Blueblood

Gloomy had hardly any need to be told to help herself, as the chili was too delicious to hold back on, and the journey here had been a long and hungry walk. She felt the warm spice and sweetness fill her up over the course of two heaping bowls, complimenting the warm fuzziness in her soul that had grown over the course of the afternoon. She could only shrug in response to most of Sugar's questions about magic. "Maybe it is that spirit which gives. Makes as much sense as anything that lives. And the trees that we live in only grow in the branches, not the trunk. We hadn't been able to make any more of them since... the loss of magic. We had a lot, but after a while we had to start carving out burrows, since carving into the trees without magic just kills them. Maybe we'll be able to learn how to do so again."

Star Crusader pursed her lips, and nodded. "Very well. Tiger, you go and take a look at the Prancing Pony, take Firey with you, I think they'll be able to recognize the groundling better. Sharpfeather, see if any more clues can be found in the Sugar Cube Corner wreckage. You'll need to work fast, rebuilding happens pretty quickly around here. If the changelings have infiltrated Filthy's companies, there's likely to be some in the construction crews, too. I'll let Psmith know to start investigating the paper trails and catch up with you at the site; colt talks too much, but he's a good pen pusher." Plan made, they each split into their teams, on the trail of a conspiracy they scarcely knew the scope of....

"Bao" noticed both his companion's disappointment in the modest ship's fare, and reassured them both in-character. "Don'tcha worry, Yin's gonna fix us up with some of the best grub the locals have to offer!" Take-out, probably; if the lazybones ever cooked a single dinner for herself that wasn't some kind of instant packaged noodles, Feng would be shocked beyond belief. "She's up there." He pointed out one of the buildings coming out of the ratwork nest of dockside apartments. If Rongyu could fly, it would be an easy trip. As it was, they had to part the departing crowd to get to a maze of street names, surrounding by chatter in the southern dialect. Thank the long that the writing was the same as in the north. Feng did not rebuke Rongyu's serpentine speech; it honestly fit in well with her character. Hanabi's acting was, naturally, quite good. The kitsune could pull off most any role, in all likelihood. For now, the trio projected an attitude that promised a double return for any trouble given, especially to the diffident pegasus under the protection of the larger mare, so they were unmolested through the twists and turns that Feng led them through. "Jai Li street... Chun Court... ah, that's the building number... outside stairs, of course..." Looking up, he saw that the fire escape had been jammed into a kind of slide that would let the third floor resident just hop out the window and be down on the ground in seconds, saving much effort. And... yup, there was a simple pulley elevator, too, for getting up. This was his sister's apartment, alright. "We'll take the stairs; I don't trust that contraption with all our weight." Rongyu probably wouldn't trust it with any of her bulk, but Feng was not so dense as to not understand the foolishness of alluding to a lady's mass. Tromping up the stairs, they arrived at the outer door of the apartment, bare of any decorations save the number. "I hope that slugabed is actually awake by now..." He muttered in his normal voice, beginning to knock on the door. No answer. A louder knock. Some muffled noises from inside, a thump of a sleeping body hitting the floor, the cursing of sudden wakefulness. "Nope...." He sighed, waiting for Yin to answer the door. There were footsteps, the lifting of the latch, and the door opened to reveal a tattooed qilin of a rather vivid coloration, a pink and yellow scales with a deep blue main and tail tuft. Her expression was a contrast to her vivid coloration and decor, though; a mild and lazy smile, befitting a sense of humor that rarely departed from her. "Eeeeyyyyy...." She'd greet, initially showing no sign of recognition. "Is it only you three? I swore it would take a long to drag-on me out of bed this early on a Saturday morning." Hearing the familiar voice slip into the punnish speech he knew so well from foalhood warmed Feng's heart a little bit, and he pulled down the shades from his eyes to look Yin back in hers. "Only a long from the same ma, who'd regret your work ethic more than your work." He replied, with undisguised voice and a wink. Yin's eyes grew wide in recognition, the humor rather departing from her face. "Feng! What are you- Didn't I tell you-" She looked, in a much sharper way, at his two companions. "Who the heck are these?" She looked over the two mares, then back at her brother. "Did you actually come to arrest me..." She pulled a hurt expression... for about two seconds, before cutting in with, "Or are you just pulling a harem-scarum wedding announcement to your two marefriends here?" She then laughed like a loon through Feng's choked and sputtering embarrassment. Seems that family could disturb his cool more than anyone else they'd met...

Hello, friendly neighborhood admin here. It's always good to see a new face. If you're interested in our Discord community, link is here: https://discord.gg/4kyZsXAs If you want to get in on our longer-post, slower pace forum RP, we do ask for character applications, which lets us get to know your character, roleplay style, and preferred types of storylines: OC's and Cast Member apps for Generation 4 (Friendship is Magic) go here: https://www.canterlot.com/forum/416-character-applications/ OC's and Cast Member apps for Generation 5 (A New Generation) go here: https://www.canterlot.com/forum/471-character-applications/ Please use the standard form found here: PM me if you have any questions, or if you've filled out an app and want it stamped. I'm a little booked solid on what RPs I can fit into my schedule right now, but if you want to plan things out or spitball ideas, let me know!

Queen Haven had known both her children long enough to know when they were being serious, and when they were making an outburst from just being overwhelmed. And right now, Pipp was both overstimulated from novelty and insecure from things she once counted on. It was her job as a mother right now to be with her through this. "I promise you Pipp, whatever happens, I will not let anypony lock you up in the old cells." It was cruel to keep a pegasus so far from the sky; that was the main feeling which had motivate the royal's efforts at prison reform. The thought of her daughters being subject to the old punishments... Well. Pity the fool who would face that fury. "I don't think it will come to that, though. I have made arrangements to lay out our case more publicly, hopefully in a way that allows for a full and calm explanation. And I'm not without friends of my own. But there's no going back to the old normal; only forward to the new one. And you have a special responsibility now." She matched her pace with Pipp, looking her in the eye. "More even than your sister right now, you have the ability to be the face of that new normal, with your reach. It's not going to be easy, especially with what all just happened... but many ponies still look to you as living the life they always dreamed of, and can in some ways aspire to. You have to be proactive, just in doing what you're doing; sharing your life with your new friends. Zipp may be my successor to the throne, but Zephyr Heights will need all the leadership we can provide."

Welcome then! We're glad to have you, and see the G5 part of our site grow.

Given that it had been a bit of a surprise to find out that all ponies didn't live in some kind of tree or burrow, Gloomy wasn't sure how much credit unicorns could really take for that house design. It was all Bridlewood had... but then again, the unicorns, and other ponies too, that lived far in the past had originally chosen to do so. Back in the days of harmony, even. "Heh, it's a bit large for one, but cozy for two... but you have to take what you get, and make do." Her mood equalized, her rhymes were coming back, a little more naturally this time. She was growing as comfortable around Sugar now as she was alone, which spoke to both a lessening of excitement and fear. "Crackers and cheese I'll take with ease." With the bowls served and steaming, Gloomy blew to cool it off as she listened to Sugar's own take on the Cosmos. "Of all the legends I ever heard writ, maybe friendship does have a spirit." She tested her levitation control with a spoon, taking a bite of the chili. Her eyes grew wide at the taste, as she savored the hot bite and swallowed. "You can put in a letter that I've never had better!"

A bed plenty big for the two of them, eh? "I think mine at home might be somewhat... cozier, when you come to visit. Many of us live in houses made from the trees, so we don't have as much space as most other ponies." Given the way that Sugar was comfortable with where things were going, and the pace at which they were going, though, Gloomy had a sneaking suspicion they wouldn't mind. And really... if she was being honest with herself, Gloomy really didn't mind all that much either. It just... felt like she was being moved, rather than moving. "Cosmos, huh? Do you really think you can hear the voices of the stars, even from beneath the clouded sky?" She looked up, as if trying to spy them through the ceiling. "I guess not. It's just... hard for me to believe that higher forces want me to be happy. They've never really done much for me before." But despite her namesake, gloomy talk like this was not really where Gloomy wanted to linger, not tonight. Getting up to follow Sugar, she let herself be led by the nose towards the delicious scents in the kitchen.

~Sky Sailing~ This was it. All the innocent daydreams of young love while alone on the clouds in moonlight, all the longing songs of loneliness in his early EP's, all the sudden and unexpected joys that had followed him meeting the love of his life, all of it was culminating as Sky Sailing saw Wind Dancer walk up the aisle, to take the sacred vows of marriage beneath the aegis of Princess Luna. Right at that moment, he understood why bridegrooms could suddenly faint; and he was swaying a bit, before a subtle wing from his father steadied him, and he was able to step forward with their prepared promises on his lips. "I, Sky Sailing, promise here in front of all witnesses: That I shall be the song to your dance, constant companion in health and distresses, committed father to all our foals, Nestmate and wingmate, Until returned from the sky to the earth, Your Husband." It didn't quite rhyme all the way down, but it was poetry, nonetheless. ~Scarlett~ The mother of the groom had to smile indulgently at Candy; look at this honorary aunt, trying to spoil this little filly like she was a grandmother! Glimmer Skies didn't understand the words, but she knew when she was being indulged! "Oh, I'm proud as punch right now; seeing your little ones build a nest of their own is just... like the final cap on a lifetime's work." She didn't say any more, now that the ceremony was starting proper. As were the happy tears. Today was a day she was determined to indulge in all the cliches, and why not?

Things were moving so fast between them, that Gloomy's head was spinning and her heart was barely slowing. She was held still in the middle of a secure and warm house and hug, and yet she felt whipped through the sky like a pegasus being carried away by their own wings. Excited and scared all at once, but in a quiet, non-panicky way. The hug helped, in that respect. "Oh, you're... well, I guess you wouldn't have said to sleep on the couch, after all that." She blushed deeply, only reluctantly stepping out of that hug. "I wouldn't have thought, you know..." She brushed her mane back, letting Sugar briefly see both her eyes before it fell again. "That a journey from my home would lead me to a place like this, and a mare like you. I... like it, and you, but... are we that close yet?" How could she say this? It wasn't as if she didn't want to end up where this was obviously going, but was it really a good idea to get there this fast? Though, Sugar had made her dinner first...

Ambrosia was caught between the habitual nervousness that all little foals had when introduced to strange adults, and the inward conviction that she was so worth seeing that she should be out in the open. It all averaged out to where she stayed behind her mama while she talked with the winged stallion, but when Well Read addressed her, she came bounding around, little ringlets bouncing to her step. "That's me! Hiya, mister teacher!" She said with shining eyes, the only worry in her head right now about what exactly Zappers would have said about her. Big brothers couldn't always be trusted on the subject.

When was the last time Gloomy Sonnet had been hugged? Today, actually. By the very same mare hugging her now. That was undoubtedly significant. The unicorn leaned into the snuggle, bringing up her scarf to wipe off the tears... with her hooves, and not with magic. It would be a bit before the spook from that situation wore off, even with Sugar Moonlight's soothing words. "*sniff* Thank you..." She murmured softly, before reaching her forehooves around to hug back. They stayed there for some time before she felt herself ready to speak again. "I can cut a bandage, if you need one. I... don't know if you'd want me to kiss it better..." There was a blush, with that statement, as she actively tried to move the conversation back to its earlier tone.

Spoiled was visibly unconvinced, but not to the point where she would push the issue. "All right, I hope for both your sake and that of your foal that you are correct..." Inwardly, the Mayor made a mental note to serve only juice, milk, and water at all future lunches with Rose for the time being. "Well, if that is all, I really must return to town hall. The Mayor's work is never done. I hope to do this again sometime, with or without arranging a meeting with our little business partner. Good afternoon!" And with that, she took her own leave, her headspace already returning to the stack of paperwork that had no doubt spawned in her inbox during her absence...

The bad thing about being new to magic is that most unicorns didn't know what they could do until they tried, which also ended up meaning that what they ended up doing wasn't what they intended. When she saw the scorch mark and the drop of red on Sugar's flank, Gloomy's expression immediately fell into an abyss of horror and sorrow. "Oh no! I'm sorry, I just meant to give a little poke! I didn't know... didn't think... sorry...." It was now her turn to feel incredibly guilty for an impulsive though followed through, and she was taking it hard, collapsing back with tears in her eyes and a sob in her throat. Of course, this was all going to go wrong, how could she have been so foolish as to think otherwise? Some ponies weren't made for happiness and sunny skies, or for friends as wonderful as Sugar Moonlight. The clouds would always be between them...

There was a look of impressed surprise on Spoiled's face as Rose recounted recent family-growing events. "Quite the brood you're getting for yourself. Five is considerably more foals than I would feel equal to myself." Suddenly, a flash of concern ran across her face. "Hold on, expecting? And you took a glass of wine?" Maybe changeling biology was different, but that was certainly not advisable for a pregnant mare!

Spoiled was, of course, a regular client at Aloe and Lotus' spa, but as the wife of a businesspony, she knew that any opportunity to enjoy a thing at a lower cost was an opportunity not to be missed. "Why, thank you, I definitely see myself taking advantage of it." A thought, memory rather, tickled at her mind. "Ah, and it is with miss Aloe that you are starting your own family, is it not?"

Gloomy nodded, still smiling, though not quite as strongly, mostly because the unfamiliar motion made her facial muscles a little sore. She needed more practice, but was sure that Sugar would give her more opportunities. "I guess Canterlogic does make useful stuff, then? They just advertise it badly. Like how the fronts we put on to impress ponies are not the ways that will actually get them to like us?" Something deep was there, she could sense it. Fuel for another poem... she had so many now, she would need a quiet afternoon in a lonely room to get out all the lines. For now, though, she was content to watch the model back in her element. "I wonder... does it provide any protection from magic when you wear it, too?" If Gloomy's soul wasn't filled to the brim with effervescence, she might not have attempted to test that with a surprise magical poke from behind. But there was only one way to find out, right? She couldn't let Sugar actually see it coming, that would have ruined the test!

"I'm not saying anypony can blame you for any missteps, considering the starting hoof you were dealt in life." Spoiled brushed a hoof through her mane, glancing out the window in a reminiscent manner. "There are many ponies whose current station and lifestyle are quite the contrast to that in which they were born." She didn't often spare a thought to the old dairy farm where a young filly dreamed of a life that did not in any way include rural labor. Let nopony say she had not accomplished her goals. "Also.... you mentioned a second question?"

Gloomy saw the fear growing in Sugar eyes, and decided she didn't like the look. Taking one more long, slurping, fortifying sip of tea, she set aside the cup, set her chin forward in determination as she stalked towards the helmet. Almost impulsively, she took it up in her hooves, turning on her horn's magic to hold it. There was a bit of a shiver as she felt some inward mechanism respond to it- And the little red bulb on top turned on with a cute *chirp!* That was it. The whole bathos of the situation caused Gloomy to collapse into the giggles for the first time in... years, if ever. "Heehehe, it's... it's a magic detector! That's actually really neat!" In an effervescent, impish mood, she lifted up the helmet to put it back on Sugar's head. "Let's see how you look in it now!"

'Erratic Behavior?' That was one way of putting it. Spoiled felt her eyes wander towards the plate, where some... frankly disturbing transformations were taking place. "You know, I think that's a valid concern. Really, I think the best you can do is to ensure that there's nothing surprising about you." She pointed at the tentacle. "The fact you do such things idly, without thinking consciously about them, is what creeps out some ponies. And even comparatively sweet gestures, like the strawberry milk, are good things to offer, but not so good if they're not expected, as we saw. I guess what I'm saying is, you need to do some ground work before you can really relax yourself like that."

Looking at her now, Spoiled Rich had to remind herself just how much Rose had to 'front' in social situations. Indeed, such was probably second nature to her kind, whatever attempts at authenticity were made. But she could hardly doubt the genuineness of the changeling's question. As for herself, well. She wasn't a mare that sugarcoated things, though here she wouldn't go out of her way to offend. "That depends. Do you think you appeared stranger than you actually are, when compared to most ponies? In a long-standing relationship, a pony would likely find that out about you sooner or later, so it is rather up to you when you let them know. There are advantages and disadvantages to early openness."

Waving goodbye to High Bar, Spoiled turned back to the alchemist. "Yes, Rose, what is it?" Some last-minute bit of business? A new product recommendation? A more personal note? Well, she was willing to indulge the changeling this request. Or, at any rate, completely failed to come up with any good reason not to.

Star Crusader nodded briefly at Sharpfeather's protestations; there wasn't much expectation of trust to begin with, and griffons were notoriously prickly in general. Exceptions existed, but beyond personal friendship with Firey the catbird would have little connection to the operation as such. That was fine, she'd worked with mercenaries before and they were even less trusting. Coin was a weaker bond than personal loyalty. "Agreed, Tiger, no time to lose. Unfortunately, it seems that we're starting from behind the ball intel-wise, as it seems that undetected unreformed cells may exist anywhere, and the time it takes to tell the difference between random chaos and instigated chaos is difficult at the best of times and places." She pursed her lips. "When done competently, at any rate. Firey, I trust you have a working knowledge of the infiltrator's modus operandi? Any prominent agents you know of can be cross-checked against a list of all reformed and apprehended changelings, which would be at least some starting point in investigation."

Apologies for not getting to this sooner. You need to put applications in the Regular "Character Applications" board, not the Character Logs sub-board; I don't get automatic notices if you don't put an application in the wrong place.