Loud Opinion
-
Posts
494 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Character Archive
Frequently Asked Questions
Equestrian Empire Character Archive
Golden Oaks Memorial Library
Pony Roleplay Characters
Events
Blogs
Everything posted by Loud Opinion
-
So funny I fell off my dinosaur! Of course, by 'laughing face', I mean käse burger.
-
When this role play started, Tone was the only thing centralizing everyone. As the RP went on the scope has gone beyond The Order of New Equestria. Originally I only allowed one character per player to ensure that all characters had their fair share of agency. However, now the scope has broadened, I would like to amend that rule. Now Multiple characters are allowed, but only one is allowed to be a member of Tone. I'll update the OP accordingly.
-
@abrony-mouse "How odd that you would leave something as trivial as a nail file with someone you don't know directly. Did it happen to be cursed?" Limbo's mood and expression both soured when Fuchsia tried to throw her second question back in her face. "So that's a 'no' on both accounts," Limbo said sternly. Part of her didn't want to engage the catty back and forth. She knew perfectly well she meant impoverished when she said 'poor'. The rest knew Fuchsia was entitled to it after all that's happened. "You don't need a lot of money to help the poor. This isn't about looking good or even helping others. It's about building your character. You'll see. When you wash the grime off those too unfortunate to afford their own bath, you'll feel your soul uplifted." "You see I was going to ask tomorrow, but I happen to be reading one of Princess Twilight's letters to Celestia. It talks about how Twilight showed Saint Dash that charity is its own reward. So, I found it fitting to ask now." At Fuchsia's follow-up inquiries, Limbo sighed. She really didn't trust them after all. "Mr. Tongue already told you we were trying to reverse the personality binding he put on Miss. Scratch. It may be best if you continue to call her Octavia when you're around her, but I won't tolerate you disrespecting her memory in my presence." Limbo noticed that she was raising her voice and caught herself, but neglected to quell her indignation, "Her name is Vinal Scratch when I'm in ear-shot. Do I make myself clear?" The majority of her anger melted away when she changed topics, "Mr. Tongue saved me from my old life in the Crystal Empire. I was cursed and at the end of my rope. Then, he showed up at my door and worked a miracle. We've been traveling ever since." Toward the end of her reminiscence, Limbo's tone was dripping with honey as she fluttered her eyelashes. When Fuchsia asked about their purpose, Limbo only softened more. "We are The Order of New Equestria, -- or 'Tone' -- and we uplift ponies to the status of alicorn. When all is said and done, we hope everypony will have the chance to watch the sunset a second time from a cloud perch and manipulate the world with magic."
-
@abrony-mouse Silver smiled at Fuchsia's actions. In the process of trying to undermine him, she had proved him right. Besides, the stallion had a soft spot for assertive mares. At Fuchsia's approach, Miss. Dreams looked up from her book and closed her eyes. "Normally, when I look at a pony, their life story is laid bare --except for you. When I look at you, I only see your childhood and some of your adolescence. Have you done anything bizarre since you left for that buffalo tribe?" "I only ask for your own good. I don't expect you to do me any favors yet. If I can't see your past, then it's entirely possible that the princesses can't either. Such ponies are usually labeled as a threat to Equestria." She paused to open her unnatural eyes before concluding in a chipper tone, "With that being said, I wanted to ask if you've done anything to help the poor today?"
-
@abrony-mouse Seeing Fuchsia return reinvigorated Octavia. She nodded diligently at Fuchsia's instructions despite the rapidly accumulating fatigue of an interrupted night's rest catching up to her. With notepad in hoof, Octavia wastes no time and scampers off into the night. When Fuchsia returns, she is greeted by the very tool she sought. Within Silver's hoof was the snuffer. No words were exchanged. Silver simply smiled and gestured for her to take it. Once the snuffer was in Fuchsia's hooves though, Silver spoke up, "You're doing a great job pretending to be on board. I'd hate to stop your performance, but it is unnecessary. I understand you have your grievances and hope that someday you'll come to support us in earnest. I just want you to know that your true feelings are safe here." Before Fuchsia could roll her eyes, Silver continued, "Before you get to work, Limbo had something to say to you." @Starforce @ExplosionMare Eventually, the path led to a homely outdoor restaurant. Toadstool chairs surrounded a mushroom table. Other such natural aesthetics complimented the natural function. The sign read, 'Jabber's Sandwiches. "May I take your order," announced a tanish mare with a notepad.
-
I don't do this often, but I felt very proud of a mini essay I was tasked with composing.
It mixes economics with morality so if either of those tend to put you to sleep then be forewarned.
Money, to me, is the ultimate measure of value. It shows us what people truly desire in their hearts. Anyone can grandstand about child labor in China, but if we look into the history of that person's purchases, we can see where their heart truly belongs. Some are true to themselves and avoid purchasing from Chinese manufacturing. Others will give their money to them for a less expensive phone. The phrase, 'put your money where your mouth is' has never been so apt. When you complain about low wages, it is not evidence of money as a failed experiment but rather evidence of how little your labor matters to your manager. Your manager could pay you to say 'good morning' at nighttime or hop in place if it was something it valued, but it isn't, so it won't. There is no limit to money's ability to measure value, but so many so what isn't being paid for and conclude that it is somehow a fault of the tool and not the wielder.
In terms of my job, I would conclude that my pay is my entire life. I majored in accounting because it generates a lot of value while putting relatively little stress on myself. However, money is not the only method of payment. Though it is the most efficient in a vacuum, many laws make benefits more cost-effective. In reality, I'm asking for the same thing. If I gave up a benefit like health insurance, I would want a rase to cover insurance of equal value that I would purchase myself. At the end of the day, benefits and other such commodities are merely an extension of monetary compensation.
That covers extrinsic motivation. However, it is important that while intrinsic motivation comes from within, it still requires the proper inputs to be kept alive within my psyche. Intrinsic motivation would consist of pride. Pride in a job well done, being unexpendable, receiving praise from an employer, receiving praise from a customer. All of this fuels the intrinsic knowledge that I am a force for good.
Money is the root of all evil. What a red herring. Truly an expert exercise in misdirection. Money is how people see into each other's hearts. In that sense, yes, money is the root of all evil. However, what is critical is that money is the root to evil, not the evil itself. For it is the human heart that is the source of all malevolence and ambivalence therein. However, it is the source of all love as well. Now, money doesn't instigate all evil or love, but It can instigate any love or evil you can imagine if the wielder of the money so chooses.
To clarify on love, I would say that anyone can say that they love anything. One can say that they love the poor, but are they willing to uplift them? One can say they love a person but are they willing to support it in its time of need beyond hollow words? One can say they love a child, but are they willing to sacrifice countless resources and pour their bodies into its wellbeing? Yes, labor and the exchange of resources can happen without money, but we are not perfect. Our memories fail us, and some gestures can go unnoticed. The money is a token. It reminds us that, yes, we did help that person in need. Yes, we did sacrifice ourselves for others, and this is the extent that we sacrificed.
They say the best things in life are free. I say that to be free without consequence. To take without responsibility. That is the heart of meaninglessness. Yes, they may satisfy us at the moment, but when our memory fails, these 'best things in life' will wither away.
This is my perspective. Thank you for spending your time reading through it.
-
-
@abrony-mouse Limbo's distress melted into a steely determination at the mention of the princess's wrath. A daring challenge. When Fuchsia offers her service, Silver's eyes gleam like a freshly minted coin. "We'll be in touch, but you can start with the candles. Diligent work is the best screening process, I always say." Limbo slinks over to the interrupted podium, and her horns once again light up. Around the pulpit was a magic Fuchsia had never seen before. Ethereal purple threads ensnared the thing and stitched themselves to it. Then with a yank of her head, the pulpit rises proportionately. With a crane of her neck, the pulpit is returned to its place. "I suppose I can read over our new texts while you watch over her," Limbo says dismissively. "Indeed, now where did she leave that snuffing tool?" Octavia waited for a few moments outside. Perhaps she wanted to meet her back at the house. Not wanting to risk either possibility, she huddled down just outside the door and waited patiently for her escort.
-
@abrony-mouse "You really care about her," Limbo said more critically than with any degree of emotional concern. Then the windows to her soul shrunk to a more relatable size. Her head sunk even further and her horns began to glow a faint purple. Octavia stopped in her stride, her smile dropped, and her stance tensed as if somepony had dumped a bucket of ice upon her. "So, it's true," Limbo said with a clear quiver in her voice, "I... think I'm going to be ill. If you'll excuse me." Silver was like a stone, not from lack of interest. Indeed, it was obvious he was holding back. "You'll have to forgive her," Silver interrupted, "She just lost someone dear to her." By now Octavia had regained her wits, and with them, her horror. Looking around in a panic, she took in the horribly familiar temple. Then she saw Fuchsia's dagger to Silver's neck and relaxed a bit. Her protector was here and the promise was kept. Seeing the upper hoof in her court, Octavia asks a question of her own, "Why me? Of all the mares in Canterlot, why did you target me?" "Self-defense," Silver returned plainly, "Not of my person, but in defense of my culture. Vinal Scratch was a menace of a unicorn. Arson, vandalism, and theft. She would destroy herself, but not before taking much of Canterlot with her. So, I killed her," he paused for dramatic effect before qualifying, "with kindness." "I bound her to a refined life, and, well, the rest is history." "She deserved better," Limbo interrupted darkly, "Her music was a gift from the stars." "We had hoped to revert her back with this ritual, but I didn't have the heart to tell Miss. Dreams that it was already too late." Limbo gave Silver a scornful, 'you knew?', look.
-
@abrony-mouse Silver desperately wanted to correct Fuchsia's terminology. Bewitching is such a blunt instrument. He was nothing if not tactful. So he bit his namesake. Instead, it was Miss. Dreams who responded in an elongated cadence, "Okay, calm down, we'll send Octavia home with you. She'll come back to her senses soon enough. Although, you should know that the mare you met is a facade. Would you believe she used to be a unicorn? Would you deny that pony life to keep the mare you met?" Miss. Dreams nodded to Octavia who promptly, without looking, turned to the door and made for the exit. Her slouch only deepened with her follow-up, "If you don't care about the pony behind the bow," she paused to open her eyes, "then you may follow her, and she will never see us again." Beyond the threshold were pupils so heavily dilated that Fuchsia was only given a hint of the whites beyond her red irises. Her soul was all but bare. Within was compassion only a mother could show. But, when her gaze drifted beyond Fuchsia, her compassion was swiftly replaced by something unrecognizable.
-
@abrony-mouse Octavia perked her ears, not to the crash, but for the creak of the old tower door. "Too late now," Silver remarked, "I guess I have to look worried now, don't I?" Fuchsia and Silver were only a few hoofsteps away from freedom when the tower revealed Miss. Dreams to the rest of the temple. Her mane was the most striking: A thick bedhead. It would be comical if it wasn't atop the tallest mare Fuchsia had seen in years. Within it were two sets of ears. No, the lower pair weren't ears but horns. Smooth as ivory and curled like a snail's shell. More peculiarly, her eyes were closed. Was she sleepwalking? With all the grace of a cloud, she strides into full view. Now that she was at ground level, Miss. Dreams adopted a heavy slouch. Without opening her eyes, she calls out with worry upon her face, "Mr. Tongue!" She then bites her tongue, "What do you want with us, Fuch-?" "Ahem, I'm sure if you just calm down you'll see that your emotions are getting the better of you. I just don't want you to regret yourself."
-
@abrony-mouse The pulpit crashes to the granite with all the force one would expect. "Well, you don't see this every day." Mr. Tongue rasped monotonously, "An elderly stallion being murdered in a place of worship. I take it you don't want me to alert the others here. To what do I owe the pleasure of my assassination?" It would appear Silver Tongue's deeds have finally caught up to him. However, there was no fear within him. "Well, at least you'll spare me from the worst. No unfinished business is worth what awaits me." Truly resigned to his perceived fate, he savored his last breaths. That turned out to be a mistake. With a lurch, Silver hacked up a series of sickly coughs. His breathing was shallow after that. A few clicks from on high interrupted Silver's pity party. "Well, make it quick. Miss. Dreams doesn't have to see this."
-
@abrony-mouse Beyond the threshold were rows of pews surrounding the circular pulpit. The arrangement lent itself to more interactive demonstrations. The speaker would need to turn around often to keep sections of the audience from feeling neglected. The ceiling disappeared into shadow as the candlelight could only go so far. The windows behind the candles stands were the largest contributors to the air of intimidation. At the center, Mr. Tongue was busy carrying away the pulpit. He levitated it over to a door that must have lead to the tower and opened it before ascending with the pulpit in tow. Octavia was putting out the many candles that decorated the windows with a bell-shaped tool. It was hard to tell with the tool in her mouth, but Octavia still had that vacant sense of euphoria to her. As if to mirror the broader situation, the room slowly dimmed as Octavia snuffed away. Perhaps this is routine maintenance, but the symbol on the ground where the pulpit used to be, begged to differ. Lo, it was a larger scale of the mark on Octavia's door.
-
The sky ignited for the second time that night. The tower hazed with a sickening hew. A foreboding bell hammers. The color flickers. Once full of vigor, now the bell strained to keep its tempo. An intangible evil looms from above. Octavia's assailant scuttles forth. Low! Intelligent intervention! With a squeak of historic wood, the light of the temple escaped through the front door. A familiar outline gave Octavia hope. The clawed thing was undeterred. That was until a mass of small moths engulfed the thing in a vortex of wings. Just as soon as it started, it was over. The claw marks and unnatural skeleton were the only evidence to validate the lingering terror. The outline adopted a color as it approached Octavia. A criminally conventional green coat under a striking grey mane and tail. It knelt down and offered a hoof to her. One would expect a gentle aid, only to see a jerking lift. "You're late," came a harsh grizzle of a voice, "The wax has begun to cool, so I expect some earth pony grit." At the mention of earth pony quality, the stallion's unicorn horn had prevalence. "Sorry Mr. Tongue," Octavia pledged as she regained her hoofing, "I trust Miss. Dreams is doing well". "None of your concern," Mr. Tongue said more as a matter of course than one of derision or anger. The door strains to close itself under the green telekinetic grip. Just as the door closes, the petals on the path liquidate and melt into the ground. All comfort has left this place.
-
@Starforce Mayor Mare took on a conspiratory look at the thought of Moonlight working with Mr. Tongue. Her unease gave way to realization when she realized that Moonlight must have been with the cultural exchange. It would make sense with the timing of all the new residents. However, the fact that the new residents work directly with the project treasurer seems like corruption. At least she had a mare on the inside. Then came more bad news. Starlight had protection. Moonlight sounded like she wanted to avoid using prison altogether. Letting Starlight slip up was appealing. Starlight did seem comfortable enough as it is. Getting her to slip up would only be a matter of time. Then she could nail her to the wall with practiced rhetoric. It would be just like the debate team in her old school. "That sound's like an excellent use of our talents!" She nodded with zeal before breaking the embrace, "Oh, but we must touch base after the party. I have to do a last-minute checkup before the guest of honor arrives." @ExplosionMare BonBon was annoyed that the source of her discomfort would have to remain, but then Starlight talked about giving up all of her worldly possessions. That was a deal-breaker. Her shop was her life. Throwing it away, just to scratch an itch, was sounding sillier by the second. However, if she could find the staff for herself... BonBon looked at Starlight with a half-grin and excused herself and prattled off, "That sounds great! I'll have to visit, but Lyra might need some help setting up the sweets. I'll go help her!" Before Starlight could get a word in, she quickly dashed to Lyra's side and the two talked opaquely. @abrony-mouse "He's taking us all on a magical journey to a place without pain," Octavia explained, "I really shouldn't be late, though." The whole time, Octavia was finding a way out of Fuchsia's grip. A heart-stopping series of thumps knocked the smile right off Octavia's face. It sounded like the intrusion was coming from Fuchsia's left. And behold, a mass of limbs thrashing across the grassy hill. Its fur was ragged like a feral rat, and its claws carved through both grass and dirt alike. Doom by any other name.
-
@ExplosionMare A two wore the same frown, but for different reasons. Bonbon looked to her flank with a stern expression. There was a faint itching around her cutie mark. The itch was so subtle that she could have sworn she felt it all her life. It reminded her of a bandage that she wore for far too long. Like most itches, her focus ignited the need to scratch. This thing, on her hip. It wasn't her. It was part of her. Something not necessary to the whole. And it had overstayed its welcome. "Let's go, Bonbon," Lyra protectively insisted, "Didn't you say you had to set up the sweets?" "That can wait." Bonbon absentmindedly shot back, "I wanna' hear this out." Lyra was genuinely dumbfounded. She was confident that Bonbon was looking for an excuse to get away from the strange mare with strange ways. Not knowing what to do, she wandered off to do... She hadn't figured that part out. The important part was that she was away from that bazaar pony, even if she couldn't take her friend with her. @Starforce "Then it's settled," Mayor Mare confirmed, the depths of her pupils shining with drive. "I wish I could take more direct action, but she looks like she came in with the cultural exchange ponies. A Silver gave me quite a sum to house them here, and I don't have the bits to violate the contract. However, I do know the law around here. If you see her doing anything overtly immoral, then --if it turns out to be illegal-- I'll be able to give her jail time."
-
@abrony-mouse Octavia was much more stout than her springy stride communicated. The fact that she could find such solid purchase on the obtuse ground would remain unexplained. Both were obstacles devoid of consequence, for Fuchsia's stance was low enough to tip the center of mass. And behold, as all beasts do --in all eventuality-- she fell. A heavy thud accompanied the feeling of impact Fuchsia got. The two had landed off the path with Fuchsia firmly atop Octavia. When their minds caught up with them, it was Octavia that stole the first word, "Fuchsia?" Confusion made way for elation, "Oh, this is wonderful! I can finally introduce you to the shepherd!" The temple was a silent observer. Its windows were like glowing kaleidoscopes. At any moment, those heavy wooden doors could swing open. A pony could spy from atop the joint tower.
-
A flower, that's who!
-
@abrony-mouse In all fairness, those petals are a pretty unfair way of killing off a character. No harm, no foul?
-
@Starforce The tension in the air held no mandate for Mayor Mare. Her years of political servitude gave her a hearty tolerance toward the out-of-touch and entrenched. She gave a practiced nod and hooked a forehoof over Moonlight's neck to whisper into her ear, "May we speak in private?" "So, sorry, miss," She said to Starlight with a smile, "I'll be with you in a moment." When the two were a distance away, Mayor Mare's tone rose in severity, "I take it there is a history between the two of you, and I'll admit I had my misgivings toward you. If you're right about that mare --and I think you are-- then this could be a serious issue that we aren't equipped to handle. "Our guards left to escort Miss Sparkle, and the mare in question is one we rely on quite a bit for protection." "You have the most experience with her. So, I'll be relying on you to guide my actions." Just as the Mayor said the work Sparkle, her mane came alive with a vibrant pink. Seemingly oblivious to the comical shift, Mayor Mare was conflicted. Perhaps the Mayor is too trusting, but the risks were too dire. If the town lost all of their cutie marks then the economy would grind to a defining halt, and the population would be too great a burden. @ExplosionMare "Oh, what do you think they're talking about?" BonBon whispered conspiratorially. "You think she offended Mayor Mare?" Lyra encouraged. "Big deal! We all know Twilight calls the shots around here." The two shot back and forth, countering each other's conjecture. "Wait, didn't you hear what she said? The cutie mark removal?" The two looked at Starlight with worry on their faces. BonBon was noticeably more at ease. "What exactly do you mean by that," BonBon insisted, wanting to give her savior the benefit of the doubt.
-
Finally got my response in. @abrony-mouse I didn't give you a tone to work with. I can post again if your character doesn't want to interrupt Octavia.
-
@Starforce Lyra thought about Moonlight's dramatic 'is that all I am to you?' comment. The mare wasn't used to helping others, Lyra concluded. She approached a more jovial Mayor Mare than she had expected. "You sure are putting your all into it." The mayor said, letting her smile crack into a grin, "and you brought our newest resident with you. She looks fun." "Ya, where is everypony?" @ExplosionMare "Oh, looks like they have just made it back now," the mayor pointed behind and to the right of Lyra --toward the crowd approaching from the street into the plaza. At the head of the herd was none other than Starlight Glimmer and BonBon. The former tried her best to blend in while the latter talked as she guided her to the plaza. "I don't know about that. I think saving my life was pretty special. Besides, I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't make candy." "Oh," Lyra jumped as she turned to see BonBon, "There you are!" BonBon waved as her friend approached, "Hey Lyra! You won't believe what just happened!" "Same here! Theirs this moody pony that I met," They both took on a gossipy tone as they caught up with one another. "Hold on," BonBon said with a grin and removed Lyra's decorative balloon, "You were saying?" @abrony-mouse Under the waxing gibbous, a grey earth-pony skipped and pranced her way across a bright red road. The brown dirt was eclipsed by red petals so soft that it was difficult to tell when a pony's hoof has met the ground. Octavia had no problems traversing the abnormally comfortable track, but Fuchsia would have to take extra care not to trip over herself. So red were the petals that they activated the appetite. How would such an exotic flower taste? The path leads to the edge of the Everfree Forest. Up a hill, upon the threshold of trees was a large stone building with an attached tower. The stained glass windows glowed with life, and the small stone 'wall' surrounding what had to be the temple's lawn was too short to hold any resistance.
-
Another smaller post. A lot of interactivity and a familiar setting, so not a lot of detail to write about.
-
@ExplosionMare "Thank you so much," The mare exclaimed, more lively than any other pony Starlight had seen thus far, "I don't know what happened. One moment I was walking down the street, then I'm stiff as a board, and finally, you're standing over me, and I'm all better." "I'm BonBon, by the way. I've never seen a cutie mark like yours before. In case you're new here, I'll let you know we're having an after-party for Princess Twilight Sparkle." @Starforce Glimmer "The name's Lyra in case you were wondering," The green mare introduced to break the silence on the way to the town square. When they got there, she looked confused. "Where did everypony go?" She asked a'loud. The square was sparsely populated. About what one would expect for a normal day. "We should all be here in case Twilight comes home early." "Well, here's some balloons to set up," Lyra pointed to a basket next to them, "I'll talk to Mayor Mare."
-
@abrony-mouse Sorry for the short reply. Just one of those situations were I had to get the story rolling before I go into detail.
-
@Starforce Glimmer The mare before Moonlight was similarly lost. Part of her wanted to look for a way out of the situation, yet another felt bad for Moonlight. No, sympathy wasn't what really kept her. She was curious. How could her banner be bad news? Anyone who knew of Twilight would be happy for her, right? "We're all preparing to celebrate Princess Twilight's afterparty," The mare interjected, "She'll be here any hour. We could really use some help setting up decorations." It was a shot in the dark, but maybe getting Moonlight on the same job as her would help Moonlight open up. @ExplosionMare On a much grimmer note, Starlight was compressing a stiff mare's chest. Her technique was unorthodox: Three quick compressions with two staggered relaxations. Any doctor would have noted that without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, her chest compressions would be completely pointless. Her spell also missed the mark as her heart was the fault and not her muscles. Her muscles loosened only to go limp. Her eyes reset, only to dilate. Miraculously, as Starlight continued her futile compressions, the mare's pupils shrank, her heart pounded mightily and in time with Starlight's own. With a great breath of life, the mare rose to her hooves! After nearly knocking over Starlight, the mare gave a spry hop and bowed rapidly toward Starlight. The crowd erupted into stomping applause that would rival a stampede of the same size. @abrony-mouse It did not take long for Fuchsia's tomfoolery to be interrupted. With a defining creak, the door to Octavia's bedroom opened. There the mare in question stood, a placid smile on her face and an unfocused gaze to match. Her eyes were not on Fuchsia but the exit. A mark was upon her neck. The very same one Fuchsia found on the door.
