>>143419>>143420Good news!
One of Melon Mangrove's tables just opened up
Another couple has arrived
>>143421Splendid! The large group can finally sit down.
>>143425>>143422Another couple enters
And another table of Melon Mangrove's leaves
>>143425>>143426The couple there first gets to sit at Melon's table.
>>143427>>143428... But another couple enters. As does an older mare with two adolescent colts.
>>143429Oh dear! Amber frets about this, though less so than before when it was even more overwhelming.
>>143431>>143430The mare with the two adolescent colts is considering turning away
But another old couple with a middle aged couple in the same group enter
>>143433>>143430But one of De Sew's tables, and one of Cream pop's booths opens up
>>143432"Oh no, please don't leave! A table just opened up." She gives them Cream Pop's booth. The first remaining couple gets De Sew's table.
>>143435Roll diplomacy for good measure
>>143437>>143435It looks like this succeeds
The two couples (one group) remain waiting
[1d4 = 4] [1d5 = 4][1d4 = 3] [1d4 = 4][1d4 = 2] [1d4 = 3]
>>143437>>143438>>143439One couple enters, as does another family with a young looking mare and stallion with two small foals.
Two tables leave. Both Larkhaven.
>>143438Amber asks the two couples,
"You wouldn't mind eating at separate tables that are close together, would you?"
>>143441A mare answers
“The point of going out with my son and daughter in law, is to go out with my son and daughter in law.”
>>143442"Erm, of course. Please wait a moment." The two couples not affiliated with them are called forth and given Larkhaven's tables.
Spark continues down the road with the wolves.
>>143444Trips, held securely in hoof
I bet the next post will be amazing!
>>143449Be patient, it'll likely be a few days.
>>143444The road continues, curving in a large arc, occasionally intersecting with or splitting off into what must be other major roads. The group periodically passes the slant-roofed, mostly one or two story buildings that dot the length of the road: a furniture store here, and a firestation there. But this is no commercial avenue, nor residential street. It is a larger thoroughfare that evidently connects parts of the city, and for the most part commercial and residential constructions exist further away from the road. Yet few trucks, carts and automobiles pass them, and even fewer pedestrians. Some do, forcing the group to stay well clear on the side. Though most of the length is adorned with sidewalks, in areas there is only the snow covered grass, forcing them to walk in the snow.
Perhaps it isn't the occupation that keeps ponies off the roads. There is something unpleasant about the air. The temperature has not risen above 20 with the afternoon sun, and whereas the forest had trees, and the denser parts of the city multistory buildings, to block the flow of the wind, it blows unimpeded here, perhaps even funneled by the buildings around it. Snowflakes, sometimes large, sometimes small, fall in small numbers from the clouded and overcast sky. There is a hint of diesel and coal smoke in the air. The doctor tries to keep his legs close together, and his head closer to his chest in the cold and wind. Waabishki is is not fazed by the wind and weather, but her nose twitches at the faint but unwelcome smell. Makade is not bothered by either, simply pressing forward.
Roll die
>>143454The group turns off onto an avenue, and then a couple blocks to Rainey Street. Spark's journey is uneventful, really, though drones in uniform and with guns occasionally stand in pairs at street corners. The distance travelled by the creatures in total isn't actually that great, perhaps three and a half miles in full. Rainey street is two lanes, paved in concrete, and sided by parallel parking spaces and street lamps. Carts dominate over automobiles, which are scarce, at least out in the open. To each side are rowhouses, with a small patch of grass or tree in front of some and a short walkway to each door. The houses are two floors, though often windows are placed in the slanted or sometimes gambrel roofs, and walls vary in color from grey brick to bright red, usually alternating so that houses can be differentiated from each other.
325 Rainey Street is a house of approximately this description - a bright red two floor brick house with a window appearing out of a gambrel roof, closed blinds on the windows, a ight orange wooden door with a small window on the front, and a leafless tree only twice Spark's height in front.
Spark has arrived
>>143455Spark knocks on the door.
>>143456For a moment, there is nothing. But Spark sees a movement through the small window, and the door opens part way. Through the crack, the muzzle of a grey unicorn sticks out, looks over to Spark.
"Who is it?"
>>143457"Makade and company. May I ask you who you are as well?"
>>143458With a hint of uncertainty, or unease, the pony answers
"Ply Press"
Barely a second has passed before his eyes turn past Spark and to those behind him. He quickly swings open the door, and Spark can see that he wears a green sweater. He smiles, and turns his head back, yelling into the room
"Petal Dew, Lyka is here!"
>>143459Hmm...
Spark turns to Makade to see his reaction.
>>143460Makade leans a bit to the side and slightly lowers his make, while Waabiski’s ears rise to attention with intrigue.
>>143461Spark motions them inside.
>>143462The doctor moves forward rather quickly, shaking and patting his fur before entering to remove the few flakes of snow.
"So good to be out of the cold" He remarks
Waabishki is next, and she moves her head around looking from side to side. Makade is last, cautiously walking in. Ply Press walks forward towards Makade, and asks
"What brings you back?"
The entry foyer is kind of small, with stairs to the right, and over to the left is a larger room with wood floors, a chair, two couches, a radio, a couple tables and several pictures up. There is a small hallway between the stairs and the room
>>143463Spark watches if Makade will answer.
>>143464Makade looks over to Spark, with an almost unsettled expression, as if he expects Spark to answer for him. When this does not occur, he turns back to look at Ply Press.
"We are here for... well, for medical services for someone from the Zagaskway. We were... well, we need to stay somewhere, for at least a few hours. So I came here."
A rose red unicorn mare with her brown mane tied back and wearing a blue shirt walks down the stairs.
"Lyka! You're back!" She immediately runs to Makade, and sits down in front of him, pressing her hooves into each of his cheeks
>>143466Makade folds his ears back as she continues rubbing his cheeks, and then expresses surprise and then fear as she comes in for a hug
"It's been so long. I was worried for you!"
Waabishki, who sits at a safe distance, desn't hide her smile
>>143467"I'm sorry for the unannounced arrival. The circumstances have been a bit unavoidable."
>>143468She looks up for a moment in the direction of Spark. Ply Press is already looking his way. She gets up, an walks over towards Spark, granting Makade a reprieve. "Why hello! I'm Petal Dew. Who are you?"
She offers a hoof to shake
>>143469Spark shakes her hoof.
"I'm Spark. It's nice to meet you."
>>143470She shakes his hoof. Her shake is firm, but she releases perhaps more quickly than her excitement would imply.
"What brings you here?"
>>143471"There was a bit of a medical emergency in Madake's village. We had to transport his friend over to the hospital here for treatment."
Spark is curious about the new name, but figures that they must have a nickname for each other.
>>143472She turns over back to Makade, and quickly walks back to him
"'Makade'? Using your tribal name?"
Without warning, she presses her hoof onto Makade's head, much to his displeasure.
"I think it's cute."
>>143473"I hope you don't mind us staying for a little while. We won't be allowed back to the hospital to check on him until the procedure is done."
>>143474"Oh, not at all! We don't get visitors too often since moving here. Why don't you sit yourself down, and make yourself comfortable on those couches. That one right there we got new from Stinny's, since we had to leave the one we had back at the ranch. Do you need anything? Maybe anything to drink, or to eat?"