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Post by King Tidal Wave on Apr 14, 2014 21:54:41 GMT -5
"I can handle the 'lonesome cold' quite fine," Sky shifter responded, shoving Cryoshock a step or two away. "You're the one who's so insistent on having a shield up. With all that fluff, you should be the last pony to need something like that."
"Well it depends," Sparky said, interrupting Sky Shifter's conversation with his own. "If it's about something cool, I probably don't want it spoiled. If it's about dragons or frost golems, don't tell me."
The three off-duty guards had soon arrived at the Red Dragon. The establishment was identifiable by the wooden sign hanging over its door, shaped like a dragon curled up around the tavern's name. It was also notable for being one of the only buildings on the street with light coming from its windows. The orange glow of lanterns lit up the snow outside, beckoning the three ponies inside.
Inside, a fire was crackling on the opposite wall. Wooden chairs and tables were spread out in the large open room. A few large kegs and a collection of bottles and glassware sat on the wall behind the bartop. The tavern indeed looked like an excellent place to spend the evening. The only thing missing were the patrons! Cryo, Sky, and Sparky were either the first or only ones here. Not even the barkeep was to be seen, though with lanterns lit and a fire going it was likely he was somewhere in the back.
Sky Shifter let out a sigh. "Guess I shouldn't have expected otherwise."
"Others might show up," Sparky chimed in.
"Yeah, when they're done fighting the Ice Queen."
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on Apr 29, 2014 22:09:12 GMT -5
"Aye, it's the best fluff this side of the Bitter Tundra, Sky." He chuckled, boasting his chest and giving quite the wide smile.. She encouraged the best of his attitude at times she were critical of him, normally. He looked down to Sparky with a heightened brow.
"So if I told you anything at all it would spoil it. Aye, you'll have to wait and see!... Consider this silence a nu answering silence." Just to throw the request out of whack and maybe churn some greater dissent in the ponies mind. However.. It seems their time in lively hour might get cut short... Once the trio entered the open, empty husk of a brovel, Sky was not the only one to find Disappointment. The shield dropping as soon as they entered, and magically shutting the doors behind them.
Much like the rest of their once bustling, marvelous city.. This to had been reduced to a ghostly place all it's own. He wondered which of the keepers was even serving on a night like this. Would they even be welcome to stay?.... Actually.. With the lack of business they may even be drugged into buying more than they were used to, if anything.
though with such sorrows of war.. It were no surprise when a good stallion wanted to drink away all of his sadness. That could take quite a few mugs of cider, "well, consider this... Surplus cider for ourselves.!" Trying to lighten his winged companion's mood.. Bumping his gait into her own and giving her a low grin, as his horn began to flare.. They felt their winter wares come undone once they truly began to feel the warmth of a crackling flame.
he mystically removed them and hung them accordingly, "We're already here.. No sense in cryin over it.. We might as well have a drink or two~"
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Post by King Tidal Wave on May 11, 2014 11:05:18 GMT -5
"You're really being a show-off today, aren't you?" Sky spoke as Cryoshock removed and hung their coats. "Is this because of how badly I whipped your flank this morning in arm-wrestling?"
"You two arm wrestled this morning?" Sparky asked, leading the other two to one of the tables in the middle of the room. "Who won?"
"I did," Sky answered as she sat down. "That's why Cry's gonna recite poetry for us."
"Ah."
The barkeep was still nowhere to be seen. The only thing to keep them company was the dancing flame of the fireplace.
"How badly did he lose?"
"Pretty badly," the orange pegasus answered with a grin.
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on May 14, 2014 16:14:27 GMT -5
"A stallion's gotta preserve his pride somehow. Come on.. what's so showy about removing your coat?", the hefty unicorn lifted a brow, giving her a most taunting smile, before letting it fade and clearing his throat, peering over the empty brothel.
"Aye, she won.. But that's all she'll ever win from this day, onward~", despite recognizing that was incredibly unlikely, he was not that sore of a loser. And thus, always sought a challenge when it counted, or was appropriate. When he took his seat his honey-gold eyes panned from one side of the tavern, to the other... lacing upon the fire... and giving them quite the hue. Reflecting in his eyes like light upon water; the cold could really dry them out.. once it was warm they didn't hesitate in dousing themselves in natural tears to moisten them back up.
For now, Cryoshock would be patient with the tavern keeper. Granted they were on leave and could be rallied at any moment.. the unicorn would kindly put faith in odds there wouldn't be an attack. Or any incidents for that matter. This was their once chance to relax... you had to be optimistic and think only positively on it... Otherwise the reward didn't seem to be worth as much.
"Thinkin on whether I should get hammered~..", he murmured idly, and jokingly, stroking his cream-furred chin while the three rested, and waited.
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Post by King Tidal Wave on Jun 2, 2014 22:19:37 GMT -5
"We've got training midday tomorrow. Just keep that in mind before you drink yourself sick," Sky Shifter spoke.
Cryoshock's optimism had soon paid off, as the sound of hoofsteps approaching from the back of the tavern could soon be heard over the crackle of the fire. A strongly built, blonde-maned and blue-eyed earth pony appeared, trotting up to the guardsponies' table. He was sporting a thick, apricot-colored coat with a vest over top. More interesting than his features was the stallion himself, however. Any regular to the Red Dragon would know this wasn't the owner, who was usually out on a night like this to serve drinks himself.
"Sorry about the delay," the stallion spoke, the slightest amount of discomfort sneaking into his voice. "Something to eat or drink?"
"Dragon-breath," Sky stated.
"Dragon-breath," Sparky echoed.
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on Jun 2, 2014 22:42:36 GMT -5
The Amber-eyed brute of a unicorn lifted a staunche brow. Yes this certainly wasn't the smoked, older faced gentle colt they were all used to not that the actual owner was gentlemanly... Most who dealt with Stalliongrad forces had to be a little rugged. They were, after all.. The essence of an almost Nordly persuasion. At least most of whom Cryoshock knew... Hay, Sky Shifter was more rough than he was.
Not normally much of a ponies' stallion anyway... He couldnt quite get over the fact that the absence of the older equine on such a comfortable, cold night, fit for speaking with his fellow pony-at-arms who so happily found themselves served in his tavern. The arrival of this gravely unfamiliar colt... It didn't have him up and unreasonable... But it did irk the Mage.
"The hottest flame for a cavernous belly-... Dragon's breath." He added, turning his eyes away as his hoof came up and dusted off some of the melted frost onto the table and floor, "Where our usual, jolly-old tavern keeper on a night like this?"
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Post by King Tidal Wave on Jun 21, 2014 10:10:17 GMT -5
"Sick in bed," answered the blond-maned pony. "I'm watching the tavern for the night. Anything else you three needed?"
Sparky looked expectantly at Sky Shifter and Cryoshock, as if silently repeating the question. "Just the dragon breathes," Sky answered.
"Coming up." The substitute barkeep trotted over to behind the bartop, pulling out three glass mugs and beginning the process of filling them from a cider barrel. The pace at which he did so was a good indication of his inexperience. The owner likely would have been finished bringing the drinks over by the time this pony was done filling the first glass.
"Guess he picked a good time to get sick," Sky spoke, keeping her eyes on the pony filling up their glasses.
"There's a good time to be sick?" Sparky asked. Coming from Sparky, the question sounded more genuine than sarcastic.
"Better now when the city's empty than on a night when this place would be flooded."
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on Jun 24, 2014 18:06:20 GMT -5
"So long as I get my drink, I don't care how long he takes.", he brushed his hoof through his thick, lush neck mane. When all the water he could remove dazzled the floor, sparkling from torchlight, he let his forelimb smack down onto the table, watching the unfamiliar do his meager work... work he somehow became troubled with.
"Another day another shift.. walking those walls. I swear, I just want one day I get to put a sword through somepony's skull. Lest I suffer sitting up there, and dying quietly." he shuffled his hind legs and stamped them a little into the floor. His eyes turned on Sky and Sparky, "How you think our army's holdin' up out there?"
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Post by King Tidal Wave on Jun 25, 2014 18:35:07 GMT -5
The blond-maned pony glanced up at the three when Cryoshock smacked his hoof down on the table. He stared at the ponies for a second before finishing off the mug of cider and starting the third.
"Somepony's gotta protect the city," Sparky spoke. "And if everypony was out there, soon they'd run out of skulls to sword. And then they'd be trying to stab eachothers'."
"Something like that," Sky Shifter said with a chuckle. "Honestly I'd bet they're doing fine out there. Not gaining ground but not losing any either. This is mostly a battle of wills until the Ice Queen gets bored and lets off."
"Three dragon breath ales," the blue-eyed earth pony stated, carefully setting the three mugs full of cider onto the table. "Let me know if you need anything." He then returned to the back of the tavern, awkwardly leaving the room empty and with no one to tell if they needed anything.
"Got a toast?" Sky Shifter asked, scooting one of the mugs closer to her.
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on Jun 26, 2014 15:13:32 GMT -5
The hefty Unicorn contained his zest as he watched those heavy mugs nestle on the table. The sound of their wood-iron hulk clanging against the cold, wooden surface. His damp fetlocks dragged against the surface as his hoof wrapped itself around the handle. Looking down into the froth, "There ya go.", congratulating the stallion on finally finishing the order. Normally he wouldn't care but the contrast in skill between he and the original tavern owner... it was so noticeable.
After all, they came here as often as they could.
"Aye. Aurelius is a witty'ol'flank. Even if something goes wrong I'm willing to pitch he'll find his way home before that Cold kills him.", he chuckled, lifting the mug. But before he did... he though he might invite the tavern keeper in on the toast.
"Hey-" but to his disappointment, it seemed he were already missing, "To our boys neck deep in the snow!" waiting for them to join him in the traditional act of banging all their drinks together.
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Post by King Tidal Wave on Jul 5, 2014 13:18:10 GMT -5
The three guards clinked their cider-filled mugs together in toast. And not a moment after, the door to the tavern burst open, bringing in a gust of cold air and two newcomers with it. "-got a right to tell me where I can or can't drink, he can kiss my tail," was what came from one of their half-finished sentences.
Sky Shifter quickly turned back around to face the table and muttered a curse, her back now facing the path these two were taking to their table.
"What?" Sparky asked.
"It's them."
"Who?" The purple pegasus craned his neck, trying to get a better look at the two newcomers.
"Don't look at them," Sky Shifter hissed.
"Sorry!"
Sparky had quickly realized who Sky was referring to, as had Cryoshock by now. They were winter wolves. One was a large, hefty-looking female who looked like she packed enough strength to break a table just by staring at it. The other was a tall and thin male with broad shoulders. Both were clad in impressive looking armor, though even without it they'd of appeared as not the type to mess with.
Winter wolves had a reputation for being rowdy. These two had a reputation for being particularly rowdy at this particular tavern. The last time Cryo and the others had seen them here, the owner had kicked them out and told them not to come back.
"What's he gonna do, not serve us?" the male wolf asked, pulling back a chair at one of the tables and dropping himself into it. "I'll hop behind the counter and serve myself if I have to."
"Ha! I'd like to see that," the female wolf spoke, her chair creaking under her weight as she sat down. "Wouldn't even need glasses. Can't be a better way to drink cider than straight from the barrel."
"Should we leave?" Sparky whispered.
"No," Sky answered, taking a sip of her drink. "Just try not to get their attention."
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on Jul 6, 2014 0:02:39 GMT -5
"Ahh hay." The unicorn finished a swig of his cider and let the mug drop to the table, "Now that's a set of face I'd see in a million years and it would be way too soon. Bah!~" he kept relatively quiet! muttering to only his two partners, "They're quite the gluttons wouldn't you think?" He'd like to see one of them drink a whole barrel of cider... Just to see how well they'd keep it down before passing out or even more marvelous... Vomitting it up all over the tavern floor. Of course if that happened... He and his friends would likely end up swabbing it.
Winter Wolves didn't take orders well from ponies, let alone this particular tavern. At all. Was he feeling forthright, "Got to admit.. They'd be one heck of a pal in case we ever found ourselves at the end if a table, three to seven with those boys from the south wall." Not that any of them were exactly a stray to brawling... They'd win and lost their fair share of fights.
A Stalliongrad pony wasn't allowed to back down from a fight unless ordered to. If you didn't have a good reason to surrender... You grit your bloody, broken teeth, "What's the matter, Sky?... Carnivores unsettle you?" They unsettled any pony. His ears lifted, and every so often he'd flick his eyes over his shoulder... He'd be tempted to call them out... And if they did at all, then especially so.
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Post by King Tidal Wave on Oct 2, 2014 0:28:07 GMT -5
"No. I just know better than to get involved with these two. You should too." The orange pegasus kept her voice low, clearly trying to keep from being overheard without making her efforts too obvious.
Sparky was sitting awkwardly with his hooves around his glass, glancing between Sky, Cryo and the ceiling every few seconds. With the winter wolves' presence presenting paranoia, proceeding with a conversation might prove difficult.
"Where the heck's the barkeep?" the hefty, female wolf spoke; loud enough to be addressing the residents of the building next-door. "Don't he know it's rude to keep a lady waiting?"
"No one in their right mind considers you a lady," retorted the other, beginning to chuckle far too much for such a lame joke. The female replied with a kick in the shin from underneath the table.
Looking around the tavern, the female wolf seemed to finally catch sight of the fact that the two were sharing the tavern with three ponies. However, she seemed much less focused on the ponies themselves than that they had been served drinks while the wolves were still waiting. "Hey! Where's the innkeeper, huh?" she called out to the three.
A full two seconds of silence passed as Sky and Sparky waited to see who among them would speak first. It was Sparky, who had found himself in that situation where you accidentally make eye contact and are now forced to say something.
"Sick."
The female wolf glared at the other table, most likely displeased with such an in-comprehensive answer. "Then where'd you get those?" she questioned, referring to their drinks. Her associate now seemed to be showing enough interest to stop rubbing his shin and look over at the other three as well.
Another two seconds of silence passed, with Sparky finding himself in a different situation: the one where you have initiated a conversation that you do not wish to continue.
"Uh..."
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Cryoshock
New Pony
The Glory of Stalliongrad Awaits Me.
Posts: 41
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Post by Cryoshock on Oct 9, 2014 12:12:24 GMT -5
Cryoshock lowered his head a tad, staring into the frothy drink, his nerves on end, "Aye.. I hate wolves~", he grunted hard in Sky Shifter's ear... keeping that detail to himself. Winter Wolves were not something to trifle with. Their size alone balanced out the battle. Not that a fight wouldn't be their end.. but getting hurt was easy in the jaws of a predator.
Unfortunately the trio found themselves in a spot of bother. His furs and ears lifted and stood on end. Great, now that the first words had been said... Sparky was incapable of keeping a cool head. The dark, frost blue unicorn ran his hoof through that fluffy mane that kept him slightly less chilly out in the bitter cold. Even now speckles of melted snow misted off and onto his two companions beside him. Maybe these bone-chewing troublemakers could be talked down. Heck if you put on a friendly face maybe they'd start to like you!
Though all he needed to know was whether or not it was even safe to interact with the two. He exchanged a glance with Sky Shifter before clearing his throat, and plopping his mug down, "Don't!~.. ~Mind my compatriot here, he's... A bit slow. You can't blame him when you got a frost like the other day to numb his thick head~", he lightly clonked Sparky just between the eyes. Cryo leaned back into the table now and huffed, returning to the wolf's aggressive stare
"We were served well before you showed~ serving was a little slow. Hay, we near packed up and left", trying to get off the topic of whether the Bar keep was actually sick or not. If the two dogs hopped the counter then so be it... but maybe he could run them out by discouraging with a long wait.
Of course... there was always a third option mixed in there. Though he'd rather not poke a fire that was a bit too big for him.
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Post by King Tidal Wave on Oct 20, 2014 1:44:37 GMT -5
"Ow," Sparky muttered, rubbing the space between his eyes. Sky Shifter, meanwhile, was giving Cryoshock a cautious look, seeming to wonder where he was going with this interaction.
The large, female winter wolf now seemed perplexed, a touch of frustration crossing her face as she looked at Cryoshock. "I thought your friend said he was sick," she spoke, seeming to make more of an accusation than a statement of fact. "What, is he serving you three ciders in-between bouts of vomiting?"
"Maybe," said the other wolf accompanying her. "But it seems kinda miserly to keep the tavern running while you're making chowder."
The larger wolf seemed to ponder this for a few moments, before finally glancing back at her friend. "Why would he be making soup?"
"... it's an expression."
"For what?"
"Puking."
"..."
"Celestia above," Sky Shifter muttered, turning away from the two wolves and taking a sip of her cider. Sparky, however, had his eyes on Cryoshock, clearly expecting the unicorn to do the talking from now on.
"So what's going on here?" The female wolf asked again. "I want to know how you three got ciders when the barkeep's... making chowder."
"There you go," the male wolf spoke, using an appropriate amount of sarcasm.
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