Light of Night

I wish for a beautiful evening of losing myself in music and making art after a work-out and a lovely dinner. In the meantime, it's homework, tissues, and allergy meds for me.

@@Ranger22,@@Randimaxis, Who or what was Satan? Well anyways, Dusk Rose had taken out her journal, pretending to read the coded text as she listened in on the conversation. And goodness gracious, what a conversation! She had expected them to be negotiating some sort of deal and for the most part she was right, but it was more than that. Some sort of underground plot by a company gone belly-up? And whoever this unsound individual was obviously had a grudge. She had begun to suspect something, that one of the possibilities she had previously discarded might just be true after all. Still though, she kept listening, still trying to maintain that exhausted look. She tensed at Whitetip saying that he was going to help him out, and even more so when a bag was tossed her direction. In a quiet voice like she had just witnessed an unexpectedly gory scene on some show,"...Well then."

@@Ranger22,@@Randimaxis, Speak of the devil! It didn't take long after that minor accident. Dusk Rose found the neon sign a tad tacky, but it did make the place more noticeable. At least, when those bright neon colors aren't like staring into a solar eclipse. Walking in, it didn't take much effort to identify Whitetip. However, she didn't even move from the entrance when she saw the... ah, very interesting-looking he was talking with. Something about him screamed danger, even more so than a griffin running up to her with an arsenal. Could this be his target? An ally? She couldn't decide which was more dangerous. Well, let's try and find out. She decided to take a seat near and behind Whitetip. All this time, she had made sure not to make eye contact with anypony, putting on some what of a tired appearance (which was somewhat true). She had half a mind to make use of her invisibility spell, but she felt it wouldn't last her through a conversation and an effective escape, not to mention it would be attention-grabbing to simply vanish and reappear right then and there. So she just faced a wall and shook her head at the mare who asked her if she wanted anything.

Looks: 5/10 I think I look plain, but I want to improve on this without having to put on lots of make-up everyday. Intelligence: 8/10 Lots of people seem to have this opinion of me. And it's true, as long as numbers aren't involved. Kindness: 6/10 If you don't care for criticism and how I don't smile a lot, you won't enjoy my company.

MOXXI'S, MOXXI'S... Dusk Rose definitely saw such a place. Been there herself in fact. Not her cup of tea (small, crowded spaces never were), but not as bad as some of the other places. Finding nothing else in the room, Dusk Rose took her leave. As she left the hotel, she wondered over and over just what exactly her mother hoped to find. This "last hope". She felt a growing realization, like an ice spell slowly encasing somepony who doesn't take notice until they're neck-deep in ice. But she couldn't be mad enough to chase after something like that, right? Then she walked headfirst into a post. Immediately, she tried to pull her head away from the post, having to put in a bit of effort because her horn got a tad stuck. Realizing she had been lost in her head again, she immediately tried to melt into the shadows. When she was a ways away, she could've sworn she heard,"HAHAHA!!! You're the second mare to do that this week!"

"...It's about that, eh?" Dusk Rose's low voice cut the silence that had taken hold. It was probably only about ten seconds, but it was as though she was frozen for a thousand years. Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, she folded up the letter and stuck it inside the journal along with some of the other bits of information she picked up beforehand(hoof?). Seeing that her "friend" hadn't called her back yet, she decided she mine as well record what she had found. Going to a corner away from the window, she flipped to a blank page and penned terse, coded words about her findings. She figured there would be some time later to add in the emotional and mental factors, like after succeeding in helping out a mercenary and not getting killed in the process. Perhaps as a reward. And seeing there wasn't much left in this town, she had a feeling she knew how she was going to use the griffin's favor. @@Ranger22, It took a few seconds longer than average to find the call option, but she got there without much difficulty. Having regained her relaxed tone, she spoke into her ECHO device. "Ah, sir, I'm done now. Where should we meet?"

Stepping around the newly-made bed, Dusk Rose walked in a half-circle around that area, keeping the light of her ECHO device on it. As she circled it, the shadow moved as well. Tentatively, she tried to direct her magic towards whatever owned that shadow and a golden aura appeared. It still did not show itself, so she tapped it against the floor. A rickety box came into being. An object enchanted with a weak invisibility spell. It was definitely her doing. And if it was still in effect, that means she hadn't left a long time ago. Dusk Rose couldn't help but be rather overjoyed. Surely it meant that she couldn't be far? But then again... She saw that the box had a lock and lodged between the floorboards under where the box was was a key. She sighed, being of the opinion that the hiding place wasn't a great one. However, part of her figured that whatever is in the box wasn't that valuable enough to warrant a more secure method of concealment. But then, why try to hide it at all? Then a thought crossed Dusk's mind as she unlocked the box. Perhaps her mother knew she was in town and she figured her investigating artist of a daughter was smart enough to at least get to this point. But if so, why? How? Inside the box was a letter with a small, simple image of a setting sun and a rising moon. It read:

@@Kronos the Revenant, How exactly do you make use of skills and skill trees in the RP? I don't think it would be fun for anyone or make sense if I just said,"Yup, she has Everything's Backwards and Upside Down, fear me".

For us humans who are capable of doing the most astonishing things in the name of an abstract concept, nature can matter little in the name of honoring someone according to their last wishes. It has been so since our ancestors came up with the very idea of burial, spirits, and gods. Ideas are as mortal as the world. I hope you remember that people differ on what is "the right thing" to do in any given situation. And you are right, that is my loved one. If my loved one wanted me to make a special occasion out of their funeral with the help of a service, I will do so within my means, even if I do believe that it's unnecessary and costly.

I'm from Virginia, though I was born in North Carolina. I've seen several bronies walking around town, one of them being a friend of mine.

The room was very clean. Well, not that it would take much effort to be considered that. In stark contrast to the stains and utter disorganization of the few rooms she peered in and the inn itself, the bed (that was more like a futon) was made and washed, the rug wasn't torn (though there were obvious stitches), the drawn curtains had no holes (though there were mismatching patches), and the floor was swept. Were Dusk Rose staying in the same room, she wouldn't have even bothered. Perhaps that's what made this room stand out to her. Perhaps that's why she was quite certain beyond a doubt that she was on the trail. Taking a few steps into the room, she stopped and swept the room with the light from her ECHO device, closing the door behind her with her magic as she did so (not all the way though, not that it with its lack of a doorknob would make much of a difference). From all appearances, it was a very plain room with very few, very plain furnishings. It certainly made the task of searching closely a little simpler. Levitating the rug up revealed nothing underneath it or on its underside. The dresser had only two drawers when there were supposed to be four and neither had anything in them, not even fake bottoms. Nothing underneath or attached to it either. As for the bed, she searched it over and found nothing out of the ordinary either, save maybe for a few stains that certainly looked as though somepony worked tirelessly to get them out, but failed. @@Ranger22, Just when she was remaking the bed, she tensed as she heard a sudden voice. The shock, however, passed as quickly as it came, and she brought up her ECHO device to respond. "I think now would be a good time. I'm..." She trailed off as she noticed something within the light cast by her device. By the window, there was nothing. Nothing but a long shadow on the wall. Casting that shadow? What seemed like nothing. "...On second thought, I'd rather you wait," she added quickly.

I am interested in mythology and religion, but no one can truthfully call me a devout anything. If anyone asks me if I believe in God (or any god or gods, spirits, or things like reincarnation), I just say that it's a possibility. If anyone asks me if I don't believe God (or any god or gods, spirits, or things like reincarnation) exists, I just say that it's a possibility. If anyone asks me which side of the fence I'm on, I just say "Yes".

@@Kronos the Revenant, I especially like some of the funny names and jokes in the skill tree. And you're right. I could use a little more red. *pumps shotgun*

@@Kronos the Revenant, Hey, this is great! Thanks so much!

"Ah, you must be the mare that old lady was harping about. Something about a bounty on your head?" Dusk Rose didn't particularly care for the metallic sound that edged the front desk clerk's voice. "Oh my apologies, he was just an excited acquaintance. I suppose one forgets what's on them 24/7 time and again." She flashed him a reassuring, fleeting grin. "You sure? It looked like a gun fight was about to start outside!" "Sir, I assure you, it's a perfectly natural reaction to someone running up to you with guns slung across themselves. We're told to not run with scissors, are we not?" "Alright alright, fine. But if that lady is proven right, I won't hesitate to turn you in, miss." "Understandable." Dusk couldn't have made any enemies at point, after all, though she sensed that might change. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to know where Ms. Dusk Star stayed." From there, it was surprisingly easy to get the inn room number. Perhaps it took a little more lying than she wanted, but she found herself before door number... Well, the two looked more like a comma and was that P-looking letter supposed to be an R? Still, going by alphabetical order and some left-over marks on the room sign, it was definitely 2R. There was no door knob. All it took was a nudge and the door swung open. What a shame. She had been eager to practice her lock picking skills if the key she was given didn't work. But enough of that. She was in, and she came to a most shocking sight.

When the griffin left, Dusk Rose took the code and entered it into the device. Once she did, she then spent a small moment confronting something she had been ignoring. She, essentially, was going to help kill somepony, if not do it herself. And she potentially could be killed herself. Why did she take up such a deal? Why? Weren't there better options? No, she told herself. Now isn't the time. I've made my decision, now I have to focus. With that, she went to the front desk.

I really want stir fry with rice. Unfortunately, I found out too late that my mother used up all the rice last time she visited.

@@Kronos the Revenant, If you're willing and able, could you perhaps make a skill tree for Dusk Rose? She's basically supposed to be an elusive hit-and-run fighter, if that's anything to go by.

@@Ranger22, Dusk Rose cocked her head the other way with an inquisitive look. "What do you- Oh." A common mistake for her, not being specific enough. It's one of those things she still struggled to overcome. "My apologies for the confusion. I mean for myself," she explained, talking a tad slowly for the purpose of making sure she didn't get into another blunder. "Oh, and if you're also confused by what I said about taking care of something in the inn, I don't want you coming with me."

@@Ranger22, Dusk Rose felt herself tighten at the sight of the griffin bringing his wrist up. Luckily though, it didn't take long to relax again. After all, punches, kicks, and magic flew faster with loose muscles. But aside from that, she had to think it over. The griffin's task looked like it ran a big chance of her existence being spread to the public, even more than her scuffle with the drunk guy earlier did, but she already had an idea of what to do if that were to occur. But even without that concern, it looked too good, when everyone else she had approached knew nothing when they weren't trying to get bits off of her without any benefit to her or were simply bonkers. Then again, she didn't know when she would get help like this again. She didn't know how further away her mother was getting, if she was still alive on this chaotic of a planet. And having followed a trail of clues that all pointed towards her going outside of the town, she didn't have much of a reason to linger. "If you're willing to simply get something light and hard to notice, then surely you won't mind if I take a look here? I won't need help for what I'm aiming to do," she said, looking towards the inside of the inn.

@@Ranger22, Dusk Rose's eyes widened slightly for a moment. Was she really that easy to read, or was this Whitetip fellow simply skilled at the trade? She was tempted to ask away about it, but she had bigger things to worry about. Still maintaining a relatively cordial atmosphere on her end, she loosely crossed her forelegs together. "Before I truly accept, answer me this; Is your favor a one-time thing? Because if it is, one-time help is all you'll get from me." Assuming death didn't come to her, she added as a silent afterthought.

Pac-man

@@Ranger22, A quick scan of Vice Whitetip's posture convinced her to take her magic off of her own weapon. However relaxed she seemed to become though, Dusk Rose glanced down at her forelegs and moved them a little bit. Her gun and dagger were still there and she felt a fleeting sense of relief. "Judging by your weaponry," she began slowly with a slightly more affable tone. "It seems like quite the job to offer to somepony who you've probably only seen knock out a drunken idiot without so much as a knife or a barrier device to protect himself. What about me struck you as suitable for the job?"

After a few more minutes of weaving around strangers and muttering more quick apologies, Dusk Rose came to the entrance of the inn. She stood still, looking the rather run-down inn up and down. It was surprising to her that her mother would decide to stay in a place like this, considering the lifestyle she was used to. Heck, why would a prim and proper mare like her be on this planet in the first place? It stretched the artist's mind and left marks. Deeming it comparatively safe, she began to walk into the inn, but a surprised mare stopped her in her tracks with slightly widened eyes. She seemed to be staring at her. Dusk cocked her head inquisitively. "Is something the matter, ma'am?" "You wanted or something?" "Wanted? I don't-" "You best get running!" She was cut off as the mare bolted for the inn. Suddenly, it struck her that the mare wasn't staring at her. Rather... @@Ranger22, Dusk blinked once when she saw a heavily-armed griffin running up to her. Wait, heavily-armed? Damn it, she was getting too used to this town to have not noticed that right away. Seeing though that he didn't have a talon on any sort of trigger though, she simply made eye contact with him and backed into the inn. If he wanted to talk, fine. If he wanted to shed blood, well she saw enough folks walking around casually with guns that there was likely going to be several in the inn. It certainly beat just standing there like an imbecile. But suspecting the worse, her horn began to glow and the same light began to show from under her sleeve.