/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>156224
sigh

Silver succeeds in putting the vehicle into gear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atuFSv2bLa8

>>156225
For once, he does not come errect.

"Well, I have physics... um... did you want to do something together?"

>>156226
She smiles, looks away, and shakes her head
"Oh, Earth Ponies. You feel connected to that stuff? It's a bunch of old dead stallions to me. I just sit here because I have to."

>>156227
Alright, time to get out of there and away from the sirens.

>>156227
"I can help with physics…though I don't know it very well. I'm better learned in the liberal arts." She has a small, embarrassed smile.

>>156228
Frizzle yells out,
"Gotta go to the hospital. Fellow was shot while defending himself. And the colt."

Put the car in reverse, and move back out, turn around, and drive to freedom

>>156229
He leans down, and kisses her on the lips
"It's okay Amber. Do you want to stay here at my house tonight, go home, or go out?"

>>156230
Silver lets out a sigh of relief as they pull away from the sirens and go down the streets.

"Alright. So...hospital. Where is it?"

>>156230
"Mmmm!" she moans as her hind legs jitter suddenly during the kiss. Wow, he's flexible, she thinks to herself.

When it's concluded: "I'd love nothing more than to stay overnight here with you. But even if your ma agreed to it, I have to clean up my room after our…fun. And I need to get a full night's rest to be ready for work tomorrow. Thank you, though."

>>156227
"Yea it might sound Kinda Corny, But i do."
He Chuckles Slightly
"Well if it weren't for them we probably wouldn't be here."

>>156231
"You actually want to go to a hospital?" Frizzle asks.

"I don't know, I thought you had somewhere you went. But that looks pretty bad. Yeah. You need a doctor."

>>156232
He frowns
"I meant the night... for a few hours..."

>>156233
"That's true." She says. "But if it weren't for my father knocking up his mistress, I wouldn't be here either. That doesn't mean I respect the process, or the ponies involved.

Everything in these old books is ponies doing terrible things to each other. Wars and coups. Oppression... I don't care for it."

>>156234
His fillyfriend blinks, incredulous. "But we just…I'm sorry, I don't have any of that energy left in my body. You did a good job using it up." She looks a little apologetic.

>>156234
He Nods
"Yea my Dad, Did something Pretty Similar. I Understand where you are coming from."
"Yea, But that's Life though, ya know? It comes with Being Alive Unfortunately."

>>156235
"You don't want to stay for dinner or listen to Solomare Cane?"
He seems incredulous, like he believes Amber still has not understood his meaning.

>>156236
"Yeah... I know... I still hate having to read so much though."

>>156234
"Well, I do not know where to go, just that we needed to get away from there for a minute, at least."

He ignores his own wounds to quickly look at White Orchid in the car's rearview mirror.

"How are you holding up, son?"

>>156238
"I'm... better now. Thank you" he says.

Mala looks almost as scared, cowering in the back.

>>156237
"Oh! Well…." She thinks about her options. She didn't want to overstay her welcome, but it's already dinner time. Amber still doesn't have anything she can prepare in her apartment so she would have to eat out, which would be expensive. Why not enjoy a meal with the family and make it up to them later?

"I'd love that," she says with a smile, still with her head in his lap.

>>156239
He takes notice of Mala.

"Is everything okay?"

>>156237
"What's your Name by the way?" Mine's Solar, Solar Night."

>>156240
"Let's go tell my mother." He says

>>156242
"Cool Morning" she answers

>>156241
Mala looks like he's just killed someone with the way the blood is distributed on him, and his presence isn't exactly welcomed by White Orchid.

"I'm okay." He says

>>156243
"Alright!" She gets up and straightens her mane out, beaming with joy.

>>156244
Mustard Trim goes downstairs. Dahlia isn't in the living room, and a news broadcast plays.

Mustard Trim goes towards the kitchen, and into it

>>156245
Amber Sunset follows her coltfriend, thinking Dahlia must be in the kitchen preparing dinner.

>>156243
"Thank you for helping, Mala. I could not have done any of that without you."

>>156246
Dahlia is indeed

Mustard Trim:
"Hello, mom. Can Amber stay for dinner."

Dhalia:
"Oh, that would be lovely."

Mustard:
"Is Vivacious going to be here?"

Dahlia:
"I don't think so." he turns to look to him
"So what have you two been doing?"

Mustard:
"Well, Amber took a nap. So I started on my history readings. Then when Amber woke up, she read with me"

Dahlia:
"D'awww, that's sweet"

This goes on

>>156247
He smiles, with his blood soaked mouth.
"Really?" He perks up

>>156248
Silver nods in the mirror, before returning his attention to the road.

"Of course!"

>>156243
"Lovely Name Befitting a Lovely Mare such as you."

>>156248
She grins broadly. When their exchange is over, she adds, "Thank you so much for your hospitality, ma'am."

Vivacious is an unfamiliar name, and she'll have to ask later about it.

>>156249
Mala is in better spirits now. Meanwhile, Silver is in extreme pain, and is bleeding over everything.

>>156250
She smiles, and looks away for a moment

>>156251
"Oh, don't worry about it, dear." She smiles, and goes to stirring a pot. It looks like soup.

>>156252
Pre-marital sex is sinful

>>156255
"Would you like some help preparing dinner, or doing anything else that needs to be done?" she asks eagerly.

>>156255
Silver winces in pain.

"Okay, yes, hospital sounds nice. Can you direct me?"

>>156256
"Oh, that probably won't be necessary. Except maybe setting the table."

>>156257
Frizzle:
"Sure. Keep going. Okay. Down this road. No. This one. Yes. Turn right. And there's a hospital in like, seven blocks."

>>156255
"Say, Do you know where i can get ahold of that book that the professor was talking about? I'm Afraid i don't have a copy/"

>>156259
"There's book store on campus. Or you can buy them from the publisher."

>>156261
"The first drawer on the right... err, left when you enter. And the first cabinet on the left. Next to the sink."

>>156260
Hopefully not Amber

>>156258
"Thank you. Say, have you checked with hospital about your injuries?"

>>156263
"Oh, I'm not injured," He says

>>156264
"I mean bullets that are still inside you, from War."

>>156262
"There's a Book Store on Campus? That makes sense. Thanks for telling me, Its the First Day Of My First Year. I'm Just a Little Nervous"
He Chuckles
>>156262
Dark Star Definitely Wouldn't Do That.

>>156262
"Okay, thank you!"

She gets to work, first making sure the placemats and tablecloth are clean and dusting them off if they aren't, then grabbing a hoof-ful of silverware and placing them down, a fork on the left and a knife and spoon on the right. She then gets a glass and fills it with water from the sink, one at a time for each pony. A question occurs to her.

"Will Veneer be joining us?" she asks Dahlia.

Amber is a wholesome country girl, she would never do it. Surely she's been educated on what sex is and why not to do it until marriage, right?

>>156265
"Oh. No. I haven't checked in since I left Cloudsdale. Haven't entirely recovered, I admit." He answers

>>156266
"Yes." She says

"You don't seem so nervous. You seem excited to learn about old dead ponies."

Dark Star is a good boy, definitely to be trusted around female students and coworkers

>>156267
And the table is set, or almost

"No." She answers. "It looks like she will not be."

Of course not. Religious homeschool parents educate their children to the dangers of the world, what precisely sexual intercourse is, and give clear, logical explanations for their moral prescriptions.

>>156268
"Well I'm Very Good at masking my Feelings, A lot has happened in my Life, Not Much Good."

>>156268
"Okay…" Well, that's three spots, a bit less lonely than two. She tidies up whatever's left to make the table neat and presentable.

>>156265
Fun fact, there is a modern medical device called a chest seal, designed to cover up bullet holes. This is because puncturing the chest cavity can deflate your lungs and make it hard to breath. No American should leave home without one in a medkit.

>>156268
"It may be good idea. You may still have bullets in you, if you have not yet healed."

>>156269
"That's a useful lesson to learn. Wear a smile. That's what I was told." She says

>>156270
A little lonely, but Dahlia is happy to have her
"Soup will be ready soon. Do you want crackers?" She asks

>Don't leave home without chest seal
I do not live in Chicago

>>156271
Totally trust with my OCs

>>156272
"Uh... focus on the bullets you, for now." He says

The vehicle does indeed find a hospital quickly

>>156273
"Heh, I Was Told the Same."
He Glances at the Ground for a second the back at her face
>>156273
You Should

>>156273
"Yes please, ma'am!" she replies cheerfully.

>>156273
Silver parks the car at the hospital.

"Alright. Who is coming and who is staying?"

>>156270
Huh. Neat!

>>156274
"Well... goodluck on your book of dead earth ponies" She says to Solar Night, managing a perhaps insincere smile.

>>156275
"Getting crackers" Dahlia says

Mustard Trim walks past, and into the kitchen. He comes carrying an entire plate of bowls of soup, complete with sets of crackers out of the kitchen. He places it by the table, places each bowl (and crackers, as appropriate) where it belongs, and takes the plate back to the kitchen.

Dahlia remarks
"Well I'm glad you've learned something in that job of yours."

Mustard comes back and sits next to Amber, opposite his mother.

The soup's contents aren't perfectly discernable, but seem to include carrot, potato, okra, onion, and... I think that's cheese?

>>156276
Frizzle takes the lead in speaking:
"Well you are going, that's for damn sure. And that hyena probably shouldn't be seen in public. Not like that."

>>156275
>>156280
"Well, he's the best at what he does," Amber says with a strained smile.

She sits between the two and asks Dahlia, "Ma'am, would you like to lead us in giving thanks?"

>>156282
Mustard Trim probably isn’t paying attention to her well enough to reply with a “what is that supposed to mean” opened mouth expression of his own.

She takes a moment, and looks into Amber’s eyes.
“… I do that most nights, and I… I think somepony else should do it tonight. Mustard, why don’t you do it?”

Mustard Trim is about to put a cracker in his mouth when the spotlight is placed on him.
“Huh? Okay…” he places the cracker down

He leads:
“We give thanks for the blessings given to us, for family… and for my family. And for Amber, who I am grateful is here to join us. Thank you.”

Mustard Trim picks up and dips his cracker into the soup.

>>156283
"Amen."

She smiles appreciably at Mustard before taking a spoonful of soup, letting it cool, and trying it.

>>156282
>Mustard comes back and sits next to Amber, opposite his mother
>She sits between the two
I want to get a clip from Call of Duty Cold War where the narrator says "and then you picked up and M16," the player makes an action contradicting the narrator like picking up a grenade launcher, and the narrator says "or... maybe it was a different weapon."

>>156284
He smiles to her, eating the cracker, and then taking a spoonful of his own.

The soup is less spicy by a massive margin than the free soup at Amber's restaurant. It is less creamy than the soup at the restaurant the previous night. The taste is primarily of vegetables, and cheese.

>>156285
It's quite good enough. "Thank you, Mrs. Dahlia, for letting me dine with you. There's nothing like a warm bowl of homemade soup."

Like Mustard, she dips a cracker in the soup and eats it. It adds mushiness and flavor to the cracker and bulk to the soup.

>>156286
Quite unfortunately, as is always the case with soup everywhere, the supply of crackers is insufficient to fill the soup. Dahlia takes a few crackers, Mustard Trim takes many.

With potatoes, carrots, okra and the like in the soup, there is a decent amount of substance to it, besides the broth.

"Oh, don't worry about it dear" she says, with a wide smile. She places her hoof over the table, and makes a gesture as if she would have tapped Amber's hoof, if only it were closer. "It's quite alright."

Both Mustard Trim and Dahlia seem pleased to have Amber there, evidently.

>>156287
Amber eats the soup at a moderate pace, appreciating its taste.

"What sort of music do you like?" she asks.

>>156288
Dahlia answers
“Oh, I liked ragtime, back in the day. Some of the swing music. And the oldies.”

>>156290
“They’d play it on the radio. At gatherings, or some clubs. It was made to dance to. I remember it.” She says

>>156291
The younger mare looks a tiny bit confused. "They don't play it anymore?"

>>156292
“They do.” She says. “They do. Not as much now, with both slower music, and more exuberant jazz music. More folk music on the radio now too. But I remember it from back then.”

>>156294
Kek
“Well, yes. They play it other places too. At restaurants, at dances at school and church. There aren’t so many stations, and you don’t always get to hear the song you want, but it is lovely. Did you not have radio?”

>>156295
She shakes her head with a dour expression. "No, we were saving up to get one, but then the War happened." She cheers up a little. "But I love music and one thing I like about Baltimare is how much of it there is here."

>>156296
“I see” she says. “We didn’t have one until more recently. Indeed, we only heard the music in the public places. But when we got one, I loved it.

So, where in Baltimare do you want to go to hear music?” She asks

>>156281
Silver looks at White Orchid to see what he wants to do.

"Did you want to come inside with me, or stay with Mala here?"

>>156298
“I don’t know what to do…” he says, still somewhat in shock.

>>156299
"Would you like to come with me inside the hospital?"

>>156300
“I don’t want to leave you” he says. This is about as much as he can manage for the first few seconds, until a torrent of questions come out. “Are you okay? Are you going to be alright? Are you going to die?” His tone is exasperated.

>>156301
He shakes his head, and smiles at the colt.

"I will be fine, do not worry. Just couple of wounds to get patched up. Let us go inside."

>>156297
"Well…there are some concert halls here that play gorgeous music, but they can cost quite a bit to enter. I heard nightclubs in town also play good music," she says cautiously.

>>156303
Her ears slowly go down, and her eyes begin to narrow.

“They do much more there than play music.”

>>156304
A bit frightened, she asks, "What else do they do there? I know they serve drinks."

>>156305
“Drinks? Drunkenness. Promiscuity and philandery. Gambling. The snake dens of all manner of crime.”

>>156306
just realized nightclubs are this setting's version of taverns

She thinks back to her experience at Club Maurice. "I suppose they have a lot of unsavory characters. I heard they also attract adventurers, spies, nobles and other highfalutin types."

>>156307
There are also literal taverns and bars in the setting

“‘And this is romantic to you?” She asks incredulously

>>156308
She blinks, unsure if she's being accused. "Well, the books tend to present them that way…," she replies, her ears folded down.

>>156309
“Pray tell, what books are you reading that romanticize city nightclubs?”

>>156310
She has read a number of young-adult novels that are a bit more modern than the rest and which feature nightclubs. Or, rather, the characters who frequent nightclubs, who tend to be more worldly, suave, and decadent in their spending, but are not necessarily evil and may be the protagonists of these stories. Now, what were their names….

>>156311
Daylight Dahlia does not wait for Amber to reply. It doesn't seem like she intended for there to be an answer.

"And, pray tell, what is the fate of the young maidens in these stories? Does it show them used and cast aside like unwanted puppies by those who had their fun with them? Does it show them alone, without love or support at a young age? Does it show them taken advantage of, and taken against their will, by the unscrupulous while under the intoxication of alcohol? And what does it show of those who play pool, or cards, or dice? Does it show these gamblers indebted by the thousand-bit to mobsters? Does it show them with their legs bashed in and blindfolded on the dock with a gun at their heads? And of alcohol, tell me, does it show drunkards collapsed in a pool of their own vomit on the side of the road, with all the world walking by and trying to ignore the pathetic sight at their feet? Does it show the colts who lie dead in the alley, killed in gang disputes, or the young fillies who sell their bodies to make enough money for the next hit of soul killing opium? Pray tell, does it show any of that?"

>>156302
White Orchid walks beside Silver, who is still bleeding. Frizzle helps Mala secure the vehicle, although it seems Mala will be the one actually guarding it. It's a short enough walk from the nearest free parking space to the entrance to the emergency room, although any distance is far when you're in as much pain as Silver is now.

>>156313
Silver does try to keep a brave face for Orchid, though with the adrenaline from the fight that was keeping the pain away fading it's becoming a steadily harder job to keep up. He winces in pain as he opens the door to the emergency wing, trots up to the reception desk (assuming there is one), and somehow keeps a straight face as he says to the person there:

"Excuse me, but I have been shot couple of times. Is there doctor available who can patch me up?"

>>156314
>Excuse me, but I have been shot couple of times
This line

The unicorn mare at the front looks terrified
"Oh my. Somepony, we need a doctor, quick!"
She runs over, and two assistants come and place Silver in a stretcher. He is taken back into a room where nurses try to cover the bleeding. White Orchid runs alongside Silver for as long as he can, though nurses separate him. White Orchid finally starts to come down after Frizzle comes and takes him. Silver has to wait actually a couple minutes before an actual physician arrives. The nurses do however, clean the wounds, cover the bleeding and insert an IV. It's honestly not the worst injury Silver has ever experienced, and frankly, not even the worst this week. But there is nothing pleasant about it. The nurses ask uncomfortable questions like "how did you get shot," "who shot you," and "why," besides more actually relevant questions like "where were you shot," "from what angle," "with what kind of gun," and "how many times?"

A physician comes in finally and begins his work. He removes a bullet - one went straight through to the other side - applies some kind of zebra goop or something, and applies magic. He begins to stitch Silver up.

>>156315
Silver does his best to answer their questions, though he does try to frame the attack as a robbery/mugging gone wrong. Which, in a way, could be an accurate way of describing it. The rest of the questions are easy enough for him to answer such as angle of the gunshots and the type of firearm used. If his composure and familiarity with this injury and situation give any of the doctors and nurses any pause, Silver doesn't know.

>>156316
One shot is through his upper left shoulder. The bullet went rather deep, which concerns the physician. Another shot went through his lower belly. This is the one that went through. There might be damage to Silver's intestine, which also concerns the physician.

[1d20+2 = (13+2) = 15]
[1d20 = 5]

>>156316
>>156317
Well, good news and bad news. The good news is that the physician is able to use medical tongs to remove the bullet in his shoulder. The bad news is that Silver's colon is cut.

[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]

>>156318
>>156316
With the help of a second physician, the doctor cleans the area of the second wound, and stitches up Silver's colon. He applies zebra gook, a potion, and some of his own magic, but advises Silver that he should *not* consider the wound healed, and should be careful on his diet, as well as take a set of antibiotic pills for the next several days.

>>156317
>>156318
>>156319
"Thank you, doctor. Any specifics on things I should avoid eating?"

>>156320
"Any foods that 'disagree' with you, or tend to give you digestive problems or colic, you don't want to be eating now. Eat plenty of fiber, and avoid any food that could be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. You are vulnerable to infection, and you do not want to be infected. Also, avoid serious strain on your belly, and on your left shoulder. These stiches can rip."

>>156321
"Alright, I will try. May I return to my little one, now?"

>>156322
"Wait, one more thing." He holds Silver down and gives him an injection of what is presumably a pain killer. Then, a nurse removes an IV.

"Okay, you can get up and leave, but you may want to have assistance walking, like with crutches, and avoid operating machinery. You need to get pills for antibiotics and pain killers. Here, let me write you a prescription."

It's questionable as to how legally binding the document the doctor manages to write in 20 seconds is, but it's good enough evidently. He gives it to Silver.

>>156323
Regardless, Silver takes the prescription, inspects the stitchwork, and gets off the table. He keeps most of his weight off of the injured shoulder.

"Thank you doctor. This is good work you have done."

>>156324
"Thank you" the doctor says. It's a brown unicorn stallion, somewhere in his 30s, for what it's worth. A mare wearing a nurses uniform comes up to Silver asking for more details about the shooting. She says she is looking to file a police report.

>>156325
Silver looks side-to-side at the nurse's question, then motions for her to come closer.

>>156326
She comes closer, tilting her head at Silver

>>156327
Silver whispers in her ear as she does so.

"I would rather not say. I believe criminals were from Waterfront Gang, and from what they said as the fled it sounded like they had officers on their organization's payroll. I do not want to put Orchid's life in danger."

>>156328
>>156329
She nods, looking gravely at Silver
"I see. Well, I won't use your real name then."

>>156330
Silver nods, and more freely (though still reluctantly and away from other listening ears) explains to the nurse what happened.

"We were leaving restaurant with friend of ours when group of gangsters pulled up, attacked us, and attempted to take Orchid. During fight that broke out we managed to subdue two of them, and I got into firefight with last remaining gangster using firearm one of others had dropped, which is where I got shot. They fled when they realized they were beaten, gave threat about police being on their side, and then we escaped to here."

>>156331
Her eyes grow wider, and her mouth opens part way

“Who is Orchid exactly? Your grandson?”

>>156332
After a moment of thought and contemplation, Silver nods.

>>156333
“Are you… how sure are you about the police? What did he say?”

>>156334
"Well, one I had pinned was certainly smug, saying 'Police are coming'."

>>156335
She nods, looking very much concerned.
“I see. Then I’ll try to keep the police away from you and your grandson.”

>>156336
He smiles very gratefully at the nurse.

"Thank you!"

>>156337
She nods, but she does not smile. White Orchid is just outside in the waiting area with Frizzle. He rubs up to Silver

“Are you okay?” He asks emphatically

>>156338
Silver smiles some more at the colt.

"I am fine, good doctor stitched me up and gave me prescription for some medicines."

>>156339
He looks up at Silver and smiles, with big, teary eyes.

“Okay… Good. I was worried.”

>>156340
Silver bends down, and hugs his sorta-grandson.

"Do not worry about me, I am tough old stallion."

>>156341
He starts to resist, but ultimately allows it, though only loosely. He does, however, extend his small legs in kind around Silver.

He does not say anything, but presses his small muzzle up against Silver’s neck

>>156342
White Orchid can practically feel the joy coming off of Silver when he returns the hug. Silver's fur is very soft, fluffy, and warm, surrounding a firm muscular core.

"I am more glad that you are safe than my own welfare."

>>156343
“Thank you. Thank you for that. I thought I was going to be taken again. They didn’t even grab me like that the first time. It was so sudden. It was scary.”
He’s in an excited emotional state.

>>156344
"It was scary, sudden situation. But as long as I am able, I will do my utmost to protect you."

>>156345
White Orchid grabs his fluff, then recoils and pulls away, and then pulls on his fluff again.

"Thank you. Thank you. I'm glad you're there." He is calmer now

>>156346
Silver is happy to stay there for a minute, and enjoy the moment as White Orchid seems to get more used to floof hugs. He can pull out if he wishes, however.

>>156347
White Orchid does, however, pull away..
“What do we do now?” He asks

>>156348
Silver stands back up, again keeping most of his weight off his bad shoulder.

"First is I need to either turn in or figure out where to turn in this prescription. After that, we will get you to safe place. Finally, I will have chat with leader of those gangsters that attacked us, and get him to leave you alone."

>>156349
“Okay.”
White Orchid sits down, and simply looks up at Silver. Frizzle is also standing around, near the colt, and looking towards Silver.

>>156350
Silver goes to the reception desk.

"Excuse me, how much do I owe, and where do I go to turn in this prescription?"

>>156351
Ah earth pony mare whose brown coat and black mane almost give the impression of a chocolate chipped cookie replies:
“Medical care is a free service of the Baltimare Governate. There is a pharmacy down the left hallway. It’s labeled with big letters, so you can’t miss it.

>>156352
"Oh! Thank you!"

Silver turns and limps toward the pharmacy she pointed out.

>>156353
There's an open window underneath big red letters that say "Pharmacy."

A reddish colored middle aged griffin with glasses delivers Silver a set of pills, which he says are anti-biotics, and a set of opioid painkillers, specifically codeine. Both bottles are indistinguishable from the set of pills prescribed to Paper Clipping.

>>156354
"Thank you good sir."

Silver has to remember to keep his bottles away from Clip's. He also pays close attention to the directions on the bottles as the group goes to leave the hospital and return to the car.

>>156355
The anti-biopics are supposed to be taken three times a day with food. The painkillers have a warning never to take more than two every four hours, and never to drive or operate machinery after use. They are fine be taken as needed.

Frizzle helps guide Silver back to the car, where Mala still sits shotgun.

>>156356
Silver smiles at Mala before he gets back into the driving seat. He looks at Frizzle and Orchid once they get inside.

"If you want Frizzle, I can drop you off nearby your place of work out of sight of any police who have responded. And Orchid, we will make stop at orphanage, though that is so I can talk with nuns and figure out safe place for you to stay for now."

>>156357
Mala looks back to Silver, smiles, and moves his tail side to side. Mala says:
"No one tried to take it."

Frizzle looks over to Silver.
"Yeah, I guess I need to head back to my job. But still, I want to go out sometime with you again. Preferably under better circumstances."

White Orchid says:
"Okay.... will I be safe there?"

>>156312
Amber doesn't quite know how to respond. She's never seen this at the Club Maurice, and she isn't sure Dahlia has either, but is it worth ruining her good impression over it? "No, they don't…."

>>156358
Silver gives the good hyena many pets.

To Frizzle: "We should, maybe next time neither of us will be shot. I definitely owe you drink, now."

To Orchid: "We will see, but there are other options. That is what I want to discuss with nuns about."

>>156359
She nods, with a very serious, firm expression.

"That's right. Real life isn't so romantic. You read books that romanticize spies of all creatures, creatures who live by lies and treachery? They don't live to old age. They die by hanging and gunshot. Such is the fate of such creatures."

>>156360
Hyena is pet
He closes his eyes and wags his tail

Frizzle:
"Heh heh heh. I'd buy you one too, if I had the extra money. Maybe I will anyways."

White Orchid:
"Okay..." he says, accepting the situation

>>156361
"I see…I'm sorry to bring it up." None of the stories featured really old spies. But then again, there aren't many old soldiers, or lumberjacks for that matter. But maybe it is better to stay away from such old folk.

>>156361
Silver turns the car on, and gets started on their way back towards the restaurant and orphanage. He's careful to drop Frizzle off out of sight of the police cars on the scene.

>>156362
“Well…” she breathes out, relaxes back into her chair, and after a pause of a few seconds says,
“Good. You need to know that this place is unlike your little hamlet. It is not nice. Not all the time. There are many out there who would exploit and take advantage of your naïveté.”

>>156363
Frizzle steps out.
“Where could I find you?” He asks

>>156364
"Oh! Right, here..."

Silver gives Frizzle his address.

>>156365
He takes the paper, abs looks at it, then back up to Silver.

“Alright, I’ll be sure to hit you up.”

>>156366
"That would be great. See you soon, friend. Good luck."

>>156367
“Take care.” He waved Silver off before he drives away.

>>156368
Silver waves back as they leave. He makes his away around the crime scene in front of the restaurant and to the orphanage.

>>156369
The orphanage is not very far at all.

Note that the car has a bullet hole in the right side of the engine housing, blood in the drivers seat, on the floor beneath the drivers seat, on the left reset passenger seat, and on the inside of the door. At no point has Mala been cleaned off blood, and it’s finally started to dry on him. Silver is partly high on morphine.

>>156370
Issues to be addressed soon, but not right now. When they stop in front of the orphanage, he looks at the bloody hyena in the car.

"It may be best for you to stay in car. We will wash blood off of you when we get home, yes?"

>>156372
Mala, on a good day, is perfectly presentable to young orphan foals and foals. When his mouth and paws are covered in pony blood… not so much.

“Okay.” Mala says. “They might want the car back.” Mala picks up the automatic pistol, grasping it in his claws.

>>156373
Silver nods, and steps out of the car. He motions for White Orchid to follow him before he closes the driver-side door and heads for the building.

>>156374
White Orchid looks back to Mala, and then to Silver. He hops out, and follows Silver to the orphanage. There is no pony waiting at the door. Evidently the news has not spread.

>>156375
Silver goes through the door, and to the first nun there asks, "Is Mint Marine safe?"

[1d20 = 13]
[1d20 = 6]

>>156376
“Yes.” She says. “I think so? I saw him a few hours ago.”

>>156377
Silver motions for White Orchid to stay near him as he continues to speak to the nun.

"I need you to find Mint Marine and ensure his safety. I also need you to find someone to get Sister Marery and bring her here urgently."

>>156378
She looks very strangely at Silver
“Is this related to the police visit?”
After lingering a few moments, she moves off.

It’s a minute or so later that Mother Marery comes trotting in at a fast pace.
“Goodness. What happened?!”

>>156379
"You know restaurant just couple of blocks from here?" Before continuing, Silver comes closer and speaks at a lower volume to avoid eavesdroppers. Marery might be able to tell from his movements that he's limping where he wasn't before. "I took White Orchid out for hayburgers there and as we were leaving we were jumped by three gangsters. They tried to foalnap Orchid, and after myself, Mala, and friend of mine who works at restaurant beat them one of them revealed they worked for Bargain Strength before they ran off."

>>156380
From Amber’s right, an interloper. A yellow-brown hoof appears in her field of view, and hovers over Amber’s last remaining cracker. It lingers there for a second, then a second more, as if the lack of violent reply to its presence is proof of its acceptance. It slowly moves down, picks up the cracker, and at a slow speed, withdraws.

Daylight Dahlia continues looking into Amber’s eyes. She has a somber look.
“Indeed, you must be very careful here. You should always have somepony with you when you go out, preferably a stallion, and don’t drink alcohol.”

>>156381
She gasps, and listens intently as Silver speaks. When he is done, she sighs.
“I’m not surprised this has happened. I have to wonder if they’ve been stalking the orphanage, waiting for them to leave, or if it was happenstance.”

>>156383
"It may not be safe for them here, not at least until Bargain Strength calls off this ponyhunt."

>>156382
Amber really has no choice but to accept that Mustard is a growing boy, even if she really wanted that cracker. Whenever she makes that fortune she'll just have to serve extra food to satisfy his considerable appetite.

"I am indeed lucky to have Mustard around, I needn't worry," she replies with a fond look at her coltfriend.

>>156385
Love often requires sacrifice. Either that or its proof that he’s selfish and she should dump him, or something.

Mustard Trim is around about average stallion height, or slightly taller, while probably below average mass. It’s hard to say if he’s going to grow more. All of that food definitely hasn’t been going to fat or muscle, that’s for sure.

Daylight Dahlia is definitely an above average sized mare, though she’s a little smaller than Mustard Trim. In terms of coat and a few superficial marks of appearance, she doesn’t look much like Mustard at all. If anything, Amber looks more like Mustard’s relative than her. Her frame, however - the tall, lanky appearance, the way the legs are shaped - strongly resembles Mustard without even adjusting for differences in sex.

As Amber smiles at Mustard Trim, he looks back with a frightened “Oh Celestia I just got caught stealing the cracker” expression, with surprised eyes, and a cracker in his mouth.

Dahlia gives a soft smile, the first she’s given in several minutes of conversation, and says
“Yes, I think we are lucky to have each other.”

>>156384
“Well, I don’t know if they will want to invade the orphanage to do it. Then again, they’ve done it before… Are you suggesting we ask the police to guard them?”

>>156386
"I...do not know. Possibly. If there is somewhere else they could stay in meantime, that would also be option."

>>156387
“Where else?” She asks

>>156388
"Well, with how I was involved in protecting him, it may been good idea for me to watch over White Orchid, at least for now. If you can get in contact with him, Dark Star could watch over Mint Marine."

>>156389
“Could you do that? Are you sure he would be safe with you?”

>>156390
Silver nods firmly.

>>156391
“You’re not married, are you? Do you have a house? And would you be able to watch him continuously?”

>>156392
"I am not married, but I am in relationship with someone I am living with in my own house."

>>156393
She stares at Silver, and blinks
“That’s… not really the sort of living arrangement we want to be teaching our foals…”

>>156394
"She did not have any other place to live, I promise you."

>>156395
“That’s… not the point.”

>>156396
Silver tilts his head at her.

>>156386
Recently I've been listening to the old radio plays "The Shadow," which would be concurrent to this time. I recommend it if you want inspiration for your own radio plays. The tapes I have even have vintage wartime commercials!

Mustard must take after his father more, though she does have the same body shape, she thinks to herself.

Amber returns her smile warmly. For all her scolding, smothering and small-mindedness, she's not a bad mare.

>>156397
“Just… nevermind. How can you assure his safety?”

>>156400
"There are two creatures in our household who are able to protect him, myself and Mala. In addition, our house is in good neighborhood outside of their general influence."

>>156399
Probably should

Dahlia starts asking Amber questions about her musical instrument. She asks Mustard about his lessons in history class, abs she asks the two about what they’ve studied together. This continues through the end of dinner.

>>156401
“Okay, that’s good. You want to take one or both of them fit the next few days?” She asks

>>156402
"It's called a mandolin."
"It's used a bunch for older music, but the design is less than two-hundred years old. It came from the lute which is much older."
"Well, no, it's not exactly played much these days, but it's a stringed instrument and can be used in place of a guitar or banjo. It's a little higher-pitched than the guitar and it isn't as loud as a banjo."

Amber is glad they actually took the time to study together. She enjoys the rest of her soup and, when finished, places the spoon in the bowl with a satisfied look.

>>156402
"I would love to take them both for few days, but I do not know if they want to live together under same room even for short time."

>>156403
In her ignorance, Dahlia asks Amber about the violin, whether she can play it, and how the mandolin compares.

Mustard Trim scrapes against the side of the bowl for soup. When they are done, he caries his bowl to the kitchen.

>>156404
“They can get over it” she answers

>>156405
Silver is a little taken aback.

"Uh...okay. I suppose they should get their things ready."

>>156405
"No, you use your hoof to pluck the strings of a mandolin while you use a bow to play a violin, so I don't know how to play it. Maybe one day I'll learn though."
"The way you make chords–complex sounds in music–is different too. With a guitar or mandolin the string will vibrate a bit after you pluck it, so you use that time to pluck more strings for the chord. I don't think that's how it works with a violin."
"Thank you, ma'am, for this delicious dinner. I'm much obliged."

With a smile on her face she follows Mustard with her own bowl.

>>156407
She nods along, seeming to understand at least a portion of what Amber says about the Mandolin.

“You’re welcome, Ms. Sunset.”

Mustard goes along with Amber into the relative privacy of the kitchen. He remarks,
“For s couple minutes, it was like having my sister over for dinner.”

>>156406
“… Yes. Let me talk to them, and have them get their things.”
The other nun comes down with Mint Marine

>>156408
"Is it like this every time?" she says softly.

>>156409
“They don’t agree” he says. “And she won’t back down. So… yes.”

>>156411
“That, and she just prefers to be out more. She has her own set of friends abs places she goes. She likes the city, while Mother hates it. But yes. That’s how it is every day.”

>>156412
"And you, what's your take on things?" she asks curiously, making sure Dahlia doesn't overhear. Does he take after his mother or sister more?

>>156413
“If I could go back to how things were. To Blackwater. I would.”

>>156414
The filly nods. "I can't blame you, things only seem worse since. Maybe you'll go back someday?"

>>156415
“I mean, I can go to Blackwater, but I can’t go back. Go back to how things were.” He looks down with a pouting expression for a few seconds. But it doesn’t take long for him to look up into Amber’s eyes, and smile.
“I think I’ll move back there when I start a family of my own.”

>>156416
She looks melancholic as well for those few seconds. Not even the Elements of Harmony were enough to put things back to the way they were. What he says does reassure her.

"Going to a lovely, beautiful little town with a family sounds like the best idea," she concurs.

>>156417
“I think that’s what I’ll do. After I’m out of school, I’ll take up a job installing millwork in new homes. And then I’ll move back to Blackwater, raise a family on the shoreline. Get a boat if I can.”

>>156418
Amber grins. "Now that's a plan! But doesn't that mean staying in Baltimare for a few years at least?"

>>156408
Silver smiles at the colt, if a bit sadly.

"Hello Mint."

>>156419
“I don’t know. Probably it does. It will depend on what exactly I do to make a living. If I do what I think I will do, which UD finishing the interiors of new and renovated houses and hotels, then I think I will work around Baltimare. But I might work at a lumber mill. I might start my own business, or go to college. I am not sure. I do know that I would like my foals to grow up in a place like Blackwater. I would like to grow old there.”

>>156420
Mint Marine looks up at Silver
“Hello. You’re back.”

>>156421
"So, uh..."

Silver rubs the back of his neck, and looks to Marery to explain.

>>156423
“I don’t think you’ve told me much about your goals. Why don’t you tell me more about them.”

He leans against a counter as he asks this

>>156422
Marery first talks to White Orchid, and asks his side of the story. This is all of the explanation that Mint Marine needs. Then Marery says,

"We think you might be in danger. The both of you. So we are going to have you stay with him, and perhaps a friend of his for at least the next day or so. You should be safer there with him, Please pack your things."

White Orchid actually seems just a little excited by this, while Mint Marine is in shock from what he was just told.

>>156424
Her doubtful expression is replaced by a smile. "Sure. Well, my folks are still on the farm. Problem is, whether it's the quality of weather control's gone down, or Papa being unable to work, or some other reason, we've been getting worse harvests. I have to work here to send them back money to buy bare necessities. Whether I make it working in a clothing store, or doing odd tasks for ponies, it's gotta be done."

"Music…hmmm, it's a passion of mine. What I know is from my Ma, and although I can play I ain't a professional. I can practice and practice on my own time so I can perform at different venues and make a living that way, or I could scrimp and save to study at a real music school and get recognized. I'm not sure which I should strive for more."

"Family, I hadn't thought about enough even though I'm getting to the age where I need to be thinking about it.
Starting a family ain't easy, and I don't know if I could work and raise foals at the same time. But it is awful important, and it's a blessing to have foals with a truly deserving husband." Her gaze melts with love during this last part.

>>156425
"Do not worry, little ones, you will not be in danger for long, I will make sure of it."

>>156426
He smiles,
"Yeah. Good luck on your hunt for the right husband, Amber. I hope you find him."
He reaches in, places his foreleg over Amber's head, and ruffles her mane, disheveling it. Before Amber is done fixing her mane, he continues.

"I definitely understand helping your parents. That's why I'm working now. It's why my sister is working. I have no allowance of my own, and I have to help pay for things like groceries and the bank note. So good luck with that.

I can see how you love music. You seem pretty good at it, although I'm not a great judge of it. I can imagine you could probably play at bars or clubs, or at church, or even just at get togethers. If you were really good, and I mean a real class above, you could play for the opera, or for those jingles they put in the chewing gum ads on the radio. Whatever you do, I think you should keep practicing and playing in private. The more you do it, the better you'll get, I think. I liked my little private shows. It makes me feel special, having your music all to myself, but I'm sure you would want to share it.

Why wouldn't you have thought about family? Didn't your parents ask you to return with a fiancé, or something. Anyways, I'm not sure why you would think you would need to work and rise foals at the same time. Are you planning to do it alone? My mother does not recommend that. You should raise foals while a husband works to pay for you all. At least that's how it should work, if the prices don't go up too high."

>>156427
Both foals look up to Silver

Mint Marine:
"So... sleep over at your place?"

White Orchid:
"I've never been there."