/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>146169
And thus Silver helps. He looks up to Khoi when the sides are done.

"What is next?"

>>146169
"What? No! I meant to justice, because it's their job to carry an investigation through to the end! Maybe you're projecting your own paranoia, or even dishonesty, onto them!" She raises her voice to ensure that she's the one being paid attention to.

>>146169
Iron was tough enough to swallow it either way, only that he was forced to cough a few times from the sudden 'attack' by the drink as his snout scrunched up.

>>146170
"Why, the back wall, of course." She says

>>146171
"Be shot at by a sniper while you are walking from a restaurant to your home, and I assure you, you will be paranoid too. In this city it makes no sense not to be. The bottom line is that we are here to fight a war. And it's not a gentleman's war of officers, swords, and fancy uniforms, its ones where the combatants don't wear uniforms and commit acts of murder while hiding among the civilian population. And this particular case is a part of that war. I don't care if we step on someone's hooves in fighting that war, because the bottom line is that many have already died because of this, and many more will likely die before it is done. I am well aware that that could include me. And so I will take it into my own hooves to see this investigation through."

>>146172
This gets a small smile from Black Cauldron

>>146173
Then that is what he helps with.

Shucks, they both make such good arguments.
"B-b-but...." She looks for a sympathetic voice among the detectives or the secretary. "What do you have to say about it?"

>>146173
Iron couldn't help but smile as well at seeing her smile. "Strong stuff," he jokingly remarked.

>>146174
Khoi moves around the perimeter, placing a hoof up towards her muzzle as she inspects the walls of the garden

"Hmmm... the side further from the sea is higher than the other side... And will any water actually remain in the soil, or will it just all wash through? We might need to think more about this. Maybe remove some of the soil here, and install a layer of clay..."

>>146175
Stalwart answers
"War?! That's exactly it. This is exactly what they did in Manehattan. First the Blackhooves agreed to multi-party government, and let Manehattan elect its own government, which was a coalition of left and right. Then those who didn't want to collaborate with the Blackhooves resigned, then with a few assassinations and a plane crash, a completely unknown secretary of education took hold of the Harmonist party, who promptly turned it into the "Ponies Party" and tried to advance an agenda kind of like the Blackhooves. And then, what dumb luck? A crowded subway train explodes, and an investigation says it's a resistance bomb with foreign parts that was supplied by organized crime. So the local Manehattan police chief declares a crusade against leftist and harmonist rebels, and organized crime at the same time. Of course organized crime was always unpopular, so it's popular to target them. Then the Blackhooves decide to go all in to do the same, because they want to support the new Manehattan government. They say that members of local gangs are all foreign-supported guerrillas and so not afforded the protections given to criminals or even uniformed enemy combatants. And that turns into a mess quickly. A huge mess.

So over here, we have a crime that discredits the elected SDP leadership to the ponies of Baltimare, and also a claim that maybe, just maybe, SDP leadership and organized crime are aiding guerrillas? It seems more likely they want to replace us, while saving face and pretending to respect rule of law, multi-party government, and elections. This isn't fighting a war, this is escalating, or even starting one."

>>146176
"Not quite the strongest" she says

>>146177
That caused Iron to look at Cauldron with incredulity on his eyes. "Really?" he asked, astonished at the news.

>>146177
Silver follows her directions, as best as he can.

>>146178
"Yes. We have them at the Watering Hole. But we're not drinking them tonight."

>>146179
"Uh, do you have a shovel, or an entrenching tool? Or a hoe?"

>>146180
Now Iron glanced at the shot that had previously stung him with a bit of doubt, wondering just how powerful these drinks could get.
Nonetheless, he shook his head before pointing at Cauldron's glass. "I assume you are used to this stuff, right?" he suggested with a hint of a playful tone, wondering if she could down it as fast as he did without wincing.

>>146180
"I do not think I do...I can see about getting you one."

>>146182
Noticeably, there are already multiple holes in the ground both within the rectangle and without.

"Yes, we should do that. And get plants, maybe trees, or clay..."

>>146185
Silver nods.

"What is time right now?"

You know who's a cute pony?
(You)

>>146188
You are still cute ponies.

Is anypony available to play this weekend? I am

>>146197
I'm free for the weekend.

>>145928
“Danger could manifest from several different access points at once, since they can fly. Best to sleep closer to the rest than to stay close to the door.”

>>146186
Khoi tilts her head
"I don't really know"
She turns her head to her left, and Silver's right. West.

"The Sun is still up. But it is low in the sky."

>>146181
She nods, while keeping a dead serious expression
"You could say that."

>>146207
He looks at Spark for an extended period of time
"But if they come through the front door?"

>>146208
“Then you will stop the ones at the door, but what of the windows?”

>>146209
He pauses a bit longer
"Alright... I will retreat further in the house. Better to bottleneck them in a hallway anyways."

>>146210
“That’s the spirit.”

>>146208
Seeing his attempts at putting a competitive vibe to this whole drinking game went as sour as they could get, Iron slowly replaced his playful smile for a more optimistic one. "I am sure it helps a lot when taking some of the stingy potions, right?" he offered as he stepped just a little bit closer towards Cauldron."A strong stomach allows for more options."

>>146211
Makade goes upstairs, and Waabishki tentatively agrees to share the room with him. This leaves the Doctor, and Spark

>>146212
She raises a lip, and even folds an ear in absolute confusion for a span of perhaps five seconds. But she returns to a more normal expression.

"Strength always allows for more options."

>>146213
We are clearly on different lines of thought, Iron pointed out to himself in his mind coupled with the smallest purse of his lips. Maybe we should speak in a more... intimate manner instead.
Thus, his snout approached Cauldron's, starting to grin a little more confidently. "It is a good thing we have eachother to double our strength, then," he slyly tried to compliment her in order to improve the mood.

>>146214
She smiles, and without hesitation moves her own lips forward to meet Iron's in a kiss.

>>146215
Iron wasn't quite prepared for the mouth linking if his eyes widening slightly was any indication, but he soon leaned into the kiss, enjoying the small piece of sugar he got out of his efforts.

>>146216
She goes easy on him, pulling away with a pleased smile after some seconds, looking over to her left - evidently over towards White Sands - and then back to Iron.

“Being stronger together... I think we should talk about that. What kind of future you want. Can you imagine if you are successful in the turf war? What kind of attention that will bring to you? And this potion making... I don’t think many in our, our group are doing that. There is much opportunity here.”

>>146213
Spark finds a spot on the floor and maybe a pillow if there is one.

>>146217
Iron couldn't help but blink once or twice blankly, seemingly having not questioned himself that far ahead as he himself processed what she had just asked about. "I... did not think that far," he admitted with the faintest hint of a pout. "All I really strived for so far here is winning your heart and make your dreams come true."

>>146218
“So... we’re down here tonight” The doctor says.

“But what if Changelings come through the front door? Or the side windows. Or the rear windows?!” He shakes in evident fright.

>>146219
“D’awww”
She wraps her hooves around him, in a big hug.

>>146220
Iron's cheeks reddened considerably at Cauldron's big ol' hug as his body burned hotter ever so slightly.

>>146220
“I doubt that, but if they do, wolves are very quick. I don’t think the changelings can get too far in the house without receiving a few more holes in their body.”

>>146221
She does not let go.

"You know... for someone as muscular as you are, you're rather soft."

>>146222
"So... why'd you send him away?"
He smiles awkwardly, and pushes up his glasses with the tip of a hoof

>>146223
“Because they need to be well rested. Waabishki is certainly going to have trouble resting with this news, and you won’t want a grumpy wolf hearing troubling news from you, do you?”

>>146224
"Now that you mention it, Changelings through the front door isn't the worst thing, heh. Might offer them hotcakes. Don't know if they'll want hotcakes but... still, ask them to sit down. Be friendly."

>>146223
"I-I am?" Iron uttered, soon poking his short-haired coat with a free hoof.

>>146225
“Be sure to get plenty of rest yourself. We are going to have a lot to do tomorrow.”

>>146226
She pokes him in the belly

“Yes. Yes you are.”

>>146227
“We... are?” He answers, smiling awkwardly again

>>146228
“Sure. I have to grab a little intel, you have to help out the wolves, and if Miskobag gets released from the hospital tomorrow, we have to make it all the way back to the forest.”

>>146229
“So I have to do all of this again. Tomorrow?”

>>146230
“Yep. The life of a pony on the run. If you stop too long, you get caught.”

>>146231
“Ahhhh...”
He slowly slumps down on the couch, laying on his back0

“Okay then...”

>>146228
Iron gasped out slightly at the belly poke, surprised to feel her hoof down there so suddenly as his cheeks reddened ever further. "I-I mean," he uttered somewhat skittishly with a deep blush on his cheeks. "It does help to have some fat for an extra burst of energy."

>>146233
“Haha”

Poke poke poke
Iron’s belly receives a barrage of pokes from Cauldron’s hoof

>>146234
Iron whinnied softly from the incessant belly poking, obviously getting quite flustered by the teasing. "I-Is this some sort of concrete jungle ritual?" he tentatively asked, face starting to turn red as his body heat increased further.

>>146235
"No. I just like doing this."

Poke poke

>>146236
Iron's snout scrunched a little, yet couldn't help but blush even further. "I-It is giving me weird vibes," he admitted with a sheepish smile.

>>146238
And then poke poke[

These are from behind, and strike his back next to his spine. They aren’t quite as pleasant.

>>146239
Iron's back muscled tensed against the new poking spot, where Cauldron would find the least amount of softness from his frame. "A-are you trying out some sort of massage on me?" he fruitlessly asked, still quite confused.

>>146240
“Huh?”
poke poke
Iron is poked in the belly

poke poke
Iron is simultaneously poked in the back

>>146241
Surprisingly enough, Iron's belly was still as soft as ever while his back was as tough and tense as concrete with steel railing inside. "C-Cauldron?" he asked, further lost at her fascination with his body.

>>146242
“What?” She looks up at him, pulling away her hoof

poke poke
Iron can feel another set of pokes on his back

>>146243
"I am still lost about this whole poking thing," Iron hesitantly admitted, slightly saddened to not understand Cauldron at this exact moment.

It's like poking bedrock as usual without the belly poking.

>>146244
The poking ceases, and Iron can see Black Cauldron was not, and could not have been poking Iron in the back

>>146245
"Huh?" Iron uttered before turning his head around to see just who was it.

>>146246
White Sands, with a raised left hoof and a half smile stands behind Iron

poke

>>146247
Iron's eyes widened considerably, blinking in disbelief before sporadically looking back and forth betweeen the two mares.
Then something clicked inside him, and a small, mischievous grin slowly appeared on his features before with an intense blush, rapidly poke both mares on their exposed snouts at once.

>>146248
This is going to require two separate melee touch attack roles. One with and off hand, and with multi-attack penalty

>>146249
[1d20]

>>146248
The small and nimble White Sands moves her snout and just narrowly avoid's Iron's hoof. Black Cauldron, however, is not quite as fast, failing to escape it.

boop

She scrunches

>>146255
Iron didn't really mind the miss on Sands, as he had made his point about the all the booping he's endured so far: If they wanted boops, he'll give it to them without mercy!

>>146208
"Hmm...this may need to wait until tomorrow to finish. I do not want to be late for date."

Silver checks his own pocket watch for the answer.

>>146254
I see you were unfortunate and encountered the diceroll bug I sadly introduced in latest update. It is foxed now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

>>146232
I suppose Spark heads to sleep if there is nothing else.

>>146256
Iron stands victoriously over Black Cauldron’s viciously booped body. Yet, White Sands, hardly out of the fight, is not willing to simply submit. With the force of her left hoof, she jumps up, and attempts a boop on Iron

[1d20+3 = 12]

>>146257
The time on the watch is 3:58 PM

>>146258
Thank you Pupper!

>>146259
waits

Also, nice new flag

>>146260
Roll Die

>>146263
"I am sorry Khoi. I will not be able to go get them until tomorrow."

>>146264
“Oh... okay”

>>146263
It was a close call, but Sands' hoof met Iron's snout just barely, forcing him to recoil back with a soft scrunch.

>>146266
Silver claps his hooves together, making a small cloud of dust.

"But it means you can make list of what you want for me to get tomorrow. It is already looking great even before plants."

>>146267
Spark makes a bed on the smaller couch. The cramped armrests don't give much room for his body, and force the head upwards at an awkward angle. Spark awakes in the dark of the night. There is no superfluous sound, besides the ticking of a grandfather clock, and wind against the roof of the home. His neck hurts from the poor support.

>>146268
Her hoof hits his snout at something of an oblique angle, hitting it, pressing it in, and then almost deflecting off. She hits with such force that it's more like a punch than a proper boop, and none too comfortable.

>>146272
Iron took a couple of reeling steps back, scrunching even further as he closed his eyes from such a powerful blow.
Unless Sands was one to continue her onslaught, he'd soon open his eyes to look at his hurt snout, rubbing it with a spare hoof.

>>146272
Spark groans at not being able to take his own advice of resting well. He looks around a bit.

>>146273
This may induce sneezing.

It’s actually surprisingly painful.

White Sands smiles
“Heh”
But then the smile fades, and she moves a step back, then another.

Black Cauldron scrunches

>>146275
A light outside the front window shows snow build up, and a black night. The Doctor lays on his back, sprawled out with his head up, mouth partly open, and a quilt covering most of his body. He breathes in with a snore. The clock ticks.

>>146276
Spark illuminates his horn ever so slightly and navigates to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

>>146276
Thus, Iron promptly sneezed in an unnatural, marely fashion after a few more seconds before being followed up with a far stronger one, causing him to shake his head from the sheer force.

Nevertheless, he soon shook the pain off to stare at Sands sympathetically. "Better than smashing my hoof against a night stand," he tried to shrug off with a sheepish smile before turning towards Cauldron "am I right?"

>>146277
Roll Die

Simple enough. The kitchen is a continuation of the living room, interrupted by counters. There is no special water purifier, nor separate containers of distilled or purified water, so Spark must put his trust in the water from the faucet.

It takes more than a couple open drawers to find the glasses, but they are found all the same.

>>146279
The sneeze is almost cute sounding

"Not for my snout" Black Cauldron answers, rubbing her snout

>>146280
Spark takes a glass and fills it with water.

>>146280
Iron couldn't help but chuckle softly as he trotted towards Cauldron with a mischievous smile and, without warning, gave the currently rubbed zebra snout a small kiss in turn.

>>146282
Spark takes the glass and fills it. Snowfall, reflecting a light outside the back, is visible through a window in the dining room on the other side of the kitchen.

>>146283
This takes her by surprise, her eyes widening.

>>146284
Iron couldn't help but smirk lightly at her surprise, playfully looking at her astonished eyes. "Does it feel better now?" he coyly asked.

>>146284
Spark glances out the window.

>>146286
Roll Die
Wisdom modifier

>>146285
She blush scrunches
"A little"

>>146287
With a firm nod, Iron soon turned towards Sands with a playful grin. "Now," he followed up with a hoof "I believe we have unfinished business, you and I."
Carefully trotting towards the unicorn, Iron soon extended a foreleg out to gently boop her snoot as payback!
[1d20+10 = 14]<Boop

>>146288
In the backyard, next to a small tree and partly hidden by the tree's shadow, is the outline of an equine shape, covered in a brown cloak and hoodie. He or she is sitting next to it, head down, and snow staring to cover the cloak.

>>146289
He hits her right in her pink little snoot. She jumps back, shakes her head, and lets out a
"Hiss!"

>>146290
"Well... perhaps the doctor was right."
Spark hopes that he wasn't spotted and heads to where Madake is sleeping.

>>146290
After such a power play, Iron quickly covers the distance to wrap Sands in a friendly hug instead, obviously caring for Sands' well being despite the little poking fun getting a bit out of hoof.

>>146291
Going through the kitchen, through the living room, and around to the stairs, Spark goes up them, and presumably, opens the door

>>146292
Iron leaps over, and... squeaky. The oversized mare-shaped pillow is hugged

>>146293
After securing the hold, Iron was quick to stroke her back softly to allow Sands to recover from such a drastic blow while turning his head towards Cauldron with an inviting smile. "If your snout feels hurt," he offered the zebra "I am currently providing some comforting hugs."

>>146293
Spark enters and nudges Madake awake.

>>146294
She eases into the hold, and moves her neck against him. Her fur is soft, and she makes an almost purring sound as Iron pets her.

Black Cauldron moves forward, a bit closer to this display.

>>146295
Spark opens the door to see two good eyes reflect back in the light, and shifting on the bed.

>>146296
As Iron continued to gently stroke Sands' purring back, his other foreleg extended itself towards Cauldron, coupled with a tender look. "Come on," he gently urged the zebra."I promise I will not poke your snout."

>>146296
Spark moves closer, with his light still dim as to not attract attention from any lurkers outside.

>>146297
She slowly moves closer, then closer, snd then into the hug. Iron doesn’t have as firm of a grip on her as on Sands though.

>>146298
There is movement under the sheet, and Makade - or who seems to be Makade - starts to sit up, with one paw out and another under the covers.

>>146299
"Makade, I spotted an intruder out the window."

>>146300
Makes moves the covers off, unveiling the rifle. He wraps the sling around his neck, and steps out, coming towards Spark at speed.

“Which window? How many?”

>>146301
"Only one at the kitchen window, but the thing is, he was in a cloak. A changeling can do recon as any creature. Why pick a pony form with a cloak to snoop around in?"

>>146302
“If I had to fight ponies, and I could chose to look like a regular, harmless, colorful pony, I would. The cloak is either to hide details of for the cold. What I am more skeptical of is how many there are. Either more are hiding, or it’s a scout.”

He follows Spark, or perhaps even walks past Spark, going down the stairs, slowly and quietly approaching the bottom floor, looking out the front windows with his rifle leveled.

>>146303
"When fighting yes, but a squirrel or bird is more inconspicuous for spying at night. Being a shape that could be seen as an intruder seems like a blunder, seeing as it has done exactly what they wouldn't want to do, alert us."
Spark points out the window to where the cloaked figure was.

>>146304
“Can they shapeshift into squirrels? I thought those were too smal for them. I don’t think we’ve caught any of them as squirrels near our village. Then again, we wouldn’t know.”

Makade’s first act is to look through the front windows, at first from a distance, and then moving closer to them, hiding over to the sides. Then he careful opens a door on the right side of the entry way, and looks around the first floor making sure there are no intruders.

Makade looks out the window. Spark can see the equine form too. The form is exactly where Spark last saw it, under a small tree, sitting down against a fence, head down.

“An odd sight, to be sure”
Makade says

>>146305
"Regardless, should I approach?"

>>146306
Makade looks behind him, then picks up a pair of pillows off the bed, placing one beside a chair on the dining room table, then placing one on the table, then placing his rifle over it, then trying to set the other pillow over top of the first and the end of the barrel, then pressing down the top pillow, and poking through the scope, to find he is unsatisfied with this arrangement.

“Perhaps. I’ll stand guard from a distance.”

>>146307
Spark nods and heads out to confront the cloaked stranger.

>>146308
The door is unlocked, and Makade advises Spark to open it very slowly. Spark is free to walk into the narrow backyard, which ends in a wooden fence on the far side, and wrought iron fencing to the left and right; all in all a very small and narrow backyard, with fencing on all sides.

The creature in question does not seem to move. What little Spark can see of thee cloaked figure is a feminine curved pony muzzle with a mauve coat that shimmers in the light. The figure is crouched against the fence next to a poplar tree that is undersized, maybe 10 feet in height, and blocks part of the light from a street lamp on the opposite side.

>>146309
"Hello? Who are you?"

>>146310
The night is decidedly cold. The wind varies, being sometimes still, sometimes low, and sometimes rushing in chilling gusts. The figure sits in a positions against the fence that provides some measure against the wind.

The figure moves it's head up with a "gasp." The face is definitely that of a female pony, with glimmering steel eyes and narrow cheeks. The little portion of the mauve muzzle that sticks out beyond the hoodie, and beyond the shadow of the poplar tree glimmers in the light.

Quickly, she places her hooves down, and starts to stand up, though she stumbles slightly. She gets up, in front of Spark. She still has not answered his question.

>>146311
"I'm going to need you to answer. Who are you?"

>>146312
She stands up, and looks around, side to side, breathing heavily
"I'm... I'm just passing through."
She answers, in a definitely feminine pony voice

>>146313
"Well, come on inside and we will help you on your way. It won't do too much good to be having this conversation in the cold."

>>146314
She looks around more, and then back into Spark's eyes with her own blue eyes.

"Uh, oh, okay..." She answers

>>146299
That would not do at all.
Iron would attempt to guide the two mares inwards through his forelegs, so the two of them would be right next to eachother to the point of their coats touching in front of him, in order to properly pet both Cauldron and Sands with tenderness.

>>146315
Spark motions her to follow as Spark heads inside.

>>146319
Sands accepts this, almost with a smug expression, but Cauldron is a bit more reluctant.

>>146321
The mare moves forward, walking towards the door slowly, and inside the dining room. Flakes of snow cover her cloak, and her entry into the little area to the right of the main dining room is uneventful. She says nothing to Spark, moving her head up to look around. Her muzzle sticks further out, as well as the end of a lock of coral colored hair.

Makade has moved back to the kitchen and his rifle is not visible.

>>146322
“That’s better. The name’s Shimmering Spark by the way.”

>>146323
She looks up towards Spark, and blinks
"I was just sleeping."

>>146324
“Sleeping in the cold snow isn’t exactly the best choice... I don’t believe I caught your name.”

>>146322
Seeing Cauldron's reluctance, Iron soon tried to ease her into the closer petting by adding a little encouraging nuzzle while each foreleg tenderly caressed each mare without much worry of what they would think.

>>146325
She mumbles
"Wellspring"

>>146326
She smiles somewhat, and closes her eyes.

>>146327
Seeing Black calm down considerably, he'd soon nudge her closer to White in such a way that his head was nested between the two mares' necks in order to achieve multi-pony nuzzling!

>>146327
“Nice to meet you. Are you headed somewhere in particular?”

>>146328
She's still resistant to coming into contact with White Sands. With Iron separating the two, however, she is more amenable.

>>146329
"There was a place I was staying..." She answers

>>146330
“Where is that? Do you need help getting there?”

>>146331
"Well, I am not sure I should go there now..."

>>146332
“What do you mean?”
Best pony

>>146333
D'awww

"I mean... I'll go home."

>>146334
“I just need some context as to what you mean. I don’t mean to come across pushy, but I don’t know your situation.”

>>146335
"Well... I can't really go home. I don't think it's safe."

>>146336
“What happened?”

>>146337
"There's... look out for this pony. Can I not go back on the streets? It's cold outside."

>>146338
“I’m not sending you out there. I just would like to know what happened. Are you in danger?”

>>146339
She blinks
"I think... I think so."

>>146340
“What happened? It might be hard to protect you if I don’t know what the danger is.”

>>146330
Thus, Iron simply slides his head up and down while he continued to provide some more comfort through petting for the two mares for their booped snoots.

>>146177
Amber gasps in shock. "You mean to say that they are killing ponies? That's horrendous! How could anypony do something so heinous and foul! And they want to do the same thing here?"

>>146343
Stalwart:
"That is how they came in, with a conquest. They want to consolidate their holdings and this is the pretext."

>>146342
White Sands simply accepts the pets in silence. Black Cauldron, however, asks
"What are you doing?"

>>146344
"It is my way to make up for the snout assault," Iron replied without much fanfare and not stopping in the slightest.

>>146345
"Is that what this is?" She says, smiling

>>146346
"Yes," Iron wholeheartedly agreed, accentuated with a slow drag of his cheeks against the two mares' necks.

>>146347
"You're kind of silly" Black Cauldron says

>>146348
Iron couldn't help but chuckle a little at the frank remark, opting to trail his head back up just to give Cauldron a small peck on her cheek for her trouble. "You should know that by now," he slyly concurred soon after.

>>146349
She smiles again, and breaks out of the hug
"Just one more shot" She says

>>146350
Is she speaking to the other BPD officers besides Stalwart or to the two SSA officers?

>>146350
>>146352
The mare from the officer starts to yell something, and then Swift Soul joins in, and then Stalwart, and then the strange cacophony is completed by something approaching growling and a strange high-pitched eeeeing sound.

>>146353
Amber folds her ears back, wishing she could close her ears off from this noise that's giving her a headache. Well, she wanted a diversion, and she got one.

>>146354
Mission accomplished

She does not have hearing protection, however.

>>146355
She'll keep listening to what's going on, hoping that attention will stay off her for the time being.

>>146356
Roll die, little pony

>>146351
Iron snickers softly, finally patting the bug on the back before stepping out of the hug himself with a smile. "Sure," he agreed to her request.

>>146358
>Bug
No bugs here. Black Cauldron stands up and walks back to the kitchen, while White Sands leans her head and neck against Iron, pressing into him.

>>146359
The other bat approaches, coming in. There is more eeeeing, and Swift Soul is mostly just yelling to let him pass.

>>146360
What do these bats want? she wonders to herself.

>>146361
Unfortunately this is not a question Amber finds a quick answer to. She feels a touch on her shoulder

>>146362
She jumps slightly at the sudden touch and looks back.

>>146363
It's Red Scabbard
"Filly. Come with me."

>>146364
She nods wordlessly and follows him, hoping nopony takes notice.

>>146360
Whoops.
Iron couldn't help but snicker softly at the extra bit of attention he was awarded for his efforts before following Cauldron back into the kitchen for that second shot.

>>146365
It's almost to a fist fight over there, so no one notices. Scabbard pulls her through the hallway, and into the central one. He leans in and whispers into her ear.

"I got the keys, and one of the documents but... I need to get past the last mare. If you could help distract her. Move her out of her office, or make her looks away from the hallway..."

>>146366
White Sands is let go, and she sits down, looking at Iron as he walks away.

Black Cauldron pours a shot for herself.

>>146367
Amber nods. Compared to what she had to do just now, this shouldn't be too difficult.

>>146367
Iron eagerly awaits Cauldron's next move, wondering how she'd react to the drink in question compared to himself.

>>146368
Scabbard moves towards the end of the hall, until it enters the T intersection. He takes a peak over

"Looks like it's Sunnyside Meadows there, not Good Follower as I thought. All the same, I need to go to an office on the other side and not be seen. Distract him."

>>146369
She takes the glass, picks up up, and drinks the whole thing in one swallow.

>>146370
She nods briskly and practically canters over to Sunnyside Meadows. "Sir, sir! Something awful is happening!"

>>146371
He turns away from his photographs on the wall
"What is it?" He asks

>>146370
Iron stomps the floor in applause, obviously cheering for Cauldron's success. "Nice," he called out.

>>146372
She pants, "The detectives...and Blackhooves officers...are fighting! It's awful, they're all riled up against each other!"

>>146374
He sighs
"They need to get over themselves. This is no different from when the Imperial Guard would come by in the old days. Then again, they were just as dramatic back then..."
Unenthusiastically, he stands up, and starts to walk out

>>146375
Is it likely for him to leave without seeing Red Scabbard?

>>146376
He would need to move from the hallway, and Sunnyside would need to not look down that hallway. So it short, it's inelegant to say the least

>>146373
"Heh" She smiles strangely at Iron

>>146377
"You did not even flinch," Iron pointed out, impressed as ever.

>>146378
"I suppose not" she answers

White Sands walks over, and looks up at them

>>146377
So you're telling me there is a chance?
Amber will do whatever it takes to keep his attention focused on him. "Sir, I'd best explain the situation. The Blackhooves want to take control of the investigation of something called a 'comte' and other cases too. They're saying locals shouldn't handle it at all, because some ponies are giving aid to 'anarchists' and that they're funding the agency and the whole department is 'rotten' and corrupt. On the other hoof, the detectives mentioned there was an agreement to keep Baltimare sovereign from Canterlot and New Mareland also agreed to honor it, but the Blackhooves want to take over with this being an excuse and they did the same thing in Manehattan by killing ponies and lying and all sorts of nasty things...."
She's practically hyperventilating by the end.

>>146380
Kek
The stallion looks down over toward Amber
"Calm down, little pony. It'll be alright. The same occasional drama popped up back under the Princesses' rule. It's just something that comes along with the power sharing, giving something to each side. It's much better to have this than each side fighting for all or nothing."

>>146381
"It hardly sounds like 'sharing' at all! Sharing is about agreement, about coming to good terms. I really do think they're fighting for all or nothing." Is this an older stallion?

>>146379
Iron walks over to Cauldron with a sultry, playful smile in turn. "Maybe your drink was different than mine," he coyly insinuated as he hovered his snout near hers. "Maybe I should get a taste just to be sure."

>>146382
He's clearly older than Red Scabbard, but not really that old. Probably not older than his late forties, maybe early or mid fourties.

"Oh, it's one case. Just high profile. Of course the Chief wants that one. But we've had two revolts in twenty years, and both ended in power sharing arrangements. This much better than it could be. Let them take the one case, and leave the other ten thousand to us."

>>146383
"Maybe" She says plainly, with lidded eyes

>>146385
He shrugs
"It's 1 AM on a Saturday."

He seems to have more to say, or at least, wants to say more, but does not manage it. A smile slowly fades

>>146387
Wasn't it already past that when she left the nightclub? I recall she got there shortly before midnight and spent quite a bit of time before coming to the police station
Amber yawns. "I don't know why the Blackhooves would arrive now...except...one of the detectives did mention they wanted to take the evidence for the case all of a sudden."

>>146388
Actually yes, probably. His point is that it's well outside of business hours

"Because they know they'd be outnumbered 10 to 1 if they came during actual business hours." He answers, walking along with Amber

>>146384
Iron, of course, closes the distance further, finally touching Cauldron's lips.

>>146390
This provokes a smile, perked eyes, and a kiss back

>>146391
Seizing the opportunity, Iron took no more expense in slipping his tongue inside her mouth to 'get a feel' for Cauldron's drink while ensuring her enjoyment throughout.

I have to sleep now...

>>146392
oh my...

>>146389
"That must mean they're afraid of you all, if they have be sudden and sneaky about it," she replies, keeping up with him and making sure his attention is focused on her.

>>146270
She smiles in a large, toothy smile. Strangely, she too has fangs, which can be seen in this overly revealing smile.

"Yes! I need to find out what plants will grow here in this climate. Or what the soil is like deeper down. Or exactly how much rain there is here-"

>>146392
Cauldron pulls back her cheeks in a smile, but lets him in, moving her tongue to meet his, then pressing her lips forward to solidify the union. Iron can't taste much of the hard alcohol, though there is definitely a smell and a slight tint to the flavor.

>>146395
"Exactly. And besides, I have to wonder if maybe for this case, just this case, they really will do a better job. There are many out there who don't want to see justice done in this case. And the office here isn't as above corruption or threat as we would like it to be."

Moving closer to the evidence room, the argument has died down a bit, and Swift Soul has made progress moving forward. Further away, by the entrance, Amber can hear more commotion.

>>146396
Silver didn't expect this, but he's rather fascinated by it than turned off. He smiles back at her.

"Sounds like we need to find botanist to ask these questions to."

>>146397
"Well.... Yes, if we have to. I know what it would have been like back at my home village but... This is very different. Ideally there would be a rock garden, and a pagoda, but.. there isn't really room for it. Still, it is nice to plant into the ground. To sow seeds, and let them take root."

>>146398
"Heh. It sounds like being parent, way you describe it."

>>146399
"Yes. Or making connections, or making new friends, or generally making a new life in a new city."

>>146400
"I think then it is perfect hobby for you."

He trots over to her, and gives her a surprise hug.

>>146401
"Well, if you want to call it-"

Squeak

Silver gets his legs around a very much surprised Khoi. She's not small for a mare, but still smaller than Silver and Jubilosa, and her front is almost fluffy while her back is hard and scaly.