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Post by Red Charge on Mar 25, 2013 14:17:46 GMT -5
"Well... there's plenty of oiling that needs to be done, if you don't mind bringing me my other can from that closet." Starling said with a grin.
Red Charge returned to the courtyard some thirty minutes later with a pot of very good smelling tea, definitely Dragon Crown. However, he also brought an entire kit of small outdoor tea table, sugar, honey, lemon, assortment of baked treats, cakes and cookies and small shots of what appeared to be white chocolate for dessert.
He set up the table and sat in front of it, "Ah you're back, excellent." he said, "First honor goes to the guest." He offered, raising his own cup with his magic, waiting for Stygg to drink first.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Mar 25, 2013 17:31:52 GMT -5
Stygg returned from her tryst with Starling, walking through the garden with a warm swagger. Today was thus far turning out perfect, hard to believe she had built up so many reservation about the meetings. Even after having spoke to Starling in Trottingham, her thoughts trembled with uncertainty. Now, all those fears were washed away.
Stygg approached the spread laid out for tea and was absolutely delighted by it, the baked treats, honey and other random assortment to be partaken of. Just what she needed after speaking with Starling. She slowly sat down upon a soft, velvety cushion opposite Red Charge. “My pleasure.” She said, taking up the cup and saucer and giving the hot vapor steaming off the top of the tea a good, deep smell. “Dragon Crown, you said? Can’t recall the last time I had a nice cup of this – either way, it’s been far too long.” She smiled from behind her raised cup and took a little, delicate sip. She relaxed, slouching her shoulders as she felt the warm liquid stream down her throat. She was familiar enough with the tea to know its effects and what was about to come. “Ahh… I feel like you’re spoiling me, Red Charge. I must say that I normally avoid anything can could dull my senses, but in light of recent events, I believe this is exactly what I needed.”
As she spoke her body begun to feel relaxed, as if every muscle and nerve suddenly decided to take a warm bath. Her head was sinking, sight growing soft and the world slowly begun to wash away. “Oh my…” She cooed, soft and distant. To Red, she would appear to be swaying slowly side to side. “Do you bring out your finest tea for all your guests?” She asked as she slowly, her talon like a foreign object attached to her body for one of the small cakes. She failed to snatch one up on her first attempt, only snagging one of the cakes in her talons on a second pass. She, thankfully for her dignity, was able to find her beak without any trouble and took a few snapping bites into the confection. Letting the affects of the tea accentuate the delicate sweetness of the cake on her palate. With her last bite of cake, she reached for the tea once more. “Please, Red Charge, don’t let me be the only one. Let us drink to renewed friendships.”
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 15, 2013 17:15:30 GMT -5
Red sipped from his tea, smiling awkwardly, "Well you know, I would invite them... but the current guests are just so... RUDE!" He said with a laugh, obviously referring to the Diamond Dogs.
"To renewed friendships!" He toasted, taking another long sip, "These get harder and harder to come by. See this is why we should connect with the Dragon Council, dragons could make a fortune selling these to us. I mean they're barely accessible now, unless you happen to be a Rainlock... which I happen to be, but could you imagine all those noble types taking a cup or two of these? Wouldn't hurt a bit!"
"So, I hear our star performer Starsong was in Royal Rocks right before the civil war started. What do you think about her? Starsong I mean. I don't really know anything about her, was next to impossible to find anything out too, she must be very keen on her privacy and have a good manager. I know she had a tour going on here but I was on the other side of Equestria, figuratively speaking, at the time."
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Apr 16, 2013 0:36:49 GMT -5
Stygg slipped in and out of lucidity as the tea went to work inside her. She had to fight to keep her wits about her, shaking her head and rubbing her eyes with her talons. If she let her focus slip, even for a moment, she felt like pudding melting on her velvet cushion. She met Red Charge’s toast.
“Doesn’t one of Celestia’s former students have a dragon familiar?” Stygg inquired, “We should acquisition him to work for us with the Dragon Council, demand their tea in exchange for all the gems and snobbish nobles they can sink their teeth into. Certainly would cut down on the pervading stuffiness in the air in the capitol.” She took another long sip from her tea cup.
Stygg cocked her brow, Starsong? She had nearly forgotten. “Yes. That singing pony. I can’t say as I really had a chance to get the full experience of her music – it was her concert that the Rust Phoenix first attacked. No idea how she survived the fires, very lucky pony.” She sobered up for a moment, setting her cup down on the table. “Which reminds me, something interesting occurred aboard the Dreadnought when my team and I first boarded her. The upper decks were unnervingly cleared as if someone had beaten us there. Then, when entering the bridge, we happened uppn the most peculiar sight. There she was, Starsong, being quite the mare with Severus. It was the darndest thing. And when she was done, she just trotted right out like it was nothing.” She scoffed. “Weirdest thing.”
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 16, 2013 1:11:59 GMT -5
"Oh I think that dragon is way too young to produce the amount of required f... oh as an ambassador? Our resistance contact in Filly says there's a dragon emissary in the Diamond Dog forces. I don't think now would be the opportune time to do so." Canterlot has been in close contact with the Fillydelphia resistance after all. The news from the front were not good. A lot of ponies were captured and killed in the first attack, their whereabouts were unknown. However the ones who were living under siege were being smuggled out of Fillydelphia by the resistance by the numbers with the Diamond Dogs not seeming to care.
Personally Red Charge believed taking the battle to Filly too early might cost too many innocent and military lives. Luna agreed with him on that front, but General Gallop and Scimitar Razorwing disagreed heartily. Luna however, insisted that she had a plan of attack that will cost as little pony life as possible. So long as Blackmane had the air it was impossible to use the Griffon Fleet, she had nearly scuttled it in a display of force and could easily do so again. A ground attack would be even more risky with the Terragons still around and so long as there were Changelings they had to assume no plan would be undiscovered by enemy intelligence.
So they waited, accomplishing their goals one at a time. Princess Luna was confident in Percheron's ability to fight Blackmane one on one, so long as he had the Sky Titan's Armor. She seemed hardly concerned about anything else... well, there was still one more variable - Celestia. Red Charge quickly stopped that line of thought as Stygg talked of Starsong.
Red Charge was about to take another sip from his tea but he stopped the cup dead as it approached his lips. "Are you implying that Starsong single handedly took on Severus' crew of Roc Golems and ... invaded the bridge?" He asked, his eyes much more focused than they should have been considering the amount of tea he was drinking.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Apr 16, 2013 18:38:47 GMT -5
Stygg let out of righteously cheerful chuckle, "What did you think I suggested? Wait, eww, gross! Please, Red Charge, I was merely suggesting that a dragon knows a dragon best, just as a griffon to another or a pony the same." She took up her cup, took another sip, "Perhaps you're right, but the thought of more Dragon Crown is so sweet." She took another sip, skin flushing under her feathers. "Yes, Fillydelphia. We've heard reports. My condolences, tragic to see a town burn so pointlessly." She expressed in a somber tone, thinking back on the burning of Royal Rocks. Despite how it ended, to see a city you hold dear burn as it did was heart-wrenching.
She took one last sip, emptying the cup and places it down beside the pot. She wanted another badly, but was it risky? She was afraid that she would find herself lost in the haze of its pure bliss. Perhaps after they were done talking politics and the affairs of the mare Starsong.
"I'm not implying anything, for all I know she may have been working with him from the start. All I can say for certain is I saw a pop-star survive Rust Phoenix fire, board a heavily armed vessel, leave a trail of destruction behind her and berate a near demigod without so much as messing up her mane." She suggested, shrugging it off as if it was nothing more than a curiosity. "Tartarus hath no fury like a mare scorned."
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Post by Red Charge on May 6, 2013 11:56:18 GMT -5
Red Charge gave a small 'huh' at what Stygg said and continued sipping his drink, not in the least bit worried about the fact now. "And what say you of Severus?" He asked curiously, "Having such a powerful entity completely independent from the government with the power to create a revolution at whim." His eyes moved automatically towards Starling's quarters on the far side of the palace but shot right back to Stygg.
He continued drinking for a while relaxing in the open air. If Stygg was paying attention she could have noticed that a certain pony was clearly patrolling the grounds closer and closer to them. Which was odd, considering there was no one else in the grounds but her and Red Charge. The Royal Advisor seemed to pay no mind to the pony however, so perhaps it was natural that he was in the courtyard.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on May 6, 2013 12:35:39 GMT -5
Stygg took up one of the small cakes and nibbled at the confection absently, contemplating on Red Charge's question. She was concerned that the new regime was silently dictated by the whim of ancient being, however noble his intentions might be, he still loomed in the background like an uncertain shadow.
"The uncertainty of all his motives does leave me with some unease." She explained, "However, his intentions have thus far appeared noble, if not heavy taloned. With my father now out of the picture and Loci's corpse baking under the sun, believe we have nothing to fear. So long as we stay true to our heritage and honor and don't go astray as my father had lead us, the Kingdom has nothing to worry from Severus." She glanced once more to her empty cup, sighing in contemplation about the risks of another. "Perhaps, we as a whole should feel some reverence towards him. Without his spark, we wouldn't be here today, talking as we are."
Stygg did happen to catch the patrolling pony nearby, but considering this was Canterlot at the heart of the Princess's castle, she was entirely unconcerned that something malicious was ahoof. "Seems we have a guest." She mentioned softly to Red Charge as her eyes followed the new pony for a moment. Without much more concern, she finished her confection.
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Post by Red Charge on May 6, 2013 13:20:14 GMT -5
Red Charge ignored her mention of their "guest" and continued what he was asking previously, "But surely, he can be corrupted. What if such a thing was to happen?" He asked, "Considering you couldn't beat him the last time and he has the complete support of the people, this leaves open an avenue you will not be able to close in the future."
The guest continued patrolling around them, a mere royal guard it seemed, when he was just near Stygg and Red he lunged forwards, his spear aimed directly at the griffon, but the earth pony guard was quickly enshrouded in a fiery orange glow and vanished into thin air.
"What a careless move, I fortified this area, they should have known I would suspect them. A desperate move, no matter, I've transported him to the underground caverns, I'll collect him later." He commented neutrally.
"So back to Severus, not in risk of sounding provocative, but I think it would be in your best interest if you allow us to help you research a method of... combating him. If you could secure us a segment of the metal he is made of, our royal metallurgists will be able to perhaps counter the effects, or even find a way to control it."
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on May 6, 2013 13:47:04 GMT -5
Stygg was, at first, taken back by the sudden and quite hilariously failure of the pony guard to assassinate her. Even if Red Charge hadn't been there, the sloppiness the assault would have been an easy parry. "They must be getting desperate with their snake's head cut-off." She cooed mockingly. "Thank you, Red Charge. Hadn't really expected they do something that brash on castle grounds. I'll be sure to let my entourage know to be extra alert."
Back onto the topic of Severus, Stygg let Red Charge go on with his proposal without interjecting. She believed he was being overly cautious. She felt Severus was, in the end, trustworthy and the notion he could become corrupted almost seemed blasphemously asinine. Then again, what Starling had told her back in Trottingham was beyond troubling. "I suppose there is precedence for such risks, but Severus is - at least 'was' my kin. He's the embodiment of what griffons should strive themselves towards. To imagine he could become corrupted, call it foolish, but I'd rather not believe it possible for him." She paused mid-thought, perhaps there was something they could do and keep up the illusion he is above such terrible things. "However, your offer is intriguing. We should have some pieces still floating around our archives. If you believe that, perhaps not just Severus, but one like him could pose a threat to both our nations then I don't see why we can't cooperate on researching his metal structure. Perhaps we might gain other knowledge from it as well, otherwise it would just be sitting around rusting. Best make some use of it."
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Post by Red Charge on May 6, 2013 14:20:23 GMT -5
"Then it is decided, we will cooperate on that end as well." He said, pouring Stygg another glass. By this one she began to feel completely relaxed around Red, somehow even though she came nervous and tense, it suddenly seemed like they could share everything. It was just so relaxed and good. Red seemed to be just as much relaxed around her too.
"I must say, I have been pleasantly surprised Stygg. I am glad we have you as an ally, you seem honorable and reliable. Honest talking is one of the most important qualities to look for in an alliance. It feels good to know you are open and honest, I see much cooperation in the future. Quite in fact, I've already decided on an intermediary. My personal protege Watermark, or should I say ex-protege, I have taught him all I could, it is up to him now to learn more of the world. I think staying with with our trusted allies would provide an adequate starting point." He looked at her for approval.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on May 6, 2013 14:53:55 GMT -5
Another glass, she'd likely regret this in a little while but it'd be rude to pass on this - not as if she would if she could. She took her cup up eagerly and took another sip, a drink to their cooperation.
"Well, Red Charge, I'm not a career politician like some of my silver-beaked ilk. For better or worse, I'm just a warrior looking out for what's best for my people." Speaking coyly. "Just so happens I believe mutual cooperation between our two people is the best course. Anyone would be a fool to think otherwise." She took another sip of tea. "Watermark, want to say the name rings a bell. I'll make arrangements for his arrival, we'll do our utmost to show him proper griffon hospitality. Anything in particular we should know to make his transition as comfortable as possible?"
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Post by Red Charge on May 6, 2013 14:59:44 GMT -5
"He likes water, ice too. Probably best to put him somewhere with both. He's a good pony, an excellent mage too. You won't know it when you first meet him, but he's also very intelligent. Just don't let him challenge you to any strategy games." The armored stallion snickered.
"If you're staying here for a few more days, hop in my office when you can, I'd appreciate the company." The royal advisor concluded their meeting, packing the tea set as soon as Stygg was done with his magic and offering her a hoof up, which she found she needed, as the temptation to remain on the grass was so strong her body barely wanted to comply getting up.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on May 6, 2013 15:35:47 GMT -5
"Not much ice in the Griffon Kingdom, but believe we can get all the water he could wish for." She took the last few sips of her tea, setting it back down on the table. "And dually noted, though it could be fun. If he's as good as you suggest."
Sluggishly, Stygg stood with Red Charge's assistance. Her legs were like noodles, barely able to keep standing. She wobbled for a moment, catching herself. She slapped her head, hoping it would focus her sight. "Whoa... Yeah. We'll be here for a few days, getting everything in order. Still would like to meet Princess Luna is possible before we depart. "Of course, I'll stop in. I have a few dossiers I'd still like to go over with you, but we can save that for later. Thank you, Red Charge, for this. Was very nice - and unexpected. But I shouldn't keep you any longer. I have my people to get back too and I believe you have pony assassin to have a spat of fun with."
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