Difference between revisions of "Manehattan Madness"

Latest revision as of 17:04, 21 June 2014

Pinkie (470) has posed:
This world has... Been around actually! Just a handful of weeks, but it's been here. It was a quiet unification; low key and almost even unnoticed due to the lack of sheer excitement when it happened.
The warp gate opens up some distance away from a sprawling cityscape, on an island, with an oddly pony-looking version of the Statue of Liberty, huh.
This might be better explained when people begin to explore the city proper.
There are ponies here. And pony-people! The populace is a mix of humanoid and equine formed unicorns, pegasi, or plain old earth ponies hustling and bustling about their business, and "Manehattan" as the signs name the place seems to be a very large melting pot of a city considering the occasionally griffon and even a more civilized chimera now and again.
So it's another Equestria!
Now the issue here comes in the fact that... The city seems to be in a state of unrest. People are on edge, some have the jitters, others are peeking over their shoulder as if expecting a knife in the back. How odd. Though there's something of a commotion around a small park- people (and ponies, duh) are gathering in a fairly big number and...
Laughing.
It's certainly better than the rest of the jittery city.

Ariel (219) has posed:
If they're pony people, Ariel won't be TOO out of place! She's going rather quietly along, trying to investigate... and looking like an odd unicorn, that's true. A young one, no less! So other than her artificial construction she fits right in!

Or would, if she didn't choose to be safe and ride the GIANT WARHOUND into the city. But hey, maybe that won't draw too many eyes. "Huh... well, where there's people there's a chance to figure out what's going on."

Might as well head toward the gathering.

Jinx (39) has posed:
'Light Duty'. A hateful term for a necessary step forward from recovery of being goddamn assassinated. Thus, a nice, leisurely walk and scan through one of the nicer, if highly colorful offerings in the fancy new grid that Jinx is still getting used to.

It's not as if Miss Jinx has been casing the joint. She's just been out and about... yeah, okay, casing the joint. At least she fits in with her bright blue hair and the pink dress she's wearing. All the better to blend in with, my dear.

Though, yeah, laughter in a jittery town gets the attention of the Loose Cannon, and soon Miss Jinx is wandering over as well.

Staren has posed:
Equestria! Again! Staren steps through the warpgate with care, but... hmm, once again, no pony field here either. He shrugs and looks around. "A pony version of pre-RIFTS Madhaven, huh...?" He looks at the statue... and... are those ponies and humans in the distance? "That's interesting..." he smiles a bit at the sight of the mixed species together. It's not the diversity of Lazlo, but it's more than he usually sees.

When he gets closer and sees they're... /pony/-people, he shifts his clothes to a hooded cloak. Maybe if he covers his face and tail people will mistake him for an earth-pony-person.

He's so absorbed taking in the new world, it's awhile before he notices the quietness and jitteryness of the population. But still... it doesn't look like they're /slaves/, so it's not another Black Queen situation.

But there's... laughter? Staren decides to go see what all the fuss is about...

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Mizuki had just returned to her home after commentating a fight between two scarily strong fighters. So what does she do? She goes back out to an entirely unknown place. Yup. Even if she has been re-learning what it means to be tired these past few weeks, she's still too stubborn to acknowledge that she's fatigued. Instead of common sense, she lets her curiosity guide her, leading her eventually to this place: Manehattan.

Mizuki has been to an Equestria before, albeit briefly. That night, she met princess Luna, a seemingly happy equine who was as accommodating as one would expect a noble of her status to be. It was a nice little visit... and it was nothing like this. As Mizuki soars into Manehattan, black wings spread wide, she immediately picks up a sort of... charge in the atmosphere. This is confirmed after a glance down at the streets where several people are glancing nervously from side to side. She doesn't know what's going on here, but she's suddenly glad that she decided to stay partially hidden on a roof rather than dashing right in to the middle of the town like she would normally be wont to do.

So for now, she waits, studying the city from her vigil up high. She does notice and remember Jinx, and she can tell that that cybernetic pony probably doesn't belong here. Oh, and is that... Staren? Well. At least there's someone here that she knows... somewhat well. In fact, it might be a decent idea to follow him in case he runs into trouble. So that she does, after fading out of sight and taking to the sky again...

Amaterasu (23) has posed:
Coming through the warpgate is a large white canine creature that may or may not be a wolf! Ambiguous perhaps. But quite appropriate, since not everyone here will see her the same. Non-Elites who have no spiritual beliefs will probably just see a big dog, similar to a Husky or Malamute, but completely white. Like completely. Except for her eyes, which are completely black. And of course her nose, which is also black.

Of course, spiritual beliefs, especially in gods - and particularly Asian-type deities - will allow her to be more easily seen as what she truly is. What is she? A large white wolf, with red markings on her fur, and winglike tufts of hair that seem to move in a breeze that isn't there. A large disk burning with holy fire spins above her back.

Atop her head a green glow makes itself known and Issun pops out of the fur there. "...Geez. Ammy, this place is...really creepy. Tell me I'm not the only one that feels nervous."

Quietly, so as not to draw attention to HOLY CRAP TALKING DOG!, Amaterasu notes, "<It is. But there is laughter here.>"

"Why would someone be laughing in a place like this?" Issun asks, incredulous.

"<I do not know. Let us find out.>" And with that, she and Issun head for the place the laughing comes from.

Celestia (230) has posed:
Celestia was just curious to hear of another unification, and actually had the night free and was restless. Reconstruction is going well, with the help of the Union, so she could afford to spend some time looking about like this. That's why she came, but she didn't realize that she might stand out.

Especially since she's decked out in (light) armor. She isn't ready to face down a Space Marine again, so she isn't wearing the heavy plate she wears when she's expecting trouble, but the equine is wearing some light plates over her shoulders and flanks, and a bit of chain in other places, with the rest covered by reinforced cloth. She's still obviously an alicorn, though, and trotting alongside Ariel and Staren. "Why shouldn't they laugh? Even in the worst of times, ponies need entertainment."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Just what IS going on in that park?
Whatever it is, it't like a wholly different atmosphere instantly, once everyone approaches. Ariel gets some odd looks, the tiny unicorn's chitinous plating seemingly out of place, especially mounted on her almost-dire Atlantean warhound. There just might be a spitting whisper of 'changeling' or 'crossbreed', but she's mostly left alone. Jinx gets a couple of odd looks for being a completely normal ordinary human apparently, and there are just blatant looks of confusion from the people at Amaterasu; but Staren mostly blends in with his hood up.
So the group's blending in mileage may vary but...
Well the crowd just seems to utterly part in awe at Celestia.
Hushed murmurs and gasps of shock and surprise blunt out the laughter pretty quickly, much to the chagrin of the masked clown dressed in bright pink, who was busily juggling chainsaws and brightly colored balls just a second bef-
Thunk-"Owie!"-thunk-"Owie!"-thunk-"Yow!"
Well she's not juggling now, as the handles clonk her on the head and they all putter harmlessly the ground. "Whoops!"
This distraction thankfully gets the crowd giggling again before any form of scene that seemed about to begin can be made.

Staren has posed:
Staren looks around as everything stops suddenly... and then Pinkie fumbles Juggling in just the right way to make everyone laugh! Same old Pinkie, this world can't be /that/ different.

...Wait, were those chainsaws? Staren quirks a curious brow. He'd say something, but... What? 'Hey, I know your best friends in an alternate dimension'? Yeeeah. So he just watches for now, creeping through the crowd towards Celestia but not breaking the out into the open. <<Well, they seem to know who /you/ are.>> He sends a tightbeam radio message to the alicorn sister of the day.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Mizuki gently taps Staren on the shoulder and appears for a brief moment as a translucent version of herself. She gently taps a finger to her lips two times before fading out of existence again, observing. The next thing she does is look to the resident 'jester' whose... um... tools of juggling devastation have just clonked and bonked their way to the ground. Okay, now that raises an eyebrow. This is quickly becoming reminiscent of some stories she's read about carnivals of death. She's even /more/ glad that she's not made her presence known now.

And then she notices Celestia. She reminds her vaguely of Luna, and Luna /did/ mention having a sister. What did she says her sister's name was again...? Oh, yes. Celestia, wasn't it? She giggles, recounting how 'apt' all of the pony names she'd head were. 'Just like a children's book', she had said then, but perhaps less so here. Something is seriously wrong here, and the suspicious... no, it's more than that. The -paranoid- looks the locals give the visitors, and particularly those they give the sun mare herself, are extremely worrying.

Well. This might be a good night for some detective work.

Ariel (219) has posed:
"Mmmn," Ariel mumbles, not particularly pleased at the suspicion sent her way. Oh well, she can be the better pony! She gives pleasant smiles and waves to anyone who looks her way, and pats Iyoshi to make clear that the big dog is friendly. Iyoshi just kind of rumbles, but makes no aggressive moves.

Finally seeing what's going on, Ariel perks up. "Oh... that looks a little dangerous," she remarks, but keeps her smile. "I'm sorry, were we interrupting?" Naive and innocent she may be, but the unicorn does notice the stares Celestia draws... and so she tries to keep their attention, just in case.

Jinx (39) has posed:
Juggling! Awesome!
Unionites! Awesome!
STREET PERFORMERS!

Well this is all right up Jinx's alley, and soon she's joining the crowd, ignoring the stares.

Celestia (230) has posed:
"Hmm." Celestia glances at Amaterasu, given their similarity in powers, but then she confirms... yes, they're definitely staring at her as well. This is a bit concerning. Maybe she should visit another Equestria sometime, so she knows what is supposed to happen.

Then again, people look upon her in awe in her own world. She'll just... try to ignore it. "Hello. Pardon me," she says as she passes, nodding her head politely. She'll just act like any other pony, that's it.

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Those WERE chainsaws. And she was juggling them while balancing one-footed on a beach ball, with a cupcake balanced on the snout of her mask. Not anymore though.
In fact, she's off her perch in a forward tumble-roll a second later, vaulting right over to the group.
"Wasn't that a great trick huh? Made you all think Celestia came back!" Called to the crowds as she flip-flip-flips-- pauses to scritch Iyoshi atop the ears-and skids to Celestia. Pantomiming tugging a cloak off her back where there is none, she 'drapes' it over the alicorn in an act that seemingly makes her wings vanish!?
They're still there, just hidden from sight as she takes a big bow.
"Not interrupting at all! I think the show's only getting started!" Replied to Ariel. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!"

Jinx (39) has posed:
Chainsaws and hazardous working conditions and JAPERY. Yep, this is where Jinx wants to be!
There's a bit of a whitsling from the girl, as she hoots and hollars. "MAKE THE REST OF HER GO AWAY!"
What, well, and also making fun of the Union, can't forget that in the slightest.

Ariel (219) has posed:
Oh, good coverage. Ariel eyes Pinkie, then swishes her tail. "Hello, Pinkie Pie! Don't let us stop you. I'm um... Ariel. We're not from around here. Well, I'm not, anyway." She eyes Jinx next, then decides to leave any comments off.

"What else do you have in store for us?" she asks politely.

Staren has posed:
Staren blinks at Mizuki. He starts to nod slightly as she disappears.

'Came back?' Staren's mouth echoes the words. Hoo boy, there is gonna be a /story/, isn't there... Well, at least Pinkie seems to be helpful. Hopefully that means said story will be forthcoming later.

Right now though, it's showtime, so Staren waits at the edge of the crowd where it parted, and continues watching. He shoots a sort of 'Really?' look at Jinx, but he doesn't know her, and in context her request isn't /that/ weird...

This Pinkie /is/ just doing magic tricks, right?

Celestia (230) has posed:
Startled, Celestia glances back at the wings, then to Pinkie. Her tail swishes slightly, and the crowd may note at this time that it ISN'T the flowing celestial tail and mane that Celestia of the 'future' has, but silky horse hair instead. "Ah, yes, it is just all part of the show. Amazing, isn't she?"

Definitely going to need looking into.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Mizuki glances to Pinkie. Did she say 'Pinkie Pie'? Okay, that's a little less straightforward than 'Luna'. Still... it seems like her talent has something to do with... well. Humor? Or is it horror? She's having a bit of trouble telling the difference right now. She briefly contemplates becoming visible, but if she did, she would lose the element of surprise in case something /does/ end up happening. So she stays invisible, despite her desire to converse with the may-be-horroshow mare.

... though she has to admit, the feelings of foreboding she felt coming in haven't gone away in the least yet.

Pinkie (470) has posed:
"Well of course you aren't!" The clown chirrups. Just like that though, she resumes her routine by arching back into a handstand that seems to go on forever. Look, look, she's even going just one-handed.
"Oh wait I know, let me guess!"
Taking a llllllloooooooong deep breath, she points at Jinx. "You're human."
To Ariel, "You're not a changeling." To Celestia, "You're not from around here at all."
She spins like a top for a moment before pausing and picking Staren out seemingly at random, "And you're hiding something under that hood!"
Pause. Another breath.
"Somyguesswouldbethatyou'reallreallyfromamultitudeofworlfsanddimensionsspanningahugesuperplanetoutsideofEquestriaadgotherethroughassuperneatstargetkindathingthatleadsallaroundahugrbiguniverse!"
HUFF.
"How was my guess?"
Despite her seemingly crazed ramblings the crowd only seems more interested in giggling more thanks to her antics.

Jinx (39) has posed:
Jinx has absolutely no difficulty in decifering that. "Oh man you're good! Wait wait, not all the way human. Well."
She looks right over at the Unionites. "Is 'wizard magic lady' human where you guys are are from cause I mean I have hextech but that's not quite the same." Somewhere in all that Jinx has pulled her little Zapper from somewhere and is idly scritching at her face with the barrel.
She then smiles, hoisting up one of the fallen chainsaws in her other hand, flipping it around to point at Staren. "You should totally yank that hood off over there, Miss Pie."

Ariel (219) has posed:
Ariel blinks, and then says the most obvious thing she can think of, being rather new to this entire thing. "What's a changeling anyway? I don't even know. I'm an Atlantean Unicorn, and this is my pet warhound, Iyoshi. Say hello, Iyoshi."

Iyoshi rumbles and flops down suddenly, nose twitching.

"Anyway, it's nice to meet you. My full name is Kuklos ka Ariel Schmendrick-Fortuna, and you're um... right." She warily pulls up her Spirit Hood to take a peek at Pinkie, though she's not sure it will show anything.

Oh well, at least she can see Mizuki now.

Staren has posed:
Staren /freezes/ as he's pointed at, and then Pinkie guesses (or 'guesses') what's going on. After taking a moment to digest that, and wonder what a 'stargate' is (something about O'Niell-with-two-ls, he can't remember off the top of his head)...

He smiles, slightly, and pulls his hood back. Revealing... /cat/ ears, instead of pony ears. Which is not /that/ big of a deal, is it? Or maybe it is. he has /no/ idea. But he'll play along with Pinkie for now. If things go south, they can always just leave.

"You guessed it! Well done, Pinkie."

Then his expression becomes slightly more serious. "So, are you going to tell us what's going on in this world? Or maybe you'd rather take us to Twilight so she can explain?" Staren knows which pony to go to for detailed exposition!

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Suddenly, Mizuki is a little uncomfortable. If she has the precognition to know that they were from the Multiverse - or at the very least, a Multiverse - then she might have other powers as well. An elite, even; one really never knows. If nothing else, it's enough to make her wary, and she hopes strongly to herself that Pinkie doesn't also have the ability to sense her, somehow.

... and just in case, she makes a mental note to be especially certain not to reveal herself. If she were to do that, Pinkie might know via any precognition she might have that she was there before she does so. Probably best not to entertain any more such thoughts to avoid falling down the rabbit hole of time philosophy, however. For now, she does as she has been doing: she listens. She contemplates. She muses.

And the latter most thing really helps to keep this little trip interesting rather than terrifying.

Celestia (230) has posed:
Tailswish. "Very right, I am not from around here at all. Though I understand I look quite a lot like the 'Celestia' from places. It is not the first time I have been mistaken for her, but all the stories I hear seem to have her be... a fair bit more relaxed than I am."

Oh, it's close enough to the truth, and it also evades giving her own name. "Pinkie Pie, hmm? I have heard that name somewhere."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Oh hey Pinkie guessed right! ~Hooray~. Though despite Jinx's HELPING, she does not yank Staren's hood as the pink-clad jester flips upright with a jingle of the tassle-bells on her hat and ankles. She is, in fact casually shuffling a deck of cards from one hand to the other. Where she got them from is a mystery, but she's already spread the deck in one hand, holding it out to Staren, indicating he pick one. "Oh~. I knew this day would come! No one believed me, but I told them! I told them! And nope! Not gonna take you to Twilight! She's still a big huge sourpuss and might try to kill me again!" But then she pauses, leeeeaaaaning close to Celestia.
"Huuuuh. You sure about that? I mean you awfully look a llllooooot like her. I mean like, the total spitting image! It would be pretty crazy if you were her, huh. I haven't seen her in ten years but that's a WEIRD coincidence!"
Ariel's hood will surely make that mask stick right out. Almost like a beacon, though with no discernible reason why.
You know how they say a magician never reveals their tricks though? Well not Pinkie. "Actually I already knew about the Multiverse, I've got the pamphlets and everything." She lowers to a stage hush.

Staren has posed:
Staren stares and his ears droop. "Twilight... tried to... kill you?" Hoo boy. Yep, there is definately going to be a horrible story.

Staren's struck speechless for a bit, and mutely draws a card. Honestly, Pinkie's antics are the most normal thing about this world so far.

Jinx (39) has posed:
Jinx snickers at the comments about pamphlets, but shit, now we a comedy duo already.
The blue haired girl idly flicks one of Pinkie's tasslebells again as she walks around the girl, swishing herself right into Staren's personal space, grinning nearly as hard as that jester mask. "Sourpuss. So much grumpy around this place lately."
She looks up Pinkie though. "You should go kill her back. Don't take that from her! Shoot her in the head! AAAAH!" Yes, shouted right next to Staren, complete with a mad grin as she steps over at starts to peer at the other people here. Ariel and Celestia in particular. Hmmmmm.

Ariel (219) has posed:
"Please stop that," Ariel says to Jinx. "I understand you like to kill things, but we don't really know the situation here. What if they try to attack you or something?"

She's kind of grasping at straws, because she's not sure what makes someone want to kill another anyway. So she really doesn't understand that this crowd isn't the type to kill, probably.

To Pinkie, "Why did she do that?"

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Mizuki just... gently... cocks her head at Pinkie. A pony trying to kill someone? ... Multiverse pamphlets? She still isn't sure whether to think that this pony is funny or absolutely horrifying. Or both. Yes, she's probably a pretty even mixture of both so far honestly. Still, there's very little for her to do just sitting here... so she takes to the sky again, looking around.

If talking to Pinkie won't tell her what she wants to know, maybe she can get an impression of the state of the world for herself this way.

Jinx (39) has posed:
"And who's we? I'm preeeeeeety sure that's /you/, pretty girl." Jinx snorts a bit, before hooking a thumb in the shoulder strap of her dress and turning to face Miss Pie.
"Howdy, I'm JINX, stands for Jinx! Drr. Over here you've got Horse Princess and Other Horse Princess and Catman Princess. A cavalcade of royalty all laid out in a FANTASTIC LINEAGE!"
A free hand twirls a braid a bit as she walks merrily around the square again, looking at the crowd. "And YOU! Are you here to be entertained or NOT?"

Staren has posed:
Staren bristles at the sudden loudness next to him and glares at Jinx. He's still speechless for a bit, but she finally gets a quiet: 'i'm not a princess.' It seems like something's knocked all the volume out of him, but filled what's left with ice.

Celestia (230) has posed:
"Please don't call me Princess," Celestia states. "Everyone keeps doing that. Princess this, Queen that. I'm none of those things." She turns to Pinkie. "And as for what I am and why I resemble Celestia... there is still much that I do not know of the Multiverse myself. Perhaps I will ask my friend."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
"Yep!" Well she certainly keeps chipper despite the turn in conversation, and pointedly looks away, indicating Staren put the card back in, without letting her see it. "Oh no, I don't want to do that. Besides she's probably surrounded by tons of guards, wizards, sorcerors, and Spike!"
Spike is apparently a Thing.
But then she's tut-ing at Jinx, wagging one finger. "I know right? It's TOO gloomy! That's why I'm here trying to make everyone laugh!" Retaliatory violence does not SEEM to be on her agenda.
"Anyway after the princesses left, Twilight kind of went a little loopy I guess. I don't blame her! I mean they were her whole world- and then they left without a word, the sun and moon kept rising without them, and everything came CRASHING down." Whoops "There was arguing, mean things were said, then som fighting, and we haven't spoken since! I hear she's the ArchMagister of House Moon and Star now. Well I guess we don't need princesses if we have one right here."
She is referring to Ariel, of course, taking the opportunity to put a glittery crown atop the child's head.
The state of the city... Well, while it's maintained, the populace all seem on a knife's edge. It's almost as if there's No Fun Allowed in the entire city, the big screens around the Times Square area flickering with commercials, interspersed occasionally with tidbits of news pertaining to Kin Shining Armor and Queen Cadance's upcoming visit, some propaganda flashes for House Moon and Star.

Staren has posed:
Staren quietly returns the card. The expression on his face at Pinkie's story looks like he's toughing out something painful.

'so she wasn't always like that.' More icy whisper. 'but that she would go so far as killing... trying to kill a friend...'

He stares somewhat solemnly at the ground in front of him.

Ariel (219) has posed:
Glittering crown on her head. Ariel peers up, then flicks her ears a few times before settling down with a sigh. "Only technically a Princess, I've never even been to Atlantis. Not while conscious anyway." She mns, "Well... it sounds like you've had a lot of trouble here..."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Soon after she has heard Pinkie's take on the state of the world, and the state of this rather elusive 'Twilight Sparkle', Mizuki departs, scanning the city in more detail. She doesn't think she's going to garner that much more just looking at Manehattan from the sky, so after taking some time to watch one of the various television screens, she lowers herself to the ground. Sinking in to the crowd, Mizuki listens in attempt to hear something enlightening from passerby...

Jinx (39) has posed:
Jinx giggles at just about all of that, before settling in for mild attention to Story Time With Pinkie. Goodness. "Oh, wow, well, I guess that means No Gods No Masters! Anarchy in Horseland!"
And then a crown comes out and Jinx salutes at Ariel, going quite stock straight and official like as she does so. Well, at least enough to get off a properly mocking salute as she finds a nice spot of grass to sit down on while listening and watching the Magic Trick unfold.
"Oh and don't mind him. He's 'emotionally invested'."

Celestia (230) has posed:
"The sun and the moon kept going, hmm?" Celestia murmurs. "So... they... hmmm." She looks very thoughtful at that, her horn shimmering for a moment. "Interesting. I wonder if..." Her thoughts trail off, then she shakes her head. "Another time of change in Equestria, and just as violent as the last. I wonder who will rise to the challenge this time?"

Pinkie (470) has posed:
In goes the card and Pinkie is shuffling at a lightning pace. Though one green eye lingers on Staren's supreme glumness, watching him briefly from the recesses of her pink mask. Thusly it's a flit of her wrist and she holds up her hands. The whole deck is gone.
Until she leans over, invasively getting all up in the cat-boy's personal space. "Ooooooeeeerrrr? Emotionally invested? Are you her biggest faaaaaaaaan~?" But then she produce a card from behind his ear, which she then waggles in his face. It is, in fact, the same card, though it seems to have something scrawled on it.
"Technically, schmecknically! You have a crown now, that's all that matters!"
Best logic ever.
"It's been pretty up-heaved for years now. But that's okay, I'm still smiling!"
But what of the people? Mizuki might just pass a grumbling squad off police.
"The whole squad?" "Seriously?" "They were hardcore Moon and Star special tactics, and some of them didn't even get off a shot." "It looked like a ffew didn't even know what hit 'em." "The crime scene's locked off tight too, so there's no way us grunts'll ever hear a thing."
It sounds like a murder most foul of some kind.

Jinx (39) has posed:
Jinx...
Jinx's entire demeanor changes in a near instant, hands grabbing again for that chainsaw Pinkie had been using before. She's still sitting cross legged on the grass, but now she's brandishing the chainsaw, eyes very quite wide as allllllll of her senses prickle up, her feet twitching a little bit in the dirt.

Bacon Sense Tingling.

Ariel (219) has posed:
"Mnm," Ariel mumbles, not arguing with that. "Leave him alone, he um... anyway. I heard you talk before so I guess you already have a radio."

Then Jinx starts to act all weird. "Ah... please put down the chainsaw! It'll be fine, we'll just walk out. Will you walk out with us?"

Celestia (230) has posed:
"It probably would be best not to linger, at least for me. Given how much I look like a certain someone..." Celestia adds. "Staren, please calm down. Remember things can be very different. Talk to Evil Nanoha if you really must, she understands."

Staren has posed:
Staren blinks and looks up in surprise when Pinkie steps into his space. Hey, where'd the deck go? 'you could say that...' And then she pulls a card out from behind his ear and waves it in front of him. It takes a moment for his eyes to focus and read it -- he reaches up to take the card and hold it still, and gives a bit of a thin smile, though it's slightly forced. He lowers the card and looks at Pinkie. 'i can't...' he coughs a little, and speaks up slightly. "I can't bear to think of how unhappy she must be, without all her friends. How terrible her life must be, that she's resorted to... that she would /do/ something like that. If she was anything like my Twilight..." he trails off for a moment, and then looks Pinkie in the eyes. Well, mask eyeholes. "Can she be saved?"


And then Celestia's comment ruins the seriousness by making him *SNRK*

Mizuki (183) has posed:
Mizuki rubs her eyes slightly. Yes, she's... she's undeniably tired. But why, she wonders? She's naught but a living thought, a dream, a delusion. She's not meant to grow tired over time like she is, but alas, she still is. Preoccupied by the little detail, she's not able to do much with what she learns from the police. She gently rises from the crowd and gently soars back toward Staren and the rest, just in time to be privy to Staren's short monologue about helping Twilight. Even if slightly, that moves her.

And then he laughs.

Come on, make up your mind! Mizuki laughs tiredly as well, though this wouldn't be audible to anyone nearby. For a final time, she considers revealing herself, and for a final time, she decides against it. Probably best not to make big decisions when you're feeling fatigued.

Pinkie (470) has posed:
"I've got something!" Pinkie Pie confirms for Ariel. Though everything seems to go downhill from there Staren's question silences the jester. There's a sudden and subtle tension to her, but it's brief. "Save her from what?" There's little time to clarify though, as she busily waggles a finger in agreement with Celestia, "Yep, sticking around here too long might-"
Whoop there's Jinx on edge. And it's about to get worse as some really grumbly police officers come trotting onto the scene in equine form. "HEY. Clown! What'd we tell you about performances without a permit!"
Pinkie Pie bristles, hair and tail getting EXTRA frizzzly as she goes as stiff as a bolt.
"WHOOPS It's the 5-0, better scoot! Bye!"
She's pretty fast huh. Considering how she wheels around and gets sprinting. But not before whipping out a long stage hook from almost nowhere. You know. The kind used in theatre to pull horrible actors off a stage?
Yeah she's using that to hook Jinx and keep her from going on a copsawing spree.

Jinx (39) has posed:
"...no no no no no GOTTA COPS GOTTA"

And as the pair exit stage, right, a distant "...fuck the police..."