Cloudbreak IC: Glimpse of the sky

[Thanqol]

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came. She opened a little wider, pushed her vocal chords a little harder and finally a forced sound came out followed by something. Anything.

"...haawhh w... well done." Milliway rubbed her forehead, feeling as if a headache was brewing behind her eyes.

Not her best. But she could perhaps work work with that, if only he would stop being... f'cking Luminark… for just one minute.

Luminark abruptly returned to normality, almost fast enough to give whiplash. "No, seriously. This is the underworld, and all of these are ghosts. Technically they're all fragments of a really, really big ghost. My, uh, soul was made out of the biggest of the ghostly fragments. So inside my head there is a permanently open portal to the underworld. And there always has been. It's a whole thing."

He actually looked surprisingly uncomfortable discussing this.

"Anyway. That's not what I wanted to talk about. Why do you want to get into the skull cracking business so badly? You used to hate the Friendship Patrol, and now you're leading them, and you're not even trying to reform them. I worked for months to make sure they were so neutered that they'd never hurt you again and you're already looking to turn that around. Why?"

[Elanorin]

Luminark abruptly returned to normality, almost fast enough to give whiplash. "No, seriously. This is the underworld, and all of these are ghosts. Technically they're all fragments of a really, really big ghost. My, uh, soul was made out of the biggest of the ghostly fragments. So inside my head there is a permanently open portal to the underworld. And there always has been. It's a whole thing."

He actually looked surprisingly uncomfortable discussing this.

Milliway frowned, a deeply focused, and somewhat troubled, frown, behind her mask. While it was tempting to let his words just slide off her along with all the other Crazy that was coming out of his mouth, this was... no this was Something. Did... did he just say his soul was made out of a ghost fragment? Now she'd made some seriously cool stuff in her Workshop over the years but she'd never been able to forge a soul. Wait, so Luminark wasn't born?! She knew he had some unusual moms but she'd never figured this. Then again, considering Ooky Spooky's specialism-

Is he a construct?!

"Anyway. That's not what I wanted to talk about. Why do you want to get into the skull cracking business so badly? You used to hate the Friendship Patrol, and now you're leading them, and you're not even trying to reform them. I worked for months to make sure they were so neutered that they'd never hurt you again and you're already looking to turn that around. Why?"

All of this pushed her buttons, and it only goes to show just how deeply invested she was in this argument that a significant part of her mind instinctively launched in to coming up with rebuttals, despite the revelation she'd just had. The revelation that potentially changed everything.

Brushing her temptation to snap back at his accusations was further strengthened by her deep reluctance to go in to the truth of the matters he was laying at her.

Instead she leapt forwards and went for Luminark. While she wasn't looking to hurt him for the sake of it she did not hesitate to do what it took to grab him, force him to the ground and restrain him.

"You're right, let's approach this like scientists, and do some tests."

[Rolling to Seize Luminark By Force: 6+6+1=13 I suffer little harm. I take definite and undeniable control. I impress, dismay, or frighten my enemy.]

[TheAmishPirate]

"Then, in the interest of keeping that trust, I'm going to tell you the truth." I sigh, slump back, and lean my head against the wall. "And the truth... the truth is... Well, there is no registry of late books, first of all. There might be a Tight Bun somewhere who may even have been ghoulified and a total stickler for late fees, but I don't know her. The reason I asked to stop at a library was because... I'm worried, child. Worried for you, worried about you. You're hurting right now."

That...who said...heard of a...okay. Didn't see that one coming.

"I don't know who did it. I don't know who she is, or why she made you unhappy. About the only thing I know is that she's not a nameless pony who's too busy to see us and who lives too far to see but who is close enough to visit on the Peregrine but not now."

No! His carefully-crafted web of lies!

He needed that!

"You say you trust me. I believe you, and I'm glad of it." Slowly, I lower my head to be at eye level with the Scrapscallion. "I don't wanna weird you out. But can you trust me enough to... tell me what's going on? I care about you. This is hurting you, and it's tearing me up to see you like this. Help me help you. Please?"

Huh. That's what that feels like.

The Scrapscallion picked himself up. He didn't know how she knew. (Probably Princess magic. Cheater.) He didn't know why she'd done what she did. He didn't know what any of this was, or where it came from, or how he was supposed to feel about it. But. He knew he should be sitting proper for this. So that's what he'd do. He'd roll himself over, turn himself about, tug his jacket into place, and sit next to his Princess. Like a proper pony. Maybe, once he got there, he could figure out the rest of the way.

It took him some time to find his voice.

"Just...asking. Y'know." His hoof tightened around his sleeve. "How do you deal when somepony awe-" He stopped. Reached for adjectives. "...incredible, does something real crappy?"

[Balmas]

"Just...asking. Y'know." His hoof tightened around his sleeve. "How do you deal when somepony awe-" He stopped. Reached for adjectives. "...incredible, does something real crappy?"

"Traditionally, beatings," I muse. "Followed by several repeated dunkings in a perfluorocarbon-filled sensory deprivation chamber where the only sound they're allowed to hear is my voice, reminding them how much I love them. But somehow I bet that doesn't apply right now; we don't have an isolation tank right now, for one.
"
"Oh, did you mean how do you deal with yourself, instead of deal with the traitor? Um." I pitch my head and chew my cheeks in thought. "I suppose thatyou could imbibe copious--but safe--amounts of Bunker-provided mood enhancers or suppressants. If there's a research project you can throw yourself into, that helps. Alternatively, you can always use time travel and erase them from history... Right, no horn." Eventually, I blink and focus on the Scrapscallion again. "A support group of some sort is helpful. Friends with whom you can share the pain and comisserate a bit."

[Thanqol]

Instead she leapt forwards and went for Luminark. While she wasn't looking to hurt him for the sake of it she did not hesitate to do what it took to grab him, force him to the ground and restrain him.

"You're right, let's approach this like scientists, and do some tests."

[Rolling to Seize Luminark By Force: 6+6+1=13 I suffer little harm. I take definite and undeniable control. I impress, dismay, or frighten my enemy.]

Oh, good. He'd won the argument.

Didn't Milliway used to be meek and quiet? He probably should have opened up by trying to remind her of that aspect of her personality. Remind her that she's quiet, then remind her that she's a ruthless scientist. And hey, if we're doing tests, turns out that cybernetic limbs are just as hard and heavy in the Underworld as they are in reality and the Changeling throne does nothing to prevent earth pony violence. How long does this thing last again? Hours?

Luminark clearly and confidently looked Milliway in the eye, and said: "Meep,"

[TheAmishPirate]

"Traditionally, beatings," I muse. "Followed by several repeated dunkings in a perfluorocarbon-filled sensory deprivation chamber where the only sound they're allowed to hear is my voice, reminding them how much I love them. But somehow I bet that doesn't apply right now; we don't have an isolation tank right now, for one."

The Scrapscallion gave her a Look. A Look that informed the general public that he was so not in the mood for jokes right now, that he wasn't even going to spare the words to tell you, hence the overabundance of stinkeye. But lurking just behind the stinkeye? Unease. Horror, at the thought of Milliway trapped in one of those horrible sensitive chamber-things, unable to hear herself scream-

No, no, no, no, let slip the dogs of no. The Princess wouldn't do that to Milliway. Not for this.

...right?

"Oh, did you mean how do you deal with yourself, instead of deal with the traitor? Um." I pitch my head and chew my cheeks in thought. "I suppose that you could imbibe copious--but safe--amounts of Bunker-provided mood enhancers or suppressants. If there's a research project you can throw yourself into, that helps. Alternatively, you can always use time travel and erase them from history... Right, no horn." Eventually, I blink and focus on the Scrapscallion again. "A support group of some sort is helpful. Friends with whom you can share the pain and comisserate a bit."

"But what if I don't want to do any of that?" He huffed himself into a fine sulk. "They're all gonna suck, and they aren't gonna solve anything in the end, so why bother?"

[Balmas]

The Scrapscallion gave her a Look. A Look that informed the general public that he was so not in the mood for jokes right now, that he wasn't even going to spare the words to tell you, hence the overabundance of stinkeye. But lurking just behind the stinkeye? Unease. Horror, at the thought of Milliway trapped in one of those horrible sensitive chamber-things, unable to hear herself scream-

No, no, no, no, let slip the dogs of no. The Princess wouldn't do that to Milliway. Not for this.

...right?

I mean, you could just ask her, right? She's been through the process before.

"But what if I don't want to do any of that?" He huffed himself into a fine sulk. "They're all gonna suck, and they aren't gonna solve anything in the end, so why bother?"

You know what, let's spend that remaining hold. What does Scrapscallion wish I'd do right now?

[TheAmishPirate]

I mean, you could just ask her, right? She's been through the process before.

Could he just ask her?

I suppose we'll find out.

You know what, let's spend that remaining hold. What does Scrapscallion wish I'd do right now?

What does Scraps want her to do? Answer his questions. Or get him to answer his own questions. He won’t know the difference, so long as he gets an answer and he can stop being stuck.

It’s not about having a pity party, or getting himself too drunk to remember. (Though the latter sounds more tempting by the minute.) It’s about finding a way to square two unsquareable facts. The first, that this mystery pony did a really crappy thing to him. The second?

That despite it all, he’s still absolutely smitten. He still sees everything that made this pony incredible, and it’s not like he can un-see that. He knows (or as much as he can know) this pony’s character, and that’s what’s got him head-over-hooves. This is some capital L Love we’re talking here. Which makes the aforementioned crappy thing all the crappier; he doesn’t understand how a pony like her could do a thing like that. He doesn’t understand why a pony like her would do a thing like that. Some part of his brain has been running the numbers over and over again all day, and yes, he is really bad at math, but it’s just. Not. Adding. Up.

And so, he’s stuck. No way forward. Trapped with his hurt and nowhere to run. And if he could just know what to do next, then maybe he could escape to someplace better.

Oh, and this is by no means the only question he’s stuck on. But for every question after this one, it’ll be the same; he wants an answer, a way past, a way forward, more than he wants to be comforted.

(And buried deep, deep, deep beneath his pride, he wants to be held and told that he’s awesome and that everything’s going to be alright. Whether or not his pride will let him accept that comfort is anyone’s guess.)

[Balmas]

Gosh, that's a lot of things to deal with at once. That's a lot of questions, and I don't really have a lot of compelling answers. So I'm just going to offer an embrace. "Oh, my poor, sweet child. What happened? I don't need names, but can you tell me what she did?"

[TheAmishPirate]

Gosh, that's a lot of things to deal with at once. That's a lot of questions, and I don't really have a lot of compelling answers. So I'm just going to offer an embrace. "Oh, my poor, sweet child. What happened? I don't need names, but can you tell me what she did?"

The Scrapscallion didn't move.

"...if you find out who she is," he asked, so guarded he didn't return the hug. "Are you gonna do anything to her?"

Answer carefully.

[Elanorin]

Oh, good. He'd won the argument.

Didn't Milliway used to be meek and quiet? He probably should have opened up by trying to remind her of that aspect of her personality. Remind her that she's quiet, then remind her that she's a ruthless scientist. And hey, if we're doing tests, turns out that cybernetic limbs are just as hard and heavy in the Underworld as they are in reality and the Changeling throne does nothing to prevent earth pony violence. How long does this thing last again? Hours?

Luminark clearly and confidently looked Milliway in the eye, and said: "Meep,"

Who knows! Is time even a thing here?

Milliway is curious and you have made her brain raise questions about you. Interesting and answerable questions, unlike those headache-inducing ones from before.

Important questions, which used to be metaphorical but have suddenly transformed to much more literal questions regarding you as a necromantic project. But don't worry, she's not about to tear you open, she's not a monster. She's actually being quite restrained, considering you're not actually a pony so it's not like it really matters. She just wants a good deep look in to your head.

"It seems we have something in common after all. I mean, not a lot, and especially not this place," she glanced to the insane-hive around them, "no this is some special kind of crazy and if this is what's going on in your head then I'm not surprised you're... well... the way you are."

"But Ooky clearly saw you as a major project. Did you know it was her who brought me back when I died? Does she know you're insane?"

[Rolling To Open My Brain to figure out if Luminark is Real: 2+2+2=6 Well... look at that.]

[Thanqol]

Who knows! Is time even a thing here?

Milliway is curious and you have made her brain raise questions about you. Interesting and answerable questions, unlike those headache-inducing ones from before. Questions like: do you bleed? What colour? And: do you have a heart? Do you have a sense of taste? Can you shed tears? Do you have bug wings hidden under the skin on your back?

All important questions which used to be metaphorical but have suddenly transformed to much more literal questions regarding you as a necromantic project. But don't worry, whatever damage she causes she patches up again, she's not a monster. And she's actually being quite restrained, considering you're not actually a pony so it's not like it really matters.

Given that this particular interaction is being done between psychic ghost projections in the literal underworld, I think that an Open Your Brain roll is more appropriate than a list of answers.

"It seems we have something in common after all," Milliway says finally and cleans off her hooves, backing away and releasing your restrains to let you go. "I mean, not a lot, and especially not this place," she gestured to the insane-hive around them, "no this is some special kind of crazy and if this is what's going on in your head then I'm not surprised you're... well... the way you are."

"But Ooky clearly saw you as a major project. Did you know it was her who brought me back when I died? Does she know you're insane?"

"I am not insane," grumbled Luminark. "I just work here."

He struggled to his hooves. "Sometimes I may conjure the ghosts here to possess me so that I can take advantage of their skills and talents, but that doesn't make me crazy. That is an entirely normal magical technique that my unique circumstances have an unusual affinity for. This place is dead. Empty. Unless I somehow stumble across a living Changeling hive I'm the only pony here."

That particular penny doesn't seem to have dropped.

"Wait, did you say you actually died?" he asked.

"... what came after?"

[Balmas]

The Scrapscallion didn't move.

"...if you find out who she is," he asked, so guarded he didn't return the hug. "Are you gonna do anything to her?"

Answer carefully.

I give that its due consideration.

"I can't promise that I won't be upset with her," I eventually say. "She's hurt one of the Bunker's most important ponies, one of my most important ponies. Whether accidentally or intentionally, that's pissed me off, and I protect what's mine. But I can promise that I won't do anything beyond maybe being a bit snippier than normal in conversation."

[Manipulate a pony: [7]. I want Scraps to spill the beans on what's going on between him and Milliway; mark XP if you do.]

[BlasTech]

Let's deal with this first as it may have an impact on what comes next.

[Rolling To Open My Brain: 2+2+2=6 Well... look at that.]

[I should start of by noting that, since you're not following House's advice to leave ASAP, you're taking a -1 forward here. Hasn't impacted the outcomes of any rolls yet though.]

Milliway. The landscape shudders, a ripple that passes through the dias where you have Luminark pinned. It seems that your aggressive moves have agitated something. Faint whispers and murmurs begin to chatter from all around as the dozen or so spirits nearby begin to approach the two of you, hooves outstretched.

What do you do?

[TheAmishPirate]

I give that its due consideration.

"I can't promise that I won't be upset with her," I eventually say. "She's hurt one of the Bunker's most important ponies, one of my most important ponies. Whether accidentally or intentionally, that's pissed me off, and I protect what's mine. But I can promise that I won't do anything beyond maybe being a bit snippier than normal in conversation."

[Manipulate a pony: [7]. I want Scraps to spill the beans on what's going on between him and Milliway; mark XP if you do.]

A wiser pony would remember who they were dealing with, and that actively-melting Princesses forged in the fires of betrayal and entirely too much science were not to be trusted. But he wasn’t a wise pony. Wasn’t really much of a smart pony either. The night was cold, she was warm, and that had settled much of the decision already. "Yeah. Yeah, alright." He nodded, to her and to himself. She just needed some more information, right? Sure, that made sense. That'd help her figure this out.

He didn't return the hug. But he did - just a little - lean his weight on her.

[Marking XP for spilling beans.]

"So. There’s this pony that she was with. And, you’d think they hated each other’s guts, right? What with the way she talks about him, and him being just the worst and all. But, see, turns out she’s…uh, she's got a thing for him. And they had this moment, under a tree, outside - outside! She’s never stepped hoof outside before - so you’d think he’d got a thing for her too. And that they were….well, y’know." He fussed with his jacket sleeves, too mortified to finish the thought.

"But then I talk to her later, and, and…" A distant look stole over him. His hoof tingled and - no, nope, no, shake it off, shake it off, he was cool. He cool. “Uh. She dug me, y’know? All over me. I swear, I wasn’t trying anything, I just came to talk about some other stuff, but she grabbed my hoof and walked all close and…”

"That pony she was with showed up. And…he didn’t seem to care? No no no, like, he did care, but not about anything that was going on right there. He wanted to offer me a job, and I was all like “hey man go buck a hellhound, you’re the worst” and then she was all like, like…man. Turns out? They weren’t an item at all. She made that real clear. Man. Hell of a fight. But, see, I think she…still liked him? But also hated him? And so, like, as a sorta…last parting shot, she…"

He gulped. Hot shame washed over him. “She kissed me. Right in front of him. Paid me to play along and everything.”

Yep. Just like he predicted; that sucked. And he still didn't know what to do.

[Elanorin]

[I should start of by noting that, since you're not following House's advice to leave ASAP, you're taking a -1 forward here. Hasn't impacted the outcomes of any rolls yet though.]

[Good point. Noted.]

Milliway. The landscape shudders, a ripple that passes through the dias where you have Luminark pinned. It seems that your aggressive moves have agitated something. Faint whispers and murmurs begin to chatter from all around as the dozen or so spirits nearby begin to approach the two of you, hooves outstretched.

What do you do?

Milliway decidedly backs off. This was the exact thing she had been worried about when she first got zapped here, and even though those thoughts got waylaid by her anger and curiosity for a while, they were firmly back now. As was her recollection of what House had said. Figuring Luminark out would have to wait.

Perhaps this was the time to get the hay out, it certainly felt like it, but she had just enough courage to hold off and try to be Defiant and Intimidating for a few more moments until those exceedingly creepy spirits just got too close,

"Engage extraction," she commanded, hoping House had completed his calculations, and that they were correct.

And that House was, in fact, House.

[Balmas]

A wiser pony would remember who they were dealing with, and that actively-melting Princesses forged in the fires of betrayal and entirely too much science were not to be trusted. But he wasn’t a wise pony. Wasn’t really much of a smart pony either. The night was cold, she was warm, and that had settled much of the decision already. "Yeah. Yeah, alright." He nodded, to her and to himself. She just needed some more information, right? Sure, that made sense. That'd help her figure this out.

He didn't return the hug. But he did - just a little - lean his weight on her.

[Marking XP for spilling beans.]

"So. There’s this pony that she was with. And, you’d think they hated each other’s guts, right? What with the way she talks about him, and him being just the worst and all. But, see, turns out she’s…uh, she's got a thing for him. And they had this moment, under a tree, outside - outside! She’s never stepped hoof outside before - so you’d think he’d got a thing for her too. And that they were….well, y’know." He fussed with his jacket sleeves, too mortified to finish the thought.

"But then I talk to her later, and, and…" A distant look stole over him. His hoof tingled and - no, nope, no, shake it off, shake it off, he was cool. He cool. “Uh. She dug me, y’know? All over me. I swear, I wasn’t trying anything, I just came to talk about some other stuff, but she grabbed my hoof and walked all close and…”

"That pony she was with showed up. And…he didn’t seem to care? No no no, like, he did care, but not about anything that was going on right there. He wanted to offer me a job, and I was all like “hey man go buck a hellhound, you’re the worst” and then she was all like, like…man. Turns out? They weren’t an item at all. She made that real clear. Man. Hell of a fight. But, see, I think she…still liked him? But also hated him? And so, like, as a sorta…last parting shot, she…"

He gulped. Hot shame washed over him. “She kissed me. Right in front of him. Paid me to play along and everything.”

Yep. Just like he predicted; that sucked. And he still didn't know what to do.

"She used you, then. Manipulated you to get revenge on her target." Normally, that'd be pretty admirable. The question does occur to me to wonder why he has the hots for her, but I'm not going to say that. "Tell me. Did she know you like her?"

[TheAmishPirate]

"She used you, then. Manipulated you to get revenge on her target."

He didn't want to say anything to that. So he didn't.

Normally, that'd be pretty admirable. The question does occur to me to wonder why he has the hots for her, but I'm not going to say that. "Tell me. Did she know you like her?"

The Scrapscallion's radsickness suddenly and unexpectedly sent him into a coughing fit. Remarkably, he suffered a severely mild allergic reaction to books at the exact same time, which turned his cheeks and ears a bright red. "What? No! No, no, there's no way - no. Why should she? I mean..." The radiation. His lungs. Coughing. Terrible how that works. "Um. See, she wouldn't have bribed me to play along if she thought I'd do it for free, right? So...no."

[Thanqol]

Milliway decidedly backs off. This was the exact thing she had been worried about when she first got zapped here, and even though those thoughts got waylaid by her anger and curiosity for a while, they were firmly back now. As was her recollection of what House had said. Figuring Luminark out would have to wait.

Perhaps this was the time to get the hay out, it certainly felt like it, but she had just enough courage to hold off and try to be Defiant and Intimidating for a few more moments until those exceedingly creepy spirits just got too close,

"Engage extraction," she commanded, hoping House had completed his calculations, and that they were correct.

And that House was, in fact, House.

Luminark was coughing a bit too hard from his throat being released from the tacklepounce to really contribute much here.

He, frankly, had no idea what was going on. He'd never actually taken anypony else here before so the reaction of his unliving hordes was kind of novel to him.

[BlasTech]

[Good point. Noted.]



Milliway decidedly backs off. This was the exact thing she had been worried about when she first got zapped here, and even though those thoughts got waylaid by her anger and curiosity for a while, they were firmly back now. As was her recollection of what House had said. Figuring Luminark out would have to wait.

Perhaps this was the time to get the hay out, it certainly felt like it, but she had just enough courage to hold off and try to be Defiant and Intimidating for a few more moments until those exceedingly creepy spirits just got too close,

"Engage extraction," she commanded, hoping House had completed his calculations, and that they were correct.

And that House was, in fact, House.

Luminark was coughing a bit too hard from his throat being released from the tacklepounce to really contribute much here.

He, frankly, had no idea what was going on. He'd never actually taken anypony else here before so the reaction of his unliving hordes was kind of novel to him.

"Engaging" replies House, as the Crystal Heart crackles to life.

Arcing bolts of energy spark out, striking the ground nearby as the white light envelopes you.

"H-hold … onn!"

With one final crack, like a lightning strike, Milliway is gone, leaving only a small charred patch on the ground of the otherworld.

"Teleport successful"

Milliway - when the light fades, you're standing back in the corridor in front of the necromancy vault. The crowds of ponies that were here are gone, but there are many signs of their passage:

Crowbars and tools lie strewn around the vault entrance, and scratch marks in the doors speak of an unsuccessful attempt to break into Oooky Spooky's sanctum. Some broken skeletons lying around also attest that this attempt was contested. A little way up, a body lies on the ground - Kneecapper, neck twisted at an unsurvivable angle, staring sightlessly at the ceiling.

Blood splatters stain the hallway, smoke drifts up from deeper in the bunker, as do the wordless yells of ponies fighting ponies.

What do you do?

Luminark you're left alone in the ether for a moment. Tell me, while you're there, are you able to receive communications from the Archmage or the Library? Can you tell when your hoard is threatened?

[Elanorin]

"Engaging" replies House, as the Crystal Heart crackles to life.

Arcing bolts of energy spark out, striking the ground nearby as the white light envelopes you.

"H-hold … onn!"

With one final crack, like a lightning strike, Milliway is gone, leaving only a small charred patch on the ground of the otherworld.

"Teleport successful"

Milliway - when the light fades, you're standing back in the corridor in front of the necromancy vault. The crowds of ponies that were here are gone, but there are many signs of their passage:

Crowbars and tools lie strewn around the vault entrance, and scratch marks in the doors speak of an unsuccessful attempt to break into Oooky Spooky's sanctum. Some broken skeletons lying around also attest that this attempt was contested. A little way up, a body lies on the ground - Kneecapper, neck twisted at an unsurvivable angle, staring sightlessly at the ceiling.

Blood splatters stain the hallway, smoke drifts up from deeper in the bunker, as do the wordless yells of ponies fighting ponies.

What do you do?

Milliway looks around. She takes a moment to gain her bearings and check she has made it back... intact.

"Well done. Just in time. Was getting a bit hairy there," she commented and took the scene in. It was entirely possible the Peace Patrol was getting out of hoof in her absence. Then again Luminark had led some kind of riot so it was anypony's guess who was to blame here. She should probably Deal With It but the issue of Luminark still felt more pressing.

She stepped up to the shut doors and knocked three firm thumping knocks.

"Ooky Spooky? It's me, Milliway," she paused and glanced at the signs of attempted break-ins, "just Milliway," she clarified. "Can I come in?"

[BlasTech]

"Ooky Spooky? It's me, Milliway," she paused and glanced at the signs of attempted break-ins, "just Milliway," she clarified. "Can I come in?"

After a moment, the intercom by the door crackles to life.

"Oh, you're back." Says Ooky "Your friends wouldn't listen to me when I told them you'd reappear in an hour or so."

A sigh, more felt than heard.

"What do you want? Shouldn't you be out there reining them all in?"

[Elanorin]

After a moment, the intercom by the door crackles to life.

"Oh, you're back." Says Ooky "Your friends wouldn't listen to me when I told them you'd reappear in an hour or so."

A sigh, more felt than heard.

"What do you want? Shouldn't you be out there reining them all in?"

"Yeah... I probably should be..." Milliway concedes thoughtfully but then quickly adds, "Is Luminark a Changeling?"

[Thanqol]

Luminark you're left alone in the ether for a moment. Tell me, while you're there, are you able to receive communications from the Archmage or the Library? Can you tell when your hoard is threatened?

Obviously yes to both. As spooky as Luminark's whole... thing is, it's not a unique concept. Anypony who can speak to the dead can reach him there. This obviously includes the Archmage, but the Library has its own methods of communication.

And it's less a case of Luminark figuring out that his hoard is threatened and more that the hoard begins demanding action be taken. A Librarian doesn't own the library - he works for it. He is allowed to walk through those creaking corridors because he's doing a service for the books, but neither he nor the books ever forget for a second where the real power lies.

[Balmas]

He didn't want to say anything to that. So he didn't.



The Scrapscallion's radsickness suddenly and unexpectedly sent him into a coughing fit. Remarkably, he suffered a severely mild allergic reaction to books at the exact same time, which turned his cheeks and ears a bright red. "What? No! No, no, there's no way - no. Why should she? I mean..." The radiation. His lungs. Coughing. Terrible how that works. "Um. See, she wouldn't have bribed me to play along if she thought I'd do it for free, right? So...no."

"Wait right here," I order. "You should have warned me you were sick. I'm going to see if I can't find some radaway in the office." And with that, I dart away. My child is sick and definitely telling me the truth.

Healthy emotional expression, ho!

[TheAmishPirate]

"Wait right here," I order. "You should have warned me you were sick. I'm going to see if I can't find some radaway in the office." And with that, I dart away. My child is sick and definitely telling me the truth.

Healthy emotional expression, ho!

The Scrapscallion stayed put.

Hey, let it never be said that he wasn't afraid to try something new.

But I mean, really; what was the point in running off? If he moved quick, and kept his footing in the fading light, he could be miserable on top of those bookshelves instead of being miserable on the floor. What a prize!

The Princess was smart. Like, wicked smart. She'd point him in the right direction, and once she did, he could ditch all this crap and get on with his life.

He wished she'd hurry up. All this waiting was the worst.

[BlasTech]

Obviously yes to both. As spooky as Luminark's whole... thing is, it's not a unique concept. Anypony who can speak to the dead can reach him there. This obviously includes the Archmage, but the Library has its own methods of communication.

And it's less a case of Luminark figuring out that his hoard is threatened and more that the hoard begins demanding action be taken. A Librarian doesn't own the library - he works for it. He is allowed to walk through those creaking corridors because he's doing a service for the books, but neither he nor the books ever forget for a second where the real power lies.

Well, in that case, the library assaults your senses. Shaking the entire worldscape you are in.

The walls of swirling miasma pull back, images of ponies moving through the stacks. The answer to why the Library demands you do something about it is clear, they come bearing torches and fire. Anathema to paper and wood. The arch-nemesis of libraries throughout the cosmos. While it has other measures that can be used in this case (the library is nothing if not prepared), it is still working on those and shouts to you to do something about it as one would when they discover that the ants in their kitchen bite.

What do you do?

"Yeah... I probably should be..." Milliway concedes thoughtfully but then quickly adds, "Is Luminark a Changeling?"

"Is - is he what?" splutters the intercom. "That is a very personal question darling. And I do not know what right you have to ask it."

"What Luminark is, is my son." she emphasises. It's clear you'll need to do more than just ask the question directly to get any answer here.

[Would you like to read a pony here?]

"Wait right here," I order. "You should have warned me you were sick. I'm going to see if I can't find some radaway in the office." And with that, I dart away. My child is sick and definitely telling me the truth.

Healthy emotional expression, ho!

As before, if you're off to actually look for something, feel free to read a sitch.

If you're just going to hover around until Scraps does something, feel free to hover.

The Scrapscallion stayed put.

Hey, let it never be said that he wasn't afraid to try something new.

But I mean, really; what was the point in running off? If he moved quick, and kept his footing in the fading light, he could be miserable on top of those bookshelves instead of being miserable on the floor. What a prize!

The Princess was smart. Like, wicked smart. She'd point him in the right direction, and once she did, he could ditch all this crap and get on with his life.

He wished she'd hurry up. All this waiting was the worst.

I know it's not in your nature, but what are you going to do while you wait, Scraps?

[Balmas]

3,1,+2. [6]This situation is so read.

[Balmas]

The Scrapscallion's radsickness suddenly and unexpectedly sent him into a coughing fit. Remarkably, he suffered a severely mild allergic reaction to books at the exact same time, which turned his cheeks and ears a bright red. "What? No! No, no, there's no way - no. Why should she? I mean..." The radiation. His lungs. Coughing. Terrible how that works. "Um. See, she wouldn't have bribed me to play along if she thought I'd do it for free, right? So...no."

Casually, I pat my child on the pack until the coughs subside. "Sometimes, ponies do things like that to divorce themselves from their actions, Scrapscallion. If they can convince themselves that it was nothing more than a transaction, they don't have to feel bad about it. Let me ask you this: did she look like she felt guilty about using you like that?"

[Thanqol]

Well, in that case, the library assaults your senses. Shaking the entire worldscape you are in.

The walls of swirling miasma pull back, images of ponies moving through the stacks. The answer to why the Library demands you do something about it is clear, they come bearing torches and fire. Anathema to paper and wood. The arch-nemesis of libraries throughout the cosmos. While it has other measures that can be used in this case (the library is nothing if not prepared), it is still working on those and shouts to you to do something about it as one would when they discover that the ants in their kitchen bite.

What do you do?

Gingerly, with all the reluctance of a pony about to hoofbump a manticore, Luminark lowers his mental safeguards and lets the Library shout at him even louder. He's already getting up off his throne and moving to reach the Library, grumbling and biting his lip and wondering how he's going to save all those poor ponies from being eaten by the stacks.

[Open Your Brain: 8]