open [RP] The Blackwater Quarry

[Blitz Boom 4,429]

@@Randimaxis,

 

"Alright, gimme a sec then, need to find some paper and try to remember what was in this sort of thing again. I haven't made any since that one time my brother got himself tied to that wild boar. Really weird Tuesday."

 

Ziggy went over and started to go through her drawers one by one, poking her head up and looking towards the twins again with a smile.

 

"You don't need to call me madam either you know. Everypony calls me Ziggy, so you can do that too if you want. Most like this sort of less formal thing. Makes it less awkward when I tacklehug them."

 

She looked at the with a glimmer in her eyes as if she were contemplating doing just that, but she keot herself in check and went back to rummaging around for a pad of paper before finally she found it, and a pencil, then started to write down things. She paused now and again and poked her head to try and get the brain in motion, but a little by little she got things down before finally she went over with the thing that had about 5 items listed, and a half page dedicated to the last thing.

 

"It's nothing rare really, so it should be easy enough to find, but you have to find a Really good one for the Strangleroots. A lot just sells them, as it is, but they're only for eating then. For this sort, you need to find them in a jar with a sealed lid, swimming in some sort of sour liquid. Lemon juice tends to be the thing I see the most when I went for things with my dad in Las Pegasus, but he said that vinegar will do the trick too. Long as it's stored right in it, as it goes useless if it's allowed to dry out."

 

She handed the list to... Well, whoever was the closest really. She weren't sure which one were which as looking at their hooves to figure out who had the gauzed hoof would be a bit rude, so she just went for whoever of them. Though, she did hope it was Beck she gave it to.

 

"Perhaps they have Goldneedle in the kitchen that can be used now that I think about it. Mom used to use it for soup now and again, so there's a chance that one's covered. Otherwise, just lemme know and I have a fly around to look for it after work, okay? And Beck?"

 

She looked towards the twins, somewhat seriously.

 

"Please remember to come back tomorrow, okay? I really need to check you ou- Your hoof out. Better safe than sorry, and I'd rather not worry, about you being hurt, cause of a speck of dirt, and please try to not run in a hurry."

 

She had more or less been able to catch herself when she had let her tongue slip a bit, though she didn't know if these were aware that she only tended to rhyme when she became nervous or excited about something. If not, they might just have thought this nothing. If they did however... Well, they had a word for that sort of situation: Awkward.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@@Randimaxis

 

The Quarry- outside the mine

 

"Grill calm down, I'll look after your kitchen as my own, why not come back and have some more soup, say next week or something? I see no reason you can't come back from time to time to talk, catch up with gossip and such." She looked at the map again it was a work of experience and...it was beautiful, it made her smile.

 

She went back to her soup putting the heat on, then turned it right down nearly so the flame can barely 'live' to so slowly heat the massive pot of soup, Grill was the first of many ponies who will want something that will fill them after the accident. She'd need to get bread to go with the soup. Moving to the bread bin she got out a small cart load of bread to go with the soup, two slices per serve. She was in ear shot of Grill the whole time she was working, frankly the company of a earth pony was quite soothing to cool her hate. Was not going to stop her giving the culprit a hoof sandwich when they found them.

 

She would see lunch, but maybe now more like dinner through then a 'talk' or was it interview with Luther and she could sleep...

 

Sleep would be nice.

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@cwhip9

 

 

Crescent was led to a large pair of fine wooden doors; they looked as sturdy as the stallion they belonged to.  The maid gave a simple, flat knock and waited with a very bored look laid across her muzzle like a sullen washcloth.

 

"Enter."

 

The single word greeting was firm and no-nonsense.  The maid turned to the bat pony and lifted an eyebrow.

 

"Good luck."

 

She turned to walk off, then stopped and glanced over her shoulder at him once more.

 

"Remember: it's HIS quarry."

 

With that, she turned and sauntered off down the hallway again, disappearing around the corner.  The doors awaited Crescent to open them, and inside would be the Boss.  The Boss that was already upset over a number of little things throughout the day... and honestly, he didn't seem like the type to be in much of a chipper mood for the most part anyway.

 

Piece of cake.

 

 

@Blitz Boom

 

 

The two butler ponies exchanged glances, then chuckled softly.

 

"I'll be MORE than happy to return tomorrow - after all, I certainly won't be doing Madam Blackwater any favors if it gets any worse, now would I?"  

 

The grin on Beck's face hinted that he might not be returning JUST to keep his boss happy.

 

Call simply nodded.  "We'll cover the quarry as much as we can, and hopefully we can gather everything you'll need.  Thank you so very much, mada-... I mean, umm... Ziggy."

 

He blushed a bit; apparently, the twins weren't exactly used to such a lack of formality, because Beck's grin turned somewhat sheepish at his brother's words.  With this awkward moment in the making, the twins decided that now might be the best time to depart, and made their way to the medical shed's door.

 

"Well, we shall certainly see you-"

 

"- on the morrow, good doctor."

 

Together: "Have a most pleasant evening."

 

They bowed, then turned and left, closing the door quietly behind them.

 

 

@Mentis Soliloquy

 

 

Grill took a deep breath, then nodded.

 

"Okay, okay... I know.  I just feel weird bein' here without havin' ta; it's like turning the page on a new chapter o' life.  But this place kept me goin' for so long... eh, just one o' those things, I suppose."

 

He grabbed another bowl, filled it with another helping of soup, and sat at the high counter near the window, where he could talk to Scarlet easily through it.

 

"Okay, so whaddya wanna know about, missy?  The rest of the staff?  The Blackwaters?  The stuff going on around here?  C'mon - give ol' Brick the subject, an' he'll fill your feedbag!"

 

He gave a mischievous grin and started in on his soup.

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Randimaxis, Cresent breathed in, then out trying to relax himself and not get shaky in front of the boss, it was that his boss was threatening the air in the room said it all 'say whats needed no more no less' also his boss's body language said as such. His night might get better at what cresent would say....or worse.

 

"I know you have a lot on your plate boss so I wont beat around the bush sir" he began unsure if he should sit in the chair or not.

 

Deciding against it to look more professional and not fall asleep in front of the boss he continued still standing. 

 

"when the flood happened I was in the cave when the brothers were digging in during the competition to make sure they were not damaging it too much. As the water came in silver and I pulled out but before we did, we discovered fire opals that seemed to be un earthed. its unclear if the brothers, chuck, or a combonaction of the two unearthed them but I wont insult your intelligence about the pros and cons of them being in the mine itself. I only hope the flood didn't take them, if your ok with it id like to check on them tomorrow and make a no zone for the workers till they are removed, safety and all that" the bat pony said.

 

He waited on his boss's reaction.....

[Blitz Boom 4,429]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Ziggy waved after the ponies with a big smile on her face as they made their way outside and back towards the manor. Seeing them stumble a little over their words and one of them even getting a little blush on his face, was so adorable that she almost tackle-hugged them, but she'd rather not take chances with Beck's hoof being as it were, regardless of how tough he seemed to be, so she'd let it slide... For now.

 

While she went on with filling out a few papers about things today and what she had used her supplies on as per protocol, she kept occasionally thinking on how she hoped that Mrs. Blackwater did not keep Becks too busy tomorrow so that she'd have a chance to see to him again. It were not the only reason why she thought on this, but what could she say? She had a distinct liking for tough ponies, and Becks surely were. And a gentlecolt at that, which were a rare combo in her experience.

 

Sure he might not think anything about her, and she'd keep in mind that she were a doctor and bound to help him first and foremost, but... A mare could always keep a hopeful eye on somepony once in a while at least, could she not? No harm in that, long as she didn't start going crazy and like, stalk him or something like that.

 

"Oh Ziggy, acting like a filly again. What would mum see if she saw you now?"

 

She thought about that for a few seconds after saying it to herself, then started to laugh for a bit before finishing her papers. Fun as it were to think on mum, Becks and a whole lot of other things, she did her best to keep the thoughts a little in the back of her mind -and help the ones who occasionally came around for a check after the incident - until she were done and flew off towards the manor, papers in hoof.

 

As she approached the door, the thoughts she had before started to increasingly go away from thoughts on the errands she had to do here. Both important, if not fun, but she couldn't get away from the fact that she had to do this even if she didn't think it'd end all too well.

 

She knocked on the front door and waited for a response whilst the butterflies started to fly around in her tummy. Not so much at the meeting with Mr. Blackwater, even if the image of his angry display from earlier haunted around her mind a little, but more at the other thing she had to get done there. That one made her a little uneasy for sure, as she didn't think Dax thought very highly of her since she didn't show last night. Still, she had to find him and try explain what happened at least.

 

Here was hoping everything would go okay.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@@Randimaxis

 

The Quarry- outside the mine

 

Scarlet went over to him, having turned down the soup yet again? Where were these hungry ponies? She shook her head to clear the thought as she sat opposite the older stallion. "Honestly I have a few questions that would test your loyalty to the Blackwaters..." Again asking that would be a silly idea.

 

"But I won't ask those questions, I suppose a run down on the Blackwaters as you've told me about the senior staff around here before." She pondered for a moment if the best way to achieve her goal was via a family member? Just seduce one of the sons? No, no that'd be to obvious she needed to get in and out to avoid attention.

 

She got comfortable as she waited for him to start, she'd known this fella honestly a few hours? In that short time she'd already knew a few facts; he liked his kitchen, a lot, he was a gosip, yep definitely a gosip... and he was a good cook.

 

All this in a few hours, she could read ponies a trait of a sales pony learn your opposite number. In this and many cases not involving barter and trade it was a great trait to learn about everypony she met.

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@cwhip9

 

 

Luher Blackwater's office/study was at the same time opulent, yet subdued.  

 

Real wood paneling covered the walls, and there were a number of wooden shelves, well-made yet far from flashy - their real value was in their subtlety.  Thos shelves were lined with many a book that seemed... rather high-brow, to be honest.  Not things a typical bat-pony would find much interest in, though there might have been a novel or two worth Crescent's time... of course, now was certainly NOT the time to peruse the titles. 

 

The center of the room was the resting place of a rather sturdy-looking, dark-wooded desk that seemed to match the rest of the room in polished dignity and class.  Crescent was fairly certain even a kick from the likes of Mr. Blackwater himself wouldn't break that desk... but then again, he'd never seen him kick - he'd heard rumours, though...

 

At the far end of the room was a large, ancient-looking clay pot; within it was a small, almost sickly-looking plant with an apple-sized green and black pod hanging from it.  There was no telling why it was here in the first place; it certainly didn't add any sort of joy to this somber chamber.

 

And at the back, there was a double door archway that led to a marble-and-steel balcony that overlooked the entire quarry; Luther would be able to step out here and see nearly anything going on within the quarry grounds.  This was a sobering thought against possible future shenanigans.

 

As Crescent spoke, Luther spared a single, simple glance at Crescent before returning to his paperwork... but he didn't motion him out, either.  When the bat-pony finished, the Blackwater patriarch turned his steely gaze onto Crescent.

 

"Fire Opals.  Excellent profit value.  SOMETHING good out of this day."

 

He stood up from the desk and made his way toward Crescent, stopping within reaching distance.

 

"You shall be cleared for examining the opals, but you will take a forepony with you when you do; safety in numbers.  I will find a specialist to remove them... but not my BIGGEST question, Crescent."

 

He took a deep breath, and fixed Crescent with his most serious look.

 

"Do you know WHO or WHAT caused that flood?"

 

 

@Blitz Boom

 

 

The door opened, and surprisingly, it wasn't a maid or a servant... but Vylia Blackwater, Luther's wife and the one in charge of the finances for the Blackwater Quarry.  

 

She looked lovely as always, her fine green coat and gold zebra-like markings well-kept, her black mane and tail carefully styled to show off the strands of green that rolled through them.  As typical of the mare, she wore pricey-looking bracelets and pearls, and her usual large golden bow perched smartly on the back of her head.  She was, indeed, quite lovely.

 

She looked at the zebra for a moment before her eyes lit up.  "Oh!  Doctor, I don't believe we were expecting you... unless you're here to speak to my husband about today's... excitement, shall we say?  Knee Slapper's already been, and that ghastly-looking bat-pony is in there now..."  She shuddered.  "Personally, I don't see how Luther justifies allowing him to come up here!  I mean, of course - his 'skillset' is quite conductive to mine work, but HONESTLY..."  

 

Though she spoke disdainfully about the bat-pony, Ziggy got the impression that she was more afraid of him than disgusted by him.  Not an uncommon reaction to bat-ponies, unfortunately.  Still, as she hadn't ordered him fired, she apparently saw the logic in his employment.

 

She motioned inside.  "Well, don't simply STAND there, dearie!  Why don't you come inside?  Pshaw with the help; I'll escort you to my husband's office myself."

 

She stepped back, waiting for Ziggy to advance indoors.

 

 

@Mentis Soliloquy

 

 

Grill Brick sat back a bit, putting a hoof to his chin as he pondered... then he nodded.

 

"Well, I guess we start with Luther.  He's not the friendliest of pones... heck, he doesn't even DO anything social, unless his wife drags him along.  Which don't happen often.  He's the UNDISPUTED head o' this here quarry; as he likes to say, 'My quarry, my rules'!  But he's not such a bad guy... just not friendly.  It's like, he's got what seems like a heart o' stone, but the Blackwaters have donated a HECKUVA lot o' bits to different charities over the years; he don't even ask for credit.  He's real imposing... but unless y'done something wrong, you won't have a thing t'worry about him... unless you slack off.  And you don't seem the type ta do that."

 

He chuckled at that, then took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh.

 

"Now, Vylia... she's beautiful, I promise ya that - but she's a diva to the Nth degree.  Most folks 'round here figure she married Luther for his bits - and does he HAVE 'em - but I know I've caught 'em bein' sweet on each other on rare occasion.  Trust me, Vylia's got him an' he's got her, an' that's that.  Still, she's the one who deals with a lot o' the budgeting 'round here, so she's the one to talk to about gettin' better supplies for the kitchen.  Of course, I wish ya luck with that; I tried for YEARS to get her attention for it - never happened."  

 

Grill suddenly gave a shudder.  "NEVER make her mad; her temper's NASTY."

 

He pondered for a bit, then gave a sad shake of his head.

 

"Well, there's Daxter - or Dax, if ya prefer - and he's the middle child.  He's the one teetering on the brink of Stallionhood, and he's had it kinda rough around here.  His parents get him tutored, so he rarely gets outta here; that, and the incident a few years back, makes sure he don't stray too far from his parents.  He's a good kid, but such a lonely lil' sad sack.  Unfortunately, Luther made him fire some workers, so the other miners don't exactly LIKE him much.  Just don't go callin' him 'Pink-Slip'; it's the miners' nickname for him, and he hates it."

 

He then rolled his eyes and groaned.

 

"Oglevy Blackwater has gotta be one of the biggest, most spoiled brats I've ever had the misery to have known.  That upstart's always causing trouble and snarking off, mostly because he can.  He's also a bonafide genius; blew away just about every tutor that's ever come through here.  Now, if he'd just use those smarts for a good cause, and NOT for how to switch all the spices on my spice cart with sugar..."

 

He grumbled a bit, then shook his head.  "Yeah, that's... no, wait - I'm forgetting Harcourt.  He's the oldest; he and Luther had a real screaming match about a decade ago... he left, and ain't been back since.  Pretty sure you ain't gonna have to worry about him showing up, but anything can happen, right?  Better to know than NOT know, eh?"

[cwhip9 1,078]

 

 

"Do you know WHO or WHAT caused that flood?"

Cresent relaxed, but not too much. Luther had a reputation he'd seen only too well even if the best answer was not to his licking. "well sir your best guess is as good as mine really" cresent said

 

"while helping the drowned pony's out I did notice a lack of water tower so it could be it collapsed, a nut fell of, or something may have hit it during the brothers race bit. but the more I think about it" cresent said  

 

The batpony brought a hoof to his chin before saying "the fact that it happened and behaved the way it did couldn't have been natural with that amount of water coming into the mine and even cave as well if you add the force....freak accident or must be sabotage" he blinked at that last statement.

 

It was starting to look similar to the map problem he had before hoof but a colt cant mess with a tower that big without getting attention of some sort from the other workers.   

 

"If it is a accident its just a matter of looking over the water tower finding the design flaw and the usual follow up.....if it is a saboteur...." The bat pony looked at his boss.

 

"then we have bigger problems then cave spiders" he said.

[Blitz Boom 4,429]

@@Randimaxis,

 

OhdearCelestiadon'thugher!

 

That sentence raced through Ziggy's mind with the speed of Rainbow Dash trying to set a new record over and over again as she saw Vylia Blackwater herself open the door instead of, for example, Call or Becks. A sight that got her heart racing a bit along with her mind as she had heard some stories about the missus of the estate. And not good ones.

 

Sure, she had thought them exaggerated at times, but being face to face... Okay, not exactly face to face, as she were still towering over her like the workers, but regardless: being this close to her, made Ziggy initially worry. And not just about doing something stupid like tacklehugging the boss' wife! Usually this wasn't a problem with those she met, but dear Celestia she were going to be in so much trouble if she tried this with Vylia if even a quarter of the thing she had heard were true. And she already had enough problems right now with Dax and Luther.

 

Heck, if she had actually gone for this, she might as well had gone in and painted Oglevy pink or something, just to make sure the entire family had beef with her. Sure nothing bad could happen from that...

 

The worrying thoughts kept her just standing there smiling for a few seconds as Vylia talked before she finally got enough presence of mind to do something a little less invasive: Lifting a hoof and waving a little to the pegasi mare. Sure, she could have tried making a bow instead or something, but that never really sat well with her. Felt forced somehow.

 

"Hi there Mrs. Blackwater. Really sorry to disturb, but like you said, Mr. Blackwater insisted I came around here to give my two bits about the things happening earlier. Kinda thought he were done with the others about now, but I can wait up there for him to be done with Crescent, no problem."

 

"And to apologise to your son." though she kept that part in her head. Something told her it was better to just... Breeze over that, and take it with him personally when it were, just in case it was deemed unseemly that she tried to be friendly with him. Though really, she could likely phrase it like something that was just casual in some way... Buuut, why take chances for now? Better to just roll with this, which included knocking a little dirt of her hooves before entering the mansion.

 

She considered briefly going in and defend her friend against the things Sylvia said about him before opening her muzzle again, but it didn't seem wise. Both because disagreeing with her over something that was really more of a personal opinion she - at least this time - kept away from his ears, and because it wasn't that harsh all in all. She had heard Way worse things said about bat ponies back home in Las Pegasus than this, so really, not that bad. Nothing that you couldn't just, y'know, let slide.

 

"Thank you for showing me up there by the way Mrs. Blackwater. Not really been up here since I got hired, so I'd likely just end up getting lost."

 

She giggled a little to herself as she looked down on the mare with sunshine and rainbows almost popping in her eyes. Perhaps it was a bit too happy, but she couldn't really help it. She wasn't an angry or sour being normally, and thinking about fun things helped battle the nervousness she felt in situations like this.

 

In this case, remembering the last time she got lost and had to be pulled out of a chimney she had gotten stuck in. To this day, there were still nopony that had any idea how she managed to do that when she had just been supposed to go over to Taps with a letter, herself included, but it had been a fun day all in all to her. Not every day that your mind went wandering and the next you knew, three ponies were hauling something out that looked like a soot monster. Theatrical roars included.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@@Randimaxis

 

The Quarry- outside the mine

 

Scarlet didn't respond, really at all as the family members were described to her. She let the information soak in like a sponge taking in water as she filed the information for later used, special note on tempers...

 

Something stuck in her head like a nail in a tyre. The singular note about charity donations, not just that but the supposedly vast sums of it. Not to mention he sought no fame for his generosity. This threw her off how could a pony [REDACTED] then do what he did to her family? It didn't make sense in her eyes.

 

She shook her head and thoughts coming back to the present and now, looking back to Grill. "That was very interesting Grill, certainly helps me get to know my employers better so I don't 'dun goof' in front of them." She used air quotes for that part. "Side note is your voice loud? If it is mind calling ponies in for grub I am sick of waiting for the buggers."

 

She actually was, it must of been hours since the accident with the water tower and she was confused as to where the miners where? They not want any food. "Or do you have a air horn or dinner gong?"

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@cwhip9

 

 

At the mention of saboteurs, Luther's eyes (somehow) grew even colder.

 

"Cragg."

 

He said the word as if it were offending his tongue simply by having that name in his mouth.  Crescent had a vague idea about this; Jasper Cragg was a shyster-type pony who also dealt in gemstones, yet they were often of less quality than anything that would leave the Blackwater Quarry.  

 

However, Cragg's insults didn't stop there; he ended up using much of his ill-gotten gains to purchase a plot of land on the next mountain over, where he set up his OWN mining operation.  Of course, all that had been coming out of THOSE mines had been coal - though it was a LOT of coal - and there was never any talk of anything more having been found, though there were many, many false starts.

 

Crescent had also heard about how Cragg would sometimes creep his way over towards Luther's quarry, and would try to sneak inside, purposes unknown, but intent mischievous at the VERY least.  He'd also been rejected so many times, it was a game to some of the miners; they even had bets.

 

Regardless, Luther always took Cragg seriously; the stallion had already cost Luther more than he had ever cared to spend on a nuisance, and every bit lost by Cragg's shenanigans thereafter was that much more irritating to the Blackwater patriarch.

 

"This will not go unpunished... but I need the truth before I act.  Silver can look into the water tower; she can tell if it fell by accident or not.  Take some warning cones and mark where the Fire Opals are - I will send somepony to check them out."

 

Luther turned to face Crescent.  "A good thing, the workers being safe in the end.  Glad to hear it."

 

Luther's face didn't seem glad, but you never could tell - he ALWAYS looked dour.

 

"Fine.  Noted.  If you need a day to rest, tell Chuck."  He nodded to the bat-pony, then returned to his desk and his paperwork.  "You may go, Crescent."

 

 

@Blitz Boom

 

 

Vylia's smile was broad and bright.  "Oh, you are ALWAYS welcome here, Miss Zinger!  Never worry your head about coming up to visit!"  

 

Vylia Blackwater had always been proud of her history - especially her 1/23rd zebra heritage.

 

"You are aware, of course, that I myself am about 1/23rd zebra?"

 

Eeyup, there it was.

 

"It's TRUE!  Absolutely so - you and I, we're practically FAMILY!  Oh, I would LOVE to pick your brain sometime, dearie!  You seem like you'd be such an IN-teresting conversationalist - it'd be such a crime to allow the opportunity for a good, long conversation to pass us by!  After all, I do so enjoy speaking with others, exchanging words and ideas, hearing what others have to say on things - why, it's downright important to have a good talk, every now and again... so refreshing to be able to voice one's own opinions amongst peers, where it can be heard and listened to with respect."  

 

"Having a conversation is such a WON-derful pasttime, don't you agree?  Oh, it simply feels so good to be able to speak to someone, doesn't it?  Don't you feel SO much better for us having had this little interlude here between us?  I certainly feel as if we've really communicated here; truly gotten a message along to each other that we may have really needed to hear.  And you're such a fascinating talker, as well!  It's like we've been best friends forever, the way we keep seeming to identify with one another!"

 

... and so on and such, until they reached Luther's office door, where Vylia turned and smiled at Ziggy sweetly.

 

"Well, dearie - I do hope you find time to come by to visit more often; it's always so much fun speaking with you!  Knock when you're ready to speak to him, he's right inside.  I have GOT to get those two morons to get my tea ready, wherever they may be!  Ciao, love!"

 

She continued down the hall after a small wave, sauntering towards the stairs again and leaving Ziggy in front of the oppressive-looking doors to Luther Blackwater's office.

 

 

@Mentis Soliloquy

 

 

Grill chuckled.  "All the commotion's probably got a bunch o' workers without an appetite; might have better luck tomorrow.  As it is, you're more'n welcome to stick yer head out the window there and call 'food'; just as likely to work as anything else.  Normally, they get here on time an' such, but with all the hubbub today, well..."  He shrugged emphatically.  

 

"Musta slipped their minds?"

[cwhip9 1,078]

 

 

"Fine. Noted. If you need a day to rest, tell Chuck." He nodded to the bat-pony, then returned to his desk and his paperwork. "You may go, Crescent."

Cresent bowed before he took his leave, going down the hallway of the lavish place was not relaxing but still a nice sight to see from his daily setting. Or in his case nightly setting sense he half lives in the caves enough as is.

 

Still this "cragg" who ever it was didn't seem like a good thing based of the boss's reaction. He wondered if he should take it a look or set up a trap for who ever this pony was and question him their...but right now he didn't have the thinking states to rig something up. Once outside the Mansion he saw the sky was looking like what he usualy woke up at. The batpony chuckled at the irony of it all, by now he would be going into a mine and helping the crew he was assigned to move around spiders and such. He glanced at the mine, no pony seemed to be even thinking of going in with what happened today he didn't blame them.  

 

He was glad at his boss's reaction to the fire opals which reminded him he needed to cone that whole thing off, but where were the cones? Silver would know, and possibly helping her with what ever she is doing could help. He started making his way towards the medical grounds wondering if she was their still.

[Blitz Boom 4,429]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Okay, this wasn't so bad as she had thought.

 

Vylia had stories told about her that made Ziggy expect something bad, but she sounded nice enough, if a little self-centred as they had wandered along and spoken. And dang, could that mare talk. Few had the times been when Ziggy could actually interject something of her own before Vylia would go off on a tangent again, and when it were it tended to be something about what the pegasi had just mentioned.

 

Like the zebra part for example, which had surprised Ziggy as she figured that the markings on Vylia were just randomly given by blood, and not something that meant she had zebra in her blood. A small part, sure, but it all counted in her mind to be honest, and it meant that Vylia wouldn't be one of those many ponies who, for some reason, believed that zebras couldn't breed with the three regular races of pony. A small bit of her speaking time were actually telling Vylia about how this was a more common idea than you might think, though there were so many other things to cover too that it was hard to get to the bottom of a conversation about only that.

 

The long chat really made another thing stand out to Ziggy: Vylia was lonely. She might be around servants and her family a lot, but considering the few things she said about connecting with Ziggy and having things in common etc. it really gave off the impression that she needed somepony to talk to at times. Might be that she were wrong, and Vylia just really, Really liked talking, but it did come off to her like the mare of the house could use somepony to talk with once in awhile and didn't have that many options.

 

"Farewell Mrs. Blackwater, and thank you for the help. Hope you're going to have a good day."

 

She waved towards the path were Vylia had wandered down whilst trying to checkmark *visit the mansion more often* in her head. She'd likely have to write it down somewhere later to better remember it, but hopefully this would do for now, so that she didn't just end up forgetting about the mare of the house again. Wouldn't be good to do towards somepony that could potentially use a friend... Like Dax...

 

That awkward thought made her cringe briefly as she turned towards the door to Luther's room and knocked on it a few times in a small rhythm. Perhaps meeting with Mr. Blackwater wasn't going to be the most nerve-wrecking thing today after all.

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@cwhip9

 

 

Crescent saw Silver making her way back towards her shed, and the unicorn smiled and waved at him as he got close.

 

"I take it you got to speak to Mr. Blackwater already?  I'm going to head up myself in a moment, but I wanted to drop off my tools before I did; no sense lugging them around in a manor house like that one, right?"

 

She gazed up at the Blackwater Manor, seated majestically between two mountain peaks that sat above the entire quarry.  Luther was out on his balcony, looking over the entire lot, when he suddenly looked back towards his study, then seemed to speak over his shoulder...

 

 

@Blitz Boom

 

 

"Enter."

 

The minimalist greeting from Luther was typical; he was never one for niceties.  

 

The office was rich, yet subdued - a very calm and soothing place.  Over the rick, dark-wooded desk was a portrait of the stallion on the balcony, and it had just as much an intimidating visage as its' subject.  He looked about the quarry a bit, then turned back to look at the newcomer.

 

"Zinger, good.  Sit."

 

He made his way to his desk and sat on the comfy-yet-practical-looking bench there, turning his observant indigo eyes at the zebra-mare.

 

"The incident today.  Your take.  And your suspicions."

 

He waited for Ziggy to respond.

 

 

@DwhitetheGamer

 

 

... try to remember...

 

Copper felt like he was swimming in the biggest pool of pudding he'd ever known, except that he could breathe, and he wasn't actually swimming... more like floating...

 

... the spark of an ember...

 

He could make out something in the distance, amidst the inky blackness surrounding him like a cloud.  As it got closer, he realized he wasn't swimming, but flying.  As he drew closer, he could make out the quarry itself, though it was hazy and details were misty, at best.

 

... and fall into Fate's design...

 

As he drifted down, he made a slow float through the front gates and began to bob his way across the quarry yard.  It looked so surreal, as there was not a pony in sight - but there was SOMEthing here with him, he was sure of it.

 

... seek out the mare...

 

As he drifted lazily along, he began to move more towards the back end of Shed Row, and he unconsciously made a slow and deliberate barrel roll as he passed the end of the row and floated toward the Pony Express office.

 

... with white in her hair...

 

As he watched, the office itself began to glow brightly, as if it were turning into a small sun.  No, not the whole place... it actually seemed like the glow was coming from... underneath it?

 

... and all that you wish shall be thine...

 

The image grew brighter and brighter, until Copper was standing in a black and white version of the quarry, the Pony Express office directly in front of him.  It had a strange quality to it, like it existed yet DIDN'T exist at the same time.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Randimaxis, 

 

Copper looked confused.

 

He could've swore he was talking to his Fore Pony before all of this, but now that this was happening, he didn't know what to do.  He felt like he was floating, but he wasn't too sure about it.

 

He heard a voice, a voice that told him to seek out 'The Mare'.  But he didn't know who the voice was talking about.  But he decided to go along with it.  He marveled at the sights of everything, even the voice was soothing.  He was told to find the mare, but he didn't know about any mare.

 

When he landed, he was confused as to what that building was.  It may have been the Pony express office, but he wasn't sure.  He didn't care, but he decided to find out what the voice was talking about.

 

He opened the door.  He had his usual cheerful expression on him, as he liked meeting new ponies, now matter how tough they were.  He looked around the main lobby of the office and asked, if anypony was around, "Excuse me, I'm looking for a mare with white hair.  Does anypony know where I can find her?"  He gave anypony there a confused expression after he finished speaking.

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@DwhitetheGamer

 

 

There was nopony present at all inside; it looked as though he was alone... but he felt as though he wasn't.

 

Along the floor, hoofprints faded into view, making their way across the stone-tiled floor and around and behind the front desk/booth... their glow stopped at the door to a simple broom closet.  Yet the glow he'd seen earlier appeared to be coming from under the closet door; maybe what was making all that light was in there?

 

The office itself seemed... washed out.  The colors here were pale compared to the rest of his dream; what was going on here? 

 

At the broom closet door, Copper watched while it opened on it's own and - sure enough - it was a broom closet, complete with a wide-headed pushbroom.  Slowly, the glowing hoofprints stopped inside, and the feather duster on the far end twisted a quarter-turn to the left, then a full circle to the right.

 

There was a grinding noise, like two slabs of concrete being dragged across each other, then the back wall slid away, revealing a stone spiral stairwell, descending down into a dark basement-type-thing beneath.  The glow was utterly gone; no sign of it now.  However, there appeared to be glowing fungus on the walls - it was juuuuuuust bright enough to see.

 

The stairs were there before him, leading down into darkness.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Randimaxis, 

 

Copper watched as hoofprints, or whatever was happening, did its' thing, and he just let it happen.  When he saw the door open for him, he watched with keen eyes, nothing was there, in the other side.

 

He shook his head, knowing this was a dream, but he had to go along with it, to see where it led for him, because he had to get out of this dream one way or another, and nothing seemed to stop his progress.

 

He made his way to the closet, moving some parts away to make room.  He walked very carefully down the steps towards the goal below, the goal of the apparent basement.

 

While walking down, many, and I do mean many things were popping up.  What was down here?  Who sent him here?  Why was he here?  So many questions, so little answers.  Either way, he had to find them and end this dream, or whatever this was.

 

He eventually made his way to the bottom, where he closed his eyes before he did, and before opening them, he told himself that this wasn't real, and that this is only a dream.  With that cleared up in his mind, he finally opened his eyes to reveal...

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@@Randimaxis

 

The Quarry- outside the mine

 

Scarlet shook her head, then walked to the pot of soup and turned it off. "No Grill I'm not going to wait here like a vending machine. I keep reheating this I'll ruin it not to mention I have to go talk to L. Blackwater." She put a hoof to her chin. "Though why? No idea honestly I'm not going to watch him just fire the guy responsible for the floods..."

 

She lowered her hoof and looked at Grill. "He'll be lucky if I don't put him the morgue... then my cousins can cart that excuse for a pony off to jail if I leave him alive." Her statement was quite devoid of emotion as she said that.

 

"...Anyway." Her voice becoming normal again. "I have to see him then I think I'll call it a day, hopefully I won't be on death's door tommorrow... being near death twice in a single life time might be too much." She exited the kitchen coming around to Grill and gave him a quick hug. "I'll see you around maybe? Come back whenever you like eh? I'll keep a bowl and/or plate for you under the counter incase for when you come back." Before turning to and heading off to the mansion, giving him a wave as she departed.

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@Mentis Soliloquy

 

 

Grill returned the hug in kind, and smiled broadly at Scarlet's offer.  "Sure, sure... if nothin' else, I wouldn't mind comin' back to give ya a hoof if ya need it - but I got the feeling that this job's in more than capable hooves already."

 

He gave a bit of a sigh, then stood up slowly.  He was probably on the cusp of senior citizen age, but he still looked as though he had some fight left in him, after all.  He cleaned and put away his own bowl, then went to the window once more.

 

"STILL feels weird, bein' on the other side o' this window.  Look, you... you take care, y'hear me?  I wouldn't just trust this place to anypony... but I think you'll do fine.  'Til next time, eh?"

 

He seemed sad to go, yet at the same time, he was apparently quite excited to be DONE with work all together.  He kept glancing back over his flank at the place as he walked away - it was obvious he'd miss it.

 

This done, it was once again quiet in the quarry yard - yet things had been such a disaster today, it would be hard to tell if tomorrow would be any better.  All the same, it was apparent that nopony was going to be here after today's fiasc-

 

"... *gasp*..."

 

Except that there WAS a pony here, alright; it was the delivery mare, and she was so petite that she looked more like a toy pony than alive - even though she was fully-grown, or appeared to be, at least.  Her eyes scanned the yard, then landed on Scarlet... and widened.

 

It was the pegasus mare who had saved Scarlet's life earlier!

[Blitz Boom 4,429]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Ziggy looked around in the office that she hadn't been near since... Well, a while back now. And honestly? It hadn't changed. Like, at all, everything seemed to be in the exact same place that it were then. Efficient, clean, orderly, and with the picture in mind, kind of intimidating.

 

She remembered looking at that picture the first time she had shown up at the quarry, looking for work and thinking that it captured the pony she were meeting with pretty well, though no way could he be as intimidating as his portrait. Boy had she been wrong.

 

She hadn't known about the Blackwaters when she had come here for work. Sure, a few words here and there, but she didn't put much hold in stories like that and preferred to make up her own mind about somepony when she met them. It gave a better idea since some ponies just liked to make up things to make somepony sound better or worse. With Luther... Well, she didn't expect a saint exactly, but he hadn't really been a devil either. Just a businesspony.

 

He hadn't tried to chew her head off or something when it were back then, just been about the cold facts of the matter. Just like he seemed to be today as she took a seat in front of his table and looked down on him. Or well, more eye to eye really. His seating made him gain some height that almost evened it out.

 

"Well, from a medical point of view, things are positive."

 

She put down the report she had written up on the table. It contained the medical reports about what were used and the damaged to the workers today, as well as a small bit about her own experience at the mine as she had been rather close to ground zero.

 

"The wave of water gave a lot of concussions, and some have gotten a few patches of burn on their skin from the boiling water, but even the ones that were battered around in there are not in any critical condition. Only one were, but I got some help with her and she is up and about now. We're looking at a lot of cases of ponies being sore tomorrow, bruising and a broken legs plus some having to have a few bones settled again, but most of the workers here are tough. Except for the one with the broken leg, I expect the rest to be back to work tomorrow or the day after, and I made sure to send him off to a proper hospital that will get him fixed as best they can."

 

it varied how long it took for somepony to come over a broken leg, especially considering what treatment options were available to magically speed things up, yet she had high hopes for the other pony, especially as it had seemed like a single fracture, and not several. It was something she'd like to handle herself though, if she could, but she didn't have the materials needed to make a proper cast, and this one had definitely needed that in the long run.

 

"As for the situation itself... I don't know Mr. Blackwater. One moment I hear somepony shouting about fire in the mine, next thing I know they're suddenly screaming about water breaking down when I'm over to pick up my medical bag. I heard somepony talk about there being Fire Opals in the mine, and that might be the reason for the fire, but not sure about who thought it was a good idea to crack the water tower to send towards it."

 

Usually she sounded more... Aloof and silly in it when she spoke, but this was  serious talk in a serious room to a Very serious boss. Even she wasn't going to goof off in here when the whole atmosphere just screamed at her to keep herself in check. Not yet at least.

 

"Although, there is one pony I saw who I couldn't find after the damages that might know something? He ran to the fire a little before the water tower went down, What was the name... Ivan I think? He had a funny accent at least. Might be he were close enough to have seen something."

Edited August 12, 2016 by Blitz Boom

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@Blitz Boom

 

 

Luther regarded her for a moment in silence.  From the open balcony door, the sounds of the quarry winding down for the night crew echoed up from below, but they sounded distant and tinny from inside the imposing office... but otherwise, Ziggy might have been able to hear the stallion's heartbeat if she'd tried.

 

Then, the moment past, he stood from his bench and made his way around the desk to look her directly in the eyes.  Close enough to almost touch, he leveled his eyes onto hers.

 

"Thank you."

 

He didn't smile, but his brow unfurrowed a bit; as close to a smile as she'd ever seen from the stalwart stallion.

 

"Your reports are always detailed and accurate.  I am glad you are as thorough as you are."

 

He turned and began to pace as he spoke to her, the dire tone in his strong voice softened by patience and consideration for the zebrasus.

 

"Your medical expertise was invaluable today; I will read your reports, and file them as necessary.  Anything you need for this, get it.  Cost be damned."  He shot her a glance.  "I trust you, Zinger; give Beck or Call a list, and they will get what you want."

 

He paced towards the balcony again, looking out of the doors and into the air.  "The Fire Opals are being cordoned off, and will be retrieved.  They will help offset today's expenses."

 

He then stopped at the threshold, a look of dark contemplation growing over his features as the firm sternness returned to his muzzle.

 

"Ivan..."  He sighed quietly.  "I will tell the night crew to keep looking for him - I hope he is okay."

 

He then seemed to consider something for a moment... then spoke again.  "You are a good worker, Zinger; thank you."

 

With that out, he turned and stepped onto the balcony, leaning on the railing as he looked down at the still-kinda-messy quarry yard.  Once in that position, he didn't say anything more; Ziggy could take it as read that he was done, or she could see if he had anything else to say... the option was hers.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@@Randimaxis

 

The Quarry - outside the mine

 

Scarlet looked over her shoulder back to the kitchen as she went towards the manor house. She spotted somepony, Taps to be precise. She considered that Taps could at least walk with her to the manor, help get in the door and such.

 

She walked back to the pegasus. "Hello life savor, fancy a walk to the manor? I've got to speak to the king in his castle..." "of his tiny empire compared to my family, Luther...!" Even the thought of that pony filled her with anger, a burning desire for revenge which only seemed to get worse. Though to Taps or anypony looking Scarlet's outter appearance didn't falter.

 

She'd asume that Taps would follow her, so set back off for the manor but slowly waiting for her. It would take quite a bit of her poker face cunning not to just lose it talking to the stallion. She took a few deep breaths that might be mistaken for dread of Luther, more the other way around. (He should be scared of her)

 

Given a few pulled strings she could have what she wanted by force, but she talked herself out of doing it the loud way. The covert opperation was the way she was going to try this, loud could stay in reserve. "Calm Scarlet, delt with the likes of Blueblood more like Boofhead, I can handle a disgruntled minning boss.

[cwhip9 1,078]

@@Randimaxis,

Cresent smiled landing in front giving her a hug followed by a peck on the cheek "ya and he took the news well for the opals he green lit us closeing it off for the minore, here let me"

 

He bowed taking the tools lightening the mares load and followed her towards the shed "and found out some more stuff those pony's we ran into wasn't by chance." he gave a look around seeing not many pony's out once in the shed he helped her put the tools back. Seeing how they were alone for the most part he relaxed, a bit.

 

"Somepony named cragg might be connected to this whole mess a business rival of his, With how this business is and all I can see where he could link it to one but I don't think a business rival would cause a freak flood like this. It was today on top of the brothers having their show and tell. Or I could not be seeing a part to this whole mess" he finished.  

 

Looking at the mare he smiled "by the way, if im acting to fast for...well you and me...I kind of suck at the whole colt friend thing so don't worry about holding back if you need to tell me something or call me out on it batponys can handle a lot being here for a job for example" he finished with a joke....or hoped it would get a smile out of the mare.   

[Randimaxis 8,633]

@Mentis Soliloquy

 

 

Taps gave a bit of a nervous smile at first, but when Scarlet spoke, she seemed to relax a bit.

 

In response to her question, Taps looked to the manor on the mountain, then back at Scar and nodded.  She then clicked her hooves together, and with a small >SPROING!< sound, small metal wheels popped out of the bottom of them, and she began to roll alongside the earth pony.  Her movements on those wheels were liquid and graceful, like a ballerina in skates, as she kept up with Scarlet.

 

Taps was small for an adult mare; mere quick glances at her would possibly make you think she was still a filly.  However, the dead giveaway was her wings - even as tucked in as they were, Scarlet could tell that this tiny little pegasus would have an ENORMOUS wingspan if she ever chose to stretch them.  With her wingspan and her petite physique, it was likely she was pretty fast.

 

As they walked, she gave a directional nod towards the lunch trailer, then scrunched up her face so that it looked kind of old, then finished with a questioning look; she apparently was asking Scarlet about Grill Brick, most likely wanting to know her opinion of the former lunch cook.

==============================================================

 

@cwhip9

 

 

Silver blushed profusely as Crescent pecked her cheek, then frowned as he continued on about the meeting with Luther.

 

"Cragg.  It would make sense; he's been up to no-good from day one.  He's tried to hire me out from under the quarry a few times, but he's a yutz - his bottom line is what monetary value he can get from anything, and even the ponies that work for him say he's a jerk.  The ones that work for Luther might be afraid of him... but they respect him."

 

At mention of their relationship, Silver blushed deeeeeeeeeeeeeeply.  "Well, uhm... you see... well... it's maybe a little fast, but not because I have any problems with you or anything like that!  I just... well..."  She sighed.  "... it's... complicated."

 

She looked him right in the eye.

 

"Crescent, a number of years ago, I DID have a Special Somepony, yes... but things got... difficult... for us to see each other.  He's so busy, it's hard to find any time for us to be together.  But, admittedly, that WAS a while ago... I guess I just have issues with letting go of the past.  But I DO love him, Crescent..."

 

She looked back at the bat-pony.  "But he isn't here, and hasn't been for a while - and you're so very sweet to me.  You're an angel... well, not insomuch as you have a halo and play a harp, but more like you're quite a kind and caring fellow.  I DO like you, Cress..."

 

She grinned shyly.  "I'm just... well, a bit... torn, is all.  I mean, I have very strong feelings for you both - is it okay if I really wanna just enjoy time with you for a while?  I mean, maybe you're the one... but I just don't know, yet."  She sighed.

 

"Look... is it possible we could perhaps date, or have lunch together?  I mean, I'm NOT adverse to the idea of going out with you..." A slight blush at that.  "... but taking it nice and easy would help, yes.  I honestly don't know if I'm ready to move on... but I AM willing to spend some time with you, if that's okay?  We can see where this goes from here, if you like?"

 

She looked into Crescent's blue eyes with her amber ones.  "I'm NOT saying 'no'... I'm saying 'take it slow', okay?"

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@@Randimaxis

 

The Quarry - outside the mine

 

"What in the devil...?" She looked down at the noise so see what in the heck makes such a weird noise. She looked a little puzzled at how or where those wheels? Had protruded from. "That's something..." A little puzzled.

 

She shook her head before looking forward back to the manor to think for a moment. "You are something odd Taps... swear you could of been in S.M.I.L.E... maybe?" As they got closer to the house she looked up at it, quite an impressive building old style manors always were but murder to maintain.

 

She noticed Taps making a gesture of the food trailer then a series of faces that looked like she was enquiring about something to do with her trailer now. "Um if you mean food, no pony turned up so I closed the kitchen for today, no sense in my sitting around doing nothing when I've got to see Luther. If you mean... Brick? Well he was a nice fella, loves my soup had three or four bowls of the stuff, I know I'm good, but that good?" She shook her head with a small chuckle.

 

She continued to tell taps about everything she'd missed since they last 'spoke', eventually arriving at the mannor. "Well this is me I guess, do I just knock?"