>>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."
>>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?"
>>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]
>>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.
>>143519Hopefully there are no more headaches.
>>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