private Sojourn Inn

[Ampharos 1,009]

@@PinkieShyFlutterPie,@,

 

Dust was pretty fast, but when he suddenly found himself holding Milly in his arms, preventing her from hitting the ground, he knew he had blacked out again. "Oh um, hi..." He helped her get up all the way and let go of her. His face was, again, a deep maroon. He smiled at the two mares and backed up from where they were standing. "So um, a song ya say?" His voice cracked near the end of the sentence. He cleared his throat and tried again. "So yer thinkin of a song to sing? Well I don't normally listen ta songs with vocals. I'm more into orchestras and symphonies. Or just a band with no vocalist. But if it's good ah'll listen to it."

Edited June 24, 2013 by Fancy Ram

[PinkieShyFlutterPie 408]

@, @,

 

Milly was surprised at how fast Dust helped her. She looked up at him and blushed. "H-hi" Milly looked down trying to hide her blush. She looked back up at Dust hoping her cheeks weren't to pink anymore "Yea...we were, but we couldn't really figure out a song to sing.." 

[River 59]

@@PinkieShyFlutterPie, @,  

 

((Sorry for taking a while!!))

Cerulean felt a little awkward with the two ponies. She could realize that Milly liked the pony. She hadn't been talking for that time, while she fell, or when Dust walked in. She froze. Now she was unfrozen. "Um," Cerulean began. "I know one. It's called the Ballad of a Young Moon. Do you know it?" She was still thinking about Curious, she really liked him.

Edited June 24, 2013 by Cerulean Sky

[GaleFenrir 281]

Curious stood slack-jaw in the Royal Canterlot Gardens. He looked carefully at everything, and reached out a hoof to touch a plant, an all too familiar white flower, "It feels real enough, " he determined, "If this is an illusion, it is perfect; Everything perfectly replicated, not just the sights and sounds, but the texture, aroma, even the temperature. Really, there's only one thing missing... or rather one pony missing."

 

Curious walked around, his eyes wide open in wonder. "If I didn't know better, I would say I was just teleported here." As he continued walking through the garden, Curious began to get an odd feeling. "But, there seems to be something off... I can't quite determine what." As he was walking, he noticed a squirrel, facing away from him. Curious went up to approach it, to further examine.

 

It's ears twitched at the hoof steps, and suddenly turned around. Curious fell back on his haunches as he looked upon it though, "It... it has no face." he said, and the squirrel turned back around and scampered up a tree. Curious realized he was breathing heavily, and he tugged at his scarf attempting to calm down.

 

"I have to get out of here, where is the exit?" Curious thought to himself, looking around. He saw nothing but an endless expanse of the gardens.

 

"You're trying to leave again, are you?" A melodious voice entered his ears. He turned around quickly, expecting her to be right behind him. He saw nothing but flora. But the flowers he saw were not quite the flowers he had thought were behind them. They were those same white flowers from before.

 

"Gardenia! Where are you?" Curious said in a panic, before shaking his head. "No, no... it's just more trickery, she can't be here."

 

"Actually, that's what I wanted to ask you. Where are you? Where did you run off to? Why did you run away... from me?" the disembodied voice continued.

 

"It wasn't you! I'm sorry I got you involved, really! But I couldn't stay, not after what I did. Celestia would have my head in an instant!"

 

"Auntie would never have done that. I could have even vouched for you. It was all one big misunderstanding, after all."

 

"No, I can't continue this, I have to get out." Curious flew up, trying to get a better view of his surroundings. He saw no exit, but he flew anyway, in a random direction.

 

"Curious, please stop flying away. Please, just settle down."

 

Curious landed at that plea. "No... I can't, no. There's still too much for me to do, to see."

 

"Doesn't all that just leave you so tired? Please, rest."

 

Curious's eyelids lowered at that plea, and he managed to say in a low voice, "Can't stay. Have to... have to get out." He took a few steps forward, but he felt his knees give in. He fell over onto the grass. Then, all was black.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@GaleFenrir

 

"Wow... Did somepony leave a window open?" Symphony thought as she stepped gingerly down the corridor - a breeze caressing her face. It was quieter here, another wing of the inn she didn't think she had explored.

 

"Of course, things might not be as they seem around here..."

 

As she rounded a corner something struck her as odd - the surreal breeze dropped as she heard a heavy 'thud' somewhere ahead, after which the peaceful quiet turned to a stony silence.

 

...

 

"Hello?" She called out against her better judgment. She KNEW something had felt wrong about this place.

 

"Anypony there?" She called out again as she gained speed, cantering down the hall in the direction the sound had came from. Why she was playing the hero again she didn't know - she made it a general rule to run away from potential danger, not towards it.

 

"Vengeful Celestia!" She shouted as she rounded another corner to see the Preasus Curious face down on the ground. Swinging her head around wildly she saw no signs of an attack: it would have looked like he had fainted if it weren't for the look on his face.

 

"Hey! Hey! Wake up!" she said loudly, shaking him slightly "I'm not dealing with whatever did this on my own so you had better wake UP!"

Edited June 24, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,

 

Curious slowly came to, his vision blurred and his mind not entirely lucid. He registered there was some pony talking to him and shaking him, but couldn't quite make it out. He saw that whoever it was was slender and light blue.

 

"Gar—Gardenia?" he said meekly, before his vision started to sharpen, and conciousness returned. "Wait a minute... Gardenia wouldn't be shaking me even if she was here..."

 

He finally recognized the mare waking him up, "Oh, Symphony. Hey." Curious said, non-chalantly.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@@GaleFenrir

 

"Hey? HEY?"

 

She seriously considered giving him a kick for good measure herself.

 

"What the hay happened to you?!" She almost shouted at him. "I find you lying face down in the hall, and you say 'Hey' like it's an everyday thing?!"

 

She hadn't been worried about him. No, not her. Not over this intrusive oaf. Not at all.

 

She regained her composure a little with a deep breath.

 

Why was she being so... vocal?

 

"Ahem. What happened to you? And what did you just call me?"

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,

 

"I called you by your name, you know, Symphony." Curious continued to say nonchalantly, "And nothing happened to me. I just fell asleep." Curious managed to get up on his hooves, "It's awfully embarrassing to admit, but I am a narcoleptic. The fact I've been travelling for a while without proper rest certainly hadn't helped."

 

Curious noticed that Symphony was rather on edge, and he readjusted his scarf when he thought of something he could say that could put her back on edge, "But it was sweet of you to be so worried about me."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

"No. Not this time. I don't believe you."

 

She said, pointing a hoof towards him, glaring.

 

"You've got your secrets? Fine, me too! You don't want to open up - that's fine, I understand!"

 

She pushed her face right up to the stallions, glaring intently.

 

"But if you're hiding something that puts anypony here in danger? I might not be anypony special but I will NOT let that happen."

 

She paused before turning her back on him, remembering at last to force her more sophisticated voice.

 

"... you should let others help you sometimes. It's tough without anyone to back you up... I've been there."

 

And with that she stormed away, stopping just long enough to angrily shout back at him.

 

"And I wasn't worried about you!"

Edited June 24, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[PinkieShyFlutterPie 408]

@, @,

 

Milly looked over to  Cerulean when she heard her talk "Oh...um...yes i think so, i mean well...yea i do" Milly laughed a bit. She backed up from Dust then walked closer to Cerulean "So...i guess i'll sing that song..?" Milly was feeling a bit shy. She looked around and saw a guitar. She went over and picked it up 

[GaleFenrir 281]

@@PinkieShyFlutterPie,@, @,  

 

Curious tugged at his scarf as he watched Symphony leave. "She has a temper, it would seem. But, really, the last thing I need is to get her involved." Curious looked around himself, the rather bland hallway paling in comparison to the splendor of the garden he had been in, "and I am not entirely certain this place is anything harmful, anyway. It was a moment of my own weakness, is all. So long as everypony else is bright and chipper, they should be fine."

 

"Hmm... chipper, eh? Well... then the most vulnerable I would be able to identify amongst us would be Cerulean. She should be in the caring hooves of at least Milly, but come to think of it, if Dust went back, being that he is so obviously infatuated with Milly, Cerulean might start to feel... left out?"

 

Curious nodded his head at his own deduction, and then started to trot through the hall, "I think I'll go cheer her up, if need be. Though... have to make certain I keep my distance."

 

Not surprisingly anymore, Curious had to take but a single turn to find the door to the recreational room he had left earlier. He pushed the door open, and saw that the three ponies were indeed there, "Hello again, how's it going?"

[Ampharos 1,009]

@@GaleFenrir,

 

Contrary to Curious' belief, Dust was feeling a little left out instead. He was sitting with Coal, watching him draw. He questioned whether or not he should ask to play the piano with them, and he as about to ask when Curious came in. "Well hey there Curious. The girls were going to perform a duet of sorts. Wanna stay and listen?"

[GaleFenrir 281]

@@PinkieShyFlutterPie,@, @,  

 

"Oh, I would love to. Sorry I had to excuse myself earlier," Curious turned his head to Cerulean, "I unfortunately have a habit of doing that." Curious said with a small chuckle.

 

Curious readjusted his scarf, let himself more into the room and shot a smile at Cerulean.

Edited June 25, 2013 by GaleFenrir

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Symphony was furious and she didn't know why: of course he lied when she questioned him - hadn't she suspected that since the start?

 

"Agh!" she shouted as she slammed the door to her room closed. "Sonnet, what's wrong with me?"

 

"Maybe it's because there's something about him that reminds you of yourself?" She answered in her head.

 

Stubborn, tough, too proud to accept help. No, she wasn't like that any more. She had friends, ponies she could trust. She had changed.

 

"You were." she thought. "Or maybe it's because you were concerned? Like you told yourself you wouldn't let yourself be? Like with Scribe and Cinder?"

 

She scowled at the reflection she caught sight if in the mirror.

 

"Oh don't you start too!" she muttered to herself.

 

"Perhaps it's yourself your really mad at? For changing so much over the past few months?"

 

"Your no psychiatrist, sister." Symphony said into the dark room.

 

Nopony answered.

[River 59]

@, @,

 

Milly looked over to  Cerulean when she heard her talk "Oh...um...yes i think so, i mean well...yea i do" Milly laughed a bit. She backed up from Dust then walked closer to Cerulean "So...i guess i'll sing that song..?" Milly was feeling a bit shy. She looked around and saw a guitar. She went over and picked it up 

@@GaleFenrir,

She saw Curious smile at him and she simply looked away, knowing he could see her blush.

 She felt like it was hopeless to talk to him, because he looked so reserved. She felt like she really liked him. "Oh well, I guess its hopeless for me to think about him." She picked up the flute and began playing. 

Edited June 25, 2013 by Cerulean Sky

[Ampharos 1,009]

@,

 

Dust's good ear twitched, and he felt like he recognized the song. He stood up, walked to the piano and sat down. He rubbed his hooves together, and started playing with Cerulean. It was a beautiful sound, the flute and the piano. The chords were perfect, and so were the harmonies. Dust felt so engrossed in his music, he forgot about everything else. About Milly. About the strangeness of the inn. All he cared about for that moment, was the music. 

[PinkieShyFlutterPie 408]

Milly waved as Curious walked in. She smiled at Cerulean blushing because of Curious smiling at her. Milly saw as Cerulean started to play the flute and as Dust started to play the piano. She smiled then looked at the guitar she had and started to play it. Wile looking down at her guitar she started to sing, first pretty quietly cause she was sorta shy but then she started to sing a bit louder 

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,@, @@PinkieShyFlutterPie,  

 

Curious felt a little awkward, being an audience of one, but he was enjoying the music nonetheless. He had noticed how Cerulean acted when he came in, and it wasn't exactly what he was hoping for. Rather than seeming to cheer up, she seemed to become more self-conscious. "Mares... why do they always have to act so odd?"

 

When the piece was done, Curious stomped his hooves on the ground in applause.

[River 59]

@,@, @@PinkieShyFlutterPie,  

 

Curious felt a little awkward, being an audience of one, but he was enjoying the music nonetheless. He had noticed how Cerulean acted when he came in, and it wasn't exactly what he was hoping for. Rather than seeming to cheer up, she seemed to become more self-conscious. "Mares... why do they always have to act so odd?"

 

When the piece was done, Curious stomped his hooves on the ground in applause.

 

When they were done, Cerulean smiled at Curious. She knew when she turned away before, that Curious was still looking at her. She felt bad about that. She walked over to Curious. "Hey, um, you." She smiled. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be talking to that um, Crystal Pony." She immediately felt bad about saying that, it's just that she was jealous of her, and her Crystally looks, and felt that Curious liked her. 

[GaleFenrir 281]

@, 

 

"Oh, you mean Miss Symphony?" Curious said knowingly. He figured somepony as self-conscious as Cerulean would have a tendency for feeling jealousy. Curious had to admit to himself that Symphony was... well, quite alluring. But, he was there to make sure Cerulean would be in a good mood. At the same time, he wanted to keep himself from leading Cerulean on, "She didn't seem to mind me excusing myself to come see you."

 

"Really, she kinda ditched me after getting fed up with me, but, eh."

[River 59]

@, 

 

"Oh, you mean Miss Symphony?" Curious said knowingly. He figured somepony as self-conscious as Cerulean would have a tendency for feeling jealousy. Curious had to admit to himself that Symphony was... well, quite alluring. But, he was there to make sure Cerulean would be in a good mood. At the same time, he wanted to keep himself from leading Cerulean on, "She didn't seem to mind me excusing myself to come see you."

 

"Really, she kinda ditched me after getting fed up with me, but, eh."

 

Cerulean felt like Curious really liked Symphony. "Oh, well, um, uh, It was nice of you, to come talk to me. I've been really down and lonely lately, I'm happy to find some friends here." Cerulean has never been in a relationship with a guy before, and she was sure that Curious wouldn't be her first. She sadly squealed accidentally. 

Edited June 25, 2013 by Cerulean Sky

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,@@PinkieShyFlutterPie, @,

 

"Okay, she's in a brighter mood. I just have to imply to her that I am not looking for a romantic relationship right now, and do so... subtly, can't hurt her feelings, after all. Would kinda defeat the whole point."

 

"Yes, I too am glad to find a friend in you, " Curious said, smiling at Ceruelan, then he turned his head to look at Dust, "and Dust, " then he turned his head to face Milly, "and, well, I don't know you really at all Milly, but you seem nice enough."

 

His gaze went back to Cerulean, and he smiled kindly, "We three will be your friends, so there's no need for you to be lonely anymore."

[Ampharos 1,009]

@@PinkieShyFlutterPie,

 

Dust decided. Now was the time. Curious was not really paying attention and he needed to at this off his chest. He turned to Milly. "Milly ah know this is kinda sudden but ah like ya and ah was wondering if ya maybe wanted ta have lunch or somethin sometime." He said the sentence rather quietly and very rushed. His face was so red that you could barely tell it was originally brown. His mane covered his face slightly and he peeked under it to look at Milly.

[River 59]

@@GaleFenrir, 

 

Cerulean looked at Dust and heard what he had asked Milly.

"I wish that happened to me." Cerulean thought. She hasn't really been too excited to been in a relationship for a while. She knew that Curious really wasn't interested in her, nothing more than a friend. She was a little upset now, but still smiling. She was hoping that none of the ponies realized she was upset. Especially Milly, she wanted her to be happy and accept Dust's offer. 

"Yeah," Cerulean replied at Curious, awkwardly turning away from Dust. Curious and her now had complete eye contact. She felt a little uneasy and upset, but she was still smiling. 

[GaleFenrir 281]

@,

 

Having eye contact with Cerulean, Curious could pick up on a few things. "Dammit, Curious. She is too smitten with you. And those eyes... they are all too familiar. You have to think of some way to make this up to her. Think... think... agh, there is no easy solution, is there?" Curious was starting to feel uneasy himself, and he tugged at his scarf still in thought, "If I humor her a proper date, that would only leave her worse off in the end. But she can't get to a worse state! The first time she's left alone, this place will show her worst fears to her, she'd sink... dammit! Curious, why'd you go and have to buck this all up?"

 

Curious put his hooves on Cerulean's withers in an attempt to comfort her, and a stray thought passed through his mind, "Hey... have you happened to meet a certain stallion here, goes by the name Repsol?"