Aisede

She followed along, dreading the condition of the palace as much as she would stepping hoof in a half-collapsed shipyard. Point being, she really wanted to refuse his hospitality here. "Ah, that won't be neccesary. I have an unusually potent vitality." One of many modifications she'd made to her own biology. Why suffer lost time in slumber when every waking hour brings her closer to her true goals? "Show me what progress you've made. The lack of proper irrigation will be... Troublesome," she said, belying just how much that impacts her work. "But any hurdle can be overcome by hard work and the proper tools." She punctuated this by shaking her rump, rattling her trademark tools as she looked back at them with a smile. "What would you say the climate here is like, exactly?"

Rose's ears flicked back as he addressed her, the full brunt of his voice a force to be reckoned with. However, she stood (or sat) tall, back straight, eyes front, with a cordial smile that would make an diplomat envious. Yes, she was used to dealing with difficult types, and she got the uncanny feeling this was going to be one of them. "I'm honored to receive your hospitality, Emperor Breakbeak." She nodded kindly, giving his ensemble a cursory scan. She felt underdressed for the occasion. She knew she was meeting 'royalty', but the jocular sense in which he was named, and the general disposition towards Griffonstone had swayed her to a tune that seemed to be slightly offkey. She'll be sure to dress appropriately for future meetings. "I am Rose Compass, of Equestria. An alchemist and apothecary. I came to lend my aid in advancing your agricultural pursuits, if you would have me."

So... This is the newly revitalized griffon capital. Rose took in the decrepit structures and generally impoverished atmosphere of the place, and she felt... Pity. This place was in dire need of renovations and, if the state of its denizens were anything to go off of, no shortage of fatty foods. she stopped the first actual pony she came across, assuming they may know the locals better judging by their casual gait. As luck would have it, she was exactly the guide she was looking for. It was less than an hour later that she found the newly crowned 'Emperor', seeking to rectify the grave sin that was their agricultural practice. Whatever they're doing out here, she can do it better. The engorged saddlebags over her flanks agreed, rattling in excitement as she plopped her flank down to see how events would transpire

"... So you run a cultural exchange program." Rose eventually said after sorting through the absolute insanity that came out of this mare's mouth. She could already see ponies- and most other creatures- for who they truly were, and she didn't need friendship for that, just perception and intuition. 'Loyalty' could also be acquired in a myriad of ways that fall short of her description of friendship. Currency is one choice, although obviously the least likely to last. Camaraderie is her preference, standing together in the face of hardships. She wasn't friends with her old crew, but she was loyal to them- and they, in turn, were loyal to her... Even if the original Rose terrified them to no end. She did have to think about generosity and compassion, though. Looking over at Aloe, she could feel this fabled warmth. Something within her yearned to make her smile, to make her laugh, to show her all the wonders of the world and beyond. She'd take this pony to the ends of the earth and back again if she so wished, and she'd ask for nothing more than her love and company. This wasn't mere friendship, she knew. Maybe it started off that way, but everything escalated so fast... she had, perhaps, made friends of her eerily named counterpart, but she couldn't be certain. The hybrid captain was also a pony of interest, but that bordered more along the shores of 'drinking buddies.' Did she have any friends? Did she need any? Here is a monarch, vastly powerful in her own rights, proclaiming it to be a virtue transcendent, but could it just be youth and delusion that molded her mind so? The mare is brilliant, she can tell, but one so young... She shook those thoughts from her head. A negligible matter to be approached at a later date. She mentioned something else that attracted her attention, and not in the good way. "Discord? Certainly you are not referencing the fabled being I think you are..."

Ah, this brings back memories. Unpleasant memories, but still memories. She stifled a chuckle as she dipped her hoof daintily into the boiling water, looking not too unlike a lobster testing the pot he'd be boiled in. A dish best served hot for sure, and that's just how she liked her water. So in she went! Like before, her fluid movements barely disturb the flow of water, as if she weren't even a physical presense registered by the aquatic mass. She bobbed at the surface, eyes wide and smile wider as she addressed the two ponies. If she didn't turn into a seapony in that moment, it'd be a surprise. "an unusual proposal, but not one I object to, so long as he's well behaved around us mares ~" She giggled, swaying in the bubbling tides she caused in the bath. "Ah, I love the water, so refreshing! Compass, dear, how do aerions fair in water?" She politely waved off Aloe's comment. "I already have healing covered. I'm a certified apothecary, after all."

Interesting. Where she grew up, a piscine diet was neccesary to acquire protein, in lieu of harvesting crab and oysters. Nodding, she smiled and relegated herself idle chatter. The meal was mediocre at best in her opinion, although she suspected that wasn't without reason. "Thank you, I would appreciate that very much. While I don't need it... " She touched her chin with a wan smile, recalling all of the fantastic meals she had back home. "Having access to a familiar food wouldn't hurt." Here, she paused, thoughts of steamed and fried fish evaporating from her mind as a much heavier topic weighed on it. Her lips straightened, and she looked between the two with slight confusion. "What was this about a school of friendship, though?" She chuckled once, the very notion amusing to the ex-pirate. "Quite the superficial subject, isn't it?" While she let this question settle in, she took the time to subtly analyze Twilight, see what makes these alicorns so special.

Rose took a modicum of interest in the arched contraption as she passed under it, allowing it to spray her coat clean before shaking herself like a dog. "I can believe that. For minor drama, at least." "Travelling entertainment has been a gimmick for centuries, although if we do choose to indulge in some theatre, I'd reccomend pursuing that endevour in the capital. It's clear that it's the real heart of Equestrian art and culture here, and I have business to attend to there anyways. I met a curious purple mare that took an interest in me." She smirked at this, rolling her eyes. "I guess even 'boring' things like looking at plants can be interesting to some ponies." She turned her attention to Compass, then, giving her a look over. "How do you feel about flora, by chance? Ever take the chance to collect samples while you're out mapping geography?"

Rose picked at her food in as polite a manner as she could, giving the query a modicum of thought. Levitating what looked to be a cherry tomato picked from the garden of the gods, she popped it into her mouth, contemplating its texture and flavor with a mostly neutral look. "It's a fine meal." She knew instantly that it wouldn't fit her own tastes, though, and folded her hooves over the table, sampling the drink with much more vigor. Just like at the party, she lacked any kind of restraint when imbibing in alcohol, gulping down a quarter of the glass in one go then calmly placing it back down with a small smile. "You know what would go good with this? A freshly steamed and buttered haddock. I could probably show your cooks how to prepare it, along with other Andalusian cuisine. I was raised in a wealthy House, so I took the liberty of apprenticing under one of our servants... For a short while, at least." A mixed array of expressions clashed across her face: humor, joy, and a touch of sadness. Also embarrassment for some reason, judging by the brief flicker of a blush that emerged. "If there's a harbor nearby I could instruct them on how to catch it, too, although... " The tapped her chin, squinting into the middle distance. She glanced at her two dinner companions quizzically. "Is fish part of the Equestrian diet? Forgive me if the notion offends you, it's simply common practice where I come from."

"What's bowling?" Rose tilted her head, groaning as she rose from her ironically murky bath, viscous semi-fluid trailing down her body to meet at the surface of the greater mass like malassis. She felt pretty good, all things considered. The mud bath was a unique experience, and she wouldn't mind trying it again. "And I don't recall ever seeing any stages around Ponyville, except for the one near town hall." There was no such thing as bowling where she came from. The very notion was alien to them, especially considering there weren't any creatures that lived down there with dexterous digits.

Kettle had never seen a show quite like this, it has so many shapes in it! They all danced and twirled, and some of them even became bees and trees! She kinda wished she could do that, but all she had was a little horn... Oh well! Most of the lyrics flew right over her head, but she sure understood the last part. She was cheering right along with everybody else, 'esctatic' failing to do justice to the enthusiasm she put into her wild waving. "Do it, do it!"

Rose, unironically, actually felt worse for making the spa mare feel bad, looking up at her utterly speechless. "... No, no, it is simply a personal matter of no consequence. You do an excellent job, Aloe," she smiled softly. "And I quite like the idea of a 'mare's night out.' Although I must admit, I'm not certain what entertainment facilities we may visit for such an occasion." She turned her gaze towards Compass, then, head cocked to the side and one ear tilted. "Do you have any reccomendations? I suppose it is always an option to forego travel and simply meet at one of our abodes, but I have so little experience on the subject that my reccomendations are null." Still, spending some quality time with two nice ponies sounded like a good way to build up reputation, and maybe make some friends.

"Well, for one," she started, trying to keep the annoyance out of her mental voice, "I'm not nearly as young as you think I am. Though my body may be in its youth, my experience spans centuries." She knew right off what the alicorn meant to imply through her thinly veiled accusations, not the least of which relating to her relabeling of 'somecreature.' or, perhaps, she was being paranoid. Old habits and all that... "And I have found what I sought, once before. I achieved my goals... Then it all went do wrong." A deep reservoir of pain flooded the mental link; the pain of dying, the pain of birth, betrayal, and an innumerous number of abstract concepts that would bend the mind of mortals. Then, just as suddenly as it came, it stopped, as it cut off from the source. Rose retained her cordial smile throughout, never once allowing her feelings to crack the sturdy facade she had built for just such an occasion. "I intend to set things right in this life. To do things differently. To do them the right way. Equestria is a new land with new opportunities, but it's alien at the same time. I cannot remake my magnum opus with the materials here, but I can try to make something in its likeness, given time." Rose sighed, confused by her sudden outburst but yet feeling lighter for it. She turned and smiled softly at Aloe. "Your trust in me is not Ill-founded, however... I cannot make this decision now. I've found that the notion of being apart from Aloe is an intolerable one, so wherever she chooses to go, I will follow. Know that If I remain in Ponyville, I'll still strive to report my findings to you, though. It's the least I can do for a fellow scientific mind."

Rose smiled, her eyes going soft as she planted a peck on Aloe's cheek. "Oh, one thing lead to another alright. I've tried alll her services ~" she giggled, a rosy dusting to her cheeks as she turned her attention back to Twilight, all sunshine and roses. "She creates her own products as well, and in a process similar to my potioncraft. I was pleasantly surprised to find a common interest in an unrelated procession." There was that thing again. A mental blockade, stitched together by a million intangible threads. This time it seemed to let her through without a fuss, perhaps sensing her intentions to communicate. "Oh, I take no issue with this. Please, elucidate me on these business matters, I am eager to hear what you have to say ~" Rose took a cup of tea and brought it to her lips, taking a dainty sip as she focused on the purple mare. She didn't seem the least bit distracted.

Rose stared at Aloe for a long moment after her little speech, her expression blank. It brought up a very particular question for the cloned changeling, one she hadn't bothered thinking about for a lack of being able to produce a positive result. She wasn't proud of who 'she' had become in her past life. The original rose was a deranged monster bent on completing an impossible task at the expense of everyone and everything around her. 'You can only be you' also brought up a painful question, that being if she even can be herself, and if she can, who is she? She's Rose Compass... But at the same time, that's not who she is. She's a unique entity, distinct from her source, but she still shared their identity. Perhaps she could take on a new form, rename herself... But what would that accomplish, truly? She can't change what she is, or who she's modelled after. Yet alone the fact that her very psyche is a simulacrum of the pirate lord of Andalusia, meaning she's... No different... Rose shook her head violently. No, she is different. It's because she's different that she's pursuing her goals without endangering those around her. "I'd like to be friends..." She croaked, head spinning from so many contradictory thoughts.

Rose calculated the approximate time that must have passed since its supposed invention, taking into consideration the limited lifespan of a typical equine, five generations would be... 150 years, at least. Not a whole lot of time in her opinion. "Interesting... But unlikely." That was all she had to say on that matter. There was little to be gained from this conversation without accurate information. "Compass, you mentioned earlier 'purer breeds'. Are you implying that aerion culture views non-chiropteran equines to be somehow lesser, thus lowering your rank on the societal eschelon?"

Twenty minutes? That's quite a bit of time to be sitting in mud, although she supposed that was all part of the equation. Stepping up to the muddy tub, she only gave the viscous surface a cursory look before making the metaphorical leap. To her surprise... it wasn't so bad. She had been expecting something more akin to real mood, but this substance was clearly created to imitate its appearance more than its texture. She quickly and seamlessly submerged herself in the tub, snorting a chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Here she was, in a mud bath. The irony. "I would very much like to know the inventor of this 'mud bath'." she got herself comfortable, tossing a look over at her companion. "Compass, how are you liking it?"

Rose simply smiled and nodded, her smile a rather brittle thing. She could sense that Aloe didn't really want to go... She'll have to talk to her about it when they find a private moment and clarify a few things. "Just know that you can back out at any moment. I simply thought it would be nice to include you for the trip." Aaaand is that the sound of obnoxious nobility she heard? Oh, no, it was the sound of an obnoxious announcer heralding his much more modest charge. Gods below, she loves those guys and she doesn't know why. She gave 'Town' a wink as he made his way out before addressing current company, beaming as she threw a foreleg over Aloe's shoulders in a friendly gesture, nuzzling her without shame. "I've been helping her get out for some fresh air from time to time." Then she gave Twi a more apologetic smile, "Apologies, I suspected the invitation was private but getting Aloe out of Ponyville for awhile should be good for her. Stretch those legs a bit, aye?" This latter part she directed back to Aloe. Saying this, she did monitor the alicorn's mood rather closely. For some reason she was feeling... More self-aware this time around, although she was confident nothing bad would happen. It was still a social visit, after all.

Activating the heating charm, the alchemist seamlessly got to work floating out fools fruit slices and lotus vera leaves, placing both of them in seperate vials that began to churn with heat. Next, she withdrew two smaller bottles of what appeared to be oil of some sort, bright yellow and securely contained. Lotus vera was a magical counterpart to aloe vera, and while it did make one slightly more succeptible to sunburn, it most definitely made one overall more sensitive, especially in the hooves. Fools fruit was created on a sage plant, acting as a sort of ingested aromatic that... Well, it does some weird stuff inside the body, but it enhances smell a fair degree. When the fruit and leaves began to boil, a distinctly sweet scent entered the air, the fluids they were boiling in ringing orange and green respectively. "Fools fruit and lotus vera, both magically mutated by yours truly. Lotus vera is like aloe vera, but I've managed to reverse its properties for the purposes of potioncraft," she explained as the orange fluid was slowly funneled into a second chamber, where it's vapors slowly collected into a third chamber and settled into what could only be called an extract. The same was being done for the other set, the orange and green fluids funneling into one chamber into the next. In these chambers, Rose periodically dropped the oil inside, the fluid mixing surprisingly well with the liquids.

"If you do open up for more hours, tell me. I can probably help out around the spa if you teach me what to do." She smiled brightly, clearly happy to help her around the place in the absence of her counterpart. "I may not be as good with my hooves as you are with yours, but I could certainly prepare the mineral and mud baths." There's a short stretch of silence, and she perks up, remembering what she wanted to talk about initially. "Oh, and Scarlett is actually a retired navy captain. She has a very capable onboard technician, and experience in battle. I've conscribed her assistance in the hydra expedition, so you need no worry. I can introduce you, and probably that thest- er, Aerion to her sometime next week if you want."

Aloe would feel a single, chaste peck on her cheek, followed by a warm giggle from the green mare. "I must say, you look good in socks. You'll have to start wearing them around my place more often ~" a flank bump, and her teasing was over with. The only trace of the risque exchange was a light dusting of red on Rose's cheeks that lingered for awhile still. "And I try to look presentable. These curls aren't always easy to maintain." She bounced one such set of curls in her hoof, watching them jostle once or twice out the corner of her vision before they settled back into place. "Usually I don't try to dress up too much, though. I'd damage and dirty anything I put on with my usual acticities- Oh, and speaking of, do you know of a hybrid pony named Scarlett? She owns an airship. Quite the impressive structure."

Dinner with a high ranking official of the Equestrian hierarchy, how exciting! She hadn't expected to be making such close and personal connections to powerful ponies quite yet, but here she is, trotting down the roads of their golden city with her 'plus one', as they call it around here. She must admit, she was a bit nervous. The purple mare had made it sound like a casual affair, but one does not attend a Royal's party- even a party of two- without expending some measures to strike a modest appearance. As such, Rose Compass had opted to dress in a dark blue coat with a light blue now for the occasion. For her, this was as casual as one could get, and it's not like she flaunt her show-sword around anyway- It would undoubtedly alarm the locals, and it didn't seem like a popular custom amongst Equestrians. "I had a very good time last night," she spoke up after a long stretch of silence, bringing herself out of her thoughts to look at her companion for the eve. She must admit, no matter what she did or did not wear, she was quite... Beautiful. Soft colors really fit her well. "Thank you, Aloe, for spending Hearth's Warming with me. It wouldn't have been a special event without you." Of course, Rose also made some attempt to dress her fellow mare up- whether she accepted it or not. A nice dress or- mostly as a joke- a pretty pair of pink socks. Maybe shoes to go with them. Ultimately, It was her choice how she presented herself. Rose was comfortable with anything by this point.

Name: Gold RushGender: maleAge: coltSpecies: Dragon (young)Eye colour: GoldenCharacter colour: coal blackPhysique: Light and lithe, this dragon was born to be swift on his feet and deft of hand. While his name may be of a higher caliber of wealth, his scales are rather poor, bearing the dusty black of unrefined coal, granted with a dim sheen to it. He stands scarcely taller than an adult pony when standing at his full height, although often times he'll be scurrying around on all fours for the sake of mobility- especially if he's trying to get away from his pursuers!Residence: GriffonstoneOccupation: Swindler, thief, street urchinUnique Traits: An uncanny gift for filching items, trinkets, and baubles from ponies and other creatures without their awareness. • possesses a genuine bag of holding, which he uses to store his secret hoard.History: Gold Rush isn't entirely sure where he was born- not this dying derilect town, that's for certain, but... He does know that's what he has to work with now, and there's even another dragon in town! Granted, one he's sure to stay away from, lest her be perceived as a challenge. Gold Rush among the streets of Griffonstone, a spark of lively energy and idle chatter that was often ignored or discouraged, not that that bothered him all too much. Although over time he hasn't made any true friends, he *has* accumulated a small fortune from its denizens, and even dug up a few gems of his own here and there. He gets by, and that's all that really matters.Character Personality: Curious, deceptive, and way too energetic. He'll talk your ear off- just be wary, lest you quit the conversation with a lighter load than you started it with. Character Summary: A witty street rat with scales that enjoys a good conversation and even better loot. Not to be undersyimated, but quite frequently is.

"Which means we should study the brain instead," she commented, finally peeling her eyes away from the poor creature. She smiled, looking him over- up and down. Nothing too out of the ordinary, and yet... Not ordinary. Just who is this stallion to not run screaming from her lab? "It may take the two of us in that case. What say you? I shall repeat the expirement, and you tell me what you... W-well..." she stuttered to a stop, realizing that would likely require the labotamization of the lizard. "Hmm... Perhaps not at this exact moment, actually. I lack the precision tools I would need to perform the surgery with minimal risk. In any case,'" she tottered off, gesturing towards the lab itself. "This is the progress I've made so far. Leap frogs that can't stay in one place, and some salamanders. I'm still setting up here, so a lot of my research is rudimentary. I don't suppose you have any prior experience in this field in particular?"

"I would appreciate a little extra water, thank you." Rose smiled, eager to escape the steam before she became a boiled lobster in there. The idea of a mud bath still struck her as odd, but Aloe was the professional here. Rose wondered if she'd really feel any different when she walked away from this place. Sure, the ponies were nice and the treatments... Adequate, but she had yet to see anything extraordinary that easier her nerves for more than a couple minutes. Hopefully this would do it?

Intentional or not, Twilight would find the latter half of her analysis challenged by a weak, unseen force. It was almost as if her prodding had awakened something within the mare, rising to the defense of its charge against a perceived threat, but it could do very little to stall her progress, weaving paper-thin barriers that quickly deteriorated under their own weight. Rose nodded along, listening to the purple mare intently as she mentally catelogued her advice for future reference. "Perhaps synthetic substitutes would be a feasible option," she mused, replacing her bottle and depowering the heating stone. "Reinforcing telos or adding compounding elements may also help..." She perked up at Twilight's excusal, grinning knowingly. "It has been a treat, and I am very thankful for the advice. I'll make some room on my schedule. Perhaps next time I may study you?" She giggled, watching as her conversation partner prepared to depart. Better make this quick. "Take care, and good luck with your business!" She waved the mare off, a warm feeling growing in her chest. She placed a hoof over it, looking down in wonder. She couldn't remember a time on her brief and spontaneous existence that she had felt that way, except for echoes from a corrupted past life. She spent most of the rest of the night in the garden, eventually producing a formula she was fairly confident in. She thought further on what the alicorn had said, realizing that this formula was actually quite easily to replicate en masse, granted the producer dedicated time to the production of these flowers. Yes... Something she can disseminate into the larger public. She'll need to find contacts, create a network... But she wasn't thinking about all that while she gazes upon the sparkling brew she had dubbed Oblivion. She was thinking about her new aquatintence. Perhaps not quite an aquatintence, but... A new friend.