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Hazard Time

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Everything posted by Hazard Time

  1. Sorry that took so much time to get out, this weekend's been busy :c Hope you don't mind me simply saying that your character just jumped off and ran away from the carriage?
  2. @Widdershins Hope I'm not too late, but I just posted!
  3. @Widdershins The abomination(s?) was gone, but the shock still wore heavy on the occupants of the carriage. The panic passed between them like a hot potato, dissipating slowly. Too slowly, in fact. By the time they had gotten a hold of themselves, their screams once more pierced the thin walls of the carriage as it fell over the edge, picking up speed as it rode down the slope, heading straight for the quarry at an ever faster speed. All that could be done was to brace for the coming impact. @Randimaxis Low wasn't quite sure how to react, but nodded emphatically. His anger was starting to dissipate, but when would the next prank target him? Would it be a predictable tomato juice booby trap again, or something different, something he wasn't prepared for? He wasn't willing to take the chance, and Dax seemed to know better. Everything would work out, he just hoped that it wouldn't end up with Oglevy being even more spiteful towards him. "I would not really know what it is like to have a brother, I grew up an only child," he admitted. "Though I will be deferring to your judgement. You know him better than I, after all." Low fixed a warm smile on his face. "So...what do we do first, or should we wait?" --------------------------- "How I raised my daughter and how I instructed Mister Low are two separate beasts, entirely. I was much more hooves-on with Ametrine, though my ward is old enough that I don't have to spoon-feed most of my lessons to him. I've noticed he has a high-capacity for abstraction, so I've taken to sprinkling some symbolism into his studies. If he read ponies as well as he can read into subtle motifs and themes, then his social skills would be quite impressive. For the moment, though, we still have plenty to work on." The subconscious twitch did not pass by the viscountess. Her ears twitched as she analyzed it briefly. Guilt, perhaps? Why would one be guilty over instilling respect and discipline in your foals? That was one of Carnelian's greatest successes, even if it was technically a failure. She'd come around. "Normally, my dear Miss Vylia, I would say that you would be the one who best knows what interests your family, though I am willing to brainstorm some ideas I've had. For example, I believe that it would be important that each individual's concerns be addressed and assuaged through companionship. When a pony knows that others share his trepidations, he becomes more accepting of his situation as he will not be suffering alone. I have a few associates in mind that would make for possible matches for your husband, though I would need more time to think on it before I volunteer their names. As an example, I emphasize our own friendship as well as that of Mister Low Key and Daxter. Oglevy, however...I admit I do not know much about him, though he piqued my interest at supper last night. Could you tell me more about the youngest Blackwater?"
  4. @Widdershins I'll see about getting a reply out very soon so that we resolve that before you leave.
  5. Sorry I haven't been active here, either. Finals are coming up next week.
  6. Everything alright @Randimaxis? Haven't heard from you in a while. Otherwise, I got more art of one of the twins, namely Ophelia with an alt-hairstyle and blindfold that I'm making canon. She mostly wears the blindfold in public, and she only tolerates it as the necessary evil that it is.
  7. Animation would still have existed, the problem is that before Snow White, no one took it seriously. Animated shorts were commonly made to play before actual feature films to keep the kids entertained, and nobody believed that it would be possible to hold their attention through a full feature-length film. Of course, Walt Disney proved them wrong by making Snow White the first feature-length animated film. Sure, it hasn't aged well and there are plenty of "not so progressive" tropes, but this was a huge milestone not just in the animation industry, but in the movie industry as a whole. It showed that not only can you make an entertaining animated feature-length film for children, but that you could make money while doing it.
  8. Full disclosure: I have not seen Black Panther, and I have no intention to see it (Not because of the politics mind you, but simply because I'm not a big movie goer). Having said that, I feel that the only reason people are praising it so highly is because of the current political climate. Conveniently, however, they forget that this wasn't the first film adaptation of a black comic book hero, and both Blade and Steel beat this movie to the box office by 20 years. However, when you get down to it, I can concede that Blade and Steel aren't really in the same league as Black Panther: Blade is about a vampire hunter and Steel...well, it stars Shaq as the protagonist, need I say more? So yeah, I hope Black Panther is a good movie, politics aside, and I'm sure it is. The problem lies entirely with the identitarians who think that this movie and everyone involved in it represent the greatest virtues of progress and anyone who has anything bad to say about it has no reason to hate the movie other than they're racist. It'll be sad to see if this goes the way of Frozen which, again, while not necessarily a terrible movie, was overhyped and shoved down everyone's throats to the point that most people want nothing to do with it anymore.
  9. Got some Carnelian-themed commissions that finally finished! The artist for all of them is Tambelon. A scene that those who read Carnelian's backstory (the one I posted here) would recognize R!63 Carnelian (Garnet Greatness) and Low Key (Wallflower)
  10. @Randimaxis Low took in Dax's offer, his ears flicking as the gears in his head started working. He really didn't care that much about getting revenge on Oglivy. The fires of anger were already smoldering out by the time his big brother had come around, maybe it was for the best that he held on to this grudge? Dax certainly seemed interested in getting back at him, so perhaps it was pertinent that he get involved, as well. Then again, Carnelian had warned him about his infatuation, so what was the correct course of action? "I can't say one way or the other what Carnelian would do," he answered. "She's not the most predictable of ponies. However, she does love foals, from what I've seen anyway. She might not even need to be asked to give us the reaction we want." ---------------------------------------- Carnelian seated herself at the table, and soon dug into her food, cutting them into small bites before taking dainty little bites from them. Her ears flicked in the direction of Vylia's voice, her mind absorbing every word and working through a correct response. It wouldn't be prudent to let her know about Mister Low's intentions with her son. He was a colt with his own mind, and he would decide the time and place when he finally decided to become a stallion. "From what Mister Low has told me, he and Daxter have bonded quite nicely," she explained after washing her last bite down with some coffee. "And if I will be honest, my teaching style has a very 'hooves-off' approach. You can lecture at a pony for hours at a time, but how much of it will they absorb? You can give them a test on a piece of paper and they might get all of them right, but how will you know that they will apply that knowledge to real life scenarios? "The conclusion I came to is that life lessons are best learned from mistakes. I did not tell Mister Low that a particular costume he wished to wear to the Crystal Gala was poorly made and utterly laughable. The lesson was the humiliation he suffered first hoof. I can understand that some ponies might see this as cruel, but if I had just told him not to wear it, he either would have become indignant or reliant upon my tastes instead of developing his own. He now does his own research before costume balls, seeking out the best tailors, asking advice from professionals in the fashion industry, and coming up with unique ideas that will set him apart in a good way. "Of course, I don't just sit back and eat bonbons while he chases butterflies. I do give him lessons and his knowledge of aristocratic traditions is entirely from me, but I don't sculpt his mind. He does that himself. His experiences build his own character, and I have no intention of interfering in that learning process." ------------------------ @Widdershins As the two heads stare through each window, a head stares back at each. Bright, verdant eyes stare out at the feline, freckles spackling her cheeks from under her bright red gothic hood. The other head finds nothing where the other's head would have been, though slightly lower, the top of a purple head peaks up over the windowsill, her endlessly deep pink gaze boring into the serpent. Both are silent for a moment, their gazes locked with the strange creature. Suddenly, their maws fall open simultaneously, and they shriek. The combined discordance seems to have an effect on the crystal, the powerlines flickering as the wagon begins to veer all over the road.
  11. As a crystal pony enthusiast, this is an interesting place to insert headcanon. According to canon, the Crystal Empire is a part of Equestria. However, it isn't really explained how an empire that only has control over a single city is somehow considered part of a principality, since the hierarchy is usually Empire >> Kingdom >> Principality >> Duchy >> County >> Barony etc. My personal headcanon is that the Crystal Empire used to be larger, and while it still has control over most of the Frozen North, it's still a vassal state under Equestria. The opinions of the crystal ponies in this regard are rather mixed since they would appreciate their independence after having lived under a tyrant for so long, though Equestrian culture isn't too different from theirs and Princess Cadance isn't that bad of a ruler.
  12. So in an attempt to get my writing juices flowing, I went over to Canterlot Avenue and made a profile for Carnelian! While I was there, I put pen to paper and wrote out her complete backstory. I still don't think it's complete, but I'm really rather proud of this retcon. I'll update her actual profile never when I feel like it. (Should give a warning that reader discretion is advised below this spoiler. It does conform to the rules and nothing explicit is stated in an explicit manner, but for the more sensitive among us, I thought it would only be courteous to give a warning.)
  13. Babs is supposed to be an East Coast accent, possibly Brooklyn, Boston, or New Jersey (I live on the West Coast, you tell me lol). Rarity's accent, on the other hand, is an artificial, cultivated accent, a bit like British RP (Received Pronunciation). It was cultivated among the American upper class during the late 19th and early 20th century as a way to accomplish the same goal as RP, to distinguish the members of the upper classes from the lower classes. As far as I know, there are no natural speakers anymore and the only people who seem to use it are actors.
  14. Basically, though again it all comes back to marketing. The target demographic influences everything else. For example, the first generation was targeted at young boys and girls, the second generation dropped the boys and exclusively targeted the girls, the third generation attempted to cash in on the much younger prepubescent girl demographic, and while the fourth generation originally started as a campaign towards younger girls, it has since branched out with things such as the Guardians of Harmony toy line, etc.
  15. It mostly has to do with consistency of the line, such as the characters, art style, toys, etc. The way the third generation was marketed, for example, was entirely different from the way the current generation is marketed, and if the rumors are true, then the marketing strategy of the next generation will be even more broad.
  16. @Randimaxis Low's forehead pressed against the tile of the shower stall, his body resting on his haunches as he let the warm water wash over him. How long would it take before he was rid of this contamination? Whatever, surely there was nothing waiting for h- That was when he heard the knock on his door. He instinctively raised his head, but then stopped to think. The water was nice and warm, and it so far seemed as if the world outside wanted him to stay in his room. Was it worth it? After a minute of thought, he decided on his course of action. His magic aura enveloped the shower knob and turned it off. The stallion grabbed a towel and gave himself a rudimentary dry, leaving the cloth draped over himself as he plodded across the carpet and opened his door. "Hello, Mister Dax," he mumbled, his eyes checking up and scanning every which way. He was too disillusioned to truly care about the mussed look of his mane, or that he was talking to his latest crush. Didn't Carnelian warn him about Dax? He had barely gotten out of bed and he was already thoroughly done with today. "Is there something you wished to ask me about?" -------------------------------- Carnelian wasn't surprised to find Vylia back behind the range. It was indeed beneath her, but Vylia wasn't Low; it would have been unnecessary to insult her intelligence by lecturing her a second time. Plus, the crystal mare had already known her to prefer her old habits, doing so a second time would degrade her opinion of her in the slightest. In either case, she avoided setting hoof directly in the kitchen, as part of her dress dragged across the floor. "Your culinary expertise and taste are impressive, Missus Vylia," she greeted, taking in a deep whiff of the smorgasbord before her. She grabbed a plate for herself and began taking some of the oatmeal, smearing a bagel with the cream cheese, and a cup of coffee. It seemed so rustic, having to gather her own meals instead of relying upon a serving staff. As long as nopony important was around to notice, then surely there was no harm in roughing it. ----------------------------------- @Widdershins Along the winding mountainside passes, carriages and carts found themselves hard pressed to keep away from the dangerously steep edges. Thankfully, the road wasn't so clogged this early in the morning, with the only disturbance being a peculiar wagon, intricate engravings and flowery details decorating its sides. The patterns were beautiful, if painted with cheap paint that was already beginning to chip. The most peculiar thing, however, was that no pony was pulling it. Sitting on the yoke, where a pony should be, was instead a large crystal, which glowed as the sun rose above the horizon. Blue lines drawn into the decorations weaving from the yoke to the wheels glowed with the same intensity, urging it on slowly but steadily. Were there any ponies inside? For all intents and purposes, it seemed quite lifeless.
  17. Kinda tired and admittedly not in the most joyous of moods, but I'll do my best to keep this thread's momentum
  18. In terms of designing as aesthetic for your OC, I have a few pointers. First, you want to identify your OC's personality/talent. For example, if it's a Christmas themed OC, you'd know then to use Christmas colors, such as white, light blue, or green and red, etc. Second, choose colors that match. A good number of people, even those with little knowledge of color theory, like myself, will easily be able to spot a clashing color palette. If you're not good at matching colors, then I'd talk to someone who is. Third, avoid using neon/oversaturated colors as your primary color. When used in small amounts, such as for minor details, they aren't as terrible as most people would make them out to be. It's only when your character's entire body is neon green that it becomes painful just to look at them. Finally, avoid using rainbow color palettes. This is mostly a problem within the MLP community, since you have Rainbow Dash establishing the precedent. I can understand that you might want to make your OC stand out, but it's also important to note that people are most likely to appreciate an OC that looks original. Plus, on the vast majority of OCs, rainbow manes just look garish.
  19. @Widdershins Well, you see, the twins aren't the most...athletic of ponies. Dahlia is a bit waifish and Ophelia is straight up lazy, so I was thinking they'd have invested the money they made from plying tourists with their "crystalline soothsaying" business into a self-driving covered wagon in the style of what you'd see straight out of Southern Europe. It would be a bit small and cramped for two ponies, but the two of them are tighter than bark on a tree, so they make do.
  20. @Widdershins Hmmmm....yes that could be interesting I'll probably make a post and leave an opening for you to interact.
  21. @Widdershins I'm not entirely sure :\ I was just planning to go along with what everyone else wants to do, but the important thing is the careening into the quarry was intended to be an accident.
  22. I like these ideas I'll wait for everyone to be in position before I orchestrate the instance.
  23. So in a manner that is entirely in character for myself, I'm going to take back what I said and introduce the twins, hopefully on this in game day. I just need your permission to have a rather...tumultuous introduction, as well as insight into how a runaway carriage might find itself careening into the quarry.
  24. @Randimaxis There was no time to react, no time even to make a sound. There was only the slimy coldness that gripped him, soaking into his clothes and coating his fur. Low could only look down in abject horror as the last hour of preparation had gone completely to waste. He didn't think to try and figure out who did it, he didn't even bother to try and chase down the perpetrator. No, he never got angry. He only became sullen. With a loud cry of anguish, Low marched back into his room, slamming the door behind him. His clothes were in the hamper and he was back in the shower in less than a minute. This time, he wasn't coming out. It was warm and relaxing in here. Why should he leave, especially when there was nothing out there that cared for him particularly. ---------------------------- Carnelian had a much more peaceful morning. Her first instinct was to bathe, though for this, she would need to be careful to keep her head above water. Of all the grand ideas to have, leaving home without her entourage was the worst that she'd ever had in a long time. Her hoofmaidens would have come in handy washing and styling her mane. Oh well, the sheen should last another few days, that would be just enough time for her to send word and get them here. After the bath, it was a simple matter of drying herself off (how barbaric!) and deciding on what to wear. Normally, even nobles accepted the casual nudity of the common folk during days when important events were not expected, and this was true of Carnelian, though surely, pride was a vice that she could never ignore. After about an hour of decision, a long, flowing red dress with black trimmings was her choice. After slipping into it (without hoofmaidens to aid her? How undignified!) she left her room. Assuming that she wasn't also the target of a certain colt's pranks, she would continue on to the dining room, where she hoped breakfast was prepared.
  25. @Randimaxis As the sun peeked over horizon, it was Low who was the first of the guests to wake up. The shower was simple enough to figure out, though it certainly had as many bells and whistles as Carnelian's did. As the warm water flowed over his hair, he lost himself in thought. Speaking of Carnelian, he knew from experience that she wasn't bound to wake up for another few hours. Unlike him, she was a night owl, and she took full advantage of that, pressing her ward tell her what he had experienced while she was getting a grand tour. Low had no reason to hide anything, and told her all. It was uncanny how she was always able to see right through him. Just from his choice of words, she was able to identify and classify his infatuation with the Blackwater middle child, just as easily as she had picked out his infatuation with her. Was he really that easy to read? Carnelian had taught him everything he needed to read and avoid being read, but how could he ever be as good as her? She always smiled when their eyes met, her eyes twinkling, her touch soft against his coat, and yet she never made any outright advances. It was always him, only him, and those moments were the only times he ever swore that he could read something on her face. Was it amusement? Joy? Interest? There was a lesson buried somewhere in her warm embrace, and yet she seemed content to let him try and figure it out himself. At least, that was until last night. "Low, my dear, you have the body of a stallion and all the wisdom of a colt. Tell me, when you were around Mister Daxter, what manner of thoughts were running through your head? Tell me what you shared in common? Were you telling him what was on your mind, or what he wanted to hear? What is your goal in all of this? "You're infatuated, Low. You can keep telling yourself you're in love all you want, but the fact is that you're giving control to your libido, and I think we've moved past the point when that was cute. I won't forbid you from pursuing him, but I want you keep this in mind: is a relationship worth taking seriously if no heirs can be gained from it? I'll let you sleep on that, you look like you're about to pass out." The answer had come to him easy enough, but he didn't make the connection until he stepped into the shower. Carnelian wasn't just talking about them, she was talking about them. He wasn't sure what exasperated him more, that his guardian liked forcing him to play mind games with her, or that this was her way of ending their...relationship. Was it even that? No, she was right. She had done nothing. Carnelian had sat back and let him dig his hole, and then let him jump in it. Why didn't she tell him it wasn't going to work? Why did she make him waste all those nights trying so hard to please her when she could have told him right off the bat what the lesson was? "I could have told you, and you would have learned, but would you have understood? I could tell you not to play with fire, but you would never truly understand the pain and damage that would result if I didn't let you stick your hoof into it. That's all it takes, several seconds of intense pain, a few weeks of recovery, and you will never touch that flame again, because now you know what will happen if you do." Low turned the shower off and quickly dried himself with a towel. He hurriedly put on a new undershirt and waistcoat before storming out into the hallway. He needed to distract himself before he blew a gasket, he needed breakfast.
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