1816 replies and 21 files omitted.
>>159835Hmm...would 7 give him enough time to do what he needs to do, get back home, and get ready for the date?
>>159836Probably better for 7:30 or later
>>159838He looks down at a schedule.
“We have 7:45” he answers
>>159839"That will work, thank you."
>>159831Dark Star Laughs
"A Fine Choice. Although I'm not sure if the east side sells any or not."
>>159796"Do you take all those to be synonymous?"
>>159843He smiles, and pauses, while maintaining eye contact with aging, hazel eyes
“You know, there is an Aquellian psychologist who posits that the truth of at least morality comes to us in the state of rapture - that if is when we lose ourselves in the state of intoxicating euphoria that we see beyond individuality, and experience unity with the spiritual essence of the universe.”
>>159844"Why then do different cultures have different standards for morality, some favoring the autonomy of individuals, others care and prevention from harm, some authority and loyalty, and yet others an origin from divinity?"
>>159845“Why wouldn’t they be? Every culture is different. And if morality comes from the collective identity, different identities can and will produce different moralities. But no matter. It’s a limited perspective, anyways.”
>>159846"I wish I had an answer for that…."
>>159847He continues
“There are some philosophers who see all of history as cultures developing themselves. Government and morality slowly strangling out ‘base’ desires until only the more perfect spiritual and altruistic impulses remain in a ‘higher’, ‘more developed’ culture. Conversely there are psychologists who see civilization and the result of constrained base desires expressing themselves in different ways, with the ‘base’ being all that is. I hope you see by now that both commit the same, cardinal sin that we discussed earlier. Both place their own perspectives as limited creatures in the venture of the universe, when they should know they know only very little.”
>>159848"That is true, the crime of even brilliant griffons is the claiming of absolute knowledge when, compared to all knowledge, we know nothing," Amber responds, nodding.
>>159849“Yes.” He nods.
“So now, we come around to my point. Or rather, one if my points. Words and reason do not come from experience, they are imposed on top and made to crudely fit like misplaced puzzle pieces. Experience is all we ever know. Likewise, our senses are not all there is, as there likely are worlds that we are blind to. But even these worlds must surely be made of something more basic, something more akin to experience itself. Thus truth comes to us most from passion and emotion. Like your music.”
>>159850"Hmm, well that's what I've felt for a lifetime. But you have a way of explaining it much more eloquently and specifically."
>>159840He nods.
It is done.
>>159841Sorrel’s eyes grow wider, her ears twitch at attention, snd her mouth hangs open. She pulls forward on her legs, so now her legs are together in front of her as she lays down on the bed with her head up.
“Don’t tell me there’s no waffles!”
>>159852"I Don't know for sure. I could go see."
>>159853She presses her lips together in a pouty expression, and looks up at Solar, who is likely standing taller than her, with big eyes
“I want waffles…”
>>159854He Laughs
"Do you want anything while I'm going to check, tricky?"
>>159855Tricky turns her head over towards Dark Star. She still has a scrunching, bitter expression. She opens her mouth to say something. But Sorrel jumps up:
“Alcohol! Oh, and get some condoms. And maybe another blanket.”
Sorrel sits uo, and turns her head to Solar. She is now higher than Tricky.
“And waffles.”
>>159856He laughs at sorrel's response.
"More alcohol coming up. I can see about another blanket."
He looks back to Tricky
"What were you going to say?"
>>159857Tricky sits down, her fire yellow tail spreading across the floor.
“She covered it.” She says.
>>159858"Alright. I'll see what I can do."
He starts walking towards the door
>>159859Tricky gets up, as if to follow, but stops before she gets to the end of the bed. Sorrel lays her head down.
>>159852Silver thanks the host, and goes to complete the second of his tasks: getting a nice dress for Khoi.
>>159861She looks at him. Because if the change in perspective, Dark Star now sees Sorrel from behind, and Tricky from the front. Tricky is vaguely sad, but mostly expressionless.
>>159862A tall task in so little time.
>>159851He forms a wide, almost malicious grin
"And so I believe we can come to my third point. Tell me, what can you do with your music?"
>>159865"I can make crowds laugh or cry without saying a word; in fact, much better than if I attempted speaking at all. I can sway a couple to develop romantic feelings or lull a cub to sleep. Music is powerful because it gives creatures wholeness," Amber says with some pride.
>>159863Dark Star leaves the room
>>159870With a close of the door… Dark Star is safe.
>>159871For now.
He Goes Downstairs(?) to the tavern
>>159872Down the stairs, through the lobby, through the door into the tavern, snd Dark Star is there
>>159875Mr. Glass is over behind the bar. He looks up and sees Dark Star, evidently surprised.
>>159876Dark Star Walks over
"I Don't suppose you have any waffles?"
>>159877"Oh I don't have waffles, no."
He looks at Dark Star strangely for a moment.
>>159878"Ah yea that's what i thought." He see's him looking at him strangely. "Something wrong?
>>159879Glass looks at him, blinks, and leans in to whisper:
"The weren't changelings, were they?" >>159880Dark Star Looks at him with a Strange look and whispers back
"Uh, I Don't think so. I haven't checked." >>159868It is after 5:00 PM, clothing stores are closed
>>159883Awwwwww...nuts. Well, I guess it's off to get candy, alcohol, and something for the rest of the household to eat tonight for dinner.
>>159884pets the little ponyYou’ll get ‘em next time.
>>159885Maybe she'll still be up to the date.
>>159886What, precisely, is Silver’s next action?
>>159887He's got only two more places to go, a candy store for candy and a liqour store for wine and whiskey. On the way home from those places Silver can also stop somewhere to get something quick for the household's dinner (and maybe condoms).
>>159888Both are at least somewhat common, common enough that both can be found even in Cherry Hill. Candy stores are rarer than liquor stores, however.
Condoms, though legal and common, are still only sold in places like drug stores.
>>159889Alright then, time to find a candy store.
>>159890https://youtu.be/78gt7pfjlCUThere’s a candy shop in North town, near the base of the peninsula, which appears to have a decent selection.
>>159891Silver decides that this is a place as any, and goes in to buy a good deal of sweets for all three of the colts living with him.
>>159892Inside of the yellow-walled shop (named “Sugar Rush”) is an assortment of various candies: gumdrops, lollipops, jawbreakers, bubblegum, gummy ursas, and so forty. The taffy selection is perhaps less than elsewhere, but it does exist, as do Turkish Delights.
>>159893Best to get a little bit of everything.
>>159894The safest bet, and the easiest.
>>159895So, with a large collection of candy, chocolates, and sweets, Silver brings it up to the counter to the poor shop worker working the shop today.
>>159896It’s a cream colored earth pony colt with a red brown mane and a white, folded cap who gives a look of despair at attempting to weight and count the various candies. Eventually, it is accomplished, and Silver has a charge of 22 bits.
>>159897Silver pays the colt the 22 Bits, and gives him a 10 Bit note as a tip for the pain he caused him. With a thank you, he leaves with his horde of candy, gets in the car with it, and goes for some booze.
>>159898“Thanks, mister!” He waves. Silver has his candy, and slightly less than 800 bits.
Silver finds a liquor store even more quickly than he found a candy store.
>>159899Silver stops at it, and goes inside to find a bottle or four of wine, a couple bottles of whiskey, and a case of beer.
>>159900There is a little diversity of each, although admittedly not as much as before the War. It is so.
>>159901How much for all of this?
>>159902How much wine and whiskey exactly?
>>159903Four bottle of wine, two of whiskey.
>>15990474 bits, assuming Silver purchases “middle of the road” wines and whiskeys.
>>159905How much for higher quality?
>>159907Let's got some good quality stuff, then.
>>159908It is done. ~670 bits remain.
>>159909Alright, next is to grab something quick for the household to eat tonight and then it's off to home.
>>159910Unfortunately society is far from having perfected the concept of fast food. Burgers and sandwiches can, however, be purchased and taken home. Ethnic foods can be purchased the same way, but not in Cherry Hill.
>>159911That sounds like a good idea. On the way he stops at a place and orders food for the family, using his best judgement as to what everyone would want.
>>159912And what is his best judgement as to what everyone wants, exactly?
>>159914Well, hayburgers for Clip, Mint, and Orchid. What options would they have that would serve a less-than herbivorous diet?
>>159915For all of the options in Baltimare, restaurants overwhelmingly cater to one or the other, with very few options for non-herbivores.
>>159916So, are there any that at least don't have an excess of grass, hay, or flowers.
>>159917Yes. There are many centered on breads, potatoes, pasta, cheeses, fruit and the like.
>>159918Ooo, something with pasta sounds good for Jubilosa, and maybe Mala would like something with potatoes so he doesn't feel left out. For later, or in case they don't have their date, Silver takes a hayburger, and orders something like a fruit parfait for Khoi.
>>159919Pasta, check. Mashed potatoes, check. Hayburger and parfait, check.
>>159866He nods repeatedly, and is silent, with a wide, pleased-but-mischievous grin.
"Good, good. You are already well aware, and what is better - much better - adept at manipulating creatures through music. You can use its power." He says, after a pause.
>>159920Alright. Four hayburgers, pasta, mashed potatoes, and a parfait come out to...
>>159923And paid. Time to get back home.
To be fair, candy isn't a good substitute for real food. >>159924Silver arrives home finally after sunset.
Silver will need to fill a very high speech check to persuade the colts of that >>159925Now the hardest part: bringing everything inside.
Fingers crossed... >>159927Maybe. Multiple trips it is.
>>159921"'Manipulating' is a dirty word. Music is for nothing of the sort, it's not for one's ends," Amber insists.
>>159929"What end is it for?"
>>159928Silver enters to immediately hear commotion inside.
>>159930Hmm...what is the commotion?
>>159931There is running, and shouting.
It looks like the colts are playing.
>>159932Oh, whew! Play is good. Silver resumes bringing the goods he bought inside.
>>159930"Helping griffons realize a truth about themselves or the world, providing the backdrop for some event, or simply providing delight."
>>159934“What sort of truths?” He asks
>>159933Clipping holds onto a scarf or some woven object as white orchid pulls it with his mouth, dragging Clipping across the floor.
>>159935Silver sets the stuff he's carrying down, and goes over to the pair.
"What is that you have there?"
>>159936Both if them turn and look towards Silver, still holding onto the scarf - white orchid holding it in his mouth, and paper clipping in his forehooves while he sits on the floor. Both have wide open eyes.
>>159937Does Silver recognize the scarf?
>>159939Silver nods.
"Just do not break anything, okay? Especially do not break yourselves. I got food for us when you are ready."
He ruffles Clip's mane, and knowing Orchid doesn't like contact just gives him a smile as he continues to bring things inside.
>>159935"The relation of beauty to character, and various other things that can be realized only inspired introspection. Music brings inspiration."