Jump to content

Shyriath

Donator
  • Posts

    108
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Shyriath

  1. Flickerlight finally fished a green candle from her bag and presented it to Miss Fortune. "Do let me know if you like it," she said, a bit nervously. As preparations for the game got underway, she gave the pack of cards a wary look. She'd never really played any card games; the kind of indoor games she'd been raised on were board games, like fidchell, brandub, or checkers, or more physical things like quoits or darts. "I'm not sure I'd do well in a game like that. Maybe I ought to just, er, provide moral support from the sides here."
  2. "Well..." Flickerlight rummaged around in her saddlebag, and brought out a dark green candle. "I was working on this one last night. 'Tis pine-scented, nothing special."
  3. I'm prone to nostalgia about childhood, so with me it tends to be more a steady trickle than a blast. But in fact, I did have one fairly recently, and it was triggered by the recent movie The Muppets. Pardon the length. (Warning: I'll try to avoid spoilers, but there may be a few mild ones.) Although technically the Muppet Show, and the original Muppet Movie, were before my time, I nonetheless sort of grew up on them. There were always reruns of the show on, and my dad was a fan so we had the movie on VHS (we still have the tape, in fact), so I watched them a lot. And although the show was always funny, The Muppet Movie, in particular, always got to me. Partly that was because of how it was presented as happening in the real world, just with Muppets added in, but it was also the simple-but-appealing theme: a bunch of friends getting to where they wanted to go by relying on each other. And everyone singing "The Rainbow Connection" at the end, all together, that put the finishing touch on it. (If anypony isn't moved by it, then for the life of me I can't see how.) So, fast forward twenty years. For a large chunk of that intervening time, especially since late middle school or so, I'd become pretty jaded. A geek, not many friends, then exposure to the Interwebs and all the stuff on it that can cause a person to become jaded. I still have fond memories of the Muppets, in a distant, sad sort of way, but they're pretty firmly in the realm of "stuff from my stupid innocent days". But then, just in the last year or so, I become a brony, and I get somewhat less jaded than I was. Although MLP:FiM isn't the Muppets, it opens some of the same old doors in my head. Where at some point I might've been excessively cynical about friendship and happiness and other such innocent things, it's not so much the case anymore. So I hear about The Muppets, and although I have a suspicion that it's going to be a pale reflection of the original, I decide I want to go see it. ...Well, all I can say is, the people who made the movie knew what they were doing. It's not exactly the same as the old Muppets, but pretty close. And it seemed specifically designed to pull in people who were of the age to have Muppet-nostalgia, particularly about the first movie, to which it's basically a long-delayed sequel. And it touched on the same old themes as the first movie, with a sort of "whatever happened to when people cared about this kind of stuff?" overtone to it. I found myself wondering where all the innocence had gone... or, I suppose that, for a little while, I stopped feeling like a 29-year-old and felt more like a nine-year old who'd had to go through the trauma of seeing humanity's dark side for twenty years. And then... yes, right near the end, they start singing "The Rainbow Connection". And the audience inside the movie joined in. And then there were a few people in the REAL audience who joined in, too. I didn't, but only because I pretty much started bawling my eyes out at that point. ...so yeah.
  4. Even without details, I think I can imagine what the prank was like, if it was anything like the one I was on the receiving end of back in high school. I like most holidays, but not Valentine's Day. It tends to be my day of bitter resentment.
  5. I've been Shyriath for a long time now... maybe fifteen years or so. It was the name of an OC of mine, a dragon on a fantasy RPing board. (I don't think I consciously had Pernese dragon names in mind when I picked it, but I had read a few of the Pern books by that time, so probably that influenced the decision.) With very, very rare exceptions, I've used that name ever since, and in the unlikely event that someone called me by that name offline I would certainly respond to it (assuming they pronounced it the way I do: SHEE-ree-ath, not SHY-ree-ath). I developed a ponysona to go with the name, so that I have a pony-related self-image in Canterlot IRC and so on, but he's not really an OC: he's just me-as-a-pony, more or less. He wouldn't make a good character; he's pretty boring.
  6. Flickerlight's gaze fell on Blaze Bright's flame. Another pony with fire magic? Now that was a different matter. She smiled. "Since you offer... that'd be lovely, thank you." She added, "I hardly ever meet anypony else with a gift for fire. It seems like you've got a better knack for making it than I do, really. Doing that with magic takes a lot out of me; that's why I keep my igniter around. But controlling it, that I'm good at. I was even a firefighter for a little while, before... well, before I was doing this..." Flickerlight trailed off awkwardly. Her firefighting days weren't something she was all that keen on getting into. "And, er, what is it that you do?" she asked.
  7. "Yes, that's what you're smelling," Pizza Peel babbled happily. "A prince among foods, pizza. And my specialty. Ah, forgive me, Mr. Monty! I forget to introduce myself! My name is Pizza Peel, good to meet you." He picked up his pizza peel again. Pushing it into the oven, he carefully slid it underneath one of the cooked pizzas and removed it. Setting it down on his counter, he said, "And this, sir, is pizza! On the bottom is a crust, sort of like a flatbread. You top it with olive oil, tomato sauce, cheese, a bit of basil, and you have a basic pizza. The idea is easy, yes? But it is an art, making one properly." The stallion gave a disarming grin. "And still more of an art, making many of them properly, all at once. Would you like some? I'll tell you what; if you like, you can have a little slice to try it." He hesitated, and then added, "On the house!" Pizza Peel was still learning the art of the sale, but spending time with his cousins in Manehattan had taught him much. And one of the things he'd learned was that it rarely hurt to invest a bit in generosity toward customers.
  8. Flickerlight blinked, and swiveled her orange eyes away from the lamp to focus on Blaze Bright again. Although in general she enjoyed the efforts of others to get to know her, usually they tried an indirect enough approach to let her get to know them first, and that was how she preferred it. Having more friends would be nice, but there was such a thing as going about it properly... or, at least, not so directly. At any rate... "Despite the dancing," she said carefully, "I am working at the moment, and I have to get the rest of the lamps on my beat lit before it gets too dark. I don't mind talking as I go, but I shouldn't really be stopping for hot chocolate."
  9. Socks! Excellent! Heh, AJ wants to be sure she can still buck trees in her socks, I guess.
  10. "Your dancing is beautiful, and at odds with such melancholy in those pretty eyes of yours." "Er... thank you." Flickerlight found herself flattered. She hadn't danced in public since... well, since she'd been too young to care. Any positive reaction had to be counted as a win. It just felt a bit odd for someone to comment about it, especially in that fashion. She attempted to cover her discomfiture with work. She unslung the lighting pole from her back again, and levitated her igniter from her saddlebags to light the wick on one of its ends. "Anyway," she said, "'melancholy' is a bit strong of a word. It was just... a difficult moment. The season's had more solitude than I like, is all." A red-orange aura formed around the pole as she held it up for inspection; a little flame flickered on the wick. Flickerlight smiled, and levitated the pole upward to light the nearest streetlamp. Nothing like a bit of fire to make things seem brighter.
  11. Flickerlight nodded cheerfully. "Thank you, I think I will." She levitated her lighting pole, slung it across her back, and strolled out the door.
  12. "No doubt I'll see a few familiar faces on the way back to the terrace. I'll tell them to run." She grinned, and managed to fit the box into one of her saddlebags. Turning for the door, she added, "Incidentally, if you're ever up for a chat, I'm usually working my way down this street around..." Flickerlight hesitated. She worked by daylight levels, not by time. "Well, ten minutes till sundown. On clear days."
  13. Flickerlight blinked. Four for the price of three? "Oh. Thank you. You really didn't have to... well, thank you." Smiling, she levitated the appropriate coins from her saddlebag onto the counter. Feeling that one good turn deserved another, she added, "I'll be sure to tell other ponies about this place."
  14. The stallion was busy at his oven, holding in his mouth one of the wooden paddles that was his namesake. "Mmmf? Nnn mbmmm enght- ugh." Pizza Peel finished arranging the pizzas, and then sat the peel down on the counter. "Pfui. Ah, there we are." He trotted out from behind the counter with an enormous grin on his face. "Hello! Come in, come in, friend! Welcome to Prancing Street Pizzeria! Just having a look? Or maybe you would like a pizza, yes? I have a few baking now, just plain cheese, but if you were wanting one with toppings I can make another, just a few minutes!"
  15. Flickerlight glanced at the menu. Her nose was trying to convince her to get a half-dozen, but she couldn't really afford that many at once, much less eat them all... "Make it three," she said. "Two for me, and I know somepony who'd like the third. Maybe he'll stop by." She knew that Crates working over in Supply had a weakness for cinnamon buns. And maybe a gift like that would get him to be less stingy in handing out the lamp oil to other city employees, too.
  16. "The owl was there with eyes so wide, Curoo, curoo, curoo, The owl was there with eyes so wide And he did sit at Platinum's side, On Solstice day in the morning. Curoo-" "Hello? You there? You dance while you weep, and it hurts me to see another in tears over this season. Are you alright?" Flickerlight, still singing, had not noticed the approaching filly until she spoke, and the surprise snapped her out of her reverie. Her long legs, still engaged in the dance, promptly tripped over each other, tipping the mare onto the ground. "...Ouch," she muttered. "What now? Am I all right?" She cleared her throat, and wiped her eyes with her hoof. "I was... remembering somepony, that's all." She hauled herself upright, and glanced around for her lighting-pole. Her horn blazed with a red-orange aura as she lifted the pole from where she'd left it and brought it sailing over the crowd. Slinging the pole across her back, Flickerlight looked down at the filly again, remembered the expression of concern, and sighed. She ought to be more grateful that somepony had bothered to check on her. "Thank you for your, ah, concern," she said, in rather more kindly tones than she'd been using. "I'm Flickerlight. City lamplighter. What would your name be?"
  17. (OOC: This is an RP thread. The lyrics are slightly adapted from the Irish carol "Curoo, Curoo". I did all four verses, but only the first two are in this post; the other two, which complete the story, will be in the next one if Flicker's given a chance to keep singing. Incidentally, if anypony wants to hear the original, there's a rendition available .)Another winter day drew to a close. And, wrapped up in a heavy wool cloak and scarf and thick boots, the lamplighter Flickerlight worked her way down the street, stomping through the snow from streetlamp to streetlamp. A brief touch from the lit wick in her lighting pole sufficed for most; sometimes an oil lamp needed a new wick or a reservoir refilled, sometimes a faeriefire light needed a brief re-enchanting. As she went, she was utterly silent, and wore a glum expression on her face. It wasn't just the cold and the snow. She didn't generally like them, because she knew how dangerous they could get, but after nearly five years living in Canterlot she knew that the city's weather control kept limits on them. But there were other things. Flickerlight didn't spend much time in company. Partly that was because of her job; social time was hard to come by, keeping such odd hours. But she had always maintained a certain distance from other ponies, especially since coming to Canterlot. A relative newcomer in a place where connections were so important? A village filly in a city of nobles? Fitting in was a difficult thing to do here, and mostly she hadn't bothered to try. She enjoyed being an oddball. But this time of year, when all around her there were friends and family gathering, and enjoying each others' company, and laughing together... this time of year, when everypony should have somepony, she had nopony. No close friends here in Canterlot, certainly, and as for her family out in Solstice Heights... well, the less she thought about them, the better. Mama had been able to keep the family peace, but she wasn't around to do that anymore. This time of year, back in the old village, Mama would have been singing her favorite carol, not often heard outside the little valleys in the mountains. Everypony had felt better for hearing it... As she walked, Flickerlight began to sing. "Full many a bird did wake and fly, Curoo, curoo, curoo, Full many a bird did wake and fly To Puddinghead with a wandering cry On Solstice day in the morning. Curoo, curoo, curoo, Curoo, curoo, curoo." Without really meaning to, the mare found her walk turning into the slow, waltzlike little dance she'd used for the song when she was a filly. "The lark, the dove, the red bird came, Curoo, curoo, curoo, The lark, the dove, the red bird came And they did sing to proud Hurricane, On Solstice day in the morning. Curoo, curoo, curoo, Curoo, curoo, curoo..." Unheeding of the crowds, or even of her beloved lamps, Flickerlight whirled slowly through the evening crowds, with tears in her eyes.
  18. Flickerlight relaxed at her table. Her lifestyle had never really inclined her to hurrying. Unfortunately, such an attitude lent itself to her tea getting cold while sipping on it, but she didn't really mind. Anyway, the smell of cinnamon wafting through the shop was something to stick around for, at least for a little longer. "I think I'll buy some of those buns as well, when they're ready," Flickerlight said. "They'll make a good breakfast." She paused, then amended, "...or dinner." She had never figured out what to call a meal that happened in the afternoon but was the first one of the day.
  19. "The candles in my Candelabra are enchanted." "Well, yes." Flickerlight wanted to say more, but she kept her mouth shut. She could tell that the ones here were enchanted, but there were all sorts of enchantments, and having a few different kinds around- Anyway, going on about it wouldn't've been right. After all, this was Starburst's shop; ponies were supposed to be buying things from her, not the other way round. Flickerlight just wished anypony would come look at her lanterns so she could apply the principle herself. The mare contented herself instead with finishing her tea and lemon tart, and listening to the conversation at the other table. Possibly this could have counted as eavesdropping, but Flickerlight was a firm believer in the idea that anything said where others could hear was clearly meant to be public. As Colton and Gladwin left, she smiled. "Well, that was rather sweet, wasn't it?"
  20. "Sounds nice," Flickerlight replied, sounding wistful. "I like what I do, but it's not the kind of job where you can save up much. I make a little extra by selling off candles and lanterns I've made. Yours are very nice, by the way..." She glanced at them, and found herself having to pull her gaze away again. "Um, yes... yes. Er, if you're ever interested in any more lights, incidentally, I might be able to make up something for you. I've been trying to learn some enchantments I can use on candles."
  21. Flickerlight grinned. "A good strategy, that; move your shop to where the business is best. If only it were that easy for everything." She took another sip, and added, "Neither I nor my tastes are very rich, but I have to say it seems like it's worth the price, coming in here. If I'm ever around during daylight, I think I'll stop in again. Oh, sorry... forgetting myself. The name's Flickerlight. City lamplighter."
  22. Flickerlight sipped her tea with enjoyment. It reminded her a bit of the village she'd been born in, where they'd made tea using the mint that grew wild along the stream. There wasn't much about the place that she missed, but sometimes... ah well. She peered at the mare running the shop. "'Scuse me, miss," she asked, "but has your shop been here long? I usually only come by here at night, but I don't remember seeing this place here before."
  23. Flickerlight blinked, and pulled her gaze away from the lights; she hadn't stopped looking even when Starburst had replaced the candles. "Hm? Ah. Er. Sorry, I was a bit... distracted." She shook her head as if to clear it. No staring at the pretty lights again, she told herself. Not right now, anyway. She glanced around the shop again, giving a friendly nod to Colton, and making a point of of not looking at the candles again. Striding up to the counter, she placed the voucher down. "If you have a good mint blend, I'd like to try it. And to go with it..." She hesitated. What kind of baked goods would go with mint? "...something lemony, perhaps?"
  24. (If I may? This is the first RP thread I've actually entered into here, so apologies in advance for any blunders...) A unicorn mare paused at the ramp that led into the shop. She'd been strolling along the street, enjoying the sunshine; she rarely had the chance to do so, living a rather nocturnal lifestyle. But today she had woken up early, and was using the opportunity to bask in the light before dusk came. It never ceased to amaze her how different things looked during the daytime. This certainly looked different. She made her rounds along this street every night, but she hadn't noticed this place before. The mare levitated a voucher out of one of her saddlebags. Somepony had given it to her, but she hadn't paid it much attention; at the time she was normally awake, only certain shops were open. She hadn't gotten around to getting rid of it yet. But this certainly seemed to be the right address... "Free tea with baked goods, is it?" she mused. "That's worth looking at." --- The mare walked in shortly after Colton began his order. She was a very pale green, with a pale-blue-and-white mane, but with vivid orange eyes. She wore a pair of heavy-looking saddlebags, and slung across her back with a strap was some kind of pole with curious metal shapes at either end; with a brief flicker of orange-red light from her horn, she unslung this and rested it by the door, not wanting to accidentally break anything with it. Giving the occasional wary glance at the wooden floor, she looked around with interest. She'd never really seen any pegasus architecture before, and wondered what happened if a pony were to forget herself and try leaning against one of the cloudy walls. "Hello," she said. "Don't either of you feel you have to hurry, I.. er..." Her gaze had shifted up to the shop's candelabra, and then to the candle and the colorful glow it was casting. Her eyes fixed on it with an odd intensity. "I... I mean to say," she continued, in a distant sort of voice, "I've got... plenty of time. Yes. Plenty."
  25. Thank you! Also, I think I got my question answered. The app will remain as is.
×
×
  • Create New...