private The House Always Wins {RP}

[ActFast231 432]

@,

"But of course." Max said as he followed Maple into the hotel. It was a very large and extravagant room they were in. It looked like no expense was spared. Max looked all around the room in awe. He was tempted to fly up and get a better look at the chandelier, but he stopped himself, for he didn't want to abandon the earth pony he walked beside.

"This place is...amazing. I have never seen such a well crafted place." Max thought aloud. He soon found himself at a wall, where a large a few luxury seats stood.

"Let us rest our hooves while we wait for the others to arrive. I imagine these will be quiet comfortable." He said, gesturing Maple to a nearby seat.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

@ActFast231

 

"I'd never imagined anything like this...."

 

As she walked toward the seats,Maple took a closer look at the interior of the building, moving her head back and forth, even straining her neck to look up and was taken aback by the pure...detail. There was not a single corner that was not intricately designed, not a single piece of furniture that was not masterfully created and decorated...even the floor seemed to be no exception! There were many decorative pieces of furniture in the room, and the floor surrounding them was a piece of artwork in and of itself. 

 

This place is almost dizzying!, she thought.

 

Finally, bumping into the seats, broke out of her internal admiration for the place.

 

I've gotta stop doing that.

 

Taking a seat, (a rather large seat) Maple turned to face Max, who, she now noticed, was a little taller than she thought he was. "I knew this was a pretty important and nice place, but I'd never imagined this!", she laughed. She moved herself a little on the chair, trying to get even more comfortable than she already was. The chairs were so large...there was almost room for two ponies. She leaned back on her chair, and closed her eyes, a smile on her face. She had barely gotten here, and she was already enjoying herself. Yes, surely, these next few days with her newfound friend and four other ponies she'd yet to know, would surely be a time to remember!

[ActFast231 432]

@,

Max pondered why they made the seats so big...He mentally facehoofed.

"These aren't seats, they are small sofas. What do they call those...love seats? Is that it? Wonder why they call them that?" Max thought to himself. He saw that there was too much space between love seats, so he simply sat next to Maple on hers.

"By the way..." Max began.

"I don't think I ever found out where you are from. I bet it is a very high class place." Max said. Judging by her look, she looked very high class and successful. He couldn't put a hoof on why he thought so, maybe it was because she was very well groomed, or that she wore very nice clothes...Max stopped his thought train for a moment.

"I think I am overanalyzing this a bit. That's a first." Max thought to himself.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

@ActFast231

 

Maple popped an eye open. "Where I am from?", she echoed, "I was born in Manehattan, but I've been pretty much everywhere, studying and the like...I'm not sure why you think I'm a high-class pony, though." 

 

Is it my looks? My saddle? Cutie Mark?

 

Before Max could respond with anything else, she quickly brought the question back to him. "And you?"

[Ms. J. L. Snickers 101]

 

It was time. The puzzle pieces were scattered across the table, just ready and waiting to be assembled.

 

Master Artix looked out the window of his luxurious hotel, seeing the punch-drunk Pegasus ponies careen into one another. The city was starting to awaken as the skies got darker and the neon got brighter; the true animal nature of his city would begin. It was a pony eat pony world out there, beneath the nice bathrobes and Saddle Arabian sheets, and even though his ‘guests’ would be within the safety of his hotel, the had no idea what kind of city it was.

 

He straightened his thick black cloak and opened his door, trotting out of his room for the first time in almost two months.

 

The spiraling staircase from the top of the hotel stopped with a flourish at the lobby level, and he walked down them gracefully, as he once had when Buttercup was still alive. When his wife had been alive, the two of them had descended together, her bashfulness causing her to half-hide behind his cloak and titter nervously whenever someone spoke to her. Now, he turned to his left, the vision of his wife almost real enough to be seen by his own eyes, and smiled at her. "Almost, my love," He murmured to his own mental projection of his wife.

 

The ponies he had invited were all staring around at the lobby with similar looks of awe. Once he descended the stairs and his hooves touched the cold marble floors, several heads swiveled in his direction. "Good evening," He said. "You’ve enjoyed Las Pegasus, I trust? I am Master Artix, the owner of this hotel."

 

Buttercup tittered and hid behind his cloak. He stroked her mane idly with one hoof, looking for all the world like he was twirling a hoof nonsensically in midair. "I’ve invited you all here to enjoy yourselves, to relax, and have a good time. The entire hotel is open to you, and not a single room is off limits. If there’s anything we can get for you, just be sure to ask."

 

He knew that half the staff was staring at him – he hadn’t come downstairs in ages. It didn’t matter. The staff would all be gone within an hour or two. "Now, I’d like to invite you to step this way. It’s a bit early for dinner, and for my proposition, but there’s no reason we can’t experience Las Pegasus to it’s full extent.” His burning, askew golden eyes swept the group, and an inviting smile crossed his features momentarily.

 

Perfect. Just...perfect.

[ActFast231 432]

@, @@Ms. J. L. Snickers,

"Oh. well I have lived in Ponyville my entire life. I have only ever been to Canterlot and Cloudsdale for brief visits, but beyond that, I have never been outside Ponyville. So this is kind of an adv-" Max was cut off by there host coming down and introducing himself. He was glad to hear that they had full access to the hotel, Max always liked exploring. He saw something in Artix's eyes that was...familiar. The way he waved his hoof in the air...could it be? No, couldn't be. But it is possible. Max brushed it aside for now and turned towards Maple. He got to his hooves, and gestured towards the staircase.

"After you." He said with a bow. It was rare for Max to behave with such manners.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

@@ActFast231, @ @Ms. J. L. Snickers

 

"No need for formalities," she muttered to Max, then glanced at Artix. "At least, not with me."

 

The master of the hotel unsettled her. His gaze was rather intimidating, almost...mad.

She shook the thought off. How ignorant of her. She had barely even met him. To be fair, the colt was also fairly handsome for his age, and...

 

She couldn't really think of anything else, but that was also fair. She decided she was thinking in a completely stupid manner, and trotted. slowly, over to Mr. Artix. "Thank you for having us, sir!" She made a slight bow.

[Miss Light Diamond 2,802]

@@Ms. J. L. Snickers,

Flame grabbed his bag and walked into the large hotel.

He stood quietly by the door and looked around the entrance hall in awe. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Wow." He muttered as Master Artix made his way down the stairs.

Flame watched the pony play with his hoof...almost as if he was stroking something...but, as usual, Flame stayed quiet and nodded as Master Artix finished speaking.

[ActFast231 432]

@@Ms. J. L. Snickers, @,

Max followed her up the stairs, noticing that she was looking at Artix very strangely. Max shrugged it off for now and addressed their host.

"Good Evening to you Master Artix." Max said, bowing his head. He knew that he should be polite to the pony that brought them all here. Max got a chance to look into those piercing gold eyes of his, and what he saw he knew all too well. At the moment he knew what he was doing when he was waving at nothing. Max knew because he too was like this. He was able to get over it with the help of a good friend and a unicorn's magic. But that was another story. He decided to test it to be sure.

"So, will it just be you joining us tonight, or will you be accompanied?" Max said, subtly gesturing to the area he was waving his hoof around.

[Ms. J. L. Snickers 101]

 

Ah, the young writer, Maple Sands. He had read one of her books, deemed it absolute rubbish, and written her the invitation. She was a pretty young filly, dainty in that shy manner most young mares have before they fully realize they’re attractive. He smiled at her briefly, narrowing his eyes. "The pleasure is all mine, my dear," Master Artix sad quietly.

 

That other colt, a rather tall and lanky stallion with eyes that were a little too knowing, stepped up behind her. After thanking him politely, the colt asked “So, will you be joining us alone tonight, or will you be accompanied?”

 

The difference between them in years couldn’t have been much. Artix glanced over at Buttercup, wondering if she was as amused by his forward houseguest as he, but for the moment she had wandered off somewhere. That was strange, since she usually stuck quite close to him. At any rate, there was a stallion waiting on his answer. "No, I will be joining you...alone." Those mad golden eyes stopped their frenzied dancing for a moment, and his expression was achingly bitter for the space of a second. "There were days where that might have been different, but not this evening."

 

And then it was back, the little unsettled look in his eyes, and Buttercup had apparently located a glass of punch and nuzzled comfortably close to him. If he focused, he could hear her heartbeat. "Right this way, my guests, right this way," He ushered the startled group of ponies up the steps, leading them to the dining room.

 

It was almost absurdly lavish for seven ponies; the ceiling was nonexistent, disappearing up into the clouds, where the neon lights of the upper levels of Las Pegasus flickered dimly. The two glass walls allowed them a birds-eye-view of the casino floor, showing roulette wheels, poker pits, and old fashioned slots. A floor show was apparently in progress, as a mare in a sequined, ruffled leotard spun perfectly over to her dance partner, the spotlight fixed upon them unwaveringly.

 

The table was comfortably cozy in the huge room, with finely hewn crystal glasses full of a rich blue liquid which fizzed invitingly. A stallion with an aggressively waxed moustache stepped forward, busying himself with taking coats and hats. Another stallion, almost identical save for the moustache, showed them to their seats, and then they disappeared without a sound. Two slender fillies pranced forward bearing trays of hors d'oeuvres. "Please, indulge yourself," Master Artix said, passing around the tray of drinks. "That’s what Las Pegasus is all about.”

 

He trotted over to the glass wall and gazed fondly down at the game show floor. "Feel free to try your luck at some of the slots later in the evening," Master Artix told them lightly. "You can’t win if you don’t play.”

 

The eccentric billionaire nudged the detective, who was staring at him like he had sporadically grown a third eye. "Just remember something, Mr. Noir," He grinned suddenly, "There’s two rules in Las Pegasus. Only two rules. Number one, is have an unforgettable experience. Number two...”

 

He paused, and drained his glass of blue fizzberry juice. "Number two, the house always wins."

Edited March 28, 2013 by Ms. J. L. Snickers

[Miss Light Diamond 2,802]

Flame sat down at the table...mumbling something about not gambling.

He was beginning to wonder why he accepted this in the first place...he didn't like gambling, he liked staying home with his family...well, circus family. And he didn't like gambling...or being treated like he was some sort of royalty.

He just stayed quiet and sipped some water next to his plate.

[ActFast231 432]

@@Ms. J. L. Snickers,

Max noticed that Artix looked unsettled almost immediately after denying having company. Max assumed that he was either lying, or was farther into madness than he thought. He flowed him into the dining room. When a stallion tried to take his hat and coat, Max backed away. 

"If it is all the same with you, I shall be keeping the fedora and concierge on me. I just feel naked without it." Max said politely. He shrugged and moved on to the next. He trotted over to a seat at the table with a good view of the casino floor.

@,

Max saw Maple approaching, so he pulled out a chair for her, as a gentlecolt would. He was enjoying her company very much, and was eager to resume his conversation with her.

[LeJAKoJAK 49]

Phil looks at Artix, giving him a once over. "Thanks for the hospitality and all, and for now, I'l play your game. And I don't mean slots or cards." He finishes his current piece of candy, grabs a hors d'oeuvre, and takes a seat. He finishes off his snack and reaches into his jacket.

 

"But remember, with me, there are also two rules. 1. I don't put up with BS. And Two," He pulls out the paper he bought earlier, making sure that Artix sees the headline about the murdered mare. "I will find out what I need to know. And I'll burn the house down if I need to." He starts to chew on another piece of candy, props his hind hooves on the table, and begins to read the paper.

[Ms. J. L. Snickers 101]

@, @@LeJAKoJAK

 

Master Artix clucked his tongue disapprovingly at the peppery detective. Of course, Phil Noir would be the one to pick a fight first – he was the most suspicious, and the one with his hackles permanently raised. He was possibly the most colorful pony he had invited to the hotel, although if he proved to be too nosy it would be relatively easy to turn the others against him.

 

"Now, now, Mr. Noir, you haven’t even heard my proposition yet," He chuckled, but his golden eyes had sharpened and focused with uncanny stillness on the detective. "Let’s not knock the game before we’ve played, shall we?"

 

There was one pony, fiddling uncomfortably with his plate and sipping at his water, rather a distance away from the rest of the group. That must have been Flame Dancer. Time to see if the group would bond together. "Now, you’re Flame Dancer, aren’t you? Ah, yes. It’s good to finally make your acquaintance. Tell me, what do you think of Mr. Noir’s warning?"

 

{{On my phone, sorry for the short post.}}

[Miss Light Diamond 2,802]

@@Ms. J. L. Snickers,

 

 

Flame looked up and thought for a moment before speaking. "I think it means you have us here for some reason that isn't just being friendly and inviting us." He said, sipping his water. "And I will most likely end up being terrible at whatever it is...unless its performing or cooking."

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

@ActFast231 (And perhaps @Ms. J. L. Snickers and @LeJAKoJAK)

 

Maple glanced briefly at the hotel's caretaker as she trotted to the dining room table. He was over by one of the glass walls conversing with the "film-pony" about something. The film-pony seemed to have a stern look in his face about something, and Mr. Artix seemed to receive whatever the film-pony was grumbling about with ease. She couldn't think of a reason why this colt would be arguing with Mr. Artix already. They had been granted a free ride to his wonderful establishment, complete freedom around the place, and given all of this wonderful service for no cost at all! True, it did sound fishy, but it seemed like all of these ponies were a little well-known for something. Maybe he just really liked their work?

 

Maple caught herself just before hitting the chair that Max was holding out for her. 

 

"Thank you."

 

She took the seat, and then pulled the one beside her for Max, and made a motion for him to sit down beside her. She rested a hoof on the table and gave another side-long glance at the two grey ponies at the side of the room, before turning her gaze back to Max.

[ActFast231 432]

@,

Max sat down next to Maple, taking note of the detectives hostility towards their host. Granted, something was amiss, Max knew this the minute he made eye contact with Artix, but there was no need for hostilities. At least, not yet. He glanced over at Maple.

"I never got to answer your question as to why I thought you a high class mare. I assumed this because...well, you look the role. The way you dress yourself, the way you are groomed, is all very well done. Some might even say beautiful. You just seem like you belong in a place of this high class and decore." Max meant every word of that statement. She really looked like she kept good care of herself. As he talked, he found himself in eye contact. He slowly lost himself in her eyes, still keeping up conversation, but slowly zoning out.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

@@ActFast231

 

"Heh, thank you! You're not too bad either, Max. Honestly, I-"

 

Maple felt her cheeks flush with colour as she said this,and turned her head to look at the food sitting in front of them, breaking eye contact.

 

"So! Food! What do you like?"

 

Before Max could answer, she loaded up her plate with anything that looked edible until there was no more space on the plate, and then started filling up Max's plate as well.

Edited March 29, 2013 by RayFriedh

[ActFast231 432]

@,

When Maple started loading both there plates with food, Max felt slightly embarrassed, his face turning a shade of red to match his fedora.

"Did I make her uncomfortable? I sure hope not." Max felt good talking to the mare. Really good. It was a feeling Max hasn't experienced in years. He actually couldn't quiet put his hoof on what the source of his joy was. It clearly had something to do with being around this mare, but he had talked to many ponies over the years, not one wielding the same results. Except for one...Max had a thought.

"Is this bliss like joy...Is this...No. That cant be it....Can it?" He was cut short by a plate presented to him. It was covered in every appetizer there was available.

"Thank you dear." Max said politely. Dear? Why did he just say dear? Max pushed it from his mind long enough to start eating some of the food he was given by the frantic mare.

"Mmmm...You must try the apple salad. It has the best apples I have ever tasted." Max said with a satisfied sigh.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

@@ActFast231

 

The colour had risen to her ears now. Dear? Dear? 

 

She served herself an apple salad as her friend- her friend- suggested. She picked up a different plate, pushed aside the other one full of other things, and filled the second plate with the salad. She picked up a fork and ate the salad as slowly as she possibly could, keeping her eyesight focused on the fork. Just on the fork. Anything to prevent her from looking back up at the colt beside her it was so tempting, just turning her head and looking back up, back to his friendly, warm-

 

She didn't feel hungry at all, the butterflies in her stomach could have been enough to feed a full-grown dragon. She felt dizzy. She served herself a glass of wine, and looked all around the room for anything to focus on, anything- but she had already gotten to examine the ponies in the carriage, and there was nothing in particular she could see about Mister Artix from so far away. Nopony was doing anything interesting. Almost nopony was talking to each other, even. With a sigh, she turned back to the only pony adjacent to her. 

[Ms. J. L. Snickers 101]

@

 

Master Artix smirked at the younger pony. "You degrade yourself, Mr. Dancer. I think you’ll be extraordinarily helpful." He left his side with a rather unsettlingly fatherly pat on the shoulder, and went over to the ponies who were scattered apart, untalkative and shy. They weren’t sticking together yet, they were all either eating, eyeing each other suspiciously, or trying to look as though they belonged there. All except for the young writer and the tall pony; they were staring moonstruck into each other’s eyes, blushing furiously but looking soppy nonetheless.

 

All of a sudden, the lights went out.

 

There were startled squeaks and gasps from everyone assembled, freezing in their places as utter blackness fell. Right on time, Master Artix thought pleasantly. "Everypony stay calm," He ordered. "I’m sure the lights will be on in a moment."

 

They wouldn’t be on in a moment, but they didn’t know that.

[LeJAKoJAK 49]

"Hang on, I think I have some kind of flashlight in my pocket. We can use it in the mean time." After a few moments, of a jacket rustling, there is still no light. "It's not in that pocket.... not in that one.... my candy pocket..... Crap."

 

Phill looks up in the direction, still searching his pockets, "Sorry guys, I don't have my flashlight," He feels a small box in his pocket. "Buuuuut, I do have a box of matches." And seconds later, a match flickers into existence, "And we do have some unicorns." The match goes out. "Mind giving us some light here? I don't think that my matches will do well as a light source."

Edited March 29, 2013 by LeJAKoJAK

[ActFast231 432]

@@ActFast231

 

The colour had risen to her ears now. Dear? Dear? 

 

She served herself an apple salad as her friend- her friend- suggested. She picked up a different plate, pushed aside the other one full of other things, and filled the second plate with the salad. She picked up a fork and ate the salad as slowly as she possibly could, keeping her eyesight focused on the fork. Just on the fork. Anything to prevent her from looking back up at the colt beside her it was so tempting, just turning her head and looking back up, back to his friendly, warm-

 

She didn't feel hungry at all, the butterflies in her stomach could have been enough to feed a full-grown dragon. She felt dizzy. She served herself a glass of wine, and looked all around the room for anything to focus on, anything- but she had already gotten to examine the ponies in the carriage, and there was nothing in particular she could see about Mister Artix from so far away. Nopony was doing anything interesting. Almost nopony was talking to each other, even. With a sigh, she turned back to the only pony adjacent to her. 

Max saw that Maple was looking all around the room. If he didn't know better, he would say that she was avoiding looking at him. She finally did though.

"Are you OK? You seemed flustered." Max said with concern in his voice. Was he doing this? He didn't want to upset her so much. Quiet the opposite in fact. He wanted to make her time here as enjoyable as possible. He started to question his determination to make Maple happy, but rather than fight it, Max just went with it. He realized just then that he was staring at her while thinking about this. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't pull his eyes away from hers. He started turning bright red. He didn't even notice when the lights went out, he was too deep of a trance to notice or care.

Edited March 29, 2013 by ActFast231

[LeJAKoJAK 49]

Flick. A match lights up. Phil quickly noticing the two in the chair. "Hey lovebirds, stop making the lovey dovey and start with the-" The light goes out. Flick. "Nighty lighty, I might run out of Flick matches soon. So please snap out of it Flick or somepony find me a candle." The light goes out. "I don't know how many more I got Flick ain't wasting anymore. Sorry folks." The light goes out and doesn't come back on.

Edited March 29, 2013 by LeJAKoJAK

[ActFast231 432]

@@LeJAKoJAK, @,

Max was snapped out of it at the detective scouring them. He used the term "Lovebird" and "Lovey Dovey"  which made Max blush more. He saw briefly in the light of a match a candle sitting on the table.

"Here is candle for you." Max said plainly, sliding the candle over tot he detective. Max pulled out a necklace he wore under his coat, which was emitting a dim light. It only had enough light to illuminate both his and Maples face. 

"Huh, I didn't know this thing glowed. I wonder what triggered its glowing?" The crystal in the center was glowing and softly and was easy on the eyes. It never has shined before, even at night. So it couldn't be glow in the dark. There was something about seeing Maples face in a dim red glow that made her look almost mythical. Max was gob smacked, his heart racing a mile a minute, the redness in his face masked by the crystal necklaces dim glow.