Up in the North, the ponies have successfully found who, or rather, what was damaging the mine. But their quest is not over, as they go to look for the source of the trouble. In Baltimare, Iron, Silver, and Dark Star enjoy the fruits of defeating the cultists, while Midnight herds the remaining rescues.
We welcome any new players to join
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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1653 replies and 51 files omitted.
>>127623
The unicorn lets out a little giggle.
"Yes, it is not very nice thing."
Is the landlord still there?
The unicorn lets out a little giggle.
"Yes, it is not very nice thing."
Is the landlord still there?
>>127626
Nodding
"Why, I know a good stallion on Sorrel, just one block over from Horesman, twelve down"
Does Silver have his cart though?
Nodding
"Why, I know a good stallion on Sorrel, just one block over from Horesman, twelve down"
Does Silver have his cart though?
>>127628
>tfw you left your car parked somewhere and you can't remember where
Then again, the number of detours on even simple quests is very video-gamey
>tfw you left your car parked somewhere and you can't remember where
Then again, the number of detours on even simple quests is very video-gamey
>>127629
"Well...I might have forgotten my cart, but I think we can bring bed from shop up to apartment."
"Well...I might have forgotten my cart, but I think we can bring bed from shop up to apartment."
>>127632
Oof, reminds me of when I was moving and I had to move a refrigerator down three floors and across a distance of about one and a half city blocks. Hopefully that quadruped carry capacity comes into play. I expect to see rolls!
Oof, reminds me of when I was moving and I had to move a refrigerator down three floors and across a distance of about one and a half city blocks. Hopefully that quadruped carry capacity comes into play. I expect to see rolls!
>>127633
Loputu
"Well if all you want is to buy some furniture we can get some used. I know a family whose son is moving off to join the Overseas and I'm sure they'll sell his stuff for cheap"
He blinks, and looks back to Silver
"Or sure, we can buy more expensive new furniture, if you just want to show off"
The ponies start their way down Wintry, then to Horseman, then over into Sorrel Avenue. In the process, they leave Little Skynavia and enter Red Heart. As before, many of the buildings look older, run down, or in disrepair. Loputu tries to fill the silence with quips and stories, evidently to humor Keskoo and maybe Silver
"After seeing how nice those apartments were after being rebuilt, I'm starting to wonder if maybe they should have shelled more of the neighborhood"
"Oh! You see that alley right there? Right behind the Dumpster? So you know how when you charge at pigeons, they fly into the air? So a friend of mine and I wanted to know if griffins will fly into the air when you charge them, like giant birds. Now of course, griffins aren't going to be scared of a few little colts. So what we did was we took these big burlap sacks they use to put potatoes in, covered parts of it in oil, added some leaves. I even took a paper cement bag and added it into the mix, made ourselves some kind of costume where we looked like slime monsters that come out of the sewers. So we waited until night fall, and hid behind dumpsters. Then we'd wait for griffins to pass by, and we'd jump out and scare 'em. Turns out some of them did! Just like pigeons! One of them stayed and chased us, that wasn't as fun. But we did again. We found out it also works on Pegasi. Birds, right?"
Keskoo seems to find this funny
"So there was this fancy stallion who was pretty well known in the community who would walk down this way just about every Sunday, and he would wear this giant top hat that looked like one of those a magician would pull a rabbit out of, and I tell you you could fit a rabbit in that hat it was so big. He would wear a fancy coat and walk with this even fancier mare. And I thought I would prank him by sitting up on the roof top of this building. That building, right there, as he was rounding the corner, since he always took the same route. And I would wait there with a fishing pole, and hook that hat right off of his head. So I tried to do that, let the hook down as they were walking past, hoping they wouldn't see the hook. And the hook went just a centimeter too close to me and missed the hat. So I tried to pull the hook back up. But when I did, it got stuck in his coat! So I got spooked, and tried to reel it in! So I pulled on it - really should have just cut the line but i wasn't thinking straight - and that hook went right through and cut half of his coat. Didn't even notice until he rounded the corner and it was sliding down on his shoulder. I thought it was pretty funny, until he told my mother later. It was worth it though, for the expression on that mare's face when she saw him with the ripped coat."
This one is not as funny to Keskoo
Loputu
"Well if all you want is to buy some furniture we can get some used. I know a family whose son is moving off to join the Overseas and I'm sure they'll sell his stuff for cheap"
He blinks, and looks back to Silver
"Or sure, we can buy more expensive new furniture, if you just want to show off"
The ponies start their way down Wintry, then to Horseman, then over into Sorrel Avenue. In the process, they leave Little Skynavia and enter Red Heart. As before, many of the buildings look older, run down, or in disrepair. Loputu tries to fill the silence with quips and stories, evidently to humor Keskoo and maybe Silver
"After seeing how nice those apartments were after being rebuilt, I'm starting to wonder if maybe they should have shelled more of the neighborhood"
"Oh! You see that alley right there? Right behind the Dumpster? So you know how when you charge at pigeons, they fly into the air? So a friend of mine and I wanted to know if griffins will fly into the air when you charge them, like giant birds. Now of course, griffins aren't going to be scared of a few little colts. So what we did was we took these big burlap sacks they use to put potatoes in, covered parts of it in oil, added some leaves. I even took a paper cement bag and added it into the mix, made ourselves some kind of costume where we looked like slime monsters that come out of the sewers. So we waited until night fall, and hid behind dumpsters. Then we'd wait for griffins to pass by, and we'd jump out and scare 'em. Turns out some of them did! Just like pigeons! One of them stayed and chased us, that wasn't as fun. But we did again. We found out it also works on Pegasi. Birds, right?"
Keskoo seems to find this funny
"So there was this fancy stallion who was pretty well known in the community who would walk down this way just about every Sunday, and he would wear this giant top hat that looked like one of those a magician would pull a rabbit out of, and I tell you you could fit a rabbit in that hat it was so big. He would wear a fancy coat and walk with this even fancier mare. And I thought I would prank him by sitting up on the roof top of this building. That building, right there, as he was rounding the corner, since he always took the same route. And I would wait there with a fishing pole, and hook that hat right off of his head. So I tried to do that, let the hook down as they were walking past, hoping they wouldn't see the hook. And the hook went just a centimeter too close to me and missed the hat. So I tried to pull the hook back up. But when I did, it got stuck in his coat! So I got spooked, and tried to reel it in! So I pulled on it - really should have just cut the line but i wasn't thinking straight - and that hook went right through and cut half of his coat. Didn't even notice until he rounded the corner and it was sliding down on his shoulder. I thought it was pretty funny, until he told my mother later. It was worth it though, for the expression on that mare's face when she saw him with the ripped coat."
This one is not as funny to Keskoo
>>127635
Silver laughs at the story about the scared griffons and pegasi, and shakes his head in amusement at Loputu's second story.
"I did not get into very many antics as colt. There was time where my friends dared to me to swim across frozen river in winter. That was coldest I have ever been."
Silver laughs at the story about the scared griffons and pegasi, and shakes his head in amusement at Loputu's second story.
"I did not get into very many antics as colt. There was time where my friends dared to me to swim across frozen river in winter. That was coldest I have ever been."
>>127636
"Oh, well it doesn't get too cold here. At least the river never freezes over, or I haven't seen it freeze over, though there can be ice near the shore line. Harbor Bay doesn't either. We'd do all sorts of dares to go diving into the water though. Swim underneath some of the larger ships. Friend tried that once on a big ocean going freighter, swim under it. Lumine Põld was his name. He went under and was under a while, and when he came up again on the other side he was bleeding all over his back. Scraped the bottom of it and it was covered in barnacles. But there were all sorts of things like that. One time I was jumping between houses on the sea shore, failed to land on the other side and fell too floors. Broke a leg. My parents were not happy about that. Now if you want to talk about cold there was this one time with the freezers they use for fish hauls...."
"Oh, well it doesn't get too cold here. At least the river never freezes over, or I haven't seen it freeze over, though there can be ice near the shore line. Harbor Bay doesn't either. We'd do all sorts of dares to go diving into the water though. Swim underneath some of the larger ships. Friend tried that once on a big ocean going freighter, swim under it. Lumine Põld was his name. He went under and was under a while, and when he came up again on the other side he was bleeding all over his back. Scraped the bottom of it and it was covered in barnacles. But there were all sorts of things like that. One time I was jumping between houses on the sea shore, failed to land on the other side and fell too floors. Broke a leg. My parents were not happy about that. Now if you want to talk about cold there was this one time with the freezers they use for fish hauls...."
>>127638
>friend mangles himself and almost drowns
>Loputo fell two floors and broke a leg
I sleep
>the word "cold" is mentioned
Real s***
>friend mangles himself and almost drowns
>Loputo fell two floors and broke a leg
I sleep
>the word "cold" is mentioned
Real s***
>>127638
"Well yeah. They can be kind of big and long. Kind of like the freezer's they'll have at the market, but much longer. So you can actually get inside of them. So I was out with a friend, it was the same pony, Lumine, he had a brother who worked at a fish processor, so we went there and were playing around with the equipment. I got into one of the freezers and laid in it, closed the door. Kind of like a coffin. And it was very cold and completely dark. Which I expected because it was a freezer. But when I tried to open the door it wouldn't open. So I tried again and it wouldn't open. I was almost panicking when Lumine opened the door, and I bolted out of there. I wasn't in it for very long but I'm almost afraid of those freezers ever since."
>>127639
shrugs
I've heard kind of similar stories from my Boomer parents and Gen X older brother that were about equal, so I figured I would translate these stories into an industrial urban seaside setting. Maybe the imitation of past eras doesn't translate well to the younger generations who have never gone outside to play with friends, but I am trying to attempting to recreate a place and time that no longer exists, not trying to impress
"Well yeah. They can be kind of big and long. Kind of like the freezer's they'll have at the market, but much longer. So you can actually get inside of them. So I was out with a friend, it was the same pony, Lumine, he had a brother who worked at a fish processor, so we went there and were playing around with the equipment. I got into one of the freezers and laid in it, closed the door. Kind of like a coffin. And it was very cold and completely dark. Which I expected because it was a freezer. But when I tried to open the door it wouldn't open. So I tried again and it wouldn't open. I was almost panicking when Lumine opened the door, and I bolted out of there. I wasn't in it for very long but I'm almost afraid of those freezers ever since."
>>127639
shrugs
I've heard kind of similar stories from my Boomer parents and Gen X older brother that were about equal, so I figured I would translate these stories into an industrial urban seaside setting. Maybe the imitation of past eras doesn't translate well to the younger generations who have never gone outside to play with friends, but I am trying to attempting to recreate a place and time that no longer exists, not trying to impress
>>127640
Same, my father had all sorts of stories from his youth. Never broke a bone or witnessed a major injury like that, though. Makes sense Silver would be desensitized or would make a wry comment.
Same, my father had all sorts of stories from his youth. Never broke a bone or witnessed a major injury like that, though. Makes sense Silver would be desensitized or would make a wry comment.
>>127641
Oh, I misread that as your reaction, rather than Silvers reaction
Of course Silver would be desensitized, he’s seen worse just last night
Oh, I misread that as your reaction, rather than Silvers reaction
Of course Silver would be desensitized, he’s seen worse just last night
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I hope Dark Star comes back, I want to know if he'll ever like birbs.
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>>127646
"Oh, it would be. Maybe not as much as that other thing..."
Loputu and Keskoo look forward in silence
They approach the furniture store, which looks to be reasonably large with several styles, upon entering. No pony to great them immediately, but something closer in style, if not in goods sold, to a department store. Silver may recall that he has an additional, empty room at the beach house
"Oh, it would be. Maybe not as much as that other thing..."
Loputu and Keskoo look forward in silence
They approach the furniture store, which looks to be reasonably large with several styles, upon entering. No pony to great them immediately, but something closer in style, if not in goods sold, to a department store. Silver may recall that he has an additional, empty room at the beach house
>>127647
"Hmm...this seems rather nice. I will have to remember this place."
The first place Silver looks is in the beds section.
"Hmm...this seems rather nice. I will have to remember this place."
The first place Silver looks is in the beds section.
>>127648
This is a walk past a set of sofas to an area with several beds - queen beds, double beds, king beds, bunk beds, and fold out beds. Several styles of head boards as well
This is a walk past a set of sofas to an area with several beds - queen beds, double beds, king beds, bunk beds, and fold out beds. Several styles of head boards as well
>>127650
She looks around, walking slowly. She passes by the dark varnished Victorian style headboards, and pays more attention to the lighter colored wooden headboards.
"I suppose I should take one of the smaller ones."
Then she comes to a headboard that is not varnished in dark brown, but has intricate patterns, including trees and snowflakes
"This one is pretty"
She looks around, walking slowly. She passes by the dark varnished Victorian style headboards, and pays more attention to the lighter colored wooden headboards.
"I suppose I should take one of the smaller ones."
Then she comes to a headboard that is not varnished in dark brown, but has intricate patterns, including trees and snowflakes
"This one is pretty"
>>127557
Iron blinks, having witnessed a mare talk to the magical object with a tilt of his head. "...I do not see the bronze object moving to reach whatever sort of food items you have just said," he comments, lightly tapping the communication device again to see if it reacted.
Iron blinks, having witnessed a mare talk to the magical object with a tilt of his head. "...I do not see the bronze object moving to reach whatever sort of food items you have just said," he comments, lightly tapping the communication device again to see if it reacted.
>>127652
To do this, Iron must come up to White Sands so close he is almost touching her. Not that this is problematic. Tapping the brass object yields a slight ringing sound.
White Sans giggles in a sort of nervous way
"heh heh, it's a phone, to call the ponies downstairs, darling. Have you never seen a phone before?"
To do this, Iron must come up to White Sands so close he is almost touching her. Not that this is problematic. Tapping the brass object yields a slight ringing sound.
White Sans giggles in a sort of nervous way
"heh heh, it's a phone, to call the ponies downstairs, darling. Have you never seen a phone before?"
>>127653
Iron blinks, turning to her while still rubbing coats. "...'pone'?" he mutters, clearly puzzled by the name choice "That is one weird name." He pokes the pone once more, eyeing it curiously "So it sends words to others? Because I still do not see it moving to report what you have asked."
Iron blinks, turning to her while still rubbing coats. "...'pone'?" he mutters, clearly puzzled by the name choice "That is one weird name." He pokes the pone once more, eyeing it curiously "So it sends words to others? Because I still do not see it moving to report what you have asked."
She gives a toothy smile at him, awkwardly
"Darling, it's called a telephone. From ancient Trot, meaning "distant voice." It's a device that lets you talk to others."
She stares back at him awkwardly
"Think of it like..... object assisted shouting"
Looking at the object, it's a brass tube that expands on each end, that is connected by a wire to a metal base that has a wheel with many little holes
"Darling, it's called a telephone. From ancient Trot, meaning "distant voice." It's a device that lets you talk to others."
She stares back at him awkwardly
"Think of it like..... object assisted shouting"
Looking at the object, it's a brass tube that expands on each end, that is connected by a wire to a metal base that has a wheel with many little holes
>>127656
She smiles in her weak, sort of way
"If it isn't too much to ask for... If I can get something like this for a double bed"
She smiles in her weak, sort of way
"If it isn't too much to ask for... If I can get something like this for a double bed"
>>127655
Iron widens his eyes, seemingly understanding such a concept, specially at her parallel example. "Oh that makes sense," he happily concludes, nodding "so then the ponies should come here eventually, right?"
Iron widens his eyes, seemingly understanding such a concept, specially at her parallel example. "Oh that makes sense," he happily concludes, nodding "so then the ponies should come here eventually, right?"
>>127659
Iron proceeds to give Sands a little hug, nuzzling the side of her head. "Oh, you're the best, love," he proclaims confidently.
Iron proceeds to give Sands a little hug, nuzzling the side of her head. "Oh, you're the best, love," he proclaims confidently.
>>127660
Iron is easily enough able to place the fore of his body over the small mare, and she smiles back to him in an almost devious kind of way that seems so much nicer that her earlier, toothy smile. There is something kind of soothing in the feel of the fur on her head..
It doesn't take that long for a knock to be heard on the door
"Room service"
"Come in!"
And a zebra stallion - almost a colt, and if Iron checks, no he does not look to be one of Black Cauldron's brothers - comes in pushing a cart that has several trays, including one with two levels. It includes nice brown breaded circles, syrup, a bowl of oatmeal, four muffins, and a pair of oranges and another of apples
>>127661
She closes her eyes and prances in place
"hehehe!"
Then she moves her legs apart in place
"I'll take it!"
Iron is easily enough able to place the fore of his body over the small mare, and she smiles back to him in an almost devious kind of way that seems so much nicer that her earlier, toothy smile. There is something kind of soothing in the feel of the fur on her head..
It doesn't take that long for a knock to be heard on the door
"Room service"
"Come in!"
And a zebra stallion - almost a colt, and if Iron checks, no he does not look to be one of Black Cauldron's brothers - comes in pushing a cart that has several trays, including one with two levels. It includes nice brown breaded circles, syrup, a bowl of oatmeal, four muffins, and a pair of oranges and another of apples
>>127661
She closes her eyes and prances in place
"hehehe!"
Then she moves her legs apart in place
"I'll take it!"
>>127662
Iron can't help but trail his eyes across the expansive number of options of the table, calculating from item to item as he proceeds to walk forward and inspect each and every food item as if he'd never seen most of the things, specially the fancy transportation they were brought in.
Iron can't help but trail his eyes across the expansive number of options of the table, calculating from item to item as he proceeds to walk forward and inspect each and every food item as if he'd never seen most of the things, specially the fancy transportation they were brought in.
>>127663
The zebra stallion wordlessly places the trays onto a table, and White Sands stands in her place. Iron can smell fresh baked pancakes, the sweet smell of syrup, and fruity smells from the muffins - both banana and blue berry. Coffee as well is placed on the table, next to the oatmeal, and the smell of it slowly starts to fill up the room
The zebra stallion wordlessly places the trays onto a table, and White Sands stands in her place. Iron can smell fresh baked pancakes, the sweet smell of syrup, and fruity smells from the muffins - both banana and blue berry. Coffee as well is placed on the table, next to the oatmeal, and the smell of it slowly starts to fill up the room
>>127664
Iron sniffs deeply, enamored by all the smells, both old and new, as his eyes close to enjoy the prelude before the munching.
Iron sniffs deeply, enamored by all the smells, both old and new, as his eyes close to enjoy the prelude before the munching.
>>127666
Eyeing over what Sands is doing, Iron decides to reciprocate, moving his snout towards the other coffee before moving his vision along the container, glancing at Sands' sipping.
After a bit, Iron opts to simply sink his snout into the container, attempting to sip the contents gently.
Eyeing over what Sands is doing, Iron decides to reciprocate, moving his snout towards the other coffee before moving his vision along the container, glancing at Sands' sipping.
After a bit, Iron opts to simply sink his snout into the container, attempting to sip the contents gently.
>>127667
Sticking his snout in, the smell is strong and fresh, rising with the steam. Sipping the dark brown liquid, it is... hot. Very hot. Not so hot that he burns himself, but hot enough that it is unpleasant. The taste is bitter.
Sticking his snout in, the smell is strong and fresh, rising with the steam. Sipping the dark brown liquid, it is... hot. Very hot. Not so hot that he burns himself, but hot enough that it is unpleasant. The taste is bitter.
>>127668
Iron can't help but grimace slightly at the taste, scrunching his snout lightly before continuing to push through the unpleasantries in both bitter taste and uncomfortable heat, deciding to gradually drink the item as he glances at the edible options.
Iron can't help but grimace slightly at the taste, scrunching his snout lightly before continuing to push through the unpleasantries in both bitter taste and uncomfortable heat, deciding to gradually drink the item as he glances at the edible options.
>>127669
Oatmeal, muffins, pancakes and fruit
White Sands sips the coffee almost delicately
“There is cream if you want some. I don’t know, you seem like the sort of stallion who likes their coffee ‘black’”
Oatmeal, muffins, pancakes and fruit
White Sands sips the coffee almost delicately
“There is cream if you want some. I don’t know, you seem like the sort of stallion who likes their coffee ‘black’”
>>127670
Iron shakes his head. "Thank you, but it will not be necessary," he responds, stretching his back "I simply wish to rid myself of my tiredness more than feeling cream in my mouth."
With that being said, Iron proceeds to go for the safe route, munching lazily on an assortment of fruits first, then potentially decide on being more adventurous when his stomach started to wake up his mind.
Iron shakes his head. "Thank you, but it will not be necessary," he responds, stretching his back "I simply wish to rid myself of my tiredness more than feeling cream in my mouth."
With that being said, Iron proceeds to go for the safe route, munching lazily on an assortment of fruits first, then potentially decide on being more adventurous when his stomach started to wake up his mind.
>>127671
“Well, the coffee is a stimulant, so it will help keep you stay awake. Not as much as the... Pervitin last night though, no.”
“Well, the coffee is a stimulant, so it will help keep you stay awake. Not as much as the... Pervitin last night though, no.”
>>127672
"I figured," Iron answers promptly, chewing on the fruit "so what were you planning to do today?"
"I figured," Iron answers promptly, chewing on the fruit "so what were you planning to do today?"
>>127673
“I don’t even know..... I suppose that’s the hard thing about freedom. You don’t know what choice to make. I was sure I wanted the cash and security... but other than that, no. But I can tell you what I will not be doing. I will not be serving any damned griffin criminals and their weird religions.”
“I don’t even know..... I suppose that’s the hard thing about freedom. You don’t know what choice to make. I was sure I wanted the cash and security... but other than that, no. But I can tell you what I will not be doing. I will not be serving any damned griffin criminals and their weird religions.”
>>127674
"Understandable," Iron agrees before trying out the muffin absentmindedly and mixing it with a sip of coffee "I almost feel tempted to say the same thing in the offchance Cauldron has not managed to sell off the stuff yet." The stallion proceeds to gulp down and go for another bite and sip. "It would surely be a slow day for both of us if that were the case, that is certain."
"Understandable," Iron agrees before trying out the muffin absentmindedly and mixing it with a sip of coffee "I almost feel tempted to say the same thing in the offchance Cauldron has not managed to sell off the stuff yet." The stallion proceeds to gulp down and go for another bite and sip. "It would surely be a slow day for both of us if that were the case, that is certain."
>>127675
Warm and fluffy with blueberries in it
“Just... I should really check in with done ponies I have not seen in a while. That is all”
She pauses
“Are you sure you trust that zebra to sell the items?”
Warm and fluffy with blueberries in it
“Just... I should really check in with done ponies I have not seen in a while. That is all”
She pauses
“Are you sure you trust that zebra to sell the items?”
>>127676
"Yes," Iron answers without hesitation, smiling softly from the nice feeling of muffin in his mouth before raising an eyebrow at the comment "so you do know some ponies in the city?"
Following the question, Iron would soon finish all the muffins he could get his hooves on, obviously leaving one or two for Sands to eat if she so wanted to.
"Yes," Iron answers without hesitation, smiling softly from the nice feeling of muffin in his mouth before raising an eyebrow at the comment "so you do know some ponies in the city?"
Following the question, Iron would soon finish all the muffins he could get his hooves on, obviously leaving one or two for Sands to eat if she so wanted to.
>>127677
She does not touch the food, but instead goes to lay on the bed, at first carefully balancing the coffee cup between her hooves, then moving and placing the coffee cup on the night stand. She drinks it slowly
She does not touch the food, but instead goes to lay on the bed, at first carefully balancing the coffee cup between her hooves, then moving and placing the coffee cup on the night stand. She drinks it slowly
>>127678
Iron, seeing she wasn't receptive to the question, simply shakes his head before munching on the rest of the breakfast, figuring he wouldn't be able to pierce whatever sort of vow of silence she has regarding her past.
Iron, seeing she wasn't receptive to the question, simply shakes his head before munching on the rest of the breakfast, figuring he wouldn't be able to pierce whatever sort of vow of silence she has regarding her past.
>>127680
"Nothing interesting nor worthy to mention about them?" he asks curiously, seemingly surprised at the vague nature of her answer.
"Nothing interesting nor worthy to mention about them?" he asks curiously, seemingly surprised at the vague nature of her answer.
>>127682
Iron looks expectantly, waiting for at least more than a teaser from Sands, nibbling on the pancakes.
Iron looks expectantly, waiting for at least more than a teaser from Sands, nibbling on the pancakes.
>>127683
Taking a sip, and responding casually
“Oh, a couple nightclub owners. And shall we say, a few ponies who would rather their names and connections to certain activities not be given away so easily”
Taking a sip, and responding casually
“Oh, a couple nightclub owners. And shall we say, a few ponies who would rather their names and connections to certain activities not be given away so easily”
>>127684
"Ah," Iron lets out before munching on the pancakes "I understand."
Without further ado, the stallion finishes up his coffee combined with the rest of the food on offer, which concludes in him standing up. "I assume you would want to follow me for the rest of the day?" he asks
"Ah," Iron lets out before munching on the pancakes "I understand."
Without further ado, the stallion finishes up his coffee combined with the rest of the food on offer, which concludes in him standing up. "I assume you would want to follow me for the rest of the day?" he asks
>>127686
"I am standing up," he answers as he tilts his head, confused with the question presented. "Going to check out the Watering Hole, see if anything is happening."
"I am standing up," he answers as he tilts his head, confused with the question presented. "Going to check out the Watering Hole, see if anything is happening."
>>127687
She hangs her mouth and stares at him for a moment with an eye twitch, before composing herself and saying
"Well if you are not staying here another night, you should checkout"
She hangs her mouth and stares at him for a moment with an eye twitch, before composing herself and saying
"Well if you are not staying here another night, you should checkout"
>>127688
Iron cocks his head slightly, looking at the mare in contemplation. "Do you... want to stay here for the rest of the day?" he asks tentatively.
Iron cocks his head slightly, looking at the mare in contemplation. "Do you... want to stay here for the rest of the day?" he asks tentatively.
>>127689
"I suppose I can, or do my own thing. If that is going to happen, you need to rent out another night."
"I suppose I can, or do my own thing. If that is going to happen, you need to rent out another night."
>>127657
>Double bed
Despite the restrictions of the contract Keskoo is keeping her options open.
>>127664
I miss being able to go out for breakfast
He forgot to tip
>>127689
Imagine not finishing your gourmet breakfast, being dead-tired after a night of "work" but going to handle non-urgent business immediately. Maybe Iron is one of those workaholic types.
>Double bed
Despite the restrictions of the contract Keskoo is keeping her options open.
>>127664
I miss being able to go out for breakfast
He forgot to tip
>>127689
Imagine not finishing your gourmet breakfast, being dead-tired after a night of "work" but going to handle non-urgent business immediately. Maybe Iron is one of those workaholic types.
>>127691
Perhaps I should have done research on bed sizes before posting. I just meant to convey that Keskoo has limited room in her apartment and thus does not want a king or queen sized bed, which she does not need, although she'd surely like the fancier headboards that are only available in the larger sizes. Maybe she'd only like a single bed
>>127692
"Well, I'm not much interested in going to a bar of all places so early. Unless there are special connections to be made, or work to be done. When are you liquidating those items, anyways?"
Perhaps I should have done research on bed sizes before posting. I just meant to convey that Keskoo has limited room in her apartment and thus does not want a king or queen sized bed, which she does not need, although she'd surely like the fancier headboards that are only available in the larger sizes. Maybe she'd only like a single bed
>>127692
"Well, I'm not much interested in going to a bar of all places so early. Unless there are special connections to be made, or work to be done. When are you liquidating those items, anyways?"
File (): 1EB8B810A92D4DDF414E8DA07F4160B3-29572.jpg (28.9 KB, 600x397, 1587169526.jpg)
>>127693
I understand. Honestly a double IS more comfortable. It's just that unless if Keskoo insists on creature comforts I don't see her getting the fancier option at others' expense, particularly when they're hauling it back 12 blocks.
I understand. Honestly a double IS more comfortable. It's just that unless if Keskoo insists on creature comforts I don't see her getting the fancier option at others' expense, particularly when they're hauling it back 12 blocks.
>>127693
"As soon as they can be," Iron promptly answers as he wipes his mouth with a foreleg "but I have a feeling it will take some time unless Cauldron managed to sell it all off at night."
With that, he promptly gives a wavy test trot before nodding to himself and looking back at Sands. "I'll add an extra night here for you to do... whatever you do," he starts "I will be sure to meet back with you here whenever there is something you can work on."
"As soon as they can be," Iron promptly answers as he wipes his mouth with a foreleg "but I have a feeling it will take some time unless Cauldron managed to sell it all off at night."
With that, he promptly gives a wavy test trot before nodding to himself and looking back at Sands. "I'll add an extra night here for you to do... whatever you do," he starts "I will be sure to meet back with you here whenever there is something you can work on."
>>127696
With a nod, Iron approaches Sands, giving her a peck on the cheek before heading out with a wave, going over to the counter and doing the necessary transaction to extend the stay another night.
Following that, Iron trots lazily towards the Watering Hole, ready to see what the day had in store for him.
With a nod, Iron approaches Sands, giving her a peck on the cheek before heading out with a wave, going over to the counter and doing the necessary transaction to extend the stay another night.
Following that, Iron trots lazily towards the Watering Hole, ready to see what the day had in store for him.
>>127697
It's the price of one night, 75 bits, plus 20 bits for room service
And so Iron is on his way. He still feels a definite "crash," but at least he can keep his eyes open
It's the price of one night, 75 bits, plus 20 bits for room service
And so Iron is on his way. He still feels a definite "crash," but at least he can keep his eyes open
>>127698
"Ugh," he mumbles out as he trotted along. He had to wonder if Khoi would be waiting at the bar, considering what he told her, but he isn't fully expecting her to be there.
"Ugh," he mumbles out as he trotted along. He had to wonder if Khoi would be waiting at the bar, considering what he told her, but he isn't fully expecting her to be there.
>>127699
Going into the bar, he sees that it is almost empty at this time. Neither Cauldron nor Khoi is visible there
Going into the bar, he sees that it is almost empty at this time. Neither Cauldron nor Khoi is visible there
>>127700
"Just my luck," Iron mumbles out before deciding to enter the bar anyways, having the need to sit for a bit and rub his temple.
"Just my luck," Iron mumbles out before deciding to enter the bar anyways, having the need to sit for a bit and rub his temple.
>>127702
With that, he sits on a table, blinking heavily as he wondered what productive activity he could do for the day. He wasn't about to go meet Cauldron at her house, mainly because he doesn't quite remember where it was, while Khoi would be impossible to track unless he went out of his way to maybe ask the bartender over at the other tavern.
His main two pathways are now cloudy and he wasn't about to return so soon after he left so suddenly. "What to do, what to do..." he mumbles slightly.
With that, he sits on a table, blinking heavily as he wondered what productive activity he could do for the day. He wasn't about to go meet Cauldron at her house, mainly because he doesn't quite remember where it was, while Khoi would be impossible to track unless he went out of his way to maybe ask the bartender over at the other tavern.
His main two pathways are now cloudy and he wasn't about to return so soon after he left so suddenly. "What to do, what to do..." he mumbles slightly.
>>127703
From behind, a sound of loud and fast clopping, then a sudden stop
"Iron?"
He can recognize the voice
"I wasn't expecting you here"
From behind, a sound of loud and fast clopping, then a sudden stop
"Iron?"
He can recognize the voice
"I wasn't expecting you here"
>>127704
Iron's ear flickers, turning around first to ensure he was talking to the pony he recognizes, blinking tiredly.
Iron's ear flickers, turning around first to ensure he was talking to the pony he recognizes, blinking tiredly.
>>127705
It is indeed Black Cauldron, wearing a light sweater
"You look..."
She grimaces her teeth as she pauses to search for the right word
"Tired"
It is indeed Black Cauldron, wearing a light sweater
"You look..."
She grimaces her teeth as she pauses to search for the right word
"Tired"
>>127706
"Mhm," Iron agrees before yawning softly "I definitely did not expect to wake up like this."
"Mhm," Iron agrees before yawning softly "I definitely did not expect to wake up like this."
>>127707
"Well.... you looked pretty bad last night. You must not have slept very well, or much at all"
"Well.... you looked pretty bad last night. You must not have slept very well, or much at all"
>>127708
"Most likely," Iron agrees before rubbing his eyes softly "last night was such a vine swing."
Shaking his head, he turns his head towards Cauldron with a tired smile. "So, how are you doing?"
"Most likely," Iron agrees before rubbing his eyes softly "last night was such a vine swing."
Shaking his head, he turns his head towards Cauldron with a tired smile. "So, how are you doing?"
>>127709
She gives a "huh" and tilts her head after Iron's "vine swing" idiom. She does not immediately return the smile
"Well, I've been busy with... Our Thing. The situation is kind of escalating. Or at least there is fear that it could escalate, and that may end up being the same thing. I also had to help my father for the lunch hour rush."
>>127710
Light material
She gives a "huh" and tilts her head after Iron's "vine swing" idiom. She does not immediately return the smile
"Well, I've been busy with... Our Thing. The situation is kind of escalating. Or at least there is fear that it could escalate, and that may end up being the same thing. I also had to help my father for the lunch hour rush."
>>127710
Light material
>>127711
"Busy, speculating day, huh?" he comments absent-mindedly, thinking pose already forming "How bad are we talking about the 'fear' aspect?"
"Busy, speculating day, huh?" he comments absent-mindedly, thinking pose already forming "How bad are we talking about the 'fear' aspect?"
>>127712
I was thinking maroon or blue. The point is that she was wearing clothing while outside, either having only just arrived or was about to leave. Otherwise she'd be naked
>>127713
"That's kind of the question. At the moment, everyone is just waiting to see how everyone else will react. The crackdown in Manehattan has everyone anxious, because no one believed a crackdown could be that severe. I mean, we heard things out of Las Pegasus, but that's the Changelings, and we kind of expected that sort of brutality out of them. But if it can happen in Manehattan, of all cities, you have to wonder, were else can it happen? The Mayor of Fillydelphia is getting pressure from his political opponents, and while that probably won't amount to anything, who knows?
All of this makes the situation with Pransisco worse... You remember that thing on Black Briar pier? The thing that you... well, let's not talk about that, but there are those who say Pransisco set something up, or one of his lieutenants did something dirty when trading with foreign merchants, and it turned into a bloodbath. Even if they don't think he did it, they question who he is making deals with, and everyone is afraid that the Black Briar pier incident will be used by the city or the Fascists to justify a crackdown, which is what everyone is afraid of."
She droops her ears down, shuts her eyes, and bends her head down, before lifting it up, opening her eyes and resuming
"And that thing.... that thing last night, over at the old poorhouse. That thing you said you did. That was all over the papers this morning. Yeah. Those griffins were a real pain in the ass for us. But we can't even be glad they are gone because we don't know how the city is going to react, and how customs is going to react. It's going to be much harder to smuggle.... anything into the city now.
And... remember what I told you last night? About Manehattan gangs coming into the city? They will fill any vacuum they can find. And they are not as nice as we are. The Lady has done a remarkable job, balancing all of the various groups in Baltimare, and keeping the police off of us. You know in other cities, gangs are often chains of immigrant families, but that hasn't happened here, and it's because of her. But I don't know now. No one does. It is worrying."
I was thinking maroon or blue. The point is that she was wearing clothing while outside, either having only just arrived or was about to leave. Otherwise she'd be naked
>>127713
"That's kind of the question. At the moment, everyone is just waiting to see how everyone else will react. The crackdown in Manehattan has everyone anxious, because no one believed a crackdown could be that severe. I mean, we heard things out of Las Pegasus, but that's the Changelings, and we kind of expected that sort of brutality out of them. But if it can happen in Manehattan, of all cities, you have to wonder, were else can it happen? The Mayor of Fillydelphia is getting pressure from his political opponents, and while that probably won't amount to anything, who knows?
All of this makes the situation with Pransisco worse... You remember that thing on Black Briar pier? The thing that you... well, let's not talk about that, but there are those who say Pransisco set something up, or one of his lieutenants did something dirty when trading with foreign merchants, and it turned into a bloodbath. Even if they don't think he did it, they question who he is making deals with, and everyone is afraid that the Black Briar pier incident will be used by the city or the Fascists to justify a crackdown, which is what everyone is afraid of."
She droops her ears down, shuts her eyes, and bends her head down, before lifting it up, opening her eyes and resuming
"And that thing.... that thing last night, over at the old poorhouse. That thing you said you did. That was all over the papers this morning. Yeah. Those griffins were a real pain in the ass for us. But we can't even be glad they are gone because we don't know how the city is going to react, and how customs is going to react. It's going to be much harder to smuggle.... anything into the city now.
And... remember what I told you last night? About Manehattan gangs coming into the city? They will fill any vacuum they can find. And they are not as nice as we are. The Lady has done a remarkable job, balancing all of the various groups in Baltimare, and keeping the police off of us. You know in other cities, gangs are often chains of immigrant families, but that hasn't happened here, and it's because of her. But I don't know now. No one does. It is worrying."
>>127716
Sure, little pony
Spark went to stand on the small pier. There is something like a fish trap, or some sort of fishing device next to it. The long, tall pines sway with the wind, and an owl can be heard hooting. Another wolf call, reciprocated somewhere else in the forest. The moon is nearer setting and the sun to rising, but it isn't there yet. There are few insect sounds. They must not like the cold
Sure, little pony
Spark went to stand on the small pier. There is something like a fish trap, or some sort of fishing device next to it. The long, tall pines sway with the wind, and an owl can be heard hooting. Another wolf call, reciprocated somewhere else in the forest. The moon is nearer setting and the sun to rising, but it isn't there yet. There are few insect sounds. They must not like the cold
>>127718
I believe last time I missed the hint I was supposed to walk along the river, so Spark, having taken in the scenery, trots along the river.
I believe last time I missed the hint I was supposed to walk along the river, so Spark, having taken in the scenery, trots along the river.
>>127719
Packs of snow in some areas that crunch under hoof, mats of pine needles in others, Spark walks along the small river, further and further, until coming to a lake
Packs of snow in some areas that crunch under hoof, mats of pine needles in others, Spark walks along the small river, further and further, until coming to a lake
>>127721
No artificial structures around the lake, although one area looks as if the foundations or ruins of an old house or other structure are present. The lake is long and narrow, extending at least a mile, with largely rocking shores. Some areas by the shores are frozen over, but not most of the lake. There are occasional tracks by the water, but they don't look to be made by ponies
No artificial structures around the lake, although one area looks as if the foundations or ruins of an old house or other structure are present. The lake is long and narrow, extending at least a mile, with largely rocking shores. Some areas by the shores are frozen over, but not most of the lake. There are occasional tracks by the water, but they don't look to be made by ponies
>>127717
"How good were the gangs to the Manehattan population in general?" Iron asks, curious as he digests such a big load of information as he blinks slowly, ears slightly dropping at seeing Cauldron's distress "Would the crackdown really be such a powerful political move that could warrant breaking the previous agreements, or are they mostly worrisome due to the new, more ruthless clans?"
"How good were the gangs to the Manehattan population in general?" Iron asks, curious as he digests such a big load of information as he blinks slowly, ears slightly dropping at seeing Cauldron's distress "Would the crackdown really be such a powerful political move that could warrant breaking the previous agreements, or are they mostly worrisome due to the new, more ruthless clans?"
>>127725
Along the shoreline there is more than one set of tracks. One is like that of a deer, or some kind of even toed animal, another is like that of a wolf or dog, and another is.... well, it's hard to say what it is like, really, but it must be a very large animal. The forest seems to stretch almost indefinitely past the lake, but the space between trees makes it traversable, even as it is dark under the canopy.
>>127726
"There were highs and lows. Some gangsters, like Spring Valley Run, had popular profiles. And some like Gusto Gutierri had a dangerous but 'rugged,' reputation. And then some incidents, like the Hearts and Hooves Day Massacre - which took place in Bales, mind you - really hurt their reputation. But mostly it wasn't the population they could be brutal with. It was to other gangs, over territory and competition, or even power struggles within the gangs. Manehattan is.... larger, more diverse than Baltimare, and they don't have the Lady. They didn't have the same relationship with the authorities either."
She looks back to him
"Are you asking about the government cracking down here in Baltimare?"
Along the shoreline there is more than one set of tracks. One is like that of a deer, or some kind of even toed animal, another is like that of a wolf or dog, and another is.... well, it's hard to say what it is like, really, but it must be a very large animal. The forest seems to stretch almost indefinitely past the lake, but the space between trees makes it traversable, even as it is dark under the canopy.
>>127726
"There were highs and lows. Some gangsters, like Spring Valley Run, had popular profiles. And some like Gusto Gutierri had a dangerous but 'rugged,' reputation. And then some incidents, like the Hearts and Hooves Day Massacre - which took place in Bales, mind you - really hurt their reputation. But mostly it wasn't the population they could be brutal with. It was to other gangs, over territory and competition, or even power struggles within the gangs. Manehattan is.... larger, more diverse than Baltimare, and they don't have the Lady. They didn't have the same relationship with the authorities either."
She looks back to him
"Are you asking about the government cracking down here in Baltimare?"
>>127728
They go deeper into the forest, and though there are needles and snow covering sections of it it looks as if the mud and clay preserved them.
It would help if Spark could track
They go deeper into the forest, and though there are needles and snow covering sections of it it looks as if the mud and clay preserved them.
It would help if Spark could track
>>127727
"The possibility, more like," Iron corrects slightly, but nods. "I am not particularly sure the population would be interested in such a thing, considering the self-centered nature I have witnessed so far." He ponders for a bit, scritching his chin to keep himself active as his mind processed the facts. "I doubt these 'fah-sheeshs' have better things to worry about than this, unless they believe they contribute to a bigger problem in their eyes."
"The possibility, more like," Iron corrects slightly, but nods. "I am not particularly sure the population would be interested in such a thing, considering the self-centered nature I have witnessed so far." He ponders for a bit, scritching his chin to keep himself active as his mind processed the facts. "I doubt these 'fah-sheeshs' have better things to worry about than this, unless they believe they contribute to a bigger problem in their eyes."
>>127730
>>127731
"Well, there are a few possible reasons. Partly it might be because they don't like the idea of sharing power over the city with gangs. Maybe they think the gangs 'exploit the people,' or something like that. Huh! They must be jealous... But they will use it as a basis for a moral crusade. Or they say they do, those lines are used in Manehattan, anyways... The businesses do not like protection racketeering or counterfiet goods, so they call in the Fascists to protect them. And the Fascists don't like these cutting into their tax base."
She turns directly to him
"But the real reason they would look to crack down, is if they are afraid the gang is supporting the resistance."
>>127731
"Well, there are a few possible reasons. Partly it might be because they don't like the idea of sharing power over the city with gangs. Maybe they think the gangs 'exploit the people,' or something like that. Huh! They must be jealous... But they will use it as a basis for a moral crusade. Or they say they do, those lines are used in Manehattan, anyways... The businesses do not like protection racketeering or counterfiet goods, so they call in the Fascists to protect them. And the Fascists don't like these cutting into their tax base."
She turns directly to him
"But the real reason they would look to crack down, is if they are afraid the gang is supporting the resistance."
>>127732
Previously sporadically and lazily nodding at the first three reasons presented, his ears flicker at the supposed real reason. "The resistance?" Iron asks, cocking his head slightly.
Previously sporadically and lazily nodding at the first three reasons presented, his ears flicker at the supposed real reason. "The resistance?" Iron asks, cocking his head slightly.
>>127733
"Resistance to the Fascist Occupation. It's lead by the ELF in most places, but here it's by the Popular Front. Not that there aren't individuals who try to take matters into their own hooves."
"Resistance to the Fascist Occupation. It's lead by the ELF in most places, but here it's by the Popular Front. Not that there aren't individuals who try to take matters into their own hooves."
>>127734
"Huh," Iron muses "seems that would definitely be a cause for them to worry, considering the worst enemy always come from within." He pauses, poking his chin "Or at least that is what I heard."
Blinking once or twice, Iron turns his head towards the zebra mare. "I assume the Lady has not commented about the situation for the whole gang, right?"
"Huh," Iron muses "seems that would definitely be a cause for them to worry, considering the worst enemy always come from within." He pauses, poking his chin "Or at least that is what I heard."
Blinking once or twice, Iron turns his head towards the zebra mare. "I assume the Lady has not commented about the situation for the whole gang, right?"
>>127735
"She's probably most concerned about Pransisco. As for any new arrivals from Manehattan... Don't give them an inch. But don't give the government any excuses either."
"She's probably most concerned about Pransisco. As for any new arrivals from Manehattan... Don't give them an inch. But don't give the government any excuses either."
>>127736
"I see..." Iron mumbles, having the slight feeling there isn't much he could do about that unless a fact he is forgetting about this ordeal suddenly revealed an opportunity. "So basically, we may be called to stop some of their operations or guard ours instead?" he asks, feeling at least there's something to do. "I hope they are not as twisted at the ones in the 'pee-err'."
"I see..." Iron mumbles, having the slight feeling there isn't much he could do about that unless a fact he is forgetting about this ordeal suddenly revealed an opportunity. "So basically, we may be called to stop some of their operations or guard ours instead?" he asks, feeling at least there's something to do. "I hope they are not as twisted at the ones in the 'pee-err'."
>>127739
Iron nods, scratching his chin thoughtfully, flashing back at Sands' last proposal. "...maybe it could use one more spy to effectively watch their movements in order to counter them effectively, too," he suggests.
Iron nods, scratching his chin thoughtfully, flashing back at Sands' last proposal. "...maybe it could use one more spy to effectively watch their movements in order to counter them effectively, too," he suggests.
>>127741
"I may have a candidate," Iron replies but tilts his head in mild doubt "but I have no clue if they would accept a random mare into the fold to spy on others willy nilly. Maybe if they take her time as a captive back at the 'pee-err' enough of an insurance..."
"I may have a candidate," Iron replies but tilts his head in mild doubt "but I have no clue if they would accept a random mare into the fold to spy on others willy nilly. Maybe if they take her time as a captive back at the 'pee-err' enough of an insurance..."
>>127742
And... Iron is confusing Black Brier Pier with 33 Hoebuck
Her ears twist until they are facing him
"Huh?"
And... Iron is confusing Black Brier Pier with 33 Hoebuck
Her ears twist until they are facing him
"Huh?"
>>127743
HECKING DANG IT. I just remembered what the pier she was talking about.
Iron shakes his head. "...wait, no, not there," he mumbles as he rubs his eyes "it may have been a bad idea to get out of bed in my state."
He glances towards the zebra, one hoof still covered by his hoof. "Nevermind," he hastily adds "now I am even less sure."
HECKING DANG IT. I just remembered what the pier she was talking about.
Iron shakes his head. "...wait, no, not there," he mumbles as he rubs his eyes "it may have been a bad idea to get out of bed in my state."
He glances towards the zebra, one hoof still covered by his hoof. "Nevermind," he hastily adds "now I am even less sure."
>>127745
Letting a bit of time in order to properly set in, Iron cranes his neck slightly, popping some bones. "What about the stuff we gave you?" he asks
Letting a bit of time in order to properly set in, Iron cranes his neck slightly, popping some bones. "What about the stuff we gave you?" he asks
>>127747
He nods, figuring she may not have had the time to sell off the stuff in the middle of the night before placing his body into the backrest with a disarming, still tired smile. "So, how was the lunch hour rush?"
He nods, figuring she may not have had the time to sell off the stuff in the middle of the night before placing his body into the backrest with a disarming, still tired smile. "So, how was the lunch hour rush?"
>>127748
"Oh it's just beginning. I helped prepare some spices and the soup."
Seeing that Iron is leaning back, she takes off her sweater
"Oh it's just beginning. I helped prepare some spices and the soup."
Seeing that Iron is leaning back, she takes off her sweater
>>127749
"Oh?" Iron replies, surprised tone quite apparent in his mumbly voice before he paused, staring ahead before nodding. "Impressive."
He turns to Cauldron "I figured you were helping him for the whole thing, but I suppose he is quite versatile."
"Oh?" Iron replies, surprised tone quite apparent in his mumbly voice before he paused, staring ahead before nodding. "Impressive."
He turns to Cauldron "I figured you were helping him for the whole thing, but I suppose he is quite versatile."
>>127750
"I suppose I could go back and help him cook more, I just wanted everything to be sorted out"
"I suppose I could go back and help him cook more, I just wanted everything to be sorted out"
>>127751
Iron can't help but chuckle heartily, playfully, gently and lazily pushing her body by a mere inch. "You know I did not mean it like that, Cauldron," he protests happily. "I was simply complimenting your father's productivity."
Iron can't help but chuckle heartily, playfully, gently and lazily pushing her body by a mere inch. "You know I did not mean it like that, Cauldron," he protests happily. "I was simply complimenting your father's productivity."
>>127752
She smiles back, kind of awkwardly
"Yes, he and his hired help do a pretty good job. I don't know if I fully trust them with every recipe, but that is why I prepped the soup and spices"
She smiles back, kind of awkwardly
"Yes, he and his hired help do a pretty good job. I don't know if I fully trust them with every recipe, but that is why I prepped the soup and spices"
>>127753
"Ah, I see," Iron answers, smiling softly still as he relaxed considerably "and I fully understand. No hired help could compare to your magic hooves."
"Ah, I see," Iron answers, smiling softly still as he relaxed considerably "and I fully understand. No hired help could compare to your magic hooves."
>>127754
She sits down next to him though not quite as relaxed. Then she smiles in a mischievous way, and raises her forehooves, and batting them almost like a cat as she shows them off
She sits down next to him though not quite as relaxed. Then she smiles in a mischievous way, and raises her forehooves, and batting them almost like a cat as she shows them off
>>127755
Iron can't help but snicker at her display before dramatically gasping slightly, covering his snoot with his hoofsies from being targeted by the flowing, deft forelegs of the master booper. "Goodness," he utters theatrically "do not go starting an assault on my snout in public." The stallion twist his foreleg to place it on his forehead, looking at the ceiling at an angle "I would not know how I would cope."
Iron can't help but snicker at her display before dramatically gasping slightly, covering his snoot with his hoofsies from being targeted by the flowing, deft forelegs of the master booper. "Goodness," he utters theatrically "do not go starting an assault on my snout in public." The stallion twist his foreleg to place it on his forehead, looking at the ceiling at an angle "I would not know how I would cope."
>>127757
Iron snorts before shaking his head "I know, silly," he responds happily, smiling warmly as his potential eyebags would highlight at the crinkles "I frankly needed a bit of downtime after all that serious business last night, so forgive me if I go overboard with my usual antics."
Iron snorts before shaking his head "I know, silly," he responds happily, smiling warmly as his potential eyebags would highlight at the crinkles "I frankly needed a bit of downtime after all that serious business last night, so forgive me if I go overboard with my usual antics."
>>127758
Spark can make several roles. Survival to track or avoid getting lost, or listen or spot. All of these are Wisdom
>>127759
Looks up at him, smiling with a look of almost concern
"It really looks like you do. I suppose it's my lunch break now. At least there is no big problem in my little area. Not yet, anyways."
Spark can make several roles. Survival to track or avoid getting lost, or listen or spot. All of these are Wisdom
>>127759
Looks up at him, smiling with a look of almost concern
"It really looks like you do. I suppose it's my lunch break now. At least there is no big problem in my little area. Not yet, anyways."
>>127761
Even as the ground becomes harder and the needles thicker, Spark is able to follow the tracks quite a distance from the water. It seems to have traversed the wider spaces between trees with little underbrush, which helps
Roll listen, or spot
Even as the ground becomes harder and the needles thicker, Spark is able to follow the tracks quite a distance from the water. It seems to have traversed the wider spaces between trees with little underbrush, which helps
Roll listen, or spot
>>127760
Iron can't help but smile wide at the mention, albeit he looks almost sheepish about it with a tiny blush on his cheeks. "Oh, you do not need to stay with me if you need to be somewhere else," he replies, waving his hoof dismissively, clearly flustered by the implication "I can understand you have much less free time than I do."
Iron can't help but smile wide at the mention, albeit he looks almost sheepish about it with a tiny blush on his cheeks. "Oh, you do not need to stay with me if you need to be somewhere else," he replies, waving his hoof dismissively, clearly flustered by the implication "I can understand you have much less free time than I do."
>>127766
Only a silhouette in the low light. It's a quadruped and on the smaller side. Looks like a wolf or other canine, although a doe or even a pony can't be entirely ruled out. It is standing still, and is observing Spark
Only a silhouette in the low light. It's a quadruped and on the smaller side. Looks like a wolf or other canine, although a doe or even a pony can't be entirely ruled out. It is standing still, and is observing Spark
>>127765
Iron twiddled with his hooves, a bit ashamed at her reaction. "I can help at whatever you are doing if you want to," he adds sheepishly, trying his best not to hinder Cauldron's routine by his presence and actions.
Iron twiddled with his hooves, a bit ashamed at her reaction. "I can help at whatever you are doing if you want to," he adds sheepishly, trying his best not to hinder Cauldron's routine by his presence and actions.
>>127767
Spooky. Spark is unsure of what he should do. He holds his ground and listens more. Perhaps a clue of what is in front of him can be heard.
Spooky. Spark is unsure of what he should do. He holds his ground and listens more. Perhaps a clue of what is in front of him can be heard.
>>127769
The creature is off to the side, and watches Spark. It has stopped moving or making any kind of sound. It's somewhat hard to see in the dim light, although no other creatures can be seen
>>127768
"Well... I came back here to get accounts in order. You know, gambling debts, loans and so on. You've already proven yourself pretty good at collecting" She says
The creature is off to the side, and watches Spark. It has stopped moving or making any kind of sound. It's somewhat hard to see in the dim light, although no other creatures can be seen
>>127768
"Well... I came back here to get accounts in order. You know, gambling debts, loans and so on. You've already proven yourself pretty good at collecting" She says
>>127770
Iron nods eagerly, his desire to be useful for his friend/crush being way higher than the creeping sensation of sleep. "I can help you, sure," he responds not soon after "I definitely can do that."
Iron nods eagerly, his desire to be useful for his friend/crush being way higher than the creeping sensation of sleep. "I can help you, sure," he responds not soon after "I definitely can do that."
>>127771
The creature moves back a little as Spark approaches. Spark can see in the light that it is a wolf, white head and tail, but with darker patches around its upper limbs and back. Judging from its behavior, it seems likely to flee if Spark approaches within a certain distance
>>127772
She twists her mouth
"Have you ever... done math?"
The creature moves back a little as Spark approaches. Spark can see in the light that it is a wolf, white head and tail, but with darker patches around its upper limbs and back. Judging from its behavior, it seems likely to flee if Spark approaches within a certain distance
>>127772
She twists her mouth
"Have you ever... done math?"
>>127773
Hmm... then Spark keeps his distance. He tries to pick back up the trail of the strange tracks.
Hmm... then Spark keeps his distance. He tries to pick back up the trail of the strange tracks.
>>127773
Iron blinks once at the mention of math, thinking back. "...you mean the whole numbers thing, right?" he asks "Not the power booster drug."
Iron blinks once at the mention of math, thinking back. "...you mean the whole numbers thing, right?" he asks "Not the power booster drug."
>>127776
"You know," Iron leads on, tilting his head to the side as he leans in for a whisper "meth."
"You know," Iron leads on, tilting his head to the side as he leans in for a whisper "meth."
>>127779
"Were you not talking about 'meth' just a second ago?" Iron asks innocently, tilting his head to the side. "If I recall correctly, it either means number manipulation or drugs, so I figured it was one of the two."
"Were you not talking about 'meth' just a second ago?" Iron asks innocently, tilting his head to the side. "If I recall correctly, it either means number manipulation or drugs, so I figured it was one of the two."
Nice, Spark is back! Now we just need Brie, though he may have been scared off for an interminable time by the after-quest celebrations.
>>127755
>>127756
I would have interpreted that scene as Cauldron having gotten her hooves done. Manicures/farriers may not exist in the jungle but still you don't want to miss a lady showing off her beauty.
>>127778
Don't do drugs, kids
>>127755
>>127756
I would have interpreted that scene as Cauldron having gotten her hooves done. Manicures/farriers may not exist in the jungle but still you don't want to miss a lady showing off her beauty.
>>127778
Don't do drugs, kids
>>127782
She looks legitimately lost, having evidently never heard the word "meth" in relation to any kind of drug
"... I said math, and I don't know what you are talking about"
She looks legitimately lost, having evidently never heard the word "meth" in relation to any kind of drug
"... I said math, and I don't know what you are talking about"
>>127785
Well enough that I plan to join when the next day rolls around.
I don't know if Spark is currently on the same day as the rest of the party (Monday? morning) or the evening before but I'm going to Baltimare so it doesn't really matter.
>>127786
As for why Cauldron is confused, meth had been developed only a short time prior as a military stimulant and was a long way off from becoming a street drug.
Well enough that I plan to join when the next day rolls around.
I don't know if Spark is currently on the same day as the rest of the party (Monday? morning) or the evening before but I'm going to Baltimare so it doesn't really matter.
>>127786
As for why Cauldron is confused, meth had been developed only a short time prior as a military stimulant and was a long way off from becoming a street drug.
>>127786
Iron can't help but smile sheepishly. "I suppose it was simply some overly complicated word assosiation I jumbled up," he admits, scratching his chin in embarassment. "Anyways, yes, I can do math."
Iron can't help but smile sheepishly. "I suppose it was simply some overly complicated word assosiation I jumbled up," he admits, scratching his chin in embarassment. "Anyways, yes, I can do math."
>>127787
For record keeping, the drug "Pervitin" has been introduced in game and is all but stated to be the drug N,α-dimethylphenethylamine, which in 21st century America is called by the colloquial shorthand "Meth," but in-world is used to keep military pilots awake on long flights. At no point in the entire campaign have the words "Meth" or even "Methamphetamine" been used to refer to any drug at all, except for a lone out of character description that calls it "methamphetamine."
>>127789
"Oh, good! Well I have some paperwork on how interest has accrued on gambling debts and loans."
For record keeping, the drug "Pervitin" has been introduced in game and is all but stated to be the drug N,α-dimethylphenethylamine, which in 21st century America is called by the colloquial shorthand "Meth," but in-world is used to keep military pilots awake on long flights. At no point in the entire campaign have the words "Meth" or even "Methamphetamine" been used to refer to any drug at all, except for a lone out of character description that calls it "methamphetamine."
>>127789
"Oh, good! Well I have some paperwork on how interest has accrued on gambling debts and loans."
>>127785
Spark keeps going until he comes across an area of flattened needles and a bush, forming an oval seven feet at the longest and three and a half feet at the widest
Spark keeps going until he comes across an area of flattened needles and a bush, forming an oval seven feet at the longest and three and a half feet at the widest
>>127790
"...paperwork?" Iron asks, mildly puzzled at the prospect "It might be better if you show me what you mean."
"...paperwork?" Iron asks, mildly puzzled at the prospect "It might be better if you show me what you mean."
>>127793
It's kind of pressed down, almost like a bed
>>127792
"Well, why don't you follow me"
She goes down the Bar, and towards a back area, past a couple rooms, and into a room with a desk and papers
"Here is one. We lent this stallion 200 bits, and we are trying to calculate the interest on his loan"
It's kind of pressed down, almost like a bed
>>127792
"Well, why don't you follow me"
She goes down the Bar, and towards a back area, past a couple rooms, and into a room with a desk and papers
"Here is one. We lent this stallion 200 bits, and we are trying to calculate the interest on his loan"
>>127794
Now I want to create a character with 8 ranks in Profession so I can just do the stuff I do irl in-game.
Also, it's annoying that names don't stick around like they used to.
Now I want to create a character with 8 ranks in Profession so I can just do the stuff I do irl in-game.
Also, it's annoying that names don't stick around like they used to.
>>127796
If I leave this thread to lurk elsewhere and come back, my name field is empty. I have to keep a tab open.
If I leave this thread to lurk elsewhere and come back, my name field is empty. I have to keep a tab open.
>>127794
Iron follows her without question before glancing down at the paper Cauldron is talking about.
Iron follows her without question before glancing down at the paper Cauldron is talking about.
>>127798
Extra needles have been set down inside the oval, but Spark can feel that the dirt and mud beneath are pressed and stamped down beneath
>>127799
Looking at the paper, there is nothing more than a name, a number, and a date, along with an additional number at the top
"So, this stallion borrowed 200 bits from us what will be two weeks this tuesday. He's a '4', as we rate them, so he is charged 10% per week, and he doesn't have any property to use as collateral. Now, I know he has a job and is paid every two weeks. That would be last Friday, and he hasn't paid since. So! The task is to figure out how much he has to pay when he does pay, and interest compounds. It's 200 bits so that's 20 bits after the first week..."
She pulls up a piece of note paper that is rather messy, and grabs a pencil in her mouth and starts writing. She talks around the pencil, which she holds in her mouth almost like a cigarette when talking to Iron
"Which is 220 bits, then the next week after that the interest is 22 bits, so 242 bits... then it's... let's round that to 24 bits the next week, so 264 bits after three weeks... then the fourth week it's...."
She scribbles on her note pad
Two hundred and.... eighty bits..."
She finishes scribbling
"And... there! And if it takes more than four weeks then it's a broken leg, because he has no reason to not pay us after two paychecks!"
Extra needles have been set down inside the oval, but Spark can feel that the dirt and mud beneath are pressed and stamped down beneath
>>127799
Looking at the paper, there is nothing more than a name, a number, and a date, along with an additional number at the top
"So, this stallion borrowed 200 bits from us what will be two weeks this tuesday. He's a '4', as we rate them, so he is charged 10% per week, and he doesn't have any property to use as collateral. Now, I know he has a job and is paid every two weeks. That would be last Friday, and he hasn't paid since. So! The task is to figure out how much he has to pay when he does pay, and interest compounds. It's 200 bits so that's 20 bits after the first week..."
She pulls up a piece of note paper that is rather messy, and grabs a pencil in her mouth and starts writing. She talks around the pencil, which she holds in her mouth almost like a cigarette when talking to Iron
"Which is 220 bits, then the next week after that the interest is 22 bits, so 242 bits... then it's... let's round that to 24 bits the next week, so 264 bits after three weeks... then the fourth week it's...."
She scribbles on her note pad
Two hundred and.... eighty bits..."
She finishes scribbling
"And... there! And if it takes more than four weeks then it's a broken leg, because he has no reason to not pay us after two paychecks!"
>>127800
>>127801
Iron, for his part, looked quite focused, even as he yawned at the end of her walkthrough, wildly shaking his head because of it and slowly counting in a whisper. "...going by what you said without accidentally butchering it is 286 bits, since the interest would be about..." he counts once again, looking up in the air before back at Cauldron "26...? Meaning the amount from the third week plus 26 equals 286."
>>127801
Iron, for his part, looked quite focused, even as he yawned at the end of her walkthrough, wildly shaking his head because of it and slowly counting in a whisper. "...going by what you said without accidentally butchering it is 286 bits, since the interest would be about..." he counts once again, looking up in the air before back at Cauldron "26...? Meaning the amount from the third week plus 26 equals 286."
>>127802
"No no, it's 10% of each prior week. So if it's 264 bits one week then the next week it's 26 bits interest, which means...... 290 bits is the total amount"
"No no, it's 10% of each prior week. So if it's 264 bits one week then the next week it's 26 bits interest, which means...... 290 bits is the total amount"
>>127803
She pauses again
"Wait. By the third week it is actually 242 plus 24... so 266... so 292 the fourth week"
She pauses again
"Wait. By the third week it is actually 242 plus 24... so 266... so 292 the fourth week"
>>127804
>>127803
"Uh..." Iron had to rethink this whole thing over. "So we start at 200... then take away a zero, letting us add 20 more for the next week..." he proceeded to count in the air looking up. "220... then we take the zero, leaving us with 22..." A pause filled with mumbling follows "242... then take... uh... the two, which would lead to 24, which... is 264... then take the four, which should finally leave us with 26, then we add it with 264... and we get... 290..."
>>127803
"Uh..." Iron had to rethink this whole thing over. "So we start at 200... then take away a zero, letting us add 20 more for the next week..." he proceeded to count in the air looking up. "220... then we take the zero, leaving us with 22..." A pause filled with mumbling follows "242... then take... uh... the two, which would lead to 24, which... is 264... then take the four, which should finally leave us with 26, then we add it with 264... and we get... 290..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gENVB6tjq_M
>>127805
"Yes, except I did the math wrong between the second and third weeks. It's actually 266."
She tries to smile at Iron
>>127806
"There we go"
Now she's definitely smiling
>>127805
"Yes, except I did the math wrong between the second and third weeks. It's actually 266."
She tries to smile at Iron
>>127806
"There we go"
Now she's definitely smiling
>>127807
Iron huffs slightly, smiling sheepishly
"Whew, that was a mind bender," he mutters out "but I bet the next ones will not be as bad."
Iron huffs slightly, smiling sheepishly
"Whew, that was a mind bender," he mutters out "but I bet the next ones will not be as bad."
>>127808
She places away the simple sheet in a folder, and pulls out a new one
“Alright, this next stallion borrowed 400, With the first 200 at 5% but everything after that at 10%, and paid 139 bigs after the second week.... shit”
She places away the simple sheet in a folder, and pulls out a new one
“Alright, this next stallion borrowed 400, With the first 200 at 5% but everything after that at 10%, and paid 139 bigs after the second week.... shit”
>>127809
Iron tilts his head at the sudden curse word, looking at Cauldron expectantly to either continue or relay the news.
Iron tilts his head at the sudden curse word, looking at Cauldron expectantly to either continue or relay the news.
>>127810
She looks back up to Iron with a big, toothy smile that looks more than a little nervous
"So that's... 430 after the first week... then... 33 interest the second week, for 463. But he paid 139, which brings it down to 324, which means.... 22 interest the third week for 346.... and this guy is probably going to want to pay more after that, so let's not bother with it for now"
She looks back up to Iron with a big, toothy smile that looks more than a little nervous
"So that's... 430 after the first week... then... 33 interest the second week, for 463. But he paid 139, which brings it down to 324, which means.... 22 interest the third week for 346.... and this guy is probably going to want to pay more after that, so let's not bother with it for now"
>>127811
"That does sound quite complex," he muses, listening intently before humming lightly "So for only 200 bits the interest is only... 5 parts out of a hundred... while the rest we can take a zero...?"He pauses "It is a weird way to paying it..."
"That does sound quite complex," he muses, listening intently before humming lightly "So for only 200 bits the interest is only... 5 parts out of a hundred... while the rest we can take a zero...?"He pauses "It is a weird way to paying it..."
>>127811
It sounds like one of those weird minigames in video games that requires an unusual skill but rewards you for completing it successfully. Except, this is educational.
It sounds like one of those weird minigames in video games that requires an unusual skill but rewards you for completing it successfully. Except, this is educational.
>>127815
"Well, if it's 346 the thirs week, then it's.... 10 bits on the first two hundred, and 14 on the next 146....so that's 370, 24 bits interest"
"Well, if it's 346 the thirs week, then it's.... 10 bits on the first two hundred, and 14 on the next 146....so that's 370, 24 bits interest"
>>127816
"Huh?" Iron's thought bubble pops at Cauldron's response. "Wait, did you not say only the first 200 had 5 hundredths of interest? Would that not lead to 353 bits?"
"Huh?" Iron's thought bubble pops at Cauldron's response. "Wait, did you not say only the first 200 had 5 hundredths of interest? Would that not lead to 353 bits?"
>>127819
"Hm..." the native mumbles, starting to softly bonk his head. "So we are not directly taking 139 bits out of the 200 that is based on the 5 hundreths but instead take 200 bits from the total for the 10 hundreths..." Iron seemed deep into his thinking, seconds passing by in his head. "...which gives a 26 bits of interest..."
The stallion mumbled some more calculations, tapping his hoof against the floor. "So you placed the 200 into the 5 hundreths interest while the rest is on 10 hundreths interest, right? That is how I can reach the number you have gotten."
"Hm..." the native mumbles, starting to softly bonk his head. "So we are not directly taking 139 bits out of the 200 that is based on the 5 hundreths but instead take 200 bits from the total for the 10 hundreths..." Iron seemed deep into his thinking, seconds passing by in his head. "...which gives a 26 bits of interest..."
The stallion mumbled some more calculations, tapping his hoof against the floor. "So you placed the 200 into the 5 hundreths interest while the rest is on 10 hundreths interest, right? That is how I can reach the number you have gotten."
>>127820
"So that means that it is the last 200 that gets the 5 hundreths interest rate, then," he concludes hesitantly, unsure himself if his calculations are correct.
"So that means that it is the last 200 that gets the 5 hundreths interest rate, then," he concludes hesitantly, unsure himself if his calculations are correct.
>>127822
Iron grumbles, rubbing his temple before tapping his hoof. "Oh wait," he mutters out before looking at Cauldron "I am mixing up your results for the fourth week with my results from the third week, which is 353 if we substract the 139 bits given to the 200 bits total from the 5 hundreth interest, then placing the remaining bits on the 10 hundreths interest rate, which is about 3 and 26 bits respectively, equaling 29 bits interest."
The native seems to muse this aspect a bit more, mumbling more numbers under his breath. "...if I were to substract 200 from the total and place it in the 10 hundreth interest while keeping the 200 bits on the 5 hundreth, then I would get 24 bits interest, which is what was bugging me, meaning the 5 hundreth interest rate applies to the last 200 bits. Not the first 200."
Iron grumbles, rubbing his temple before tapping his hoof. "Oh wait," he mutters out before looking at Cauldron "I am mixing up your results for the fourth week with my results from the third week, which is 353 if we substract the 139 bits given to the 200 bits total from the 5 hundreth interest, then placing the remaining bits on the 10 hundreths interest rate, which is about 3 and 26 bits respectively, equaling 29 bits interest."
The native seems to muse this aspect a bit more, mumbling more numbers under his breath. "...if I were to substract 200 from the total and place it in the 10 hundreth interest while keeping the 200 bits on the 5 hundreth, then I would get 24 bits interest, which is what was bugging me, meaning the 5 hundreth interest rate applies to the last 200 bits. Not the first 200."
>>127823
"Alright, let's go over this again. He borrows 400 bits, at 5% for the first 200, and 10% for all after that. So that's 30 bits interest the first week, for 430 bits. The second week interest is 5% on 200 and 10% on 230, so 33 bits interest, 463 bits total. However, he pays us 139 bits, which reduces his total to... 324 bits. So then the third week he pays 5% on 200 and 10% on 124, which is 22 bits interest, and 344 bits total.... So the fourth week is 24 bits interest, and 368 bits total...
I mean, you can say his payment goes towards the bits with the lower interest rate"
"Alright, let's go over this again. He borrows 400 bits, at 5% for the first 200, and 10% for all after that. So that's 30 bits interest the first week, for 430 bits. The second week interest is 5% on 200 and 10% on 230, so 33 bits interest, 463 bits total. However, he pays us 139 bits, which reduces his total to... 324 bits. So then the third week he pays 5% on 200 and 10% on 124, which is 22 bits interest, and 344 bits total.... So the fourth week is 24 bits interest, and 368 bits total...
I mean, you can say his payment goes towards the bits with the lower interest rate"
>>127824
"Ah!" Iron realizes, eyes widening with a smile on his face at having figured such a conundrum out "now I understand. You meant every week's first 200 bits were at a 5 hundreths interest rate, not the loan's first 200 bits."
A few seconds passes, as he maintains that pose but his ears start to droop slightly, cheeks reddening and sheepish smile forming. "Then yes, it is indeed correct what you said."
He averts his gaze slightly, pouting softly as he basically made a fool out of himself in front of Cauldron.
"Ah!" Iron realizes, eyes widening with a smile on his face at having figured such a conundrum out "now I understand. You meant every week's first 200 bits were at a 5 hundreths interest rate, not the loan's first 200 bits."
A few seconds passes, as he maintains that pose but his ears start to droop slightly, cheeks reddening and sheepish smile forming. "Then yes, it is indeed correct what you said."
He averts his gaze slightly, pouting softly as he basically made a fool out of himself in front of Cauldron.
>>127825
Her ears droop as well, as she does an awkward smile
"I.... got it wrong the first time as well..." Then she looks away
Her ears droop as well, as she does an awkward smile
"I.... got it wrong the first time as well..." Then she looks away
>>127826
Seeing Cauldron display try to soften his blunder, he looks at her,
gently planting a hoof on her shoulder. "Well, we are the unbeatable duo," he starts calmly, giving Cauldron a warm smile "we are unstoppable as long as we work together. We did get it right eventually, right?" Amist the encouraging words, Cauldron could see his ears straighten slightly as his eyes exhude a deep level of confidence in her underneath all the platitudes.
Seeing Cauldron display try to soften his blunder, he looks at her,
gently planting a hoof on her shoulder. "Well, we are the unbeatable duo," he starts calmly, giving Cauldron a warm smile "we are unstoppable as long as we work together. We did get it right eventually, right?" Amist the encouraging words, Cauldron could see his ears straighten slightly as his eyes exhude a deep level of confidence in her underneath all the platitudes.
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