
>>143020Amber makes sure that Mustard is able to help them before going back to her post.
>>143021He seems a bit busy, but he stops to hear if Amber has anything to say
>>143022Only some words of encouragement.
"You're doing great! Keep it up!"
>>143023He smiles, sort of awkwardly
"Thanks!"
And moves off
There are four ponies waiting for Amber when she gets back
>>143024"Hello, are y'all together?"
>>143025A young mare says "No" with her eyes narrowing as if in offense
"Is your bar available?"
A stallion peels off, saying that he is meeting someone
>>143026"Certainly, go right through and turn left. The bar should be on your right."
>>143027"Thank you" another mare says
A lone diamond dog enters
>>143028"Hello Mister, are you visiting our bar?"
>>143029>>143030He has no smile, and keeps a firm expression. When he speaks, he sounds like a pony from the town.
"Is there an 'Amber Sunset' here?"
>>143031She loses her smile and feels her heart beating faster.
"Y-yes, that would be me."
>>143032His lips pull back in a grin as she says this, exposing rows of teeth. In some ways, they are whiter than Amber may have expected from a Diamond Dog.
"My Benefactor was wondering if you would be interested in a task tonight. A one-off job."
>>143033"Oh, from the store?" She pauses uncertainly.
"I suppose, but what kind of job?"
>>143034"Nothing much complicated. You are to go to the Club Maurice on Falabella. You will meet with the owner, one 'Dark Denizen.' The timing is not pressing, but you must meet him by midnight tonight, or not at all."
>>143035"Um, okay, I'll do that!" She says this with a bit of hesitation but ultimately firmly.
>>143036"Then that is all for now."
The Diamond Dog turns away, and walks out
[1d4 = 2]
>>143037I'd best worry about that after I finish this….
>>143038The black diamond dog walks out and away, and there is a lull for perhaps as long as four minutes for Amber to contemplate.
>>143039>>143038But the lull ends with the arrival of a pair of adolescents - a colt and a filly each around Amber's age. Looks like a couple, but who can say, really.
>>143039I've never been in a club before, and to meet an owner at that…he must want something special! But I'm just a humble clerkpony. If he wants me to work at his establishment serving tables or something, I'll have no choice but to turn him down. But he said it's 'one-off,' so maybe I have to deliver something. I don't know what it could be, but I won't look a gift monkey in the mouth.>>143040Amber greets them,
"Howdy there. Would you like a table for two?"
>>143041The colt smiles confidently. It's a larger rust-colored earth pony
"Yes. Two, please."
>>143042"Oh good, we have tables." She takes them to one of Larkhaven's high tables.
But I have to sleep now...>>143043He nods curtly, and is seated
[1d4 = 1]
>>143047Hello!WavesMore ponies trickle in
>>143048Considering this is later in the evening when tables ought to be opening up again and more ponies going to the bar, is this a problem?
>>143049At the moment, no, as these ponies seem to be destined for the bar. But like all things, wait long enough and the conditions change
[1d4 = 1][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 3]
>>143050>>143049A group of ponies arrive. Seven in total, mostly middle age with two colts
>>143051What tables are left open again?
>>143052One Larkhaven two seater outside, and perhaps one Mustard Trim table
>>143053"I'm sorry, we have only one table and it's outside.
>>143054"What is the wait?" A slightly wrinkly mare with a well kept mane asks
>>143055She has a look around.
"It could be ten minutes before another table is free."
>>143057>>143056Another mare in the group frowns, until the lead mare says
"We'll wait for a few minutes."
[1d5 = 3][1d5 = 2][1d5 = 5][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 2]
>>143058Amber hopes they won't be disappointed, and she looks awkward as they stand there.
>>143058>>143056Good news!
One of Cream Pop's booths clears
One of Mangroves's clears
And one of Mustard Trim's tables clears
Two more couples enter, including a griffin couple. At least they look like couples, with similarly aged males and females
>>143060The group of 7 will have to fit in the booth. The two couples are moved outside, one getting Mustard's table and the other getting Larkhaven's high table.
>>143060>>143062>>143061The booth is
not a corner booth, and while squeezing in seven foals is maybe reasonable for a family with five foals, for seven adults, it's not desirable.
They do, however, seem to be willing to hold out a little longer.
Note that the outdoor tables have bench style seats and thus, like the booths, more easily accommodate more than four guests
>>143063>>143061[1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 3][1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 3][1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 4]
>>143063It would be more reasonable then to switch places between the 7 and a couple, placing the larger group outside and giving the booth to one of the couples.
>>143068>>143067The couple and the party agree to the movement, the couple preferring the slightly darker lighting inside, and the party finding the cold temperatures to agree with their heavier clothing.
Several more mares, plus a mare and several foals enter, as a table of De Sew's clears out
>>143068The mare and foals get De Sew's table. Amber asks the other adult mares,
"Excuse me, but are you dining together? If not, the bar has some free seats…"
>>143070"Oh... well the bar will work" They say, grinning awkwardly. Three of them, they look a little older than Amber probably
>>143071"Oh, that's good to hear! Have a good time," she says, awkwardly yet relieved.
>>143072[1d4 = 1][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 3]
>>143073Separated by a span of a few minutes, is a family of three foals, and one of five foals. Oh, and more singular ponies
>>143074Besides Melon's remaining table, are there any free tables? Amber says to the singular ponies,
"Sorry, but there aren't any tables for one. There's space at the bar, though."
>>143075[1d20 = 11][1d20 = 8][1d5 = 5][1d2 = 2][1d2 = 2]
>>143076One table clears quickly - one of Mustard Trim's section on the patio
>>143077The family of five foals will have to sit on the patio, that with three will sit at Melon's table.
>>143078>>143075[1d2 = 2][1d2 = 2]Diplomacy may lubricate the situation
>>143080>>143079Opposed:
[1d20 = 8][1d20 = 14]
>>143078>>143079>>143080It's not hard to persuade the family of five to sit at a table. What is less simple is persuading the family of seven to sit outside. Something about fear of the foals getting colds.
[1d2 = 1][1d5 = 5]
>>143082"We just don't have any seating arrangements left.
I'm sorry. The patio has a bonfire to help keep warm."[1d20+4 = 12]
>>143082>>143083And.... another Mustard Trim table clears?
[1d20 = 16]
>>143084>>143083They are not persuaded
>>143084Well, that's also outside.
>>143086Hopefully ponies aren't leaving early because it's too cold? Right?
The question is if they are willing to wait for something inside
>>143087Amber has no way to know from her position so she lets them make their choices.
>>143088>>143087>>143086[1d2 = 2][1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 1][1d4 = 4] [1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 4]
>>143089>>143088[1d5 = 2][1d5 = 3]
>>143089>>143088They aren't particularly interested in waiting long.
In other news, one of Melon Mangrove's groups is clearing out, one of Cream Pop's booths is opening, and a new party has arrived. Looks like an extended family, maybe?
>>143091Would it be inconvenient for them to have a booth?
>>143092Is "them" the former group?
If so, roll diplomacy.
If "them" is the newly arriving group, they are too large for that
>>143093Rolling for the former.
[1d20+4 = 22]Is there enough space at Melon's table for the large group?
>>143094Success! They ae persuaded to stick around and squeeze into the booth. It barely works, but barely is good enough
This is a larger group leaving, so yes, as there are only eight newly arriving ponies
>>143095Good, then it just works out for the larger group as well.
I have to go now, thanks for the session
>>143098I'm back in case you're still up.
>>143099[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 3]
>>143099>>143100A very large party, and a couple arrive
>>143101gulp"I'm so very sorry, but there's no free tables left."
>>143102"What is the wait time?" The mare closest to Amber asks
>>143103"It should be just a few minutes, but it might take longer for a large group," she answers nervously.
>>143104And don't forget, there is a couple there as well
[1d2 = 1][1d2 = 2][1d2 = 1][1d4 = 2]
>>143105There are no high tables left, are there?
It appears that all of Larkhaven's tables are either occupied, or have been cannibalized for other sections
The good news:
A table is leaving
[1d5 = 4]
>>143107>>143106... From Larkhaven's section
Fortuna hath smiled upon Amber
>>143107The couple gets that high table.
>>143109But another couple has come in
And there is still the large party
>>143110There's nothing Amber can do, unless…
"Have y'all had a nice day so far?"
>>143111A nice enough stallion says
"Can't complain! There was a new shipment ordered at work today."
>>143112"Oh, that's good to hear. Business seems to be doing well here in Baltimare."
>>143113"Well... it's picked up since last year"
He answers
"So... how long is the wait?" He asks
>>143114"Earlier customers are leaving so it takes just a few minutes for a table to free up. I'm sorry, erm, for the inconvenience."
>>143115Two diplomacy rolls
>>143116[1d20+4 = 21][1d20+4 = 6]
>>143117The party stays a little Longer. The couple decides to try a different restaurant
>>143118Amber's a little upset that customers were discouraged.
Still, it's inevitable if the whole establishment is crowded.
I can't force customers to eat and leave faster…can I?
And I have to sleep now...>>143119You'll get 'em next time little pony
Aren't there two newly opened tables outside?
>>143004Oh, new bread!He only breaks this moment after a few seconds this time.
"I will go find nice spa for us, and make reservation."
I should be back tomorrow. Can’t wait to see the urban adventure.
>>143121Amber speaks up to the party,
"I think we have a couple of tables on the patio if you don't mind sitting there..."
>>143122She smiles, and turns her head.
"That would be nice."
>>143129Hi!
waves>>143136[1d3 = 1]
>>143136>>143137The ponies in the group look o each other, and say a few words. Then they look back to Amber
"That will be fine."
>>143138With a breath of relief Amber leads them to their tables for Mustard to wait upon. She looks to see how he's doing.
>>143139He seems fairly busy (at least) frantically moving back and forth, trying to get the order for a particularly picky old mare in a group
>>143140Amber will have to apologize later on, but there's no other way this could be done.
>>143141[1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 4]
>>143141A larger party leaves Melon Mangrove's section as a single younger mare, a single middle aged stallion, a family of four, and what looks like a family of six, enter
>>143144Amber asks if the mare and stallion are dining together. Isn't there a high table with one seat?
>>143145They turn
"No..."
It looks as if all two-seater tables are either taken or cannibalized for groups.
>>143146The family of six gets to replace the party that just left. Is Melon doing alright?
>>143147Melon is soldiering right along, carrying a set of drinks. She seems to be holding up better than Mustard Trim
>>143148Well that's a relief. Amber gives an embarrassed smile to those waiting.
"It's a busy evening, I beg your pardon for the inconvenience."
>>143149"How long is the wait?" The stallion leading what appears to be a young family of four asks
>>143150"About ten minutes…."
>>143151"Uh, oh. Okay."
The ponies seem content to sit and wait.
A little filly with a bow in her mane, an apricot coat, and a long tail sits down, looking upwards and in the direction of Amber
>>143152>>143151[1d4 = 2] [1d5 = 3][1d4 = 2] [1d5 = 2][1d4 = 4] [1d2 = 2][1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 4]
>>143152Does the filly look familiar? Did she enter earlier?
>>143154Amber doesn't think she's seen the auburn maned filly before. But it can be hard to say.
And now, a mare with two young colts, and what looks like a set of five ponies - an adolescent, two adults, and two seniors - enter.
>>143155Amber bites her lower lip as she watches them enter.
"I'm sorry friends, but we're currently full. You'll have to wait in line."
>>143156[1d3 = 2][1d3 = 3]
>>143157>>143156An older mare says
"Ah, I was tryin' to get them to go to the Rapscallion anyways."
The group of five seems to leave
The mare and her fillies, who run about, says to Amber
"Oh, we'll wait." She does not make eye contact, as her lemon yellow filly is running away and in the direction of De Sew's combo tables
[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2]
>>143159>>143158Incidentally, one of De Sew's combo tables is leaving now
Is this the family of four from
>>143144?
If so, she tells them,
"Looks like a table is open now.
Right over here!"If
not, she can't have them skip ahead in the line, can she?
>>143161There is waiting a single stallion (perhaps for bar space), a family of four (including the apricot filly), and the single mare with two fillies
Amber tries to step in front of one of the rampaging fillies before she trips one of the waiters.
>>143163Roll die to catch filly
>>143165Amber places herself besides the rampaging filly, but has failed to make up for the filly's head start
>>143166She calls out in alarm to the filly,
"Please stop!"
>>143167Startled patrons look out at the commotion, while the filly's owner runs after her, looking back to Autumn to say "sorry," before turning her head back just in time to avoid running into a chair.
>>143168"owner"Amber winces briefly and looks back at her post. The waiters are too busy to help, and the mother might not be able to catch her alone. Amber tries moving to a side of the restaurant they're moving
away from. They have to get turned around, right?
>>143169Okay fine. "Mother."The filly has to either dart into the kitchen and bathroom hall, or turn around
[1d2 = 1]
>>143170>>143169And the filly has continued into the bathroom and restroom hall
Roll die to catch filly
[1d2 = 2]
>>143172Amber runs, and hits the right side of the door frame of the bathroom hall. The filly, meanwhile, has run towards the bathroom doors
>>143173"Oof!" Quickly, she puts her body in front of the doorway to prevent the filly from running through.
>>143174Unfortunately, Amber has not been able to
perform such a maneuver in time. While she is faster than the filly, the filly's head start, Amber's delay and misfortunate, as well as the small body of the filly, mean it has been able to slip through
>>143175Amber quickly follows inside.
>>143176The filly has run up against the far end of the hallway, and the two doors, and has to turn around.
Meanwhile, her
owner mother has also entered the hall, going for her filly
>>143177Amber tries to reason,
"Please come back. It's not a game."
>>143178The child is stopped, possibly because Amber has blocked her path. She looks up at the Earth pony.
Then Amber can feel herself physically pushed aside with an "excuse me," as the mother goes over and picks up her filly, placing her on her back.
"Sorry, sorry."
>>143179Amber hurries back to her place, hoping this episode didn't discourage any customers.
>>143180The family of four, now seated in one of De Sew's combo tables near the entry to the kitchen, watches the ponies as they return with the filly carried on her mother's back like a trophy.
[1d4 = 2][1d4 = 4]
>>143181"Phew, I guess foals can be hard to deal with…"If the lone stallion is still there she recommends he go to the bar.
>>143183He nods, and goes.
The mother, though she looks embarrassed, has not left yet. Her other filly remains sitting on the bench
The mother walks past Amber, and turns her head to make the remark
"Sorry... it's just so hard to keep them in line without their father"
>>143184"No, no, it's alright, no harm done…" she reassures her. Against her better judgement, she asks,
"Will he be arriving later?"
>>143186She turns her head away from Amber, moving forward, and in the direction of her other filly, the one on the bench. For more than a second it may seem that she did not notice Amber's question, or that she was not interested in answering it. But then, with her head turned away, she says
"No."
>>143186Two stallions and two mares enter
>>143187I'm really just so crass, I probably ruined her whole evening…She turns to the newcomers.
"Howdy. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wait a bit."
>>143189The stallion who answers is probably in his early thirties.
“How long is the wait?”
>>143190"These ponies are in front of you, so maybe fifteen minutes?"
>>143191“Uh, alright.”
The stallion sits down next to a white mare in semi-formal clothing, who carries on a conversation with the other mare in the four, who sits alongside the other stallion. The lone mare in the other set sits quietly with the troublesome lemon filly under her forelegs, and with the second fully next to her.
>>143192Now that it's a little more relaxed Amber idly wonders what time it is.
>>143193It's well into night now.
[1d4 = 2][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 2]
>>143194>>143193And another couple arrives. One wears a military uniform, and a hat. (Yes.
Inside).
>>143195Well, hats aren't that uncommon. Amber wonders if she should give military personnel priority or if that's restaurant policy, but there's no space now regardless.
>>143196The stallion says to Amber, tipping his hat
"G'day ma'am. Table for two."
[1d4 = 2]
>>143197"Alright, sir. Um, we don't have any tables available at the moment, so you may have to wait a few minutes."
>>143199Seeming disappointed, he asks
"How long's ya wait?"
>>143200She nervously replies,
"A table's cleared every five to ten minutes, just about. There are a lot of other ponies waiting though…"
>>143201He looks over to the mare, who is older than Amber but not by much, and asks her opinion
[1d3 = 3]
>>143201He looks over to the mare, who is older than Amber but not by much, and asks her opinion
[1d3 = 3]
>>143202>>143201"We'll give it a try" he says, and sits down next to his mare.
[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1]
>>143204"I think the food here is well worth the wait. It's really popular…"
>>143205"That's what she tells me" he says, placing a hoof on the mocha brown mare, who smiles
[1d5 = 3]
Amber smiles back, but she can't think of anything more to say. She glances to see if any tables have freed up.
>>143207One of Cream Pop's booths has opened up.
Fortunately, it's the one that also used one of Larkhaven's tables
Thus, one booth and one high table
>>143208The couple that had been waiting the longest gets the high table, whereas the family of four get the booth.
>>143210I believe the original family of four received one of De Sew’s combo table-booths that opened up. There should currently be the mother and her two fillies, the two stallions and two mares, and the couple that just showed up with the stallion in uniform.
>>143211I don't think Amber asked, but are the two stallions and two mares in one group altogether?
>>143213Then it's an easy choice, the mother and her two fillies are moved to the booth while the new couple gets the high table.
>>143215It is so. The one group is still waiting.
>>143216Aww... okay. My internet is cutting in and out, anyways
>>143137He gives Jubee a kiss goodbye, makes his way downstairs to exit the house, and departs to find a taxi.
>>143218She moves back ever so slightly in surprise, before giving a small smile.
Silver makes his way out. Taxis are not as plentiful in this section of the city, but one is found nevertheless.
>>143219Once Silver gets in, he asks of the driver,
"I need your help if you can. I need to find places for date with someone tonight."
>>143220The Zebra stallion answers,
"You lookin' for something fancy to impress her, something quick, or something with opportunities?"
>>143221"Something fancy, though I am curious what you mean by opportunities."
>>143222“Well, you know. When ya’ watchin’ a movie, and you want to place a leg around her. Or better, when ya’ want to start smooching’ her and not be seen. Now as for fancy? I say the Orgueil.” Pronouncing the last word as “or-gay”
>>143223"Hmm...that is certainly something to keep in mind. Now, this 'Or-Gay', you would not happen to know if they serve carnivore dishes, would you?"
>>143224“Now that, I do
not know. Think they serve fish though. It’s griffin based.”
>>143225Silver smiles.
"Perfect. Can you take me there so I can make reservation."
>>143226He pauses for a moment.
“Yeah, sure.”
The vehicle drives on down the main road, and then through the cowtown neighborhood, before coming to Eastside
>>143227After they stop and Silver pays the fare, he asks the driver,
"Can you stay out here? I will be right back out after making reservation and I have other places I need taken to."
>>143228"Sure thing."
It's not an especially high class neighborhood, being between the industrial and residential areas of Cowtown, and the City Center. But on the outside, the building almost resembles an old manor house, with dark wood covering a porch along the entry, and white walls on the second floor.
Entering, Silver finds something like a foyer, though bigger, and with the hostess stand near the front. At the stand is a unicorn stallion with dark brown fur, and behind him are wooden stairs going up to a second level that wraps around on the left with wooden railing.
>>143229Silver trots up to this stallion.
"Hello, I would like to make reservation for dinner later tonight. Party of two."
>>143230The stallion looks over to Silver, then slowly down to the sheet, and then back up to Silver
"What time?"
His voice seems accented
>>143231This place must be fancy, he thinks to himself.
"5:00 P.M."
>>143232He looks back down, using magic to pick up a set of glasses
"We have an opening for 5:15" He answers
>>143233"That will work."
>>143234"Under what name?" He asks, looking back up at Silver over his lenses.
>>143236"Alright." He looks down, and with a movement of yellow magic and a feather-tipped pen, he makes marks on an unseen object behind the table.
"And I have you down for 5:15"
>>143237"Thank you! We will be there!"
Assuming their business is done, he heads back out to the taxi.
"Know of any nice spas?"
>>143238"Spa? What do I look like, a pretty pink pony?"
>>143239"No, but I thought there was chance one of your previous passengers asked to be taken to address of one."
>>143240He looks up, and leans his head back against the seat.
"Now I can't recall if it was a spa. But there was something over in Colton Hill. And of course there are plenty of fancy places just west of Lord Baltimare plaza."
>>143241"Let us try Colton Hill, then, if it pleases you."
>>143242Roll die, little pony
>>143244The vehicle drives down a central avenue in East side south, then makes a turn onto another avenue, and then a turn north. He stops outside of a stucco covered building with grass around it.
"Huh. It
is here."
Nice, I can get an early start
>>143246"Perfect! Wait here, I still have couple of places to go."
He pays this fare, and heads inside the building.
>>143247>>143215The mother and her two fillies sit down in the booth, as the newly arrived couple sits down at a high table nearby. The two stallions and two mares remain.
>>143248Inside is a waiting room and a wooden counter. A rather young looking pink mare behind the counter smiles at Silver as he enters.
>>143249He smiles back.
"Hello there! I was wondering I could make reservation for couple's session here, if that was something you offered."
>>143249Amber hopes they'll be satisfied customers.
>>143250"A couple's session?" She says smiling. "We have hooficure and sauna packages, as well as mane styling."
>>143252"Those sound excellent. Can you describe some of your packages for me? I would like something to truly pamper my date and I."
>>143251[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 2]>>143253"Well, here we have the 'Spring Valley' which includes a hooficure with river stones, a message, and then sauna. Here we have the 'Royale' which includes the same but with massaging for the hardest to relieve back tension. Here is just the sauna, and here you can add a hot bathing experience. With mountain melt water, of course. Well, technically that's true of most river water, but I mean it is taken from far up the river. No pollutants. We have incense to burn that helps to clear out the lungs...."
>>143255>>143251Another couple enters, and a pair of stallions.
One of Mustard trim's tables leaves
[1d2 = 2]
>>143256The two stallions and mares are directed to Mustard's now vacant table.
It's not good to burden him so…, she thinks to herself.
>>143254"I think we will have Royale with hot bathing and incense, and also mane styling. Are there any other services or treatments you provide?"
>>143258"Well yes, we have mane and feather care, coat trimming, hoof messages, and mud and herbal treatments."
>>143259"Mud treatments? Like mud bath?"
>>143260"Well, yes. We cover the skin and fur in special mineral mixtures."
>>143261"I think we will take it all, one for each of us. I do have one more question. Your services like hooficures, can you perform them for griffons, too?"
>>143257Perhaps better, it was a table with a group.
Still, the four ponies are seated, pleasantly surprised at the heating.
>>143262"Griffins...?" She seems uncertain at first.
"Sure... we can handle exotic claws as well."
>>143263"Wonderful! Do you have slot open for after 6 or 6:15?"
>>143263The smell of food from the restaurant makes Amber hungry, she hopes she can get off soon.
>>143265Various stews and soups seem to be among the more common items, although there is a fairly large amount of spice. Bread, too, is a common sight, and it looks like a new set has just been heated and delivered
Two waiting couples, one free outdoor table.
>>143264"A.M. Tomorrow? We don't open
quite that early."
>>143266"Er, no, P.M. tonight."
>>143267"Oh... Well we close at 7PM, and you'll need probably 3 hours for a full treatment... We can fit in maybe a single massage or hooficure, perhaps?"
>>143266The first couple that arrived (the military one?) is directed to the table.
>>143268"Hmm...I am assuming there is no way to convince this place to stay open for us, tonight?"
>>143269Well that one was presumably seated after one of Larkhaven's table opened up
>>143270She blinks
"Well, perhaps."
>>143271He nods firmly with a gleam of hope in his blue eyes.
"Whatever it takes. I love her, and I want to to give her best night of her life. I can even pay you and spa specialists here for your extra time spent here."
>>143272"Well... Perhaps a specialist can be persuaded to stay a little later."
>>143273"Please, it would mean world to us."
>>143274"Well... Okay..."
>>143271Good, there's space for the other couple then.
>>143276Well, there are two couples that entered
[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2]
>>143275He jumps up and down on his hooves.
"Thank you thank you thank you!"
>>143278[1d5 = 5]>>143278She smiles back at him somewhat awkwardly
"You're welcome, but... well, we'd need to charge for the overtime."
>>143279He smiles back.
"Of course I will pay extra. I would do anything for this."
>>143277Amber's not sure where to put the other couple.
>>143281The good news: another table has cleared out.
It's from Mustard Trim's section again.
But another seven ponies have entered
>>143280"Well.... it could be as much as 220 bits..."
>>143282"Is easily paid, friend."
>>143283"Okay, great. I'll write you down" She looks down at the paper, and attempts to scribble with a hoof "and you are set." She looks up, smiling
>>143284He smiles back.
"Thank you so much! I will return tonight with my date!"
He bids her goodbye, and returns to the taxi.
"Unless you know of specific place, I would like to be taken to west of Lord Baltimare plaza to find place to purchase suit and dress for this evening."
>>143282Amber's not sure why Mustard's section has the fastest turnover, but she has to put the smaller party there.
>>143286Would this be the one couple?
>>143285"Gotcha" He says, driving some ways past row houses, shops, and now sky scrapers. He drops Silver off. Silver has been here before; this is in front of the building the New Mareland civil administration is using as its regional headquarters, and the city hall is not far away either. There are ponies walking by, carts and automobiles, and soldiers on the sidewalks.
>>143287Yes, it would be.
>>143287"This should hopefully only take little bit, if you would wait here. I have only more stop after this."
He pays this fare, and heads inside the store.
>>143289It might be that Amber is in this very store…
>>143289Silver walks down the avenue, and the first clothing store - upper end clothing store - he comes across is named simply, "Peerless," with a subtext "fine clothing."
>>143290Morning shift, the exact right neighborhood... Yes, very much so
>>143291"This seems like place for what I need."
The large unicorn stallion opens the door to the establishment, and enters.
Inside he sees an older mare busy at a desk, but near the entrance is a young, apricot-colored mare–at least, probably old enough to a mare, despite being quite short–with a white stripe down her nose between bluish-purple eyes. Her auburn mane falls over one side with a simple cut. She appears to be wearing a long, midnight blue dress that accentuates its plain style with small, four-pointed stars of lighter hue.
She smiles, albeit a bit nervously, at the newcomer. "Hello sir, can I get something for you today?"
>>143292If it's the right day, he's in the right place
>>143293
>>143293>>143294Here she faces a rather large, grizzled old unicorn stallion of light grey coat and darker grey mane, and a dark stripe going down from the back of his neck all the way along his back to his tail. His mane is similarly short and no-nonsense, but looks like it needs some slight attention. His burly, muscular appearance is further accentuated by a floofy winter coat that makes him look a bit bigger than he actually is. He is bare, save for a pair of saddlebags and a rather large sword strapped to his side, letting her see the cutie mark of a sword mid-swing emblazoned upon his flank. He has to look down slightly to meet her eyes, where he smiles and speaks in a deep voice with a Severyanan accent.
"Hello there! I have date tonight with female griffon, and I was wondering if I could purchase suit for myself and dress for my date."
>>143295She blinks at the imposing customer, who is clearly unlike most other clientele.
"A-a griffon? Um, I suppose we have things for that. We do have suits, but are you looking for something in particular?" She steps slowly in a direction to the back of the store, though whether this is from anxiety or an eagerness to show him is difficult to say.
>>143296He follows her, his hoofsteps actually not producing as much noise as his size and stature would suggest, hinting that he's rather dextrous as well.
"For suit, something simple, but fancy, you know? Like what would be appropriate wearing at fancy restaurant."
>>143297"I wouldn't know–I mean, of course I can help! Suits are right over here on these racks, there's a selection of colors to your liking…"
>>143298The unicorn looks through the selection.
"I think black would be good color choice. It goes well with my general..." He's silent for a minute as he thinks of a word, "...color palette."
He turns to smile at the petite mare.
"What do you think?"
>>143299"If you ask me, you can't really go wrong with a dark selection," she says with a nervous smile.
"As for style, maybe 'double-breasted' would look better?"
>>143300"You think so? I do not know much about formal wear but that sounds rather stylish."
>>143301"Two sets of buttons look better on larger stallions…or so I'm told." She looks a bit doubtful.
>>143302>>143294The unicorn looks for a black or dark grey, double-breasted suit, one which is big enough for the large stallion or can be resized in a short amount of time.
"I like your dress, by way. Very nice."
>>143303The yellow-orange mare blushes a bit.
"Thank you, sir. It's actually my ma's, but she let me wear it to Baltimare."
>>143304"You are not Baltimare native? Neither am I, I got here just few days ago."
He turns to look at the mare.
"What is your name?"
>>143303Black and dark grey, unsurprisingly, are fairly numerous, including several in the specifically double-breasted category.
>>143305"Oh, I'm not from far away, just a farm to the west a bit. Your accent, though, is a bit…foreign, if you don't mind my saying that. I'm Amber Sunset, I just got here the other day."
>>143306>>143307"Oh, I do not mind at all. I was born in St. Petershoof in Severyana, and though I have not been in my homeland for many years, I suppose I never gave up my accent. My name is Silver Sword."
Silver chooses a nice black double-breasted suit that fits his large frame, then turns to Amber Grain.
"Alright, Ms. Grain, if I were griffon dresses, where would I be?"
>>143308This ain't your sergeant, bucko"Severyana…that's always struck me as a fairy-tale sort of land with dancing ponies in fur hats," she says, smiling to herself.
"Oh, griffon dresses, um…I think they're in this corner," she says, leading him to the right area.
>>143309Dammit, sorry. Having too many Ambers can confuse me."That is not to say there are not dancing ponies in fur hats in Severyana..."
He follows Amber Sunset to the dresses.
"Let us see, anything sleek? Maybe in red or black?"
>>143310"I'm sure we do, if you don't mind the type of material.
We have a lot of dresses in wool nowadays."
>>143311"Wool? So, nothing in, say, silk?"
>>143312"We do have silk, it might be a little cold in this weather, is all."Ducking out for a quick bite to eat, will be back in 20
>>143313Sure thing."What about silk dress with nice wool or fur coat to go over top of it?"
>>143314She grins.
"That's an excellent idea! Then the dress can be much lighter. What style do you think she'd like?"To herself she thinks,
Miss Sewn will be so happy with all the selling I'm doing!
>>143315"Elegant, classy, sophisticated...just like her..."
>>143315>>143316"Oh, can not forget sexy. Absolutely can not forget that."
>>143316>>143317The mare with a country accent blinks, and reddens a bit at his latter remark.
"I"ll do my best. Red you said, hmmm…" Standing on her hind legs and leaning against the wall with one forehoof, she uses the other to pick up a carmine dress. Although it's difficult for a pony, particularly one without any sartorial training, to know how it would look on a griffon, some elements are obvious. It is a v-neck in front but mirrored with an embroidered lattice of fabric holding together the shoulders. These have long sleeves ending in flared cuffs. As one might expect for a griffon there are holes for wings and a tail. To the best of one's estimate the body is designed to be a snug fit but the skirt would hang loosely; its thin fabric is quite a bit shorter than Amber's skirt.
>>143318Don't feel pressured to accept this one, there are other possibilities now that I actually looked up 40's fashion
>>143318Silver's eyes shine at the sight of the dress.
"...it is perfect! Do you have any white wool or fur coats to go with it?"
>>143320"Oh, it is? I mean, yes, of course! We've got quite a selection of coats to your liking."
>>143320Amber of course leads him to the female coats section, with a variety of woolen and fur articles in grey and white, besides other colors. Interestingly although fur coats are more expensive generally, some fur pieces are much more expensive than others.
>>143321Silver decides to select a fancy white fur coat for a griffon. He turns to Amber again, looking a bit embarassed about what he's about to ask for.
"There is one more thing I would like to ask if you have in stock. I was wondering if you had any lacy lingerie for my griffon. Something seductive, sexy, perfect for, erm...'adventure' in bedroom."
>>143321>>143320Silk has a high markup, by the way
>>143323Amber tries to see what type of fur the coat is made of, whether it is rabbit (the cheapest), fox, or a different creature. Mink might be beyond even this establishment.
The young mare recoils at his last request, looking grossed out.
Come on, don't judge the customer, just...get him what he wants. Even so, it takes a couple of seconds for her to regain her composure.
"Of-of course, underwear is this way..." She leads him to the aisle with female underwear, which is next to the significantly smaller section of male underwear. Articles are grouped by type, ranging from more "functional" types like thermal underwear through panties, brassieres, garters and socks. More "respectable," covering panties in different colors hang next to more lacy lingerie, with the latter having only a couple of colors besides black and white. Different underwear exists for ponies and griffons, with the distinction between the two-besides the shape itself-being a picture of a pony or griffon model, respectively, fully clothed but in a seductive pose. A point of possible interest is how some of these are conjoined with a brassiere of different sizes. Brassieres are also sold as a separate item in a wide variety of styles. Interestingly, this product exists for both ponies and griffons, with the latter having four cups though of a smaller maximum size. Besides these there are socks and stockings-both of the conservative and the raunchy variety-with garters to hold these up.
Amber seems ill at ease to be in this section with Silver and is looking to the side, away from the stock.
>>143325>>143323Why yes. Clubbing small animals so you can wear their skinned bodies is well within the norms of Equestrian culture
>>143325He gives her an apologetic look.
"I am sorry about how awkward request is. I just want to treat her to something she may like."
He finds some black lacy lingerie for his griffon in a fitting size, including a full set panties, brassierers, socks, and garters, in silk if they have them, normal cloth if they don't. He doesn't waste his time here so as to not embarrass the poor mare any further, and leaves the section with her as soon as he's made his selection. There, in the front of the store next to the counter, he asks her a question.
"So...this may seem weird, but since I arrived to city I seem to have had knack for meeting individuals who are also recent arrivals to Baltimare, each with their own unique abilities that work extraordinarily well on quests, missions, or in battle. This may be completely random, but...you would not happen to be like that too, would you?"
>>143327She blinks in surprise.
"Unique?" She seems to mull this over a bit in her mind.
"I don't have any really unique abilities, I'm just a pony trying to get by so I can send some money to my parents."
>>143328He shrugs.
"It was worth trying. So far definition has fit," he counts in his head, "seven different people."
He goes up to the counter with his selected items of clothing, ready to make his purchase.
>>143329"You must meet a lot of interesting ponies, or 'people,' as you call them."She rings up the items. Needless to say, aside from the dress–which though by no means cheap, isn't the highest-tagged of its kind in the store–this armed unicorn went out of his way to get the most expensive items.
>>143330>>143329So what is the full set of items purchased?
>>143330Only the best for his griffon.
"You can say that again. Kirin who became Celestialist nun working for orphanage, Earth Pony native from southern lands who was part of isolated tribe, Lunarist pegasus, Bat Pony thief, Crystal Pony artillerypony..."
>>143331A black double-breasted suit, a red silk dress, a white fur coat, and a full set of black silk lace lingerie including panties, brassierers, socks, and garters.
>>143332Does the suit include shirt and tie? I think we neglected that.
>>143333It definitely should.
>>143332That's about 1013 Bits in total, mostly from the dress. It was cheaper, but now it needs the tie
>>143333Quads command that it does
>>143332"Interesting, it sounds like they have nothing in common at all…">>143335That's certainly cheaper than I expected, especially considering the coat. The suit is middle-of-the-line and not bespoke so it would not be very expensive, though. Amber makes sure to double-check the total from this purchase before telling it to him.
>>143336Describe the coat again? The silk dress should be the dominant inflating factor, given that it's an expensive item in the best of times, and with imports cut off and silk used for parachutes, finding it on the civilian market comes at a price
>>143337Amber doesn't know much about fur coats, considering them morbid and something only
griffons would like. The current popular style is brown or dark grey with white being a little uncommon. Silver picked one before Amber could get a close look at it.
Also let's not forget that all the lingerie is also made of silk, and we know how that tends to get marked up.
>>143338That's a good point
>>1433341227 bits in total
>>143339>>143336"Not at all, but we all managed to be on same quests and missions and did extraordinarily well together."
That is quite the pricetag. Silver does
technically have the money to get them, even if some of it has been promised to others. He bites his lip as he pays for the expensive items, hoping he'll get multiple uses out of them.
>>143339Such an amount of money is more than she's ever held in her entire life, so Amber hopes she didn't make any mistake. She looks a bit jittery.
"It all…must've been swell, considering this celebration."
>>143341>>143342He knows he has the Bits, he's just gonna have to go on a mission soon to make some of that money back.
"Well, on our last mission we busted up arm of international smuggling and trafficking ring and saved number of people, so yeah I would say it went rather well."
>>143343She's not sure how to respond to this. On one hoof, it came out of left field and may be the city-pony equivalent of a joke. On the other hoof, he's got a really big sword.
"Oh, um, congratulations. I wish I was there to see it."
>>143344Judging from his bashful look, it's the result of somepony who is a bit socially awkward at times.
"Heh...sorry. Strange for me to say, I know."
He has his purchases (the suit, the dress, and the lingerie) put into separate boxes for carrying. He smiles at Amber.
"Thank you for helping me with my purchase, I have got to get back to cab. Look me up if you are ever in need of job."
"Look you up? Sorry, I don't think I got your name."
>>143346"Oh, I thought I did, my apologies. My name is Silver Sword, Miss Amber Sunset."
"Okay, Mr. Sword, have a very nice day!" she says farewell.
>>143348>>143342"Goodbye, Miss Sunset!"
He bids the petite mare goodbye, and heads back out to the waiting cab with his purchase in his possession. He gives the driver the address for the hospital as his final stop with the driver.
>>143349The hospital's address is further south and east, near the river
That's a good place to end my session. Let me know if next time we should resume from the restaurant shift
>>143350Indeed it is. Once he arrives, he pays the driver this last fare, thanks him for the rides, and exits the taxi with his possessions.
>>143351Okay. Goodnight!>>143352And so, Silver exits the vehicle and walks towards a public hospital... carrying a dress, a suit, and multiple other items
>>143353At least these items are in boxes. If he can, he puts them in his bags.
Once inside, he trots up to the receptionist.
"Hello, I was wondering if I could see couple of patients, see how they were doing. One is deer buck, and other is pony stallion. They both would have come in with their chest cavities cut open and stitched back togehter."
>>143354The pony at the counter blinks
"Do you have names?"
>>143355"Eh...unfortunately not. They were not in state to give us their names when we found them. I am Silver Sword I was part of group that rescued them from 33 Hoebuck."
>>143356"Let me look through the records. When were they admitted, and by who."
>>143357He nods, and waits.
>>143358She looks up
"That's a question. When were they admitted, and by who?"
>>143359"Oh! Sorry. It was three nights ago, and they would have been admitted by Baltimare PD, I believe."
>>143360"Stabbings aren't that uncommon. But let me see."
She opens the book, and looks through.
"Oh. Well..." She looks back to him
"First, we will need some ID before you can visit."
>>143361"Give me just one second..."
He digs through his bag's pockets a little, before producing his ID and showing it to the receptionist.
>>143362She examines it, and then writes it down on a sheet of paper.
"Alright... The stag is named Mänty Kiire and is in room 223. The pony is not yet identified, and is in room 354. Both are in recovery."
>>143363"Thank you."
Silver goes to visit Mänty first.
>>143364Silver goes upstairs, and finds room 223.
Opening it, surely enough, Silver can see the dark brown head of a stag whose antlers have been sawed off a few inches past the skull.
>>143365Silver peaks his head further in, calling out quietly.
"Hello? Mänty Kiire?"
>>143366The stag moves his head up, towards Silver. His chin and jaw are a lighter color, nearly white, while his coat is a reddish brown. He is lying on his back. He looks old. Perhaps only slightly younger than Silver, perhaps Silver's age. He says nothing.
>>143367"I am Silver Sword. I am not sure if you remember, but I was part of group that rescued you. I wanted to check up on you, see how you were doing."
>>143368"Silver Sword?" The stag speaks. He has a definite accent.
"You say you are one of those who rescued me?"
>>143370"You pulled me off the altar?" He asks
>>143286Is Amber seating the newly arrived couple in Mustard's section, or any of the seven that just arrived after them?
Amber makes sure to ask if the group of 7 is all together.
>>143378The answer: no. It's a group of four, and a group of three
>>143379Biting her lip, Amber gives the outdoor table to the group of four.
>>143380And the couple has just been passed up by a group that came in after them.
[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 4]
>>143381Amber feels a pang of regret of having day-dreamed for even a moment, because she might have peeved a couple of customers.
>>143382More customers trickle in, as one of Larkhaven's tables opens up
>>143384The couple gets Larkhaven's table now.
>>143385>>143384The couple, formerly passed up, gets the next set of seats.
Meanwhile, another three, and four, and two, and five wait
[1d3 = 1][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 1]
>>143387>>143386Thus far, all will wait.
A few more ponies enter, though they seem to want the bar
[1d4 = 2][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3]
>>143388She says,
"Oh, the bar is open if you'd like that," loudly enough for the rest to hear.
>>143389>>143388Among those entering are three ponies in formal suits, all adults, and a stallion, mare and two foals... all of the latter family having those webbed batwings.
Two ponies take Amber up on the offer to go to the bar. The fact that she doesn't see them come back may be indication enough there were seats available
[1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 2]
>>143389>>143391And another Larkhaven table opens up
Amber asks if the three are together. Maybe it might be possible to get an extra chair for the high table…
>>143393The three are together, yes
[1d4 = 1][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 2]
>>143394Amber accompanies them and looks for an unused chair to move to the table.
>>143395>>143396They prefer to wait for a table with lager capacity
In other news, two tables have left
[1d5 = 5][1d5 = 5]
>>143397>>143395Either mustard Trim is the most amazing waiter ever, or the protections outside have done very little to retain the heat, because two more Mustard Trim tables are out.
>>143398So four empty tables in total?
>>143399Three, considering that Amber just seated one. Two Mustard Trim, one Larkhaven.
The bat family has to be moved outside to Mustard Trim's table, where Amber will feel more comfortable there's capacity. Amber asks the three in formal attire whether they'd be comfortable sitting outside as well.
>>143401The trouble with bats is that, however far you banish them, they always seem to end up on pony land. The patio will have to do for this set. They are lead to the table wordlessly, although it's unsure whether the squeaking noise Amber hears is from an opening and closing door, or a bat.
The three ponies would again prefer to sit inside. There's some concern about the humidity and their clothing.
[1d4 = 1][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1]
>>143402Seems satisfactory, though indoor seating is scarce.
>>143403[1d5 = 5][1d4 = 2]
>>143404I'mma re-roll, because the dice despise Mustard Trim
[1d5 = 1]Another couple shows up. Looks at least in their thirties, and both wear semi-formal attire.
>>143405>>143403And one of De Sew's tables opens up
[1d4 = 3][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3]
>>143406>>143403As another family arrives (more bats. Is this an invasion?). Another three ponies also arrive
>>143405These can be given Larkhaven's high table.
>>143406Finally, a spot for the three.
"Thank you for your patience."
>>143408They hastily take their seats, giving a nod to Amber.
The couple is lead to the table not long after arriving
[1d5 = 3][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3]
>>143394>>143409[1d5 = 2][1d5 = 3][1d4 = 4]
>>143410One of Melon Mangrove's tables has opened up,
As has one of Cream Pop's
A trio of young adults enters, as well as a larger group
>>143411Amber breathes in and out. She asks the trio politely whether they would rather sit at a table or be at the bar. If there's room at Melon's table she'll put the larger group there.
>>143412The trio isn't
per se opposed to seating at the bar... But the bar is no less crowded than the remainder of the restaurant
[1d2 = 2]
>>143412>>143413The larger group won't fit at the one, freed table
>>143414"I'm sorry, but y'all will have to wait for more seating to be available."
>>143415[1d4 = 3][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 3]
>>143417>>143415One of De Sew's tables opens as a mare, a stallion, and a small foal arrive
I don't think there's room at one of De Sew's tables for a large group, so another of Melon's will have to be freed….
She gives De Sew's table to the small family.
>>143419They are seated,
[1d4 = 3] [1d5 = 2][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 1]
>>143419>>143420Good news!
One of Melon Mangrove's tables just opened up
Another couple has arrived
>>143421Splendid! The large group can finally sit down.
>>143422And they sit
their black asses down [YouTube] Barbershop (6/11) Movie CLIP - Rosa Parks, Rodney King and Jesse Jackson (2002) HD
[Embed] A couple is still there
[1d4 = 2] [1d5 = 1][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 3][1d4 = 2]
>>143425>>143422Another couple enters
And another table of Melon Mangrove's leaves
>>143425>>143426The couple there first gets to sit at Melon's table.
>>143427One couple remains
[1d4 = 3] [1d5 = 2][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 2][1d4 = 3]
>>143427>>143428... But another couple enters. As does an older mare with two adolescent colts.
>>143429Oh dear! Amber frets about this, though less so than before when it was even more overwhelming.
>>143430[1d2 = 2] [1d4 = 2] [1d4 = 4] [1d4 = 4][1d2 = 2] [1d5 = 3][1d2 = 1][1d4 = 3]
>>143431>>143430The mare with the two adolescent colts is considering turning away
But another old couple with a middle aged couple in the same group enter
>>143433>>143430But one of De Sew's tables, and one of Cream pop's booths opens up
>>143432"Oh no, please don't leave! A table just opened up." She gives them Cream Pop's booth. The first remaining couple gets De Sew's table.
>>143435Roll diplomacy for good measure
>>143437>>143435It looks like this succeeds
The two couples (one group) remain waiting
[1d4 = 4] [1d5 = 4][1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2] [1d4 = 3]
>>143437>>143438>>143439One couple enters, as does another family with a young looking mare and stallion with two small foals.
Two tables leave. Both Larkhaven.
>>143438Amber asks the two couples,
"You wouldn't mind eating at separate tables that are close together, would you?"
>>143441A mare answers
“The point of going out with my son and daughter in law, is to go out with my son and daughter in law.”
>>143442"Erm, of course. Please wait a moment." The two couples not affiliated with them are called forth and given Larkhaven's tables.
Spark continues down the road with the wolves.
>>143444Trips, held securely in hoof
I bet the next post will be amazing!
>>143449Be patient, it'll likely be a few days.
>>143444The road continues, curving in a large arc, occasionally intersecting with or splitting off into what must be other major roads. The group periodically passes the slant-roofed, mostly one or two story buildings that dot the length of the road: a furniture store here, and a firestation there. But this is no commercial avenue, nor residential street. It is a larger thoroughfare that evidently connects parts of the city, and for the most part commercial and residential constructions exist further away from the road. Yet few trucks, carts and automobiles pass them, and even fewer pedestrians. Some do, forcing the group to stay well clear on the side. Though most of the length is adorned with sidewalks, in areas there is only the snow covered grass, forcing them to walk in the snow.
Perhaps it isn't the occupation that keeps ponies off the roads. There is something unpleasant about the air. The temperature has not risen above 20 with the afternoon sun, and whereas the forest had trees, and the denser parts of the city multistory buildings, to block the flow of the wind, it blows unimpeded here, perhaps even funneled by the buildings around it. Snowflakes, sometimes large, sometimes small, fall in small numbers from the clouded and overcast sky. There is a hint of diesel and coal smoke in the air. The doctor tries to keep his legs close together, and his head closer to his chest in the cold and wind. Waabishki is is not fazed by the wind and weather, but her nose twitches at the faint but unwelcome smell. Makade is not bothered by either, simply pressing forward.
Roll die
>>143454The group turns off onto an avenue, and then a couple blocks to Rainey Street. Spark's journey is uneventful, really, though drones in uniform and with guns occasionally stand in pairs at street corners. The distance travelled by the creatures in total isn't actually that great, perhaps three and a half miles in full. Rainey street is two lanes, paved in concrete, and sided by parallel parking spaces and street lamps. Carts dominate over automobiles, which are scarce, at least out in the open. To each side are rowhouses, with a small patch of grass or tree in front of some and a short walkway to each door. The houses are two floors, though often windows are placed in the slanted or sometimes gambrel roofs, and walls vary in color from grey brick to bright red, usually alternating so that houses can be differentiated from each other.
325 Rainey Street is a house of approximately this description - a bright red two floor brick house with a window appearing out of a gambrel roof, closed blinds on the windows, a ight orange wooden door with a small window on the front, and a leafless tree only twice Spark's height in front.
Spark has arrived
>>143455Spark knocks on the door.
>>143456For a moment, there is nothing. But Spark sees a movement through the small window, and the door opens part way. Through the crack, the muzzle of a grey unicorn sticks out, looks over to Spark.
"Who is it?"
>>143457"Makade and company. May I ask you who you are as well?"
>>143458With a hint of uncertainty, or unease, the pony answers
"Ply Press"
Barely a second has passed before his eyes turn past Spark and to those behind him. He quickly swings open the door, and Spark can see that he wears a green sweater. He smiles, and turns his head back, yelling into the room
"Petal Dew, Lyka is here!"
>>143459Hmm...
Spark turns to Makade to see his reaction.
>>143460Makade leans a bit to the side and slightly lowers his make, while Waabiski’s ears rise to attention with intrigue.
>>143461Spark motions them inside.
>>143462The doctor moves forward rather quickly, shaking and patting his fur before entering to remove the few flakes of snow.
"So good to be out of the cold" He remarks
Waabishki is next, and she moves her head around looking from side to side. Makade is last, cautiously walking in. Ply Press walks forward towards Makade, and asks
"What brings you back?"
The entry foyer is kind of small, with stairs to the right, and over to the left is a larger room with wood floors, a chair, two couches, a radio, a couple tables and several pictures up. There is a small hallway between the stairs and the room
>>143463Spark watches if Makade will answer.
>>143464Makade looks over to Spark, with an almost unsettled expression, as if he expects Spark to answer for him. When this does not occur, he turns back to look at Ply Press.
"We are here for... well, for medical services for someone from the Zagaskway. We were... well, we need to stay somewhere, for at least a few hours. So I came here."
A rose red unicorn mare with her brown mane tied back and wearing a blue shirt walks down the stairs.
"Lyka! You're back!" She immediately runs to Makade, and sits down in front of him, pressing her hooves into each of his cheeks
>>143466Makade folds his ears back as she continues rubbing his cheeks, and then expresses surprise and then fear as she comes in for a hug
"It's been so long. I was worried for you!"
Waabishki, who sits at a safe distance, desn't hide her smile
>>143467"I'm sorry for the unannounced arrival. The circumstances have been a bit unavoidable."
>>143468She looks up for a moment in the direction of Spark. Ply Press is already looking his way. She gets up, an walks over towards Spark, granting Makade a reprieve. "Why hello! I'm Petal Dew. Who are you?"
She offers a hoof to shake
>>143469Spark shakes her hoof.
"I'm Spark. It's nice to meet you."
>>143470She shakes his hoof. Her shake is firm, but she releases perhaps more quickly than her excitement would imply.
"What brings you here?"
>>143471"There was a bit of a medical emergency in Madake's village. We had to transport his friend over to the hospital here for treatment."
Spark is curious about the new name, but figures that they must have a nickname for each other.
>>143472She turns over back to Makade, and quickly walks back to him
"'Makade'? Using your tribal name?"
Without warning, she presses her hoof onto Makade's head, much to his displeasure.
"I think it's cute."
>>143473"I hope you don't mind us staying for a little while. We won't be allowed back to the hospital to check on him until the procedure is done."
>>143474"Oh, not at all! We don't get visitors too often since moving here. Why don't you sit yourself down, and make yourself comfortable on those couches. That one right there we got new from Stinny's, since we had to leave the one we had back at the ranch. Do you need anything? Maybe anything to drink, or to eat?"
>>143475"I do hate to ask you for such a favor, but I'm sure everyone would like something warm to help thaw out."
>>143476"Oh, it's no problem at all. Let me make some tea for you."
And like that, she runs out of the room and through a door that enters into
what is presumably the living room over on the left.
This leaves the doctor, who sits on a couch, Waabishki, who sits on the ground, and Makade, who has not made it far past the entry foyer. Ply Press continues standing, looking at the group.
"Well, uh... make yourself comfortable here."
>>143477"I don't mean to pry, but she mentioned a ranch. Did you move here recently?"
>>143478"Oh. Yes. We had a property out in Lake County with 40 acres, mostly forest. It was nice, very nice. Not really a 'ranch' because we didn't raise animals, but we call it that. We had it for very many years. I bought it not that long after getting the job with Cardinal from a friend of my father... not long after marrying Petal. But yes, we had to sell it. The, uh, the Changelings... they don't like ponies who live out in the forest. Fortunately I knew somepony in Whinnyapolis who had the house here, so I got a good deal on this house. It's nice, but I miss the backyard.
>>143479"Interesting. Maybe I will take it off their hooves sometime. What's this job that you had?"
>>143480He tilts his head at the "Take it off their hooves" comment, but he quickly answers Spark's comments
"Cardinal Machinery. I worked as a liaison with the Lumber industry. What I would do is engineering work adjusting and repairing the machines that they sell that slice lumber into veneer. And especially I would work on the machines that would press wood together. I still work with them, sort of."
>>143482"Well... The company was placed under a regulatory commission, and is under new management. But my knowledge as an engineer is still valued, so I still work on press machines."
>>143483"How's the management?"
>>143484"It's, well... It's different."
>>143486"Well, they are Changelings."
>>143487"Right. Do they mistreat you?"
>>143488"Well... let's say they have a very particular idea of what they want, and how they think it should be done, and they, well they don't always have the best understanding of the machines or the processes in question, or the idiosyncrasies of the local timber."
>>143489"New management hardly ever understands."
>>143490"Yeah... heh heh. It's different under...
creatures who are a bit less flexible than some others."
At this time, Petal comes back in the room, looking out and yelling
"Water is ready! Do you want tea, coffee maybe?"
>>143491Spark motions to the wolves to have first pick.
>>143492Makade:
"Nothing"
Petal:
"Oh, but surely you must"
Makade:
"It's okay"
Petal:
"Don't worry, we stocked up during the War. We have enough to give out."
Waabishki:
"I will take tea"
Petal's eyes grow wide
"You brought a
girl? Oooooh! What is her name?"
Ply:
"Are you just now noticing?"
And with this, Makade and Waabishki's expression changes
>>143493Spark is not sure what to say, so he sees how the wolves will handle it.
>>143494Waabishki looks startled, finding herself less safe than she was before. She wraps her tail around herself.
Petal comes into the room, smiling and drawing breath
"Is this your 'someone' she's so pretty."
She comes closer to Waabishki, who scrunches
Waabishki:
"No."
Petal:
"You two would look so cute together"
Waabishki
"
No."
Maakade smiles, evidently enjoying this. Petal tries to come even closer to Waabishki, seemingly to want to make some sort of physical contact, but Waabishki bares her teeth, causing Petal to back off
"Still."
>>143495"You said it has been a long time. How long has it been since Makade came by last?"
>>143496Ply Press, still standing, answers
"We haven't seen him at all since the beginning of the War. Not when he left for training. And not much really even since he went up to Zagaskway."
>>143497waves back>>143443Hmmm.... Roll diplomacy
>>143499>>143443Wait... I am confused as to what is being attempted here
>>143500To get them to wait for a table that can seat four ponies.
>>143443>>143501I believe that one couple is waiting, along with two sets that are between three and five.
>>143502The couple has to get a high table.
>>143503They are seated, as those left waiting are placated
[1d4 = 3] [1d5 = 4][1d4 = 1][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 4][1d4 = 3]
>>143504>>143503And another Larkhaven table clears out, as still another small group arrives
>>143505Oh Princess, I hope that this ends soon... she wishes to herself.
Amber proposes to the group of three to eat at a high table, bringing an extra chair from another high table (leaving it suitable as a table for one).
>>143506The third pony is a bit skeptical
"Does that really leave us with enough room for our food, though?"
>>143507"...I don't know what you want to order, maybe not."
>>143509>>143508After a moment, they answer
"Sure, we'll give it a try"
[1d4 = 4] [1d4 = 1] [1d5 = 5][1d4 = 2] [1d4 = 4][1d4 = 3]
>>143510She smiles happily.
"You'll like it, I'm sure."
>>143511They are seated. The lack of table space is definitely a possible issue, but it is so.
One of Mustard Trim's tables clears out
[1d5 = 5]
>>143512>>143511...
Two of Mustard Trim's tables have cleared out
>>143513She goes to the group of five.
"There are seats available for you now."
>>143514They are seated
But what of the two connected couples?
>>143515Uh oh, she had suspected she neglected something. Is there space at one of Mustard's tables for all four of them?
>>143517With a quick apology she brings them all over.
>>143518And they are seated
>>143519Hopefully there are no more headaches.
>>143520[1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 3] [1d5 = 5][1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 4] [1d5 = 4][1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 4]
>>143522Life is hard, life is stressful.
>>143523Another Mustard Trim table opens up, and another larkhaven table opens up, as a group of four mares (looks like friends) and a larger party enters
>>143524She asks the ladies,
"Hello, would you all like a table or would you prefer to sit at the bar?"
>>143525"Well... a table might be better..."
>>143526A small sigh escapes the petite mare.
"There's a table on the patio."
>>143527And thus, that table is seated.
[1d4 = 2] [1d4 = 1] [1d5 = 2][1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 2] [1d5 = 1][1d4 = 1] [1d4 = 1]
>>143528>>143527Some singles come in, but no tables leave
>>143529A single who intends to dine is given the high table with one chair, the others are informed they'll have to enjoy themselves at the bar.
>>143530And so, all tables are filled again
[1d4 = 2] [1d4 = 4] [1d5 = 4][1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 4] [1d5 = 1][1d4 = 2]
>>143531>>143530One of De Sew's tables opens, as does one of Larkhaven's. Meanwhile, another table of Larkhaven opens
>>143532Larkhaven's patrons must be in a hurry.... She tries to see if the large group can be squeezed together at De Sew's table.
>>143534>>143533Pack 'em in like cord wood
>>143535Fortunately they seemed accepting of it, having seen how crowded the restaurant is.
>>143536It's also a young group, perhaps teenagers or young adults
>>143537I wish I had a group of friends like that I could do things with, she thinks wistfully to herself.
Maybe when I get settled down more.
>>143538A pony can dream though. A pony can dream
[YouTube] Futurama - A man can dream though... A man can dream.
[Embed] The real question is, how many more cycles of tables do you want to go through?
>>143539It's getting a little repetitive, even for me. I've been looking forward to whatever happens next tonight.
>>143540The patrons come in waves, and as Amber stands strong, the wave crests and breaks. More enter, but from this point onwards, the number entering is fewer than those leaving. Amber catches a break, and nears the end of her shift.
>>143541Although it's less stressful for Amber she still must focus on her job. The strain of standing relatively still for a long period of time and her hunger makes it difficult for her, but she continues to put on a cheerful demeanor for newcomers while wishing those who leave a good night.
>>143542More... then more... And then finally, 10:30. The cut off for new patrons, at least outside of the bar
>>143543She sits down on the floor by the entrance and rubs at her eyes with a fetlock, yawning. It takes her a moment to consider whether she's actually free at this time.
>>143544The restaurant isn't closed yet but it is for new patrons. No more hostess work, but she can't leave yet either.
>>143545Amber goes into the restaurant and tries not to get in anypony's way. She looks around to see how the waiters have managed and if they're as tired as she is.
Melon has become more lax, talking to a table. Larkhaven, slightly displeased, stands near the kitchen. De Sew is still moving. Cream Pop isn't visible at the moment. Mustard Trim is still running around. Their jobs are not done yet,
>>143547They're doing pretty well for themselves, I hope I can get myself to keep such a brisk pace even on busy days. Seeing what Melon is doing, an idea forms in her mind. She goes to a nearby table and politely asks the occupants,
"Hello all, have you been having a good time?"
>>143548A skinny white stallion looks up to Amber
"Uh... sure!"
>>143549"We've, um, had a lot of customers tonight. It's a nice day to eat out, isn't it?" she asks cheerfully.
But now I have to go to sleep>>143550"Well, yeah. It's fun to go out with friends."
>>143551Goodnight!"It brings joy to my heart to see so many ponies enjoy the company of friends, and I'm glad to be able to help them in a small way. Hopefully I can enjoy the pleasure myself soon, but having just arrived at Baltimare it might be a little while."
>>143498"That's quite some time. Did he write at all?"
>>143554"Oh yes. We sent him letters, and we got a few from him. One at the beginning of the War, one when he was sent in for training, and one just after its end. But we hadn't heard from him in months. We were worried about him."
>>143555Spark takes a look around the room.
"The changelings haven't made it particularly easy for the mail to be sent to and from a forest. But, hopefully that will start to change in the coming months."
>>143556"No. No, they haven't."
And after a pause, he adds
"Why is that?"
>>143557waves
>>143559"Just a feeling and a hope that things will be right again."
>>143560"A hope... yes..."
At this point, Petal has provided tea, as well as some sort of pastry
>>143561"Have you given up, or do you see hope left out there?"
>>143562"Well..." This question causes him pause, and Petal starts talking to either the Doctor or Makade - hard to tell.
"Things could be a whole lot worse. I have my health, my lovely Petal Dew, a nice house, and our Lyka is back. Things could really be a whole lot worse."
>>143552"Well, um, I don't want to bother you any longer.
Enjoy the rest of these fixin's and have a good evening!" She goes into the kitchen for the unenviable prospect of begging for daily bread.
>>143564>>143548Aww... I'll have the stallion make his response to the original question
The stallion is slightly awkward, but he answers
"Well, we here know each other from school. But you can also get to know ponies at the public swimming pool at the Williams Society."
>>143565Ignore my last reply, then"The Williams Society? Is that close?"
>>143566"Well, they have a few places all around, but uh, yeah, there's one up north a couple miles, and one over in Westtown."
>>143567"Thank you, I'll go there when I have time. Anything I should bring with me?"
>>143568"Well, if you are looking to swim, then swimming outfits. Same for any sports."
>>143569"You have to wear clothes to go swimming?" She seems surprised by this.
>>143570"Heh heh, no. Just if you want to keep your mane, coat and tail in order. Or if you want to be as sleek in the water as possible, for speed."
>>143571"Oh, thanks. You seem to know this city pretty well."
>>143572"Some. I've lived here all my life." He answers
>>143573"I've noticed there's more than one schoolhouse around. Are there any that provide music lessons?
>>143574"What do you mean? Like a class in secondary school, or special training?"
>>143575"I'm not sure what I'd qualify for, but I hope to get professional instruction someday if I can get a little bit of money. I like to sing and play stringed instruments."
>>143576"Oh. Well find you a band or a musician playing around at a bar or nightclub. They might give you some help."
>>143577She smiles.
"I think something like that might happen soon. Thank you, mister."
>>143578"Uh, you're welcome." He says, smiling
>>143579Now it's time for
>>143564
>>143564The same zebra cook is there, as is a griffin male. Off to the side, in the back, is an unguarded loaf of bread, with dark crust.
>>143581Best not to be impolite....She approaches the zebra cook.
"Hello there, Mister...I don't think I got your name, sorry."
>>143583"Mister Udo." She pauses to collect her thoughts before continuing.
"I hate to trouble you like this, but I'm downright famished and haven't had a bite all day. May I...may I please have some soup and bread?" She smiles sweetly at him.
>>143584He turns around towards Amber, and places a fore-knee against a counter, smiling
"Well I don't know miss. Can you?"
>>143585"I'd really like it. Payday hasn't arrived for me yet so I haven't been able to buy food, but when it does I'll pay you back."
>>143586"Ma'am. I'm sure the owner doesn't mind if you take some left-over or sent back soup or bread" he answers
>>143587"Thank you kindly." Without another word she finds a bowl of soup that isn't marked to be sent out-or, if there isn't one, she grabs a bowl and fills it from a pot of soup. She also takes part of the loaf and finds a place to sit down to eat.
>>143588There is a bowl of an orange substance an the dark brown loaf. A booth in Cream Pop's section has opened.
>>143589Silently and without getting in anypony's way Amber walks over on three hooves. Sliding into the booth she thanks the princesses-wherever they may be-for letting her have a meal on this day.
"Bless this bounty with your radiance and majesty, and thank you for the sunlight and kindness it took to bring these gifts to this humble abode..."She digs in rather quickly, not having any conversation to spend time in. She would rather savor the flavor of the food but given limited time eating hurriedly is the best option.
>>143590The soup has a medium thickness to it, and a dark-orange red color, with leek, potato, a bit of alfalfa, carrot, and celery. And paprika. Lots of paprika. Perhaps more paprika than Amber would have preferred. The bread has a slightly tougher outer layer, and both the bread and the soup are cold, much colder than Amber could expect they were intended to be served.
>>143591She's grateful that it's a healthy meal at least and although the heavy spices make it hard to get down quickly, it does taste...interesting. She sops up the soup with the bread to soften it and make both easier to eat.
Maybe it'd taste better if it was warmer. As she's eating she keeps an eye on how the waiters are doing.
>>143592Cream Pop takes note of Amber's presence, given that she is in his section. Salt Mixer is still busy at the bar. Larkhaven is a bit lazy in his movements, and Mustard Trim runs frantically back and forth the few times he leaves the patio. De Sew and Melon Mangrove are not visible here.
The bread goes pretty well with the soup.
>>143593Amber looks at Mustard with a hint of regret.
He's burning the wind moving so fast, he's going to wear himself out. I wanted to talk with him a bit, I guess that'll have to wait. I don't think I can even help without getting in the way... She checks the time and with a sense of urgency finishes the meal, trying to get the last crumbs and bit of soup. Once she does so she carries the bowl back to the kitchen sink.
She asks somepony, perhaps the griffon,
"Excuse me, do you happen to have a pen or pencil?"
>>143594The griffin narrows his eyes and looks at her oddly
"Did you lose the one at the hostess stand?"
He has a hint of an accent, and it's a bit different from what she's heard before.
>>143595She shakes her head.
"Nope, don't worry. I, erm, just wanted to write a note." She bashfully backs away and heads back out of the kitchen, making sure to grab a paper napkin or towel on the way. Is the pen at the hostess stand still there?
>>143598The pen is there, on the side of the stand, next to a piece of paper
Amber puts the pen in her mouth and writes the following message on the napkin:
Mustard,
I have to go now to meet a pony named Dark Descent. I'm told he's the owner of the Club Maurice on Falabella and I was asked to go see him before midnight. Not sure what it is or why tonight but it must be important.
Sorry I don't have time to chat tonight. See you tomorrow.
-Amber
The mouthwriting is surprisingly decent though the pattern on the paper breaks up the letters a bit.
Once Amber is finished she folds up the napkin, puts the pen back on the stand and goes to Salt Mixer. "When Mustard is finished could you hoof this to him?" She slides the snapkin over the bar (obviously in a dry area).
>>143600"Hmmm?" It takes her a moment to notice that Amber is talking to her
"Yeah, sure."
>>143601"Oh, and could you tell me where the Club Maurice is?
I've been told it's on Falabella but I don't know where that is.
It's not too far, is it?"
>>143602"Club Maurice? That's over on east side, a bit south of here. Follow 13th.... uh, take a right to get to thirteenth from here, but follow13th until you get to Fallabella, then go south about... oh, I don't know how long. Some blocks. But you'll see the sign."
>>143603"How long would it take to get there at a brisk trot?
If it's alright with you, I'd like to be excused now and make it within an hour, hopefully having time to stop at my apartment on the way." She asks this nervously, but not in a shameful sort of way, more like a filly asking for permission to go somewhere.
>>143604She looks up at the clock
Amber is basically asking to leave before the nominal end of her shift/get out of cleaning up. Roll diplomacy
>>143605"Please, it's really important. I'm not going there to have fun, but I've been called on business."[1d20+4 = 21]
>>143606"Well... Okay, but you're going to have to stay longer to clean up next time." She answers
>>143607"I don't mind. Oh, thank you!" She pauses, then asks,
"How long does it take to get there again?"
>>143608"It can depend, but maybe 20 minutes"
>>143609"Alright. Thank you again and goodnight." Amber fastens her head scarf and cloak and heads out at a canter's pace. However, the direction she's going is that of her apartment.
>>143610It's a bit chilly, and the sidewalk is wet. There are numerous lights, and a few ponies, carts, and automobiles.
>>143611Amber avoids any visible puddles in her way. The combination of her clothing, leaving a heated building and exertion helps stave off the cold.
>>143612With all the clothing that she wears, she'll be hot, if anything.
It takes her some time, but she arrives back at her apartment
>>143613Amber takes the time to wipe off her hooves before going inside, but otherwise is in a hurry. She takes off her clothing, relieves herself in the bathroom, and takes a 2-minute shower. After shaking off most-but not all-of the excess water she straightens her hair with a brush and puts her dress back on, making sure it's straight. All in all, much faster than the average city mare could realistically achieve. Once her cloak and headscarf's back on she heads out again, this time at a trot heading south to the 13th or Falabella, whichever one she reaches first on the way.
Glad I took the time to look presentable. I hope the chill doesn't get to me but I shouldn't be out long.
>>143614I'm skeptical of her ability to dry herself, but otherwise this is as described. Fallabella runs north to south, and Amber goes first west to Fallabella, and then south along it
>>143615If she knows the address number of the club she should know what side of the road it's on. Unfortunately, she is not completely dry but this state of affairs could be chalked up to the weather, and her woolen dress ought to help keep her warm.
>>143616Amber goes down the street until she comes to the location indicated. To her left is a rather long building mostly unassuming on the outside with white colored walls and at least two floors in height. There is a revolving door, and above that, neon illuminated lights saying "Club Maurice." If there are any kinds of special decorations or themes, they are not illuminated; not tonight.
>>143617Amber's heart beats faster as she comes to this unfamiliar place. She looks side to side before venturing inside.
>>143618The streets are hardly empty, with ponies passing. As soon as Amber enters, there is a Diamond Dog standing to her left. He is giant, and buff. Though he stares her down, he says nothing, and leaves Amber to herself. Shortly through the entrance Amber can see the interior with red carpet floors, and a hall with tables, an open dancing area, and a second floor railing above, with booths underneath. A few dim lights move. There is music as well; perhaps not the jazz or swing style she may have been expecting, but something a bit more classical in style. A viol plays wildly, with an intoxicated enthusiasm that varies between rapture and frantic escape. There are a number of ponies inside at various tables and booths, mostly couples and single individuals.
>>143619Amber is taken aback by the beautiful interior, which is a pleasant surprise to say the least. The interior is nothing short of palatial for the humble farm pony, with the music only reinforcing this display of class. She's so transfixed by a place totally out of her league that she forgets to move. Without having taken off her burlap cloak she certainly looks out of place.
>>143620At least for the moment, this is okay. The door's silent guardian stares at Amber, but thus far, he is alone in noticing her. On the dance floor, a couple - they look intoxicated - try and fail to match the pace of the viol. At a table a pair converse, and in a booth on the far side, if Amber squints at the shadowed booth, a couple makes out. At the railing on the second floor, a pony stands, looking to the left. From the way he moves his foreleg, he must be talking to a second pony just out of view, hidden by the ceiling of the floor above Amber.
Amber blushes and looks away from the far booth once she sees their activity. She turns to the diamond dog guardian and nervously tries to speak up, but her voice sounds a little squeaky. "Um, excuse me, mister, but a "Dark Denizen" asked me to see him. Do you know where I can find him?"
>>143622He asks,
"Who sent you?"
It almost sounds as if he whistles these words, not because his voice occasionally breaks, but because there is an almost harmonic quality in his high pitched voice.
>>143623"Today a well-dressed mare in an automobile told me I would be sent for, and this evening a diamond dog told me to come meet Dark Denizen before midnight. He told me Mr. Denizen owns this nightclub, is that right?"
>>143624"Yes"
He almost lingers on the "y" sound, for a "Yyyyes"
He turns his head a bit to his left, and to Amber's right. He nods
"In an office in the back there. Your right."
>>143625"Um, okay, thank you." She follows this direction.
>>143626Amber walks down, past a set of stairs leading up, past a few more booths, and towards the right side. More of the nightclub moves behind her and to her left, as evidenced by the sounds, and the waiter carrying drinks who moves by, but Amber goes forward, finding a set of doors on the right.
>>143627Amber heads forward, fast enough to have some sense of urgency but not so fast that she might inadvertently get in anypony's way. When she arrives at the doors she cautiously opens one and pokes her head through.
>>143628A door moves open, to enter into a small hallway. Near the end of it is a peppered black and grey stallion, who observes Amber, before giving a nod
>>143629Everypony is so serious, it makes me feel uncomfortable....She stops in front of the stallion, unsure of where she should go next.
>>143630He looks down at Amber and examines her. But after a few seconds, he wordlessly opens a hardwood door next to him
"You may see her."
>>143631"Thank you...," she says, uncertainly. Walking through the entrance, she tries to see what kind of room it is.
Sorry for dragging this on, looking forward to continuing tomorrow!
>>143632Entering into the room, Amber sees that it is definitely an office. The walls themselves are brightly varnished wood, with big shelves to each side, and a big walnut desk in the center. There are a number of items of curiosity; a purple geode sits on the left of the desk, and another with a pink color on the third row of the left shelf, and these are accompanied by many odd rocks with sedimentary bands. In front of the left shelf is a large log of what seems to be petrified wood. Yet not every item of curiosity is inorganic; on the shelf above is a preserved pink salamander, and another almost albino looking fish, or perhaps amphibian. Nor is everything lifeless. On the right side of the room is a fish tank with a crayfish-like at the bottom, and several slender, colorless fish.
All that is said above are things that might meet Amber's wandering eye in moments of anxiety or boredom, as for now her attention is most likely on what sits in front of her. Behind the desk is a mare, perhaps a little larger in size than the average. Her mane has this almost faux fur quality to it, and its jet black hair would certainly shine if the yellow light of the room were not so dim. Her coat is perhaps her most unusual feature, for her -red brown fur varies in color from point to paint, sometimes more red, more often brown, and occasionally speckled black. She looks very much the color of rust, or perhaps even dried blood. Her face bears an almost perfectly neutral expression, and her long muzzle ends with two incisors that hang out over her lips. The two large, brown wings that angle up beside her are webbed, not a unique quality among the ponies she's seen today, but the large finger-like hooks at their apertures stand out among what amber has seen before. She is relaxed back in her chair, and her eyes - locked on Amber - are the same pale pink color as the salamander on the shelf, or even the fish in the tank.
>>143634Everything about this room catches Amber by surprise and she doesn't know how to respond.
Rocks? Strange creatures? Not what I expected in a nightclub office. The strange-looking mare, looking odd and un-ponylike in every respect, reminds Amber of a gargoyle. She's starting to almost wish it was a sleazy kind of nightclub owner instead-if this is indeed the owner-even a griffon like Guido.
That being said, Amber has no option but to slowly approach, though a small part of her is regretting coming here at all.
>>143641The air is filled with the smell of cigarette smoke. Not the smell that lingers in the air of rooms long accustomed to smoke, but rather the smell of a fresh cigarette, one that burns even now, as Amber sits before her.
The dark red-brown pony before Amber looks somewhat masuline in her long muzzle and her sheer, stallion-equaling size. Yet in every other regard - eye lashes, choice of mane styling, and even her slim torso and curves - she is adequately feminine, if not necessarily who Amber would have chosen for a mate. If she were a colt, that is. She speaks
"Hello there, little pony."
Her voice is strange. That much was to be expected. What is unexpected is the
way in which it sounds strange. She has no strong accent. Not much accent at all, except what a foreigner might call Equestrian. Nor does her voice deviate from what may be expected of a pony mare - it's appropriately high pitched. What is strange, rather, is that the voice does not sound like it is coming from in front of Amber. The voice seems to come from behind, as if from an echo, or indeed, as if the words were directly projected into Amber's head. But surely they do not, as the creature's mouth opens with the words. She has a golden tooth on the bottom left, and her tongue seems a bit slimmer and tapered more than Amber would expect in a pony.
"You are the one called?"
>>143643The younger mare likely stands below eye level; her pupils narrow suddenly with the odd sound of the creature's voice.
"Y-yes. I was...um, told to meet, uh, Dark Denizen, by, um, a diamond dog." She's quite visibly trembling despite the dress and cloak covering most of her body.
"Are you...are you Dark Denizen?"
>>143644"Yes." She says plainly, and she sits up from her formerly relaxed position, and looks Amber up and down. Her lips pull back ever so slightly in a faint smile.
"Do you normally dress so heavily?" She asks.
>>143645Blinking, she replies,
"It's, um, a cold day outside."
>>143646She nods, and has a more proper smile now. Her front fangs and teeth are a bit more visible.
"Indeed. Let me ask you. What do you know about why you are here? Or rather, where you are?"
>>143647Biting her lip, Amber shifts uneasily from hoof to hoof, not wanting to look at the creature directly.
"I, um...I don't know.
I told a pony that I needed bits and I was told to wait for a message. Later I was told to come here."
>>143648"Oh, don't spare my feelings. Tell me. What do you
think is going on?"
>>143649"I thought, maybe...maybe I was being hired. I can play the mandolin. It...it might not be an instrument you want, but, um, I can learn another," she responds, with a glimmer of hope but carrying a much stronger note of anxiety.
>>143650Her lips pull back a little more, and then a "heh." She answers
"Maybe in time, if you can play. If I am still here... Tell me, are you from this area?"
>>143651"Technically...I'm from a farm outside Baltimare. I came here a couple of days ago, erm, miss."
>>143652She nods, seeming pleased
From a sound behind, the door cracks open, and the mare looks up.
"
Uh, denizen"
"Yes?"
"
The inspector came back"
Her ears, with those strange tufts, move up, and her attention
"Did you offer him drinks?"
"
Yes... He wouldn't take them. He, he says we need the work done by Wednesday."
And then, in a snap,
"
How does he expect us to do that so quickly?!"
With her teeth bared, and after a moment
"
If he wants a new door, I'll rip one in him!"
With this she throws a hoof on the table, and scratches into it. Perhaps Amber was expecting a claw instead.
"I'll... I just thought you needed to know."
The stallion closes the door, and for a moment, Denizen is distracted, looking down in distressed anger, and Amber is for some seconds no longer the subject of her own interview.
>>143653Denizen's outburst causes the hairs on Amber's coat to stand on end and she wonders if she could make a quiet exit unnoticed or if she would be stopped by the employees.
It's okay, she's not angry at me...just...don't do anything that'll rile her up, and leaving all of a sudden might do that. She elects to shuffle off to the side and sit down quietly.
>>143654The smile is gone, and does not return. Her entire attitude does not shift. With the stallion gone, Denizen's gaze turns back towards Amber. Her voice is more grounded now, but much sharper, and more direct.
"Do you know what that was about? No. You are not from this city. Good. May you never need to know the frustration. For ten long years I've run this night club, and finally got the controlling stake. We've had no problems with fires or any emergencies, save those couple times some drunk pony brought a gun in. No problem. But now, apparently that revolving door isn't enough. They want me to rip out the walls and put in two new doors. Rip out the walls and do it all by this Wednesday. Do you know why?"
She doesn't wait for a response
"Because they are looking for a distraction. A patsy. Anything to distract from their own sins. These New Marelanders shelled their own city with big naval guns when the Unions tried to take it back last Fall, and they look for any one else to turn into a villain. So last November, when a nightclub caught fire and burned all of those ponies alive, they jumped right at it. Lines of corpses? That one gets past the censors and gets published everywhere. Let 'greedy' nightclub owners be the boogeymare, and let's all just forget the fact that a shell landed near my apartment. The papers were more than happy to go along with this. Anything that sells.
And then just a few days ago, when a member of the city council, a star of the SDP was exposed as a pedophile? I've never seen a whole government so quickly pick up the crusading sword, trying to crack down on 'fire hazards'. Something to give the SDP a purpose. Make them protectors against 'greed' and 'the mob'. Make the ponies think there are worse ponies than them to look after your children. But I haven't forgotten the SDP selected a Colt Cuddler, and I haven't forgotten our 'protectors of ponykind' shelled us.
They say that what that nightclub owner did was wrong, locking the side doors. They've never run a club. Ponies just walk right out through them, don't pay their tab. I lose a lot of money that way. Instead they try to make it sound insidious, like I
want my whole livelihood to burn down? No one wants that. No. Even they don't believe that. They just want a distraction. A club burned down out in Lavender a few years ago, that one killed a couple hundred as well, and no one even remembers it. Because it was before the war, the fat one was in charge, and no one in charge
needed a villain to justify themselves"
After this rant, she is silent for a moment, and seems to have actually calmed down a little.
"But you don't know any of that. You don't need to know any of that. That's the point. You're not a player in the game. You are not a villain to them. You are as unassuming as they come. Small, adorable, innocent. Someone they don't expect. And that is why you are here."
A smile
almost returns
>>143655Amber absorbs these words though she winces at the repeated mentions of death and worse. Her heart beats faster though as a sense of what's needed forms in her mind. Finally, when Denizen is finished, she asks, in a voice too quiet for the large room,
"You want me to meet somepony...secretly?"
>>143656"You barely even need to meet a pony. Just pick something up" She holds her hoof up.
"And drop it off"
She places her hoof down
>>143657"A...package delivery? But, why me?" she asks uncertainly.
>>143658"Because they cannot make a villain of you. You don't have wealth or power, you don't have fangs or paws. You are not threatening, no one would suspect you, and you wouldn't have much to say even if they did."
>>143659Amber continues to look uneasy but she doesn't press on the importance of that criterion.
"Well, I guess I can do it...what do I need to deliver and where?"
>>143660Let's continue this tomorrow
>>143661Alright, goodnight!
still hopes for post soon
still still hopes for post soon
>>143663>>143664Me 2.
Not a participant but I want to keep reading.
Should be back at it tomorrow.
Spark continues to listen into the conversations with the cute ponies and wolves.
>>143665Hello!
It's nice to see there are lurkers
>>143372He turns his head a bit more directly in Silver's direction, so that both of his hazel eyes face him.
"I wondered, in my captivity, if the gods would intervene to stop those fools. I have long since lost faith, but some small part of me wondered. It appears they are still here, delivering justice at the last possible moment before it is irrelevant. So it appears, anyways."
>>143672Silver looks right at this deer, who has been through literal hell, and nods. He comes closer to the bed where he rests.
"It was unfortunate we had not gotten there sooner, we could have stopped much more suffering that had happened. I would like to know your story, if you do not mind sharing."
>>143673He continues looking at Silver with almost no expression, and half-closed eyes
"I do not need the attention, and do not wish to have anything published, but what do you want to know? I could tell many stories."
>>143674"What was your life like before, well, incident at Hoebuck?"
>>143672>It's nice to see there are lurkersThere are, poner. Of course there are.
hopes to continue again soon
Might have some time this weekend.
Can't wait to learn more about these characters
>>143675He swallows, then answers
"I came here from Vanhoover, and Olenia before that."
>>143687"What was your trade?"
>>143688"Forestry Officer of the Öst Kogg. Thirty-two years."
>>143689"I suppose changelings changed that..."
>>143690Silver can see his chest fall as air leaves it, and his eyes narrow to the slightest degree.
"They were a terror longer than many know."
>>143691The unicorn nods.
"It was Olenia they struck at first, I have not forgotten. Preview of what was to come if they conquered Equestria. Is that what drove you to seek your way here?"
>>143692"No. You don't understand. It was almost a local legend that those in far cabins would go missing. What was more common - what I experienced - was the ghost walkers, who walked the woods, seeming to be lost hikers."
Then he abruptly stops
"Yes. There were other reasons, but... yes."
>>143693Silver's ears perk up.
"'Ghost Walkers'?"
>>143694"Yes. That is what we called them. It is a legend in many parts of Olenia, but I know it to be real. I have seen it. Deer in the forest. They walked as if they were lost, usually. Like there was no purpose to their being there. They only wanted to find another deer. Usually they wore no special clothes. Fawns who strayed too far into the forest and got lost, stags who turn a wrong turn on a long and winding trail, or hikers or river prospectors who slipped and fell and bumped their heads and had no memory. Sometimes they wore special clothing that showed them to be a lumberjack, or a border guard. Sometimes the deer is a deer that is known to be missing, though that is less common than the legends say. But what you ought to know is they are not as they claim to be. Bortbytings; Changelings."
>>143695"Hmm. I have heard of changelings doing this but have never seen it with my own eyes. It is common in deer lands?"
>>143696"Perhaps it is not as common as some may think. But they try eveything. The stolen fawn replaced with a bortbyting, the doe in need of help on the roadside, and even the doe of ill virtue in the cities. They raided as well, when they could."
>>143697"Ahh, that is all more familiar to me. They have practiced their craft for as long as they have existed, and have honed it well. During war, if soldier wandered off alone they would be replaced in just couple of minutes with nopony realizing it had happened."
>>143698He slowly nods, maintaining his eyes on Silver.
“They will take any chance you give them.”
>>143699"Indeed."
He looks up and down at the stag laying in his hospital bed, while chasing away visions back to how he and the others had originally found him.
"So, what was it that drove you to seek out Equestrian shores, if changelings were only one part of it?"
>>143700His chest is not fully covered, and Silver can see stitching and bandages covering down the middle
"My daughter moved to Vancouver, near In-laws, about eleven years ago. She wanted to work on clocks and watches."
>>143701He nods.
"What about after Vanhoover stopped being...Equestrian..."
>>143702"She doesn't fix clocks" He answers
>>143703"Ah...I do not explain myself well. What was reason you went from Western to Eastern Equestria, after changelings took over?"
>>143704He turns his head slightly, angling his long muzzle a little closer in the direction of Silver
"Is the answer not in the question..."
>>143705"Yes, but you said there were other reasons."
>>143708Is waved atwaves back
I'm striking
>>143659 because I am not really satisfied with it.
>>143658"Why you? Don't you understand who you are? You
are Equestria. To them at least. The police, the occupation, the City. They see you with your heavy clothes, your frankly adorable demeanor... your innocence. They see
their little pony. The pony they think themselves the divinely chosen protectors of. The police aren't going to think you are running illegal gambling operations out of the backrooms. They won't stop you to search you for 'stolen goods' as you walk the streets at midnight. You look cute, with your little light colored muzzle - no fangs sticking out. No one would think to stop or challenge you, not police, nor soldiers, nor journalists, nor even gangsters. You could start a fire here, in my nightclub, and burn all I've worked for this past decade to a ground, and
I would be charged with manslaughter... that's
exactly what happened to that poor stallion up in Albion... But it's not just how others see you. You aren't scared. You probably would be if you knew what you were dealing with, but you don't, and that is what counts. You could run into Chrysalis, and just say 'sorry ma'am.'"
>>143710The 'cute' pony paws the carpet uneasily, and only when Dark finishes does she make eye contact.
"You don't want me to start a fire, do you? Or go into the Changeling Lands?
Hehe...." She nervously chuckles.
>>143711"No... No. Somepony else started the fire. We want
you to put it out."
>>143712She blinks.
"Shouldn't you call the fire department?
Why isn't everypony in a rush before it spreads--" Realization suddenly sparks in her eyes.
Oh, you're using a metaphor, sorry...."
>>143713"Heh.
Precisely."
>>143714"Well, as long as I'm not hurting anypony...."
>>143715"Don't you worry, little pony. So long as everypony is paying attention,
no one will get hurt."
>>143716"Erm, I hope so...." She shifts her weight nervously, not being able to work up the courage to say anything else.
>>143717"What is it, little pony?" She leans her head forward, with her tufted-ears straight up.
>>143718"Well, if nopony gets hurt, maybe I could help. I really could use the money...."
>>143719She smiles, showing her front fangs as she nods her head.
"That's the spirit. Don't worry, we will pay. There is nothing to be uneasy about. We might look a little different from what you are used to. But we are creatures just the same as you. Not every blemished fruit is rotten underneath."
>>143720Amber gives a feeble smile and a nod, though her ears are still pressed against her head and her coat is standing on end.
>>143721Her eyes turn away from Amber down to an object she manipulates on her desk, which from Amber's limited perspective, seems to be a pocket watch. Then she turns back up to Amber
"Do you want to relax a bit?"
>>143722A cautious nod.
"I could use it, ma'am."
>>143723"Then settle down. Become a bit more acquainted with the night. You will be more effective relaxed, and there are fewer ponies out the later it is anyways."
>>143724"Um, what do you suggest?"
>>143725"Have a drink. Listen to the music. Let a stallion make a pass at you. Have a dance. You don't seem too familiar with the night life."
>>143726I don't have work or anything to do tomorrow morning, do I?She glances back to the door.
"Alright, I think I'll try that. Is there anything else, ma'am?"
>>143727"Of course. There is your task. But I'll get to that a little later. Best you ease up a bit."
>>143728Amber nods and slowly turns to head back into the hall. Only when she reaches the main floor does she allow herself a breath of relief.
>>143729Amber has not been bitten and drained of all blood yet. The stallion is gone, and a pony, who seems to work there, turns to look attentive when Amber exits out from the rear hallway.
The lights are fairly dim, and a number of ponies occupy the tables and the bar in front of the dance floor. The music isn't exactly to dance to, being a rather intense classical-styled piece played from a viol.
>>143730Amber's ears perk up at the sound of the music and she trots over to an empty table near the musicians, where she sits. Almost absent-mindedly she takes off her cloak and headscarf as she listens intently.
>>143731This is possible by going to a table on the edge of the dance floor.
Amber sees that there is one, and only one musician playing - a grey, almost discolored-looking griffin who is wholly consumed by his playing of the viol. The stage holds room for more musicians besides a drum set and a grand piano. The piano especially is missed, as the music could use accompanying instruments. Nevertheless, the griffin does a commendable job in filling the whole room with intense rhythm and sharp notes that convey as much fear and anguish as mirth and joy.
>>143732"He's very talented for a griffon. I hope I could learn to play that well," she thinks to herself.
>>143733The music turns, and returns to a warm spring. If the music could form images in the air, it would be of a family of rabbits, each hopping across an open field before the falcon swoops. A note lands at each hop.
>>143734Amber happily moves her head in tune to each dip. The song reminds her of happier days, not too long ago but an eternity away, of family and fertile fields.
>>143735The music is not content to stay on a happy note, however, as the intensity ramps up, and there is a sharp sound as the falcons swoop down at their prey. Whether they are successful - or indeed, whether it is the rabbits or the falcons we cheer for, the music provides no clarity, instead keeping a tone as joyful as afraid, and as cheery as distraught.
>>143736Amber draws in a breath and remains transfixed by the drama of the music. It's been a long time since she's heard such soulful meandering in music.
>>143737And meander it does. Amber can tell the lone musician has significant talent as he plays. Whether specific notes and portions are inspired by more famous works, or whether the similarity is purely an invention of Amber's mind as it tries to place the music is hard to say. But the music as a whole does not sound like any piece known to Amber, at least, not a specific piece. Nor indeed does the music seem demarcated into separate and distinct songs. Rather, the griffin plays continuously, with portions being of a nature wholly different than others, in just the same way as a traveler across land may never notice the fine dividing line between the forest, the plains and the desert.
>>143738Amber's mind gets lost in the whimsical(?) meandering of the piece. However when the tune shifts to the desert motifs of southwest Equestria--or is it Zebrica in its exoticness?--she remembers that she's a bit thirsty and had forgotten to bring her canteen. Having been brought back to reality, she hopes that she can meet the musician sometime later for a chat.
>>143739Amber is taken not to the deserts, but to something more remote. Something beyond the furthest reaches of the earth and out into the dark expanses beyond the terrestrial sphere, or perhaps, to another realm entirely, defined by harmonies of music than by time and space.
None of that helps with the thirst
>>143740This magic of music quenches the soul more effectively than drinks can quench the body, but that doesn't mean the latter just goes away. Dark Denizen mentioned a drink, and Amber would hate to mooch off her, but surely it can't hurt? An orange-yellow foreleg gestures to a waiter.
>>143741A flaxen colored mare in black outfit with her mane tied back and green eyes partly lidded responds.
Not simply taking the request for a drink at face, she asks
"What do you want?"
"Erm, what do you have? I...uh, don't know the terms for these..." she asks, nervously.
>>143743"We have a decent assortment of beers, mixed drinks drinks, and hard alcohols, as well as a few wines. Would you like me to get you a drink menu?"
>>143744My throat's so dry, I don't want to wait...."Um, I'll have a...mixed drink, what that pony is having over there." She points to a nearby table.
>>143745She looks over at the table, and then back to Amber. Her expression conveys skepticism more than anything.
"Sure." She says, and unless Amber says anything to the contrary, she walks off
>>143746With that distraction out of the way, Amber can focus back on the music.
>>143747The visual imagery - and one could almost swear that this were not a griffin, but a unicorn performing such magic - the imagery is of so many dots, popping in and out. Perhaps dragon flies over a pond, so many humming birds moving about amongst the flowers, or even the finer points of an aurora in the night sky.
The waiter returns, and places an ungarnished drink near Amber
"One 'Hurricane.'"
>>143748Amber gasps. She has no idea why there are such great performances so late at night in an obscure place like this, but it blows her away.
She picks up the cold glass and sips the cocktail, only to put it down very quickly. The fruity concoction is unlike anything she's ever tasted before; it looks like juice but she hasn't eaten any fruits that have tasted quite like this. Moreover, the unfamiliar flavor of the rum leaves an aftertaste that is still slightly perceptible past the fruit components, though she cannot differentiate between them. She opens and closes her mouth a few times, trying to get used to such an exotic and strange blend, not unlike the music.
She takes a second sip.
>>143749The music plays on, slowly settling much the same way as sediment stirred up in water slowly falls back to the bottom, leaving clear and still water.
>>143750As the music relaxes in tone so does Amber. She still keeps her ears focused toward it but she looks around the room. Having accustomed herself to the strange, but oddly pleasant, taste of the drink, she holds it in both hooves and takes another gulp.
>>143751"Amber?" A familiar voice calls from behind her
>>143752"Hmm?" She looks behind in surprise.
Okay, I think that's about where I have to stop for the night
>>143754She turns around to see a colt she can recognize as Mustard Trim, trying to smile, and still wearing the clothing he wore as a waiter earlier in the night.
>>143768Amber grins and waves.
"Hello Mustard! Fancy seeing you here."
>>143769"Hello" He keeps the same, awkward smile, standing next to and looking at one of the seats near Amber
"So... are you working here?" He asks
"Huh? Oh no, I don't work here, I was told to relax and listen to some music. Please, join me." She pats a seat next to herself.
>>143771He pulls the seat out next to Amber, and sits down, silent for moment
>>143772"I, um, was offered a drink by the owner. Would you like one too?" She gestures to the tall, shapely glass of bright orange liquid.
>>143773"Uh" He pulls his lips up, again in a sort of awkward smile. "Sure"
>>143774She waves to the waiter again. To Mustard she says,
"I say, it's a pleasant surprise to see you come here. I mean, I wasn't expecting you to show up, I was unsure of coming here myself...."
>>143775The waiter, passing by, raises her eyes and comes closer.
Mustard Trim says,
"Well, you said you wanted to meet me here, so I came by after my shift. What makes you unsure? Isn't this where you like to spend your Friday nights?"
>>143776Amber blinks in surprise.
"Oh. Uh, this is the first time I've ever come here. I was invited, you see...and, um, an invitation so late at night made me kind of nervous, so I had to let somepony know where I was going and you were the only pony around I could trust. In case, you know, I was foalnapped by changelings." She says the last word almost in a whisper, as if uttering it too loud might cause one to burrow out of the floor.
>>143777If any changelings are sharing the room with Amber, they haven't made their presence known.
He smiles again, and this one is a bit more expressive of pleasure
"Heh. I see. Well, I'll keep those changelings away as best I can." There is a pause, and he adds "Who invited you?"
>>143778Amber looks around, then leans in, as if to share a close secret.
"The owner of this club, Dark Denizen. I was invited on 'special business.'"
>>143779Is Amber going to do anything with the summoned waiter?
"Oh" Mustard Trim says, moving his head up in a nod as he says that.
"Can I... ask what's special about it?"
>>143780"I don't really know...something about putting out a fire, but metaphorically? And I was picked because I look 'adorable,' apparently...."
>>143780To the waiter:
"Oh! My friend here would like a drink, um, I don't know what kind. Can you...can you put it on my tab?"
>>143782She looks at Amber, and then back to Mustard Trim
"What do you want to drink?" She asks
"Uh, just water will be fine." He answers. She accepts this answer, and walks away
>>143783Inwardly she breathes a sigh of relief. No more debt for today, at least....
>>143781He looks at Amber, raises both ears, and tilts his head
"What?"
Then his head returns to normal position
"Well I read that the city is taking a stand against fire hazards in nightclubs, bars and other places. So maybe it has something to do with that."
>>143784Small victory!
>>143785"No, she told me that's just an excuse they used to distract from some bad things they did. She wants me to deliver some sort of package to them, I think. I don't know why, I've never been a mailmare before...." She takes another gulp of the drink. Although its peculiar taste is probably better cold, Amber doesn't know why anypony would drink something that chills one's stomach like this. Despite the frigid temperature of the drink itself, she feels a pleasant warmth along her nose, ears, pasterns and even tail.
>>143786Strange magical drinks. Hopefully they don't deduct too much from Amber's pay for it.
"Oh. Well that doesn't sound too bad. They probably want you to deliver a present to a foal's birthday party or something. It's good that you're able to get little jobs like that. I used to be able to do little things like that back home."
>>143787"I think so, I could really use it to get by. And the music here is almost celestial in beauty, I think you missed the best part." Sip.
>>143788"Well.... Maybe they'll play it again." He says
After a moment's pause, he adds
"This isn't really what I was expecting. For the music, I mean."
Think we have time to continue today?
>>143792The last reply to Spark was
>>143563
>>143563"Then you must know that things one day will be back to the way they are supposed to be, or at least close."
>>143794"Well... I don't know about that. But I am glad to see that Makade is here and safe."
>>143795"I heard you call him another name. What's the story behind that?"
>>143796Ply Press probably should have referred to him as "Lyka" in >>143795 rather than "Makade""Well... When we took him in from the Pratt Wolf School in Riverside, he was called by his Celestial name, 'Lyka.' It's from mythology... I think. But we knew his birth mother named him 'Makade,' which I think has to do with his dark colored fur."
>>143797"Neat. I never heard of a wolf school before."
>>143798"Well, they mostly exist in the North and the West. You see, tension between the wolves and ponies has been a problem for, well, centuries, really, so the government made a program to try to integrate wolves into Equestrian society. Let them learn the language, the culture, and grow up to use trades. Get them young, so Equestrian culture is the only one they know. So they made boarding schools for many of them, especially orphans, or those in broken families. That's where we found Makade."
>>143799"So, what made you decide to adopt from the school?"
>>143800"Well, after our son Mild Mirth... well, we were older and it was hard enough having a child the first time... we decided to adopt. It was Petal Dew's idea to try for a wolf. Special challenges, special reward and all. Our ranch would be perfect to raise one. We had been thinking about selling it but that changed that. Lyka was older than they usually recommend for adopting. He had been living at the Pratt school for a while. He was known to be precocious. Very intelligent, rather strong and capable. Strong willed, other wolves would follow him. But he was becoming a bully. We figured we could guide him, put him in a family. And so we took him as our own."
>>143801"That's a sweet story."
>>143802He smiles
"Well thank you."
Elsewhere, Petal Dew seems to be trying to talk to Waabishki as Makade sits and listens
>>143803Spark listens in.
>>143804Petal Dew:
"Yes, Cyananthus got deathly ill a few years ago. We all thought she was done in. Had to stay down here at the general hospital. But she pulled through. Almost couldn't believe it....."
>>143805Spark wonders who this Cyananthus is.
>>143806They continue talking, with Waabishki displaying anxiety, and nodding occassionally
>>143807Spark turns back to Ply Press.
"Who is Cyananthus?"
>>143808"Oh, she's a pony Petal Dew knew at the mane salon back up north."
>>143810"Close friend isn't quite how I would describe it. But you get to know everypony around pretty well when you live out in the wilderness. She's a pony we knew in town."
>>143811"Ah. Then it must have been pretty lonely moving to a place like this, with no familiar faces."
>>143812"Well" He forms a smile that nears a wince
"Kind of..."
>>143813"Well, I know I'm just a stranger, but I hope you will come to find me a friend."
>>143814He smiles
"Well for now, make yourself comfortable. Why don't you join us for dinner?"
>>143815"Of course. Thank you for your generosity."
>>143816"Oh it's the least we could do. Do you need any tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cider?"
>>143817"Cider does sound pleasant. I'm going to have to fetch you some more supplies after all of this hospitality though."
>>143818"Oh, don't worry about it." He answers
The doctor asks
"How do you have chocolate and coffee?"
Receiving the answer
"We still have some stocked up from before the partition. We can spend it on special occasions, like guests."
>>143819Spark nods, but will get some more if he comes across the supplies.
>>143820Ply Press goes towards Petal Dew,
"Let me get some cider for our new friend here."
Petal Dew:
"Oh! And get out the salmon for dinner."
"Sure thing, honey."
Ply Press leaves, while the other creatures remain
>>143821"Well, they are nice."
>>143789"Me neither! Though I'm not sure what I was expecting, just not...this...." Another light sip.
"That griffon's talent is really impressive, I've never heard a solo viol like that."
>>143824That's terrific art, btw
>>143826Not mine, but I'm glad you like it.
>>143823>>143824Neat!
>>143825The waiter returns with the water, and almost under his breath, Mustard Trim says, "That was fast..."
And then he says to Amber
"A viol? Is that what that thing is?"
I hope Silver, Onyx and Brie are doing alright>>143829"Mhm! It's an older-style instrument that's held upright like a cello, though it's smaller and different in a lot of different ways. I've seen pictures but I've never actually heard one played before." She takes another gulp of her Hurricane; it's nearly spent at this point. Suddenly she perks up.
"Oh! I just realized something."
>>143830Silver and Onyx, sure. Brie, not so much...>>143706"Because there is not much left for me there. And because I would rather be far away from the parasites..."
>>143830He turns to her, making eye contact
"And what is that?"
>>143831I'm back now."This is the first time you've come here, isn't it? At least, I don't think you normally visit this place. So, you came here all this way...for me?" She smiles at Mustard.
>>143831Silver nods.
"I am sorry your first experience in coming to this half of Equestria was...that."
>>143833"No. No better than what I left. And there was one of those things here." He pulls his lips back in disgust.
>>143832He pulls his lips up in a somewhat embarrassed look
"Heh heh, yeah..."
>>143834"Those who did this to you and others are now dead or captured. In that there is difference. We are doing what we can to make things better."
>>143835"Then you have done more than most"
He looks around, and he pulls himself in what seems to be an attempt to sit up, though he must have decided against it.
"I do not know if this is our own fault, or if this is what we deserve." He says, at a lower volume
>>143834"Aw, you're too nice. It's reassuring, actually, because I came here for business and knew as much about it as you did...but don't worry, everything is fine now." She quaffs the rest of the drink and puts it down. For whatever reason her mind and perception feels a bit fuzzy, as if she was sleepy, but as a matter of fact she feels much less tired than before.
>>143837He smiles
"That's good."
Then he looks around
"This isn't too bad"
He takes another sip of his water
>>143838She looks away in shame.
"I'm sorry I can't get anything for you. I really would but I didn't bring any money. That's why I came here, so I could earn something extra."
>>143839He maintains his smile
"I can understand that. I would help you, but... you said the owner has your tab?"
>>143840"Yes, she does. I thought it was for one drink, though she didn't say..."
>>143841"Well that's pretty nice." He takes another sip
"A nice little perk"
>>143842"Maybe she's nicer than she lets on, not unlike Salt Lick who's friendly despite being so busy."
>>143843"She's... well... we can get free soup sometimes, which is nice."
>>143844"Mhm. I know you like her. I mean, like like her." She smiles mischievously.
>>143846"I've seen you making eyes at her when you were inside. Always throwing glances...." She giggles.
>>143847:"What? Heh." His smile is somewhere between amusement and embarassment
"No. Well. Maybe sometimes... but no. She does have big - but she's older, much older, and she has her own thing going."
>>143848"She does? Well, good for her, but I bet that doesn't stop your coltish imagination." She snickers, finding this oddly amusing.
>>143849"What? No. Don't be silly. When she turns around, it kind of just fills your whole field of view. It's not... it's not me trying to look you just can't not look."
>>143850"Sure, you just happen to stare at her posterior with your mouth hanging open because you've got no other choice. It's so horrible that she coerces you to do that." More giggles.
"How many times do you think she has to say, 'my face is over here'?"
>>143851"I don't! It just fills my peripheral vision. All of it. Until I kind of just zone out and she has to repeat her... self..."
Now it's more definitely embarrassment
>>143852"Doesn't she mind it when you put your face so close to her backside? I think any lady would." Amber is definitely enjoying this.
>>143853"She puts her backside close to my face!"
The waiter
probably couldn't hear this. But it's loud enough to wonder who else can hear it
"Could knock somepony over with it..."
>>143854"Wouldn't you like that!" She giggles hysterically into her fetlock, trying not to be
too loud.
"But you're right, it's impressive how she never knocks over any bottles despite moving so fast in the bar."
>>143855He's smiling as wide as Amber. But his head is crouched down low, near the table, and both ears are twisted and folded down
"Yes..."
"I bet you wish you could ask her out, have her say yes, go out to have vittles with her, hold those hips while dancin', and use her as a comfortable pillow when you get home. Am I wrong?"
>>143857Almost defeated,
"What? No...?"
>>143858"You must have flights of fancy like that. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." She grins slyly.
>>143859He looks up at Amber from his position with his head almost laying on the table
"I'll trust you..."
>>143860Amber winks.
"Your secret is safe with me."Once she settles down, her expression becomes a little confused.
"So what were we talking about?"
>>143861He blinks, with both forehooves before him on the table
"I don't know... something about music, and me coming here, and you being jealous of Salt Lick's features."
>>143862She pulls her head back, scrunching her snout.
"Me? Jealous?"
>>143863"Like you don't wish you had that gravitational pull."
"I mean...my rump might look skinny next to hers, but I ain't jealous! I could be just as shapely if I ate right, then you'd be falling head over hooves for me instead."
>>143865He keeps his lips closed tight in a smile, before opening them to take a sip from his water.
>>143836Silver tilts his head at the deer.
"What do you mean?"
>>143867"Was it our weakness that let this happen? Did the gods abandon us? Did they think it just? Did we abandon them?"
>>143866"Are you sure you don't want something else to drink? They have juices I never thought possible here."
>>143868"Ah. Olenian gods. I admit, I am not so familiar with them."
>>143869"Well... How long will you be here? I
could spend some money, though I've been trying to save it..."
>>143870"I could not have expected you to be."
"I was told to relax and make myself familiar with the night life..." With lessened mental clarity she has to concentrate to remember what Dark Denizen said, but once she does she lightens up. "Have a drink, which I did, listen to music-yep, done that-let a stallion make a pass, whatever that means, but you're here so maybe that counts...and have a dance. I...erm, haven't danced here before."
>>143871"You seem to be rather pious. Tell me about them, if it pleases you."
>>143872"I don't suppose..."
>>143873"Pious? I don't call myself pious. Not any more. To have piety is to have reverence. To give what is due to that which is greater than you. Now I am not sure sure of what is due, or how much greater they are. But they are there. Do not let yourself be fooled. There is Tiapo, of the Forest. Vellamo of the seas and storms, Tursas of War, Kuu of the Moon, and Pellervo. These and many others. Above them all is god of the sky and thunder, Ukko."
>>143874"I'd really like to, if you don't mind." She smiles with a slight blush on her cheeks.
>>143874"Does Ukko reign over sun as well?"
>>143875He has a great smile
"Sure"
He stands up. The music is a bit more cheery now, with notes that go back and forth. It'll do for dancing
>>143876He has a small smile
"The goddess Päivätär lords over the sun, and with its rays crafts silver jewelry. But the sky is above the sun."
>>143877Amber likewise gets up to join him. She hasn't had too much to affect her motor skills, at least.
"Do you know how to dance to this?" she asks.
>>143878He looks up, and around
"I don't think I've heard it before..."
>>143879"Maybe we could watch how others do it, or just improvise."
>>143880"Well, I know a
couple dances"
>>143882He moves his right forehoof forward with a tap, then pulls back and moves his left hoof with a tap, then his left again, then his right again, and then he rotates to his left by 90 degrees and repeats the process again
>>143877He smiles back.
"I do not suppose she also crafts Silver Swords?"
>>143883Amber imitates his movements flawlessly while managing to keep facing him.
>>143884"No. She is a maiden, and like the maidens crafts clothes and jewelry. But Väinämöinen, he has his sword. Ukko even, sometimes strikes the thunder with his sword.
>>143886>>143884He looks up at her
"... You're really good at this, heh heh"
>>143888Smiling back, she replies,
"Oh thank you. But I wouldn't know where to start without you."
>>143889Still, he tries to keep pace and dance, though it seems he feels the need to watch his feet
>>143887"Is joke. She crafts silver jewelry, my name is Silver Sword...well, I thought it was good, at least."
He offers himself a light chuckle.
"I find it interesting, hearing about different faiths. From what I learned, our chief Goddess was ruler over sun and rains, before Severyana adopted Celestialism. It makes sense that Ukko is God of Sky and Thunder, with Deer being mostly sea people."
>>143890Emboldened either by the events of the evening or her drink, she adds a little bit of flare to this simple dance. She raises her hooves higher than necessary, swings her head with its curtain of hair from side to side, and raises or lowers parts of her body as she shifts her weight in time with the music.
>>143891"Ah" He raises his head
"And so that is who I am speaking to"
"I think I have had enough experiences with 'different faiths.' What is 'Severyana'?"
>>143892Mustard Trim pulls his head back from the wild, bucking mare in front of him, now placing his eyes firmly on her."
>>143893She meets his gaze, grinning back.
>>143894He smiles, then spins and moves to the side. The notes, higher and lower at points, invite smaller and greater movement of the body, depending on the note played. Sometimes a small step, sometimes a leap.
Amber perks her ears up and listens carefully to the music and tries to interpret it into a dance.
Listen: [1d20+3 = 15]
Dexterity/Balance: [1d20+2 = 9]
>>143893"It goes by different, less honorable name these days. Stalliongrad. At one time it was great northern empire that could boast to rival even Equestria, holding control over lands of penguins, yaks, and polar bears. Now it is...well, most people in Equus know what it is now."
>>143896Her ear for music doesn't fail her though as she moves away from a simple box step she's less certain about her movement. At one point she falls back onto her rear, and so she slows down a bit to avoid embarrassing herself any further.
>>143896Definitely spin spin spin, move position spin spin, move position tap tap. Execution could use a little bit of work though
>>143897He nods
"Yes. I've heard. I suppose the same could be said of our nation. Our once great nation. But Stalliongrad has a special infamy."
>>143899"I could definitely use some dancing lessons," she says, almost laughing, to Mustard.
>>143899"Yes...Steel Stallions and King Johans. There are too many of them in this world I am afraid. But forgive me, I am not sure if politics are what you want to talk about."
>>143901"Johan was better than he was given credit for. But his faults were
not made up for by those around him. Not at all..."
>>143900"Consider this a lesson." He hops over, once, then again, then to Amber's side
>>143903"Alright, let me try that...."[1d20+2 = 22]
>>143902"I will admit, all I know of him are from stories. I get idea he was weak king who let those around him do as they please so he could remain in power, to detriment of Olenian people."
Amber is a natural-born dancer with these rolls, but watch me roll consecutive 1's later and end up abducted by pirates
>>143904She hops up into the air, does a twist, then turns on her hind hoof, and ends perfectly with her legs on Mustard Trim, who looks very much surprised
>>143905"And those stories are mostly true. But he knew to fight when the nation was threatened. Whether surrendering when he did was right... The peace is hardly tolerable."
>>143906Getting abducted by pirates must be caused by truely terrible dancing
>>143907Silver nods, and is silent for a moment.
"We should have intervened. We knew what was to come after Olenia. Had Celestia ordered our armies to march on Changelings when they declared war on your people, we would not have had to deal with them now."
>>143908There is a subtle hint of a smile
"And
that, was no fault of Johan. No fault of ours, either."
>>143909"Yes, this fault rests squarely upon us...and upon Celestia. I would offer my apologies on behalf of ponykind, if it was worth anything to you."
>>143910"I'll take the liberation from those
griffins... Though I have to wonder why they got as far as they did."
>>143911"Deception and bribery, most likely. Fear also played small part. Last time police raided they found nothing but sweatshop and they gave Sweet Boek fine for it. When New Mareland invaded they found more of same. Police wasn't willing to commit to another raid for fear of large casualities among their numbers, so Baltimare government asked for us to do it instead. None of us expected to find Maarists."
>>143907squee"Did you like that?"
>>143913".... That was amazing!"
>>143912"So that's what they call themselves. That doesn't sound much better than the old world. And we didn't have griffins." "
He pauses, then adds,
How did they capture a parasite anyways? Or was it working with them?"
>>143914"Aw, thanks. I think I was just lucky, and the music is really swell, too," she says, blushing.
>>143915>>143916He pulls her into a closer dance, mostly making the right steps, but missing a step and bumping into her at one point
>>143914"There is evil everywhere. What matter is that we work to root it out.
"She was captive as well. They kept her in cage, and fed others they captured to her in order to make changeling honey. I suppose they were selling it as drugs."
>>143917Hooves resting on the colt's withers, Amber follows along and lets him lead. She's distracted from the dance itself by how fast her heart is beating.
"I've, um, never danced with a colt before," she confesses.
Just dropping some inspirational pics poners.
See ya.
>>143920Thank you, poner!
>>143919"Me neither" He says
>>143918"Incredible" He says
"Nothing is worse than how those parasites will eat your soul, stealing all that is good from you. But to use that as a tool... This is something else. Something new. Even the West did not have that kind of evil."
>>143920Nice!
>>143922She giggles.
"If you had danced with colts like this, that would be a bit strange, don't you think?"
>>143923"Yeah. Heh heh. They couldn't dance so well as you anyways."
>>143922"Yes. Sadly not first time I have seen captive changelings used in this way. But they are dead now. They can not hurt anyone anymore."
>>143924Blushing, she says,
"Aw, thank you. It's such a pleasure to dance with you. Otherwise, I don't know if I even would have tried."
>>143926"I'm glad you did. And I hope you'll do it again." He says again, smiling and looking into Amber's eyes
>>143925"And again, I thank you for that. You have done me, and the world, a great service."
>>143927She looks back into his purple(?) eyes and smiles.
"Yes, let's definitely dance again soon."
>>143927He nods again.
"Unless you have anything to say or ask me, I think this will be goodbye for now. That stallion who was with you at that altar, I want to meet with him as well, see how he is doing."
>>143929“I am surprised you came to see me. That was not expected. Or perhaps it makes the fighting more tolerable. I cannot say.”
But then he turns his head more directly towards Silver
“Until we meet again.”
>>143928The question is: do they dance more?
>>143930As much as Amber would like the night to stretch on long, she suddenly feels tired and with a yawn asks to return to the table. She looks to see if the same griffon is still busy playing.
>>143931He continues sawing away, having no notice of what Amber and Mustard Trim - or any other pair of ponies, for that matter - are doing
>>143932Amber tells Mustard,
"When he finishes I hope I can have a chat. He's really talented...."
I have to sleep now...>>143933He tilts his head
"You mean with
him...?"
>>143930"I wanted to make sure you were okay. Did not feel right if I did not."
He bows his head to the deer.
"Until we meet again."
Silver turns and leaves the room, heading for the room with the young stallion.
>>143934Goodnight!"You'd be amazed at how he was playing earlier, I simply have got to meet him!"
>>143935He gives a nod, and Silver leaves the room.
Up the stairs, down the hall, and Silver finds the room supposed to contain the recovering pony
>>143937Silver knocks at the door.
>>143939Silver tries the door to the room.
>>143940He opens the door, seeing a set up similar to the previous room, but with the bed on the mirror opposite side. This means that the bed faces towards Silver, standing nearer the entrance of the room, rather than away from him, as was the case in the previous room.
There, in the bed, and covered in part by bed sheets, is a white - or rather, a light grey - unicorn male, with red-auburn mane. His eyes are wide
>>143941"Hello? My name is Silver Sword. I was part of group that raided 33 Hoebuck. I just wanted to check up on you."
>>143942His eyes are wide, and he sits up, pulling the bedsheets up high
"Uh, hi"
He has an awkward smile
>>143943Silver enters the room properly, closing the door behind him. He smiles back, with a greater sense of sincerity.
"It is good to see you alive. I am afraid I did not get acquinted with your name, last we met."
>>143944"You're... you're with R&M, right?"
>>143945"Erm...I am afraid I am not familiar. R&M?"
>>143946"Revenue and Migration services? I guess that's a 'no.' Who sent you?" He asks
>>143947"Ah, that makes more sense. I think R&M was involved, all I know is that we were tasked with breaking up trafficking ring at 33 Hoebuck from Baltimare Government."
>>143948waves backHello!>>143949"Oh. You're... with the city."
>>143950"Not really, I was just with group asked to stop bad people."
>>143951"Uh... that's... good." He has an awkward smile
>>143936"Uh. Yeah. That would be neat." He answers
>>143952"So, what is your name?"
>>143954"It's uh... Popper Nick."
He is sitting upright as best he can - he is moving around more than the stag dared - his teeth are showing, and his lips are pulled all the way back in something that was presumably intended to look like a smile. He speaks with a young sounding voice with a noticeable Dominion accent
>>143936Amber smiles at Mustard, adding,
"Music is one thing I am very passionate about, and it's such a terrific surprise to find somepony who plays an antiquated kind of instrument like I do.
This is the last sort of place I'd expect it, actually."
>>143956"Well, that's- that's really neat. I wasn't expecting it here either. What kind of instrument do you play exactly?"
He places a hoof on the side of his head
>>143955"Where are you from, Popper Nick?"
>>143957"I play the mandolin, I'm not sure if you've heard of it. It's a stringed instrument like a lute or lyre...oh, those are a bit old too." She smiles sheepishly and adds,
"I know how to play it but I don't think I'm good enough to perform in public, at least not yet. I was hoping to one day get some lessons."
>>143958"I'm from... Manehattan. Yeah. Manehattan."
>>143959"Do you have one?" He asks
>>143960"Yes, I brought it with me to Baltimare and it's at my apartment. Maybe I can play for you sometime," she says with a smile.
>>143962"Uh, yeah. In the city part."
>>143961"Oh. Nice. You can do it some time. I'll listen. I can't promise I can give the best lessons. But you can play to me."
>>143963"I'd like that, I try to practice whenever I have time."
>>143964"Keep it up, and who knows"
For the first time, he turns his head to the Griffin viol player
"You might play like him."
>>143963"I lived just outside of Manehattan. What neighborhood did you live in?"
>>143965"I can only hope so. Maybe he can offer some helpful advice...."
>>143966"Uh... Bronclyn?"
>>143967Maybe it's the subtle changes in the temperature of the air, or something she sees in the corner of her sight, but Amber can sense a pony is close behind her.
"You're taking it pretty well" a familiar female voice declares
>>143968Perhaps if she was alone, not had the thrill of a dance or had not imbibed a drink Amber would have been startled, even spooked by this. However, as it stands she is only mildly surprised as she looks behind her.
"Hmm?"
>>143969Dark Denizen stands behind her, and Amber can see that she stands at around the height of a stallion. She has a pleased look on her face
"Did I interrupt something?"
She asks this, but the one of her voice suggests that it isn't sarcasm, but rather a question of serious interest
>>143970Denizen's presence is still unnerving, but slightly less so in these circumstances.
"Not really, we were just chatting. Would you...would you like to join?"
>>143968"...you do realize you are not good at lying, yes?"
>>143971She looks over at Mustard Trim, then back to Amber
"Oh no, that is between the two of you. But I mean to remind you that we want you to be somewhere tonight. It can wait a few minutes or more, but it must be done before the opening of business in the morning."
>>143972"What? Heh heh.
No. What do you even mean?"
>>143974"You are not from Manehattan, are you?"
>>143973She looks between Mustard and Denizen.
So soon? Tonight, even?She sighs.
"I probably should get it done now then, I don't want to be up all night..."
>>143975"Why... Why would you think that?"
His lips are pulled even further back, and almost every part of his teeth show
>>143976"Now why wouldn't you want to be up all night?" She asks
Whether this is a sincere question is a bit hard to discern
>>143977"I...I like to sleep early and rise early. It's way past my bedtime as is...." She looks vaguely uncomfortable now.
>>143977Silver sighs, and lays down.
"You can tell me truth. I promise you I will not tell another soul."
>>143978She twists her mouth.
"Then rise early. They don't open before eight."
>>143980"I really don't want to oversleep."
>>143979He blinks, keeping his mouth open, and pulling his hooves from in front of him, to behind him
"I can't tell just anypony."
>>143981"Then
now."
>>143982"You have my word. You can trust me."
He smiles brightly at the young stallion.
>>143982Amber nods, getting up and wrapping her cloak around her, then her scarf.
"I'm sorry Mustard, I really have to go. Thank you for coming, hopefully we can meet again soon."
>>143984"Uh, sure! It was fun meeting you! Let's do this again soon..."
>>143983He pulls his hooves back in front of himself, sighs, and eases down. His lips close, coming to a more neutral position. And then flatly, at a low volume, he says
"I'm from New Mareland"
>>143985"I'm really sorry again I couldn't stay longer, I had no idea it was tonight...." She's done picking up after herself and stands to leave.
>>143985He nods.
"Your accent somewhat gives it away. You sound like other New Marelanders I have met."
>>143986>>143987"I know..." He says, sounding defeated
>>143988"Why do you feel compelled to hide where you are from?"
>>143988Amber will follow Dark Denizen.
>>143989"If you don't know then... let's keep it that way. Don't tell anyone. Please?"
>>143991"I will not. Are you just worried ponies here might not be so welcoming if they know your origin?"
>>143992"
That doesn't help. No... it's... how many young adult males from New Mareland who were
not in military or other government service uniform have you seen in the past few years?"
>>143993"...Ohhhhhh, you are fleeing draft. Are things *that* bad in New Mareland?"
>>143994"Well, we've been taken over by an imperialist, reactionary, speciest and regressive regime that forces almost its whole population into war to crush progress in other nations. So yes. Things really are that bad.
>>143995"Heh, that is not outlook I have heard from New Mareland very often. I am sorry you fled that situation only to end up in...well, you know."
What in Equestria requires me to go out at this hour and do something? I was looking forward to talking to the musician, going home and getting a good rest.
>>143997Okay I'll reassess>>143996"Yes! And then these crazies from the Empire enslave us, and... vivisect us!"
>>143998"Not even Griffonian Empire wanted them in their lands. They were Maarist cultists. I am guessing you were offered passage to Equestria, and then were abducted as soon as you go close to show?"
[Blue Skies is still best pony>>143999"Insane is what they are! All of the worst tendencies of creatures together at once... Yes, that is what happened, more or less."
>>144000Check'd"They are gone, now. You are free to resettle here in Equestria, as soon as you have fully recovered from vivisection."
>>144001"You mean,
East Equestria? I don't think I'm free here. Not here. In this government hospital."
>>144002"Why not? It does not seem like they intend to drag you back to New Mareland."
>>144003"They would. Or worse. When they find out I am a draft evader, and other things.."
>>144004"'Other things'?"
>>144005"Well... I was a registered member of the Communist Party, for one."
>>144006Silver's eyebrows visibly raise, though he does not say anything on the matter.
"...what else?"
>>144007"And... maybe a citation for buggery. I'm not the type they will just leave alone free. They will... they will arrest me. At best I will be sent to a penal battalion, and I have no interest in that. And I don't want anything worse. I need help..."
>>144008"'Buggery'. I am not so new to Ponish, but I do not believe I know what that means. What is it?"
>>144009"It's uh..." He winces, and again speaks in a hushed tone
"Violation of the sodomy laws"
>>144010"...you mean..."
He leans in close and whispers back.
"...homosexuality?"
>>144011"Oh, they just found me at a location and accused me... look, it doesn't matter. But they won't like it. That, and all the other things. I can't let them know who I am."
>>144012Silver looks at him, lets out a sigh, and ponders.
"If you asked to be released from hospital, would you be well enough to leave? There are not many ponies besides perhaps me would could have their ribcage torn open and their heart exposed out of their chest and trot away from it."
>>144013He blinks
"I don't want to leave with the Political Police."
>>144014"Okay, let us say somepony was to vouch for you to be released into their personal care, no police or Black Hooves involved. Would you be well enough to leave?"
>>144015He looks down at his bandaged chest, which has the same covering and visible edges of stitches that the stag had
"I don't know. I think the doctors want me to stay here a little longer. I certainly wouldn't put pressure on this..."
>>144016"How long do you think?"
>>144017He blinks again
"I don't know. Maybe if I come back to get bandages changed every few days I could go home today?"
He has a wide, awkward smile again
>>144018"Hmm...well, there are already three people living with me, and not any more spare bedrooms. I would have to find way to accommidate you, but you could stay with us at least for meantime."
>>144019His long, red-auburn tail moves slightly under him
"Really?"
>>144020"Yes, though I do have to warn you about other occupants. They are all friendly, it is just they are all from Hoebuck as well. One is Sicameon griffon named Jubilosa, I think you might get along with her politically. Another is kirin from Ngua Nam named Khoi Lua, she is one who patched you and deer up. And third one is gnoll named Mala. He was coerced and forced into doing dirty work for traffickers, but he is good person and he has turned new leaf ever since we freed him."
>>144021He smiles widely
"Oh, what a lovely little nest of Harmony ya' have there. That sounds quaint."
>>144022Silver's eyebrows raise ever so slightly in surprise.
"I must admit, you take that better than I thought you did. Alright then, if you want I will go back down to reception and see about having you released into my care."
>>144023Definitely smiling now
"Yes! Anything to get me out of here before the political police notice."
>>144024"Alright, I will be back shortly."
Silver leaves the stallion for the moment to head to reception.
>>144025Silver finds a grey, middle aged mare with glasses standing through a reception window positioned along a long, wooden wall.
>>144027"Hey, I just talked with stallion in room 354. I found out his name is Popper Nick, and that he would like to be released."
>>140776 →Iron stared at Sands for a couple of seconds before looking down at his exposed coat.
"I... don't think I have any compelling story that they won't want to ask follow-up questions," he uttered, shifting some of his coat hairs aside to check the cuts beneath.
>>144029Hello"Then be a colt who got lost on his way to the bathroom" She says
>>144028She looks up towards him
"Are you a relative?"
[1d20-1 = 18]>>144031Bluff: "Yes."
>>144032Opposed
[1d20 = 19]
>>144033>>144032She looks at him skeptically
>>144034Silver doubles down.
"I am his grandfather."
>>144035May want to re-rollShe looks at him, and then back at the file
>>144037And again...
[1d20 = 12]
>>144038>>144037She looks back down
"Grey unicorn, grey unicorn... Alright, has a doctor approved his release?"
>>144039"No, I have not talked to his doctor yet. My grandson has been through very tramatic experience and would just like to head home to recover in calming environment."
>>144040"Well, write your name and address here, and get a doctor to sign off on it."
She pushes over a paper
>>144041Silver fills it out, and goes to find a doctor.
>>144042Silver encounters a white unicorn stallion with glasses, a white lab coat that's almost difficult to distinguish from his fur coat, and little tufts on his feet, who walks down the hall with firm, clanking steps against the tile floor that can be heard long before he is seen
>>144043Silver flags the doctor down and goes to him.
"Excuse me, doctor? My grandson is in room 354, and he would like to be released from this hospital into my care."
>>144044"If we can do it quickly" he says
"Let me see his file. Should be in the room."
>>144031"If you think it will work," Iron tentatively replied with a nod, taking a small breath to get into character.
His gaze softened considerably as his eyebrows rose up, acting surprised. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "I feel like going to the... uh, bathroom! Right now!"
The big stallion took a second to recall his plan before executing his movements.
>>144046A pony looks up from his seat in a booth by the wall, but then looks back to his companion. Iron is free, once again, to move about
>>144047I'm gonna assume we both remember what Iron's path to the table is for this next post.Iron proceeded to go along his planned route to the left and outside.
>>144048The door to the next room over is located on a wall perpendicular and to the right of where Iron and Sands were sitting. There are some booths along that wall, and the door is near the left most side. On a wall opposite of that is a hallway where the bathrooms are located, so it is conceivable that a pony who was told the location of the bathrooms could go to the back by mistake.
>>144049Trusting his gut, Iron opted to go the opposite direction of the bathrooms, hoping to get that sneak peak on who to bash next.
>>144050Alright, is he looking into the left side of the room (easiest if he moves towards the right, sort of the opposite side of the bathrooms), or is he looking in to the left?
>>144051I mean, "is he looking into the left side or the right side of the room"?
>>144051I do believe he'll look on the left side of the room, yes.
>>144053Because of the wall and the narrow field of view, without actually entering into the room Iron can only see a portion of what is there. However, Iron does see the following:
A set of waves and maybe a boat is painted on a wall above a cushioned booth seat that does not appear to be a part of the wall, but rather sits in front of it. In front of this booth seat is a table, presumably one that holds four ponies. This wooden table is not bolted to the floor, and there is room to the left - between the wall and the table - to manuever and get in and out. There are no chairs on the opposite side of the booth seat.
Sitting at the table, almost in the corner of the room, is a red-brown rust colored minotaur. He has very large muscles and is tall even sitting down. He wears a relatively formal green dress shirt with no jacket, sitting with his legs cross and wearing focal glasses. He is looking down and evidently reading a book on the table in front of him. Also on the table is a newspaper, sprawled open. To his right and on the left side of Iron's field of view, almost exactly in the corner of the room, is a violin case, cracked open.
Is the next stage of her adventure planned out?
>>144045Silver nods, and leads the doctor back to Nick's room.
>>144055Iron's head cocked a little to the side, staring at the rather well dressed minotaur, almost as if he was staring at a walking contradiction.
(Wait,) he thought to himself, astonished. (You mean these pasta bandits' most trusted marecenary is this mammal?)
Well, after being mauled by a tiger, he wasn't about to underestimate his chances this time, soon going to the right side in order to take a closer look at that book of his.
>>144058*underestimate his opponent
>>144056Well now I am wondering whether a day time approach is superior to the night>>144057Iron can see the cover in greater detail by crouching a bit. He's still reading.
A painting of a foreleg ending in split hooves forms the cover, and at the bottom are the big letters "Η φόνισσα." Smaller text above has the letters "Αλέξανδρος Παπαδιαμάντης."
>>144057The doctor follows Silver, or rather leads him, as he is walking fast and with purpose.
"Wait. This patient? I heard about him. Goodness. He was cut open."
>>144060(A foreleg ending on split hooves?) Iron thought to himself, not quite understanding such an image. (Is this supposed to be a manual on fighting ponies? Why would he need that?)
He hoped he could see the inside of the book for a few drawings to better understand just what this book was about.
>>144060"I know, it is terrible thing. But he is strong, just like his grandfather."
>>144061The book is, perhaps unfortunately, currently being read by the Minotaur, whose attention remains on the pages. The illustration on the cover is of a black split-hoof at the end of a foreleg covered in light brown fur.
>>144062“His ribs were sawed off” he says
>>144063"And yet he is already able to move around almost as normal."
>>144063Iron frowned softly before deciding he had enough watching: He seemed to have found his target, and from the looks of it, he's way smarter than he is.
(Look at him,) he grumbled as he got out of his gazing spot to properly mull over what he just witnessed (he is even reading those big bricks with those squiggly symbols like it is no big deal!)
>>144064“He’ll need a while to heal, painkillers, and probably sanitary changing of bandages.”
>>144065In fairness, there are images on the brick. This is indeed what Iron sees in the left corner of the room, nearest the door. The Minotaur has either not noticed Iron, or hasn’t made it known.
>>144066Silver nods.
"I already talked with him about that. He would agree with that, he just needs to recover in environment that is more calming to him."
>>144066In either case, Iron should go back to Sands and report what he has found. Thus, he decides to go back to where her... uh, business partner is.
(Mares are weird,) he thought to himself.
>>144067“He can’t have excess pressure on his ribs.”
>>144068“Well. We know where he is at least. Are the griffins there?”
>>144069"No," Iron denied. "He is alone from what I saw, but that big brick with the squiggly symbols makes me... uncomfortable."
>>144070“That’s... that’s kind of odd, I have to say. Did he have any weapons? A gun, maybe?”
>>144071"None from what I saw either," Iron admitted. "Either he has them well hidden or he has none."
>>144072“He would most likely hide them. He wouldn’t want to be seen with one in public. Think you could take him in a hoof fight?”
>>144073"He is quite big," Iron pointed out. "He will be a challenging fight, no matter how I approach it."
>>144074“Yes... and you’ll need to take him out before he gets a gun. Or comrades.”
>>144075"I will certainly give it a shot nonetheless," Iron concluded, the hints of a smile encroaching on his serious demeanor. "He seems like a fun battle, even if he may kill me for it."
>>144076She has a frown
“Do you... need help?”
>>144077Iron immediately dialed down his excitement at the frown, understanding his reckless nature seeping through his demeanor. "I do not know, really," he replied. "If he tries to pull out a weapon, you can try to distract him with... something. Otherwise, you can be the one that sets the battle off between me and this minotaur to ensure he does not pull a weapon."
(What was his name?) his mind tried to recall.
>>144078“I have have a charm, of sorts, that can be disarming.”
For a moment, she has a smile. But then she returns to a serious expression
“Don’t get killed.”
I would look it up, but I am busy
>>144079"I do not plan to leave you alone," Iron confidently declared, offering Sands a small smile. "We will make it big together. Trust me."
After such reassurement, Iron soon turned serious in tow. "When do you think will be best to strike?" he asked. "I was thinking to cause a scene here, maybe disrespecting him here to battle outside, but I doubt he is that kind of... minotaur."
>>144080The smile causes her to lower her head, and offer and almost seductive, or mischievous smile in return. She raises her head to say “a griffin, I think disrespect would goad him into a fight. Him... I don’t know. I suspect he’s not used to being on the defensive, though.”
>>144081"How about manufacturing some accident I can get angry over?" Iron offered. "Maybe get water spilled on either of us, maybe some food."
He soon turned pensive. "...worst case scenario, I can trip over his... uh, minotaur leg as a valid excuse."
>>144082She looks up, and then taps the bottom of her chin
“If he just thinks you’re a random pony, he might want to avoid killing you.”
>>144083"That settles it," Iron concluded with an excited smile, ready to start the romp. "We will cause an accident 'caused' by the minotaur to get angry over, then I beat him up for it."
He soon mellowed out, obviously not wanting Sands to think his arrogance was kicking ready. "Ready to get it on?" he offered.
>>144084She blinks, and shakes her head
“Wait. What?”
>>144085This query caused Iron to halt his excitement for just a second, looking strangely at the mare. "You know," he followed up with a tinge of puzzlement. "Do the plan."
>>144086“Oh. Oh. Okay. Yeah, let’s... do that.”
>>144088"Should I explain the plan again?" Iron asked, just a tiny bit concerned.
>>144089“Well... are you going back there? And are you sure he is alone?”
>>144090"Yes and yes," Iron answered. "I cannot trip into him and get angry about it without getting closer."
>>144091She has a small smile
“Then let it be done.”
>>144092Iron nodded, soon sporting his own smile as he got up the table, aiming to go towards the other room, hiding his mischievous, boisterous intent, ready to go face-to-face against the minotaur.
(Trip myself and blame the minotaur,) he reviewed in his head before nodding. (Let us commence.)
>>144093White Sands sits up in her seat, as if ready to move
>>144094With that little misunderstanding cleared, he finally walked towards the minotaur's last known position in way where he'd be able to trip on him, willing to test his plan out and see if he's successful.
>>144095This is harder than it seems, as the Minotaur is sitting behind a table against the wall. He has no exposed hooves, or at least none that protrude significantly
>>144096Can Iron see any food or water items Sands can stealthily manipulate to dirty either of them from where he was standing?
>>144097The Minotaur has no implements besides the book he is holding up, the newspaper sprawled over the table, and the violin case next to him in the corner. There is no food
[1d2 = 1]
>>144097>>144098But on the far right side of the table is a glass filled with some sort of brown liquid, probably tea, but possibly alcohol of some kind.
>>144099Target acquired.
"Think you can spill that glass of whatever on me and frame the minotaur as the perpetrator?" he inconspicuously whispered to Sands as they slowly walked.
>>144100“It’s a little far away from here. If I were walking with you though... I think I could do it.”
>>144101"That will be our instigating factor then," Iron concluded, getting ready for probably another dose of pain akin to that time the mademare treated his wounds. "Try not to spill it onto you. It might burn. Thankfully, I am a big target."
He soon let out a small chuckle as they started to approach the minotaur's table, silently preparing for the stinging to come.
>>144102“He’ll understand a bit more of a mare is the one it’s spilled in” she says.
She is otherwise ready
>>144103Tough choice, but Sands was right in the end.
"...be careful," he advised in a small whisper. "Make sure to get both of us if you can. Otherwise, aim at yourself."
With that decided, Iron led Sands near the Minotaur, slowly passing by to give Sands enough time to execute her move.
>>144105“He needs a splint, painkillers... are you sure?”
He turns his head in mild skepticism
>>144106Silver nods.
"He and I are both sure."
>>144107“O-Kay.”
He looks down, signs the paper, and immediately turns to leave
>>144108"Thank you very much, doctor. Oh, really quickly, if we need to return for bandage changes, can we?"
>>144109“Sure” he says, not turning around to face Silver as he walks out the door
>>144110"Thank you!"
Silver enters Nick's room, signed paper in his magic grip.
"They have agreed to release you. You should avoid putting undue pressure on your chest for while, though, and they said you would need antibiotics and splints."
>>144111“Uh huh. Uh huh. Let’s get out of here before they figure out who I am.”
>>144112"Another thing, I told them you are my grandson, so keep that up. Need help getting up?"
>>144113He pulls away the covers.
“If that’s what I have to tell them to get out of this.” He looks back over to Silver. “I guess there’s some similarity in coat colors, kind of. Then with the covers off, and in response to Silver’s last question, “Sure.”
>>144114Silver trots over to Nick, and helps him out of his bed. He makes sure to avoid putting pressure on his chest.
"So, is Popper Nick your real name?"
>>144115Silver pulls him up. The movement kind of contracts his chest, and he closes his eyes, wincing. He is pulled down to the ground, where he hops on his back leg, and continues wincing for a moment in silence. Then he answers,
"Huh? Oh no. It isn't."
>>144116"So, what is it?"
He looks down at the stallion.
"Hmm...you may need help trotting."
>>144117"It's... Paper Clipping." He answers, taking a moment to look up towards Silver as he says that, his long mane falling onto his face.
He moves forward, and has a limp on his hind leg.
"I... don't know."
>>144118He smiles at Paper Clipping.
"It is good to meet you, Paper Clipping. I must say, you are quite strong stallion, trotting so soon after that kind of horrific wound, but even strongest of us need help from time to time. Let us get some crutches for you."
>>144119He is standing up, but he is not focusing his eyes on Silver, but rather straight forward. He clamps his teeth down, with his lips fully back in a wince. He is keeping his legs sort of stretched apart, and he is not putting any weight on his hind left leg, bending it upwards slightly.
>>144120"Yes, you definitely need help trotting."
He uses a hoof to move the mane in front of Paper Clipping's face to the side.
"Stay here, I am going to see about getting you some of things doctor recommended."
He goes out to the receptionist, intending to ask her about the things the doctor recommended.
>>144121Paper clipping looks at Silver with his hazel eyes
“Sure...”
The mare looks down at her paper.
“We can give him Acetaminophen or Codiene. He may want something stronger. But he can come back for that. He should come back in three days to get fluid drained...”
She goes through more paperwork
>>144122"What about crutches to help him trot?"
>>144123“Does he have problems walking?”
>>144124"He has limp in his left hind leg."
>>144125“Well, we can add a splint. And he’ll need one for his chest as well.”
>>144126Silver nods.
"Alright, that is painkillers and splints taken care on. What about antibiotics?"
>>144127“Pills as well, but he will likely need to come back at a later date.”
>>144128Silver nods again.
"If you or somepony else could assist us in getting everything he needs, it would be very much appreciated."
>>144129“Yes. You can pick up the painkillers at the pharmacy, and the splints down the hall.”
>>144130"Can you direct me to splints?"
>>144131“Sure. It’s the third door down that” she leans out to point down a hallway to Silver’s right “hallway. It’ll be on your left.”
>>144132"Thank you very much!"
Silver follows her instructions to the splits, grabs one each for Paper's chest and hindleg, and returns to the injured stallion.
>>144133Silver is able to go to the locations and acquire the items in question from a middle aged mare (the splints,) and a slightly younger mare at the pharmacy. Note that there are two points for the chest, and the painkillers are relatively weak. Proper painkillers, like morphine, are not released, evidently because they require hypodermic needles to be administered.
>>144135He thanks the beautiful mares before returning to Paper Clipping.
>>144134waves back>>144136“You got it?”
He says, anxiously
>>144137"I have some mild painkillers, and splints for your chest and hindleg."
He gives him the painkillers using his magic, and trots over to his side with the splints.
"If you will stand still, I will apply splints for you."
He kind of rocks, but he stops to let Silver do his thing. He takes the painkiller pill bottles with his yellow-brown magic and puts them to the side, though he doesn’t seem interested in, or able, to hold the magic field for long.
>>144139Silver starts by applying the one to his hindleg.
"So, where did they catch you at that resulted in your 'buggery' charge?"
>>144140His face is turned down, but he jerks his head and widens his eyes when Silver speaks.
“Uh, a bar and dance hall.”
>>144141"What kind of bar and dance hall?"
>>144142“.... like, a place that had both. A bar and a dance hall.”
>>144143"I mean, was it high-class with classical music, one that plays that 'swing music', something else? I am curious."
>>144144“Uh... with jazz music. And kind of open rafters on the dance hall, with ventilation visible. Only the second time I was ever there. There was a police raid for some reason. Maybe alcohol violations, maybe... other reasons.”
>>144145He looks at him after he finishes with Clip's leg.
"I am guessing there was also 'buggery' going on in building."
>>144146“So the police said.”
>>144147Silver takes the other splint, bends down underneath Clip's chest and works on applying it to him.
"So, *were* you with stallion in dance hall?"
>>144148He blinks
“Define ‘with’.”
>>144149"Having relations. I do not judge either way."
>>144150“Let’s... can you get me out of here?”
>>144151"I am, I am, give me just...there. All set."
He gets out from under Clip.
>>144152He closes his forelegs with Silver under him.
The ponies are ready
>>144150Darn it Silver, stop hitting on stallions
>>144154The horny can't be stopped
>>144153"Alright, let us go, just take things slow."
Silver leads the pair out of the hospital.
>>144154>>144155Never! The horny will never stop!
>>144157He walks forward, a bit stiff with the stints. He’s kind of scrawny, and noticeably smaller than Silver. He wordlessly follows Silver out of the room, and out of the hospital.
>>144158Once out of the hospital and in the clear, he looks at his smaller companion and smiles.
"You never answered my question, by way."
>>144159“I was worried I wouldn’t get out of there”
He looks back up, towards Silver
“Uh, what question?”
>>144160"Have you ever committed 'buggery'?"
>>144161He stops walking, and has a very long, awkward pause
“Are you... g-going to turn me in?”
>>144162He shakes his head, and smiles again.
"Was it with consenting adult?"
>>144164"Personal experience. As long as it was with consenting adult, I think you are perfectly fine with liking stallions, and you will have no worries about me turning you in."
He shakes his head and mutters to himself.
"Getting arrested for same sex relations...thought we had moved past that..."
>>144165He eases slightly.
“No. Not in New Freeside.”
>>144166Silver looks from side to side to make sure nopony is too close, and speaks to Clip in a hushed voice.
"So...what is it like? Is it messy? Does it hurt? Does it feel as good as when you have sex with mare?
>>144167He is silent again, but then answers
“I don’t know. Haven’t tried it.”
>>144168The bigger unicorn looks at Clip with a surprised expression and a raised eyebrow.
"But you seemed so worried you would be turned in for it."
>>144169“For having sex with a mare? No. For draft evasion.”
>>144170It takes Silver a minute.
"...oh, you meant you have never had sex with
mare, I thought you meant you have never had sex with...you know. Still, what is it like?"
>>144171“Let’s not talk about it in the open” he says
>>144172"Alright, fair enough."
Silver flags down a passing taxi to take the pair home.
>>144173In this area of town, this is fairly easy. It’s a long taxi drive home, if so it feels like.
>>144174To pass the time, Silver decides to get to know Clip better.
"So, what did you do before coming here?"
>>144175“I worked for a newspaper.” He says
>>144176"Oh! Were you writer, editor, printer?"
>>144177“Well... I wanted to be. All of those things. Or any of those. The last job I had was setting the photographs they’d use so they were the right size, and would fit on the paper.”
>>144178"It is still very important job for newspaper. They say picture is worth thousand words, and right picture edited properly can tell viewers everything about story they need to know."
>>144179“Yeah... that I know for sure. Like the way the revolts are the mines were covered. They editted out the guns carried by the police in the photograph, claiming it was too far off on the right of the image. But it changes the perception of what happened. That was before I started doing it, though. Still.”
>>144180"Can you tell me what happened?"
>>144181“Yeah. The bauxite mines in the northeast of the mainland colony. Those mines are important for the economy, but dangerous and difficult for the workers. Of course that area is heavily griffin. The workers wanted to unionize. Many mines are unionized. But the Dominion mining company overreacted, harassing workers with private security. Of course local police joined in. The workers organizes a strike anyways. They went further, taking over the mines as a whole for several weeks. All the police in the province were organized. There was a clash and several workers were killed before the mines were surrendered. This was years ago, half a decade now.”
>>144182"Hmm. It was foolish of mining company and police to do that. Harsh reactions tend to just galvanize resistence rather than subdue it. Terrible to hear some died during that."
I should be free to continue tomorrow. I'm excited to see what happens next.
>>144104As Iron enters the room,
[1d3 = 3]
>>144189>>144104He sees that there is more to it than what can be seen in the left-most corner. The room is not especially large, perhaps 40 feet from wall to wall, and the walls are similar to what is seen on the left most corner, with seats back against the wall in half-booth-half-table formats, and with tan walls with paintings of what seems to be a continuous ocean scene, with a ship of sail, a light house and a... what is that? a kraken? Some kind of squid thing, hopefully not real. Near the right, corner, far away, is a door with glass visible to the outside.
But what Iron is more interested is who is at the table. There are, sitting at a table near the door, three griffins. One is directly behind the table and against the wall, another sits off to Iron's left, the first griffin's right, on the booth-bench, and a third sits in a chair facing the first griffin. All three have some kind of black vest, though the first one also wears an undershirt and a bow tie. If they have weapons, they are concealed. They are speaking to each other, the second one is smoking, and there are objects on the table. The best guess is some kind of informal card game.
>>144183"Yes... Yes and yes. Entrenched power and money is always aggressive to defend what they had, perhaps especially when all they have was taken at someone else's expense. This has happened many places and at many times. I've heard the Discrets were a whole lot worse. But their cruelty breeds rebellion, and freedom."
>>144190>>144189Crabcakes.
On the one hoof, they had the plan already in motion, which meant that any sudden movements would arouse suspicion to either the bull or the birds nearby.
On the other, if all four of them ganged up on him as it is right now, it wouldn't take long before he succumbs to his wounds. However, if they didn't get involved for an accident, he would be able to fight the bull one-on-one without anypony interfering.
"...do you think those griffons would rally to the minotaur's defense?" he whispered to Sands.
>>144191The unicorn nods.
"I have heard much same about Discrets. What is most unfortunate is that mining company could have avoided all of that, and those deaths, had they listened to their workers concerns and acted upon them. They still would have made more than enough money through mine, workers would have been happy and motivated to give their best work, and there would have been no need for union."
>>144192“They’d wonder what the hell was going on, that is for sure.” She answers
>>144194"Would they intervene if they believe the bull intentionally spilled his drink on you or me?" Iron muttered back. "He does have that brick with a broken hoof for a picture."
>>144195She blinks
"I'm not sure. Would they believe it? They might if they think of him as a friend, and they might not if they think he got himself into the mess himself"
>>144193He shakes his head
"Then the mining company would still be making millions off the labor of the workers to take material from griffin land, while the laborers would be giving their labor for comparatively little."
>>144196"Do they equate loyalty to friendship?" Iron inquired, feeling himself the tiniest bit empowered by the answer.
>>144197She shakes her head
“For them, it is family that matters most.”
>>144198"Then we can continue with the plan," Iron concluded with a firm resolve. "If they nonetheless try to intervene, we will back out. Remember to make it seem like he threw the liquid at you to increase the odds they will not intervene."
>>144196"Ah. I assume this is your chosen ideology?"
>>144200He blinks
"What? That creatures should get the value they worked for and not simply collect rent over land? Yes, that is the conclusion I have come to."
>>144199"If necessary, I can.. I have some tricks. But if anyone pulls out a gun - and I assure you they do have them - maybe that is a time to withdraw,"
>>144201He nods.
"I agree that all workers should be payed highest wages possible, but what about wages of those who run businesses like mines?"
>>144201"Agreed," Iron replied in a low tone, understanding his current, mortal state is rather weak after the nonstop battling so far. "Let us execute our plan, then."
>>144202"Ideally, everyone would be paid for the amount of labor they put in. I suppose there is an argument for higher wages for the more skilled jobs, or the more dangerous ones, at least at our present stage of historical development. But it isn't even the managers who get the big money. Oh sure, they get paid more than the miners, despite working in air-conditioning and never having to worry about being crushed by machinery, but they don't get the real money. It's the owners, who do nothing, who get the largest share."
>>144203[YouTube] Fluttershy Executes Order 66
[Embed]It begins, The two walk into the room. It kind of looks like the minotaur has noticed them, and has his eyes on them, but the griffins clearly have not
>>144204"Do owners really do nothing, however?"
>>144205"Do they do so much more than anyone else that they deserve to take so much more?"
>>144204Iron was not particularly troubled by being in the minotaur's mind for the time being, so long as the griffons don't notice Sands' sleight of hoof. Even better if the bull didn't understand what happened when Sands and himself were inevitably soaked in alcohol or tea.
He walked around, pretending to look for a suitable table alongside his mare for the day in order not to arouse too much suspicion.
>>144207Then, with a trick of dark green magic, the tea is tipped over
[1d20 = 20][1d20 = 20]
>>144208>>144207The tea tips right over, a burst of tea flowing off the side of the table, and right onto Sand's pretty white coat.
"Ah!" She says, at a relatively low volume, looking at the tea
>>144206"Well, they have to oversee entire mining business. They have to worry about not only their own livelihood, but livelihood of thousands of employees, and if something where to happen to business consequences for them would be far greater than for individual worker. They have to worry about choosing best managers so they do not have to micromanage everything, following every law and restriction placed against them to T or face hefty fines, ensuring they are getting more material from mines than it costs them to keep mine open, selling mined material to clients for greatest profit, and managing business's finances so they have enough to pay their workers, managers, and themselves fair wages while still keeping enough saved back to develop their business further and keep mine from going under during times of crisis. They will never have to raise pickaxe or worry about being crushed to death in their mine - and for that miners should absolutely be payed more than they are - but they carry entire weight of running actual business on their shoulders."
>>144208>>144209That was his cue, looking at his mare's wet coat with a bit of confusion before turning towards the table with the minotaur on it with a big, offended frown. "What was that for?" he accused the bull in a similar intensity as the unicorn's surprised exclamation, stepping closer towards the bovine in question currently sitting.
>>144210"Even those desk-job tasks are so often delegated to other workers, especially females in the urban areas. Is it really worth 30, or 40 times the same labor repairing power shovels or setting explosives out in the sun?"
>>144211The rust brown Minotaur stares down at Iron in silence, with both orange eyes.
>>144213Iron frown intensified at the lack of any answer, to the point of his snout scrunched slightly. "You cannot go silent after spilling tea on my mare like that," he insisted, the back of his mind already sensing a future conflict he'll have to resolve at a later date. "You think this is funny?"
>>144214"She tipped the tea." He answers, firmly
>>144215"That is absurd," Iron pointed out, rather offended. "After all the time she spent in the shower, prettying herself up for the ocassion I am supposed to take your word she spilled tea on herself?"
The stallion planted both front hooves on the table firmly, yet not enough to break it. "I do not appreciate you badmouthing my mare so non-chalantly," he grumbled with a hint of venom in his tone.
>>144216He continues his glare at Iron, and he places his book down on the table. Sands backs away slowly
>>144212"Perhaps not that much, like I said workers generally can and should be payed more than they are without damaging the business, but they are still just as important to mine as mine workers themselves are. Without one, other would not have job."
>>144218He looks back at Silver with skepticism
>>144217"What is the matter with you?" Iron demanded, fuming by this point. "You are not going to apologize after what you did to my mare? Are you trying to rustle me up?"
>>144220He moves his body a little back in his seat, still looking at Iron. He has not stood up, at least not yet
The griffins have to be aware of the commotion, and Iron can hear them saying something to each other in their language. Then again, Iron could hear them talking to each other in their language before.
>>144221Iron is guessing that when they notice the damp Sands that had backed up a bit earlier, they're going to understand the fuss he's making right now.
"Well?" the stallion demanded with a hint of a whinny in his tone.
>>144222Sands, facing the minotaur, has her left, wet side away from the griffins.
Wordlessly, the minotaur stands up. He is much taller than Iron, and though his green shirt covers his abs and muscles, there must surely be much there.
>>144219He shrugs.
"I will admit, I am not big fan of your ideology."
>>144223How inconvenient. I'm sure Sands will explain what happened to the griffons currently doing their poker game while he's riling this bull up.
Irom stared up at the minotaur, undeterred and squinting softly yet knowing better than to just donk him right now, as it would paint him as the bad pony as well as bring the griffon entourage on him as well.
>>144224He keeps his lips closed, and remains silent
>>144225Sands disappears from Iron's peripheral vision. Well, she's sort of there, but what is in front of Iron remains more interesting, In any even the griffins don't seem to be yelling at Iron.
The Minotaur looks down at Iron, standing up. From the current position the table separates them, although moving to the left would remove that obstacle.
The Minotaur seems disinterested in arguing with Iron, or making a first move for that matter
>>144226Iron kept his squinted expression, staring back at the bull while also blocking as many escape paths out of the table as he could with his body.
"You want to go?" he dared the hired killer, ready to throw down.
>>144226"But...I would rather see who you are before making judgement about you. So far, you have seemed like nice young lad to me."
Silver smiles genuinely at his smaller, younger companion.
>>144227And now he speaks, and his voice is fairly deep, but slightly accented like that one blue pony back with the police
"Do you?"
>>144228He blinks, before giving a weak smile, and saying
"Perhaps you can still learn yourself."
>>144229He nods, still keeping that smile.
"Perhaps."
The taxi ride should be getting close to Silver's house by now.
>>144229"For my mare?" Iron replied, oozing determination. "I am ready for anything."
>>144230They arrive at the house
>>144231"Then know that she spilled the glass upon herself,
my glass, and brought it upon herself. As shall you, should you proceed further."
>>144232Iron gritted his teeth, clearly upset at the second insinuation declared by the minotaur on this day. "I am not letting you get away with besmirching my mare like that," he countered with a firmer whinny. "We will settle this outside."
>>144232Silver pays the driver his fare, exits the taxi, and holds it open for Clip.
"Well, welcome to where you will be staying, at least for moment."
>>144236"Gino! Check the alley. Make sure we are alone. Then get my case."
He says, then seems to speak to Iron directly
"I do not know why you came back here, but you shall find more than you came for."
>>144235"Woah" he says, looking up at the house
"Well fuck me, this is a nice house."
>>144237"Courtesay of Stormfeather Maakie, griffon who was running trafficking operation. We broke into his safe, and I laid claim to deed to this house. I did not think it would be this nice either at first, but I am not complaining."
>>144238"The trafficking operation back at... back at that building? That place?"
>>144239Silver nods.
"It is rather fitting that some of those we rescued are now living here, where he used to. I must say, it is far better use for this place."
>>144237Iron relaxed his pose, stepping aside to let the minotaur pass in order to get their one-on-one started.
However, that particular statement piqued the stallion's interest, yet he simply remained quiet, allowing himself to psyche himself up for a bout of fisticuffs.
>>144240"Indeed!" He says, seeming to wag his tail and run forward, as if to run around the front segment
>>144241The Minotaur calmly stands up, and walks past Iron
The griffin behind the table speaks, and in Ponish:
"Make it quick and quiet, Koptis"
"I shall" the minotaur replies
The griffin who sits off to the side has already gone through the side door, and that seems to be where the minotaur is heading
>>144242He chuckles at this honestly adorable display. To Silver, it seems as though Clip is a foal at heart.
"Just do not hurt yourself. I am going inside to tell others that you are here, you can come inside at any time."
>>144242Thanks for the reminder about his name.Iron promptly followed suit, keeping his distance so as to not cause too much friction between him and the bull, yet the comments burned into his mind like a forest fire: Was he going to use a weapon, or were his fists the weapon?
(We will have to see,) he concluded, sparing a glance at Sands' way as they treaded towards the arena.
>>144243For what it's worth, Clip doesn't look any older than adolescence, and his relatively small size doesn't help. He hops about, looking underneath the wooden stairs towards the sea.
"Uh, sure!" He says, not looking back at Silver
>>144244Sands looks scared, but she keeps her distance from the creatures, and maintains a low profile as she scurries about.
Through the open door, Iron can see that there is space between the building there and one behind it, although it should be known that the door itself exits into a side parking lot, and bthey have to move top get behind the building. There is a fairly nice automobile, with black paint and a long cabin section that is currently being driven and moved, evidently to form something of a physical barrier between the "alley" and the top of the parking lot. The alley isn't quite a true alley, with probably thirty feet of space, part of which is gravel, but the sides have grass.
Koptis takes his position, opposite Iron
>>144245Silver unlocks and then goes through the front door of the house.
>>144246Going through into the house, Silver can hear the radio playing, and he can hear Jubilosa say
"Hello?"
>>144247"I am home, Jubee!"
Silver trots forward towards her position.
>>144248She stands up (evidently she was sitting at the couch) and goes towards Silver
"Oh Silver. You're back!" She says
>>144245Iron does the same, taking a proper fighting stance as he awaited the proper time to commence the battle.
"Whenever you are ready," he called out to Koptis, steeling himself for the scuffle to come.
>>144249Silver smiles wide, steps forward, and wraps his forelegs around her in a warm embrace.
"Everything is set up for our date tonight. I even got you something for it."
>>144250Koptis carefully unbuttons his short, exposing strong muscles under rust colored fur, and placing his shirt on the automobile. He turns back to face Iron, still wearing pants and a belt that includes what seems to be a scabbard
"It is time"
Roll Initiative[1d20+3 = 18]>>144251Gasps"Really?"
Her mouth hangs partly open, and her eyes grow wide
>>144252[1d20+2 = 17]<Initiative
>>144253>>144252He strikes first, with clenched fist at Iron
[1d20+8 = 20]
>>144252Silver uses his magic to levitate the box with the red silk dress out from his saddlebags, and he gives it to her.
"I hope you like it. I have another thing for you, too, but I think it is better left for after we return home."
>>144254>>144253And lands a hit with his fist
[1d3+3 = 4]>>144255Her beak hangs all the way open, as her eyes twinkle
"It's so PRETTY!"
She quickly grabs the dress
>>144256Silver smiles as if he was happier now than he has been in the longest time.
"Seeing you react like this makes every Bit spent worth it."
He also levitates out the white fur coat he bought to go with it.
>>144256Iron flinched slightly at the successful jab, yet he couldn't help but grin slightly: This was going to be a tough battle, and he couldn't be happier to be in his element.
Iron winded up a hook against the minotaur's side with a bit of extra oomph into it.
[1d20+7 = 10]<Unarmed attack (-3 to hit, +3 to damage)
>>144258Iron's buck is a bit reckless and imprecise, and the minotaur moves to dodge it.
He punches back
[1d20+8 = 20]>>144257"Eeeeek"
She examines the white fur coat
"Is this from Skyfall?"
>>144259>>144258And evidently hits again, in much the same way
[1d3+3 = 5]
>>144259"I do not know, I found fancy clothing store here in Baltimare that sold all kinds of dresses. It was expensive, but you are more than worth every Bit that silk dress and fur coat cost me."
>>144259>>144260Once again, Iron was bonked, causing him to soon grit his teeth. This guy was serious, and he's running out of time to properly dish out some bruises.
He tried a far more powerful buck against the minotaur's stomach, hoping to even the odds as they are right now.
[1d20+5 = 20]<Unarmed strike (-5 to hit, +5 damage. Non-lethal)
>>144262Hit>>144261She tilts her head
"D'aww"
And then jumps at Silver
Whomp
>>144264[1d3+11 = 13]<Damage
>>144265"Umph!"
Koptis stands back, evidently surprised by this hit, but lunges punches again
[1d20+8 = 28]
>>144264"Wah!"
The griffon whomps the stallion, knocking them both to the ground. Silver starts laughing, holding his Jubee tight and planting a kiss on her beak.
>>144266>>144265He hits Iron near the face
[1d3+3 = 5][1d20+8 = 18]>>144267"Hehe"
She kisses him back
>>144268>>144265For double damage
Iron has sustained 19 damage
>>144268>>144269Iron's snout scrunched, flinching considerably before soon returning to focus on the minotaur.
Yet his nose started to bleed and his breathing was a bit ragged, the many wounds he's sustained starting to catch up to him. Yet he couldn't let himself surrender like a coward against such a powerful, humble opponent. Reminded him of Silver in how he carried himself...
There was no way he'd be able to keep up with him with speedy attacks with how things are going, so he had to cash in on slow, powerful strikes in the hopes he can knock this hunk of a bull down.
With that strategy in place, he opted for another buck once again, harnessing the energy of what he was fighting for in order to boost his morale up.
[1d20+5 = 12]<Unarmed Strike (-5 to hit, +5 damage)
>>144268He smiles at his beautiful griffon after, happy as can be. It fades slightly as he moves on to his next topic.
"There is one more thing. That stallion we found on altar at Hoebuck, I visited him in hospital. He asked if he could stay with us, for moment at least."
>>144272Seeing Iron's hooves, and evidently with memory of the last kick, koptis moves with fear in his eyes. And he moves out of the way of Iron's hooves, letting them graze his fur. The miss is narrow, but never the less, a miss.
He returns with a punch of his own
[1d20+8 = 27]
>>144274>>144272And he hits. At least he misses Iron's shoulder, narrowly, preventing the blow from knocking Iron down
[1d3+3 = 5]>>144273"Uh... sure" she seems a bit surprised
>>144275He nods, and resumes cuddling his griffon on the floor.
"I went to spa to set up couple session after our dinner. I convinced them to let us stay after they have closed so you and I can get full spa package together."
>>144275>>144274Iron's condition was starting to worsen as he wiped off the blood flowing from his nose, struggling to breathe properly yet willing to keep fighting regardless.
Perhaps there is another way to do this: If he is able to trip him up, Koptis' attacks will be weakened considerably, thus maybe allowing him one last shot at clutching victory.
With a heavy heart at this somewhat dubious move, Iron rushes forth, hopping up on his hindlegs in an attempt to physically force the bull to trip and fall to the ground.
[1d20+10 = 27]<Melee Touch Attack
>>144276gasp"
Really?"
Her voice is exceptionally high pitched now, and she almost vibrates with excitement
>>144277Hit
>>144278[1d20+5 = 15]<Strength check
>>144278He nods vigorously.
"Everything spa has to offer, we will experience together. I can not think of better way to relax."
>>144279Opposed
[1d20+3 = 9]>>144280"That sounds great!" she says, hopping up
>>144281Silver takes the opportunity to get up as well. He resumes smiling at Jubilosa.
"Our dinner reservation is at 5:15, so you have until then to get
really excited."
>>144282She spreads her wings, which touch the walls, and fortunately do not threaten to turn anything over
>>144281After pushing the minotaur onto his back, Iron took an opportunity to quickly strike at his chest.
[1d20+10 = 13]<Fast, non-lethal bonk
>>144284And with this, Iron lands a hit
>>144285[1d3+5 = 7]<Bonk.
>>144286Iron lands a hit on Koptis, who then reaches for his side scabbard, and tries to stand up
Iron's eyes widened, clearly not expecting him to try and pull out a weapon out of his scabbard, yet he didn't have much else to do rather than go for another hit as he stood up in a mildly desperate attempt to knock him out.
[1d20+10 = 24]<Fast, non-lethal bonk.
>>144287>>144288[1d3+5 = 6]<Bonk
>>144289He stands up, and attempts to stab Iron with a long, double bladed knife
[1d20+8 = 27]
>>144283He gazes at the wonderous sights before him, stars in his big blue pony eyes.
"Glorious..."
>>144290>>144289Which hits
[1d3+3 = 6]
>>144292>>144289>>144288By bad luck, the final stab - which likely would have been only moderately concerning in its own right, seems to down Iron.
The disheveled and heavily breathing Koptis stands back up, over Iron
>>144291She hugs him as tightly as she can manage. Considering her size, her grip is very firm
>>144289>>144293One final contingency
[1d20+3 = 10]
>>144292>>144293>>144294Failure... Iron hated this feeling... no amount of morale boosting can stop this, and he could tell as his legs gave out.
"Good... fight," he complimented the minotaur, chin resting at the floor, unaware of what was about to happen. No begging, no bargaining, no requests to spare him.
>>144295>>144294"That Should teach you" Koptis says, still holding up the knife
Running up behind Koptis, White Sands sling some object at Koptis' back
[1d3+2d6]
>>144296>>144295[1d3 = 1][2d6 = 4]
>>144294The squeezed pony hugs back, enjoying both the outer warmth of Jubilosa's body and the inner warmth he feels from being with someone he loves, and who loves him back.
"I love you, Jubee."
>>144297>>144295But it isn't enough. Koptis turns around ,and engages White Sands
[1d20+8 = 15]
>>144299"I love you too!" she says, hapily
>>144298Koptis Thrusts a knife into White Sands, who gives a loud, angry, and pained
"
HISS!"
[1d20+2 = 15]
>>144300>>144295He stabs at her again
[1d20+8 = 14][1d3+3 = 4]
>>144300>>144299>>144297>>144296>>144301>>144302Iron's eyes widened, seeing Sands start a battle he was meant to finish. He tried his best to stand up in an attempt to help her, but he found his limbs to be uncooperative.
Just more lemon juice onto his wounded ego, gritting his teeth.
>>144302>>144295Precisely what goes on between White Sands and Koptis is hard to say for anyone without a very clear view of the two, but they remain in close proximity. Koptis stabs White Sands at least twice in her torso, with her only seeming to be able to respond with a glare. But he stumbles for a moment
[1d20-1 = 16]
>>144300"D'aww...so, what was my Jubee listening to before I interrupred."
Wow people started early. I'm ready to play if you are.
>>144303>>144304Never once does Sands land another hit on Koptis, and never once does Koptis stumble, or fall down. Yet something is clearly happening there, so the bright flashes of green light tell, though obscured from Iron's direct view by Koptis's body. It seems Koptis must have either lost interest, or was otherwise dazed, because he loses his grip on White Sands, who darts past him, and then kicks him - though her kick is entirely ineffective. He stumbles almost like a drunkard for a moment, and White Sands attempts to drag Iron with her teeth and magic.
>>144305"It was a radio play. They have those here."
>>144306Hello. Perhaps
>>144307"Ooo, what was it about?"
>>144307Iron was currently looking incredibly dejected, allowing his heavy, 280lbs body to be carried by the mare he was supposed to be taking for more social interactions, and yet here she was, carrying him like a foal after breaking his leg after a miscalculated dive from the waterfall.
He did try his best to be as carryable as possible to help her in that regard at the very least.
>>144309She tugs at him, looks back to Koptis, who is starting to find his footing. She then pulls something out of her bag
"Here"
She takes some sort of needle, and injects him with it.
In the matter of some seconds, Iron feels his heart pounding - not necessarily the best of things when you are bleeding. His eyes focus - yet remain blurry - and he feels full of energy, and yet drained, like the experience of waking up after a 30 minute nap after days of no sleep.
"Run!" she says to Iron
>>144310Run?
Iron quickly darts his head around, wondering where could they even go... or even better, if he could actually fight a little longer against the bull to stop his self-loathing from crumbling even more of his spirit.
>>144311It's hazy, like a dream almost. Iron is leaking blood onto the ground
"This way!"
>>144308"Oh, it's this little thing about a mare who is trying to hide a manticore from her husband. It's nice and funny."
>>144312"Heheh, that does sound funny."
>>144312Ergh. No way he's gonna be able to fight even a fly in the first place.
Without any other choice, Iron opts instead to follow Sands' voice.
>>144314Do lesser animals experince limited, lesser forms of consciousness? No one can say, but that is what Iron is experiencing now. A dazed, limited perception, where all he can tell is that he is being chased by a grave danger, like a rabbit fleeing a hawk. White Sands - who herself leaks a purple blood, and is breathing heaving, bounds in front of him, going to opposite way of the car, past buildings, past bushes, down a road, past another building, and even further
>>144313"Oh yeah, it's rather nice."
>>144315Iron, of course, followed Sands along, not seeing any reason to stop after what she just done to the bull: A backstab like that is going to garner resentment... although he wasn't sure if Koptis
was going to kill him or not. It was kind of up in the air in his mind.
>>144315"Would you like to continue listening to radio play?"
>>144316It's not clear that Koptis hasn't killed him already. Each heart beat is loud and echoes against his mind. The bushes and grass mix together, and drain of color. White Sands places her hooves together and leaps like a greyhound as she moves. The two go even further away.
>>144317"Sure" she says
>>144318He wouldn't have dreamt Sands saving his sorry flank from the jaws of death. That much he knew about himself.
Although the constant running made it feel like he was in a... everconstant terrain that the gods pulled from at a similar speed that he was running, because it felt like he was dashing in place.
>>144318Silver trots over with Jubee to the couch, and sits down with her to listen to the radio play.
>>144319Sometime passes. It feels like half an hour, but maybe it was one minute. Time doesn't really seem to pass normally. White Sands leads them into a building, then into a room and shuts a door.
>>144320So it sounds like there is this guy who is trying to hide a trained manticore he took from a... managerie? A circus act? It's kind of hard to tell, but some rich guy. And this guy is a business partner of the husband so the wife doesn't want the information to come to life, but she also doesn't want
him to know, or anyone, really, because of how obviously illegal this is. So they are trying to hide it in a room, but then the husband comes in and they have to pass off the manticore as a foreign exchange student that the wife is giving piano lessons. And the only sounds the Manticore can get out is "Roo" so the Husband thinks the Manticore is a foriegn exchange student named "Rue."
At least that is what Silver can discern so far
>>144321Iron kept running towards... somewhere, unsure if he should still do so, considering the abnormal circumstances...
...Sands could stop him from running further if she wanted to, right?
>>144322If she cannot, the walls can. Iron is in an enclosed room now.
>>144321Silver can't help but laugh and chortle at the antics of this family as he listens.
>>144323Thus, Iron crashes facefirst into a wall in his drug-induced, animalistic panic, hopefully without going into a coma or becoming unconscious.
>>144325It's not clear that either of those two things wasn't going to happen anyways
crashAnd things start to go dark
>>144324And now her parents are over. And they want to hear "Rue" play the piano, to show off his progress
>>144326And as they went dark, all he had to think of was... he failed.
>>144326"Heheeee, this will not go well for them."
>>144328Fortunately the need for a performance is saved by the arrival of... the police? Well... that's not a good turn of events
>>144327"You'll get 'em next time," Sands seems to say. Or maybe she didn't say it at all. It's a bit hazy. Iron goes black
>>144329"Huh. What twist!"
>>144330They are looking for... Gasp! The missing Manticore! Shame no one has seen it. But they will stay for tea, however. Anyways, the guests want to know more about Rue's homeland
>>144331Iron wakes up after some time, in severe pain, and feeling weak.
Actually he feels better than he did a couple days ago, to be honest
>>144332Iron groaned softly, his legs twitching softly in wherever he was right about now. Honestly, the pain served to wash away some of his shortcomings as he couldn't quite focus on them just yet.
(This is awful...) he grumbled in his head, with tempered anger.
>>144332"Heheheh, how come none of them notice? This is very silly."
>>144334Rue is reticent to talk about his homeland, though it seems there may be a communication barrier.
Then things come to a true head when the rich pony who owns the Manticore enters, evidently following the police there.
>>144333There's a sensation of burning, as it seems White Sands - bandaged herself - has placed bandages on Iron
>>144335Iron simply sighed soon after, being reminded once again of his failure to keep his word, simply staying silent with a dejected, shamed demeanor while staring at the floor.
>>144337The unicorn immediately accuses Rue of being the missing Manticore, to which the mare has to explain that the owner is simply ignorant of griffyaks and really should apologize for his insensitivity. A loud argument breaks out, with the police and the husband not knowing who to believe. The husband in particular is concerned about possible deception.
>>144336He may as well, feeling as weak as he does.
Sands says nothing at the moment
>>144338"Ah, lies are like building house on sand. It will always have flimsy foundation."
>>144338Thus, only his thoughts made him company while laying on the floor with a vacant look on his eyes.
Not only did he fail to take out the exemplary bull that would've sent the message of not messing on Waterfront's turf, he had to be saved by the mare he was supposed to show how reliable this is...
It won't be long before they try and send assassin squads, scouring around the city with the minotaur at the front, looking for them to finish the job. Sure, he may have had pretended to be some disgruntled lover, but soon, the pieces will fall together and the many gang members will realize what his role actually was. They were going to be persecuted for as long as they remained here the moment they find out.
A big failure all around... and condemning White Sands to die or flee due to his incompetence.
>>144339>>144337But as the unicorn owner goes forward to definitively prove that Rue is actually a manticore, there is a new development:
The husband accuses the wife and the business partner of conducting an affair. He's noticed the two being around either other a lot lately, trying to lock doors, and always seeming like they are hiding something. They both immediately deny this, but the argument stops the unicorn's efforts to uncover Rue's true identity
>>144340Now she speaks
"I told you they were dangerous."
>>144340*how reliable he is
>>144341Iron simply exhales, as if to say he knew that already.
>>144341"I can see why you like this, Jubee, this is riveting!'
>>144343>>144342"Now they will try to find us" she says
>>144344The confrontation heats up, with the husband standing up against the business partner, and the unicorn against Rue. With the husband yelling at the partner, the unicorn makes a run for Rue, but collides with the business partner. They both fall to the ground...
To show a marking on the leg of the Unicorn. The police immediately recognize the marking as a scar belonging to a dangerous sorcerer who is known to use animals as puppets for attacks. He got in a confrontation with Imperial Guard and escaped, but was wounded in the attack, hence the scar
>>144345Iron weakly nodded before trying to stand up, just wanting to get this over with.
>>144346The room is kind of hard to identify. It looks like the back room of a commercial establishment. At least there is a couch, which Iron is laying on.
"Where shall we go tonight?" she asks
>>144347"Someplace that heals me," Iron replied in a monotone, somewhat tired voice. "Cannot complete mission like this."
>>144348The sorcerer quickly uses spells to immobilize both police officers. At this time, the parents - who have tried to stay off to the side of the room - admit to not liking the wife's piano lessons, playing, or even griffyaks. This distracts the sorcerer for long enough for the business partner to tackle the sorcerer to the ground. This works, until the sorcerer gets far away enough to use his horn on the business partner. But the sorcerer is immediately pawed and smashed down by Rue's paws, knocking him out
>>144349"No. You cannot. I don't know that you can complete it at all now. You need a hospital." she says
>>144350"Wow! What amazing climax to story!"
>>144351"All I need is to send those killsquads with a kick in their flanks back to their chieftains," Iron mumbled, looking for an exit to drag himself out of. "All I need... is a revitalizer. An invirgorator..."
>>144352The sorcerer is knocked out, and when the police are released from their magical hold, take the sorcerer into custody. The parents are awkward, both because of the fight and their words about their daughter's chosen hobby.
Although the mare and the business partner wait until the police leave, they come clean. They explain that Rue is actually a manticore they have been hiding. The parents seem to believe it, but admit they couldn't tell the difference between a forest monster and a foreign creature anyways. They leave. The husband, however, does not believe this story at all, and seems to believe this is a crazy story to cover up an affair. With uncertainty, he leaves the room. The business partner and the mare collapse onto the couch, while Rue curls up and goes to sleep.
fin>>144353"You'll need a lot of revitalizers" she says
>>144354"I know," Iron breathed out, starting his tentative walk towards somewhere where he could look at outside, or another room elsewhere. Basically anything that could possibly try to get him out of this debilitating state and into action once again.
>>144354Silver stomps his forehooves against the couch in applause.
"Bravo!"
>>144356Jubilosa giggles, while the radio gives a listing of the names of the actors involved in the performance of "A Mare, a Friend, and a Manticore."
>>144355There is a pair of windows with the blinds down, and the one closed door
"Where are you going?" White Sands asks
>>144357"I will not find the revitalizers in here," Iron answered, opting to shamble to the blinds in order to see any spots where he could get the treatments he needs right about now.
>>144357"If this is what it is like listening to radio play, imagine what it is like watching movie..."
>>144359She opens her mouth wide
"Can we do that?"
>>144358"Stop. I'll take you to one. Unless that Zebra of yours can help you."
>>144360He nods.
"Absolutely."
>>144360"She can, yes," Iron nods softly, his extended foreleg shaking the slightest bit as he kept himself from opening the blinds. "She knows a healer and is also a healer in her own right."
>>144361She flaps her wings
"Eeek!"
>>144362"Let's get out of this town" She says
>>144363He holds onto his precious griffon tight, as if his life depended on it.
>>144363"Have a route to take?" Iron humored, not wanting to get Sands too worried and get himself killed without even downing one extra griffon.
>>144364Griffin is held. Very tightly.>>144365"Down Percheron" she says
"The question is, how will we get there?"
>>144366"Walking," Iron mumbled, thinking through the pain "If you can somehow change your appearance right now, you can cover me in a blanket and escort me out of town."
>>144366"Alright, I have to make sure Clip is doing alright."
>>144367“Heh. I don’t think you’re in any condition to walk so far right now” she says.
>>144368“Clip?” She asks
>>144369"Oh, stallion who asked to stay here for moment."
>>144369"It might be the only way, as far as I know," Iron lazily replied before shambling over towards Sands. "Maybe one of those metal things that go vroom vroom could work."
>>144371She bites her lip
“Have you got any money on you? Let me see.”
>>144370“Oh. Him.” She says
>>144372"You are upset."
He looks up at his Jubee.
>>144373“No. It’s a big unexpected, but... no.”
>>144374"Are you sure? If something is wrong, I want to know."
>>144375“I don’t think so?” She says
“I just didn’t know his name.”
>>144372He had some, although compared to the last time Iron had any money (4500 bits plus loot) and passed it all to Cauldron in order to boost her spending captial and start up her business, it was about... 350 bits, after considering the payments to the hotel.
>>144377“That’s enough” she says
“There’s sure to be a doctor in town, but I’d rather leave. They may be searching for doctors.”
>>144376"His name is Paper Clipping. He was foalnapped by traffickers in New Mareland trying to dodge draft and avoid fighting in its foreign wars. He is nice stallion, you might like him."
>>144378"What is the plan?" Iron muttered, blinking slowly.
>>144380"Pay someone to take us into town. Take us to your zebra mare, if you trust her."
>>144379She tilts her head
"Huh..."
>>144381"Sounds good to me," Iron mumbled as he stared at the window with a frown.
>>144381"Would you like to meet him?"
>>144383“Uh, sure.” She says
>>144382And...
[1d20 = 7]
>>144382>>144384A little time has passed, and no luck for White Sands yet
>>144384"Are you sure? You do not have to say yes if you do not want to."
>>144384>>144385Iron, of course, doesn't say anything, letting Sands do the thing she's best at.
>>144386“Well, I don’t see why not.” She says
>>144387And again
[1d20 = 18]
>>144387>>144388She comes in telling Iron
“Alright, I found a stallion who will help us. Just carefully go through this door, out the back, and into the bed of his truck.”
>>144389Iron nodded, starting to walk towards the door, fully trusting Sands to properly guide him to safety, even if deep down, he wished to have died the moment she intervened in his duel with Koptis.
(...Is it bad to resent somepony for saving my life?) he absent-mindedly thought, looking pensive in his tired, pained demeanor.
>>144388"Alright then."
He smiles at her, gets up off the couch, and offers her a hoof to get up.
>>144390She similarly seems tired, but she works nevertheless, talking to a stallion in an old, orange truck.
"Lay down in the bed, and pull that cover over you. Don't get out until we are there."
>>144391She smiles, and takes his hoof to get up
>>144392"Easy enough," Irom mumbled, shambling over said bed and looking for the covers to hide himself under.
>>144392He leads his griffon outside, where he last saw Clip.
>>144394It takes a moment, but Clip is outside by the water
Khoi can be found in the little section under the house, with bedsheets
>>144393He places the cover over himself and settles in. It's a long drive, and the truck starts and stops at many points. Iron may be curious to get up and look out. Or he may fall asleep - which is more likely considering his poor condition at the moment.
After a significant time, the truck stops, and iron hears the sound,
"Iron. We are here."
>>144395He definitely fell asleep: He had lost curiosity when failing at what he supposedly does best.
Iron didn't bother to get out of the bed just yet, instead asking where they were.
>>144395Silver trots up to Clip.
"Hello Clip, I wanted to introduce you to Jubilosa. Jubilosa, this is Paper Clipping."
>>144396"We are at that zebra's apartment. At least I think we are" she says.
Iron may sit up, to see that they are parked off to the side, near where Black Cauldron lives
>>144397"Uh, hello."
Paper Clipping walks up, and looks upwards at her
"Hello, miss"
>>144398Iron did so, which soon turned him pensive. "...should we let you-know-who know about our progress so far?" he insinuated, mostly regarding the mademare they took the contract up for.
Otherwise, he'd stand up and slowly hobble off the truck to allow it to drive off without much of a hassle.
>>144399“Saint Germane? Only if she will find out first.”
Iron does do, and Iron can see that Sands hoofs some coins to the driver.
>>144400"I do not get it," Iron remarked, softly shaking his head as shuffled over towards the apartment's entrance.
>>144401“What do you not get? You tried to stealthily go in and take on the vanguard of an arriving invasion of very dangerous criminals. That didn’t work. Now they know who you are, or at least, they are aware that someone is challenging them. Saint Germans might be very angry or entirely unsurprised, but it won’t be the same as returning having solved the problem.”
>>144402Iron huffed softly, feeling the metaphorical lemon being squeezed into his wounded ego.
"What about all the work we did previously?" he questioned as he hopefully arrived at the door without any sort of roadblocks in his way. "I am sure the accountant knows the Waterfront Gang is watching them because of his testimony, right?"
>>144398Silver looks at Khoi.
"Have you met Khoi yet?"
>>144403“I don’t know. They may have been hit hard enough to decide not to engage. They may think they have to strike first now. And they may only want to come after you.”
>>144404“Yes. She was here doing laundry” he says
>>144405"Did you talk with her at all?"
>>144406“A little, yeah. Says she’s been living here with you, the griffin, and a hyena.”
>>144405"I can beat their sorry flanks back with my full strength," Iron dismissed somewhat with a heavy step, appraising his weakened body. "It it a matter of how fast I can heal."
>>144407Silver nods.
"Okay then...anything else?"
>>144408“Not if they already know you are dangerous. At least, not alone.”
>>144409“She says you are dating this find griffin here?”
>>144410Silver nods.
"We have date planned for tonight, right Jubee?"
>>144410"If they know I am dangerous and have managed to take down an entire establishment on my lonesome," Iron argued, still tired, but passionate enough about knowing all his labor had
some sort of payoff "then they will surely not want to find out if there are more of me."
Nonetheless, he shook his head, still kicking himself for his loss.
>>144412“Oh, I think they know already that you are one of a kind.”
>>144411“Mhmm.” She nods her head, while half-unfolding her wings
>>144413"How?" Iron mumbled, a bit puzzled. "Am I really that rare to find?"
>>144413"So...want to take look inside house, Clip?"
>>144414“Well, they know you’re not an ordinary colt who just wandered in. Let’s say that.”
>>144415“Sure!” His tail moves back and forth
>>144416Iron didn't quite get it, but that may be due to the debilitated state he was in.
Therefore, he kept moving towards the one that can make his physical and emotional pain go away.
>>144416He smiles at him, and motions for him to follow.
"If you will follow me..."
hopes to continue with the cute stallion
>>144418The colt runs around towards the stairs, and follows behind Silver
>>144423Silver enters first, and shows off the living room to the colt.
"Here is living room, nice and spacious with TV and radio for entertainment. Off to side you will find bar, kitchen, and dining area."
>>144424He walks, almost cautiously into the entrance, looking up and down
"Woah."
He stops to take extra time to look at the taxidermied... Leopard? The one that stands on the left side of the hallway, opposite the stairs and near the radio and phonograph.
>>144425Silver looks with him.
"Bit of relic of when it was Maakie who lived here. I do not get it, myself."
>>144426“Odd tastes... I’m not sure what else I expected.” He comes further into the room, with Jubilosa following behind. He takes a careful look at the radio, and the other items like model ships.
>>144427Silver looks at Jubilosa.
"What do you think of all of these taxidermied animals around house, by way?"
>>144428“It’s a little bit, well, excessive. But I think it’s pretty neat.” She says
>>144429Silver nods, and smiles at her.
"I am bit ambivalent towards them, so it is nice to hear others opinions on them."
He returns to seeing what Clip is doing.
>>144430Now he is interested in the television, walking up to it, and touching it.
>>144431Silver uses his magic to turn the moving picture box on from a distance.
>>144432Paper Clipping moves back quickly as the black screen becomes moving images of black and white. A high pitched sound emanates, replaced by static, and then a pony voice.
>>144433Silver stifles a little chuckle, and looks at what is playing on the television.
>>144434It looks to be multiple clips, each some seconds long, of what seems to be an aerial view over modern warships with bridges, guns, and conning towers. More than that, the source of the images dive, tilt, or shoot white tracers, or even pairs of black smoke trails in the directions of the ships. Sometimes the ships are stationary, with scenes of dry docks around them. Sometimes they move with white steam coming from the stacks, and curved trails of foam n the water behind them. And some smoke with great stacks of black from the hull. Airplane and machine gun sounds overlay the images, along with the voice of a narrating pony
>>144435"This must be news report of ongoing war. Though I am not sure which war it is..."
>>144436The voice over fills in this detail:
“Our colts and fillies in the ‘Flying Pigs’ squadron carry out the attack on Aquellia harbor. The
Liberté Chérie long wounded by our planes in the Freeside Gulf, and dragged into harbor for repairs, is sunk outside its dry dock. Its reign of terror is at an end, thanks to the Republican Air Force.”
>>144437"Ah, Aquileia. It is rather sad I do not automatically know what war New Mareland is fighting anymore, by my count I think they may be in...what, two, three?"
>>144438“When they leave one, they enter another” Paper Clipping answers
>>144439"Indeed it seems. Under normal conditions I would say it is duty of nation's citizens to come to its defense, but it is also duty of nation's leaders to avoid war where possible and keep their citizens safe. I can not blame you for making to leave New Mareland, this is ridiculous."
>>144440“I know. Much of the male population has been drafted. The only way they keep the economy up is from what they loot from other nations.”
>>144441"I wonder how many stallions are being sent overseas, and how few will make it back home. It is like entire generation is being marched off to their death."
>>144442“Exactly! It’s the acts of a few imperialists consolidating power over their own populations. I want no part of it.”
[b]Blue Skies is still best pony
>>144444Agreed.
>>144443He trots up to the colt, and pats his back.
"You are safe here, do not worry."
>>144445He is pat, and sits down
“So, uh, what do you do? You say you don’t work for the police.”
He tilts his head
“Are you some kind of gangster?”
waves
I hope I can play today
>>144446"Heh, not really. I like term 'Adventurer', but I suppose I am more of mercenary, even if it is dirty term for what I do. Khoi used word to describe kind of wandering knight in her homeland."
>>143986Dark Denizen has a flat expression, and asks Amber
“How good of a liar are you?”
>>144447is waved atwaves back>>144448He narrows his eyes in skepticism
>>144449She blinks and twists her mouth.
"Not very, I don't like to lie...."
>>144450“Hired by who?” He asks
>>144451She grins
“No matter. Simply go to the right place at the right time.”
>>144452"And what would that be?"
>>144452"Well, since coming here I have been hired by development company to clear undead out of quarry, nun to rescue colts from politician's, uh...sex dungeon, and local government to clear traffickers from Hoebuck."
>>144453She tries to pull Amber off to the side, and stares into Amber’s eyes for her next words
“Have you ever been to the Baltimare police headquarters?”
>>144454He blinks, and shakes his head, pulling it back
“Undead and sex dungeons?”
>>144456“Like zombies? And what?!”
>>144455She shakes her head.
"No, I haven't. I arrived in Baltimare a couple of days ago."
>>144457Silver nods.
"Risen by long dead necromancer. That nest was difficult as Tartarus to clear out, thank goodness there was unexploded bomb in quarry to blow them up to smitherines. As for sex dungeon...well, we were asked by local orphanage worker kirin nun called Sister Ash to help rescue two missing colts who were foalnapped from orphanage by local gang and sold off to local politician named Comte Burgher. We broke into his mansion, and inside hatch inside his pool house we found, well, sex dungeon, and imprisoned inside were two missing colts as well as two young foalnapped changeling drones. It was...horrifying sight."
And I have to sleep now>>144458She has that grin, once again
"I can't say that my experiences with it have been pleasant. Perhaps yours will be better. That is where you are going tonight."
>>144459He blinks
"Well then..."
>>144460Silver nods again.
"Well then indeed."
>>144460With all this tension, I'm expecting this 'she' to try and shine a light into Amber's eyes and come out as some sort of undercover cop.
>>144460"Tonight? Will...will anypony even be there?"
>>144464"Heh heh heh. Do you really think the police would be content to leave us who live by night alone?
No. But you
are thinking right. There will be the night shift, and there will be
fewer of them. There are there mostly for emergencies, and they will not be expecting other business. And if you get there at just the right time, you will be there at the time the night shift expects their break."
>>144465"Um, is that important?" She seems uneasy in asking so many questions, as if the wrong one might set this mysterious mare off.
>>144466"Always better to deal with fewer police, and especially, to deal with disinterested officers. Officers who don't care to take to much notice of their surroundings." She says
>>144467"So they'll be friendlier?" Amber doesn't really know how to interpret what she said any other way.
>>144468"Less prone to asking questions." She answers
>>144461Silver sits down on the couch.
"There is not much more to tour, I am afraid. Upstairs are bedrooms for myself and Jubilosa, Khoi, and Mala, as well as two bathrooms. You are more than welcome to make yourself at home, Clip."
He pats the couch seat next to him as an invitation to sit down.
>>144470"Where would I stay?"
He looks over at the couch, and pauses for a moment. There is a delay before he stands up, and moves over to the couch to sit down
>>144471"You might have to be on couch tonight, unless you can convince someone here to let you bunk up with them. Tomorrow I will see about getting you proper bed or cot to sleep on."
He shifts his weight slightly from side to side on the couch.
"It is pretty comfy couch, though."
>>144417A change in this scene from what was previously stated:
The
alleged ponies are now at "The Watering Hole," rather than at Cauldron's apartment.
All the same, White Sands looks over the seriously wounded Iron
>>144472She continues
"Your task is fairly straight forward. Go to the second floor, down the long hallway to Investigations. Go past that to the evidence room. There, a pony named Red Scabbard will meet you, and you will give him a slip of paper. He will return an object to you, and you leave."
>>144473"Uh, alright"
He presses down on the couch himself
"I hope this works with my chest."
>>144474HehSaid stallion didn't utter a word as he slowly walked towards the main entrance, ready to simply sit down and let Cauldron find them: Even though he didn't want to be a nuisance to anypony else right now, he understood he needed the treatment to get back to work as soon as he was able.
(It would not sting this bad if Sands left me to that bull's mercy,) he told himself, kicking himself while he's down in the dumps.
>>144474She mentally makes a note of it.
"Oh, that sounds pretty easy. I can definitely do that."Phew, for a moment I thought she wanted me to kill somepony like in a crime novella. This doesn't sound wrong at all.
>>144474"As long as you do not roll over onto your chest, it should be okay. If there is anything I can do to help, as well, let me know."
>>144475Sands is not finished, trying to cover and hide her wounds, going inside, and going to the driver of the truck.
After a minute or so, a big grey diamond dog appears, looming over the bed of the truck and looking down on Iron
>>144476She smiles in her strange kind of way again, saying
"Heh.
Not so easy. That area is for detectives only. And the less any pony we can name is involved, the better. Here. You may need this."
She opens her left wing to pull out a device that even Amber can recognize: a short, grey steel barrel, a grey revolving cylinder, and a wood gripped handle that is swept back. A gun.
>>144477"Uh, sure." He says
"When I think of something."
>>144478Iron simply stared at the dog vacantly, mostly to focus on anything else that wasn't the catastrophe he's now in.
He didn't make any effort to hide his own bandaged wounds, or even make a single move, waiting for Sands to get ready to go into the Hole.
>>144478"So...remember what I asked you, and you said to wait until we were in private?"
>>144480"Uh...."
>>144479The diamond dog tosses down some sort of cover onto Iron, perhaps blocking his field of vision. With that high pitched voice, he says
"Cover yourself, and come inside."
>>144481"So what is it like?"
>>144478Her eyes widen at the sight of this hardware. She doesn't reach out to take it.
"Um, I'd prefer to sneak in if I could..."
>>144481Peculiar to see such a contrast between the voice and the body, as well as their instant cooperation. One of Cauldron's friends?
The stallion nodded slowly, draping the cover onto his back and adjusting it to fit on his head as well. He had to force his hair down for it, however.
Without a word, the wounded Native shabbled inside where the dog told him to go.
>>144482[1d3 = 3]>>144483"Ha! If you can manage it, then do it. But I think it will be easier if you were, say, going to the police station for the purpose of turning in evidence from a recent shooting. And if you needed to speak with a certain detective. Or even if you just need to turn in an illegal firearm."
>>144484The Diamond Dog walks ahead of Iron, who evidently pulls himself out of the back of the truck and into the bar. There is a moderate crowd of ponies at this time of day. Not that many, but a few.
"Go to the room upstairs."
>>144485Iron did as directed without question, wearily walking towards the stairs to see just what was waiting for him there.
Did Cauldron have any dog friends? He should probably ask that when he gets there... after explaining what happened to him.
>>144485She breathes a sigh of relief, even laughing involuntarily a bit.
"Oh, thank Celestia...you're right, that's a much smarter way to go about it."
>>144487Her expression becomes more serious
“But if hardly a subtle way to enter. These weapons are illegal for civilian possession, at least in most cases, anywhere in Baltimare. When you try to enter, they will search you. Or at least, they should search you, if they know what is good for them. And when they know you have that on you, you will be the most interesting thing in the building at that time.”
>>144485>>144482“You don’t have any more faith in me than the police do, do you?”
>>144486The Diamond Dog leads Iron upstairs, and leaves. Then hire Sands, with serious expression and serious sounds enters.
Behind her, comes Black Cauldron clopping up the stairs
“Iron! Are you hurt?!”
>>144488The bigger unicorn gives him a look of utter confusion.
"What? No, no, it is just that I have not really known anypony who was, well, homosexual before, at least that I know of. It has always been this distant, exotic thing and I am bit curious to hear what it is like from somepony who is actually homosexual."
>>144488"Yeah..." Iron muttered, averting his gaze and instead looking at this room's wooden floor. He soon found himself lost himself in thought at just how many events did these floorboards ever got to witness above them, like spectators in a sparring area...
>>144488"I understand, I think I know what I'll say."
>>144490She moves past Sands, and around Iron, looking at him
"You got stabbed again? And
shot?! Iron, what did you do?"
>>144489"Don't you understand? I didn't do it. I've never.. done it. I.. I wanted to. I tried to. There was some.. touching. I would have done it, if things were different, but... no. I've never done it."
>>144491She nods, with a comparatively normal smile
"And now you are beginning to understand."
>>144492"...Ooooooh, okay that I did not know. Why did you not?"
>>144492Amber still looks slightly uneasy but she nods.
"I should be able to do it. And you want this errand done...now?"
>>144492"I tried to run an... errand for a mademare," Iron vaguely answered, not daring to look at Cauldron in the eyes. "It... did not go well."
Deep down, his heart tore itself apart at seeing the mare trot up to him, looking at him all over. All this worry he's causing her and nothing to show for it...
>>144493"Well, the police showing up, for one. Also it was... well, I was not... it didn't quite make it in."
>>144494"I assure you, this is time sensitive for us. Now, or tomorrow day time, but it must be soon."
>>144495"Ugh.
Iron. Look at you. You are torn to bits. Again. And for what?"
>>144496"'Make it in?' What did not make it in?"
>>144496Iron couldn't help but blush slightly, feeling just the tiniest bit ashamed to reveal just what he was up to.
"I w-was trying to get you the supply route you need for your potion selling business," he hesitantly admitted, the remains of his bravado completely shredded by this point.
>>144496"I think it would be better if I do it now, so I don't have it pressing on my mind all night."I hope my tiredness doesn't trip me up, have I ever been up this late before?
>>144497He blinks
"Do I have to say it?"
>>144498"What? How did that get you
shot?"
>>144499"And the same for me as well." She says
>>144500"It was the payment for the errand," Iron mumbled, shrinking a bit during his confession.
>>144500She gingerly picks up the revolver by the cylinder and puts it beneath her cloak.
"Where do I need to head to? Is there anything else I need?"
>>144500Silver puts a hoof over his heart.
"I promise I will not tell anypony else."
>>144501"Getting shot was payment?!" She says in strong disbelief
>>144502"This paper"
She hoofs Amber a small paper
"And know you need Red Scabbard, If you can get them to suggest the name and not you, it is better."
>>144503"What? No. I'll let you imagine."
>>144504"Uh...you did not make it into club?"
>>144504"I understand why. I'll ask if I can submit the revolver as evidence for a shooting that happened a few days ago." She thinks for a moment.
"Would what happened at a place called 'Hoebuck' be suitable? I could say I found the gun near there."
>>144504"No!" Iron quickly replied, eyes widening at the misunderstanding as fast as a heavily injured pony could do before waving his forelegs in absolute denial. "I could not complete the errand just yet!"
>>144505"I did." He answers
>>144506She pauses for a moment
"Hoebuck... Oh.
that. Perhaps. And perhaps they will wonder whose jurisdiction it belongs under. Look. The most important thing is
which detective responds to take it to the evidence room. It
must be Red Scabbard."
>>144508"How will I know what he looks like?"
>>144508"Okay...then what did not make it in?"
Silver tilts his head at the smaller stallion.
>>144507"Then what happened?!' She asks
>>144510He blinks
>>144509"Pegasus. Dark red color, black mane. He'll be in a Baltimare Police uniform."
>>144511"That should be easy then...."
>>144512"Then there shall be no problem." She says
>>144511Silver looks fairly clueless. He looks at Clip, slowly figuring it out.
"Is...is
it small? And that is not what could get in?"
He whispers to him.
"You know, your
stallionhood?"
>>144513"Okay, then I ought to get started, then."
>>144515"Oh. So...your tailhole, then?"
>>144511"I-I beat up many birds in North Point," Iron finally admitted, ears drooping at the reminder "t-then I got into a fight with a minotaur."
>>144516She nods curtly, her face resuming a neutral expression, and her fangs hanging out from under her lips
>>144518"Why?" She asks
"Ugh, all the same, it's dangerous. Very dangerous."
>>144517"You could say that."
>>144519"Oh. What kind of preparation did you and your partner do before you tried it?"
>>144519"Oh, one more thing...after I finish this errand should I come straight back here?"
>>144519"I was trying to scare a gang into being cordial with the Waterfront Gang," Iron confessed, now starting to fiddle the wood with the tip of his hoof. "T-That was the errand."
>>144520"Do you normally ask these kinds of extremely private questions to strangers?"
>>144521"Yes. Straight back, if somepony does not meet you first."
>>144522She shakes her head
"A
gang?"
>>144523Amber thanks her, asks for directions to get to the police station, makes sure he has the paper and revolver and sets out.
>>144523"...sort of. Sorry. Social situations are not my speciality."
>>144523"Yeah..." Iron muttered, twiddling his hooves while looking down at the ground. "The... Pasta family, that moved into North Point."
>>144524"It'll be on traveler street, right across 19th street from the Courthouse, the DA's Office, and the Jail. Near the river. In fact, if you went further down 19th street, you'd cross the river. Look for the Courthouse, it'll be on the corner opposite."
And I think I have to call it a night here>>144525"Heh"
He smiles
>>144526She tilts her head
"Pasta family?"
>>144528Night~"Oh, right," Iron muttered, taking a moment to remember the actual gang's name. "The... Gino...vici Family, I think they were."
He wasn't completely sure that was their name, but he was gonna roll with it regardless.
>>144528He smiles back.
"At least I did not turn you
completely against me."
>>144527Amber thanks her and finally sets out.
>>144529She looks at him in grim expression for a moment, before asking
"You were going to take on a whole gang.
By yourself?"
>>144530"No..." He says
>>144533"So, how about other questions, then? What was your life like, back in New Mareland? Both before and after Black Hooves."
>>144533Iron kept looking downcast with ears drooped to its fullest extent. "It was working," he muttered, trying to muster some sort of defense before immediately crumbing "...until I passed out."
>>144538"Uh huh. Ginovicci. That's one of the Manehattan gangs, isn't it?"
>>144539"I think so," Iron answered with a nod. "I have been told they have started to move into the place at a rapid pace."
>>144540She moves back, and then shakes her head
"Who approved this?!"
>>144541"Uh..." Iron muttered, now feeling quite unsure about revealing such a thing, considering the circumstances. "Am I supposed to tell you right here, right now?"
>>144542"Well, I would have to wonder. It'll be hard to keep this contained to one pony. And this could affect all of us."
>>144543Iron paused for a moment. Was he really going to blurt out such a big piece of information that might get Germane into trouble if any police authorities ever find out? Judging by Cauldron's questioning, she didn't seem to know which mademare would do such a thing, and that could very well be a red flag signalling she was some sort of undercover cop.
He needed something that could plausibly tell him this wasn't an elaborate scheme to get the police involved and get Germane into even more trouble.
"...I said it was a mademare," he replied, soon composing himself to see just what Cauldron would say.
>>144544"A mademare doesn't have the authority to start a war." She replies
>>144545"Oh," Iron muttered, soon scratching his head. "Then I guess it was not approved by anypony."
>>144546She sighs
"You need a doctor."
>>144547Iron nodded, obviously agreeing with Cauldron's assessment, before slowly shrinking down, feeling his self-consciousness crawling back at the reminder.
>>144548"Did you... tell them who sent you? Or who you were?" She asks, with an air of uncertainty. She moves her muzzle down, taking a close look at Iron's now mostly clotted wounds
>>144549"Nothing more than saying I am from the Waterfront Gang," Iron explained as Cauldron inspected his bruises, stabs, slices and bullet wounds covered in bandages "and here to... eh, display power... 'greet' them and not to mess with us."
The stallion sighed softly. "I have not killed anypony," he added.
>>144550"That's all it takes!" She almost yells
"And good. Let's take you to that veterinarian."
>>144551Iron shrunk even further at the pseudoyelling before groggily standing up, ready to be taken to the doctor pony.
"I feel like I have been played for some reason," he muttered in disbelief, not quite sure what to think after Cauldron revealed that his actions may have caused the start of a war. It might also be because he'd rather believe his loss was supposed to happen eventually rather than failing the wishes of the mademare that led him there.
Nontheless, the stallion was ready to slowly shamble towards the veterinarian and get himself patched up in order to be at his strongest state once this mess goes down: He'll have to make up for everypony that counted on him or die trying.
>>144552"Okay. First, put this back on," She gives him the same coat.
"And we're taking you to the vet."
As she turns around, she takes notice of, and takes a good long look at White Sands, who stands behind her, also bloodied up
>>144553Iron, of course, doesn't want to explain that he inadvertedly dragged the other mare into this mess to the point of injuring herself for him. It gaped the already open wound wide open.
Thus, he simply stayed silent, slowly putting on the coat before following Cauldron's lead while keeping his head and gaze down at the floor.
>>144554"Was she your partner in all of this?" Black Caludron asks
>>144555"...yes," Iron muttered before sighing softly.
>>144556"Well, she'll have to be sewn up too. Come on, let's go."
"You have very nice parents, Makade."
>>144557Iron nodded again, cloak fully put on before glancing at Sands, wondering if she'll do so.
>>144558Makade sits on the couch in a half scrunched expression, taking a moment before replying
"I'm glad you think so."
The doctor slowly eases up, and talks to Petal, who talks to him about, evidently, the availability of tea. Tea is served on the table before them - and between the Doctor, Makade, and Petal. Ply Press has retreated to the kitchen. Waabishki sits besides a couch, looking anxious and not focusing on anycreature in the room.
Giant flakes of snow hit against the window, and silently bounce off.
>>144559Sands shrugs, and puts on a blanket. Black Cauldron and White Sands exchange a long glass, but this interaction is entirely wordless.
The group goes downstairs, and to a cart, which slowly takes them some number of blocks
>>144560While Iron didn't quite like the cold atmosphere around all three, he didn't quite have the guts to start a conversation until some time had passed as the three sat on the cart: It's too early to be happy, and there's work to be done in the near future that required his utmost attention.
>>144561They arrive
It's a familiar building, and Iron is greeted by a familiar orange unicorn
"So soon?" The unicorn says
>>144562"...yes," Iron muttered tiredly.
.
>>144563“Well, let’s see. There’s a stab wound right here. And here. And here.... That’s a set of stitches from... some other operation? And here we have a set of bird shot? I think. You’re lucky to have not drowned on your own blood. Here, let me take your blood pressure.” He places a ring around Iron’s let, and does some kind of test
“Wow. You’ve lost a lot of blood. Can’t say I’m surprised, but I am surprised you’re still conscious after that. Here let me put in an IV.”
He stick s needle into Iron’s leg. It’s kind of painful and intrusive, but it’s frankly far from the most intrusive thing that’s happened to Iron all day. He also takes a needle and removes blood. Over the course of the next several minutes, Iron permitting, he adds plasma, then dried blood, then cleans wounds, then carefully runs stitches through them, and then bandages them.
“You’ve also been punched a lot. That’ll bruise.”
Cauldron points s hoof at White Sands
“Her too”
>>144564White Sands, hiding in a corner, reveals herself
"Oh. You're hit pretty bad."
He comes up to her, and gets very close, looking at her
"You'll need stitches. And maybe plasma. What's your blood type?"
"I don't think I need blood" She says
>>144565>>144564Iron didn't dare object to anything with his mood dampened massively by his shortcomings.
However, Sands' statement did spike his curiosity, surprised at such an alien concept after what she had went through.
>>144566White Sands
“I don’t like needles. I’ll take morphine though, morphine is good. And stitches.”
The doctor is confused, and again recommends blood, but backs off. Sands does not allow much touching besides cleaning of wounds, stitching, and bandaging.
He returns to Iron
“I’m not done with you.”
He takes a knife and forceps, and evidently makes a task out of pulling pellets out of Iron. This has some pain and further blood loss, but Iron is receiving a packet of blood, and has morphine. This takes a while. Black Cauldron has left and returned.
>>144567Iron grunted softly for every piece of lead pulled out, yet he didn't move much at all as to not inconvenience the doctor.
>>144568“And... good enough, I think” he says, after tying in a stitch
“Don’t put too much strain on these.”
>>144569Iron simply replied with a short, curt nod in response, yet he knew deep down it's going to be strained by tomorrow.
>>144570Black Cauldron pays money to the Doctor in front of Iron
>>144571Iron looks away from the payment slightly, rubbing his foreleg with the other with a hint of shame.
(Did not even cover the medicine pony expenses,) he muttered in self-loathing.
>>144572Black Cauldron comes up to Iron, looks back to White Sabds with skepticism, and says
“Well, I can try more of my potions on you. At least. Time to go back.”
She thinks to herself, I forgot to ask how much I would get paid for it! Well, no matter, I'm sure it'll be enough for this tiny thing.
>>144573"Yes..." Iron muttered in defeat, allowing himself to be led back to wherever and properly confront his feelings about this failed operation.
>>144574a couple hours maybe. I’m a bit distracted at the moment, so it’s hard to do a big scene-setting reply>>144575Iron and White Sands - White Sands only with resistance from Cauldron - are taken back to Black Cauldron’s apartment
>>144576Iron was still extremely bummed out when they arrived, simply following along with absolute silence right behind Cauldron with a grimace.
>>144577Black Cauldron places Iron on the couch (the sand one he slept on a couple nights ago).
“Well? How do you feel now?”
She pulls out a vile
“May as well spend a couple of these.”
>>144578"...tired," Iron muttered as he made himself comfortable on the couch with a small frown. Although his heart yearned to have Cauldron console him in these dark times, he felt he wasn't worthy of such affection after what he had just done.
He blinked slowly as the zebra mare got around to fetch the vials, softly chewing his lower lip, as he was conflicted between sleeping it off now or drinking it to get back to action as fast as he could in order to get back into the fray.
>>144579“Not proud? I suppose you shouldn’t be. Nearly got yourself killed. Dragged her into this. May have dragged all of us into this...”
>>144580Iron simply exhaled as he slowly lowered his chin to the cushion, staring ahead vacantly while his lip chewing intensified.
>>144581“Here. Take this”
She hoods him a vial, and a second vial. She reluctantly extends one to White Sands as well.
>>144582Iron stared at it for a few awkward seconds, keeping his chewing up as he decided whether to actually take it or not.
"...are you sure?" he mumbled to Cauldron from down at the cushion.
>>144583She sighs
"Yes. You need it."
>>144584Iron frowned softly, staring deep into the vial with a conflicted look to it: Is now really the time for second guessing oneself?
(Why do I get this feeling I cannot take it?) he questioned himself. (Why am I not strengthening myself back to my peak?)
Was he afraid of something...? He couldn't quite understand it yet.
>>144585"Iron? Are you alright? I know you're not alright but.."
>>144586"Uh..." Iron trailed off, stopping his lip biting as he kept staring at the vial Cauldron was offering for
him...Has he really done enough to warrant his recovery at her hooves? Has all his past deeds allowed him to rest here after potentially putting her and her family in danger? Putting Sands in danger? Hurting both of them in such unprecedented ways? Why shouldn't he be banished for his mistakes?
His features softened considerably at this barrage of self-doubt as his frame sunk deeper into the cushioning.
>>144587“Iron? I’m worried for you...”
>>144588"I... should not," Iron finally concluded as he shook his laid head.
No. There is no way he was going to become some sort of...
leech to her, to Sands or anypony. He
shouldn't be helped in such a way. He wasn't worth the effort. He'll recover with the bare minimum. No way he'll stoop so low as to drain the zebra he's grown to love out of her hard-earned resources.
>>144589“Iron? You’re hurt. I’m worried. Take it. Why won’t you take it?”
There is a fear and sadness in her voice. Her eyes water
>>144590Iron's eyes widened considerably, almost... confused at the sudden well of tears Cauldron was exhibiting at an alarming rate. "I... I can let my body heal by itself," he tried to excuse himself, still lying on the cushions, yet deep down he was still debating on whether he should actually do it.
This... this can't be right. Why is she crying right now? She should be angry, disappointed, anything
but crying.
(...I do not understand,) he thought to himself, perplexed at the display.
>>144591“Iron...”
She leans in, and hugs him, of tries to, rather, by placing her forelegs over him and resting her muzzle over his fur. Her coat is more coarse, and her legs former than White Sands.
>>144592Iron tries his best to face the somewhat hugging Cauldron with an astonished look on his face, ears finally spiking up in surpirse. "...why?" he simply asked in disbelief, failing to understand her motives to actually comfort him.
>>144593"I care about you"
She says, softly
>>144594"B-but I made your life harder," Iron shakily replied in further disbelief. "Y-you may have to fight in a war
I caused. I-It does not make sense..."
His eyes quivered lightly ambivalently between hope and despair by this point.
>>144595"I know.." She says, placing her muzzle a little more firmly on his fur. She tries to wrap her legs around him, having some presence of mind to avoid the recent wounds
>>144596"T-then why?" Iron repeated with the faintest tinge of a snarl on his tone. "W-why do you subject yourself to me?"
It doesn't make sense! I
failed her. I should've died right when that big bull took me down and spared her this foolishness. Why in the gods is she
still with me?! The
one thing he was good at
failed him!
On and on he kept beating himself up in his head, as if the notion of him being cared for without some sort of return was criminal in his eyes. His breathing started to shake softly as his body started to tremble a bit like a wounded dog used to sleeping on the streets.
>>144597"You would have done it for me"
Is her simple, unhesitating answer
>>144598At first, Iron stared at Cauldron, practically dumbfounded at her answer before it truly started to sink in: He would.
He would actually fight in a war she created, he would've healed her after every battle, no matter how stupid were the reasons. He would give her a place to stay in an unforgiving, unknown landscape if she needed to... because he saw the potential in her. He saw something to cherish... to love
The stallion's ears drooped once again and closed his eyes shut, sniffling unintentionally. "I-I..." he stammered out, voice practically quivering.
>>144599For the moment, Black Cauldron merely stands over Iron in silence, still truing to wrap her forelegs around him, and place her muzzle into his back. He can hear her breath, with a sudden inhale that sounds almost, though not quite, like a sniffle. She shifts her body around, and digs a hoof underneath him.
>>144600Iron decided to properly connect the hug, shuffling his body gently so he was laid on his back rather than his stomach before firmly yet carefully wrapping his forelegs around her crest.
He didn't say much of anything aside from sporadic sniffling for a while, riding through the emotional wave barreling through his debilitated system.
>>144601The shifting of position helps Black Cauldron greatly, who moves in to almost lay on Iron, wrapping her forelegs around, still standing on her hindlegs. Iron manages his legs around, feeling her coarse and firm, yet very much receptive
>>144602Iron's heartbeat rose in intensity at the encroaching mass of coarse, firm coat that Cauldron brushed against his own, feeling himself blush the tiniest bit at the position as he inadvertedly hugged her tighter.
"Y-you are a silly zebra, you know that?" Iron croaked out with a small, thankful smile on his features before sniffling softly.
>>144603"Heh" She gives a small giggle, though it sounds as if she is near crying. Her coat carries little smell, but Iron can make out a trace of a flower smell.
>>144604Without further ado, Iron finally leans up a bit so that his head was neatly nestled next to hers, nuzzling her crest tenderly. "Thank you," he softly whispers in her ear, stroking her withers lovingly. "I do not know where I would be without you."
>>144605"Heh heh." She seems a little calmer, and tries to turn her head and eyes to meet his, although she's so close, there isn't the room to move her head completely. Still, he can see her blue eyes looking back at him
"I have some ideas. Probably cut up and wounded. Mauled by a tiger and a shotgun."
She smiles
>>144606Iron couldn't help but chuckle slightly himself at the many routes he may have taken, nuzzling her cheek. "You were not supposed to answer that," he amusedly replied with his own, far warmer smile than before.
>>144607"And you were not supposed to get yourself cut up again" She says, smiling and moving a bit at the muzzling. Her voice sounds more playful.
>>144608Iron held back another chuckle at the response. "What can I say?" he answered with his own mischievous tone. "The cuts come to me naturally."
>>144609"You find them. That is for sure." She says, with a moderately soft tone
>>144610"You know what else I am good at finding?" Iron followed up with a smirk. "Lots of stripes... mostly because they find me first."
>>144611She blinks
"What?"
>>144612Iron simply taps at Cauldron's side, particularly at her stripes on her coat.
>>144613"Oh. Hehe. I guess I did find you."
>>144614Iron stifled another chuckle at her reply. "Yeah," he replied with a calmer smile, setting his hooves a bit further into her back, just past her withers. "You do not mind if we stay like this for a while, right?"
>>144615She looks back, and then into Iron's eyes
"Heh. You.. you should take those potions." She says
>>144616"I really should," Iron agreed with a nod, soon looking to the sides to see where they were set.
>>144617She picks them up and produces them with a hoof, after having previously set them on the couch
>>144618Iron's response was to rest his head against the cushion, lightly open his mouth with a playful look and gesturing her with his head to pour them into it.
>>144619She smiles and goes along with this.
"Careful"
She pops the first vial open, and pours it into his mouth. Then the second. Both times she makes sure Iron does not choke on it.
>>144620Iron patiently allows Cauldron to slowly pour it into his mouth, swallowing the contents in a series of calculated gulps until they both go down with a serene look on his face, waiting to feel its rejuvenating effects.
[2d8+2 = 16]<Healz
>>144621Iron can feel it working through him, making breathing easier, and releasing pain on his chest. He feels much better
>>144622In response, Iron took one big, deep breath, puffing his chest up a bit, before calmly exhaling it out again. "That... does feel better," he admitted softly with a relaxed smile.
>>144623She pulls back a bit, looking down at Iron and trying to gauge the effects of the potion.
"You look better"
She says
>>144624"I also feel better," Iron added with a more powerful smile, revitalized almost to the extent of a common non-Earth stallion. "So much better, in fact, that I can lift you up right now."
>>144625Her expression is one of surprise
"...What?"
>>144626"You know," Iron followed up with a sort of sheepish smile "something a heavily wounded stallion cannot do. Like lift a pony up."
(I feel that was a bit out of left field...) he thought to himself, licking the back of his teeth.
>>144628Iron snickered softly, ruffling Cauldron's mane playfully. "You are not supposed to take it too seriously," he explained amusedly before the passionate fire in his eyes were threatening to light up again "unless you want me to."
>>144629She pulls her lips back in a smile at the ruffling of the mane, again moving her head.
"i bet you couldn't do it." She says
>>144630The spark was cast, and the flames rose up in Iron's pupils, shining with confidence. "It is on," he declared.
Without even standing up, Iron soon got into position, sneaking his hindlegs underneath her lower portion while sliding his forelegs below her withers and onto her chest. "I suggest you stand on top of me for this one," he added with a smile.
>>144631Her expression is of surprise, but hints at a smile as she jumps up, her hind legs over Iron
>>144632He soon placed his forehooves onto her coarse chest while his hindhooves rested on her hopefully toned, strong belly.
"Alright," he uttered, soon checking just how stretched his limbs were, wondering if he could try to prop her up now or ask her to take her legs off the cushions before doing anything else.
>>144633Iron can pull his hooves in and under her. She is ready
>>144634Seeing everything in place, Iron slowly stretches his legs upwards, pushing against the zebra's body to slowly lift her off the ground.
>>144635"Woah" She looks around, surprised by the lift, but also excited, smiling. Her body holds firm as she is slowly lifted up into the air
>>144636Iron continued driving Cauldron's ascent until his legs were fully stretched, allowing her to almost feel like's she's hovering in the air. All the while, he wore a content smile as she watched the zebra's excited smile, taking his time to admire the beautiful toned mare over him with a confident gaze.
>>144637She smiles, looking down at Iron.
This is indeed one of the closer views Iron has had of her. She is neither exceptionally thin nor fat. She feels muscular at the touch, though it doesn't especially reflect in her appearance. Her tail is long with straight, black hair, that seems thin, perhaps because of a tie a third of the way down the length.
>>144638Cauldron would see quite the similar body below her, only bulkier and a bit bigger than hers. There were certainly outlines of his musculature on his legs, however, which were currently highlighted by the act of pulling her upwards. As a sidenote, his poofy mane definitely needs some combing.
"Enjoying the view?" Iron playfully asked the mare above him.
>>144560Spark steps over a bit closer to Waabishki.
"Are you not enjoying yourself here?"
>>144640“Wah.” Sparks words seem to break Waabishki out of a trance.
“Oh. This is nice. I like the heat. I’m just worried, is all.”
>>144642“Yes...” she looks down towards the maroon colored carpet.
“About Miskobag”
>>144643"It might not be easy, but this will give him much more of a chance at life than if we did nothing. And we will be with him through the struggle, and that will, more than magic and medicine, be what helps him no matter the outcome."
>>144644“I know... but... he is more than just a mentor. He is a pillar of our remaining culture. A library of knowledge that we can’t afford to lose.”
>>144645"Even all the magic ponies had did not stop death by age, disease, and war. We gave it our best shot, but not everything can be fixed. So if we fail, then the best course of action is for us to learn to be the pillar and library in his stead."
>>144646“Yes... I know... I need more time.” She says, looking away from Spark
>>144647"This is the best shot at more time."
>>144648“I know...” she says
“But I don’t even know what’s wrong with him. I am worried what they will say. Or if they even know.”
>>144649"If they don't know, then we will just be back to where we were before, not knowing. And if they give us bad news, then being here to learn it is better than not understanding and feeling powerless."
>>144650Her breathing is heavy.
“I already feel powerless.”
>>144651"Even those with the most power feel that way. We simply can't control everything. What we do have power over is our response to that which is is out of control. Fear and despair will only consume your ability to control even that. The power you have right now is the ability to keep his perception positive and that he is loved. The magic of friendship tends to work wonders for the ill."
>>144652Her breathing eases, and she blinks, while looking forward, and then back up to Spark.
“You are right. I know.”
>>144653"Feeling well enough to join the rest? I believe they are having something to eat."
>>144654“I don’t know if I trust pony food, but... sure.”
>>144655"These ponies raises a wolf. I'm sure they have something more appealing to you."
>>144639"Woah, heh heh." She looks down at Iron, her mane hanging off to her right side, and then in the room around her. She extends her legs out, as if in flight, or suspended in water.
>>144656"They raised
Makade. But I'll see. Maybe they will surprise me."
>>144534"Well... I grew up with my family around New Freeside. My mother worked in a sewing machine factory. Or used to, anyways. Hasn't for a while. My father was a trucker, and in the Union for it. I went to Coltlumbus Primary School, and then later to Blight High School. I didn't do sports, but I spent a lot of time around in town."
>>144657Iron couldn't help but giggle as well, wondering just what Cauldron was feeling being suspended by his sturdy legs as her head scanned the room around her. The fact the zebra was posing like pegasus pony made this all the more endearing to the native.
However, there is
one tiny question propping up in his head: What was Sands doing during all of this?
>>144659White Sands, it seems, never left the room. She started off sitting down near a chair on the opposite side of the room, but has since crept slightly closer. She's completely quite, and only noticeable by sight. She seems to take interest in the interactions between Iron and Black Cauldron.
>>144660Iron smiled sheepishly at Sands' way for a second before looking back up at Cauldron's hovering form, beaming in both pride, excitement and wonder. "How does it feel up there?" he amusedly called out from below.
>>144661Sands has a wide eyed expression, like she's been caught, or something. But it doesn't matter, as she lays low to the ground and does not say anything.
"Like laying on a rock, haha" She says. She smiles, looking straight forward and at the window of her apartment.
>>144662insert lewd joke hereIron decides not to pay attention at Sands' seemingly pertified frame, feeling her curiosity might turn into some sort of exploratory phase with him later.
He had to wonder if she wished for the same treatment...
"I have been told my name is a rock, too," Iron quipped to Cauldron with a playful, warm smile.
>>144663"What?" Cauldron says, moving her legs down, and moving her head down in genuine puzzlement.
>>144664"Is iron not a rock?" the native asked, now puzzled himself.
>>144665She twists her lips in genuine confusion for a moment, before bursting out laughing
"Bahaha. No, that's a metal."
>>144666Iron scrunched his snout in surprise for a second, almost astonished to see his joke had landed so cleanly.
Only after Cauldron explained why it was so funny did he burst out laughing himself, blushing lightly. "I have been telling the joke wrong all this time?" he questioned gleefully, beaming. "How
ironic!"
>>144667Black Cauldron scrunches. But Iron's pun is so bad as to evoke a response from White Sands, who quickly pulls out from her position next to the couch, and sits upright. This makes a sound that is heard by Black Cauldron, who moves her head to look at White Sands.
"Have you been there the whole time?"
She says
>>144668Iron's attention was once more turned towards Sands, wondering what just happened to he with curiosity flowing through his gaze. "It was not
that bad, was it?" he offered towards the unicorn mare, holding back a proud smirk.
>>144658"What was it like in New Freeside?"
>>144669>>144670"Maybe I shouldn't really say this without having lived, well, anywhere else. But.. Not good. They closed down the sewing machine factory. That, and so many others. The trucking company nearly went other, and resisted the unions. Immigrants still came in from the griffin lands. Not the ponylands, but the griffin lands. Evidently things are worse still there. And many of the locals didn't like them. Distrust of the colonial government... The town looked almost rundown."
>>144669White Sands pulls further back still, scrunching and defensive. She says nothing.
>>144671Iron's happy demeanor soon mellowed out at the response, somehow feeling responsible for how Sands is feeling right now. "...did I do something wrong?" he asked the unicorn with concern. The native might have done something bad and he needed to make sure if it was something he could fix later on.
>>144671"That is unfortunate to hear. It sounds worse than living in St. Petershoof as foal. I suppose that is why you took up political stance?"
>>144672She turns her dark green eyes up towards Iron.
"No." She says plainly, her first word since arriving, and perhaps even before then.
>>144673"Among many reasons." He says
>>144674"Oh," Iron muttered, now feeling overall confused before giving her a small, content smile. "You had me worried for a second."
With that matter resolved for now, he turned towards Cauldron, beaming proudly. "Shall we continue?" he offered with a tinge of dramatic, playful, frou frou intonation. "Perhaps you would want to get off the rock instead?"
>>144660That's exactly what I thought Sands was doingAlso, I can play today
>>144675"Like the fact that we were far from alone in living like that, for example. The griffins are too."
>>144676"Perhaps."
She relaxes on iron's legs, trying to ease down.
>>144677Your section has a hell of a lot of description, so give me a few minutes
>>144678Iron decides Cauldron has had enough, gently lowering his legs towards the cushions with a warm smile on his face.
As soon as he was able to do so without making Cauldron plummet into him, the native cheekily decides to sneak his forelegs back around her crest for a big hug while his back legs ensured Black had the balance to land her backside on either him or the cushions.
"As a complimentary gift to our passengers," he playfully added with his pseudoformal tone "she will get a big hoof full of hugs after the flight to welcome them back to the earth."
>>144679She is lowered slowly on top of him
"Ah, hehe."
The fur on her back is a bit softer, and she gives him an at least lightly gripped hug in kind
>>144678"That I know. Griffons and ponies are not so different."
If she's nearby, Silver looks and smiles at Jubilosa.
"Is there anything else?"
>>144680Iron simply closed his eyes at the reply, breathing satisfactorily at his successful attempt as he tenderly stroked Cauldron's withers with his snout. "I am glad you are here with me," he cheesily admitted with a stronger blush than before.
>>144682"And I'm glad you haven't killed yourself yet." She replies
>>144681Jubilosa has come in and out of the room at points, but now is nearby
"Well, yes. I can't say that my father's experience with the Union wasn't a big part of it. But then there were the clashes in the street. the rhetoric of the demagogues. And of course the Aquelian Revolution just across the straight."
>>144683Iron snorted softly in amusement, deciding instead to let Cauldron properly stand up on top of him, fully allowing her to move off of him if she chose to.
All the while, he stopped his nuzzling, opting instead to temporarily lose herself on Black's eyes with a dumb smile, still lying on the cushions from head to tail. "After I met you? I would not dream of it," he softly whispered, blushing lightly.
>>144683Silver nods, hearing the reasons behind his communist ideals.
"What was it like when Black Hooves first started to find power?"
>>144684"D'aww"
Instead of moving, she stays close to him, hugging him back
>>144685"Almost immediately every paper that was printed was watched by some official. They wanted us to report some things and not others. it was very intrusive. Education was also changed. Some texts changed. Many professors and teachers resigned in protest, others were removed. The old factories were repurposed. The money changed. The Unions, well, they didn't cease to exist. But they were placed under the control of the government. It was... it was a vast change. A dark change."
>>144686Iron practically squeed as Cauldron's forelegs wrapped around him, ecstatic to find himself willfully enveloped by the zebra mare's toned legs, evidenced by his heartbeat rising in excitement.
(T-this is great,) he cheerfully thought to himself. (I got hugged with love. Good job, me.)
He didn't really say much, simply reciprocating her hug with his own once again, hoping they'd stay like this for a good while.
>>144686"It sounds as much. I suppose it was not long after they began to go after those they believed to be harmful to their vision?"
>>144688"Removing local officials, professors, newspaper editors and so forth began almost immediately. They nationalized many things, like the schools, and exerted influence over things they didn't, like the newspapers."
>>144687She does stay like this for a time. After perhaps a minute, she stands up, and moves off
>>144689As Cauldron separated, Iron was practically beet red, fully immersed in all his mushy, cuddly feelings as he chuckled dumbly. "Hoo~" the stallion exhaled sharply, completely pleased with himself. "Now that felt quite good."
The stallion took another discreet look at Sands just to see how she reacted to such a display.
>>144689"And their political opponents, like, well, yourself?"
>>144691"They had arrested protestors, yes. I didn't... quite get that honor. But yes."
>>144690She has moved a bit forward again, and lower to the ground, staring at the scene.
Cauldron smiles
"Glad you are feeling better."
>>144692"Mostly thanks to you," Iron swiftly replied with a content smile, lying on the bed as she stared at Cauldron.
It did make him wonder just what was going on with Sands and her need to get closer to the action, as if... she was attracted to it somehow.
(D-does she get turned on when seeing two ponies hugging eachother?) Iron theorized in his head, soon starting to daydream White staring with dilated pupils as both him and Black rubbed their snouts together from side to side contently. (I certainly would not mind it.)
>>144692"I would still like to ask questions about what it was like when you feel more comfortable with it, even if you did not go through deed.
"So...did you have any questions for me, now that I have gotten to know you bit better?"
>>144693Black Cauldron gets off, and stands next to Iron
"Will you be okay here?" She asks
>>144694"Uh... Where did you come from? I guess."
>>144695"I was born in St. Petershoof in Severyana, but I lived much of my adult life in outskirts of Manehatten prior to Great War."
>>144695"I will be just fine here," Iron replied, giving Cauldron a confident yet thankful smile "specially after your healing hugs."
>>144696"Uh, what was that like?" he asks
>>144697She smiles at him
"You'll need to heal and get better. But you really have created a mess."
>>144698"I know," Iron agreed, mellowing out as soon as he was reminded of his travesty, yet now he found the strength to smile "and I am ready to do what I must do correct it."
>>144698"Well, St. Petershoof was quaint, old city, even back then. Only couple factories were in city and they only produced materials like timber and steel, so artisans were very much active and traded many finely crafted goods. There were not many non-ponies, mostly those were griffons from Nova Griffonia looking for better life, and while I did not interact with them much I knew they were not well liked or accepted by ponies. Living outside of Manehattan was quiet and peaceful, it was only when you got close to city that it started to get loud and chaotic. Mostly I just stayed out in rural farm area, making living by fixing tools used by farmers, and only went to city to buy food and supplies."
>>144699"Not right now you're not. You're hurt." She says
>>144701Iron scrunched at the immediate rejection of his help, almost offended, yet he sighed softly and laid himself down on the bed. "Right..." he muttered, blue, before his energy came back with a vengeance. "...then I will heal as fast as a pony can just to apply!"
>>144702She smiles
"Well heal quickly. You'll need it."
>>144703"Yeah!" Iron cheered excitedly, pumping his foreleg up before immediately laying back on the couch's cushions, thoughts of healing for Cauldron flowing through his head as he once again secretly glanced at Sands.
>>144677>>144574>>144532The rain that so mercifully ceased for the early hours of the night, has resumed its fall at moderate pace. Amber continues her walk down the long boulevards and simple streets through the city's grid pattern. It's a decent walk, and yet it's only a walk, all the same, as at least half of the inner portions of the city could be traversed in easy walking distance.
Amber has found Traveler street, traversing North and South. She can be pretty sure she's walked across this same road, albeit further north, along the way from her apartment to her places of work. And looking down it, she can see the side railings and upwards arch of a bridge. Before that, and to the right, is a tan brick structure, entirely rectangular in shape, several floors high and with simple, narrow windows where they are any windows at all. To the left of the same, is a mostly empty concrete lot ending in a few small, single story buildings that block a firm view of the river. Still, Amber can see lights on the other side, and lights that illuminate the lot. In front of the rectangular building is what is certainly the most impressive building there, with a red brick first floor, a grand stone stairway to a second floor, and walking paths above the first, before a set of ionic columns at least 30 feet tall that form the entrance of a larger rectangular building with a triangular roof in the center and patterns along the roof. This building, doubtless more impressive in the daylight than the limited light of the night, is completely dark, save for the lights in the front that illuminate the public street path.
In front of this same building is an open city block, with grass and multiple concrete paths along it. A bit off center and closer towards Amber is a statue of a pony rearing, surrounded by a small walkway. On a side opposite Traveler Street is a fountain. Nearer the side of the far building is a circular patch of concrete with an obelisk in the center, and a set of columns arranged in a half circle on the side facing Amber, and topped with stone.
To the left of the park, to the left of Traveller street, to Amber's left, and opposite across an east-west street and Traveler Street is a tan colored, multi colored building of brick with big windows and Doric columns at the street level entrance. To this building's side, but in front of Amber, and indeed almost directly in front of Amber, is a large row of both carts and Automobiles in blue color, parked by the building's side, and evidently wrapping back around the building.
Amber is not the only pony out at this hour. Parked in the open lot, a bit nearer the left, is a form that Amber can identify as a truck, colored in green and with a strangely metallic rectangular rear, along with an object protruding from between the cabin and the trailer. There are a couple ponies standing near it, who indeed, resemble pairs of ponies standing at many areas around the block. They have visible brimmed hats, thick green clothing, and the outline of a long object protruding from behind their backs. They are none too keen to be in the rain, and try to stand as close to buildings as possible. They are not alone, as ponies walk down streets, or come in and out of buildings, the building on the left in particular.
>>144700"So uh, were you alone?" He asks
>>144704She has again moved further away, and looks back at Iron
>>144706Deciding to leave Cauldron alone for now, he soon decided to focus fully on Sands now with a calm smile. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
>>144707"Still in pain, for one. And wondering why I agreed to be a soldier in someone else's war."
>>144706"In St. Petershoof I lived with my father, who was blacksmith and former Royal Guard Quartermaster, but in Manehattan I was alone for good amount of time. I
was married long time ago to pegasus mare named Storm Warning and we had three foals together, but she was murdered when we were together having picnic, and few years later my foals grew up and moved out to live their own lives, so for quite some time I was alone until Great War. I would consider right now, being in company of so many wonderful people, to be far superior to loneliness."
>>144709"Wait. She was murdered? I'm sorry to hear that."
>>144708"Oh," Iron muttered before extending his forelegs slowly towards Sands, beckoning her closer. "...will a hug make your pain go away, at least?"
>>144711"No." She says, flatly
"... But I'll take a hug."
She stands up, and moves in towards iron. Within hugging range.
>>144710Silver smiles at him.
"I appreciate it. It still hurts to think on, but time has dulled pain. Now I continue to live my life as best as I can, and I can find solice in fact that she is resting easy in Elysium."
>>144713He twists his mouth, and says nothing for a moment. Then he says,
"Well, it's good that you haven't let it ruin you."
>>144712After she got close enough, Iron gently and carefully wrapped his forelegs around White's crest, making sure not to make her wounds act up and hurt her.
"We can sleep together in the couch if you want to," he suggested in a half-whisper, a bit embarrassed to proclaim it enough that Cauldron would hear it "so that you can get more hugs if need be."
>>144715"I liked the hotel.." She says
She's definitely softer, and perhaps even a bit fluffier than Black Cauldron, with a bit more bone and not much of the muscle.
>>144714Silver tilts his head at the stallion.
"Something bothers you."
>>144717"What?" He says, without blinking
>>144716"This is obviously temporary," Iron reassured the bug, softly stroking her mane in an attempt to comfort her "until we get healthy enough to not rouse any suspicion as to why we are hurt all over."
He had to admit, while Cauldron filled the soul, Sands filled the
hooves. It was a rather nice, comforting feeling in its own way. "Did you groom your coat before coming here?" he whispered gently, reveling in the fluffy sensation.
>>144718"I do not know, but way you replied makes it seem like something about what I said bothered you."
>>144719>bug*Unicorn
"At the hotel, a little. But I've been sliced up and sewn back together, the same as you."
She seems slightly indignant
>>144720"Well. Maybe the remark about Elysium. But.. No. Nothing bothered me."
>>144721"What about Elysium?"
>>144721"That does not really explain why you tried to knock that bull out when I went down," Iron admitted, not really sure if he should feel thankful or confused. "You could have stayed out of it, yet you tried to take him down almost without a second thought."
>>144722"Um..."
>>144723"What was I supposed to do? Leave you to the mercy of that menace, and leave
all of them aware of us but not beaten? It was supposed to be a simple hit to the back of the head, and then we were done with him. I did not think I would be stabbed anymore than you thought you would lose a hoof fight."
>>144724Now Clip has done it. Silver is now looking at him with big, curious eyes, making the big, rough, fluffy stallion look surprisingly adorable.
>>144724"If it meant you not getting stabbed," Iron suggested, tenderly stroking her mane. "Besides, we were going to go back after overexerting myself anyways. Y'know, cut our losses and come back for round two against that bull."
He soon flashed a sporting smile at Sands. "I am certainly itching to brawl with him again," he added "just to pay him back for all the cuts he did to you. No matter what."
>>144705Interesting, I've never seen a truck quite like that. Well, courthouses are where magistrates live and I'd reason that the really imposing building has got to be the courthouse! So, the police station must be there!She directly approaches the tan, multi-storied building and looks for an entrance. It's not quite so cold as to shiver but Amber is thankful for her cloak keeping her somewhat dry as she huddles by a blue car.
>>144725Oh noes
"Well, I was going to say I don't think any such thing as 'Elysium' or anything like it exists, but... that would be horribly inappropriate under the circumstances, so I... tried to say nothing."
>>144726She leans in, closing her eyes, and smiling as she lets him stroke her rather long, and still reasonably soft, mane.
But then she sits up, and looks back at Iron with concern
"No. You don't understand. You surprised them before. Tricked them into fighting with less than their all. They know you are a threat now, and they will not make the same mistake again."
>>144727The street, especially near the entrance, is brightly lit by street lamps and lights on the buildings. Amber can see another pair of ponies standing outside the building. The Entrance is right there, well illuminated, behind the doric columns, and guarded by the ponies.
>>144728"...okay, I can see why you would not try to say anything. But really, you do not believe that Elysium exists? What do you think happens to souls after death, then?"
>>144728"They might," Iron admitted, obviously agreeing with Sands before steeling his gaze, determined "but I am also going to change up my tactics to throw them off. Steal that case of his so we can have a clean fight like before or threaten to break it."
With that hopefully consoling explanation in order, he continued to stroke her mane to lighten her mental load even further.
>>144728Amber approaches the guards by the entrance and asks them gently,
"Excuse me, may I come in? I have...um...something important to give."
>>144729Sheepishly, he answers
"No. It dies with the body."
>>144730"That might not be enough. They may come in number, and well armed."
She does, however, lay her head down, and lets him pet her.
>>144731Amber can see they are stallions, who wear green and have long guns across their backs.
"If ya lookin' for an offica', you'll find one in there" a grey stallion tells Amber, pointing through the door. But just shortly inside, is a blue unformed zebra standing upright and out of the rain.
>>144732"Huh. Wow. That is honestly depressing way to look at death."
>>144732"Okay! Thank you!" She steps inside, making sure to wipe off her hooves. She goes over to the zebra.
"Hello, I would like to turn in some evidence, where can I go do that?"
>>144732"I can run very fast if we have to retreat all of a sudden," Iron boasted as he tenderly kept it up in the hopes of comforting the unicorn in distress. "Perfect to then lure them into a chokepoint and make their numbers insignificant."
>>144733"Well... Think of it as that much more of a reason to value life. If you only have the one to live."
>>144734"Go further, ma'am."
He says to her
"To turn in evidence? In what case?"
He asks
>>144735"You can only take so much. And they are - they will be so much more powerful than before. I think you need help." She says
>>144736"Hoebuck," she says, not looking back as she continues on. Is there a stairwell in view or should I roll for that?
>>144736Iron creaked his mouth open to object, only to be reminded of him biting the dust and getting Sands stabbed for it, which caused him to relent with a scrunch. "Well..." he trailed off, unsure "...we could recruit some more ponies for this... but I do not know who."
He took a second to consider it as he lightly curled one of White's mane strands before an idea popped up. "How about some Waterfront goons?" he offered.
>>144736"I suppose...still, I will let you have your opinion. I know in my heart Elysium exists, even if I am not yet ready to make that trip.
"Any other questions for me?"
>>144737Features like stairways and hallways should be plainly visible.
But let’s roll anyways and see what happens. Spot, wisdom modifier.
>>144738“I think the Waterfront only wants to own this if it’s a success. You heard what the Zebra said. Something about ‘authority to start a war.’”
>>144739“Uh... so, we’re you a fighter always, or a... tractor repair stallion?”
>>144740"Oh," Iron muttered, at a loss for words, looking deeper into the confines of his mind. "I... do know a pegasus that likes to beat griffons up... but she is working for one of those government agencies... Blackhooves, if I recall correctly."
>>144740"Bit of both. My cutie mark lends itself both to fighting and to forging. But besides those two, I have not done much else."
>>144741Over to the right, in something of an atrium, is a rather large staircase, going up. In the center, is a hallway leading away. To the left, Amber's field of view cuts off, but it seems logical that there would be a hallway. The floors are tile, mostly holding a beige color not much lighter than the tan colored wooden walls.
>>144742"Blackhooves." She pulls her upper body away as her hooves remain in place.
"They will do such much more than 'beat them up.'"
>>144743"Well, I suppose that's a useful range of activities."
>>144744Silver nods in agreement, and then waits for the next question.
>>144744Iron, in response, stopped caressing and hugging her for the time being, feeling it inappropriate for the situation.
"I feel it would be adding wood to the fire and give them more power to nose into other stuff," he presumed with a frown "but if they are tipped towards them, they will be wiped out for sure."
He thought about the option for a second before shaking his head. "... not sure if it would be a good idea..."
>>144744Amber hurries over to the right, trying not to make too much noise, and looks to make sure she can get up the stairs unobstructed.
Okay, I have to sleep now
>>144745"So... what will happen to me?" He asks, pulling his lips up in an awkward smile.
>>144750He smiles down at the smaller stallion.
"If you are worried about any of us turning you in, you can discard those fears. You are free to stay as long as you like."
>>144751He tilts his head, and an ear flops
"But why?"
>>144752"Because it is nice thing to do, and because you are not bad pony. I actually think you are nice stallion."
He lifts a forehoof, and pats the top of Clip's head.
>>144753As the hoof comes down, his eyes close and his ears move aside.
"Well thanks. So, you've got a little group of 'rescues going here, don't you?"
>>144754"Sort of, though I am not sure that is term I would use. They are just good people who all looked for better life and got tricked by traffickers, and now they are free but do not have anywhere else to go. And it is not like I had much else use for three bedrooms. If I had any more room here, I would let even more stay if they wanted."
>>144755“And you say you took this from one of the traffickers?”
>>144756He nods.
"From leader of traffickers, Stormfeather Maakie."
>>144757"Heh, a great use of that property, I might say. I am fond of the idea, giving it back to the victims."
>>144758"I could not agree more. There
is one more member of household you have yet to meet if you want to."
>>144759"Sure. You say you rescued a
gnoll?"
>>144760He nods and gets up from the couch.
"They are like big hyenas. His name is Mala, and he is honestly one of nicest people I have ever met."
>>144761"Where did you find him, exactly?"
Paper Clipping gets up from the couch, and seems willing to follow Silver.
>>144762Silver leads Clip upstairs to the door to Mala's room, talking along the way.
"We found him tied to leash in Hoebuck's lower levels. He was forced to do Maakie's bidding after his parents died, otherwise he would have died homeless and hungry out on street. After we found him and gave him promise of better life, he took up his family's sword to help us bring Maakie and Maarists down, and has since proven himself to be exceptionally nice person, and great friend."
>>144763"Well that's pretty neat. I've always thought creatures are good at heart. It's the circumstances that make them bad."
He follows Silver up to the room. The door is already open. Silver can see Mala, who appears to have gotten up to great them at the door. He has a small smile and ruffled fur, which goes every which way.
>>144764Silver smiles at the lovable gnoll, and greets him with a big hug.
"It is great to see you up, Mala!"
>>144765"Hello." Mala says to Silver. His head quickly turns to the newcomer, ears at full attention, before he moves his forelegs back to halfway turn his body towards the new pony.
Paper Clipping's reaction is more dramatic, his smile fading, and immediately taking a step back, then another, and then another, almost tripping because of his bad leg.
"You didn't tell me it was
this one."
>>144766Silver looks back to him.
"What is wrong?"
>>144767Paper Clipping retreats out of the room.
"That's one of the jailers!"
When he is able, Paper Clipping pulls up his right hind leg and shows Silver the wound - not that there is anything to see with the bandage over it.
>>144768Silver pets Mala, and looks back to Paper Clipping.
"Mala is fine. As I said, he was forced to do Maakie's bidding for food and shelter. He is good person and great friend at heart, if you give him chance to show you."
>>144769Mala, still in his own room, is pet. He seems a little disturbed by the response, though much less so than Paper Clipping, who says,
"He sure looked enthusiastic about it to me, barking and yipping at us at the tables and cages. He got his teeth into me when I didn't move from a work bench."
>>144770He looks back at Mala.
"I am sure he is sorry for what he did."
>>144771Mala is frowning, and his ears are down. Note that Paper Clipping is in the hallway, Mala is in the room, and the two don't really have line of sight to each other.
"My leg is still not right." Paper Clipping responds, looking afraid
>>144771>>144772This pony bein' specist?! Call the thoughtcrime police!
>>144772Silver stands up, and goes out to look at Clip.
"Please, just come back and meet him, properly this time. I promise you, Mala is good person when you get to know him. Khoi and Jubilosa both get along with him despite having been in much same situation you yourself were in, and you said it yourself that you think
all creatures are good at heart."
>>144774"O... kay..." Paper clipping cautiously limps forward towards the door, and comes within view of Mala. paper Clipping stares for a moment.
>>144775"Alright. Paper Clipping, meet Mala. Mala, meet Paper Clipping."
>>144776There is silence for a moment, before Mala says
"Hello."
Paper Clipping takes a step back
"Um... sorry... heh."
Paper Clipping continues staring at Mala
"Uh... Hi."
>>144777Silver smiles, and claps his hooves together.
"There, see? You two can be friendly together, start your relationship from scratch."
>>144778Paper Clipping moves his head a bit forward
"Is that an earring?"
"Yes," Mala says, twisting his lips, sitting up, and holding a paw over his ear
"Heheh,"
Paper Clipping has a small, somewhat nervous giggle
>>144779"Khoi gave him bit of makeover yesterday. You should have seen him, he looked quite fancy!"
>>144780"And the mane. It's... it's a bit different from what I was expecting."
Mala's mane is decidedly ruffled and unkempt from what it was last night. Still, most of the pattern of combing remains.
Mala gives a light smile, looking back at Paper Clipping, while running his paw through his mane, trying to push it over to the right.
>>144781"Do you like it? I like it."
>>144782"I like it."
Paper Clipping still has an awkward expression, but he manages a smile
Mala smiles likewise.
>>144783Silver smiles as well.
"See? You two can get along."
He looks down at the smaller stallion beside him.
"I can continue to show you upstairs of house if you want, unless you would rather get to know Mala better."
>>144784"I'm... sure I'll have plenty of time for both. What else is up here?"
>>144785"Well, this is Mala's room, and over here is Khoi's room."
He leads Clip over to the mentioned room, and opens the door.
>>144786Silver opens the door to a simple bedroom with a well kept bed, and a door to the patio. There are no clothes on the floor, no depressions in the bed, and the only sign that anycreature has occupied the room is a couple candles and a couple pieces of wood, looks like they came from the sea, placed on a dresser on the far side.
>>144787"She does keep tidy room."
He closes the door, and continues to tour onto the next room.
"And here is room where Jubee and I are staying."
>>144788"Woah." Paper Clipping is already impressed with the room, trying to make his way inside. There are no bedsheets, nor any covers on the bed.
>>144789Silver lets the stallion inside, following him in close behind.
"I know, it is amazing room. Our bedsheets are currently in wash, we got them rather, um...dirty."
>>144790He looks back to Silver with twisted lips. But then he continues his search around the room. Again, he takes particular note of a taxidermied animal, this time being the weird dog thing that is near the wall.
"Woah. Is this is a Star Cross Wolf?"
>>144791"Is it?"
Silver goes to look at the animal?"
>>144792It looks like a small wolf, sort of, with a canine head and general appearance of a carnivore. But the ears are rounded, the fur is stripped in the hind quarters, and its arched rear only gradually connects to a long, straight tail with a rounded end. It's hard to tell how accurately the taxidermist imitated the live animal.
"I think so. Hard to say. I've never seen a live one."
>>144793"How do you know so much about these animals, anyhow?"
>>144794"I don't, really. It's one of our local animals. One of
the animals of '
Her Majesty's Dominion of New Mareland, New Freeside, and Starcross.' I mean it's not found anywhere else. There were some articles about the animal some years back, and they mentioned them in school."
>>144795"Is it endangered?"
>>144796"Well, yes. That is what the articles were about. The colonial government passed a law to protect them."
>>144797"Hmm. I suppose that is why Maakie sought to hunt one."
>>144798"Heh, good luck finding one. He probably bought one someone else stuffed years ago. They're not exactly easy to come by."
He takes a pause, and his smile fades to straighter expression
"Oh course I don't really know."
>>144799Silver pats Clip's back.
>>144800And Clip is pat
"Some griffinland decadence. Always wanting to show off by collecting the rarest things."
After another pause
"I can almost understand it. This might be the only one I'll ever see."
>>144801"I suppose there is some good in that. It is good to learn about world, and things within it."
>>144802"Education is always good, and always important." He says, moving on to a different item. this time, he inspects the globe a little past the taxidermied animal.
>>144803Silver joins him.
"It is hard to believe world is so vast."
>>144804Paper Clipping moves the globe around, looking at new Mareland, and then Equestria in particular, before moving it around to what seem to be random points.
"It's getting smaller." He says
>>144805"Yes, but in some ways that is not so bad. It means it is easier now than ever before to learn about different places and peoples, and come to understand and appreciate them."
>>144806"This is true. Perhaps someday we can have true friendship. A true fraternity of all creatures, everyone working for the good of the other."
>>144807"Maybe, or something like it. World where we recognize that we are all not so completely different that we can not get along, and where we all are firm in our knowledge of our place in this world."
>>144808He smiles
"Oh, we can do better than than. Just 15 years ago, many layers of Harmony were thought impossible. A thousand years ago, Harmony itself was barely known. Imagine what could be done with another good, productive, 15 years. Or even another thousand. Elysium will be here, on this planet."
>>144809Silver smiles back.
"I must admit, that does sound pleasant."
>>144810"Better than all of this. Better than all of this for sure. I like what you've done here, helping us. It's a very good step."
>>144811The bigger unicorn smiles even wider.
"Thank you, that means lot."
>>144811>>144812"So...you do not happen to feel more comfortable about talking now, do you?"
>>144813“I should thank you, really. Helps to restore my faith in Harmony after all that.”
The colt gets up, and sits down on the bed, with his front legs on the side of the mattress .
“About what?”
He asks, looking over at Silver
>>144814He can't help but smile even warmer at the praise. He sits down next to Clip.
"You know, about your experience in dance hall."
>>144815“Well... I... went to a certain dance hall to meet a certain older stallion I’ve known from my working in the newspaper and with a certain political party. I went there, we talked, I drank a couple... alcoholic beverages, and we went to a backroom. There was a knocking on the door, then the door was knocked down, and police entered, and it was very embarrassing. They put me in a cart, they arrested the stallion, they arrested several other ponies and griffins, and I pleaded with them not to tell my parents. Eventually the police stallion did release me, but he gave me a ticket, and told my parents where I was. Thankfully he didn’t tell them why I was detained, but my parents could figure it out, and I rushed to find ponies to help pay off the ticket. I was underaged at the time.”
>>144816"Wait, you were underaged? By how much?"
>>144817“By about six months. For alcohol, that is. For, uh, ‘sexual intercourse,’ I was of age. Not that certain kind of intercourse are legal at any age.”
>>144818"Ohhhhh. It is silly there is different legal ages for those. By time I was 16 I had already discovered what my favorite type of alcohol was. Good old whiskey..."
>>144819"Heheh, it was 18 in New Freeside. I've mostly drank beer. Can't say I know much about whiskey. Tried a sip once and it seemed a little strong for me."
>>144818>>144819"Did you know older stallion, or was he just random fling?"
>>144821"I knew him, yes. He would sometimes write columns for the paper, and I knew him in the Party. I can't quite say he got me into the Party, but that wouldn't be entirely unfair either."
>>144822"That is good. Sounds little bit like story friend of mine from Nimbusia told me, where young stallions would take on older stallions as their mentors, and would do things like you and this older stallion did."
>>144823This statement takes him a moment, and he blinks
"Ha! Yes. Equestrian culture isn't really the standard of all cultures through out history when it comes to many things, like attitudes to sexuality, or family formation."
>>144824"I suppose so. Did you like it, what little you and your partner did?"
>>144825"Uh, well, I suppose..."
>>144826Silver tilts his head at the colt.
"You do not know?"
>>144827"It was, it was new."
>>144829"Well, a bit fun. Awkward, scary, or disgusting at times, but fun."
>>144830"Sounds little bit like first time have sex. Awkward, little bit scary or disgusting at times, but fun."
He smiles at Clip.
>>144830>>144831"If you want, I have bottle of nice whiskey I bought recently. I can go and get it, teach you how to best drink it."
>>144832"Uh, well, maybe. It is a time for trying new things, and freedom."
>>144833"Alright, just stay here."
Silver goes downstairs, grabbing the bottle of whiskey and two glasses to bring back.
>>144835The degeneracy levels are rising. We have reached peak Roman Era.
>>144835>>144836I will get the twink!
>>144834Silver finds the set of apple whiskey, pours two glasses, and returns upstairs easily enough.
>>144836I don't know... That's a tough peak to climb
[YouTube] The Severan Dynasty: Unbiased History - Rome XIII -
[Embed]
>>144837Good luck, Nero Sword.
>>144838He smiles at Clip once he returns.
"Ready for your lesson? This is good stuff."
>>144839He doesn't need luck. Just his Sword.
>>144840"Uh..."
He looks down at the glass
"Sure? I think..."
>>144841Silver rejoins him on the bed, pouring whiskey into each of the glasses he brought, giving one to Clip and setting the bottle on the end table.
"Alright, so there are two ways to drink whiskey. First is to drink it quickly, getting through burn as fast as possible. It is good way to get drunk quickly, but you can not enjoy flavor of drink this way, so sometimes it is waste of good whiskey. Alternatively, second way is to hold it in back of your throat, letting burn spread throughout your mouth and enjoying flavor before swallowing. It takes practice to take burn, but once you have it down, you get satisfaction of feeling warmth of drink spread throughout your being, burning in your throat, boiling in your stomach, and tasting like pure, melted gold."
He holds his glass up to Clip, waiting for him to toast their drink.
>>144842"I suppose the second one is what I should do." he responds
>>144843"Well, either works in different situations, but second way is better for drinking to enjoy drink, or drinking with friends."
>>144844"Eh, I've seen what alcoholism can do to ponies. And I've heard of what it does to the working classes. If I am going to drink, I'd rather drink more slowly."
>>144845"That is good reason."
He continues to hold his drink out to Clip, still waiting for cheers.
>>144846He gives a weak smile, holds the glass up to Silver, and clinks it
"Cheers"
He takes the glass, and slowly sips it, holding it in his mouth with a scrunch for some seconds, swallows, and then
"Gah! Ack!"
starts coughing
"Smooth"
He says, smiling in part.
>>144847Silver smiles back, and takes his drink, holding it in the back of his throat with a practiced ease. He holds it for a few second before swallowing, shivering as the warmth spreads through of his body.
"Ahhhhh…so much better than swill they call vodka back in Motherland."
>>144848"Is it? I can't really say"
He tries another sip, though this one is smaller. He scrunches again, but swallows with only one cough thereafter.
>>144849"Vodka is one of strongest liquors. It tastes like gasoline, it is all burn and no flavor. They make it to get drunk, nothing more. It is reason why alcoholism is so bad in Severyana."
He takes another drink, refilling his whiskey glass afterwards.
>>144850Paper Clipping does not drink as quickly as Silver, still having liquid in the glass
"Yeah, I've heard of what it was like there, with the peasantry and the Boyars, the last king and the colonial government. And the trade embargos since."
>>144851"Did you know that production of vodka was limited to only Tsar and those he gave production licenses to, prior to Severyana's annexation into Equestria? That practice actually continued afterwards, except instead ownership of production of vodka was underneath Equestrian Crown, and licenses were given out to nobles in Severyana who gained Canterlot's favor."
The downside of being a bigger, more practiced drinker. Still, he tries to stretch it out, rather wanting to enjoy drinking with Clip than just getting drunk.
>>144852"That sounds exactly right. And the vodka was portioned out to whoever they wanted to numb."
He takes another sip, and scrunches
>>144853"And they got rich and fat off of profits of selling production licenses and from taxes from liquor sales. It is how Severyana managed to fund Empire that could rival Equestria at its peak, at cost of making many ponies in North addicted to drink."
He takes another drink, letting the warmth fill his being.
"But this, this is different. Whiskey...it is smooth, flavorful, warm, and yes while it can be strong it is still manageable. It is perfect drink to relax with."
>>144854"Relax?" He tilts his head, and one ear flops down
"Not to get riled up?"
>>144855"For some, perhaps. Many drinks affect others differently, and for me nothing is more relaxing than nice glass of whiskey."
>>144856"Well then..."
He looks down into the mostly empty glass
>>144857Silver levitates the bottle of whiskey over, and fills both of their glasses again.
"What do you think of drink, so far?"
>>144858"It's not too bad. A bit of a kick to it."
>>144859He smiles at Clip before taking another drink.
"It is good kick, enough to let you know what you are drinking without being overpowering."
>>144860“I guess that’s... that’s true.”
He smiles, a little awkwardly, placing the glass between his legs and keeping a hoof on it.
>>144861"So, anything else about yourself you would like to talk about? What do you like to do?"
>>144861>>144862"For instance, what kind of music do you like to listen to?"
I might be busy for the next couple of days, but I hope to be back soon. I am excited to see where this goes.
still hopes to continue soon
Okay, I’m actually available today and tomorrow. There will probably be a few hours I won’t be available, but I am available.
I believe we left off with Waabishki going to have dinner with the rest of the characters.
>>144886The Doctor continues speaking with Ply Press, talking about his life has been since they moved, with the Doctor likewise having experienced a move. The one from the country to the city, the other from the city to the country.
Petal enters the room,
“Dinner’s ready.”
Ply Press stands up, and directs the group towards a dinner table, which is down the small hallway, past the kitchen and the stairwell, into a room with a large table, plates, wooden floors, and windows yo the back
>>144887Spark sits down at the table.
>>144889Ply Press tells the group,
“Come on, sit down.”
The Doctor sits, and Makade, looking a bit displeased, takes his seat as well. Waabishki, with uncertainty, takes a seat. Petal comes in, with a pan
“We have a hot dish. And some bread.” Placing it on the table. Then she comes out with two special plates.
“Smoked Salmon. Luis’s favorite.” She ruffles the top of Makade’s head, flopping his ears about. He scrunches, then bares his teeth. Waabishki giggles at the sight, and then sniffs the fillets fish before her.
>>144895Spark takes a little bit of bread and takes a listen to the conversations at the table.
>>144896Doctor:
“That’s really neat you have something ready for the wolves.
Petal:
“We hoped our little Lyka would come back. And here he is! Smoked Salmon is his favorite.”
Waabishki uses a paw to push a piece of fillet into her mouth. Makade remains scrunching in protest for perhaps as long as thirty seconds, but takes a nibble of the salmon, and then eats more.
>>144897"It is very kind of you to have made all of this for us. If you have some kind of errand you need done, I would be happy to be of assistance."
>>144898"Oh, you're our guest. Don't worry about it." She says, waving towards Spark
>>144746"Wiped out? Not even figuratively. The worry is always whether they would be the only ones wiped out."
>>144899“Well... you would like to be able to invite Madake back again I assume. You will need some more supplies if you want to have him and his friends over again, correct?”
>>144901"Oh, it's alright. We just... won't necessarily have coffee. Or real tea. But there is some nice ersatz tea they make now."
>>144902“But offering less than real tea and having no coffee simply won’t do. After all, a good host has plenty to offer the guests. It won’t be but a short trip to get some more for you.”
>>144903"Well... You're not from West Equestria, are you? You see, all of the tea and coffee plantations in Equestria are on the
other side of the line, and the Changelings aren't willing to sell much to buy luxuries, at least for most of the pony population. So... well, there isn't really more tea at the store." She smiles awkwardly.
>>144904“I might have a way to get some over the line. New Mareland is interested in trade with Madake’s village. I’m sure a few coffee rations can make their way over here once that opens up. In the mean time, I will double check the stores. I’m quite certain you are overlooking some.”
>>144905"Oh, you don't need to do that." She says, smiling
>>144906“I don’t need to, but I want to. Looking for a little coffee will help me get more familiar with the layout of the city and maybe meet some locals.”
>>144907"Well, I don't know if you really want to be seen moving about the city much. During the day it's fine, but at night... Well, you can't move about without good reason."
>>144908“It can wait until the morning I suppose.”
>>144909"Are you looking to stay the night?" She asks
>>144910“I don’t want to overstay my welcome. I can find another place to rest and be back with some tea and coffee in the morning.”
>>144911Yes>>144747[YouTube] STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM
[Embed]"Not so fast." The Zebra repositions himself to physically block off Amber before she enters the building.
"Nocreature enters without first being searched for weapons or explosives. Now, you are looking for someone invloved with... 'Hoebuck,' was it?"
There are some other obstructions, like a steel railing, that corral those who enter, and makes it difficult to enter without inspection.
>>144913"Oh no, it's hardly an issue at all. Although... I'm not sure how many beds we have. Still, we can prepare something for all of you, if you like."
>>144914“I would feel safer sleeping in a place like this.”
>>144915"Great! Make yourself at home. We'll prepare sleeping arrangements after dinner."
>>144914She nods nervously.
"Y-yes. Actually, I going to turn in some evidence that...that I found nearby." The mare slowly pulls back her cloak with her teeth to show a revolver of sorts.
"Thsmm ss ull ah goat ohn muh," she says, her mouth muffled.
>>144917The Stallion's eyes grow wide, and he rapidly moves back, his hooves momentarily slipping on the tile floor. He moves back far enough to come to a wooden desk.
"SHE'S GOT A GUN!"He yells, before himself producing a revolver, which slips from his mouth in the first instance.
Inside, a pony dives to the floor, while another tries to scurry away, slipping on the tile and falling down.
"PUT DOWN YA GUN MISS!"
The two green uniformed ponies from outside rush in, both of whom brandish wood and steel rifles, pointing them at Amber, though the second stallion quickly turns around, to look behind them and outside. A third green uniformed stallion rushes in from inside, also carrying a rifle and pointing it towards Amber.
>>144918kekThe mare falls on the floor holding her hooves on her head.
"Wait, wait! I brought it here because I want to give it to you!" She looks in panic at the ponies with guns barging in.
>>144919One of the stallions in green starts talking:
"Get it! Get the gun! Who ya fightin' for? Glimma'?"
The zebra stallion uses a hoof to slide the gun closer towards himself
"A turn in?" He asks Amber
>>144920"I'm-I'm not fighting, I'm...yes, I want to...turn in.... She looks to be shaking half to death from fright.
>>144921There is a pause, and perfect silence for an extended period of time. Measured out, it's probably seven seconds, but when there are four different guns pointed at you, it surely feels like longer
"Uh, sorry miss." One of the stallions smiles awkwardly, tips his hat, and leaves the entryway, going back outside, followed by the other stallion, and the third green uniformed stallion, until only the Zebra stallion and a few others inside remain. The Zebra puts down his revolver on the cart. He picks up and examines the revolver Amber brought it.
"You can never be too cautious. You can get up now. Where did you say you found this?"
>>144922She looks around anxiously and, without that magical feeling of being mugged, slowly pulls herself up. She seems unsure of how to respond; lost, even.
"Um, I, um," she mumbles, blinking confusedly.
>>144923Looking around, she can see no trace of the green-uniformed ponies who pointed rifles at her moments ago. Perhaps not
no trace, as the silhouttes of two of them can be seen outside, standing as there were before. Still, it is enough almost to cast doubt on whether the vent happened at all. Likewise, inside, the pink mare who slipped and fell on the floor is nowhere to be seen, and the storm-cloud grey Pegasus who jumped, now staring at Amber, is the only pony there besides the zebra.
The Zebra stallion repeats
"Where did you say you found this?"
>>144924She stares.
"It was...near the Hoebuck tenement, um...in an alley. I, uh..." she rubs the back of her head with a hoof.
"...I saw something shiny by a dumpster."
>>144925He moves in a bit closer, his big, black muzzle nearing her face. He turns his head, and raises an eyebrow in skepticism.
>>144926"I knew it had to be related to that case, so I brought it here. Maybe I can explain this better to a detective." She smiles nervously.
>>144927"Hoebuck." He says to himself, pulling away
"Black Veil, do you know who heads the Hoebuck investigation? Is that that cultist case?"
The dark grey stallion moves in closer
"Yes sir. The... the 'New' government is claiming jurisdiction."
The Zebra stallion raises an eyebrow and looks over to him
"Oh they are? What does the chief say about that?"
"Same as the mayor. Don't budge an inch."
"Who is in charge though?"
"I think... Big Malt? It'll be assigned a special group I am sure."
"Well, let's collect all evidence we can."
Then the Zebra looks back to Amber
"Well, we really need to get it to somecreature working on the case. Especially one of the assigned detectives or the original police officer."
>>144928She nods.
"I really am sorry, officer, for coming at a very strange hour, but I thought this was important, and I wasn't comfortable holding onto a gun that might've hurt somepony.
I doubt any detective would be up at this time...."
>>144929"Well, let's go see."
He speaks to the grey pegasus,
"Take my place for a few minutes."
He looks back to her, and offers the gun back
"You may be called as a witness in a future trial. Follow me."
>>144930Her ears fold back when she hears 'trial,' but otherwise she only replies,
"Okay." Hopeful but with her heart racing, she follows him.
>>144931Unfortunately I have to go for the night. I will be available tomorrow, including relatively early tomorrow
>>144932Good to know, thanks
>>144914"That would be extremely kind of you."
>>144941The creatures continue eating. The Doctor tries to make conversation, and Petal starts telling stories of the neighbors, followed by Ply Press telling stories of when he would hike through the woods.
Makade cautiously continues eating, while Waabishki finishes everything quickly. Petal volunteers to cook more.
>>144942Spark continues to listen until the meal is over.
>>144943Petal tells of her growing roses for competition in the State Fair back in the day, and how she made it to third prize in the entire region. She also tells of a couple neighbors, including of a mechanic's colt who went off to the War, and wondering if he is still prisoner.
Ply Press makes another mention of Mild Mirth, and also talks about going campaign on a series of hills. he mentions a close encounter with a... bear? Let's hope it was a bear, anyways. Didn't really sound like one, but damn was it big and furry and scary. Kind of hard to tell at night. He also mentions practicing marksmanship with Makade.
>>144944Spark makes a note of both a prisoner and a bear like thing.
>>144945Petal hastily goes upstairs, and the remainder make their way back to the living room. Waabishki, once again, looks anxious.
>>144948"Did you enjoy the meal Waabishki?"
>>144949She looking out, as if to the distance. It takes her a moment to turn her head to Spark.
"Huh? Oh. Yes. I was rather impressed ponies could make it that way."
>>144951“That’s good. Though I don’t suppose you are lost in thought about the flavor.”
>>144952"Well..." She looks down, and momentarily her ears come down.
"Not really..."
>>144953Hello!
>>144954“Do you want to talk about it?”
>>144954I went to sleep just as the session started, but it doesn't look like you got very far. Can we continue?
>>144955"It's the same as before." She says
>>144956Perhaps. I'd prefer to make Amber's actions here in as long of chunks as possible
>>144931The Stallion goes slightly ahead of Amber, looking back
"Keep that where I can see it."
Note that it is actually Amber who has possession of the revolver.
The two go upwards, and upwards, until they enter through a door into another hallway with a bank of tables and desks, a hallway branching off to the right with closed doors, and a hallway straight ahead with doors with glass windows.
"Okay, now let's find a relevant detective. Let me see who's here..."
>>144958Amber keeps attentive and looks to either side of the hallway, trying to see if there are any names on nameplates or if there are any ponies observable through the windows. Meanwhile her ears are focused on the stallion ahead, trying to catch any names.
>>144959There are indeed nameplates and the windows can be seen through. One room is lit. However, Amber is a little far away and at the wrong angle to see much.
The Zebra Stallion moves ahead of Amber, in what would not have been a wise move had Amber been hiding bullets and a malign intent.
"Rosey! Hey! Rosey!"
Or maybe there's a witness already. Quickly, a small strawberry colored earthpony mare pokes out from the right hallway, and looks at the Zebra stallion and Amber.
"Yes? Bah!"
"Calm down, it's not loaded, and it's evidence from that Hoebuck thing. We need a detective working on that case to turn it in to, or at least somepony who is working on it."
"Uh, oh. Okay. Well, Headliner is leading the case. Temporarily, I think the chief himself will lead it. And as for detectives..."
She looks down at a paper.
"We have Salted Stalwart here. He's in the back. He can check it in."
>>144960She goes through the names.
Wait! None of them are Red Scabbard! I have to do something.... Panic rising in her chest, she asks, trying to be nonchalant,
"You must have a lot of detectives here."
>>144961The Zebra responds
"A few, yeah. Only so many at 1:30."
The mare replies
"Let me get Stalwart."
"Okay," she says, but she intently looks at the doors to see if she can find the name she needs.
>>144963Roll two die
[d20 = 4], one with wisdom modifier
>>144965Search though she may, Amber can find nothing useful on the nameplates
>>144862"Well, I..." He turns his head slightly down and away
"I've tried reading. History, poetry..."
>>144966Seeing no other option, Amber decides to wait.
>>144967"Anything from Severyana? 'War and Peace', maybe?"
>>144968A blue stallion walks from down the central hallway
"Hello,"
And introducing himself
"Detective Salted Stallwart. You found a weapon near Hoebuck?"
>>144969"Yes. Caramel Marks, Valley Lemon's book on the State and..." He tilts his head.
"I haven't heard of that book before."
>>144971"It is Romanticist classic, written by Leo Trotstoy, one of Severyana's greatest authors. It is chronicle of Groverian invasion of Severyanan Empire and influence it had in following years after Severyana accepted Equestrian protection in wake of defeat."
>>144972"Ah." He nods his head
"Rather neat. I haven't, well, I haven't read that, but I've read some Equestrian and Aquellian literature."
>>144970Amber nods.
"Y-yes, it was..." she pauses to recollect her thoughts.
"...It was in an alleyway by a dumpster."
>>144974"Let me write this down." He says, pulling out a paper and placing it on a table near him. He places a pencil in his mouth, moving it off to the side to let him speak.
"So, which alley did you find it in? And where was it located relative to the dumpster?"
>>144973"Anything good you would recommend?"
>>144976"Well... Yes. There are a couple by John Huffing. And the best is this one called Le Malheureux. The best I've read so far, anyways."
>>144975"It wasn't far, maybe a block away...and it was on the left side of a green dumpster, I saw something shiny and decided to see." Her ear twitches.
"I'm sorry if I'm not very good with directions, I arrived in Baltimare a few days ago but I heard about the awful things that happened at Hoebuck."
>>144978"Huh..." He writes something down
"Right by where we found those three unconscious griffins tied together in the dumpster. Wonder why the police missed it. When did you find it? Exactly where was it next to the dumpster? Do you think you could show me, or someone?"
>>144977"I admit I do not do as much reading as I should, but it is good idea to broaden one's horizons."
He finishes his glass of whiskey, and puts it on the end table.
"I had better stop it here, do not want to get too drunk before tonight. How are you holding up?"
>>144979"Um, I-I think I could." She gives a nervous smile.
"B-but I don't think you would be able to find anything else there."
>>144981"No no. It's where the gun was located. That says much about how it got there. And why it wasn't noticed on the first sweep. Whether it was even there on the night of the clearing. Here. Let me see it."
He extends a hoof
>>144981"Heh. I'm getting a little bit of a buzz now. At least I think I am? I'm feeling something, that's for sure." He has a strange smile
>>144982She cautiously hoofs over the gun, handle side towards him.
>>144982Silver gives him a light pat on the shoulder, and a smile.
"Everything feel alright, then?"
>>144984And he is pat.
"Uh, yeah. Everything's alright." He says
>>144983He takes it rather quickly, turning it over
"Lavender Number 2. Equestrian Service Revolver." He turns it over, then presses a button with his hoof, breaking the cylinder open. He spins the cylinder, then snaps the barrel back in place.
"Dated 1011. Wartime production, Mareway Small Arms Company."
He places the gun in a foreleg, and extends it forward, toward the wall in front of him. He holds it up, and looks down the sight, closing an eye. The way the gun is positioned between the ankle and the end of hoof is rather awkward. yet nevertheless he manages a squeaking action by pulling the end of the hoof inwards towards the ankle, pulling the trigger without jerking the gun. Amber could see the hammer rise and the cylinder turn, before
ClickHe turns around, and places it back on the table.
"This was probably issued to an Equestrian military non-commissioned officer. I wonder how it got here. It has most of the factory bluing. Wasn't found lying out on the battlefield. Not for long, anyways. Wasn't laying out in the alley very long either. It works fine and there is no rust. Not many scratches either."
>>144985"So...anything else you want to talk about? Anything you want to do?"
>>144986"Well... Make a life here, I suppose. Get in contact with the paper, or the activists here. they are much stronger than back home. Or leave, go to Aquellia or Stalliongrad."
>>144985>>144983"Should probably turn this in to evidence" He says
>>144985>>144988She perks up, looking a bit less anxious for now.
"Oh yes, I should! Do you know the pony who runs it?"
>>144987"Hmm...well, as long as you do not get house raided by government, I would be happy to help you make your life."
>>144989"Well, there is a dedicated clerk for the room, but certain detectives can access it, so long as they make notes of what is placed in and taken out. I can take it back." He says
>>144990He smiles. Then the smile goes away
"What's this about a raid?"
>>144991She does not directly answer him. Instead:
"Oh, can I have a looksie? It sounds really important." She looks a bit more chipper. Youthful energy perhaps?
This is my chance! she thinks to herself.
>>144992He turns to her, and smiles awkwardly.
"Uh, at the evidence room? Civilians aren't normally allowed back there."
>>144993"Oh, I'm sorry...but I'm just surprised there are so many detectives. Even now there must be...what? Four or five here, I'd wager."
>>144994"At 1:30? Most of us go home long before then. Some of us stay late because we are working on a case, though there's always a few for dedicated nightshift. Tonight there's myself, Griselda, Sunnyside Meadow, Red Scabbard, Tracker, and Strummed Sound. Well, I think that's who hasn't gone home. Just six of us."
>>144991"Like, do not join any armed mobs or the such that would draw major attention from government. Did not mean anything bad, Clip."
He smiles again at the smaller stallion, before wrapping a foreleg around his shoulders.
>>144996"Well, you know what they do. You can't just do nothing." He says. But the smaller stallion lets Silver wrap his legs around him.
>>144995"They sound very different, and not at all what I'd expect ponies with detective-ing...detecting cutie marks to be named." She says with slightly eager interest.
"Can any pony sign up?"
>>144997"Then go ahead and do it. Working on paper sounds like good idea, maybe you could use fact you used to work for one in order to get editor position."
New Thread!
>>145000 →>>144998"They are not all ponies, to begin with. Griselda is a female griffin. Tracker is a diamond dog. Sunnyside Meadow's optimism is a value in this profession, as is Strummed Sound's thestral hearing, and Red Scabbard's talent in confrontation. But, well, sort of. but not really. You have to already be a police officer, or have some other prior experience for a number of years."
>>144999"Uh, alright. I'll do that."
He seems to wag his tail, though it's close to the bed and can hardly move. He has a wide, toothy smile.