1691 replies and 26 files omitted.
>>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
>>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."
>>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."
>>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?"
>>144826Silver tilts his head at the colt.
"You do not know?"
>>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.
>>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
https://youtu.be/Wy_kKBBe2Co?t=1233 >>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>>144747https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsMKypvmB0"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.
>>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."
>>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.
>>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?”
>>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."
>>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."
>>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.