Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Feb 6, 2012 3:53:26 GMT -5
You can’t take the sky from me… Gilda left Hoofington behind like a bad habit, it disappeared across the horizon to be another forgotten memory of a lone drifter. Sugar Rush, though a kind pony, Gilda couldn’t stand that type of reception. She would tell herself that she didn’t need their kinds kindness, only the open sky, to feel great and alive. Her friends were the clouds and heavens and the freedom they brought, the land was for losers and flightless chickens. She had all she needed right here in the space between the firma and the celestial. The cool whipping of wind through her head feathers, the gentle but firm lift of the drafts under her wings, the soft touch of the clouds passing through her talons as she streaked by. This was home, this was paradise found. Gilda decided to return to the Cloudsdale region, a place she hadn’t been too since her days barely out of the nest. Barely past a hatchling, she recalled, was the last time she had flown through this airspace. The smell was just as she remembered it – as best as her poor eagle sense could detect, crisp as fresh dew and just as invigorating. The billowy white clouds forming a brilliant city in the sky that dripped with rainbows and elegance. A city fit for the pantheon of gods, if they so desired. It never ceased to amaze her, even after the jadedness of youth had already firmly taken root. It brought back the faint memories of the days at Junior Speedsters Camp, so many good times and even better pranks. The carefree life of youth. Her best years she would assert, without a care other then flying and fun. Junior Speedsters are our lives, Sky-bound soars and daring dives Junior Speedsters it's our quest, To some day be the very best! Reflecting upon the good times they had, her and Dash. Though tainted by bitter bile, Gilda could forget Ponyville long enough to remember their times together amongst these clouds. Why, Gilda fumed, did she have to go and turn all lame on her. Blasted dork ponies tainting a perfectly good friend with their own brand of friendship. Whatever, she didn’t care, she was still free. She passed over the racetrack that they spent so many hours challenging each other to time-trials – now quiet till the next class would come forth to test their mettle. Past the weather factory and the stadium, to the center of town where she touched down. Back at last, to the last bastion of her youth, still untainted. She planned to have a good time this day and especially this night, she needed a break from the memories from the sullied earth. She planned to wipe them clean from her mind, she just needed to find a place to get started.
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 9, 2012 6:48:40 GMT -5
Gilda found her refuge, place of solace, at the bottom of a mug of cider cloistered at the far end of the counter of a tiny little drinking establishment. The strongest they had in Cloudsdale found at a little hole in the wall near the Rainbow Factory, aptly named The Rainbow Factory. A place where the sweat and aches of the days can be washed away by something cool and refreshing in the company of other work-a-day ponies and passer-through. It was easy to get lost in Cloudsdale, the winding complex streets and structures all part of ever shifting clouds. There was little logic to the place, least it felt that way to outsiders and it lead many to places such as this, a bastion for lost souls. But there was a certain energy, a rhythm that exuded through the clouds and rainbow rivers. The longer you roamed, the more you became in tune to its subtle frequency and before long, you never want to leave it behind. The frequency’s call must have worked, as Gilda once more found herself lost within its white wispy walls.
“Another!” Gilda called, slamming the mug down upon the counter’s top. She wiped the froth from her beak, flicking the foam off into the corner. She was feeling good, loose, just what she wanted. “Hey! Dweb, didn’t ya’ hear me? Another!” She chastised the Pegasus with toasting mugs for a cutie-mark behind the counter.
“Don’t you think you’ve had eno-“ The cider peddler tried to protest, but was quickly cut off by Gilda.
“Like I care?” Gilda tosses a few bits onto the counter, they dinged and rolled towards the Pegasus. “Just give me another and keep‘em coming till I tell you to stop.”
Though apprehensive, the Pegasus complied and filled another mug with the frothy libation. Griffons had a reputation, he didn’t want any trouble and so far, Gilda had kept her cool despite being a tad boisterous when she didn’t get her mug refreshed quickly. As the next filled mug slide under her, she caught it and greedily raised it to drink, chugging for a long moment before slamming it down and once more wiping the foam from her face. She could swear she felt the tantalizing buzz as it slinked through her body. Her eyes were heavy and mind free, the perfect place to be in her opinion. She run one talon along the rim of the mug, looking into the golden liquid within. She sighed with a little chirp, contemplating where to go when she was done with this place. The Griffon kingdoms, maybe? Nah, lame, more lame then the ponies. Besides, least here she had the upper-claw over the ponies, they marveled at her presence. A curiosity, though it attracted attention, it also made for getting what she wanted a whole lot easier - ponies were wary around a griffon and that made life a heap of a lot easier. If she went back to her people, she’d be just another beak in the crowd, nothing to gain from that – it wasn’t like what it may have been.
She shook her head, her fore-feather ruffled. She realized she was going into a bad place and had to scram quickly from that mind set. The past was a wilderness of horrors, she told herself not to look back. She clasped the handle of the mug and brought it to her beak once more and drank deeply, her wings stretching with the sensation of cool liquid sliding down her throat. She set the mug down softly, looked towards the Pegasus behind the bar with somber eyes. “Whatever you got to eat – that ain’t rabbit food.”
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Post by mafipulater on Apr 9, 2012 12:43:56 GMT -5
”Hmm…” Sea grumbled quietly to herself as she trotted slowly along the white streets of Cloudsdale. ”This ain’t the stadium…” Hours upon hours upon hours of wandering around the city and as far as she could tell, she was still not any closer to where she wanted to be. ’How does anyone ever find their way around this city? All these cloud-buildings or whatever… Everything looks the same! It’s all clouds!’ she thought to herself in frustration. ’Ugh, it’s probably easier for folks who can fly… They must not like their tourists.’
After a few more minutes of aimless wandering, the vacationing musician pegasus pony finally decided to get directions. Sea certainly wasn’t going to waste any more time lost and wandering the streets. Picking a building nearly at random – some place called ‘The Rainbow Factory’ – she walked in.
Immediately something seemed off in this place. Judging from the name of the place, Sea figured it was probably some kind of theatre school, but things certainly didn’t point to this being a school at all. Perhaps the biggest hint was the fact that drinks were being served.
Sea frowned. She never drank – the very idea of poisoning her mind or body with anything was repugnant – and being in this place felt awkward. But whatever – she wasn’t here to drink, she was here to get directions. Wait. Was that a griffon? In Cloudsdale? Sea had never met a griffon before. ’She must be a tourist too,’ thought Sea.
Curious, Sea plopped herself into a seat next to the griffon. ”Hey, you on vacation too?” she asked with a friendly smirk. From underneath the visor of her black snapback, embellished with the letter F, Sea looked at the mug the griffon held in her talon. ”Can’t cha do that basically anywhere? They got cider in griffon-land don’t they?”
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 11, 2012 9:58:28 GMT -5
This was another side effect of being the only griffon in a world of ponies, they always came to you first with dumb questions. Either to get a better look at you or out of sheer curiosity, in a room full of ponies, everypony would bother the griffon with a deluge of questions. Maybe returning home wasn’t such a lame idea after all. Gilda grudgingly looked up from her mug to the inquisitive Pegasus, she flicked her forefeathers back and was quiet for a moment as she glanced over the pony with that uncanny bird eye.
”Yes – Uh I mean no” She corrected herself, subtle little chirp in her voice catching her off-guard. ”That is to say, no, not on vacation. And yes to the cider – but,” She sarcastically glanced around the small establishment. ”Were not in Griffon territory, are we? Like I’m gonna fly all the way back there for something to drink, that’s rich.” She snorted, ”So what, you lost or something?” She took a one last final gulp from the mug and slapped it down as the pony behind the counter passed, startling him. ”The gift shop is up the street in all its tacky glory. Knock yourself out.” The griffon signaled for another one with a talon gently rapping upon the counter.
Cider had a tendency to bring out the worst in creatures, especially in excess, and from the soft subtle sway in the griffon, it was clear she already had plenty. Despite this, she was still surprisingly coherent, if not a bit rude – though, unbeknownst to Sea Swell, this was her usual demeanor. The next round was brought by the skittish serving pony, and the griffon immediately wrapped her talon around the mug.
”Still there?” She grumbled,”Want a drink or something?” For a brief moment, the griffon let her guard down. Despite sounding indignant, there echoed a hint of longing for company in her tone. The griffon then snapped her claws together, signaling the pony behind the bar. He begrudgingly complied, asking “What you want?”, when the griffon then motioned with her head towards Sea Swell, he seemed to completely change his demure from disheartened to chipper and gladly asked Sea Swell what she wished. Perhaps, the griffon wasn't as aloof as she initially appeared.
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Post by mafipulater on Apr 13, 2012 19:32:54 GMT -5
”Heh, sorry. I just figured, you know, bein’ a griffon in pony-land and all,” Sea replied, her smirk still on her face, obviously undeterred from the griffon’s apparent rudeness. It was obvious griffon had been drinking, and probably had been for a little while before Sea arrived. The pegasus pinned the griffon’s tone on the drink – just another reason why Sea avoided intoxicants. ”And yeah, I guess I’m a bit lost, but I mean, can ya blame me? Everything here’s clouds.”
Sea Swell hadn’t planned on drinking anything, but when the griffon offered, how could she refuse? Of course, it couldn’t be anything intoxicating. ”Dry ginger ale,” said the pegasus to the bartender, giving him an appreciative nod. ”Hey, thanks,” Sea said to her griffon benefactor, as she settled into her seat. It might be fun to get to know her.
”So, hey, if you’re not here on vacation, then what are ya here for? Do ya live here?”
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 18, 2012 6:47:07 GMT -5
"You'd be surprised how many griffons are in pony-lands." The Griffon suggested with a shy hint of smugness. It was unclear what she was suggesting, perhaps she didn't even know herself. Maybe she just wished to sound mysterious. She then gave the pony a curious eye when she mentioned the clouds. "Really? A Pegasus having trouble navigating clouds, that's rich? You're yanking my tail right? Please tell me you're just messing with me."
The pony behind the bar returned with the ginger-ale and a bowl of roasted tree nuts for the griffon. She looked at it displeased with the offering but least it wasn't daffodils or wheat paste, and it was pleasantly crunchy without that weed aftertaste. She plucked one between two talons and plopped the whole thing into her beak. Shell and all, biting down loudly and munched away mindlessly at it.
"Nah, use too but now I'm just passing through. Thought I'd check the old place out, ya' know. See whats changed." She stated, nostalgically. "Anyway, name's Gilda." She said between sips from her mug. "So where you from that clouds confuse you? It lacking them or something lame like that?" She threw another nut into her beak as she asked.
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Post by mafipulater on Apr 22, 2012 13:42:54 GMT -5
((OOC: Sorry for the lateness.))
The pegasus wasn’t sure whether there were actually many griffons in Equestria or not. Certainly, Sea couldn’t say that she met any before now. But then again, she had been grounded for essentially her entire life due to her weak wings, and maybe griffons preferred living in the sky… Well, whatever. She was talking to a griffon now, right?
Sea picked up the ginger ale and smiled at the pony bringing it to her. ”Thanks, dude,” she said before taking a sip. It wasn’t something she drank often. She preferred healthier drinks, like a nice pomegranate juice – after all, a healthy diet helps keep a healthy body and mind – but hey, she was on vacation, so, like, whatever dude!
”Gilda? Sea Swell,” she said in introduction, glad to finally know the griffon’s name. ”Yeah, I’m a Filly girl. The weather ponies there kept the sky clear most of the time, so nah, not a lot of clouds. Actually, not a whole lot of anything there, really,” Sea remarked on the small town. Though growing up there had more than its fair share of boredom, and even though she moved to Manehattan, Sea was still proud to be Fillydelphian, and it showed in her tone of voice. And she could appreciate the fact that Gilda decided to visit her old home city.
”So you’re checking back in on Cloudsdale huh? I feel that, it’s good to remember your roots. It change much? Hope it's for the better.”
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 23, 2012 12:10:52 GMT -5
”Uh huh.” Gilda said following another gulp from her mug. She wiped the foam away with the other talon and flicked it aside. ”Sounds mega lame, no surprise you bolted out’a there.” She appeared to ignore the prideful tone in Sea Swell’s voice about her home town. Gilda’s own pride tried to overshadow anyone’s else, if not challenging it, then ignoring it completely. ”Yeah, Cloudsdale’s changed alright; right into Sucksville.”
She set the mug down and slide it away – she decided she had enough, not excluding the fact that this tab was starting to get expensive and with this Pegasus hanger-on, ditching on the bill like she had planned seemed impossible now. Oh well, she thought to herself, this could be more fun. Nights on the town were more fun when others were involved, specially with a pony whose wings appeared less then suitable for flying. Gilda could pick flyers and fly-nots from just a wayward glance, this pony was definitely in the later. Maybe better then that loser animal lover pegasus from Ponyville, but definitely no match to keep up with Gilda. That little weakness could be useful in a bind for the griffon.
Gilda stretched her wings, cracked her neck and stood. She was a little wobbly on her paws, but it would pass. ”Want to finish that and like get out of here? Place is starting to cramp my style, need to stretch my wings for a bit. Not gonna see much of Cloudsdale in here anyway.”
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Post by mafipulater on Apr 24, 2012 10:27:28 GMT -5
Sea frowned slightly and drank from her glass when Gilda called Fillydelphia ‘lame’, but she didn’t really let it bother her much. The way she described it, it did sound kind of lame. And honestly, it kind of was – there was hardly ever anything going on in town. Sea and her old gang used to have to make their own fun – breaking into the school’s art closet, graffitiing obscenities on the water tower, that kind of thing. But despite all the lameness, it was still her home town. It wasn’t really something she’d expect non-Fillydelphians to “get” – the same way Sea didn’t really “get” Cloudsdale, she supposed.
On hearing Gilda’s offer, Sea smiled and nodded. ”Sure.” She chugged what was left in the glass. ”Oh, hey, but – by the way, I can’t fly. I mean, last time I really tried, I stumbled around in the air for a few seconds and then crashed into the ground,” she said with a light-hearted grin.
”If ya wanna fly though, that’s cool. I’m pretty fast on my hooves.” Sea flashed a confident grin to the griffon as she got up from her seat. The pegasus was in pretty great shape despite being born with exceptionally weak wings, and, while growing up, she learned how to keep up with her pegasi friends back in Filly without the use of her wings. But of course, her pegasi friends weren’t nearly as skilled or as fast in flight as Gilda. If the griffon wanted to lose the Sea Swell for whatever reason, Gilda would be able to do it, and with ease. But this thought never really crossed Sea’s mind anyway – as far as Sea could tell, they were just going out to have some fun, and had no reason to believe anything otherwise.
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 26, 2012 11:42:23 GMT -5
”Now why would I want to do a thing like that?” Spoke the griffon, coy and quickly upon Sea’s suggestion she could fly instead. She then rummaged through her neck feather, producing a velvet coin pouch. She flicked it open and tossed the pony behind the counter the bits. ”Keep the change, loser.”In a snicker, Gilda had given the stallion exact change and the last of her bits. The pony was rude anyhow, didn’t deserve anymore then what she gave. She glanced to Sea Swell as she turned to leave, ”Let’s blow this scene.” She flicked her tail at Sea Swell, its furry tip brushing against her side lightly as she passed, making for the door.
Outside, Gilda waited for Sea, leaning up against the side the cloud building with her talons crossed before her. She glanced around, scoping the scene. A lot of ponies, little else interesting. There had to be something – a small pony market down the street, a few more uninteresting shops, the weather factory. Now there was an idea, ponies came and went through the factory practically unhindered. It was just a natural part of the life for Pegasus, no reason for it to be kept locked tight. It also formed the main base of Cloudsdale – everything was built atop it in one fashion or another aside from the outlying districts and the coliseum. She was burning with mischief, griffons loved a good prank and Gilda could do with a little alms to the cult of Discord right about now. She slipped back down onto all fours before Sea would emerged. When the Pegasus did finally get her flank out there, Gilda asked one simple, roguish question. ”Hey, Swell, ever been to the Weather Factory?”
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Post by mafipulater on Apr 27, 2012 9:23:56 GMT -5
Sea Swell paused, surprised that Gilda just straight up insulted the guy behind the bar. Gilda seemed a bit rude, but the flippant way she left the place made Sea begin to second-guess whether or not this griffon would make good company or not.
But Sea quickly brushed that feeling aside. After all, she didn't know Gilda well, so maybe Gilda had a legitimate beef with the guy behind the bar. And if that was the case, then Gilda's flippancy would be justified, and Sea shouldn't be butting into their business anyway... Or, maybe it was a cultural thing? Maybe folks from Cloudsdale call each other loser, but it was supposed to be a term of friendship and affection, at least among folks who could fly? Yeah, it was probably just, like, a cultural thing or something, and it would be awfully xenophobic of Sea to criticize, so she decided not to bring it up.
Sea decided to give the pony behind the bar a nice tip anyway, just in case.
As Sea walked outside, she as greeted with a question. "Never been, but I heard they make weather there."
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on May 4, 2012 10:19:38 GMT -5
Sea certainly took her sweet time in there, Gilda thought to herself. What could she have possibly been doing? No matter, the pony was here and now they could get onto something vastly more interesting. She was feeling it was time to try a little rainbow juice, sadistically wishing to see she could get Sea Swell to try some. Be a total laugh, she needed a good laugh. In fact, she can’t even recall the last time she played a good prank on a pony and if Sea was as ignorant to the workings of the factory that she claimed she was, this was going to be golden.
Gilda padded a circle around Sea, it was almost predatory, specially the way she stretched her wing over the pony, drawing her close. ”Oh yeah, and other related weather stuff. Can’t come to Cloudsdale and not check it out, right tourist?” She explained, giving Sea a little light poke to the chest with her talon. ”It would be a crime not too.” Her beak formed a birdy smirk. She stepped away from Sea, folding her wing back against her back with a stretch and a flutter. ”Ever tasted a rainbow?” She inquired with a deviously little glint in her eyes. ” It’s tradition, come on.” She flicked her tail in a way asking to follow suit towards the factory just down the cloud and marble lined road.
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Post by mafipulater on May 5, 2012 23:52:03 GMT -5
Visiting the weather factory hadn't been part of Sea's vacation plan. Or rather, since Sea didn't really have a 'plan' in the first place, it never really occurred to her that she should check it out. She actually knew next to nothing about it. But the way Gilda was selling the place, it seemed like a good time, so hey, why not?
"You can taste rainbows? You can literally taste rainbows??" she said, a bit puzzled but very intrigued at the idea. She had never tasted a rainbow before. The very idea never even really occurred to her as a thing that was possible. But what great luck to not only have a chance to go taste one now, but also to meet someone to take her to the factory to do so! Everything about this vacation was great.
She followed Gilda down the road to the factory, while absent-mindedly musing to herself. "I wonder how they taste though? Sweet, maybe tangy, probably - well, whatever, I wanna be surprised."
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on May 13, 2012 11:10:50 GMT -5
Gilda smirked, hook-line-sinker, time to test the mettle of this Pegasus. Of course, rainbows burned like a devil and Sea Swell was completely ignorant of it. Gilda couldn’t have asked for anything better, and here she thought it might not work on a Pegasus. Weather controllers, what a lark. Heck maybe it’ll give her the boost she needs to get her weak wings working right. ”Let’s just say it’s intense!” The griffon cheerfully exclaimed as they came upon the entrance to the factory.
The factory’s long, wide doors were open with bustling busy ponies crisscrossing the factory floor. Walking or flying from one spot to the next, past giant vats of all manner of weather. Billowing clouds wafted from all manner of strange magical machines. The factory workers paid the two only glancing attention as Gilda flipped on a hard-hat left hung upon a wall aside others – safety first. Carrying forward, the large pools of liquid rainbow were first and foremost. Streaming vast of iridescent color flowing outside into rivers that jutted to the edge of Cloudsdale and into great, streaming falls of color.
Gilda stopped by one of the pools and motioned for Sea to try her hoof at it. ”Well, here it is. Try it, the taste is pretty wicked intense, think you can handle it?” She egged on, ”Stick your hoof in, give it a whirl.”
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Post by mafipulater on May 21, 2012 15:50:25 GMT -5
Sea Swell eagerly followed Gilda through the factory doors, and, after donning a hard hat as well, to the vats of rainbow colors. It wasn't anything like Sea had seen before - she marveled at the mix of colors as it poured into a sheet of pure vibrancy. She had to take a moment to relish in the beauty.
But the excitement got to her. Dipping a hoof carefully into the mix, she gave it a lick. While she was prepared for a sweet or tangy flavor, instead she got something else entirely.
The pegasus gagged not a moment after the mixture touched her tongue, her face lighting up in a rainbow of colors. After trying to swallow to get the taste down, she choked and instead spat up the rest of it onto the factory floor. Sea collapsed face-up and panting on the factory floor, her face flushed and her mouth on fire.
"Yeah... that was pretty intense..." she rasped between pants, still in the panic of recovering from the taste.
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