3302/Dining with Vampires

Dining with Vampires
Date of Scene:	01 November 2015
Location:	Planetary Plains
Synopsis:	Ferham and Ebon Ribbon meet with Princess Peach for an evening meal.
Cast of Characters:	516, 903, 904

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Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Situated at the foot of Princess Peach's Castle, Toad Town, the Mushroom Kingdom capital, is a humble settlement. Little homes line the streets, seeming to be made from the same materials as the castle since the exterior walls and roofs match apart from a bronze trim at the edges of each roof. The town has a quaint, homely vibe to it that seems to sit well with its residents as everyone seems happy and friendly.

There is a large open plaza at the center of town, with a huge golden yellow Starman made up of little tiles in the center, complimented by a pair of fountains atop the eyes of the Starman, each topped with a mushroom decoration with the water flowing from the underside of the mushroom cap. Toad Town is all done up with Halloween decorations, spider webs, skeletal Toads and Koopas, ghosts (Boos), even strange pumpkins that are not carved, rather have their own odd face built in. It's all fun and hardly scary, sharing the same cartoony look that is so common on this world.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     Descending from the sky above--is Ferham. Slowly hovering down, she notes the various decorations. "Hmm, wish I knew this place was celebrating," she idly notes, her legs straightening out as her heeled boots clicked to the tile that had the giant starman printed on it, her wings folding back behind her. Putting a hand on her hip, she scanned about with those green eyes of hers, seeming to be just looking around at the moment. She hadn't noticed any particular air traffic from here, so she just sort of decided to drop in, more or less. The look of the place was saccharine, candy-like, almost seemed hard to believe anyone would want to attack it. Moving about, she seemed to be just exploring, but she'd also try to flag down a guard or townsperson, cooly trying to ask just where the ruler of this place resided and rather directly if it was possible to speak with them.

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
There are plenty of citizens out milling about, with most of the younger residents of Toad Town out for Trick-or-Treating. As Ferham arrives and tries to flag down someone for directions, a young toad in a Rosalina costume stops and turns to her

"Our ruler? She lives in the castle, it's over there." With that the girl points toward the castle far in the distance but right down the main road through town. It was easy to make out the red roofs and white walls from the plaza. Then the little girl scurries off to find more candy.

Peach herself has just left the castle, but is still just outside the main entrance. She's wearing a tight dress that is white from her chest up, with the rest being red with large white polka-dots in a very similar pattern to the mushroom caps of the Toad people. She's wearing her sapphire sphere earrings, the usual crown, and a gold necklace with a super mushroom charm that has silver eyes and mushroom spots. On her feet are a pair of custom made heels that have super mushrooms in the front and are otherwise red and secured with a strap around the ankles. A closer look would reveal that Peach is showing a few bruises from an earlier battle. She's been patched up pretty well, but it'll take a bit of time for her to fully heal.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Thank you," Fer replies to the Rosalina Toad and continues on her way, soon coming upon the ruler of said castle town, it would appear--Princess Toadstool herself. Or in these parts, Peach. Ferham gives the monarch a once over starting from the bottom and stops in front of her.

     "Forgive my intrusion, your highness, but I could not help but hear you may have met someone I know," Ferham seems to curtsey--even goes down on one knee in a kneel, looking up at the costumed girl, until she'd bidden to rise, anyway.

     "On the behalf of the confederacy, I apologize for the trouble that might have been caused here, I hope there has been no great..." she noticed the bruises clearly, as she paused, "Physical harm done," she sighed a little.

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach takes note of the reploid woman approaching her castle and stops suddenly. After what has happened today she is perhaps a bit more cautious of this guest than she might normally be. When Fer mentions that she may have met someone she knows, and then the apology on behalf of the confederacy, she only tenses up a bit further, but tries to remain outwardly calm, mostly succeeding thanks to her royal upbringing.

Today has been an interesting day, to say the least. Earlier a woman came here with her daughter as the days' festivities were just getting started, she..." She pauses. "I never got her name now that I think about it, but her daughter's name was Linh. We only spoke breafly before she stepped away for a call and suddenly had to leave because Linh had classes tomorrow. Less than two hours later, I came to discover she had broken into my castle vault. As much as I didn't want to fight her, as they both seemed very nice earlier, and her daughter is rather adorable, she refused to give back what she stole. So, it ended in a fight. I did have my guards take her to a hospital after it was over though. Do you know how she recovers?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Well, I don't know why this incident occured, so I might not be able to offer an answer there--however you should not be so overly... free with how security is conducted here," Ferham didn't rise from her kneel yet, her gaze remaining at just about knee level with the mushroom princess, likely admiring those mushroom heels fo hers. "However, it is not my intention to cause harm or to disrupt your realm's festivities, I came here to try and aid and mend relations between your country and my organization," she explained, thinking on it a little. "Though, you didn't seem to have much difficulty with the intruder if all you have are these bruises--as sorry as I am for you having to deal with them," she seemed sincere there.

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     "Someone tried to disturb your quaint kingdom's cute festivities?" comes a voice from behind Ferham as the tall unicorn pony known as Ebon Ribbon approaches. Of course, even if one did know her, one might not recognize her. She has dressed up for halloween (or Nightmare Night for her) with a long black cape, a black mask, and some plastic vampire fangs. "I hope you are alright, your majesty." she says as she gets within comfortable talking distance.

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
"Well, to be honest, she is the first person to attempt to steal from my castle since Unification, though in hindsight, I'm actually a little surprised no one else has ever tried. Up until today a sturdy door and a big expensive lock seemed to be enough, but I will take your suggestion under advisement." Peach speaks as she steps a bit closer to Ferham, only for her eyes to alight in surprise as she spots Ebon approaching and hears the unicorn's voice. She nods to Ebon. "It was not an easy fight, but I will be fine." She then turns back to Ferham. "I appreciate your peaceful intentions. That alone goes a long way to mending relations. But I was heading into town for a bite to eat. Would you both care to join me?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "By the way, princess, you have wonderful taste in shoes, if I may say so myself," Ferham nodded with a smile as she nodded her chin in the direction of those mushroom capped heels. "I would not mind it at all," Ferham looks up again as if this is the cue cue for her to rise, and does so--straightening up out of her kneel and getting back to her full height of 6+ feet. "Oh, I see you've made acquaintances with another of my err, group, hello Ebon Ribbon," Ferham nodded with a smile at the sharply dressed vampony, "love the costume by the way, the mask is a nice touch," she made it sound perhaps like the other parts--like the fangs and the cape were less so a costume there, perhaps for a little teasing joking effect.

     "Maybe we can find something for Ebon as well," she grinned.

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon Ribbon curtseys gracefully to Ferham when she is greeted. "Lady Ferham. How fortunate for you to join us this day. The princess promised me a feast in my honor." she says, smiling cheerfully. "I expect her grand banquet hall is quite extrordinary, given her attire and the general appearance of her kingdom." she begins, then hees. "And thank you for your compliment. A mask always adds mystic to make an outfit magnifique."

     She smirks lightly at Ferham's grin. "I am quite easy to please, as far as cuisine goes." she says, then blinks. "Wait...did you say get a bite in town?" she says suddenly to Peach.

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach smiles warmly to Ferham at the compliment. "Why thank you, and yes, Ebon Ribbon and I met just yesterday, and I did promise her a feast. Hmm, also the restaurants in town are a little on the smaller side compared to average around the Multiverse. So, maybe if I'm hosting both of you, the the castle dining room would work better. I also agree that your costume is very nice for the occasion Ebon. Unfortunately, mine didn't survive the earlier battle." She admits with a frown, turning back toward the entrance to her castle as the guards out front open the doors for the princess and her two guests. "Please, come inside." She says with a smile as she heads in, leading the way to the dining room. If they looked to their left past the entrance, there were still signs of the scuffle, and some toads working to repair the door leading to the basement, which had been destroyed.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "My apologies again, Princess Peach," Ferham bows her head again. "I fear I may have failed to properly introduce myself before--I'm Ferham, high-performance flight Reploid, it's an honor to dine with you this evening," she smiled, then straightened up again. She is quick to move along with the princess and the vampony, not wanting to make it seem like she didn't appreciate her company. "Looks like there was some action in here..." Fer mutters moreso to herself and Ebon than to the princess, whom she's aware has already been through a a bit today. "This castle and town are beautiful, as I said before--I cannot really understand what someone may want with attacking here, but..." she shrugs. "I've seen some strange things since my world unified."

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     "I have heard stories of strange things, but I have yet to see anything that I considered truly strange. People who look like mushrooms is merely amusing, not strange." Ebon says as they enter the castle. She looks around at the decor and the destruction, then tsks softly. "What was this pon-..person after? Riches? Artifacts? Secrets?" she asks, then tsks again. "And your outfit did not survive? That is a shame."

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach nods, turning back to Ferham as they make their way down the hall, soon passing a door that leads to the kitchen, with the dining room up ahead. "It is a pleasure. Always happy to share dinner with a few friendly people than to eat alone, whether they're old friends or new acquaintances." As they move into the dining room, the defining feature is the large table in the center of the room. The frame and legs of the table are white with ornate golden accents, while the table top is pink granite. There are several chairs around, each is white with a cushion that looks like a toad mushroom cap only with pink spots instead of red. The chair at one end of the table is a little larger and fancier than the rest, presumably reserved for Peach. "Here we are. Please have a seat." She chimes as she moves toward the table herself, taking the end chair.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Delightful furnishings in here, I'll have to have a... talk with whomever was in here, if I can locate them," Ferham seemed to make it ambiguous if she was really on friendly terms with this person or not. Once she is bidden to sit, Ferham does so--making sure her wings are not in the way, and carefully lounges back, crossing her long legs. "Quite comfortable too, I might need to look around this town for a carpenter myself," she smiles, sitting near to Ebon, if she doesn't mind it. "We are glad you were able to handily repel whoever this person was, you said they seemed to be after your vault?" she nodded a little, her voice calm.

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon seems indifferent to Ferham sitting next to her. And she seats herself in one of those chairs rather easily considering she is a pony and not a human. She does have to rest her forelegs on the table, though. "I would love a table like this in my home! Pink granite is so lovely~" She rubs a hoof along the surface gently, then smiles to Peach. "So, what is on the menu, dear princess?" she asks, her tail swishing gently behind her and her ears perking. "Not too much meat, I hope. I cannot bring myself to eat the flesh of other creatures."

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
The dining room also has large windows behind the table, overlooking the grounds behind the castle. From here one could see a garden near the windows, but further out there appears to be a tennis court, a field that could be used for soccer or some sport like it, a rather large lake, and even what looks like part of a race track in the distance. "I'm glad you like it, it's probably one of the nicest pieces of furniture in the whole castle. But of course the guests that gather around it are the most important part." Peach says with a smile. The toad attendants are on it tonight, and just when Ebon asks what's on the menu, one of them appears with a few menus, handing one to each guest and a third to Peach also, as this was a special surprise Halloween menu. "Lots of things it would seem." She replies with a grin to Ebon.

As they take a moment to look over the menus, she reluctantly decides to answer the question about the vault, figuring that if these two know Yari, she can tell them what she was trying to steal anyway. "As for the vault, well, it seems that the woman who broke in wasn't really interested in wealth, but rather my collection of power-up items from around this world. They could be considered weapons, though most have the drawback of wearing off and or fizzling out if you get hurt."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Ah, I see, yes, it doesn't sound as if whoever had become interested in your cache was just here for just currency," Ferham nodded a bit, then leaned over to Ebon once she had peered at the menu. "Well, I might have to explain that since my kind run on energy, I think the 'Jammin' Jelly' would be adequate for me--I realize it's a high energy dessert, but I think I should be able to harness the energy from it such as I can the energy resources from my world, and Ebon--just let me know when you might be feeling a little peckish over there, hmm?" Ferham slid out her black gloved hand toward one of the Vampony's hooves as a sign of good faith, apparently understanding the pony was an energy vampire.

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon is still admiring the table when Peach points out the guests are more important. Ebon blinks, then giggles. "Yes, of course we are." she says, a bit arrogantly. She takes the menu in her hooves rather than with her magic, which if these two are familiar with Equestrian unicorns know that is unusual. "Power-ups? What sort of powers can the items offer?" the pony asks, intrigued.

     Then, Ferham speaks up, and Ebon is left speechless for a moment. Did...did Ferham just offer herself as a meal? Ebon is unsure how to respond. This has never happened before. She is used to people being polite when they do not know about her, but generous when they do? She actually looks a bit nervous, perhaps even shy, then she suddenly grows angry. "I see! You are mocking me! None would ever offer themselves in such a way to someone they hardly know!" She hmphs haughtily, then goes back to peering at the menu. "I will have a mushroom steak and an apple pie, please." she says to the nearby toad, then holds out her menu to him. "And a special shake, if you please."

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach busies herself looking at her own menu as Ferham and Ebon discuss what they are going to order. She can't help but overhear as Ebon seems to take offense to something. She looks up from her menu, her expression a little confused. "Is something wrong? If there is anything you would like that isn't on the menu, it's possible we may still have it available." She offers kindly after Ebon places her order. The toad takes the menus and turns to Peach, awaiting her order. The princess nods to the toad and gives her order. "I'll have a Zess Deluxe and a Zess Tea." Then she hands over her menu and the toad heads to the kitchen to relay the orders. Peach then turns to Ebon and Ferham. "So, while we wait for our food, why don't we share something about ourselves. Who wants to go first?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Not at all, honestly this drink looks like it would give me too much--please don't be angry, Ebon Ribbon--I simply wanted to accomodate you," Ferham turns her head to the vampony and casually explains, shaking her head. "My apologies, my compatriot here has a sort of... condition, I'll leave it up to them to explain if they don't find it too personal," Fer then looks back up at Peach after handing off her menu. "Myself? I enjoy reading philosophy and poetry, such as William Blake--long flights alone over long stretches of wilderness..." she taps a gloved hand against her chin, seeming to be thinking of what else she might offer. "I also enjoy the 'House' genre of human music, I find it relaxing."

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon Ribbon hmphs again at Ferham. The pony is obviously more than a little cynical. "Naturally. And I suppose it was your plan to out me to Peach. Very well, I shall tell her." Ebon looks to Peach, then smirks lightly. "My magic is a bit different from other ponies, you see. If I do not drain energy from others on a regular basis I grow weak and sickly. And, even with that hunger, I still need normal food. I suppose you could say I am the apex predator of my world."

     Then...Ebon waits. She waits for the rejection, the revulsion, the distrust.

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Peach listens as Ferham speaks to Ebon again, and slightly quirks an eyebrow as he explains that Ebon has a condition of sorts, but leaves it to her to explain it if she wishes. But then the subject changes to things Ferham wants to share about herself. "Oooh, flying under your own wings sounds like a lot of fun. I've sometimes wished I could do the same. As for music, I prefer classical." She comments before giving some quick information about herself. "I enjoy reading all types of literature, singing, and stumbling upon new places and people in the Multiverse. Oh, also I like a variety of outdoor activities, as you may have guessed from looking out the windows behind us." She says with a grin before turning to Ebon as she speaks up.

When Ebon reveals what her 'condition' is, Peach is too stunned to speak for a moment, she just stares. Finally, she remembers how to speak. "That's quite an... unfortunate sort of magic. Were you born with this need?" She asks with a blush, several more questions coming to her mind, but she keeps them to herself, deciding they would be rather mean to ask. "If you don't want say I understand."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Singing, hmm?" Ferham replies with that a bit curious, then nods and lets Ebon speak for herself. "Many of our comrades in the confederacy share a similar condition, it's really nothing to be afraid or ashamed of, but that's my opinion," Ferham sits back and busies herself with peering about at the room as well as the marvelous pink granite table, as well. "I didn't mean to 'out' anyone or cause anyone any discomfort, either I simply thought it would be rude to sit here with us able to enjoy ourselves and you... seemingly unable to, is all," she sighed a little. "I apologize for any insult."

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon Ribbon looks like she feels vindicated when Peach stares. Then she giggles a bit at the comment and question. "I was born with it, but I no longer consider it a terrible condition. It makes me quite special, and quite formidable if needed." But, Ebon's vindicated expression softens as she realizes Peach didn't call her a freak or a monster or tell her to leave. Now she looks more confused than vindicated. And even more so when Ferham insists that she only wanted to help.

     The pony looks between the two of them, suspicion in her eyes. "...are you two in league with each other on this? Am I being recorded unknowingly?" She doesn't seem upset anymore. Now she is just trying to decide if they are messing with her, or if these two people are actually okay with her. It seems impossible, and she doesn't really believe it could happen, but of course there is that little spark of hope. "As for your offer, I can enjoy normal food just fine. I simply have to supplement with the lifeforce of others."

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach shakes her head at Ebon's question. "We just met, and I didn't have the faintest idea about all this until you told me. I guess I can't say I like it, but if you must take energy from others to stay healthy, I can't really condem you for it. I only request that you not draw the life energy of my subjects. Can you agree to that?" She asks, looking up to Ferham, for a moment wondering how the proposed agreement between the two would work, and if it hurts to have your life energy drawn away.

At this moment a group of toad attendants come out carrying the food that each of them had ordered. Ferham's Jammin' Jelly has an eerie green glow, Ebon's shroom steak has black and orange spots, while her shake is colored purple. The Zess Deluxe looks like a bowl of soup with small green fruits ringing the edge of the bowl, but the fruits are decorated to look like eyeballs. The tea simply comes in a cup with a Boo design. "Well, this all looks great." Peach comments before taking a sip of her tea.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Nobody is recording you, at least I'm not," Ferham shakes her head. "I doubt Princess Peach, with us as her guests, would either," she nodded to Peach, taking out what looks like a straw and settling it into the jelly once it's set down, taking a rather long slurp off of it once the servant has it down on the table. "Ooh, that's just as I thought, this is very energy rich," she closed her eyes before she leaned back down, seeming to enjoy the high-energy packed treat. "See, right now I will take in more energy than I can really use, so I figured this would be a good time to take advantage--in a sense, of Princess Peach's hospitality, since she's supplied me with this valuable dessert," she leans back a bit, but doesn't seem to be upset after all of this.

     "Also have to thank you for this wonderful evening, Princess Peach," she smiled.

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon still seems suspicious, but seems placated for now. She sighs softly at Peach's request. "Very well. I suppose as an honored guest in your land, it is the least I can do." She blinks in surprise at her spotted steak, then pokes it with a forehoof timidly. "...you are certain this is not a creature? I have never seen a mushroom with black and orange spots." she says, then looks at her shake before noticing Ferham's bowl. "By the moon! You..you have eyeballs on your dish!!" she exclaims, seeming quite horrified. Until she sees the Boo design on Peach's cup. She blinks, then coughs embarrassedly. "Wh-which are obviously not real. Hahaha!"

     She quickly goes about eating her mushroom steak. And as if to help combat her embarrassment, her horn glows before what could best be described as an ebon ribbon lashes out and wraps around Ferham's wrist. The dark purple ribbon of magic somehow glows with darkness. Or perhaps negates light, creating a dark halo effect around the glowing purple ribbon of energy. Ferham would experience an immediate drop in her energy levels, followed by a steady drain.

     It is likely that the continued contact would greatly weaken Ferham in minutes.

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach nods to Ferham. "She's right, I'm not recording you, in fact there is nothing in this room that could record anything." As for her request, it could be pointed out that Peach said nothing about draining her own energy. She does laugh a little at Ebon's reaction to the food however, cutting it short so she didn't add too much to her embarrasment. "It's all just decorated for Halloween, yes, nothing to worry about." She comments as she takes one of the 'eyeballs' on her plate and takes a bite. "It's Kiwi." She says after swallowing the bite, and then moves on to start working on the soup. Moments later she looks up as Ferham thanks her for the evening. "Thank you for coming. It has been a nice end to a... rather 'exciting' day."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     Ferham was busy holding the straw she'd produced to stabilize it when the unicorn's black ribbon emerged and lashed around her forearm. Ferham closed her eyes and simply continued to drink the high energy giving jelly snack while the vampony had a snack of her own. "Mmnn... mmm," she just kept on sipping from the straw, the mass amount of energy she was ingesting actually beginning to replenish her own energy reserves as Ebon drank it in--and didn't seem to be minding this exactly, either. Of course, the question was, could Ribbon be sated before Fer was out of that flower power restoring jelly? She seemed to relax into a trance almost, though she's still moving even as the process continues.

     "Ahh..." she sighs as she pulls herself up from the jammin' jelly and might have to shake off Ebon's ribbon there, if the pony wasn't already, well, sated. "I told you it would be fine, I'm actually nearly topped off here, too, being fully charged constantly can lead to free radicals which is actually bad for me at times, so I wasn't adverse to losing a little," she grinned, suddenly getting a beeping from her comlink, however. "Whoops--I apologize but I might have to leave unexpectedly, Princess Peach, Ebon," she carefully rose from her chair before pushing it in. "I do thank you both however for a lovely evening, you too especially, Ribbon," she winks to the vampony before bowing to Peach and turning to make her exit.

Ebon Ribbon (903) has posed:
     Ebon is so confused! They are being nice, saying it is okay, and even saying they had a nice evening! With her! Ebon is so confused that she starts steadily drinking her shake and forgets to let go of Ferham. When the Reploid shakes off the ribbon, Ebon lets out a surprised meep before drawing the ribbon back in. It disappears into her horn, then she continues sipping of her shake. Until she remembers her manners. "Ah! Y-yes. Thank you both for a lovely evening. Despite the attempts at mocking me, it was overall enjoyable." She gives her mane a toss with a forehoof, watching Ferham curiously. Why was she especially thanked?

     Ribbon finishes off her mushroom steak quickly, then stands. She curtseys to Peach and smiles just a bit. "Thank you for your generosity, Princess Peach. And perhaps I should warn you...I may come to taste you one day." She licks her lips and gives a little wink, then giggles. "I must get home and do my evening cleaning before I get my beauty sleep. Thank you, Miss Ferham, for the meal. And you, Princess Peach, for the meal."

Princess Peach (904) has posed:
Princess Peach stands and would walk them both to the door and wave them off. "It really was great having you both over for dinner. Feel free to come back anytime." She says before heading back to the throne room, grabbing the horror novel she had been reading earlier before Yari interrupted, she takes it up with her to her bedroom. Probably was going to give her nightmares tonight, but she didn't care.