>>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
>>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.
>>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
>>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
>>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
>>143027"Thank you" another mare says
A lone diamond dog enters
>>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."
>>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]
>>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.
>>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]
>>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
>>143054"What is the wait?" A slightly wrinkly mare with a well kept mane asks
>>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
>>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.
>>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."
>>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
>>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>>143083And.... another Mustard Trim table clears?
[1d20 = 16]
>>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.
>>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
>>143099>>143100A very large party, and a couple arrive
>>143102"What is the wait time?" The mare closest to Amber asks