osprey77

[colour=#984807]“I don’t mind!” [/colour][colour=#000000]Beats chirped, and gave the professor a smile that rivaled her own. If there was a member of the new Socialist club as keen on being friendly as Psmith was, it’d be Beats. [/colour] [colour=#000000] [/colour] [colour=#000000]Fictoria listened to Alabaster, her head on one side a little as she digested the near-monologue. [/colour][colour=#00b050]“Well, Psmith, it would appear that we’ve found the astronomy professor.” [/colour]Ria hesitated, wondering if she should jump in before Psmith for her greeting, but grimaced internally at the thought, knowing it would come out forced and artificial. [colour=#00b050]*Celestia above, I’ve already let him get under my skin!*[/colour][colour=#000000][/colour]

[colour=#8b4513]“I think it was originally ‘no bad deed’ but that musical—I forget its name*—turned the phrase on its ear and made it ‘no good deed,”[/colour] Swing Beat offered, before following her sister inside. Resuming the conversation once more, it was Fictoria’s turn to answer the question.[colour=#006400] “Civics, same as Psmith.”[/colour] Beats grinned. [colour=#8b4513]“World History for me!”[/colour] It didn’t take long to reach one of the academic buildings, though, if Ria didn’t miss her guess, they’d ended up in the science area. What tipped her off? Oh, nothing much, just the start charts, diagrams of life cycles, the odd self-made volcano… Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone else approaching. [colour=#006400]“Hello?” [/colour]Ria asked, tentatively. ((*Not true, just didn't know how it would be 'pony-fied'))

Beats blushed. [colour=#8b4513]“I-I didn’t mean like that…only if they…you know, locked the, um…”[/colour] Ria couldn’t help commenting on Wordplay’s second assessment. [colour=#006400]“Something tells me interesting won’t be the half of it.”[/colour] She appeared to be lost in her own thoughts for a moment, then came out of them long enough to say, [colour=#006400]“Beats and I better reserve our room in Coltsfoot, but that shouldn’t take too long. We can meet up with you guys pretty quickly, if you don’t want to wait.”[/colour] Coltsfoot Commons was the mirror image of the domicile they had just left, including clipboard for room assignments. However, it was not as empty—in fact, the twins were the last of the boarders to arrive. As such was the case, they had to make do with what rooms were left, and couldn’t room together, as they had originally planned. Beat’s roommate didn’t bat an eye when the excitable filly poked her head in only long enough to say, [colour=#8b4513]“Hi! I’m your roommate Swing Beat, but right now I’m exploring the school. Bye!”[/colour] Ria’s roommate looked up from deskwork long enough to slowly look the writer up and down, as if trying to gauge how the year would go. Ria exhibited similar caution. [colour=#006400]“I hate to introduce myself and run,” [/colour]she started slowly, [colour=#006400]“but my sister and friends are waiting. Just wanted to let you know that I’m your roommate, Fictoria.”[/colour] The other filly nodded silently, and Ria back out, a little uncertain. Rejoining the others outside, Ria sighed. [colour=#006400]“Well, thank goodness that’s over. Sometime on our exploration, can we stop by the library?”[/colour]

I don't mind being on the wiat list, but I think the Thes/Heart plot, now that it's finished, might make an interesting story...either one would be fine, but i'd prefer Thes, since he's underused. Oh, and it can be public.

Well, choir competitions taking them against rival schools/being looked down on by every other social group in the school...basically, ripping of Glee and every other story they took THEIR ideas from...I wish I could come up with something a little more original...

Ria received the teacup with a tad of hesitancy. She was normally a coffee drinker, of the sort that filled a mug, waited for the brew to cool, then downed it in great, admittedly un-ladylike gulps. She’d tried tea once or twice, but hadn’t really found it suited to her tastes. Nevertheless, she took a few polite sips, then, when the eyes of her fellow students were not on her, she down the rest in a swallow, grateful that the cup had been small. She tilted her head as Wordplay described the reception Smith would be likely to get.[colour=#006400] “That’s not too bad, so long as you know how to pick a lock.”[/colour] Beats smiled at her twin, remembering when their little brother, Thunder Flash, went through a stage where he was constantly accidentally locking himself into one room or another. The entire family was now skilled at undoing simple locks. Beats giggled.[colour=#8b4513] “If it comes to that, we could give you a few pointers.” [/colour] She, too, soon finished her tea, standing up. [colour=#8b4513]“Where to next?” [/colour]she asked, one back hoof subconsciously tapping out a rhythm, as it usually did when she was excited, happy, or had just had sugar/caffeine. [colour=#006400]Oh, Celestia[/colour], Ria moaned internally, [colour=#006400]we forgot to ask if the tea was decaf.[/colour] Ria was all the more grateful that the cups had been small—both she and her sister were susceptible to the smallest amounts of caffeine after ten o’clock in the morning. Ria silently counted the rhythm Beats was tapping, comparing it with her sister’s eager descriptions of swing-dance steps. [colour=#006400]One, two, one-two-three, one, two, one-two-three. Hm, either eight-count circle or whip.[/colour]

[colour=#ff66ff]...I'm a little stumped myself. I mean, my only other character is Thes, and he doesn’t fit in with the school setting. I'm not sure if we could do something with the choir--I'd want a few more ponies for that, though I could make do with implying NPC's to fill out the sound. The problem is, I'm not sure how that fits in with the already established plot line without being over clichéd[/colour].

((ooc: sorry for the delay, was grounded for a week.)) As Thes was due to swing by and pick her up any moment now, Heart declined the tour, but smiled to herself at the thought of the group of students, and just what sort of impact they would have on the school. [colour=#4b0082]“Celestia help them,”[/colour] Heart murmured, smiling, [colour=#4b0082]“they’ll turn this place upside down.”[/colour] The twins followed Psmith and Wordplay into the study-cum-dorm and watched proceedings in a kind of dazed awe. Fictoria leaned over, whispering to her sister out of the corner of her mouth, [colour=#006400]“How long do you think it will take for him to realize what he’s just done?[/colour]” Beats was unable to stop a small giggle from escaping, but composed herself in time to accept tea with a polite, [colour=#8b4513]“Thank you.”[/colour] Ria simply nodded, then listened to the campaigner outline his infiltration strategy. She bit her lip. She wasn’t anti-social, contrary to most stereotypes of authors and homeschooled ponies, and there was something about this colt that made turning him down rather like kicking a very happy terrier puppy—you just couldn’t, even if you knew he would forgive you a second later. [colour=#006400]“Sounds…interesting. Though, besides administrative help for the choir, I’m not sure if I’ll be involved in many other outside groups. Well, I might as well give it a shot.”[/colour] Beats was fairly bouncing.[colour=#8b4513] “Count me in! It shouldn’t be too hard, it just means being everybody’s friend!”[/colour] Her more cynical sister, remembering Wordplay’s description of the social scene, couldn’t help muttering, [colour=#006400]“Which may be the hardest part of all.”[/colour]

Heart Song gave Wordplay a knowing smile. [colour=#4b0082]“That,”[/colour] she said in a pseudo-secretive tone, [colour=#4b0082]“is completely up to the students involved.” [/colour]She turned to Ria, seeming to understand.[colour=#4b0082] “You mean behind-the-scenes, almost administrative work?” T[/colour]he filly nodded. [colour=#4b0082]“Well, I suppose that could be arranged, though we may need you to sing if not enough students show up tomorrow.”[/colour] Beats blinked in utter astonishment at Psmith, then whispered out the corner of her mouth,[colour=#8b4513] “Philata—”[/colour] [colour=#006400]“Stamp collecting,”[/colour] was Ria’s curt, whispered reply. She was a bit surprised at Psmith’s…lengthy compliment, admitting to herself: [colour=#006400]Well, if he does make me look bad, it won’t be intentionally.[/colour] But she couldn't resist saying, [colour=#006400]"I'm only a year younger than you, at the least."[/colour] At the change of subject, Beats started searching for her own paper, and Ria consulted her memory. As it was, the twins called out in near-perfect unison: [colour=#8b4513]“Coltsfoot[/colour] [colour=#006400]Commons.” [/colour]Beats checked the map. [colour=#8b4513]“That’s right next to Clopham! We’ll join you on your tour[/colour] [colour=#8b4513]Comrade[/colour] [colour=#8b4513]Psmith.”[/colour] She beamed, proud of her wit, and Ria rolled her eyes.

Heart acknowledged the bow with a dip of her head, smiling to herself. This colt’s manner didn’t put her off in the slightest. When you went to school with a friend like Thes, you got used to certain things rather quickly. [colour=#4b0082]“It’s quite all right, Psmith, I understand. Besides, it’s best not to do too much when you’re still adjusting to a new school,”[/colour] Heart replied, remembering her school days in Canterlot. She smiled at Wordplay. [colour=#4b0082]“Wonderful! We’ll have to see what the others are up for, but once we get the basics down, I thought it might be fun to re-arrange more modern music for the choral sound.”[/colour] She smiled to herself, remembering senior choir. Their director had done the same thing—giving the colts and fillies an object lesson in musical theory that had stayed with them throughout their careers. [colour=#4b0082]We got quite a few good composers out of that lot, as I recall.[/colour] Ria considered. [colour=#006400]“I’m not one for performing, usually, but if you need a background person, I’d love to help out with choir, Miss Heart.”[/colour] Beats chimed in now. [colour=#8b4513]“Choir sounds like fun! I don’t think that and swing dance will be too much. As for classes…”[/colour]the honey brown-coated unicorn tilted her head, her multi-colored mane momentarily slipping in front of her face as she tried to remember her exact schedule. [colour=#006400]“Geometry, World History, Philosophy, and Chemistry,”[/colour] Ria rattled off in a near-monotone. Tan-coated filly pushed her glasses further up from where they had slipped down, twitching her forest-green tail in annoyance. [colour=#006400]“And I’ve got Civics, World History, Algebra, and Astronomy as well.” [/colour] Why did she have to have all the same classes with this colt? It wasn’t that she particularly disliked him, but she was a quiet pony by nature, preferring to save her words for her stories or written assignments. She could just imagine this font of discourse gushing forth in class, making the ponies like herself look lazy, or unwilling to participate in class discussion. [colour=#006400]I’m going to be spending a LOT of time in the library this year[/colour].

The twins hesitated a second, sharing a glance that seemed to ask ‘is this guy for real?’ before Ria spoke. [colour=#006400]“Something…like that.”[/colour] Beats giggled at Psmith’s continued oratory on ‘hobby distinction,’ adding,[colour=#8b4513] “And meanwhile, the drama department and show choir are so busy practicing, they hardly know any on the group exists! Beggin’ your pardon ma’am.” [/colour]She dipped her head to the approaching teacher. Heart smiled. [colour=#4b0082]“Not to worry. It’s quite true actually…and meantime the sketch artists and other workers in physical mediums sequester themselves away…Ah, the list could go on.” [/colour]She’d been half-imitating the colt’s speech, then switched back to her normal tone, answering Wordplay’s question.[colour=#4b0082] “Yes, they did accept me as choir teacher, though I don’t know quite how many students will actually be a part of it, or what they’ll expect. Sound and style are almost exclusively dependent on what the students involved are willing or wishing to do.”[/colour] Ria couldn’t stop herself from scanning the group as Psmith described them. As a worker of words, and crafter of stories, she was caught by the colt’s particular fancy, musing to herself. [colour=#006400]We are an unlikely bunch, but then, just about every group of heroes is. But if we are the protagonists, what kind of a story are we in?[/colour]

Both of the twins hesitated when Psmith addressed them, glancing at each other. Swing Beat recovered first—always being the more outgoing sister.[colour=#8b4513] “Pleased to meet you both! I’m Swing Beat, but you can call me ‘Beats,’ and this is my sister Fictoria!”[/colour] Ria took her cue from her twin.[colour=#006400] “You might as well start calling me ‘Ria’—everypony does, eventually. And yes, we’re new students. Our parents are spending a year here on a temporary job, so they enrolled us. We’re from Baltimare.”[/colour] Beats took up the thread with a question aimed at Wordplay, who seemed to be a returning student. [colour=#8b4513]“Is there a swing dance club at school? Or one in the city?”[/colour] Ria rolled her eyes.[colour=#006400] “Forgive my sister’s whiplash-inducing change of subject, but swing dance is a passion of hers. as for myself, I prefer writting, despite her best efforts.”[/colour] Both turned as Heart came up behind them, admittedly a bit hesitantly, unwilling to intrude on an all-student group. [colour=#4b0082]“Hello Wordplay, hello everypony.”[/colour]

((Well, here goes!)) Two of the students who stopped to watch Wordplay’s freestyle were the Unicorn twins, Swing Beat and Fictoria. Normally Baltimare residents, their parents had accepted a pseudo-temporary job in Manehatten, and felt their girls ought to expand their horizons, thus the twins found themselves enrolled for the starting school year. They were a year younger than Wordplay and Psmith, but were in the same grade, having worked ahead when they were homeschooled in Baltimare. Swing Beat tilted her head, taking in primarily the rhythm of Worplay’s free style, whispering to her sister,[colour=#8b4513] “I never noticed it before, but with a little more music, one could improv a swing dance to that beat, just as easily as a rhyme.”[/colour] At a sharp look form her sister, that held doubt, she amended, [colour=#8b4513]“well, perhaps not that easily, but it would be fun to try!”[/colour] Fictoria (Or ‘Ria’ as most ponies called her) paid more attention to the words being bandied about, her eyes widening. [colour=#006400]“Sweet Celestia!”[/colour] she breathed. Plot had always been her strong point as a writer, she downright struggled with dialogue, but here it rolled out in excess, and she itched to jot down notes, observe style, and take ideas for her next story. Suddenly, things changed back to norma speechl, well, almost-normal speech quicker than a pony can change gaits, and she sagged a little in disappointment. So, apparently, did the rest of the crowd, who mostly drifted away. The twins were left alone with the speakers, wanting to leave out of embarrassment, but loath to go if another show was on the way. An older mare wandered by, a pale-pink earth pony with an indigo mane and a kind face. It was Heart Song, the new choir teacher, and she was getting a feel for the students and atmosphere for the afternoon. Her ‘special somepony’, Thes, would pick her up for dinner in a few hours, but he was at rehearsal now, so she had pretty much the whole afternoon. [colour=#4b0082]“Let’s see…”[/colour] She caught sight of Wordplay, the student who had given her the idea of asking if St. Mareson’s wanted to start a school choir, but since it looked like she was engaged with conversation, she didn’t want to interrupt, so she only waved.

Alrighty then, but careful what you ask for.

Well, I'm back from vacation. You think I should bring Heart in? (conversely, I have unicorn twins that could make middle-class students, if you wish.)

((This’ll be my last post—leaving on a family vacation—so I’ll try to wrap up my involvement. It’s been a lot of fun, guys!)) Thespian didn’t notice Wordplay—then again, with Heart Song right in front of him, he probably wouldn’t have been aware of an oncoming train. What he did notice was the look in her eye—a cornered animal would have worn a similar expression. [colour=#008080]“Heart?”[/colour] he said again, in a quieter tone, truly concerned. Heart bit her lip. [colour=#4b0082]Why am I so stiff? It’s Thes for crying out loud![/colour]Down inside, she knew what she had to say. Taking a deep breath, she said, in a barely audible, half-choked tone: [colour=#4b0082]“I-I’m sorry, Thes; I shouldn’t have left without an explanation.”[/colour] To her eternal surprise, he moved in closer, nuzzling her mane and saying gently, [colour=#008080]“No, I’m sorry, Heart. I should’ve been able to see you were unhappy—I shouldn’t have had to ask Moonlite Frost. I should’ve seen what that place was doing to you.”[/colour] She closed her eyes, drinking in his familiar scent, heart and mind in turmoil as she tried, for the millionth time, to come up with a way to reconcile being with Thes and avoiding Canterlot. Slowly, bits and pieces of a new idea began falling together, but she didn’t want to interrupt this precious moment with words—there would be time enough for that later. ((Exit Heart and Thes.))

Heart’s stomach clenched and her mind raced, but before she could answer Wordplay, Thes’s voice came ringing over the crowds. “Heart! Heart Song!” It was as if his voice had turned her to stone. Shame and fear still roared in her mind, urging her constantly to flee, run away, not to face him; but something else, much deeper, begged her to stay, to wait for him. It was a voice she’d ignored before, but his time, there was no fight left in her.Tension draining, Heart met her new friend’s eyes with a fragile smile. “What’s the point? If he’s been looking for two and a half years, we’ll not lose him that easily.” Thes couldn’t believe it. After all this time, he’d run into her more or less by accident! He made it past the last few ponies between them, and finally saw her face-to-face. “Heart! Celestia be praised, it really is you!”

Heart nodded slowly, liking the idea more and more. She relaxed almost imperceptibly, glad she had come to the expo, instead of giving in to the temptation to stay home and organize her stuff after the move. She wasn’t too thrown off by the sudden turn/backwards walk—her bother had many quirks and tics, so Heart understood. Heart turned, looking the way Wordplay pointed, and froze. There was no doubt, Thes stood out in a crowd. Silvery-blue fur, a black mane with platinum streaks…quite the dramatic combination, and quite unique. Heart couldn’t see the stallion’s cutie mark, but she didn’t need to, she’d have known Thes anywhere. Heart ducked her head, hoping the crowds would shield her, then wondered why that was her first instinct. After all, Thes was her…but seeing him reminded her of that painful time in Canterlot, at the climax of which she’d made her decision…until now, he hadn’t fully realized how it must have hurt him, and she couldn’t bear the idea of seeing him face-to-face. “As a matter of fact, he is, but he’s not one I particularly want to see. Let’s keep moving.” Thes paused for a moment, feeling an odd sensation. He couldn’t say why, but he turned in the direction of Wordplay and Heart, scanning the crowd. There! His heart rate instantly kicked up from ‘slow walk’ to ’90-yard gallop’ as he caught a glimpse of her. He suppressed his first instinct: to call out to her in front of everypony, and began firmly but politely working his way through the crowd towards her.

She's perfect! (and the classes are evening/night, so that should work for her! ) And I understand, Cloud, take your time.

The slot is yours! May I please see a bio of the Oc you plan to use? (Just to start getting ideas.)

((Sorry.)) Heart titled her head to one side. I guess rap is gaining popularity…sort of. Scale Rhymes, one of her friends from her school days had wanted to be a rapper. Indeed, it was only a few months before graduation that most ponies in their circle had realized his parents had sent him to the art school to work on his piano skills! Though the cutie mark should have been a tip-off.“No kidding? How long have you been doing that?” Probably not the response Wordplay usually got, but three years of hanging out with Scale Rhymes had developed an interest in, if not all-out love for the genre. “Manehatten?” Heart paused again, thinking rapidly. It was definitely something to think about. Her favorite aunt was a teacher in Manehatten, though not at Saint Mareson’s. It’d be nice to see her again, and I could probably spend summers in Ponyville... “I will definitely consider it, thanks for the suggestion.” Wordplay mentioned her parents probably coming, and Heart nodded. “I’m half-surprised I haven’t run into any former school mates of mine…” Thespian trotted from booth to booth, feeling an odd mix of hope and frustration. The theater season technically wasn’t over yet, but he was doing a few shows in Manehatten to take a break from the Canterlot scene. Truth be told, Manehattan’s better for the actor… Between shows, while he’d been fretting about wasting time when he had his first big lead on where Heart Song might be, he’d seen advertisements for the Music Expo. He vividly remembered Heart expressing a desire to go the first year it was held, and, on the off-chance that she’d come, so had he. I just never knew it was so big! It was unlikely he’d ever be able to spot one somewhat-small earth pony in this crowd, but the possibility of being so near her was to tantalizing a prospect for him to leave now. Plus, I’ve paid for the ticket; I might as well get my money’s worth!

@CloudShimmers Thanks! does this mean you'll want to fill the part of Ria's special somepony? (Call me dense, but I don't like assuming.) @FermataTheBasse Yes, sometimes I'm almost convinced that, if I were a pony, my cutie mark would be the head of a pig. Well, if you're interested, and have an older, sarcastic mare, the teacher slot is all yours!

((Sorry, he’s my other main OC, Thespian Thespony. I probably should’ve asked before introducing him, I don’t have to bring him in, if you don’t want me too.)) Heart smiled—she couldn’t help liking this confident, if self-depreciating unicorn filly. “Really? What genre?” Like Wordplay, Heart Song was not overly enthused about the current opening act—though she did understand the nerves and anxiety that went into being such an act—and she was glad to have an excuse to only half-listen. “It’s certainly worth considering…Which school is it, and in which city?” Heart’s face remained neutral, but an internal rhythm kicked in Please, not Canterlot… Anywhere but Canterlot!

Hello, Everypony! I’m planning on an RP to introduce my two newest characters: the unicorn twins Swing Beat and Fictoria, and I need some other RP-ers. Here’s the basic idea: Swing Beat and Fictoria are taking swing-dance lessons at the Coltlyle Club in Baltimare (Beat: intermediate; Ria: Beginner). The lessons are run back-to-back, with a free dance period after the intermediate lesson. Fictoria’s only there because her sister talked her into it, and she’s not entirely happy, but love can happen at the most unexpected times… In this story, each sister meets a ‘special somepony,’ in Beat’s case, a fellow intermediate student, and Ria falls for a colt who shows up for free dance (or another student, if you’d prefer). Beyond the initial meeting, the story can go anywhere, and isn’t limited to taking place in the one place for the one night. Character slots: Beat's Special somepony:Darkness Eclipsed--QueenChrysalis747 Ria's Special somepony:?-- CloudShimmers Teacher/owner of the club (if you really want in—this one’s not crucial, but can be comic relief as s/he is rather sarcastic):'Penumbra' Dewdrop-- FermataTheBasse If you’re interested, comment below! For reference, here are my character bios: Ria: http://www.canterlot...al/#entry262347 Beat: http://www.canterlot...al/#entry251073 (original topic here: http://www.canterlot...mentdiscussion/)

Heart paused, considering. Choir teacher? She remembered choir class in Canterlot, and how eager she’d been to learn not just the mechanics of the sound, but the musical theory behind the style. It would be fun to pass on that love, but she had wanted some time to breath in Ponyville, first. Well, it never hurts to keep one’s options open… Heart started to ask “Which school?” but before she could get the words out, Wordplay began to answer her earlier question, then she, too, was interrupted. “The concerts, eh? Why not? And what were you about to say?” The pale pink earth pony began to follow the sound to the main stage with the younger filly, not noticing the silvery-blue stallion just entering the expo, head whipping to and fro, as if looking for someone.