Trottingham: Fang of the Bat (Open)

[Solaria]

Haunting Nocturne thumped the back of her head against the wall she was using for support, the distorted chords of her guitar beginning to fade before eventually falling to silence. She couldn't put a hoof on it, but something was off tonight. Something irregular... she was out of cheese puffs! With a disgusted sigh, the areion thumped her head again, closing her eyes in frustration with a scowl flickering across her lips. How in Equestria could she be expected to write the guitar solo for Wing Power's next smash metal hit if she didn't have CHEESE PUFFS?!

Unnoticed by the guitarist, a lithe shape flitted past her window. And again. By the time the winged pony's crimson gaze was alert and roaming again, nothing was amiss in the gathering gloom outside the loft apartment. Not that Noc would have noticed anyway, she'd just realized that all the markets that sold those delicious orange crunchy morsels of heavenly goodness were now closed for the night. A strangled cry echoed into the cooling air, quickly followed by the discordance of a dropped enchanted guitar.

Before the commotion had even begun to quiet, Noc had kicked open the ground floor apartment door below and haphazardly thrown a scarf around her neck. Most decent and attentive folk would have shivered at the chill breeze that now ruffled the disheveled musician's grey coat. Haunting Nocturne simply hissed and started off down the cobblestones, head aimed directly at her favorite tavern.

The Wendigo's Howl: Noc wasn't sure why anypony in their right mind would think the name of the establishment was anything but cool. The equine spirits of winter appeared to feast off of the misery and strife created by those mired in anger and despair. If that wasn't the most metal thing she'd ever heard of, she didn't know what was. Feeling a bit cheerier with that thought, the areion strode inside and thunked down at her favorite stool near the end of the bar.

With only an affirmative grunt to the omnipresent bar stallion, the mare had ordered her typical Crimson Apple of Woe, a murderous concoction of cider, whiskey, and vodka. While she waited, Noc flicked a rebellious strand of ebony mane from her face to glance around at the patrons gathering for the night. The old-school, low-ceiling pub was starting to swell with consumers already. Looked like the usual crowd, nothing special. If anything, the wood and stone setting brought in all flavors. Must have been the guttering braziers set in the walls. Gave it that old ball-and-chain feel.

The rundown for the evening: nerds with briefcases. Stiffs ordering drinks that they thought would impress others. Old workhorses trying tired pickup lines on young mares that probably couldn't even hold a single cider. Same old, same old. What did catch her eye, however, was a cloaked figure in a corner whispering to what looked like a haggard pony down on his luck.

As she watched, the mysterious benefactor produced a vial of interesting-looking liquid and set it in front of the hapless stallion. Now what could- HOLY LUNA THAT MOLE WAS THE SIZE OF CLOUDSDALE. Baring her fangs and tongue in open disgust, Noc was saved from the torture of staring at that mountain of deformity for any longer by the arrival of her industrial-strength paint peeler... er, Crimson Apple. Thank the moon. Maybe that vial was full of mole remover or something.

Already having banished the unpleasantness of normal ponies and their gross habits from her mind, Noc tipped back her glass. Down the hatch!

((Please read the OOC thread for general information and guidelines.

Thanks!))

[PyroBlaze]

A figure was flying through the night towards Trottingham. Upon arrival, the figure touched down, folding his leathery wings before standing to his full height. The brick red dragon wore nothing besides the golden necklace with the red stones that was typical for him. He looked around briefly before heading off in a random direction in the hopes of finding some kind of pub. While ponies were largely weak, and always inferior to dragons, he had to appreciate their liquor. He had yet to see any dragons making alcohol of any kind. Which was a shame, as he was sure it would be better than what was available already. Regardless, the bipedal dragon continued onwards in search of some place to relax, preferably with a drink in his hand. It had been a long couple days of traveling. Nothing he couldn't handle, of course, but he would prefer to unwind. At least the ponies still on the streets were giving him a wide berth, probably from fear.

Eventually, Aranak came to a stop in front of what looked to be a tavern, if the name was any indication. He had to bend down to get through the door, though thankfully the ceiling was high enough not to be a problem, even for his horns. Stupid pony buildings always had small doorways like that. It would probably be easier if he were to walk on all fours, but he preferred it on two legs. He took a seat at the end of the bar, as far as he could get from the ponies at the bar while still having a seat. He waved the bartender over with a claw, and, to his credit, the pony walked over immediately.

"Get me something strong." Aranak said simply, placing his vague order before he took a look around the bar. Nothing out of the ordinary for a pony bar. There was a bat pony, who was the closest patron to where he was sitting at the bar, as well as some cloaked figure talking with another pony in the corner of the room. Nothing too interesting as far as he could see.

[moonshineTheleocat]

Stationed at the center of the bar in the tavern, a brown stallion sat idily in a stool. He was leaning onto the counter with a fore hoof's elbow being all that propped him up. His characteristic pair of goggles remaining around his neck like a necklace, while his personal and immaculate waistcoat was draped over a shoulder. He still had the short mane of a mad scientist, but for now he seemed far from it.

Several glasses remained on the counter in front of him. All of them turned upside down and stacked neatly into a slowly growing arcade made of two rows of glasses. The bottom most row holding a series of four. While the top only had two.

The stallion was holding a drink above the counter in his other fore hoof. His hoof was clamped around the top edges of the glass with a crab-vice like method of a grip. Leaving the sides of the glass, untouched, and the bottom freely hanging below. His gaze was affixed on the glass with an impassive expression. The energy of his eyes lost, and dull. And even his usual smile had been reduced to a flat and plain expression. The stallion lost in his own limbo that he calls his thoughts. Java couldn't practically make out half of what these thoughts were most of the times. But now after a recent visit in trotting ham, his limbo was actually a bit more focused than norm.

Trottingham was a place he generally avoided visiting for one of these reasons. That, and something generally drained the life out of the pony, and he couldn't figure out why. But recently he decided to take care a bit of personal business which lead him to here after a casual stroll around the humble town.

This didn't imply that the engineering pony wasn't tentative to what's going on around him. While his eyes remained fixed on his glass. His ears would swivel around periodically as he hears hoof and claw steps thump against the hard floor behind him.

[DerpRavener]

For 'Spring Breeze', her first impression of Trottingham was that it was a quiet town. In fact, it made her think of Ponyville, if Ponyville was a reasonable place. It was quiet, and she liked quiet. Quiet generally made her life easier, she felt she had enough problems on her own without having to deal with what happened in 'loud' towns. At the moment she was also finding that it was a nice change of pace from the way in.

The whole reason 'Spring Breeze' was here because she volunteered for courier duty. Well, she called it courier duty, really it was just that somepony in Ponyville needed to return an item to a friend. 'Spring Breeze' having some experience but mostly a surplus of free time, volunteered to deliver the item in the stallion's stead.

So far it was proving to be a simple enough task. She hadn't run into any significant difficulties, having navigated to Trottingham and tracked down the item's recipient easily enough. With her task complete, she'd contemplated returning home. It was getting late, and though she would trust herself more than many other ponies to make a trip through the dark, it still didn't seem like a good idea. She checked her small stash of bits, and while it was never a large quantity, there was bound to be enough for a room for a night or two.

Without any real knowledge of the area, 'Spring Breeze' picked the first appropriate place she ran into. The Windigo's howl, she read, frowning a little. The seemed a bit...harsh for an establishment claiming to offer food and shelter, but she shrugged it off an stepped inside. She wasn't in the mood to scrutinize.

As 'Spring Breeze' pushed through the door, she took a moment to observe the local patrons. Aside from the dragon and bat pony seated at opposite ends of the bar, nopony seemed particularly noteworthy, and by the look of it even they seemed like they were just here for a drink like the rest. She wouldn't begrudge them that, even if they did look striking next to the other patrons.

'Spring Breeze' walked up to the bar, intent to ask the barpony about renting a room for the night.

[CrazyScion]

It had been a long time since Grey had visited Trottingham, and he felt almost out of place in the unfamiliar city scape. He wasn’t worried about running into trouble on the streets, but more by the fact that he probably wouldn’t run into trouble anywhere at all in this place. He let out a long sigh at this thought as his eyes glanced across a sign hanging over one of the local bars ‘The Wendigo's Howl’ It had an ominous sounding name to it, but he couldn’t gleam much more by just looking at it, and decided it was worth checking at least checking out. Besides, he figured he could always bring the atmosphere down himself if it disappointed him. A slight smirk spread across his face, at this thought, as he quietly stepped into the bar.

At first glance, he found the place wasn’t all that different from a normal bar; it had the usual mix of patrons there to either celebrate their day,or forget about it entirely. He began to wonder if he had just wasted his time, but was pleasantly surprised when he caught sight of dull red dragon sitting at the edge of the bar. He had always been a fan of dragons for their strength and ferocity, but he was especially fond of their strong and sensitive pride they had, He noticed that off to the side of the dragon was another rare sight. A Grey areion mare was also sitting alone at her own end of the bar. He wasn’t a huge fan of the Areion’s, but he did like their monstrous appearance and the aggravation that came with it.

He was very delighted by this turn of events, and wanted to start by heading straight for the dragon, but decided after a moment of thougt, to instead play a more subtle game. He glanced at the bar and spotted a group of rowdy stallions near the center of the bar. He took a seat at the edge of the group, and calmly ordered a pitcher of ale for everyone there. This of course won him instant favor with the drunken stallions and they invited him to sit with them. After the the mugs were set down Grey paid for the drinks then began to take a deep breath. He had learned a long time ago that body language was something that everyone could read on some level, and that the strange feelings people got around others, was in fact their mind translating this language into emotions that reflected the signs others were giving them. Grey would use this knowledge when he wanted to send a message without speaking, and he intended to use it to communicate one simple feeling to the dragon…hostility

As he finished letting out his breath, Grey had focused all his feeling on rage and hatred. His body tensed with anger, and even some less drunk stallions shifted in their seats from the sudden forboding aura they were feeling. He finally took all the negative feelings he had mustered and focused them into one very mean death glare, then, only turning his head slightly, aimed it right in the direction of the dragon and the Areion. It wouldn’t have an immediate effect, but eventually one of them would take notice, and he very much hoped that one or both of them, would take offense.

[LunarRelic]

A maroon Unicorn with a bright moon and dark red book over it for a cutie mark walked the moonlit streets of Trottingham his name was Lunar Relic who was proud about his recent expedition ending with the book he dug up being better then he thought.

He looks at the dark streets with a dark purple glow emitting from his horn for extra light. Soon he comes across The Windigo's howl. Feeling like celebrating a bit he walks in and takes a seat not to far from Noc and looks at the bar stallion "nothing too strong please" he says putting some bits on the bar and opening the book to read some of it. After a while of reading he closed the book with yawn and looked at the crowd thinking to himself aloud which he tends to do a lot 'What an interesting crowd I wonder if this is normal around here. I don't normally come to places like this but with the occasion it was worth a try. at least the bright side is nopony is too shady around here." he then catches a look at the cloaked pony "Well except for that one.... that wart..." he shudders at the look before a bottle of Hard Apple Cider from Sweet Apple Acres. "your drink sir." the bar pony says "sorry It's the lightest I was able to find." Lunar smiles at the barony in thanks "It's cool I can take Hard Apple Cider." he responds pulling out a few extra bits as a tip "Here you go." Lunar says handing him the bits "Uh it's only 12 you gave me 25." the bartender says "Yeah I know it's no big deal keep the change as a tip." he says as the bartender smiled a bit "Thank you." he says as he returns to work. Lunar Relic figured that he didn't get much for tips as he used his magic to open the bottle and take a sip. "Wonder what other interesting ponies might be hanging around here." he thinks aloud again "Doubt anyone who is interested in the stuff I am." he chuckles at the thought "I am in a bar and beside I haven't met many other ponies with as much interest in the field of Equestrian Artifacts except Princess Twilight Sparkle of course she did used to live in a Library after all." he continues before hitting himself "Agh I am doing it again!" he complains to himself about his rambling before taking another drink of his cider.

[Zeig]

 

"And by this time, she's real angry and raving mad, right? So I looked her dead in the eyes and said, 'Can I get those eggs to go?'"

 

Inkbrand probably should have known better than to drink while Sharp Zing was telling a story, but he hadn't really been thinking about anything in particular. Such came back to bite him on the butt as the grey Earth Pony choked - fully and utterly - in the middle of a large swallow, full-bellied laughter forcing the Firebomb whiskey back up his throat and bursting from the sides of the mug. He wasn't the only one, either. Various outcries of disgust followed him, but they were mostly drowned out by the uproarious laughter and jeering and snorts of more whiskey getting coughed up from the sudden gut clenching guffaws from the other stallions.

 

Well…he couldn't be blamed, really. Who came to a bar to think, anyways?

 

The tattoo-clad stallion tried his best to remember how to breathe as Flare Blitz pounded rather unhelpfully on his back, all the while supporting himself against the table as his fiery body shook with his own peals of laughter. Mugs wobbled dangerously on the tabletop as Stout Heart beat his hooves rather threateningly against the wood, even as Zing animatedly nodded his head with a smile as wide as Equestria, one hoof raised upwards in a solemn vow of truthfulness. Inkbrand was finally able to catch his breath as he leaned heavily against Blitz's shoulder, peering rather incredulously across the table. "The buck, man," he crowed, and had to stop against a small coughing fit to dispel the choking burn in the back of his throat, "saying something like that in front of her roomie? You were asking for it."

 

Zing was already reaching for another drink as he shrugged, toothy smile completely unrepentant as he turned his head to show off his shiner like a badge of honor. It was enough to send out another round of jeering laughter, and Inkbrand rescued his mug of whiskey back from Zero, a smirk tilting his features.

 

The Wendigo's Howl wasn't an establishment Inkbrand visited all too regularly - hay, Trottingham wasn't a place Inkbrand visited regularly either. The wealthy and upper crust society was exactly the type the grey stallion made a point to avoid. After all, there were plenty of upturned noses and disapproving glares to be found much closer to home. But he did have some friends in the area, ones he'd known in Manehatten that had moved to Trottingham for job opportunities. It was always nice to get out and make sure to stay connected, and what better way than a quick trip down to a nearby pub for a round of drinks?

 

Or two rounds, or three.

 

The rather groomed looking stallion that wandered over to their table might have been off-putting under normal circumstances, but since his appearance came with a sudden offer for another round, instinctive reactions were immediately put on the back-burner. "Buck yeah!" Inkbrand howled, sharing a high-hoof with an equally gleeful Zero, the cheers rising in pitch as the requested pitcher was settled onto their table. The grey Earth Pony barely noticed Zing pulling up a chair for the newcomer, too busy refilling his own glass which had gotten dangerously low. Honestly, Inkbrand had no idea who this stallion was or why he felt the need to buy a random group of friends a new pitcher of ale, but hay.

 

He wasn't nearly drunk enough to complain.

 

He'd do his best though, and Inkbrand was already halfway through his glass before he noticed that the stranger wasn't drinking at all, despite having purchased the current round. The tattoo-clad stallion wiped at his mouth as he set down his glass, eyes narrowing as he attempted to follow line of sight. The well-groomed stallion appeared to be staring down an Aerion seated at the bar, with a look so heated he wouldn't have been surprised if said Aerion keeled over right then and there. Old friend of his? Or with the way he was looking at her…old flame, maybe?

 

"Whassa matter, 'ya into her?" Inkbrand hazarded, causing his friend's muzzles to swing around to see who exactly they were checking out. One or two cocky whistles echoed around the table, more to egg on the stallion than anything else, and Inkbrand felt a spike of mischievousness in his system. Old flame or not, he could, perhaps, repay the stallion for his pitcher of ale before the night was through. Without a second thought, Inkbrand set down his glass and slipped a little messily from his seat, inspiring a new round of jeers and knowing cat calls as he moved around the table towards the stallion. "Sitting and staring's just creepy, bud - you need to get in there!" the tattoo-clad stallion advised, but had enough thought to send the stallion a cocky wink and a nudge. "Don't worry, I've got your back."

 

Without another word, Inkbrand broke off from the table and slowly strolled towards the counter, eyes fixed firmly on the dark figure nursing a drink near the corner. The swell of noise in the bar seemed to come and go as Inkbrand firmly planted himself next to her, a look of nonchalance on his face as he leant one elbow against the countertop. "Don't know what you're doing here, drinking all by yourself, when you could be joining me and my buddies at the table," he stated cheerily, and tossed his head in the direction of said table. A sly smirk stole over his features as Inkbrand nudged his head directly at the grey Earth Pony sitting at the table, glancing from the corner of his eye towards the Aerion. "And I know a certain stallion would love to make your acquaintance too. He's just a bit shy."

 

[LunarRelic]

Lunar Relic finishes his bottle of Hard Apple Cider as he watches the group Inkdrop was in drinking and laughing "Man I need to get some friends..." He sighs "I focus too much on work and not on balancing it between work and social time" Lunar looks around the bar again and back at the mysterious pony with the wart was and clear as day the pony sat there making Lunar shudder

[Solaria]

Noc shuddered as the drink worked its way through her body, prompting that delightful burn that all good drinks had. She considered swiping the glass to the floor and shattering it for dramatic effect, but thought better of it when of all things a dragon shouldered its way through the Howl's considerably undersized doorway. Undersized for a scaled behemoth, anyway. A particular gleam twinkled in the areion's eye as she thought of how different a draconic lifestyle was when compared to a pony's. Roasting things that displeased them, stomping around taking whatever they wanted... having a flamethrower with teeth was admittedly pretty awesome.

Other ponies trickled in, but a prickling feeling in that spot right in the middle of her withers caught her attention. Where was that coming from? With a scowl creeping steadily onto her face, Noc swiveled in her chair to take another passive glance around the bar. Disturbing mole, dragon, timid pony, pack of cool patrons in the corner. Wait, there it was! One of those stallions was practically staring holes into her back. With a snort of annoyance, the bat mare would have walked right up to the pony in question had another not slid into the stool right next to her with one of those cocky grins.

At least this one was much cooler. Tattoos covered his body, and his flippant attitude at least resonated a bit more with the guitarist. With a look just as self-confident as his own, Noc smirked and relaxed a bit from her poised position.

"That so?" she queried in her faint Trottingham accent. "The way that bottom-feeder is looking at me doesn't necessarily set my flanks on fire, if you know what I mean. But I will drink your beer. Maybe he'll have an easier time explaining his pathetic feelings if he has a few himself."

Without any hesitation Haunting Nocturne dropped from her seat, ruffled her wings, and trotted over to the table of rowdy stallions before grabbing a mug for herself and draining it.

"You're going to need more drinks," she taunted, thunking the glass down.

Her eyes narrowed to slits as the strange group in the corner parted, with the business stallion leaning over the bar and heaving very obviously until he was dry. Pfft. Couldn't even hold one drink, the featherweight. Banishing him again from her thoughts as he stumbled to presumably collapse outside in the cold, the areion turned back to her little party.

"Sooner, rather than later," she added.

[PyroBlaze]

Aranak sat at the bar, nursing the drink he was given. Not that he couldn't handle it all at once, but he preferred to save his money, and he wanted to make these drinks last. Taking another look around at the patrons, he saw nothing really new of interest to him. Sure, there were some new ponies, but none of them were all that interesting. The tattoo-clad stallion, the one he had overlooked the first time, he caught the dragon's attention for a moment. Aranak idly wondered if they had got their tattoos from the same place, shifting his shoulders slightly, which also moved the tattoos on them around somewhat.

He then moved his gaze back to his drink, lifting it up to take another sip when he froze, a feeling that somepony was watching him interrupting his drink. With a slight growl in annoyance, he put the glass down, then turned his head to see who was staring at him. It turned out to be a grey stallion sitting among a group of other stallions, all of whom were drunk. The stallion didn't look like he was though, and yet he was stupid enough to pick a fight with a dragon. He narrowed his eyes at the stallion, growling slightly before the tattooed stallion and the aerion mare both joined the group of stallions. More precisely, the stallion rejoined the group. That grey stallion wasn't worth his time, so he ignored the glare.

With a snort, he turned his gaze away from the group just in time to catch the business that had been taking place in the corner come to a close, leaving one heaving over the bar. With another snort, he turned back to his drink and downed the rest of it, enjoying the burn that accompanied alcohol as it sped down his throat. He then slammed the glass down onto the bar, almost hard enough to crack the glass. Waving the bartender over again he ordered another one. He felt he would need it if he had to deal with that stallion staring at him so intently. Besides, one drink wasn't nearly enough for him to be satisfied.

[LunarRelic]

Lunar Relic thought to himself before deciding to order another drink. Heck he noted he had some bits to burn so and with the new breakthrough that will get him some good money he figured getting a little drunk may not be too bad. calling over the bar stallion he ordered some strong whiskey this time and drunk it down carefully to make sure he doesn't drip. he sighed as he felt the burn of the alcohol go down his throat. Still though Lunar was a larger stallion and he knew that it would take a lot more to get somepony with his amount of mucle drunk. So he orders another... soon he had gulped down three whiskeys and he was feeling just a tiny bit off now. Havnig never drunken any form of alcohol before he had no idea what it was.

Feeling a little couragous he walked over to the group and sat down. Got room for one more? I'll buy a round Lunar offers counting out the stallions and trying to think how much he will need. 'I know for sure I have enough bits for them for probably 40 or 50 rounds' he think 'good thing I came here I can get some of this extra bits out of my pockets.' he chuckles in his head looking at the more distinct members of the group. A gray unicorn, the dragon, and the most interesting to him a bat pony! Lunar not knowing much about bat ponies and still being self-concious enough to have his curious mind still with him figured he'd try to learn stuff about her Excuse me miss? I would like to ask what a bat pony like yourself is doing here. I have never met one before are there more like you? he asks her. Sure he knew aobut most every kind of animal in equestria but he did not know much about Bat Ponies. Could I have your name so I can at least adress you by something else besides miss? Lunar was afraid she would slap him thinking he was trying to hit on her and braced himself mentally for the worst case scenario. 'please don't take this the wrong way!' he screamed in his head 'Please don't think I was hitting on you!'

[PyroBlaze]

(Just a note, LunarRelic. My character, the dragon, is still by himself at the bar. He is currently not with the group.)

[moonshineTheleocat]

Java continued to stare into his glass. It was like he was trying to find the meaning of life in some yellow colored beverage with condensation encircling it's container. Of course, there was also the occasional droplets of water for when ever the cold drink had accumulated enough for it to gain some significant wait. But after the discovery that no such thing was possible, or the pony growing bored with his drink, he quickly downed it and set the glass down with it's brothers.

The sweet taste of apple rolled over his tongue. A small thought appearing in Java's head as he slowly leaned back. “Why am I drinking apple juice,” he thought quietly to himself, looking down to his glasses. This one, and all the previous rounds had literally been apple juice. No alcohol. No poison. Just apple juice, exactly as he had ordered. Upon his own stupefying question, he quickly added another while looking back up to bar tender.

“Better yet... what bar carries apple juice? Seriously... that's an odd thing for a dive to carry.”

He was about to order another... overpriced apple juice. His hoof in mid rise just as a familiar voice drifted to his ears. His hoof lowered back down, and his head turned to see an all to familiar face of a grey tattooed stallion. His head shook for a moment, thinking the stallion was likely drunk when he was speaking to that mare. A small chuckle quickly coming to him when he realized that the stallion didn't even need to be drunk to hit on anypony.

But his wondering gaze did allow him to notice a few other interesting Patrons. A nervous stallion he swore he saw on the nightwatch on one of his strolls. Another stallion of gray color! Who... Java can actually admittedly say was interesting, though he couldn’t put his hoof on it. He had those eyes that screamed a lot about him. The kind of eyes that any pony would have when their own noggins were reaching the lines where sanity is a questionable concept. The kind of eyes that a stallion in the same state would notice, even after the other's face is all warped up with hatred. Maybe the stallion wanted a bar fight?

Java's eyes rolled up in thought, a smirk coming to his muzzle. A bar fight would be delightful. It'd be enough to cheer his day up. But, that might not be the case. Perhaps he's just vexxed that a mare he had dated, is chatting away with Inkbrand. Yep. That stallion works quick. Besides, Java doesn't have a problem with the grey stallion, he wouldn't start rot for something that doesn't involve him.

Instead, his attention turned to the Dragon. And curiously enough... it was a dragon! A dragon sitting in pony lands! Something that was rather uncommon, unless the dragon was adopted. And this one was no juvenile either!

Quickly hopping up to his hooves with the look of an excited scholar on his face, he quickly scrambled across the bar to join the said red scaled creature. His body slamming down in a seat across the table from him, and hard enough to shake the glass on the table.

Java's head quickly bobbed in a variety of locations. His eyes remaining fixed on the creature before him, scanning every single bit of little detail he had to offer. Every. Detail. Like he was trying to confirm that the creature was actually... a dragon.

“Tell me your story mate!”

[LunarRelic]

Lunars head jolts up when he hears the glasses rattle on the bar and he looks to see the stallion who was sitting there before had moved to the seat next to the dragon. 'Now why did he move closer?" he thinks, then again Lunar knew it was uncommon for a dragon to be around in well most of Equestria. So shrugging he turns his attention back to the table awaiting to hear weather everypony at the table wanted a drink on him or not. Also he quickly checked his bag and saw the book was still there with a sigh he returned to listening to the idle sounds of the bar.

[DerpRavener]

“Well this sucks.” 'Spring Breeze' muttered to herself as she walked away from the bar. The barpony had explained, to her dismay, that there wasn't any room here for the evening. It wasn't the worst thing for her, she could always check other places or find another way to spend the night, but it was irritating all the same.

She didn't make it all the way to the door however. Pausing to look around the room, she began to pick up the various happenings occurring around the bar, most of which she'd ignored or missed the first . Over here the bat pony had struck up a conversation with a tattoo covered earth pony, though from her current distance the words got lost in the ambience. Over there a grey stallion was giving the stink eye to the dragon of all things, for reasons she couldn't yet discern. The dragon was soon approached by a goggle-wearing earth pony. Off to the side, another stallion was leaning over the counter and throwing up.

'Spring Breeze' frowned. That didn't look healthy. A little concerned that he was in trouble, and always on the lookout for ways to earn a quick snack, she walked over to him. “Hey, you alright?”

[LunarRelic]

Lunar Relic notices Spring Breeze checking on the pony spewing his guts and not being drunk yet instantly got worried for the pony. Lunar leaves enough bits on the table for the group to buy another round or two as he runs over to the two to see if he could help "What happened here?" He asks looking at Spring Breeze

[CrazyScion]

(Post is up.)

[CrazyScion]

Grey was still focused on maintaining his death glare on the dragon and areion when he was, quite suddenly addressed by one off his bar 'friends'.

"Whassa matter, 'ya into her?" one of the stallions said. This sudden interference nearly snapped Grey out of his focus, but he spared a glance to see blue stallion looking at him. The other bar patrons and assumed friends of the stallion, took notice of the conversation and turned their heads to look over towards the areion. A they started to let out perverse whistles as they seemed to approve of the aerion . Grey was greatly annoyed by this turn of events. He had chosen the drunken group, because he believed they would be too drunk and distracted to take notice of his actions. He wanted to maintain the stare in spite of this distraction and simply ignore the claim, but the same blue stallion, that called him out the first time, set down his glass and slipped a out seat and sat in front of Grey, to which his drunken buddy's cheered and jeered while letting out lame cat calls and more whistling.

"Sitting and staring's just creepy, bud - you need to get in there!" The drunken stallion advised advised, then gave him a cocky wink and a nudge. "Don't worry, I've got your back.", Grey immediately realized his intention and scowled even deeper than before, but without another word, the stallion broke off from the table and slowly strolled towards the counter where the areion sat.

Grey stated to wonder if his plans were going to be ruined at this rate, and considered dropping the stare when he was greeted by a pleasant site. The areion was scowling at him, and even let out an annoyed snort. Grey was prepared to start the next step of his plan, but before anything good could get started. The annoying drunken blue stallion, slid into the stool right between them and blocked his view. He let out an annoyed hiss at this development. He was seriously thinking about hurting that stallion now, but decided to save the revenge and instead try to refocus on the dragon.

To his fortune the dragon also seemed to take notice of his stare and looked back at him. The dragons eyes narrowed at him and he swore he could even hear a slight growl, but as his luck would have it. As the drunken blue stallion made his way back to the group. The dragon seemed to lose interest in their staring match and seemed to ignore him, but was suddenly joined by a strange brown stallion wearing goggles. He sat across from him and started talking to him as if he were a long lost friend. Grey found this development very peculiar as he had not anticipated that the dragon would have pony friends. He now couldn't assume that the dragon's ego was as bad as he had hoped. He had in fact, let go of his anger quite easily for a dragon.

He noticed the aerion slip out of her seat and move to join the table. He let out another annoyed click as he realized that trying to talk while maintaining his current stare would be very difficult. He wanted conflict, but not all of it was meant to be directed at him. He decides that if no one was going to play his game, then he was just going to have to change the game he played. He took a moment to close his eyes and focus his mind and feeling once more. He chose to focus on confidence this time, or more accurately... arrogance. Taking a deep breath, he then slowly opened his eyes. His demeanor had done a complete one eighty, and instead of emanating a tense and hostile aura. He now stood tall, had puffed out chest, and upturned nose. He wore a very cocky and knowing smirk on his face. As the areion sat down. He looked her over as she took a pitcher for herself.

"You're going to need more drinks," she taunted, as she slammed her glass down.

To which Grey replied, "How about something stronger then? Barkeep. Get us a bottle of Everclear and apple cider..." He looked over at the table where the dragon and brown pony sat, "Oh and a set of bottles for that table as well." The bartender gave the stallion a look at his request, but eventually shrugged and went to retrieve the items. As the order was being retrieved by the group was suddenly joined by another strange pony. He was a red stallion this time, and he seemed like a quite troubled one at that. He had a look on his face that made him look as if he was going to over load on details at any moment.

"Got room for one more? I'll buy a round." The red stallion said with a smile, then immediately looked over at the aerion and, to Grey's amusement, started gawking at her, then seeming to make up his mind on something, starts talking to her.

"Excuse me miss? I would like to ask what a bat pony like yourself is doing here. I have never met one before are there more like you?" he suddenly asked her, "Could I have your name so I can at least address you by something else besides miss?"

Grey half wondered if the guy was trying to be awkward or if he had just been born with no tact, but before the aerion could even say anything. The stallion suddenly looked over at the corner and with a look of great concern on his face he suddenly threw down some bits on the counter and bolted off towards the corner of the bar. Grey looked over at where he went, and saw him join a maroon pegasus at a table in the corner of the bar. They both seemed to be attempting to help a sick looking business pony. He wasn't sure what the fuss was all about, as the stupid stallion had probably taken on more liquor then he could handle, and was simply succumbing to negative effects that came with over indulgence.

Ignoring the commotion in the corner, Grey instead retrieved the bottle of Everclear and cider as they were set down on the table, "As I was saying. Before the...interruption." He clears his throat and speaks in a loud, but clear voice, to allow other listeners to hear, "If you want some drinks, then how about a challenge?! See how strong you really are!" He glares over at the dragon and brown pony as the additional bottles of everclear and cider were being set at their tables. He then spoke in an over more confident tone, with his overconfident smirk on his face as he snatches up the bottle of everclear in his hoof and holds it up, "I have here one of the strongest liquors you can order! Everclear! It has a 95% alcohol content! So it burns pretty well, and you can really taste the alcohol!" He chuckles as he says the last part. He was playing it down a bit, but the truth was that Everclear really burned, and tasted horrible without being mixed with anything. He pops the cap off the bottle as shot glasses are set down on the table "The game I have in mind is quite a simple one. drink as many shots of Everclear as you think you can manage, and whoever drinks the most wins! But if you throw up or..." He places the apple cider in the middle between them, "drink the sweet apple cider... then you automatically lose!" He pores himself a shot, "So if there are no questions.." He glares his challenge at the aerion and dragon, "care to play?!"

[LunarRelic]

Lunar looks at the stallion and huffs after smelt the liquor in his breath. 'Ugh a waste of my time' he mentally hits himself for letting his time be taken up by that. upset he just uses his magic to teleport to the table accidentally knocking his bag over and the contents spill out. "for the love of Celestia..." he curses picking it all up. as he raises his head to put the book he had discovered in the bag and notices the bottle of everclear and the shot glasses. "looks to me like someponies are about to have a drinking contest!" He shouts rather loudly "This I have gotta see!" he hoots walking from his seat to the Gray and the bat pony and pulls out some bits "I'll give 45 bits to whoever wins!" he smiles

[Solaria]

Noc held a bored expression on her face for almost the entirety of the grey stallion's peacockery. Now and then she would raise a brow, but in the end all she heard was that she'd be getting more alcohol that she hadn't paid for. At this, her eyes practically glowed with pleasure.

"Well why didn't you just say that in the beginning?!" she trilled, hooking a sitting pillow with a rear hoof and sliding it perfectly into place for a measured flomp into a comfortable position. "I don't care what you look like or how you act, alcohol will make us friends."

Her eyes slid over the tattooed pony and the dragon, but what caught her attention again was the sound of retching outside one of the windows. Again with the lightweight.

"Oy, keep it down out there!" the areion called, shaking her head in disgust. "Some of us ain't even halfway close to drunk and you're spilling your guts out there! Show some common decency!"

Please with her public service for the evening, the mare wiggled her haunches to settle in and wait for the Everclear to arrive. After all, she knew exactly what it was... she just didn't care. That particular libation would help her forget about her cheese puff-less state more quickly than anything else of which she could think. So distracted was she, in fact, that she didn't notice the shadow straightening in the dark outside the window where the business pony had been.

Nor did she see its burning red eyes. Or glistening fangs. No, she quite missed all of it. Even the part where the bloodthirsty figure tackled a pony out for a jog and stifled her screams with mildly disturbing hissing sounds.

Nope, life was good for Haunting Nocturne. Free drinks!

"Faster, faster, faster," she chanted under her breath, eyes unwavering from the barmare as the violent struggle outside ended abruptly with not one but two creepy and dastardly ponyish figures rising and soaring off into the night, soon accompanied by the tinkling of breaking glass and screams of assaulted citizens.

At this, the bat pony guitarist flicked an ear high and attentive.

"Hear that?" she stage whispered, placing a conspiratorial hoof over her muzzle. "That sounds like... an empty glass. Make good on your promise, odd pony," she mumbled to Grey.

Oblivious to the last.

[PyroBlaze]

Aranak was starting in on his third glass now, and he was slightly annoyed that there hadn't been any effect from the alcohol yet. What made the situation worse is that a coffee-colored earth pony stallion decided it was a good idea to sit across from him. He glared at the stallion as his drink almost spilled from the table shaking.

The dragon simply kept glaring as the stallion examined him, eventually requesting that he tell his story. He raised a scaly eyebrow, staring at the stallion in silence for a bit before opening his mouth to speak.

"Ran away from home a few years ago. Got bored with living with the same dragons and the same scenery for my entire life." He said, about to continue when that same stallion from before began yelling about a drinking contest using something called Everclear. He'd never heard of it before, but it was 95% alcohol. Maybe this drink would actually do something for him. Completely ignoring the stallion he was with, he went over to the table with the grey stallion and the aerion and took a seat there.

"Fine, I'll play your game. Give me the alcohol." The dragon said, glaring at the grey stallion.

[moonshineTheleocat]

The stallion was generally unaffected from the dragon's glare. It wasn't because he was a brave tough pony. But borderline lacking general common sense and missing all self preservation instincts. Really, Java would happily look a Medusa, Garurda, or a basilisk in the face, knowing what the outcome would be. And when he get's turned to stone, there will be that stupidly cunning happy go lucky smile of his.

Of course it wasn't probably the grandest of ideas in general to sit across a dragon, much less a GRUMPY dragon. But Java didn't judge. He lived alone with a grumpy tiger, whom could easily gnaw his face off when ever she liked. He knew the deal. Likely just grumpy, maintaining a douche-bag appearance to be left alone, or draw a certain selection of attention, and seem like a tough guy. Because a lot of dragon's are very warrior like, from what he's observed.

He listened to the dragon's short and brief story, before watching him stumble off to go get drunk with something heavier. He found it odd that the dragon who simply wanted to be alone would move towards a much larger group at the sound of alcohol. A very potent, drink that might as well be placed on the contraband roster of illegal and deadly weapons of Equestria. The engineering, goggle wearing stallion remembered his days back in Canterlot University with that drink. Nothing good really came from it, he wasn't stupid enough to drink it when he first heard of it. But he did see the outcomes it produced from others. But if this really was the case then....

The pony then turned around and looked down to the glasses that were left on the table. He plucked an empty one up with a hoof and looked down inside of it. His nose wiggling a bit as he sniffed the air.

“No wonder he's grumpy... he's expecting to get drunk off of a weak beverage,” he mumbled to himself before looking up to a nearby window, after the very top edge of his eyes picked up movement. The eccentric noble slowly slid out of his seat and approached it. One hoof even retreated back into his waist coat, which was still slung over his shoulder and pulled out a pair of glasses. Which were quickly slipped onto his muzzle.

His memory quickly scouring over a very vague image of the window as he looked upon it. His smile remained, but it weakened into a look of perplex. The stallion even swore he was hearing things now the closer he approached the window. Screams. Things breaking. Wind. Maybe it was just his sanity reminding him of it's currently horrible condition? Which was a thin stream trickling in a severe drought.

Java pressed up against the wall when he neared the window, and crept his head forward, looking out through the corner of his eye, as a way of keeping him hidden from the outside world. His glasses caught the light rather easily. They lit up like silver disks, and blotted out his eyes with a white sheen. His smile now reduced to only a mere smirk as he took in everything he could see.

A pile of barf from the stallion who stumbled out. A shredded purse that was of some nice quality before being abandoned. And further down, a broken window in the shop of a business. Normally, Java would shrug it off as some sort of robbery. But he had never known of any criminal wanting to break into a store promptly after robbing a random mare. Or a stallion if he was feminine enough to carry a designer's purse.

Java's eyes slowly tilted around as he drew his head past the corner where the glass met the wall, and placed the brow of his head against the cool glass. His eyes slowly shifting around, searching for more details as he thought quietly to himself.

Oddly enough, he even swore he saw things moving. Things that weren't supposed to move in the manner they were.

[DerpRavener]

A unicorn had wandered over to where 'Spring Breeze' and the ill stallion were, seemingly intent on helping, but the moment he caught a whiff of the stallion's breath he looked down in disgust and left for the table again. 'Spring Breeze' looked after him with a disapproving frown. Even if it was a pony's own fault for having more liquor than he should didn't mean you shouldn't still help them. He's still suffering, in his own way. You had to wait until after they recovered to discipline them, or you'd just make the problem worse.

Turning back to the stallion, still with a disapproving look though now more sympathetic, she asked again if he was alright. He mumbled something about wanting some air. He seemed a bit unsteady but didn't actually seem to need help, so 'Spring Breeze' just walked him to the door and then a few steps outside before turning back, getting inside just as she began to hear sounds of the poor stallion throwing up outside the window.

Looking around the room, 'Spring Breeze' wondered if she should even have bothered coming back inside. There wasn't a room for her, and she'd never had much interest in what seemed to be the bar's main activity. She looked around the room, appearing a little lost as she stood next to the doorway wondering what to do with herself.

The sound of a brief struggle interrupted her thoughts, coming from the direction of the exit she was standing beside. She hesitated for only a moment before deciding to look for curiosity's sake if nothing else, but by the time she'd poked her head out the door whatever it was had finished. No sign of the sickly pony she'd escorted out there only moments ago, and in fact the only signs of life seemed to be few milling about in the distance. She thought she heard sounds of violence, more distant this time. For a moment she was tempted to investigate, but she ultimately decided to stay out of it. Chances are she'd misinterpreted the situation, and even if she hadn't she doubted local authorities would appreciate the interference if she tried to help.

Still, the whole thing left 'Spring Breeze' a little uneasy, though she couldn't quite put a hoof on why. Going back inside once more, she spotted a brown earth pony that she'd overlooked before investigating the window where the ill stallion had once been. She wasn't entirely sure how she'd missed him, she didn't see many ponies who wore goggles while just going about their business, even just around their necks. She'd been distracted by the more obvious occupants of the room she supposed, though it felt a little flimsy even as she thought it.

She walked toward the window to join him. If nothing else, it was a way to pass the time and maybe get some understanding of her current location. “Hey,” she began as she approached. “I'm new to this town, is there some kind of big party or something going on today?” It seemed like the most likely explanation for the noises she'd been hearing outside (which she now noted were mostly drowned out by the ambient noise in the room), and thus it was a good place to start.

[Zeig]

 

Buck yeah.

 

Inkbrand felt a sharp grin split his face as he followed the Aerion with his eyes for a few moments, his own golden gaze settling quite contemplatively on her rump as she moved away from the bar and towards the table filled with rowdy ponies. He'd just known she had a little extra somethin' somethin' going on, not like a lot of the roll-of-the-mill mares he ran into on his outings. Maybe because of that flighty, secretive vibe her dark skin and leather wings gave off? Like she had a secret to share, but chose not to share it. Or maybe because of the smokey look she'd thrown across the room, a promise of its inhabits being unable to keep up to her speed.

 

Or, she was just smoking hot. Yeah. Probably that one.

 

Whichever the case, the Aerion was more the amiable to join their table - even if she didn't seem all that keen on the other grey stallion's advances - and Inkbrand pulled his eyes back up to follow her tail back towards his friends, who were eagerly making way for the mare to join them. The tattoo-clad stallion slid back into his seat with a cocky and confident wink thrown in Zing's direction, who was gesturing rather subtly at the Aerion with one raised eyebrow, before he had to turn his attention back onto the strange male - who, really, didn't look as nearly as excited as he should be, what with an attractive Aerion coming over to give him the time of night. Inkbrand couldn't help raising one eyebrow at the sudden issuance of a drinking challenge, further compounded by the weapon of choice being a liquor he'd never heard of.

 

Buck. 95% alcohol? Wasn't that, like. A more than lethal dosage?

 

Inkbrand had never been one to back down from a challenge however - and how the buck could he, with the Aerion raring to go right across from him? "Hay yeah, man, bring it on," he demanded, earning him a few shoves from his friends. Even Zing was shaking his head, but Inkbrand deigned to ignore him as a red unicorn suddenly intervened, laying out some bits on the tabletop. The tattoo-clad stallion's eyes flit in equal measure between the newly revealed bits and the Aerion, sharp grin once again flitting across his face. "Forty-five bits is okay," Inkbrand hazarded, leaning across the table slightly with one elbow resting against its top, "but just money's boring. Winner gets a kiss from the pony of his choosing, instead." Despite the lack of a question behind the statement, Inkbrand waggled his eyebrows in the Aerion's direction.

 

Buck, he should probably get a name at some point. But hey, at least the looking was nice in the meantime.

 

And all of a sudden, the sound of crashing glass caught Inkbrand's ears, causing his head to swivel around in the direction of the bar entrance. A familiar pony was near making out with one of the windows - buck, was that JavaSun? Of course it bucking was - but the glass itself wasn't broken. Must've come from outside. "Sweet Celestia, ponies are already throwing mugs at each other and this sorry lot's still waiting to get wasted," Inkbrand half-chided, half-howled as he snatched up one of the small glasses filled with the Everclear stuff, challengingly eyeing the other occupants around the table. "The buck are you all waiting for?"

 

[LunarRelic]

Lunar Relic grinned "Woo now that's upping the ante!" he chuckles "Count me in!" he laughs taking a cup and pouring a shot with his magic before taking a sip. It sure burned but nothing like some of the mishaps he has had in his work. "Who's next?" he chuckles