Hazard Time

@Randimaxis Almost immediately, the door swung open to reveal Ophelia, beaming eagerly. "Welcome! Please, come inside! Do watch your step, it can be a little cramped." The inside of the wagon was, indeed, a cramped affair. Nearly half of the wagon was taken up by a large mattress with a wardrobe and trunk crammed against the side. A pocketed shelf stood in a window containing many flowers and herbs, including lavender, tulips, and rosemary. The other half of the wagon contained a single round wooden table which had seen plenty of use. Two chairs sat at either ends, and opposite the customer sat Dahlia, her red hood up as she idly shuffled her tarot deck. "Please, have a seat," she invited, her voice soft and soothing. Her sister left the customer and rummaged through the trunk before pulling out several metal sticks with her mouth. After establishing herself, she briefly brushed her bangs from her eyes, catching sight of the door, and carefully making her way outside. After a few short minutes, it was clear that she was beginning to assemble a fire pit with a spit. The tea kettle nearby hinted at her intentions. "Before I ask for payment, I must inquire of several things. Is there a name your prefer to be called by? What inspired you to seek me out? Do you have questions, concerns, or fears on your mind?" The slender mare continued shuffling her deck, her movements quick and practiced. "I should also give some disclosure. I am not a fortune teller. I am not a seer, nor an oracle. In some respects, you may think of me as a medium between this world and the next, a beacon on the ethereal plane of existence to which omniscient spirits are drawn. I cannot command them nor bind them. Should they wish to speak, this deck shall be their voice. However, the answers they give will be cryptic. I can translate, but only you can find meaning in their words." ------------- Low nearly stumbled over himself as he went over to the buffet. His magic stuttered as he tried to grab several food items, then hurriedly took his seat by Vylia. His eyes remained on his plate. He wasn't hungry, but he forced himself to eat. The sooner they forgot he was there, the better. "Oh, yes, of course, let us talk business," Carnelian welcomed. Her plate had been pushed off to the side, having eaten most of it as she relished the entertainment before her. "I am glad you are establishing a menu, but before I can go further, I would like to inquire as to your guest list. I have a number of individuals and influencers I can invite. Several hundred, as a matter of fact. You must give me a number for your maximum capacity."

@Randimaxis Ophelia cast a smile in his direction before making her way back to her cart. "In that case, I should probably help her clean the place up and make it ready for customers. It isn't exactly in the best of shape since we...yeah, fell down the mountain. Catch you later, Chuck!" The crystalline mare closed the door behind her, hurriedly placing various items back on their shelves and cleaning up some dirt from Dada's various flower pots. Her sister wasn't too far behind, and after a few minutes, the shorter twin exited and pulled on a string on the outside. Immediately, a banner flipped up on the side, proudly advertising, "Tarot readings! Ask your guardian spirits for guidance! 5 bits!" ------------------------------------ At the very outset, Low seemed...excited. Though he never had a sense of fashion, he always loved the idea of dressing up. To see himself in a well tailored suit, drawing the appreciation and complement of every mare and stallion at the ball...he couldn't keep the smile back. Not that that ever seemed to happen to him, since stallions in resplendent clothing were a dime a dozen at noble balls, and he would have stuck out about as well as a flashlight against the sun. Further dampening his glee was Vylia's sudden confrontation. He could have easily retorted by explaining to her that he would have loved that uniform, but he didn't dare stand against her. The matriarch's words stung with a slap, his tail soon folding between his legs as his ears flattened. He wasn't hungry any more, he wanted to go back to his room, turn the shower back on, and sit under it for the rest of the day. His skin was already warm to the touch as his cheeks burned with shame. If he didn't leave soon, he'd probably burst into tears. Carnelian, on the other hand, was enjoying this. If she wasn't trying not to give her own game up, she would have applauded Vylia. It was most likely that she didn't realize the gall she had to talk down to a noble stallion, regardless of his standing, especially with his guardian in the same room. Then again, judging from Low's wavering spine, he didn't realize that either. Well, she wasn't about to tell that, maybe later that night, when she had the chance. Make it hurt. Slide the knife in slowly. Twist it. Make the wound grievous. Leave the knife in. Make sure he never forgets the pain. He will never want to feel that way again. "I leave that decision up to you, my dear Vylia. Low has always been one for gaudy outfits, he might enjoy it." Her eyes left her hostess to stare into Low's, who immediately turned his gaze to the floor. "In the end, it will be your resources spent. In the mean time, Low, do stop gawking and join us. You must be famished."

I'll leave a reminder to myself to reply later in the week. I have a midterm tomorrow, so wish me luck!

@Randimaxis As Dahlia took a walk to clear her mind, Ophelia took control of the conversation. "If you could arrange that, my sister and I would appreciate that greatly, Chuck." She flashed a smile back at him before rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "Unfortunately, it kinda seems like we're trapped here. We could always walk, but it's a long road, and Dada and I aren't exactly...cut out for that sort of thing. Plus, all of my sister's equipment is in that carriage, and we can't simply just carry or drag it along with us. "Speaking of, though, once she cools down, I think Dada would love it if you commissioned a tarot reading from her. Tell your friends, too! Only five bits a spread!" The crystal mare beamed back at him, hoping that her attempt to turn the conversation into a marketing pitch would go over well. Plus, it would mean they'd still be making money while still being treated to the hospitality of their hosts. --------------------- Carnelian had gone quiet, simply observing and absorbing. This was an amusing turn of events, some much needed entertainment to start off the day. Low, on the other hand, gulped as a bead of sweat ran down his brow. He slowly approached the Blackwater matriarch, doing his best to keep his composure as his mistress had instructed him. "Yes, Missus Blackwater?"

Sorry I haven't been active! Wasn't sure if everyone was waiting on me or not. I'll try and get out a post tomorrow.

That was an insightful read, and I'm glad you like her! I've been developing Ophelia's abilities, and I'm still trying to nail down her exact powers, so don't be surprised if during the course of this thread, some things get retconned. What I have right now anyway is what you've already described, where she's able to sense emotions through either direct skin or eye contact. The downside to this is that, while she's reading others' emotions, the other person knows their psyche is being invaded and rifled around through. Ophelia can be as delicate as she wants, but the amount of mental distress her actions typically cause is akin to stripping the subject down and examining every inch of their naked body. Unless the other pony is very familiar with her, as is the case with her sister, Dahlia, the longer the bond is held, the greater the feelings of violation and distress grow. She's never caused any lasting harm with this ability, but she's since grown her bangs out to conceal her eyes and wears thick stockings to shield her sensitive hooves. That doesn't mean she doesn't still try to be social and outgoing, even if her more mature sister is constantly trying to reel her in. I came into the thread rather late, and so I'd love to see how well Ophelia and Illiad get along!

@Widdershins Hope you don't mind, but I moved on. The twins are currently where most of the group seems to be.

@Widdershins Everyone's coming back!

@Illiad Easle Here's the story from my end: Lady Carnelian Clout has arrived from the Crystal Empire and is currently chatting it up with Vylia. While Luther has been rather suspicious of her (and rightly so), she's managed to convince the Blackwater matriarch to allow her to prepare and host a private soiree at the manor in the hopes of giving them some exposure as well as providing them an opportunity to improve their standing. Her ward, Mister Low Key, has fallen in with Dax and developed something of a crush. In an attempt to impress him, he's now found himself on Oglivy's bad side, and can only hope that the vengeance which is due upon him isn't much worse than the first prank the youngest Blackwater pulled on him earlier in the day. Meanwhile, unrelated to the noble entourage, a pair of psychic siblings from the Crystal Empire, Dahlia and Ophelia, arrived in what used to be a self-moving carriage. It isn't exactly going anywhere for the time being, so they've decided to wait here until somepony is kind enough to repair it, or if they could perhaps ply their trade and pay in their usual manner.

@Randimaxis "An interesting talent set, Mister List. You want to know what my talent is?" Ophelia leans in close, a smile on her lips as she smokily whispers, "I touch ponies~" "That is enough, Oph." With her conversation partner gone, Dahlia could stand her sister's flirting no longer, much to Ophelia's chagrin. "Can you not tease every pony we come across?" "And can you not act like mom for just one minute?" "I will when you start being honest." "Dada, there's a reason I handle the family business and you just sit pretty like the flowers you love more than your own sister, but fine, I'll be boring." Ophelia chuckles as she turns her attention back to Chuck. "I'm an empath, it's why my hooves have these obnoxious thick socks on them, and why my bangs are long enough to cover my eyes. Without the proper state of mind, my intrusive consciousness could frighten or disturb a pony. So, to prevent that, my loving sister and I have agreed that I never be allowed to have any fun or meet pon-" "That is NOT what I said! I am simply trying to -" "Shhh sh sh shhhhh...we're in public, Dada, let's not make a scene~" Dahlia groaned and stormed off, content to leave her uppity sister to make an idiot of herself outside of her perception. "Don't worry about Dada, Mister List. I love her, and she loves me, but after spending a few weeks trapped together in a carriage that was meant for one pony, we have a little bit of stress to work out. We had to meld minds for half that just to prevent further drama, and that is a place I have no intention of returning to unless entirely necessary." -------------------- Low's satisfaction was palpable...up until that glare settled on him. That glare was enough to make his blood run cold, though that was nothing new. He should have realized before he let Dax talk him into this that he could not take what he dished out. A storm was brewing, and the unicorn had the notion that he had just signed his own death warrant. Sheepishly, his ears flattened against his head as he tried to find a nice quiet place where Oglevy wouldn't find him. Carnelian was having a nice chuckle, completely unaware of her ward's plight. Instead, she was focused more on the Blackwater youth's obvious discomfort. She could see exactly what was going on, Dax wasn't as subtle as he thought. Still, she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to see an adorable foal all dressed up. It would be a valuable experience for him, especially if he sought her opinion out afterwards. Low's lesson, however, would come in time. He knew what he had done, and now he should be prepared to lay in the bed he made.

Been incredibly busy myself and got a little sidetracked. I'll work on this after dinner.

@Randimaxis @Blitz Boom Despite her eyes being obscured behind a blindfold and heavy bangs, a blush and a smile came to Ophelia's face from the emotions she was feeling. She wasn't about to turn down such attention, especially if it made her sister uncomfortable to see her flirting. "Chuck list? An interesting name. Tell me about your talents, Mr. List." Her hoof rose up to play with her mane until she couldn't keep her giggles down any longer, using that same hoof to cover her mouth as she giggled. She could already feel Dahlia side-eyeing her, but she ignored the pangs of frustration. The wagon was right there, she could wait inside and water her flowers if she didn't want to let her have her fun. ------------------------- @Randimaxis For the most part, Carnelian remained silent, watching the chaos unfold around her with anticipation and a gleam of curiosity. Low was having a hard time not wearing his emotions on his sleeve as he beamed at Dax, the rush of endorphins proving too much for him. This was all happening so fast, and he'd never felt so satisfied at doing something so petty! He almost felt some sympathy creeping in...almost.

While I'm waiting for other posts, I have more commissions that just came in! Ophelia and Dahlia by https://www.deviantart.com/harmoniousrain/ Carnelian by https://www.deviantart.com/delzol/gallery/

@Blitz Boom @Randimaxis For the first time during their visit, there almost seemed to be a snap between the two sisters, emotions seemed to appear on their faces as they went about their own business. The purple mare withdrew her hoof from the forestallion's chest, smiling up at him knowingly. "Are my stockings that soft?" she giggled coyly. "Try wearing them all the time and get back to me. Still, better than the alternative. Also, I don't think we introduced ourselves properly. I'm Ophelia, and my sister is Dahlia." The purple mare held her hoof out blindly for him to shake. Meanwhile, the other mare appeared slightly shocked by the new development, her eyes shifting as she approached Ziggy. "The spirits can be mischievous at times. For those without the ability, they can be fickle and capricious. I can tame them enough to provide accurate readings of others...though they can be rather hostile if I ask about me." She gave a meagre smile before continuing. "I think both of us will be alright. Ophelia's pain tolerance is legendary, and I'm alright. The Crystal Empire is very beautiful, and I miss it. The main reason we left was Ophelia's suggestion. There would be more money to make if we took our services out on the road." She stares at the ground and kicks at a pebble. "The spirits told me this would bring great success, and I made the mistake of believing them." ----------------------------- Low's eyes went wide and he nearly lost his composure until Vylia lost hers first. When he saw her reaction, only then did he relax and prepare his breakfast while she did her work with Carnelian. For her part, the viscountess eyed both her ward and the book he deposited at her hooves with confusion before her hostess was upon her. As she turned the pages, her eyes twinkled as she grinned from ear to ear. "What a beautiful little dear! How adorable!" She crooned with every new outfit and photograph she was presented, her expression of genuine affection. She so missed having a foal...why did Ametrine ever have to leave? When would she come home? These feelings weren't helped when she noticed the unmentioned Blackwater colt. She would ask about him, but later. For the moment, it was supposed to be a happy occasion! Though those tutors would also be a lesson for her. She would not underestimate this child.

I'll try and get out a response later tonight. To hold everyone over until then, have my latest Carnelian commission ovo Also, I have no problem with Corner

@Randimaxis Did you want me to add Carnelian's response or wait for Vylia's?

@Blitz Boom The two mares ceased their bickering for a moment to regard the zegasus. "We are fine." "If nauseated and perturbed." "Though you are free to perform your tests on us." "We do not remember experiencing any trauma past that of the mental variety." When the foreman spoke up, however, both mares turned their heads towards him, cocking their heads in perfect synchronicity. "Your accent befuddles us." "We apologize, it is very foreign to us." "I offer a secondary method of translation." "She will not be invasive." @Randimaxis The smaller mare lifted a bestockinged hoof, laying it against the forepony's chest. She stood there for a few seconds before speaking up. "I feel your concern." "She also senses befuddlement, inquiry." "We come from the Crystal Empire to ply our trade." "Sisters, twins, psychics." "I can sense emotions, feel energy fields." "I can speak to spirits and communicate their wisdom through tarot." "Our services are affordable." "If you are interested." ----------------------------------------------------------- Low couldn't help but giggle at Dax's behavior. It was so exaggerated and goofy, and that only added to the surrealness of the situation. His first backroom deal, and it involved smuggling compromising photos into the hooves of a powerful pony to demoralize another...would Carnelian be proud of him then? This thought was interrupted by the album being pushed onto him. Dax sure found that one fast. Low flipped through the pages, glancing at a few of the pictures. None of them really stood out, though then again, he wasn't exactly a foal-pony. Still, he had his directions, and he headed off to the dining room. He found it easily enough, but before he set hoof in, he hesitated at a thought. How would he introduce this to his Lady? Would he just place it near her and run out? Would he tell her all that was going on? He had to say something, but he couldn't say everything. He'd have to improvise, and that was something else that he could impress Carnelian in. "Good morning, Miss Carnelian," Low announced as he entered. "I was going through the study and found something that you and Miss Vylia would love to see." Low placed the book beside the noblemare and wandered off to the buffet line, barely stifling a nervous giggle. His ears twitched as he waited for the results.

Me and @Blitz Boom are still here!

Roleplay might not have been the best word to use, and I was a little distracted while writing that, so my apologies. It was a bit disingenuous to suggest that practitioners of Wicca and other forms of witchcraft don't believe that their rituals hold any sort of power. For clarification, when I mentioned atheistic witches, I was insinuating that they held a New Age belief system. This system, which I've heard most commonly from ideologues such as Spirit Science, does believe in supernatural phenomena, such as telekinesis, crystal power, sacred geometry, etc but doesn't assert the existence of permanent divine beings. Although some do assert the existence of divine beings, they aren't quite the same as what we would recognize as a god, but rather that they're transdimensional hyper-intelligences, the remnant of a mortal being who ascended to a higher plane of existence. To elaborate further on my opinion, although I don't believe in supernatural phenomena, the occult is still a fascinating subject that I've dabbled in. I have two OCs with psychic powers, one who practices yoga and believes in crystal healing, and I've had thoughts about integrating some occult ideas into the tabletop roleplaying games I run.

Got into this discussion late, but I have mixed feelings on witchcraft. As a skeptical atheist, if you can't demonstrate scientific evidence of supernatural phenomena, then witchcraft is about as harmful as live action roleplaying. The only time I would see witchcraft as harmful is when people assert that magic spells, crystal healing, yoga, or other forms of alternative medicine trump actual modern medicine and convince other people to stop chemotherapy in favor of woo. Although there have been incidents where various satanic cults got a little too immersed in their roleplaying and actually started sacrificing animals, from what I've seen, they tend to be outliers, and the majority of witches are atheistic in nature.

@Randimaxis The eagerness was infectious, and Low was smiling just the same as Dax. "That sounds absolutely devilish! I have never done something like this before, and it feels so...exhilarating! I do not know of any better ways to deliver this album aside from giving it directly to Miss Carnelian. I will let you handle the part about the sailor uniform, though in short order..." The unicorn leaned in close, his smile showing a hint of conspiratorial anticipation. "I am in." ---------------------------------- Carnelian's brow visibly arched as Vylia gushed about her son. How much of it was motherly pride, and how much of it was truth? She hadn't expected that sort of intellect from a foal, which only made her curiosity towards the youngest Blackwater grow. However, in the back of her mind was the troubling thought that a small, flying foal with the intelligence of a colt twice his age had free range of the quarry. Pegasi were always a wildcard to Carnelian. If she were back in the empire, she could leave a top window open and not have to worry about peeping toms. Pegasi, on the other hoof, violated that sanctity, and forced her to consider security options that she wished she didn't have to. In short, while Luther had set himself up as an open nemesis, Oglevy sat in the middle, at once a great threat and a great asset. She didn't hold any thoughts yet that he would work against his own family, but it would be better than they remain on good terms. "There is no shame in having pride in the achievements of your offspring, especially when they have accomplished as much as your son has. Counter to what most would think, there is no better feeling than when you see your foal excelling and exceeding your own accomplishments." --------------------------- The carriage's course was set, and there was nothing the occupants could do to stop it. Nothing short of divine intervention could stop this carriage. Funnily enough, a large rock was rather close that. As the wheel made contact, the straining axle could take no more and snapped, the car falling front first as it kicked up a large dust cloud. When it cleared, the wagon was still visible, nestled just between the shack and the vault, a meter to spare. For a minute, there was a silence in the cabin. Then, the door slowly opened, a set of steps flipping out. Two quartets of hooves stepped out simultaneously, their owners looking around at their surroundings in dismay. Both wore clothing which covered their bodies, though the short purple one was more clothed than the other. Stockings covered her legs, a thick blindfold obscuring her vision as she stared straight ahead. The brown one towered above her, her heavy red coat unbuttoned. As they argued, their voices remained monotone. "Unfortunate." "Waylaid." "Spirits." "Deaf." "Unforeseen consequences." "Warning." "Tricked." "You." "Blameless." "No." "Yes." "No." "Blind." "Useless." "Oaf." "Lanky."

@Blitz Boom @Randimaxis It's probably my turn. My RP rut hasn't really improved, but if other people are waiting on me, then I can brute force one out later today.

Depends on what you mean by "make him look nicer." Do you mean finding a better color palette? Designing a good wardrobe? Once you've cleared that up, there are two ways to improve. The first is simply to consult with someone who's more knowledgeable or experienced. For example, I have many artist friends that I can go to and ask about color palettes. The second option is to do the research yourself. Color palettes are readily available on the internet as well as simple wardrobe ensembles. When doing the latter, though, you should take care to try and be original unless it's something simple, like a dress you found on the Macy's website.