Twimsy

The pegasus's eyes narrowed, "Nothing concerning, indeed..." Perhaps it was just a coincidental chain of events, but the strange, gray pony from earlier, the negative vibes, the rain, and now Newsy having a dream about Discord...? It was starting to add up. She'd become so concerned just thinking about it all, that she hadn't noticed him fishing about in his briefcase. When he addressed her, she abruptly interjected with, "I do not wish to be so nosy again, and I apologize if I am, but was there anything in particular that might've stood out in your dream?"

It definitely helps. Screenshots, screenshots and more screenshots are wonderful. There are also a load of helpful tutorials on deviantART. :3 Still, I think you're doing great so far!

"The last time it happened, the weather ponies brought over some rain to wash the milk away. It was a mess, though..." She rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof, "I can't suggest too many wineries and fancy restaurants. I, ah...haven't been to any in quite some time. I'm sure there are some around Torga, that's the merchant district. You also might have some luck in Vysokii. The residents there are, erm...a bit more upper-crust." If only she had a map in that bag of tricks she was toting about. "You play a whole range of things then, don't you?" she said with a smile to Bass. "Quickhor5...I feel like I've heard the name before." Perhaps if she hadn't all but been living under a rock as of late. Still, she could tell he was tense about something, although far be it from her to pry. She'd done enough prying as it was, earlier, and it just owned her somepony having a tearful breakdown. "All that I really know is piano. I've been playing since I was a filly in Cloudsdale--" Newsworthy's sudden commotion beside her caused her to glance over at him, blinking. He just wasn't having good luck today. "...Hanging in there?" She tilted back to glance behind everypony and out to the storm again. Only instead of letting up, it looked like it was getting worse. Wonderful.

"It's not so terribly bad when good interesting things happen," she shrugged, "but, yes. The last time there was a storm of this, erm... caliber, the blasted thing went on for nearly three days. It would truly be a pity to miss out on the night-life. I hear tell there are some fantastic plays lined up. And, it appears, some shows as well." She winked at Syd and Bass as if to specify what she meant. Persnickety couldn't help but giggle at Paw and Tricks, "That's quite a talented and polite friend you have there, miss." Her attention turned again to the stallion with the yellow glasses, "Me? I'm a freelance playwright. Business has been slow, but it's not an entirely coveted line of work. I enjoy it nonetheless. What about you, though - what sort of music do you play?"

Persnickety tried her best to stifle a grin at the thought of the older earth pony belting out an aria in an opera. In one of those gigantic, poofy dresses that she'd no doubt despise. "Ahh, but all the world's a stage, and all its inhabitants merely players! They have their exits and their entrances; and one pony in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages." She grinned with faux haughtiness, "To quote Shakespony. You're playing the very lead in your own humble little cafe, dear Miss Jubilee...or perhaps, you're the audience to many a dramatic scene here at the bar." When Deep Bass was mentioned, she'd turn a bit to face him, smiling a tad. "Aspiring musician, hm?" The brown pegasus hadn't intended to keep so much company today, but in its own way, meeting other people who fancied the arts was nice. Besides that, music was one of her favorite things. "Persnickety - it is nice to meet you. You're touring here in Stalliongrad as well, then?" It didn't surprise her, thinking about it, that so many musicians would come to the city. It was a veritable melting pot of culture in the first place, and you never knew who would be out in the audience, listening to you pour your heart out in sweet melody and rhythm.

"Dearest barista, my good mare, you are a savior and an angel. A pony among ponies," she said as Apple Jubilee obliged the request. "When are you going to let me write you into one of my silly little plays?" As if that would clear the I.O.U's she'd no doubt accumulated. "You'd make a brilliant countess, and you have such a lovely voice. It's what - soprano? It sounds like a soprano. Mezzo-soprano?" Oh, she knew that the mare didn't take a shining to her. That's why she picked on her. All the while she prattled, though, she gently set about securing the ice against Newsworthy's wing, slinging them with the towel and tying it off with a light tug. A poor excuse for a sling, but it would do for the time being. Her work finished, she glanced over just in time to see Syd take a seat next to them. It was good to see a familiar face that was still hanging around for a little bit. "Strange, indeed. Rain can't last forever, at least. Did Miss Klutz take her leave, already?" She blinked, "Deep Bass? A musical friend of yours, perhaps?"

Very cute! You seem to have a good grasp on pony anatomy. c:

"I'm sorry...hopefully it should die down soon. In the meantime," she said, trotting over to the bar and hopping up to one of the vacant stools, "Barista, might I trouble you once more? Ice this time. I don't suppose you'd have anything for a makeshift sling lying about - the reporter's wing sprain is bothering him, poor dear." Poor dear? Careful, Persnickety. Your maternal side is showing. At least the current crowd didn't seem as zany or tense as the last one. She smiled at the mare with the southern drawl and her canine companion, soon to blink up at the stallion nearby. "...The clouds are pink. The last time the clouds were pink and the rain was brown, it was chocolate. It was also the doings of that foul draconequus." She took another glance out the main windows of the cafe. "I do hope you're right, though. Mudslides. Hrm."

Figured I may as well start up a thread with my artsy-fartsy stuff in it. :B I don't have much yet, but I'll post up things as I do them. Probably mostly ponies, but I'll toss in some different stuff every now and again, too. Also, my deviantART has more stuff that isn't ponies (coughTF2andOCscough), in case anyone's interested. Anywho, let's get on with it! ...aaand a little something random - mascot for my newest handle, "PumpkinPandas."

"It's no trouble at all. The doctor isn't too far, anyway." She turned...just in time for the crack of thunder and a torrent of rain to sweep over the city. Splendid...and eugh. That rain looked disgustingly muddy. Or...was it mud...? Those clouds were still as pink as ever. Something did not feel right. Not right at all. "Mmh...well, this is a predicament..." At least harder bouts of rain usually didn't last very long. "I suppose now we have a choice - we can stay here and wait for the rain to subside, or we can brave it and gallop the few blocks it takes to get to the doctor's office. It's really your call, although I wouldn't want you to exert yourself if your wing's troubling you." She glanced back over at the barista just as the mare gave a grand cackle over something. "We could always ask for some ice, in the meantime."

For one reason or another, it seemed the sky had become much more overcast while they'd been conversing. She really wasn't looking forward to flying home in the r-...wait. Wait, were those pink clouds...? The only other instance of that she recalled was...oh, dear. By the time the pair had arrived back at the cafe, it seemed that the crowd hadn't died down too much. Must've been rush hour. A few new faces - somepony with an old, scruffy-looking dog and a stallion at the bar, eyeing up Newsworthy. Huh. She decided not to pay much mind for now - she had high priorities! The mare made her way through the place with a few "pardon me's" until she finally came to their previous sitting spot, her saddlebag appearing untouched. She smiled in relief. The smile, however, retreated into a mildly concerned frown at the look of the light blue pegasus. The brief wince he gave was telling enough. "...You look like that wing's giving you trouble." She adjusted her bag over her back. "Do you- uhm...it-...the weather's looking...disturbingly peculiar, but if you'd like someone to escort you to the doctor, it wouldn't be much trouble at all."

Hey there, welcome to the forums! c:

Oh hey, Newsworthy's over here too! Congrats, bro!

Ohgosh I saw this was assessed and I squee'd a little. Thank you, Imagination! c: Now we wait for full approval. *Sits in her corner all zen again.* UvU~

A small shard of relief had formed a gaping crack in her guilt. Newsworthy did seem much happier, now. "I'm glad, then," she said to him, slipping from her spot on the bench to stand. "Nothing says you ever have to forget what happened - it is the bad that makes us stronger and allows us to appreciate the good - but, it seems that the both of you also had a wonderful time while you were together. You should hold onto those feelings and memories. Not all ponies can boast experiencing such happiness." She grinned at him. "If you'd known this ages ago, I wonder if we ever would've met. The final draft of life's script holds mysterious twists and turns, indeed." Speaking of scripts, however, she reached up to adjust her saddlebag...and realized that it was not there. Horsefeathers, she probably left it at the Cellar. "Blasted...I have to head back quickly, I think I've left my things back at the cafe. Hopefully nobody's seen fit to pilfer through my them." Even if they did, they wouldn't be finding much: some miscellaneous notes about pirates, a half finished script on them, some inks and a book from the library. Exciting stuff.

Emotional bouts certainly had a way of making ponies who were complete strangers into individuals who were much closer to one another, whether they liked it or not. It was a clumsy and awkward sort of bonding, in a way. She didn't know how or why, but for the first time in a long time, Persnickety was starting to feel connected in some way with the pony sitting beside her. Their reasons for depression seemed so different, but perhaps they were more similar than either of them even knew. When he smiled at her, she couldn't help but return the gesture, if a bit meekly. It was contagious all the same. Maybe she'd finally done something right. "If I may, that expression looks much better on you than tears." She adjusted her spectacles, "Are you feeling a bit better, now?"

Persnickety crinkled her nose as she cast her glance elsewhere. She didn't know why, but the more and more he poured his broken little heart out to her with the tears and cracked voice, the more she felt totally responsible. Wonderful. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have pried. I shouldn't have said anything, really..." Why does this always happen when I try to talk to ponies, anymore? It always happens. What's wrong with me? I'm such a fool. Now was not the time for how she was feeling, though. She did her best to swallow her guilt - a process made easier by the last statement he made. "Now, that's just silliness. You are a pony. A living, breathing, feeling being. I cannot speak from experience on romantic matters, but what I can say is that you will never truly be able to hamper your feelings for good. And why in Canterlot you'd ever want to hamper the good feelings is...well...puzzling. From an acting point of view, I can sympathize. Losing someone close to you is will-breaking. It's...it's utterly crushing, and nothing says that you have to throw yourself back out there and risk it again so soon." Careful, Persnickety. You're rambling, again. "...I suppose what I'm simply trying to say, is that you should not build up walls. That is the recipe for a very lonely life." Her own heart was starting to feel worlds heavier. ...If anyone knows that, it's me.

The pegasus let out a grand sigh of relief as the hustle and bustle of the Cider Cellar died down, the farther they walked away from it. Occasionally she glanced at her fretting acquaintance, but as far as being vocal went, the mare said nothing. She didn't really know what to say. She wasn't particularly good at cheering people up, but at least getting away from the stress of a crowded social situation was something she knew could help to calm one down. One of her many antisocial tricks. The park itself was quite an odd, if not pleasant sight amidst the otherwise steam and smoke-billowing city. She sat beside Newsworthy on the bench, brow knitting when he looked up at her with those glassy eyes. She'd just met him, but he was doing a good job of making her feel guilty. "You don't have to speak on such a sensitive matter any further, if you do not wish to," she said, "I...cannot say that everything will be alright, because I do not know the gravity of the matter, and...I know that it's not, erm...a pleasant memory. That much I am certain of. The world can be a cruel and unfair place, at times." Her hoof hovered mid-air before it finally came to rest on his shoulder, giving it a ginger pat. "Some wounds take a very long time to heal...but they can heal. They do." Oh, yes. She was turning into a veritable pep-talker, this one.

Oh, for pete moss's sake, now she was seeing things. Maybe that lack of sleep was getting to her more than she'd formerly thought. She nudged her glasses up for a moment to rub at her eyes once more, though ears paid attention as Newsworthy explained his relationship with the unicorn in the picture. Cliche though it may have been, it was the perfect love story, with an ironically tragic ending. And-...oh. Oh, good. Now he was crying. Persnickety, look what you did. She just sat there for a moment, blinking and glancing around at the other patrons. "...E-Erm...-- how about a bit of fresh air? I know that I could use some. Let's let the other patrons converse for the time being, we can come back in after a few moments, mm?" She'd already gotten up, muttering a, "Please, do excuse us. We won't be long." to any that may have been a part of their steadily growing conversation circle. With that, she all but began nudging the light blue stallion along with her (if he'd let her do so, of course), and out into the crisp afternoon air. A few minutes away from the growing crowd would probably do the both of their frazzled little minds some good.

First I was like... ...but then, I lol'd.

Persnickety smiled as Klutz elaborated on her more musically-inclined profession. "Well you must at least be a little good, if you're teaching the newer generations the joys and value of music." To her, it was an important job, all the same. "It seems that all of the musicians have come out, today. This is rather intriguing - I don't usually see so many around the Cider Cellar." The conversations seemed to wind on for quite some time, after that, and of course the deeper conversation between she and Newsworthy didn't get any less deep. He must've said something right, though, for when he spoke about the inspiration in his own calling, the gloominess in her expression seemed to dissipate, if only a little bit. Such conviction. Such passion for the things he loves to do. "Your muse is kind to you. It's...refreshing to see. Mine seems to be a bit more spontaneous and fickle, only popping about when it sees just the right moment to do so." It definitely lived up to her namesake. "But, all of that...that is something that you seem like you deeply enjoy doing. It's very nice to see..." She could feel her cheeks burn with the slight prickle of heat, for one reason or another, and she cleared her throat. That had been from what she'd said, right? Confounded voices all about in the tavern... "Actually, if you'll believe such a thing, it feels somewhat inspiring to me, in turn." Between that giant mess of thoughts in her head and the sudden shrieking of another new patron, pestering the one across the room, the headache medicine actually was starting to sound like a good idea. "It's not too much of a problem, really. I wouldn't want to be even more a bother--" Humbleness was cut short at the picture that fell to the table. She wouldn't have bothered being nosey about such a thing, but it did fall quite close to her, and she did recognize at least one of the two ponies as the one sitting next to her at the table. She held it up, inspected it briefly once more, then held it out to him to give it back, "A dear friend of yours, Sir Newsworthy? She's quite lovely--" Wait. Persnickety senses tingling. She thought she'd just heard somepony call her name. Oh...Celestia. Were the voices because she didn't get all that much sleep the previous night? Thrice-accursed pirates...oh. No. Perhaps it was the mare who was walking towards them...but, she didn't look familiar at all. Holy haystacks, why am I so popular, today? This is...uncomfortable.

Well, at least they both enjoyed the sound of each other's voices, for as gloomy as she might have been feeling, she did like hearing him talk, and listening to what he had to say. He spoke with conviction, as if he truly did know and understand the situation. It was...admirable, in its own way. "You are most kind, sir. And I believe I am grateful to have such good company, rather than lurking back off to my flat for the rest of the afternoon." Indeed - dull though conversation may get, it was always better than being alone, stewing in one's own misery. "I am trying not to force things to come to me, be they inspiration or anything involving my motivation. I take it as it...comes to me..." The dull rumble of something that sounded like a chuckle (and a rather unfriendly one, at that) caused her to swallow the antisocial lump in her throat. Eugh. "A-Anyway. As it is said - good things come to those who wait." I suppose I just have to keep on waiting. Just a little longer...right...?

Tch. *Flicks the blue pony with the tip of her tail in typical, snarky fashion.* You'll not get a single bit with crummy form like that. You could at least act like you know what you're doing. *She whirls around to leer at Discord.* And YOU! That laugh is atrocious! You must work on your maniacal laughter, post haste. You sound like a blasted kazoo at the moment. Were I not such an esteemed professional, perhaps I'd help a talentless worm like you.