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>>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."
>>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."
>>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