DJ PON-3's Event R2.5 (Clandestine/Razor)

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

The music held an electrifying beat in the background as Pony Joe made his rounds. The unicorn fit the scene well in his black shirt and the ear buds Vinyl had so nicely given to him. He walked behind the various pairs, wondering if anypony would catch his eye with an order for a drink.

 

"If you're done with your current round just slide on over and see who you meet next!" Vinyl moved from her seat at the dating tables to the DJ box. After a few turns of the tables the unicorn looked out over the couples. Things seemed to be going well and she couldn't keep the sly smile off her features. The rave was definitely gonna be exciting!

[Zealot]

As usual with most social gatherings, Clandestine had turned up a little late. Still, it hadn't seemed to bother any pony and they'd happily let her slide in along with a few other late arrivals. It was a bit of an awkward mishmash of position shuffling and reorganisation, but they'd managed to make it work somehow. Not that it really mattered to Clandestine all that much, she was quite content as long as she got to participate. After all, that was why she was here and if they'd not let her in then it would have been a waste of time. Gotten dressed up for nothing.

 

Indeed, that was why she'd been late. The soldier had underestimated just how long it would take her to get ready. Which was probably fine, she'd never really had to get ready for speed dating before. She'd never done it. Such a thought would have been absurd until a few months ago. Her support group as well as a few of her friends had urged her to try new things. To have fun and try to meet other ponies. So far it had been quite unsuccessful, and the mare's resolve was starting to flag. Clandestine hadn't let that stop her from making an effort though. When the flier came around she had decided to go, no matter the consequence. Even if it was after her usual jousting practice...

 

The mare's inexperience could quite possibly be misconstrued as a lack of effort, when in actual fact Clandestine had tried very hard to make herself look pretty for the occasion. Or at the very least, passable as a pony who hadn't spent all morning jousting. There was a large bruise on her right shoulder where repeated lance blows had bruised her skin, her coat was dull and despite her best efforts her mane was still a bit of a mess. Granted, it might look like she was going for a windswept look, but to anyone with a decent fashion sense it looked a mess. Still, she had tried. She really had, and although Clandestine knew she hadn't been successful. Well, admitting it was another thing entirely. The mare was wearing an old black party dress that she'd got as a present some years ago. While it still looked new, that was only because she'd barely worn it. A knife was concealed as usual, strapped to her front right leg.

 

Her first date hadn't gone all that well she felt. After all, she's nearly broke Inkbrand's leg. Or worse. Nearly breaking somepony's leg was an improvement though, right? She hadn't actually done anything and she had managed to stop herself before she did something she knew she'd regret. Granted the stallion probably didn't want to talk to her ever again and the look of surprise he had given her had stung her. At least he'd offered her a drink at the rave. She would need one by the time this was over. 

 

Clandestine brushed herself off and stood up to move on to her next speed date. You can't win them all, she knew that better than most ponies and she wasn't about to give up after her first try. With a sigh the soldier eyed her next date, who appeared to be a smallish griffon and sat down at the appropriate table. Clandestine had never liked griffins all that much. Granted, they were superb fighters and staunch allies, though they tended to be a little too rude and loud for the veteran. After all, only rookies acted like they were going to take on the world. They lacked the professionalism which Clandestine prized in her profession. Still, time would tell if her date would live up to the stereotype.

 

The ex-soldier gave the griffon a big, forced and quite clearly fake, smile. Right after her face returned to her usual ever present frown, "Err, Hi. I'm Clandestine." She seemed to lighten up a little at that. She'd just got her introduction right and didn't immediately state her rank and service number. Still, the mare seemed slightly nervous from there. Granted, she wasn't. Clandestine was just unsure of herself, though it would likely be misconstrued as nerves. "I'm ex-military, I was a Lieutenant. Now I work as a bodyguard most of the time. Who are you?" The soldier looks away past the griffon, trying to think of anything else she needed to do. Nope, she'd nailed her practised greeting perfectly. She gave a little smile at that and her eyes focused back on her partner. Did she need to mention that he shouldn't touch her? That would probably be best right? The last pony who tried had nearly... well. "Umm, yeah, I'm a friendly. Just don't touch me and we'll be fine," she added and shuffled on her seat, uncomfortable that she'd just had to admit that. It was probably for the best though, right?

[ShadowWalking18]

Razor moved onto his next date. Despite his few mess ups here and there, he seemed to be doing okay.....maybe. The next date was a bit surprising though.

 

She was nervous, which was a far cry from the usual brash and forward attitude of his other dates. It made Razor blink in confusion for a moment; not sure how he was suppose to react to this. Usually he was the nervous one.

 

....in fact he still ones.

 

He let the mare introduce herself, and raised a brow at her mention of being military. Ex-military, sure but he had a lot of family who was that as well. But the threat of not touching her was a bit surprising.

 

'Don't worry about that.' He thought.

 

Going on a date was one thing; but he sure as hay wouldn't be touching. That would be waaaaay to close for his comfort.

 

"Uh....okay. Well, I'm Razor Ironclaw of the Ironclaw clan and family. Most of my family has ties with the military. I kinda do all sort of jobs, though mostly I just wander about across Equestria and the world."

 

There, that should be a good greeting.

[Zealot]

Clandestine studied her date's reaction to that and best she could tell he was surprised. Well, that was ok right? She guessed it might be a pretty surprising thing to say. To not asked to be touched. After all, most ponies liked touching, right? That was what she had observed over the past few months while she'd been trying to figure out, well, a lot of things. How to go about socialising, introducing herself, and just maybe finding that special somepony. In fact, the first pony who'd surprised her with a hug had been lightly stabbed. No, she couldn't take that chance. No matter how much she liked the idea of a simple hug. 

 

Still, she let him introduce hiself as Razor Ironclaw. That was a striking name to say the least and she gave a little smile at it. Better, his family was military. That was a happy surprise. Maybe he would understand her a little more then. After all, surely he'd seen a pony with her kind of issues. Clandestine hated to think it, but she had her problems. Especially with what should be so simple. "Nice to meet you Razor," she greeted him with a curt nod. 

 

Then that was it, she'd ran out of things to say. Clandestine blinked and looked over at him from across the table. Well, he'd not ran away, that was good right? She gave him another big fake smile, which probably looked quite creepy. Then it hit her, he'd already given her something to say hadn't he? "So umm," she started, shuffling on her seat. "You're a wanderer? Doing odd jobs here and there to make your due? I know a mare like that. I suppose it must be nice to travel a lot, see interesting places. Of course, I've seen quite a few places as well in my time. Mostly around southern Equestria and the badlands. Been to the Crystal Empire a few times, even went to Cloudsdale once." Clandestine trails off a little, seeming a bit distant for the moment as a few flashes of memory cross her eyes.

 

Bad memories. Fighting. Combat. Death. Blood. Fire. Hatred. Adrenaline. Mistakes...

 

She seemed to snap back to reality after a brief moment and shook her head. "Ahh, I'm sorry. Of course, I usually saw it the bloody way. But still, I suppose that means you don't quite want to settle down yet huh?" Clandestine shrugged at that. "I get it. Still, you got to stop and find that somepony special sometime right?" She wasn't sure if she was talking about him, or herself, right then. Still, she had said it. No take backs.

 

"So, err. Are you looking for your special somepony? Or just a bit of fun? I... I don't really mind, either way." It was a direct approach, but Clandestine didn't know that. She was just trying to make conversation, and she felt she was doing reasonably well. Only his reaction would tell. 

[ShadowWalking18]

"It...well...it isn't so bad. Most griffons tend to wander before settling down.....I'm just....taking my time with it." Razor said, rubbing at the back of his head.

 

He listened to some of Clandestine's travels, though he blinked a bit when she trailed off. When she finally started talking again he just shrugged it off. He had seen that look at least once or twice himself. Then she brought up a topic that always haunted him.

 

"Uh...I...duh....well I'm not against settling down but....I kinda want to enjoy my freedom for a time. And uh...well....that is to say...I guess.....I do have to find somegriffon or...somepony.....some day....I think....maybe."

 

He didn't really think he would. Though his family would certainly try to find him someone. When Clandestine asked if he was looking for someone he blushed and looked up at the ceiling now to hide his blush. And the way she said it, only made it worse.

 

'Is she coming on to me!? Is this a hint to something!? Why isn't there a manual for these sort of things!?!' He thought in a panic before taking a breath to speak.

 

"Uh...well...that's uh....kinda...difficult to answer. I don't really have.....luck when it comes to meeting people. And there are...well....a lot of....requirements or...expectations I guess you could say that I'd need to look for. It kinda makes finding the right one.....difficult."

[Zealot]

Oh, had she perhaps been too forward? Clandestine didn't know, though by his reaction she could tell she'd said something wrong. The question was what. Ok, so he was a wanderer griffon. Apparently griffons did that a lot and he was taking his time. That was ok right? Nothing wrong there, though she could tell something about that made him uncomfortable. Once again the mare sighed as once again another date had been intimidated by her mere presence. Or at least, that was what she thought. After all, she couldn't tell if it was something she'd said, something she'd done. Or heck, maybe there was something wrong with him. 

 

Still, she nodded in agreement as he told her that he wanted to settle down, though not after he'd had his freedom. What did that even mean though, freedom? Did he not want to be tied down to one place? Well, Clandestine supposed that was alright. After all, who didn't want to travel and see all the great places of Equestria? She'd done that though, and it had brought her nothing but pain. Or did he think that if he did end up with some mare or some griffon that they couldn't move around. After all, she expected with a job like hers that wouldn't be too hard. It was probably a worry for him though. She expected that sacrificing some independence might be scary for the griffon if he's used to moving around a lot. Clandestine shrugged and smiled, "I like to think there is somepony out there for all of us," she said quite lightly. "But hey, enjoy the time you have."

 

Then the griffon went on to say that he didn't have much luck with meeting ponies. What did he mean by that? Was he just not good with making friends, or just not good with the ladies? It didn't matter to her all that much and she gave him an encouraging smile. Still, what was that about requirements? What requirements did he have? Would she need to be some specific type of mare to date him? Clandestine wasn't sure if she liked the sound of that. She was her own pony and she didn't like the idea of having to bend for somepony else's expectations. Sure, there was compromise. There was that in all kinds of relationship, still, something about that sounded a bit off to her.

 

The mare shuffled on her seat again and chuckled, "Well, I don't know what these requirements are. I hope they're just," she trailed off for a moment. "Nice pony, or umm, whatever." She didn't really know what she was saying then and shook her head. "Ahh, buck. What I mean is that I hope they're not too specific. You know. I believe in special someponies sure, but you can't expect to meet that perfect somepony." She shrugged at that, "I don't know. Maybe I've just been at this far too long. Because sure, I have requirements too but I've never met anypony who met all of them." Clandestine chuckled as said that, realising the fault in her logic, "Though I guess if I had, I wouldn't be coming to things like this." She broke off in laughter for a few moments, though soon recovered and shot him a smile. "Look, we're almost out of time here. I'll be at the bar if you felt like a chat later. Thanks for listening to me prattle on at any rate, and I don't know. Maybe I meet some of those expectations? At least enough to be friends?" she asked. 

 

The soldier shot him another smile. Somehow she felt quite comfortable with him, maybe it was just since she'd declared no touching or that he seemed to be listening to her. Still, he seemed almost the opposite. "I'm sorry if I made you nervous," she apologised. "Not a lot of ponies are that comfortable with me anyway. Still, like I said. I'll be at the bar later, probably getting quite drunk. Hope I'll see you around."

[ShadowWalking18]

Razor could tell this was the more awkward date....but he could tell it wasn't him this time. That made him feel...somewhat less nervous.

 

"well...the standards are....well....things are just complicated." He said, not really sure how he could say more.

 

He saw that their time was up, and he nodded at Clandestine's talk of the bar.

 

"Yeah, I might...probably be there eventually." He said, no doubt he would need some cider after all this. Lots of cider.

 

"Friends is good. Friends is......friends." He said, as he stood from his chair and gave a wave in farewell.

 

"Oh and...don't worry about making me nervous I uh....I'm like this....a lot at these things." He said, looking away to hide a blush.