>>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.
>>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."
>>144203https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-E7PgapfUgIt 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
>>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)