open It's Dark In Baltimare

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald seemed to brighten up simply from thinking about his father. "Yeah. He's an amazing stallion. He's been all over the place and done all kinds of crazy things. His name is Rambler. It's actually a name that's been passed down to the first-born male of each generation of our family for over a thousand years. If I'd been born a few months earlier, I'd be named Rambler instead of Emerald. Instead, it's my cousin."

 

As they continued walking, he began to find it hard to take his eyes off of her, or more specifically, her flank. He hated himself for it, as his mother had raised him to be a gentlecolt, but he couldn't help it. At the very least, he tried not to make it obvious. 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Spark decided to keep Emerald talking. His childhood seemed to be more interesting than hers, at least.

 

"So you travel?" Spark asked.

 

She felt his eyes trained on her flank, and in her mind it was all she was blushing furiously. Some of that blush trickled through to reality, and felt her face flush. They arrived at the pub.

 

"Here we are! McAllister's pub!" Spark said, and led Emerald inside a dimly lit pub.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

He nodded. "All the time. My dad takes me all over the place. He's been wandering around his whole life, pretty much doing whatever he wants. Somehow he manages to earn enough money to get by that way. In fact, he has quite a bit of money, although he rarely spends it. To be honest, even I don't understand him sometimes. But anyway, yes, I travel. I've been all over Equestria."

 

He grinned as they entered the pub. "Now this seems like my kind of place. Of course, my mother would probably hate it."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"Well that sounds fun." Spark said, and sat down at her usual place at the bar. She turned to the bartender and ordered a Ploughman's Melt and a beer.

 

"I have no idea what my parents would think of this place. They never were a relevant part in my life. Well, no sentient beings are really part of my life."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald didn't really feel like thinking about it, so he ordered the same as Spark. "Really? That's rather sad. But you can't seriously tell me you aren't close to anyone. I mean, a smart, talented, absolutely stunning mare like you must have some friends... maybe even a special somepony?"

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Spark could tell what Emerald was getting at, so she decided to humor him.

 

"Nope. Only me. No close friends, no siblings, no special somepony, just me. Me and Rernad, but I don't really think he counts. Considering he's not sentient, and all." Spark said, and chuckled.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

@

 

"Really?" Scribe asked "I mean, I appreciate it, but are you sure you don't mind?"

 

He couldn't help but feel like he might be imposing on his new friends space: they had only met a couple of hours ago.

 

"Well... I'll keep out of the way, and I'll not touch anything that looks breakable. Thanks!"

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald was legitimately surprised. "Really? But don't you ever get lonely? I mean, I have friends all over the place that I've met along my travels, and I don't know where I'd be without my dad. Of course, I don't have a special somepony at the moment. It's hard, when you're moving around all the time. But I think since I'm going to be here for a while maybe I'll try to change that." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Spark shrugged.

 

"Not really, I don't really have time for loneliness and wallowing in self-pity. Other ponies seem to get frustrated by my constant evaluating, so they don't mind my absence. Five minutes until the food should be done, by the way. I've timed how long it takes to cook and compared it with the current amount of guests."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald stared at her for a bit before responding. "You... just did that now? Like, in the back of your head, while we were talking? That's pretty amazing. I wish I could do that sort of thing. Sadly, I've never been much good with numbers." He shrugged. "Anyway, surely you must have some desire for a friend... or maybe something a more than a friend?"

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"Well, yeah. It's not that difficult. I've counted the guests, timed it last time I was here, seen how many guests had their food, and estimated the wait time." Spark said nonchalantly.

 

"At the moment, no particular desire has arisen. But we could be friends, I guess." Spark said, shutting Emerald down.

 

"Oh, and the food will be here in 3, 2, 1." She said, and the plates arrived in front of Spark and Emerald.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald stumbled as he tried to save himself from embarrassment. "Wait, you didn't think that I meant to say... I mean we just met... I didn't mean to suggest that... granted, you're truly a lovely mare, and I can't deny that the interest is there, but... Well anyway, yes. Being friends would be great." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((MWA HA HA!))

 

Spark chewed her food slowly, watching Emerald fumble over his words.

 

"I agree. So, Emerald, where are you from?" Spark asked politely. One of the reasons she rarely went out was because of the dreaded idle chit-chat. Talking without a purpose never was her strong point.

[Snowy Storm 57]

Icy final gave it a break. She was done with her work. Tired as she was, she still managed to fix up her mane and clean up her mess.

"Well I finished that faster then I thought" She said highly of herself.  She walked back up stairs and saw that the nobles that were here earlier were gone, the store was empty. -Looks like Regal closed shop early today- Taking some bits from a bag behind the counter she opened the door and walked out. 

Icy didn't know where she was going, but she did enjoy taking walks.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald shrugged. "That's a surprisingly hard question for me to answer properly. I was born in Stallionshire, and I spent a lot of time there as a child, but I also spent a lot of time in Canterlot and Ponyville, not to mention that I've been traveling frequently pretty much since I could walk."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"How is Ponyville these days? And in Canterlot do you know a mare by the name of Star Gazer? We were friends growing up. Well, if you could call it that. We both preferred being alone and being alone together seemed logical." Spark shook her head. "But I'm rambling. That seems interesting."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

"Ponyville is as pleasant and idyllic as ever. It's like the town is untouched by time, the way it always seems to be the same whenever I visit. I think the name Star Gazer rings a bell. I'm sure my father knows her; he knows just about everypony. And I don't think you're really rambling, I'm interested in what you have to say."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"They're also a bunch of prunes afraid of change." Spark mumbled under her breath.

 

((Yes, she did just call them prunes))

 

"What's your father's name? If he knows everypony, then hey, I might just know him." Spark said, and laughed lightly. It was unlikely that she actually knew him, but the thought was there.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald cocked his head to the side, unable to hear the first part of what she had said. "What was that about prunes? There aren't prunes in the food, are there? I can't stand the things. Anyway I guess you might know my father. His name is Rambler. Didn't I already mention that? I could have sworn I went through the usual family name explanation."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Spark nearly spit out her beer when he said Rambler. She didn't know him on a personal level, but she knew his son's marefriend...

 

"Do you have a sibling who also has the name of Rambler but is dating a mare by the name of Minath?" Spark asked, her tone surprised.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Emerald was slightly taken aback by her sudden reaction to the name. Granted, it was hardly the first time, but one never really got used to such things. "Um... I do have a sibling by the same name, yes. The last I heard, he had found some really incredible mare, and he swore he was madly in love with her. I think it might have been the one you're talking about. I don't quite remember her name for sure, though." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Spark set her napkin down.

 

"Well I'll be d***ed, it seems I have heard of your family. Minath is a acquaintance of mine, and recently she's been dating a fellow of the name Rambler. Now I can even see the resemblance between you two. Although your eyes are much greener, and better looking."

[Dsanders 5,750]

@,

 

"Yeah well it's the least I can do for a stallion in need." Orion kindly replied. He had hoped that the mess in his room wasn't going to be too much of a bother for Scribes. Orion was getting very tired and looking at the time, he saw that it was getting late for him. He just wanted this day, this unique and unprecedented day to be over, so that he can continue on with his somewhat average and normal routine once again.

 

"Yeah, so make yourself comfortable, and do whatever you want. I'm going to bed now. I have another day of work tomorrow."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

"Alright, I'll keep the noise down." Scribe waved his acknowledgement before a thought cropped up in his head.

 

"Say, mind if I head out for a while? I don't sleep well and... you know, don't want to keep you awake."

 

He waved towards the window.

 

"Brsides I, uh, kind of owe someone an apology."

[Dsanders 5,750]

Orion rested himself comfortably on the bed. He had gone through a lot this day and it was about time he could use the rest. He needed to take time to refresh his mind. He turned to Scribes who seemed suddenly anxious about something, and Orion's deep observation and memory could see exactly why.

 

"You want to apologize to that unicorn mare, Icy don't you? You want to apologize for offending her 'high class' Canterlot strata."

 

Orion laughed as he beamed a cocky smile.

 

"You might as well get used to the fact that it's almost impossible to hide stuff from me."

 

"Go ahead Scribes, it's the least you owe her."

Edited July 11, 2013 by Dsanders17